Saturday, 16 April 2011

Hyperbole is the WORST Thing EVER

Not really. I don't mind a bit of melodrama, a dash of gilded speech every now and then, but I feel an increasing need to undo it, to take it out of my system. I need get out of America. I don't like the way the culture is changing me, particularly it's superfluous use of hyperbole.

I hate long lines.
Oh man, I love brownies.
My mom's gonna kill me.

Really? Your mom's going to kill you?

Do we know what we mean when we say such things? Is it really just culture, a twenty-first century manner of speaking? Or is it symptomatic of a greater problem, an insincerity we can't stop?


I hate getting up in the morning.                              I hate racism.
I love cereal.                                                              I love my family.



Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no.

Monday, 11 April 2011

Everyone Should Have a Sister

Pasties Galore!

I am sure there are better and more authentic pasty recipes online, and if you consider yourself a pasty connoisseur and refuse to bow down to anything other than the One True Pasty enshrined in the golden pagoda in Cornwall, then by all means, troll the internet in search of better, unadulterated recipes.

But all you have for now is this:

1. Make curry with finely chopped yummies. (Poor man's version: chop veggies; blend with curry sauce from jar.)
2. Make pie dough. (For a how-to, click here.) Roll out and cut into large squares.
3. Blob curry onto half of square, fold over, pinch edge closed.
4. Place on baking sheet and cook at 375 F/190 C until crust turn golden around the edges.
5. Eat.


P.S. Melissa gets the credit for this one too. 

Facebook Is a Time Suck

Sunday, 10 April 2011

Stew You!

This is the stew Melissa made. She wants to make sure I give her credit for the title of this post. 

Cinnamon and Curry Sweet Potato Stew
Serves 6-7

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp olive oil
4-5 cloves garlic, chopped (no garlic press)
3 red onions, diced
1 small eggplant, diced
3 tomatoes, diced
3 medium sweet potatoes, diced
3 carrots, sliced into coins
salt
coarse ground black pepper
paprika
cinnamon
yellow curry powder
2-3 cups water

2 boxes plain couscous (needs butter, salt, water.  Instructions will be on box)

Steps:

1) Dice everything and have it at the ready.

2) Heat oil in large pot.


3) Add garlic, agitate until just turning brown.


4) Add onions, agitate until coated in the oil.  Add 1/4 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp pepper.  Put lid on and allow onions to sweat for 5-7 minutes on medium heat.


5) Add eggplant, stir and return lid to pot.  Let cook for 10-15 minutes at medium heat, stirring occasionally.


6) Add tomatoes, carrots, and potatoes; stir.  Add enough water to just barely cover the vegetables.  Return lid to pot and let cook for 5 minutes.


7) Add 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, 1/3 paprika, 1/2 Tbsp curry, 1/2 Tbsp cinnamon.  Stir and return lid to pot.  Let cook down for 20-30 minutes on medium to low heat, stirring occasionally.


8) Taste stew, add additional spices as needed.  Predominant flavors should be curry and cinnamon.  Continue to cook for 30-40 minutes on low to medium heat until carrots and potatoes are soft all the way through.  Stew will reduce as it cooks, have no fear.  If the meal is delayed, you can turn off the heat and leave the lid on, re-warming the stew closer to serving time or cook the stew on a lower heat starting from step 6.

9) Remove from heat and serve over couscous with shredded coconut and/or shredded swiss cheese.  

MMMmmm, delicious.

Shakespeare Texts

I texted Alicia today.

Wilt thou walk with me under the ever-spreading leaves, the verdure of spring?

She replied:

Alas, I hath already trod that sacred ground, carpeted with Nature's providence.

I think this might catch on.