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Monday, November 16th, 2009
tresch
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6:09a
help!
someone please wake me up around noon!
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(comment on this) Sunday, November 15th, 2009
sammyd42
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10:47a
Week 46 Cooking
Even though I made Chicken Paprikas on week six, being that it was 40 weeks ago, and a recipe from another company, I figure it is find to duplicate it a bit... With movie night being this week (I don't have to cook) and me going to see P.O.S., it'll be a shorter cooking list.
As a note to myself, I also want to make Turkey Tetrazzini Pasta (RC Cook's Country October/November 2009) and will do so when I have some leftover turkey from thanksgiving. I also plan on making Slow-Cooker White Chicken Chili (p5 Cook's Country October/November 2009), but need a Weekend day, or day off to prepare it. Since I'm trying to save up a bit of PTO for the holidays so I don't go much below my desired bank size (400 hours), I couldn't do it this week, since I want to do the french toast today, and the enchiladas (another long prepare time) on Saturday.
- Cinnamon Swirl Brioche French Toast and Eden Farms Bacon
- Quick Croque Monsieur (RC Cook's Country October/November 2009)
- Chicken Paprikash (p23 Cook's Country October/November 2009)
- Beef Stroganoff (p12 Entertaining Fall 2009)
- Grandma's Enchiladas (p27 Cook's Country October/November 2009)
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(comment on this)
sammyd42
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10:45a
Week 45 Cooking Results
Aunt Nina's Breadballs (p24 Cook's Country October/November 2009)
This was kinda fun to make. Though I did make a bit of a mistake that made for quite the...spicy sauce. When adding the Red pepper flakes, I opened it, and being used to the holed lid on the normal one that I buy being there, I go to sprinkle maybe a bit more then the recipe calls for (I tend to like the extra spice), and there are no holes to struggle through and I proceeded to dump a large portion of the container of red pepper flakes into the mixture. I picked out as much as I could, but still what remained was a quite spicy sauce. It was still good though. The fried breadballs? Some of them I didn't pack together well enough so they kind of fell apart while I was cooking them. Though I used that as an excuse to eat fried bread... Good meal, took a while to make, but not absurdly so and relatively cheap over all.
Reduced Fat Sloppy Joes (p4 Cook's Country October/November 2009)
Putting in mushrooms to reduce the amount of meat and fat in the meat that you use, is a pretty good idea and this turned out well. Though after I put some of the Prairie Breeze cheese on them, I probably went over any reductions in calories or fat that was there. One thing that I thought this was missing was mustard. I love the taste of yellow mustard in a Sloppy Joe, so much so that I tend to add more after it's done. Perhaps, that's just me though.
Steak with Crispy Spiced Potatoes (RC Cook's Country October/November 2009)
This was pretty simple to make. I really liked the spice mixture (the recipe calls for: oregano, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, though ended up not using the cayenne pepper because I used hot paprika (couldn't find cayenne pepper at the store)). on the potatoes. Gave them quite a bit of spice and taste. With the process of pre cooking the potatoes, in the microwave, and then sauteing them to give them a nice crust. That way they get cooked (while cooking the steak) and then get finished in the pan.
Granny's Tamale Pie (p25 Cook's Country October/November 2009)
Holy crap this took a long time. I started cooking around 5:15, 5:30 or so, and we at around 9:15. I also got a 2nd degree burn on my ring finger on my right hand (blistered skin)... Even so I would make this again, on a sunday...staring at 3. Though in my mind this recipe was a bit lacking. Me, I'd add a diced jalapeno pepper or two to the mixture. The recipe seems a bit lacking too. It seems to me that somewhere between step 3 and 5 there is a missing step or two. Even so, It turned out well.
Savory Baked Mac & Cheese (using some combination of: Huntsman, quality swiss, Prairie Breeze, cotswold, smoked gouda)
I was a bit lazy, didn't take the time to actually form a sauce, so it was really turned out to be noodles and cheese. I used the last of the huntsman, all of the smoked gouda, and all (except for a few tasters) of the swiss. So it ended up, to me, tasting like it had ham in it and I think this was because of the smokey taste from the gouda. Even being lazy, it's kinda hard to mess up cheese + noodles.
