This weekend, Leah's older brother, Rob, visited from Washington State and brought his eleven-year-old daughter, Becca. Also visiting was Leah's youngest sister, Allie, from Maryland State University. Knowing this, I volunteered to cook two meals: breakfast on Saturday morning and dinner on Sunday evening.
For Saturday's breakfast, I arrived a little after eight AM and started making blueberry compote. While that cooked on the stove, I mixed up some pancake batter and heated up a griddle. I made about thirty blueberry pancakes, stacking them up as I went. Becca helped out by microwaving plate after plate of bacon (we made a total of three pounds). As we got close to finishing up, I started cracking egg into a mixing bowl. I added salt and pepper to the fourteen or fifteen eggs and starting beating them. That's when I found out that Leah's other younger sister, Megan, doesn't like blueberries, so I had Leah mix up another small batch of pancake batter. I reheated the griddle and poured the eggs into a hot skillet. With the eggs scrambled and Megan's seven or eight pancakes done, we all sat down to eat. Everyone ate as much as they wanted and there were still a few pancakes leftover, though the bacon, eggs, and compote were all finished off.
For Sunday, I made pumpkin cookies the night before and put them out for people to munch on throughout the day. And munch on them they did. Since it was Fast Sunday, I waited until dinner to eat anything, and there only eight or nine cookies left from the original three-and-a-half dozen. For dinner itself, I roasted two whole chickens, boiled and mashed nearly an entire ten pound bag of potatoes, and sautéed a few pounds of zucchini and onions, or at least I tried to. The pan I used to sauté was smaller than I needed it to be, so I put the lid on in an attempt to have it cook more evenly, which it did, but it also ended getting steamed instead of sautéed. Regardless, there was plenty of food and Allie even took leftovers before she headed back to college.
While I did get lots of compliments on the food I made, I didn't do it for the praise. I like cooking and I like serving people, so when I can combine the two together, it makes for a happy (if tired) Jordan.
Showing posts with label cooking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cooking. Show all posts
Monday, October 9, 2017
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Independence Day, 2017
Yesterday was the Fourth of July, which I mostly spent with Leah.
We began the day by attending a pancake breakfast hosted by the family ward that we live in and will be a part of once we're married. This is Leah's mom Debbie's ward and I've met a few people there before, but this gave me the chance to meet a few more.
After breakfast, we went to the grocery store for some last minute items we would need for our little barbecue we were planning later on. After we dropped the food off at Leah's parents' place, we went to the movie theater. Our movie of choice? Wonder Woman.
Wonder Woman was a fun movie, though I predicted the ending. Still, there were little touches that I really appreciated. For example, Wonder Woman is played by Gal Gadot, an Israeli actress. That means that she speaks with a bit of an accent. Rather than ignore it (as was done for most of Arnold Schwarzenegger's movies), the rest of the Amazons have a similar accent. That detail helped make the world the movie was creating more believable for me.
After the movie, we went back to Leah's parents' place to grill up some hamburgers. Leah's dad, Ulf, was on his own and was enjoying his time mowing the lawn when we arrived. He had offered me the use of his propane grill, but had lost track of time while mowing and hadn't had a chance to clean it. Since Leah had to be to work in about an hour, I opted to simply use a pan on the stove. I formed the patties by hand, something I'd never done before. We also boiled some corn on the cob and ate the burgers on toasted buns. After cleaning up, Leah went to work and I went home.
After a nap, I did some work to alleviate some problems I've been having with the septic tank. (Since I completely skipped blogging in June, I should mention that last month I moved into Leah's place and she moved in with her parents. Since Leah's family owns the property I'm staying in, we'll be saving a lot on rent, which I've already started using to pay off debts.) While outside, I was bit three times by mosquitoes; fortunately, I still have some steroidal cream from when I had eczema last summer, so the itching soon stopped.
I may not have watched any fireworks, but I spent a good portion of the day with woman I love, which sounds like a great way to spend any holiday.
We began the day by attending a pancake breakfast hosted by the family ward that we live in and will be a part of once we're married. This is Leah's mom Debbie's ward and I've met a few people there before, but this gave me the chance to meet a few more.
After breakfast, we went to the grocery store for some last minute items we would need for our little barbecue we were planning later on. After we dropped the food off at Leah's parents' place, we went to the movie theater. Our movie of choice? Wonder Woman.
Wonder Woman was a fun movie, though I predicted the ending. Still, there were little touches that I really appreciated. For example, Wonder Woman is played by Gal Gadot, an Israeli actress. That means that she speaks with a bit of an accent. Rather than ignore it (as was done for most of Arnold Schwarzenegger's movies), the rest of the Amazons have a similar accent. That detail helped make the world the movie was creating more believable for me.
After the movie, we went back to Leah's parents' place to grill up some hamburgers. Leah's dad, Ulf, was on his own and was enjoying his time mowing the lawn when we arrived. He had offered me the use of his propane grill, but had lost track of time while mowing and hadn't had a chance to clean it. Since Leah had to be to work in about an hour, I opted to simply use a pan on the stove. I formed the patties by hand, something I'd never done before. We also boiled some corn on the cob and ate the burgers on toasted buns. After cleaning up, Leah went to work and I went home.
After a nap, I did some work to alleviate some problems I've been having with the septic tank. (Since I completely skipped blogging in June, I should mention that last month I moved into Leah's place and she moved in with her parents. Since Leah's family owns the property I'm staying in, we'll be saving a lot on rent, which I've already started using to pay off debts.) While outside, I was bit three times by mosquitoes; fortunately, I still have some steroidal cream from when I had eczema last summer, so the itching soon stopped.
I may not have watched any fireworks, but I spent a good portion of the day with woman I love, which sounds like a great way to spend any holiday.
Friday, May 19, 2017
Mother's Day 2017
For Mother’s Day this year, I spent a good portion of the day with Leah’s mom, Debbie. The day began with Leah and me attending Debbie’s ward, which also meant that Debbie showed me off like I was a prized Pomeranian at the Westminster Dog Show. Plenty of people were quite friendly, saying “hi” to me and asking a few questions to get to know me; oddly, nobody introduced themselves, so when Debbie asked if I met anyone, all I could say was, “Yes, but no one told me their name.”
After church, we went back to the Grabowski family home for me to make dinner. As our Mother’s Day gift to Debbie, Leah had offered my skills in the kitchen. A couple of weeks earlier, we had discussed different dinner options and Debbie requested garlic shrimp pasta. Leah was my sous-chef and handled cooking the pasta and providing me with ingredients and dishes, while I cooked the shrimp and made the butter sauce. We doubled the recipe, which meant that I encountered some surprises when I tried to fit everything into a skillet that wasn’t big enough, but I was able to figure out a workaround.
When dinner was served, there wasn’t a lot of talk, just a lot of eating. Debbie liked dinner so much that she made herself a lunch box while there were still leftovers. Good thing, too, because everyone went back for a second helping.
I may not have been able to spend time with my own mother for Mother’s Day, but I still honored an important mother in my life.
