Bacon Recipes: 2 Healthy Canadian Bacon Dishes
Well, folks, I did it. I found a way to utilize the remaining Canadian bacon in this month's bacon shipment. I've learned that diced Canadian bacon is a great addition to recipes. It's not greasy at all, compared to American bacon. It is, however, very salty. As in more salty than American bacon when browned in the pan as a side to eggs. Unpleasantly salty on its own, really. But, it goes quite well as an ingredient in dishes (where you can leave out the other salts traditionally used in the recipe).
Canadian Bacon Vegetable Stew
-2 carrots, washed and chopped into 1/4 inch rounds or so
-1 large russet potato, washed and chopped into 1/2 inch X 1/2 inch X 1/4 inch solids of various shapes (leave the skin on, it's full of vitamins)
-5 stalks of celery, washed and chopped into 1/4 inch moons or so
-3/4 red onion, washed and chopped
-1 yellow onion, washed and chopped
-extra virgin olive oil for cooking
-1/4 lb. canadian bacon, diced
-1 small can beef broth
-4 cups water
-Italian seasoning
-dried rosemary
-thyme
-dried parsely
-black pepper
-dry aged cheese for grating (parmigiano reggiano is excellent).
1. Sautee onions and celery in olive oil on medium heat for a few minutes. Add bacon and stir for another minute or two.
2. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil.
3. Lower to a simmer and cook until potatoes and carrots are tender and have started to make the liquid starchy (approx 1 hour). Check the seasoning and add more if you feel something is missing.
4. Remove from heat and serve into bowls. Grate cheese over the top. Sprinkle with more black pepper.
And, since Labor Day has passed, I declare it officially summer. Hence the light, brightly colored, fresh green bean based recipe below.
Of course, my sister exclaimed, "Gross!" when I described the ingredients of tonight's dinner. But, she was off to have dinner made for her by an ex-sous-chef from the French Laundry, so I suppose she can afford to be selective. She was wrong, though. It was actually very good and quite pretty. Plus, it's extremely healthy and filling. I do admit, though, the ingredient list alone does not inspire supreme confidence...
Summer Green Bean Couscous Salad
-1 lb green beans, washed, ends trimmed, chopped into 1-inch pieces
-1/2 yellow onion, washed and chopped
-3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
-1 T. dijon mustard
-1/4 lb. canadian bacon
-1 cup couscous
-extra virgin olive oil, for cooking, a couple times around the pan
-3 cups water, or so
1. Sautee onions and garlic over medium heat in the olive oil for approximately 2 minutes.
2. Add bacon and cook for another minute.
3. Add water and mustard, bring to a boil.
4. Add couscous and green beans, boil for a couple of minutes.
5. Remove the pan from heat, cover for 10 minutes or so.
6. Remove the lid, fluff and allow to cool until no longer steaming.
7. Serve immediately with black pepper.
May 30, 2007
May 28, 2007
A Holiday Wedding and Birthday Weekend
I had my first day of no billing in 18 days on Friday. It was glorious. It was a Friday, but since I'd worked both days of the last two weekends, the actual name of the day didn't interest me in the slightest. I kept up my strike for 4 days straight and will return to the office tomorrow to work for the first time since Thursday evening, when I received a heartfelt email from one of my supervising partners encouraging me to enjoy a much-needed vacation.
You don't have to tell me twice.
On Friday, after checking into our hotel in New Jersey post red-eye around 8 AM EST, I slept in. I roused myself for lunch with E at the hotel. Then, I walked across the street to treat myself to a pedicure and manicure. Next, I indulged in some time by the pool reading. Then, we were treated to a rehearsal dinner where we met extended family, enjoyed good food, and entirely too much alcohol was consumed. Then sleep. Glorious sleep.
Saturday was more of the same. I, well, in fairness, we, slept in so long that we had to order room service in order to be ready for the wedding in time. I sat through a Catholic wedding and said the words upon instinct. It was my first visit to a church since the oath. Six months and there I was again, in a church to attend another big, emotional event: H's wedding. It was gorgeous.
The party was as it should have been. Rowdy. Crazy like only a half-Polish-Greek-New-Jerseyite and half-Irish wedding could be. Fun. Lucky_girl talked some 15-year-old golf-cart attendant boys into racing with us as their passengers throughout the golf course during the dinner. A and I danced together like the crazy girls we are because B's knee was hurt and E did his obligatory I-hate-dancing-but-I'm-married-so-I'll-let-you-have-a-slow-dance-or-two bit. The food was amazing. The after party was long and wild. I called it a night at 4:30 AM and people were still going strong. I heard the next day that the maid of honor called it at 6 AM and people were still going. I wonder what time it finally ended?
On Sunday, E and I headed to Brooklyn for his grandfather's 90th birthday. It was such an amazing party. Grandchildren flew in from all over the country. Old people came to celebrate and share their wisdom. E's grandpa, his namesake, was standing by me at the end of the night and when I thanked him for including me, and all he could do was tell me how lucky he had been in life to have such a wonderful family and to have fallen in love with and married the right girl, E's grandma. I was charmed and made a silent wish that I will be able to attend E's 90th birthday just as his grandma attended her husband's and that he will say and feel such complimentary things towards me.
After snacks on the porch in Brooklyn, the party consisted of a proper 4-hour multi-course Italian meal with vino, prosecco, and espresso. Imagine enough antipasti to make 3 meals (not the least of which were arancini di riso, a treat I hadn't had since I was last in Italy), a pasta course, a main course of chicken and veal, and, of course, canoli cake, just like E's parents had at their wedding. The owner of the the restaurant and his wife punctuated the meal with arias. In English and Italian.
Family gathered from afar who has welcomed me into their embrace with open arms. My favorite type of food, and too much of it, with an invitation to eat to excess. Laughter. Opera. Hearing servers speak Italian. I was in heaven.
Today, we slept in, and returned, just 6 weeks later, back to our favorite NYC (well, the only one we've visited) dim sum with E's parents and sister. This time, it was gorgeous weather and we walked from our hotel enjoying the views of chinatown, little italy, the bridges, and wall street. Plus, it was fun to go to dim sum with people who have never had it (E's parents). After two visits, I can highly recommend this place. Delicious. Excellent value ($45 with tip for brunch for 5 people). Authentic. And, unlike home where we tend to have someone who speaks mandarin or shanghainese(?) with us when we go, this place has pictures and english labels on the carts, which helps enourmously if you don't speak any Chinese languages.
Finally, we're home and the low down is simple. I haven't run nearly enough miles (did you notice there was lots of reports of sleep and no reports of running this weekend?) to do next weekend's race. But, we have no plans to leave our hometown for 5 weekends, which for us, is unheard of. So, I'll hope for a more reasonable work schedule. And, I'll research my options and find a nearby weekend race in the near future that I can properly train for.
Because the 18-day work-binge plus the holiday weekend of gluttony combined with being home, summer associate season and barbeque season mean I need to get some mileage in before my clothes all stop fitting.
Last, but not least, I leave you with a quote from the trashy novel I read on the plane back. After the juxtaposition of many hours at work, which I loved, against a memory-full, but expensive, tiring, and time-consuming trip to celebrate major occasions with friends and family, this quote struck me as very wise.
