Kate called last night and tempted me out to Bowery Ballroom for the Shout Out Louds show when her friend bailed on her. It was a lot of fun to get out and dance. Plus, the night was filled with Swedish fun. The band before them-Johnossi-was also Swedish and they were pretty good. And the Swedes came out in full force (directly from Sweden, I think)! There were huge groups of tall, blonde, die-hard fans all around us. Yay!
Check out the bands:
Shout Out Louds-http://www.myspace.com/shoutoutlouds
Johnossi-http://www.myspace.com/johnossi
Quote of the night: "I mean, what's the difference between Seattle & Sweden? More blondes."
Thanks dude in front of us in a shiny vest!
Friday, October 26, 2007
Thursday, August 09, 2007
J&K Tie the Knot!
Jeff & Kathleen got married on August 4 in Portland, OR, and the "Ladies of NY" (Kate, Anna & myself) were present to celebrate the weekend!
The NYC gang having some drinks at the Embassy Suites bar...together again!
Kate, Jeff & Anna at the wedding.
Kate & Kathleen
The happy couple celebrating the night!
The NYC gang having some drinks at the Embassy Suites bar...together again!
Kate, Jeff & Anna at the wedding.
Kate & Kathleen
The happy couple celebrating the night!
Monday, July 02, 2007
Leif's Visit
So my cousin Leif came up from DC to visit this weekend. We had a lot of fun, lots of food and did lots of walking...it was great!
Out from of the Met Museum we saw this guy doing a puppet show, dancing to the Pina Colada song!
Leif with one of the sculptures at the Met. We took a "museum highlights" tour and it was actually really interesting. Our guide was great and showed us some great pieces.
Out from of the Met Museum we saw this guy doing a puppet show, dancing to the Pina Colada song!
Leif with one of the sculptures at the Met. We took a "museum highlights" tour and it was actually really interesting. Our guide was great and showed us some great pieces. 
Another piece we saw.
Sunday we walked down to Chinatown and came across this parade of all different cultures and dances...it was odd, but really neat to watch.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
More Mets Pics!
I just remembered I got pictures from Kat & Christine too (Sara didn't even take her camera out of her bag...there was just too much excitement!).
Sara, Kat & I
Sara thanking "Mr. Delgado" for taking a picture with her.
Christine & Jose Reyes.
Christine, Sara & I.
Delgado & Kat!
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Meet the Mets!
That's what I did last Thursday! Sara's aunt got us 4 tickets to a charity auction thing, and we got autographs and pictures with the Mets & with Mr. Met himself (Sara was pretty excited about that).
Christine & Sara on the train to Greenwich, CT for the event...
and me & Kat on the other seats!
This is pretty much the feeling we had all evening...squee!!
This is me with Delgado - he plays first base & was awesome at joking with people and being so nice this night.
And with Jose Reyes. He's short stop & he signed my Reyes shirt.
Sara was VERY excited to meet Mr. Met, the mascot for the Mets.
On the left (in khaki) is Paul LoDuca - he's the catcher. And in the middle is Jose Reyes again.
Not a great pic, but I had to include David Wright (right) because Sara loves him...he plays third base. LoDuca is on the left again.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Delicious!
So I made this Chili Con Carne and Sara couldn't even eat it (way too hot for her). I loved it though! It's hot, but a little sour cream helps cool it down. You could also put it over brown rice or have some bread with it.
Chili Con Carne
Makes 6 servings
INGREDIENTS
1 tsp olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 (4 1/2 oz) can chopped green chilies
2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
1 lb ground skinless chicken breast
1 (28 oz) can Italian peeled tomatoes, chopped (tip: use kitchen scissors to chop them right in the can)
1 cup prepared salsa
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup chili powder (I used hot mexican style chili powder, and not quite a full 1/4 cup)
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 (15 oz) cans red kidney beans, rinsed & drained (I used a 15 oz and a 19 oz because that's what I had)
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Heat a large nonstick saucepan over medium heat. Swirl in the oil, then add the onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 6 minutes. Stir in the garlic, chilies and Cajun seasoning. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the chicken and cook, breaking up the chicken with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 8 minutes.
2. Add the tomatoes with their liquid, salsa, water, chili powder, sugar & salt; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the flavors are blended and the chili thickens slightly, about 1 hour. Stir in the beans and cook until heated through.
NUTRITION
Per serving (1 1/3 cups): 247 calories, 4 g fat, 1 g sat fat, 42 mg chol, 1465 sodium, 31 g carbs, 11 g fiber, 23 g protein, 116 mg calc.
