This year, on my 21st birthday, a birthday that I hear is quite important to remember, I thought that I would be completely unoccupied. What began as an unplanned day of quiet aloneness somehow grew into a nearly 2 1/2 day long flurry of excitement with a plethora of dear friends. Here, I will chronicle the most memorable parts.
My birthday fell on a Wednesday.
On Tuesday, I and a family that is close to my heart went to the house of another family that is dear to me and cooked what will probably be forever remembered as one of the best meals of my life. And this is why: we ate Bacon-wrapped Fried Chicken. I will say it again, so I can fully absorb the wonder of this dish: Bacon-wrapped Fried Chicken. It is this dish that struck notes of bliss into that night. Oddly enough, it was in large part inspired by a vegetarian friend of mine, unknown to her at the time. And though she didn't partake of it, I like to think that she appreciated it as well.
About thirty minutes (or less) after my arrival home, my friends that I had spent the evening with called me to ask me if they could celebrate my birthday with me - I like to think that this speaks volumes about how much they care for me - and it was decided that we would cook yet another meal together. So, we did cook another meal together, the next night, my birthday night. Wonderful Spaghetti, the recipe for which I have written of before, with the addition of shrimp, which took it over the top. I was also treated to see the new Sherlock Holmes, and was glad I saw it.
Of course, that event is much too humble for one's 21st date of birth, and over to the house of my friend Morgan I traveled. Dear, thoughtful soul that she is, she had a peice of cake waiting for me with a candle to blow out the moment I walked through the door. It was one of those times where you don't realize you miss someone so much until you see them again. This was a birthday to remember, at least for some time.
However, the next day is when the real excitement began. Of course, none of this would have been complete without the VERY long awaited for trip to the food carts in downtown Portland. There is so much here to write about I would exhaust my fingers and I'll only write of the most important highlights. There was the softshell crab, of course, which nearly caused me to lose the stale popcorn I had eaten for breakfast, and then there was wonderful Thai food, there was Grilled Cheese with Apple, and there was a Maple Bacon Waffle with Wesley. Who is Wesley, you may wonder. Wesley is the young homeless man who walked up to us and asked us to buy him a meal, which we did, and did not ask us to provide friendly conversation, which we attempted to do, anyway. And that is when I learned that there is a folly to introducing yourself to a homeless gentleman who looks to be about your age while buying him lunch. He looked at me after shaking my hand, and very pointedly asked, "How old are you?" I may have overreacted, but I turned to the side and started laughing very hard, and my kind friend Wade responded for me, "She's older than some, but not as old as most." Thank you, for that.
Later in the day, I went to a dance recital of a friend, and at McMenamins, drank my first bit of legal beer, where of course, I was carded. I would be surprised if anyone believed I was 21. All in all, I would say it was a lovely birthday, much better than originally anticipated. I'm happy to say that I am now 21, and still have not ever been hungover.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
A Day For Walking
Sometimes, I have hard days.
And yesterday was one of them. See, I have this thing that I do, when I'm really tired. I sleep through my alarm. Well, to be more accurate, I less than half wake up, turn off my alarm, and then less than half go back to full slumber. In no way during this process am I coherent at all. This is hard to get people to believe, and for good reason. It is why I must maintain healthy sleeping habits.
The real problem is, I had plans with someone, and they were reasonably upset, as they should have been. But then this caused me to be upset, and distraught, and anxious and guilty, most of this based on past emotions and previous personal struggles. I didn't know how else to resolve this within myself, so I shortly decided that this was a day for walking, and I began, with nowhere in mind. I ended up walking a couple of miles down highway 99, an experience that I found to be a little unsettling. See, when I'm in a car, I watch people that walk along the road. And I could just imagine all the eyes of the people boring into the back of my head, which I'm sure they weren't.
In downtown Oregon City, there were so many beautiful things that I had not ever observed merely by driving through it. I just looked around and was amazed. I had forgotten how much fun walking could be.
By the end of it all, I was tired, much more content, two blisters had taken up residence on the bottom of my feet, and hunger was just now shaking in my stomach.
When all of these things combine together, there is only ever one thing that should be eaten, so upon arriving home, I assembled it. A bacon peanut butter and jelly sandwich. You, too should make one, to experience unprecedented culinary delight. Here's how:
Peanut butter and Marionberry preserves sandwich with Bacon
2 slices of fluffy white bread (or any bread. I'm sure honey wheat would do well, also)
Creamy peanut butter
Marionberry preserves
4 slices Bacon, any bacon at all
Butter
Generously spread peanut butter on one bread slice. Scoop mounds of lovely marionberry preserves on the other, and spread them out thinly. Over medium high heat, cook the bacon until it has become a crisp burgundy with perhaps a few dark edges. Press into the peanut butter and assemble the slices of bread together.