The trick to life is working out what the important things are, Nat. Some things aren't worth the compromise or sacrifice--other things are worth giving up everything for.
May I learn to let the unimportant things roll off my back.
I had my first day of no billing in 18 days on Friday. It was glorious. It was a Friday, but since I'd worked both days of the last two weekends, the actual name of the day didn't interest me in the slightest. I kept up my strike for 4 days straight and will return to the office tomorrow to work for the first time since Thursday evening, when I received a heartfelt email from one of my supervising partners encouraging me to enjoy a much-needed vacation.
You don't have to tell me twice.
On Friday, after checking into our hotel in New Jersey post red-eye around 8 AM EST, I slept in. I roused myself for lunch with E at the hotel. Then, I walked across the street to treat myself to a pedicure and manicure. Next, I indulged in some time by the pool reading. Then, we were treated to a rehearsal dinner where we met extended family, enjoyed good food, and entirely too much alcohol was consumed. Then sleep. Glorious sleep.
Saturday was more of the same. I, well, in fairness, we, slept in so long that we had to order room service in order to be ready for the wedding in time. I sat through a Catholic wedding and said the words upon instinct. It was my first visit to a church since the oath. Six months and there I was again, in a church to attend another big, emotional event: H's wedding. It was gorgeous.
The party was as it should have been. Rowdy. Crazy like only a half-Polish-Greek-New-Jerseyite and half-Irish wedding could be. Fun. Lucky_girl talked some 15-year-old golf-cart attendant boys into racing with us as their passengers throughout the golf course during the dinner. A and I danced together like the crazy girls we are because B's knee was hurt and E did his obligatory I-hate-dancing-but-I'm-married-so-I'll-let-you-have-a-slow-dance-or-two bit. The food was amazing. The after party was long and wild. I called it a night at 4:30 AM and people were still going strong. I heard the next day that the maid of honor called it at 6 AM and people were still going. I wonder what time it finally ended?
On Sunday, E and I headed to Brooklyn for his grandfather's 90th birthday. It was such an amazing party. Grandchildren flew in from all over the country. Old people came to celebrate and share their wisdom. E's grandpa, his namesake, was standing by me at the end of the night and when I thanked him for including me, and all he could do was tell me how lucky he had been in life to have such a wonderful family and to have fallen in love with and married the right girl, E's grandma. I was charmed and made a silent wish that I will be able to attend E's 90th birthday just as his grandma attended her husband's and that he will say and feel such complimentary things towards me.
After snacks on the porch in Brooklyn, the party consisted of a proper 4-hour multi-course Italian meal with vino, prosecco, and espresso. Imagine enough antipasti to make 3 meals (not the least of which were arancini di riso, a treat I hadn't had since I was last in Italy), a pasta course, a main course of chicken and veal, and, of course, canoli cake, just like E's parents had at their wedding. The owner of the the restaurant and his wife punctuated the meal with arias. In English and Italian.
Family gathered from afar who has welcomed me into their embrace with open arms. My favorite type of food, and too much of it, with an invitation to eat to excess. Laughter. Opera. Hearing servers speak Italian. I was in heaven.
Today, we slept in, and returned, just 6 weeks later, back to our favorite NYC (well, the only one we've visited) dim sum with E's parents and sister. This time, it was gorgeous weather and we walked from our hotel enjoying the views of chinatown, little italy, the bridges, and wall street. Plus, it was fun to go to dim sum with people who have never had it (E's parents). After two visits, I can highly recommend this place. Delicious. Excellent value ($45 with tip for brunch for 5 people). Authentic. And, unlike home where we tend to have someone who speaks mandarin or shanghainese(?) with us when we go, this place has pictures and english labels on the carts, which helps enourmously if you don't speak any Chinese languages.
Finally, we're home and the low down is simple. I haven't run nearly enough miles (did you notice there was lots of reports of sleep and no reports of running this weekend?) to do next weekend's race. But, we have no plans to leave our hometown for 5 weekends, which for us, is unheard of. So, I'll hope for a more reasonable work schedule. And, I'll research my options and find a nearby weekend race in the near future that I can properly train for.
Because the 18-day work-binge plus the holiday weekend of gluttony combined with being home, summer associate season and barbeque season mean I need to get some mileage in before my clothes all stop fitting.
Last, but not least, I leave you with a quote from the trashy novel I read on the plane back. After the juxtaposition of many hours at work, which I loved, against a memory-full, but expensive, tiring, and time-consuming trip to celebrate major occasions with friends and family, this quote struck me as very wise.
The trick to life is working out what the important things are, Nat. Some things aren't worth the compromise or sacrifice--other things are worth giving up everything for.
May I learn to let the unimportant things roll off my back.
May 20, 2007
Delirious Ramblings of a Stereotypical First-Year Lawyer
Since I started my practice of law, I've been able to avoid the multi-week push of unsustainable hours for the most part.
Every month, I tend to have a few days in a row of ridiculous hours, and a few other surprising random singleton days of unexpected madness when multiple clients have simultaneous emergencies, but really, I'm keeping it fairly balanced.
Except, of course, every two months or so, when I get on a big deal that owns the majority of my spare time for a week or two.
This time, the big hour-eating deal is also combined with the client list I've built up and all of their needs and the general increased level of business in the valley.
Which means, I've barely seen my husband and I've billed more this month in 20 days than I have in any month prior to this one.
Hence the lack of recipe, running, and introspection postings.
As far as recipes go, however, I will say that this morning's brunch of lemon cake with lemon icing, scrambled eggs, and Canadian Bacon was pretty damn good.
Of course, Canadian Bacon isn't anywhere as fatty, decadent and delicious as American bacon, but I think I'd only had it on pizza before. So, I have the bacon of the month club to thank for my first-hand knowledge and opinion.
Anyways, assuming I manage to find my way out of bed and the office this week and assuming I can fit in some miles for the run to which I've committed , then maybe I'll actually see what I can do to come up with a clever recipe for the remainder of the Canadian Bacon. Suggestions?
Since I started my practice of law, I've been able to avoid the multi-week push of unsustainable hours for the most part.
Every month, I tend to have a few days in a row of ridiculous hours, and a few other surprising random singleton days of unexpected madness when multiple clients have simultaneous emergencies, but really, I'm keeping it fairly balanced.
Except, of course, every two months or so, when I get on a big deal that owns the majority of my spare time for a week or two.
This time, the big hour-eating deal is also combined with the client list I've built up and all of their needs and the general increased level of business in the valley.
Which means, I've barely seen my husband and I've billed more this month in 20 days than I have in any month prior to this one.
Hence the lack of recipe, running, and introspection postings.
As far as recipes go, however, I will say that this morning's brunch of lemon cake with lemon icing, scrambled eggs, and Canadian Bacon was pretty damn good.
Of course, Canadian Bacon isn't anywhere as fatty, decadent and delicious as American bacon, but I think I'd only had it on pizza before. So, I have the bacon of the month club to thank for my first-hand knowledge and opinion.
