Another 5 Second Post: What I'm Digging On (Presently)

1. Podcasts.

Yup! I'm a talk radio listener. Most of my travel time (car/train/shuttle/walking) is spent on the following: The Nerdist, WTF with Marc Maron, RadioLab, Stuff You Should Know, Stuff Mom Never Told You, the Dinner Party Download, the Pop Culture Happy Hour, How to Do Everything - and of course, NPR staples Wait, Wait...Don't Tell Me! and This American Life.

BHE and I even had a chance to meet one of our podcast heroes, Mr. Ira Glass. (Apparently, he's originally from Baltimore and came down for a fundraising/speaking gig.)

2. Music.

I don't know about you, but I'm winning Grammy's in my car. In my head anyway. The following are the artists whose work I'm currently butchering while on I95 or 83S...

Adele. (LURVE her! And finally got to see her perform in DC. Good show! Made a bunch of new friends, too.)

April Smith and the Great Picture Show.

 

Fitz and the Tantrums. 

And, of course, The Outdoors.

3. Summer Weddings/Travel

We've had 2 weddings and at least one drive South so far with another 3 weddings upcoming. There are also a few more trips to Chicago, Pittsburgh, and a few locations yet to be determined. 

Now, I won't sugar coat - driving is a pain in the ass. There's only so much of interstate you can admire while your crawling along in traffic while trying to get your dog to just SIT DOWN QUIETLY ALREADY. If you have any upcoming travels I suggest grabbing a copy of Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter for the drive. It's surprisingly entertaining if you like your drama on the Neil Gaiman side of things. 

Still, the destination is almost always worth it. BHE gets to pal around with some of his buddies from back in the Cub Scout days, which is always worth the mileage. 

At the most recent wedding, these two came back to the hotel with 3 cases of alcohol for us to take home. Craziness...

Summer travel also includes trips to ball games. And while televised baseball is often neck and neck with C-SPAN in terms of entertainment value, nothing encompasses the season like a day at the ball park.

I still can't stand the Phillies, though. 

On one last note, if you're in the B'more area and are looking for a quick thrill this fall, might I recommend the Run for Your Lives 5K in October? It's basically an obstacle course where you dodge "actual" zombies. I haven't made up my mind about it just yet (I may just volunteer instead), but who wouldn't want to take part in an event where the FAQs include questions like:

WILL THE ZOMBIES BE CHASING ME SLOWLY OR QUICKLY? ARE THEY THE WALKING DEAD, OR THE RUNNING DEAD?

If we told you every detail, this wouldn't be fun at all. Our best advice: be prepared to run, duck, dive, and dodge.

I HAVE TRAINED MY DOG/CAT/BIRD/YOUNG CHILD TO DEFEND ME IN CASE OF A ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE, CAN THEY RACE WITH ME?

No. Only registered participants meeting the age requirements will be allowed to navigate the course. Please do not bring any pets to race or to party; they will be eaten by zombies.

WHAT WILL I WALK AWAY WITH?

• Warwear performance tee
• Racing bib (we know you always wanted one)
• Medals to signify your survival (or zombie transformation)
• Admittance to the Apocalypse Party
• Advanced training for the actual Zombie Apocalypse
• One less appendage

AWESOME.

5-Second Post

Laziness, you are my #1 enemy!

I swear, I've been meaning to blog. Really! But life activities and a general refusal to go near a computer after work hours has lent itself to some record slacker blogging.

And now, I'm about to run out of the office (again) in order to tend to some pre-conference activities, which means I STILL don't have time to do a proper entry.

So I'm doing a 5-second recap instead:

(1) Good Idea/Bad Idea: Banana Bread Beer Taste Test Results
In short, it tastes like banana. Not banana BREAD, mind you, but there's a definite banana flavor. Granted, it's nothing you couldn't likely replicate with a shot of 99 Bananas, but given that 99B and I had a very, very, very bad break up following late night while at university, I can't say I recommend attempting it.

