all i want in life is a big kitchen. and lots of time to cook. and lots of money to buy ingredients and cooking supplies. and a whole bunch of other things. that's all. too much to ask for?
anyway, since i have no real singular focus for this blog, today i am choosing to write about food. which i've done before. and will probably do again.
i'm on my lunch break right now enjoying some delicious leftover lentil and veggie soup that i made last week. it is loosely based on a recipe from More With Less (fav cookbook!) basically i just started cooking a big ol' pot of green lentils with extra water. add plenty of salt. (approx 1 cup of lentils and 2 1/2 cups of water...not really sure since i added some later).
while those were cooking i peeled and chopped carrots (3 or 4). i love carrots in soup. they add such a nice flavor and color! i dumped the carrots in the pot along with the already cooking lentils, because i don't like crunchy carrots in my soup. then i chopped half an onion and several stalks of celery. i should have added these earlier than i did...the celery stayed a little crunchy which was a nice texture, but not what i wanted.
i waited until the lentils were almost cooked thoroughly and then added the celery, onions, a clove or two of garlic (chopped finely), and a can of crushed tomatoes with the juice. this is where i evaluated my liquid to goodie ratio and decided to add some water. it depends on how soupy you like your soup!
stir all this up and start adding spices!! being the new orleans convert i am, i wanted it to be flavorful and spicy. so i added plenty of salt and pepper, along with a bay leaf, some dried parsley, and some dried oregano. i probably could have cut back on the black pepper, but all in all...tastes good! the key to using spices is to just do a little bit at a time and taste. then let it simmer. taste again. add some more. simmer and taste...repeat.
i used to be terrified of herbs and spices because i didn't know what went with what and how it would taste so i always just stuck to plain old salt and pepper. using recipes with plenty of spices has gotten me past that barrier. i now know (generally) what i can add to my lentils that will taste good. or what i can add to my pasta sauce, etc... i'm still not terribly adventurous, but hopefully with time and practice, i'll become the spice queen.
anyway, the soup was delish and it made a TON. and it keeps very well in the fridge owing the the fact that there is no eggs or dairy involved.
sorry if you were hoping for a recipe with measurements...soup is usually just a way for me to use any vegetables i might have sitting around. throw them in the pot and see what happens!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
i gave up blogs for lent...
it's true. i didn't mean to give up my own blogging though. i actually have some draft articles sitting in my dashboard...who knows if i will ever finish them. they feel mostly unfinishable.
anyway, the Lent season was an interesting time for me. waiting...waiting...sometimes i forget what i am waiting for. or maybe i feel like once Easter arrives, everything will shift into focus for me.
not so.
life has been busy, unpredictable, messy, fun, terrifying, beautiful, and overwhelming. i'm sure i've forgotten a few of the adjectives i've used over the past few months, but that about sums it up.
the funny this is this...my life has always been these things. i keep waiting for this phase of life to get over, but i don't think it's going to. i think i'm stuck in the chaos forever.
so Lent was about waiting. waiting for the confirmation of what keeps me grounded. Christ is Risen! or as my pastor's daughter wrote on the easter egg baskets at church "He Be Risen!" and that makes it all worth it.
anyway, the Lent season was an interesting time for me. waiting...waiting...sometimes i forget what i am waiting for. or maybe i feel like once Easter arrives, everything will shift into focus for me.
not so.
life has been busy, unpredictable, messy, fun, terrifying, beautiful, and overwhelming. i'm sure i've forgotten a few of the adjectives i've used over the past few months, but that about sums it up.
the funny this is this...my life has always been these things. i keep waiting for this phase of life to get over, but i don't think it's going to. i think i'm stuck in the chaos forever.
so Lent was about waiting. waiting for the confirmation of what keeps me grounded. Christ is Risen! or as my pastor's daughter wrote on the easter egg baskets at church "He Be Risen!" and that makes it all worth it.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
it is 9:30 am
and i have gotten no significant work done. i'm working from home this morning because i am waiting for my cello to be delivered. usually i can focus really well when i work from home, but for the past hour i have been distracted by:
-breakfast
-coffee
-sending a personal email about political and social topics to discuss in depth on another blog. this takes a lot of thought on my part because i am not naturally inclined to participate in these types of conversations. but i recognize the importance and the value.