Anyways, assuming I manage to find my way out of bed and the office this week and assuming I can fit in some miles for the run to which I've committed , then maybe I'll actually see what I can do to come up with a clever recipe for the remainder of the Canadian Bacon. Suggestions?
May 17, 2007
May 16, 2007
Signed up for one more race
Since the last run, I've fit in 9 miles. 9 miles and 2 hours of yoga in 11 days.
Suboptimal.
6 of those 9 were today when I put my foot down and insisted that I allow myself a break after work before returning to more work.
It felt good.
So I'm going to register for another race and use it as motivation. I have to fit in the training runs somehow. It just needs to be a priority.
Back to work...
Since the last run, I've fit in 9 miles. 9 miles and 2 hours of yoga in 11 days.
Suboptimal.
6 of those 9 were today when I put my foot down and insisted that I allow myself a break after work before returning to more work.
It felt good.
So I'm going to register for another race and use it as motivation. I have to fit in the training runs somehow. It just needs to be a priority.
Back to work...
May 14, 2007
May 8, 2007
A Father's Love
I always knew that I had a "good" relationship with my father, despite it's problems and lack of normalcy. And tonight, after speaking with a friend, I realized something.
When I was 19, I found my father so infuriating in his sexism and lack of concern for my feelings that I stopped speaking to him. I held out for quite some time until he apologized, several months later.
During this time, I was mad. Indignant. Angry. Hurt. But, I never questioned his love for me.
I knew he loved me.
In fact, and I'm sorry to admit this to you fathers out there, it was my undeniable faith in his love that allowed me to rebel when I needed to do so.
Now, despite my parents' relationship, which was not a great model, I've been lucky enough to find and fall in love with E, my soulmate, and we've actually managed to create for ourselves a truly amazing relationship.
If there's one thing I've learned from this experience, a healthy monogamous relationship takes a ton of work. Sacrifice. Understanding. Biting your tongue (something, despite the name of this blog, that I don't do often enough).
And, most importantly, in my opinion, it requires that both people have a ridiculous amount of respect for themselves and each other. Both people have to be serious in their commitment to help meet each other's needs. And, both people have to trust that the other person is serious about being there for them. Which means that each person must be able to respectfully ask for what they believe they deserve while having faith that the other person loves them enough that they will find a way to make it work.
Tonight, I realized I have Dad to thank for my ability to trust that E will still love me when I stand up for myself. This is one of the main reasons why I feel completely and totally happy in my relationship.
What a gift.
(Oh, and of course, now that I'm not 19, I realize what an asshole move it was to give an ultimatum and the silent treatment until my exact request was met. I like to think I'm a teensy bit more flexible these days.)
I always knew that I had a "good" relationship with my father, despite it's problems and lack of normalcy. And tonight, after speaking with a friend, I realized something.
When I was 19, I found my father so infuriating in his sexism and lack of concern for my feelings that I stopped speaking to him. I held out for quite some time until he apologized, several months later.
During this time, I was mad. Indignant. Angry. Hurt. But, I never questioned his love for me.
I knew he loved me.
In fact, and I'm sorry to admit this to you fathers out there, it was my undeniable faith in his love that allowed me to rebel when I needed to do so.
Now, despite my parents' relationship, which was not a great model, I've been lucky enough to find and fall in love with E, my soulmate, and we've actually managed to create for ourselves a truly amazing relationship.
If there's one thing I've learned from this experience, a healthy monogamous relationship takes a ton of work. Sacrifice. Understanding. Biting your tongue (something, despite the name of this blog, that I don't do often enough).
And, most importantly, in my opinion, it requires that both people have a ridiculous amount of respect for themselves and each other. Both people have to be serious in their commitment to help meet each other's needs. And, both people have to trust that the other person is serious about being there for them. Which means that each person must be able to respectfully ask for what they believe they deserve while having faith that the other person loves them enough that they will find a way to make it work.
Tonight, I realized I have Dad to thank for my ability to trust that E will still love me when I stand up for myself. This is one of the main reasons why I feel completely and totally happy in my relationship.
What a gift.
(Oh, and of course, now that I'm not 19, I realize what an asshole move it was to give an ultimatum and the silent treatment until my exact request was met. I like to think I'm a teensy bit more flexible these days.)
May 7, 2007
All is well in the house of summer
How do I know? Because I came home and it was too hot to serve warm food. Plus, the date we'd picked for our first barbeque was taken by friends who are throwing their own barbeque. And it's hot. Did I mention I didn't want warm comfort food tonight?
So, 2 days after what may be the fastest half marathon course within one-day's driving distance, I took my still recovering and not yet back in the swing of workouts butt home with 2 huge binders from work. I needed a break. But of course, I hadn't done any fresh produce shopping since we were out of town this weekend. Instead of giving up, I considered whether I could compose a cold pasta salad from random bits of preserved foods that were looking lonely (each already opened and waiting to be fully consumed) in the fridge and pantry. And I did. It was fabulous.
!Fabulous!
As in, this dinner is an advertisement for why you should buy good capers, good olives, good sun-dried tomatoes, good pasta...you get my drift. Just buy good preserved foodstuffs anytime you encounter them. Someday, when you want a home-cooked meal and you feel like you have no food, they'll find a way into your menu. And you will be happy.
-1 box pasta (I used Barilla Gemelli)
-1/8 red onion, cut into quarters
-1 cup sun dried tomatoes packed in olive oil
-1/2 bottle of capers, including the vinegar (approx 1/8-1/4 cup?)
-10 spanish olives
-10 pepperoncini, stems removed
1. Bring the water to a boil. Add pasta. Boil and stir while making sauce.
2. Make sauce: pulse cuisinart with onions and pepperoncini 'til well diced. Add the remaining ingredients and turn on for 30 seconds at a time until well chopped.
3. When pasta is al dente, drain. Submerge pasta in cold water. Drain again.
4. Mix sauce with cold pasta.
5. Serve with black pepper and red pepper flakes as garnish.
Enjoy!
How do I know? Because I came home and it was too hot to serve warm food. Plus, the date we'd picked for our first barbeque was taken by friends who are throwing their own barbeque. And it's hot. Did I mention I didn't want warm comfort food tonight?
So, 2 days after what may be the fastest half marathon course within one-day's driving distance, I took my still recovering and not yet back in the swing of workouts butt home with 2 huge binders from work. I needed a break. But of course, I hadn't done any fresh produce shopping since we were out of town this weekend. Instead of giving up, I considered whether I could compose a cold pasta salad from random bits of preserved foods that were looking lonely (each already opened and waiting to be fully consumed) in the fridge and pantry. And I did. It was fabulous.
!Fabulous!
As in, this dinner is an advertisement for why you should buy good capers, good olives, good sun-dried tomatoes, good pasta...you get my drift. Just buy good preserved foodstuffs anytime you encounter them. Someday, when you want a home-cooked meal and you feel like you have no food, they'll find a way into your menu. And you will be happy.
- Random cold pasta salad
-1 box pasta (I used Barilla Gemelli)
-1/8 red onion, cut into quarters
-1 cup sun dried tomatoes packed in olive oil
-1/2 bottle of capers, including the vinegar (approx 1/8-1/4 cup?)