Chili Con Carne
Makes 6 servings
INGREDIENTS
1 tsp olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 (4 1/2 oz) can chopped green chilies
2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
1 lb ground skinless chicken breast
1 (28 oz) can Italian peeled tomatoes, chopped (tip: use kitchen scissors to chop them right in the can)
1 cup prepared salsa
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup chili powder (I used hot mexican style chili powder, and not quite a full 1/4 cup)
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
2 (15 oz) cans red kidney beans, rinsed & drained (I used a 15 oz and a 19 oz because that's what I had)
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Heat a large nonstick saucepan over medium heat. Swirl in the oil, then add the onion. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 6 minutes. Stir in the garlic, chilies and Cajun seasoning. Cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the chicken and cook, breaking up the chicken with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 8 minutes.
2. Add the tomatoes with their liquid, salsa, water, chili powder, sugar & salt; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, covered, until the flavors are blended and the chili thickens slightly, about 1 hour. Stir in the beans and cook until heated through.
NUTRITION
Per serving (1 1/3 cups): 247 calories, 4 g fat, 1 g sat fat, 42 mg chol, 1465 sodium, 31 g carbs, 11 g fiber, 23 g protein, 116 mg calc.
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Disaster in the Kitchen!
It's the third real recipe I've tried, and it was a disaster while I was making it. It actually turned out ok though, doesn't look pretty, but it tastes pretty good!
Chicken Negimaki
Makes 4 servings
INGREDIENTS
4 (1/4 pound) skinless boneless chicken breast halves
4 scallions, dark green part only
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
1 garlic clove, minced
2 teaspoons canola oil
INSTRUCTIONS
PLACE a chicken breast between 2 sheets of plastic wrap. Pound the chicken to 1/4-inch thickness, using a meat mallet or bottom of heavy saucepan. Repeat with the remaining chicken. Arrange the chicken on a work surface with long side facing you, then top each with 1 of the scallions, lengthwise. Roll the chicken around the scallions, jelly-roll style, and secure with kitchen string at 1-ince intervals.
COMBINE the soy sauce, vinegar, ginger and garlic in a shallow bowl. Add the chicken rolls and toss well to coat. Cover and refrigerate, turning occasionally, at least 2 hours or overnight.
REMOVE the chicken rolls from the marinade; discard the marinade. Heat the oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken rolls and cook, turning often, until browned and cooked through, 10-12 minutes. Transfer the rolls to a cutting board and remove the string. Cut each roll into 6 pieces.
NUTRITION per serving (6 pieces)
146 calories, 5 g fat, 1 g sat fat, 0 g trans fat, 63 mg cholesterol, 131 mg sodium, 1 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 23 g protein, 16 mg calcium
Roast Asparagus and Plum Tomatoes
Makes 4 servings
WW Points: 1 per serving
INGREDIENTS
1 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed an dcut into 4-inch lengths
1 1/2 pounds plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise
2 1/2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tsp white-wine vinegar
1 small garlic clove, minced
1/2 tsp grated lemon zest
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp freshly ground pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
ARRANGE the oven rack in the lower third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
TOSS the asparagus and tomatoes with 1 tsp of the oil in a roasting pan. Arrange the vegetables in a single layer, with the tomatoes cut-side up. Roast until the tomatoes are lightly charred and the asparagus are just tender, 12-16 minutes, depending on the thickness of the asparagus.
MEANWHILE, combine the remaining 1 1/2 tsp oil, the vinegar, garlic, lemon zest, salt and pepper in a cup. Transfer the vegetables to a platter and drizzle with the dressing
NUTRITION (serving size 1 cup)
78 calories, 4 g fat, 1 g sat fat, 0 g trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 163 mg sodium, 11 g carbs, 3 g fiber, 3 g protein, 23 mg calcium
Even though they weren't pretty, they actually turned out to taste pretty good! I will probably have to make more of the sauce (to dribble on the vegetables) because I also like it on the chicken. But still, not a bad dinner.
Chicken Negimaki
Makes 4 servings
INGREDIENTS
4 (1/4 pound) skinless boneless chicken breast halves
4 scallions, dark green part only
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
1 garlic clove, minced
2 teaspoons canola oil
INSTRUCTIONS
PLACE a chicken breast between 2 sheets of plastic wrap. Pound the chicken to 1/4-inch thickness, using a meat mallet or bottom of heavy saucepan. Repeat with the remaining chicken. Arrange the chicken on a work surface with long side facing you, then top each with 1 of the scallions, lengthwise. Roll the chicken around the scallions, jelly-roll style, and secure with kitchen string at 1-ince intervals.
COMBINE the soy sauce, vinegar, ginger and garlic in a shallow bowl. Add the chicken rolls and toss well to coat. Cover and refrigerate, turning occasionally, at least 2 hours or overnight.
REMOVE the chicken rolls from the marinade; discard the marinade. Heat the oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken rolls and cook, turning often, until browned and cooked through, 10-12 minutes. Transfer the rolls to a cutting board and remove the string. Cut each roll into 6 pieces.
