Cook-Out vs. Five Guys

I usually try to make VERY healthy food choices. Soy milk, yogurt, and coffee creamer. I will only buy local eggs, bread, jams, produce, and honey from my favorite little market. I eat less meat. I devour books about the food industry like I devour Mission Home Bakery German chocolate cupcakes. But sometimes I'm bad. Really bad.

Truth? I kind of love an occasional trip to Five Guys. For all my preaching about industrialized beef and fast food and GOOD GOD ALL THE GREASE, about three times a year I need a giant styrofoam cup of fries. I feel like death afterwards, but for about 20 minutes, it's worth it.

And last night was one of those nights when a burger was a good idea, when the husband and I decided to see what all the fuss was about on Emmet Street. C'ville has plenty of Five Guys locations. But Cook-Out, the North Carolina chain, recently opened. The parking lot and drive-thru were so busy, they had a guy directing traffic. We were barely inside the door and the line kept growing. Thankfully, we were handed a menu and were able to make our choices before reaching the counter (though, if they had an automated way to place orders, we're sure things would go A LOT faster -- take note, owners). I pounced on a table vacated by some UVa undergrads (who populated the place) and patiently waited for my food.

Our order? A Cheddar Style burger (with cheddar, grilled onions, mayo, and bacon), a Cook-Out Style burger (chili, slaw, mustard, and onions), fries, a large Cheerwine, and a chocolate shake (my apologies for a lack of photos).

The verdict? Five Guys wins.

The fries were good and better than most fast food fries, but in no way compare to what Five Guys shovels into that brown paper bag. Ketchup was Heinz (WIN), but in packets which are difficult to open with greasy fingers. My burger was a little heavy on the onions and so hot I almost burned my mouth. I felt a little forced to order one of the speciality burgers, when I would've rather picked my own toppings. I don't know if this was because of the crowd or the reputation. The husband (who is about as anti-fast food as I am) even thought a Five Guys burger was better and he almost never goes there. With that said, the chocolate shake was smooth, thick, and just chocolaty enough, and I'd sit in a drive-thru line for another one.

I think we wanted to like it more than we did. Maybe once the mad rush dies down, we'll give it another shot. Yes, it's cheaper than Five Guys, but you get what you pay for, and honestly? I'd rather pay double at Five Guys.

Frustrations

I am a public school teacher, and I am frustrated. I am frustrated with the state making cuts and demanding more tests. I am frustrated with focusing on essential knowledge versus essential understandings because last time I checked, learning was essential. I'm frustrated with the amount of pressure I feel at every corner I turn, every day, with every face I see. I am frustrated that I can't leave my job AT my job, that I think about what I need to do when I shower in the morning and before I go to bed at night. I'm frustrated that I feel like I'm no longer doing what I thought I was getting into, which was making students happy when they read. I'm frustrated when I'm surrounded by negativity. I'm frustrated that I'm a completely different person during the school year than I know I REALLY am. I'm frustrated with the coddling we're forced to do. I'm frustrated that failure isn't an option (because it's not for me). I'm frustrated that I'm forced to care about test scores and graduation rates and diploma types when honestly, I don't give a shit about any of that.

I'm there for my students. My students who are crying over boys and girls. My students who are hungry. My students who want to learn, but are faced with difficulties I cannot imagine facing every damn day. My students who want to learn for the sake of learning. My students who are so smart, but can't afford to continue their education. My students from broken homes. My students who see me as one of the only positives in their lives. My students who bring me fresh flowers from their yards. My students who make me laugh so hard I actually cry during class. And yes, even the students who make me wish the bell would ring sooner. They are my priority.

I need to be at my best for them, day in and day out. And when you have all of those frustrations weighing on you, it's hard to be at your best. It's hard to be cheerful or know the perfect thing to say to the student who is having just as bad a day as you are. It's hard when the frivolities get in the way. It's hard when I don't have time to do the work I need to do because I'm forced to do so many other things, to wear so many other hats that I never thought I'd be forced to wear.

The rewards are great. I know I'm in a noble profession. I know I didn't go into this just so I could say I'm in a noble profession. I know I'm not the only teacher who feels this way. But until some serious changes take place in education, a summer off and two weeks at Christmas are not enough of a reward.

Tina's Cream Puff Dessert

Before I got married, at my bridal shower, my mother gave me a recipe book, and she asked guests to write their favorite recipes on a card so I could have a decent cooking resource. In it, she included a recipe in my grandmother's own handwriting for a sweet and sour coleslaw (my bubba had already passed at this point, so to have something -- anything -- in her handwriting made me incredibly happy). She also included a recipe for a cream puff dessert. These are not individual cream puffs, but cookie sheet worth of fluffy pastry topped with creamy goodness. Of all of Mom's delicious recipes, this was the one she decided to include, and I'm so glad she did (It's even complete with a little heart where the "o" should be in "Mom").

