One of the biggest things that Don and I go back and forth on is food. Specifically, we argue about when food needs to be thrown out.
Don will see a tiny speck of mold and want to send it soaring across the kitchen towards the can. I see an entire patch of mold and think, "I'm pretty sure that will still be edible if we cut off the moldy part." (In a completely non-violent way, Don likes to throw things. Conveniently, I have almost no depth perception so I often duck and run for cover when he starts juggling or whinging things behind his back and above his head...but back to the story.)
Most of the time there is either a clear answer (like the loaf of bread that is so completely taken over by mold you can practically see it starting to undulate) or a good compromise ("Let's throw out the two moldy oranges in the bag and not the entire 20 lb bag.")
Don has gotten MUCH more tolerant of my Depression-style drive to salvage every bite. And I have certainly loosened up about throwing out whole bunches of things. But every once in awhile, we encounter a doozy...like we did two days ago.
The story of the rotten produce needs a little introduction:
We have a little ghetto coffee "station" in our tiny kitchen. Why ghetto, you ask? Well, because our tiny kitchen has about 3 square feet of counter space and an odd floor plan, there was perfect room to set up a "microwave cart." And no, it's not a shiny metal and pine affair. This cart is actually a set of plastic shelving that normal people would put paint cans on in their garage. But it fits perfectly and serves our needs most of the time....
On our stand we have the coffee maker, coffee, and filters. Don stands there and readies the maker every night so in the morning it starts brewing upon the push of a button. A few nights ago, he thought something dripped in front of him as he stood there. It didn't really make sense, though. What could be dripping? Well, we have a wire basket that hangs from the ceiling above the ghetto coffee stand. A produce basket.
We both took a quick look and decided that it was a mystery.
Little did we know.
There was actually a giant heirloom tomato up there that had split its pants and was peeing, a drop at a time. Of course there was a host of other produce hanging in the tier below the offensive tomato. It was the perfect storm and a perfect haven for an enthusiastic little swarm of fruit flies.
It all pretty much goes downhill from there.
For those of you who use your plastic shelving for paint cans, you know that after awhile, the middle starts to sag a bit(thanks, Walmart!) Well ours has too. I lifted up the coffee maker and sure enough there was a fetid puddle revealed. Of course, of COURSE we both had to rush off to work. But what to do? Leave a little waterland resort for the fruit flies? In true MacGyver fashion, I threw a bleach wipe over Lake Eerie and we dashed out the door.
Luckily for me, Don got home first so he dealt with the nasty basket and puddle AND coffee maker. After the glow of not having to deal with the mess wore off, the guilt set in. I was the one to buy that rotten orb, the one to neglect it, and the one to not clean up after it. To help comfort my guilt, I made some fly traps out of beer and a few drops of dish soap, gave the Zookeeper a kiss, and rearranged the refrigerator so the rotting vat of spinach is hidden in the back.
Sorry, honey.
30 September 2011
26 September 2011
Recipe - Mom's Amazing Kale Soup
Got this one from my mom. I remember craving it in the winter when I lived at home. For some reason, hers tastes better than mine, but maybe that's just the nature of being a daughter.
For those of you who have never cooked with me or used one of my recipes, I try to be very, very exact when I describe things. However, I also fly by the seat of my pants if I am short an ingredient or feeling adventurous. Feel free to comment if you need clarification, but for the most part, any or all parts can be modified with no significant issues.
Finally, please read through the ingredient list AND the instructions before you start cooking. (In this recipe, you want to chop the potatoes and start cooking them while you chop the other veggies up. This can be gleaned from the directions.)
Ingredients:
- 4 large potatoes, washed and cubed (I like cubes about the size of mini-dice) OR 2 large handfuls of new or baby potatoes, washed and cubed.
- 1 medium onion, chopped about the same size as the potatoes
- 2 cups carrots, washed and chopped, again the same size as the potatoes
- 1 box AND 2 cans chicken broth
- 1 lb ground meat, preferably breakfast sausage. Ground turkey works well too if you're all worried about healthiness and that mess.
- 3 stems of kale, rinsed and roughly chopped into about 1 by 2 inch pieces.
