Day 13 - a fictional book

I don't know how this differs from favorite book....just name one?

Next one I am planning to read: Don Quixote

Day 12 - something you are OCD about

I don't think I am really OCD about anything. I like things clean, but I let them get dirty. I like to have a routine, but it often gets interrupted. I guess I am most OCD about making lists. I make lots of lists. Does that one even work? My apologies for this lackluster blog entry!

Day 11 - a photo of you recently

Trying to capture how cute my new free haircut will look in a hat this winter, verdict: adorable

Day 10- A photo of you from over 10 years ago

At my G'Mas, we always posed for pix in front of that cabinet. I think she kept a couple little kid sized smocks in it and a broom.

Day 9 - a photo you took

Took this pic after we carved our names in the cement on my walk home from work, Milvia st in Berkeley.

Day 8: A Photo that makes you MAD

I HATE YOU JENNY HUMPHREY! Looking at your beady face makes me want to scream xoxo Gossip Girl

Day 7 - a photo that makes you happy

Quick draw McGraw

Day 6: 20 of My Favorite Things

In no particular order or theme

1 autumn
2 roller derby
3 making things with my hands (knitting, wood work, building, baking, etc)
4 little kids
5 dance parties
6 christmas
7 black nail polish
8 artichokes
9 buying things on sale then relishing in the discount
10 pub quizzes
11 playing several instruments with mediocrity
12 diners and diner coffee (thanx Kim Carroll)
13 potato soup
14 being wrapped up in a blanket
15 planning trips
16 making lists
17 small ska shows
18 San Jose
19 board games
20 folding laundry (don't tell gil!)

Day 5: Favorite Quote

"Who needs to think when your feet just go" -Tom Tom Club

I know it's silly, but I love it!

Day 4: Favorite Book

I am going to pick a few for this one. I get an excuse because although I feel like I haven't read nearly as much in my life as I have wanted to, I did obtain a literature degree and I am going to be a librarian so this one is extra tough to narrow down.

My two favorite books are One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest by Ken Kesey and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Honorable mention goes to The Outsiders by SE Hinton and Matilda by Roald Dahl. All very famous books which makes me feel odd, but they all really affected me emotionally.

As a child I read a ton. I was constantly staying up all night reading, went through books like M&M's, and was way above my reading level. This kind of mellowed out in high school when I was forced to read material I had no interest in. When I was in college I read lots of novels for class, but only the occasional book on my own. I still feel like I am not where I was as a kid in terms of reading. I wish I had that insatiable appetite for books like I did back then, but I guess the world has changed and so have I.

Matilda was the first book I remember reading over and over. I really connected to it for some reason. Perhaps because I felt like an outsider, maybe because the timid title character had so much power, or because it was just so clever. This was my first reading love (Spot and Clifford books don't count) and that is why it made the list. I know I must have had this experience before I read The Outsiders, but this is the first book that I recall crying over. I bawled through the last chapter and still get a little choked up when I hear Nothing Gold Can Stay. One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest is arguably the only book I liked in high school. Although now that I think about it, I was big on Eugene O'Neill and Arthur Miller plays as well. Either way, I had never read anything like this novel and it inspired me in a way nothing else ever had. Despite the tragedy of this book, it is uplifting and really timeless.

I didn't read Fahrenheit 451 until a few years ago. Once I read it I was kicking myself for waiting so long. If you only read one book in your life, you should pick this one. It is easy in terms of language and I immediately wanted to recommend it to my 12 year old brother, but I don't think he is ready for it thematically yet. I shouldn't assist a pre-teen into being that jaded already. Fahrenheit makes a bleak commentary on society. I have observed in my short time in this world that with every change in technology and shift in generation, people project this books commentary on the world. Although they think it is exclusive to their generation, this book shows otherwise. I mean it is a dark book and looks at the negative parts of people, but also ends with a lot of faith in the world through the works of the individual.

So there are my favorite books, no spoilers really so you can check them all out if you haven't already. But don't take my word for it :)

Day 3: Favorite TV Program

This one is fun. I love a lot of TV shows that are big cult or nerd hits (ie Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Veronica Mars, Freaks & Geeks, Degrassi, Home Movies, Slings & Arrows etc). I also like a lot of classic shows everyone loves (ie Roseanne, Twin Peaks, Simpsons etc), but I feel like everyone has talked about these before. So I am going to talk about the show that gets me teased.

Passions

This show was fantastic. Not only was it daringly original for a soap that took risky ventures like Bollywood, blatant product endorsement, wacky summer hooks (see Passions Vendetta!), insane character moments (Edna surfing the tsunami on the Harmony sign anyone?) and sci fi, but they included classic soap twists in an irreverent and aware manner. People don't understand this show. Regular TV viewers write Passions off as just another soap, and hardcore soap fans find it too random or self parodying for their taste. This show was brilliant and frustrating. Other networks saw this when NBC canned it for a 4th hour of the Today show (an early step in the networks decline) and it was picked up by a new one to finish out the season. Although the last episode didn't have an "I know EXACTLY what you two were talking about" faux reveal moment, it was still a fitting end to a wild ride.

