Fridge Friday

Fridge Friday
Originally uploaded by geg5150

Click through the images to see my notes.

What's in your Fridge?

Ham & Cheese Bisffins

What the heck is a bisffin? The other option was calling it a mufcuit. That's didn't really work for me. These are kind of a cross between a biscuit and a muffin. They're tasty. I don't eat eggs, so breakfast can sometimes be difficult for me. These have a kinda "different" texture, which I think is due to the ricotta cheese. They're really dense and a tad eggy.

Geg's Breakfast Bisffins
1 cup fat free ricotta cheese
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
3/4 cup zucchini, shredded
3 oz of deli ham, diced
1 tsp Spike seasoning
1/4 cup water
3/4 cup egg white substitute
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Preheat oven to 400. Combine everything in a bowl, make sure it's mixed well, but don't overwork the dough. Spray a muffin tin with non-stick spray. Divide evenly into 12 muffins. Bake at 400 for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.

I think these would also be good removing the ham and cheddar and adding:
Roasted red pepper, roasted garlic, sun-tomatoes and basil, or
Kalamata olives & cracked pepper
Fresh herbs with bacon
The options are endless.

By the way, the zucchini was an addition to just keep moist and get some extra veggies in. You can even taste it!

The best part is that one muffin is only about 100 calories with 2.5 grams of fat, 12 grams carbs, 2 grams fiber and 8 grams of protein. You could have two for breakfast with a piece of fruit and still be under 300 calories.

Breakfast, the most important meal of the day.

V-Day in C-Town

First off, don't call Chicago Chi-town. Just don't. It's annoying and, generally, only people who aren't from here do it. The same with San Fran or The Big D. I find it annoying. I know people do it. I never call cities by goofy name. Personal peeve.

Now for love. Love isn't particularly in the air for me this Valentine's Day, and it's not really a holiday that I celebrate. I'd enjoyed cooking a nice meal over going out, but for those of you how want to go out for V-Day, especially since it's a Saturday this year, here's a few options for you:

Angelina Ristorante. Valentine’s Day specials include oysters on the half shell with champagne mignonette ($12), hearts of palm salad with celery and Gorgonzola dolce ($9), red lobster ravioli ($20), seared beef rib eye with jumbo shrimp and citrus pesto ($28), and an individual chocolate cake with raspberries ($9). 3561 N. Broadway, 773-935-5933. (I've never been here, but I'm meeting friends for brunch here on Sunday.)

Bon Soiree. Eight-course “Aphrodisiac Menu” featuring Hama Hama oyster motoyaki with uni brulee and sesame dust; braised rutabaga with maitakes, shimegis, and truffle; “Love Potion soup,” Thai curry lobster bisque with bacon, kaffir lime, and coconut; “Duck Duck Goose”; ostrich medallion with cherries, lavender, and white chocolate; sous-vide lamb cheeks with sake and tempura; a cheese course; and “Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms,” a shot of ginseng bourbon with a chocolate cigar and togarashi-caramel popcorn. BYO with a corkage fee of $5 per bottle. $140, 2728 W. Armitage, 773-486-7511. (I'm so excited about this place, we have reservations here for later in February.)

Big Jones. A four-course prix fixe menu features a choice of such dishes as truffled blue crab corn chowder or sweet potato bisque with ginger; roasted beets with Michigan cherry sauce and frisee or mesclun with shaved mirliton; salt-baked halibut with zucchini pancakes, pan-roasted Gunthorp Farms chicken breast with crawfish and mushroom cream and linguine, sweet potato moussaka with portobello mushrooms and braised endive, or braised Tallgrass short ribs with grits; and red velvet cake, Mississippi mud pie, or apple dumpling with ginger ice cream. The regular menu will also be available. $40, 5347 N. Clark, 773-275-5725. (Yet another restaurant I haven't been to, but it's right down the street and it's cute and usually full.)

I grabbed these specials from The Reader, they have a whole bunch others, go check 'em out!

Oh, and a Happy Hallmark Holiday to you. Stay warm Chicago!

