Latest Obsession

About a year ago, I happened to turn on x96 at a time when they were playing every song from Ingrid Michaelson's album Girls and Boys.  Her music is sweet and her lyrics can be quite profound and tender.  It seems that lately, any time I hear a song I like, it is Ingrid.  Here are some of my favorites (and by favorites I mean I listen to them on repeat at least three times a day each...) along with my favorite lines: 

Be Ok: I'm a gallery of broken hearts; I'm beyond repair, let me be; And give me back my broken parts

The Way I Am: Cuz I love the way you say good morning; And you take me the way I am

Far Away: He will take care of me, he will smell like the sea, And close to my heart he'll always stay

You and I: Well you might be a bit confused; And you might be a little bit bruised; But baby how we spoon like no one else; So I will help you read those books; If you will soothe my worried looks; And we will put the lonesome on the shelf

Enjoy :)

One of these things is not like the other

Brrrrr!

On a day like today, the train should not be allowed to be five minutes late.  In fact, it should be required to arrive early and have steaming cups of hot cocoa awaiting you as you board. 

Learned While Making Dinner

This evening, I am making this pizza with this dough for dinner.  Things I learned in the process:

• The dough recipe attached to the first link is no bueno.  It doesn't work at all.
• I LOVE kneading bread dough.  It's simple, it's easy, it's fun.  And it's something humans have done since the dawn of time.  I always like doing things that are basic not only to the history of the human race but to my family specifically.  I grew up making bread with me mum and I love every part of it.  
• If you are making dough on a winter evening and need a warm place to let it rise...use the dishwasher! I ran my dishwasher right before I started cooking.  After the dough was ready, I couldn't find anywhere to put it.  I happened to brush up against my dishwasher and realized how warm and cozy it was.  So in went the covered dough.  Perfect.  It's rising as I blog. 
• Though I don't consider myself a chef, I am getting better at it.  All my life, I have been the one who has to follow a recipe step by step.  I measure everything exactly as written.  No flair, no improv, no risk taking.  But as I cook more, I have started deviating from the recipes (I know! right?).  Nothing big, mind you, but definitely more than I used to.  This evening's example?  The recipe calls for one clove of crushed garlic to be sprinkled on top of the pizza.  While I love garlic, I am not a fan of biting into a chunk of it.  I decided to infuse the required olive oil with the garlic so I get the flavor but not the chunks.  To those professional (Helm) chefs reading this, I know this the reinvention of the wheel, but I was proud of myself for thinking of it. 
• No one seems to agree on how to make a margherita pizza.  Every recipe includes the same ingredients and they all start with putting olive oil on the dough and end with basil on top.  The middle part, however, is up for debate.  Do you put the mozzarella down first, or the tomatoes?  Is the parmesan sandwiched between the crust and mozzarella, or sprinkled on top of the tomatoes?  It's a mystery. 
• I want to try a thin crust recipe next time.  It tastes good but it is thicker than I like.  I enjoy a good Italian thin crust.  Enjoying the toppings is where it's at for me, not getting full on crust.  But it's good for the first time around.

Change of Pace

It took a loooooong time to find it, but I picked a layout I REALLY like.  Hopefully you do too :)

That Sounds Unnatural!

Onken Biopot Wholegrain Peach Yogurt.  These words confuse most people, but they make my mouth water.  This is in the list of top five things I am excited about moving to England for.  If this sounds ridiculous to you, you MUST come visit me so you can try it and fall in love.  (A smooth, natural, delicious love.)  You will start with the Peach Wholegrain, then sample the Rhubarb & Vanilla and then (if you haven't gone into a happiness coma yet) the Mango, Papaya and Passionfruit blend.  Sooooo worth the plane ticket!!!!

I Need a Thing

When I was nine, I wrote to all the embassies in New York and asked them if they would send me a flag of their country. It was amazing. Not only did I get a bucket full of flags (from toothpick sized - thanks Australia - to huge wall sized ones - Go Canada!), but also books, pictures, brochures, videos, and more with information about every country you could image. At an age where I looked forward to my birthday just because I actually got something in the mail, I was rolling in packages. Every day our mailbox was overflowing with overstuffed envelopes for me to eagerly rip open. The whole thing was my dad's idea really. He had a friend who did the same thing when they were in school so he thought it would be a fun project. That it was.

Since graduation, I have been busy but I haven't had much purpose. I caught up on some great TV shows (the wire, the office, coupling, and more) and spent some much-needed catch up time with friends. Nevertheless, I don't feel like I am working toward anything and its a little boring  (yes, I know I have a lot of planning to do but it doesn't really take up that much time).  Last week, I read the One Cent Stand blog and laughed my ass off. The guy's resolution was to buy 100 stamps and send 100 letters. That's it, but boy are they hilarious. Reading the responses he received made me remember how fun it was to do that kind of thing. So, what I am getting at is, I need a thing. Something to work on, something to be excited about, something fun. I would say, "Throw out some suggestions!" but only two people read this as far as I know (though they are awesome and may have some awesome ideas :). If you have any suggestions please tell me. I'll keep thinking and let you know what I come up with.

Quote of the Day

"They all had man boobs and had to keep adjusting their belts."