Sunday, July 20, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
so long and thanks for all the fish
i'm feeling a tad exposed, so it's time to relocate.
moni, nat, kepa,cmae - i'll let you know where to find me
and if you were just lurking along, i hope you can find your way to me again
moni, nat, kepa,cmae - i'll let you know where to find me
and if you were just lurking along, i hope you can find your way to me again
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Cookies!
Since I am a cook, I've decided to make three types of cookies from a basic recipe.
1. Chocolate chip cookies
2. Chocolte chip walnut cookies (add pan toasted walnuts)
3. Spicy chocolate chocolate chip pistachio cookies (add cocoa powder, cinnamon, smoked chipotle powder and dry roasted pistachios)
Here's the basic recipe (from Cook's Illustrated):
2 1/8 cups bleached all-purpose flour (about 10 1/2 ounces)
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), melted and cooled slightly
1 cup light brown sugar , 7 ounces
1/2 cup granulated sugar (3 1/2 ounces)
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1–2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1. Heat oven to 325 degrees. Adjust oven racks to upper- and lower-middle positions. Mix flour, salt, and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside.
2. Mix butter and sugars until thoroughly blended. Mix in egg, yolk, and vanilla. Add dry ingredients; mix until just combined. Stir in chips
3. Form scant 1/4 cup dough into ball. Holding dough ball using fingertips of both hands, pull into two equal halves. Rotate halves ninety degrees and, with jagged surfaces exposed, join halves together at their base, again forming a single cookie, being careful not to smooth dough’s uneven surface. Place formed dough onto one of two parchment paper-lined 20-by-14-inch lipless cookie sheets, about nine dough balls per sheet. Smaller cookie sheets can be used, but fewer cookies can be baked at one time and baking time may need to be adjusted. (Dough can be refrigerated up to 2 days or frozen up to 1 month—shaped or not.)
4. Bake, reversing cookie sheets’ positions halfway through baking, until cookies are light golden brown and outer edges start to harden yet centers are still soft and puffy, 15 to 18 minutes (start checking at 13 minutes). (Frozen dough requires an extra 1 to 2 minutes baking time.)
Cool cookies on cookie sheets. Serve or store in airtight container.
Makes 1 1/2 dozen 3-inch cookies
1. Chocolate chip cookies
2. Chocolte chip walnut cookies (add pan toasted walnuts)
3. Spicy chocolate chocolate chip pistachio cookies (add cocoa powder, cinnamon, smoked chipotle powder and dry roasted pistachios)
Here's the basic recipe (from Cook's Illustrated):
2 1/8 cups bleached all-purpose flour (about 10 1/2 ounces)
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
12 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), melted and cooled slightly
1 cup light brown sugar , 7 ounces
1/2 cup granulated sugar (3 1/2 ounces)
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1–2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1. Heat oven to 325 degrees. Adjust oven racks to upper- and lower-middle positions. Mix flour, salt, and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside.
2. Mix butter and sugars until thoroughly blended. Mix in egg, yolk, and vanilla. Add dry ingredients; mix until just combined. Stir in chips
3. Form scant 1/4 cup dough into ball. Holding dough ball using fingertips of both hands, pull into two equal halves. Rotate halves ninety degrees and, with jagged surfaces exposed, join halves together at their base, again forming a single cookie, being careful not to smooth dough’s uneven surface. Place formed dough onto one of two parchment paper-lined 20-by-14-inch lipless cookie sheets, about nine dough balls per sheet. Smaller cookie sheets can be used, but fewer cookies can be baked at one time and baking time may need to be adjusted. (Dough can be refrigerated up to 2 days or frozen up to 1 month—shaped or not.)
4. Bake, reversing cookie sheets’ positions halfway through baking, until cookies are light golden brown and outer edges start to harden yet centers are still soft and puffy, 15 to 18 minutes (start checking at 13 minutes). (Frozen dough requires an extra 1 to 2 minutes baking time.)
Cool cookies on cookie sheets. Serve or store in airtight container.
