thursday things – how to up your watermelon game and the best things i ate in july

Another Thursday has arrived, my friends, and we must embrace it before it goes again!

Hopefully you were able to indulge in National Cheesecake Day. If you don’t have time to make your own, get to the Cheesecake Factory stat! They have half price off their cheesecake slices today (the catch – it’s “dine-in only”) and their lemon meringue cheesecake looks crazy fun.

CCF_Lemon_Meringue_lo_res

Just look at it!

Meanwhile, here’s how I’ve spent the last week…

Part of the week was spent covered in dust. Because we live in the desert.

Why would someone want to live in the desert? You got me there, I haven’t the foggiest idea who the first person was who got to Phoenix and said, “Hey! Let’s build a big city here so everyone can be hot and miserable and covered in dust! Sounds great!”

I spent way too much time laughing way too hard at this video of goats. Goats are like the new cats of the internet. You heard it here first, people.

Chef Thomas Keller was on NPR’s ‘Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me‘ last weekend.

Apparently, Americans have stopped buying cereal, among other things.I can only assume that’s because they haven’t heard of this stuff yet (Which, though delicious, just tastes a lot like peanut butter crunch. So if you can’t find it, don’t fret, just pick up some PB Crunch and be on your way!):

jif cereal

Don’t worry, cereal industry, I’m here for you. I will fall for all your fad cereal tricks. Don’t worry <3.

The age-old question of – “Can you cook a steak with lava?” was answered…

Oh, you never wondered about that? Well, now you know.

I learned that cutting watermelons is way easier than I’ve been making it look all these years… I can’t wait to completely destroy a watermelon when I attempt to do this one myself.

I’ve found yet another useless item that I need to aid me in dipping all my Oreos… My favorite part is that it will only work for Oreos (and their knock-off wanna be counterparts) making it a truly and completely inexcusable purchase.

oreo dipper

South Korean activists are sharing the love with their northern neighbors by sending them airborne chocopies.

I’ve decided to start calling donuts “sugar bagels” and gloves are henceforth known as “finger pants.” Thank you.

Oh, and this evil genius made a sugar bagel pie! I can feel my adult onset diabetes kicking in just looking at it…

donut pie

And China is trying to reignite its people’s passion for peaches. With sexy undergarments.

Best Things I Ate in July 

With the end of the Whole 30 and my ability to enjoy real food again and a trip to San Deigo – What were the best things I ate this month?

For starters, this creamy burrata from Grassroots Kitchen in Phoenix, AZ.  Served with dressed arugula, spicy tomato jam, and toasted (but not too toasted) ciabatta this stuff is like the nectar of the gods, people!  Other items on the menu that tantalized my taste buds included their brisket sliders and their baby back ribs, which were beyond tender and oh-so-delicious.

burrata

This panzanella salad with toasted country bread, heirloom tomato, aged salami, feta, banana peppers, caper berries, red onion, balsamic vinaigrette from Craft & Commerce in San Diego, CA… which had me practically licking the plate clean.

craft and commerce

This enormous apple fritter (which is also available with bacon!) from Donut Bar in San Diego, CA.

fritter

These Dang chips (haha- THEY’RE REALLY CALLED “DANG”) But seriously, they’re crunchy, sweet, and salty all rolled into one delightful snack.

DANG CHIPS

 

4 thoughts on “thursday things – how to up your watermelon game and the best things i ate in july

  1. here’s the thing: i kinda hate the Cheesecake factory for everything, but i love how precise their cheesecake offerings are sliced. Do they cut them with a laser?! I want to duplicate it. i WILL duplicate that cheesecake above.
    you do have to question the sanity of the early Phoenix settlers, yes? Because the minute i saw one of those badasses rolling my way? I’m out
    baby. goats: they rule my world. they’re one of the only things which takes my mind off the sadness of the cereal crisis. WTF, America?!? In a war between meat and cereal, i pick cereal every time.
    Peach butts, donut pie, and i seriously, SERIOUSLY need you to recreate that panzanella salad on the blog please. if you won’t do it i’ll have to do it, but i don’t have firsthand tasting knowledge.

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