RIP Passions, I hope we meet again someday.

Day 2: Favorite Movie

Movies are a little bit easier than songs for me. The short list includes several Paul Newman, John Cusack, Gene Wilder, Christmas, age switching, and action movies. I like a lot of genres too, but how do you choose? You don't. Today my favorite movie is The Jerk. It is hilarious and is special to me for a number of reasons.

Day 1: Favorite Song

I have been reluctant to start this for so long because it is impossible for me to choose my favorite song! So I leave you with one I like a lot right now. The music video is fantastic and I wish everyone could here this song often. ENJOY!

Taking a cue from Thu

So I haven't posted any baking adventures lately, like in months. Summer doesn't make me want to bake, but perhaps I will post more in the fall particularly because I am planning a kick ass pumpkin carving party.

ANYWAY, this blog is taking a non baking turn inspired by my friends blog where you blog for 30 days. The topics will be:

Day 1 - your favorite song
Day 2 - your favorite movie
Day 3 - your favorite television program
Day 4 - your favorite book
Day 5 - your favorite quote
Day 6 - 20 of my favorite things
Day 7 - a photo that makes you happy
Day 8 - a photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 9 - a photo you took
Day 10 - a photo taken over 10 years ago of you
Day 11 - a photo of you recently
Day 12 - something you are OCD about
Day 13 - a fictional book
Day 14 - a non-fictional book
Day 15 - your dream house
Day 16 - a song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17 - an art piece (drawing, sculpture, painting, etc)
Day 18 - my wedding/future wedding/past wedding
Day 19 - a talent of yours
Day 20 - a hobby of yours
Day 21 - a recipe
Day 22 - a website
Day 23 - a youtube video
Day 24 - where I live
Day 25 - your day, in great detail
Day 26 - your week, in great detail
Day 27 - my worst habit
Day 28 - whats in my handbag/purse
Day 29 - hopes,dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 30 - a dream for the future

The Great Pot Pie experiment (and drunken cupcakes)

So tonight after hearing my little bro's awesome news that he was cast in a community play, and my class, I had to whip up some dinner. I had lots of vegetables, a little bit of milk, some questionable tofu, and a half a sheet of frozen puff pastry. What's a girl to do? I wanted to make a pot pie, especially since I have adorable perfectly sized pyrex dishes for individual pies. I looked at some recipes, but that seemed like too much work so I winged it. Experimenting is always a little daunting but my confidence came from the new In N' Out down the street in case it all went Kaflooey. Results: delicious! I can write up a psuedo recipe, but I don't think it would help much. I suggest jumping in head first as I did.

The drunken cupcakes were a delicious treat that my friend Kim brought over on friday. She had never made cupcakes before which was just wrong on so many levels. We made some cocktails, some cupcakes and feasted. The cupcakes were adorable, mini, and zebra striped. The wonders vanilla and chocolate batter can do. I did get a pic of the end result but the camera is eluding me now. More to come on this later then.

Till my next baking adventure!


Psuedo Pot Pie Recipe
I melted some butter in a sauce pan added, onion, carrots, potato, asparagus, cauliflower, frozen peas, zucchini, and tofu. cooked them for a bit, added salt and pepper, italian seasoning, then poured in a little milk and vegetable broth. Simmered it for a bit then thickened it with cornstarch. For us newer cooks, cornstarch is freaking amazing! I never knew how to make a sauce thick then cornstarch stepped off the shelves. Point is, it rules. Anyway threw it in the dishes, covered with puff pastry, baked it for 15 mins at 400 and voila. Pot Pie goodness. One change I would make, baking the tofu first as it soaked up the hot liquid and burned the crap out of my tongue. For those using chicken, this would not be a problem.

C is for chocolate that's good enough for me

Since I am a lazy bum and do not keep this blog up, I failed to post any of the awesome recipes I made over the year and have forgotten a bunch of them. I have to rely on ones I have repeated to know what is good to post. I came upon this chocolate pudding recipe awhile ago and I have made it at least 5 times since then. I used to be sad because when I switched from dairy to soymilk the boxed puddings never reached my desired thickness, even if I reduced the liquid. There goes that problem with this recipe. The only trick to it, is to cook it until it thickens enough so that it coats your spoon or spatula. Even if you screw it up and it doesn't get that thick, which happened to me last night when I made the full recipe versus the halved version I normally make, just throw it in a saucepan over medium and stir it to make sure it doesn't burn and it will fix itself. How fantastic is that?! So anyway, try this delicious pudding recipe and vary it up for desired taste. I use soymilk, you can use any kind, and semisweet chocolate chips and last night I substituted the vanilla for instant coffee, you could use rum or any other flavoring you like, anyway enjoy!

mmmm this Chocolate Pudding Rules!