Makes 1 1/2 dozen 3-inch cookies
Saturday, March 15, 2008
A Sad State of Affairs
I have to state for the record that I have not done a lot of baking in my life. I am primarily a cook. Now, it's not that I can't bake...it's just that I don't do much of it.
However, I am making cookies as a treat for a meeting next week. Instead of printing out a recipe, I've decided to go with old faithful....the recipe that comes on the back of the yellow bag. Now, even though I'm not a baker, I know that some things make a difference (unsalted vs. salted butter, butter vs. margarine, light brown sugar vs. dark brown sugar) and the back of the yellow bag doesn't specify these things.
So what's a chick to do? Well, stand in the aisle and ask women of a certain age for advice. Here's where it gets pathetic.
Not a single woman of a certain age...or a woman of my age (including mothers) could tell me if I should use dark brown sugar or light brown sugar. Because none of these ladies baked cookies - ever. In fact, they all told me that when they wanted cookies, they broke open the refrigerated package.
Fortunately, I was able to get in touch with my sister, a most awesome baker, and she was able to help me out.
However, I am making cookies as a treat for a meeting next week. Instead of printing out a recipe, I've decided to go with old faithful....the recipe that comes on the back of the yellow bag. Now, even though I'm not a baker, I know that some things make a difference (unsalted vs. salted butter, butter vs. margarine, light brown sugar vs. dark brown sugar) and the back of the yellow bag doesn't specify these things.
So what's a chick to do? Well, stand in the aisle and ask women of a certain age for advice. Here's where it gets pathetic.
Not a single woman of a certain age...or a woman of my age (including mothers) could tell me if I should use dark brown sugar or light brown sugar. Because none of these ladies baked cookies - ever. In fact, they all told me that when they wanted cookies, they broke open the refrigerated package.
Fortunately, I was able to get in touch with my sister, a most awesome baker, and she was able to help me out.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Friday, March 7, 2008
Nice to see ya
I'm back from my hiatus. It's been rather interesting around here lately and I haven't had the energy to blog.
But now, I'm back and glad to see ya.
Nothing much to report from the Jersey front...except that the St. Patty's Day parade is this weekend. No, the calendar is not wrong. Yes, I got the date right. So why is the St. Patty's Day parade this weekend? Because nobody wants to compete with the NYC celebrations.
Yeah, I'm not Irish, Catholic or a big drinker...so I'm not sure that it's really that important to me that the parade is this weekend. Just thought I'd share
But now, I'm back and glad to see ya.
Nothing much to report from the Jersey front...except that the St. Patty's Day parade is this weekend. No, the calendar is not wrong. Yes, I got the date right. So why is the St. Patty's Day parade this weekend? Because nobody wants to compete with the NYC celebrations.
Yeah, I'm not Irish, Catholic or a big drinker...so I'm not sure that it's really that important to me that the parade is this weekend. Just thought I'd share
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
life lessons
sometimes life lessons really suck.
on the other hand, it sucks being stuck in an undesirable position.
so, as much as i would rather not have to deal with the lesson, i'm going to be grown up about it and do what i gotta do.
on the other hand, it sucks being stuck in an undesirable position.
so, as much as i would rather not have to deal with the lesson, i'm going to be grown up about it and do what i gotta do.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Socks are the wives of the feet...
I'm on my way home from kickboxing tonight and am channel surfing on the radio. Until I come across something that makes me stop.
A man with a very familiar French accent is translating random things from French to English....belt, dress, shoes, slippers. Then it takes a wierd turn...high-heeled shoes, bra, tampon, sanitary pad. And when I think it can't get any stranger....he starts translating a ditty about socks.
"Socks are the wives of the feet. They are knitted. They are for big feet, small feet, crooked feet and even feet that smell bad"
Gotta love public radio.
And the familiar French accent...I thought it was francophone African but it turns out it was Haitian.
A man with a very familiar French accent is translating random things from French to English....belt, dress, shoes, slippers. Then it takes a wierd turn...high-heeled shoes, bra, tampon, sanitary pad. And when I think it can't get any stranger....he starts translating a ditty about socks.
