This is going to be an AWESOME post.
FIRST, my younger sister graduated from college this weekend. WAY TO GO SEESTER!
I decided to stop worrying about a gift and just got her a Target giftcard. She bought herself the shoes she wore when she walked across the stage to get her diploma. I consider that gift-giving process to be a great success.
The whole family came (minus Brother Bear, who sucks. Still love him though.) and this is how the weekend went: family member arrives, convene, eat. family member arrives, convene, eat. graduation. nap. family friend arrives, convene, eat. family member arrives, nap, convene, eat. I am so full and I have enough leftovers in my fridge that I'm not cooking or grocery shopping all week. And once I run out of food, operation detox begins.
I want to wish my seester good luck finding a job. Seriously.
SECOND.
California, you were once just temporary. Now you are home-sweet-home.
That's right folks - we're staying in LA. D's company stepped up to the plate and made him a job offer (and an honest man) last week, both of which he accepted on Monday. He has a freakin' sweet new title and a sweet new raise and we are THRILLED about how this worked out. We love being so close to home and (though I hate to say it) we both have ended up really enjoying LA. I still hate the Lakers though.
The only bad news is that our little luxurious life out here comes to an end on July 1st - see ya free rent and free car. Hello massive debt (hopefully!) (its a little twisted how excited I am about this) and the American Dream.
THIRD
I made some resolutions at the beginning of the year. Two, to be exact. Well, we're just about halfway through the year and I'm super excited to say that I have one of those resolutions checked off my list.
There are still a lot of information to process and decisions to be made sooooooooo I'm not going in to details, except that it does not involve precious stones but it does involve funny hats.
FOURTH
My life is awesome. Seriously, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. I have an amazingly dyfunctional family who I love with every little piece of my heart. I have a handful of really really amazing friends who I trust with my life. I have a great relationship with a wonderfully quirky man who understands me and doesn't understand me all at the same time but loves me in the most complete and irrational way. And I love him back. I have so much behind me and so so so much within me and even more in front of me and I can't wait to see what the next hour, day, week, month, year, decade, and lifetime hold. I'm ready :)
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Monday, May 10, 2010
Letters
Dear Right Knee,
You have been hurting me for 6 days now, and every second I hate you a little more. What is this all about? I was lucky enough to get out of a 18+ year soccer career without so much as a wince, and thank you for that, but why start now? Way to ruin my half marathon dreams. You've won this round, but its nothing a little surgery couldn't fix. Muahahha.
Watch your back,
The rest of my body.
Dear Seester,
You graduate college in a week. You've worked so hard to do well in school, support yourself, and play soccer and I'm so proud of you. Unfortunately your education degree is worth squat AND waitressing probably won't help get those massive student loans paid off. Congrats and welcome to the real world. Now if you could be a doll and not be so damn difficult to shop for, I'd get you a nice gift and keep my sanity.
Already pulling out my hair,
Older seeester and her wallet.
Dear California Real Estate Market,
I've been seriously involved with you for only two weeks now and you're already driving me nuts. You are expensive, high maintenence, difficult, dangerous, and sending me mixed signals. All I'm asking for is a 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom house with a decent sized back yard in a neighborhood I'll feel safe running in for less than $400,000. Unfortunately, this has turned out to be like looking for a needle in a field of hay. Its painful. Get your shit together or I'm moving back to Arizona, where we could afford to buy a frickin mansion.
Harumph,
Discouraged potential buyer.
Dear Westchester,
I'm sorry baby, I didn't mean it. I'm not cheating on you - we just can't be together right now. Your 1940's houses and tree lined streets are out of my price range right now, so we're going to have to go a little south. For now. Someday we will be together again.
I'll miss you,
Not a millionaire.
Dear June 11th,
The rest of soccer nation and I have been waiting for almost 4 whole years and we're getting impatient. I get goosebumps every time I see one of the Bono ads on ESPN. Also, I'm sick of the NBA. Would you hurry up already?
Breathless,
The entire world.
Dear NFL,
Get your shit together. Give my boyfriend lots of money - we both know he deserves it. This process has been going on for about 4 months now so we'd like this to happen sooner rather than later.
Thanks,
Impatiently waiting.
