So, Brian Cochran decided to link the world of WSC blogs together, which was sort of interesting and nice, except that now people actually look at my blog, which makes me feel like I should post something. On second thought, maybe this is good.
So Sunny said she appreciates recipes. Here is an awesome recipe that I just tested on Mary Hawkins. It is a good summer soup. Not so great for today with all that rain... but still good.
BASIL-AVOCADO SOUP
2 c. carrot juice (if you don't have a juicer, just buy Odwalla or NakedJuice at Henry's)
1 lg or 2 small avocadoes, peeled and pitted
10 fresh basil leaves
1/2 tsp. ground coriander
juice of 1 lemon (1-2 Tbsp.)
Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth & creamy. I love this soup! If you like cold soups I think you will too! You can also make it thinner by using less avocado and make a lovely creamy orange salad dressing. I am thinking about playing with the seasonings of this and will let you know if I come up with anything else good.
Let me know if you try this and what you think! If you need an avocado, please contact me. :)
31 January 2007
27 December 2006
27 November 2006
Thanksgiving in Poulsbo
I was not there, but the picture looks fun. One question: was Lydia there? Just checking.
I love the view out the window. Gorgeous greenery!!
I love the view out the window. Gorgeous greenery!!
15 November 2006
another pic
This awesome picture was stolen from Monica's FlickR. Thanks Mon ;)
L-R: Em, Rachel, Ari. This is right after we finished our rap, OK, Rachel's rap, to which Ari and I beatboxed. The whole idea of Rachel rapping is so ridiculous it's awesome. She is pretty much one of the whitest people around, both in skin color and personality. :)
Anyway, it was so fun. More to come.
L-R: Em, Rachel, Ari. This is right after we finished our rap, OK, Rachel's rap, to which Ari and I beatboxed. The whole idea of Rachel rapping is so ridiculous it's awesome. She is pretty much one of the whitest people around, both in skin color and personality. :)
Anyway, it was so fun. More to come.
07 November 2006
Sus's wedding
Megan Roderick is so hot right now.
The Bride & Groom's first dance as a married couple! (They practiced)
Third North mini-reunion
Getting Ready...
Thanks to Ms. Marie G. for the pics!! More pics at Marie's blog.
03 November 2006
creamy wine sauce pasta
I found this fancy meatless yet delicious pasta recipe. I altered it to be even better and here it is:
2 T. olive oil
3 cups sliced mushrooms (buy them whole and then slice yourself, they keep better this way) OR sliced zucchini... OR both?
2 cloves garlic, minced
fresh chopped rosemary
Salt & Pepper
1/3 c. heavy cream
1/3 c. white wine
1/3 c. chicken broth
In a large skillet over medium, heat olive oil. Add mushrooms, minced garlic and rosemary. Season with S&P. Cook for a few minutes. Add cream, wine and broth. Bring sauce to a boil; reduce heat, stirring until sauce is reduced to about 1 1/2 cups.
Serve over hot cooked pasta; top with parmesan cheese.
I did not make this up.
2 T. olive oil
3 cups sliced mushrooms (buy them whole and then slice yourself, they keep better this way) OR sliced zucchini... OR both?
2 cloves garlic, minced
fresh chopped rosemary
Salt & Pepper
1/3 c. heavy cream
1/3 c. white wine
1/3 c. chicken broth
In a large skillet over medium, heat olive oil. Add mushrooms, minced garlic and rosemary. Season with S&P. Cook for a few minutes. Add cream, wine and broth. Bring sauce to a boil; reduce heat, stirring until sauce is reduced to about 1 1/2 cups.
Serve over hot cooked pasta; top with parmesan cheese.
I did not make this up.
02 November 2006
Still sugar-free... mostly
So I have been doing pretty good except someone made me these cookies!!! Dang it... they are the BEST! After I ate them I felt slightly ill though. In case anyone cares... I am still not eating many sweets, and feeling better. And when I do eat sweets, I feel yucky.
Pictures of Susan's wedding to come... it was great fun. Chattanooga is beautiful this time of year, all those leaves... it was great to see everyone too. I saw Marie, Peter, Susan, Megan Roderick, Monica, Larry & Nancy, all of Susan's family, Christian & Glenn, the Steeles, Dale Lee and the Williams fam at Cornerstone... it was great.
03 October 2006
Ridiculously good dip
1/4 c. mango chutney
4 oz. cream cheese (1/2 a pkg.)
some plain yogurt - I forget how much - 1/4 cup?
1 tsp. curry powder
Snip any large fruit pieces in the chutney. Mix cream cheese, yogurt and curry powder. Stir well (get all lumps out). Then add chutney.
