Brunch is the greatest invention EVER. Sunday morning was fab. I’m seriously hoping to continue this tradition on a regular basis. And sharing food making responsibilities is the best way to go. Both Christina and I chose easy, but wow-worthy foods. I suspect when the Davison’s make their appearance in a few weeks brunch may be on the agenda.
This week we had bloody marys. There has been a request for mimosas next time.
Saturday night I finally outdid myself with chicken and dumplings. I added more garlic, onion and celery in the broth-making process which probably is the reason I blew my own mind. And last night Peter made supper and it didn’t come out of boxes or cans! He made gorgonzola chicken pasta with leftover roasted chicken and broth. He done did good. I know he got a little overwhelmed, but as he can read he did just fine with the cooking part. I was quite impressed.
Tonight I’m gonna make up some sort of chicken mole sauce-probably mole negro as it’s my personal favorite, but no one else seems to like it. After that I’m heading down to Butch’s armed with a red pen and about 70 pages of poetry as I’ve been asked to edit a supertopsecretpoetrymanuscript.
Hopefully you’ll get to read it someday too.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
wishes she could slate out why my generation loves mad men and the previous generation does not
The electric stovetop continues to frustrate me. I remember when it used to take almost no time at all to heat up some water for tea. I remember when I could heat up some soup in a snap. I remember when I could make gravy. I remember when my eggs were perfect every time.
I have, however, become a master chicken roaster. Roasting chickens and making stock are so easy and delicious and satisfying. And I finally did my first batch of no-knead healthy bread. The first 2 loaves were awesome. The last 2 loaves were a little dough-y, but still good. This weekend I’m going to whip up another batch in the hopes we can finally replace buying whole wheat sandwich bread with homemade which I think I can do and still satisfy Peter. And I need to make some more risotto because for some reason I can’t seem to fry a decent egg, but my risotto rules.
In other food related news, Sunday we’re going to brunch at Christina and Travis’ house. The menu thus far consists of some sort of puff pastry, egg, and spinach thing, roasted asparagus salad with walnuts and goat cheese, and spicy roasted potatoes with tamarind crème fraiche. Christina, in addition to the puff pastry/egg/spinach thing is making something sweet because that’s what Christina does best. The woman is a sweet-thing wizard. This brunch business is our attempt at getting together when we have time as opposed to waiting until all 4 of us are free on a weekend which happens maybe once every six months. It’ll be fun. I know the espresso will be divine.
The apartment continues to slowly come together. We have some vague plans involving getting rid of the leather couch if our landlords agree (I think they will. They seemed surprised we wanted it in the first place.) and moving the record player into the dining area. I’ve been on a record buying spree, but the set-up right now just isn’t conducive to me listening all that much. I thought I’d like having the living room “separated” from the dining room, but it just feels closed off and weird. Plus if we go back to just the futon we’ll have room for the rocking chair, the recliner, and maybe an IKEA chair that may or may not be available.
Nothing is currently hanging on the walls except for a kitty calendar of course. That will come. I’m still thinking a wall dedicated to the totally bizarre art print collection from the Herrick District Library might be in order. We do still have boxes not unpacked, but it’s all things we legitimately do not have furniture for: we need bookcases, we need a place for our games, I need a craft armoire. Any time I get stressed out about not having that stuff I just remind myself this is how it works. We don’t have everything we need and we can’t afford to just go out and buy it. It will take time.
This weekend: who knows. It’s been a long week. I’m ready to have one whole day where the only thing I HAVE to do is run.
And maybe go to the Sandbar.
I have, however, become a master chicken roaster. Roasting chickens and making stock are so easy and delicious and satisfying. And I finally did my first batch of no-knead healthy bread. The first 2 loaves were awesome. The last 2 loaves were a little dough-y, but still good. This weekend I’m going to whip up another batch in the hopes we can finally replace buying whole wheat sandwich bread with homemade which I think I can do and still satisfy Peter. And I need to make some more risotto because for some reason I can’t seem to fry a decent egg, but my risotto rules.
In other food related news, Sunday we’re going to brunch at Christina and Travis’ house. The menu thus far consists of some sort of puff pastry, egg, and spinach thing, roasted asparagus salad with walnuts and goat cheese, and spicy roasted potatoes with tamarind crème fraiche. Christina, in addition to the puff pastry/egg/spinach thing is making something sweet because that’s what Christina does best. The woman is a sweet-thing wizard. This brunch business is our attempt at getting together when we have time as opposed to waiting until all 4 of us are free on a weekend which happens maybe once every six months. It’ll be fun. I know the espresso will be divine.
The apartment continues to slowly come together. We have some vague plans involving getting rid of the leather couch if our landlords agree (I think they will. They seemed surprised we wanted it in the first place.) and moving the record player into the dining area. I’ve been on a record buying spree, but the set-up right now just isn’t conducive to me listening all that much. I thought I’d like having the living room “separated” from the dining room, but it just feels closed off and weird. Plus if we go back to just the futon we’ll have room for the rocking chair, the recliner, and maybe an IKEA chair that may or may not be available.
