Tell Simmer Family Edition: Josie, the Simmering Tween
Dec 1st, 2008 by Marilyn
What? You’ve already heard enough Josie this and Josie that, and how Josie loves jellybeans, and went to junior high, and went to Paris, blah blah blah? Well, Miss Twilight seems to think you haven’t heard enough – she’s fed up with “all those pictures of Cleo,” and demanded her own Tell Simmer, which this week could be re-named “Tell Mom,” which in turn could also frequently be called “Tell Mom Off.” Whatever. She serves a mean volleyball, eats overly large burritos, and between you and me, leaves mugs all over the house. But this twelve-year old is our mug-leaver, and knows her way around a menu – somehow, she seems quieter in print.
How often do you think about eating?
Whenever I’m either awake or supposed to be doing something else that’s supposedly “more important”.
Simmer says: “more important” – like, “homework” important, or “set the table” important?
Coffee craving?
Okay, I know this sounds incredibly spoiled and totally obnoxious but I love chai lattes from Prima Tazza, because they have the best drinks anywhere (you want to argue with me?)
Favorite hometown food?
Hmmm…..probably a beef brisket sandwich from Arthur Bryant’s, but if I feel like tuning into my Chicago side I would have to say deep-dish pizza.
Ever been served breakfast in bed?
No, breakfast in bed is outlawed in this house because someone has a fear of little tiny m-words (can’t say it) creeping around. Is that too much detail?
Your absolutely reliable, go-to dish for entertaining is:
I can’t answer that, but if I ever felt the urge to throw a shmancy dinner party I would probably make something like fajitas. I don’t know why, that just suddenly popped into my head. Now I feel like eating some Mexican food!
Food that makes you gag?
Liver. It’s just plain nasty. I was forced to try both chopped and cooked and they are both equally disgusting. Sorry to all you (hopefully not that many) liver lovers out there but it’s awful.
Worst kitchen disaster:
My mom doesn’t let me have kitchen disasters, because she is a lovable micro-manager about cooking. However, in her opinion – not mine – the Bobby Flay-style Birthday Cake Throwdown for Johnny Depp that my friend and I had was a disaster. Hey, I thought it looked OK!
Three things in your refrigerator right now:
Pickles. Half of a hot chocolate. A torn bag of raw cranberries, which are really good with Tootsie Rolls. Try it!
Your idea of a romantic meal is:
Chinese takeout, you pick the entrees. Always have crab rangoon. That is the most romantic meal ever. And a good movie, no crappy chick flick.
Simmer says: a moot point. No romantic meals for you!
Secret snack of shame?
I have many snacks of shame, unfortunately most of them are not so secret. Jelly beans on bagels with cream cheese, any type of sour gummies, and Tootsie Rolls with raw cranberries are just a few. There are many.
Most ambitious thing you’ve ever done in the kitchen:
Brownies. Pretty lame, right? I’m definitely not the good cook in the family.
Simmer says: well, it’s definitely not her Dad. And they were fine brownies.
Best restaurant if you’re not paying:
Tony’s Town Square in Walt Disney World. I can think of a ton of nicer places to go but I’d rather go here than to any of them. If I had to pick a nice one, probably the Savoy Grill in Kansas City. REALLY good seafood.
If you were a cocktail, what would you be?
I can’t answer this because if I do, I will be interrogated about why I actually know cocktails and what’s in them. Let’s just say that I would be something with lime. Limes are good.
Extra Credit: Where is the world’s best pizza?
Lou Malnati’s in Chicago!
Simmer says: Finally, the right answer.
The best “Tell Simmer” yet. Got to try the jelly beans and bagel, it’s original.
Oh Josie….this made me laugh… the comment on m-words, lime drinks, and micro management….he.he.he…..
I think I will try the tootsie roll with a dried cranberry since I don’t have a sack of fresh ones .
