welcome to elaney!

Being bargain hunters, we were a little surprised a few months ago when we noticed that our funds were a little more depleted than normal.  Had we been traveling too much?  Nope.  Any recent out of control shopping trips?  Not that we could remember.  Any late night online purchases?  Nothing other than the $36 discount subscription to Us Weekly.  What could it be?

After careful consideration, we realized that we’d slacked off on taking our lunches to work and waaaaaay too much money was going to lunches out and stops at Starbucks.

Solution:   We are brown bagging it.  And, we are making two lunches and selling the second to our co-worker ($4).  So, now that we have a new set up and a business arrangement, we need help.  What are your ideas for inexpensive, flavorful, healthy lunches?!

Almost a year after it’s October ’09 opening, we finally tried the hottest pizza place in town.  Even though Varasano’s is nearby and The Kind Pie was great (but sort of sketchily closed), we decided it was time to check out what every food writer in town is talking about.  And we have to say, (for a pizza place that doesn’t deliver) it definitely delivered!

Antico is located on a random corner on Hemphill with a view of the Ikea in the horizon, but the pizza is literally straight out of Italy.  Not only is the place completely packed, but people are yelling in Italian, opera music is blaring, and the eat-in-the-kitchen communial seating makes you feel like the hills of Tuscany (rather than Atlantic Station) are right outside your window.  The crust is just soft enough, the sauce is the right mix of sweet and savory, and all the ingredients are straight from the homeland.  They don’t take substitutions, there are no side salads, the line is atrocious, and when we told prorpietor that we had never been before, he demanded in a thick Italian accent that we try a piece right then, standing up at the counter.  This BYOB place is fun and hands (tossed) down, the best pizza in Atlanta.

“No matter what happens in the kitchen, never apologize.”  – Julia Child

As a rule, we think women apologize too much.  You reach for the door the same time as someone else, and the first thing that comes out of your mouth is “Oh, I’m sorry!”  But really, you aren’t “sorry.”  Forget whether or not you’re apologetic, “sorry” means you’re no good, lazy, and amounting to nothing.  And you are a perfectly nice human being. Don’t call yourself sorry.  Plus, ESPECIALLY in the workplace (not necessarily friendships and family relationships), sometimes it’s better to just keep your chin up and move forward.  Other people are NOT analyzing all the things you’ve done wrong as much as you are.  So the next time you cook something that takes like charcoal (literally or figuratively), smile and be gracious.  And maybe no one will notice.

There is a line in American Wife (probably the highlight of our summer reading) about how being at a community pool with kids splashing and grilled cheeses being grilled at the snack bar and Mickey Mouse ice cream bars on the 10 minute break (oops, may’ve added the last one) represents her feeling as happy as she can possibly be.  Oh!  How we can relate to the sounds and smells of summer at its most honest!  So, what else represents the childlike sensibilities of summer?  Try a popsicle from King of Pops.  Check out the cart of pops at the “corner” of North Ave. & North Highland, right across from Manual’s Tavern, Mon-Fri 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sat-Sun noon to 8 p.m (they are also at Souper Jenny and Irwin Street Market and a few other places).  Delicious, festive, and one more way to stay cool.

The universe wants us to share this dip with you.  What had happened was:  a few months ago, we had this dip at a party and loved it.  Hadn’t thought about it since.  Then randomly decided to make it for a cookout last Saturday and intended to email the chef (who we don’t even know that well) for the recipe.  Then, coincidentally on Saturday morning, Reader g-love mentioned that she had been going through our cookbooks to find some dip that some different girl from Columbus (who neither of us know) made.  Lo and behold, it’s the same dip.  Then if that wasn’t random enough, Darby of Fly Through Our Window posted it Sunday, so we decided, there is someone out there that just needs this recipe (tweaked a little, per elaney):

Feta Black Bean Dip
Serves 10
1/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 {15 oz} cans of black beans, drained and rinsed
2 {15 oz} cans of Shoepeg corn, drained and rinsed
1 bunch of scallions, chopped
1 bunch of cilantro, chopped
1 {4 oz} block feta cheese, crumbled

Whisk sugar, vinegar and oil in a large bowl. Add the black beans, corn, scallions, cilantro, and feta and mix well. Chill until serving time. Serve with tortilla chips or corn chips.

We’re finishing up Restaurant Week / Things We Like in ATL (and the random Bachelorette non sequitur) with The New Deal that you need to FDR (find and download rapidly).  Scout Mob!  Have you heard?! It is like a bargain hunter (who wants to be in the know)’s dream!  Get it as an iphone app or as email alerts, Scout Mob hooks you up with great deals at cool spots that locals love.  No 20% off at Brio up in here.   See ya later 2 for 1 apps at The Palm.  Hasta La Vista free Spinach dip at Houston’s.  50% off at Carroll Street Cafe, Wasabi, Paul’s, and the Tap?!  Don’t mind if we do!

Scout Mob started in ATL and is now in NYC too.  It is awesome!  Enjoy.

All good ladies of leisure know that turning meals into verbs is one of the easiest ways to increase the appearance of your social adeptness.  You dine, you lunch, and on your fabulous weekends out, you brunch.  Brunch food es muy delicioso and hard not to do good, but that doesn’t mean some don’t do it better than others.  Our two favorite brunch spots are Highland Bakery (casual, hipster, but literally the most delicious, melt in your mouth breakfast EVER) and Murphy’s (traditional brunch fare, Highlands staple, and a great fancy brunch mimosa atmosphere).  Be ready to wait at both locales, but they are so worth it!   And yet, the list of ATL brunch spots go on and on…so we want to know, Ria’s, West Egg, what’s your pick?!