I made some spoon bread a few weeks ago, and it was scrumptious. Soon afterward, I was thinking of other ways that I could use up the cornmeal I bought for it, and my brain followed that natural conclusion to Polenta. Polenta is divine. You can cook it tons of ways: fried, baked, gloppy- all delicious. My mother used to bake it in the oven for a bit with tomato sauce. So good!
So, I went to my favorite food website, Epicurious.com, and found me this little gem from the May 2008 issue of Bon Apetit.
It came out SO WELL. I am enjoying another bowl for breakfast as we speak. I played with the original recipe by adding cheese and leaving out a tablespoon of butter [I forgot it!].
Creamy [cheesy] corn-studded polenta
3 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tsp salt
1 cup polenta (coarse cornmeal)
3 cups corn kernels [I used frozen that I thawed for a few hours, but they said fresh from 3 ears, which would be good in the summer]
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese [because what isn't improved by a mountain of cheese?]
Bring broth, cream, and salt to boil in medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in polenta; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer 10 minutes, stirring often. Add corn and cheese; increase heat and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook until polenta is soft, thick, and creamy, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve hot.
I think one could safely add hot sauce, or perhaps a dash of Old Bay. The next time I make it, I'm going to go further with the cheese by adding some parmesan and remembering the butter.
Serve it with chicken! Or steak! Or a mound of veggies! But be warned - it's delicious all on its own, so be prepared to forget whatever else you planned to accompany it.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
lalala party times
Tried to throw a rager for twenty on saturday, which then turned into an intimate dinner party for five. Was very good all the same - Dogfish has started putting out their springy hoppy beers, and I must say that I indulged in a few. A fantastic and delightful evening.
Then, on Sunday, once I overcame the inevitable hangover, I went over to Leah and Marc's and we started brewin'! We made a batch of mead and some sorrel wine, which should be FANTASTIC in a few months. Sorrel is a hibiscus that is very popular in the carribbean for drinks. We boiled water, sugar, those dried flowers and some cinnamon and cloves, and it smelled like chrismas! Very deep purple, too. Can't wait!
I'm over my dissappointment with Watchmen. It's cool, it's hollywood. I'll just pick and choose the imagery I enjoyed, and it will help fuel my future re-readings of the book.
lalala lovely lovely weekend! How were yours? Report!
Then, on Sunday, once I overcame the inevitable hangover, I went over to Leah and Marc's and we started brewin'! We made a batch of mead and some sorrel wine, which should be FANTASTIC in a few months. Sorrel is a hibiscus that is very popular in the carribbean for drinks. We boiled water, sugar, those dried flowers and some cinnamon and cloves, and it smelled like chrismas! Very deep purple, too. Can't wait!
I'm over my dissappointment with Watchmen. It's cool, it's hollywood. I'll just pick and choose the imagery I enjoyed, and it will help fuel my future re-readings of the book.
lalala lovely lovely weekend! How were yours? Report!
Monday, March 09, 2009
so, I'll whine at length about something else - **Watchmen spoilers.**
So. So. The Watchmen is my favorite graphic novel, okay? Hands-down, ultimately number one. So.
So, listen. It was a good movie, okay. I cannot deny that. The action was FANTASTIC. The acting wasn't half-bad. The love and sorrow and fear and all those delicious gritty things that made me love the books so much were pretty well executed. It was dark and wonderful - Rorschach and The Comedian especially were so perfect. The opening credits drove me to tears of joy and relief within the first twenty seconds. I am a very visual person, so by and large, I LOVE adaptations.
But, with Watchmen, I was left wanting.
I think it comes down to this: I must agree with my pal, Penny, when I say that I wish that they hadn't cut out the humanity. I use that word carefully, because the book spent so much time down in the streets with the regular folks. The Bernies, especially. Something tells me that they shot more than what made it into the film as the make-up and casting for the Bernies were great. For the two seconds of screen-time they got.
See, Alan Moore tells a hell of a story. He is very good at sucking you into the minutae of human emotions, and that, my friends, is what I missed most.
