Repast for the Sick

Ah fall, with the changing leaves and cooler temperatures and that seasonal bugaboo, Allergies. Ugh. It feels like someone with really big hands has grabbed my face and is just squishing it. It is not pleasant. I have some very nice meds here, some that make me sleep, others that make me loopy. But food is essential comfort when you're sick. My mom would fix me Chicken -n-Stars soup when I was sick. The stars are what makes you feel better. Now that I'm all (or mostly) grown up, it is still my go-to meal when I'm not feeling so good. Soup and a grilled cheese sandwich and a good cuppa. I drink a lot of tea when I'm sick. It's soothing and makes my head feel better. I have a cup before I go to work and then another when I get home. Drugs are good, and tea is good, but it's always gonna be the stars for me...

May you and yours be healthy.

In Memoriam

Six times the bell is rung. Once for the first plane, once for the second plane, for the first tower, for the second, for the Pentagon, and for Shanksville, PA. On this day we remember, chaos, fear, and courage. We remember seeing people leaping from the windows of the World Trade Center, the dead being carried from the Pentagon, the obliterated field in quiet Pennslyvania. As the bagpipes play Amazing Grace, we remember the only time we ever knew terror in our hearts, in our hometowns.
And it strikes me funny almost, that the children I see in my dining hall every day don't really know what it means. Some weren't born yet, some were just too young to understand. I was 21 when it happened. I never knew fear before that moment. I wasn't around for air raid drills, or the Cuban Missile Crisis. This was my Cuban Missile Crisis. Only they weren't missiles, they were planes. And now, every time I see one in the sky, I watch it for a moment. I know that, reasonably, its unlikely that there will ever be another attack like that. But I still watch.

Next year, that bell will ring again. Six times. Once for each plane, once for each tower, once for the fortress, once for the field.


We will never forget.

In Which We Go on Vacation

For the first time in four years...Yep, folks, no vacations for me since my honeymoon. You get used to it.

So for the first trip, my hubby and I and my parents (and a lot of my yarn) go to the NC mountains and stay in a very nice cabin, not too far from Boone, NC. Wasn't much to do in the immediate area, we went in to Boone one day, to sightsee and to grocery shop, but other than that, mostly we vegged. Played a lot of pool, played a lot of cards. Dad was the resident card sharp, but I was the pool hustler. Fun was had by all.

Sushi for Beginners

Today was my 28th birthday and a day that I thought, well, why not tackle a food fear. I don't have too many of them left, but there are a few. One of them is (drumroll) sushi. I'm not talking about california rolls you get at the grocery store. I'm talking about real sushi, made by fast guys with sharp knives. My amiga Melissa agreed to be my guide to the world of sushi and so we went to Jade here in South Charlotte. Let me tell you, it is not often I will give over control of my meal to anyone, no questions asked. But I trust her. I thought she might start me out easy, with some nigiri sushi, maybe a crab roll. Ha. Ha.
We started with the Philly roll as Melissa explains the ins and outs of sushi eating. All the pieces come on a big platter and you use the chopsticks to get your piece off that platter. You are supposed to eat all of one roll, then use the pickled ginger to cleanse your palate, and then move on to the next roll. We move on to the Red Snapper Sashimi. Which is more or less raw fish, sliced thin and put on your plate. I have heard people say that sashimi is sweet, fresh, clean tasting...I chewed thoughtfully for a moment, it tastes like...bait. Pass.
The Eel Roll was very good, mild and tasty, the Crunchy Salmon Roll was suffering from an overdose of cream cheese. I don't know why they need cream cheese in it, but it did nothing for me.
We ordered a few other things, just to round out the menu. Some chicken Gyoza (Japanese pot stickers), dim sum, and some duck, but that got sent back because it was awful. Tasted like Twizzlers. I hate Twizzlers.

Bottom line is this: I ate the sushi and nobody died. I'm not a fan of sashimi so far, but have a healthy respect for rolls. Avoid the cream cheese. Don't fear the sushi, several million Japanese folks can't be wrong.

Education: Redux

It is much easier to work overtime when you like your work and the people you work with.


Here endeth the lesson.

Isle of Capri

It's the home of capri pants, various shellfish, and this tasty salad called Caprese Salad. The red, white and green also represent the colors of the Italian flag. Fresh mozzarella is easy to find in your local megamart and tomatoes are in season, so head out to your farmer's market and pick out a nice one. Also, please use fresh basil and liberal salt and pepper.

Insalata Caprese

1 tomato, sliced

fresh mozzarella, 2 slices

fresh basil, 1 or 2 leaves

salt and pepper, to taste

extra-virgin olive oil, drizzle.

1. Layer tomatoes, cheese and basil, seasoning each layer.

2. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar if you like.

This is a great summer salad and very simple for when you don't feel like cooking. Resist the urge to use infused oils. The flavors here are subtle and using flavored oils is going to overwhelm it. I tried some truffle oil on mine. Bleah.

And There Was Much Rejoicing

Yes, folks, it is true. I have a job. A real, full-time job. I achieved employment as a cook at a local private school. It's a really nice kitchen, quite large. This is not your average cafeteria. Much nicer than any public school cafeteria I've ever been in, they don't even call it a cafeteria. They call it the Dining Hall. I'm very excited to get this position. I'm looking forward to a new adventure... with no espresso in it.