So Good. We had it last night at Katie Wag's bday party with rice crackers, carrots, celery, cucumber and granny smith apples.
From the Better homes & Gardens Vegetarian cookbook Mom gave me for Christmas. :)
4 oz. cream cheese (1/2 a pkg.)
some plain yogurt - I forget how much - 1/4 cup?
1 tsp. curry powder
Snip any large fruit pieces in the chutney. Mix cream cheese, yogurt and curry powder. Stir well (get all lumps out). Then add chutney.
So Good. We had it last night at Katie Wag's bday party with rice crackers, carrots, celery, cucumber and granny smith apples.
From the Better homes & Gardens Vegetarian cookbook Mom gave me for Christmas. :)
22 September 2006
21 September 2006
Yikes
Remember how mom used to not know how to post pictures on her blog? Well now I don't because I take pictures with my camera phone, and I can't figure out how to upload them to my computer.
Any advice?
In other news, I am on a diet so I will look cute in that green bridesmaids dress of Susan's. The biggest thing is - I am not eating any sugar! Except in fruit. No refined sugar of course, so no sweets - and also no ketchup and other good stuff like that. Not even honey. But bread. Definitely bread.
You will not believe this but Ken is on the no-sugar bandwagon too. We both had a really hard day yesterday. I had a bad headache and Ken was confronted with all KINDS of temptation. But we prevailed! Will power baby.
Any advice?
In other news, I am on a diet so I will look cute in that green bridesmaids dress of Susan's. The biggest thing is - I am not eating any sugar! Except in fruit. No refined sugar of course, so no sweets - and also no ketchup and other good stuff like that. Not even honey. But bread. Definitely bread.
You will not believe this but Ken is on the no-sugar bandwagon too. We both had a really hard day yesterday. I had a bad headache and Ken was confronted with all KINDS of temptation. But we prevailed! Will power baby.
30 August 2006
29 August 2006
Cuban Lentils!
At our avocado house communist dinner last night, we enjoyed this new lentil salad recipe from the Food Network.
Here's what I did, for posterity's sake:
6 c. water
1 1/2 T. salt
1 1/2 c. lentils
1 T. evoo
4 cloves garlic, cut into slivers
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. coriander
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. salt
1/4 c. vinegar
4 green onions, white/light green parts only, sliced thin on the diagonal
1/2 c. finely chopped red or green pepper
In a large pot, boil water and salt. Add lentils, reduce heat to low and cook 30 minutes until tender but not mushy (if you use the smaller red lentils, check them at 15 minutes because they are much more delicate).
Meanwhile, in medium skillet, heat evoo over medium low. Add garlic, cook gently about 5 minutes or until softened (not brown). Remove from heat and stir in spices, salt, vinegar. Transfer mixture to large serving bowl.
Drain lentils; transfer to bowl. Toss together with dressing until lentils are evenly coated. Cool to room temp and stir in green onions and peppers. Serve warm or cold.
I highly recommend this one! Cheap, easy, healthy, yummy.
Here's what I did, for posterity's sake:
6 c. water
1 1/2 T. salt
1 1/2 c. lentils
1 T. evoo
4 cloves garlic, cut into slivers
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. coriander
1 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 tsp. salt
1/4 c. vinegar
4 green onions, white/light green parts only, sliced thin on the diagonal
1/2 c. finely chopped red or green pepper
In a large pot, boil water and salt. Add lentils, reduce heat to low and cook 30 minutes until tender but not mushy (if you use the smaller red lentils, check them at 15 minutes because they are much more delicate).
Meanwhile, in medium skillet, heat evoo over medium low. Add garlic, cook gently about 5 minutes or until softened (not brown). Remove from heat and stir in spices, salt, vinegar. Transfer mixture to large serving bowl.
Drain lentils; transfer to bowl. Toss together with dressing until lentils are evenly coated. Cool to room temp and stir in green onions and peppers. Serve warm or cold.
I highly recommend this one! Cheap, easy, healthy, yummy.
24 August 2006
Side Project
I think I am going to write a cookbook. Not yet - but maybe in another 10 years when I have more cooking experience. I know there are already a lot of cookbooks out there and mine probably won't make it to Barnes & Noble, but it will still be fun!
The theme could be nutritious cooking from scratch, because that's what I like to do. It bugs me when recipes call for prepared foods. That is not a recipe to me. Although I must admit, "prepared" is a relative term. Most stuff in my kitchen has undergone some sort of processing or preparation, except fresh fruits and veggies. A
Anyway, you know how you feel when Betty Crocker has a recipe that calls for processed cheese loaf? Disappointed, shocked, even nauseous? That's how I feel too. You just skip right over those kind of recipes. My cookbook is not going to have any of that trash. It will have recipes involving foods from your pantry like whole grains and beans, and fresh produce.
