Last night, Leah and I went on an unexpected date.
I'd been wanting to go see Aquaman in theaters since it came out (especially once I started hearing good things about it online) and due to a combination of hectic schedules and fatigue, last night was our first opportunity to go. We looked at different local theaters and decided to go one only a few miles from home, which just so happened to be within walking distance from Leah’s favorite restaurant. So, quite unexpectedly, a wife supporting her geeky husband’s interests suddenly became a full-blown date!
After the movie, Leah pointed out how nice it was to go on an actual date and I have to agree. We'll have to make a habit out it.
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label food. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 9, 2019
Monday, October 9, 2017
The Weekend of Food
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.
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
#IanandSherlin2016
This past weekend, my brother Ian married his fiancé Sherlin. Not everything was perfect, but it all came together when it mattered.
Leah met me at my apartment on Friday morning (both of us took the day off) and we took my car to Ian’s place. We weren’t there long before we caravanned to Ian’s ward building to prepare for the reception. After setting up the tables and about a dozen chairs, I noticed that the floor of the cultural hall was in need of vacuuming, so I volunteered myself for the task. While I vacuumed, Ian, Sherlin, Isaac, Falisha, and Leah worked on more intricate preparations like setting up the microphone and putting tablecloths on the tables. A lot of the decorations were customized by Sherlin and her friends, like the table banner with handwritten letters or the custom, machine-cut candle holders, making everything feel all the more unique.
In the evening, when we were supposed to be practicing at the chapel at Fort Meade, we stood around in the brisk air just outside. Due to a lack of communication and a severe case of absent-mindedness, the caretaker of the chapel key had failed to unlock the building for us. There was a lot of discussion over how long we should wait, but eventually it was decided that we would practice in the hall of the nearby commissary. We got plenty of odd looks as we lined up and practiced our entrances, but it helped us work out a few kinks, so I think it was worth it. After a few times through, we were done. Ian invited us back to his place for pizza, which I took him up on.
Since tradition dictates that the groom should not see his bride before she walks down the aisle, Ian stayed at my apartment, along with Isaac and Henry. I was very tired after all of the setting up we did, so I asked Ian to drive for me. Isaac rode shotgun, which put Leah and me in the backseat. It was a bit strange sitting in the back of my car for the first time, but it was nice to relax.
The following morning, after all of the Larsen men were dressed in our wedding finery, we drove back down to Ian’s ward building for a final bit of preparation. After the fiasco of not being able to get into the chapel on base, Ian planned ahead and got permission from his bishop to have the wedding ceremony there, just in case. He made sure that very few people even knew about the backup plan, but those who did were sworn to secrecy—he didn’t want to stress out Sherlin who had plenty of things on her plate already. Thankfully, the building was unlocked and we were able to proceed as planned.
The ceremony itself was lovely. While the words of the chaplain were nice, I really liked the individual vows that Ian and Sherlin wrote: they both included each other’s kids in their vows, promising their love to them as well. I looked over at the bridesmaids from my spot at the front of the line of groomsmen a few times and saw that all of them were tearing up. Needless to say, it was beautiful to see these two people dedicate themselves to each other.
After the wedding, the reception began. Most of the food had been prepared by Sherlin and it was delicious, as always. The cake was great too, despite the center tier (which I made) not being as structurally sound as hoped—still, it held up long enough to be cut, which is what really matters.
Iris gave her maid of honor speech, which was beautifully prepared. Then the groomsmen got up to deliver ours. Ian had decided that he wanted to have us play an improv game for our speech and had given us our instructions a few weeks prior: we would all stand in a line and say a single word each in succession, until we had each said six words (for a total of thirty-six words). When he gave us our assignment (via email), I immediately responded that he was being ridiculous. I had decided that I would just be as silly as possible and say “dinosaur” or “laser” at some point, but one of the more practical groomsmen just wrote a speech for us to use. Even though it defied Ian’s instructions to be spontaneous with our speech, I was happy to have something prepared. Another groomsman suggested that we just write our words on our hands and blatantly read them when we delivered the speech, which we did. Even so, we had to practice it a few times before the reception started, but it all worked out and I think that Ian appreciated the effort we made, even if didn’t follow all of his instructions.
Margot and Bryan sang a song that Sherlin had specifically chosen for the day. They did a wonderful job and sang the song beautifully. Then Sherlin and Ian shared their first dance.
