2009-07-24

instant wonder

I walked out of my office to grab the morning coffee (it has been a looooong week between work, summer school, and life) and was instantly rejuvenated by this:


Hot Air Balloons!
Hot air balloons!

There's nothing like looking up in the sky and seeing huge brightly colored balloons to make you feel like an optimistic child.

The very best part of this was that everyone else who saw the balloons also had these amazing grins on their faces, and we all smiled as we walked past each other.

2009-07-19

cool pasta for hot days

When it gets over 100 (well maybe over 90) degrees for days on end the last thing I want to do is heat the house up even further with cooking. I know grilling is the summer standby, but that often seems like a lot of time and charcoal for just the two of us, and I still haven't quite mastered grilling vegetables.

Plus I'd usually prefer something crisp and cool.

So last week I wanted pesto, but a lighter less time intensive version, so I made this take on the easy-pasta-and-stuff dinner, and was really happy with how tasty it came out. (I know it's a bias but I'm always secretly delighted when I make something vegan that is delicious.)


pasta

You'll need:
  • 4 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp almond butter
  • 1 tsp cider vinegar
  • 1 cup finely chopped basil
  • 2 or 3 cloves minced garlic
  • 1/2 cucumber cut into thin flat wedges
  • 1 large tomato roughly chopped
  • 1 ear corn, kernels cut from the cob
  • enough pasta for two, I used good old spaghetti
  • plenty of salt & fresh ground pepper (I have a shaker filled w/a mix of kosher and dead sea salts, and can really tell the flavoring difference over regular table salt)
  1. put pasta water on to boil
  2. meanwhile whisk oil, garlic, almond butter, vinegar, basil and a pinch of salt in a large bowl
  3. let "pesto" marinate a bit
  4. just before pasta finishes cooking, toss tomatoes, cucumber and corn with pesto
  5. drain cooked pasta and immediately toss hot pasta in bowl with pesto vegetable mixture.
  6. season with salt and lots of pepper


veggie pasta

Enjoy!

2009-07-14

new (old) music

In honor of Bastille Day.

I've been listening to Keny Arkana. I highly suggest everybody check her out:


2009-07-07

fourth of July

In which we celebrate the struggle for a better life by grilling animals


beef & lamb burgers

Beef and Lamb burgers: 1 lb beef .5 lb lamb


caper remoulade

Caper Remoulade:

capers
basil
garlic
pickle
mayonnaise
dijon mustard


hot buns


Best Buns Ever:
via Smitten Kitchen


hamburger

The finished product:

Beef & Lamb Burgers w/ Caper Remoulade and Cheddar Cheese, inspired by this

2009-07-06

summer in Davis



Trying to eat lunch and study is not easily accomplished while being taunted by an overly-aggressive squirrel.

I was also wearing flip-flops and really fearing for my green-painted toes; the worst part was when he'd disappear under the table.