I'm random, thanks for asking.

I've done what I hoped to do today, for the most part. This included sleeping in, going to Home Goods and World Market, and cracking open my newest cookbook. One of the food bloggers I follow on posted about this book on IG, and it looked like something I could do. Looking through the recipes, there's a lot of kale...I actually don't mind kale, but it's a lot of prep work. I think. I've never actually prepped it. Anyway, I used sticky note flags to mark recipes I want to make. When I'll make them is another story. I still have two other baking books waiting for me. Plus, I need to see if my current book has something that will use up the 4 bananas I purposely left uneaten.

Speaking of eating, why am I feeling weird after my bagel and cream cheese? Could have something to do with the overabundance of coffee I've consumed today.

Oh, I also wanted to maybe make millionaire's shortbread, but that will have to wait a while.

So the popular thing lately is Marie Kondo's show on Netflix. I remember her book coming out a few years ago, but fewer people seemed to take notice of that. However, I don't need the KonMari method. I declutter on a regular basis. I just get aggravated when things are disorganized or take up too much space. Not that my house is by any means spotless. The chair I never sit in is currently the home of 3 dresses that I need to donate to an organization that provides free prom dresses to girls in need. They are old bridesmaid dresses; fancy but not blingy or outlandish. One is cocktail length. One has a lot of snags in the tulle at the bottom, though I don't think they are too obvious. Plus, the dress can be shortened to cocktail length if they wanted to. How do I know this? The sample at Nordstrom had one that had been shortened. However, it's a lot of layers of tulle, and it cost an arm and a leg to get it shortened and taken in for me.

I think I'll watch Ant Man, so I can eventually watch the sequel before it's taken off Netflix. It's been a good day to relax.

http://ringsandcoffee.livejournal.com/509497.html

These questions were written by ahunter3 for thefridayfive

1) What was the first recipe or food you learned how to cook?
Either Kraft mac and cheese, Top Ramen, Nestle Tollhouse cookies, or boxed cake mixes.

2) What recipe or food did you cook most recently?
Food cooked: pasta with meat sauce (ground beef, a jar of sauce, a can of tomatoes and random seasonings). Recipe followed: double chocolate banana bread

3) What recipe or food do you cook most often?
I bake most often, brownies (adapted from a KAF recipe) or banana bread

4) What is your favorite recipe?
This is definitely my favorite cookie recipe.


5) What is the recipe you make that impresses other people the most?
The above chocolate chip cookies, my brownies, and most anything I bake.

It was just posted today.

1. How do you feel about cooking?
I enjoy it, but wish I knew how to make even more things. Also be more authentic - I think I make very simplified versions of a lot of ethnic dishes.
I am also usually too busy to cook, which is sad. I like real food!

2. How often do you cook a meal (from mostly fresh ingredients, not something ready-assembled that you just heat)?
Maybe twice a week. Usually more like once. That is pathetic. Lately, even less often.

3. How many people do you usually cook for, when you cook?
Me, me and me.

4. Do you have a favourite recipe book or chef?
No, but I love food blogs. Lately it's Food52 and Smitten Kitchen.

5. Kitchen tools: use the fewest possible or gadgets are your friend?
Gadgets are my friend. Sooooooo much to wash after I cook or bake! I should say that I have the tools I love, but not a lot of one-use items. Every so often I ALMOST get the avocado slicer. If I ate mangoes on a regular basis, I'd definitely get a mango cutter.

I love literary-inspired web series. I hate when they end and thus no longer have new eps to look forward to. There are two I need to binge-watch (one finished, the other I think is trying to raise funds for another season) as I have known about them a long time. Anyway, if you like Anne of Green Gables, the modern adaptation Green Gables Fables isn't bad.

It just so happens that this episode aired when I am needing to watch it over and over again. If I don't get my happy ending (yet), then I read or watch it elsewhere. Over and over. And over.

For fun, here is a photo of the unattractive yet delicious cake I made over the weekend. I kept some, but most went to work with me today. My coworkers love me.

I just made this cake: http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/whole-orange-cake for the second time. The first time, oranges were not in season and the ones I used were not very juicy. The cake was ok. This time, the oranges were better, but the cake has a definite bitter taste to it. If I make it again, I think I'm going to peel the oranges instead of using the whole fruit. Maybe with the glaze it will taste better. Also, it stuck to the pan again! What?? I used a ton of non-stick spray, and even brushed it around to coat all around. Maybe I should use the spray with flour next time.

I want to try the same recipe but use pureed peaches instead. The texture of the cake is good, so maybe different fruits will work in place of the oranges.




In other news, my newest betta, named Regina, is doing well. My other 2 have also perked up since adding marimo moss balls to their containers.