Leah got involved, too. On the way to the ward building, she picked up washable markers to write on the windows of Ian's truck. She got Iris, Falisha, Margot, and Jen (Sherlin’s best friend) to help her with the decorating and I think it was a nice bonding experience for them all. I then worked to keep Ian away from his truck until they left for the evening. I’m sure Ian thought I was being very nice running out to his truck for things a few times, but I was mostly just keeping him inside. As for how the surprise went over, I can’t say. When it was time for the big reveal, I was busy wrangling my several nieces and nephews. Still, I suspect that they enjoyed it.
One important activity that happens at every wedding is the bouquet toss. Sherlin was very inclusive and invited all the women in the room to participate, regardless of marital status. Even with the big crowd, Leah caught the bouquet. Does that mean anything? We’ll have to wait and see.
I’m so happy for my brother and new sister-in-law. Marriage is tough and with them each coming from a failed one, it would be easy to swear off marriage entirely. But they knew what they wanted in a spouse and found it in each other. I wish them the best and look forward to many happy times with them and their children.
Congratulations, Ian and Sherlin!
Leah met me at my apartment on Friday morning (both of us took the day off) and we took my car to Ian’s place. We weren’t there long before we caravanned to Ian’s ward building to prepare for the reception. After setting up the tables and about a dozen chairs, I noticed that the floor of the cultural hall was in need of vacuuming, so I volunteered myself for the task. While I vacuumed, Ian, Sherlin, Isaac, Falisha, and Leah worked on more intricate preparations like setting up the microphone and putting tablecloths on the tables. A lot of the decorations were customized by Sherlin and her friends, like the table banner with handwritten letters or the custom, machine-cut candle holders, making everything feel all the more unique.
Preparations
In the evening, when we were supposed to be practicing at the chapel at Fort Meade, we stood around in the brisk air just outside. Due to a lack of communication and a severe case of absent-mindedness, the caretaker of the chapel key had failed to unlock the building for us. There was a lot of discussion over how long we should wait, but eventually it was decided that we would practice in the hall of the nearby commissary. We got plenty of odd looks as we lined up and practiced our entrances, but it helped us work out a few kinks, so I think it was worth it. After a few times through, we were done. Ian invited us back to his place for pizza, which I took him up on.
Since tradition dictates that the groom should not see his bride before she walks down the aisle, Ian stayed at my apartment, along with Isaac and Henry. I was very tired after all of the setting up we did, so I asked Ian to drive for me. Isaac rode shotgun, which put Leah and me in the backseat. It was a bit strange sitting in the back of my car for the first time, but it was nice to relax.
The following morning, after all of the Larsen men were dressed in our wedding finery, we drove back down to Ian’s ward building for a final bit of preparation. After the fiasco of not being able to get into the chapel on base, Ian planned ahead and got permission from his bishop to have the wedding ceremony there, just in case. He made sure that very few people even knew about the backup plan, but those who did were sworn to secrecy—he didn’t want to stress out Sherlin who had plenty of things on her plate already. Thankfully, the building was unlocked and we were able to proceed as planned.
Time to start!
The ceremony itself was lovely. While the words of the chaplain were nice, I really liked the individual vows that Ian and Sherlin wrote: they both included each other’s kids in their vows, promising their love to them as well. I looked over at the bridesmaids from my spot at the front of the line of groomsmen a few times and saw that all of them were tearing up. Needless to say, it was beautiful to see these two people dedicate themselves to each other.
Since I was in the bridal party, I don't have any pictures of the actual ceremony,
so here's one of the chaplain signing the marriage certificate.
After the wedding, the reception began. Most of the food had been prepared by Sherlin and it was delicious, as always. The cake was great too, despite the center tier (which I made) not being as structurally sound as hoped—still, it held up long enough to be cut, which is what really matters.
So much good food!
Iris gave her maid of honor speech, which was beautifully prepared. Then the groomsmen got up to deliver ours. Ian had decided that he wanted to have us play an improv game for our speech and had given us our instructions a few weeks prior: we would all stand in a line and say a single word each in succession, until we had each said six words (for a total of thirty-six words). When he gave us our assignment (via email), I immediately responded that he was being ridiculous. I had decided that I would just be as silly as possible and say “dinosaur” or “laser” at some point, but one of the more practical groomsmen just wrote a speech for us to use. Even though it defied Ian’s instructions to be spontaneous with our speech, I was happy to have something prepared. Another groomsman suggested that we just write our words on our hands and blatantly read them when we delivered the speech, which we did. Even so, we had to practice it a few times before the reception started, but it all worked out and I think that Ian appreciated the effort we made, even if didn’t follow all of his instructions.