After church, we went back to the Grabowski family home for me to make dinner. As our Mother’s Day gift to Debbie, Leah had offered my skills in the kitchen. A couple of weeks earlier, we had discussed different dinner options and Debbie requested garlic shrimp pasta. Leah was my sous-chef and handled cooking the pasta and providing me with ingredients and dishes, while I cooked the shrimp and made the butter sauce. We doubled the recipe, which meant that I encountered some surprises when I tried to fit everything into a skillet that wasn’t big enough, but I was able to figure out a workaround.
When dinner was served, there wasn’t a lot of talk, just a lot of eating. Debbie liked dinner so much that she made herself a lunch box while there were still leftovers. Good thing, too, because everyone went back for a second helping.
I may not have been able to spend time with my own mother for Mother’s Day, but I still honored an important mother in my life.
Saturday, May 6, 2017
Nacho Man
For yesterday's celebration of Cinco de Mayo, I made one of the least authentic Mexican foods available: nachos.
It all started when I was still at work and realized what day it was. I texted Leah and said that, in celebration of the holiday, she should let me come by her work that evening and make her and her coworker nachos. At first she declined, but the more she thought about it, the more enticing it sounded. When she got to work, she asked her coworker (who is also the lead of their location) about my proposal. The response she received was "Is that even a question?" With everyone on board, we made plans for nachos!
After work I made a quick stop at the grocery store before going home and eating dinner -- dinner was a mistake since I knew I would be eat nachos later, but at the time I was hungry, so it made sense. I turned on what is quickly becoming my favorite kitchen gadget, my deep fryer, and started slicing tortillas. That's right, dear reader: I made homemade corn chips. I wasn't sure how many to make, so I asked Leah. She said make all of them. I cut 26 corn tortillas into 6 triangles, making a total of 156 chips. Split amongst three people, that proved to be exactly twice as many chips as were needed (not that that stopped me from eating my fair share). With my freshly made chips in tow, I drove the thirty minutes to the group home where Leah works.
When I got out of my car, Leah was waiting for me next to the garage, dancing enthusiastically as she sang "Nacho, nacho man!" to the tune of "Macho Man." Once inside, I discovered that while I brought the chips, cheese, and beef (for taco meat), I had forgotten a creamy chipotle sauce that I had made before working on the chips. I was quite annoyed with myself, spending time to make a condiment, only to forget it, but nothing could be done, so I moved on. I browned and seasoned the taco meat and then we assembled our glorious snack.
As we sat down in the living room to enjoy our Mexican-inspired American food, Leah looked at me and said, "You're the best fiance. I can't wait to upgrade you to a husband."
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how I spent one of the best Cinco de Mayos I can remember.
It all started when I was still at work and realized what day it was. I texted Leah and said that, in celebration of the holiday, she should let me come by her work that evening and make her and her coworker nachos. At first she declined, but the more she thought about it, the more enticing it sounded. When she got to work, she asked her coworker (who is also the lead of their location) about my proposal. The response she received was "Is that even a question?" With everyone on board, we made plans for nachos!
After work I made a quick stop at the grocery store before going home and eating dinner -- dinner was a mistake since I knew I would be eat nachos later, but at the time I was hungry, so it made sense. I turned on what is quickly becoming my favorite kitchen gadget, my deep fryer, and started slicing tortillas. That's right, dear reader: I made homemade corn chips. I wasn't sure how many to make, so I asked Leah. She said make all of them. I cut 26 corn tortillas into 6 triangles, making a total of 156 chips. Split amongst three people, that proved to be exactly twice as many chips as were needed (not that that stopped me from eating my fair share). With my freshly made chips in tow, I drove the thirty minutes to the group home where Leah works.
When I got out of my car, Leah was waiting for me next to the garage, dancing enthusiastically as she sang "Nacho, nacho man!" to the tune of "Macho Man." Once inside, I discovered that while I brought the chips, cheese, and beef (for taco meat), I had forgotten a creamy chipotle sauce that I had made before working on the chips. I was quite annoyed with myself, spending time to make a condiment, only to forget it, but nothing could be done, so I moved on. I browned and seasoned the taco meat and then we assembled our glorious snack.
Leah was able to contain her excitement long enough to take a picture (unlike me)
As we sat down in the living room to enjoy our Mexican-inspired American food, Leah looked at me and said, "You're the best fiance. I can't wait to upgrade you to a husband."
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how I spent one of the best Cinco de Mayos I can remember.
Monday, April 17, 2017
Easter 2017
Easter was busy for Leah and me. We had decided to host Easter dinner and had invited her family and mine, though not everyone was available. In the end, we had Ian, Sherlin, Leah's dad Ulf, and her younger sisters, Megan and Allison, over. (From now on, when I mention Allison, assume I'm referring to Leah's youngest sister.)
I was a bit ambitious with the meal that I planned, though thankfully it all worked out. We made a spinach salad with strawberries, feta cheese, and sliced almonds; a spiral-cut, honey-glazed ham; sauteed green beans with garlic and cranberries; deep fried sweet potato french fries; and a trifle with blueberries, strawberries, and pound cake for dessert. Leah was a champ on the deep fryer and did a lot of prep work by slicing all of the strawberries and about half of the sweet potatoes. The trifle gave me problems as I didn't have enough pound cake and had to quickly bake another, though I probably ran out because Leah and I kept munching on it before I assembled the cake.
Dinner was great, if a bit crowded in my tiny apartment. I don't usually get to entertain in my home (and this was certainly the biggest group that I've fed here), so it was nice to be able to plan out the meal and execute it -- having Leah as my assistant made it even nicer. After most of the guests left (Megan hung out for a while afterwards), I collapsed on the couch, exhausted but happy.
I was a bit ambitious with the meal that I planned, though thankfully it all worked out. We made a spinach salad with strawberries, feta cheese, and sliced almonds; a spiral-cut, honey-glazed ham; sauteed green beans with garlic and cranberries; deep fried sweet potato french fries; and a trifle with blueberries, strawberries, and pound cake for dessert. Leah was a champ on the deep fryer and did a lot of prep work by slicing all of the strawberries and about half of the sweet potatoes. The trifle gave me problems as I didn't have enough pound cake and had to quickly bake another, though I probably ran out because Leah and I kept munching on it before I assembled the cake.
Dinner was great, if a bit crowded in my tiny apartment. I don't usually get to entertain in my home (and this was certainly the biggest group that I've fed here), so it was nice to be able to plan out the meal and execute it -- having Leah as my assistant made it even nicer. After most of the guests left (Megan hung out for a while afterwards), I collapsed on the couch, exhausted but happy.
Monday, December 26, 2016
The Proposal
Yesterday, on Christmas, I asked for Leah's eternal hand in marriage. She said "Yes!"
The story of our proposal begins last Thursday. I had recently prayed if Leah was the woman I was supposed to marry, but the answer I received was "Go to the temple and ask there." So, on Thursday night I went to the Washington, DC Temple and participated in an endowment session. Once in the Celestial Room, I prayed again, this time receiving a resounding "Yes." I knew that I wanted to propose, but I didn't know how or when.