NUTRITION per serving (6 pieces)
146 calories, 5 g fat, 1 g sat fat, 0 g trans fat, 63 mg cholesterol, 131 mg sodium, 1 g carbs, 0 g fiber, 23 g protein, 16 mg calcium
Roast Asparagus and Plum Tomatoes
Makes 4 servings
WW Points: 1 per serving
INGREDIENTS
1 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed an dcut into 4-inch lengths
1 1/2 pounds plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise
2 1/2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 tsp white-wine vinegar
1 small garlic clove, minced
1/2 tsp grated lemon zest
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp freshly ground pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
ARRANGE the oven rack in the lower third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
TOSS the asparagus and tomatoes with 1 tsp of the oil in a roasting pan. Arrange the vegetables in a single layer, with the tomatoes cut-side up. Roast until the tomatoes are lightly charred and the asparagus are just tender, 12-16 minutes, depending on the thickness of the asparagus.
MEANWHILE, combine the remaining 1 1/2 tsp oil, the vinegar, garlic, lemon zest, salt and pepper in a cup. Transfer the vegetables to a platter and drizzle with the dressing
NUTRITION (serving size 1 cup)
78 calories, 4 g fat, 1 g sat fat, 0 g trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 163 mg sodium, 11 g carbs, 3 g fiber, 3 g protein, 23 mg calcium
Even though they weren't pretty, they actually turned out to taste pretty good! I will probably have to make more of the sauce (to dribble on the vegetables) because I also like it on the chicken. But still, not a bad dinner.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
catch up
Well, it's been awhile. No real reason, just not much to write. I've been to a couple of Mets games (thanks Kat & Sara) and am actually watching one right now! I love it. And that's about it.
I was also supposed to see my dad for a long weekend, but he got here on a Thursday and had to fly home Friday - he got some bad news about his heart health. So we're dealing with that (meaning Janne & my sisters are taking him to the doctor, visiting him, etc. and then calling to tell me all about it). But I just talked to him and he sounds pretty good. It was still sad that we didn't get to hang out for as long as we thought we would, but he was here for a night and the next morning, so we had a great dinner and breakfast.
Other than that, nothing new! I'm heading to Oregon in August and then Heidi & Judy (and Heather, if we can talk her into it) are heading out here after that. First time Heidi's visiting! Plus, Friday is a "summer friday" for me - 4 day week! I love those.
I was also supposed to see my dad for a long weekend, but he got here on a Thursday and had to fly home Friday - he got some bad news about his heart health. So we're dealing with that (meaning Janne & my sisters are taking him to the doctor, visiting him, etc. and then calling to tell me all about it). But I just talked to him and he sounds pretty good. It was still sad that we didn't get to hang out for as long as we thought we would, but he was here for a night and the next morning, so we had a great dinner and breakfast.
Other than that, nothing new! I'm heading to Oregon in August and then Heidi & Judy (and Heather, if we can talk her into it) are heading out here after that. First time Heidi's visiting! Plus, Friday is a "summer friday" for me - 4 day week! I love those.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
NYC
I've been thinking a lot lately about how different new york is now from when i moved here 4 1/2 years ago. I realized it for the first time about a week ago. I was hanging out with Kate, and walking home from Washington Square Park I actually felt at home. Not just comfortable because I knew the street so well, where the different shops and restaurants were, even the vendors. But because it felt good to be walking down the street in NYC. It felt "normal."
When I first moved here I distinctly remember walking from my apartment to Broadway. That is a whopping 2 blocks from my house. It was a monumental moment in my life. I never walked in LA. I just drove everywhere, even to the store for a quick trip. So this was huge. Now I think nothing of walking 2 blocks, or 14. I've actually walked 60 some blocks before, and I thought it was a fun, nice night!
But it's more than that. I finally feel like i'm growing up, without trying to be grown-up. I realized this after a night out drinking (guess i'm not that grown up) when i got home and found that somehow all of my huge, plastic cups had disappeared, to be replaced by a matching set of 8 real glass glasses (thanks Jeff & Kathleen). How did this happen!? I loved my big cups that could be dropped, thrown, kicked or strewn about with no chance of being broken. Weird to think that cups would make me feel grown up, but they do. It's like I have real stuff now - furniture (mostly IKEA, but still nice), dishes, electronics, etc. I guess I've kind of become a grown up out here in NYC, without family nearby or college friends to guide me.
This is what happens when i actually let myself turn on the computer at 3:26 a.m. and type away. Oh well.
