conversions

My guests left yesterday and I have to say, the house is too quiet. Funny I should say this as I have loud children but I do love having visitors. Gatherings in the kitchen while toasting to anything and everything until four in the morning makes me happy. Now that we have set our butts in motion to renovate our home and get it back in order, maybe I'll start inviting people over more often. But then again, cleaning the toilet three times a  week doesn't sound very fun to me.

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Are you watching Big Brother? If not, you are missing one hell of a season. Russell, I mean Willie, went off the deep end and head-butted annoying yeller, Joe, while throwing a bag of Pork Rinds at Janelle. The symbolism of Pork Rinds and Janelle in one sentence was not lost on anyone who can't stand Janelle after she threw mopey Britney off her traveling school bus of merry fools. This show is now getting good. I do love me some drama just as long as I am not the one in the middle of it all. Next to leave? JoJo or Danielle. I don't care. All Danielle does is sit around and look at herself in the mirror while applying layer after layer of black eyeliner on her face. I guess she never learned the less is more lesson when applying make up. JoJo is alright but there is something about her that annoys me.

Can't wait for tonight's episode though I know everything that has happened thus far.

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Photo from Nigella Lawson website.

I am trying to make this Nutella cake by Nigella Lawson. Problem is? I haven't a clue what the hell 125g of dark chocolate or 100g of ground hazelnuts amount to in oz. and cups. 

With my google abilities I am guessing 125g of butter is 1/2 c + 2 tbsp. and 100g of ground hazelnuts = 2/3 cup. I figure if I put too much butter and chocolate in the cake it won't hurt, right?

Tell me, do you remember metrics being taught in school? I barely do and I'll tell you, I failed that part of my test. I can barely remember how many oz. are in a cup much less grams and kilometers. 

I'm very glad the US didn't adopt this measurement after all. I know it is because we are too darn lazy to learn it.

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Do any of you use feeders to read blogs? I used to. I used to use many feeders until I started changing computers and forgetting which password went to which account. Then I would forget to add some of my favorite reads to these feeders and then, I pretty much quit reading everyone.

Now, if I am friends with you on Facebook, I more than likely will read your blog when you link it there to your page. I have in turn tried to move to a Facebook page to let you know, HEY! I actually wrote something on this space! Check me out or don't. Whatever.

If you want to go to Gorillabuns on Facebook (or this link) and "like it," be my guest. If you think that Facebook is the Devil incarnate, then by all means forget what I just wrote. 

Now I'm off to make this cake so I can eat it all by myself while watching "The Next Food Network Star, Big Brother and Big Brother After Dark." If you don't hear back from me it is because I died from a diabetic coma.

Comments

[a]

I always have a scientific calculator at hand to do conversions for me. I guess that's one good reason to be a scientist.

I can't do the drama in Big Brother. The host annoys me. The people annoy me. I don't get the point. I think it makes me feel claustrophobic!

I will not be receiving your Facebook updates...

[a]

Wow, that was a rude typo. I will *now* be receiving your Facebook updates...

[Alison]

^ Love the typo! Hahaha...

I remember being told in 4th grade that we needed to learn the metric system, because soon the US would be using it. Yeah, right. But then I moved to France and knowing how it worked came in handy. Metric is actually an easier system, as it's based on tens, rather than arbitrary numbers. Also, grams are a weight unit, so you could (maybe should) weigh the items in question. There are 28 grams to one ounce, so I always round up to 30. For volume, if you're lucky enough to have a measuring cup with metric on one side, then it's easy to measure. Otherwise, one cup = 8 ounces = about 240 ml.

You'll want just over 4 ounces of butter (what's that, a stick?) and 3 1/3 oz of hazelnuts. I THINK. Please don't blame me if the cake doesn't turn out. :)

[flurrious]

Before this season, I had seen maybe a total of 15 minutes of Big Brother, but for some reason I watched the beginning of this year's first episode and there was Willie Hantz, the less squatty version of Russell, and that has had gotten me to tune in sporadically if only to see if I can figure out exactly where genetics went off the beam in that family. And because I don't live in a cave, I had heard of Mike Boogie but never seen him, and now I'm wondering if Evil Dr. Will is also 75 years old.