My Fave Produce Shop in the 'Hood

It's the end of January, the New Year's resolutions are going strong for some and are long forgotten for others. Mine are still going well. In fact, I've lost 10 lb since the 1st, and 4 lbs during December, so I'm happy.

Part of my NYR is to eat well, of course. Easier said than done? Not really. Eating well requires more planning, but it doesn't have to be difficult. My partner in crime in eating well with my local produce shop, Edgewater Produce.

It's a small grocery store, not the kind of place that you do your entire week's shopping, but it is the best place for produce. Seriously.

I generally get here at least once a week for fresh, tasty and CHEAP produce.

Here's what I got yesterday:
2 Macintosh apples -- $.44
1 jalapeno pepper -- $.05
1 red peppers - $1.27
2 gala apples -- $.79
4 honey tangerines -- $.70
1 yellow pepper -- $.77
1 head of green leaf lettuce -- $1.49
1 head of red leaf lettuce -- $1.49
1 bunch of Swiss chard -- $1.49

I also grabbed a can of chipotle peppers and was out the door for under $10! Are you kidding me? I bought some produce at Whole Foods over the weekend, 4 clemintines for $1.89 and a bunch of Swiss chard for $3.49! It's a deal!

Over half of the shop is all produce. Including fresh herbs, avocados, cactus paddles, loads of citrus and about 15 kinds of peppers! Predominantly a Hispanic shop, there are some not so typical items that are considered "specialty" items in your regular grocery store. Chipotle peppers for$.69, queso fresco for under two bucks and a huge meat counter, too. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts for $1.69 a pound? I'm in.

I love Edgewater Produce. The shop is super clean, the folks are friendly and most of all, the prices are right!!!

Curry in a Hurry

OMG! I just made this curry and it is delish! I've been craving dal like crazy and kind of invented my own. It's kind of a combination of dal and aloo gobi (a cauliflower & potato dish).

Geg's Curry in a Hurry
1 cup red lentils (they turn yellow when you cook them)
1 small onion, chopped
2 teaspoons Madras curry powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon cumin
3 cups water or veggie broth
1 cup of cherry tomatoes cut in half (or canned diced tomatoes, drained)
1-2 cups of Swiss chard, shredded
4 cups cauliflower florets
1 jalapeno pepper, halved, seeded and thinly sliced
2 tablespoon canola oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro (I had frozen)

Use 1 tbsp of the canola to soften the onions, but don't brown. About five minutes.

Add everything through the chard to the pot and simmer for about 30 minutes. The lentils will turn yellow and begin to thicken. (Add more water if you need to.)

Add the cauliflower & jalepenos, continue cooking for 20 minutes.

In a skillet, add 1 tbsp of canola oil and the ginger and garlic over low heat. You want to get the garlic toasty but NOT burnt!!! Yuck! It will take five minutes or so. Keep your eye on it. Add the oil mixture to the pot.

Add the last three ingredients and cook another 5-10 minutes. Taste and adjust for salt and heat.

Really!? So good. And at six servings, it's only about 115 calories per serving! 3 grams of fat, 16 grams of carbs,,7 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein. Crazy good for you. Great served over rice or quinoa or as a side dish.

Cheerio!

Name Two of the Three Countries That Share a Land Boarder with Malaysia*

WTF? We got this question correct!

Tonight I went to play Pub Trivia with friends at the Globe Pub in North Center. North Center is a great neighborhood. (It's one of the ones neighborhoods that I'm considering for when I buy a house this Spring.)

There are quite a few bars here in Chicago that offer bar trivia on various nights of the week! What a better way to stay warm, drink a few beers, meet new friends and learn some tidbits of useless knowledge than bar triva?

(I'll put together a list of bar trivia locations soon!)

There were 95 people there tonight. Each person pays $5 to play and that money goes to a different charity each week. This week's charity was Chicago Cares, which is a volunteer organization that I work with. Cool, huh?

We were in teams of 4 to 6 people and the game is broken into eight rounds of 7 to 10 questions that the emcee calls out. You record your answers on paper and turn them in and they're graded while you're working on the next round of questions.

There was one round that was 10 characters from The Godfather and The Godfather II and you had to decided if they died in I or II. Crazy.

