Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Things That I'm Into: Apologizing for Slacking on Extracurriculars

I've been MIA! I'm sorry. Shit went down, as per usual.* But I'm back and better than ever. Promise.





* Out of town guests, end of summer business, medical issues, laziness, becoming a new pet parent, friends moving away, friends moving here, getting used to my new job, etcetera.

image found here. 




Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Things That I'm Into: The Kids are All Right




I loved this movie for a lot of different reasons. It reminded me of the good parts of living in LA. Mark Ruffalo is ADORABLE.  The Joni Mitchell sing-a-long is reminiscent of my family dinners growing up.  It has a smart script and interesting characters. Good soundtrack.  The teenagers are thoughtful instead of total dipshits, like they are usually portrayed in movies. Highly recommend!

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Things That I'm Into: August Asian-Inspired Meal

So apparently this blog is on a food kick? Sorry about that. Will get back to other nonsense soon, promise.




We've been getting Kohlrabi in our CSA, and didn't even know enough about it (like, um, its name) to google it to find out about it. Luckily Chrystal used to work at a nursery and knows lots of smart things about plants, including what Kohlrabi is and how to prepare it. Especially when it is super hot out and you don't want to cook much. Turns out it tastes like Jicama (to me).  Delicious and refreshing. 





Menu:

Kohlrabi/Cucumber Salad with Soy Sauce Maple Dressing. 
Kohlrabi Greens Chips
Siracha Hummos (a revelation! definitely making this again)
No-knead bread


Monday, August 16, 2010

Things That I'm Into: Salt-and-Vinegar Potatoes on the Grill

Saw these on this food blog awhile ago, but I believe it is adapted from Martha Stewart (as many good things are). Matt and I are pretty obsessed with these now, having made them about three or four times on the grill in in the last month.




If you like salt and vinegar potato chips, I would STRONGLY recommend trying these out.  The first time we did it we used white wine vinegar, since we were kind of scared of using just plain white vinegar (since it kind of seems like a cleaning product sometimes instead of a food product).


Now we just use white vinegar, since it is cheaper, and it is still delicious.  The outsides get so crispy on the grill and the insides are tangy and delicious. SO into them.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Things That I'm Into: Eggless Egg Salad

I'm not sure if this looks gross to those that don't eat tofu on a regular basis, but it was SO GOOD I had to share. Adopted via Vegetarian Times via Red Lentil restaurant in Watertown, Mass.



1 pkg Tofu, drained and cut into four slabs.
1.5 Tbsp Soy sauce
1 Tbsp Cider vinegar
1 Tbsp Rice vinegar
1 Tbsp Maple syrup
1 Clove garlic
1/4 cup chopped green pepper (I also added some spicy pepper)
1/4 cup mayo (I just made Mark Bittman's)
1/8 cup chopped red onion
1/8 cup chopped golden raisens
1/2 Tbsp tumeric
1/2 Tbsp cumin
1/2 Tbsp lemon
(p.s. the recipe said to add celery, but, um, gross in my opinion)


1. Preheat oven to 350. 
2. Whisk together soy sauce, vinegars, syrup and garlic in bowl. Pour soy sauce mixture over tofu in baking dish. Bake 15 minutes. Cool.
3. Crumble baked tofu. Stir in remaining ingredients. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Eat all week long, on bread or plain.

(the pictures in vegetarian times are so much prettier. I could never be a food blogger, my pictures are dumps city). 

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Things That I'm Into: Music + Skyline

Lollapalooza 2010 (Sunday): Mumford & Sons, Yeasayer, Frightened Rabbit, MGMT, The National, Arcade Fire

Hot, sweaty, too many people. But also so so fun. Arcade Fire was probably my best show of 2010 so far.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Things That I'm Into: Houseguests

Meet Lito, our houseguest for the week.*








We're babysitting this wirehaired dachshund for a couple days for some friends. He likes the couch.

* We actually also have a fantastic human house guest this week, but she's not as into posing for me on the couch.

Monday, August 9, 2010

Things That I'm Into: Rootops; Sunrises (doubly whammy)

Sometimes staying up to see the sunrise on a roof deck after a night out isn't a bad way to end a weekend. 

Trying not to make it a habit though.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Things That I'm Into: Pickling

Pickles. Probably one of the original things that I was ever into.

Our CSA box last week had a bunch of cucumbers, and I've been seeing pictures/recipes/etc of refrigerator pickles lately, so Deets and I thought we'd try it out.





























We made two different jars, one spicy/tumeric and one spicy/dill. 


(this picture taken a couple days after we'd been eating them- they were filled at one point, promise.)

They were so good! Crunchy, flavorful and really delicious. We put the onions on sandwiches and just at the pickles plain.

Recipe:

- Slice cucumbers/onions/garlic & chop serrano pepper if you want it spicy
- Stack in jar, along with dill
- boil 1 cup vinegar, two tablespoons sugar, one tablespoons salt,  then mustard seed/tumeric/dill/chiles/etc depending on the taste you want.
- Pour brine into jar, put cap on, shake a little, then let it sit 24 hours
- Then eat delicious pickles! Apparently they will keep for a month in the fridge. 



Our CSA this week had four more cucumbers, so I might make some more. It took approx 10 minutes and costs almost nothing, so I think we're going to try and make it a regular thing.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Things That I'm Into: Community Garden/Lunch Spot

This community garden is somewhat near* my new work. I've been eating my lunch here occasionally, and I'm pretty into it.  I wish we could get a plot here, but unfortunately (though it makes sense) you have to live within five blocks, which we certainly do not.







 

I like having good outdoor options to eat my lunch, especially after last year working in LA in a building surrounded by no sidewalks.

* I say near because the exact physical location of my new job is a SECRET not just from the internetz world but also from my friends and family. Apparently I can talk about it generally, but not the exact address. Seems a little overkill, but they are worried about security and they probably know what's up, so...