"Socks are the wives of the feet. They are knitted. They are for big feet, small feet, crooked feet and even feet that smell bad"
Gotta love public radio.
And the familiar French accent...I thought it was francophone African but it turns out it was Haitian.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Easin' on down...
A blustery Sunday afternoon in Jersey...what to do? what to do?
Since I have no books that I haven't read/feel like reading over again - I turn to my good friend Comcast. Normally, Comcast is pretty disappointing. But today was different. HBO was showing "The Wiz".
I heart "The Wiz". I've seen it so many times. But this time, I noticed a few things:
-How talented MJ was in this movie.: His voice is AMAZING. Particularly when singing the Crow Anthem. Even his acting was good. Such a shame, such a shame.
-The similarities between Diana Ross and Whitney Houston: Miss Ross can't dance. To save her life. She and Whitney are cut from the same cloth. Nor can she act...much like Whitney. She needs a burger or too....much like Whitney.
- Dorothy is from Harlem. Prior to moving to this area, south of 125th meant nothing to me.
- There are a lot of sublte fun things in the movie....the "Don't Ease" signs when they meet the Lion. The Nathan's sign when they leave with the Tin Man. Teeny looks A LOT like Evillene.
Since I have no books that I haven't read/feel like reading over again - I turn to my good friend Comcast. Normally, Comcast is pretty disappointing. But today was different. HBO was showing "The Wiz".
I heart "The Wiz". I've seen it so many times. But this time, I noticed a few things:
-How talented MJ was in this movie.: His voice is AMAZING. Particularly when singing the Crow Anthem. Even his acting was good. Such a shame, such a shame.
-The similarities between Diana Ross and Whitney Houston: Miss Ross can't dance. To save her life. She and Whitney are cut from the same cloth. Nor can she act...much like Whitney. She needs a burger or too....much like Whitney.
- Dorothy is from Harlem. Prior to moving to this area, south of 125th meant nothing to me.
- There are a lot of sublte fun things in the movie....the "Don't Ease" signs when they meet the Lion. The Nathan's sign when they leave with the Tin Man. Teeny looks A LOT like Evillene.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Head stuff
Finally...my hair is done. It's very strange (in a good way) to see it so neat after all of this time.
The experience was a stereotypical one....10 AM appointment and not seen until 11. However, the woman who did my hair is VERY GOOD and VERY FAST and INEXPENSIVE.
It also feels really soft. I had to wrap it up in a stocking cap to keep myself from rubbing it.
The experience was a stereotypical one....10 AM appointment and not seen until 11. However, the woman who did my hair is VERY GOOD and VERY FAST and INEXPENSIVE.
It also feels really soft. I had to wrap it up in a stocking cap to keep myself from rubbing it.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Head to Toe
Eyebrows - plucked
Nails - manicured
Feet - comfortable
Now to get the hair taken care of...and the slow but sure transformation still continues
Nails - manicured
Feet - comfortable
Now to get the hair taken care of...and the slow but sure transformation still continues
Sunday, February 3, 2008
but in this case...retro rocks
About a week ago, I came across a video that was interesting. As I was bopping along to the music, I thought that one musician in particular caught my eye. So I watched it again and again. Then I watched it yet again on youtube.
Sure enough, a guy that I knew when I lived/worked in Ghana was in the video. Derrick Ashong!Of course, I had to look for him on a social networking site...and I found him. If you get a chance, check out the group's site and their new album. Derrick is the cat in front with the hat.
As an added bonus, the video was shot in Ghana. So many memories...I definitely HAVE to get back their soon.
Sure enough, a guy that I knew when I lived/worked in Ghana was in the video. Derrick Ashong!Of course, I had to look for him on a social networking site...and I found him. If you get a chance, check out the group's site and their new album. Derrick is the cat in front with the hat.
As an added bonus, the video was shot in Ghana. So many memories...I definitely HAVE to get back their soon.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Sunday, January 27, 2008
I've been tagged
Kepa has tagged me with a meme. I figured I'd get one sooner or later.
Here we go...
1.Answer the question, “What do you expect from your blog?” and try to be as specific as possible. Avoid warm-fuzzy answers unless that really is your thing. Link back to the blog who tagged you so your readers can check others’ answers.
