Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Real 3D

Hope this gimmick of virtual 3D movies goes away, the glasses take something away from the experience for me if I'm not sitting dead center of the screen.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Getting ready for hibernation

I'm going to try to keep actively doing things this winter, and my first step towards that is to set up a sewing area in the basement.  I've already got a rug to keep my tootsies from sitting on bare concrete. 

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/70251740/
Confession:  It's still out in my car ;)

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Thanksgiving Menu


Last year worked out so well, we'll be doing it again. Mom's making the turkey, stuffing, and gravy. I'll make the rest of the sides. 

Of course I will still have to make a veg that Broccoli Boy likes too! The only thing on this entire list that I know he'll eat is the mashed potatoes.

Squashes

I'm thinking about playing off of this recipe to make something out of the butternut squash, leeks, hazlenuts, and cream I've already got. http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Butternut-Squash-Gratin-with-Goat-Cheese-and-Hazelnuts-240412

Else, I'll go the sage pesto route in this recipe http://food52.com/recipes/7374-caramelized-butternut-squash-wedges-with-a-sage-hazelnut-pesto

Next, a kabocha (Japanese pumpkin) squash recipe. I've only made the La Fuji Mama recipe, it was OK, but the soy braised one sounds lovely:

http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Soy-Braised-Kabocha-Squash

http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Kabocha-Squash-with-Ginger-Chao-Nan-Gua

http://www.lafujimama.com/2011/11/simmered-kabocha-squash/

 Cranberries

My whole berry cranberry sauce went over well last year, it featured peppercorns like some of these recipes do - I'm thinking of a possible variation with green cardamom.

http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Cranberry-Ginger-Chutney

http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Cranberry-Sauce-1000077254

http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Cranberries-with-Port

http://www.marthastewart.com/312619/cranberry-sauce-with-cognac?backto=true

 Brussels sprouts

Mom hates Brussels sprouts... unless they're roasted. Maybe I'll add some bacon this year...hmmm. I've got a nice thick center cut applewood smoked bacon in the fridge right now.  http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Brussels-Sprouts-and-Bacon 
I am also thinking about trying out a new way to make them and see if Mom likes these too.  http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-smoky-lemony-sauted-shredded-brussels-sprouts-recipes-from-the-kitchn-196909


 Roots and Tubers

I'm shooting for a maple glazed parsnip dish. Using these two links for inspiration http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/nigella-lawson/maple-roast-parsnips-recipe/index.html

http://www.marthastewart.com/315214/maple-glazed-parsnips-and-carrots

I'll go traditionally simple on the mashed potatoes and baked sweet potatoes. Then there’s the yearly mashed Turnip Of Doom (some may call it a rutabaga, neep, or swede instead). 

Thursday, November 14, 2013

sssSSS BOOM!

Gardens outside are dying, so I'm contenting myself with gardening in Minecraft ;)

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Blame Canada

21 degrees F this morning.  I was going to pull the last of the late-season tomatoes off the vines tonight, but they may have frozen overnight.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Pada śnieg.

It's snowing...at least a little bit.  Flurries all morning, people forgot how to drive according to people I know who drove in to work.  Hail to the mighty diesel engine that hauls my sleeping ass to work every morning.

Friday, November 8, 2013

"Cheesy" popcorn recipe

Totally vegan, odd for a carnivore like me, I suppose.

Air popped popcorn drizzled with olive oil, then sprinkled liberally with salt and nutritional yeast.  Tastes like Parmesan to me!

Thursday, November 7, 2013

When is the best time to go to the dentist? 2:30. Ha ha!

What does it say about me that by 2 PM yesterday I was looking more forward to having my tooth drilled at 5 than staying another minute at work?