(2) Racing Fool
I'm registered to date for the Maryland Warrior Dash (May), the Baltimore Half-Marathon (October), and the Walt Disney World Marathon (January 2012). I had originally planned to run the 2012 Goofy (a half marathon followed the next day by a full marathon through the park), but BHE politely asked that I reconsider. Actually, he said that he didn't want me to die, which I think was a tad melodramatic, but it's hard him down when he begs - he has puppy eyes. Anyway, I need a new training program and mileage tracker, so if you have any suggestions by all means send them my way! I'll make you a cookie if you do :)

(3) Twitterfied
A good friend and I were exchanges stories about married life when we decided that we ought to share (and give others a chance to share) those special moments where it's all you can do to not slap your partner/spouse/loved one. The result is My Ball and Chain. Head on over and feel free to share your story there, in person or anonymously.

Ok, that's longer than 5 seconds. I do have a recipe or two to post, including a tofu dish my sisters and I undertook during a 2 1/2 day cleaning spree in South Carolina.

But that will have to wait until I've finished with my 3 day conference on population research in DC. Try not to be jealous.

For now, I'll leave you with my 2 current musical obsessions: Adele, who I'll be seeing live next month (oh hells yeah!) and Fitz & the Tantrums, whose album I still need to get but I've been wearing out their Facebook site something awful.






Enjoy!

One last (fairly awesome) thing

If you like gingers or great music then you, dear Reader, are in for a treat!

The ever-so-talented-you-could-almost-hate-him-for-it Garry Schaaf has teamed up with a group of equally super-skilled musicians. The end result is the latest EP release by the Outdoors, which - lucky for us - is available online at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/theoutdoors/the-outdoors-ep-launch-and-tour The quality of the music almost makes up for Garry's attempt at facial hair.

You can check out tracks and find out more about the band (including - fingers crossed- upcoming tour dates) on their Facebook page and Twitter feed. You can also download their EP for free on their homepage.

Check 'em out if you're looking for something in the smooth groovy and Indie vein and enjoy!

Thanksgiving: The Revenge

Hey, peeps!

Sorry I suck at staying on top of these postings. (Looks like I've got something to add to my resolution '11 list already.) I promise I've been busy,trying to keep up with a year that is flying by at speeds that would rattle Einstein's grey matter.

Anywho - holiday recap! This year saw Tony and I spending yet another Thanksgiving in separate parts of the country (our families live far apart and work commitments usually restrict our travel time). So we decided to be proactive and host a pre-Thanksgiving for ourselves. Then my need to feed others kicked in and we started inviting people. Lots of people.

About a dozen confirmed invitations later and I found myself lugging home a 14lb turkey with numerous yet-to-be-prepared side dishes. After some unexpectedly intense debate about bird preparation (to brine or not to brine?), I decided to brine the damn thing and be done with it. The bird and brine solution went into a 35 gallon Rubbermaid (kept in the fridge, of course) and from roughly 9pm Saturday night until 4:30pm Sunday afternoon, I was cooking.

Tony - bless him - helped clean the house and made no fewer than 5 trips to the supermarket to pick up various ingredients during the day.

Thankfully, all went well, and everyone was eating by 4:30pm.

The spread.
Also, the striped rugby shirt I will no longer be wearing.
(Seriously, why didn't anyone tell me it looked so wide on me?!?)

The final menu looked something like this:

*Brined Roasted Turkey (using Alex Guarnaschelli's recipe, but Cooks Illustrated's cooking method)

*Carrots with Shallots, Sage & Thyme (Courtesy of Two Cooks, One Kitchen)

*Roasted Sweet Potatoes (using the par-boiling method recommended by Serious Eats)

*Shredded Brussel Sprouts with Gorgonzola, Shallots & Tomatoes (Courtesy of Mango & Tomato)

*The Famous/Infamous Wiley Corn Pudding

*Cranberry Sauce with Dried Cherries & Cloves (shout out to Matt from ex-boyfriend collection for the recipe)

*Stuffing (Stove Top. I was too tired to make it from scratch.)

*Mashed Potatoes & Gravy (Thank you, McCormick!)

*Trader Joe's brand Corn Bread (really, really freaking delicious)

*Italian Bread (via Pillsbury)

*Various pies for dessert

I also need to thank Emily for making a green bean casserole, Suzanne for making that butternut squash & goat cheese tart, and Patti for the sweet potato pie mash. Oh - and props to Paul and Brad for bringing booze. (Bless ya!)

Tony and I are ALMOST done with the leftovers, which have taken the form of a turkey noodle casserole, turkey & rice soup, and - coming for the Ravens v. Steelers game Sunday - Thanksgiving pizza.

