I am a closet (guess no longer, eh?) The Girls Next Door addict. I can not explain my infatuation with 3 busty blondes and one 81 year old pervert. I'm at a loss. But I can't stop DVR'ing it!! And if that wasn't enough.. my favorite girl? Kendra.
I KNOW.
She is the epitamy of every and all blonde jokes EVER. And she whinessss ohh lord how she whines.. but her laugh? I crack up every time I hear it. And she can't pass a mirror without shaking her heiney and looking at it. har! I heart her so.
And then there's Bridget - She's sunshine wrapped up in cotton candy. I want to be her best friend. But only if I don't have to hang out with her a lot or listen to her baby talk. Did you know she's got a master of arts degree in communication??
Finally, Holly.. I haven't made up my mind about her (3 seasons into it) yet.. sometimes I like her a lot.. other times I see her as a conniving bitch and I want her to go away.
So anyway back to my girlfriend, Kendra. Did you know her favorite restaurant is the Olive Garden?? She lives in a mansion with a billionaire.. but she prefers the Olive Garden. You just have to love that.
And so.. my 2nd soul baring secret - Now, keep in mind, this is comin from a gal who worked 11 years in her family's ITALIAN restaurant... best food in all of Ohio, too!
But I also love the Olive Garden. *gasp* *blink* *blink*
Yes it's true. So true, that I have tried to recreate the last meal I had there.. it was a plate of fettucini covered in alfredo sauce with medallions of beef tenderloin laying on top. It was fab.
So I don't make alfredo often.. he doesn't like it much and I find it to be a lil rich, even for me, if I eat it much. Therefore I don't have a good recipe for it, so I checked out my usual haunts and I think I pretty much just picked a 5 star from allrecipes.com.. I know I read quite a few of them, and they were pretty much all the same.. melt an obscene amount of butter in a saucepan, add garlic and heavy cream.. then add your cheeses and stir until the cheese melts and the sauce gets thick. I used Fontina and Parmigiano. It was a decent alfredo, although slightly grainy.. which is how all of my alfredo sauces turn out when I make them at home - regardless of the recipe or the cheese I use. Why is that?
I had also just been to my favorite Italian market, where I purchase some fresh Tagliatelle, so I used that in lieu of Fettucini.. and to make it my own, I sauteed crimini mushrooms in some butter and garlic until they were nicely carmelized and added that to the sauce.. grilled my tenderloin, sliced her up and voila! I had a reasonable facsimile of the Olive Garden's whatevertheycalledit.
Will I make it again? Doubtful.. well, at least not very often.. he liked it (which shocked the hell outta me) so I might make it again on a special occasion. Mebbe. =)
I had also just been to my favorite Italian market, where I purchase some fresh Tagliatelle, so I used that in lieu of Fettucini.. and to make it my own, I sauteed crimini mushrooms in some butter and garlic until they were nicely carmelized and added that to the sauce.. grilled my tenderloin, sliced her up and voila! I had a reasonable facsimile of the Olive Garden's whatevertheycalledit.
Will I make it again? Doubtful.. well, at least not very often.. he liked it (which shocked the hell outta me) so I might make it again on a special occasion. Mebbe. =)
Being from Australia, I know nothing of The Girl Next Door or Olive Garden so I'm not savvy with the confessions :( I'm with you on alfredo, I've only had it once and though it tasted nice, it was far too rich for my tastes. I do have to comment on those PERFECTLY cooked beef tenderloin strips though - great job!
ReplyDeleteyou seriously crack me up, Lis! They do show that show on E! here but the times I´ve watched it were fun, but since there isn´t really a storyline or anything I didn´t get too attached haha
ReplyDeleteAs for the Olive Garden, even though it´s not real Italian food or anything, it did remind me of home after being in the US for a month, so I loved every minute of it. I had some veal parmessan (which is similar to our "milanesas") and a white-chocolate-cranberry cheesecake which was to die for... I don´t remember the entries, but they were good as well.
So I´m definitely not shocked at all after your little confesional ;)
By the way, that´s one fine dish of pasta you made!
I love the Girls Next Door (only over here it's called Girls of the Playboy Mansion - original, huh?)! I particularly enjoyed the one when it was Kendras birthday and they went to Las Vegas! My husband actually doesn't like the show so it must be a girls show (in spite of the blonde hair and breast implants!).
ReplyDeleteLis! When I visited my family in the US last summer we went to the Olive Garden. It was my first time and I loved it. In the three weeks we were there we went at least half a dozen times!!