I hope I'm not just duplicating Laurel's Kitchen though. That is one of the best cookbooks ever. It makes me want to move to Berkeley, bake bread in coffee cans, protest the war and make vegetarian dogfood for my golden retriever.
The theme could be nutritious cooking from scratch, because that's what I like to do. It bugs me when recipes call for prepared foods. That is not a recipe to me. Although I must admit, "prepared" is a relative term. Most stuff in my kitchen has undergone some sort of processing or preparation, except fresh fruits and veggies. A
Anyway, you know how you feel when Betty Crocker has a recipe that calls for processed cheese loaf? Disappointed, shocked, even nauseous? That's how I feel too. You just skip right over those kind of recipes. My cookbook is not going to have any of that trash. It will have recipes involving foods from your pantry like whole grains and beans, and fresh produce.
I hope I'm not just duplicating Laurel's Kitchen though. That is one of the best cookbooks ever. It makes me want to move to Berkeley, bake bread in coffee cans, protest the war and make vegetarian dogfood for my golden retriever.
22 August 2006
Beans and Rice!
Dear fans,
Last night I made the most incredible meal! As some have said, "It's no bargain if your husband won't eat it," but I beg to differ. My husband sometimes cannot handle the spicier things in life, so he had to wash this dinner down with a lot of almond milk, wine, zucchini and lime tortilla chips.
OK:
BEANS AND RICE, inspired by Betty Crocker, but taken to the next level by EM, the fake Martha:
1 c. dried beans (I used mixed - kidney, navy, black eyed peas, garbanzo, etc. - but some were still slightly crunchy at the end - not too bad though)
3 c. water
3 strips bacon, cut up
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 4 oz. can jalapeno peppers* (optional)
2-3 T. brown sugar
1 c. uncooked rice
1/2 tsp. salt
Bring beans and water to a boil in 3-quart saucepan or pot. Boil for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low; simmer for 1 hour or 1 hr 15 min - when beans are tender. Drain and reserve bean liquid (leave beans in large pot). Add enough water to bean liquid to equal 2 cups (if necessary).
Meanwhile (during last 10 min or so of beans cooking), in large skillet, fry bacon until crispy. Add chopped onion and green pepper; saute until onion is soft.
Add bacon mixture to beans in large pot. Add bean liquid, jalapenos if using, brown sugar, rice and salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer on low for 14 minutes. Do not uncover or stir while cooking - this is important for the rice to be perfect!
Serve with mild-mannered side dishes that won't steal the show! Serves 6.
*Using a whole 4 oz. can of jalapenos made it REALLY SPICY. One-third of the test kitchen (Ken) was traumatized. However, the other two-thirds found it very nourishing and enjoyable - unless Tami was just being polite. Nah. Anyways, maybe try it with just half a can of the jalapenos. What happened was I stocked up on the little cans of green chilies at Safeway for when I feel like chilies rellenos, and I accidentally picked up a can of jalapenos! So I used it in this.
Let me know if you try this and what you think. I will be so excited.
Last night I made the most incredible meal! As some have said, "It's no bargain if your husband won't eat it," but I beg to differ. My husband sometimes cannot handle the spicier things in life, so he had to wash this dinner down with a lot of almond milk, wine, zucchini and lime tortilla chips.
OK:
BEANS AND RICE, inspired by Betty Crocker, but taken to the next level by EM, the fake Martha:
1 c. dried beans (I used mixed - kidney, navy, black eyed peas, garbanzo, etc. - but some were still slightly crunchy at the end - not too bad though)
3 c. water
3 strips bacon, cut up
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 4 oz. can jalapeno peppers* (optional)
2-3 T. brown sugar
1 c. uncooked rice
1/2 tsp. salt
Bring beans and water to a boil in 3-quart saucepan or pot. Boil for 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low; simmer for 1 hour or 1 hr 15 min - when beans are tender. Drain and reserve bean liquid (leave beans in large pot). Add enough water to bean liquid to equal 2 cups (if necessary).
Meanwhile (during last 10 min or so of beans cooking), in large skillet, fry bacon until crispy. Add chopped onion and green pepper; saute until onion is soft.
Add bacon mixture to beans in large pot. Add bean liquid, jalapenos if using, brown sugar, rice and salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer on low for 14 minutes. Do not uncover or stir while cooking - this is important for the rice to be perfect!