Butter the outsides of the sandwich, and grill over medium heat for about 3-4 minutes on each side, until it has become well toasted and the peanut butter has gone all melty and smooth.
Serves 1 person or 1/2 of a person. I could eat two of these on any given day.
At the end of the day, I sat, and I counted my blessings:
1.Good music
2.A lovely, encouraging talk with a great friend
3.Walking tunnels near waterfalls with beautiful acoustics with nobody around (singing permitted)
4.Beautiful downtown Oregon City
5.Finding my favorite new book "The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake" at a bookstore for two dollars. I purchased it.
6.A park with swings
7.My favorite type of weather for walking
8.Singer Hill art garden. I wandered around for too long in there.
9.More good conversation
10.Good food
11.Waterfalls
12.Having a sister
In the end, I have to know that my day started off badly. With tears, frustration, over-reaction and far too much anxiety for the current circumstances. But so many more were the blessings than the trials.
God showed me so much of His character on that walk. He introduced thoughts of Himself into my weary mind, helped me to ponder. His nature is that of a giver. He is so much to be grateful for, everything to be grateful for, in the end. And yet, so easily forgotten in the midst of the first uneasiness.
He is a patient teacher, a Father, a Friend.
And yesterday was one of them. See, I have this thing that I do, when I'm really tired. I sleep through my alarm. Well, to be more accurate, I less than half wake up, turn off my alarm, and then less than half go back to full slumber. In no way during this process am I coherent at all. This is hard to get people to believe, and for good reason. It is why I must maintain healthy sleeping habits.
The real problem is, I had plans with someone, and they were reasonably upset, as they should have been. But then this caused me to be upset, and distraught, and anxious and guilty, most of this based on past emotions and previous personal struggles. I didn't know how else to resolve this within myself, so I shortly decided that this was a day for walking, and I began, with nowhere in mind. I ended up walking a couple of miles down highway 99, an experience that I found to be a little unsettling. See, when I'm in a car, I watch people that walk along the road. And I could just imagine all the eyes of the people boring into the back of my head, which I'm sure they weren't.
In downtown Oregon City, there were so many beautiful things that I had not ever observed merely by driving through it. I just looked around and was amazed. I had forgotten how much fun walking could be.
By the end of it all, I was tired, much more content, two blisters had taken up residence on the bottom of my feet, and hunger was just now shaking in my stomach.
When all of these things combine together, there is only ever one thing that should be eaten, so upon arriving home, I assembled it. A bacon peanut butter and jelly sandwich. You, too should make one, to experience unprecedented culinary delight. Here's how:
Peanut butter and Marionberry preserves sandwich with Bacon
2 slices of fluffy white bread (or any bread. I'm sure honey wheat would do well, also)
Creamy peanut butter
Marionberry preserves
4 slices Bacon, any bacon at all
Butter
Generously spread peanut butter on one bread slice. Scoop mounds of lovely marionberry preserves on the other, and spread them out thinly. Over medium high heat, cook the bacon until it has become a crisp burgundy with perhaps a few dark edges. Press into the peanut butter and assemble the slices of bread together.
Butter the outsides of the sandwich, and grill over medium heat for about 3-4 minutes on each side, until it has become well toasted and the peanut butter has gone all melty and smooth.
Serves 1 person or 1/2 of a person. I could eat two of these on any given day.
At the end of the day, I sat, and I counted my blessings:
1.Good music
2.A lovely, encouraging talk with a great friend
3.Walking tunnels near waterfalls with beautiful acoustics with nobody around (singing permitted)
4.Beautiful downtown Oregon City
5.Finding my favorite new book "The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake" at a bookstore for two dollars. I purchased it.
6.A park with swings
7.My favorite type of weather for walking
8.Singer Hill art garden. I wandered around for too long in there.
9.More good conversation
10.Good food
11.Waterfalls
12.Having a sister
In the end, I have to know that my day started off badly. With tears, frustration, over-reaction and far too much anxiety for the current circumstances. But so many more were the blessings than the trials.
God showed me so much of His character on that walk. He introduced thoughts of Himself into my weary mind, helped me to ponder. His nature is that of a giver. He is so much to be grateful for, everything to be grateful for, in the end. And yet, so easily forgotten in the midst of the first uneasiness.