-cooking kidney beans for my dinner recipe
-thinking about and planning for the elder retreat this weekend. i'm not looking forward to it. maybe i should revise that to "thinking about and planning and dreading"
-checking facebook communications
-and now this blog entry
to be fair, i have actually opened my work email. good for me. now i must go read it.
-breakfast
-coffee
-sending a personal email about political and social topics to discuss in depth on another blog. this takes a lot of thought on my part because i am not naturally inclined to participate in these types of conversations. but i recognize the importance and the value.
-cooking kidney beans for my dinner recipe
-thinking about and planning for the elder retreat this weekend. i'm not looking forward to it. maybe i should revise that to "thinking about and planning and dreading"
-checking facebook communications
-and now this blog entry
to be fair, i have actually opened my work email. good for me. now i must go read it.
Monday, January 26, 2009
everyone keeps doing this on facebook...
and you are supposed to do it too if they tag you in the note. i have yet to be tagged. but here are my 25 things (about me).
1. i just got very self-conscious about how narcissistic this activity is. especially since most likely no one will read this post.
2. i crave outdoor gear even though i live in new orleans and the closest experience i have to the "outdoors" is a walk in the park. literally. see below post.
3. i have a love affair with 97.3 KBCO in boulder and i don't care who knows it.
4. i can't remember the last time i finished an entire can of soda.
5. i made a pan of brownies the other day because i wanted just one. and then i ate three. and had to bring the rest to friends.
6. nothing makes me feel better than curling up on my couch with a good book and a cup of tea. except having someone else curled up at the other end doing the same thing.
7. so far i have lived in Oklahoma, Florida, New York, Colorado, Tennessee, and Louisiana. i have an unofficial goal of living in all 50 states. (living=at least 4 months, for the purpose of my goal)
8. some of my favorite christmas presents over the past few years have been: my merrells, webster's unabridged dictionary, a full-size cardboard cutout of Aragorn from Lord of the Rings, KBCO Studio C albums (always and forever), a teapot with matching creamer and sugar, and rainboots.
9. i ALWAYS cry at the end of When Harry Met Sally. i also have the majority of the movie memorized.
10. i secretly think i could be an amazing writer, but i'm too scared of criticism to seek advice.
11. the fact that there is no way i will ever be able to read every book written has brought me to tears. on multiple occasions.
12. i hate waking up but i LOVE being awake in the early morning.
13. i do screen my phone calls. sorry.
14. i have wasted too much of my time exploring and reading blogs. a habit i picked up when i was unemployed.
15. i would be happy if i could wear sweatpants and a white t-shirt every day for the rest of my life. but i also love costumes. every morning when i have to get dressed for work, i pretend i am dressing in my "work costume." it makes things easier for me.
16. i miss my family more and more every day. i truly regret not actually spending more time with them when i still lived in the CO.
17. i like to pretend that The Allman Brothers song "Ramblin' Man" was written just for me. especially the part where it says "on my way to New Orleans this morning, leaving out of Nashville, Tennessee" because i did that!
18. my parents' cabin "The West" is my favorite place on earth.
19. cooking meals for myself is empowering some days. and other days it is depressing when i just want to share it with someone else.
20. i can fight through a stomachache, a bad cold, or a sore back, but a bad headache knocks me out flat.
21. i can say "i wish i was skiing right now" and 97% of the time it is true.
22. i believe that if i am going to pay the airfare to make it to your wedding, the least you can do is provide free beer.
23. i like to have meetings in the mornings because if i schedule them at 9 or 9:30 i get to sleep in at least an extra half hour.
24. if i had the time and money to get a dog right now, i would get a white french bulldog.
25. i have to fight the urge to pack up my car and leave almost weekly.
