Sunday some dear friends came over and brunched with me. I made quiche, having perfected, I think, my technique. There were potatoes with onions and apples, homemade peach preserves, unbeatable banana bread, and bacon, of course. Everything is better with bacon, I am assured, even though I rarely eat it myself, being a holier than thou ethically superior eater.
Sharing food with friends. It's what I do. It's how I do.
So I have this idea (maybe it was Aida's idea for me) to make it into a book. Creating community through food, or something better as a title. Ideas? It'll have stories with a personal memoir feel, with recipes of mine and friends, of course.
So the quiche - I bought Wild Hog Sausage from the Smokin' mullet, and used some of in the quiche. I should say here that I think the main reason it was so good is because I used high quality ingredients - local unadulterated eggs and milk, fancy parm from wine and cheese gallery, and Wainwright Dairy cheddar (from Lake City - it's amazing), and local organic onions.
I've recently tried melting the cheese into the milk and other ingredients before baking a quiche, and I think it helps it have a better consistency and more unified... cheesiness.
Mushroom Onion and Sausage Quiche:
Pie crust (I use frozen, but you can totally make your own and it'd be that much better)
4 eggs (or more/less depending on size of crust)
milk (whole)
parmigiano and cheddar, grated (maybe 1 cup total, mix up to you, could add swiss too)
Sausage (not much, maybe 2 oz.)
1/2 small container mushrooms
onion (I used yellow, but white or red would be fine too) - maybe 1/4 cup chopped
sage, nutmeg, salt, pepper to taste
1. Pre-bake crusts for about 10 minutes (optional, but I never have half-cooked crust)
2. Meanwhile, brown sausage in a skillet, then add mushrooms, sage (tsp maybe or 1.5 tsp), nutmeg (pinch or two), and pepper. Cook half way, then add onions and cook until both are "done." Add a very little salt.
3. Lower heat, and add some milk (maybe 3/4 cup). Add cheese to melt into milk, stirring frequently.
4. Beat eggs thoroughly with another dash of milk.
5. Once cheese is melted, turn heat off and add eggs, stirring constantly so they don't scramble.
6. Pour filling into crust and bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Carrot Ginger Salad
1. Peel and grate/process most of a bag of carrots (1 lb bag I guess). Grating will produce bigger carrot pieces, but takes longer.
2. Peel ginger chunk and grate/process with the carrots.
3. Use immersion blender to blend juice of one lemon, big spoonful of honey, dash of soy sauce, tsp or so of tahini, and enough sesame oil to double what liquid is there, and a few grinds fresh pepper.
4. Combine in a bowl with a bit of shredded sweetened coconut and some chopped/sliced almonds.
I made this up for work pot-luck today, and it was delicious!
2. Peel ginger chunk and grate/process with the carrots.
3. Use immersion blender to blend juice of one lemon, big spoonful of honey, dash of soy sauce, tsp or so of tahini, and enough sesame oil to double what liquid is there, and a few grinds fresh pepper.
4. Combine in a bowl with a bit of shredded sweetened coconut and some chopped/sliced almonds.
I made this up for work pot-luck today, and it was delicious!
Monday, May 23, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Song that Makes Me Cry Volume 17
I had the CD this is on in the car on my way to work last week sometime. It played in the three minutes before I parked, and like every time I hear it in the last few years, I sobbed like a baby before I got out of the car.
I know my ex-husband is focused very little on feeling sadness or loss, or looking back. Because he is so so happy and in love and nothing can pull him away from that. Well, I'm pretty damned happy too, but I know better than to ignore the tugs that help me grieve, because even if I'm happy, I know that that's far from over.
Break Your Heart
Barenaked Ladies
The bravest thing I've ever done
Was to run away and hide
But not this time, not this time
And the weakest thing I've ever done
Was to stay right by your side
Just like this time, and every time
I couldn't tell you I was happy when you were gone
So I lied and said that I missed you when we were apart
I couldn't tell you, so I had to lead you on
But I didn't mean to break your heart
And if I always seem distracted
Like my minds somewhere else
That's because it's true, yes it's true
it's this stupid pride that makes me feel
Like I have to follow through
Even half-assedly, loving you
Why must I always speak in terms of cowardice?
When I guess I should have just come out and told you right from the start
Why must I always tell you all I want is this?
I guess 'cause I didn't want to break your heart
And you said
What'd you think that I was gonna do,
Curl up and die just because of you?
I'm not that weak, you know
What'd you think that I was gonna do,
Try to make you love me as much as I love you?
How could you be so low?
You arrogant man,
What do you think that I am?
My heart will be fine
Just stop wasting my time
And now I know that you'll be okay,
and that I've got what I want,
and that's rid of you
Bye
And it's not 'cause I'll be missing you
That makes me fall apart
It's just that I didn't mean to break
No I didn't mean to break
No I didn't mean to break
Your heart
I know my ex-husband is focused very little on feeling sadness or loss, or looking back. Because he is so so happy and in love and nothing can pull him away from that. Well, I'm pretty damned happy too, but I know better than to ignore the tugs that help me grieve, because even if I'm happy, I know that that's far from over.
