Mellie Dee

Inaugural 2011 Houston Beer Fest

August 1, 2011 by Mellie Dee Leave a Comment

I was looking through my pictures on my camera and realized … I never wrote about my beer fest experience! So here I am more than a month later, writing it.

I’ve been wanting to go to a beer fest since I’ve heard about it and when Houston was going to have one I begged Sissy, Mum, and June to go but everyone ignored me.

It wasn’t until Groupon had a deal. Thank you, Groupon. Only Sissy, Mum, and I ended up going though. But many people were in the Groupon line. Oy vey.

It was set at Hermann Square Park – worst place to have a beer fest with the amount of people around. There was not enough standing space and it was freaking hot out. People started standing in the pond and the security kept trying to get them out. They started to give up trying to get them out though.

Each of our tickets came with 10 free drinking stubs which was pretty sweet. For my first tasting, I got an amazing New Belgium Fat Tire. Sadly, our first tasting was also our last.

By the time we made our way around to the other booths .. all the beer were out. All that was left were the usual beers that you drink when you don’t want to buy anything expensive. It was a waste of money because experiencing a beer fest is to try stuff you never would. Sigh …

We ended up just pigging out on samosas, Asian food, pineapple drink, funnel cake, sausage on a stick, curly fries, and sweet tea.

We paid for all our food except for the teas which was paid for by tickets. We gave the rest of our tickets to some stranger that just came in. I hope he had more fun than us.

I understand this is their first ever Beer Fest here in Houston so I’m not mad at how it turned out. I just wished they thought this through more. They have to know that Houston goes crazy wild with drinking. Especially when you put it on Groupon or Living Social or any other site to help promote your event … you’re going to be getting A LOT of customers.

I hope next year it’ll be better. But now I can cross it off my Bucket List! and tell everyone I’ve been to an inaugural beer fest. Winking smile

I probably won’t go to one for a really long time here in Houston … maybe a few years when they know for sure how things go.

I know they’ll be having a wine fest though so … if you guys are interested, go check it out. It’s in September I believe and they should know how things go now.

Recipe | Honey Poppy Seed Cake

August 1, 2011 by Mellie Dee 5 Comments

How is it already AUGUST?! Summer, please stay a bit longer!

Sunday, after Skyping with Sissy and BIL, Mum and I felt like baking. I’m sure it had to do with the fact that they were cooking dinner and we wanted to eat as well.

Honey Poppy Seed Cake

Ingredients:

oil or melted butter, for greasing
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup superfine sugar
6 Tbsp honey
3 eggs, beaten
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 Tbsp poppy seeds
2 Tbsp lemon juice

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 325°. Grease a loaf cake pan.
Sift flour and baking powder into a large bowl. Add in butter, sugar, 4 Tbsp of honey, eggs, and vanilla extract.
Beat until mixture is smooth. Stir in poppy seeds and lemon juice.
Pour mixture into the pan and smooth the surface. Bake in preheated oven for 40-50 minutes or until risen and golden brown. (Ours baked for a little longer about 1 hour and 10 minutes until it set. So all ovens vary. Trial and Error!)
Let cool in pan for 20 minutes, then turn out carefully and finish cooling on wire rack. To serve, warm remaining 2 Tbsp of honey and drizzle over cake then cut and serve.

I cut you a piece! Come and have tea and cake with me! I’ll be waiting.

Lasagna House III | Houston, Texas

July 31, 2011 by Mellie Dee Leave a Comment

For lunch, Saturday, Mum, June, and I went to the:

Lasagna House III
13306 Westheimer Road,
Houston, TX
(281) 496-9114

You get free Garlic Bread. Pretty much all you can eat.

The same goes for the Salad. They even let you pick your own choice of dressing.

Stuffed Jalapenos [jalapeno peppers stuffed with cream cheese, lightly breaded and deep fried] | $5.99

These were 100% better than the ones we got from Red Oak Grill. Their marinara sauce that came with it was divine. I dipped some garlic bread in it. Yum!