A lovely speech by a lovely lady.
Margot and Bryan sang a song that Sherlin had specifically chosen for the day. They did a wonderful job and sang the song beautifully. Then Sherlin and Ian shared their first dance.
After I posted this picture to Facebook, Ian adopted it as his new profile picture. I guess that means he liked it!
Leah got involved, too. On the way to the ward building, she picked up washable markers to write on the windows of Ian's truck. She got Iris, Falisha, Margot, and Jen (Sherlin’s best friend) to help her with the decorating and I think it was a nice bonding experience for them all. I then worked to keep Ian away from his truck until they left for the evening. I’m sure Ian thought I was being very nice running out to his truck for things a few times, but I was mostly just keeping him inside. As for how the surprise went over, I can’t say. When it was time for the big reveal, I was busy wrangling my several nieces and nephews. Still, I suspect that they enjoyed it.
Sometimes wrangling kids is adorable.
One important activity that happens at every wedding is the bouquet toss. Sherlin was very inclusive and invited all the women in the room to participate, regardless of marital status. Even with the big crowd, Leah caught the bouquet. Does that mean anything? We’ll have to wait and see.
She shoots!
And it's good!
I’m so happy for my brother and new sister-in-law. Marriage is tough and with them each coming from a failed one, it would be easy to swear off marriage entirely. But they knew what they wanted in a spouse and found it in each other. I wish them the best and look forward to many happy times with them and their children.
Congratulations, Ian and Sherlin!
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.
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
General Conference, October 2016
Once again, we've come to that time of year where we get to enjoy a lovely weekend of being edified and uplifted by the servants of the Lord in the worldwide broadcast that is General Conference. I watched the Saturday sessions with Leah, who was a great companion throughout (though I'm sure it didn't hurt that I made homemade burrito bowls for us). On Sunday, we went and visited with Ian, Sherlin, and the kids. The kids who watched (Henry, Aeva, and Clara) were surprisingly well behaved, though they were clearly antsy by the end of the final session. Sherlin was a great hostess and provided snacks for the sessions and dinner once the whole thing was over. It was great to spend time with people whom I care so much about.
As for the conference itself, one major theme really jumped out to me: repentance. While repentance is easy to turn into a message of doom and despair, nearly every talk (if not every single one) that mentioned it was hopeful, focusing on the joy of a clear conscience and a clean soul. Sister Linda S. Reeves' talk on the matter was particularly poignant.
I always enjoy General Conference, though I like it best when I can share it with my loved ones, as I was able to this time.
As for the conference itself, one major theme really jumped out to me: repentance. While repentance is easy to turn into a message of doom and despair, nearly every talk (if not every single one) that mentioned it was hopeful, focusing on the joy of a clear conscience and a clean soul. Sister Linda S. Reeves' talk on the matter was particularly poignant.
I always enjoy General Conference, though I like it best when I can share it with my loved ones, as I was able to this time.
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
A Real Marylander
Today, I have had a truly authentic Maryland experience: I went crab picking.
A few weeks ago, one of my coworkers, Chelsea, talked about how much she enjoyed crab picking when my boss, Magda, and I admitted that we had never partaken in one of Maryland's favorite activities. With our secret revealed, it was decided that we needed to go picking as a department. Chelsea found a place that offers crabs for $1.50 each on Tuesdays, so we made our plan to go.
The thing about picking crabs is that it takes a lot of work and there's a lot of waste. Most of the crab is inedible and the parts you can eat are hidden away under layers and layers of shell and organs. It's a good thing I had help because to my novice eyes, the gills (which can make you sick if you eat them) looked exactly the same as the meat. After a few crabs, however, I got the hang of it. I didn't count how many crabs I ate, but I think it was around six or seven. The five of us (the marketing department plus Alejandro from accounting) went through two and half dozen crabs and I could have kept eating if left to my own devices.
At the end of the meal and to everyone's surprise, Magda said that our outing counted as a team building experience and paid for the meal with her company card. I had already had a great time, so getting to enjoy the meal for free made it even better.
If you ever visit Maryland, I definitely recommend going crab picking, but be sure to take someone who can show you the ropes.
A few weeks ago, one of my coworkers, Chelsea, talked about how much she enjoyed crab picking when my boss, Magda, and I admitted that we had never partaken in one of Maryland's favorite activities. With our secret revealed, it was decided that we needed to go picking as a department. Chelsea found a place that offers crabs for $1.50 each on Tuesdays, so we made our plan to go.
