Monthly Archives: March 2010

Flexing my Green Thumb

Posted by Leaf on March 14, 2010 5 comments

Mini Phaleonopsis

We spent today at a hardware store looking for seeds, soil, fertilizer, and inadvertently, an orchid. Yet another orchid. They had these mini phaleonopsis with small leaves and about 1- to 1.5-inch wide flowers which were so cute and beautiful. There’s just something about the colors of an orchid, so vibrant and drawing. So it didn’t take much convincing before it ended up in the shopping cart. Cross your fingers for it! This time, I have to take care of it, not my dad. We went home and Dad repotted into a larger container for me and then onward to start my small herb garden. Since the temperatures are still uncertain outside afterall, it’s still March, I decided to just stick the mint which was rooting already into a pot outside. If it makes it, great. If not, I know where to get plenty more. For the rest, I decided to start them indoors. Chili pepper, sage, and thyme. I’m also going to try lemongrass and basil when it gets warmer. I prefer growing perennials but basil is such a versatile herb. I’m dreaming of salads and homemade mojitos.

Rainy Saturday

Posted by Leaf on March 13, 2010 2 comments

I haven’t stepped outside today yet but I’ve noticed that it’s kinda’ dark indoors even with the shades open. What a glum day. Though it does feel Spring-like to be getting these rains. Actually it makes me want to start my garden soon! All this free watering happening and I’m missing out. So with the rain, today’s get-to-do activities consisted of cleaning the shower, toilet, floors, and tables. I broke another item. A statue. Dearie me, at this point, I don’t know what to say anymore. I had no idea I was so good at breaking things. It’s like a newly found talent. Who knows how long those six bowls will last. I’m putzing around doing laundry, cleaning the kitchen and eating snacks to further slow down my tax filing. I’m torturing myself with it. It’s not hard but so tedious. And I just don’t feel like typing in numbers anymore after doing that all week.

Let me go see what the animals are up to.
Hermit

Percula Clown
Putzing around, like me!

Marco “Quit blogging and gimme more food woman!”


Update:
I was hoping to submit my taxes this afternoon but after doing it twice and getting two different results, I need to do it a third time! Dangit!

Update 2:
Ahmigawd!! No charm doing it a third time. Now I have three different results!! GAAAAh!!!
That’s it. I can’t do this anymore. I will have to finish it another time.

Update 3:
I got a repeat result! 2nd and 4th try were a match. Whew! Though based on this bad track record, I think I might do it again. Just to mess with myself. Later, with a fresh brain.

The Bowls

Posted by Leaf on March 12, 2010 2 comments

The Bowls They’re squarish on the outside and round on the inside. Rather interesting. Mom found them at an Asian market after I asked her to help me find something pretty. Yeah, that specific. Aren’t they lovely? I’m picturing myself eating cereal in them. Or noodles. Or kung-pao chicken. The possibilities are endless.

Temptation

Posted by Leaf on March 11, 2010 1 comments

I attended an industry conference this morning (for the food!) and they had coffee! Everywhere I turned someone was holding a coffee. Thankfully, they also had croissants, pastries, bagels, and other goodies to distract me. Now that I haven’t had coffee for 3 weeks, I haven’t really needed it to stay awake and nice. Now I just miss the aroma. The slight bitterness. The aftertaste.

I love the flowers, I love the daffodils

Posted by Leaf on March 9, 2010 None comments

This weekend, I saw mounds of dirty snow in a park, right next to some people playing tennis in shorts and t-shirts. It was sunny and probably in the mid-50s. I walked about outside with only a light jacket. It felt cool but what a nice feeling to be out in the sun. Then, I spotted some bulbs poking through the earth. Could it be? Spring is coming!? Or is March coming in like a lamb and going out like a lion?

Thai House Again

Posted by Leaf on March 8, 2010 1 comments

Dining at Thai House can be described as consistently inconsistent. Some days, the food’s the BEST THAI I’VE HAD IN THESE HERE PARTS!!!, the service is attentive too. Other days, the chef doesn’t show up and you go next door for Greek food instead. Last night was another evening of surprises. The food was wonderful.
Thai House We tried curry fried rice noodles for the first time and we couldn’t decide if this was better or the stupendous pad thai.
Thai House
I would’ve loved their green curry too I’m sure… had it arrived at our table. As it were, the owner/sous chef/busboy/waiter was so swamped with in-house business and carry-out that he delivered our check forgetting about the green curry. 2 hours after we arrived for dinner. Coming here is always a treat for my taste buds but you have to have time and patience to enjoy this place. A family of four came and almost left but the owner told them it was almost ready and to just hang tight. Thai HouseA table of three got wonton soups and decided that was enough for their evening. I love that they’re getting enough business to stay afloat in these tough times, we saw 2 or 3 shuttered businesses in that stripmall, but this barebones business operation is hard on customers. Luckily, their food is just too good to resist.

And then I baked!

Posted by Leaf on March 6, 2010 None comments

Yesterday night, we had big plans! Plans to go out to dinner, see a comedy show, stay up late and maybe even meet up with pals. Alas the convivial evening out was not to be. The chinchillas wore us out and we had our convivial evening in. I did taxes (a first try), and made granola (a second try). Then off to sleep where I dreamed about, wouldn’t you know it, food.