Never tried a cranberry with a tootsie roll, so clearly it’s time! And this is one smart cookie, telling us all that Lou Malnati’s is the world’s best pizza! My godparents used to ship Lou’s pizzas to us when I was a kid and I still drool a little around Christmas time, thinking of that wonderful deep dish. Mmm, pizza…
Hey!
Why’d you actually have to put the cake picture up? I didn’t think that it looked that bad before, but now that it’s up for the world to see, I have a sudden feeling of embarrassment.
Oh well. Thanks for letting me do the Simmer Mom!!!
Josie – how nice a Mom am I? I changed it to Lou Malnati’s. Enjoy.
Josie, how adorable are you!? Great answers. I think more mother-daughter blog postings should definitely be put into motion.
This was very sweet. I wish I had some tootsie rolls in the house.
I have a weird choice for Chicago pizza: John’s in Addison. Only my family would pick the thin crust in Chicago…
Terrific blog, ladies!
Marilyn, this was great! You should have Josie guest blog for you on occasion! I’d love to hear her perspective of you in the kitchen!
This was great. I dream of Arthur Bryant’s burnt ends sandwich.
Awesome post – yay for more about Josie! Josie, I would love to hear more about the Birthday Cake Throwdown for Johnny Depp. Was it at your house? whose idea was it? what was the throwdown challenge?
Jordi will probably want to try Tootsie Rolls with dried cranberries (since we don’t have any raw). Or maybe dunked in cranberry juice? And he also likes any sour candies. Not me, but my secret snack of shame also involves cream cheese – Triscuit/cream cheese sandwiches. Always four of them, always varying in their cream cheese amounts from reasonable to towering, and I eat the towering one last. That goes back to high school, and while I haven’t had it in a long time, it’s still my secret snack occasionally.
More Josie, please. Delightful interview.
Your daughter sounds wonderful – smart and funny. Great interview.
Mama Palma’s in Philly is pretty good. So is Omega Pizza. And those are just the two places within a five-minute walk. I know that you’ll find a way to kick my butt over this, Marilyn, but I just haven’t been sold on Chicago-style pizza.
Josie rocks. I hate liver too. The Fiance would agree about Tony’s Town Square. I took him there for dinner on his 30th birthday and the boy nearly cried.
You and your husband have raised an intelligent, witty, and creative daughter. I hope that my daughter grows up to possess many of Josie’s qualities. Maybe I’ll have you raise my daughter when she reaches her tweens and teens. I’m not looking forward to this ordeal.
Josie, thanks for sharing.
Take care,
Mike
Aren’t daughters simply wonderful! Great interview and I am now intrigued about the tootsie roll and dried cranberry combo. Since I am a “cranberry girl” myself, I will give it a try and let you both know.
Hi Josie!
Your daughter is too intelligent.
Thanks for sharing.
Kelly
Josie-
I’ll be eating at Tony’s Town Square on Saturday (12/6) – any suggestions on what to order? I’m eager to try the cranberry/tootsie roll combo!
-Kristin
Josie’s interview is the best one yet! Love it! She may not have her mom’s kitchen skill set (yet!) but she sure can express herself beautifully! I am totally with her on the sour gummies, but much concerned over the strange love of the cranberry.
Josie,
Okay, I had Chinese food tonight AND crab rangoon. On the way out of the restaurant there was a bowl of……..tootsie rolls! It was karma. I grabbed two and shoved them in my pocket. As soon as I got home I popped in a tootsie roll and two cranberries. Not bad. I had to pop a couple more cranberries. Not bad at all. I actually thought it was pretty good. And I don’t particularly care for tootsie rolls. Thanks for a little taste thrill. Nella
ºOº Yeah for a Disney World vote! Have you ever eaten at The Boma in Animal Kingdom Lodge? THE BEST!
And I bet Johnny Depp would have been proud to know you celebrated his birthday!
Josie, you are as delightful and deliciously unique as jellybeans on a bagel and a tootsie/cranberry combo! Goodonya for demanding more blog-space… you were worth it. Now go ask your Mom to email me that throwdown cake picture that I missed– I have GOT to see it!