Break Your Heart
Barenaked Ladies
The bravest thing I've ever done
Was to run away and hide
But not this time, not this time
And the weakest thing I've ever done
Was to stay right by your side
Just like this time, and every time
I couldn't tell you I was happy when you were gone
So I lied and said that I missed you when we were apart
I couldn't tell you, so I had to lead you on
But I didn't mean to break your heart
And if I always seem distracted
Like my minds somewhere else
That's because it's true, yes it's true
it's this stupid pride that makes me feel
Like I have to follow through
Even half-assedly, loving you
Why must I always speak in terms of cowardice?
When I guess I should have just come out and told you right from the start
Why must I always tell you all I want is this?
I guess 'cause I didn't want to break your heart
And you said
What'd you think that I was gonna do,
Curl up and die just because of you?
I'm not that weak, you know
What'd you think that I was gonna do,
Try to make you love me as much as I love you?
How could you be so low?
You arrogant man,
What do you think that I am?
My heart will be fine
Just stop wasting my time
And now I know that you'll be okay,
and that I've got what I want,
and that's rid of you
Bye
And it's not 'cause I'll be missing you
That makes me fall apart
It's just that I didn't mean to break
No I didn't mean to break
No I didn't mean to break
Your heart
Monday, April 25, 2011
Honest Conversation with a Christian
I had an unexpected opportunity to talk with an (almost?) open-minded Christian pastor frankly about religion and faith. He seemed unperturbed by my lack of observance, and though he sought an opening to "witness" to me, he also seemed to understand my own expression of faith, as well as I articulated it, anyway.
He described how he became a Christian after a college classmate told him about Jesus. He said at the time he was aimless, smoked too much, and did too many drugs, but that after he accepted Christ, he experienced a true miracle and was able to let his addictions go that very moment. I agreed that it was indeed a miracle, and thought about how having such a deep spiritual experience could help us "let go" of whatever has us tripped up.
I explained my own philosophies, that I don't think there is any one spiritual path to follow, and that however anyone finds peace is acceptable to me (and I presume to "God"). He countered with a metaphor of a mountain, with God at the top, and all these various spiritual paths up the mountain all leading to God. Then he asked me to imagine that God sent Jesus down to the people to help on this one path, which is what makes it unique.
I said I just don't think of God at the top of the mountain, or separate from me, or anyone, that I think of God as the mountain itself, all of us and all of those paths, and everything else too, so that all one needs do to "get close" to God is recognize that. That scientists recognize it as the smallest measures of energy, that vibration that everything is composed of, even if they don't see it as spirit, that's what it is. That the energy I've felt in a church service, or a choral concert, or a yoga class, or a group meditation, are all the same, and I think what he felt that day he became a Christian, and whenever he leads his congregation, are that same energy.
Then he asked THE question: What about evil? What about consequences? I explained I didn't think there is hell/heaven the way Christianity interprets it, and that evil exists so that we recognize good. He actually agreed that it may not be the way we read it in the Bible or explain it in Sunday School, but what about having to examine your life/sins, would that not be hell itself? I agreed that it may be, but that I think when we die, we re-enter the spirit/energy world (of love) and even if we examine the evil we may have done, there are no consequences save maybe for being that much further from not having to again return to the non-spirit world, but that it isn't torturous and there is no judgment from some higher power. Though I realize my own theory may be just that, theory, and that actually it remains a mystery to all of us until we get there.
He asked me what I thought about Jesus and the Bible then. I said I thought the authors were inspired of course but that any interpretation comes through their human perspective, and that Jesus was simply an example of what anyone is capable of, finding a very high level of spiritual maturity, but that those who witnessed it simply did not understand this, and took him to be extra-special. Also I explained that many of the ethical/moral principles were logical and perfectly reasonable without needing to be commanded by God, and that those which exist within most religions also exist outside of them. I don't think he knew what to say about this one.
He invited me to come to Saturday evening's Easter Service, which I declined based on my play schedule, but of course, the last thing I intend ever to do with a Saturday evening is go to church, even if the youth pastor is open-minded and kind of cute.
He described how he became a Christian after a college classmate told him about Jesus. He said at the time he was aimless, smoked too much, and did too many drugs, but that after he accepted Christ, he experienced a true miracle and was able to let his addictions go that very moment. I agreed that it was indeed a miracle, and thought about how having such a deep spiritual experience could help us "let go" of whatever has us tripped up.
I explained my own philosophies, that I don't think there is any one spiritual path to follow, and that however anyone finds peace is acceptable to me (and I presume to "God"). He countered with a metaphor of a mountain, with God at the top, and all these various spiritual paths up the mountain all leading to God. Then he asked me to imagine that God sent Jesus down to the people to help on this one path, which is what makes it unique.
I said I just don't think of God at the top of the mountain, or separate from me, or anyone, that I think of God as the mountain itself, all of us and all of those paths, and everything else too, so that all one needs do to "get close" to God is recognize that. That scientists recognize it as the smallest measures of energy, that vibration that everything is composed of, even if they don't see it as spirit, that's what it is. That the energy I've felt in a church service, or a choral concert, or a yoga class, or a group meditation, are all the same, and I think what he felt that day he became a Christian, and whenever he leads his congregation, are that same energy.