You have been hurting me for 6 days now, and every second I hate you a little more. What is this all about? I was lucky enough to get out of a 18+ year soccer career without so much as a wince, and thank you for that, but why start now? Way to ruin my half marathon dreams. You've won this round, but its nothing a little surgery couldn't fix. Muahahha.
Watch your back,
The rest of my body.
Dear Seester,
You graduate college in a week. You've worked so hard to do well in school, support yourself, and play soccer and I'm so proud of you. Unfortunately your education degree is worth squat AND waitressing probably won't help get those massive student loans paid off. Congrats and welcome to the real world. Now if you could be a doll and not be so damn difficult to shop for, I'd get you a nice gift and keep my sanity.
Already pulling out my hair,
Older seeester and her wallet.
Dear California Real Estate Market,
I've been seriously involved with you for only two weeks now and you're already driving me nuts. You are expensive, high maintenence, difficult, dangerous, and sending me mixed signals. All I'm asking for is a 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom house with a decent sized back yard in a neighborhood I'll feel safe running in for less than $400,000. Unfortunately, this has turned out to be like looking for a needle in a field of hay. Its painful. Get your shit together or I'm moving back to Arizona, where we could afford to buy a frickin mansion.
Harumph,
Discouraged potential buyer.
Dear Westchester,
I'm sorry baby, I didn't mean it. I'm not cheating on you - we just can't be together right now. Your 1940's houses and tree lined streets are out of my price range right now, so we're going to have to go a little south. For now. Someday we will be together again.
I'll miss you,
Not a millionaire.
Dear June 11th,
The rest of soccer nation and I have been waiting for almost 4 whole years and we're getting impatient. I get goosebumps every time I see one of the Bono ads on ESPN. Also, I'm sick of the NBA. Would you hurry up already?
Breathless,
The entire world.
Dear NFL,
Get your shit together. Give my boyfriend lots of money - we both know he deserves it. This process has been going on for about 4 months now so we'd like this to happen sooner rather than later.
Thanks,
Impatiently waiting.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Carne Seca
After living in New York I bought myself a Mexican cookbook. New York City is a place of many cultures and of many restaurants - we ate exceptional Cuban food, Guatemalan food, El Salvadorian food, Puerto Rican food - but good Mexican really is hard to find. Its even difficult to find the right ingredients at the grocery stores. At one point, D's cousin (a Brooklyn resident) stumbled on canned enchilada sauce at a store in New Jersey and bought enough to stock us up - that's how desperate our Mexican food situation was.
Ironically, I learned after moving back to the West Coast that my very favorite Mexican restaurant has 3 locations in the United States - 2 in Phoenix and 1 on on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. While this could have saved me in my futile search for passable Mexican, I'm curious to see how authentic the Manhattan location actually is.
I finally got around to using this cookbook last week. I don't know what took me so long, but I'm glad I finally did - this was probably some of the tastiest meat I've ever had. Carne Seca translates to "dried meat" in Spanish and that's exactly what it is - meat that is slow cooked, seasoned, then dried. I used it in enchiladas with red chile sauce, but its just as good on its own. I'll definitely be making this one again!
Tucson Carne Seca
From The Border Cookbook
Dried Beef
3 lbs round or shoulder chuck roast
3 tbsp white vinegar
1 tbsp salt
2 tsp fresh black pepper
10 garlic cloves, sliced
1 tbsp groud dried mild red chile
8 cups water
juice of 2 limes
Combine all ingredients except the lime juice in a dutch oven or large, heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil, skim off any foam, reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Cook for 2 - 2 1/2 hours until the meat is very tender. Cool the meat in its cooking liquid for 30 minutes. Strain the cooking liquid, reserving for later use.
Tear the meat into thin shreds and transfer it back into the original pot. Add 1 cup of the reserved cooking liquid and simmer over medium heat until all liquid is evaporated. Toss meat with lime juice
Dried Seasoning Blend
1 tbsp groud dried red chile powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
Transfer the meat to 1 or 2 baking sheets, spreading it thin. Sprinkle the meat with half the dried seasoning blend and bake the meat at 275 for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, stir well, and sprinkle with remaining seasoning. Return to oven and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until browned and dry.
Meat can be refrigerated for 2 days
Ironically, I learned after moving back to the West Coast that my very favorite Mexican restaurant has 3 locations in the United States - 2 in Phoenix and 1 on on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. While this could have saved me in my futile search for passable Mexican, I'm curious to see how authentic the Manhattan location actually is.