When I first moved here I distinctly remember walking from my apartment to Broadway. That is a whopping 2 blocks from my house. It was a monumental moment in my life. I never walked in LA. I just drove everywhere, even to the store for a quick trip. So this was huge. Now I think nothing of walking 2 blocks, or 14. I've actually walked 60 some blocks before, and I thought it was a fun, nice night!
But it's more than that. I finally feel like i'm growing up, without trying to be grown-up. I realized this after a night out drinking (guess i'm not that grown up) when i got home and found that somehow all of my huge, plastic cups had disappeared, to be replaced by a matching set of 8 real glass glasses (thanks Jeff & Kathleen). How did this happen!? I loved my big cups that could be dropped, thrown, kicked or strewn about with no chance of being broken. Weird to think that cups would make me feel grown up, but they do. It's like I have real stuff now - furniture (mostly IKEA, but still nice), dishes, electronics, etc. I guess I've kind of become a grown up out here in NYC, without family nearby or college friends to guide me.
This is what happens when i actually let myself turn on the computer at 3:26 a.m. and type away. Oh well.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
DC Madame
I have issues with the whole "abstinence or nothing" policy of the Bush government, so this story just makes me squeal with glee. Deputy Secretary of State Randall Tobias resigned on April 27 (last friday) because he's been having a little fun with Madame Jeane Palfrey and her girls. This is the guy who directs all of our foreign aid programs. The programs that say recipients have to sign on to an abstinence only program in order to get treatments for HIV/AIDS, among other diseases. But this guy gets "massages." Hm. Kind of like my old roommate was a masseuse?
Here's the story on Slate.com: http://www.slate.com/id/2165259/nav/tap2/
Here's the story on Slate.com: http://www.slate.com/id/2165259/nav/tap2/
Sunday, April 29, 2007
New Recipe - Green Chili Chicken & Rice Skillet
No more recipe of the week or month, since that obviously isn't happening! But this is a great recipe - I just made it tonight. And, once again, it's a dish all in one. I love those!
Green Chili Chicken & Rice Skillet
3 servings
1/2 cup chopped green peppers
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp. olive oil
3/4 cup diced tomatoes and green chilies, undrained
3/4 cup canned black beans, drained, rinsed
1 cup water
1 pkg. (6 oz.) OSCAR MAYER Southwestern Seasoned Chicken Breast Strips (I got a Perdue version - just something tasty)
1 cup instant brown rice, uncooked
1/2 cup KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Reduced Fat Mild Cheddar Cheese
COOK and stir peppers and garlic in hot oil in large skillet on medium heat 3 min. Add tomatoes with their liquid, the beans and water; mix well. Bring to boil.
STIR in chicken and rice; cover. Simmer 5 min. -- I actually ended up cooking it for 7 minutes (just to get rid of a little more liquid) and I didn't need the cheese on top. It's good enough without (and that's coming from me!).
REMOVE from heat. Let stand, covered, 5 min. Sprinkle with the cheese.
Nutrition per serving (about 1 1/4 cups): Calories 330, Total Fat 9 g, Saturated Fat 3.5 g, Cholesterol 50 mg, Sodium 790 mg, Carbs 38 g, Dietary Fiber 6 g, Protein 24 g.
Green Chili Chicken & Rice Skillet
3 servings
1/2 cup chopped green peppers
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp. olive oil
3/4 cup diced tomatoes and green chilies, undrained
3/4 cup canned black beans, drained, rinsed
1 cup water
1 pkg. (6 oz.) OSCAR MAYER Southwestern Seasoned Chicken Breast Strips (I got a Perdue version - just something tasty)
1 cup instant brown rice, uncooked
1/2 cup KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Reduced Fat Mild Cheddar Cheese
COOK and stir peppers and garlic in hot oil in large skillet on medium heat 3 min. Add tomatoes with their liquid, the beans and water; mix well. Bring to boil.
STIR in chicken and rice; cover. Simmer 5 min. -- I actually ended up cooking it for 7 minutes (just to get rid of a little more liquid) and I didn't need the cheese on top. It's good enough without (and that's coming from me!).
REMOVE from heat. Let stand, covered, 5 min. Sprinkle with the cheese.
Nutrition per serving (about 1 1/4 cups): Calories 330, Total Fat 9 g, Saturated Fat 3.5 g, Cholesterol 50 mg, Sodium 790 mg, Carbs 38 g, Dietary Fiber 6 g, Protein 24 g.
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Meat on a Stick!
Kat & I went out to Coney Island today - first time for both of us! It was a ton of fun. Our friend Jen is in a radical marching band called Rude Mechanical Orchestra, and they were out there duelling with other marching bands today!
I have to admit, Coney Island is a little bit sketchy. The entrances to the rides seem to be alleys more than entrys, and a lot of the rides were still not running (it was really cold out there). But we went on the Wonder Wheel, this ferris wheel that has cars that swing and move all over the place. And the Cyclone, a great old wooden roller coaster. I wouldn't stay after dark. Or really, anytime close to dusk even. But it was a great time anyway, and I was excited to go out. Plus, Kat got to have her first corndog (hence, the blog title).
