I haven’t danced or witness a dance circle since middle school. Dance circles were ALL the rage in middle school. Mainly because I went to a private Catholic school and the circle prevented the nuns from seeing the freaking going on in the middle of the circle. Not very wholesome, my middle school. However! I witnessed my first dance circle as an adult and it was pretty wholesome! I noted a fun phenomenon. If you build a decently sized dance circle, it will invite strangers to join your little dance party. If you build it, dancers will come. It’s true. Anyway, here’s my video proof. The preview screen shot is of my man, breaking it down.

Today is my third consecutive day of partaking in VEDA (Vlog Every Day in August), here’s my video for this morning. It was very very rushed. I did it in one take and did not bother editing even slightly. I talk about things I’m bad at.

I’m going to Houston for the weekend. I’m not quite sure how to pull off this VEDA thing without Internet access. I may rope Kim and Cindy into letting me use their Internet and also starring in a vlog! I haven’t told them yet…Hoping they won’t see this blog post til after I call them later today. I always love my weekends in Houston. Good food, good people, mommy hugs. Good for my soul. I also get to add to the 4 restaurants already backlogged for my food blog.

Current book: A Man without a Country by Kurt Vonnegut.

Random excerpt: “The biggest truth to face now – what is probably making me unfunny now for the remainder of my life – is that I don’t think people give a damn whether the planet goes on or not. It seems to me as if everyone is living as members of Alcoholics Anonymous do, day by day. And a few more days will be enough. I know of very little people who are dreaming of a world for their grandchildren.”

Two of my dear high school friends, Alex & Hillary are coming for the weekend. We’re going to camp out on my living room floor. On our agenda for sure: booty shaking. All else will be decided on whim. :) Cannotwait.

Here’s a pic of the three of us from November. I think this is the last time I saw either of them.

I liked this voice mail I got from my friend Davey. Mainly for the mumbled, “I like you.” Shared with permission.

I like him too. It’s not yet my birthday.

On the walk to my car one day this week, I saw a statue hold a balloon and it made me smile.

I’m on a SARK kick. Here’s my loot from the Austin Public Library.

Click for bigger picture

I don’t know if I buy that a squirrel waved at her. I also don’t know if I buy that another squirrel waved at her previously disbelieving brother. I will admit, I might start discreetly waving at the squirrels on campus just to test it out.

My little from Big Brothers & Big Sisters of America has a boyfriend. She tells me they have a lot in common. For instance, when people fall down, they both laugh. They also both like to “do pranks.”

Beef Stroganoff Fail

I made my first marinara sauce from scratch on Wednesday. It was decent. I wasn’t feeling confident with cooking because I royally screwed up my first attempt of beef stroganoff on Sunday. The recipe said to cover and simmer for an hour. I had no idea I was supposed to stir occasionally! The sweet thing is, Alan scraped off some off the top (the edible portion) and actually complimented it! Aww.

1219 South Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78704

www.gourdoughs.com

I had a dinner date at 7pm with a friend yesterday. It’s 2 pm and I’m about to head out so I decided to eat lunch and try to last til 7 to be able to eat dinner. I usually get hungry about 3-4 hours after eating unless I STUFF myself silly. So I did just that and stuffed myself SILLY at around 2pm.

3pm I get a text message from Liz whom I haven’t caught up with in over a YEAR. “Hi, I’m in Austin. Want to grab a midday snack at Gourdough’s?”

Dammit. I made the decision quickly but my stomach was already starting to hurt knowing what I’m about to do to it. I haven’t chatted with my Liz in over a year AND I’ve never been to Gourdoughs. Easy decision at the expense of my stomach. My poor poor stomach.

I met Liz up with her boyfriend and buddies, a party of 7. I find out later that the more people you bring, the better to Gourdough’s. I’ve met some of her friends a few times through the years but the occasions were pretty unremarkable. After eating here with them, they will always be remembered as the fun-loving, food-loving hilarious group that introduced me to Gourdoughs. (4 were regulars, Me, Liz and her boyfriend were neophytes.)

So what is Gourdough’s?

Gourdough’s Big Fat Donuts is a trailer eatery pretty close to my first trailer-food-love, Flip Happy Crepes. What is it about food trailers in Austin? I haven’t been back to Flip Happy in a while because ever since Bobby Flay did a feature on it, it hasn’t been the same. Gourdough’s (in case you don’t know, “gordo” translates to fat in Spanish. Already, this place has charmed me; I have a strong affinity for puns.) is a gourmet donut eatery. Yes, you’ve read right, gourmet. donut. eatery.

Her friend Jon, was giving me the low down on the menu. He said there’s a secret menu that is no longer secret as it’s made it on the paper menu (not pictured). Jon also instructed that once you gain more “experience” you can even order your donut with a side of ice cream (vanilla or chocolate) AND all donuts for an extra dollar you can have meat on it. Otherwise, donuts are just $3.25. He was just there yesterday and said the Porky’s really good. Porky’s is a donut with Canadian bacon, jalapeno jelly, and cream cheese. Did you read that? Go back if you need to. He mentioned a few donuts he’s had. The PB&J one which is donut with grape filling, peanut butter icing with peanut butter morsels sprinkled. The Slowburn with Habanero Pepper jelly with cream cheese. The Flying Pig with bacon and maple syrup.

I cannot wait to try these creative combination of ingredients. For now I will share with you what we’ve shared. We ordered 7 different donuts but I think I left out 2 in my distraction of sheer joy and delight.

Miss Shortcake

Jon’s order. I love the sounds and words that kind of fall out of foodies’ mouths when they eat something SO good. It’s as if they forget they’re not alone and this is truly their most authentic and personal reaction. I believe his reaction was “………God….. this is SO. Freeeesssssshh.” He wasn’t talking to any of us in particular and we all laughed, tickled that we just got a glimpse of a private moment he had to himself. He’s right though. It was pretty damn fresh.

Unknown Donut with Honey Dipping Sauce

Mystery donut makes it’s rounds around the table. There he is with my friend, Liz.

Here’s a sexy close up of mystery donut with honey dipping sauce.

Mother Clucker

Liz ordered the Mother Clucker. A donut with honey butter icing topped with FRIED CHICKEN! This was one of my favorites because I love combining savory with sweet. Moreover, the other 6 of us got sweet donuts so this one was a nice little break in comparison. The crispy chicken on the warm doughy donut was truly comforting. This is definitely going to be one of my regulars when I frequent (note I said “when” and not “if”) Gourdough’s.

Son of a Peach

This is Andy’s order which is from the formerly secret menu! Son of a Peach. So fricking GOOD. My friend Dave is in love with peaches. I’ve already mentally bookmarked this donut to share with him in the future.

Funky Monkey

My order! Donut that comes with grilled bananas, cream cheese icing, and brown sugar baste. It tasted like a banana’s foster on crack. I’m smacking my lips right now as I type this which is a feat as I’m still in physical pain from all the eating I’ve done. I was 110 percent pleased with my order.

Granny’s Pie

Granny’s Pie is crowned with caramel, pecans, bananas, and graham crackers. This was pretty good of course. Really rich. It didn’t completely suit my palate but I’m guessing all fans of pecan pies (all the boys that I know) would love this donut.