Leah works part-time at Victoria's Secret and I visited her on Christmas Eve so we could hang out during her break. She took the opportunity to show me off to her coworkers, one of whom even said "He's cute" while I was standing right there. We enjoy the thirty minutes we had together before she had to return to work.
With Leah safely inside the boutique de brasserie, I walked down to one of the jewelry stores in the mall. Soon after meeting me, Leah had picked out a few engagement rings and put them in the store's "Wish Book." When we started talking about the possibility of marriage while we were dating, she told me about the store and told me to choose one of the options there—in order to ensure that she liked the ring I picked out. With this in mind, I went to the jewelry store to see what the options were, intending to not buy anything that day. When I saw what the options were—and heard that the entire store's inventory was half off until Christmas—I picked the one I liked and bought it on the spot. I planned to wait until the holidays were over, in order to really surprise Leah.
With the ring hidden on my person, I went to Leah's parents' home to bake cookies. Leah's mom, Debbie, is very warm and invited me to come and bake cookies with her some time before Christmas and Christmas Eve just happened to be the best time for me to visit. Also there were Leah's younger brother, Ryan, and his wife Dana, her younger sisters, Megan and Allison, and Leah's niece, Rebecca, the daughter of Leah's older brother, Rob, who's currently stationed in the Philippines. At one point, everyone went outside to fire model rockets (a Grabowski Christmas tradition), so I went in to talk to Leah's father, Ulf. I told him that I loved his daughter and intended to ask her to marry me, though not until the holidays were over. He told me that he was a good judge of character and that he liked me and would be happy to give me his blessing on the proposal. Having gained his permission (and his promise to keep our conversation a secret), I went back outside to join with the rocket launches before my absence was noticed. After a few hours, Leah joined us and I continued to bake cookies (only four kinds surprisingly, but we did have rockets to launch). Before it got too late, I excused myself for the night, with the promise to return on Christmas day.
On Christmas morning, I went to church at the YSA ward, though only Sacrament meeting was held (which I think was the standard throughout the Church). After church, Leah met me at my apartment where we opened our gifts. I got her some leggings (which required me to join a Facebook group in order to buy them), a charm for her charm bracelet, and a pair of crocheted slipper socks. She got a nice pea coat, a deep fryer (which she admitted was partially for her so I can deep fry her food more easily), a ceramic coated skillet, a spoon rest for the stove, a butter dish (which I've mentioned that I needed), and a Superman-themed apron. (I also got a set of silicon baking mats from my parents—have you noticed a theme?) Having exchanging gifts (and hugs and kisses), we prepared to leave for her parents' for an early dinner.
Even though I planned to wait until after the holidays were over, I was too excited to wait any longer: I had decided the night before to propose on Christmas Day. I said I needed go to the bedroom to grab my wallet and keys, so Leah went with me to help me along. I made a comment about how there were other things I needed and she gave me a weird look and went back to the living room. I put the ring box in my back pocket and joined Leah. I grabbed her in a hug and said (not verbatim), "Leah, I love you. I'm so happy that I met you. My life has gotten so much better since I met you." I got down on one knee. "You've made me a better man and I know that as long as you're a part of my life, my life will only get better." I pulled the box out of my pocket and opened it. "Leah, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife, now and for all eternity?" She enthusiastically said, "Yes!" I slipped the ring on her finger (and had a mini freakout when I thought it didn't fit, though it was the perfect size) and we embraced and kissed.
On our way to Leah's parents', we called and told a few members of my family (not everyone was available, what with the time differences). Once at the Grabowski's, Leah didn't say anything, she just took off her jacket and gave her mom a hug. During their hug, Debbie felt the ring, pulled Leah's hand into view, and screamed with joy. With the cat out of the bag, she showed off the ring to her family and we both got hugs from everyone present.
I am so happy to be getting married to Leah. She's such a kind, caring person who works to make others feel better about themselves. We've only been together for four months, but we make a great team: I love her, she loves me, and we build each other up. I can't wait to be sealed to her for time and all eternity.
The story of our proposal begins last Thursday. I had recently prayed if Leah was the woman I was supposed to marry, but the answer I received was "Go to the temple and ask there." So, on Thursday night I went to the Washington, DC Temple and participated in an endowment session. Once in the Celestial Room, I prayed again, this time receiving a resounding "Yes." I knew that I wanted to propose, but I didn't know how or when.
Leah works part-time at Victoria's Secret and I visited her on Christmas Eve so we could hang out during her break. She took the opportunity to show me off to her coworkers, one of whom even said "He's cute" while I was standing right there. We enjoy the thirty minutes we had together before she had to return to work.
With Leah safely inside the boutique de brasserie, I walked down to one of the jewelry stores in the mall. Soon after meeting me, Leah had picked out a few engagement rings and put them in the store's "Wish Book." When we started talking about the possibility of marriage while we were dating, she told me about the store and told me to choose one of the options there—in order to ensure that she liked the ring I picked out. With this in mind, I went to the jewelry store to see what the options were, intending to not buy anything that day. When I saw what the options were—and heard that the entire store's inventory was half off until Christmas—I picked the one I liked and bought it on the spot. I planned to wait until the holidays were over, in order to really surprise Leah.
With the ring hidden on my person, I went to Leah's parents' home to bake cookies. Leah's mom, Debbie, is very warm and invited me to come and bake cookies with her some time before Christmas and Christmas Eve just happened to be the best time for me to visit. Also there were Leah's younger brother, Ryan, and his wife Dana, her younger sisters, Megan and Allison, and Leah's niece, Rebecca, the daughter of Leah's older brother, Rob, who's currently stationed in the Philippines. At one point, everyone went outside to fire model rockets (a Grabowski Christmas tradition), so I went in to talk to Leah's father, Ulf. I told him that I loved his daughter and intended to ask her to marry me, though not until the holidays were over. He told me that he was a good judge of character and that he liked me and would be happy to give me his blessing on the proposal. Having gained his permission (and his promise to keep our conversation a secret), I went back outside to join with the rocket launches before my absence was noticed. After a few hours, Leah joined us and I continued to bake cookies (only four kinds surprisingly, but we did have rockets to launch). Before it got too late, I excused myself for the night, with the promise to return on Christmas day.
On Christmas morning, I went to church at the YSA ward, though only Sacrament meeting was held (which I think was the standard throughout the Church). After church, Leah met me at my apartment where we opened our gifts. I got her some leggings (which required me to join a Facebook group in order to buy them), a charm for her charm bracelet, and a pair of crocheted slipper socks. She got a nice pea coat, a deep fryer (which she admitted was partially for her so I can deep fry her food more easily), a ceramic coated skillet, a spoon rest for the stove, a butter dish (which I've mentioned that I needed), and a Superman-themed apron. (I also got a set of silicon baking mats from my parents—have you noticed a theme?) Having exchanging gifts (and hugs and kisses), we prepared to leave for her parents' for an early dinner.