Nothing really. I didn't come into this with any expectations. However, I have found it's a great way to express myself (the good, the bad and the meh) and get different perspective on things from different people.
2.Tag at least five bloggers with the same question.
Hmmm...Monica, Natalie, Lady T, Cactus Freak and CMAE
Here we go...
1.Answer the question, “What do you expect from your blog?” and try to be as specific as possible. Avoid warm-fuzzy answers unless that really is your thing. Link back to the blog who tagged you so your readers can check others’ answers.
Nothing really. I didn't come into this with any expectations. However, I have found it's a great way to express myself (the good, the bad and the meh) and get different perspective on things from different people.
2.Tag at least five bloggers with the same question.
Hmmm...Monica, Natalie, Lady T, Cactus Freak and CMAE
Thursday, January 24, 2008
drama free is the way 2 b!
the drama with the new place is ended.
so here's what's been going on behind the scenes since i've moved in:
1. electricity: when i moved in there was no grounded plug in the kitchen, so i had to put the microwave in the front room. shortly thereafter, i found out that i couldn't run the microwave and the heater at the same time. so until the heat got fixed, it was one or the other. i was able to work around that...but not having no electricity in the kitchen. one morning i got up, went to the kitchen, plugged in the toaster and the whole apartment blew. went outside in the cold (cuz ya gotta go outside to get to the basement) to reset the breaker. that only turned on the juice for part of the apartment. long story short, the landlord had to come in and do some rewiring. that included a new fuse box inside the apartment and grounded plugs in the kitchen.
2.renter's insurance: the day that i was to sign the lease, i called the landlord's office beforehand and asked what i needed to bring with me. the guy @ the landlord's office who handles the leases (aka lease guy)said "your checkbook". i asked again and he said, again, the checkbook was all i needed. when i got there, he said that he wouldn't give me the keys until he had proof of my renter's insurance. so i called geico on the spot and got renter's insurance. while i was on the phone with geico, he told me that i had to add the landlord as additional insured, i told the person on the phone and geico said that they needed a name. so the lease guy gave me the owner's name. the company faxed him a copy my insurance certificate and all was good. until about a week later, i get this call from lease guy saying that the COMPANY has to be additional insured and the owner of the company needs to be removed as additional insured. so i contacted my insurance and asked that they make it happen. turns out they don't insure landlords. (pause for the cause: by being named as additional insured, the landord is protecting themselved from being sued by the insurance company if it is found that the loss of my property was related to something that landlord did/didn't do).
i called allstate and they won't insure this 'hood. so lease guy gave me contact info for an insurance agent that he works closely with - i called her and she couldn't find an insurance company agency that would do it. (and she has contact with MANY insurance companies). i forwarded her e-mail to lease guy and considered the situation closed. then, i get a call from lease guy telling me that i need to make this happen. but i reminded him of a few things:
1. how this situation came to be
2. i have renter's insurance
3. reputable companies have said no
4. that i have a full-time job, that does not include calling every insurance company known to man to make this happen.
i also let him know that if he found a company that was willing to do what he's asking and he's 100% sure that they will do it in a legal manner, please send me the information and I will switch. in the meantime, i still have renter's insurance through geico.
3. heat: i have radiator heat (translation - controlled by the landlords). when i moved in, instead of opening the radiators, the maintenance guy closed them. that was remedied pretty quickly
now...to finish unpacking, furnish the apartment, have a dinner party and other normal living stuff
so here's what's been going on behind the scenes since i've moved in:
1. electricity: when i moved in there was no grounded plug in the kitchen, so i had to put the microwave in the front room. shortly thereafter, i found out that i couldn't run the microwave and the heater at the same time. so until the heat got fixed, it was one or the other. i was able to work around that...but not having no electricity in the kitchen. one morning i got up, went to the kitchen, plugged in the toaster and the whole apartment blew. went outside in the cold (cuz ya gotta go outside to get to the basement) to reset the breaker. that only turned on the juice for part of the apartment. long story short, the landlord had to come in and do some rewiring. that included a new fuse box inside the apartment and grounded plugs in the kitchen.