-10 spanish olives
-10 pepperoncini, stems removed
1. Bring the water to a boil. Add pasta. Boil and stir while making sauce.
2. Make sauce: pulse cuisinart with onions and pepperoncini 'til well diced. Add the remaining ingredients and turn on for 30 seconds at a time until well chopped.
3. When pasta is al dente, drain. Submerge pasta in cold water. Drain again.
4. Mix sauce with cold pasta.
5. Serve with black pepper and red pepper flakes as garnish.
Enjoy!
May 3, 2007
See, I'm not crazy
Ever since I started running half marathons, and particularly since I started thinking marathons were reasonable, I've had a ton of conversations with people who tell me I'm insane.
No doubt, they are right.
But not because I run.
If you listen to the Harvard Anthropology Department's take on human running, I'm just doing what my ancestors evolved to do. I'm almost entirely hairless. I sweat a lot. I'm a big mouth breather when I run. I'm like the poster-child for this hilarious picture. Except slower.
Also, yes, in case you were wondering, before I started running on a regular basis, I thought people who ran were insane. I also thought running couldn't possibly be good for you, all that repetitive loading... I have since changed my position. I feel like my body is in a better state of physical balance at this point in my life than at any other point in my athletic life. This is not to say I'm a better athlete than when I was 20. But I'm more balanced. I hurt less. And, historically speaking, the data shows that I've been less likely to get injured running than I ever was as a gymnast, diver, or soccer player.
(In fairness, I should add, however, that I don't know if I would feel as balanced if I didn't mix yoga with the running.)
Ever since I started running half marathons, and particularly since I started thinking marathons were reasonable, I've had a ton of conversations with people who tell me I'm insane.
No doubt, they are right.
But not because I run.
If you listen to the Harvard Anthropology Department's take on human running, I'm just doing what my ancestors evolved to do. I'm almost entirely hairless. I sweat a lot. I'm a big mouth breather when I run. I'm like the poster-child for this hilarious picture. Except slower.
Also, yes, in case you were wondering, before I started running on a regular basis, I thought people who ran were insane. I also thought running couldn't possibly be good for you, all that repetitive loading... I have since changed my position. I feel like my body is in a better state of physical balance at this point in my life than at any other point in my athletic life. This is not to say I'm a better athlete than when I was 20. But I'm more balanced. I hurt less. And, historically speaking, the data shows that I've been less likely to get injured running than I ever was as a gymnast, diver, or soccer player.
(In fairness, I should add, however, that I don't know if I would feel as balanced if I didn't mix yoga with the running.)
I heart Verizon
This morning, I walked into my local Verizon store with a broken phone at 9:15. I walked out at 9:30 with a reprogrammed, refurbished, much newer than the one I turned in phone.
For free, because I was still in the warranty period.
Combine that with possibly the best day at work as a lawyer thus far, and well, I'm not feeling the least bit grumpy.
I love everybody.
This morning, I walked into my local Verizon store with a broken phone at 9:15. I walked out at 9:30 with a reprogrammed, refurbished, much newer than the one I turned in phone.
For free, because I was still in the warranty period.
Combine that with possibly the best day at work as a lawyer thus far, and well, I'm not feeling the least bit grumpy.
I love everybody.
May 2, 2007
Wah, Wah, Wah...
If you don't like whiners, stop reading.
I dropped my phone on the way to dinner with lucky_girl tonight. Dinner rocked. Finding out, on my way home that the emails I had been feeling buzz did not mean that my phone was fully functional, however, did not rock. Turns out, now my phone is fucked. I can get and send emails for work. Probably text messages. It can dial other numbers and make them ring. It may even be able to receive calls. But audio? Yeah, fugghedaboudit...
Also, after dinner, I found a ticket on my windshield. Actually, I would have missed it, but lucky_girl pointed it out. 10 AM to 10 PM meters? What the fuck? Are you kidding me? Guess my park at 7 pm and leave at 10 PM celebration about finding a free meter was a bit premature/ridiculous.
In other news, work is busy but overwhelming. At some point, when I have the time to look back and view this whole experience with hindsight, I'm almost certain I'll be very pleased with my career choices at the moment. But living them? It's sort of like my phone right now. I feel like I can get the assignments and can send responses if I'm willing to put my ass on the line in text, but, if I want to reach out to another human being, you know, to have a conversation, to feel it out for sanity... that's often not so feasible. The microphone and speaker are broken, see. From the fall...
Stupid gravity.
If you don't like whiners, stop reading.
I dropped my phone on the way to dinner with lucky_girl tonight. Dinner rocked. Finding out, on my way home that the emails I had been feeling buzz did not mean that my phone was fully functional, however, did not rock. Turns out, now my phone is fucked. I can get and send emails for work. Probably text messages. It can dial other numbers and make them ring. It may even be able to receive calls. But audio? Yeah, fugghedaboudit...
Also, after dinner, I found a ticket on my windshield. Actually, I would have missed it, but lucky_girl pointed it out. 10 AM to 10 PM meters? What the fuck? Are you kidding me? Guess my park at 7 pm and leave at 10 PM celebration about finding a free meter was a bit premature/ridiculous.
In other news, work is busy but overwhelming. At some point, when I have the time to look back and view this whole experience with hindsight, I'm almost certain I'll be very pleased with my career choices at the moment. But living them? It's sort of like my phone right now. I feel like I can get the assignments and can send responses if I'm willing to put my ass on the line in text, but, if I want to reach out to another human being, you know, to have a conversation, to feel it out for sanity... that's often not so feasible. The microphone and speaker are broken, see. From the fall...
Stupid gravity.
April 29, 2007
Working Weekend
I knew there would be weekends filled with work as a lawyer. And, believe it or not, this one wasn't so bad.
I think they come in two flavors. The first is horrid, it's the unexpected, I have plans I have to cancel, I hate it when my job gets in the way of my life working weekend. Those weekends aren't so great.
But this weekend I experienced the second flavor, which, in truth, isn't actually that bad.
As of Wednesday evening of this week, I could see the writing on the wall. No amount of late night work on my part was going to fit into my planned social schedule and leave me with a weekend free. Plus, I didn't really have plans this weekend, so it wasn't a big deal. In fact, it was oddly liberating.
Because I knew I'd be working on the weekend, I left work at 4 PM on Friday to meet lucky_girl at my house for a last-minute closet raid for a wedding she had to attend. Ordinarily, I'm rushing to finish my work for the week on Friday at that time. But this time, I collected my binders and piles, waved goodbye to the staff and got on the road.
Yesterday, I slept in, did a nice 6 mile run, made waffles for lunch, relaxed a bit, and then settled into diligence mode. Half an hour in, I had the brilliant idea of getting a manicure and pedicure in the middle of the diligence hours as a treat. I planned to read diligence through the entire pedicure, but I must admit, US weekly did distract me a bit. Even with distractions, I put in a solid 4 hours and found myself halfway done with the pile before it was time to make dinner and welcome P back to the bay area after a month in Canada.