I took this dessert to a lovely afternoon get-together, and per many requests, here is the recipe, copied word-for-word as Mom wrote it.

Cream Puff Dessert

Dough: 1 cup water, 1/2 cup margarine, 1 cup flour, 1/4 tsp. salt, 4 eggs

Heat water & marg to boiling & marg is melted. All at once add flour & salt. Stir till mixture forms a ball & leaves sides of pan. Cool slightly, add 1 egg at a time, mix well, add another egg & repeat till all 4 are mixed. Using a knife spread evenly in a 10x15 pan. Bake 400 [degrees] for 25-30 mins. Remove from oven, pierce bubbles & press down leaving crust around edges. Cool completely.

Filling: 2 pkgs (3 oz size) instant vanilla pudding, 2 1/2 cups cold milk, 8 oz cream cheese

Mix pudding w/milk, add cream cheese, beat 2-3 mins with mixer. Pour over baked shell. Top w/8 oz Cool Whip. Chill.

Drizzle Smuckers MagicShell chocolate sauce over top, it forms a hard chocolate topping. Be creative with it. Keep dessert chilled till ready to serve.

I've made this dessert a few times (I've eaten it COUNTLESS times), and it's always a hit. Be sure the Cool Whip isn't frozen and the dessert has time to chill before serving. Also, I learned today there is a difference between cook and serve Jell-O pudding and instant Jell-O pudding. Trust me, you want to use the instant pudding.

Enjoy!

Springing forward

My birthday weekend getaway was nothing short of delightful! Great hotel (complete with wine and Georgetown Cupcakes upon check-in), delicious food and drink (and there was no shortage of either), and lots of enjoyable time shopping and wandering. It was exactly what I wanted my birthday to be like and nothing disappointed. I also managed to get the manicure and see all the movies before everything was through, too.

The awesome continues, as does March. So far, it has brought:

• a few hangovers
• the return of Sidney Crosby (and Sexhair!)
• March Madness and my bracket (unfortunately, my 'Hoos bowed out during their first game; so did the Mountaineers and I'd be more upset about them if I actually liked their coach even the slightest bit, but since I don't, I'm not shedding any tears)
• 80-degree weather in the Blue Ridge a week after a few inches of snow
• a pretty, flower-filled drive to work
• open windows in the house
• lighter, more vegetarian meals
• sexy dresses and purses and shoes
• new glasses!
• wine-induced hilarity
• a desire to complete major home projects and plan this year's garden
• finally rereading The Hunger Games

Here's hoping the rest of the month is just as good!

Top Five Favorite-Can't-Put-it-Down Reads

Gretchen (@gretchen_stone), one of my long-time friends from my college days, is full of fabulous words and ideas and might have an obsession with shoes. She's great for an absurd discussion, but is also an intellectual. It was all her idea for this post, and I loved the suggestion! She's now hired as my post idea generator.

Without further ado, my top five favorite books I just can't put down.

5. Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by Jon Krakauer

It should come as no surprise that I'd have at least one piece of nonfiction on this list. What was so captivating about this book is that the crime is real, because you cannot imagine something so gruesome happening to someone. It provided a very thorough history of the Mormon faith, and the language was accessible, but not condescending.

4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

It was difficult to choose between the finale and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. But I've read and reread about the Deathly Hallows more than any other book in the series, I think because it seems more...complete than the others. Yes, you need the other six to completely understand all the references at the end, but HP7 so fully embraces friendship, trust, faith, hope, violence, and love that I think it's enough to stand on its own. I can't forget my 14-hour reading marathon finishing it in one sitting and the tears, laughs, and gasps as I turned the pages.

3. Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser

Ah, the book that changed my eating habits for life. This book will gross you out, as it should, but if it means never eating McDonalds again, I can't think of anything better. It's a must-read if you care AT ALL about what you put in your body.

2. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

I have a slight obsession with Holocaust literature, but this is the story that made me sob uncontrollably. However, these were happy sobs and the tears still come every time I read it.

1. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

If I had to be stranded on an island with only one book, this is the one I'd want, hands-down. I could never tire of Ms. Lee's moving story about a child's loss of innocence and a man taking up for his fellow man. It's beautiful.

That's it! What would be on your top five list if you had to choose?