The thing about picking crabs is that it takes a lot of work and there's a lot of waste. Most of the crab is inedible and the parts you can eat are hidden away under layers and layers of shell and organs. It's a good thing I had help because to my novice eyes, the gills (which can make you sick if you eat them) looked exactly the same as the meat. After a few crabs, however, I got the hang of it. I didn't count how many crabs I ate, but I think it was around six or seven. The five of us (the marketing department plus Alejandro from accounting) went through two and half dozen crabs and I could have kept eating if left to my own devices.
At the end of the meal and to everyone's surprise, Magda said that our outing counted as a team building experience and paid for the meal with her company card. I had already had a great time, so getting to enjoy the meal for free made it even better.
If you ever visit Maryland, I definitely recommend going crab picking, but be sure to take someone who can show you the ropes.
Monday, July 18, 2016
Full Weekend
I know that it's a cliche that Mondays are so hard because they destroy our weekends, but I think Mondays are one of my favorite days of the workweek: everyone's coming back from the weekend, so expectations are lower compared to other days and it's the beginning of the week, so you aren't burned out from the corporate grind yet. It's a nice balance. And occasionally, it's nice to come back to work after a long, busy weekend. The latter is what I experienced today.
What happened that wore me out?
What happened that wore me out?
- On Friday after work, I drove to DC for a joint-ward baptismal temple trip; afterwards, I went and got food with some girls from my ward, plus Jenn (the girl I met at the temple a couple of weeks ago -- we've decided to be friends, so it was nice to see her again)
- On Saturday, I went to the Post Office right as it opened in order to pick up a package (a new Kitchenaid stand mixer that my mom sent me -- thanks, Mom!) and then went to the church to help clean: I was the only representative from the Elder's Quorum (and I was late)
- Also on Saturday, I laid out by my apartment complex's pool; at my dermatology appointment last week, I was diagnosed with vitiligo and the doctor recommended that I get more sun exposure, so I figured that I might as well try to get a tan on my torso as well (yes, I'm sunburned, but only mildly so)
- In preparation for Sunday, I used my new mixer to make some double chocolate cookies
- On Sunday, I taught Sunday School -- it's not a new calling, I was just filling in for the regular teach who was on vacation; I incorporated the cookies into my lesson and then passed them out (and then I made sure the leftovers were passed around in Relief Society)
- My lesson apparently made an impact because after priesthood meeting, the bishop called me aside to tell me that he had gotten some positive feedback from some of those who attended the lesson (and he didn't even mention the cookies) -- I guess word travels fast
- After church, I asked if anyone wanted to go to a fireside at the DC Temple Visitor's Center that evening, saying that I would be happy to drive, I just didn't want to go alone
- I thought it was a YSA fireside; it wasn't
- My passengers were a sister who was baptized about about ten months ago and a brother who had just moved in the Friday before; I think they both got more out of the fireside that I did (I don't regret going, I was just really annoyed at myself for misunderstanding the nature of the meeting)
- After dropping people off, it was nearly 10 PM by the time I got home (for those keeping score at home, that's two trips to DC and back in three days)
As you can see, I had a valid reason for looking forward to starting work again today: I needed a regular work day just to take a break.
Monday, July 4, 2016
True American Independence
On July 4, 1776, our nation's forefathers signed the Declaration of Independence, severing ties to England and ending their oppression at the hands of King George III. To commemorate that fateful day, we as a nation eat flame-cooked meat and blow stuff up.
The first part of the traditional celebration was handled by my good friend Mark Simcik, whose grill-roasted chicken recipe was perfected over the course of a decade.
As for the blowing stuff up portion of the day, I left that to the professionals while I watched from a safe distance with Jenn, the woman I met at temple on Friday.
This was a great holiday, spent with both old friends and new. My only regret is that I didn't have more time with both parties, but there's only so much time in the day.
The first part of the traditional celebration was handled by my good friend Mark Simcik, whose grill-roasted chicken recipe was perfected over the course of a decade.
That sauce is a homemade recipe and it's awesome.
Me with Lori and Mark.
The rain had left the ground wet, but we made do with a jacket and a backpack.
You know it's a good fireworks display when the crew lighting the rockets are in danger of smoke inhalation.
This was a great holiday, spent with both old friends and new. My only regret is that I didn't have more time with both parties, but there's only so much time in the day.
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 ...
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Number Four (Maybe)
I think I had another seizure. I was asleep at the time and I didn't bite my lip or tear any muscles this time, but I woke up around 3 in morning on Monday feeling, well, feeling like I had just had a seizure. One thing that was different about this time compared to the previous seizures is that I was medicated when it happened.