After dinner, I sent a few emails and tried to remotivate, but I could only do about 20 more minutes before E appeared with Krispy Kreme, he even wore a hat for the delivery. Between that and Netflix, how could I possibly insist on more diligence?
Trouble is, even though I found Anchorman to be horrifically tedious, and even though E bailed after 20 minutes, I watched it 'til the end. If I turned it off, you see, I'd have to go back to the diligence. Not happening.
Today, I woke at a decent hour and met up with B to do a slow 10-miler. I came home, showered, and went to downtown for a leisurely brunch with E followed by a visit to the Mountain View Lock Museum. After we'd had our fill of old California history, nostalgia for my Papa, and the curator of the tiny museum who was the most adorable old man ever, I finally made it home, full, relaxed, and mellow.
Again, with a happy heart, I plopped onto the couch to resume my duties. After 25 minutes, I almost fell asleep. Diligence, at times, well...it's not always scintillating. Thankfully, my sister called. I talked to her for 30 minutes or so and then, refreshed, dove back in. An hour later, I'm in need of another break, and here I am. Blogging. The ultimate time-sink.
After this, no doubt, I'll return to my pile, plow through some more and maybe even finish before it's time to make dinner. Probably not, though. This 8 hours or so of work will likely turn out to be a full-weekend-long project.
It'll be the reason I felt no guilt leaving work early on Friday. It'll be the reason I don't feel decadently lazy about my weekend at home with no plans. It'll also be the reason my hours look 8 or so hours nicer than they otherwise would have this month. And since I knew it was coming as far away as Wednesday, I don't even feel grumpy about it. I actually had a good weekend, work was just a part of it.
Like I said, I knew I was going to have to work some weekends as a lawyer. If only they could all line up with my lazy weekends at home.
I knew there would be weekends filled with work as a lawyer. And, believe it or not, this one wasn't so bad.
I think they come in two flavors. The first is horrid, it's the unexpected, I have plans I have to cancel, I hate it when my job gets in the way of my life working weekend. Those weekends aren't so great.
But this weekend I experienced the second flavor, which, in truth, isn't actually that bad.
As of Wednesday evening of this week, I could see the writing on the wall. No amount of late night work on my part was going to fit into my planned social schedule and leave me with a weekend free. Plus, I didn't really have plans this weekend, so it wasn't a big deal. In fact, it was oddly liberating.
Because I knew I'd be working on the weekend, I left work at 4 PM on Friday to meet lucky_girl at my house for a last-minute closet raid for a wedding she had to attend. Ordinarily, I'm rushing to finish my work for the week on Friday at that time. But this time, I collected my binders and piles, waved goodbye to the staff and got on the road.
Yesterday, I slept in, did a nice 6 mile run, made waffles for lunch, relaxed a bit, and then settled into diligence mode. Half an hour in, I had the brilliant idea of getting a manicure and pedicure in the middle of the diligence hours as a treat. I planned to read diligence through the entire pedicure, but I must admit, US weekly did distract me a bit. Even with distractions, I put in a solid 4 hours and found myself halfway done with the pile before it was time to make dinner and welcome P back to the bay area after a month in Canada.
After dinner, I sent a few emails and tried to remotivate, but I could only do about 20 more minutes before E appeared with Krispy Kreme, he even wore a hat for the delivery. Between that and Netflix, how could I possibly insist on more diligence?
Trouble is, even though I found Anchorman to be horrifically tedious, and even though E bailed after 20 minutes, I watched it 'til the end. If I turned it off, you see, I'd have to go back to the diligence. Not happening.
Today, I woke at a decent hour and met up with B to do a slow 10-miler. I came home, showered, and went to downtown for a leisurely brunch with E followed by a visit to the Mountain View Lock Museum. After we'd had our fill of old California history, nostalgia for my Papa, and the curator of the tiny museum who was the most adorable old man ever, I finally made it home, full, relaxed, and mellow.
Again, with a happy heart, I plopped onto the couch to resume my duties. After 25 minutes, I almost fell asleep. Diligence, at times, well...it's not always scintillating. Thankfully, my sister called. I talked to her for 30 minutes or so and then, refreshed, dove back in. An hour later, I'm in need of another break, and here I am. Blogging. The ultimate time-sink.
After this, no doubt, I'll return to my pile, plow through some more and maybe even finish before it's time to make dinner. Probably not, though. This 8 hours or so of work will likely turn out to be a full-weekend-long project.
It'll be the reason I felt no guilt leaving work early on Friday. It'll be the reason I don't feel decadently lazy about my weekend at home with no plans. It'll also be the reason my hours look 8 or so hours nicer than they otherwise would have this month. And since I knew it was coming as far away as Wednesday, I don't even feel grumpy about it. I actually had a good weekend, work was just a part of it.
Like I said, I knew I was going to have to work some weekends as a lawyer. If only they could all line up with my lazy weekends at home.
April 24, 2007
They Call Them Classics For A Reason
Last night, E and I watched Apocolypse Now.
Wow. Gorgeous. Insightful. Funny. Real. Surreal. Humans at war are amazingly fascinating animals. Coppola gets flawed humans. But, I don't know if I ever appreciated how much he got the art of moviemaking before. Italian music and scenery begs to be artistically rendered, in my opinion. So the Godfathers are some of my favorite movies, but I don't know if I gave Coppola enough credit.
This time around, though, the soundtrack of the Doors' hit me hard. I had history with that music. It was mine from a different time and meaning. Yet it was juxtaposed against the powerful bits of this movie such that I will never hear some of those songs again without a completely different response.
Also, Martin Sheen has one of the greatest voices ever bestowed upon a man. Damn. I couldn't get over the seduction of his slightly gravelly, introverted, supremely cast vocal chords. Hilariously, the modern child in me found myself thinking at odd points, "Wow, he looks just like Emilio in that shot," but then at others, I'd think, "How could I have thought he resembled Emilio, he looks like he is pure Charlie here."
Overall, we were very pleased that we listened to the wisdom of the ages and let such an acknowledged classic slowly rise to the top of our Netflix queue. At 2 hours 33 minutes, it stayed in the house for at least 2 months before we could find the time to watch it. I am embarrassed to admit that it had become almost a chore to be completed so we could be rewarded with a shorter, less onerous Netflix. We even contemplated sending it back unwatched.
I am very glad we persevered.
(Regardless, I'm still not finishing Ulysses.)
Last night, E and I watched Apocolypse Now.
Wow. Gorgeous. Insightful. Funny. Real. Surreal. Humans at war are amazingly fascinating animals. Coppola gets flawed humans. But, I don't know if I ever appreciated how much he got the art of moviemaking before. Italian music and scenery begs to be artistically rendered, in my opinion. So the Godfathers are some of my favorite movies, but I don't know if I gave Coppola enough credit.
This time around, though, the soundtrack of the Doors' hit me hard. I had history with that music. It was mine from a different time and meaning. Yet it was juxtaposed against the powerful bits of this movie such that I will never hear some of those songs again without a completely different response.
Also, Martin Sheen has one of the greatest voices ever bestowed upon a man. Damn. I couldn't get over the seduction of his slightly gravelly, introverted, supremely cast vocal chords. Hilariously, the modern child in me found myself thinking at odd points, "Wow, he looks just like Emilio in that shot," but then at others, I'd think, "How could I have thought he resembled Emilio, he looks like he is pure Charlie here."
