7.31.2009

The List: A [few] Favorites

1. Mad Men's season 2 on dvd...its in a shirt box for crissakes!

2. Freaks and Geeks. Mostly because it reminds me (all of us) of high school...unfortunately, it mostly reminds me of elementary school because I was a ginormous nerd then. This guy, we'll call Auggie, because that was his name, would pick on me on the bus-ride to school every morning in the third grade. Until one day I went home crying and my mom decided to DRIVE TO HIS HOUSE AND TALK TO HIS PARENTS. Mortifying: Completely. Effective: More than you think. I felt like complete shit when, as we were driving back home so I could hide in shame, we saw as his dad open-fisted his face. He was super nice after that.

3. Trader Joe's White Bean and Basil Hummus (sadly, no link).

4.

7.20.2009

With Mediterranean good-looks and taste, I pass this along...

Currently listening to: Neil Young's Heart of Gold and CCR's Down on the Corner.

Currently and droolingly recalling:
this recipe i found last year when I was commissioned to chefelry a friend's dinner party. It was my selection as second course because its aesthetically pleasing, healthy, fresh, vegetarian-friendly, and from a woman that knows how to altogether please:



Mediterranean (Couscous) Salad
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus 1/4 cup
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (1-pound) box Israeli couscous (or any small pasta)
3 cups chicken stock
2 lemons, juiced
1 lemon, zested
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup chopped fresh mint leaves
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted

Directions:
In a medium saucepan, warm 3 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the couscous and cook until toasted and lightly browned, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Carefully add the stock, and the juice of 1 lemon, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the couscous is tender, but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the couscous.

In a large bowl, toss the cooked couscous with the remaining olive oil, remaining lemon juice, zest, salt, and pepper and let cool.

Once the couscous is room temperature, add the fresh herbs, dried cranberries, and almonds. Toss to combine and serve[s 6].

7.15.2009

So good it should be true...

So last night, I had my first zombie dream. Yah, pretty exciting. I usually dream about the Apocalypse or visiting hell in the style of Dante, just more unescorty and more undercover (Analyze that!).

So I was at a college party on Columbia's beautiful campus (not unlike the one I was at recently). I walked outside to find my self alone, of course. It was pretty late, I'd say post-midnight...the witching hour if you will. Soon enough, the campus morphed into my alma mater, UNM. Which I'm more familiar with and was altogether relieved to be at, until I heard the screams...

Immediately, I knew I was being chased by a group of zombies because a) there were dead people bloodily smeared everywhere, and b) besides stark silence, there were distant screams.

Horrifying, I know.

My heart was racing as I duck and hid and sprinted across the campus, knowing I was home free to some back parking lot on North Campus (where the hospital is) when I turned the corner to see the legion of zombies, covered in blood, but white as ghosts, screaming and howling like a pack of velociraptors (so impressionable I am).

In agonizing defeat, I knelt to the ground and howled in angst as they began to stone me, which was these zombies apparent subduction of their victims.

As a zombie-clenched stone rocketed towards my face, my alarm went off.

Requisite startle included.

7.07.2009

Because I'm a guaranteed,

Join me on July 25th, August 9th and August 30th,...I'll let you take me home.

7.02.2009

the currents

Listening to: The Sneaker Pimps' Low Five

Seeing: another dark and distilling dreary sky. O, how I love thee, Eastern Coast.

Awaiting: final moves and preparations por la apartimiento nuevo.

Reeling from: Turkey sandwiches, man. Can never go wrong with some turkey, bacon, and mayo. NEVER.

Planning: barbequed chicken and potato salad with a shiny new red grill.

Pondering the lasting effects of: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. It might not have had such an impact if my [crazy] grandmother that passed away last year hadn't have told such long-winded and milieud yarns herself or made my sister and I sort out large cookie-tins full of buttons.