Let it be known that for my next birthday/other cake-worthy occasion, no cake other than this one will be accepted.
Actually, this one would also be accepted, but making the goggles out of fondant takes several days according to the instructions, and that is just plain silly.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
As if we needed more proof...
Math students are even more nerdy than scientists. Check out the link.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Food is good
A few days ago I got home to Provo after a summer with Sam and Mollie. When I got home, I realized that I needed to step it up on the food I'm eating. Mollie made such good food that now bachelor food seems like such a step down. So I went shopping and spent a lot of money on good food (instead of the usual junk I buy) and have tried to make one good meal every day.
These recipes are all adapted from a cookbook that Mom bought me for Christmas. It's good. I say adapted because I feel about cooking a lot like Calvin feels about puzzles: I don't want my dishes to turn out like something somebody else made. Where's the fun in that?
Monday: marinated chicken sandwich
Mix some olive oil and balsamic vinegar with spices for the basic marinade (Did you know that marinate is a verb and marinade is a noun? I just learned that). It's basically like making a quick vinaigrette. Add to the marinade some freshly chopped rosemary (somewhere in the neighborhood of 1T). Pound 1 chicken breast to about 1/2 inch thick (it's thinner than you think) and let it marinate for an hour.
Turn on the broiler, remove the chicken from the marinade, and broil it on both sides. While that's going, chop 1/2 tomato into chunks (mostly because I like tomato better that way- slices would work too). Slice up 1/2 an avocado. Dice a little bit of red onion. Slice a hoagie bun and toast it in the oven. It doesn't take long because the oven is really hot for the chicken.
Stack: Bread, avocado, tomato, SALT (I forgot this on one sandwich and it was way less delicious), onions, 1/2 of the chicken, then bread. This is enough stuff for two sandwiches. Eat. Yum.
Tuesday: Different marinated chicken sandwich
It was so good the first time I just couldn't resist. Actually, the truth is I marinated the chicken for something else and realized that I didn't have any rice so I thought fast and made a sandwich with it. Good nonetheless, despite sounding a little weird.
Mix a bit of Bulldog sauce (sweet teriyaki) with soy sauce. Add a teaspoon or so of sugar. There's your marinade. Do everything else as on Monday. Yes, even the avocado. Avocado goes with everything.
Wednesday: Beef and tomato stir fry-ish thing
This was super easy and really good. Buy the cheapest, thinnest steak you can find at the store. Slice 1/2 a pound into thinnish strips. Chop up a tomato and a half or so into wedges. Dice about
1/4 C red onion. Throw all that into a hot skillet till the beef is done. (The next time I make this I will also use some hot peppers). Salt, pepper, and garlic (as if I have to say this).
Cook 1 packet of ramen noodles without the salty flavor packet. Drain them and set aside.
Mix 1T black bean sauce (from the Asian isle of your grocery store) with about 1T water. Add to beef mixture. Add noodles. Stir together till everything is warm through and everything is covered in sauce.
This recipe was really easy and pretty darn good (considering how easy it was).
More updates as the week of delicious meals continues.
These recipes are all adapted from a cookbook that Mom bought me for Christmas. It's good. I say adapted because I feel about cooking a lot like Calvin feels about puzzles: I don't want my dishes to turn out like something somebody else made. Where's the fun in that?
Monday: marinated chicken sandwich
Mix some olive oil and balsamic vinegar with spices for the basic marinade (Did you know that marinate is a verb and marinade is a noun? I just learned that). It's basically like making a quick vinaigrette. Add to the marinade some freshly chopped rosemary (somewhere in the neighborhood of 1T). Pound 1 chicken breast to about 1/2 inch thick (it's thinner than you think) and let it marinate for an hour.
Turn on the broiler, remove the chicken from the marinade, and broil it on both sides. While that's going, chop 1/2 tomato into chunks (mostly because I like tomato better that way- slices would work too). Slice up 1/2 an avocado. Dice a little bit of red onion. Slice a hoagie bun and toast it in the oven. It doesn't take long because the oven is really hot for the chicken.
Stack: Bread, avocado, tomato, SALT (I forgot this on one sandwich and it was way less delicious), onions, 1/2 of the chicken, then bread. This is enough stuff for two sandwiches. Eat. Yum.
Tuesday: Different marinated chicken sandwich
It was so good the first time I just couldn't resist. Actually, the truth is I marinated the chicken for something else and realized that I didn't have any rice so I thought fast and made a sandwich with it. Good nonetheless, despite sounding a little weird.