2.renter's insurance: the day that i was to sign the lease, i called the landlord's office beforehand and asked what i needed to bring with me. the guy @ the landlord's office who handles the leases (aka lease guy)said "your checkbook". i asked again and he said, again, the checkbook was all i needed. when i got there, he said that he wouldn't give me the keys until he had proof of my renter's insurance. so i called geico on the spot and got renter's insurance. while i was on the phone with geico, he told me that i had to add the landlord as additional insured, i told the person on the phone and geico said that they needed a name. so the lease guy gave me the owner's name. the company faxed him a copy my insurance certificate and all was good. until about a week later, i get this call from lease guy saying that the COMPANY has to be additional insured and the owner of the company needs to be removed as additional insured. so i contacted my insurance and asked that they make it happen. turns out they don't insure landlords. (pause for the cause: by being named as additional insured, the landord is protecting themselved from being sued by the insurance company if it is found that the loss of my property was related to something that landlord did/didn't do).
i called allstate and they won't insure this 'hood. so lease guy gave me contact info for an insurance agent that he works closely with - i called her and she couldn't find an insurance company agency that would do it. (and she has contact with MANY insurance companies). i forwarded her e-mail to lease guy and considered the situation closed. then, i get a call from lease guy telling me that i need to make this happen. but i reminded him of a few things:
1. how this situation came to be
2. i have renter's insurance
3. reputable companies have said no
4. that i have a full-time job, that does not include calling every insurance company known to man to make this happen.
i also let him know that if he found a company that was willing to do what he's asking and he's 100% sure that they will do it in a legal manner, please send me the information and I will switch. in the meantime, i still have renter's insurance through geico.
3. heat: i have radiator heat (translation - controlled by the landlords). when i moved in, instead of opening the radiators, the maintenance guy closed them. that was remedied pretty quickly
now...to finish unpacking, furnish the apartment, have a dinner party and other normal living stuff
Sunday, January 20, 2008
after all of that...
First - my oven/range works! The gas guy came out Saturday and did whatever it is that they do. He lit the pilot and shortly thereafter, I made spaghetti.
Now that I have a working oven/range, I'm cooking...in my crockpot. To be fair, I did use the burners to take the raw off of the onion and the mushrooms. But I digress.
The soup that I'm making in the crock pot is inspired by one of my favorite marinades (mojo criollo) and a broth based pumpkin soup that I had fifteen years ago when I was in Jamaica. Since I have no pumpkin, I used butternut squash, carrots and sweet potato. Yes, I know that the three don't equal pumpkin, but I like all 3 in soups, so I put them in there.
Here's the recipe:
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (raw, bite sized pieces marinated in mojo criollo for at least 30 minutes)
1 large sweet potato (raw, cut into chunks)
2 cups butternut squash (raw, cut into chunks)
1/2 head raw cauliflower (cut into chunks)
1 red onion
1.5 cups mushrooms (raw, sliced)
1/2 cup mojo criollo (do not use the mojo criollo that the chicken was in, make up some fresh/pour directly from the bottle)
2 cups low sodium chicken stock
1 small can tomato paste
chipotle powder
salt free all-purpose seasoning
1. Sautee the mushrooms and red onions until they are just cooked
2. Dump everything in the crock pot and turn on low
3. Do some chores, go see a movie, go to work, take a nap or whatever suits you
4. Ladel into a bowl and enjoy
Now that I have a working oven/range, I'm cooking...in my crockpot. To be fair, I did use the burners to take the raw off of the onion and the mushrooms. But I digress.
The soup that I'm making in the crock pot is inspired by one of my favorite marinades (mojo criollo) and a broth based pumpkin soup that I had fifteen years ago when I was in Jamaica. Since I have no pumpkin, I used butternut squash, carrots and sweet potato. Yes, I know that the three don't equal pumpkin, but I like all 3 in soups, so I put them in there.
