Thursday, May 28, 2015

Cheesy French Toast Friendship

If you landed on this blog post from a thumbnail photo you saw of a bunch of cheese on french toast and now you're planning on thinking "that looks disgusting" the whole time you're reading this, you're probably not alone. But hey--can't knock it until you try it! This Memorial Day weekend marks the 1-year anniversary of when my supercool roommate Merry and I moved in together. So naturally, we decided to make cheesy french toast.


Last year, we had just finished moving everything up the 3 flights of stairs to our apartment, and somehow Merry started talking about this ridiculous recipe she grew up on in Wisconsin. Merry's mom would often put cheese on their french toast. Yes, CHEESE. I know what you're thinking because I thought it too. Why would anybody ruin french toast by putting CHEESE on it?? And why on earth would anybody ruin cheese by putting it on FRENCH TOAST?? But sometimes, when you combine 2 good things, you wind up with something even greater. Enter cheesy french toast.



So we headed over to the store with our friend Meghan to get things to make french toast…and cheese…and came home on a rainy Memorial Day weekend to eat it, sitting in our new living room with no furniture. But we had friendship, and cheese. It's a great memory for us, so now you can all recreate it because I'm giving you the recipe!

Cheesy French Toast
Makes about 6 slices

- 4 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 6 slices bread
- 6 slices sharp cheddar

1. Whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, and vanilla to create batter to cover bread. Dip bread in egg mixture, coating both sides evenly.
2. Cook bread over lightly greased skillet on medium heat until golden brown.
3. Melt slice of sharp cheddar over top.
4. Don't forget the bacon. (It's not technically part of the recipe, but everything is better with bacon.)



Also don't forget the syrup. Mer's mom said she learned how to make french toast this way when she was 7. So, we're not totally sure on the original source for the recipe, but I like to think some brilliant soul in Wisconsin had too much cheese on his hands and came up with this.

I think if they ever reinstate Fear Factor into NBC's nightly lineup, answering affirmatively to "will you eat french toast with cheese on it??" may win somebody a lot of money someday. (We know it sounds weird and looks gross but it's really quite good.) ((Eating bugs on Fear Factor is probably way less enjoyable.)) 








P.S. Thanks to Austin Elliott for doing all the photography in this post and letting me edit 'em and to Merry Tucker for making french toast and letting me eat it and put her recipe on the internet.




Monday, May 11, 2015

She Sells Things

You must have thought I've forgotten about learning. Or that I fell off the face of the planet. Or worse, that I've been trapped on some remote island with no internet access. 

None of those things are true. But if you thought, "Hmm, Ana hasn't blogged in a while. I wonder if she's been busy opening a mini-boutique," you would have been right! Opening a shop has always appealed to me, and I can now officially say that 2015 was the year that I dipped my pinky-toe into the vast pool of business ownership. 



Turns out there are a lot of things to do to open a business--who woulda thought. But I am enjoying the new adventure! I'm carrying a lot of products from Rifle Paper Co. (insert heart-eyes emoji), some magnet boards, wall hangings, lamps, mugs, coasters, and a few other little knick-knacks.



I've already learned things (look at me go!) through this process, and I'm sure I'll continue to learn a ton more. It is helpful and humbling to have an individual like my mom (who has been a small biz. owner for over 20 years) to help me navigate the process for myself. 



So, where is it? I thought you'd never ask! There is a boutique in my hometown called The Market, which my mom has had space in for as long as I can remember. There are a few women who have space in the shop, and everybody has different things, ranging from home furnishings, gifts, clothes, baby clothes (the cutest), accessories, etc. etc. etc. It's pretty hard for me to remember that I'm there to sell things and not buy all the things. 

Now that I've gotten the shop up and running, I should be back to learning things more often. Thanks for sticking with me, guys!


So if you wanna, look up The Market's page on Facebook, and follow @themarketspringfield on Instagram. Also, if you have any products you'd love to see in the shop, send me a note at shelearnsthings(at)gmail(dot)com, and I'll see what I can do! 


Wednesday, February 11, 2015

9 Things Every Girl Wants For Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is in 3 days, people! You might be a girl who doesn't want to hint at what you want for the big holiday. You might be a clueless guy who has no idea what to buy. I've solved all of these problems by posting what all girls are thinking, publicly, on the internet. Here are 9 great gift options any girl would love to receive for V-Day:

1. Candy


All girls love Conversation Heart candies, and there are several perks to buying them. The first perk is if either guy or gal is a terrible conversationalist. Ta-daaaa! Instantly fixed. Say, for example, you choose a heart that says "Cutie Pie." It's a 2-for-1! You can either talk about A. How that girl/guy is a cutie, or B. Your mutual love for pie. 
Sidebar: Don't expect a girl to eat the candy hearts because everybody knows they taste like TUMS, but hopefully she'll at least take a photo of them to put on her Instagram feed.

2. Notes


Notes are undeniably thoughtful, and girls love to receive them. Bonus points if you write her a love song. Or a haiku. 

3. Chocolate



It is a universally-recognized concept that women love chocolate. Capitalize on it! And act quickly because the chocolate in Walmart's Valentine's aisle is going like the rapture. 

4. Flower


Buy the lady a flower! Or, y'know, a dozen flowers. She will undoubtedly Instagram these if you fail on the candy front.

5. Coffee


Since we're all agreed that coffee is the best thing ever invented, your girl will obviously love this gift. For the gift that keeps on giving, you might consider buying a coffee *gift* card (although perhaps you should combine this with an actual date, too.) You could take her on a coffee date for Valentine's Day, or if you're a real overachiever, you could buy her a whole coffee shop! (I recommend knowing a little about business ownership/the coffee industry before taking the plunge on that last option.)

6. Hamburgers 


If your girl doesn't have a huge sweet-tooth, you could get her burgers for Valentine's Day. I highly recommend this option for anybody trying to date me.

7. Office Supplies


The best gifts are thoughtful. Show her you support her career! Why do guys always ask girls out by buying them fancy martinis, anyway? Buy me something useful and lasting, like a stapler. I would appreciate that more, and I've been meaning to buy one.

8. Cat Food


All women like cats. (Right???) So, if you want your lady to know you care about her, care about the things SHE cares about. Like her cat. And buying him food. You could save her a whole $12.78! Plus, if she knows you can take care of her cat, it will give her more confidence that you can take care of her.  

9. A Boyfriend



Every girl wants a boyfriend for Valentine's Day. Give me a boyfriend, or give me carbs!