So, what caused it? I think this time it was caused by low blood-sugar. On Friday, I was still dealing with the worsened depression that came on when I started transitioning to the oxcarbazepine and I ordered a pizza and ate the whole thing. I felt awful (a bit emotionally, but mostly physically), so I decided to try doing a juice cleanse to help pass the excess food. In doing so, I was starving most of the weekend (I broke from the diet and got a vegetarian burrito on Saturday). It was the worst on Sunday, but I drank my last portion of juice right before bed with the hope that I would be okay. I wasn't.
After I woke up, I couldn't sleep for about an hour or two (when I'm recovering from a seizure, my brain becomes more alert while simultaneously becoming exhausted -- it's not fun). I emailed my boss and told her what happened, adding that I would need some time to recover. Even though she approved my absence, I made it into the office after lunch. I had fitfully slept the rest of the morning (after making sure to eat some cereal and fruit to bring my blood-sugar to a safe level) and I was still pretty of out of it, but I'm glad I made it for the second half of the day.
While I think I was at risk because of the transition, I will watch my blood-sugar moving forward. And in case you're wondering, the juice cleanse didn't even work.
So, what caused it? I think this time it was caused by low blood-sugar. On Friday, I was still dealing with the worsened depression that came on when I started transitioning to the oxcarbazepine and I ordered a pizza and ate the whole thing. I felt awful (a bit emotionally, but mostly physically), so I decided to try doing a juice cleanse to help pass the excess food. In doing so, I was starving most of the weekend (I broke from the diet and got a vegetarian burrito on Saturday). It was the worst on Sunday, but I drank my last portion of juice right before bed with the hope that I would be okay. I wasn't.
After I woke up, I couldn't sleep for about an hour or two (when I'm recovering from a seizure, my brain becomes more alert while simultaneously becoming exhausted -- it's not fun). I emailed my boss and told her what happened, adding that I would need some time to recover. Even though she approved my absence, I made it into the office after lunch. I had fitfully slept the rest of the morning (after making sure to eat some cereal and fruit to bring my blood-sugar to a safe level) and I was still pretty of out of it, but I'm glad I made it for the second half of the day.
While I think I was at risk because of the transition, I will watch my blood-sugar moving forward. And in case you're wondering, the juice cleanse didn't even work.
Monday, March 7, 2016
Incremental Improvement
Friday evening after work, as I was driving home, I felt myself starting to get anxious. I had no plans for the weekend and that usually ends in disaster. I hadn't slept well the night before, so I decided to skip the gym, which made it easier to make unhealthy choices regarding what I ate for dinner. Still, I reigned things in, ate a modest dinner, and went to bed early.
I woke up on Saturday feeling better, but I was still tired, despite getting plenty of sleep. I got up and ate breakfast, but I never felt like I really woke up. After fighting the fatigue for a couple of hours, I took a nap. I struggled to wake up when my alarm went off, but I eventually pulled myself out of bed. I ate some fruit to raise my blood sugar and get me moving, which helped, but I still felt weird. I wanted to make it to the gym or even just do my grocery shopping for the week, but I wasn't able to leave my apartment even once that day.
After the last day-and-a-half, I was afraid that I wouldn't make it to church on Sunday, so I fasted that I would attend my meetings the next day. Thankfully, that helped and I made it to church in time for Sacrament meeting. I was still feeling anxious and I wasn't able to participate in any of the lessons, but I was there, which is better than I managed last week.
I've been praying a lot about the upcoming change to my medication and I feel that it's a good move. I don't know if the next drug will be what I stick with for the long haul, but it will at least mark the beginning of my investigation. I know that if it's a struggle for me to just function on a day that I don't have work, there's something majorly wrong. Still, at least I left the house and made it to church; that alone make this weekend a win.
I woke up on Saturday feeling better, but I was still tired, despite getting plenty of sleep. I got up and ate breakfast, but I never felt like I really woke up. After fighting the fatigue for a couple of hours, I took a nap. I struggled to wake up when my alarm went off, but I eventually pulled myself out of bed. I ate some fruit to raise my blood sugar and get me moving, which helped, but I still felt weird. I wanted to make it to the gym or even just do my grocery shopping for the week, but I wasn't able to leave my apartment even once that day.
