I just read on yahoo news that the winds in California aren't supposed to be as severe today, so hopefully the fires won't spread as fast as they were yesterday. I feel so bad for everyone having to deal with this. I hope everything will be okay for anyone here who might be affected by it.
Thanks so much to everyone with the cooking advice! That was awesome and much appreciated. It's funny... I tried to cook chicken-flavored rice a roni the other day and butchered it. It tasted like barbeque-a-roni.
I'm mostly doing pretty good. School is going well and things at my job are fine, though, it's stressful keeping up with everything. I've been battling a bunch of respiratory infections. I think because my immune system is kind of down from being on prednisone. Maybe I should take more Vitamin C or something.
I've been reading a lot of Charles Bukowski lately. It's really easy to get into a Bukowski mindset. I'd like to try reading some of his fiction, too.
I hope all of you will have a great day!
-Jess
Museumchick's Journal
My Podcast Link
10/24/2007 10:29 #41776
i write on a rainy october dayCategory: life
10/17/2007 09:06 #41683
since we've had some food posts lately..Category: cooking
I have a confession: I can't really cook. Or I do cook, but not well, at any rate.
What's the best way I can learn to make real (simple( meals? Do you know of any good books/websites to help me get started?
I should mention my apartment has a stove and microwave, but no oven.
What's the best way I can learn to make real (simple( meals? Do you know of any good books/websites to help me get started?
I should mention my apartment has a stove and microwave, but no oven.
theecarey - 10/17/07 23:07
I think Rachel only makes stuff look easy.
I hear ya! I guess to get better at cooking it takes practice. I'd like to be able to learn to make a few things really well. OK, so you have a microwave and a stove top. Do you have a toaster oven? while not able to accommodate much, there are some things that you can make in one when you need an oven of some sort. (like cookies!)
I am usually looking for simple-easy myself, as I:
1. have a small kitchen with little room for appliances, prepping, storing, etc
2. often cook only for myself. Bowl of cereal usually works but sometimes want something more substantial. Raman noodles dont count.
3. hate following long drawn out recipes that require skill, aptitude in following directions and using correct measurements and ingredients.
4. like to create and come up with super yummy stuff, but not at the expense of spending hours, or tons of money to make a dish.
The following site (and others like it) is great for those days you have a bunch of random stuff in your fridge/cupboards but dont know what to make out of any of it. You plug in your ingredients and it generates a recipe for you based on those items. You'll see that it asks for an email address. You do not need to enter one. The recipe will come up in another window.
:::link:::
This is an 'easy recipe' site.
:::link:::
There are a lot of books available as well. I have quite a few that cater to 'simple and easy' while still be interesting and varied.
good luck :)
I think Rachel only makes stuff look easy.
I hear ya! I guess to get better at cooking it takes practice. I'd like to be able to learn to make a few things really well. OK, so you have a microwave and a stove top. Do you have a toaster oven? while not able to accommodate much, there are some things that you can make in one when you need an oven of some sort. (like cookies!)
I am usually looking for simple-easy myself, as I:
1. have a small kitchen with little room for appliances, prepping, storing, etc
2. often cook only for myself. Bowl of cereal usually works but sometimes want something more substantial. Raman noodles dont count.
3. hate following long drawn out recipes that require skill, aptitude in following directions and using correct measurements and ingredients.
4. like to create and come up with super yummy stuff, but not at the expense of spending hours, or tons of money to make a dish.
The following site (and others like it) is great for those days you have a bunch of random stuff in your fridge/cupboards but dont know what to make out of any of it. You plug in your ingredients and it generates a recipe for you based on those items. You'll see that it asks for an email address. You do not need to enter one. The recipe will come up in another window.
:::link:::
This is an 'easy recipe' site.
:::link:::
There are a lot of books available as well. I have quite a few that cater to 'simple and easy' while still be interesting and varied.
good luck :)
tinypliny - 10/17/07 22:57
I beg to differ from this popular praise for cookbooks and whatnots. I think the best way to learn cooking is by cooking.
Start with very basic recipés that you find on the web. If, for instance, you wanted to make a slightly Indian styled onion soup, check out my recipé on (e:Joshua)'s blog. Then, you just jump in and make it.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating. So drink the soup. Now is the time to criticise the soup. Was it tasty? If the answer is yes, then congratulations!! You are a cook already! If not, don't agonize! Experiment. Add some more salt, or decrease/increase/modulate the oil, or modulate the spice level.
Practice makes perfect. Everytime you cook, you are going to learn something new, so I recommend that, instead of buying those glossy cookbooks, you crack the ladles and the pots and open up your laptop and march to your kitchen.
And don't forget to dance while you are making stuff, happiness always seeps into your dish and makes it tastier!! Don't rush your cooking, make sure that you have a nice chunk of time free, before you start! :) Remember that cooking is just that. Cooking.
Good Luck!
I beg to differ from this popular praise for cookbooks and whatnots. I think the best way to learn cooking is by cooking.
Start with very basic recipés that you find on the web. If, for instance, you wanted to make a slightly Indian styled onion soup, check out my recipé on (e:Joshua)'s blog. Then, you just jump in and make it.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating. So drink the soup. Now is the time to criticise the soup. Was it tasty? If the answer is yes, then congratulations!! You are a cook already! If not, don't agonize! Experiment. Add some more salt, or decrease/increase/modulate the oil, or modulate the spice level.
Practice makes perfect. Everytime you cook, you are going to learn something new, so I recommend that, instead of buying those glossy cookbooks, you crack the ladles and the pots and open up your laptop and march to your kitchen.