In print, we saw Josephine's [one of my favorites] conflicting feelings about her sexuality. And Dr Long's slow, painful withdrawal from reality during the course of his treatment of Rorschach. I missed the New Frontiersman, even. It just didn't feel right to not cut to the newsstand every once and a while, check in with the fellas.
And even with the backstory of our Heroes, I felt they came up short.
But still, despite all that, I was enjoying myself. Right up until the end. [I'm not going to actually discuss the ending, because I don't want someone to not see it because I gave it away.]
I cannot shake my dissappointment with how they chose to end it. It brought down my whole enjoyment. I could see it coming, creeping up on me from the corners. "No way," I told myself, "they can't be doing what I think they're doing..."
And they did. They freaking did. I was spitting TACKS the whole way home. My father, who did not read the book, was doing his best to console me. He made some good points - some of which I mentioned above with regard to the action and such.
But, I was just so bitterly dissappointed. And I know I'm biased. But I feel like they changed something huge and important that didn't need to be changed. They used so much CGI throughout the movie, how hard would it have been to keep to the story-line?
And the worst part is - I can sort of see the reasoning. AND I DON'T WANT TO. I am a stubborn person by nature, so when I have an idea in my head, god forbid it doesn't work out. So. This may be more a meditation on my own inability to let go, rather than the actual short-comings of the movie.
Or something.
If anyone wants to go see it again, though, I'm totally down. I need to form a really solid, rounded opinion, you know?
Yeah, that's the ticket.
So, listen. It was a good movie, okay. I cannot deny that. The action was FANTASTIC. The acting wasn't half-bad. The love and sorrow and fear and all those delicious gritty things that made me love the books so much were pretty well executed. It was dark and wonderful - Rorschach and The Comedian especially were so perfect. The opening credits drove me to tears of joy and relief within the first twenty seconds. I am a very visual person, so by and large, I LOVE adaptations.
But, with Watchmen, I was left wanting.
I think it comes down to this: I must agree with my pal, Penny, when I say that I wish that they hadn't cut out the humanity. I use that word carefully, because the book spent so much time down in the streets with the regular folks. The Bernies, especially. Something tells me that they shot more than what made it into the film as the make-up and casting for the Bernies were great. For the two seconds of screen-time they got.
See, Alan Moore tells a hell of a story. He is very good at sucking you into the minutae of human emotions, and that, my friends, is what I missed most.
In print, we saw Josephine's [one of my favorites] conflicting feelings about her sexuality. And Dr Long's slow, painful withdrawal from reality during the course of his treatment of Rorschach. I missed the New Frontiersman, even. It just didn't feel right to not cut to the newsstand every once and a while, check in with the fellas.
And even with the backstory of our Heroes, I felt they came up short.
But still, despite all that, I was enjoying myself. Right up until the end. [I'm not going to actually discuss the ending, because I don't want someone to not see it because I gave it away.]
I cannot shake my dissappointment with how they chose to end it. It brought down my whole enjoyment. I could see it coming, creeping up on me from the corners. "No way," I told myself, "they can't be doing what I think they're doing..."
And they did. They freaking did. I was spitting TACKS the whole way home. My father, who did not read the book, was doing his best to console me. He made some good points - some of which I mentioned above with regard to the action and such.
But, I was just so bitterly dissappointed. And I know I'm biased. But I feel like they changed something huge and important that didn't need to be changed. They used so much CGI throughout the movie, how hard would it have been to keep to the story-line?
And the worst part is - I can sort of see the reasoning. AND I DON'T WANT TO. I am a stubborn person by nature, so when I have an idea in my head, god forbid it doesn't work out. So. This may be more a meditation on my own inability to let go, rather than the actual short-comings of the movie.
Or something.
If anyone wants to go see it again, though, I'm totally down. I need to form a really solid, rounded opinion, you know?
Yeah, that's the ticket.
world-weary
So, here I am worried about North Korea, when people are setting their grandmothers on fire in my own city.
