I can’t even begin to count the number of times I took Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs out of my local library. Yes, even way back then I was obsessed with images of food, and perhaps a closet glutton. Needless to say the combination of a favorite childhood story mixed with 3-D technology means I will be at the theater on opening day. I can’t wait for meatballs and pancakes to fly in front of my face while I’m sporting those hideous plastic glasses!

There’s an eye raising comparison between the Poland Spring logo and that of a company called Palm Spring over at Newlywed in Dubai. Let’s just say that someone in that art department is going to get fired…

My favorite “green gossip” blog, Ecorazzi, has an amusing shot of Jennifer Garner exiting a grocery store with a Virgil’s All Natural Root Beer clutched in her hand. Obviously this means that she and I should be best friends since I used that brand of root beer to make the Root Beer Float Pops. Jennifer! Call me! I’m dying to know what it was like to kiss Mark Ruffalo.

My very good friend Erin has recently undertaken a new venture called Plum Pear Apple Designs and is, as we speak, working her fingers to the bone making absolutely adorable superhero capes for little boys and girls to save the day in.  To celebrate the opening of her online store she’s having a contest. You have until midnight MST on Tuesday, July 15, 2008 (yikes!  that’s tonight!) to enter the contest. All you have to do is leave a comment so I expect you to go on over there right now.

PS: In case you didn’t get a chance to see it, the lovely Marilyn at Simmer Till Done posted an interview with me during which I revealed all of my deep, dark foodie secrets and bad habits.  Please check it out!

Why does this not surprise me? My Women’s Studies professors from college will be so proud! Perhaps someone alerted the quiz scorers to the fact that I have “secret slob” tendencies surrounding closets, cupboards, and cubbyholes? Out of sight clutter doesn’t count in my book. I guess I should have also fibbed about cooking in my pajamas, enjoying a cocktail, and wearing red nail polish. You know the really important parts about having a successful relationship. What kind of a housewife are you? [Link via It's Alive!]

Because I don’t have enough useless tools and strange boxed mixes in my kitchen, Williams-Sonoma has gone and tempted me with the notion that I can make Animal Crackers at home. I just don’t think I could possibly be happy until I have a herd of lions, tigers, and bears prancing on my snack plate.

Remember when you were a kid and you’d watch Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and practically hurl during the scene when the snakes and chilled monkey brains were served at the sinister banquet? Well if you’re into movie nostalgia and the nasty bits you might want to check out this auction on eBay for an authentic monkey head prop from the film. It’s got a pretty steep price, but I guess it would be quite the conversation piece to serve ice cream in [link via Cinematical].

Once upon a time, for about 5 days I tried to be a vegetarian. I bought 10 pounds of books on the subject at Barnes and Noble and than proceeded to crave meat like it was my job over the next few days. On the fifth day I made CK take me to Boston Market where I promptly ate a Chicken Pot Pie. While my vegetarian attempt was a complete and utter failure I really do admire people who are able to follow through with it. To that end there’s a really excellent essay over at Slate you may want to check out. It’s a vegetarian’s take on what it’s like to be ostracized and misunderstood by your meat eating acquaintances [link via Herbivoracious].

I’ve been reading John Grisham novels since 7th grade. At that time I was convinced that I was going to be a lawyer. Obviously I was temporarily insane at that time in my life. Recently, one of Grisham’s latest books, Playing for Pizza, has been optioned to be made into a film. The story revolves around a down and out quarterback for the Cleveland Browns who takes a spot on an Italian football team in Parma, Italy. The book is full of incredibly vivid descriptions of the food and wine of the region so I’m sure the movie will have plenty of mouth watering shots of decadent dishes [link via Cinematical].

Proof that you really can have chickens in the suburbs. I guess there’s hope for us all to have “grammy eggs” of our own some day.

I like macaroni and cheese just as much as the next girl, but I definitely have to draw the line at macaroni and cheese in a can [link via Newlywed in Dubai].

I’ve never really been big on recipe cards, frankly what I like to use the most to cook with is my Macbook, but these extremely cheerful, colorful cards are so cute I might just have to invest in a few [link via Crafterbation].

A new cupcake shop has opened in Boston. Sweet is apparently charging $3.25 a piece for a regular cupcake. Obviously I am in the wrong business. Do you think I have enough experience to be a cupcake salesperson? Either way I’ll be heading on over soon to test out the sugary goods. [link via We Are Not Martha].