There was another random round that was 20 obscure "celebrities", including Jack Parr, Jonathon Winters, Jorga Fox and Ansel Adams. Oh, and the pictures may be old or new, younger, fatter, slimmer, etc. I mean, really? Do you know what Dwight Gooden looks like these day? Nothing like he used to.

The Globe is a cool pub. It's somewhere that I'd actually hang out. I love the neighborhood, too. They have about a million beers and they were voted the Best Soccer Bar in the US for 2008, so if you like beer or soccer (and chances are if you like soccer you'll like beer) you should definitely hit the Globe!!!

Oh, and want to do a good deed? See that new badge in the top left corner? Click it and vote for me? Love ya, mean it!

*Thailand, Brunei & Indonesia

CTA -- Convenient Trasportation Always

Ok, so that's not what it means, but I do pretty much love the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority). I know that others would disagree, but this is my first time really living with and using public transportation and I'm still in the honeymoon phase with it.

Chicago has a great and extended train system, the "El" for "elevated trains", but it also encompassed underground trains. And the bus system is fab, too!

I end up taking the bus more than the El because bus stops are EVERYWHERE and my closest El Station is a bus ride or 15 minute walk away.

But, I'll tell you! It's cold here in Chicago, in case you hadn't heard. It's cold standing out there waiting for the bus. At least at most El stations they have little covers with heating lamps (nice!). The bus stations don't get that love.

Enter the CTA Bus Tracker! I love you Bus Tracker!! I can look up my bus number where ever I am, and it'll tell me when the bus is due to arrive at the stop. I can time my departure from the house accordingly. AND...it's mobile enabled, so I can use it on my iPhone, too! Really, it's the greatest invention ever! I use it all the time.

Aside from that, the CTA bus drivers are a pretty friendly and helpful group. You can just ask them for help on where you want to go and they usually know! Perfect!

Don't let public transportation scare you! It's a blessing, not a curse.

Tasty Topolobampo

When I moved to Chicago, I wasn't thinking "great Mexican food". I lived in Phoenix for over 10 years, I know great Mexican food. I've even had the pleasure of experiencing "fine dining" Mexican food.

I knew that I wanted to visit Topolobampo, Rich Bayless' fine dining Mexican restaurant downtown. I've adored Rick for years from his cookbooks and shows on PBS such as "Mexico, One Plate at a Time." This guy is passionate about all things Mexican; the culture, people, history, and, of course, the food!

I decided to go for lunch for my best friend's visit. Dinner is pricey, easily in the $100+ per person range before drinks. Well, we wanted drinks and smaller portions, so lunch it was.

First off, note that the service was impeccable -- five stars. The food was about 3.5 stars. We had a great experience, but it wasn't earth shattering in the food department. I wanted it to be better. I wanted to love it as much as I love Rick Bayless and his ideals.

We had a combination platter with a tamale, and a few other tasty bites that, unfortunately, weren't super memorable. The other dish was a deck mole! I love mole! Our duck was cooked med rare as requested, but it seemed a little tougher that I would have liked. The clear winner of the meal was the heirloom tomato appetizer. I was orgasmic. Wow! I've been dreaming of it! With watermelon and corn gelee and chicarones, exquisite! I'd go back just for that.

Rick only serves tomatoes that are fresh and in season and only when they're perfect. Which means that one day there is no tomato on the menu because it's not perfect, and the next day it is. Apparently, this appetizer, or something like it is only available for a few short days each year.

The wine recommendations were right on. I'd like to go to the sister restaurant, Frontera Grill for tapas and margs next. Frontera Grill received the James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant in 2007 and Topolobampo was Outstanding Restaurant in 2002.

It's worth the money for the experience! Go.

Blogging About Town

I've decided to participate in the World Bloggers Challenge. Sounds daunting, doesn't it? It's a contest to find the best "city bloggers" out there. I figure since I recently moved to Chicago, I can take this opportunity to share some of the things I'm learning, fave places and other tidbits about my new city? What do you think?