Even though I planned to wait until after the holidays were over, I was too excited to wait any longer: I had decided the night before to propose on Christmas Day. I said I needed go to the bedroom to grab my wallet and keys, so Leah went with me to help me along. I made a comment about how there were other things I needed and she gave me a weird look and went back to the living room. I put the ring box in my back pocket and joined Leah. I grabbed her in a hug and said (not verbatim), "Leah, I love you. I'm so happy that I met you. My life has gotten so much better since I met you." I got down on one knee. "You've made me a better man and I know that as long as you're a part of my life, my life will only get better." I pulled the box out of my pocket and opened it. "Leah, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife, now and for all eternity?" She enthusiastically said, "Yes!" I slipped the ring on her finger (and had a mini freakout when I thought it didn't fit, though it was the perfect size) and we embraced and kissed.
On our way to Leah's parents', we called and told a few members of my family (not everyone was available, what with the time differences). Once at the Grabowski's, Leah didn't say anything, she just took off her jacket and gave her mom a hug. During their hug, Debbie felt the ring, pulled Leah's hand into view, and screamed with joy. With the cat out of the bag, she showed off the ring to her family and we both got hugs from everyone present.
I am so happy to be getting married to Leah. She's such a kind, caring person who works to make others feel better about themselves. We've only been together for four months, but we make a great team: I love her, she loves me, and we build each other up. I can't wait to be sealed to her for time and all eternity.
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
Food Guru
As I was leaving work yesterday, one of my coworkers, Chelsea, stopped me to ask a question. I was not happy with the idea of staying late, but I paused so she could ask her question. Instead of being a work-related question, however, she wanted cooking advice.
She wanted a quick way to cook zucchini and had asked around and even checked Pinterest for a recipe, but hadn't found anything helpful. I thought about her dilemma and asked her how comfortable she was using her broiler. She immediately nodded, acknowledging that she hadn't thought of going that route. I further explained that she would need to flip the vegetable (which was something she hadn't realized was necessary) and suggested some ways to prepare it that would make that easier. She thanked me for my help and I was on my way.
I followed up with Chelsea this morning to see how it went. Apparently, she hadn't been patient enough for the zucchini to get crispy, but it was fully cooked when she ate it.
I wasn't expecting the cooking question that I received, but it's nice to know that I have a reputation as a cooking expert and that I can live up to it.
She wanted a quick way to cook zucchini and had asked around and even checked Pinterest for a recipe, but hadn't found anything helpful. I thought about her dilemma and asked her how comfortable she was using her broiler. She immediately nodded, acknowledging that she hadn't thought of going that route. I further explained that she would need to flip the vegetable (which was something she hadn't realized was necessary) and suggested some ways to prepare it that would make that easier. She thanked me for my help and I was on my way.
I followed up with Chelsea this morning to see how it went. Apparently, she hadn't been patient enough for the zucchini to get crispy, but it was fully cooked when she ate it.
I wasn't expecting the cooking question that I received, but it's nice to know that I have a reputation as a cooking expert and that I can live up to it.
Friday, June 17, 2016
My Happy Place
Today was frustrating. I won't going into the specifics, just know that someone I needed information from chose today to be a terrible communicator. It really got under my skin, to the point that I was really distracted for the last part of my workday.
Once I was out of the office, I contemplated doing what I would have done when I was still on levetiracetam and depressed: binge on takeout food. But I reminded myself that I've made a lot of progress (I've lost nearly twenty pounds in a little under three months) and that I didn't want to bring back destructive habits -- I actually have a personal rule in place where I'm not allowed to go to a restaurant by myself. But in my agitated state, I still wanted something new (or at least unusual) for dinner. So, I googled a recipe and went shopping.
Once I got home with everything I needed for garlic butter shrimp pasta, I started cooking. I don't know when it happened, but suddenly, I wasn't upset anymore. I was too busy enjoying the aromas of the spices and the feel of the ingredients as I added them to the pan -- I also liked the music I was playing to set the mood (I was making Italian food, so probably should have played Sinatra or Guaraldi, but I played prog metal bands Sea in the Sky and Scale the Summit). And to top it off, the meal was delicious.
It's good to know that when other people get me down, I can just cook my blues away.
Once I was out of the office, I contemplated doing what I would have done when I was still on levetiracetam and depressed: binge on takeout food. But I reminded myself that I've made a lot of progress (I've lost nearly twenty pounds in a little under three months) and that I didn't want to bring back destructive habits -- I actually have a personal rule in place where I'm not allowed to go to a restaurant by myself. But in my agitated state, I still wanted something new (or at least unusual) for dinner. So, I googled a recipe and went shopping.
Once I got home with everything I needed for garlic butter shrimp pasta, I started cooking. I don't know when it happened, but suddenly, I wasn't upset anymore. I was too busy enjoying the aromas of the spices and the feel of the ingredients as I added them to the pan -- I also liked the music I was playing to set the mood (I was making Italian food, so probably should have played Sinatra or Guaraldi, but I played prog metal bands Sea in the Sky and Scale the Summit). And to top it off, the meal was delicious.
It's good to know that when other people get me down, I can just cook my blues away.
Monday, April 25, 2016
The Tongue Says: I'm Bored
I like to cook and I'm good at it, but by the time dinner time rolls around, I'm usually pretty beat. My strategy I have been using is to cook a bunch of food at once and reheat it as necessary, but reheated food never tastes as good as when it's fresh. Last week, I tried preparing the ingredients to dinner ahead of time so all I would have to do is cook everything. That worked pretty well, but I only prepared one meal and I got bored of it after a few days.
This week, I planned ahead better. I came up with four different recipes (well, I found two on the internet and came up with the other two) that I can cycle through during the week. I bought all of the ingredients on Saturday and did a lot of chopping, mixing, cooking, and mashing on Sunday. I haven't sampled anything new yet, but I'm really looking forward to seeing how well this experiment works out.
This week, I planned ahead better. I came up with four different recipes (well, I found two on the internet and came up with the other two) that I can cycle through during the week. I bought all of the ingredients on Saturday and did a lot of chopping, mixing, cooking, and mashing on Sunday. I haven't sampled anything new yet, but I'm really looking forward to seeing how well this experiment works out.
Friday, April 15, 2016
Kitchen Blunder
You know what's great? A perfectly seared Ahi tuna steak.
You know what's not great? Being an idiot and plunging your searing hot skillet into water to cool it down, only to cause the pan to irreparably warp itself.
At least dinner was good ...
You know what's not great? Being an idiot and plunging your searing hot skillet into water to cool it down, only to cause the pan to irreparably warp itself.
At least dinner was good ...
Friday, January 29, 2016
Scrambled Eggs
Have you ever had the feeling like you're moving through pudding every time you take a step? Like someone cracked your head open like an egg and scrambled your brains? Like you're wearing a heavy pair of invisible oven mitts? Like your vision is constantly clouded, like looking through a wall of steam?
