This is what I got last night just after midnight which officially kicked off my birthweek.
I might have spent too much time analyzing each picture.
And, no. It’s not lost on me that Peter gave this to ME for my birthday.
Last night I made a tofu spinach lasagna which sounds icky for all of you non-tofu eaters out there, but you honestly couldn’t tell that it was tofu. And it upped the protein content. And lowered the saturated fat content. My gayboyfriend Michael was halfway through his first piece when I finally confessed what I had done.
He ate 2 ½ pieces.
This week:
Survive the after effects of a full moon at work.
Walk to work despite the cold.
Make spinach turkey burgers stuffed with feta cheese served in a pita with beets, olives, and hummus.
See the Press Delete and only the Press Delete Friday night at lemonjellos
Buy Being There on vinyl.
Watch Food Inc.
Hit up the awesome used bookstore in South Haven.
Go to EPC for the midweek birthweek dinner celebration.
Be cool.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Saturday, October 31, 2009
books are DANGEROUS
I’m reading “The End of Overeating.” Much like “In Defense of Food,” I’m finding this book inspiring and yet horrifying. None of it is really new information: Americans are no longer eating actual food, but rather processed food-like products chock full of a delicious yet deadly and nutritionally wretched combination of fat, sugar, and salt. I’m up to the section on chain restaurant food and much like when I read “Fast Food Nation,” I’ve gotta say it’s gonna be a loooong time before I’m able to eat anything from either an Applebee’s or a McDonalds-we tend to think the bigger chains are better for us than fast food. They rarely are. Yes, Applebee’s at least has “healthy” options, but the practices of big chains have a huge impact on not only the environment, but also on what kinds of food are available. And the “healthy” options are such a small percentage of the overall menu. And most chain restaurants aren’t even really cooking the food. Everything-from the chicken to the burgers to the fries to the sauces-are cooked first (usually in oil), frozen, then shipped to the restaurant where foods are “assembled.” We have people in kitchens of restaurants who are assembling our food. Like a car.
Skeezes me out. Big time.
Thanks to this book (and the Pollen), I’m now being hyper-vigilant again about what I put in my mouth. I spent most of my day off yesterday reminding myself that the box of macaroni and cheese on the shelf was NOT food. It was chemicals and salt and nutritionally a nightmare. And it wouldn’t even taste good. It would be comforting, sure, but ultimately I wouldn’t be getting anything out of it.
So I made carrot ginger soup. Which RULED. It was comforting and spicy and perfect.
Here’s the recipe I used:
Classic Carrot Ginger Soup
vegan, serves 3
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
2 Tbsp ginger, peeled and sliced thin (add more to taste)
1 1/2 bunches of stemmed carrots (about 9 medium carrots)
3 Tbsp olive oil
2 cups vegetable broth
1 cups soy milk
1 small onion, diced
1 Tbsp agave or maple syrup
1 tsp black pepper
salt to taste
tools: blender and soup pot.
Stove-top Procedure:Heat oil, 2 Tbsp broth, onions, ginger and garlic in soup pan. Saute for a minute or two. Add remaining broth, soy milk, pepper, honey, and carrots. Bring to a simmer. Heat until carrots are soft and will break with a fork. If soup seems too thick, add more broth to adjust consistency
Take off heat and blend with immersion blender.
As I ate some last night and am about to go home and eat the rest for supper, I’ll be making it again soon mostly because I made barely a dent in the CSA abundance of carrots we have and because I didn’t make enough to share with Peter.
Try it. You won’t be sorry.
Skeezes me out. Big time.
Thanks to this book (and the Pollen), I’m now being hyper-vigilant again about what I put in my mouth. I spent most of my day off yesterday reminding myself that the box of macaroni and cheese on the shelf was NOT food. It was chemicals and salt and nutritionally a nightmare. And it wouldn’t even taste good. It would be comforting, sure, but ultimately I wouldn’t be getting anything out of it.
So I made carrot ginger soup. Which RULED. It was comforting and spicy and perfect.
Here’s the recipe I used:
Classic Carrot Ginger Soup
vegan, serves 3
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
2 Tbsp ginger, peeled and sliced thin (add more to taste)
1 1/2 bunches of stemmed carrots (about 9 medium carrots)
3 Tbsp olive oil
2 cups vegetable broth
1 cups soy milk
1 small onion, diced
1 Tbsp agave or maple syrup
1 tsp black pepper
salt to taste
tools: blender and soup pot.
