In the last few months I've been sorely absent from my blog, on one hand the chaos that tends to descend upon life around the fall season, on the other the fact that I got lazy. What makes me sad is that over the past few months I've had a few amazingly awesome firsts! I used my friends pressure caner to make soup stock, I learned how to make meringues and how to knit a pair of socks on a set of 40" circular needles. My lemon tree finally had a fruit ripen, and the orange tree's single orange is doing it's darnedest to turn from yellow to orange. I also managed to forget to turn the stove off one night, and had to chisel 2 quarts of apple sauce that had charred to the bottom.
I'll go more in depth with these later, but for now I just wanted to get started on writing again! I hope everyone's having a great holiday season, whatever it is you choose to celebrate!
Monday, December 10, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Rupa and the April Fishes
One of the most important things my dad taught me was to always try something once. Growing up, we rarely went to the same place twice, the exception being if we were visiting friends and family. This weekend, while visiting family in NYC, I tagged along with my step brother to see a band I had never heard of called, Rupa and the April Fishes, and I was in love about ten seconds into the first song.
These guys are from San Francisco and are absolutely amazing! First off, they sing in several languages, including; Hindi, French, Spanish, and English. Second their music is a beautiful blend of several different styles, the closest thing I can come up with is Klezmer, or Gypsy music. Third, you really have to TRY to stay seated through the show. Fourth, the songs aren't your typical top 40 dribble, sure there are songs about love and loss, but much of the music is profound aches and longings, as well as moving on and improving the world. Lastly, the lead singer's other job is being a profesor of internal medicine. Anyone else feel like a slacker?
Currently these guys are doing a six month world tour called Build after their latest album. Farmer Ben is running their merch booth, and is doing a seed exchange. He will trade seeds with you or, if you don't have seeds, talk to him, and he'll be happy to share some with you. This guy knows tons about the seeds he has, and is more than happy to talk with you about them, as well as share his knowledge of farming, or share some information about how to save seeds. I got a few Popping Buckwheat seeds from SC, that I will be trying to grow in a container later on this year. Hopefully I'll actually be able to get seeds from the plants.
Also, their current album "BUILD" is available in CD, or digital format. For $5, you can buy a download code, which is printed on a small card that is full of wild flower seeds! So, once you have safely downloaded the album, you can plant the card, and add a little beauty to this world.
Check out Rupa and the April Fishes' website for tour info, more music, and just general awesomeness: http://theaprilfishes.com/
These guys are from San Francisco and are absolutely amazing! First off, they sing in several languages, including; Hindi, French, Spanish, and English. Second their music is a beautiful blend of several different styles, the closest thing I can come up with is Klezmer, or Gypsy music. Third, you really have to TRY to stay seated through the show. Fourth, the songs aren't your typical top 40 dribble, sure there are songs about love and loss, but much of the music is profound aches and longings, as well as moving on and improving the world. Lastly, the lead singer's other job is being a profesor of internal medicine. Anyone else feel like a slacker?
Video from: http://vimeo.com/5441250
Currently these guys are doing a six month world tour called Build after their latest album. Farmer Ben is running their merch booth, and is doing a seed exchange. He will trade seeds with you or, if you don't have seeds, talk to him, and he'll be happy to share some with you. This guy knows tons about the seeds he has, and is more than happy to talk with you about them, as well as share his knowledge of farming, or share some information about how to save seeds. I got a few Popping Buckwheat seeds from SC, that I will be trying to grow in a container later on this year. Hopefully I'll actually be able to get seeds from the plants.
Also, their current album "BUILD" is available in CD, or digital format. For $5, you can buy a download code, which is printed on a small card that is full of wild flower seeds! So, once you have safely downloaded the album, you can plant the card, and add a little beauty to this world.
Check out Rupa and the April Fishes' website for tour info, more music, and just general awesomeness: http://theaprilfishes.com/
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Last night, I had my first experience with a pressure canner . The good news is, it didn't explode. Due to the previous statement, there is no bad news.
Lessons learned:
* When using a dishwasher to sanitize jars, start sanitizing before doing anything else, to avoid having to sit and stare at the dishwasher for an hour after the items to be canned are ready to be jarred.
* Read the pressure canner instructions BEFORE you start trying to can.
* When making a giant pot of stock, it is not necessary to cut all of your veggies into tinny pieces.
* Add herbs to your stock at the same time as the water, not while you're sweating the veggies, especially when the herbs include red pepper flakes. (I accidentally maced the kitchen when the red pepper reconstituted and released capsaicin into the air.)
Not a bad evening, even if it did take a couple hours longer than anticipated!
Lessons learned:
* When using a dishwasher to sanitize jars, start sanitizing before doing anything else, to avoid having to sit and stare at the dishwasher for an hour after the items to be canned are ready to be jarred.
* Read the pressure canner instructions BEFORE you start trying to can.
* When making a giant pot of stock, it is not necessary to cut all of your veggies into tinny pieces.
* Add herbs to your stock at the same time as the water, not while you're sweating the veggies, especially when the herbs include red pepper flakes. (I accidentally maced the kitchen when the red pepper reconstituted and released capsaicin into the air.)
Not a bad evening, even if it did take a couple hours longer than anticipated!