I have to admit, Coney Island is a little bit sketchy. The entrances to the rides seem to be alleys more than entrys, and a lot of the rides were still not running (it was really cold out there). But we went on the Wonder Wheel, this ferris wheel that has cars that swing and move all over the place. And the Cyclone, a great old wooden roller coaster. I wouldn't stay after dark. Or really, anytime close to dusk even. But it was a great time anyway, and I was excited to go out. Plus, Kat got to have her first corndog (hence, the blog title).
The Wonder Wheel, complete with swinging cars
Jen playing the flute with Rude Mechanical Orchestra
Kat going toward the entrance to the Wonder Wheel...little bit sketchy if you ask me!
View from the Wonder Wheel to the boardwalk and beach
Cyclone! I love old, wooden roller coasters. I screamed the entire time (that's the fun of it all)!
Jen smiling during one of the marching band duels
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Recipe of the Month - Turkey & Penne Casserole
Yeah, that whole cooking a new recipe every week didn't work out, so now I'm aiming at once a month. And, as is probably evident, I like meals that come all in one dish, so that when I'm warming them up all week long I don't have to do anything more than toss it on a plate and microwave. So here's the newest!
Turkey & Penne Casserole
8 servings
Ingredients:
3 cups whole-wheat penne
2 tsp olive oil
1 lb. ground turkey (lean)
1 large onion, chopped
4-5 garlic cloves, minced
1 (28-oz) can whole tomatoes, drained then broken up (I used 5 fresh tomatoes - whatever you have)
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tsp dried oregano (or 2 tbsp fresh chopped)
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9X13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
2. Cook the penne according to package directions omitting the salt, if desired. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
3. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a nonstick Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the turkey and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 8 minutes. Add the onion and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, salt & pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 15 minutes. Stir in the oregano.
4. Add the turkey mixture to the penne; mix well. Stir in the ricotta and 1/2 cup of the mozzarella; transfer to the baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella. Bake until heated through and lightly browned, about 25 minutes.
Nutrition per serving (about 1 1/4 cups): Calories 306, Total Fat 7 g, Saturated Fat 3 g, Trans Fat 0 g, Cholesterol 53 mg, Sodium 474 mg, Carbs 37 g, Dietary Fiber 4 g, Protein 27 g, Calcium 235 mg.
To be honest, I would probably cut a little of the oregano and add some parsley and maybe some other herbs. But overall, I really like this dish! With a little side salad or fruit it's perfect!
Turkey & Penne Casserole
8 servings
Ingredients:
3 cups whole-wheat penne
2 tsp olive oil
1 lb. ground turkey (lean)
1 large onion, chopped
4-5 garlic cloves, minced
1 (28-oz) can whole tomatoes, drained then broken up (I used 5 fresh tomatoes - whatever you have)
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 tsp dried oregano (or 2 tbsp fresh chopped)
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Directions:
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9X13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
2. Cook the penne according to package directions omitting the salt, if desired. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
3. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a nonstick Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the turkey and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 8 minutes. Add the onion and garlic; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, salt & pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 15 minutes. Stir in the oregano.
4. Add the turkey mixture to the penne; mix well. Stir in the ricotta and 1/2 cup of the mozzarella; transfer to the baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella. Bake until heated through and lightly browned, about 25 minutes.
Nutrition per serving (about 1 1/4 cups): Calories 306, Total Fat 7 g, Saturated Fat 3 g, Trans Fat 0 g, Cholesterol 53 mg, Sodium 474 mg, Carbs 37 g, Dietary Fiber 4 g, Protein 27 g, Calcium 235 mg.
To be honest, I would probably cut a little of the oregano and add some parsley and maybe some other herbs. But overall, I really like this dish! With a little side salad or fruit it's perfect!
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Winter in LA
I took a quick, 6-day trip to LA to meet up with my cousins Brennon & Allison. We spent time at the WB lot, especially at the Gilmore Girls set (this is the gazebo)...
and Central Perk from Friends.
Then we headed to Hollywood to see the stars and take a break at this oxygen bar at Hollywood & Highland!
We had brunch and spent the day at the beach.
One of the boats Herb's dad made for the art installation in Santa Monica.
Santa Monica Pier
And finally, we had a family bbq!
Thursday, February 22, 2007
I would laugh...
if these weren't true stories.