1. i just got very self-conscious about how narcissistic this activity is. especially since most likely no one will read this post.
2. i crave outdoor gear even though i live in new orleans and the closest experience i have to the "outdoors" is a walk in the park. literally. see below post.
3. i have a love affair with 97.3 KBCO in boulder and i don't care who knows it.
4. i can't remember the last time i finished an entire can of soda.
5. i made a pan of brownies the other day because i wanted just one. and then i ate three. and had to bring the rest to friends.
6. nothing makes me feel better than curling up on my couch with a good book and a cup of tea. except having someone else curled up at the other end doing the same thing.
7. so far i have lived in Oklahoma, Florida, New York, Colorado, Tennessee, and Louisiana. i have an unofficial goal of living in all 50 states. (living=at least 4 months, for the purpose of my goal)
8. some of my favorite christmas presents over the past few years have been: my merrells, webster's unabridged dictionary, a full-size cardboard cutout of Aragorn from Lord of the Rings, KBCO Studio C albums (always and forever), a teapot with matching creamer and sugar, and rainboots.
9. i ALWAYS cry at the end of When Harry Met Sally. i also have the majority of the movie memorized.
10. i secretly think i could be an amazing writer, but i'm too scared of criticism to seek advice.
11. the fact that there is no way i will ever be able to read every book written has brought me to tears. on multiple occasions.
12. i hate waking up but i LOVE being awake in the early morning.
13. i do screen my phone calls. sorry.
14. i have wasted too much of my time exploring and reading blogs. a habit i picked up when i was unemployed.
15. i would be happy if i could wear sweatpants and a white t-shirt every day for the rest of my life. but i also love costumes. every morning when i have to get dressed for work, i pretend i am dressing in my "work costume." it makes things easier for me.
16. i miss my family more and more every day. i truly regret not actually spending more time with them when i still lived in the CO.
17. i like to pretend that The Allman Brothers song "Ramblin' Man" was written just for me. especially the part where it says "on my way to New Orleans this morning, leaving out of Nashville, Tennessee" because i did that!
18. my parents' cabin "The West" is my favorite place on earth.
19. cooking meals for myself is empowering some days. and other days it is depressing when i just want to share it with someone else.
20. i can fight through a stomachache, a bad cold, or a sore back, but a bad headache knocks me out flat.
21. i can say "i wish i was skiing right now" and 97% of the time it is true.
22. i believe that if i am going to pay the airfare to make it to your wedding, the least you can do is provide free beer.
23. i like to have meetings in the mornings because if i schedule them at 9 or 9:30 i get to sleep in at least an extra half hour.
24. if i had the time and money to get a dog right now, i would get a white french bulldog.
25. i have to fight the urge to pack up my car and leave almost weekly.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
what i saw on my walk in the park today...
i am into lists right now. so here goes...
1. the guy who rollerblades around the park playing his guitar
2. a golfer wearing khaki knickers, a white shirt, and a red sweater vest
3. a red balloon stuck in a tree
4. packs of middle schoolers on bicycles
5. a bagpiper. i took my headphones off to listen.
6. a white swan.
7. an old woman riding a bike with two dogs in the front basket.
8. an all white french bulldog. only makes me want one more!!
9. very short man wearing very short white shorts.
10. two college-aged guys walking on the path drinking beer.
1. the guy who rollerblades around the park playing his guitar
2. a golfer wearing khaki knickers, a white shirt, and a red sweater vest
3. a red balloon stuck in a tree
4. packs of middle schoolers on bicycles
5. a bagpiper. i took my headphones off to listen.
6. a white swan.
7. an old woman riding a bike with two dogs in the front basket.
8. an all white french bulldog. only makes me want one more!!
9. very short man wearing very short white shorts.
10. two college-aged guys walking on the path drinking beer.
Friday, January 23, 2009
10 things i like right now
1. cornbread muffins. they are so easy to make, so delicious, and a great addition to most meals!
2. my new camelback water bottle. i am way less likely to spill water all over myself with the nifty straw.