Baked Manicotti with Meat Sauce (p18 Cook's Country October/November 2009)
There is a mixture of ground beef, onions and pepperoni. The recipe told me to to set aside a cup the filling for the noodles, but I missed it (twice, cause I went back to look saying where is that cup supposed to go)...so I ended up putting it on top with the cheese (used more cheese then the recipe called for since, well, it was there). It still turned out great. Though I was very hungry by the time and most of my way through a bottle of red from Southeast Australia, so that may have tempered my judgment. Shannon seemed to enjoy it as well, though.
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(comment on this) Saturday, November 14th, 2009
tresch
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12:48p
"What happens if you get out of that groove?" When then I'm in trouble..
Oof!
Just went back to the gym after skipping a week. Feels like I haven't gone in a couple months! Maybe it's just because I've been generally groggy and my sleep has been weird, but I generally felt wobbly.
Overall the fitness thing is going well. Making slow and steady progress. The biggest struggle for training for something like a triathlon is not, I don't think, going to be the actual physical endurance, but merely the whole attention span issue of doing things like running and biking and swimming for an hour at a time, regularly!
Honestly I don't have that much with ACTUAL biking, but during the winter I'm going to have to be using my trainer here at home or one of the exercise bikes at the gym. After 20 minutes it gets fairly booorrring. I should just start taking books to the gym or something!
Overall I'm feeling good. I discovered I can do 25 pushups in a set now (from the knuckles, hurts my wrists to do it from my palms), not that I'm focusing on pushups, but that's nice to know. Starting to loose weight again, too. Another week I should be officially down to 180lbs; which happens to be about as heavy as I was upon graduating high school, but I'm definitely more lean now than I was then.
One great thing about the fitness thing is how much it helps me focus, and generally increases my willpower when it comes to doing things that I need to do otherwise. Namely, staying on task with my work at home. This was particularly noticeable throughout this last week that I skipped, and was generally miserably unproductive. Never again! (yeah, right).
Leaving for MFF in less than a week! HOLY CRAP I have a lot to do to prepare, and a couple things that I need to get gone before I leave. I will most likely be very scarce this week, socially. If I'm NOT, please remind me that I should be!
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(2 comments | comment on this) Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
tresch
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9:47p
King Chesh
Imagine that he is purring the whooole time
:D ooooomg I want to hug him.
for ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) neogeen of course!
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(1 comment | comment on this) Monday, November 9th, 2009
cmplxty7
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10:16p
birthday planning
So my birthday is this Friday the 13th. I was born on Friday the 13th, 1981. Turned six on one, 11 one one, and 17 on one. Haven't had one since (I will be 28 this week). It shouldn't be as big a deal as it is, but I am not the one who created the hullabaloo about it, I just enjoy participating in it. And I personally think there's nothing unlucky about the day at all. Anyway, I'm pretty excited my birthday is on a weekend so I can go out. But of course, as with everything in my life, I am stressing about plans for it.
I know for sure we're going to Mickey Finn's around 9 & likely staying there. I know I want to go to dinner, but can't decide where. On one hand, I would personally enjoy going to Taki. But on the other hand, I want others to come with, and the price of dinner is inversely proportional to the amount of people that can/will come. I think somewhere like Texas Roadhouse is a good balance of price & decent quality...however, seating a group of people together there is a pain in the ass. I have considered Fuddruckers & Felix & Oscar's. I even thought maybe Orlando's, since it's an old hangout with decent food. So far that one is winning. I just don't know - and I need to know ASAP so I can let other people know & see who even wants to go! Argh - I am cursed with indecisiveness & dependency on other people's opinions.
Also this Friday is To Write Love on Her Arms day. Well, according to the very large Facebook group it is this Friday. I believe it is more of a movement without a designated day, but if we can observe it on my birthday this year, cool. If you don't know of it, check out their website - the back story of how it all got started is moving. In short, the movement is about depression and suicide awareness and prevention. I ordered a bunch of those rubber bracelet things that EVERYONE has for their awareness of one thing or another - paid for 2 day shipping so hoping they are here by Friday, as I would like to give them to people to wear while out with me that night. It's an important issue to be aware of (I know, they all are in their own ways).
