Coming back from vacation feels so… so something. I mean I’m glad to be back in the comfort of home but it’s a bit of a jolt having to go back to sitting at my desk for hours at a time again. At least it’s the end of the week.
Business as usual
Posted by Leaf on December 9, 2011
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Mustard
Posted by Leaf on November 26, 2011
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I was in elementary school when I first came across this condiment, mustard. I’d seen other children put it on their burgers and hot dogs but I just couldn’t bring myself to try it. It looked sort of poopy yellow. One day, maybe in third grade, I decided to try it. I pocketed a packet of mustard from my lunch tray, and took it home. I went to the bathroom (because that’s where anything poopy-looking belongs) opened it, and took a small taste. It was odd but I sort of liked it. And now, I think it may be one of my favorite condiments.
Black Friday
Posted by Leaf on November 25, 2011
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Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted by Leaf on November 24, 2011
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Game Night!
Posted by Leaf on November 20, 2011
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Saturday, we hosted another game night with the cousins. It was 7 Wonders and Catan until 4 AM this time!! Fun times. I was so fritzed out by the end of it though, I don’t think I could even see straight. This was after drinking coffee throughout the evening. After a while, caffeine just doesn’t do a thing. I’m still a bit out of sorts today.
I got to learn some new names though. “Luck box” – someone who is lucky. That’s all I can remember.
The next day, our cousin treated us to Tachibana. It was delicious. I got the rice bowl which was filled with egg, onion, and chicken. It was kind of sweet and very tasty. Next time, I want to try their ramen.
I *heart* Trader Joe’s
Posted by Leaf on November 19, 2011
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There must be another blog entry with the same title, which just goes to show how much I heart TJs. I mean, if you can’t find me anywhere else, I’m probably at Trader Joe’s. So of course I had to go into the most recently opened one in our area yesterday morning to check out the new store. Even though the layout was a little bit different, the comfortable familiarity the staff has with all the customers felt just right. This is why it’s so different and so great. The only other businesses I’ve found this familial feeling are mom and pops and Southwest Airlines. Now if we could only have a bank that operates with that sort of corporate culture.
I love the layout of the lines in this new store too. It’s probably to save space and optimize efficiency. They queue everyone up in one line and then we go to the next available checker. They should all be this way.
They handed out reusable shopping totes and I got a bottle of TJ’s bubbly to celebrate the occasion.
Oh and I got just 2 boxes of cereal this time. A TJ run isn’t complete without some cereal in the cart.
Got Sick, Got Well, then ATE!
Posted by Leaf on November 18, 2011
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We came down with a bout of a stomach bug earlier this week, Tuesday morning and Tuesday afternoon for each of us. It came and went lickity split. Without going into the details, let’s just say I lost some weight in a bad way. At first, I thought I made us sick with bad food served Monday evening. Now we learned it may have been from hanging out with nieces during our Non-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving dinner because other family members there also got the same symptoms. By yesterday though, we were well and I was so hungry last night we went out for some Korean at Honey Pig.
It was pretty tasty and less expensive than your typical Korean restaurant. The hot soondubu hit the spot on a cold evening and it had been a while since we’ve gone out for a dinner date on a weeknight so I especially relished it. I noticed that the restaurant filled up more as the evening wore on. When we arrived at 7ish there were empty tables. By the time we left at 8:30 there were people waiting by the door. Don’t they have work tomorrow!? The ambience has sort of an Asian street food feel to it. Service was pretty decent. They cook the grill for you. I’d recommend ordering some kind of soup to tide you over while you wait for the food to cook. The only one minor gripe is I wish they would’ve filled our water more seeing as how the food can be pretty spicy and salty. I’d go back though and I’d take friends there.
Non-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Dinner!
Posted by Leaf on November 14, 2011
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We celebrated this Thanksgiving a week early at a cousin’s house this past Sunday. There was turkey, smoked and roasted, vegetables, dressing, trifle. Food galore! I went in like I usually do, in my battle gear, stretchy jeans. If I was really serious though, I would’ve worn sweatpants. I wanted to reserve a little dignity though. Or try.
I loved meeting cousin’s 2 English bulldogs and cat. All three such sweet furballs of softness. The dogs were so loveable with their ugly smooshed noses, tongue too big for the mouth so it rested between its underbite jaw, right between the 2 canines, and funny butt wiggling gait. I need one!! NEEED!!
After dinner we watched some football and then were sent home with leftovers. I had it all over again for lunch today. Delish! Smoked turkey is awesome. Anyway, I think I like this method of celebrating Thanksgiving, doing it on another weekend. There was no traffic whatsoever, and I bet the grocery stores weren’t as crazy.
Did I mention the flappy jowls!?!
Salad Spinner of of 200 Days
Posted by Leaf on November 12, 2011
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Welp, it never fails. I head into the kitchen and something is bound to break. A few weeks ago it was the glass butter holder in the fridge. Yesterday, it was the trusty salad spinner. Or the lid at least, which is basically the spinner part of it. I left it on the stove top when baking the fish. There must be something wrong with our range oven because when the oven is on, the heat comes out over the top until the stove top gets very hot.
Apparently hot enough to melt plastic. Our whole house gets super hot too. I bet this makes us use more gas to heat the oven.
We got a new spinner today. I was considering the stainless steel one but turns out the lid is still plastic so what’s the point. Maybe I can find just the replacement lid online.
11-11-11
Posted by Leaf on November 11, 2011
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Happy Friday! I’ve been learning so much from these fashion blogs and online videos since yesterday. Like today, I measured myself and learned that my skirts ought to sit about 1″ above my knees. And I’ve even purchased more stuff. Like a Goody’s Spin Pin and Japanese Bumpit from eBay.
We had dinner with our lovely neighbors, parents of Puppy and Kitty. I love babysitting for them.
I made a baked buttercup squash. Just cut them up and sprinkle cinnamon and Trader Joe’s pumpkin pie spice on them with a little drizzle of maple syrup.
And I also made pecan crusted tilapia. It’s so easy and delicious.
First make the crust. In a food processor, crumble a hard cheese. Parmesan or asiago will do. Add garlic powder, herbs de Provence or some other herb mix, and pecans. Blend it until it becomes a coarse mixture.
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Coat the tilapia with mustard. I have 2 mustards mixed together here. Be generous. It will taste wonderful.
Dredge the mustard-coated tilapia filets on the pecan crust.
Sprinkle any remaining crust over the fish.
Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
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