...and I usually do what I'm told. ;)

Post one good thing and one bad thing about your day.

Good thing: I just watched the second episode of Sherlock season 3. Hilarious. A bit slow as the middle eps usually are, but this is the best middle episode of all 3 seasons.

One bad thing: a friend is in the hospital with low blood sugar, which may be related to her diabetes or it may be related to her failing kidneys. Said friend has had a really rough go of things health-wise for years now.

I need to bake brownies now. I have to make them for a work potluck, but baking is theraputic, so that's a plus.

After almost having to babysit all day today, I was instead able to sleep in and then do chores. Oh, how I love waking up when it's light outside, only to turn over and go back to sleep.

Yesterday, I was thrilled to be able to grocery shop (hooray for getting paid!) and then cook. Last night I made spicy pulled pork and a batch of cookie dough. Today I went to a different store for stuff Sprouts doesn't carry, then made a huge pot of spaghetti sauce. As that simmered, and after doing a bunch of dishes, I decided scooping and rolling the cookie dough was too much effort. So, into a pan it went to make bars instead. Froze most of the sauce and pork, cleaned everything, then swept and mopped. Listened to Prairie Home Companion too. Twas nice to do all this, but I've reached my limit. So, I sat down with a glass of riesling and read my Vintage Cakes cookbook.

Last night, I had a glass of wine. Tonight, I had another. Right now I am a little buzzed. Ha. I still need to iron clothes, which I've been avoiding for days. Also need to contact Natalie and see about watching the new Doctor Who ep tomorrow. Maybe I'll steam some asparagus first.

Sheesh, my life is boring.

On this trip, I have:
baked brownies and strawberry cake
saw cousins I have not seen in many years
watched all 14 episodes of The Office U.K. (infinitely more Martin Freeman love now)
camped in Yosemite (but still haven't seen any bears)
NOT been to Target (gasp!)
only been to Peet's twice; 3 times if you count the Peet's/ice cream place in Yosemite
finished the book Emma and Knightly
Eaten dinner at Max's (yum) and Luna Loca (Mom likes it, I think it's ok)

Tonight, I ate pie and watched SYTYCD. Lots of good dancers this season.

Tomorrow, I will see Allison in Santa Rosa. Friday I will see some Sac friends.

Need to upload pictures from my camera, but it's 11pm. Later, later.

Just made this: http://crepesofwrath.net/2011/08/26/indian-spiced-beef-with-chickpeas/ AND IT IS DELISH!!! You must try it! I used half a white onion I had left over instead of shallots, but it was still good. The fresh ginger is awesome, and easier to peel than I feared it would be.

This is in the crock pot: http://carpeseason.com/crockpot-coconut-chicken-curry/ I tasted the sauce (minus a bell pepper because I forgot it was an ingredient) before pouring it over the chicken and loved it already. I used light coconut milk instead of regular, in hopes that it wouldn't be too sweet like the last time I tried a recipe with it.

Oh, and Thursday night, I got a wild hair and made pumpkin bread. I adapted this recipe: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/pumpkin-bread-2/Detail.aspx by subbing half the sugar for brown sugar, and omitting the cloves. I hate the smell of cloves.

Reena and Michelle (and Loch) came over after a bunch of us went to breakfast yesterday. Once again, they were trying to convince me to watch or read the Twilight books.  Why does the word "twilight" suddenly look weird spelled out?  I mentioned reading Eclipse in 15 minutes which they think has prejudiced me against the movies.  Comparisons to Harry Potter were made, and wonder as to why I don't care for them either.  I said that I just never cared for HP, but Twilight I just find...goofy/laughable/mockable for some reason.  It's not even anything to do with vampires.  The plots and/or writing just seem LOL-worthy.   I did read a section of Breaking Dawn, by the way.  As I read, I was pretty incredulous as to what the appeal was.  Reena said I should at least give the book Twilight a try; she almost had me convinced.  Not reading them is sort of like a personal trophy for me, like how I've never smoked at all.  Well, oops, I did read that part of BD, dangit. 

We watched Persuasion 2007, then Reena chose Sense and Sensibility 2008.  Why are Austen men so awesome and yet can be such idiots?  Obviously some characters are exaggerated, but it's sad to think they were based on reality at the time.  Some rich people (Fanny Dashwood) were major snobs, some were complete idiots (Lucy Steele, Mary Musgrove), and the men run the full gamut.  

In other news: I just baked two batches of chocolate chip scones, my oven temperature is way off, I went swimming at Heidi's and got more tan/burned, and I have yet to start the books I bought yesterday.  One is a classroom management book, the other My Lobotomy which I've wanted to read for a long time.  I guess I should get off the computer and get some more chores accomplished.