The Hedgehogs See The Carter/Lea Duo!

The hedgehogs would like to appologize for the lateness of today's post. Besides technology generally being very unhelpful, they had a very full day.

First, they went with April to her Tulstin Troubadours band business meeting, where Mark's girlfriend Demaris' dog, Isabella, showed off All The Cute -



Then, they all went to the coin-op laundromat to do some clothes. Hedgie and Buttercup broke out into song.


"Tell you how. How you make. Make me feel. What's the phrase? Like a fool. Kinda sick. Special needs. Anyways."

Then, the group all traveled to Prospero's Books so April could pick up the debit card that she'd left there a couple of days before (Hedgie tried to tell her she'd forgotten it, but did she listen? By the way, you'll hear more about Prospero's Books and Cafe Caliban on Monday!) On the way out, they saw a monkey in the window, and Buttercup swears she heard it talking.



The group's ultimate destination was their stagemate, Marianne Carter's, show with her musical partner, Darrell Lea. Since the show was going to be at Cutter's Smokehouse in Eudora, KS, April decided to walk just down the street from Prospero's to grab dinner from Mud Pie Vegan Bakery. An Eggy Breakfast Burrito (made by FuD) and a chocolate coffee muffin really hit the spot.



Once they all got to the show, April asked about possible vegan options on the menu. Just in case. For science. Apparently, all the appetizers (like the corn nuggets, stuffed mushrooms, and onion rings) have dairy in the batter, the veggie burger is made with egg whites, and the waffle fries are seasoned with something that probably isn't vegan. That being said, the rest of the varieties of fries, including the sweet potato fries that April ended up getting, are vegan.

The show was awesome! The group is used to hearing Marianne (Matty Stryker, at the Kansas City Renaissance Festival) play hammered dulcimer and cittern, so hearing her play guitar and upright bass was a real treat (and a bit of a surprise!)







On the way out, Hedgie and Buttercup made a new friend, and stopped to chat for a bit -

Dinner & a Movie - Serenity

Film - Serenity
Travel Tie-In - The crew of Serenity travel to many planets in the 'Verse.
Food - Fruity Oaty Bars



Anyone who knows me knows that I am a tried and true Browncoat. To those of you unfamiliar with that there term, you might want to mosey your way over to the pilot episode of "Firefly" on Hulu. (It's free!) "Firefly" is just about the best piece o' storytellin' in the 'Verse, dealing with all manner of cowboys, bandits, mercenaries, and heists - in space.

I'm going to devote an entire future Dinner & a Movie post to "Firefly" (Book's Protein with Rosemary and Tomatoes, "Some Kind Of Hot Cheese", Ice Planets, Inara's Tea Service, and Shimmer Wine), but since I'm out of the world for a spell, I figured I'd start with the simpler task of makin' Fruity Oaty Bars from the film "Serenity". (You know "Firefly" has to be good; how many other single-season cancelled TV shows get their own blockbuster Hollywood movie?)



Now, the Fruity Oaty Bars in the commercial are somewhat more colorful than my version, but I figure that, since I also don't have blue skin, it's ok.



These are slightly modified from Kate's Granola Bars.

Fruity Oaty Bars

1/2 stick Earth Balance (or 1/4 cup oil)
3/4 cup of brown sugar
1/4 cup of maple syrup
1/4 cup of peanut butter
2 cups of rolled oats
1 1/2 cups of other stuff (like cranberries, raisins, dried blueberries, chopped dried figs, nuts, chocolate chips, etc.)

Melt Earth Balance (or oil) with brown sugar and maple syrup. When it just starts to boil, toss in peanut butter. Toss with rolled oats and other stuff. Make sure to coat everything.

Press well into a 9 x 9 pan lined with waxed paper. When they're cool, cut them up.


Yes, I used foil instead of waxed paper. Told ya I was out of the world for a bit.

It's very important that you wait for the liquidy part to boil before you add the oats and stuff, or otherwise it won't stick together as well.