Spider House Poetry Slam

Most people in Austin already have heard or been to the Spider House Cafe.  For those who do not know it's a coffee shop/bar right near the UT campus. from the outside it looks like a old house lived in by a old woman ( who of course is crazy) and never cleans out the yard but instead stores everything out there. But yet when you enter you get a since of cheerful yet artistic cafe and even at times a little silly- I call it my wonderland.

 (picture: Of the outside seating of Spiderhouse)

I have been to Spiderhouse a million times but this wouldn't really be an adventure if it wasn't new - right?

This time I went to the new addition to spider house which is a little side bar that connects to a  huge room with a giant stage. Every Tuesday night 8pm - 11pm they throw a poetry slam - where the first prize winner wins $100 and after the slam there are local bands who play all night. I was amazed how talented the poets are with such conviction in their heart. I felt their pain, happiness, and angry. I went with a few friends and was one of the most enjoyable evenings I had in a long time. I recommend it highly if you are looking for something fun to do.

(picture: of a poet on the stage side of the addition)

Check out the details @ Spiderhouse Poetry Slam Facebook Link

Cinn-Cinnati Sin-A-Mon Cheese Cake

This past 3-4 weeks  I have started a new diet. It is not new for a lot of people but I am diving head first into the low carb diet. Lost 14lbs already!  I am trying to make it fun by cooking all my meals and experimenting on new dishes I never attempted in my wildest dreams. This was my one my favorites that made from scratch and personally added my own touches to make it my own.

I have not personal done the calorie/carb count yet but based off similar recipe one slice is 250 calories and 6g of carbs.

THIS WAS AMAZING YOU MUST TRY IT!!

Ingredients:

Crust:

• 1 cup of Almond Meal (I can find it at Whole Foods and other Health Food Store)
• 1/4 cup of finely chopped Walnuts
• 1/4 cup of finely chopped Pecans
• 2 Tablespoon melted Butter
• 1/2 Tablespoon of cinnamon
• 2 Tablespoon of sugar equivalent ( I used Xyla I got at Whole Foods)

Filling:

• 3 packages(8oz each) of Fat Free Cream Cheese
• 4 Eggs
• 1 teaspoon of corn starch
• 2 teaspoon of Vanilla
• 1 and 1/2 teaspoon (1/2 Tablespoon) Lemon Juice
• 1 and 1/3 cups of Sugar equivalent
• 1/4 cup low fat sour cream

Directions: 

-Heat oven to 375 F

• First make the crust. Pour into a mixing bowl the almond flour, walnuts, pecans (before adding the nuts make sure you chop them very finely), sugar equivalent and melted butter. Mix with fork till it becomes a somewhat sticky nutty bready crust. Pour into a 9in springform pan and press down to cover the bottom. After you put the crust down sprinkle the cinnamon on the top of the crust.
• I just sprayed the pan with some PAM and that works great.
• Bake the crust for only 8-10 minutes, until fragrant and beginning to brown. Make sure to put it on top of a cookie sheet cause the butter can drip in the oven and make a horrible mess.
• Remove and Let cool while you make the Filling.

Lower the over to 325 F

• It is easier to work with the Cream Cheese when it room temperature. Put cream cheese in mixing bowl, and beat till fluffy. Add the next ingredients in this order and make sure you mix it well (I suggest scraping the bowls side between each step).

                         - Sugar equivalent

                         - Sour Cream

                         - Corn Starch ( I Learned this after making mine from my awesome
                                     sister who loves baking cheese cake that while it cooks it raises 
                                     making cracks but when it cools it shrinks and hides all the cracks 
                                     to make a perfect top.)

                         - Lemon Juice

                         - Cinnamon

                         - Vanilla

                         - Eggs ( add each egg at one time - it is important not to over beat 
                                    the eggs which I learned  can cause the cheesecake to crack. You
                                    should put one egg mix it 3 times then add the next and so forth 
                                    and then mix till it is all blended nicely)

•  Pour into the pan over the crust. cook for 60min to 90min. Till the very center giggles slightly then you know it is done or if the center reaches 155 F.
• When it is done do not just pull it out. Turn off oven and open the oven door about 4inchs - for 30min for it to slowly cool (Again another trick for no cracks)
•  Take it out and set it out on a wire rack if possible. At this point take a knife and go along the side of the cheese cake and the pan to make sure it doesn't stick.(never take off the box spring till it is cooled all the way down. )
• Then place in frig for 6hrs to overnight 
•  If the top is cracked and you want it to look nice just add some fruit/nuts/whip cream to cover it. Honestly I don't care what it looks like when it taste so good!! 
• Before serving remember to run the knife along the side one more time. 
• To serve get a knife and cup of hot water. Dip knife in water and then cut - whip knife after every cut to make it cut smoothly. 

 I hope you love it as much as I did!!! 

If you have any questions go right ahead and ask.

UPDATE

Currently Updating website so you might see a lot of weird things. I am also going to be adding to the blog a lot more things. Just give me some time. :-)

Thank You

Grey headband

new headband

wool/ribbon

new beanie

Just orange bulk yarn / with wool&ribbon yarn.

My banana Handwarmers!

don't they just look like they would keep you nice and warm...
Two colors of yellow and a punch a red for a flower, you know to spice it up!