The storm was supposed to hit the Chicago area yesterday evening, but it came in late afternoon.
My drive home from work took over three times longer than normal.
As I was sitting in traffic, I was amazed at the people who were still going about the evening, running in to stores, making stops at Starbucks. Seriously people?? It's hazardous driving conditions and you HAVE to get your frappacino on?? Don't you have coffee at home????
I was planning on running to Sam's Club on the way home, but I just wanted to get home.
Last night I prepped the Creamy Artichoke Dip and the crust mixture for the Lemon (well, I'm trying key lime) Sabayon-Pine Nut Tart with Honeyed Mascarpone Cream. Also made some whole wheat pita chips (also for the artichoke dip).
Woke up this morning, snow everywhere. I donno about other people... but I ain't fond of heading out in weather like this. I know I can drive in it, but I'm not as confident in other drivers. I called in to work... 'tis a snow day for me. But I do kinda miss being in a workplace where you're set up so you have the option to work from home in weather like this. And I'm not so fond of employers who don't value their employees enough to, oh, not want them to die in a firey car crash trying to get to work thru 8 inches of snow, but that is where I am now. And I suppose I'm also being a little over cautious, since I found out an old co-worker got in to a car accident from the snowstorm earlier this week. She is fine, but the car was wrecked.
Anyway... decided to get a start on the prep I still had yet to do for the party tomorrow. Made the Pecorino-Black Pepper Breadsticks to go with the artichoke dip, got the crust in to the tart shell and that is chilling in the fridge. I'll probably turn on the oven again in about a half hour and get that done. Then I'll get the rest of the tart done, but I do still have to run out for mascarpone tomorrow morning. But that is no biggie.
Now, it's time to think about something for lunch and to get the kitchen cleaned up a bit....
Friday, February 1, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Tech Writing Fun
As a tech writer... you often get to see some funny stuff. Like, at the old job, Russian text that when ran thru a web translator gave back text about submitting to the "interactive regime". That had me laughing for a week.
Saw two gems today.....
One document that is normally not run by tech writers for approval, that mentioned the "forward slash" and the "other slash". What... like the one from Guns'n'Roses???
In some source material I was editing today, I found a lot of appearances of "Therefore for example". It's not uncommon for people who are intelligent but uncomfortable with writing to get ten kindsa bad-uber-formal when they put stuff on paper. Very preachy and talking down to the reader. It's expected, but it can still be amusing.
Saw two gems today.....
One document that is normally not run by tech writers for approval, that mentioned the "forward slash" and the "other slash". What... like the one from Guns'n'Roses???
In some source material I was editing today, I found a lot of appearances of "Therefore for example". It's not uncommon for people who are intelligent but uncomfortable with writing to get ten kindsa bad-uber-formal when they put stuff on paper. Very preachy and talking down to the reader. It's expected, but it can still be amusing.
Duck Soup
Yum.
Made duck soup tonight... perfect for the freezing day we had.
My duck stock, some sliced red pepper, mushrooms, a little "egg drop soup" action, some ramen noodles, some tofu & bean sprouts for me, sliced duck breast.... all very very good.
Nice to have a success after last night... I was trying the scallops with citrus braised endive outta the Bouchon cookbook, and it was one problem after another. Scallops that each still had their "foot" attached so I had about 25% less servable protien than I figured. Scallops that smelled kinda fishy. And I don't mind endive usually, but the sauce was just totally not my taste. I am not a fan of most forms of fennel. And the sauce seemed to focus on the exact particular licorice/citrus balance that I hate about fennel.
I have had fennel that I loved before. At Emeril's New Orleans Fish House in Vegas, I got a fried oyster salad that had some roasted fennel in it. I originally carefully pushed it all to the side but when I got a taste, I couldn't get enough. I've tried to get a similar flavor out of fennel in my own kitchen, but have never had luck.
I was also having massive issues with potatoes and broccoli as the side dishes. If it wasn't total white-out conditions outside, I'd have run out for burgers.
I ended up eating a tuna sandwich, and the hubby had Spagetti-Os.
Still a busy week ahead. Before the night is over, I need to prep the stuff for pot roast ala crock pot tomorrow. No biggie. But I gotta stop at Sam's Club tomorrow to pick up vital supplies that we are dangerously low on like shaving cream and toilet paper. Glamourous, huh?? I could always pick up burritos on my way home, but I figure a pot roast is at least more figure friendly.