Back to the me part of the day :) Part of me wants to get my nails done that day - it's been years since I've had them done. It's so bad for your real nails, which is why I never got in the habit - but lately for some reason I've wanted to have them done, so we'll see. I want to buy a new shirt to wear out, too, but my last couple shopping outings were less than successful, so I'm not set on that yet. For sure there will be food, drinks (alcoholic for me, thanks), karaoke, hopefully pool, and who know what for after-hours...if I make it to after hours :)
ok, I think I've decided Orlando's on Park for dinner - yummy & affordable food. Will let people know tomorrow & see who can make it. I feel better, actually, just deciding that.
BTW - if you are reading this and you actually know me, didn't just randomly run across a crappy, rarely-updated blog, you are welcome to come along Friday night! All info for Friday night will also be posted to crib0, Madd's site, and facebook.
current mood:  excited
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(1 comment | comment on this)
(1 comment | comment on this) Sunday, November 8th, 2009
(comment on this)
sammyd42
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11:18a
Week 45 Cooking
- Baked Manicotti with Meat Sauce (p18 Cook's Country October/November 2009)
- Reduced Fat Sloppy Joes (p4 Cook's Country October/November 2009)
- Granny's Tamale Pie (p25 Cook's Country October/November 2009)
- Steak with Crispy Spiced Potatoes (RC Cook's Country October/November 2009)
- Aunt Nina's Breadballs (p24 Cook's Country October/November 2009)
- Savory Baked Mac & Cheese (using some combination of: Huntsman, quality swiss, Prarie Breeze, cotswold, smoked ghouda)
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(comment on this)
cmplxty7
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10:46a
hi!
I was informed by a friend last night that he still regularly checks my blog even though I never update it. Now that I've logged in, I realize how many people I've missed & all their updates here. For that I apologize. I just got caught up in everything going on in life & lj is one of the first to go by the wayside.
Jarin is 2 1/2 now. Smart kid - as proud and happy as I am, it is also worrisome. He absorbs and processes information constantly, he's quite conversational, and he asks appropriate questions. I have trouble keeping ahead of him now, so I can't imagine what it will be like in another couple years. We are potty training now. It's not been as bad as I thought it would be, except the first day. Which tells me he was ready. My friend Amber told me she was super impressed with how immensely patient I was being. That made me feel good because I am generally not a patient person, but with Jarin it can be very different. He needs me to be patient. So anyway, he's wearing big boy underwear with Cars & Sesame Street characters, and hasn't had an accident since Friday morning.
Madd & I separated this spring. I'm not even sure what happened - there was no big fight or explosion. We just weren't happy & pretty sure we couldn't make each other happy. For the most part we've gotten along better since then (the exception being one huge fight we had this summer). I still spend most of my time at Madd's. That's where Jarin is happiest, so it's where my life is easiest. Plus, we are getting along well, so why not hang out there?
I have decided I really, really need a therapist/counselor/psychologist - possibly a psychiatrist. I have never and will never post my personal demons publicly, but they are there and they affect my life in ways that even I don't realize sometimes. I have some serious anger issues, which I seem to have suppressed recently, but the underlying issues are still there so I know it is a problem that will arise again. Every semi-serious to serious relationship I've ever been in has failed - the only common denominator in all of them is me. I just have some issues in my life that have been there for a very, very long time & I've never properly dealt with them. However, now I have no insurance & not much money, so the issues is finding something that's even an option at this point. I'll figure something out - I need to.
current mood:  hungry
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(3 comments | comment on this)
sammyd42
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11:14a
Week 44 Cooking Results
So for game night last night I bought quite a number of cheese, including Huntsman. Now we had Huntsman at our wedding and I remember it being very good. This was truly fantastic of a cheese. Such a nice combination of flavors between the two cheeses in it and the Roasted Garlic crackers...fantastic.
Also we went through the vast majority of a round of Elk Sausage called "Ring of Fire". While it was spicy, it wasn't smoking hot. I bought it from the "elk guy" (Deo Gloria Elk Products, I think) at the downtown farmers market. I bought some other ones, we didn't end up opening them though.
