| Beware of the declarative sentence fragment |
[Jun. 19th, 2009|01:13 pm] |
| [ | Feeling |
| |  chipper | ] |
This primer on Rotovaps (rotary evaporators) is one of the most remarkable things I have ever read, and it merely confirms my belief that food is the field I want to be in. The application of smarts and hard work to produce a dramatic, tangible result - a result that someone can eat and enjoy, a result whose purpose is clear and whose utility can be judged by anybody. Sounds good to me. Building (or buying) a rotovap is of course a little ways off - first things first.
Speaking of which, Project Bacon continues apace. First two batches should set up to cure this weekend, one fairly standard, the other Chinese five-spice cured. Will report progress; otherwise, this weekend is drinks with friends, Buffy-watching, and hopefully some running or something.
breakfast table in an otherwise empty room |
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| The Buffy the Vampire Slayer Drinking Game |
[Jun. 12th, 2009|06:30 pm] |
| [ | Feeling |
| |  amused | ] |
I am about halfway through Season 2 and think it's fantastic, but I think its casually gruesome body count merits a drinking game. Feel free to suggest your own rules!
Drink Whenever:
- A vampire is slain
- A student of Sunnydale High dies
- Xander is thoughtlessly insensitive to the feelings of a friend (especially a girl)
- Cordelia is a total bitch to someone (is this too frequent?)
- A prophecy is mentioned
This is by no means exhaustive - and it lacks any "Finish Your Drink When:" rules. :o)
i saw a werewolf drinking a pina colada at trader vic's
his hair was perfect |
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|
| (no subject) |
[Jun. 9th, 2009|06:54 am] |
| [ | Feeling |
| | ecstatic | ] |
Happy Birthday, Maia!! :o) |
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|
| (no subject) |
[May. 20th, 2009|09:24 pm] |
| [ | Feeling |
| |  boringly busy | ] |
I bought tickets home. In Saturday, out Tuesday. I make no promises that I can make time to see anyone but family; but, if I can, I'd love to see any/all of you.
Tomorrow: Disneyland, and more bread baking. If I may be so self-gratifyingly pedantic, I think my first goal is that I want to open a pizzeria and brewpub: amazing, wood-fired pizza on the best freaking crust you can make, and vibrant, creative house-made beer. Now I just need to learn to brew beer ..
sometimes i think sitting on trains |
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| MvK #2 |
[May. 19th, 2009|10:44 pm] |
FINALLY, a second post.
For the best chocolate chip cookies, read on.
i ain't sayin' she a gold-digger |
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|
| (no subject) |
[May. 8th, 2009|10:14 am] |
| [ | Feeling |
| |  pleased | ] |
Saw Star Trek last night, and it was spot on. J.J. Abrams (mostly) resisted his usual temptation to put in things that are cool or mysterious just for the sake of being cool or mysterious, and instead did a good service to an ailing franchise. Well done, sir.
i'ma set it straight this watergate |
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| This week's projects |
[Apr. 21st, 2009|11:29 am] |
- Making starter for bread, followed by a bunch of bread-baking
- Making xiao long bao, followed by some alternative soup dumplings (Pho dumplings!)
- Testing an idea for smoked dumplings
I also need to buy a new computer, think about tracking down a used road bike, and start looking for a new place to live come August when my lease is up and Ben heads to DC for grad school. Maybe some place closer to the beach. :o)
let's hit the beat |
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| One Artist re: Another, and recent things |
[Apr. 16th, 2009|01:05 pm] |
| [ | Where |
| | SCLA | ] |
| [ | Feeling |
| |  exhausted | ] |
| [ | Hearing |
| | Jason Mraz - Please Don't Tell Her | ] |
I stumbled today on this review of a Charles Schultz biography, written (the review, not the book) by Bill Watterson.
Since returning home from DC on Monday night (which was a great time, even if the visit was too short to see everybody I would have liked), I have been in the desert for testing literally the entire week. It's actually not that bad - I like my job, and we're getting a lot of good stuff done - but suffice it to say I find a drain on my passion for staying in cheap hotels and living out of a bag for extended periods. Fortunately, I get to go home tomorrow morning.