- 1 can evaporated milk, soup can size
- 2 tbsp butter
Directions:
1. Throw potatoes and broth into a large soup pot. Simmer over medium heat while the rest of the veggies are chopped up.
2. Add the rest of the veggies as they are chopped up. Stir and simmer for about 30 minutes or until the potatoes and carrots start to soften.
3. While the veggies soften, brown the meat in a large skillet until it is cooked through. I usually don't add anything else to the pan and cook it on medium or medium low - hot enough to cook quickly but not so hot that oil is shooting out the the pan and searing my face.
4. When the meat is cooked, add it to the soup pot and let everything simmer on low for about 30 minutes. You can simmer for less time or all day depending on your schedule.
5. After the meat has been in the pot for at least 30 minutes, the soup is about 30 minutes from being finished. To finish, add the kale and milk and let it simmer on low for 30 minutes. Now it is done. Eat!!!
Yummy!
For those of you who have never cooked with me or used one of my recipes, I try to be very, very exact when I describe things. However, I also fly by the seat of my pants if I am short an ingredient or feeling adventurous. Feel free to comment if you need clarification, but for the most part, any or all parts can be modified with no significant issues.
Finally, please read through the ingredient list AND the instructions before you start cooking. (In this recipe, you want to chop the potatoes and start cooking them while you chop the other veggies up. This can be gleaned from the directions.)
Ingredients:
- 4 large potatoes, washed and cubed (I like cubes about the size of mini-dice) OR 2 large handfuls of new or baby potatoes, washed and cubed.
- 1 medium onion, chopped about the same size as the potatoes
- 2 cups carrots, washed and chopped, again the same size as the potatoes
- 1 box AND 2 cans chicken broth
- 1 lb ground meat, preferably breakfast sausage. Ground turkey works well too if you're all worried about healthiness and that mess.
- 3 stems of kale, rinsed and roughly chopped into about 1 by 2 inch pieces.
- 1 can evaporated milk, soup can size
- 2 tbsp butter
Directions:
1. Throw potatoes and broth into a large soup pot. Simmer over medium heat while the rest of the veggies are chopped up.
2. Add the rest of the veggies as they are chopped up. Stir and simmer for about 30 minutes or until the potatoes and carrots start to soften.
3. While the veggies soften, brown the meat in a large skillet until it is cooked through. I usually don't add anything else to the pan and cook it on medium or medium low - hot enough to cook quickly but not so hot that oil is shooting out the the pan and searing my face.
4. When the meat is cooked, add it to the soup pot and let everything simmer on low for about 30 minutes. You can simmer for less time or all day depending on your schedule.
5. After the meat has been in the pot for at least 30 minutes, the soup is about 30 minutes from being finished. To finish, add the kale and milk and let it simmer on low for 30 minutes. Now it is done. Eat!!!
Yummy!
Book - "One Day" by David Nicholls
I've been seeing magazine ads for the movie "One Day." It looks amazing. I'm not always the best judge of these things considering what I base my judgement on: who is in it, who does the music, and what its rating is.
But, I've been wanting to see it. Little did I know that it was a book first.
If you know the geek side of me, you know that I refuse to watch most movies before I've read the book they're based on. So when I realized that the movie was based on a book, I was torn.
I LOOOOOOVVVEEEE books. I love buying them. I love their smell. I love feeling the texture of the cover and of the pages. I love, love, love them.
But this time I wanted to see the movie!! Alas! I had to buy the book and read it first.
It turns out my drama was for nothing. The book was amazing and I blew through it. Amazing.
Next up? The movie!
Yay!
But, I've been wanting to see it. Little did I know that it was a book first.
If you know the geek side of me, you know that I refuse to watch most movies before I've read the book they're based on. So when I realized that the movie was based on a book, I was torn.
I LOOOOOOVVVEEEE books. I love buying them. I love their smell. I love feeling the texture of the cover and of the pages. I love, love, love them.
But this time I wanted to see the movie!! Alas! I had to buy the book and read it first.
It turns out my drama was for nothing. The book was amazing and I blew through it. Amazing.