Maybe my analogies are specific to me, but I know we've all been sick. This one is just surprising because other than being sluggish and exhausted, I don't really have other symptoms. Maybe I'm stressed or I over-exerted myself when I shoveled snow on Sunday and I just need to recuperate. Maybe I caught a bug and I'll be puking my guts out and wishing I was dead in a few days. For now, I'm experiencing life in a way that makes me think of kitchen-related similes.
Maybe my analogies are specific to me, but I know we've all been sick. This one is just surprising because other than being sluggish and exhausted, I don't really have other symptoms. Maybe I'm stressed or I over-exerted myself when I shoveled snow on Sunday and I just need to recuperate. Maybe I caught a bug and I'll be puking my guts out and wishing I was dead in a few days. For now, I'm experiencing life in a way that makes me think of kitchen-related similes.
Monday, January 18, 2016
Fully Stocked
My current workout routine has me doing heavy weight in order to bulk up. Lifting weights, however, is only one part of getting bigger: I also have to eat a lot of protein. And since I want to bulk up without getting fat, I have to cut carbs and fat from my diet to make room for the extra protein. If that wasn't complicated enough, I won't allow myself to eat meat more than once a day in order to better obey the Word of Wisdom.
In order to simplify things, I decided to buy and cook a bunch of chicken breasts, freeze them, and defrost and reheat them as needed. How much is "a bunch" of chicken breasts? A dozen. I had so much meat that I needed to buy a second baking pan to cook it all at once. After it was all cooked, I chopped it all up and used my new kitchen scale (that I got last week) to make five ounce portions (which constitutes about one sixth of my daily protein needs). When it was all over, I had twenty portions. All but one went in the freezer; the final one went in the fridge to be used this evening.
The whole process took much longer than I anticipated, but at least I can rest easy knowing that I won't have to cook any more meat for nearly two weeks.
Friday, August 14, 2015
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Tuesdays with Media: Turkish Delight
For the past few months, Ian has been reading his kids the Chronicles of Narnia books. The particular edition that he owns has the stories bound in one volume, ordered sequentially, not according to publication date (some of the later books are prequels). What's important is that they just finished reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Being the good dad that he is, Ian asked if I would make some Turkish delight for the kids to enjoy while they watched the film adaptation of the book. Being the cool uncle I am, I immediately agreed.
Since this was the first time I've ever made candy, I bought some Turkish delight from a store as a backup. Otherwise, I followed this recipe (Ian recommended this variation), though I left out the pistachios. And to better help the kids appreciate the effort involved in making the candy, I had them help -- they were both very excited to participate.
Ever since I had Clara do some stirring on a muffin recipe a few weeks back, she always asks if she can stir when we work on a recipe together. Luckily for her, there was plenty of stirring to do with this recipe. She stirred the candy syrup while it was on the stove and while watching the thermometer: if the temperature got too high, she'd let me know and I'd come over and move it off the heat (and vice-versa if it got too cold) -- and to those who are worried about a six-year-old stirring something on the stove, she never touched the saucepan, only the spoon.
Henry helped by combining the the flavoring we used (hand-pressed orange juice and hand-grated orange zest that I prepared earlier). His favorite part was pouring in the unflavored gelatin into the mixture.
I took over the stirring when it came time to combine everything (Clara mentioned that her arms were getting tired, but she still was disappointed that I took over her job). With everything mixed together, I poured the hot mixture into an 8x8-inch pan that I had dusted with powdered sugar. I then set it aside for it to cool for several hours. At Ian's suggestion, I covered the top with some plastic cling-wrap to prevent cat hair from getting on it.
After four-and-a-half hours, I checked on our product and it was still rather runny. I was really disappointed, but then I realized my mistake: the cling-wrap. By covering the top, I had prevented the steam from escaping, which kept the candy from firming up. Ian suggested putting it uncovered, under the fan over the stove to allow any moisture to be sucked up. Whether that helped or it was going to firm up on its own, I don't know, but after about thirty minutes, I had something that was solid enough for me to work with.
Armed with a paring knife, a silicone spatula, a pizza cutter, and lots of powdered sugar, I slowly worked the Turkish delight from the pan. It was really gelatinous, like slightly firmer-than-usual Jell-O or slightly-mushier-than-usual gummy candy, and pretty sticky. To keep everything in the house from getting covered in a sticky film, I covered every inch of the candy with powdered sugar. This is what the fruit of our labor looked like:
The flavor tasted strongly of orange and was slightly tart, but as Ian pointed out, with it mostly being sugar, a little tartness wasn't a bad thing. The texture was softer than I expected, though not in an unpleasant way. Henry gobbled up any pieces he could get his hands one, but Clara said she didn't really like it. I suspect that she was expecting something that tasted more like fruit-flavored candy and less like fruit candy (if that makes sense), so she didn't like it as much. To have something with which to compare our creation, I pulled out the backup Turkish delight and gave everyone a piece. Henry like it as much as our homemade version and Clara liked it more; both Ian and I thought the store-bought stuff tasted fake and artificial and we both preferred what I made with the kids.
And now the real question: did having Turkish delight enhance the movie-watching experience? Yes, but not in a significant way. I remember as a kid that I didn't know what Turkish delight was and when I asked, the answer I got (at least, the one I remember getting) was "a treat that's popular in England." If I had known that it was simply gummy candy, I probably would have wondered why they just didn't like chocolate. Even so, I'm glad that I got the chance to make this treat with my niece and nephew.
Maybe we'll watch Soylent Green next and prepare a dish from that.
The Chronicles of Narnia were published by HarperCollins Publishers.
Since this was the first time I've ever made candy, I bought some Turkish delight from a store as a backup. Otherwise, I followed this recipe (Ian recommended this variation), though I left out the pistachios. And to better help the kids appreciate the effort involved in making the candy, I had them help -- they were both very excited to participate.
Ever since I had Clara do some stirring on a muffin recipe a few weeks back, she always asks if she can stir when we work on a recipe together. Luckily for her, there was plenty of stirring to do with this recipe. She stirred the candy syrup while it was on the stove and while watching the thermometer: if the temperature got too high, she'd let me know and I'd come over and move it off the heat (and vice-versa if it got too cold) -- and to those who are worried about a six-year-old stirring something on the stove, she never touched the saucepan, only the spoon.
Henry helped by combining the the flavoring we used (hand-pressed orange juice and hand-grated orange zest that I prepared earlier). His favorite part was pouring in the unflavored gelatin into the mixture.
I took over the stirring when it came time to combine everything (Clara mentioned that her arms were getting tired, but she still was disappointed that I took over her job). With everything mixed together, I poured the hot mixture into an 8x8-inch pan that I had dusted with powdered sugar. I then set it aside for it to cool for several hours. At Ian's suggestion, I covered the top with some plastic cling-wrap to prevent cat hair from getting on it.
After four-and-a-half hours, I checked on our product and it was still rather runny. I was really disappointed, but then I realized my mistake: the cling-wrap. By covering the top, I had prevented the steam from escaping, which kept the candy from firming up. Ian suggested putting it uncovered, under the fan over the stove to allow any moisture to be sucked up. Whether that helped or it was going to firm up on its own, I don't know, but after about thirty minutes, I had something that was solid enough for me to work with.
