[Commercials That Annoy, Irritate or Outright Enrage]

Okay, I watched the Sofia Vergara head and shoulders commercial again (because clearly I hate myself and desperately need counseling).  She does say, "My baby's all grown up" according to the captioning.  And she is talking to him about how to do well in an interview.  So, it's her son.  It still annoys me to a level of total disgust.  Grabbing his shoulders while he walks and making the kissy face makes me super stabby.  If she reacts this way when he washes his hair, what will she do if he actually accomplishes something more significant? After all, he appears to be grown.  The act of washing his hair with dandruff shampoo, especially when it does not look different than it did prior to using H&S, really does not seem to warrant her excessive reactions.  Can't she just go away now?  She can take her son, their shampoo, diet pepsi, her coffee machine, her overdone accent and her OTT acting with her. 

 

I just hate Sofia Vergara, but I don't care if that's her son.  She's walking a fine line between smothering mother and Sante Kimes. 

 

Okay, I exaggerate  A little. 

[S04.E10: The Final]

i was rooting for Kimberley once Beca was eliminated, because I sort of have a girl crush on her, and I continue to think she was the most consistently good baker after all.  I was absolutely rooting for her after seeing all the finalists' home videos - she and her boyfriend are so adorable, and like someone said upthread, she had the same incredible smile as a child.

 

But, I am okay with Frances winning.  She hung on, keeping true to her own vision while listening to the feedback.  She had mostly good bakes. with some great ones,.  She got the Hollywood handshake.  And while all the wedding cakes were disappointing, I think hers was the best.

 

What I loved about this episode was the garden party with the past contestants!  Rob!  Howard!  Ali!  Christine!  Glenn!  Beca!

 

Beca is absolutely beautiful with her hair down.  She picked Kimberley, which yeah!  Makes me love her all the more.

 

Christine is awesome, I love her too.  I think she picked the winner, no?

 

And Glenn . . . I know he picked Ruby, because the others gave reasons,and he just said "I think it will be Ruby" and then flashed that Glenn smile.  :-)

 

It was all good.  I don't regret having watched a minute of it.

[Say What?: Commercials That Made Us Scratch Our Heads]

He's not complimenting her, he's being a jerk.  I get the impression that everyone he's insulting bullied him back in high school since he stayed younger and smaller than everyone else and now he's getting back at them.

 

True, he's not complimenting her.  He's being a jerk.  But I get the impression it's because he's Peter Pan, and he's a tool.  That's what he does.

I'd still like to see the old gents carry Peter the Asshole into a bathroom by his wedgy and give him a swirly. Little bastard.

Ye-ah!

[S04.E09: Semi-Final]

It's as equally as reductive to assume Ruby's behavior is due to her being so bright, beautiful, and willowy.  I'm sure the whole thing is more complicated than that.

 

And she wasn't silent about Beca's elimination as it related to her.  She was slient during the elimination - they all are.  But her comments after the elimination were most certainly about herself - she was so sure it was going to be her, etc.  Of course no one knows how much was edited out, but that is what came across.

[Commercials That Annoy, Irritate or Outright Enrage]

Aw, I love her!  She's local to me, and kind of a local hero.

 

Now I know it's not possible that she's local to you.  Cuz she lives on a ranch in the middle of nowhere.  ;-)

[Say What?: Commercials That Made Us Scratch Our Heads]

Tamiflu's commercial with the giant woman - this has probably been brought up before, but I don't get it.  At all.  Why does having a flu make you feel gigantic?

 

Their tagline was "Having the flu is a big deal" or something like that.  Back when it was a gigantic man suffering with it.  But you're right, I don't think they say that anymore.

[Commercials That Annoy, Irritate or Outright Enrage]

That's her son, Manolo.

 

Holy incestuous vibe, Batman!

[Say What?: Commercials That Made Us Scratch Our Heads]

I saw a Comcast ad targeting business owners worried about storms knocking their business off the net. Comcast's "solution" is to call to let them know when that happens. Shouldn't they be offering a reliable service that doesn't go down like that instead?

 

It's Comcastic!

[Commercials That Annoy, Irritate or Outright Enrage]

I haven't seen this one yet. Is the woman or the cat pregnant? Not that it matters, because it's still a terrible idea for an ad campaign.

 

The woman is pregnant.  The house is in flames.  The cat is sitting on the bed beside the woman.  The man is standing with a box, exhorting the woman to leave, but she can't, because she's mesmerized by the shoes.  The man says, "But you've never even worn them!"  She replies, "That's the point!"  He takes the picture, posts it to LetItGo.  LO AND BEHOLD, a couple swoops in, the woman swipes the shoes, and they disappear.

 

So my questions:

 

How the fuck can the buying woman swoop in and take the shoes, when the original owner couldn't?

