Friday, February 4, 2011

Best of the Week #9 and an Ode to Nutella

Happy Nutella Day! (Well, it’s tomorrow, but close enough.) I hope you celebrate this most auspicious day by slathering a slice of homemade banana bread with the nutty stuff, astound your friends and co-workers with your knowledge of obscure "holidays," and check back on Tuesday for that banana bread story (it’s slightly different from my original – lighter and more delicious!).


This was my breakfast – are you jealous? 

Breakfast is my favorite meal, and one of the best things about America. Unfortunately, when I was in Niger breakfast was a pretty sad affair. Every morning on my way back from running at Le Stade I stopped by our local egg sandwich vendor's stall to buy 5 loaves of crusty French bread for the house. 

Back at the house, I laid them on the table – bread, spreads, and instant coffee (blegh!). Condiment options were the same every day: local peanut butter, fresh-ground at the marché and tasting somehow peanuttier than even the most natural American peanut butter; butter and jam (both imported from Europe), and finally, Nutella.

Oh man, a house of 11 college girls can consume a lot of Nutella! Especially when it’s the only chocolate around. I haven’t really eaten it since (4 months of too much Nutella is too much even for me), but I just bought a jar and I have to say – good decision!

So here I am, back to Nutella and back with a vengeance. So grab a jar and spread some on your banana bread, your baguette, your spoon, your finger. It is delicious.


Anywho, back to regularly scheduled programming – Best of the Week!

The most popular Eat Run Read post this week was Oreo Cupcakes with Oreo Cream Cheese Frosting. (No duh!)

Everyone is following the protests in Egypt – things looked pretty good at the beginning of the week, but unfortunately have gotten progressively worse. AidWatch offers an interesting perspective on VP Biden’s comments about Mubarak: 
I never would have thought that a cringingly catchy slogan like “Democracy is for Rich People, Not for Egypt People” would have so many takers” And he criticizes the notion that “Rich nations need to respect the rights of their citizens to avoid the “dictator” label, but in poor nations all you need is to be a US ally.”

On the lighter side, did you know that Martha Stewart used to be a model? (More pictures at Happiness Is...)

I had a brief mental breakdown this week, questioned my life, and wondered if I should go to grad school…and this video serves to support my decision of not yet! (Click here if you can't see the video.)
The BBC offered some interesting pictures Inside the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant.


This made me giggle and reminded me of my Halloween costume: “Firefox has encountered an unexpected problem with windows." (If you can't see the video click here.)


And who knew that eggplants were so adorable? (source)


If you're in DC and are interested in French film, check out the Short Film Festival starting next week! The one at the National Portrait Gallery on Sunday is free! (Aka I'll be there.)


Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful weekend!