I finally got around to using this cookbook last week. I don't know what took me so long, but I'm glad I finally did - this was probably some of the tastiest meat I've ever had. Carne Seca translates to "dried meat" in Spanish and that's exactly what it is - meat that is slow cooked, seasoned, then dried. I used it in enchiladas with red chile sauce, but its just as good on its own. I'll definitely be making this one again!
Tucson Carne Seca
From The Border Cookbook
Dried Beef
3 lbs round or shoulder chuck roast
3 tbsp white vinegar
1 tbsp salt
2 tsp fresh black pepper
10 garlic cloves, sliced
1 tbsp groud dried mild red chile
8 cups water
juice of 2 limes
Combine all ingredients except the lime juice in a dutch oven or large, heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil, skim off any foam, reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Cook for 2 - 2 1/2 hours until the meat is very tender. Cool the meat in its cooking liquid for 30 minutes. Strain the cooking liquid, reserving for later use.
Tear the meat into thin shreds and transfer it back into the original pot. Add 1 cup of the reserved cooking liquid and simmer over medium heat until all liquid is evaporated. Toss meat with lime juice
Dried Seasoning Blend
1 tbsp groud dried red chile powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
Transfer the meat to 1 or 2 baking sheets, spreading it thin. Sprinkle the meat with half the dried seasoning blend and bake the meat at 275 for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, stir well, and sprinkle with remaining seasoning. Return to oven and bake for 30-40 minutes, or until browned and dry.
Meat can be refrigerated for 2 days
Pi Day Part Two: Crack Pie
Because we live in different places - or, because I'm the rogue who has moved out of state - my pie loving friends and I have limited opportunities to get together. We missed pi day this year, but planned to celebrate when I was home in April.
We failed. But not before I made my pie.
This year I decided to make Momofuku's Crack Pie because the recipe had been recommended to me by someone at work and because I was super jealous of the Boyfriend's big trip to New York. I loved the buttery, cookie crust but honestly, that was about it. It was wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy too sugary, even for my sweet tooth. I could only eat a few bites at a time, and even though the gooey consistency was fun, I ended up throwing about three fourths of it away. Shame.
Crack Pie
Adapted from Momofuku by the LA Times
Cookie
2/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon (3 ounces) flour
Scant 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
Scant 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter
1/3 cup (2 1/2 ounces) light brown sugar
3 tablespoons (1 1/4 ounces) sugar
1 egg
Scant 1 cup (3 1/2 ounces) rolled oats
Preeat the oven to 375 degrees.
In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
In the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl using an electric mixer, beat the butter, brown sugar and sugar until light and fluffy.
Whisk the egg into the butter mixture. With the mixer running, beat in the flour mixture, a little at a time, until fully combined. Stir in the oats until incorporated.
Spread the mixture onto a 9 by 13 baking sheet and bake until golden and set, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to the touch on a rack. Crumble the cookie.
Crust
Crumbled cookie for crust
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1 1/2 tablespoons (3/4 ounce) brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
Combine the cookie, butter, brown sugar and salt and mix until evenly combined. Press half of the crust into each of 2 pie tins to form a thin, even layer.
Filling
1 1/2 cups (10 1/2 ounces) sugar
3/4 cup plus a scant 3 tablespoons (7 ounces) light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup plus 1 teaspoon (3/4 ounce) milk powder
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted
3/4 cup plus a scant 2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 egg yolks
2 prepared crusts
Powdered sugar, garnish
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, brown sugar, salt and milk powder. Whisk in the melted butter, then whisk in the heavy cream and vanilla. Gently whisk in the egg yolks, being careful not to add too much air.
Divide the filling evenly between the 2 prepared pie shells.
Bake the pies, one at a time, for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 325 degrees and bake until the filling is slightly jiggly and golden brown (similar to a pecan pie), about 10 minutes. Remove the pies and cool on a rack.
Refrigerate the cooled pies until well chilled. The pies are meant to be served cold, and the filling will be gooey. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
We failed. But not before I made my pie.
This year I decided to make Momofuku's Crack Pie because the recipe had been recommended to me by someone at work and because I was super jealous of the Boyfriend's big trip to New York. I loved the buttery, cookie crust but honestly, that was about it. It was wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy too sugary, even for my sweet tooth. I could only eat a few bites at a time, and even though the gooey consistency was fun, I ended up throwing about three fourths of it away. Shame.