3. BLOGS! i love love love reading other people's thoughts and am just now turning on to cooking/baking blogs. more recipes to try...
4. new recipes. i made baked lentils with cheese last night from my new More-with-Less cookbook. i am trying several recipes this week. a review of the book to follow.
5. getting up early. i've always liked the idea of getting up early, but rarely do i follow through with my grand plans for a.m. success. this morning i did. i woke up, worked out (not for long...), made oatmeal for breakfast, and still got to work on time. this feeling of success will hopefully carry over to next week's schedule.
6. walking in the park. if you ever want to walk in the best. park. ever. come visit me and we will go to Audubon. seriously. the path is lined with live oaks, hanging their spanish moss over your head. lots of people and dog watching. gorgeous.
7. making a pot of tea. i have always enjoyed a cup of tea, but i just got a teapot for christmas and have enjoyed the lingering relaxation that comes with have a whole pot of tea to drink. pot of tea (plus) a good book (plus) my soft blanket (equals) an ideal evening for kristin.
8. springtime in new orleans. yes, this does occur a little earlier than in other places. the weather is starting to warm up, the sun it out for longer, the mosquitoes haven't laid claim to every inch of the outdoors yet...simply enjoyable.
9. LOST. i really enjoy the ridiculous complexity to this show. some people just get frustrated when there are more questions than answers, but i love it! what other show allows you to create conspiracy theories and develop them over a whole season before revealing the truth? well, maybe a lot, but LOST does it on an island. and with Sawyer. yum!
10. truffles. i rarely have a sweet tooth. if anything, i crave cheesey or buttery morsels. but chocolate truffles have been showing up a lot in my life. and they are gooooooooood. mmhmm.
2. my new camelback water bottle. i am way less likely to spill water all over myself with the nifty straw.
3. BLOGS! i love love love reading other people's thoughts and am just now turning on to cooking/baking blogs. more recipes to try...
4. new recipes. i made baked lentils with cheese last night from my new More-with-Less cookbook. i am trying several recipes this week. a review of the book to follow.
5. getting up early. i've always liked the idea of getting up early, but rarely do i follow through with my grand plans for a.m. success. this morning i did. i woke up, worked out (not for long...), made oatmeal for breakfast, and still got to work on time. this feeling of success will hopefully carry over to next week's schedule.
6. walking in the park. if you ever want to walk in the best. park. ever. come visit me and we will go to Audubon. seriously. the path is lined with live oaks, hanging their spanish moss over your head. lots of people and dog watching. gorgeous.
7. making a pot of tea. i have always enjoyed a cup of tea, but i just got a teapot for christmas and have enjoyed the lingering relaxation that comes with have a whole pot of tea to drink. pot of tea (plus) a good book (plus) my soft blanket (equals) an ideal evening for kristin.
8. springtime in new orleans. yes, this does occur a little earlier than in other places. the weather is starting to warm up, the sun it out for longer, the mosquitoes haven't laid claim to every inch of the outdoors yet...simply enjoyable.
9. LOST. i really enjoy the ridiculous complexity to this show. some people just get frustrated when there are more questions than answers, but i love it! what other show allows you to create conspiracy theories and develop them over a whole season before revealing the truth? well, maybe a lot, but LOST does it on an island. and with Sawyer. yum!
10. truffles. i rarely have a sweet tooth. if anything, i crave cheesey or buttery morsels. but chocolate truffles have been showing up a lot in my life. and they are gooooooooood. mmhmm.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
january 12. my birthday.
i woke up yesterday morning, early enough to have some breakfast and check my email before making it to my weekly nonprofit meeting. i had fallen asleep in what i had been wearing since the previous afternoon, so i thought a costume change would be prudent. problem was, most of my pants were still wet from saturday laundry day. (i've stopped using the dryer. this saves me $1.25 a load and it's a little more envirofriendly) one pair of black pants were mostly dry, just a little stiff from hanging out the past two days. to remedy this problem, i hung them in front of my gas heater while i ran into the bedroom to change shirts.