He is a patient teacher, a Father, a Friend.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Spaghetti By Name
Comfort foods.
Think about this phrase for a minute. Comfort....food. And it is so true. Food can be such a comfort. Sometimes, too much. And then are those times when comfort is found in other, perhaps more constructive ways. Prayer, the scriptures, and the words of a faithful friend. To this comfort, these lovely bits of life that uplift the soul, we add food. Nutrition, yes, but unfortunately, it is never the main focus of my food, especially when I go to it for comfort.
But I find that by far, it is the most gratifying when I stumble upon it and realize that it is just what I needed to complete my day.
Recently, my life has been so-so, and I will admit that I have been lacking in the department of contentment. I know the scripture is true, "godliness with contentment is great gain", and I have much still to be gained. I have not been busy, and so I feel bored, complacent, and also unproductive. And it really gets to me. REALLY. So today, I was late waking up. Tired, dragging. And proceeded to talk on the phone for a few hours. Something I rarely do, and was much appreciated. Upon finally getting up and about, my roommate suggested a lovely dining suggestion: spaghetti.
I sometimes wonder: what could be more satisfying, scrumptious, and fulfilling then pasta, in most forms? There are so many ideal things about it, and really, it's versatile. It can be tossed with anything, and it generally seems that it's forms are endless. Spaghetti, itself, if done correctly, is not too heavy, bursting with flavor, and dissolves into creamy splendor with just a few light chews. I dream of spaghetti, sometimes. The way it tastes, the delightful texture, and the delicate complexity in how it all works together.
And I seem to have discovered enough secrets to make it fail-safe.
The first: season the water. I think I must make my roommate bored of me with how much I talk about it. Honestly, anytime cooking comes up, it loops back to seasoning the water. I use garlic, basil, olive oil, and generous, generous salt.
2. Caramelize everything except the tomatoes. Mushrooms, onions, garlic, and more basil.
3. When you cook the meat (I use italian sausage) please cook bacon first and then add the rest in.
4. If you cook the tomatoes for only half an hour, high heat, no lid, they reduce beautifully, and the skins are so soft, you won't even notice them.
5. This is the most important and last one. No matter what sauce you use or if you season the water (and you really should), reserve a little of the pasta water in a warm skillet. Add the pasta, the sauce. Allow it to cook until it bubbles softly around the edges. And add BUTTER. The magic ingredient. It transforms the sauce. Let it simmer for just a moment and it becomes this creamy, melt in your mouth deliciousness, the whole dish.
The ACTUAL Recipe:
10 roma tomatoes
1 large bunch of basil (a handful)
2 tblsp italian seasoning
7 cloves fresh garlic
1/3 sweet white onion
1/2 lb mild italian sausage
3 slices bacon
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Kosher Salt
1 small box of Spaghetti
Method:
Chop the tomatoes into large chunks. Cook them in a large skillet on medium high heat with a splash of olive oil, a little water and two teaspoons of salt.
Dice the onions and caramelize them quickly in a hot pan with olive oil, over medium high heat, for about 10 minutes. Slice the mushrooms, peel and chop four cloves of the garlic. Chop the basil. Seperate it into halves. Add half to the onions, and allow to cook for five minutes.
Put a large pot of water on to boil. Add a generous amount of salt. In the old days, Italians believed the water should be as salty as the ocean. I don't take it that far. Add half of the remaining basil. Pour a good splash of olive oil in there, as well. Peel the remaining three cloves of garlic and cut them in half. Toss them in.
Using kitchen shears, cut the bacon in thin strips into a heated skillet. Cook until they just begin to crisp. Pour off most of the grease. Add the sausage and 1/3 cup of water. This helps to soften the meat and break it apart. Break it up, and stir it while it browns. Season with two tablespoons of italian seasoning.
When the tomatoes appear to have reduced by half and look very soft, reduce the heat to low and add the meat and caramelized vegetables.
The water should be boiling by now, so add the pasta and cook for 11 minutes.
During this time, I feel it's only right that you butter several thick slices of bread, top them with roasted garlic, and broil them for a few minutes.
Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of liquid in a heated skillet. Add the pasta. Carefully pour in the sauce. Cook on medium high for 2-3 minutes, tossing frequently. When it bubbles, add two tablespoons of butter. As it melts, toss the mixture. Allow to sit for about one minute. You will likely see the transformation from ordinary spaghetti to something that is more magically delicious than Lucky Charms themselves.
Eat this while it is still warm enough to steam, but cool enough that it does not scald you, accompanied by garlic bread.
