Posts Tagged "autumn"

The state of things

Posted by gwen on Nov 25, 2009 in photo | 1 comment

Chad’s ankle looks even more disgusting today, parts of it are near-black and the whole side of the foot is a deep ocean blue.

I went to the farmer’s market today, it was 70 out and positively spring-like. I took off my cardigan and bared my arms and it was glorious. Stopped at the super-enthusiastic lady’s consignment shop and scored a nice autumnal light sporty jacket in a dark peach [wiki says ochre]. Got groceries with D, cooked a couple times, and did more housework in general than I have in awhile. I reorganized a little bit in the kitchen, which made me feel less resentful. I found the smell[s] in the refrigerator.

Watched Horatio Hornblower with Chad and made a pair of earrings and a knotted sea-color glass necklace, which I will probably look at after I’ve become more proficient at the knotting and think it is embarrassingly amateurish. But I like it now.

I am up too late again. I don’t know why I’ve been staying up so much, I hate waking up late, especially now that the day ends so early.

I still don’t know what we are doing on Thanksgiving, but D leaves on a train tomorrow mid-day and after that we’re kind of stranded. I should have bought a just-in-case turkey breast today. It is kind of looking like Chad is not going to be up to sitting in a car for the hour-long drive to San Jose, much less driving.

I think I will take the bus across town tomorrow to go to the cafe for a bit and will walk up to the shopping center to see if there is any of that turkey left. Just in case.

Date Day: Lake Chabot

Posted by gwen on Oct 20, 2009 in photo, travel | 0 comments

Last week’s Date Day was an afternoon at Lake Chabot in the Oakland hills.

We tried to sit on the lawn but it was still saturated from the storm earlier in the week, so we sat at a picnic table.
We went for a walk along the lake but mostly sat on Ruth Rule’s bench, watched people fish, prik-prikked at the coots.

» see more photos in the Date Day: Lake Chabot set

Fatty fall dinners, yum!

Posted by gwen on Oct 14, 2009 in photo, recipe | 0 comments

I am either pregnant or having a growth spurt or it’s really, truly fall, either way I have been cooking a lot lately. It might also be because Chad’s been doing it so long and lord knows I love his mu shu and mongolian and black bean and plum sauce but I am a little sick of stir fry. Mama needs some solid, textured, comfort food once in awhile, especially when on days we have the most rain we’ve ever had.

It would probably be better if my cooking wasn’t in direct proportion to the amount of time we’re missing PE class. My ass is spreading by the minute.

Beef stroganoff

This was dinner tonight and super tasty. Recipe at Simply Recipes. I used the TJ’s tri-color egg noodles-shaped pasta which was good but not egg noodles. I will use egg noodles next time.

Coconut Rice, in Chad’s Grandma’s green glass bowl
This is my first time making any kind of rice pudding, I keep meaning to learn how to make the kheer they have at India Palace, because I could eat that stuff all day. This was also delicious, both warm [last night's dessert] and cold [this afternoon's snack].

From Cooking With All Things Trader Joe’s by Deana Gunn and Wona Miniati

Coconut Rice
1/2 c. jasmine rice [I only had basmati. It is still delicious.]
1/2 c. water
1 c. + 1/4 c. light coconut milk
3 T. sugar

Combine water, rice, and 1 c. coconut milk in saucepan [I also threw in a cinnamon stick], bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer on low 30 minutes or until rice is cooked [it was under 20 for me]. Remove from heat and let sit 10 minutes.

The authors also suggest serving atop a drizzle of mango sauce and festooning with some mango chunks but I am not a huge mango fan so I garnished with more cinnamon. I like cinnamon.

Polenta with mushrooms [served with leftover chicken soup]
This was pretty good. I should probably learn to make polenta then it would be MAGNIFICENT.

And my chicken soup gets better every day.

From Cooking With All Things Trader Joe’s by Deana Gunn and Wona Miniati

Polenta with Truffled Mushrooms

Cook sliced-up pre-cooked roll of polenta in oiled pan for 4 minutes on each side, until lightly browned.

In separate pan, cook 2 c. mushrooms in a bit of oil. Add a bit of salt. I also added red pepper flakes.

Serve over polenta, drizzle with truffle oil and garnish with grated parmesan.

Soup du jour: Stormy chicken!

Posted by gwen on Oct 13, 2009 in photo, recipe | 0 comments

There was a storm coming in and I woke up all stuffy yesterday, so soup was in order. I made enough so I can have it for lunch all week.

It’s even better reheated with crumbles of cheddar on top.

Stormy Chicken* Soup
Sauté chopped shallot in olive oil. Add chopped celery [2-3] and carrots [2], and 1 cup cubed chicken meat [I have been using the canned white from TJs lately, it's not quite as good but much quicker].
Add 4 c. chicken broth and 4 c. water.
Season with oregano, salt, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and chopped celery leaves to taste.
Once boiling, add 1/2 cup fideo [available in your Mexican food section, or just break up some vermicelli], then simmer 20 minutes.

Serve with fresh tortilla strips, baguette, or crackers.

* Vegetarian version: DON’T add chicken, and use vegetable broth.

Wasting a Saturday afternoon

Posted by gwen on Oct 3, 2009 in photo | 0 comments

Yesterday was red for the end of Autumn Color Week.

I also have pink.

And one more from the Handcar Regatta Sunday — I got to pet a baby lemur and it is SO SOFT AND CUTE AND HAS RUBBERY LITTLE PALMS AND HOLDS YOUR FINGERS AND OMG OMG OMG OMG. The naturalist said it is illegal to own one in California but no judge would ever convict me.

And, in case you missed it, my whole photo set, which is filled with all manner of delightful costuming and artwork.

Halloween is coming.

Posted by gwen on Oct 1, 2009 in Halloween, photo | 0 comments

You’re looking forward to it, I can tell.

I found a brown skirt I’d forgotten I got that will go perfectly with my peach jacket and I dug out all my flower brooches and my brown knit cap and the green scarf I MADE MYSELF so I’m good to go. Need more tights.

Upcoming today and on, so you can stalk me:

Th Full Moon Buy Night @ JLS – crafts & stuff
Th Craft night at Julie’s. Come with? it’s at 6 or 7. Chad’ll probably drop me off over there around 5:30 before his tennis class.
Th Porkchop Express at Starry Plough. $6 and they’re awesome and Kevin the bassist is dreamy.
F Yelp Non-Prom Boat Cruise thing 5:30.
F-Su Hardly Strictly Bluegress, which is this amazing free music festival some guy with too much money puts on every year.
Sa Chad taking practice GRE 9 a.m.
Su Sundays in the Redwoods [Ledisi's next week]
Su Hot Tub/Castro St. Fair
Next Su/11 Space Shuttle sightings return to Alameda [you can look up your local]
17/18 HMB Pumpkin Fest 2009
Through 18 Quasi-RenFaire