i walked back into the living room to retrieve my pants, literally less than 3 minutes later, only to find a problem. a big problem. either my pants were too close or the heater was turned on too high because there was definitely a hole singed through the back of my pants. i snatched them up before further damage (read: flames!) could occur when my smoke detector started going off. at 8 am. i frantically dragged the closest chair over to the wall to yank the battery out. in an apartment where i can hear my neighbors shuffling papers next door, a fire alarm going off at 8 am was definitely going to be an issue. luckily i think i got it off fast enough that whoever it woke up could fall back asleep quickly enough.
so i stood there, the morning of my 25th birthday, with singed pants in one hand and my smoke detector in the other. i started to get that familiar feeling. anger, disappointment, frustration at my stupid decision or lack of focus that had led to this situation. the feelings gripped my chest and started to wrap their talons tighter. all of a sudden it was turning into my worst. birthday. ever! all before 8:30 am.
but something reminded me that it didn't have to be. i didn't have to be angry and disappointed and frustrated. i could inhale deeply (despite the wisps of smoke) and let go. so i did. and then i started laughing. hard. i had gotten so wrapped up in everything i had done wrong and could have done better that i missed the hilarity and ridiculousness of the situation. and boy was it hilarious and ridiculous!
years ago my grandmother (neeno) gave me a little trinket for christmas. she is one of those grandmothers who always finds little things that everyone else would pass right over. this trinket happens to be a little pewter cube that has the imprint of an angel on one side and the words "angels fly because they take themselves lightly" on another. while most of my other little trinkets have stayed behind in boxes at my parents' house, this little cube has travelled with me. and it reminds me that i must take myself lightly or forever be banished to crawling on the ground.
i almost let myself crawl through my 25 birthday, but i didn't. i made a choice to laugh and i flew. what was shaping up to be the worst. birthday. ever. became one of the best. soon after my laughter died down, i heard my work phone ringing. it was my boss telling me to take the day off and celebrate my birthday. so i did. with a big piece of chocolate cake for breakfast.
i walked back into the living room to retrieve my pants, literally less than 3 minutes later, only to find a problem. a big problem. either my pants were too close or the heater was turned on too high because there was definitely a hole singed through the back of my pants. i snatched them up before further damage (read: flames!) could occur when my smoke detector started going off. at 8 am. i frantically dragged the closest chair over to the wall to yank the battery out. in an apartment where i can hear my neighbors shuffling papers next door, a fire alarm going off at 8 am was definitely going to be an issue. luckily i think i got it off fast enough that whoever it woke up could fall back asleep quickly enough.
so i stood there, the morning of my 25th birthday, with singed pants in one hand and my smoke detector in the other. i started to get that familiar feeling. anger, disappointment, frustration at my stupid decision or lack of focus that had led to this situation. the feelings gripped my chest and started to wrap their talons tighter. all of a sudden it was turning into my worst. birthday. ever! all before 8:30 am.
but something reminded me that it didn't have to be. i didn't have to be angry and disappointed and frustrated. i could inhale deeply (despite the wisps of smoke) and let go. so i did. and then i started laughing. hard. i had gotten so wrapped up in everything i had done wrong and could have done better that i missed the hilarity and ridiculousness of the situation. and boy was it hilarious and ridiculous!
years ago my grandmother (neeno) gave me a little trinket for christmas. she is one of those grandmothers who always finds little things that everyone else would pass right over. this trinket happens to be a little pewter cube that has the imprint of an angel on one side and the words "angels fly because they take themselves lightly" on another. while most of my other little trinkets have stayed behind in boxes at my parents' house, this little cube has travelled with me. and it reminds me that i must take myself lightly or forever be banished to crawling on the ground.
i almost let myself crawl through my 25 birthday, but i didn't. i made a choice to laugh and i flew. what was shaping up to be the worst. birthday. ever. became one of the best. soon after my laughter died down, i heard my work phone ringing. it was my boss telling me to take the day off and celebrate my birthday. so i did. with a big piece of chocolate cake for breakfast.
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