Armed with a paring knife, a silicone spatula, a pizza cutter, and lots of powdered sugar, I slowly worked the Turkish delight from the pan. It was really gelatinous, like slightly firmer-than-usual Jell-O or slightly-mushier-than-usual gummy candy, and pretty sticky. To keep everything in the house from getting covered in a sticky film, I covered every inch of the candy with powdered sugar. This is what the fruit of our labor looked like:
For full effect, play this.
The flavor tasted strongly of orange and was slightly tart, but as Ian pointed out, with it mostly being sugar, a little tartness wasn't a bad thing. The texture was softer than I expected, though not in an unpleasant way. Henry gobbled up any pieces he could get his hands one, but Clara said she didn't really like it. I suspect that she was expecting something that tasted more like fruit-flavored candy and less like fruit candy (if that makes sense), so she didn't like it as much. To have something with which to compare our creation, I pulled out the backup Turkish delight and gave everyone a piece. Henry like it as much as our homemade version and Clara liked it more; both Ian and I thought the store-bought stuff tasted fake and artificial and we both preferred what I made with the kids.
And now the real question: did having Turkish delight enhance the movie-watching experience? Yes, but not in a significant way. I remember as a kid that I didn't know what Turkish delight was and when I asked, the answer I got (at least, the one I remember getting) was "a treat that's popular in England." If I had known that it was simply gummy candy, I probably would have wondered why they just didn't like chocolate. Even so, I'm glad that I got the chance to make this treat with my niece and nephew.
Maybe we'll watch Soylent Green next and prepare a dish from that.
The Chronicles of Narnia were published by HarperCollins Publishers.
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Unexpected Experience
Last week I was in charge of a Young Men's-hosted dinner. Technical the Teachers were in charge, but I was offered a more direct role in the planning, so I took it. Unfortunately, the dinner (which was not for the whole ward, just the senior members) was planned for Wednesday night, so I was at work and wasn't able to do any cooking. Thankfully, I was able to get some parents to help out and all I had to do was buy and prep all the ingredients. With everyone's help, it was all a huge success.
That's not what this post is about.
While I was in the kitchen getting everything ready (stirring, mixing, slicing, etc.), I experienced an aphasiatic episode. The episode itself was mild enough, but what really worried me was this was the first time that I've had one while fully medicated. In the past, as long as I took my meds -- even once-a-day instead of the prescribed twice -- I never had to worry about aphasia.
However, one episode could just be a fluke. When I haven't been able to afford my medication, I was usually okay if I watched my blood-sugar and got enough sleep, though it was no guarantee. Having reviewed everything in my mind, I was little sleep deprived and I hadn't had dinner when I arrived at the church, which may have pushed me over the edge even though I was medicated. I guess I'll need to take the same precautions as when I don't have access to my meds, just with the view that being medicated is a bit of a bonus.
If this happens again when I'm medicated and my blood-sugar's fine and I'm well-rested, then I'll be concerned.
That's not what this post is about.
While I was in the kitchen getting everything ready (stirring, mixing, slicing, etc.), I experienced an aphasiatic episode. The episode itself was mild enough, but what really worried me was this was the first time that I've had one while fully medicated. In the past, as long as I took my meds -- even once-a-day instead of the prescribed twice -- I never had to worry about aphasia.
However, one episode could just be a fluke. When I haven't been able to afford my medication, I was usually okay if I watched my blood-sugar and got enough sleep, though it was no guarantee. Having reviewed everything in my mind, I was little sleep deprived and I hadn't had dinner when I arrived at the church, which may have pushed me over the edge even though I was medicated. I guess I'll need to take the same precautions as when I don't have access to my meds, just with the view that being medicated is a bit of a bonus.
If this happens again when I'm medicated and my blood-sugar's fine and I'm well-rested, then I'll be concerned.
Friday, December 26, 2014
Christmas 2014
This Christmas was a little different than I've had in recent years, because it involved more family than usual. With my family spread across the country in practically every time zone, it isn't easy to get together. Despite the long trip, my parents and Grandma Bonnie came to visit me and my brother's family, as well as my sister's family in New Jersey later on.
The traveling trio arrived in Baltimore at around 9:30 in the morning on Sunday after traveling for nearly twelve hours. Due to the timing of their trip, they arrived with a little bit of time before my ward started, so we planned on them attending Church with me. I knew they would be hungry so I arranged with the Simciks to be able to use their kitchen to cook my family breakfast - my apartment is on the third floor and that's not easy to get to when walking with a cane, so I was very happy to have a place where I could still give my family a warm welcome. I decided to take a page out of my time at IHOP and I cooked spinach and grilled onion omelets with bacon. Everyone that ate was happy for the energy so they could sit through Church without falling asleep. At Church, I sang two songs with the Ward Choir and taught my final Sunday School lesson before the visitors decided that they needed to get on the road and head south to Ian's if they were going to be alert enough. I wished them "so long" until we'd see each later in the week.
On Christmas Eve, I joined my family at Ian's. I was a bit overly ambitious with my baking that morning, but since I didn't have any physical presents for everyone, I wanted to make sure everyone had something to enjoy. Before leaving my apartment, I made brownies, pfeffernusse cookies, and a double-sweet pumpkin pie to take with me. Once at Ian's, I started making dinner, which was a roasted chicken with steamed quinoa, steamed carrots and apples, and a spinach salad (made by my mom). Due to my overly ambition from earlier in the day, dinner was later than it should have been, but everyone agreed that it was tasty.
On Christmas day, we started the day with presents, mostly for Clara and Henry. After presents were opened (to many screams of "This is just what I wanted!"), I started working on breakfast. I hadn't planned on breakfast this day like I had for the previous Sunday, but I saw that Ian had some frozen blueberries and pancake mix, so of course I thought of blueberry pancakes - I made a quick compote and then just dropped frozen blueberries into the pancakes after putting the batter on the hot griddle. Along with the scrambled eggs that Ian whipped up, it was a full breakfast. Later that day, I put on a pork roast. Not only was this meal ready on time, but it was really tasty, too. It was served with steamed broccoli and buttered dinner rolls.
I know that I mostly wrote about food this post, but that's what I gave my family this year. I do have a great job right now, but I only just started and it's difficult for me to give presents right now. One thing that I can do, however, is provide service in the form of cooking and baking. And my gifts went over very well with everyone - Ian even said that the two dinners that I cooked were some of the most complete meals he had had in a long time. I was happy to provide some gifts that were not just enjoyable, but nutritious as well.
I hope everyone had a Happy Christmas!
The traveling trio arrived in Baltimore at around 9:30 in the morning on Sunday after traveling for nearly twelve hours. Due to the timing of their trip, they arrived with a little bit of time before my ward started, so we planned on them attending Church with me. I knew they would be hungry so I arranged with the Simciks to be able to use their kitchen to cook my family breakfast - my apartment is on the third floor and that's not easy to get to when walking with a cane, so I was very happy to have a place where I could still give my family a warm welcome. I decided to take a page out of my time at IHOP and I cooked spinach and grilled onion omelets with bacon. Everyone that ate was happy for the energy so they could sit through Church without falling asleep. At Church, I sang two songs with the Ward Choir and taught my final Sunday School lesson before the visitors decided that they needed to get on the road and head south to Ian's if they were going to be alert enough. I wished them "so long" until we'd see each later in the week.