Next up? The movie!
Yay!
Seriously Serious
So here I am on a rainy day. What better thing is there to do than sit in my PJs and catch up on Glee?
Actually, I've been doing chores and making this blog pretty too...
Anyways. I felt compelled to make a little post about some Glee content.
Season 2, Episode 15: Kurt and his dad are having "The TALK." You know, the sex talk? However, this one is a little different than the one we all fear or joke nervously about. Kurt is gay. His dad is not. And while his father completely loves and accepts his son, neither of them are excited to even broach the topic. What struck me about their 'talk' though, is how similar it ended up being to what I hope to tell my kids someday. It was poignant, honest, and really effective, I think.
Dad: "It's someone doing something to you, to your heart, to your self-esteem. Even though it feels like you're just having fun."
Kurt: "So.....you're saying I shouldn't have sex."
D: "I think for your thirtieth birthday, it is a great gift to yourself."
SILENCE
D: "Kurt. When you're ready, I want you to be able to...use it as a way to connect to another person. Don't throw yourself around like you don't matter. Because you matter, Kurt."
I still don't know how I feel about sex ed in schools. I had the opportunity to ask my parents anything I wanted, but I know that many kids either don't have that opportunity or just don't feel comfortable asking. I think those are the kids who end up 13 and pregnant or sexually abused and think that it's normal.
I hope all parents have some form of 'the talk' with their kids. I haven't been a teenager for a few years now, but I can still recall how strange a world it is to go from being young and carefree to something else entirely. It's important and some honesty is what takes it from being a lecture to being advice that sinks in.
Actually, I've been doing chores and making this blog pretty too...
Anyways. I felt compelled to make a little post about some Glee content.
Season 2, Episode 15: Kurt and his dad are having "The TALK." You know, the sex talk? However, this one is a little different than the one we all fear or joke nervously about. Kurt is gay. His dad is not. And while his father completely loves and accepts his son, neither of them are excited to even broach the topic. What struck me about their 'talk' though, is how similar it ended up being to what I hope to tell my kids someday. It was poignant, honest, and really effective, I think.
Dad: "It's someone doing something to you, to your heart, to your self-esteem. Even though it feels like you're just having fun."
Kurt: "So.....you're saying I shouldn't have sex."
D: "I think for your thirtieth birthday, it is a great gift to yourself."
SILENCE
D: "Kurt. When you're ready, I want you to be able to...use it as a way to connect to another person. Don't throw yourself around like you don't matter. Because you matter, Kurt."
I still don't know how I feel about sex ed in schools. I had the opportunity to ask my parents anything I wanted, but I know that many kids either don't have that opportunity or just don't feel comfortable asking. I think those are the kids who end up 13 and pregnant or sexually abused and think that it's normal.
I hope all parents have some form of 'the talk' with their kids. I haven't been a teenager for a few years now, but I can still recall how strange a world it is to go from being young and carefree to something else entirely. It's important and some honesty is what takes it from being a lecture to being advice that sinks in.
Introduction (Because they're mandatory, aren't they?)
Well hello to our friends and family! To anyone who doesn't fall in one of those two categories, please comment and introduce yourself to avoid falling into the 'CREEPY STALKER' category...
So, I will now formally introduce you to the creatures in the zoo along with our basic habitat and with whatever else pops up in my mind to tell you about!
We are the Head family comprised of two adult-aged humans, two dogs, and one pup:
Habitat - The Zoo is mostly contained in the little orange house in Bremerton, Washington. The little orange house weighs in at a whopping 840 square feet, mostly overtaken by mismatched furniture, overflowing recycling bins, and giant dustbunnies made of dog hair.
Donald aka Head Zookeeper - Donald is the head of the Head household, number one zookeeper in the little orange house. Donald is fiercely private but also ridiculously hilarious. This juxtaposition could cause problems with my blog, but we'll proceed anyways.
Andria aka Zoocleaner, Zoofeeder, and Zooshopper - That's me, in case you were wondering who your delightful narrator was. I'm a happy stay-at-home-for-now zootender. But don't worry, I get out of the zoo plenty. I started this blog so that I would have yet another medium to talk through. I love to talk and one mouth just isn't enough.