And on the diet front... it's been going damned well still. Tried on a pair of pants I haven't worn in several months because I was feeling a bit too much like an overstuffed sausage, and I was happy to find they fit much better. Yay!!
Made duck soup tonight... perfect for the freezing day we had.
My duck stock, some sliced red pepper, mushrooms, a little "egg drop soup" action, some ramen noodles, some tofu & bean sprouts for me, sliced duck breast.... all very very good.
Nice to have a success after last night... I was trying the scallops with citrus braised endive outta the Bouchon cookbook, and it was one problem after another. Scallops that each still had their "foot" attached so I had about 25% less servable protien than I figured. Scallops that smelled kinda fishy. And I don't mind endive usually, but the sauce was just totally not my taste. I am not a fan of most forms of fennel. And the sauce seemed to focus on the exact particular licorice/citrus balance that I hate about fennel.
I have had fennel that I loved before. At Emeril's New Orleans Fish House in Vegas, I got a fried oyster salad that had some roasted fennel in it. I originally carefully pushed it all to the side but when I got a taste, I couldn't get enough. I've tried to get a similar flavor out of fennel in my own kitchen, but have never had luck.
I was also having massive issues with potatoes and broccoli as the side dishes. If it wasn't total white-out conditions outside, I'd have run out for burgers.
I ended up eating a tuna sandwich, and the hubby had Spagetti-Os.
Still a busy week ahead. Before the night is over, I need to prep the stuff for pot roast ala crock pot tomorrow. No biggie. But I gotta stop at Sam's Club tomorrow to pick up vital supplies that we are dangerously low on like shaving cream and toilet paper. Glamourous, huh?? I could always pick up burritos on my way home, but I figure a pot roast is at least more figure friendly.
And on the diet front... it's been going damned well still. Tried on a pair of pants I haven't worn in several months because I was feeling a bit too much like an overstuffed sausage, and I was happy to find they fit much better. Yay!!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Feral cats
I usually not a cat person. Much more of a dog person.
But, in our semi-suburban neighborhood right next to a huge forest preserve, we have quite a few feral cats.
I don't see them as too much of a problem... sometimes they get in to garbage on garbage day, but they're not really a problem. Local feral cat resources do come around a couple times a year to spay the cats that are new.
When we first looked at this place, the cats had apparently taken a big liking to some of the features like the deck and the window wells, since they were checking us out as we checked the townhome out. The place was empty for about six months, so I'm not surprised they took a liking to a place that used to have a really big dog.
Partly to keep them from tearing apart the garbage and partly because I am just a huge animal softie at heart, I'll often throw out leftovers from dinner to the cats. Recently, the skunks have caught on to this. I can deal with cats. Not with skunks.
Usually the skunks are more agressive than the cats. But oh, not tonight!
We had roasted chicken breasts for dinner, plenty of scraps left over. I was prepping to throw it out on the lawn like I usually do (they actually don't tear up the lawn, the lawn has indeed gotten better since I started throwing food out). Opened the front door, turned on the light, and Orange Cat came a runnin'. But I saw two skunks lurking, so I closed the door.
About fifteen minutes later, opened the door again and Orange Cat was right on the stoop. And right behind Orange Cat were the two skunks, tails raised. I quickly shut the door, waiting for the leaking stink of skunk spray.
Went over to the kitchen window in hopes I was not about to bring stinkiness on Orange Cat, and watched in awe as Orange Cat stood down and chased off the skunks. Hell yeah!!! You go, Orange Cat!
Threw out the scraps, Orange Cat had his/her fill and his/her cat buddies ate in peace, with the skunks looking on from several feet away.
But, in our semi-suburban neighborhood right next to a huge forest preserve, we have quite a few feral cats.
I don't see them as too much of a problem... sometimes they get in to garbage on garbage day, but they're not really a problem. Local feral cat resources do come around a couple times a year to spay the cats that are new.
When we first looked at this place, the cats had apparently taken a big liking to some of the features like the deck and the window wells, since they were checking us out as we checked the townhome out. The place was empty for about six months, so I'm not surprised they took a liking to a place that used to have a really big dog.