Stove-top Procedure:Heat oil, 2 Tbsp broth, onions, ginger and garlic in soup pan. Saute for a minute or two. Add remaining broth, soy milk, pepper, honey, and carrots. Bring to a simmer. Heat until carrots are soft and will break with a fork. If soup seems too thick, add more broth to adjust consistency
Take off heat and blend with immersion blender.
As I ate some last night and am about to go home and eat the rest for supper, I’ll be making it again soon mostly because I made barely a dent in the CSA abundance of carrots we have and because I didn’t make enough to share with Peter.
Try it. You won’t be sorry.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
the awesomeness of becky
CHICAGO!
-I love you, Amtrak, but 2 ½ hours late into Chicago when I am a mere 7 minutes from Union Station just about killed me. I did manage to read one entire book: Michael Pollan’s “In Defense of Food.” It was inspiring.
-The Museum of Contemporary Art. I walked from the Mart to the museum and somehow managed to miss Michigan Ave. How? I know not. But I did still find the museum. It was smaller than I expected, but totally worth the walk.
-Drinking wine in a swanky showroom with Kevin and Becky. Because who gets to say they drank wine in a swanky showroom in the Merchandise Mart? Plus I got to see Kevin. I was told Peter and I are the only two people he knows who still buy music. I take that as a compliment.
-$2 PBR’s.
-La Gondola take-out. The.best.stuffed.gnocchi.ever. Pillows of heavenly potato-y goodness smothered in pesto. My mouth just started watering thinking about it.
-The BUS! I love taking the bus in Chicago. I’m afraid of the bus, but I love it. Next time I’m there I’m going to take it all on my own and pull the cord. Or at least I’m going to pull the cord.
-Myopic books, Reckless Records..oh, hell, I just love Wicker Park. I don’t care that it’s all trendied out.
-Whole Foods cheese counter. I got some sort of triple cream that I loved. Becky thought it tasted like ash. I thought it tasted like butter. I gotta say, though, being in that Whole Foods kind of made me insane. Granted it was 3:30pm on a Saturday, but holy hell. We were in loud, pushy, yuppie hell. I did get a Chicago dog. It was not as good as the Sandbar’s. Really.
-TRADER JOE’S! I would move into a Trader Joe’s if I could.
-Choosing not to stay on the couch watching a bad episode of Law and Order, but instead getting out and going to see “An Education.” Which was beautiful. Just charming and stunning and disturbing.
-MANICURE! My first. I’m officially not a fan of the color I got, but I am totally hooked. I cannot wait to go for my next one.
-MAKEOVER! At the Bobbi Brown counter at Macy’s. I did Chicago sooo cheap I ended up with quite a bit of money left over. Then I went to the Bobbi Brown counter at Macy’s and I didn’t have any money anymore. I regret nothing. My new lipgloss is delightful.
I heart Chicago. I am proud to say this was my THIRD trip this year-a new personal best. I wish I could make it back down there one more time before Christmas so I could walk Michigan Avenue and see all the pretty windows and not have any really good restaurants to eat at and enjoy the pushy obnoxious crowds…
You were right, Becky. That sounds like hell.
-I love you, Amtrak, but 2 ½ hours late into Chicago when I am a mere 7 minutes from Union Station just about killed me. I did manage to read one entire book: Michael Pollan’s “In Defense of Food.” It was inspiring.
-The Museum of Contemporary Art. I walked from the Mart to the museum and somehow managed to miss Michigan Ave. How? I know not. But I did still find the museum. It was smaller than I expected, but totally worth the walk.
-Drinking wine in a swanky showroom with Kevin and Becky. Because who gets to say they drank wine in a swanky showroom in the Merchandise Mart? Plus I got to see Kevin. I was told Peter and I are the only two people he knows who still buy music. I take that as a compliment.
-$2 PBR’s.
-La Gondola take-out. The.best.stuffed.gnocchi.ever. Pillows of heavenly potato-y goodness smothered in pesto. My mouth just started watering thinking about it.
-The BUS! I love taking the bus in Chicago. I’m afraid of the bus, but I love it. Next time I’m there I’m going to take it all on my own and pull the cord. Or at least I’m going to pull the cord.
