The rain falls mainly on the Great Plains.

Internet, 

It was raining last night, and rather than put on my rain jacket, I decided to just enjoy the moment.  (We'll go with that explanation instead of "laziness.")  It was finally warm enough TO rain, so isn't that worth celebrating and getting a little wet for?  Yes.  

(I say this when they're currently predicting more snow later this week.  Seriously.  I know it's MinneSNOWta, but May snow?  I guess that's what I get for asking what rhymes with "April snow."  Apparently we have the answer: April snow brings May snow.  Fo' sho, bro.)

xoxo,

Minny LinnEy

Taking Burgers to a New Level

Internet,

I have long been a fan of the hamburger - fancy or not.  Or the butterburger.  Better yet, put some cheese and bacon on it, slather in BBQ sauce, and I'm sold.  

And better still, put the cheese ON THE INSIDE, and I will pretty much automatically order it (over and over and over...).  There is a great debate about the best jucy lucy.  I leave it to you to taste test every single one of them...and then you can tell me what you prefer.  In no particular order, here, here, and here to start.  

Then there was last month's "Fatty Melt," which involves combing a grilled cheese sandwich with a hamburger, and topping the whole thing with bacon.  (Delish at Ward 6.)  

But this weekend, everything was raised to a whole new level.  I had a burger that was stuffed with braised short ribs and gouda.  Vincent has upped the ante.  (And it's a French restaurant, no less.)  

Twin Cities restaurants, nay: American restaurants, take note.  

xoxo,

Minny LinnEy

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!

I heard a beautiful piece sung on Maundy Thursday, but alas, I cannot find a good version of it on the internets.

O Love divine, what has thou done!

The immortal God hath died for me!

The father's coeternal Son

bore all my sins upon the tree.

Th' immortal God for me hath died:

My Lord, my Love, is crucified!

Is crucified for me and you,

to bring us rebels back to God.

Believe, believe the record true,

ye all are bought with Jesus' blood.

Pardon for all flows from his side:

My Lord, my Love, is crucified!

Behold Him, all ye that pass by,

the bleeding Prince of life and peace!

Come, sinners, see your Savior die,

and say, "Was ever grief like His?"

Come, feel with me his blood applied:

My Lord, my Love, is crucified!

These are Charles Wesley's words from back in the day (oh, two or three hundred years ago), but they have been updated a bit more recently with a lovely tune by Anna Laura Page (and since I could not find a decent enough version of it on youtube, I listened to a sample of it and ordered it here).

And then in my search far and wide, I did manage to stumble upon this, and use it now to wish you all a very Happy Easter.

Quote of the Moment: Harmful Ego

"Half of the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important...they do not mean to do harm...they are absorbed in their endless struggle to think well of themselves."

— T.S. Eliot 

Paul Harvey is not really the devil...

Paul Harvey!  While looking up the PH/Dodge Super Bowl commercial from last night (which I didn't actually see when it originally aired because I was otherwise occupied), I discovered this classic gem:

The Deep Freeze

Internet, 

It has been very cold here the last few days.  

First, in honor of trying to show as little flesh to the elements as possible, I give you this joke (in case you missed it on facebook):

Q: What did the Minnesotan say to the Pillsbury dough boy?

A: "Nice tan."

And second, this excellent photograph including commentary (h/t to friend AC for finding it):

Stay warm (and as classy as you can) in this weather!

xoxo,
Minny LinnEy

I don't know what movie this is from, but it makes me want to see the whole film.

This.  It is insane.

Whether you believe the tempo is too fast is a matter of taste and interpretation, but nevertheless the fact that he *can* play this so fast and clear and well is just awe-inspiring.  

Love it.  

Seven Years (not in Tibet)

Dear Internet, 

Today is my seven year anniversary of employment by the state of Minnesota.  I'm not really sure that either of the usual associations with "seven" (God's perfect number) or "seven years" (I'm not terribly itchy to leave yet) apply.  But it's something.  

xoxo,

Minny LinnEy

Set the world on fire! Burn brighter...than the sun. Have some fun.

Internet, I may be older than the equipment in the video, and you'd probably consider me ancient in terms of when I was born and when this song came out, but when I watch this video, we are most definitely young.  Check it.

Merry Christmas!

There shall a star come out of Jacob,
And a sceptre shall rise out of Israel,
With might destroying princes and cities.

As bright the star of morning gleams,
So Jesus sheddeth glorious beams,
Of light and consolation!

Thy Word, O Lord, Radiance darting,
Truth imparting, gives salvation;
Thine be praise and adoration!

 

Felix Mendelssohn

From his unfinished oratorio, Christus

Text based on Numbers 24:17

 

 



Les Mis

Internet, 

Has anyone else been mistakenly thinking that Dakota Fanning was in the new Les Miserables movie based on this poster?  

I'm relieved to realize a) she's not young enough to pull this off any more, b) I'm *so* happy Dakota's not in this movie because she has always annoyed me for reasons I can't really explain, c) Isabelle Allen apparently has promise as young Cosette, and d) I'm really excited to see this movie.  

xoxo, 

Minny LinnEy

Who Doesn't Like Upside Down Cake?

It's November, and this means cranberries, Internet.  Lots and lots of cranberries.  And if you're not like me (I eat them raw & served on plain yogurt - no sugar, but full of fat), there are other, sweeter ways to eat them.  Such as this cake that I made earlier this month.  

See, ya take some butter and sugar and water and melt it all together, and then rinse a whole mess of cranberries.  Kinda like this: 

And then ya put the whole mess of cranberries into the butter/sugar/water mix, and butter up a springform pan (though you could use the cast iron skillet, but in this case, I didn't): 

Then ya dump all of those cranberries into the pan, kinda like you see here (along with foil wrapped all up underneath the pan so the juices don't leak out too much during the bakin' process):

And then ya whip up a sour cream cake batter:

So then ya put the batter on top of the mess of cranberries and throw it all in the oven:

Bake the whole thing until it looks sorta like this:

And after a few minutes, you flip it over and make cranberry upside down cake (and use a party platter like I did here when I realized I didn't have anything that would fit a 10-inch round cake):

Voila!  Because of the cranberries, it's actually tart & sweet, all at the same delicious time.  Eat lots of it.  I took it to work, and it went really fast.

xoxo,
Minny LinnEy