 

Why didn't the owner just get up and take the shoes and leave?

 

Are pregnant women incapable of carrying shoes out of burning buildings?

 

Or is the cat somehow significant to her inability to take the shoes with her?  She's not carrying anything but the child in her womb.  She's got arm room for both the shoes and the cat.

 

I really just don't get it.

[S04.E09: Semi-Final]

And yet you eat chocolate mousse, banana pudding, trifle,  etc I bet.   I just don't understand why you would think the texture of this is so different.  It's a strawberry mousse sitting in a bowl lined with jam filled cake!!!   Now I agree about the jell they painted on the outside being unappealing but I believe that's there to hold the mould together when it's turned out, not for any other reason, and despite the texture we saw as it was painted on, it would have no taste, and you would be unaware you were eating it.

 

I have never seen mousse, pudding or trifle quiver like that slice of Charlotte Royale did.  If I did, I would not eat them.  I disagree about the gel; I think probably it gives the cake a texture I would not be eager to try.  So I stick to my original opinion.  It looked dreadful.

[S04.E09: Semi-Final]

Holy cow, that brain thing looked dreadful.  And that snotty goo they put on it?  Can't remember who said it was like ghostbusters but that was SO true!  Definitely not on my bucket list of things to try.

 

Dreadful is the word.  Even when Paul and Mary sat down and shared the "perfect" one - I almost barfed at the way the slice quivered.  It was unholy.  I couldn't imagine putting my fork anywhere near that thing, let alone letting any of it get near my mouth.  YUCK!

 

I was so sad to see Beca go.  And so mad to see Ruby making all her faces, even after they announced it was Beca leaving.  I don't hate Ruby but boy she rubbed me the wrong way during that elimination and in her comments afterward.  She is starting to seem really disingenuous. 

 

I don't want to be spoiled so I've been avoiding even searching for any of the contestants names, let alone looking at the blogs or whatever.  But once we find out who wins I will do so, and give Ruby's writings a chance.  I want to be wrong about her.

 

I would be happy to see either Kimberley or Frances win.  I have loved Kimberley since week 1.  Frances has really grown on me.  Those cauliflower canapes looked an absolute delight!

[Commercials That Annoy, Irritate or Outright Enrage]

I can't stand that Peter Pan commercial.  I know they're trying to be funny, but Peter Pan is just coming off as a little asshole.  I just want someone to slap the snot out of him. 

 

I will! 

 

I can't stand Peter Pan.  The way he acts in the commercial is how I've always thought he acts.

[Farmhouse Rules - General Discussion]

I made the broccoli-cheddar soup from the Halloween murder mystery episode.  It was quite good.  In fact now that it's soup season I think I'll make it again.

[Commercials That Annoy, Irritate or Outright Enrage]

The new Geico commercial with Peter Pan makes me want to throw something at my television every time I see it.

 

That commercial reminds me that I never ever ever clapped to save Tinkerbell.  HAAATE that whole stupid story.

[Say What?: Commercials That Made Us Scratch Our Heads]

Kinda brings new meaning to the phrase "box office gross."

 

I have to personally thank you for starting my day off with this.  :-)

[Say What?: Commercials That Made Us Scratch Our Heads]

That would be a movie comedy from 1977.

 

No fucking way!

[All Episodes Talk]

From anneofcleves' link above.

 

http://thepioneerwoman.com/confessions/new-york-what-i-did/

 

I don't know if I want to know.

 

But can anyone explain the tagline?

 

"Plowing through life in the country . . . one calf nut at a time."

 

Please tell me this means something different than I think it does.  Please.

[Farmhouse Rules - General Discussion]

I caught the last five minutes.  Was she dressed as Martha Washington?

 

If it's the episode I remember, she's Marie Antoinette.  She kept saying, "Let them eat cake!" in that annoying way of hers.

[S04.E07: Pastry]

This show is just so pretty to look at. All of it. The scenery is luscious. The drawings of the bakes are lovely. The food shots....oh they are so tempting. And Paul's eyes are just so blue. Seriously though, it is so beautifully shot. I have to watch in HD because it's all just a feast for the eyes.

 

And yay to an all female top 5. That's kind of cool. I'm sad to see Glen go but there was really no other option. All the bakers did pretty well this time around.

 

One thing I learned from this show. I will never, ever, ever make puff pastry. That looks like a LOT of work.

 

Yes to all of this.

 

I've heard a lot of television chefs say it's not worth the effort of making puff pastry - might as well buy it as there are good quality ones on the market and the effort is astronomical.  I believe this includes Martha Stewart and since that woman makes eeeevvvverrrryyythng herself, that carries a lot of weight with me.  Some things are just not worth the effort.  The only thing to make sure is that it's not high in trans-fats.  Pre-made puff pastry is a big offender in trans-fat.

