I'm working on it...

Top Ten lists for the songs, TV scenes, and foods of 2009!

Get ready!

Hints:

Lady Gaga, Noah and the Whale, Little Joy, Peggy waking up in Duck's bed, Betty finally leaving, Lindsay Lohan guest judging PR, the GG menage a trois, Scott's mussels, the tacos from the mexican shack down my street, Sara's chestnuts (and yes, I just realized that it sounds like I'm admiring my friend's tidbits), and tidbits!

MORE TO COME!!!

Happy Giving Thanks!

The buttery savory tin the oven.

The homemade stuffing is awaitin'.

The taters are a' peelin'.

The guests are a' comin.'

ENJOY!

Disappointed in Life

Nothing is sadder than biting into the turkey sandwich you so skillfully requested at the deli downstairs and realizing that the peppermill turkey you had only seconds earlier drooled over...has turned.

And that you have to eat said sandwich without meat. Thank god muenster can carry itself.

Weekly Vacation-Staycations

My job is a weekly exertion in travel, if not an exertion in the hope for humanity's soul, its a regular tour of the outer bouroughs, the Islands, and diversity at its most base meaning/s.

If I'm not in my Brooklyn Heights/Downtown Brooklyn office, the Supreme Courts in Manhattan or the Bronx or Brooklyn or Staten Island...there's always trips to one, or sometimes three, of Rikers Island's luxurious jailhouses, the infamous Bed-Stuy, the Westchester office in da Bronx, and tomorrow's stretch...Sheepshead Bay.

Which, for the lay-folk, is roundabouts Coney Island.

It's far, yo. Like, out-of-my-usual-commute far.

And I have to be there at 8:00 a.m.-ish.

I'm not complaining. I just get to tour NYC in ways I never, ever imagined I would. Seeing B.D. Wong on the L train or a filming of of "Raising the Bar" suddenly becomes all the more...unrealistic.

You wanna know what the average criminal justice system employee is doing on a regular workday in The City...he, or she, is on a train for the better part of an hour, or the Staten Island Ferry, the Rikers Island Q100 (formerly the Q101R), or in line for a $5 footlong.

You get to make new friends along the way, I'm sure you've heard my [(horror and) success] stories.

All-American Drinking and Devouring

This past weekend saw the advent of homemade American classics, essentially on the fly. Pretty exciting stuff starting with freshly steamed clams in a white wine & butter sauce with shallots and carrots. Colleen got them via FreshDirect for what sounds to be a steal, and Scott literally made them in two-hundred seconds.

Then I made the homemade chili I've been concocting for over a week in my brain: red kidney beans; pinto beans; sauteed beef chuck (far superior to meatless/ground beef/chicken chilis) with sea salt, garlic, onion, cumin, and red chili powder; sauteed red and green bell peppers, a jalapeno, and more garlic; and finally a can of green chiles, two cans of fire-roasted & diced tomatoes; topped off with more cumin, chili powder, and a few hours on the stove. Topped off with shredded cheddar and crusty breads, appropriately coupled with cold beers, Saturday night never induced sleep better.

Sunday was Scott's birthday and we had biscuits, homemade creamy gravy with spicy sausage, and fluffly, scrambled eggs for breakfast. Sometime down the line after "The Banquet Beers," Scott made buffalo wings paired with crisp carrot and celery sticks.

Halloween began early with viewings of Silence..., The Shining, Scream and CW's roasted pumpkin seeds from the jack-o-lantern we welcomed into the abode.

Fall Term Report Card (preview)

Fail:
Melrose Place - (I have given it three (Yes, I'm embarrassed) of my hours and I want two of them back. Great premiere, poor follow-up).
The Jay Leno Show - He is weird without the desk, amiriteladies?

Pass:
Community - formulaic, but eff it! Its CHEVY FUCKING CHASE and Joel McHale...winners.
Bored to Death - besides the beauty that is Jason Schwartzman's hair (notable mention to Ted Danson), the dialogue is refreshing and kudos to Galfaiankiasssas (you know).
My first venti HOT coffee of the season - with a few dashes of nutmeg, and a stick of butter, y''alll.

Good Work:
Eating Health[ier] - its sad sometimes when what you're eating is not waffle fries, fried chicken or mozzarella sticks. Then again, its not sad to feel this great.
Mad Men - the first and only season to make me talk directly to the screen in surprise, shock, and dis/agreement. They're changing it up and its better now then 2 years from now than when we all hate it for not changing.
The Leaves Turning - Isn't it effing nice? But also, a little too soon...even for me.
Colleen's cooking - the more she cooks, the better she gets! I'm proud of the little toaster, I am!

Excellent:
Working Out - I know you're like duh! I'm like duh, myself. But so far...pretty great.
The Sister's postponing her wedding - meaning I'll be able to go next year.
The Stills - still...

A few things...