And now, we wait for Christmas. Which I can easily countdown to with my handy-dandy, best big sis-to-lil-sis present ever: the pop up Advent calendar.

Each day I get a new ornament to hang on the tree.

Try not to be jealous. :)

I've got a trip to H-Mart (aka, Hanah Reum) (aka, the Asian food mega mart) to recap and possibily some housing news to share in the near future. But for now, enjoy some tunes by my buddy Gary's outstand band, The Outdoors.

My Friend, The Artist

My good buddy Joe, teacher/artist/new dad, has just put out his first album for purchase on iTunes and Amazon.com.

Check out the Threshold Circuit and you, too, can say, "I knew Joe back when..."

Toasted Mushroom Pasta: The First Signs of Spring and Setting Goals for 2010

Despite a crippling winter this year, it seems that Spring is taking its first steps into the sunlight.

Of course, this could be the beginning of an equally crippling summer, but I can enjoy the more temperate mid-season for the time being. I was (finally) able to start training for the Baltimore 10-Miler with my buddy, Indira - outdoors no less - running along the pathways through Patterson Park. It was all very scenic.

So Spring, in short, is a good motivator. The warmer temperatures and natural sunlight inspire me to get off the couch, clean off the cobwebs and seasonal affect disorder, and get to work on some of my other goals for the year, such as...

Realistic Goal for 2010 #1: Finish and return copy of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" that I borrowed from my mother-in-law about, oh, 16 months ago.

Not-so-realistic Goal for 2010 #1: Learn to surf. Preferably without significant physical damage to self, others, or the local fauna in the process.

Realistic Goal for 2010 #2: Finish crochet projects for numerous, numerous number of children recently and soon-to-be born to various friends and loved ones.

Not-so-realistic Goal for 2010 #2: Convince NZ government that they should pay for me to live in Wellington.

See? There's loads to do!

The sunlight also inspired me to try something on the lighter side of home cooking, so last night I borrowed from Ali at Give Me Some Oven and made some Toasted Mushroom Pasta.

As I've mentioned before, I'm generally not a big fan of mushrooms. But, I've learned that statement is generally limited to button mushrooms. And olives, which suck mightily, but that's another post entirely. Anywho, substitute baby bellas (left over from last week's pot roast) and you've got yourself a meal! A friggin' tasty one at that, too...

(Admittedly not the best photos, but trust me - it's deceptively delicious.)

Happily, this recipe is pretty easy to convert into a vegetarian dish. It's also easy on your budget and personal time, which is all kinds of good in my book. Make it while listening to Paolo Nutini's new album as you finish the bottle of white wine partially used in the recipe.

You'll be toasting the new Spring all evening.

*******************************************************************************************************

Toasted Mushroom Pasta

(From Give Me Some Oven and adapted from No Tea After 12)

Ingredients:

3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

1 Tbsp. butter

8 oz. fresh mushrooms (approx 2 cups), cleaned and thinly sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

¼ cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped

1 tsp. dried oregano

½ cup dry white wine

8 oz macaroni or other pasta

2 cups chicken or vegetable stock

¼ cup cream

¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper

salt to taste

Method:

Heat a large heavy skillet over very high heat, add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to the pan. Sautee the mushrooms until browned, but not cooked all the way through, about 2-3 minutes. Reduce the heat and add the parsley, garlic, oregano and cook for another minute or so. Pour in the wine and simmer for 3-5 minutes. Remove the mushrooms and remaining sauce to a bowl, and set aside.

In another large skillet or saucepan, add the remaining 2 Tablespoons olive oil and the butter. Add the macaroni and stir it constantly until it is a deep golden brown (this should take about 5 minutes). Be sure to watch carefully, as the pasta can go from toasted to burnt very quickly!!

Once toasted, pour in the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered until the pasta is al dente, or almost tender. (This should take approximately 10 minutes.)

Stir in the mushroom mixture and cream and cook for a few more minutes to let everything come together in a beautiful creamy, but not claggy sauce. Remove from the heat and stir in the parmesan and pepper. Taste for seasoning, add salt if needed, but the Parmesan is usually just salty enough. Sprinkle with a bit of fresh parsley, and more Parmesan if you’d like.