Mar. 2nd, 2007

threeplusfire: (UT sunset)
1. Where do you want to settle, and why?

For years, all I wanted to do was get away from Texas. The knowledge that I couldn't go to my Ivy League dream school without mortgaging my soul was a hard blow. I thought that all I really wanted was to be far, far away from here. Over the last seven years, that's changed quite a bit. I've been to some other places and been very far away. I fell in love with Prague, and the Czech Republic like it was the second home to my soul. But Texas, she always calls to me. months down the line, I could feel that insistent tug. I missed the wide open skies, the hills of my home here in Central Texas, the long flat road up to the north, highway 71 on the way to Houston, the smell of asphalt and dust and rain in late May when the tornado comes, the familiar roads and trees of here. When I grew older, I learned to love the place I came from for better or worse. Ultimately, I'd want to live here in a house with old live oaks in the yard. (But in the most perfect of all worlds, I'd have a house in the Czech Republic too, where I could go and spend part of the year.)

2. What is your favorite thing about living in Texas?

Besides the unbeatable deliciousness of Tex-Mex, the lack of state income tax, the fickle weather, the extremely diverse number of wild things, the beautful lakes and rivers, the strange dry West, the live oak trees, Shiner, Blue Bell Ice Cream, Austin, the world's largest urban bat colony, state troopers in mirrored sunglasses and cowboy hats, the second largest capitol building in the nation, the University of Texas, Amy's Ice Cream, the Renaissance festival, the accents, the kindness of strangers, the ability to constant see live music, the ghost stories, the wildflowers... ? Honestly, the thing I love most here is the way the sky looks. It doesn't seem the same anywhere else. Between Heaven and Texas is what I'm talking about.

3. What is the thing you most like about yourself?

I hope that I am a good friend. I have not always been in the past, and that is one of the few things I can point to with regret in my life. I think the thing I like most about myself is my ability to do whatever I have to do for my people, whether that means jumping on a plane or sitting there to listen or finding a solution for a problem. Maybe even more so than this, I have a pretty crazy capacity to care despite my cynical nature. I try to love my friends without reserve, even when they make me nuts. (*cough*even when they spend all their time playing WoW and never call me*ahem*)

Also, I have fantastic green eyes. They are a neat color. I wouldn't trade those for anything.

4. If you had a pet, what kind would you want and why?

That is hard! Right now, all I've been wanting is a big German Shepard to play chase, roll over so I can rub its belly, and be trained to protect me and eat the bad guys. I grew up with German Shepards, and sometimes I miss the security of their presence. But I also miss having cats, for their craziness and fickle moods.

In the right now - a cat because I'm apartment living. But one day, I'll have a place with a yard and get that dog.

5. Are you crafty? If so, what can you do?

Not especially. I don't seem to have a talent or patience for making things. My mother, however, she's good. When she was pregnant with me, my grandmother taught her how to crochet and she makes the most amazing things. I wish I had the same skill. The only thing I do that could be considered vaguely crafty is baking. I make a killer chocolate strawberry pie, and I've been working on my cake making skills in the past several months. (My chocolate pecan praline cake seems to be a success, though I think I'll make different icing next time.)
threeplusfire: (pie)
So here is quick and easy chocolate pecan praline cake. I will fully admit to using cake mixes, because they are reliable. The trick to cake mixes is to never follow the box directions and always monkey with them. Think of them as conveniently packaged dry stuff. In my experience of baking, I have yet to notice any substantial difference between a cake made with a mix and a cake made with dry ingredients I gathered up myself.

Prepackaged frosting, while disgusting appealing sometimes, remains however a sinful thing not to be used. Make your own frosting. It is not hard.

onward to cake )

Now as far as frosting - the original recipe from Anne Byrn recommended a sweet cream icing. While this is fluffy and nice, I'm not convinced it is a perfect match for the cake. I am thinking the next one I make will have a have a carmel frosting or glaze. Here are icing ideas.

Sweet cream )

Caramel frosting )

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