Prizes, Pizza and Pound Cake

I have 3 things to talk about, so get comfortable.

In light of our fast food protest, I have become a virtual Martha Stewart. In fact, I don't even recognize myself anymore!!!

I wake up in the morning thinking about what I am going to make that day. I make meal plans, I defrost, I plan leftovers, I look for new exciting recipes on the Internet, I even make a dessert daily.

Which brings me to the world's best pound cake. My mother and I were going through a binder that her Aunt Laverne had given her. Laverne had made a copy of all the recipes that her granddaughter had gotten at her wedding shower. Some of them were quite strange, but one caught our eye, The World's Best Pound Cake. As I read through the ingredients, my mother checked her cabinets. We had everything, so we decided to give it a try. Let me tell you, it was truly the best pound cake I've ever tried! And so very easy to make. Here's the recipe.

1 c. butter softened

2 c. sugar

2 eggs

2 c. flour

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1 c. sour cream

Preheat oven to 375. Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt. Gradually, mix dry ingredients with the wet ingredients. Add sour cream. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan and bake for 1 hour. Let cool and enjoy!

I have been making this all week! Emerson likes it for breakfast with hot chocolate, in her lunch and for dessert. ( I do have to say that it goes really well with coffee in the morning.)

Now, pizza.

Last year, we went to the Jimmy Buffett concert in Wisconsin. After the concert, we ended up at a small bar to sing a little karaoke. I was drunk, and extremely hungry, so my friend Jerry ordered a pizza from the bartender. (there was no kitchen at this bar) I watched how she grabbed a frozen pizza and put it in a small pizza oven located on the top of the bar in between pouring drinks. She brought the pizza over and I have to say that it was the best pizza I'd ever had. Matt didn't get to have any because it had sausage on it (he's allergic to pork) and they didn't have plain cheese.

The next morning, I mentioned it to my friend David and his father and they said it must have been "________". I sort of heard the name, but not really, I figured that I would recognize it when I saw it at the grocery store.

For the past year, I have tried every frozen pizza they offer in Chicago. None of them were the pizza I had that night. Matt was convinced that because I had spent the whole day drinking and didn't eat anything, that of course it was going to be the best I'd ever had. It's sort of his "Give a starving man a Saltine and he'll think it's a Ritz" theory.

I never called David to ask him what the name of the pizza was, I don't know why, it seemed trivial and every time I saw him, it slipped my mind.

Fast forward one year. Matt and I took the girls up to David's house and then his family and our family went to the Walworth County fair. We had a wonderful time and as soon as I get some new batteries for the camera, I'll post some pictures.

We started to leave the fair, and it dawned on me to ask for the name of the pizza.

EMIL'S!!!!!! And it's sold at the Sentry!!!! ( a grocery store in Wisconsin)

Everyone packed up their cars and David led us to the nearest Sentry. There they were! I felt like Indiana Jones when he found the Ark, except when I opened the freezer door, it didn't melt my face.

We bought 4 and I made 2 of them on Monday night. Definitely how I remembered them! Even Matt said they were in fact a Ritz and not a Saltine!

Now, David and I have a deal. Whenever Emil's is on sale, he will grab a bunch for me and I in turn will do the same for him when the Jewel brand pizzas go on sale in Chicago.

Now, Prizes.

I have received 2 prestigious awards this week and I won a giveaway.

The first one is from Sparkle Farkle. Thank you very much.

This one has rules.

1. Each Superior Scribbler I name today must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving bloggy friends.

2. Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.

3. Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to THIS POST, which explains The Award.

4. Each blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post http://randomthoughts-tammy.blogspot.com/2009/08/good-better-best-never-let-it-rest-till.htmland add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives this prestigious honor.

5. Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.

Here are the lucky recipients.

1. In The Trenches

2. Our Life's Journey

3. In My Mind It's Always Funny

4. Well Okay, Sassy Britches

5. My Side of The Story

The second one is from a brand new friend Brownies for Breakfast (She love pin ups too)

I had a hard time picking for this one, so it goes to all my followers. (Not a follower? It's not too late to join to cool kids)

I also won the book giveaway from Jenny and the Princess Peonies, but that deserves a post all it's own.

Go over and visit these three very special ladies, you won't be disappointed.

Finally, I would like answer ChicagoLady's questions that were left on Matt's blog.

Yes, it is more of a "no fast food chain" protest that we are doing.

First, It is not that the food tastes better at a local hot dog stand than it does at Portillo's. It's something that we feel is important. Matt and I are huge Route 66 enthusiasts and support local businesses in whatever town we are in. What is the point of going down the Mother Road, looking at all the places that were shut down because of the highway, and then going to McDonald's?

Second, We feel that the food just isn't good. A french fry from McDonald's that is dropped behind a child's car seat looks exactly the same one month after it was bought. How is that OK?

Third, During this economic crisis, we just aren't eating out as much and I would rather spend my money on something I would really enjoy and not because it's convenient.

I hope this answered your questions and you can support our decision.