What the hell is wrong with people? I'm too young to be this disillusioned. At twenty-three, the world should be my oyster, and I should have a bright future.
blah blah blah. Just give me a few hours, I'll be back on top. <3
What the hell is wrong with people? I'm too young to be this disillusioned. At twenty-three, the world should be my oyster, and I should have a bright future.
blah blah blah. Just give me a few hours, I'll be back on top. <3
Sunday, March 01, 2009
crafts!
Went to the American Craft Council Show today with Rosemary. IT WAS SO COMPLETELY AWESOME YOU HAVE NO IDEA. So much stuff! So much AMAZING STUFF. I ended up buying some wooden chopsticks and a matching little bitty salt spoon because I have no salt shaker [Ahem, Dad.] and generally end up filling a shot glass and putting it in the middle of the table at dinner parties. Now I'll have a SPOON, too!
Good Times.
I wish that I was a millionaire so that I could have bought some of the delightful things we saw. Gorgeous textiles!! I want all the scarves ever.
Also, I don't know if anyone has noticed, but Ralphie from A Christmas Story is in Iron Man. He's one of the scientists working for Obidiah to make the miniature Arc Reactor.
Don't believe me? Check this shit out: Peter Billingsley.
I've now watched Iron Man three times in two days. I think it's time to send it back to Netflix. I LOVE YOU, ROBERT DOWNEY JR. If you need a baby, I am your girl. I will birth them for you like a champ.
The End.
<3
Good Times.
I wish that I was a millionaire so that I could have bought some of the delightful things we saw. Gorgeous textiles!! I want all the scarves ever.
Also, I don't know if anyone has noticed, but Ralphie from A Christmas Story is in Iron Man. He's one of the scientists working for Obidiah to make the miniature Arc Reactor.
Don't believe me? Check this shit out: Peter Billingsley.
I've now watched Iron Man three times in two days. I think it's time to send it back to Netflix. I LOVE YOU, ROBERT DOWNEY JR. If you need a baby, I am your girl. I will birth them for you like a champ.
The End.
<3
Friday, February 27, 2009
Not your typical Jesus post.
I wished someone a "Happy Lent" the other day, and didn't stop to think until later that they may feel I was telling them to revel in deprivation.
But see, to me Lent isn't about doing without - it's about taking on an experiment that you normally wouldn't put much energy into. I am all about self-discovery. And my mother is always very adamant about the specifics. She is careful to call it her "Lenten Discipline", and never, "What she's giving up". The same way that how, in highschool, when a friend asked "Is Molly there?" when calling me, she would answer, "Yes," and then wait for them to ask to speak to me. Thanks, Mom.
Now, It's pretty obvious that I am not a traditional Christian. I'm not even a traditional Episcopalian, although they are the denomination with whom I identify best. Because I don't necessarily believe that Jesus was the son of whatever God is up there [Sorry, Mom, still mulling that one over...]. I do, however, think he was a pretty rad guy, who preached about love and acceptance and genuinely cared for the welfare of the people he touched. How can you argue with something like that?
But, regardless of what you believe, Lent is a good time to try taking on a task. When you think about it, it's more realistic than most New Years resolutions. You can see the end of it if you really can't stand what you've committed to. And then you learn about yourself. In fact, if you're successful with your Lenten Discipline, try commiting yourself to something new each month! Learn French. Master baking. Master French Baking. Take your dog [or hamster!] for obedience classes, and then enter them in an agility show. Your possibilities are endless, because it's not about doing without, it's about what you can do, and being grateful for the time that you are given.
So, this year, for my Lenten Discipline, I am resolving to be neater. Both in my appearance and apartment. I will do all of my dishes as they are dirtied. I will iron clothes that are wrinkled. I will think more carefully about the food I eat. I will sweep my kitchen floor before the popcorn that was dropped on it gets ground into a fine dust. I'll stick to Lent as best as I can, and I won't think too hard about the science of Easter apart from celebrating new life and enjoying my family.
I do like zombies, though.
But see, to me Lent isn't about doing without - it's about taking on an experiment that you normally wouldn't put much energy into. I am all about self-discovery. And my mother is always very adamant about the specifics. She is careful to call it her "Lenten Discipline", and never, "What she's giving up". The same way that how, in highschool, when a friend asked "Is Molly there?" when calling me, she would answer, "Yes," and then wait for them to ask to speak to me. Thanks, Mom.