-Myopic books, Reckless Records..oh, hell, I just love Wicker Park. I don’t care that it’s all trendied out.
-Whole Foods cheese counter. I got some sort of triple cream that I loved. Becky thought it tasted like ash. I thought it tasted like butter. I gotta say, though, being in that Whole Foods kind of made me insane. Granted it was 3:30pm on a Saturday, but holy hell. We were in loud, pushy, yuppie hell. I did get a Chicago dog. It was not as good as the Sandbar’s. Really.
-TRADER JOE’S! I would move into a Trader Joe’s if I could.
-Choosing not to stay on the couch watching a bad episode of Law and Order, but instead getting out and going to see “An Education.” Which was beautiful. Just charming and stunning and disturbing.
-MANICURE! My first. I’m officially not a fan of the color I got, but I am totally hooked. I cannot wait to go for my next one.
-MAKEOVER! At the Bobbi Brown counter at Macy’s. I did Chicago sooo cheap I ended up with quite a bit of money left over. Then I went to the Bobbi Brown counter at Macy’s and I didn’t have any money anymore. I regret nothing. My new lipgloss is delightful.
I heart Chicago. I am proud to say this was my THIRD trip this year-a new personal best. I wish I could make it back down there one more time before Christmas so I could walk Michigan Avenue and see all the pretty windows and not have any really good restaurants to eat at and enjoy the pushy obnoxious crowds…
You were right, Becky. That sounds like hell.
Monday, October 19, 2009
awesome october weekend #1
So. Ann Arbor.
Highlights:
The $3.50 Kussi oyster from Zingerman’s. Holy mouthful of sweet goodness. And the 2:30pm Grey Goose martini. Hey. I was on vacation.
Ashley’s. Of course. I had a Shorts Ooompa Loompa Licious IPA, a Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA, a Founder’s Pale, and a…a…oh I can’t remember. It was good. Hand pulled.
Wilco. I got to say I might have had way too high expectations. The band sounded great, but something was just not right with Tweedy’s mic. He sounded muffled. And that was extremely frustrating given how much I love their lyrics. Plus I think we’ve been spoiled by the Ladies Literary Club in GR because Hill seemed HUGE. And they seemed so far away. And we were in the lame-o undergrad date night section. The encore ruled. Here’s the set list.
The Motel 6 on South State St. $59.99 and it kind of ruled. Seriously. Laminate wood flooring and decorated all 60s Mod-like. I was no fan of the very loud heater and the fact we ended up in a smoking room, but I’d go back in the heartbeat. Beats paying $125 to be less than a quarter mile closer.
The Cloverleaf. Amazing hashbrowns, amazing ham and cheese omelet, and amazing toast. Plus being able to overhear the conversation between some regulars (2 slumlords-we’re pretty sure.) and the most new aged out waitress I’d seen in a long time was worth it alone.
Motte and Bailey bookstore: A first edition second printing of “A supposedly fun thing I’ll never do again” for $12.50.
Dawntreader bookstore: A first edition Charles Simic book. Signed. I’m not saying how much I paid, but it was worth it.
The Cupcake Station: The PB&C cupcake was a revelation.
Underground Sounds: Best selection of new vinyl I have ever seen. I walked out with Daniel Johnston and Panda Bear. And the proprietor ruled.
Wazoo Records: Slighly overwhelming, but great location and decent new vinyl.
On our last day of mini-vacation we went to the Corner Record Shop where we snagged 2 used Will Oldham records and thought we’d gotten our record player fixed (I don’t want to talk about the amount of vinyl I have that I STILL can’t listen to) and saw Where the Wild Things Are which, of course, we're supposed to like because of Spike Jonze and Karen O and Dave Eggers. I liked it because it was so true to those original 10 sentences Maurice Sendak wrote, but expanded to just the right length. And Spike Jonze, Karen O and Dave Eggers were a perfect match.
It ain't my fault hipster shit is good.
Highlights:
The $3.50 Kussi oyster from Zingerman’s. Holy mouthful of sweet goodness. And the 2:30pm Grey Goose martini. Hey. I was on vacation.
Ashley’s. Of course. I had a Shorts Ooompa Loompa Licious IPA, a Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA, a Founder’s Pale, and a…a…oh I can’t remember. It was good. Hand pulled.
