I have to make all my gifts AND clean the house AND cook some shit before 7 pm on Saturday.

I was going to make this flourless chocolate torte, but both places I have gone to get other stuff (Target and Hobby lobby) do not have springform pans, and I can't take another trip somewhere.

Someone has to have a delicious, fancy-looking cake or dessert idea that's not hugely pricey and won't eat up a ton of time?

hrm, mayhaps the agonizing pain i attributed to new goggles is really something people call a "sinus headache"...it sure it getting worse and i haven't been wearing any goggles today. *frown*

is really something people call a "sinus headache"

It's certainly the (uber change-y) weather for it. Mine is pretty ouchy right now.

Why does the cat always want to climb into the dryer? This was not on the brochure.

It's warm! if mine could get in the basement i know they'd be all over the dryer. and wedged into the crawlspaces.

I've never experienced this sinus thing before. i really don't like it. Nasal irrigation did nothing. I'm totally worried that the 2x/daily nasal irrigation i was doing up until this week somehow caused it.

Erin, I have no fancy dessert ideas...my baking skills are nil...but I have been super successful lately with a gluten-free banana bread with candied ginger. Folks who usually frequent schmancy restaurants are actually fawning all over it. Kind of like a retro-comfort thing. That with a caramel sauce, or such might be avant enough to be appreciated.

Also? My most famous and loved potluck dish is orange slices in Kaluha. Seriously, people plotz for it. Plus, couldn't be easier.

Wow, I must be feeling better. I got into a productivity loop and had no idea what time it was. And I didn't nap today! I hung two calendars and glued a wood cutting board back together, cleaned out expired meds, etc.

Time for bed. I'm going to try and work from home tomorrow some.

How do you do the orange slices thing? Peel and segment, slice, soak...?

I may also simply make cupcakes with ganache. Maybe some sparkly sugar on top.

ita knows ganache. What are some hot ganache tips for cupcakes?

Ack! I gave the dalmatian her tramadol tonight like we always do, in a lump of peanut butter on the end of a plastic knife. We hold the knife towards her so it's flat, and kind of swipe it past her mouth quickly, because if we hold anything foodlike out to her, she bites the shit out of it. And she bites like a gator. Which breaks plastic knives.

Which she did tonight. She bit off a good 1/4 to 1/3 inch of that knife and quickly swallowed it. (I checked her mouth several times -- no plastic stuck anywhere.)

So now I'm freaked out that the plastic is going to destroy her GI tract and I just killed the dog.

Animals (and kids) manage to swallow all kinds of things. Monitor her Bx and her poop for a few days; see if these are signs of distress, swelling or bloating, or discomfort.

Or if you're really freaked, call the vet tomorrow. Maybe a doggie X-ray?