Now, It's pretty obvious that I am not a traditional Christian. I'm not even a traditional Episcopalian, although they are the denomination with whom I identify best. Because I don't necessarily believe that Jesus was the son of whatever God is up there [Sorry, Mom, still mulling that one over...]. I do, however, think he was a pretty rad guy, who preached about love and acceptance and genuinely cared for the welfare of the people he touched. How can you argue with something like that?
But, regardless of what you believe, Lent is a good time to try taking on a task. When you think about it, it's more realistic than most New Years resolutions. You can see the end of it if you really can't stand what you've committed to. And then you learn about yourself. In fact, if you're successful with your Lenten Discipline, try commiting yourself to something new each month! Learn French. Master baking. Master French Baking. Take your dog [or hamster!] for obedience classes, and then enter them in an agility show. Your possibilities are endless, because it's not about doing without, it's about what you can do, and being grateful for the time that you are given.
So, this year, for my Lenten Discipline, I am resolving to be neater. Both in my appearance and apartment. I will do all of my dishes as they are dirtied. I will iron clothes that are wrinkled. I will think more carefully about the food I eat. I will sweep my kitchen floor before the popcorn that was dropped on it gets ground into a fine dust. I'll stick to Lent as best as I can, and I won't think too hard about the science of Easter apart from celebrating new life and enjoying my family.
I do like zombies, though.
Monday, February 23, 2009
My Oscars and other stuffffffff
Well, I wanted Mickey Rourke to win. alas.
However, Kate Winslet was smokin' and I loved Hugh Jackman. I cried at some point, but I can't remember when. Probably something cliche. Not actually during Mr Ledger, although I was sad.
Pals Rachel and Shel came over spontaneously, and we had popcorn and pasta and Shell made me this crazy amazing drink that had ginger beer, mollasses-y rum, and some lingonberry concentrate. IT WAS FANTASTIC.
anyway, they buggered off around ten-thirty, and I finished watching the awards while Lester tried his level best to crawl into the sauce-pot. Thank goodness he is not tall enough nor does he possess opposable thumbs. That would be a baaaaad day, for sure.
Anyhoo - I'm taking a class! Anatomy and Physiology! This should be easy! I'm excited to break out my ANATOMY COLORING BOOK. Nursing degree, here I come.
However, Kate Winslet was smokin' and I loved Hugh Jackman. I cried at some point, but I can't remember when. Probably something cliche. Not actually during Mr Ledger, although I was sad.
Pals Rachel and Shel came over spontaneously, and we had popcorn and pasta and Shell made me this crazy amazing drink that had ginger beer, mollasses-y rum, and some lingonberry concentrate. IT WAS FANTASTIC.
anyway, they buggered off around ten-thirty, and I finished watching the awards while Lester tried his level best to crawl into the sauce-pot. Thank goodness he is not tall enough nor does he possess opposable thumbs. That would be a baaaaad day, for sure.
Anyhoo - I'm taking a class! Anatomy and Physiology! This should be easy! I'm excited to break out my ANATOMY COLORING BOOK. Nursing degree, here I come.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Duh.
I figured out my confusion re: having lester. I will have lived in Baltimore for four years this June. So, Balmer = four years, Lester = three.
Good times.
Dinner tonight at the Golden West Cafe in Hampden. I have not been there in a v. long time - not since my mom and sister were visiting me, and they took hours and hours to get served. Let's hope it's a nicer experience this time. They've had about two years to shape up.
:D
Good times.
Dinner tonight at the Golden West Cafe in Hampden. I have not been there in a v. long time - not since my mom and sister were visiting me, and they took hours and hours to get served. Let's hope it's a nicer experience this time. They've had about two years to shape up.
:D
Monday, February 16, 2009
three years
Every year, on February 14th, I celebrate having Lester for another year. This year marked three! I love my little guy, and I can't imagine life without him. He's my furry soul-mate.