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
The cats are fired.
So yesterday, I decided I was going to do a little bit of kitchen clean up, I opened up the cabinet where I keep the excess of my dry goods, and was greeted by a small cascade of rice. Strange. Upon closer inspection I found that the bag in which the rice had lived, had been dutifully chewed into non-existence. Oh joy of joys.
Assuming that the mouse got in through the gap around the pipe for the sink drain, I grabbed some steel wool, and a can of expandable foam, and got down to fill the gap.... and proceeded to scream like a little girl. Apparently the little guy had decided to lie in wait, until I was under the sink before springing forth squeaking and running for his fuzzy life. I'm not afraid of chipmunks, I've kept hamsters for pets, I find NYC subway rats entertaining, but a little tan mouse under my sink? TERRIFYING.
Slamming the cabinets shut, I presented Will with a frying pan, and insisted that since I was cleaning up after the rodent, I was leaving the vanquishing duties to him. After much back and forth (he loves animals and really hated the idea of killing the little guy), we found the cupboard empty. I filled the hole, and put out one trap out by where I thought the entry point was. Hopefully, the mouse moved on to fuller cupboards and won't be making another appearance in our apartment, or in the mouse trap.
Assuming that the mouse got in through the gap around the pipe for the sink drain, I grabbed some steel wool, and a can of expandable foam, and got down to fill the gap.... and proceeded to scream like a little girl. Apparently the little guy had decided to lie in wait, until I was under the sink before springing forth squeaking and running for his fuzzy life. I'm not afraid of chipmunks, I've kept hamsters for pets, I find NYC subway rats entertaining, but a little tan mouse under my sink? TERRIFYING.
Slamming the cabinets shut, I presented Will with a frying pan, and insisted that since I was cleaning up after the rodent, I was leaving the vanquishing duties to him. After much back and forth (he loves animals and really hated the idea of killing the little guy), we found the cupboard empty. I filled the hole, and put out one trap out by where I thought the entry point was. Hopefully, the mouse moved on to fuller cupboards and won't be making another appearance in our apartment, or in the mouse trap.
Monday, September 10, 2012
SOUP
On one hand, I love summer. You get all the yummy veggies and fruit at the farm stand, the birds are chirping, swimming is an option....
On the flip side of the coin, I hate the summer. It's muggy, hot, the bugs are out in force, and being in a city you feel like you're trapped in a sauna after someone sprayed you down with oil and dust. Ew.
The worst part about summer is that soup, is pretty much out of the question. Being a bit of a wuss about the heat, I'm not too eager to boil anything for dinner, and I am yet to find a cold soup recipe I actually like.
However, with summer drawing to a close and the evening temperatures dipping lower and lower, it's finally getting to be time when I can make some soup!
My favorite recipe in the last year has been a potato and kale soup, the recipe is redicoulosly simple, and can be made out of 4 ingredients.
Potato and Kale Soup
6 cups of stock your favorite stock
1 package of spicy sausage
4-5 pealed potatoes cut into quarters
4 shredded kale leaves
Bring the potatoes, and stock to a boil, reduce heat and allow to simmer until the potatoes are tender. Mash the potatoes a few times, you don't want to over mash them, since you want a some chunks of potato in the soup. In the mean time, over a medium heat cook your sausages (I lied, you're going to need a 5th ingredient, oil for the pan). Once the sausages are cooked, cut them up into bite sized pieces, and add them to the potatoes and stock. Bring back up to a boil, and add the shredded kale. Allow mixture to simmer for about 2-3 minutes, until the kale is tender. Serve!
Being Russian, I like to add sour cream to my soup. (Okay, fine 6 ingredients).
The worst part about summer is that soup, is pretty much out of the question. Being a bit of a wuss about the heat, I'm not too eager to boil anything for dinner, and I am yet to find a cold soup recipe I actually like.
However, with summer drawing to a close and the evening temperatures dipping lower and lower, it's finally getting to be time when I can make some soup!
My favorite recipe in the last year has been a potato and kale soup, the recipe is redicoulosly simple, and can be made out of 4 ingredients.
Potato and Kale Soup
6 cups of stock your favorite stock
1 package of spicy sausage
4-5 pealed potatoes cut into quarters
4 shredded kale leaves
Bring the potatoes, and stock to a boil, reduce heat and allow to simmer until the potatoes are tender. Mash the potatoes a few times, you don't want to over mash them, since you want a some chunks of potato in the soup. In the mean time, over a medium heat cook your sausages (I lied, you're going to need a 5th ingredient, oil for the pan). Once the sausages are cooked, cut them up into bite sized pieces, and add them to the potatoes and stock. Bring back up to a boil, and add the shredded kale. Allow mixture to simmer for about 2-3 minutes, until the kale is tender. Serve!
Being Russian, I like to add sour cream to my soup. (Okay, fine 6 ingredients).
Friday, September 7, 2012
My friends rock.
So last night I had a small faux girl's night. We were going to make Will wear a skirt, but between the chocolate, Apple Smash, and venison burgers we forgot. That's right, there were venison burgers courtesy of a very dear friend of mine. Best of all? She brought me extras, so now I have ground venison in my freezer! Yummy experimentation soon to come!
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