Skates and Laces

So I signed up to try out for Roller Derby about 3 weeks ago, and didn't hear anything back yet about it.. So last night I signed up again, just to be sure that the form actually sent...
Today I found a Google Group specifically FOR the 2010 tryouts for BAD(Bay Area Derby), and then I realized that maybe my sign up form really DIDN'T send.. Which would be very depressing, let me tell ya.. There was a list posted on the site with names of girls in the pre-tryout training classes.. And my name wasn't on it.. And it was posted on the 8th or so of may.
A sad moment in the history of Cheryl. Especially since I just spent nearly $400 on skates and gear.. BUT! I'm not going to give up! I'm going to visit my brother one of these weekends, and he's going to teach me how to stop, and how to fall! And then we'll go over all the fun stuff, such as whips, hip checks, and blocks.
I'm not going to let anything deter me.

I put on my new skates yesterday after Kyle so graciously changed the wheels from indoor to outdoor for me.. Ok, I actually put on only one. And I let myself glide across the garage for not but a moment and it was all bad. I was only wearing one skate, and I still lost control and flew backwards! Luckily, no one saw the windmill debacle, but the fact remains that I need to learn some control.

So, I got my skates at Cruz Skate Shop. Word is they are the best place to get some quads, and they also have skate boards and accessories. So, for future reference, I wear a size 6 skate, which makes my foot look like a bound chinese woman's feet when I'm wearing my jeans over them. Because my arms are small and wrists are abnormally tiny, I wear small elbow pads, and small wrist guards. And my knee pads are medium, much like my helmet.
I'm really rather excited about it. I got toe guards that are orange, and my mouth guard is orange.. I almost got a brown and orange helmet, but it came in every size BUT mine. Lame potatoes.. So I got a black one with yellow clasps. :)

Can you tell I'm excited? I've got some derby fever in my veins.. I keep thinking about my friend, Lisa Z, who plays for the Cherry City Derby Girls. She's apparently a very good player, according to my brother and twin sister, who have seen her bout. She's the one who really introduced me to derby, even though all she did was talk about it. But Lisa has a passion about derby that is unquenchable, and she cannot say enough good things about it. And after all that, she would add, 'You should do it.' And I would think- I'm not tough enough.
I still tell myself, and get told, that I'm not tough enough.. Especially by my coworkers, who have seen me knock my knee against a counter and say OUCH. They're pretty sure I won't make it onto a team, much less to the tryouts. But I'm pretty determined to do this. It looks like everyone has a ton of fun, even though they are competing against each other and knocking each other onto the floor. Plus, I've never played a competitive sport on an actual team before. I've never played ANY sport before.. I played Tennis at DVC, but it was just a beginners class.. And when I was growing up, Carl would use me as a goalie when he'd play roller hockey, and he once tried to teach me how to play baseball.. I was never very good at it.. I'd miss even when a T Ball was in front of me.. Kind of pathetic, huh?
So needless to say being a part of Roller Derby would be something entirely different for me. Something that I have never experienced, in any point of looking at it. In any case, it makes for a great story.
And I can't WAIT to try out! Even though I totally suck right now.

Oh, Evil Shenanigans, when are you coming back to the bay so you can smack me around for such bad form?

WHAT? No Pastizzi Yet??

Well, the plan was to make Pastizzi as my recipe of the week.. Suffice to say that plan didn't work out. I wanted to, and I still want to, but it's been put on hold for now. Instead, I made Zucchini Alfredo and Wheat French Baguettes. Super delicious! I love to bake, I realized, although I am impatient to wait for the dough to rise. Sad days. Altogether, this dinner cost about $20. I was pretty impressed.

The zucchini alfredo was a little bland for my liking. The cream sauce was made using milk and cream cheese, which is a variation I've never used before. Thickened up very quickly, and adding Parmesan on top of the dish really gave it a bite that made the whole plate more enjoyable, but it was still pretty boring. Next time I'll use powdered garlic as it is more potent in a sauce than fresh minced garlic can be sometimes. I didn't cook the zucchini long enough, so they were a  little crisp, as were the onions I added, but I think I liked it that way. I'm not a fan of soggy veggies, really. Not in pasta. Plus, making things soggy cooks all the nutrients out anyway, so it's better to have them a little crisp.

The baguettes were a hit with the roommate! The recipe was simple and easy. Although, I didn't have any white flour or sugar, so I had to substitute wheat flour and splenda. Still super delicious! Light, fluffy, and amazing. Although, I messed up this recipe, too. I didn't pay close enough attention to the directions, and put the egg yolk in the batter instead of using it as a glaze to make the crust crunchy. My bad! Definitely didn't compromise the bread, though, because it still turned out great. Just not as crispy as it should have been, but I like my bread soft inside and out. :)


The other night my sister, Tabitha, came over spontaneously, and I had to make her something to eat. It's just how I am, someone comes over, I have to make them dinner. Kind of strange, but I love doing it! So I asked what she wanted, and she said she wasn't really that hungry. So I asked my roommate, Chris, and he said that Enchilada's sounded pretty good. SO! Off to the store we went, grabbing all the ingredients and a few other items we needed. Altogether spending about $35 on the food.

We got home and made the Chicken Enchiladas. Tabitha and I decided early on to substitute the cole slaw dressing they suggest you use for the filling for sour cream. I'm pretty sure a cole slaw dressing would have made it sweet, and I've never heard of a sweet enchilada. Ever. Turned out the sub was a really good idea! We took a bite, and we all about died of food joy. They were that good!
It's a pretty easy recipe, although if you're a beginner, the directions don't tell you when to preheat the oven or when to cook the chicken if you bought it raw. Cook the chicken first, and preheat second. Then follow the rest of the directions, otherwise you'll end up waiting for everything and will have wasted at least 10 minutes of your time.
DELICIOUS recipe, I suggest you try it out. But, definitely use sour cream instead of cole slaw dressing... It just sounds like an inter-racial joke waiting to happen.. Cole slaw is Dutch or something isn't it? Doesn't bode well with Mexican cuisine..

Don't forget to suggest some recipes for me to make! I don't care if you don't cook, if you ate something and liked it, and want to see me try it, let me know! So far we have Pastizzi, and a friend suggested Miso Soup. I'm also not opposed to friends suggesting dishes for me to make that want to come over specifically for that meal. Let me know!

Food Challenge, Perhaps?

Many years ago I discovered a love for food. A few years ago, I discovered that I love to make food as well. I've recently become very curious about what my limits are when it comes to the kitchen. I know I can bake, roast, saute, boil, steam, stir, and barbecue. But can I flambe, stew, grill, fry, smoke, or braise?

That's exactly what I intend to find out!

Over the next year or so, maybe more, I'm not really sure, I would like to make one new recipe a week. Maybe more than one a week, I'm not really sure. I don't want to bite off more than I can chew, you know?

So now I extend an invitation to you.

I'm absolutely certain that I am going to run out of ideas for new things to make. So, if you have a recipe that you would like to share, or know of a recipe that you would like to see me TRY, let me know! I'm fair game!

I think my first recipe to try will be...

Maltese Pastizzi!

The inspiration for this particular recipe originates from my best friends, Ryan and Laura. Laura has grandparents who immigrated from Malta, and her Nana makes Pastizzi from scratch for all her children and grandchildren, and Ryan loves to eat it.

I don't think I could ever make it as well as she does, because she has many years of experience. But that's what makes all of this such an exciting adventure! To test the waters and make an attempt at something new!

I've heard it's really hard to make.. But I'm up for the challenge!

Bring on the Pastizzi!!