I still use Google Reader, but it's not that great. Bloglines was better, even though it was down about 75% of the time.

[Fluffycat]

That cake looks like the most delicious thing ever. I know next to nothing about the metric system or cooking, but I hope it turns out well because it looks like it would be great. (I'm actually not sure I know the standard system that well either because I never remember which is bigger between a pint and a quart.)

[Rhi]

My husband (who is a know it all) swears that all the really good bakers weigh their ingredients rather than measuring them. Which is why I'll never be a really good baker, because who has that kind of time? (I want that cake)

[Gamanda]

I watched the very first episode of Big Brother. That was the first time I've ever watched the show. I think I could get in to it, however, not sure I can dedicate three nights a week to it. I'll just keep checking back with you for updates.
That cake looks so delicious. Did it turn out? I do not remember one minute of learning metrics. It now has me wondering if they ever did.
I do not like company. I love that my house is usually clean b/c I worked my butt off to get it some what respectable before they arrived. However, we usually have company with unruly kids and it usually winds up even more dirty than before I cleaned. Toilets can suck it. My daughter keeps telling me I need to clean our toilet. I just need to invest in the Clorox drop-ins. Those usually keep it nice and shiny for a few weeks.

[Jane Gassner]

I LOVE Big Brother. Always have; expect I always will. I've gone off most of the reality shows that I used to love--Survivor, SYTYCD, DWS--because they became so predictable. Somehow, though, the producers at BB manage to cast the thing so it's always fresh.

[Sandie]

I have to say I love two things... Big Brother and Gamanda's comment above that "toilets can suck it" I'm getting THAT on a tee shirt!

[Andrea]

Have to admit, I've never watched Big Brother, but I love me some Chopped (sorry I'm behind a post!)
Metrics--hell to the no. That was 3rd grade, and I was terrified that I had just sort of figured out basic numbers and now they were changing shit on us!!
We've had company for the last 3 weekends in a row. If I don't get to sleep in and not clean bathrooms this Saturday, someone is going to lose a nut. Just sayin.

[willikat]

I barely remember metrics. But one thing that is SUPER helpful is a magnet you can get at places like Bed Bath & Beyond which has a chart on it, and as you look across each line it tells you the conversions, and even conversions from Tbsp to cups, that sort of thing. Super helpful!

[CJ]

I thought that those nuts on top were Capn Crunch peanut butter puffs. I think that would be the bomb.

[Kenna]

Well... I am Canadian, grew up with the metric system (which, incidentally makes a lot more sense to me!), and still have to use a conversion system.

SO... if you promise to share some of the finished deliciousness with me (I'll bring the wine!), I will share with you the online conversion page I use.

Ready? It's a tough one. http://www.onlineconversion.com/ :)

Off to hunt you down on Facebook....

[Shannon Kieta]

I LOVE you Shana...There is NO one quite like you!!!! I am so glad you are one of my friends!!!! ~_~ For what it is worth, my feet are dangling off the bridge and sometime's it's just so damn tempting to take a nose-dive in...isn't it? But hell, I would be the one to live with 2,000 broken bones and a fractured skull. Keep on keepin' on Shana...you are a Warrior! through and through! ~_~

[Amy]

I've been watching Big Brother since the get go many years ago. However this time around, I forgot it was on. So I missed the first 2 -- most impt -- episodes ... I'm pretty much caught up now but I did miss it (again) when that dude was kicked off. I haven't seen much action from Janelle and I really loved her in the past!

[180360]

Does it count that I watched like 10 mins of Big Brother???? :o) Man I miss you guys. I would love to stay up to 4am talking with you right about now. xo