Partly to keep them from tearing apart the garbage and partly because I am just a huge animal softie at heart, I'll often throw out leftovers from dinner to the cats. Recently, the skunks have caught on to this. I can deal with cats. Not with skunks.
Usually the skunks are more agressive than the cats. But oh, not tonight!
We had roasted chicken breasts for dinner, plenty of scraps left over. I was prepping to throw it out on the lawn like I usually do (they actually don't tear up the lawn, the lawn has indeed gotten better since I started throwing food out). Opened the front door, turned on the light, and Orange Cat came a runnin'. But I saw two skunks lurking, so I closed the door.
About fifteen minutes later, opened the door again and Orange Cat was right on the stoop. And right behind Orange Cat were the two skunks, tails raised. I quickly shut the door, waiting for the leaking stink of skunk spray.
Went over to the kitchen window in hopes I was not about to bring stinkiness on Orange Cat, and watched in awe as Orange Cat stood down and chased off the skunks. Hell yeah!!! You go, Orange Cat!
Threw out the scraps, Orange Cat had his/her fill and his/her cat buddies ate in peace, with the skunks looking on from several feet away.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Back to life....
Trying to get back to the regular, old, hum-drum Hausfrau life today. And happy about that.
Had the Peapod dude scheduled to come for two reasons. 1 - pick up the boxes left last week when I wasn't here for the delivery, and 2 - wanted some duck breasts to use in a duck soup I want to make this week.
Peapod dude was not supposed to come until the afternoon, so I headed out in the late morning to the produce market to pick up veggies and other various things for the week. I only spent about two minutes lovingly staring at the lake trout in the fish case, cursing the husband for not liking fish or green beans so I can't make the trout with haricot verts from the Bouchon cookbook. Yeah... fish, almonds, green beans, brown butter.... all things he hates. Sigh.
It's going to be a big week in the kitchen.... have a party on Saturday (WHY my mother decided to have everyone in my dad's side of the family over on the day before Superbowl Sunday is beyond me....) and of course the Superbowl on Sunday.
To my mom's, I'm bringing an artichoke dip, and I'm also going to try the lemon tart from the French Laundry cookbook. Actually, since the dough recipe makes enough for three tarts, I'm going to do a lemon one, and attempt a key lime one. The hubby is also supposed to make cupcakes. I have a funny feeling that is not going to happen, but we'll see.
Sunday's cooking isn't too bad... the usual spread.... some jalapeno poppers as an appetizer, and ribs, slaw and cornbread. Too bad I still need to buy jalapenos, ribs, and cabbage for the slaw.
Tonight is a recipe for what I usually call "SpagBacParm" for short. It's an easy one, and since I've been a stranger to my kitchen for awhile, it's one I know I can do. And I also know even when it's flubbed/overcooked, it's still pretty darned good. Since the hubsy is not a fan of peas, I usually use some asparagus in the recipe. I do believe I have mentioned it here before, since it is a big "go to" recipe for me. Especially when I've got leftover bacon from last week.
Doing some roasted cherry tomatoes as a side, since the acidity in the tomatoes goes particularly well with SpagBacParm.
Other than that, duck soup and a pot roast, don't know what else is in store for the week. Maybe the scallops from the Bouchon cookbook... I buy some endive at the produce mart, and I could start with salting those tonight and doing the sauce tomorrow, then scallops on Thursday. I also have chicken breasts... might just simply roast those and serve with a baked potato one night.
Thankfully I have some spice rub leftover from the last time I made ribs, so I don't have to worry about that. I can just slap it on them on Saturday morning and worry about cooking them, ala the Alton Brown oven recipe, on Sunday.
And, on Sunday, the poppers are easy enough, and I usually even just halve the poppers to makes them much easier to stuff. I'll probably do the artichoke dip and the bread sticks (and maybe some pita chips) on Thursday night along with the pine nut crust for the tarts. I'm just going to do the artichoke dip in my slow cooker (they're not entirely evil, I swear!!), but I can at least get it mixed and ready.
But enough talk... time for me to get in to the kitchen and make a tasty dinner. After that, a nice long shower, and then some girly time curled up in front of the TV (possibly with a nice glass or three of wine) watching the complete Jane Austin on Masterpiece Theater.