Overall, we were very pleased that we listened to the wisdom of the ages and let such an acknowledged classic slowly rise to the top of our Netflix queue. At 2 hours 33 minutes, it stayed in the house for at least 2 months before we could find the time to watch it. I am embarrassed to admit that it had become almost a chore to be completed so we could be rewarded with a shorter, less onerous Netflix. We even contemplated sending it back unwatched.
I am very glad we persevered.
(Regardless, I'm still not finishing Ulysses.)
April 23, 2007
Bacon Recipe: Spicy Black Bean Soup
1 lb dried black beans, soaked in water overnight
1/4 lb bacon, chopped
4 large cloves garlic, minced
3 stalks celery, minced
1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
1/2 large red onion, diced
4 serrano peppers, diced, seeds left in. (but note, I've got a ridiculous pain tolerance and I cook for a husband who tends to like things *fuh-lay-ming* on the Scoville Scale, so adjust to your preference)
1 T. mustard powder
2 t. ground cumin seeds
1 t. black pepper
1 T. cajun seasoning (really, just root around in your spice cabinet and add what you think will go well...)
6 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
1. Drain beans. Cover with water in a large stockpot and bring to a boil for 20 minutes. Drain and set aside.
2. Cook bacon in a saucepan 'til done. Drain the bacon grease.
3. Return the bacon to the saucepan with the vegetables and roots. Sautee with a little olive oil until vegetables and roots are tender. (Note, for conservation, you could just drain less bacon grease and use this as the fat. But I'm a Californian fan of olive oil and heart health. My southern husband is not amused.) Add spices to saucepan and stir for 1 minute or so.
4. Dump everything into to the stock pot with the beans, broth, water & bring to a simmer.
5. Simmer for approximately 2 hours 'til beans are tender to the bite, but not mushy.
6. Serves 4 alone as a hearty meal, or with homemade cornbread for major points.
Enjoy!
1 lb dried black beans, soaked in water overnight
1/4 lb bacon, chopped
4 large cloves garlic, minced
3 stalks celery, minced
1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
1/2 large red onion, diced
4 serrano peppers, diced, seeds left in. (but note, I've got a ridiculous pain tolerance and I cook for a husband who tends to like things *fuh-lay-ming* on the Scoville Scale, so adjust to your preference)
1 T. mustard powder
2 t. ground cumin seeds
1 t. black pepper
1 T. cajun seasoning (really, just root around in your spice cabinet and add what you think will go well...)
6 cups chicken broth
2 cups water
1. Drain beans. Cover with water in a large stockpot and bring to a boil for 20 minutes. Drain and set aside.
2. Cook bacon in a saucepan 'til done. Drain the bacon grease.
3. Return the bacon to the saucepan with the vegetables and roots. Sautee with a little olive oil until vegetables and roots are tender. (Note, for conservation, you could just drain less bacon grease and use this as the fat. But I'm a Californian fan of olive oil and heart health. My southern husband is not amused.) Add spices to saucepan and stir for 1 minute or so.
4. Dump everything into to the stock pot with the beans, broth, water & bring to a simmer.
5. Simmer for approximately 2 hours 'til beans are tender to the bite, but not mushy.
6. Serves 4 alone as a hearty meal, or with homemade cornbread for major points.
Enjoy!
April 22, 2007
Fastest Half Thus Far
Weather.com predicted rain. I was not excited about 2 hours or more in the rain, but with a large group of friends committed, it's hard to back out.
So, after a pre-race night of yoga and soup before bed at 10 PM (Woo Hoo Saturday PAR-TAY!), I woke at 5 AM and headed to Santa Cruz with B for the race. (FYI -- kimchee on the side and udon in miso broth with soy, sriracha, furikake, and hoisin is an excellent pre-race meal. Very hydrating with plenty of carbs. Plus all the sodium gets you ready to sweat and makes you thirsty so you'll drink lots of water.)
Before the start, we met up with E2, lucky_girl, and C (plus R, who was the awesome supporter, photographer). We ended up waiting 20 minutes past the start time (Santa Cruz time, baby) before the horn. Thankfully, E2 had done some crazy hippy anti-rain dance the day before, so we were safe from the falling water.
Finally, as the weather slowly improved to gorgeous blue skies over the ocean, we were off. E2 had decided to do the 10K 'cause she'd been sick lately. So, she, B and I headed off at a 10K pace for the first 3 miles. The pace was set, more or less, by B. She's FAST. But it was good. And 25 minutes later, my 5K split was the fastest 5K split I've ever run in a race, including 10Ks.
We said goodbye to E2 at her turn-around and settled into a nice 8:25-8:45 pace. Occasionally, B would speed up to sub-8 and I'd look down at the widget and try to slow her down. She'd laugh, apologize, and we'd stay at a good pace for a while. Then she'd speed up again. At one point, she told me, "I don't think I can maintain this pace the whole race. I'm gonna need to slow down." This was at approximately mile 5. I laughed because she was setting the pace, and said, "You can maintain this pace and more." I was amazed at how good of shape she was in. I was definitely struggling a bit to keep up.
As for the course, while the weather was excellent, the obstacles included horse manure and mud. Lots of mud. Thank goodness it didn't rain. The course would have been horrid in the rain. But with the sun, the ocean, the views, and no rain? It was fabulous.
Around mile 10, B started to take off with a monster kick. I briefly tried to maintain her pace, but it became clear that I did not have it in me. I relaxed back into an 8:40 pace, comfortable in the knowledge that this would be my fastest race yet and watched her pick off runner after runner as she put distance between us.
With 2 miles to go, I looked down and realized that all I had to do was keep around an 8:30 pace and I would beat my fastest time by a nice margin for an even PR. So, I dug deep and told myself with each step that the faster I ran, the sooner it would be over. It was physically demanding, but even though the last 3 miles hurt, they were nothing compared to the final few in the second-fastest half I ran in 2005.
Finally, I ran down the final hill and turned the corner to the finish line at a 6:30 pace. And then, *Wham* my feet hit the sand. A sand finish? What were they thinking? Those last 50 feet took forever! I think I must have crossed the actual finish line at a 10:00 pace or slower.
Quickly, I sought out some water and moved to the finish side-line to cheer on C and lucky_girl who came in right when they said they would.
So yeah, the sand finish is symbolic of the focus of this race. The pictures at any point along the course are gorgeous. The sand allowed the supporters to take more pictures of their loved ones at the end, in a picturesque setting. The views were wonderful. The art on the finisher's T-shirt is a unique rendering of the local beauty by a local artist.
But, in terms of race organization, for the actual runners, I was not overly impressed. Then again, I suppose if you're going with stereotypes, you might look to Santa Cruz for natural beauty and art, but you probably wouldn't look there for an industrial engineering solution of efficiency unless it related to pot, so I shouldn't be suprised.