On Christmas Eve, I joined my family at Ian's. I was a bit overly ambitious with my baking that morning, but since I didn't have any physical presents for everyone, I wanted to make sure everyone had something to enjoy. Before leaving my apartment, I made brownies, pfeffernusse cookies, and a double-sweet pumpkin pie to take with me. Once at Ian's, I started making dinner, which was a roasted chicken with steamed quinoa, steamed carrots and apples, and a spinach salad (made by my mom). Due to my overly ambition from earlier in the day, dinner was later than it should have been, but everyone agreed that it was tasty.
On Christmas day, we started the day with presents, mostly for Clara and Henry. After presents were opened (to many screams of "This is just what I wanted!"), I started working on breakfast. I hadn't planned on breakfast this day like I had for the previous Sunday, but I saw that Ian had some frozen blueberries and pancake mix, so of course I thought of blueberry pancakes - I made a quick compote and then just dropped frozen blueberries into the pancakes after putting the batter on the hot griddle. Along with the scrambled eggs that Ian whipped up, it was a full breakfast. Later that day, I put on a pork roast. Not only was this meal ready on time, but it was really tasty, too. It was served with steamed broccoli and buttered dinner rolls.
I know that I mostly wrote about food this post, but that's what I gave my family this year. I do have a great job right now, but I only just started and it's difficult for me to give presents right now. One thing that I can do, however, is provide service in the form of cooking and baking. And my gifts went over very well with everyone - Ian even said that the two dinners that I cooked were some of the most complete meals he had had in a long time. I was happy to provide some gifts that were not just enjoyable, but nutritious as well.
I hope everyone had a Happy Christmas!
Monday, September 29, 2014
Aches and Pains
It all started with a cursed box of cereal ...
Okay, not really, but the truth is not so different, either. Since I'm not working right now, oatmeal isn't as appealing a breakfast. I used to cook the oatmeal on the stove, put it in a plastic bowl, and eat at my desk right after getting to work. A lot of people sip on coffee or nibble on bagels at their desk, so it was no big deal. More importantly, the oatmeal would have time to cool down. It's super annoying to wake up in the morning and not be able to eat breakfast because it's too hot. So I bought some cold cereal to reduce the wait for breakfast. The problem was that I didn't pay attention and I bought a soy-based cereal. Soy and I don't get along well, at least when it comes to digestion, so I was done after one bowl. However, I didn't want to waste food if I could help it, so I offered the remaining cereal to Samuel.
It didn't agree with Samuel either, but he had more than stomach cramps: he ended up developing a mild fever. The fever may not have been unrelated, or it could have been caused by a compromised immune system busy dealing with other problems.
Feeling at least partially responsible, I stopped by the store and picked up a few ingredients to make chicken soup. I had carrots, garlic, chicken breasts, as well as a couple of chicken carcasses in the freezer ready to go, so all I needed was some celery, a couple of onions, and some fresh parsley. I spent the next four hours crafting the soup from scratch. That may seem excessive, but it was fun to make soup again and since Samuel comes from a culture that regularly uses gifts of food as a sign of respect, he is always appreciative.
I may not have made my roommate sick, but hopefully I'll be able to help make him feel better.
Okay, not really, but the truth is not so different, either. Since I'm not working right now, oatmeal isn't as appealing a breakfast. I used to cook the oatmeal on the stove, put it in a plastic bowl, and eat at my desk right after getting to work. A lot of people sip on coffee or nibble on bagels at their desk, so it was no big deal. More importantly, the oatmeal would have time to cool down. It's super annoying to wake up in the morning and not be able to eat breakfast because it's too hot. So I bought some cold cereal to reduce the wait for breakfast. The problem was that I didn't pay attention and I bought a soy-based cereal. Soy and I don't get along well, at least when it comes to digestion, so I was done after one bowl. However, I didn't want to waste food if I could help it, so I offered the remaining cereal to Samuel.
It didn't agree with Samuel either, but he had more than stomach cramps: he ended up developing a mild fever. The fever may not have been unrelated, or it could have been caused by a compromised immune system busy dealing with other problems.
Feeling at least partially responsible, I stopped by the store and picked up a few ingredients to make chicken soup. I had carrots, garlic, chicken breasts, as well as a couple of chicken carcasses in the freezer ready to go, so all I needed was some celery, a couple of onions, and some fresh parsley. I spent the next four hours crafting the soup from scratch. That may seem excessive, but it was fun to make soup again and since Samuel comes from a culture that regularly uses gifts of food as a sign of respect, he is always appreciative.
I may not have made my roommate sick, but hopefully I'll be able to help make him feel better.
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Barbecue
Breaking from tradition, I did not spend the last holiday with the Larsens. Instead, they spent it with me.
Usually, I head south and hang out with Ian and his family in or near their home. But since I had already volunteered to help cook at a barbecue that my ward was hosting, I invited them to come north and join me. Ian accepted and brought the kids, though Amanda had another obligation.
I arrived at the park where the event was held a few minutes before the Larsens. I was helping to set things up a little, but mostly I was milling about. When the kids got out of the car, they shouted their customary greet to me: "Uncle Jordan!" but I didn't hear them, I think because they were too far away. When they got within earshot, they were distracted by the siren call of the playground equipment and forgot about me. Ian came up to announce their arrival and I walked over for a proper "hello" with the kids.
I introduced Ian to about a dozen people, all members of my ward. Everyone was very friendly, some simply saying "hi" and others actually starting conversations with him. The one comment that we got more than any other? We don't look like brothers. This is nothing new for us, but was funny to have so many people tell us the same thing in such a short time period.
The barbecue was fun, but it was wet. Everyone was sweating profusely, not because it was so hot, but because the humidity was close to 100%. Henry complained to his dad a few times that he didn't like sweating so much. And while we Larsens had wet hair and faces, we were handling it better than some people. I saw a few people with their shirts soaked so thoroughly that I thought that someone had poured water on them. Even the dessert that I brought suffered: I brought a couple of S'more pies, but since they're custard-based, they melt pretty thoroughly. Despite that, by the time the event ended, only one slice (well, pile by that point) had not been eaten.
After a couple of hours in the heat, Ian gathered up the kids to head home. Clara and Henry were still having fun, playing with some of the primary-aged children that were there, but they were also happy to leave. After our good-byes, I took my turn cooking hamburgers, but that turned out to be "watch the grills while we take a break." So, I hung out close to the two charcoal grills and talked with some friends. Later on when the clean-up started, I helped out with that and even stayed behind to watch some of the equipment since it couldn't be taken in one trip.
All told, it was a hot and humid experience, but one that was fun.