ReplyDeleteI never thought it was something to hide?!! the concept of the place is great the food was good and the service friendly.
Now, with this recipe I have a chance to make something from the Olive Garden for my boys!
oh I luuuuuuve Kendra! First, she is gorgeous! I mean, if you see me just I got up from bed, warn you, you may have a heart attack! Hey but her, just prettier than ever! Yeah? she likes olive's garden, I must miss that epidose.
ReplyDeleteAnd anything with flat pasta and mushroom, I'm sold! Your dish, totally divine darling!
I am a huge fan of The Girls Next Door, and I too cannot tell you why. Bridget is my favorite. I love a girl that loves Halloween.
ReplyDeleteUs girls and our guilty pleasures.
Now that dinner looks fantastic.
I love the steak!
ReplyDeleteHi Lis! Here's a shocking secret as I crawl slowly out from under a prehistoric archaic-type rock...
ReplyDeleteI've never seen The Girl Next Door... AND I've never been to an Olive Garden...
*squints eyes* Wow, that sun is bright!
HA! You make me laugh...
ReplyDeleteI debated whether or not to add this next part, but is it wrong for me to want to be a Girl Next Door? Not that it's at all possible because I look nothing like that, but think about it, they've got a pretty sweet deal there. Basically, they're living my life dream: acquire a rich sugar daddy and not have to work.
I think I might have to sneak a peek at the Girls Next Door, I must be missing something good??!! I too love Olive Garden, on occasion, and I also love Macaroni Grill, although I much prefer to do as you and recreate my favs at home! Way to go it looks great!
ReplyDeleteAren't cremini mushrooms delicious? I love their woodsy flavor, and I'm sure they were fantastic in this dish. And after seeing your previous post, I simply must buy a candy thermometer! They look luscious!
ReplyDeleteBTW Lis, thanks so much for your concern. Your words of encouragement truly made me feel better.
Well, now I will be able to sleep again - I found someone who likes the show, too, and it's someone I admire!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a relief, Lis!! :)
I have to say Bridget is my favorite. And I loved the episode when they went to Lodi and also the other where Anastasia gets all dolled-up. So funny. :D
I've watched "The Girls Next Door" too.... I have to admit, it's hard to look away from it. I'm just fascinated by their living situation, three super-hot (yet totally fake) woman living with a guy old enough to be their grandaddy. Not there there is anything wrong with dating older men... or younger women... it's the ratio of 3:1 that gets me. :)
ReplyDeleteAri (Baking and Books)
That pasta dish looks delish. The only way I get decent Italian food is to make my own. We don't have any Italian restaurants in town.
ReplyDeleteWe occasionally watch "The Girls of Playboy Mansion" (it's on E! in NZ too I think) - usually when we're channel surfing and I'm sorry to share with you that Kendra is my least favourite. She has NO class whatsoever and I think she's plain stupid. I won't tell you what I really think of her ;-) Bridget is my favourite because she seems so sweet and I'm with you on the other one; I'm not sure that I trust her.
I have no idea what The Girl Next Door is but miss having Olive Garden in Canada!
ReplyDeleteYour dinner looks great - and was no doubt 250% better than the Wendy's burger I had for dinner tonight.
Oh ...I laughed and laughed when I read this. I love Girls Next Door! And...I want Kendra's figure! (Let me wake up now...hee hee)
ReplyDeleteEllie muh luv - Why thank you dear =)
ReplyDeleteMarce - yeah I guess the more I thought about it the more I realized loving the Olive Garden isn't such a shocking revelation.. I'm going to have to pick another secret to share with you all, one day.. hehee
Freya - HAR! Her grill!!! She thought she looked good!! hahahahahaaaa!! And then she lost it and they ALMOST turned back - then the dipshit found it in her purse! teeee!! I do, I love her. lol Oh! And mine doesn't either.. I keep asking him how he could not because of all the boobs but he just makes a face. lol
Meeta - Ohh I hope your boys like rich food! hehe
Gattina - hehe I'm sure you look absolutely gorgeous when you wake up. In fact, I'm positive you do! =)
Cheryl - But why do we love it so much? I'd have to guess that this show has mostly women fans...
Rachel - Thank you!
Gilly - you crack me up! Well.. maybe Canada will air it one day and you can sit stunned in front of your tv wondering, "this is what they were talking about?" lol
Bril - Hell no it's not wrong. They've got the life! The life that was suppose to be mine before the baby swap and my mom introducing me to twinkies.