The runner-related complaints were several. I heard grumblings that some of the aid stations ran out of liquid (thank you fuel belt!). In addition to the dangerous slippery mud and horse manure, much of the trail was too narrow to handle a loop of over 3,000 runners where the out-and-back of the winner put him past me and B around mile 5.5 (in other words, more than half of our race was two-lane traffic). Plus, the water at the finish line was from hose-filled plastic garbage bags inside garbage bins, available for you to dip your cup in and get yourself a drink. Not ideal, in terms of sanitary conditions, or speed of getting liquid to delirious dehydrated runners. But, when you're thirsty...
Anyways, lest it seem that I'm a big complainer, let me say I'm actually very pleased. It was a fabulous way to spend a gorgeous California day. Friends. Nature. Supporters. A physically demanding performance that bested my previous efforts. Gorging myself on post-race Mexican food with friends. Post-post-race visit to the buttery followed by wine with E2 on her porch. And, now I know. The 10K course is amazing. 6 of the miles of the race were manure and mud free with more than enough space for all of the participants. Next time...
My only true regret is that I somehow missed cheering on A at the finish despite waiting at the finish line 'til well over 30 minutes after she finished. I suspect I missed her because she finished around the same time as lucky_girl and C, but I was bummed none-the-less. Good job A!
Till next time!
Weather.com predicted rain. I was not excited about 2 hours or more in the rain, but with a large group of friends committed, it's hard to back out.
So, after a pre-race night of yoga and soup before bed at 10 PM (Woo Hoo Saturday PAR-TAY!), I woke at 5 AM and headed to Santa Cruz with B for the race. (FYI -- kimchee on the side and udon in miso broth with soy, sriracha, furikake, and hoisin is an excellent pre-race meal. Very hydrating with plenty of carbs. Plus all the sodium gets you ready to sweat and makes you thirsty so you'll drink lots of water.)
Before the start, we met up with E2, lucky_girl, and C (plus R, who was the awesome supporter, photographer). We ended up waiting 20 minutes past the start time (Santa Cruz time, baby) before the horn. Thankfully, E2 had done some crazy hippy anti-rain dance the day before, so we were safe from the falling water.
Finally, as the weather slowly improved to gorgeous blue skies over the ocean, we were off. E2 had decided to do the 10K 'cause she'd been sick lately. So, she, B and I headed off at a 10K pace for the first 3 miles. The pace was set, more or less, by B. She's FAST. But it was good. And 25 minutes later, my 5K split was the fastest 5K split I've ever run in a race, including 10Ks.
We said goodbye to E2 at her turn-around and settled into a nice 8:25-8:45 pace. Occasionally, B would speed up to sub-8 and I'd look down at the widget and try to slow her down. She'd laugh, apologize, and we'd stay at a good pace for a while. Then she'd speed up again. At one point, she told me, "I don't think I can maintain this pace the whole race. I'm gonna need to slow down." This was at approximately mile 5. I laughed because she was setting the pace, and said, "You can maintain this pace and more." I was amazed at how good of shape she was in. I was definitely struggling a bit to keep up.
As for the course, while the weather was excellent, the obstacles included horse manure and mud. Lots of mud. Thank goodness it didn't rain. The course would have been horrid in the rain. But with the sun, the ocean, the views, and no rain? It was fabulous.
Around mile 10, B started to take off with a monster kick. I briefly tried to maintain her pace, but it became clear that I did not have it in me. I relaxed back into an 8:40 pace, comfortable in the knowledge that this would be my fastest race yet and watched her pick off runner after runner as she put distance between us.
With 2 miles to go, I looked down and realized that all I had to do was keep around an 8:30 pace and I would beat my fastest time by a nice margin for an even PR. So, I dug deep and told myself with each step that the faster I ran, the sooner it would be over. It was physically demanding, but even though the last 3 miles hurt, they were nothing compared to the final few in the second-fastest half I ran in 2005.
Finally, I ran down the final hill and turned the corner to the finish line at a 6:30 pace. And then, *Wham* my feet hit the sand. A sand finish? What were they thinking? Those last 50 feet took forever! I think I must have crossed the actual finish line at a 10:00 pace or slower.
Quickly, I sought out some water and moved to the finish side-line to cheer on C and lucky_girl who came in right when they said they would.
So yeah, the sand finish is symbolic of the focus of this race. The pictures at any point along the course are gorgeous. The sand allowed the supporters to take more pictures of their loved ones at the end, in a picturesque setting. The views were wonderful. The art on the finisher's T-shirt is a unique rendering of the local beauty by a local artist.
But, in terms of race organization, for the actual runners, I was not overly impressed. Then again, I suppose if you're going with stereotypes, you might look to Santa Cruz for natural beauty and art, but you probably wouldn't look there for an industrial engineering solution of efficiency unless it related to pot, so I shouldn't be suprised.
The runner-related complaints were several. I heard grumblings that some of the aid stations ran out of liquid (thank you fuel belt!). In addition to the dangerous slippery mud and horse manure, much of the trail was too narrow to handle a loop of over 3,000 runners where the out-and-back of the winner put him past me and B around mile 5.5 (in other words, more than half of our race was two-lane traffic). Plus, the water at the finish line was from hose-filled plastic garbage bags inside garbage bins, available for you to dip your cup in and get yourself a drink. Not ideal, in terms of sanitary conditions, or speed of getting liquid to delirious dehydrated runners. But, when you're thirsty...
Anyways, lest it seem that I'm a big complainer, let me say I'm actually very pleased. It was a fabulous way to spend a gorgeous California day. Friends. Nature. Supporters. A physically demanding performance that bested my previous efforts. Gorging myself on post-race Mexican food with friends. Post-post-race visit to the buttery followed by wine with E2 on her porch. And, now I know. The 10K course is amazing. 6 of the miles of the race were manure and mud free with more than enough space for all of the participants. Next time...
My only true regret is that I somehow missed cheering on A at the finish despite waiting at the finish line 'til well over 30 minutes after she finished. I suspect I missed her because she finished around the same time as lucky_girl and C, but I was bummed none-the-less. Good job A!
Till next time!
April 21, 2007
Bacon Recipe: Leftover Risotto
It's no surprise that last night, after an exhausting week, when I looked in the fridge and saw that we had very little in the way of ingredients, I fell back to one of my staples: Risotto.
Predictably, E loved it. But, you could put bacon on cardboard and he'd probably love it so that's not saying much. I liked it. I found it a bit salty so I'm substituting water for some of the broth in the recipe below.
1/3 lb bacon, cut into 1 cm chunks, sauteed 'til done. Drain the bacon grease from the pan, but don't wash it.
1/2 white onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 or 3 small handfulls of rice
1 box of leftover sauteed vegetables from your favorite mexican joint's veggie fajitas
1 can chicken broth
water
1. sautée onion and garlic in the bacon grease pan. Add a bit of olive oil if you need it.
2. Add rice and mix with the onion, garlic, fat 'til it starts to smell toasty and looks slightly clear on the outside.
3. Add the can of chicken broth, bring to a simmer. Stir.
4. Add water as the broth cooks down 'til the rice is al dente.
5. Add the vegetables and bacon. Stir for 1 minute. Remove from heat, allow to cool slightly and serve.
Enjoy!