Serves 4-6 generously.
Think about this phrase for a minute. Comfort....food. And it is so true. Food can be such a comfort. Sometimes, too much. And then are those times when comfort is found in other, perhaps more constructive ways. Prayer, the scriptures, and the words of a faithful friend. To this comfort, these lovely bits of life that uplift the soul, we add food. Nutrition, yes, but unfortunately, it is never the main focus of my food, especially when I go to it for comfort.
But I find that by far, it is the most gratifying when I stumble upon it and realize that it is just what I needed to complete my day.
Recently, my life has been so-so, and I will admit that I have been lacking in the department of contentment. I know the scripture is true, "godliness with contentment is great gain", and I have much still to be gained. I have not been busy, and so I feel bored, complacent, and also unproductive. And it really gets to me. REALLY. So today, I was late waking up. Tired, dragging. And proceeded to talk on the phone for a few hours. Something I rarely do, and was much appreciated. Upon finally getting up and about, my roommate suggested a lovely dining suggestion: spaghetti.
I sometimes wonder: what could be more satisfying, scrumptious, and fulfilling then pasta, in most forms? There are so many ideal things about it, and really, it's versatile. It can be tossed with anything, and it generally seems that it's forms are endless. Spaghetti, itself, if done correctly, is not too heavy, bursting with flavor, and dissolves into creamy splendor with just a few light chews. I dream of spaghetti, sometimes. The way it tastes, the delightful texture, and the delicate complexity in how it all works together.
And I seem to have discovered enough secrets to make it fail-safe.
The first: season the water. I think I must make my roommate bored of me with how much I talk about it. Honestly, anytime cooking comes up, it loops back to seasoning the water. I use garlic, basil, olive oil, and generous, generous salt.
2. Caramelize everything except the tomatoes. Mushrooms, onions, garlic, and more basil.
3. When you cook the meat (I use italian sausage) please cook bacon first and then add the rest in.
4. If you cook the tomatoes for only half an hour, high heat, no lid, they reduce beautifully, and the skins are so soft, you won't even notice them.
5. This is the most important and last one. No matter what sauce you use or if you season the water (and you really should), reserve a little of the pasta water in a warm skillet. Add the pasta, the sauce. Allow it to cook until it bubbles softly around the edges. And add BUTTER. The magic ingredient. It transforms the sauce. Let it simmer for just a moment and it becomes this creamy, melt in your mouth deliciousness, the whole dish.
The ACTUAL Recipe:
10 roma tomatoes
1 large bunch of basil (a handful)
2 tblsp italian seasoning
7 cloves fresh garlic
1/3 sweet white onion
1/2 lb mild italian sausage
3 slices bacon
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Kosher Salt
1 small box of Spaghetti
Method:
Chop the tomatoes into large chunks. Cook them in a large skillet on medium high heat with a splash of olive oil, a little water and two teaspoons of salt.
Dice the onions and caramelize them quickly in a hot pan with olive oil, over medium high heat, for about 10 minutes. Slice the mushrooms, peel and chop four cloves of the garlic. Chop the basil. Seperate it into halves. Add half to the onions, and allow to cook for five minutes.
Put a large pot of water on to boil. Add a generous amount of salt. In the old days, Italians believed the water should be as salty as the ocean. I don't take it that far. Add half of the remaining basil. Pour a good splash of olive oil in there, as well. Peel the remaining three cloves of garlic and cut them in half. Toss them in.
Using kitchen shears, cut the bacon in thin strips into a heated skillet. Cook until they just begin to crisp. Pour off most of the grease. Add the sausage and 1/3 cup of water. This helps to soften the meat and break it apart. Break it up, and stir it while it browns. Season with two tablespoons of italian seasoning.
When the tomatoes appear to have reduced by half and look very soft, reduce the heat to low and add the meat and caramelized vegetables.
The water should be boiling by now, so add the pasta and cook for 11 minutes.
During this time, I feel it's only right that you butter several thick slices of bread, top them with roasted garlic, and broil them for a few minutes.
Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of liquid in a heated skillet. Add the pasta. Carefully pour in the sauce. Cook on medium high for 2-3 minutes, tossing frequently. When it bubbles, add two tablespoons of butter. As it melts, toss the mixture. Allow to sit for about one minute. You will likely see the transformation from ordinary spaghetti to something that is more magically delicious than Lucky Charms themselves.
Eat this while it is still warm enough to steam, but cool enough that it does not scald you, accompanied by garlic bread.
Serves 4-6 generously.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)