From the "It's about time" brain trust -- Bacon Floss!
(Special thanks to Angie from Copa Wine Bar for sending me the bacony-goodness link!  She understands my addition.)

So, I managed to solve all of the code and css issues that were sent my way today, but after putting in an 11 hour day, I'm just not in the mood to cook.
I think we'll head over to Thai Chili for a quick (yet healthy) dinner and then swing by our 'home away from home' Copa Wine Bar for their weekly wine tasting.  (Their "tasting" is 6 healthy pours for a mere $10, which is the best deal in town, IMHO).  This weeks wines are

1. Ouro Verde Vinho Verde
2. McMannis Viognier
3. A by Acacia Red
4. Ch. Montouliers Minervois
5. Vinas de Olivara Tinto de Toro
6. Flor de Montgo

There's bound to be a few in there that I'll enjoy!

Good news cheese lovers.  The Cabot Cheese Road Show is coming to San Antonio!! 
We already know how tasty their cheese is, but they'll be at several HEB locations this weekend, passing out samples, coupons and goodies.
Take a camera along just in case they have the cut-out cow with them.

Went to Freetail this afternoon -- they've added several more beers to their list, and so far we've liked them all.  (Although I'm relying on musicbyoscar to rate the porters and stouts.)    They tap two more brews tonight, but we decided to swing by and try them tomorrow when we get our growler filled before the SuperBowl.  We wanted to stick around until the opened them, but we already had plans for grilling tonight since the weather was nice, and I made a homemade chimichurri sauce to go on the steaks.  Yum.
Meanwhile, the praline truffles turned out fabulous.  We had one for dessert and we'll most likely take the rest to a SuperBowl party tomorrow.

On Sunday, we were invited to someone's home for dinner, and I prepared the dessert.  First I baked little crispy praline cups.  then I whipped up some dark chocolate-praline truffles and piped them into the little praline cups.  OMG - sooo delish.  Thank goodness we left the extras with the hostess, or I'd have gained 5 pound this week snacking on them.

Meanwhile, I still have about 18 extra empty praline cups that I didn't need, and half a carton of whipping cream that I need to use... so today I decided to create a new flavor.  This time the truffle base is white chocolate and peanut-butter along with some boubon to cut the sweetness.  I can't wait for the mix to cool enough so that I can whip it and pipe it into the praline shells.  Thank goodness we're getting together with some friends this evening, so I won't be left alone with the sweets.  At least I'll get to have one or 2, and I'll let my friends chow down on the rest.

Don't panic - the peanut butter chips were bought long before the current peanut worries - and they aren't on the recalled item list.

Handmade Tamales
I made tamales.  Yes, instead of just heating up store-bought tamales, I actually made them.  I slow cooked the pork butt, shredded it, chopped it, and tossed in other ingredients to make the filling.  I mixed the masa flour with broth, salt and a LOT of lard, and I soaked the corn husks so they'd be soft and flexible.  I then spent a few hours assembling close to 40 tamales (they are not quick to make).  They turned out quite tasty -- but I want to learn how to make them with less lard.  Although I'm not sure that it is possible to make them with less fat without them drying up when they are steamed.  Every time I've bought tamales, the lowfat ones turn out very dry, and the ones that are chock-full-o-fat turn out nice and moist. 

Vegetarian Eggs?!?!
For the holiday season, musicbyoscar made homemade eggnog for us.  He uses Alton Brown's eggnog recipe, which calls for uncooked egg whites, so we have been bying pasturized eggs.   What bothers me is that the egg carton is clearly labeled "All Vegetarian" in more than one location.   I don't understand how they can label eggs as vegetarian.  I looked it up online, and apparently vegetarian eggs come from chickens who are fed a vegetarian diet.  By that warped logic, steaks from grass-fed cows could be labeled "Vegetarian".