Here's the recipe:
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (raw, bite sized pieces marinated in mojo criollo for at least 30 minutes)
1 large sweet potato (raw, cut into chunks)
2 cups butternut squash (raw, cut into chunks)
1/2 head raw cauliflower (cut into chunks)
1 red onion
1.5 cups mushrooms (raw, sliced)
1/2 cup mojo criollo (do not use the mojo criollo that the chicken was in, make up some fresh/pour directly from the bottle)
2 cups low sodium chicken stock
1 small can tomato paste
chipotle powder
salt free all-purpose seasoning
1. Sautee the mushrooms and red onions until they are just cooked
2. Dump everything in the crock pot and turn on low
3. Do some chores, go see a movie, go to work, take a nap or whatever suits you
4. Ladel into a bowl and enjoy
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
you say theater and i say theatre
However you spell it...i'm going
James Earl Jones and Phylicia Rashad and Terrence Howard and Anika Nani Rose in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Truth be told, they could be reading the phone book and I would be there. Okay, the NY Times and maybe not the phone book.
Happy, happy. Joy, joy.
James Earl Jones and Phylicia Rashad and Terrence Howard and Anika Nani Rose in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Truth be told, they could be reading the phone book and I would be there. Okay, the NY Times and maybe not the phone book.
Happy, happy. Joy, joy.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
in da house
the movers came on time and everything was delivered..sans scratch or damage.
the cable guys came early (and que guapo to boot)
the fridge was delivered.
it's a little cool and my oven isn't working.
so i'm wearing a fluffy robe and i went out for decent carribbean food
the best part...i'll be sleeping in my own bed tonight.
the cable guys came early (and que guapo to boot)
the fridge was delivered.
it's a little cool and my oven isn't working.
so i'm wearing a fluffy robe and i went out for decent carribbean food
the best part...i'll be sleeping in my own bed tonight.
Friday, January 4, 2008
mi casa
yay!
found an apartment
via craigslist (translation: NO BROKER FEE)
beautiful rehab one bedroom....gorgeous wood floors...buttery yellow wall...aesthetically pleasing wall sconces
move in on tuesday
happy urban chick....happy happy urban chick
found an apartment
via craigslist (translation: NO BROKER FEE)
beautiful rehab one bedroom....gorgeous wood floors...buttery yellow wall...aesthetically pleasing wall sconces
move in on tuesday
happy urban chick....happy happy urban chick
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Happy Birthday to ME....happy new year to you
Happy New Year, y'all!
It's my birthday! So awesome already. This morning after prayers, I heard a muffled boom. When I looked outside, I realized that my perfect view of NYC also afforded me a perfect view of the post ball drop fireworks. The best firework show I've seen in years.
It was a perfect start to my birthday. Truly rang it in with a bang.
I was so excited, that I started to cook right away. I took the lamb out of the marinade and then added to a pot with garbanzo beans, diced tomato, sliced raw sweet potato, collard greens, red onion, and mojo marinade straight from the bottle. Then I popped it in the oven on 170 to warm up the pot and a couple of hours later turned it up to 175. It's been cooking for the past 10 hours and the lamb is starting to become fall apart tender.
My cake is so cute. I took it out of the fridge and put on the candles. Then I put it back in the fridge because I didn't want to eat it until my call with the NMF later today (that's when I'll post the pictures).
More updates to come...
It's my birthday! So awesome already. This morning after prayers, I heard a muffled boom. When I looked outside, I realized that my perfect view of NYC also afforded me a perfect view of the post ball drop fireworks. The best firework show I've seen in years.
It was a perfect start to my birthday. Truly rang it in with a bang.
I was so excited, that I started to cook right away. I took the lamb out of the marinade and then added to a pot with garbanzo beans, diced tomato, sliced raw sweet potato, collard greens, red onion, and mojo marinade straight from the bottle. Then I popped it in the oven on 170 to warm up the pot and a couple of hours later turned it up to 175. It's been cooking for the past 10 hours and the lamb is starting to become fall apart tender.
My cake is so cute. I took it out of the fridge and put on the candles. Then I put it back in the fridge because I didn't want to eat it until my call with the NMF later today (that's when I'll post the pictures).
More updates to come...
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