Lester through the years...
first photo!
one year!
two years!
three years!
and I am now sort of confused. because I THOUGHT that I've had him for four years, but going back through old livejournal entries, it seems that I've only had him for three years. AM I GOING CRAZY? Who knows.
Anyway, he's still around and I love him to bits and little pieces. YAYE LESTAH.
Lester through the years...
first photo!
one year!
two years!
three years!
and I am now sort of confused. because I THOUGHT that I've had him for four years, but going back through old livejournal entries, it seems that I've only had him for three years. AM I GOING CRAZY? Who knows.
Anyway, he's still around and I love him to bits and little pieces. YAYE LESTAH.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
i got a new plant.
well, new old plant that i've actually had for a few months now and forgot to mention. she is a corn plant that a coworker gave to me because her new office has no room. her name is constance cordelia. she's a full-figured lady that adds a bit of sass to the kitchen window crew, which includes patience [pony-tail palm] and louisa [pothos]
poor aloysius [palm] is still the only fella since bob/fred [bamboo] kicked a few months back.
why are you looking at me that way?
poor aloysius [palm] is still the only fella since bob/fred [bamboo] kicked a few months back.
why are you looking at me that way?
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
The Oregon trail and other various and sundry.
Back from Portland! Had a delicious time with my sister and brother-in-law. The Chinese Gardens are FANTASTIC and I just wish they were bigger so I could have stayed longer and not looked like a crazy stalker. The weather was lovely, even if it snowed twice. Not too much rain, not too much fog. Crisp air. *happy sigh*
Here are some photos from our various excursions.
Bought several books at Powell's for super-cheap and I wish we had one here in Baltimore. Best. Store. Ever. Am currently plowing through the Wrinkle in Time series by Madeline L'Engle. HOW DID I MISS THESE BEFORE. I suppose half the joy of being an adult is the ability to go back and find things.
In other news: the sky is pooping out very pathetic snow. Not even snow, really. Moisture that has a tendency to be snow.
I don't really enjoy inclement weather, unless it's a thunderstorm in the middle of the summer. THAT is weather I can get happy about.
Anyway. Lester is doing extremely well, the little stinker. I feel like I shouldn't get all worked up when his body does something untoward, because he's sort of a miracle dog, and things always work out just fine in the end. Snaps his ACL? doesn't even limp. Congestive heart failure? He just pees it out.
I love my dog. He smells like Christmas right now, because I've been using this Natural flea and tick medicine that uses peppermint oil as its main ingredient. Delightful.
LALALA work happy hour tonight. Now that I don't drive to work, these little outings are much more enjoyable. :D
Happy Tuesday, y'all.
Here are some photos from our various excursions.
Bought several books at Powell's for super-cheap and I wish we had one here in Baltimore. Best. Store. Ever. Am currently plowing through the Wrinkle in Time series by Madeline L'Engle. HOW DID I MISS THESE BEFORE. I suppose half the joy of being an adult is the ability to go back and find things.
In other news: the sky is pooping out very pathetic snow. Not even snow, really. Moisture that has a tendency to be snow.
I don't really enjoy inclement weather, unless it's a thunderstorm in the middle of the summer. THAT is weather I can get happy about.
Anyway. Lester is doing extremely well, the little stinker. I feel like I shouldn't get all worked up when his body does something untoward, because he's sort of a miracle dog, and things always work out just fine in the end. Snaps his ACL? doesn't even limp. Congestive heart failure? He just pees it out.
I love my dog. He smells like Christmas right now, because I've been using this Natural flea and tick medicine that uses peppermint oil as its main ingredient. Delightful.
LALALA work happy hour tonight. Now that I don't drive to work, these little outings are much more enjoyable. :D
Happy Tuesday, y'all.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
back from the brink?