Crack Pie
Adapted from Momofuku by the LA Times
Cookie
2/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon (3 ounces) flour
Scant 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
Scant 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter
1/3 cup (2 1/2 ounces) light brown sugar
3 tablespoons (1 1/4 ounces) sugar
1 egg
Scant 1 cup (3 1/2 ounces) rolled oats
Preeat the oven to 375 degrees.
In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
In the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl using an electric mixer, beat the butter, brown sugar and sugar until light and fluffy.
Whisk the egg into the butter mixture. With the mixer running, beat in the flour mixture, a little at a time, until fully combined. Stir in the oats until incorporated.
Spread the mixture onto a 9 by 13 baking sheet and bake until golden and set, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to the touch on a rack. Crumble the cookie.
Crust
Crumbled cookie for crust
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1 1/2 tablespoons (3/4 ounce) brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
Combine the cookie, butter, brown sugar and salt and mix until evenly combined. Press half of the crust into each of 2 pie tins to form a thin, even layer.
Filling
1 1/2 cups (10 1/2 ounces) sugar
3/4 cup plus a scant 3 tablespoons (7 ounces) light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup plus 1 teaspoon (3/4 ounce) milk powder
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted
3/4 cup plus a scant 2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 egg yolks
2 prepared crusts
Powdered sugar, garnish
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, brown sugar, salt and milk powder. Whisk in the melted butter, then whisk in the heavy cream and vanilla. Gently whisk in the egg yolks, being careful not to add too much air.
Divide the filling evenly between the 2 prepared pie shells.
Bake the pies, one at a time, for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 325 degrees and bake until the filling is slightly jiggly and golden brown (similar to a pecan pie), about 10 minutes. Remove the pies and cool on a rack.
Refrigerate the cooled pies until well chilled. The pies are meant to be served cold, and the filling will be gooey. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Rosemary Chicken Pot Pie
Screw Passover.
Well, no. Don't do that. But I'm forgetting about getting those recipes posted (maybe next year, right?) and moving on. To a holiday that happened before. What?
Pi Day.
In the past, my friends and I have gotten together to celebrate March 14th, 3/14. Its been going on since high school, and although we weren't able to get it together this year (we tried TWICE!) we still found ways to celebrate. Or at least I did. Because an excuse to make and eat pie should never be passed up.
I went a different route this year, with a savory pie. D and I were home the evening of the 14th, undecided on dinner and absolutely not motivated to leave the house. Thanks to a pretty well-stocked freezer and to luck, we had all the ingredients on hand for chicken pot pie.
The pot pie was perfect. It is comfort food at its finest - warm, heavy, and delicious. We will definitely be making this again.
Rosemary Chicken Pot Pie
Adapted from The Dean & DeLuca Cookbook
Pie dough, rolled into a round disk
2 1/2 lbs diced chicken - we used leftovers from a chicken we had roasted earlier in the week
salt and pepper to taste
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp minced garlic
3 celery ribs, diced
2 large carrots, diced
1 cup chopped onion
5 tbsp butter
1/2 cup flour
3 cups boiling chicken stock
1 cup milk
1/3 cup cream
2 1/2 tbsp rosemary (recipe calls for fresh, we had dried - it worked)
Preheat the oven to 375.
Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Cook the garlic, celery, onions, and carrots until tender, about 6 minutes.
Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and mix quickly with a whisk for 1 minute. Add the stock, milk, and cream. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly, then reduce to moderate low heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and rosemary.
Mix chicken, vegetables, and cream mixture. Place in a large baking dish. Place the rolled-out crust over the mixture and prick the top with a fork.
Make an egg wash by whisking 1 egg with 2 tbsp water. Lightly brush the dough. Bake pot pie in oven for 45 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes before cutting and serving.
Well, no. Don't do that. But I'm forgetting about getting those recipes posted (maybe next year, right?) and moving on. To a holiday that happened before. What?
Pi Day.
In the past, my friends and I have gotten together to celebrate March 14th, 3/14. Its been going on since high school, and although we weren't able to get it together this year (we tried TWICE!) we still found ways to celebrate. Or at least I did. Because an excuse to make and eat pie should never be passed up.