Kettler IceplexThis morning we headed off to the Kettler Iceplex to watch the Capitals practice before their game against the NY Rangers. Incidentally, it’s playing right now. The rink looks a lot smaller than on TV and so do the guys. Without all that gear, they’re pretty skinny. It kinda’ gave me a nice feel for what a live game would be like, especially if you had front row seating. You can feel the cool air as they skate by and the puck thuds pretty loudly against the walls. After they finished, you could see Coach Boudreau giving a television interview. He wasn’t actually on the ice coaching, that was left to the assistant coaches.

RaagaThen it was off to Raaga for all you can eat Indian food. And believe me, I ate all I could, and then some. Still feeling full. Raaga’s naan is so good. They don’t leave it in the buffet line, rather they bring it out to you as you’re eating. It’s one of the few naan’s I feel like are good enough to eat alone. Crispy on the bottom, chewy on top. All the dishes pictured here were tasty enough to end up on my round two plate.

After that, it was off to go grocery shopping. I can skip one week, but there’s no way I’m going to go 3 weeks without grocery shopping.
Hamantaschen
Look what I made!! Hamantaschen! They’re little triangular cookies with fillings in them. I made two kinds, almond, and prune. Baking for me is a bit challenging because it’s so labor intensive and requires attention to detail and some amount of precision. You actually have to measure!! I whipped out the measuring cups and spoons for this one. The cookies came out well though. Crumbly and still triangle shaped after baking. They go well with wine. As do many other foods.

Ohh ohh! I know, I know!

Posted by Leaf on March 5, 2010 3 comments

I just had a sudden realization of something I witnessed about 2 or 3 months ago.

Riding home from work on the Metro, it was maybe 7PM or so on a Friday night I think, two young (20s) people hopped on board. They looked like they’d just gone shopping or out somewhere, there were a couple of bags. It didn’t appear as if they were a couple, maybe friends or acquaintances. They didn’t appear to sit very close or familiarly together. She appeared kinda’ FOBby or maybe they both did. They were talking and smiling, a bit distanced politeness or shyness and then his stop came and he waved good-bye to her and she waved bye. No hugs or kisses. Just a friendly wave. Then she kept waving and I couldn’t see if he was standing there waving back or what but she kept waving and re-waving and then as the train pulled away, she started frowning, then crying. I was staring, maybe slackjawed. Or not. But I kept wondering what that was about. Was one of them leaving for good? Going away on business? Long distance relationship in two different college towns? Did he give her an indian burn before stepping off the train while I wasn’t looking? And I have no idea why it even entered my brain this afternoon but I think I may have figured it out. I think she regretted not getting that pair of cute shoes when they’d gone shopping. Non-buyers remorse.

Getting a life, one hobby at a time.

Posted by Leaf on March 4, 2010 None comments

It’s funny I thought I’d have more free time after I was done with school but I don’t feel it. I can’t believe we’re already into the third month of 2010! Part of it is moving out, having to do chores (which is time and labor intensive!) and another part is this new job which has longer hours than the last job. With my current schedule, school wouldn’t be impossible, but it’d definitely be a bit more challenging. Then again, if I really look honestly at how I spend my weekends, I do putz around a lot. Aside from cooking, which I resumed due to interest and necessity, I’ve mostly been enjoying my free time, relaxing, watching TV (I find 16 and Pregnant very intriguing.), and playing with the chinchillas. Lately, I’ve picked up reading for pleasure again. Before starting school, 2007, I was in the middle of reading The Memory Keeper’s Daughter. I finally finished it on the Metro to and from work. Then I read The Tipping Point and Freakonomics. Then Confessions of a Shopaholic (Excellent!! But it made me impulsively purchase a face product at the Lancome counter for free makeup which only a year ago I said I wasn’t going to do! And buy a pair of boots, but they’re cute and on sale!), and now I’ve started Catch-22 (It’s bizarre and somewhat frustrating). I don’t know what’s next on my hobby list, but it feels good to slowly pick things up where I left off when my personal time was put on pause for school. Maybe the next hobby I reinstate will be… knitting? Maybe!

Everything but the kitchen sink

Posted by Leaf on March 3, 2010 None comments

Last weekend, my mom remarked that her pantry had cleared up considerably since I’ve moved out. That’s funny, cuz my pantry is now stocked to the brim. Ok, I know I like to eat, but really!? So yeah, I’m the common denominator. Where ever I go, stockpiles of food appear. Two weekends ago, I went grocery shopping at Costco and the Asian market. I didn’t think I got that much stuff but even after skipping a shopping trip this past weekend, I’m still working through the food we got 2 weeks ago. Towards the end, I generally wind up with a few random ingredients. I even ran out of eggs, bread, and milk! Don’t worry though, that was quickly rectified this evening. Phew! So this week, I’m trying to creatively cook through what I have in the fridge and pantry. Tonight, in the slow cooker (which is probably one of the most used and versatile gadgets I have in the kitchen), beans, onion, carrots, tomatoes, ground turkey. I have no idea what it is or what it’s supposed to be but I’ll find out tomorrow at dinner. It’s the dish I never planned for but somehow I concocted it in my noggin’ based on chili recipes. Only there’s no chili pepper or cayenne. Maybe I’ll add that too.