Top 5 Recipes I’m Dying To Try

Zucchini Faux Pasta with Italian Sausage from Elle at Elle’s New England Kitche
Erin’s special Peanut Butter Nutter Butter Birthday Cake at Two More Seconds
The Brown Sugar Banana Apple Monkey Bars made by Sharon at Culinary Adventures of a New Wife
Tiramisu Macarons from Weeva at Weevalicious Recipe
The serious snack of Peanut Butter Popcorn from Francie at Ramblings of a Frantic Home Cook

This is the most brilliant thing I’ve ever seen! Cooking Mama is far from my favorite Wii game but this apron is way too cute to pass up. It almost makes me wish I was crafty. Dear crafty friends…this would be an excellent birthday gift for your favorite food blogger. Hint! Hint! [Link via Craftzine.com]

Friends with babies and babies on the way, look out! I’ll make Foodies of your little lads and lasses yet. Or at least just brand them as such. The Fig Leaf Baby Connoisseur Collection features an array of simple onesies embroidered with cute monikers like “Foodie,” “Ripe,” and “Fresh Squeezed.” Is there anything that you can put on a baby that doesn’t inevitably look completely adorable?

For Christmas CK bought me a Whirley Pop. If that’s not the ultimate in kitsch gifts I don’t know what is. Strangely enough though, the ridiculous looking thing makes really excellent popcorn. This good opinion is seconded by Robin at Big Red Kitchen. In fact, Robin even gave me some tips about how to get the elusive Whirly Pop Kettle Corn not to burn. I’m really not kidding about this pot. You’ll never buy microwave popcorn again.

Laura had a very expensive snack at a Wolfgang Puck restaurant after work and handles the reality that she’s been charged $16 for a single glass of wine quite well.

Heat, Eat, and Review tackles the new Smucker’s Peanut Butter and Honey Uncrustables. I know I’m not supposed to like things like this, but I have fond memories of the Grape Jelly and Peanut Butter Uncrustable that I sampled in a grocery store once. Although, this could also just be my new constant craving for white bread talking.

My friend Erin is in the initial planning stages of plotting out a spot in her community garden. I’m hoping to grow something a little more challenging myself this year. Really. I mean it.

Top 5 Recipes I’m Dying to Try this Week

S’more Cupcakes from Jen at Beantown Baker
Sarah’s Perfect Peanut Butter Cookies at FoodCite
Rachelle’s Calico Bell Pepper Muffins at RachelleB.com
Tropical Coconut Cheesecake from Tarah at Genesis of a Cook
Nicole’s Hearty Potato Leek Soup at Pinch My Salt

Do any of you use Twitter? Because I love it and would like nothing more than to follow you. If you aren’t familiar with the Twitter phenomenon than please check out this fabulous video: Twitter in Plain English.

Engadget is reporting that HGTV and The Food Network will begin simulcasting in HD on March 31. Obviously this is great news for HD snobs like me (and probably you too). I hate that they only show reruns on the current Food Network HD Feed. Not that I don’t enjoy old Dave Lieberman episodes in high definition, but it would be nice if it mimicked the actual channel.

Kotaku has posted an early trailer for the upcoming Iron Chef America game that is being created for the Wii. Iron Chef America: Supreme Cuisine will be released this summer and will definitely include the voice talents of the “esteemed” chairman. Everyone keep your fingers crossed that Alton Brown will be included in some way as well.

Madeline discovered that Rachael Ray has released her own line of stocks. These cooking staples, cutely called “Stock-in-a-Box,” are available in both chicken and beef flavor.

Ned Batchelder made a rocking Doctor Who cake for his son Max’s 16th birthday. There are marshmallow Daleks and even a brownie K-9. So Ned, my birthday is in June…do I place my order with you now?

Hold the phone! Two of my favorite things, Nigella Lawson and Christmas, are being combined into one. Random House is scheduled to release “Nigella’s Christmas” in October. I think this year’s holiday party will definitely have to be an all Nigella affair.

Risa Green, author of the adorable book Notes from the Underbelly writes about a common problem that I’m sure a lot of moms have on a daily basis. How do you get your kid to eat something besides dessert? Risa apparently read some extremly helpful books and now she’s working on ways to “de-fetishize” sweets with her daughter. It sounds like she’s having good luck so far. Also, if you don’t already, than you should definitely be watching the ABC sitcom version of Notes from the Underbelly. Especially since it stars one of my favorite actresses, Jennifer Westfeldt.

Top 5 Recipes I’m Dying to Try this Week (If food didn’t have calories etc…)
Lauren’s Lasagna Rolls with Three Mushrooms, Four Cheeses and Sage Bechamel at Burghilicious
Allen’s Blond(e) Ambition Cookies at Eating Out Loud
Ashley’s Earl Grey White Chocolate Chunk Muffins at Eat Me Delicious
Rachel’s Chocolate-Mayonnaise Cupcakes with Butterscotch Buttercream Frosting at Rachel’s Bite. Even though CK thinks Mayonnaise baked goods are “gross.”
Amy’s Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits and Sausage Gravy at Nook & Pantry