Today, the genius participants in the NYU College Republicans are staging an event called "Find the Illegal Immigrant." No, I'm not joking. They will be having a volunteer put on a nametage with "Illegal Immigrant" written on it. Other people will sign up to be INS officers, and will then find the illegal immigrant. The first to find him/her will win a prize. For finding a fake illegal immigrant. It's a game (apparently). Is anyone else as disturbed by this as I am? Does this make any sense at all? I can only see this leading to a lot of harassment and idiocy. Who thought this was a great idea?
On another immigration note, Kate just sent me a NY Times article about a "resort" in Mexico. You go down and they bring you on a 4-hour hike that mimicks crossing the border as if you were an illegal immigrant trying to make your way to America. Seriously. I guess it could be a good way to show what it takes to cross the border, but it just seems a little odd to me. Here's the story if you want to take a look.
Today, the genius participants in the NYU College Republicans are staging an event called "Find the Illegal Immigrant." No, I'm not joking. They will be having a volunteer put on a nametage with "Illegal Immigrant" written on it. Other people will sign up to be INS officers, and will then find the illegal immigrant. The first to find him/her will win a prize. For finding a fake illegal immigrant. It's a game (apparently). Is anyone else as disturbed by this as I am? Does this make any sense at all? I can only see this leading to a lot of harassment and idiocy. Who thought this was a great idea?
On another immigration note, Kate just sent me a NY Times article about a "resort" in Mexico. You go down and they bring you on a 4-hour hike that mimicks crossing the border as if you were an illegal immigrant trying to make your way to America. Seriously. I guess it could be a good way to show what it takes to cross the border, but it just seems a little odd to me. Here's the story if you want to take a look.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Politics Already
Well, we're a good 2 years from the 2008 elections, but we've already started in on it all. Not only have the candidates started announcing exploratory committees and their intentions to run, but we've started the smear campaigns too. Someone forwarded a ridiculous email to me about how Barack Obama went to a Muslim elementary school, and that must mean he's a vicious terrorist. My sister, Heidi, and I each responded to the sender alone, asking to not receive such emails anymore. But my sister Heather (a writer and teacher) wrote the following response to everyone who received the original email. The original email text is bolded and in black, and her research/comments are in red...
-----------
To my friends, family, and anyone out there interested in truth...
There is a tragically ill-informed email making the rounds. The fact that someone I know actually emailed this to a family member of mine just made me sick. I had to respond.
In this day and age, you wouldn't think that people would believe everything they get by email and then mindlessly forward it, but it seems to happen. Frankly, I had an 8th grader write a much better, more comprehensive, factual paper. And I notice that no one wanted to claim their work--my student also knew to put his name on his paper.
So below is the original email (written in black), and I have added researched corrections (in red) with citations.
Heather
Barack Hussein Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to black Muslim Barack Hussein Obama Sr. of Nyangoma-Kogelo, Siaya District, Kenya, (the late Barack Obama Sr. was a Muslim-raised but non-religious Kenyan economist) and White (no caps needed, for emphasis or other; colors don't need to be capitalized) atheist, (actually a Secular Humanist meaning "non-religious." This group works to separate Church and state, a goal astutely implemented by the religious founders of our country, http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0804/0804obamafaith.htm)Ann Dunham of Wichita, Kansas. When Obama was two years old, his parents divorced and his father returned to Kenya (not exactly a sloucher though; his father "stopped by" Harvard to grab a PhD first. Then he returned to Kenya, Wikipedia.)
His mother married Lolo Soetoro, a Muslim as well, moving to Jakarta with young Obama, when he was six years old. Within six months he had learned to speak the Indonesian language Obama spent "two years in a Muslim school, then two more in a Catholic school" in Jakarta . (Obama attended Catholic school and public school [I don't know the statistics of the number of Muslims or Catholics in that public school, but then again, I don't know that statistic for L.A. public schools either] from ages 6 to 10. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/. So is he less of an American due to the fact that, by the ripe old age of 10, he was educated in Jakarta and had a predominantly public and Catholic education? You know Kennedy must be rolling over in his grave.)
Obama takes great care to conceal the fact that he is a Muslim. (so... just how did this person "uncover" this tidbit when I cannot find one encyclopedia entry or reliable biography to confirm it? In fact, here's what I did find--a quote by Obama: "...that I was finally able to walk down the aisle of Trinity United Church of Christ one day and be baptized." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama)
Mitigating that information, by saying that for two years, he attended a Catholic school. (I'm trying very hard to ignore incomplete sentences and other grammatical hazards.)