Wilco. I got to say I might have had way too high expectations. The band sounded great, but something was just not right with Tweedy’s mic. He sounded muffled. And that was extremely frustrating given how much I love their lyrics. Plus I think we’ve been spoiled by the Ladies Literary Club in GR because Hill seemed HUGE. And they seemed so far away. And we were in the lame-o undergrad date night section. The encore ruled. Here’s the set list.
The Motel 6 on South State St. $59.99 and it kind of ruled. Seriously. Laminate wood flooring and decorated all 60s Mod-like. I was no fan of the very loud heater and the fact we ended up in a smoking room, but I’d go back in the heartbeat. Beats paying $125 to be less than a quarter mile closer.
The Cloverleaf. Amazing hashbrowns, amazing ham and cheese omelet, and amazing toast. Plus being able to overhear the conversation between some regulars (2 slumlords-we’re pretty sure.) and the most new aged out waitress I’d seen in a long time was worth it alone.
Motte and Bailey bookstore: A first edition second printing of “A supposedly fun thing I’ll never do again” for $12.50.
Dawntreader bookstore: A first edition Charles Simic book. Signed. I’m not saying how much I paid, but it was worth it.
The Cupcake Station: The PB&C cupcake was a revelation.
Underground Sounds: Best selection of new vinyl I have ever seen. I walked out with Daniel Johnston and Panda Bear. And the proprietor ruled.
Wazoo Records: Slighly overwhelming, but great location and decent new vinyl.
On our last day of mini-vacation we went to the Corner Record Shop where we snagged 2 used Will Oldham records and thought we’d gotten our record player fixed (I don’t want to talk about the amount of vinyl I have that I STILL can’t listen to) and saw Where the Wild Things Are which, of course, we're supposed to like because of Spike Jonze and Karen O and Dave Eggers. I liked it because it was so true to those original 10 sentences Maurice Sendak wrote, but expanded to just the right length. And Spike Jonze, Karen O and Dave Eggers were a perfect match.
It ain't my fault hipster shit is good.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
i don't know how kmart stayed open THIS long in holland
I hate not sleeping. I hate waking up at 4am completely wide awake wondering why I’m completely wide awake despite having gone to bed a mere 4 ½ hours earlier.
The day started fine-I even managed to walk to work. But this last hour is torture. Every.single.person.is.making.me.angry. I know it’s my lack of sleep, but I can’t seem to reign in the rage.
The walk home will probably do me good.
In other news:
I’m knitting like a fiend.
I made polenta and loved it.
Grace tolerated the presence of a dog.
Twice.
I believe I may have read 8ish books in the past month.
Most were meh. A few were good.
None were Infinite Jest.
Ghostface Killah is going to be at the Blind Pig.
I want to go.
I have my 3 month cancer checkup Thursday am.
If they find anything suspicious I might scream.
Friday is a big day: Zingerman’s Roadhouse and Wilco.
The day started fine-I even managed to walk to work. But this last hour is torture. Every.single.person.is.making.me.angry. I know it’s my lack of sleep, but I can’t seem to reign in the rage.
The walk home will probably do me good.
In other news:
I’m knitting like a fiend.
I made polenta and loved it.
Grace tolerated the presence of a dog.
Twice.
I believe I may have read 8ish books in the past month.
Most were meh. A few were good.
None were Infinite Jest.
Ghostface Killah is going to be at the Blind Pig.
I want to go.
I have my 3 month cancer checkup Thursday am.
If they find anything suspicious I might scream.
Friday is a big day: Zingerman’s Roadhouse and Wilco.
Friday, October 2, 2009
two weeks until wilco
I’m alive. I think. Sickness wiped me out this week and today is my first day back at work. I spent the week sleeping, reading, sleeping, watching Sex and the City, sleeping, watching Ken Burns’ National Parks documentary, sleeping, knitting, and sleeping.
I slept. A lot. I ate a lot of soup. I drank a lot of tea. I took a lot of Mucinex D. I took a lot of Tylenol PM. I went to the doctor who told me to stay home two more days, keep doing what I’m doing, and gave me a prescription for cough medicine which I didn’t think made me loopy until I took it at work and now I’m feeling loopy. I also have developed some sort of rash which the doctor seems to think is related to fever/chills but I’m not convinced isn’t an allergy to either Mucinex D or the amazing olives Kevin and Xtina brought me. It better be the Mucinex because I’m not going to stop eating the olives.
