It’s Super Bowl Sunday, ya’ll.
31/365/2015 Party Prep
I went out early this morning and got the food for tomorrow’s party, and groceries for the week. No, we won’t be eating only onions, but I liked the visual appeal of the bowl after I got the shopping unpacked, and you’ve seen several shots of my “ready to cook” counter later. I thought I would show you something else. Besides, I wanted to let you all know that I bought fresh garlic today because I learned last night how easy it is to “crush garlic with side of knife.” I know I am so ignorant in the kitchen. I can only say that both my grand-dad and my step-father were men who preferred simple foods, so I learned my kitchen skills from simple cooks. The spice cabinet consisted of salt, pepper, onion powder, Italian seasoning and bacon grease. “Crush the garlic” is not something I ever saw anyone do until I asked someone to show me.
While I was out, I had to remind the guy at the liquor store that he was supposed to be working in a no-judgment zone. I guess most people buy their alcohol a bit at a time, instead of running out of everything and then waiting a few more weeks to go replace any of it. HA!
You know how sometimes you take a nap and you feel refreshed? And other times you take one, and you sleep so long and so hard that you spend the rest of the day muddle-headed? Guess which one I had today? I’m trying to get alert enough to make a pie and mix up sausage balls. These are easy enough things, but…..I can’t quite get there.
I’ll be thinking of Aunt Janey while I make the sausage balls. She made the first ones I ever ate, and I can’t even think of them without seeing her face, and hearing her say my name. She could make “Denise” sound like “You are precious and loved.” I miss that.
30/365/2015 Day of Contemplation
Health. Diet. Work.  That kind of serious type stuff. I calmed myself by cooking.Â
29/365/2015 Never Have I Ever
Seeded cucumbers or roasted pine nuts before.
In other news, I have a huge post in my head about fearing death, or rather not fearing it, based on something I read this morning. But after a full day of feeding the machine of society I no longer have the energy to write it.
Maybe tomorrow.
28/365/2015 Oh my aching back. And hand.
I am changing some things up today. I now have to carry the DSM, which is printed on lead leaf, with me on Mondays in addition to my lunch, my water bottle, my tablet which has the materials for my other classes, and the sundry personal items I need to make it through a 15 hour day. With the two books on the right, my backpack weighs enough that my back stayed tight Monday even when I wasn’t wearing the pack. No good. I’m switching to a smaller planner/personal notes book and a standard notebook for class notes.
As for pens. That DSM prof plans to finish his 3 hour class in 2 hours each week. He does this by speaking faster than JFK. And giving out loads of information not in the text. And his tests are open book open note. That aqua pen does not glide. I have to push and pull it. And writing quickly makes it illegible. And I have good pens. That one, and its package mates, are gone.
BTW, I thought the pack was heavy Monday. No, it’s heavy TODAY with all these notebooks while I make the switch. At least I had the sense to ditch the DSM this morning.
27/365/2015 Germanesque
Jager Scnitzel, kartoffelsalat, rotkohl. It’s what’s for dinner. I’m attempting to make a lower fat version by sautéing the meat and then putting in the oven to finish cooking as opposed to frying it, and making a light mushroom and onion sauce instead of a full-on gravy. Also, the bacon is for the salat, and it only takes a smidge.
In other kitcheny news, I have decided, after slicing the potatoes for the kartoffelsalat, that I need a mandolin. Not the music kind. The cutting kind. I said it was kitchen news!
I got my life schedule for this semester pretty much settled today. Of course, I mucked it up right away by not being at work today, which means I will have to work Friday, but such things cannot be helped. I don’t need to pass to my residents whatever went through me yesterday.
I’m trying to think if there is anything else I want to tell John Q. Public tonight and I am coming up blank. Toodles!
26/365/2015 View from the 4th Floor
Two classes down, one to go. I’m exhausted. My stomach is in an uproar. It won’t snow like they promised.
On the other hand, I’ve climbed the stairs instead of taking the elevator all day. That’s 13 flights up so far. With a heavy backpack. No need to count the down flights – – they’re just too easy.
25/365/2015 Random thoughts
This is my grocery cart. $135 of reasonably healthy foods in modest proportions for the week. Those of you who notice details will see that I have spaetzle there. Underneath are the loin chops and mushrooms that will go into jager schnitzel. There is bacon and potatoes for kartoffelsalat. And Rotkohl. I’m cooking Germanesque on Tuesday night. Other tasty goodies this week include baked eggs with spinach and cream; cucumbers with oregano, feta and pine nuts; ham steaks to go with risotto; and some boneless, skinless chicken thighs that I will do something with–probably stir fry or pot pie. That last pot pie I made was so good it bears repeating. I’ll likely make a frittata at some point as well.
By the way, I wore my fat jeans today and they fit. Well. It’s time to get serious about what I’m putting in my face. This applies to both quality and quantity. Better food, cooked in smaller portions, and eaten with intention. Mindfulness as applied in the kitchen. I’m not planning to go on any type of “diet.” I don’t think that’s sustainable in the long run. I just plan to do less “quick and easy” where all the flavor comes from fat and salt. This includes avoiding fast food, meal splitting in restaurants, and many fewer meals consumed while I do other things.
The other thing is I want to feed the fridge less. We waste a lot of food that way, because unless I take a lunch, it just sits there and goes bad. So, again, smaller amounts of food–enough to go around and make the required lunch plates. The end. Saving my money and my health at the same time. This works for me.
All that said, I had Baja Fresh for lunch today. If you haven’t eaten there, I recommend it. The shrimp baja burrito is divine and a meal in itself. I split mine with a friend in exchange for some of his salad and we both walked away full–and with leftovers.
In other news, it is supposedly the eve of our next snowpocalypse. I decided it was time to invest in some sort of snow and ice removal device for the van. Apparently, when you live in Maryland you cannot get by for the entire winter just using an old credit card to clean your windshield. Who knew?
I also stopped by Michael’s and picked up a bottle of Mod Podge since I had a 40% off coupon. And some post extenders, since the last time I got ready to scrapbook, I wanted to put the pages I had started in a book but couldn’t because I was unable to lay my hands on the post extenders that I am sure I have here somewhere. If classes are cancelled tomorrow, and they may be, I’d like to make a collage. Or something. And I am half hoping they do cancel classes. The kids started getting sick, one per day so far, on Thursday. My cousin got sick on Friday. And guess who now feels fuzzy-headed and feverish? Yep, me. It’s not even 7pm and I just want to go to bed already.
On the other hand, if they don’t cancel class, that’s exciting, too. First days always are. I have the syllabi for two of the three academic classes already. Not sure what the hold up is on the last one, since classes officially started last Tuesday. But hey, whatever. I haven’t started the reading yet anyway. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof, and my classes start TOMORROW.
Alrighty then, my to-do list still has several items on it, and I need to get prepped for the week ahead. I am sincerely thankful that every weekend for the next 15 weeks is a three-day weekend for me. I’ll be able to make it through the Mondays with that thought in mind. I hope. Three three-hour classes is a lot to cram in to a day.