Had the Peapod dude scheduled to come for two reasons. 1 - pick up the boxes left last week when I wasn't here for the delivery, and 2 - wanted some duck breasts to use in a duck soup I want to make this week.
Peapod dude was not supposed to come until the afternoon, so I headed out in the late morning to the produce market to pick up veggies and other various things for the week. I only spent about two minutes lovingly staring at the lake trout in the fish case, cursing the husband for not liking fish or green beans so I can't make the trout with haricot verts from the Bouchon cookbook. Yeah... fish, almonds, green beans, brown butter.... all things he hates. Sigh.
It's going to be a big week in the kitchen.... have a party on Saturday (WHY my mother decided to have everyone in my dad's side of the family over on the day before Superbowl Sunday is beyond me....) and of course the Superbowl on Sunday.
To my mom's, I'm bringing an artichoke dip, and I'm also going to try the lemon tart from the French Laundry cookbook. Actually, since the dough recipe makes enough for three tarts, I'm going to do a lemon one, and attempt a key lime one. The hubby is also supposed to make cupcakes. I have a funny feeling that is not going to happen, but we'll see.
Sunday's cooking isn't too bad... the usual spread.... some jalapeno poppers as an appetizer, and ribs, slaw and cornbread. Too bad I still need to buy jalapenos, ribs, and cabbage for the slaw.
Tonight is a recipe for what I usually call "SpagBacParm" for short. It's an easy one, and since I've been a stranger to my kitchen for awhile, it's one I know I can do. And I also know even when it's flubbed/overcooked, it's still pretty darned good. Since the hubsy is not a fan of peas, I usually use some asparagus in the recipe. I do believe I have mentioned it here before, since it is a big "go to" recipe for me. Especially when I've got leftover bacon from last week.
Doing some roasted cherry tomatoes as a side, since the acidity in the tomatoes goes particularly well with SpagBacParm.
Other than that, duck soup and a pot roast, don't know what else is in store for the week. Maybe the scallops from the Bouchon cookbook... I buy some endive at the produce mart, and I could start with salting those tonight and doing the sauce tomorrow, then scallops on Thursday. I also have chicken breasts... might just simply roast those and serve with a baked potato one night.
Thankfully I have some spice rub leftover from the last time I made ribs, so I don't have to worry about that. I can just slap it on them on Saturday morning and worry about cooking them, ala the Alton Brown oven recipe, on Sunday.
And, on Sunday, the poppers are easy enough, and I usually even just halve the poppers to makes them much easier to stuff. I'll probably do the artichoke dip and the bread sticks (and maybe some pita chips) on Thursday night along with the pine nut crust for the tarts. I'm just going to do the artichoke dip in my slow cooker (they're not entirely evil, I swear!!), but I can at least get it mixed and ready.
But enough talk... time for me to get in to the kitchen and make a tasty dinner. After that, a nice long shower, and then some girly time curled up in front of the TV (possibly with a nice glass or three of wine) watching the complete Jane Austin on Masterpiece Theater.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Hey
The family drama from last weekend took an unexpectedly bad turn. A family member that we thought was just fed up and had run off ended up killing himself on Monday. His wife, his kids, and his grandkids are expectedly a mess.
It hasn't been easy for the rest of the family either, since they're all pretty close. And my father in law, as of this Saturday, he'll have burried his parents and three younger brothers.
Needless to say, cooking efforts have been less than stellar (we had Hamburger Helper last night and take out tonight) and I'll take any excuse to slack on my cleaning duties. Although I did do about four loads of laundry last night. I had hoped to try the scallops with citrus-braised endive out of the Bouchon cookbook this week, but I've given up hope. I did already do the salt step with the endive (to remove bitterness) but I fear they're going to die a slow death in the fridge before I get around to the actual braise. Because I just do not feel like getting two cups of fresh OJ out of the oranges in my fridge right now. Hell, I'm in such a low funk that I might even throw all my lovely Calphalon non-stick in to the dishwasher just to get it out of the sink right now.
So kids, it might be awhile before I'm back here. Hopefully some time mid-next week. And I am still rockin' the diet as best I can, sans excercise. I've lost 10 pounds already, and hopefully I won't put too much damage in that since I want to be down 15-20 by the time we got to Vegas.