Usually, I head south and hang out with Ian and his family in or near their home. But since I had already volunteered to help cook at a barbecue that my ward was hosting, I invited them to come north and join me. Ian accepted and brought the kids, though Amanda had another obligation.
I arrived at the park where the event was held a few minutes before the Larsens. I was helping to set things up a little, but mostly I was milling about. When the kids got out of the car, they shouted their customary greet to me: "Uncle Jordan!" but I didn't hear them, I think because they were too far away. When they got within earshot, they were distracted by the siren call of the playground equipment and forgot about me. Ian came up to announce their arrival and I walked over for a proper "hello" with the kids.
I introduced Ian to about a dozen people, all members of my ward. Everyone was very friendly, some simply saying "hi" and others actually starting conversations with him. The one comment that we got more than any other? We don't look like brothers. This is nothing new for us, but was funny to have so many people tell us the same thing in such a short time period.
The barbecue was fun, but it was wet. Everyone was sweating profusely, not because it was so hot, but because the humidity was close to 100%. Henry complained to his dad a few times that he didn't like sweating so much. And while we Larsens had wet hair and faces, we were handling it better than some people. I saw a few people with their shirts soaked so thoroughly that I thought that someone had poured water on them. Even the dessert that I brought suffered: I brought a couple of S'more pies, but since they're custard-based, they melt pretty thoroughly. Despite that, by the time the event ended, only one slice (well, pile by that point) had not been eaten.
After a couple of hours in the heat, Ian gathered up the kids to head home. Clara and Henry were still having fun, playing with some of the primary-aged children that were there, but they were also happy to leave. After our good-byes, I took my turn cooking hamburgers, but that turned out to be "watch the grills while we take a break." So, I hung out close to the two charcoal grills and talked with some friends. Later on when the clean-up started, I helped out with that and even stayed behind to watch some of the equipment since it couldn't be taken in one trip.
All told, it was a hot and humid experience, but one that was fun.
Monday, July 28, 2014
Flapjack Flipping Fun
Pioneer Day was last Thursday, so my ward celebrated by having a pancake breakfast the morning of the following Saturday. Since I worked as a cook at IHOP for one summer, I volunteered to help cook. I wanted to make sure that I would fall asleep early enough so I could wake up to help set up, so I took a homeopathic sleep-aid the night before. Apparently it worked too well because I slept through my alarm - I woke up at about a quarter after 8, with the actual event starting at 8:30. I jumped out of bed and quickly got dressed and woke Samuel up so that we could leave. I stopped long enough to eat a banana and take my anti-seizure medication and we were out the door.
We arrived right as the cooking was starting. While I do feel bad for not being there to help set up, at least I got there in time to cook. The cooking was done on camping stoves on the Church patio. We had a couple of brothers on bacon duty, with a father-son team cooking most of the pancakes and me on a smaller stove doing my part. I did see some of the other pancakes come out underdone, so I gave a few tips to help out, which were well-received. I got several compliments on my pancake cooking-style from members that made a point to sample from my work, which was nice.
In the end, we cooked for a little over an hour and went through six pounds of bacon, an entire large bag of pancake mix, and and three or four watermelons. While not everybody got to have bacon, everyone who came was able to have pancakes, even the couple of families that came late. I made sure that I helped clean everything up, especially since I missed setting up.
And, yes, I ate a few pancakes myself, but, no, I did not enjoy them. What I did enjoy was being able to serve in the ward using my skills that I have acquired over the course of my life - that was quite delicious.
We arrived right as the cooking was starting. While I do feel bad for not being there to help set up, at least I got there in time to cook. The cooking was done on camping stoves on the Church patio. We had a couple of brothers on bacon duty, with a father-son team cooking most of the pancakes and me on a smaller stove doing my part. I did see some of the other pancakes come out underdone, so I gave a few tips to help out, which were well-received. I got several compliments on my pancake cooking-style from members that made a point to sample from my work, which was nice.
In the end, we cooked for a little over an hour and went through six pounds of bacon, an entire large bag of pancake mix, and and three or four watermelons. While not everybody got to have bacon, everyone who came was able to have pancakes, even the couple of families that came late. I made sure that I helped clean everything up, especially since I missed setting up.
And, yes, I ate a few pancakes myself, but, no, I did not enjoy them. What I did enjoy was being able to serve in the ward using my skills that I have acquired over the course of my life - that was quite delicious.
Monday, January 13, 2014
New Monetary System
The other day I roasted a chicken as a way to prepare meals for the rest of the week. After I had pulled it out of the oven and gave it some time to cool down, I separated the major sections of the bird to make reheating later on easier (I was careful not to say that I "carved" the bird, because I just used my hands). As often happens, a lot of the skin started to separate from the body as I pulled off legs and wings and whatnot. Since the skin had already fallen off, I just picked it up and ate it. This worked fine because the skin is one of my favorite parts, especially since the way that I cooked it, the skin was nice and crispy. Now, I won't pull off the skin for the purpose of eating it, but if it falls off, I figure it's free game.
As I did this, I had the absurd thought that crispy chicken skin (CCS) could be the basis of an economy since it's so highly prized (by me, at least). As I followed this line of thinking, I recognized how foolish that would be since money needs to have three qualities: valuable, portable, and durable. So close. Plus, once you traded something for that item's equivalent value in CCS, wouldn't you just want to eat your money? Clearly this is not a realistic economic model, not that I thought it would be.
Then my mind thought about a society that uses a consumable good as a cash substitute: the US prison systems. If you've ever seen any documentary or even fictional depiction of prison, there's often some talk about trading something for so many cigarettes. Now, I don't know how often a particular inmate smokes his money, but I would think that a cigarette would be more valuable as a commodity to be traded, though I recognize that as a non-smoker, I'm biased.
So, the thought experiment ultimately led to a dead-end, but I am curious if anyone in my audience has a favorite consumable good that they think is desirable enough to have an economy based on it? Instead of the gold standard, could we have a bacon standard? or a brownie standard? or a pizza standard? Leave a comment with your thoughts.
As I did this, I had the absurd thought that crispy chicken skin (CCS) could be the basis of an economy since it's so highly prized (by me, at least). As I followed this line of thinking, I recognized how foolish that would be since money needs to have three qualities: valuable, portable, and durable. So close. Plus, once you traded something for that item's equivalent value in CCS, wouldn't you just want to eat your money? Clearly this is not a realistic economic model, not that I thought it would be.
Then my mind thought about a society that uses a consumable good as a cash substitute: the US prison systems. If you've ever seen any documentary or even fictional depiction of prison, there's often some talk about trading something for so many cigarettes. Now, I don't know how often a particular inmate smokes his money, but I would think that a cigarette would be more valuable as a commodity to be traded, though I recognize that as a non-smoker, I'm biased.
So, the thought experiment ultimately led to a dead-end, but I am curious if anyone in my audience has a favorite consumable good that they think is desirable enough to have an economy based on it? Instead of the gold standard, could we have a bacon standard? or a brownie standard? or a pizza standard? Leave a comment with your thoughts.
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