Thursday, November 12, 2009

It's raining--RAIN!

This hurricane Ida needs to move along. All my newly planted flowers are drowning and I just do not enjoy going to class damp. They keep the classrooms freezing!

In other news, I have finally managed to turn around my organic chem grade--the stress of it was killing me, but it all seems to be coming together.

Tonight we are having friends over for burgers of the beef, turkey, or veggie variety. I'll probably saute some mushrooms in wine to go atop the burgers and maybe cook up some bacon too.

Really though I need to get ready for this weekend in Augusta with Lianna and Ben! We're doing an early Thanksgiving and helping holiday decorate the house with lights on the roof.

Here, dinner from two nights ago to get you all hungry. Apple cider poached pork loin with maple-soy veggies and white rice with the best olive oil from California. YUM!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Vroom Vrooooom!

Here she is: Blue. My new (used Mini). She's sassy, fun to drive, and a real treat with her sunroof in the warm weather. Sorry Union Jack lovers, those are the first thing to go...I want the mirrors to match the roof. It's a weird feeling not to rely on Mike for driving me places...FREEDOM!

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Dinner and a pumpkin.

Tonight I whipped up a chicken and broccoli risotto for dinner. It was deliciously made with veggie stock, sauvignon blanc, shallots, butter, olive oil, and arborio rice--the perfect dinner for a Fall evening.


Then I carved a Frida pumpkin. I think it looks just like my sweet kitty.


Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Picking and baking.

Mike is one year older today. For his birthday I used the apples we got from the farm (technically also an orchard, but more of a farm because the guy raises cows and pigs as well as other livestock) to make him a birthday apple pie. It just came out of the oven and we will study for a little while and let it cool before tasting the first of the season's pies. I also am trying to figure out what pies to make for Thanksgiving so the testing has begun.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Brain is back.

I think my brain finally decided summer was over and that it should get serious with school. That, or the giant tub of delicious jalapeno popcorn that grandma and grandpa sent is working miracles on my neurons. I had an immunology exam this morning and scored a 98! A+ for me!

Now, on to organic chemistry for a test next Friday. Fun.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Somebody call 911!

Bark, bark, barkaroo, bark, bark,barkarooo! I wake up.

Mike is already jumping out of bed.

Jada barks at night and usually we don't hear her over the sound machine but this night she kept at it. Still groggy and trying to fall back asleep as Mike begins his inspection of the house at 2:30 a.m, I hear him heading down the stairs followed by a, "What the Hell!"

He heard someone pounding on the front door. Jada is growling now--she's fierce for all ten pounds of her.

I jump up as now my heart is pounding while I'm thinking we have someone in the house. I look down the stairs wondering why Mike didn't grab the old Louisville Slugger that we keep under the bed before he went to inspect--how cliche is that!

"What is it?" I ask from the top of the stairs not wanting to walk down for fear I am not enough awake and would fall. "Someone is trying to get into the neighbor's house!" Mike says, "And I can't tell if it is the neighbor but he is wasted."

I'm intrigued now as drunk people can be fun to watch.

Over my exhaustion I make my way downstairs to look through the peep hole--It feels like Alice in Wonderland watching this stranger stumbling around. He puts his arms out, his keys in one hand, tilts his head like a dog does when you talk to it, then gropes at the keys with his other hand. Finally successful at grabbing one key on the chain, he holds it up watching them as they all come together and tries to guide them toward the keyhole, but dropping them before making contact. This happens over and over. Finally he starts knocking followed by more failed key attempts.

We're still trying to figure out if this is our neighbor, the lighting out there sucks. I look out the front window and see his wallet and phone at the bottom of the stoop. We decide to call the police as we can't be sure it's him and he is wasted so who knows how the interaction might play out. I look out the peep hole again and he has fallen over--all I can see are his feet now pathetically kicking at the door. His head and upper body must have been on their way down the stairs of the stoop. We wait.

Again he is on his feet. The police arrive. Two patrol cars, that's sufficient for one drunk.

"Is this where you stay?" one officer asks him. The neighbor turns slowly and mumbles through drool slurred speech something like "yes, my house." The officer puts on gloves to go through his wallet. "Have you had a drink tonight?" Drunk neighbor replies with sort of a proud giggle, "Yes, a few." He starts heading down the stairs toward the police. "I think you peed yourself too," the officer says. "What's your address?" Drunk neighbor gives the address of a few doors down.

Now we know who it is, safe. The officers help him home and I make my way back to bed. Mike gives Jada a treat and joins me and we try to take advantage of whatever hours are left before we have to get up for school. All I can think was thank goodness this was not on a test night!

Monday, October 5, 2009

Gourmet, goodbye.

My dream was to work for the best food magazine ever created. I did that. And now, sadly, after 68 years of publishing, Conde Nast has decided that the old girl isn't pulling her share around the office. They killed her. I hope it was with a sharp knife or maybe a gas leak followed by grand explosion. Either way this is a sad day in the culinary world and I wish all my friends the best as they shut her down over the next two days. BIG HUG!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Chili time!

We're having a chili cook-off! Sitting with Michele on the roof, we decided that everyone should be able to take a school study break and indulge in a feast of different chili kinds to welcome Fall and just have fun.

Here, I've gotten started on a tofu chili...say what you will, it's awesome. Never having made something like this with tofu, I was amazed at how it drains and becomes the texture of meat. I mashed it up with the chili spices then added it to a pot of already sauteed garlic and jalapeno. My first taste was moments ago and I already can't wait to enjoy a bowl of this covered in cheddar and served with corn bread. Mmm.

Others are making, turkey, beef, buffalo, and I think venison chili. Let the taste test begin!