It's no surprise that last night, after an exhausting week, when I looked in the fridge and saw that we had very little in the way of ingredients, I fell back to one of my staples: Risotto.
Predictably, E loved it. But, you could put bacon on cardboard and he'd probably love it so that's not saying much. I liked it. I found it a bit salty so I'm substituting water for some of the broth in the recipe below.
1/3 lb bacon, cut into 1 cm chunks, sauteed 'til done. Drain the bacon grease from the pan, but don't wash it.
1/2 white onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 or 3 small handfulls of rice
1 box of leftover sauteed vegetables from your favorite mexican joint's veggie fajitas
1 can chicken broth
water
1. sautée onion and garlic in the bacon grease pan. Add a bit of olive oil if you need it.
2. Add rice and mix with the onion, garlic, fat 'til it starts to smell toasty and looks slightly clear on the outside.
3. Add the can of chicken broth, bring to a simmer. Stir.
4. Add water as the broth cooks down 'til the rice is al dente.
5. Add the vegetables and bacon. Stir for 1 minute. Remove from heat, allow to cool slightly and serve.
Enjoy!
April 20, 2007
Whirlwind New York
Well, the missing posts never came back. I used them to tell you all about E's & my trip to New York. We were there for the huge storm. We took the subway on the worst day and it was raining inside the stations -- literally pouring water through the cracks -- such that people were using umbrellas indoors. We should have taken a picture. Oh well.
My law firm's NY office is very nice and surprisingly laid back. After all the stereotypes of NY lawyers I had heard, I almost couldn't believe how relaxed and fun and friendly the office was. I met almost the entire office and enjoyed excellent meals with almost everyone before I left.
Dim Sum in NYC Chinatown was different than Dim Sum in the bay area. We were the only non-asian people in the very large restaurant at 1 PM on a Sunday. In Northern California, Sunday Dim Sum is a tradition that all ethnicities will wait in line to experience. The concierge recommended Golden Unicorn, and we were impressed. The selection wasn't as large as the bay area joints we like (Yank Sing, Fook Yuen, Joy Luck Place, or Dynasty Seafood Restaurant) but they had the necessities of Siu Mai, sesame-rice dessert balls, and the pork pastry rolls. Plus at $17 for two to be stuffed silly, who can complain?
Other than that, it's good to be home. I am excited to plan the menu and actually cook next week.
Well, the missing posts never came back. I used them to tell you all about E's & my trip to New York. We were there for the huge storm. We took the subway on the worst day and it was raining inside the stations -- literally pouring water through the cracks -- such that people were using umbrellas indoors. We should have taken a picture. Oh well.
My law firm's NY office is very nice and surprisingly laid back. After all the stereotypes of NY lawyers I had heard, I almost couldn't believe how relaxed and fun and friendly the office was. I met almost the entire office and enjoyed excellent meals with almost everyone before I left.
Dim Sum in NYC Chinatown was different than Dim Sum in the bay area. We were the only non-asian people in the very large restaurant at 1 PM on a Sunday. In Northern California, Sunday Dim Sum is a tradition that all ethnicities will wait in line to experience. The concierge recommended Golden Unicorn, and we were impressed. The selection wasn't as large as the bay area joints we like (Yank Sing, Fook Yuen, Joy Luck Place, or Dynasty Seafood Restaurant) but they had the necessities of Siu Mai, sesame-rice dessert balls, and the pork pastry rolls. Plus at $17 for two to be stuffed silly, who can complain?
Other than that, it's good to be home. I am excited to plan the menu and actually cook next week.
April 10, 2007
Bacon Recipe: Spicy Glass Noodle Salad
I had a rough time leaving the pressures of work behind today. I had two separate interchanges where people commented in a way that I felt was critical of the amount of time I put in at the office. People with absolutely no power over me. Stupid. I know. If I'm doing all the work I'm being given, and no one has complained, I should trust that everything is fine and let these comments roll off my back. But no. I take them to heart. I stress that people don't think I'm doing a good job. Basically, I need to chill out.
Hence, intervals at the track with B to exhaust my body, followed by cooking to remind my sensory brain to do some work, followed by eating and conversation with E -- heavenly. A wonderful reminder of the good things in life and that I should appreciate them.
Thanks to lucky_girl, I am the proud owner of the Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School cook book. Tonight I made a modified version of one of their recipes and it was *excellent*. I highly recommend this as a very tasty, healthy dinner (okay, healthy except for the bacon).
-Glass Noodles, 1 cup (or two bundles) soaked for 10 minutes and then cut into shorter lengths (4 inches or so).
-Bacon, 1/4 lb of strips, cooked. If you burn half and throw it away, the recipe is still good.
-5 cloves garlic, minced
-1/2 white onion, diced
-3 large jalapeños, minced with seeds left in
-1/2 bunch of bok choy, chopped
-Approx 3 Tb fish sauce
-Approx 2 Tb lime juice (or 1 Tb lime and 1 Tb lemon)
-1 tomato, sliced into thirds lengthwise and as many perpendicular slices as you can get in.
-1 cup cilantro, diced
1. toss all ingredients except glass noodles in a bowl.
2. boil water, add glass noodles for 1 minute. Remove, drain, rinse in cold water.
3. toss noodles with remainder of the salad and taste to ensure you like the seasoning.
Serves two-three as a whole meal course, could probably serve up to 8 as an appetizer salad.
Enjoy!
I had a rough time leaving the pressures of work behind today. I had two separate interchanges where people commented in a way that I felt was critical of the amount of time I put in at the office. People with absolutely no power over me. Stupid. I know. If I'm doing all the work I'm being given, and no one has complained, I should trust that everything is fine and let these comments roll off my back. But no. I take them to heart. I stress that people don't think I'm doing a good job. Basically, I need to chill out.
Hence, intervals at the track with B to exhaust my body, followed by cooking to remind my sensory brain to do some work, followed by eating and conversation with E -- heavenly. A wonderful reminder of the good things in life and that I should appreciate them.
Thanks to lucky_girl, I am the proud owner of the Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School cook book. Tonight I made a modified version of one of their recipes and it was *excellent*. I highly recommend this as a very tasty, healthy dinner (okay, healthy except for the bacon).
-Glass Noodles, 1 cup (or two bundles) soaked for 10 minutes and then cut into shorter lengths (4 inches or so).
-Bacon, 1/4 lb of strips, cooked. If you burn half and throw it away, the recipe is still good.
-5 cloves garlic, minced
-1/2 white onion, diced
-3 large jalapeños, minced with seeds left in
-1/2 bunch of bok choy, chopped
-Approx 3 Tb fish sauce
-Approx 2 Tb lime juice (or 1 Tb lime and 1 Tb lemon)
-1 tomato, sliced into thirds lengthwise and as many perpendicular slices as you can get in.
-1 cup cilantro, diced
1. toss all ingredients except glass noodles in a bowl.
2. boil water, add glass noodles for 1 minute. Remove, drain, rinse in cold water.
3. toss noodles with remainder of the salad and taste to ensure you like the seasoning.
Serves two-three as a whole meal course, could probably serve up to 8 as an appetizer salad.
Enjoy!
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