Serve with mild-mannered side dishes that won't steal the show! Serves 6.
*Using a whole 4 oz. can of jalapenos made it REALLY SPICY. One-third of the test kitchen (Ken) was traumatized. However, the other two-thirds found it very nourishing and enjoyable - unless Tami was just being polite. Nah. Anyways, maybe try it with just half a can of the jalapenos. What happened was I stocked up on the little cans of green chilies at Safeway for when I feel like chilies rellenos, and I accidentally picked up a can of jalapenos! So I used it in this.
Let me know if you try this and what you think. I will be so excited.
Farewell Beloved
Welp, I got my crown put on with no major drama. Feeling pretty good about that. At the same time, I was slightly attached to that tooth (not attached enough to floss though), and having it whittled down to practically nothingness was kind of traumatic. I mean - that tooth has been with me for a long time. And now it's GONE!
The grossest part was the smell. But my dentist is really nice so that helped. I focused my thoughts on the Nave children while he was drilling.
:(
In related news, I am now sipping coffee through a straw, as the latest urban legend says it helps to wear off the numbness. Perhaps it's the caffeine, since I've heard the same thing about Coke.
In other news, we are going to the long-lost Naves' house tonight for dinner. Definitely looking forward to that, as they always have good food and they're just really fun and refreshing.
Mary, if you are reading this: get back to work. >:)
25 July 2006
Heat Wave!
It is hot. But Saturday was the worst: I heard reports of 109, 110, 111, 112, 113 and 114 (successively.. it was sort of like a fish story).
I heard there were even fatalities! We did our best to stay cool and so didn't die - but I think my pepper plant might be a casualty. It is not looking too good anymore and every time I water it, more of its leaves fall off. They are healthy looking leaves, but then they just drop to the ground. :( Any tips?
We camped out on the porch last night. It was nice and cool (relatively speaking)... but there were scary noises coming from the woods. ! Yikes....
06 July 2006
Cherry Tomatoes
We would have lots of tomatoes by now except that other animals keep eating them. Hmm. Sketchy. I am spraying them with soapy water which seems to keep most bugs away. I'm growing a pepper plant and basil in the screened-in porch in hopes that gophers and rabbits will not get to them. Aphids, however, love the pepper blossoms!
Anyway. I suppose that's the price we have to pay for living in the woods.
On the bright side (literally), on Tuesday night we saw the fireworks in Grape Day Park from our little perch on the hill, and didn't have to deal with any crowds. So nice!!!
Anyway. I suppose that's the price we have to pay for living in the woods.
On the bright side (literally), on Tuesday night we saw the fireworks in Grape Day Park from our little perch on the hill, and didn't have to deal with any crowds. So nice!!!
26 June 2006
New Car, Hip Hip
OK, we got our car, and now all is well and fine. Sorry I don't have a picture to post. But it's our old car, only newer. :) And no stick shift. :( Too bad.
Not much else going on, cept it's hot as heck down here. woohoo! No AC for the avocado house... just fans. Ken says we need a hot tub. But how bout a pool? That'd be sweet.
Dude, take me to San Fran, where the air is cool and foggy!!
P.S. I missed Marie, so I made her famous chicken salad, and man was it good. The red grapes make the difference. yummers
Not much else going on, cept it's hot as heck down here. woohoo! No AC for the avocado house... just fans. Ken says we need a hot tub. But how bout a pool? That'd be sweet.
Dude, take me to San Fran, where the air is cool and foggy!!
P.S. I missed Marie, so I made her famous chicken salad, and man was it good. The red grapes make the difference. yummers
13 June 2006
Carless in a Carful Society
Well folks, we're still without a car. We found a good one on Craigslist though, and had it czeched out as Meg suggested, and it seems fine. Now we just have to get it from the dude. But you will never believe this: it's a silver Mazda 626! How ironic. I didn't necessarily want only grey cars in this life. Oh well.
I did break down and rent one though. I couldn't stand it. Plus, I forgot about Robert's offer to let us borrow his car while he's in Australia. Woops.
In conclusion, don't feel too sorry for us. We are cruisin around now in our shiny blue mitsubishi (just for a week though.. hopefully). We got a BBQ after being inspired by Eagle Crest. We're going to give it a try tonight!
I did break down and rent one though. I couldn't stand it. Plus, I forgot about Robert's offer to let us borrow his car while he's in Australia. Woops.
In conclusion, don't feel too sorry for us. We are cruisin around now in our shiny blue mitsubishi (just for a week though.. hopefully). We got a BBQ after being inspired by Eagle Crest. We're going to give it a try tonight!
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