I'm not going to lament on the downfall that is technology...because while I and the rest of the world agonize on what has now been approximately 38 minutes without Gmail...I will share the following:

Musics right now: Anything T.Rex.
Movies right now: Anything sardonically rhythmical and a clever cover for heartfelt realizations. "I Heart Huckabees" is a nice throwback. So is "Clueless."
TVs right now: everything keeps coming up cougar, family-oriented, and reality-driven. I prefer to meet my cougars in Manhattan; if you own a family or are orientated towards that type of thing...spend quality time with your family (i.e. not in front of the t.v.); and is anything real anymore? Certainly not Courteney Cox-Arquette's face.
Fashions right now: Ladies, its ok to wear dresses. And gents, it is not ok to roll up your slacks...unless you're riding a bike or the same sex. That means gay dudes have my full authority to highwater their pants.
Foods right now: Autumn means the second best type of food, after summer fare. I'm making mac and cheese this weekend for a birthday party and I promise it to be the cheesiest to date (in the past, I've had a hard time with the pasta-cheese ratio).
Works right now: Immensely busy...but some how I find time in my busy pants-dropping schedule to do this.

Another wing on the barbie!

My first weekend as a 28 yr.-old saw the advent of many an awesome thing...such as Sara tap-dancing into our hearts (again), contemplative crabbiness at East River Park,

and, of course, dinner and dancing [re: beers, vodka, margaritas, and a Heineken pony keg!].


It was supposed to just be a small bar-be-que. But in the end, Colleen and Sara had injured each other and Klodi had become incomprehensible.

It began with two grilled meats I improvised myself, with a little help from my friends:
1. Saucy Burgers (consisting of a saucy mixture of worstershire and soy sauces (makes beef taste beefier and juicier), parsley, bread crumbs, salt & peppa, and a squirt of catsup...yah, good, ol' fashioned catsup for sweetness). They were a riotous hit as Klodi herself exclaimed they came in second only to my Christmastime roast beef!
2. (Litterally) Fire-Roasted Chicken (lightly seasoned with seasoned salt and marinated all day in no other than Frank's Hot Sauce). The chicken (thanks, Colleen!) came out juicy, tasty, not too dry, not too saucy...just effing right!

Thanks for the pic, Scott!

amicus curiæ pizzus

My personal first recipe shall be celebrated, and shared, with a little nerdery, as per regulations of the high court. Amicus Curaiae, or friend of the court, just so happens to be one of my defacto titles by association...unless an ADA hates me (like the one that heard me talking trash about his newly waxed eyebrows...c'mon! They were newly waxed)!

I digress...

Because this recipe should be shared with friends, as it was last night...it'll prove to be a winner, a trial of truth, and in the end, dismissed as a truly delicious and easy-to-prepare slice of latin heritage.

(In the spirit of thrift and time, most items were pre-made, such as the pesto sauce and pizza crusts).



Amicus Curiae Pizzus

1.5 - 2 cups chopped grilled chicken
About 15-20 leaves prewashed Baby Spinach
5 Campari tomatoes, sliced
3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
(or for the more traditional...sliced fresh mozzarella)
1 cup crumbled Feta cheese
4 heaping tblspns. pesto sauce
2 ready-made pizza crusts
2 tspns. parsley for affect

Spoon and spread pizza crust with pesto sauce evenly. Top with mozzarella and feta cheeses. Alternatively top with chicken, tomatoes and spinach. Lightly color the tomatoes and cheeses with parsely flakes. Bake until crust is gold brown and cheese is melted, usually about 15 minutes in a 450 deg. oven.

Serves 4. Enjoy!

Ye Olde Timey-Time Party

~Menu~

Swedish Meatballs
Mini Pigs-In-a-Blanket
Cheese & (Ritz) Crackers
Chex Mix
Cocktail Peanuts

~Drinks~

Moscow Mule
Dirty Martini
Old Fashioned

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.

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].

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.

Friday rap up

Currently listening to The Sea and Cake's An Echo In.

Great song.

Been enjoying The Meeting Places' Freeze Our Stares. Lovely song.

Speaking of partytime, tonight I take it upon myself to reconcot (a la last last Spring's punch-infused party at my pad) and rename Hop, Skip, and Go Naked punch as Haterade. Because, let's face it, it just makes sense.

Vitamin Water has two new flavours that I was otherwise unawares of: Sync and Tranquilo. Sync is probably one of the better-tasting, sans-medicinal-aftertasting VWs ON THE MARKET.

Not so good: Tostito's Brand Creamy Spinach Dip.

Most disappointing event of June 2009: Finding that KFC's Grilled Chicken is nasty. Given my watering mouth at the news that its flavoured with beef!, it nevertheless angered, struck me, and ulitmately left me in stomach pain in the company john.

Verbal assualts and cheeseburgers

Earlier this fine and beautiful spring day, I was approached by an enraged parent today in the Manhattan Supreme Court.

My findings have been, in theory and practice for the past nine years, that parents are a far more contributing factor to criminal activity than almost anything else...including substance abuse and/or mental health. The Trifecta of Doom, if you will, makes for quite the lovely client to work with.

Well, for whatever reason, he thought I fucked his kid over in court somehow...albeit I am the one trying to get him out of going to prison altogether. As he starts rifling through his cheap bag for what I suspect to be a smuggled murder weapon under epitaphs about my fuckhood as a motherfucker, the attorney on the case gave me those stunned, oh-no-what-did-I-walk-in-on eyes that only your mother can give you as an adolescent boy locked in the bathroom for an inordinate amount of time.