And don't forget to dance while you are making stuff, happiness always seeps into your dish and makes it tastier!! Don't rush your cooking, make sure that you have a nice chunk of time free, before you start! :) Remember that cooking is just that. Cooking.
Good Luck!
james - 10/17/07 19:42
no, no, no. They don't sweat by her, they swear at her.
no, no, no. They don't sweat by her, they swear at her.
museumchick - 10/17/07 19:41
(e:james)- thanks, I definitely will have to check Bitman's book out.
(e:libertad)- I've never really watched Rachel Ray, but I know a lot of people who swear by her.
(e:james)- thanks, I definitely will have to check Bitman's book out.
(e:libertad)- I've never really watched Rachel Ray, but I know a lot of people who swear by her.
libertad - 10/17/07 17:38
I heard Rachel Ray is good.
I heard Rachel Ray is good.
james - 10/17/07 13:37
Mark Bitman's How To Cook Everything is a great book for beginners. It is full of recipes of everyday things, delicious things, things you probably grew up eating. There are a few exotic recipes, a few guides to planning a party, a guide to equipment. It is a great book. I wish that was my first cook book instead of the crazy macrobiotic books I had.
Mark Bitman's How To Cook Everything is a great book for beginners. It is full of recipes of everyday things, delicious things, things you probably grew up eating. There are a few exotic recipes, a few guides to planning a party, a guide to equipment. It is a great book. I wish that was my first cook book instead of the crazy macrobiotic books I had.
10/16/2007 12:50 #41673
over goldengrove unleaving...Category: photos
I'm really enjoying the beautiful weather lately. It's great going outside in the sunshine and walking through the leaves.
Fall always reminds me of this poem, for some reason:
"Spring and Fall to a young child" by Gerard Manley Hopkins
M�RGAR�T, �re you gr�eving
Over Goldengrove unleaving?
Le�ves, l�ke the things of man, you
With your fresh thoughts care for, can you?
�h! �s the heart grows older
It will come to such sights colder
By and by, nor spare a sigh
Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie;
And yet you w�ll weep and know why.
Now no matter, child, the name:
S�rrow's spr�ngs �re the same.
Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressed
What heart heard of, ghost guessed:
It �s the blight man was born for,
It is Margaret you mourn for.
Fall always reminds me of this poem, for some reason:
"Spring and Fall to a young child" by Gerard Manley Hopkins
M�RGAR�T, �re you gr�eving
Over Goldengrove unleaving?
Le�ves, l�ke the things of man, you
With your fresh thoughts care for, can you?
�h! �s the heart grows older
It will come to such sights colder
By and by, nor spare a sigh
Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie;
And yet you w�ll weep and know why.
Now no matter, child, the name:
S�rrow's spr�ngs �re the same.
Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressed
What heart heard of, ghost guessed:
It �s the blight man was born for,
It is Margaret you mourn for.
museumchick - 10/17/07 09:08
Actually, I don't think I resized them. I think that's just how they ended up when I emailed them from my phone to my gmail.
Actually, I don't think I resized them. I think that's just how they ended up when I emailed them from my phone to my gmail.
libertad - 10/16/07 13:33
I like the rhyme scheme. It is very sing songy. I also like the use of accents to give more emphasis to certain sounds. I'm not sure if that is common or not in English poetry, but it is really fun. BTW, I haven't forgotten about your last e mail.
Those pics are so small. Did you resize them to 400x300 pixels?
I like the rhyme scheme. It is very sing songy. I also like the use of accents to give more emphasis to certain sounds. I'm not sure if that is common or not in English poetry, but it is really fun. BTW, I haven't forgotten about your last e mail.
Those pics are so small. Did you resize them to 400x300 pixels?
10/11/2007 17:15 #41604
dylan concertCategory: music
I had a great time at the concert with Aaron. I liked Amos Lee, and Dylan was good (though his voice was in bad shape). The best act of the three was definitely Elvis Costello. He sounded incredible, and was great at interacting with the audience. I loved his versions of Red Shoes, Veronica, Oliver's Army, and I Can't Stand Up for Falling Down.
Here is a picture of Elvis playing (though it's hard to see him):
The best part of last weekend was getting to see Aaron.
Here's a picture of us (definitely not a good picture of me, but it's a good one of Aaron):
Here is a picture of Elvis playing (though it's hard to see him):
The best part of last weekend was getting to see Aaron.
Here's a picture of us (definitely not a good picture of me, but it's a good one of Aaron):
lauren - 10/11/07 19:34
I saw Bob Dylan a few years ago on his baseball tour and I have to admit, I was way way way more impressed with Willie Nelson who opened than I was with Bob. I guess it was because Willie actually engaged the crowd while Dylan was attached to his piano most of the time. But I still think its pretty damn cool that I got to see him. He is a legend after all.
I saw Bob Dylan a few years ago on his baseball tour and I have to admit, I was way way way more impressed with Willie Nelson who opened than I was with Bob. I guess it was because Willie actually engaged the crowd while Dylan was attached to his piano most of the time. But I still think its pretty damn cool that I got to see him. He is a legend after all.
Creeley is another poet I really enjoy reading, definitely.
People don't really know much about him, which is a shame considering his association with our area. Plus its neat to have a connection to the Beats locally, if you ask me anyway.
Bukowski and Waits is a fine combo.
Allen Ginsberg read his poem America with a Tom Waits composition for the piece. It is really nice.
If you like Bukowski you should read Robert Creeley. I don't know why more people don't read him.
I could handle some Bourbon. I'm also craving some Tom Waits:).
Careful with the Bukowski, I remember reading some of him with Tom Waits playing on the Ipod, had a sudden craving for bourbon.