Cannelloni Meat [large pasta tubes stuffed with meat, topped with Pomodoro Sauce and shredded mozzarella and baked] | $10.99

They went heavy on the cheese which I ended up ripping off and giving to Mum. Even with the missing layer of cheese, the layer of chopped up meat makes the dish. They gave so much that I had a lot of leftovers.

After lunch, we went to the new Whole Foods at Montrose. We all felt like a kid in a candy shop and bought a lot of unnecessary goodies.

I channeled my inner child and watched Sharpay’s Fabulous Adventure. She goes to New York to audition for Broadway and ends up finding out the part was for her dog, Boy. I will admit that even though her voice is all squeaky and such, the movie itself was very sweet and I ended up liking it more than I thought I would.

Hope you guys had a great weekend!!

Best Friday All Summer

July 30, 2011 by Mellie Dee 2 Comments

I’ve been eating a lot of OOIAJ because it’s so easy to take to work. Seriously … if you were to have asked me last month if I would like eating oats, my answer would be “NO WAY JOSE!” But now, I’m a lover of oats, only if it’s in this form. Especially when it’s mixed with vanilla yogurt, almond milk, peanut butter, Nutella, and lots of blueberries. Yum!

Speaking of work, I finally finished the project I was assigned to, yesterday! Then Michelle H. came in and discussed America’s debt.

And so my rant begins. I wish the government took the time to track where the financial aid and loans they give out are being used for. I see so many college students using it to buy fancy things and go on vacations instead. They were somehow able to cheat the government which isn’t fair to others who really need it.

Then there are people who choose not to work and ask for food stamps instead. Some even have multiple kids knowing well enough they cannot take care of them just so they can receive more welfare. It’s just not fair for those that truly need it. End rant.

Rose, Karen, and Katherine came to visit the office then I left work early for a late lunch with them at Cheddar’s. Karen is such a delight. I love her! I was sad when we all had to leave. But a little happy I didn’t have to head back to the office.

Michelle, Nicole, Stephanie

Later that night I went over to Michelle’s house. (A different Michelle than Michelle H. … just to be clear.) There are five recliners in their movie room and the closet inside that room are filled with loads and loads of DVDs, home videos, and devices where you can buy movies instantly and watch them. Oh, how technology has changed.

There’s even a popcorn machine in the corner! Michelle’s dad came upstairs to make us some to eat while we watched a movie.

They even have these little bowls with a separator at the bottom to make the kernels fall through. So dang genius!

And the jumbo screen for your viewing pleasure!

Luckily, we did not watch Insidious because I told them that if they did I would pee my pants and never hang out with them again.

Michelle’s Dog, Jake

We ended up watching Limitless where he takes a pill and ends up doing impossible things. In the end of the movie, Bradley Cooper speaks Chinese which kind of butchers the whole movie for me, but it was still a pretty great movie.

Michelle’s Kitties, Dexter and Tigger

When I got home a little after one in the morning, I watched My Future Boyfriend before heading to bed. Barry Watson’s character travels back in time from year 3000 something to find out what love, passion, sex, etc. is since, in their year, there is no such thing.

I think I can say this Friday was the best Friday all summer yet! Open-mouthed smile

WINNER for My Very First Giveaway!

July 29, 2011 by Mellie Dee Leave a Comment

Thanks to everyone that participated!! This giveaway spiked my views all the way up as well as the most comments on a post. That sounds kinda horrible, huh?

I wish I could give everyone a $30 gift card to Whole Foods but I’m a broke college student. Don’t worry though. I see more giveaways in the future.

“Shut up and tell me the winner already, Melissa! Geeze …”

Okay, okay. Drum roll, please!

Congratulations to Tiffany from Texan on the Run! Email me your name and address and I’ll send it on your way! You have til Monday night to reply or else … onto the next winner!!