 

It had to be Glenn, which makes me sad, but it was the right choice.  I will miss him. 

 

I'm through with Ruby and her wincing, apologies, etc.  I don't hate her in the least but I don't want to see her win.  Although it was cute that she spent the week playing with her new cat Rupert rather than practicing her baking.

 

I was surprised that Kimberley did so poorly on the technical.  Her eclair nuns didn't look like that were that bad.  I was glad Beca placed first in the technical, though, because she's Welsh and I am of Welsh ancestry, and the more I see of her the more I really like her.  I hope she's wrong about the atmosphere changing, however.  I don't want to see it getting all competitive and cutthroat.  Because that would make it like any stupid cooking competition on US television.

[Food Network Star Alums]

NYC Food & Wine Festival is this weekend. Anyone who's "in" with FN will be there.

 

So, Lenny's going to be there?

 

I kid, I kid.

[Holiday and Seasonal Commercials]

According to Kay Jeweler's, it is now "engagement season."  Huh.  Learn something new every day.

[S04.E03: Desserts]

A man I worked with, who was from Australia, would always bring a trifle to any company potluck we had.  No instant pudding, no Cool Whip.  His had berries soaked in fortified wine, proper custard, real whipped cream.  I think some sort of sponge cake.  Absolutely addictive.  We would always ask in advance of any potluck, "Is Keith bringing a trifle?"  Ahh.  It's been years and I still miss that trifle.  :-)

[S04.E06: Sweet Dough]

Awww.  I was sad to see Howard go, although I sort of thought he was going to go this week.  Those little peachy buns were so cute, too bad they didn't taste like peaches.

 

I was glad to see Glenn stay, though.  I love him and want him to stay as long as possible.  I don't think he has a snowball's chance in hell of winning, though.  His survivor's guilt this week at Howard's going home instead of him seemed very sincere and was touching.  It's part of what I love about this show - the contestants all seem like such decent people who, while each hoping to win, are still pulling for each other. 

 

During the judging, they always show the reaction shots of the other contestants, and they all seem distressed and upset when one of the others is getting bad feedback.  I was always suspect of this as a trick of editing.  But this week, during the judging (I can't remember who was being judged), they showed Beca with her hands sort of criss-crossed on her face in agitation.  Then they showed a shot of the person taking their tray of buns away from the judging table, and Beca was in the wide shot in the same position.   So now I think it's not a trick of editing - those reaction shots they show are true.  Makes me love them all the more.

 

I laughed at a couple of things during the episode, damned if I can remember what.  One thing I laughed at was the conversation about hemp - I don't know if Mary was putting on but I really got the idea she had no idea what that conversation was about.  And then when Howard presented the loaf, she said so dryly, "It looks as if it's quite healthy for me."  I just love the British art of understatement.

 

Ruby does wear on me a little with the "Oh, I know this is so bad" - "Well, it's quite delicious" - "Oh really?  I'm just so surprised."  I don't think she's surprised.  I don't think she's fishing for compliments, but I don't think she believes the work is as bad as she's letting on.  I'm glad Mary called her on it during the judging, and then again later. 

 

I don't know how many people auditioned for the show but Ruby beat them and earned a place in the tent, she's survived past the halfway point, and now she's earned star baker.

 

Star baker for the second time, actually.

 

Hanging hair has always bothered me on these shows.  Christine's isn't too long but it should be pulled back.  Frances does it. 

 

I don't think I've ever seen Frances' hair pulled back.  Beca pulls hers back and Kimberley usually wears a headband.  But I think Frances has always had hers down.

[All Episodes Talk]

I think it would be funny if Ree had an online auction for "A Day At the Ranch with Ree" ... and nobody bid.

 

From what I understand, she does/used to do that through her blog.  And then gives away all her old crap to the attendees.

 

That's probably a very uncharitable interpretations, but Ree rubs me the wrong way.

[All Episodes Talk]

I've been (sorta) looking into the sugar in stew thing. Looks like there are several thoughts - type of beer used, need to balance out salty savory flavor of stew, or bitterness, and something to do with tomatoes are some examples.

In any event....brown sugar is used...not white.

This is one reason I have never tried a PW recipe and rely on Ina. She explains the type of beer to use, ie. It is not all a "good" ingredient but she explains why a certain ingredient is used (ie type of beer).

 

I could be wrong, and I don't care enough to find out, but i could have sworn that I've seen Martha Stewart use brown sugar in stew.  Or maybe it was on America's Test Kitchen?  I do know for a fact that I saw Kevin Dundon put brown sugar into a tomato sauce, so I don't know if that's the done thing in Ireland.  Either way, I don't think the color of the sugar really makes a difference.  In the scheme of all the crap she was dumping into that sauce, the molasses won't matter.