Here are some of the things I'm planning to blog about:
Fave new restaurants
Public transportation
My neighborhood
Local retailers
The great people of Chicago
Coping with the weather
House hunting
Volunteer organizations

What else do you want to know about? My life is an open book, just ask and I'll get right on it!

A Masterful Game of Chess

Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Bishop in the United States, was interviewed on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart on the night of the inauguration.

The Daily Show With Jon StewartM - Th 11p / 10c

Bishop Gene Robinson

Barack Obama Interview
John McCain Interview

Sarah Palin Video
Funny Election Video

Watch the whole thing, but the best part is in the first 50 seconds or so. I love a clergyman with a sense of humor.

Begin Again the Work of Remaking America

I was able to watch President Obama's (wow, I love writing that) speech on Tuesday, but that's all I saw of the inauguration. DVR FAIL. I took a few moments to read the transcript of the speech and it's powerful.

My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land — a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sanh.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them — that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. Those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account — to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day — because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control — and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart — not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our founding fathers ... our found fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all the other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort — even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment — a moment that will define a generation — it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world ... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet (it)."

America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.

It's A New Day

I am so proud to be an American everyday, but especially today. It feels different. More hopeful and more satisfying.

It's Here!!!

It's here! Today is finally here! I'm so excited and proud of our nation and its people.

I have so much more to say, but I burst into tears every time I try to articulate it. Plus, I'm off to a meeting and will be for most of the day.

God Bless the USA.

Today I:

• Woke up at 5:30
• Washed my hair in the kitchen sink (does anyone else do that?)
• Made the bed
  
• Took the El down to the MerchMart for a meeting
• Got home at 11:30
• Ate lunch
• Did four loads of laundry
• Took out the trash
• Got locked out of the building
• Scooped the poop in the litter boxes
• Unpacked from Orange County
• Packed for North Carolina
• Did a Billy Blanks Boot Camp DVD
• Emailed an old friend
  
• Took a shower
• Put my pajamas back on

I didn't get to some of the things that I wanted to do yet, including:

• Vacuuming
• Folding and putting the laundry away
• Brush the cats
• File some paperwork
• Print my boarding pass for tomorrow's flight
• Complete a spreadsheet for a meeting tomorrow
• Buy gift cards for coworkers that I'll see tomorrow
• Complete a PowerPoint deck for a meeting on Tuesday
• Watch "The Visitor"
  

It's 4:30 and it's getting dark already. I may or may not get to the things on the "not done" list. I'll rustle up some dinner shortly and then hopefully be in bed by 10.

Friday Faith

Unless you live under a rock, you're heard about the miraculous landing of US Air Flight 1549 into the Hudson River yesterday. Every single person made it out. No major injuries. Amazing.

That pilot is a hero, supported by a well-trained crew. Experience counts. On the Today Show this morning, I think it was Lester Holt who said, "Being a pilot is countless hours of sheer boredom and possibly a few moments of sheer terror!" No kidding.

I'm reminded that having faith is a huge part of our everyday lives. We have very little control. We put faith in our pilots, bus drivers and train conductors. I put faith in the other drivers on the road with me. Faith in the people who watch/teach your children and in many other ways. Faith in God and the understanding that there is truly only so much you can do.

It's important to remember that the flight attendants are not just there to fetch you a pillow or a Coke, their primary duty is to keep you safe. The pilot who makes a whole lot of money earns it every day to keep you safe!

Just yesterday when I was deplaning in Orange County, I stuck my head in the cockpit and said, "Thanks for getting us here safely". Both responded with, "My pleasure." You can be certain that it was Capt. Sully's pleasure, too. He got them there safely even though "there" wasn't where he expected.

Bean & Sausage Stew

Here's my dinner tonight. I swiped this recipe and then made it my own. You should know that I don't really measure, but here goes:

Smoked turkey sausage cut into coins
1 shallot(you could use onion)
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1 big handful of shredded Swiss chard
1 big handful of cauliflower
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 can of cannellini beans
4-5 sun dried tomatoes (I used dried, not oil packed)
oregano - dried
marjoram - dried
basil (I used fresh basil that had been frozen)
pepper
Chicken broth
Balsamic vinegar

In my heaviest pan, I added a glug of olive oil and browned the sausage. Add the shallots and then the garlic. Don't let the garlic burn!

