Riot and Frolic

a mostly ballroom dance, but also a bunch of other stuff, blog

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about

I own and rock people’s faces off teaching ballroom dancing at Dancers Studio in St. Paul, MN. My husband and I compete professionally in American style and wrangle eight children in our spare time. I’ve been teaching and competing in ballroom dancing for over 25 years and have lots of opinions on it. I am an expert by any means, but there are quite a few dancers who are better than me and I have a solid knowledge of basic technique, so suck it.

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  • A Truly Glorious Food

    I finally tried spaghetti squash.  It's been highly touted.  Something about nutrition and low-carb and healthy and blah blah blah. This crazy lady said it would be good, so naturally, I was skeptical.  NOT!  (I am once again in love with the awesomeness of this retort.  Thanks, Borat.) Anyhoo, spaghetti squash is a variety of squash that…

  • How to Boil Water and Other Skills

    Yeah, I totally stole today's post title from one of my favo cookbooks, which is also a television show apparently (how would I know; I don't have a tv, let alone cable).   Like any Monday, I was going to post a recipe, but I've barely cooked this week.  I definitely have not cooked anything…

  • Tis the Season

    For roasting junk.  And for seasoning the roasted junk.  And eating the seasoned, roasted junk.  And having the eaten, seasoned, roasted junk be awesome.   Case in point: roasted chickpeas.  It's one of the delicacies that is sorely missed in the summer months for those of us who have no climate control in our homes and…

  • Not Seven

    But Six.  Six Layer Bars.  Because nuts ruin good desserts.  Just ask me.  Or my dad.  In other words, experts agree that nuts are lame.  Need a sugar fix with an added health benefit of some coconut?  Give yourself ten minutes and wallah! Yes, I said it: "health benefit of coconut" and "wallah."  Take that.…

  • Request for Bread

    No, I'm not asking for money.  Again.  I actually received a request (from an awesome lady) to write about making bread.  Like the kind with dough.  That you make with flour.    I laughed when she asked me because I've been trying to make french bread for a couple months and have been failing at it.…

  • Pinterest Project- Twofer

    No, no.  Not this guy… What?  You don't watch 30 Rock?  Get on the wagon.  That show is up there with, in chronological order, Alias (isn't it time for a little marathon?), The Office (season 7 is now on DVD…  and I don't own it… hint, hint), Arrested Development (yeah, that movie is never going to happen), and…

  • Pinterest Project- Make It Beautiful

    Have I mentioned how much I love The Girl Who Ate Everything?  Oh, I have.  Yes, she was the genius behind the Saltine Cracker Toffee.  So, she's a little bit of an evil genius.   Well, Christy has made ye olde blog again with her intriguing "Frosting That Will Get You Hugs."  I've been looking for a…

  • Something from Nothing

    You know what I love?  Something cheap and easy… There's a joke in there somewhere… But it's Monday, so let's get down to business. My cupboards could rival Olde Mother Hubbard's right now.  Someone needs to go grocery shopping.  Volunteers?   Until my imaginary cabana boy becomes a reality and starts bringing me cocktails and…

  • About Me…

    It is often said that you will hear Kate Bratt long before you see her. Kate’s fun-loving personality, animated gestures, attention to detail, and copious supply of knowledge make her the ideal instructor for both new and experienced dancers.     Winning regional and state competitions in elite gymnastics led Kate to search for a…

  • Something Salad-y

    The recipes I have shared with you are not ground-breaking.  They're not particularly creative.  They're not even pretty (see: Dirty Bird).  But they are easy, quick, cheap, and have a short list of ingredients.  These are things I like when I "cook". Por ejemplo (¡Thank you, Senor B!), caprese salad.  Let me list for you the ingredients:…