It hasn't been easy for the rest of the family either, since they're all pretty close. And my father in law, as of this Saturday, he'll have burried his parents and three younger brothers.
Needless to say, cooking efforts have been less than stellar (we had Hamburger Helper last night and take out tonight) and I'll take any excuse to slack on my cleaning duties. Although I did do about four loads of laundry last night. I had hoped to try the scallops with citrus-braised endive out of the Bouchon cookbook this week, but I've given up hope. I did already do the salt step with the endive (to remove bitterness) but I fear they're going to die a slow death in the fridge before I get around to the actual braise. Because I just do not feel like getting two cups of fresh OJ out of the oranges in my fridge right now. Hell, I'm in such a low funk that I might even throw all my lovely Calphalon non-stick in to the dishwasher just to get it out of the sink right now.
So kids, it might be awhile before I'm back here. Hopefully some time mid-next week. And I am still rockin' the diet as best I can, sans excercise. I've lost 10 pounds already, and hopefully I won't put too much damage in that since I want to be down 15-20 by the time we got to Vegas.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Can I just forget this past weekend??
Ugh. It's been an eventful weekend, and not in a good way.
Immediate family is all fine, but there has been some very unexpected drama in the extended family. I'm not going to go in to it here, but here in Casa de Hausfrau we're trying to get back to normal.
Cooking has been on the backburner, although I did pull some greenshell mussles outta the freezer for dinner tonight in an attempt to throw something together for dinner. Mussels in a garlic and wine sauce (with a little shrimp stock), some pasta for the hubby, and loads of garlic bread for me. Always tasty.
I wanted to do a pork tenderloin tonight, but due to the fact I had too many adult beverages last night and didn't feel like joining the world of the living until very late morning, I didn't pull the tenderloin out of the freezer until late and it didn't defrost. But, I did also prep a dish of mac & cheese (Alton Brown's recipe) to throw in the oven tomorrow as a side. I had a bunch of hunks of cheese (cheddar, dubliner, and some gouda) leftover from Christmas still, and I knew it wouldn't be long until they started to get moldy. It probably could be more cheddar-y, but I'm sure it will still be plenty good.
We've had bone chilling temps in Chicago this weekend, so it was my plan to not head out for the usual grocery store errands anyway, and after the family drama sucked up all of Friday night and Saturday, I know I won't feel like hitting the stores tomorrow, so... Peapod to the rescue!!! We've had the Peapod service in Chicago for quite a few years, and I have been a fan of it for a long time. Loved it when I was in college living in the city and it was actually cheaper to have stuff delivered then shop at the little local (overpriced) store, and I've always loved it for busy weekends or times I just don't feel like braving the masses at the store.
Immediate family is all fine, but there has been some very unexpected drama in the extended family. I'm not going to go in to it here, but here in Casa de Hausfrau we're trying to get back to normal.
Cooking has been on the backburner, although I did pull some greenshell mussles outta the freezer for dinner tonight in an attempt to throw something together for dinner. Mussels in a garlic and wine sauce (with a little shrimp stock), some pasta for the hubby, and loads of garlic bread for me. Always tasty.
I wanted to do a pork tenderloin tonight, but due to the fact I had too many adult beverages last night and didn't feel like joining the world of the living until very late morning, I didn't pull the tenderloin out of the freezer until late and it didn't defrost. But, I did also prep a dish of mac & cheese (Alton Brown's recipe) to throw in the oven tomorrow as a side. I had a bunch of hunks of cheese (cheddar, dubliner, and some gouda) leftover from Christmas still, and I knew it wouldn't be long until they started to get moldy. It probably could be more cheddar-y, but I'm sure it will still be plenty good.
We've had bone chilling temps in Chicago this weekend, so it was my plan to not head out for the usual grocery store errands anyway, and after the family drama sucked up all of Friday night and Saturday, I know I won't feel like hitting the stores tomorrow, so... Peapod to the rescue!!! We've had the Peapod service in Chicago for quite a few years, and I have been a fan of it for a long time. Loved it when I was in college living in the city and it was actually cheaper to have stuff delivered then shop at the little local (overpriced) store, and I've always loved it for busy weekends or times I just don't feel like braving the masses at the store.
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