Laurie - on E! Sunday nights at 9, 9:30 and 10.. check them out and tell us what you think.. hehe
Susan - Yes they are one of my favorite mushrooms =) I'm so happy to see you are feeling better!! xoxo
Patricia - Awww you are the sweetest =) And so funny! I loved those episodes too. And I giggle like a 10 year old everytime they show Bridget's cat.. hahaha!
Ari - That's it... you've hit the nail on the head. It didn't shock me that he's still surrounded by gorgeous women in his 80's.. but that three of them are his "girlfriends"? Three? hehee
Morv my sweet - That is exactly why I love Kendra so much! har! She makes me laugh with her total airheadedness (my new word), her vanity, her sluttiness.. all of it.. it makes me laugh out loud! =) And yeah, I do agree that Bridget is the one gal most can relate to being friends with - she's got a sweet personality and she's quite smart. I hope she gets a hosting gig somewhere - would be cool to see her outside of the "mansion"
Jenny - Thanks! And hey.. sometimes Wendy's burgers hit the spot. =)
Chris - hehehe I'm glad you laughed.. I wondered what the majority reaction would be to that confession.. so glad to see so many great people also enjoy the show :D
I'm worse that you...I OWN the first season on DVD...which by the way is pretty much porn since they don't blur out on the DVD. I will by season 2 when it comes out and so on. I always tease my husband when he says why do you like this show so much...I say "because I can so relate to it" -NOT.
ReplyDeleteHA HA HA HA!!!
ReplyDeleteThat Girls Next Door show is what I think crack would be like...you know it's bad, you know you shouldn't, you feel slightly ashamed, but it's SOOOOO good. :)
This recipe is somewhat similar! DELICIOUS!! WOW!! I will make this next time I go on a long run or have tonsil surgery or have some legit need for really rich yummy food.
Ugh, if only I could have of Kendra's discipline at the gym! :)
Kirsten
I sent my tea all over the screen! You crack me up! Never been to OG. Never watched the show, but now you have me curious! I guess I need to get out more often!
ReplyDeleteOh I love it Lis, now you're just going to have to up the anty and come up with a more shocking secret!
ReplyDeleteThat first photo of the beef is really spectacular!!
Oh, that is one of my favourite shows! My favourite is Bridget because she is so sweet, but my boyfriend loves Holly and gets a slightly funny look on his face when she comes on screen, so of course, I hate her. I loved too when Kendra got her grill...
ReplyDeleteI have never been to the Olive Garden, but it sounds from all I have heard that it is pretty good, but no one likes to admit it!
oh Lis, you're the only one who can mix Hefner with fettucine alfredo. Kendra is funny as hell, now that I know we are partners in crime, I can feel a little better about watching that show :).
ReplyDeleteI have not seen the Girl next door, but if you like it sis, then I think i will be addicted to it too. Also,this pasta dish you made is oh so mouthwatering...and just you describing how you made it with all the cheese and cream I'm sure it is sinfully good!
ReplyDeleteAre you kidding me??? Who wouldn't like a plate of that pasta with those gorgeous medallions on top. I am drooling everywhere!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful pictures of lovely food you have on this blog. Yum YUm! I shall return!
ReplyDeleteGracie - GET OUT! It's on DVD? I am so buying it! WOO! hehe
ReplyDeleteKirsten - you crack me up! But you are right.. it's so wrong, yet it's sooooooo right. lol
Helene - Aww here's a napkin, sweetie.. am sowwie. *grin*
Tanna - You're right! I'll be thinking about which one I'll share next (there are so many - ugh)
Hester - HAHAHAA! You made me laugh out loud with the comment about your boyfriend's face when Holly is on. Too funny!
Monisha - I know.. I prolly should have paired him up with something that included whipped cream and fiber. teee!
Sis - I think you should check it out and see if you are right. ;)
Ivonne - Why thank you ma'am! Guaranteed to harden your arteries! lol
Jenndz - Thanks so much! I'm glad to hear you'll be back. =)
Too funny!
ReplyDeleteKeep it quiet, but I like the Olive Garden too. I don't eat there very often, but when I do I get stuffed on breadsticks.
Wow, you really are brave for admitting the Girl Next Door thing. Of course, I have some shocking admissions of my own, like my obsession with Cadbury creme eggs.
ReplyDeleteHeehee, I also have a crazy weakness for The Girls Next Door. It is seriously awesome guilty television watching, that I actually On Demand because I love it soooo much. And I love that you managed to tie in GND watchin' with a tasty recipe. Awesome.
ReplyDelete