Nothing is currently hanging on the walls except for a kitty calendar of course. That will come. I’m still thinking a wall dedicated to the totally bizarre art print collection from the Herrick District Library might be in order. We do still have boxes not unpacked, but it’s all things we legitimately do not have furniture for: we need bookcases, we need a place for our games, I need a craft armoire. Any time I get stressed out about not having that stuff I just remind myself this is how it works. We don’t have everything we need and we can’t afford to just go out and buy it. It will take time.
This weekend: who knows. It’s been a long week. I’m ready to have one whole day where the only thing I HAVE to do is run.
And maybe go to the Sandbar.
Monday, April 5, 2010
grace
Ten years ago 3 women were living on East 15th street hanging out on a porch with friends when a skinny little cat showed up. I distinctly remember telling everyone NOT to PET the cat because once we did she'd be ours.
Six kittens, seven apartments, and countless memories later my beautiful cat has passed away. She was a cat's cat. Her expressions were unparalleled. Her love of food was well known. She was an excellent jumper in her younger days and loved high places. She adored chattering at birds. Grace was a terrible mother who once painstakingly dragged her kittens one by one and deposited them on a pile of electrical cords. She wasn't much of a hunter but did leave us a gift of what was probably an already dead mouse on the floor one morning after we'd been gone for a week. Grace was not a fan of other cats. Or dogs. Or anything that might take attention away from her. She did like a good petting especially around the ears and the behind. She was an excellent sleeper and could cuddle with the best.
Apparently Grace had been battling an illness for quite some time, but showed no signs until she had settled us into our new apartment.
Grace is survived by countless people who had the pleasure of knowing her.
She will be missed.
Six kittens, seven apartments, and countless memories later my beautiful cat has passed away. She was a cat's cat. Her expressions were unparalleled. Her love of food was well known. She was an excellent jumper in her younger days and loved high places. She adored chattering at birds. Grace was a terrible mother who once painstakingly dragged her kittens one by one and deposited them on a pile of electrical cords. She wasn't much of a hunter but did leave us a gift of what was probably an already dead mouse on the floor one morning after we'd been gone for a week. Grace was not a fan of other cats. Or dogs. Or anything that might take attention away from her. She did like a good petting especially around the ears and the behind. She was an excellent sleeper and could cuddle with the best.
Apparently Grace had been battling an illness for quite some time, but showed no signs until she had settled us into our new apartment.
Grace is survived by countless people who had the pleasure of knowing her.
She will be missed.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
a full life
So we live somewhere else. Which is wild. And awesome. One might say it's wildly awesome.
This morning was the epitome of awesome as it began with a run to Window on the Waterfront after which I met my friend Molly at the Windmill for breakfast (where she convinced me to apply to co-present at the next PLA). By the time I got home and showered I still had an hour before I needed to be at work so I convinced Peter we should walk down to Full Circle and pick up The Morning Benders record I had ordered and stop by Lemonjellos for iced tea and a pound of coffee.
This is a life I could get used to.
So far the only downfall of the place is the stove which happens to be electric and I hate it. I'll learn, but I suspect I'll be burning or under cooking alot of stuff before I get the hang of it. On the bright side the oven seems awesome so I'm planning on getting into baking. Saturday's menu is roasted chicken, sauteed spinach or kale, homemade bread and Irish carbomb cupcakes. Sunday will be chicken stock day so all next week I'll have good stock to get me through the forecasted rainy weather.
Grace, by the way, is just fine. I think she's in love with the carpet and the multiple sunny spots she gets to choose from.
Grace has MULTIPLE sunny spots to choose from!
Sigh.
Did I mention life is awesome?
This morning was the epitome of awesome as it began with a run to Window on the Waterfront after which I met my friend Molly at the Windmill for breakfast (where she convinced me to apply to co-present at the next PLA). By the time I got home and showered I still had an hour before I needed to be at work so I convinced Peter we should walk down to Full Circle and pick up The Morning Benders record I had ordered and stop by Lemonjellos for iced tea and a pound of coffee.
This is a life I could get used to.
So far the only downfall of the place is the stove which happens to be electric and I hate it. I'll learn, but I suspect I'll be burning or under cooking alot of stuff before I get the hang of it. On the bright side the oven seems awesome so I'm planning on getting into baking. Saturday's menu is roasted chicken, sauteed spinach or kale, homemade bread and Irish carbomb cupcakes. Sunday will be chicken stock day so all next week I'll have good stock to get me through the forecasted rainy weather.
Grace, by the way, is just fine. I think she's in love with the carpet and the multiple sunny spots she gets to choose from.
Grace has MULTIPLE sunny spots to choose from!
Sigh.
Did I mention life is awesome?
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