I recently picked up a copy of BakeWise, which is more than just a cookbook, containing both recipes and tables for melting points of the six phases of the fats in cocoa butter, and equations for determining the optimum temperature of a bread dough based on initial and desired volumes, proportion of water, and other factors. This is my kind of book, and you should expect to see some of its influence soon, once I get home and can actually start making proper updates to MvK.
she was the girl with the broadest shoulders
but she would die before i crawled over them
she is taller than i am |
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|
| Phase 2 Begins |
[Apr. 8th, 2009|11:56 pm] |
| [ | Where |
| | on the precipice | ] |
| [ | Feeling |
| |  hungry | ] |
| [ | Hearing |
| | Black Crowes - Hard to Handle | ] |
http://manvskitchen.wordpress.com/
I know the formatting blows right now, I am working on fixing that and getting a real image for the top of the site (possibly a determined-looking picture of me staring down something like an artichoke). I have a huge backlog of recipes and dishes to put up, though, which I am working on.
But watch that space. This is the start of the rest of my life; not this blog specifically, but what it means for where I am taking my life.
On an unrelated note, I am really excited to hit DC on Saturday! Come out for drinks with me!
i'm getting ready to leave the ground |
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| Cooking updates |
[Mar. 31st, 2009|09:42 am] |
| [ | Where |
| | at work | ] |
| [ | Feeling |
| | amused | ] |
Macaroni and cheese arancini Take 1 was a bust. Insufficiently binding, so that the hot oil infiltrated them and tended to crisp interior cheese. Not creamy enough anyway. Am considering either a) putting a center of cheese sauce in the middle, or b) making creamier mac and cheese and then chilling it to set it as a more solid ball.
Caramels came out very well - made two three batches, after I ruined the first batch by bringing them to hard crack temperature. Whoops. Salted chocolate caramels and standard salted (because salty and sweet together rock). I think next candy excursions are going to be hazelnut brittle and then something like brown butter rum caramels or any other ideas I can come up with.
look inside girl |
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| Shit be cyclical, yo |
[Mar. 21st, 2009|11:51 pm] |
| [ | Feeling |
| |  content | ] |
| [ | Hearing |
| | Talking Heads - (Nothing But) Flowers | ] |
Watched the BSG finale. Liked it. I am pretty sure that's all that needs to be said.
That's one great show in recent memory that had the dignity and fortune to end rather than drivel on or get canceled. Good on you.
there was a shopping mall
now it's all covered with flowers |
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|
| (no subject) |
[Mar. 21st, 2009|11:55 am] |
| [ | Feeling |
| |  accomplished | ] |
God do I love the farmer's market. Got some super-fresh goat cheese from local goats (very tangy), some very nice leeks, gorgeous strawberries, and a lot of super-cheap dried chiles which will allow me to make some serious Sichuan food in coming weeks.
I can't wait for it to be summer when the tomato guy will have all his awesome heirloom tomatoes out. I really need to learn to garden better so that I can grow my own.
Today's lunch: warm leek salad with goat cheese and lemon vinaigrette. :o)
In other news, rereading of Harold McGee's On Food and Cooking just further impresses on me that this is a book anyone with an interest in food should read.
it starts out easy something simple something sleazy |
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| Depth and Shallowness |
[Mar. 19th, 2009|05:29 pm] |
| [ | Feeling |
| | amused | ] |
If you like BSG, you may find THIS pretty amazing. No spoilers, I think, just Edward James Olmos being a badass.
Good science fiction serves the same purpose as any other fiction; the unfamiliar setting is a mirror allowing the author to show familiar truths. That, and to show off totally awesome robots. |
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| Coming to DC for realz this time |
[Mar. 17th, 2009|08:14 pm] |
| [ | Feeling |
| |  achy but good | ] |
I have plane tickets and everything. I'll be in town the weekend of the 11th of April, ostensibly for Passover, but, y'know, also to get drinks and such out on the town. Science Club, anyone?
you were born of a jackal you're BEAUTIFUL |
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|
| (no subject) |
[Mar. 17th, 2009|03:53 pm] |
| [ | Feeling |
| | exhausted | ] |
I am wearing Batman underpants today; I may not be girding my loins with funny animals, but it's damn close.
Today, I inserted an image from Schoolhouse Rock into presentation slides to much delight.
One of my high school teachers died recently, not one that I had any particularly good connection to, but still.
Ugh, almost time to go home; I was at work super early today, and have to be in super early tomorrow also. D:
Also, hooray for ~1% raises. :oP
you're hideous and sexy |
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