Add about 1/2 cup of chix broth to deglaze the pan and add the chard and the cauliflower. I also added about 10 cherry tomatoes that I had laying around. Add the herbs and about 1 tbs of balsamic. Add about 1/2 of the can of tomatoes.

I wanted this to be more stewy than soupy, but you can alter the amount of liquid that you add.

Add the beans and stir gently so you don't smush your beans too badly. Simmer for 45 minutes or so.

This smells spectacular.

You could add any other veggies that you like. Peppers would probably be good. Yum! I'll give you a report tomorrow.

Randomness

I'm not looking forward to my trip to CA tomorrow. It's a long trip for only being there for 48 hours and I'm flying into Orange County, which is pretty much impossible to get a non-stop. Blech. Not interested.

I arrive home at 11 p.m. on Saturday and have a meeting at the Merchandise Mart on Saturday morning at 8. Then I leave for NC on Monday. I don't wanna go! I wanna stay home in my cozy house.

I intermittently watch The Biggest Loser, but I watched last week and it was on last night and I was looking at this guy and he just looked so familiar. That's when I realized that I worked with him about 7-8 years ago. Crazy, huh? Both he and his sister worked in the customer service department when they were in college.

As you've probably heard, it's snowing here in Chicago. I've resorted to having my groceries delivered in the nasty weather. My groceries are due to be delivered today. We'll see. There are lots of promotions, so I actually saved more than the delivery charge of $7. In fact, if you live in Chicago the promo code TRUCK will get you $15 off your first order and the code TV3 will get your $20 off any order. Good deal, huh?

I've been roasting alot of veggies this week and they're delicious! My fave so far has been to toss veggies with Lemon Tahini salad dressing from Whole Foods, roast and served with hummus. Yum! Seriously, if you're looking for a new salad dressing, check out the 365 Organics Lemon Tahini. 365 is Whole Foods' store brand. Tasty!

I finished watching the first season of Mad Men over the weekend and I loved it! Every single episode was fab. And the season finale was full of surprises. I can't wait until the second season is available. If you've never watched Mad Men, I highly recommend it. I sorta want to live in 1960 now, except for those nasty male chauvinist pigs! Vive la Women's Rights Movement!

Cuteness & Light

Aside from the fact that that's a darn cute baby, I love the light in this photograph. Can't you just tell that it's late afternoon in the summer. The back yard of my grandparents' house on Staten Island, NY. I'm assuming it's close to dinner time.

My mom is feeding me. I can tell because she's left handed and wears her watch on her right wrist. That's my great-grandmother in the background. She's probably 72-75. Doesn't she look so much older than that? She died when I was about 4, I remember feeding her at the end.

And what is that contraption that I'm in? I'm certain that any parent would be turned into CPS for putting a baby in such a trap today.

The View Gets Heated With Ann Coulter

Really? Ann Coulter? Kill me.

Now single mothers are the root of all evils? How does she want to deal with this? Most single mothers aren't single mothers by choice. I mean, what's the alternative. Given the chance, I imagine that just about any single mother would love to have a partner in raising their child(ren).

And the bit about JFK, it may be true, but there's something to be said about tone and grace and respect for the dead. She's shameful.

Weather & Weighting

The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard watch that starts today at 3 p.m. I'm not worried because I'm ignorant. I have no idea what that really means or what, if any, implications there are for me.

Since I don't officially know what a blizzard is, other than lots and lots of snow, I looked it up. In the United States, the National Weather Service defines a blizzard as sustained 35 mph (56 km/h) winds which lead to blowing snow and cause visibilities of ¼ mile or less, lasting for at least 3 hours. Temperature is not taken into consideration when issuing a blizzard warning, but the nature of these storms is such that cold air is often present when the other criteria are met. Temperatures are generally below 0 degrees F. Yikes!

I'm supposed to get on a plane to California on Thursday. It's a pretty important meeting that I'm headed to, so I hope I don't have any problems. Ok, time for truth...I have no interested in going to CA for this meeting and sorta hope deep down inside that I can't get there. Is that horrible? I would just rather stay home.