At which point, my craving for a bacon cheeseburger and a cold, stiff one was illuminated by that fact that not only did I aptly deserve them, but would have them, and promptly.

And have them I did. At a lovely, little Financial District joint called the White Horse Tavern.

*Tomorrow I chair a presentation to upwards of 300 of the Bronx County's best criminal defenders on how to get their clients out of Rikers Island as quickly as legally possible. Apparently, the Swine Flu doens't make the ticket.

Let them eat, drink, and be merry...

In a couple weeks, I'm hosting a small soiree for my surrogate parents. The menu includes, though unlimited to: spicy shrimp kababs, grilled and bloody steaks, and baked potatoes with all the fixin's. Sometimes a good, ol' fashioned dinner is where the heart is.

The apertif: The Mortoni

Makes 1 drink

Ice
1 part vodka
1 part Campari
1 part tonic water
1 lime wedge
1 orange wedge
2 lemon wedges

Fill a rocks glass and a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the vodka and Campari to the shaker and shake vigorously. Strain into the glass, top with the tonic water, and squeeze the juice from the lime and orange wedges and 1 of the lemon wedges into the drink. Garnish with the remaining lemon wedge and serve.
(Recipe from Mix Shake Stir (Little, Brown))

THEN ITS EAT MEAT TIMEY TIME!

Tight pants

and loose morals it is.

The weekend fast approaches and if this week has taught us anything, its that there's nothing to die for and that there's everything to live for.

I made that up. Sorta... Its quite silly if I say so myself.

Not so silly, cervezas. That's right, not beers...cervezas. My love of South-of-the-Border beers has been reinvigorated since my trip to Juarez, Cuidad de Suenos, back in 20 dickity 2. Its really a magical place, full of pan-handling ninos, shady puntas (not a bad word, just don't call your mom that), $2 nachos, and $0.25 Dos Equis. Yeah. It was also blazingly hot. And my troop got to see passed out hobo-penis.

All in all, its a lot like New York, just cheaper and stickier.

Existential Crisis in a Footnote

Have you noticed that it's Existential Crisis Month? Buy your own Existential Crisis flowers/booze/uppers/downers/brunch?

Everyone I know is on edge, for one monumental reason or another, including myself, (being the common denominator). Which is even more harrowing because I'd rather carry the weight than be mine own.

Creation, destruction. Destruction, creation. Or not. It's really shittysweet and altogether romanticized. Like Space. Its supposed to be this large void with purpose and potential...but really, its a large void. Nothing. And yet everything.

Yeah...toldya!

Dinner on the last night: pastrami & bacon w/ cheddar, lettuce, tomato, mayo, and Boar's Head Deli Dressing on a fancy roll...it's a deli sangwich and I did it myself!

Currently listening to: Throw Me The Statue's "Yucatan Gold."

Currently awaiting: Farady's comeuppance and LC's demise.

Wearing: gray pinstripe slacks, periwinkle blue button-up, my favourite Hugo Boss skinny tie, black grandpa cardigan, and my ol' faithful brown wingtips.

Avoiding: work until 7pm.

The Art of Hosting a Day in the Sun

5 pitchers of Tequila-infused punch.
Hint: once the Triple Sec and Orange Cognac are depleted, mix with lemonade.

2 Bowlfuls of fresh, best-guacamole-to-date. Serve with tortilla chips.

Cheesy snacks, and conversation.

Marinate chicken and rip apart once blackened.

Turn the music up as the day wears on.

Eat a hot dog if you see one unattended.

Drink water because the sun (and tequila) has beat it out of you.

Massages!

Nightcap it with chinese food and gummie bears.

Serves 20.

The Love-Hate Paradox

I've oft found myself criticizing others' hot-cold tendencies as a bad thing. Akin to Borderline Personality Disorder, one of my personal favorite flavours of PD, the oscillation between intense feelings of admiration and intense feelings of degradation only incite one valuable and interesting element: intensity.

This leads me to believe, or rather, self-psychoanalyse, that my boredom with the average has left me privy to a blind affection, and dare I say, immediate attraction, to intensity. Intense hate, love, anger, sweetness, etc. Lukewarm and moderate sincerely disinterest me, but in my late night revelings, I've somehow reacted to ideals of postulated love with, yes...intensity.

I, myself, have come to realize that I am not a mediocre-liker/lover/hater of anything. I either like it, or not. Et cetera. (the fact that i just wrote out etc says a lot about my need for extremity).

This intensity, is short-lived, however. Like, I would never cheat death by bungee-cord jumping or taking a cruise a mile above the dark abyss. Things are just hot or cold with me. Once they've become warm, I simply bore of it and find the next hot thing. This saddens me to no end (see...), mainly because I'm conflicted about my prefernce for room-temperature pizza...pizza that's been left out and isn't cold, nor hot. Just warm.

Me feelings of warmth are under evaluation. So if I seem a pare above, or below, the norm lately...this is why.