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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  • The Pinterest Project- It’s Like A Puzzle, But It Isn’t

    This week's project is Saltine Cracker Toffee from The Girl Who Ate Everything.  What isn't to love about the idea of it?  I love Heath Bars; it's a salty-sweet treat; it has four ingredients; little ladies can help make it; it's quick to make.  And look at it! So, if you click on the recipe name above, you'll…

  • Can’t Name This Post

    As promised, but a day late, is the most-wanted recipe for the Fabulous Fudge Bars from the St. Paul bakery, Bread & Chocolate.  I'm having a hard time naming this post since I've had other naming responsibilities this week… This picture does not do it justice.  Nothing can do it justice but a huge glass…

  • Arguing With My Brother-In-Law

    No, not that one.    Not the other one either.  (Why don't I have a picture of you, Huge?)       This one.   The one that is, what, 20 years my junior?  The one that, maybe because of our age difference or my maturity level, I would choose not to argue with?  Oh,…

  • Going Bananas

    Everyone loves banana bread.   It's a grand statement, but it's true, right?  And dude, throw some chocolate chips in that bread and most people (OK, me) can polish off a loaf themselves.  (I might put butter on slices and then broil it if I've had a particularly rough day… or it's Tuesday.) I had some…

  • Cool Down

    With a forecast of 96 degrees and a heat index of 105 today (I don't understand any of those words or numbers), I thought I'd prepare some icy delights last night. Many of you know, I am slightly obsessed with popsicles.  Not so much the making of them, just really the eating of them.  I…

  • Dirty Bird continued…

    Yesterday, we made a roast chicken.  Well, I did.  It was delicious, by the way.  Crispy skin, moist meat, leftovers.   I told you to save your "juicy tidbits" that were left in the roasting pan and throw your chicken's remains in the pan so we could make some chicken broth.  Are you ready? How…

  • Dirty Bird

    You might have figured out that I am a lazy chef.  I like food and I like cooking, but I'm a big fan of "recipes" that use less than five ingredients or five steps.  I like being able to memorize a recipe and then improvise as I see fit.   It's even better when I…

  • Breakfast is the Most Important Meal of the Day

    Which is why we are taste-testing ice cream at 9am.   What. Yesterday I mentioned the ice cream recipe I was going to try from Everyday Food's June issue.  I was suspicious, and rightly so, as it turns out.  A can of sweetened condensed milk, cream and vanilla? I memorized the recipe as I read…

  • Case of the Mondays

    Um, yeah… It's rather early and I thought I'd get you started with a cure for your Monday. I feel a little like Martha telling you about my "good things." Whoa.  I mean, things that I enjoy.       Dear Yoga Toes, you are so great.  You look ever so painful in the picture,…

  • Stupid Easy

    It's hot and I still turn the oven on.  There are some things that are so delicious and, yes, stupid easy, for which I will tolerate sweating. First, it helps to have an icy glass of water nearby.  Lemons and limes are a bonus.  A sharp knife is handy in case of intruders. Sweet potatoes…