PS sorry for the lack of pix, too lazy although there is pudding in the fridge so I can always take some later today

Gluttony day

Valentines, the recipes

Breakfast:
Started the day off right with cream scones and mimosas. Thank god for cheap Trader Joes champagne!

Lunch: was working on my paper for the bulk of this so nothing fancy, sandwiches and chips

Dinner: We always make a pizza for valentines day, with the exception of the year I had the flu then it was takeout hot and sour soup. Anyway, it is a lot of fun to assemble, but easy, and we can make all the stuff together. Gil prepped the dough while I was working on school stuff, then I made the sauce (halved and added fresh garlic, dried herbs) and we put on the toppings (red bell pepper hearts) . The dough was a bit of a fiasco, we tried out another recipe but it failed to evolve and then we noticed the flour was expired so we had to toss it. Oddly enough this is not my first flour expiration experience, it is no fun.

Dessert: Here's where it gets good. We decided to do a pizookie for dessert because Gil became obsessed with them after trying it at BJ's months ago. Halved a blondies recipe for the cookie, topped it with some vanilla ice cream, and made caramel and hot fudge (subbed semisweet for half the chocolate) sauce to finish it off. OMG was it good! So decadent, and we only had a tiny square! The caramel was just short of burnt which made it so bitter tasting. The chocolate firmed up on the ice cream leading to little caramel chocolate gooey strips. Man, it is going to be bad to have these leftovers in my fridge for the next few days.

All in all a success, will definitely make the cream scones and caramel again, don't know if I have another pizookie in me, but if I do I will toy with other recipes that are a little less cakey. Also, I have heavy cream left in my fridge, how should I use it up? Any recipe suggestions?

Well, hope everyone else had as yummy of a Valentines day as I did!

Valentines treats

So, I am supposed to be writing a research proposal for class but I can't help ignore that and instead prep for valentines day treats! So far: cream scones are flash frozen and ready to be popped in the oven when I wake up. Caramel sauce is chillin' in the fridge, and recipes are chosen. Don't have a plan for lunch yet, we'll see if I end up spending my afternoon writing or pedal boating. More details to come as tomorrow begins with scones and mimosas :)

Rainy Day Potato Soup

Alright, I realize that I am no good at keeping a blog. I have baked and cooked and made delicious things this past year, but have posted none of it! Some highlights: caramel pudding, fried rice, stuffed bell peppers, potatos gratin, molasses spice cookies, unstuffed cabbage etc etc etc.

ANYWAY I make soup. ALOT. Too often probably, but it is so easy and I am such a fan! I usually just start off with a vegetable broth and throw lots of veggies in, but sometimes I like to mix it up a little. The following potato soup is a quick nice change of pace, good on a rainy day, and can be made when you seemingly have no ingredients to make anything. It can be modified easily and always comes out delicious. It was adapted from Gil's Mom Sally who is both the master at cooking when the cupboards are bare and a rockin' potato soup maker. The recipe is for making enough for 3, good for a couple and 1 lunch the next day. I just enjoyed a bowl of this myself, hope you like it too!

Rainy Day Potato Soup

about 1 liter of water OR veggie broth OR chicken broth (put a few inches in a med. saucepan)
Potatoes, any kind will do, I use 1 large or a few small
onion, about 1/2 a medium onion chopped into sizeable pieces (the size of a cheez-it-ish)
zucchini, 1 or more, quartered and sliced
garlic, either fresh cloves chopped or pre-minced in a jar (I use a bit of TJ's crushed)
salt, pepper, and whatever other seasoning you like (I use a dash of Franks Red Hot Sauce)
1 small can of tomato sauce
Cheese, monterey jack or cheddar (You don't need much just a few grates)
Sour Cream, if you'd like just a dollop


put your water or broth in a medium saucepan and set to high so it will boil. While it is heating up, chop your potatos, zucchini, garlic, and onion. Add this stuff the pot when it is done being chopped, you don't need to wait till the waters boiling. Give it a stir. Add your seasoning, salt, pepper, hot sauce. Add the tomato sauce. Stir a bit more. Let it heat to a bowl, then reduce heat and simmer about 15 minutes until the veggies are to the right consistency. Always test a potato, but beware it will be SUPER hot. Shred a little bit of cheese into it and stir it around. I always put in very little, which works out well if you only have a tiny bit left. It gives it a little flavor and texture, but without making it all stringy. Add a dollop of sour cream and stir it around. Turn of the heat and dish up into big bowls so you can dip buttery toast or saltines into it. Nom Nom Nom Nom.