Poe has left us. It’s sad. It’s getting less sad, but the goodbye wasn’t pretty. Tears were shed. Grace took about a day and half before she ventured into the tv room. It wasn’t until she was in there I noticed how neglected she had been. I miss Poe, but it’s nice to have my big fat crabby Grace back.
Before my illness truly took hold I managed to hit up Salt of the Earth in Fennville with the Kapteyn-Dekkingas. It was good, solid, accessible food. It’s no Journeyman (nor should it be), but it’s reasonably priced and tasty for the most part. I would go back just for the homemade s’more which I’m still dreaming about.
This weekend: maybe go out for supper if I’m not completely dead by the end of the day, watch the last episode of National Parks, knit, market, hang with Peter outside the barn, and Neal John’s first birthday party.
FYI: homemade Christmas madness has begun.
I slept. A lot. I ate a lot of soup. I drank a lot of tea. I took a lot of Mucinex D. I took a lot of Tylenol PM. I went to the doctor who told me to stay home two more days, keep doing what I’m doing, and gave me a prescription for cough medicine which I didn’t think made me loopy until I took it at work and now I’m feeling loopy. I also have developed some sort of rash which the doctor seems to think is related to fever/chills but I’m not convinced isn’t an allergy to either Mucinex D or the amazing olives Kevin and Xtina brought me. It better be the Mucinex because I’m not going to stop eating the olives.
Poe has left us. It’s sad. It’s getting less sad, but the goodbye wasn’t pretty. Tears were shed. Grace took about a day and half before she ventured into the tv room. It wasn’t until she was in there I noticed how neglected she had been. I miss Poe, but it’s nice to have my big fat crabby Grace back.
Before my illness truly took hold I managed to hit up Salt of the Earth in Fennville with the Kapteyn-Dekkingas. It was good, solid, accessible food. It’s no Journeyman (nor should it be), but it’s reasonably priced and tasty for the most part. I would go back just for the homemade s’more which I’m still dreaming about.
This weekend: maybe go out for supper if I’m not completely dead by the end of the day, watch the last episode of National Parks, knit, market, hang with Peter outside the barn, and Neal John’s first birthday party.
FYI: homemade Christmas madness has begun.
Friday, September 25, 2009
what up:
Poe is going to live with upwardly mobile hip parents in Chicago. It’s for the best. It doesn’t make it any easier to let her go. Grace doesn’t know it yet, but she’s thrilled.
Neal walks and has two teeth and remains the cutest child in the world.
Work is work is work.
Saw The Books. It ruled.
Finished Infinite Jest. It took 2 ½ months and stands next to East of Eden as my favorite book of fiction. I’m now floundering for something to read. I’ve finished 3 books, but have ultimately been left unsatisfied.
Our Wilco-on-vinyl collection is growing.
I’d been running which was awesome. Then I stopped and my mood deteriorated. Running is back on the agenda.
Food-wise I’ve been making some stuff: a successful pasta goat cheese tomato walnut kale thing and a less-than-successful quinoa stuffed pepper thing. I followed a recipe and not my instincts and it was too cinnamoney. The end of market season is looming and though I’m bummed I’m not quite as devastated as I have been in the past. I’m actually really looking forward to some good bread-making, soup-creating, casserole-eating weather.
Any you?
Neal walks and has two teeth and remains the cutest child in the world.
Work is work is work.
Saw The Books. It ruled.
Finished Infinite Jest. It took 2 ½ months and stands next to East of Eden as my favorite book of fiction. I’m now floundering for something to read. I’ve finished 3 books, but have ultimately been left unsatisfied.
Our Wilco-on-vinyl collection is growing.
I’d been running which was awesome. Then I stopped and my mood deteriorated. Running is back on the agenda.
Food-wise I’ve been making some stuff: a successful pasta goat cheese tomato walnut kale thing and a less-than-successful quinoa stuffed pepper thing. I followed a recipe and not my instincts and it was too cinnamoney. The end of market season is looming and though I’m bummed I’m not quite as devastated as I have been in the past. I’m actually really looking forward to some good bread-making, soup-creating, casserole-eating weather.
Any you?
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