After the last day-and-a-half, I was afraid that I wouldn't make it to church on Sunday, so I fasted that I would attend my meetings the next day. Thankfully, that helped and I made it to church in time for Sacrament meeting. I was still feeling anxious and I wasn't able to participate in any of the lessons, but I was there, which is better than I managed last week.
I've been praying a lot about the upcoming change to my medication and I feel that it's a good move. I don't know if the next drug will be what I stick with for the long haul, but it will at least mark the beginning of my investigation. I know that if it's a struggle for me to just function on a day that I don't have work, there's something majorly wrong. Still, at least I left the house and made it to church; that alone make this weekend a win.
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
What a Waste
Last week, I felt under the weather so I decided to take the week off from the gym. I had mixed up a protein shake with some berries, but since I hadn't worked out, I decided to save the shake and drink it the next time I worked out, so as to not waste the protein powder and fruit.
I went to the gym yesterday. After I was done exercising, I shook up the shake and opened the bottle to a loud "pop" sound. The bottle was pressurized, which meant that the fruit had fermented. I considered not drinking it, but decided that it would be a waste of money if I just dumped it down the drain, so down the hatch it went.
You may already know where this is going. I drank it and about an hour later, I endured the first of many trips to the bathroom that night. I'll spare you the details, but rest assured that it was not pretty.
I tried to save money by not wasting one scoop of protein powder (which costs less than a dollar) and I ended up wasting it in a different way. Lesson learned: when in doubt, throw it out!
I went to the gym yesterday. After I was done exercising, I shook up the shake and opened the bottle to a loud "pop" sound. The bottle was pressurized, which meant that the fruit had fermented. I considered not drinking it, but decided that it would be a waste of money if I just dumped it down the drain, so down the hatch it went.
You may already know where this is going. I drank it and about an hour later, I endured the first of many trips to the bathroom that night. I'll spare you the details, but rest assured that it was not pretty.
I tried to save money by not wasting one scoop of protein powder (which costs less than a dollar) and I ended up wasting it in a different way. Lesson learned: when in doubt, throw it out!
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.
Monday, November 16, 2015
New Recipe
On Saturday, I went and visited with my good friends the Simciks. As I often do, I brought some baked goods to share. My sister Margot had suggested cookies with white chocolate chips and dried cranberries as a fun fall flavor, so I looked for such a recipe online. I decided to go with this one, though I left out the macadamia nuts since I think of that as more of a summer flavor.
While the Simciks were very appreciative of the cookies, I wasn't terribly happy with how they turned out. There was too much sugar, with nothing to cut through the sweetness but some also sweetened cranberries. Lori is a very skilled baker (her first job was working in a bakery while she was still in high school), so she asked me some questions about the recipe and what I wanted from it when I baked the cookies. As we talked through some changes, I realized that we were making an all new cookie recipe. While it's not exactly from scratch (we used the first one as our starting point), it's its own thing. Here's what we came up with:
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 baking soda
1/4 salt
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp orange zest
1 egg
1 tbsp vanilla
1 tbsp milk
1 cup rolled oats
3/4 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup white chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped pecans
Preheat the oven to 350.
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt and set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars. Mix in the zest, egg, vanilla, and milk. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and combine. Stir in the oats. Add the cranberries, white chocolate chips, and pecans and stir to combine.
Line cookie sheets with parchment paper and, using a cookie dough scoop, drop the dough on the sheets. Bake for 15-17 minutes or until golden brown. Let the cookies cool on the cookies sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an air tight container.
I haven't had a chance to try the recipe yet, but I'm really excited to. I've got an office luncheon on Thursday, so I'll let you know on Friday how things turned out.
While the Simciks were very appreciative of the cookies, I wasn't terribly happy with how they turned out. There was too much sugar, with nothing to cut through the sweetness but some also sweetened cranberries. Lori is a very skilled baker (her first job was working in a bakery while she was still in high school), so she asked me some questions about the recipe and what I wanted from it when I baked the cookies. As we talked through some changes, I realized that we were making an all new cookie recipe. While it's not exactly from scratch (we used the first one as our starting point), it's its own thing. Here's what we came up with:
1 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 baking soda
1/4 salt
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp orange zest
1 egg
1 tbsp vanilla
1 tbsp milk
1 cup rolled oats
3/4 cup dried cranberries
3/4 cup white chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped pecans
Preheat the oven to 350.
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt and set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars. Mix in the zest, egg, vanilla, and milk. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and combine. Stir in the oats. Add the cranberries, white chocolate chips, and pecans and stir to combine.