Obama's father, Barack Hussein Obama, Sr. was a radical Muslim who migrated from Kenya to Jakarta, Indonesia . He met Obama's mother, Ann Dunhamat the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Obama's spin- meisters are now attempting to make it appear that Obama's introduction to Islam, came from his father and that influence was only temporary, which is true. (Great sentence. Okay, I have to say it... The author's lack of an antecedent for "which is true" makes him/her sound like a complete idiot.) Obama Sr. returned to Kenya immediately following the divorce and never again had any direct influence over his son's education. But, Lolo Soetoro, Ann Dunham's second husband, educated his stepson Barack Hussein Obama, as a good Muslim by enrolling him in one of Jakarta 's Wahabbi schools. (When? For how long? Or is this referring to what was actually the public school? Barack was enrolled in an expensive prep school in Hawaii from 5th through 12th grades. All of his college work--Occidental, Columbia, Harvard Law School--was accomplished in the U.S. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama) Wahabbism is the radical teaching that created the Muslim terrorists, who are now waging Jihad on the industrialized world. (Thanks for the history lesson, but are we really supposed to take a leap with these random connections?) Since it is politically expedient to be a Christian when you are seeking political office in the United States , Obama joined the United Church of Christ, "to help purge any notion that he is still a Muslim." (Again, citations are critical. Could this in any way possibly be the author's assumption rather than recorded fact? I did not find it recorded anywhere.)
PASS THIS AROUND FOLKS !!!
Sure will! And I hope anyone else who passes this on includes my clarifications, any other citations worthy of note, and/or corrections. Otherwise, this email distinctly smells of prejudice against Muslims, hysteria, and perverse Republican propaganda.
I hope we've all learned a lesson about word choice, error by omission, and media slant.
Any questions class?
--------------------
When I got this I tried to take away my bias toward Obama (Yes, I'm an Obama groupie. Yes, I squeal with joy every time I get an email from him/his exploratory committee). So I tried to take away those feelings and make sure I wasn't just annoyed at an email that seemed to present some credible evidence against him. But no, this email doesn't do that. It is made up, and draws conclusions that are, at best, uneducated, and at worst, flat out racist and innaccurate.
You can find Obama's discussion with ABC News here - http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=2823943&page=1. They did some actual research (i.e. visited the school in question) and found that there is no basis to this information.
Can we please have a clean campaign? For once I would love to listen to what the candidates think of the issues, without this crap being thrown at us every 2 minutes.It won't happen, but we can always dream.
-----------
To my friends, family, and anyone out there interested in truth...
There is a tragically ill-informed email making the rounds. The fact that someone I know actually emailed this to a family member of mine just made me sick. I had to respond.
In this day and age, you wouldn't think that people would believe everything they get by email and then mindlessly forward it, but it seems to happen. Frankly, I had an 8th grader write a much better, more comprehensive, factual paper. And I notice that no one wanted to claim their work--my student also knew to put his name on his paper.
So below is the original email (written in black), and I have added researched corrections (in red) with citations.
Heather
Barack Hussein Obama was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, to black Muslim Barack Hussein Obama Sr. of Nyangoma-Kogelo, Siaya District, Kenya, (the late Barack Obama Sr. was a Muslim-raised but non-religious Kenyan economist) and White (no caps needed, for emphasis or other; colors don't need to be capitalized) atheist, (actually a Secular Humanist meaning "non-religious." This group works to separate Church and state, a goal astutely implemented by the religious founders of our country, http://www.enterstageright.com/archive/articles/0804/0804obamafaith.htm)Ann Dunham of Wichita, Kansas. When Obama was two years old, his parents divorced and his father returned to Kenya (not exactly a sloucher though; his father "stopped by" Harvard to grab a PhD first. Then he returned to Kenya, Wikipedia.)
His mother married Lolo Soetoro, a Muslim as well, moving to Jakarta with young Obama, when he was six years old. Within six months he had learned to speak the Indonesian language Obama spent "two years in a Muslim school, then two more in a Catholic school" in Jakarta . (Obama attended Catholic school and public school [I don't know the statistics of the number of Muslims or Catholics in that public school, but then again, I don't know that statistic for L.A. public schools either] from ages 6 to 10. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/. So is he less of an American due to the fact that, by the ripe old age of 10, he was educated in Jakarta and had a predominantly public and Catholic education? You know Kennedy must be rolling over in his grave.)
Obama takes great care to conceal the fact that he is a Muslim. (so... just how did this person "uncover" this tidbit when I cannot find one encyclopedia entry or reliable biography to confirm it? In fact, here's what I did find--a quote by Obama: "...that I was finally able to walk down the aisle of Trinity United Church of Christ one day and be baptized." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama)
Mitigating that information, by saying that for two years, he attended a Catholic school. (I'm trying very hard to ignore incomplete sentences and other grammatical hazards.)