I guess I'll just wait and see what happens.

Speaking of weight, the Master Cleanse is over for me. I did eight days, shy of the recommended 10. But, with all of my travel coming up, I wanted to be on a normal"ish" diet of food before leaving. I lost six pounds. I'm pretty dern happy with that. I'll be eating vegan and mostly raw for the next 10 days or so and then I'll transition to Phase 1 of South Beach. Fun!

My street

What Was I Thinking?

Last night I got home from a meeting about 9:30 and rushed to the mailbox to see two DVDs from Netflix. The next six episodes of Mad Men Season 1 for me to watch. I watch two episodes and then did I don't know what. I was in bet a bit before midnight.

I woke up at 5 this morning and couldn't get back to sleep, so I decided to take advantage of the early morning by getting some work done. Well, now it's 11:30 and I have a meeting at noon and I'm exhausted. Really, I could just sleep for about three hours. Not happening.

I then have a 3:00 conference call, a Chicago Cares meeting at 5:15 and a practice session with my Improv group from 7 to 9. Kill me. What was I thinking at 5 this morning.

Oh, and I'm hungry. I have not chewed a piece of food since I started this damn fast/cleanse on Saturday. It's actually been going well. Six days with no food! Wha? Crazy, I know. It hasn't been so hard until today. I'm dying. Do you think that they fact that I started looking at food blogs and reading Cooking Light with yummy recipes did it? Uh...Yes! Duh! Bad, Geggie, bad. No more reading recipes or other food related things.

I think that tomorrow will be my last day on the cleanse and then on Saturday I'll begin the transition process. Mmmm, that means real, solid food on Sunday evening. It'll be veggie soup, but still. Yum! Chewing.

Really, I'm Productive

I promise.

I mean really, BC is sitting ON MY HAND! How much work can I get done? Geez. She's super furry and fuzzy because of the cold weather. The cats seem to compete for my lap and additional warmth.

Toosday

Yep, it's Tuesday.

So, first of all, I'm ticked that my next DVDs from Netflix didn't show up. I sent in one on Friday, so I should have gotten one yesterday, right? I'm just ready to watch the rest of Mad Men. I loved it so.

The cleanse/fasting is going ok. It's Day Four and I'm not dead. That's encouraging.

Work is crazy, as usual. I have lots of new and exciting things on my plate for this year and I'm looking forward to learning new things and taking on new responsibilities. I'm definitely enacting the "2 Minute" rule. Basically, if I'm confronted with something and it will take less than two minutes to do, I do it immediately rather than file it, pile it, procrastinate it. I like that approach. Sometimes the little tasks add up, so conquering little jobs make progress, right?

It snowed last night and it's been snowing intermittently throughout the morning. It's not sunny though like it has been the past two days. I wish it was sunny AND snowing.

Tomorrow I have a Team Coordinator Training with Chicago Cares. There the folks that sponsor my teaching gig with Kipp Ascend Charter School. Basically, this training is to get me certified as a volunteer leader which is nice. Something to add to my resume I suppose. I really enjoy my classes and I'm excited to see the kids after the holidays. I'm the class leader on Saturday and our country is Norway. Convenient since my mom is from there. I need to do my homework and cooking for that closer to the end of the week.

I think I'll make smorbrod for our snack. It's basically an openfaced sandwich. I'm going to get good rye bread and use gjetost, a brown goat's cheese.

Thursday, I have practice with my Improv group, and I'm looking forward to that too.

I'm bummed that I'm missing my last knitting class tomorrow night, but I'll make it up next week. I need to be sure to fit some knitting in this week. I want to finish up the scarf for myself and the one that I'm almost finished with for Emma. Then, I've started a stroller blanket for Sonja...shhhh, don't tell her.

I firmed up plans for the Chicago Sketchfest and I'm excited about that. I'm going with my friend Becky on Sunday. It'll be great fun.

I have a rather busy week planned. How about you? What's going on in your world?

Happy New Work Week!

I'm trying to have a good attitude about being back at work this week, because I really wasn't into it. I stayed up too late last night. I still have this mindset that if I stay up late on Sunday, Monday will never come. That's not really working for me.