Mix a bit of Bulldog sauce (sweet teriyaki) with soy sauce. Add a teaspoon or so of sugar. There's your marinade. Do everything else as on Monday. Yes, even the avocado. Avocado goes with everything.
Wednesday: Beef and tomato stir fry-ish thing
This was super easy and really good. Buy the cheapest, thinnest steak you can find at the store. Slice 1/2 a pound into thinnish strips. Chop up a tomato and a half or so into wedges. Dice about
1/4 C red onion. Throw all that into a hot skillet till the beef is done. (The next time I make this I will also use some hot peppers). Salt, pepper, and garlic (as if I have to say this).
Cook 1 packet of ramen noodles without the salty flavor packet. Drain them and set aside.
Mix 1T black bean sauce (from the Asian isle of your grocery store) with about 1T water. Add to beef mixture. Add noodles. Stir together till everything is warm through and everything is covered in sauce.
This recipe was really easy and pretty darn good (considering how easy it was).
More updates as the week of delicious meals continues.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Tired of racism
Well, folks, I've been reading the news and I came to a conclusion. I'm tired of racism. Some of you may not know this, but I belong to a group that is judged because of a stereotype based on the actions of a few.
That's right. I'm a white male.
I've read about two things that really bother me, and they both have to do with the same thing. Perceived racism where none is intended. I have voiced my opinions on this before, but I just thought I would weigh in on these specific issues.
First is the Gates case. I used to live in a crappy apartment that was pretty easy to break into. A few times in my years there I locked myself out and had to break back in. Every time I did so, I thought about how it must have looked to an onlooker who did not know me. Because I knew all my neighbors and they all knew me, no one ever mistook me for a thief and the police were never called. But I was always ready to be cooperative with police should they show up.
Say what you want about the arresting officer. Gates himself could have stopped it all if he had replaced all his indignant shouting and accusations with these simple lines:
The other bit of racism in the news is all this noise about the ObamaJoker posters. I read a disgusting article this morning that said (in many more words) that when somebody photoshopped Joker makeup onto GWB it was a simple message about how GWB is an unpredictable psychopath, but when somebody photoshopped Joker makeup onto BHO it was a nuanced subliminal message revealing that the photoshopper is a filthy racist who can't accept that a black man runs the country.
This accusation disgusts me. Opposing a belief set that happens to come from a black man does not make me racist. I like these Joker posters, not because of any racial undertones, but because Uncle Barry is turning out (in my opinion) to be a bit like the maniac who Alfred aptly describes as just wanting "to watch the world burn."
And anybody who disagrees with me is a racist. Or a commie. Or a jerk.
That's right. I'm a white male.
I've read about two things that really bother me, and they both have to do with the same thing. Perceived racism where none is intended. I have voiced my opinions on this before, but I just thought I would weigh in on these specific issues.
First is the Gates case. I used to live in a crappy apartment that was pretty easy to break into. A few times in my years there I locked myself out and had to break back in. Every time I did so, I thought about how it must have looked to an onlooker who did not know me. Because I knew all my neighbors and they all knew me, no one ever mistook me for a thief and the police were never called. But I was always ready to be cooperative with police should they show up.
Say what you want about the arresting officer. Gates himself could have stopped it all if he had replaced all his indignant shouting and accusations with these simple lines:
I appreciate your concern for the safety of my neighborhood, officers. I can see how this might have looked like a break-in. Here is my ID, showing that this house is, in fact, my residence. Is there anything else I can do for you, or will you be leaving now?That clearly communicates that he is in the right and that he wants the officers to leave without making unfounded accusations.
The other bit of racism in the news is all this noise about the ObamaJoker posters. I read a disgusting article this morning that said (in many more words) that when somebody photoshopped Joker makeup onto GWB it was a simple message about how GWB is an unpredictable psychopath, but when somebody photoshopped Joker makeup onto BHO it was a nuanced subliminal message revealing that the photoshopper is a filthy racist who can't accept that a black man runs the country.
This accusation disgusts me. Opposing a belief set that happens to come from a black man does not make me racist. I like these Joker posters, not because of any racial undertones, but because Uncle Barry is turning out (in my opinion) to be a bit like the maniac who Alfred aptly describes as just wanting "to watch the world burn."
And anybody who disagrees with me is a racist. Or a commie. Or a jerk.
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