I made some Chocolate Chunk and Tart Cherry Oatmeal cookies that I was finally satisfied with the way they look. I think have have to adjust the chocolate level down a bit, or take a bit more time and cut them into smaller chunks. But I think I have the right ratios, finally, I'll make 'em again for thanksgiving.
Shannon and I went to see Anthony Bourdain at the Civic Center. He started off by telling several stories and then went into a Q&A section. I think we both really enjoyed it. He seemed to have good things to say about Bistro Montage and about Reichert's Dairy's Robiola. When I emailed Lois, she stated back "I brought some special, aged a bit longer, robiola in specifically for him". So that's pretty cool to have a sort of connection, even if it's a few times removed.
Last night, We had a light attendance at game night (me, Shannon, Will, Jen and Jen's friend from Kentucky, who's name escapes me), but it was still fun. We played Sorry (I won), Simpson's Clue (Shannon won), Killer Bunnies (that was a strange and confusing game, Jen won), and then Scene It (original, Will and I won, even though by the end, I was falling in and out of sleep).
Panko-Crusted Chicken with Mustard-Maple Pan Sauce (p54 Bon Appétit October 2009)
So because the chicken in here was bought in a 3 pack, and I only needed two, I used one of the others, pounded it out, breaded it with whole wheat flour mixed with the Emeril's Spice mixture from the Black Bean cakes. I ended up putting them and making sandwiches. This was pretty good.
The dish itself actually turned out fantastic, even though I had to improvise a bit with the pan sauce (I ran out of Dijon mustard). Quite easy too. Though, because the recipie told me so, I did buy Panko bread crumbs, which broke my new rule about...well not buying bread crumbs because it's such a waste of money.
Cannellini Beans with Garlic and Sage (p101 Bon Appétit October 2009)
Wow...just wow. The combination of the all this stuff, cooked...the beans, the water, and etc just made for a fantastic flavor profile. It was really a shame that we couldn't wait for this to get done (it took a really long time).
Sausages with White Beans in Tomato Sauce(p101 Bon Appétit October 2009)
So the combination of the beans before, made this meal easy (by easy, I guess that excludes the 3 or so hours it took to make the beans from before), but I really liked this, such a built of flavor profile.
Ultra-Juicy, Skillet Grassfed Goat-burgers
The spice mixture used for this, onion, rosemary, thyme, cilantro, cumin, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce, I think over powered the goat flavor, but was still quite good. I think it would be good with something mild like ground turkey.
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(comment on this) Friday, November 6th, 2009
tresch
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9:05p
care and feeding of your Cribzero Mobile Command Post(tm)
Pulled the van into the shop today to change the brakes, and, hahaha, heat does neat things to metal.
Okay so earlier this year a group of us went to Anthrocon. We drove up to Wisconsin to pick up Karn, and came back down through Chicago to head to Pittsburgh. We kinda made a bad navigation decision and ended up going right through the middle of chicago instead of happily skipping past it. The problem is that we had the van loaded up almost to its GVWR, and we were in stop&go traffic for about TWO HOURS trying to get through Chicago, so we were just kinda riding on the brakes the whole time.
Well, eventually the van started behaving oddly, and we were getting funny smells, and so we pulled over, and lo' we'd heated the brakes up to the point that we'd boiled the brake fluid in the lines! Much farther on the highway and we wouldn't have been able to stop! We had to sit around at a gas station for 20-30 minutes while the brake fluid (brake vapor?) turned back into liquid and then we were off again.
Well, I just changed the pads and was amused at the result of the heat. Aside from more corrosion around the pads and calipers than I would otherwise expect, what was left of the pads was all split and chipped instead of evenly worn.
The amusing part is the front left caliper piston, which had itself started to chip away. The metal, in parts, had crystalized and become brittle like a ceramic. It's going to need to be replaced sometime, but the damage isn't bad enough to not give even pressure on the pad, so I just swapped it out. The new pads will run a lot cooler and I've learned to take it easier on the brakes, so I don't forsee any immediate problems.
Also, the right axle has a CV boot that has split wide open and make quite a mess in there. It seems somewhat recent, as I don't remember the grease being around there when I was fiddling with the power steering pump some time back. So I'm going to have to get that rebuilt.
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(comment on this)
(3 comments | comment on this) Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009
(comment on this)
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