So! A lot has happened since my last, morose post. Lester is doing SO much better, I can hardly believe my eyes. He has full energy, his appetite is voracious, and he's peeing like a racehorse. these are all good signs! it looks like my little guy is going to be with me for a while longer. something that i am so unbelievably grateful for.
thank you all SO MUCH for all your kind words and thoughts. knowing that i had such a fantastic group of people rooting for us made the whole ordeal that much more manageable.
i love y'all. thank you thank you thank you.
thank you all SO MUCH for all your kind words and thoughts. knowing that i had such a fantastic group of people rooting for us made the whole ordeal that much more manageable.
i love y'all. thank you thank you thank you.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Lester Blanchard
Lester went into congestive heart failure Saturday morning. He woke me up about 4 with a persistent dry, hacking cough. When he refused water and didn't settle down by 4:45, I started to suspect CHF and took him to the Falls Road Animal Hospital. Once there, they had difficulty listening to his heart, took x-rays and confirmed he had fluid in his chest.
To avoid going in to debt for multiple thousands of dollars, I've decided to take the "make him comfortable" route. They gave him a hefty shot of Lasix, and I'll be giving him some orally for a few days to try to clear out the fluid.
So far, so good. Outwardly, he's not behaving any differently, he didn't even cough much during the weekend after starting the diuretic, but he's certainly peeing a lot.
I'm at peace with this decision. If he was seven instead of fourteen, circumstances might be different, but, as my father put it, he's basically a 95 year old man. So while I can't imagine being without him, I know that the time will come soon, and I think I've given him a pretty good life these last four years.
Please keep us in your thoughts.
To avoid going in to debt for multiple thousands of dollars, I've decided to take the "make him comfortable" route. They gave him a hefty shot of Lasix, and I'll be giving him some orally for a few days to try to clear out the fluid.
So far, so good. Outwardly, he's not behaving any differently, he didn't even cough much during the weekend after starting the diuretic, but he's certainly peeing a lot.
I'm at peace with this decision. If he was seven instead of fourteen, circumstances might be different, but, as my father put it, he's basically a 95 year old man. So while I can't imagine being without him, I know that the time will come soon, and I think I've given him a pretty good life these last four years.
Please keep us in your thoughts.
Friday, January 02, 2009
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
merry wikipedia
happy christmas, everyone. i just gave wikipedia some dough, and i thought maybe others would like to do so, as well.
we all know how it is with wikipedia. i could easily spend hours there. and you don't even realize you're learning.
<3 technology.
we all know how it is with wikipedia. i could easily spend hours there. and you don't even realize you're learning.
<3 technology.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
neil gaiman?
i THINK i had a dream last night involving neil gaiman and a large grassy field.
i can't be sure, though.
and somewhat related: i may or may not be writing a romance novel that most certainly does NOT involve neil gaiman. in no way shape or form. his name is edward. completely different people.
>.>
i can't be sure, though.
and somewhat related: i may or may not be writing a romance novel that most certainly does NOT involve neil gaiman. in no way shape or form. his name is edward. completely different people.
>.>
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
4 for $40
so, i'm going to try an ongoing experiment. I'm going to put on dinner parties for four people, and spend only $40 on all ingredients and accouterments, including wine and flowers/table decor. i'm not a table-scaper, but i enjoy having a pretty thing in the middle, be it flowers or candles or a bowl of produce.
first on the list is roast chicken, sausage risotto, and spinach salad with walnuts, feta cheese and raspberry vinnaigrette, and some panna cotta with berry compote for dessert.
anyone of my pals interested? i'll be doing this more than once, so if i get a lot of interest, i'll try to mix up the company a bit. it should be really fun!
first on the list is roast chicken, sausage risotto, and spinach salad with walnuts, feta cheese and raspberry vinnaigrette, and some panna cotta with berry compote for dessert.
anyone of my pals interested? i'll be doing this more than once, so if i get a lot of interest, i'll try to mix up the company a bit. it should be really fun!
Friday, December 05, 2008
canada?
is no one else worried about what's happening in canada? does no one else see some startling similarities to our own dark past?
canada can't be allowed to go down the same shit-slide that we did. america got really awful really fast when someone who wasn't elected by the majority clawed his way into the highest office and started playing around with congress. do they not see the same thing happening to themselves? what the hell?
canada can't be allowed to go down the same shit-slide that we did. america got really awful really fast when someone who wasn't elected by the majority clawed his way into the highest office and started playing around with congress. do they not see the same thing happening to themselves? what the hell?
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