Zak aka Kelpie, Walrus, Lion - Zak is one half of the duo known as "ZakAndSara" and is a black and tan Kelpie (a type of Australian Cattle Dog). He is our most contented canine who loves to sunbathe like a walrus. Zak also has many lion-like roars which he employs mostly to complain or protest.
Sara aka Princess Peacock, Firefox, Gopher - Sara is obviously the other half of the duo known as "ZakAndSara". She is Zak's twin so she is also a black and tan Kelpie. Sara is the only baby girl in the family (besides me), and she plays the part well. Sara is always the center of attention even though she is the smallest of the pups. She also loves to curl up into a tiny ball with her tail over her face. Google "Firefox animal" if you don't have the foggiest idea of what I'm talking about. Sara is an absolute princess.
Barley aka Resident Idiot, Cowardly Lion, Three-Toed Sloth - Barley is the youngest critter in the house although he's our biggest pup. Weighing in at 70 pounds, Barley is a brainless ginger. He is afraid of everything, chases his tail relentlessly, and takes five minutes to get on and off of the couch. However, we love him to death. He is the most easy going pup in the world with big floppy ears who cries to be let back into the house when he escapes. Even though he lowers the collective IQ of the Head Zoo, we can't live with out him.
So now you have a basic Head Zoo roster. Hopefully I'll get around to posting pictures and whatnot soon. But for now, all three dogs are sleeping at once (this is about as rare as an eclipse) so I must take advantage of it and watch some Glee!
Love, Hugs, and Sloppy Kisses!
So, I will now formally introduce you to the creatures in the zoo along with our basic habitat and with whatever else pops up in my mind to tell you about!
We are the Head family comprised of two adult-aged humans, two dogs, and one pup:
Habitat - The Zoo is mostly contained in the little orange house in Bremerton, Washington. The little orange house weighs in at a whopping 840 square feet, mostly overtaken by mismatched furniture, overflowing recycling bins, and giant dustbunnies made of dog hair.
Donald aka Head Zookeeper - Donald is the head of the Head household, number one zookeeper in the little orange house. Donald is fiercely private but also ridiculously hilarious. This juxtaposition could cause problems with my blog, but we'll proceed anyways.
Andria aka Zoocleaner, Zoofeeder, and Zooshopper - That's me, in case you were wondering who your delightful narrator was. I'm a happy stay-at-home-for-now zootender. But don't worry, I get out of the zoo plenty. I started this blog so that I would have yet another medium to talk through. I love to talk and one mouth just isn't enough.
Zak aka Kelpie, Walrus, Lion - Zak is one half of the duo known as "ZakAndSara" and is a black and tan Kelpie (a type of Australian Cattle Dog). He is our most contented canine who loves to sunbathe like a walrus. Zak also has many lion-like roars which he employs mostly to complain or protest.
Sara aka Princess Peacock, Firefox, Gopher - Sara is obviously the other half of the duo known as "ZakAndSara". She is Zak's twin so she is also a black and tan Kelpie. Sara is the only baby girl in the family (besides me), and she plays the part well. Sara is always the center of attention even though she is the smallest of the pups. She also loves to curl up into a tiny ball with her tail over her face. Google "Firefox animal" if you don't have the foggiest idea of what I'm talking about. Sara is an absolute princess.
Barley aka Resident Idiot, Cowardly Lion, Three-Toed Sloth - Barley is the youngest critter in the house although he's our biggest pup. Weighing in at 70 pounds, Barley is a brainless ginger. He is afraid of everything, chases his tail relentlessly, and takes five minutes to get on and off of the couch. However, we love him to death. He is the most easy going pup in the world with big floppy ears who cries to be let back into the house when he escapes. Even though he lowers the collective IQ of the Head Zoo, we can't live with out him.
So now you have a basic Head Zoo roster. Hopefully I'll get around to posting pictures and whatnot soon. But for now, all three dogs are sleeping at once (this is about as rare as an eclipse) so I must take advantage of it and watch some Glee!
Love, Hugs, and Sloppy Kisses!
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