So....Hooray!!!! It's Monday! I'm so happy to be back at work, whoo hoo!

I didn't get to see Slumdog over the weekend, and I'm sad about that. Maybe I'll see it during the week. What I did do was watch the first three episodes of the first season of Mad Men and the first eight episodes of 30 Rock. 30 Rock is cute, but Mad Men....that's a great show. I remember watching the first episode when it aired last year, but I never watched it again because I was traveling so much. So, I rejoined NetFlix to watch it an other stuff. The 2nd & 3rd disc should be arriving today, so that's what I'll be doing tonight.

I'm also looking forward to the Chicago SketchFest that starts this week and runs 'til the 18th. My instructor at Second City is the founder and I have VIP tickets to every single show!

I started the Master Cleanse and so far, so good!

2009 is gonna be a great year, I tell ya!

Watching

I went to see Slumdog Millionaire yesterday. It was sold out! I was shocked. It's been playing here for three or four weeks. There were seats for Revolutionary Road, so I saw that instead.

It was an excellent film. The story of suburban family trying to be special and live a different life, I would say. The story is good, but the acting was excellent. The movie is based in dialogue and subtext. The cinematography was great, there are some long shots without people even that are very telling. Leo and Kate did a fab job.

That being said, Doubt and Milk are still tied for my favorite movies recently. The Oscars should be interesting this year.

I'm planning to see Slumdog today, dangit! Then, I want to see The Reader soon, too. I read the book and it was excellent.

Happy New Year

I'm home in Chicago and getting unpacked and settled in. I was gone for 16 days! My kitties missed me for sure. BC is a little mad at me, I think, but Wesley is all over me. Basically, I'm covered in Wesley.

Getting up at 4 a.m. yesterday to catch a flight was rough, but I slept on both flights and was home warm and cozy by 10:30 a.m. I pretty much laid around all yesterday. I did force myself to take a walk for half an hour and go to the grocery store to stock up on veggies. I love my local produce stand. For $14 I bought 2 lbs of leeks, 1.5 lbs zucchini, .5 lb yellow squash, a pint of tomatoes, a huge head of cabbage, 1 lb shallots, ginger, 3 lemons, 3 yellow bell peppers, 3 heads of romaine and a 1 lb bag of radishes. Yikes! That's cheap!

The food will get me through the weekend and then Monday I'm going to start the Master Cleanse. You know, the lemon, maple syrup & cayaenne pepper cleanse. I'd like to do it for five days. Then, next weekend I'll start back with Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet. I've never done any kind of cleanse before, so I'm excited about the challenge.

Last night I made "Temple Chicken" and man was it good. I made it up. But, Nigella Lawson has a section called "Temple Foods" in one of her books, Nigella Bites, I think. Bascially, it's healthy recipes to treat your body like a temple. She has a recipe for an Asian Chicken and Cabbage Salad-y thing. I've never made it, but I remembered it when I was thinking of what to cook yesterday.

Temple Chicken
Poach chicken breasts with
3 cloves garlic, crushed
a good sized knob of garlic, sliced
I also added a few shakes of Chinese five spice powder to the poaching liquid of 1/2 water/1/2 chicken broth to cover the chicken

I poached in my new crock pot for about 3 hours. Remove chicken and strain the poaching liquid to remove the garlic, ginger and other stuff.

In a hot skillet, I added:
Finely sliced leeks, about 1/4 cup
Finely sliced green cabbage, about 1 cup
Stir fry in a non-stick skillet with a little cooking spray for about 3-5 minutes.

Then I added good glug of the poaching liquid and sliced chicken to heat and wilt the cabbage.

Remove to a bowl and put a splash of:
Rice wine vinegar
Soy sauce
Toasted sesame oil
Chili paste

It's so tasty and clean. I had it for breakfast this morning too.

I figure that I'll finish up the Temple chicken today and tomorrow then it's veggies for me on Sunday and then I'll begin the Master Cleanser. Wish me luck!

This afternoon, I'm going to go see Slumdog Millionaire and take a walk about the city by myself. It's cold, but I always enjoy exploring.