Line cookie sheets with parchment paper and, using a cookie dough scoop, drop the dough on the sheets. Bake for 15-17 minutes or until golden brown. Let the cookies cool on the cookies sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an air tight container.
I haven't had a chance to try the recipe yet, but I'm really excited to. I've got an office luncheon on Thursday, so I'll let you know on Friday how things turned out.
Friday, October 23, 2015
Surprise Pie
Remember last week when I made mini pumpkin pies to share with my coworkers? Well, my original plan was to make a double batch and save a few mini pies to share with the Larsens. When I had my panic attack, I decided to change gears and make a full pie in addition to the miniature ones. I only have one muffin pan and I wanted to be done as quickly as possible and by using a pie tin I was able to bake both batches at once. Once everything was out of the oven and cooling on the counter, one question remained: to whom do I give the pie? A full pie would be too much for Ian and the kids (he's watching everyone's sugar intake), but I still needed to find it a good home.
After mulling it over, I decided to take it to the family from church that wanted me to tutor their son, Jonathan. I still hadn't heard from the kid, so I thought I might add some motivation in the form of a large pumpkin pie (using my very popular "Double Sweet" recipe). On Saturday morning, I arrived to the family's home with the pie -- I said I knew I would be in the area, so I might as well drop off a pie. The mom was absolutely shocked that a man would bake something, let alone a pie. I met Jonathan, who seemed a little uncomfortable at first, perhaps because he wasn't ready for my help and felt awkward about it, but he warmed up a little while we chatted for a few minutes. After about ten minutes, I said my goodbyes and went my way.
Since I'm friends with the family's oldest daughter, Erin, I was able to hear from her the response that everyone had to the pie: they loved it. On top of that, both the mom and dad came up to me the following Sunday to personally thank me for the pie I brought them.
It's kind of amazing: you see someone at church and you're just "some guy"; you drop off a homemade dessert and suddenly you're "Jordan the Baker."
After mulling it over, I decided to take it to the family from church that wanted me to tutor their son, Jonathan. I still hadn't heard from the kid, so I thought I might add some motivation in the form of a large pumpkin pie (using my very popular "Double Sweet" recipe). On Saturday morning, I arrived to the family's home with the pie -- I said I knew I would be in the area, so I might as well drop off a pie. The mom was absolutely shocked that a man would bake something, let alone a pie. I met Jonathan, who seemed a little uncomfortable at first, perhaps because he wasn't ready for my help and felt awkward about it, but he warmed up a little while we chatted for a few minutes. After about ten minutes, I said my goodbyes and went my way.
Since I'm friends with the family's oldest daughter, Erin, I was able to hear from her the response that everyone had to the pie: they loved it. On top of that, both the mom and dad came up to me the following Sunday to personally thank me for the pie I brought them.
It's kind of amazing: you see someone at church and you're just "some guy"; you drop off a homemade dessert and suddenly you're "Jordan the Baker."
Monday, September 14, 2015
Seeing the Real Message
Yesterday at church, we had a combined third hour focusing on emergency preparedness. This subject seems to be getting a bit of a push from the leaders of my new Stake as we had a linger longer with a similar focus. As I live much closer to the coast now, I'm guessing that the leaders want us to be prepared for storms and other disasters.
The meeting began with the Emergency Preparedness Specialist (or whatever his title is) standing before us and telling us that if we don't have food storage in place, we're committing a sin. First of all, while we have been commanded to have food storage, not doing so would not be a sin but a transgression, as failing to have proper supplies is not a moral failing. Secondly, I don't react well to being told to change my ways because I'm being bad -- I generally stop listening to the speaker, regardless of how worthwhile their message may be. In my experience, you get better results if you tell people to improve while focusing on the benefits of changing, not on the negative aspects of maintaining the status quo. To put it in gospel terms, you tell people about how great righteous living is, not how bad Hell will be.
The speaker continued to talk about all of the disasters he's seen averted by people being properly prepared, but I just sat there, stewing in my annoyance. He compared the ill-prepared to the Donner Party, which I just find insulting. He made assumptions about people not taking home informational pamphlets because we don't trust the government, which I find baffling. I was so insulted that I nearly walked out after ten minutes.
I stayed, but only barely. Eventually I figured out that while his presentation style is all wrong, his message is still a good one: be prepared. I have several working flashlights and I try to keep myself well-supplied with nonperishable food, so I'm mostly prepared. One area in which I'm not properly prepared is water, so I decided to pick up several gallons of water on my way home from work today.