Obama's father, Barack Hussein Obama, Sr. was a radical Muslim who migrated from Kenya to Jakarta, Indonesia . He met Obama's mother, Ann Dunhamat the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Obama's spin- meisters are now attempting to make it appear that Obama's introduction to Islam, came from his father and that influence was only temporary, which is true. (Great sentence. Okay, I have to say it... The author's lack of an antecedent for "which is true" makes him/her sound like a complete idiot.) Obama Sr. returned to Kenya immediately following the divorce and never again had any direct influence over his son's education. But, Lolo Soetoro, Ann Dunham's second husband, educated his stepson Barack Hussein Obama, as a good Muslim by enrolling him in one of Jakarta 's Wahabbi schools. (When? For how long? Or is this referring to what was actually the public school? Barack was enrolled in an expensive prep school in Hawaii from 5th through 12th grades. All of his college work--Occidental, Columbia, Harvard Law School--was accomplished in the U.S. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama) Wahabbism is the radical teaching that created the Muslim terrorists, who are now waging Jihad on the industrialized world. (Thanks for the history lesson, but are we really supposed to take a leap with these random connections?) Since it is politically expedient to be a Christian when you are seeking political office in the United States , Obama joined the United Church of Christ, "to help purge any notion that he is still a Muslim." (Again, citations are critical. Could this in any way possibly be the author's assumption rather than recorded fact? I did not find it recorded anywhere.)
PASS THIS AROUND FOLKS !!!
Sure will! And I hope anyone else who passes this on includes my clarifications, any other citations worthy of note, and/or corrections. Otherwise, this email distinctly smells of prejudice against Muslims, hysteria, and perverse Republican propaganda.
I hope we've all learned a lesson about word choice, error by omission, and media slant.
Any questions class?
--------------------
When I got this I tried to take away my bias toward Obama (Yes, I'm an Obama groupie. Yes, I squeal with joy every time I get an email from him/his exploratory committee). So I tried to take away those feelings and make sure I wasn't just annoyed at an email that seemed to present some credible evidence against him. But no, this email doesn't do that. It is made up, and draws conclusions that are, at best, uneducated, and at worst, flat out racist and innaccurate.
You can find Obama's discussion with ABC News here - http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/story?id=2823943&page=1. They did some actual research (i.e. visited the school in question) and found that there is no basis to this information.
Can we please have a clean campaign? For once I would love to listen to what the candidates think of the issues, without this crap being thrown at us every 2 minutes.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
Recipe of the Week - Bruschetta Chicken
Yeah, I don't cook much. And this could be the one and only time I post up a recipe. But I did cook tonight and it was actually good! Most of the time it's not the best. So here it is:
Makes 6 servings.
14 1/2 oz diced tomatoes, undrained
1 box stove top stuffing (just the mix, don't add anything)
1/2 cup water
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
1 tsp dried basil
1 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese
Instructions
PREHEAT oven to 400°F. Place undrained tomatoes in medium bowl. Add stuffing mix, water and minced garlic; stir just until stuffing mix is moistened. Set aside.
PLACE bite-size pieces of chicken in 13x9-inch baking dish; sprinkle with the basil and cheese. Top with stuffing mixture.
BAKE 30 min. or until chicken is cooked through.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories 310, Total fat 7g, Saturated fat 3g, Cholesterol 80mg, Sodium 710mg, Carbohydrate 25g, Dietary fiber 2g, Sugars 4g, Protein 33g, Vitamin A 10%DV, Vitamin C 15%DV,
Calcium 20%DV, Iron 15%DV.
If you've made any good recipes lately, pass them on!
Makes 6 servings.
14 1/2 oz diced tomatoes, undrained
1 box stove top stuffing (just the mix, don't add anything)
1/2 cup water
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces
1 tsp dried basil
1 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese
Instructions
PREHEAT oven to 400°F. Place undrained tomatoes in medium bowl. Add stuffing mix, water and minced garlic; stir just until stuffing mix is moistened. Set aside.
PLACE bite-size pieces of chicken in 13x9-inch baking dish; sprinkle with the basil and cheese. Top with stuffing mixture.
BAKE 30 min. or until chicken is cooked through.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories 310, Total fat 7g, Saturated fat 3g, Cholesterol 80mg, Sodium 710mg, Carbohydrate 25g, Dietary fiber 2g, Sugars 4g, Protein 33g, Vitamin A 10%DV, Vitamin C 15%DV,
Calcium 20%DV, Iron 15%DV.
If you've made any good recipes lately, pass them on!
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Lighting Up
Nope - not a blog about smokers (though I know quite a few).
Instead, follow this link to the darfur wall. It's a website with numbers 1 through 400,000 on boxes that represent each person who has been killed in Darfur. For $1 you can light up one name...more money, more names lit. The proceeds are split between 4 great Darfur charities.
Instead, follow this link to the darfur wall. It's a website with numbers 1 through 400,000 on boxes that represent each person who has been killed in Darfur. For $1 you can light up one name...more money, more names lit. The proceeds are split between 4 great Darfur charities.
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