I went a different route this year, with a savory pie. D and I were home the evening of the 14th, undecided on dinner and absolutely not motivated to leave the house. Thanks to a pretty well-stocked freezer and to luck, we had all the ingredients on hand for chicken pot pie.
The pot pie was perfect. It is comfort food at its finest - warm, heavy, and delicious. We will definitely be making this again.
Rosemary Chicken Pot Pie
Adapted from The Dean & DeLuca Cookbook
Pie dough, rolled into a round disk
2 1/2 lbs diced chicken - we used leftovers from a chicken we had roasted earlier in the week
salt and pepper to taste
3 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp minced garlic
3 celery ribs, diced
2 large carrots, diced
1 cup chopped onion
5 tbsp butter
1/2 cup flour
3 cups boiling chicken stock
1 cup milk
1/3 cup cream
2 1/2 tbsp rosemary (recipe calls for fresh, we had dried - it worked)
Preheat the oven to 375.
Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Cook the garlic, celery, onions, and carrots until tender, about 6 minutes.
Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and mix quickly with a whisk for 1 minute. Add the stock, milk, and cream. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly, then reduce to moderate low heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and rosemary.
Mix chicken, vegetables, and cream mixture. Place in a large baking dish. Place the rolled-out crust over the mixture and prick the top with a fork.
Make an egg wash by whisking 1 egg with 2 tbsp water. Lightly brush the dough. Bake pot pie in oven for 45 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes before cutting and serving.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
But I'm Not Dead Yet!
Good morning! Its been a while. I don't mean to ignore this blog, and with working part time I certainly can't say I'm too busy. I'm just boring.
But! All that has changed lately. Ready for a quick recap?
- Got health insurance due to the new healthcare bill. Because I'm under 26 I was able to jump on my dad's plan at no cost. Enjoyed that for about 3 weeks before my dad got laid off. I will be uninsured again shortly.
- Went home 2 weekends in a row. Had a great time but will never drive that much again.
- Started house shopping for real. Realized we can't afford anything we want to live in around here. Started condo shopping instead. Am not thrilled.
- Have to get a full time job to pay for a condo I don't want to live in. I'll work 200 hours a week to pay for a house but damn it I don't want to work 1 to pay for a crappy little condo.
- Worked on "appreciating what I have". Failed.
- Still haven't gotten into grad school. Still haven't figured my life out. Still waiting.
- Loved LA. Hated LA.
- Running a half marathon in less than 2 weeks. Super excited. Almost ready - ran 11 last week. Long run this week will be 12 to 13 and then I'll start tapering for the big race!
- I've always wanted to run the Boston Marathon. Looked into that and realized a qualifying time for my age is just over a 7 minute mile. Thought, "shit".
- Home caught on fire. Brother is stupid. I like him anyway.
I have some amazing stories to share - ok, 1 amazing story and a few boring ones - but that's going to wait for another day. I'll try to be better about posting this month, which shouldn't be too hard with all the stuff that's going on right now.
Happy May!
But! All that has changed lately. Ready for a quick recap?
- Got health insurance due to the new healthcare bill. Because I'm under 26 I was able to jump on my dad's plan at no cost. Enjoyed that for about 3 weeks before my dad got laid off. I will be uninsured again shortly.
- Went home 2 weekends in a row. Had a great time but will never drive that much again.
- Started house shopping for real. Realized we can't afford anything we want to live in around here. Started condo shopping instead. Am not thrilled.
- Have to get a full time job to pay for a condo I don't want to live in. I'll work 200 hours a week to pay for a house but damn it I don't want to work 1 to pay for a crappy little condo.
- Worked on "appreciating what I have". Failed.
- Still haven't gotten into grad school. Still haven't figured my life out. Still waiting.
- Loved LA. Hated LA.
- Running a half marathon in less than 2 weeks. Super excited. Almost ready - ran 11 last week. Long run this week will be 12 to 13 and then I'll start tapering for the big race!
- I've always wanted to run the Boston Marathon. Looked into that and realized a qualifying time for my age is just over a 7 minute mile. Thought, "shit".
- Home caught on fire. Brother is stupid. I like him anyway.
I have some amazing stories to share - ok, 1 amazing story and a few boring ones - but that's going to wait for another day. I'll try to be better about posting this month, which shouldn't be too hard with all the stuff that's going on right now.
Happy May!
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