It's frustrating when a good message is hidden within a bad presentation, but I'm grateful I was able to see through to the truth.
The meeting began with the Emergency Preparedness Specialist (or whatever his title is) standing before us and telling us that if we don't have food storage in place, we're committing a sin. First of all, while we have been commanded to have food storage, not doing so would not be a sin but a transgression, as failing to have proper supplies is not a moral failing. Secondly, I don't react well to being told to change my ways because I'm being bad -- I generally stop listening to the speaker, regardless of how worthwhile their message may be. In my experience, you get better results if you tell people to improve while focusing on the benefits of changing, not on the negative aspects of maintaining the status quo. To put it in gospel terms, you tell people about how great righteous living is, not how bad Hell will be.
The speaker continued to talk about all of the disasters he's seen averted by people being properly prepared, but I just sat there, stewing in my annoyance. He compared the ill-prepared to the Donner Party, which I just find insulting. He made assumptions about people not taking home informational pamphlets because we don't trust the government, which I find baffling. I was so insulted that I nearly walked out after ten minutes.
I stayed, but only barely. Eventually I figured out that while his presentation style is all wrong, his message is still a good one: be prepared. I have several working flashlights and I try to keep myself well-supplied with nonperishable food, so I'm mostly prepared. One area in which I'm not properly prepared is water, so I decided to pick up several gallons of water on my way home from work today.
It's frustrating when a good message is hidden within a bad presentation, but I'm grateful I was able to see through to the truth.
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.
Friday, June 26, 2015
Apartment Pros and Cons
I like my new apartment, but there are some things that were nicer about my old place. Here's a list of pros and cons regarding my new home.
Pro
It's close enough to my office that my commute is only about twelve minutes long.
Con
I have to figure out a new morning routine since I don't have enough time to listen to the scriptures on the way to work.
Pro
I'm halfway underground, which should make a huge difference in my heating/cooling bill.
Con
I'm no longer on the top floor, so I get to hear my neighbors whenever they move around, despite them not being particularly noisy.
Pro
The rent is much lower than my previous place, meaning I don't need a roommate in order to live comfortably.
Con
I'm not in as nice a neighborhood. I don't fear for my safety or my property, but there's a reason this place is cheaper.
Pro
I get free access to a pool and a small gym.
Con
Being that the neighborhood isn't as nice, I don't have access to several miles of non-busy streets to go running on, so I may end up using the gym more often than I'd like (I ran for about an hour yesterday, but nearly all of it was spent on the sidewalk of a main road).
Pro
I've already found a tasty and inexpensive Chinese/Japanese restaurant within walking distance -- the only Chinese or Japanese places near my old place were either expensive, not very good, or both.
Con
I have yet to find any Korean restaurants in the area. My old place had five or six Korean places nearby and they were all great. Maybe I just haven't found it yet...
Pro
I'm where the Lord wants me to be. I'd put a "Con" about how I'll miss my old ward, but that would make my complaint appear to have equal weight to the Lord's desires for me, which it does not.
So, while I'll miss certain things about my old place, it's nice that I've so quickly found things that I like about my new home.
Pro
It's close enough to my office that my commute is only about twelve minutes long.
Con
I have to figure out a new morning routine since I don't have enough time to listen to the scriptures on the way to work.
Pro
I'm halfway underground, which should make a huge difference in my heating/cooling bill.
Con
I'm no longer on the top floor, so I get to hear my neighbors whenever they move around, despite them not being particularly noisy.
Pro
The rent is much lower than my previous place, meaning I don't need a roommate in order to live comfortably.
Con
I'm not in as nice a neighborhood. I don't fear for my safety or my property, but there's a reason this place is cheaper.
Pro
I get free access to a pool and a small gym.
Con
Being that the neighborhood isn't as nice, I don't have access to several miles of non-busy streets to go running on, so I may end up using the gym more often than I'd like (I ran for about an hour yesterday, but nearly all of it was spent on the sidewalk of a main road).
Pro
I've already found a tasty and inexpensive Chinese/Japanese restaurant within walking distance -- the only Chinese or Japanese places near my old place were either expensive, not very good, or both.
Con
I have yet to find any Korean restaurants in the area. My old place had five or six Korean places nearby and they were all great. Maybe I just haven't found it yet...
Pro
I'm where the Lord wants me to be. I'd put a "Con" about how I'll miss my old ward, but that would make my complaint appear to have equal weight to the Lord's desires for me, which it does not.
So, while I'll miss certain things about my old place, it's nice that I've so quickly found things that I like about my new home.
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