Then he asked THE question: What about evil? What about consequences? I explained I didn't think there is hell/heaven the way Christianity interprets it, and that evil exists so that we recognize good. He actually agreed that it may not be the way we read it in the Bible or explain it in Sunday School, but what about having to examine your life/sins, would that not be hell itself? I agreed that it may be, but that I think when we die, we re-enter the spirit/energy world (of love) and even if we examine the evil we may have done, there are no consequences save maybe for being that much further from not having to again return to the non-spirit world, but that it isn't torturous and there is no judgment from some higher power. Though I realize my own theory may be just that, theory, and that actually it remains a mystery to all of us until we get there.
He asked me what I thought about Jesus and the Bible then. I said I thought the authors were inspired of course but that any interpretation comes through their human perspective, and that Jesus was simply an example of what anyone is capable of, finding a very high level of spiritual maturity, but that those who witnessed it simply did not understand this, and took him to be extra-special. Also I explained that many of the ethical/moral principles were logical and perfectly reasonable without needing to be commanded by God, and that those which exist within most religions also exist outside of them. I don't think he knew what to say about this one.
He invited me to come to Saturday evening's Easter Service, which I declined based on my play schedule, but of course, the last thing I intend ever to do with a Saturday evening is go to church, even if the youth pastor is open-minded and kind of cute.
Friday, March 18, 2011
"Moments of Weakness"
I'm in a local play about a traditionally minded woman (I'm her) who learns her husband has been cheating on her. I find the title to be personally ironic.
It's pretty poorly written, the characters are all walking stereotypes, and the "point" seems to be that men are "born that way" but that doesn't excuse infidelity.
The playwright certainly "assumes" the perspective that it's a given that marriage implies monogamy, which then implies the "natural" way of men (namely, that they must "spread their seed") leads them to be unfaithful and thus this conundrum persists.
It all seems so... dated.
It's pretty poorly written, the characters are all walking stereotypes, and the "point" seems to be that men are "born that way" but that doesn't excuse infidelity.
The playwright certainly "assumes" the perspective that it's a given that marriage implies monogamy, which then implies the "natural" way of men (namely, that they must "spread their seed") leads them to be unfaithful and thus this conundrum persists.
It all seems so... dated.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Gratitude
I've been struggling with some resentful feelings left with me after a mostly peaceful, amicable, and even loving, divorce. The anger that I poured my heart and energy into someone else, unconditionally supporting his dreams and desires, until the burden of that overwhelmed my own, only to be "starting over" with nothing (nothing tangible) to show for it, sticks with me. Knowing that he doesn't even regard my feelings here even having merit, without any expressed appreciation for all of that energy and support or even acknowledgment that the burden of it is what eventually ruined us, coupled with my observation (admittedly from afar) that he now is carrying his own weight (emotionally and physically) in a new relationship, which I always knew he was capable of, really just pisses me off.
So I've been trying to find a way to let go of that. A friend suggested to remember everything I do have to show for the time, so I'm starting with this list of things I am grateful for that came from my marriage (not my divorce)...
1. I learned how to express love, even in difficult, conflicted times.
2. I'm a confident, adventurous lover, if a bit limited in experience. The emotional safety of my marriage allowed me to explore my sexuality, and I don't have much difficulty expressing my needs or responding to my partner's.
3. I know a lot more music trivia than if I had not been married to a musical encyclopedia.
4. I have a deep appreciation for film that I'm not sure I would have without being inspired by the passion my former spouse expressed.
5. I am easy to live with, generally.
6. I'm someone's favorite aunt.
7. I know what I need from my relationships, and what I don't need; what I can tolerate, and what I find irritating.
8. I made many close friends through my former spouse, whether directly or indirectly.
9. I returned to doing theatre, which I always loved in high school but had given up along the way. It was helping with his shows that gave me back the "bug."
That's what I can think of for now, I'll add more as I think of them.
So I've been trying to find a way to let go of that. A friend suggested to remember everything I do have to show for the time, so I'm starting with this list of things I am grateful for that came from my marriage (not my divorce)...
1. I learned how to express love, even in difficult, conflicted times.
2. I'm a confident, adventurous lover, if a bit limited in experience. The emotional safety of my marriage allowed me to explore my sexuality, and I don't have much difficulty expressing my needs or responding to my partner's.
3. I know a lot more music trivia than if I had not been married to a musical encyclopedia.
4. I have a deep appreciation for film that I'm not sure I would have without being inspired by the passion my former spouse expressed.
5. I am easy to live with, generally.
6. I'm someone's favorite aunt.
7. I know what I need from my relationships, and what I don't need; what I can tolerate, and what I find irritating.
8. I made many close friends through my former spouse, whether directly or indirectly.
9. I returned to doing theatre, which I always loved in high school but had given up along the way. It was helping with his shows that gave me back the "bug."
That's what I can think of for now, I'll add more as I think of them.
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