Wednesday, March 11, 2009
The Day Before
Haircut time tomorrow. I've reached that point where I am almost crazed with my hair...yes, that point where I almost walked into my husband's barber and had her cut it. She might have done a great job. I will never know. I go tomorrow. I think I am getting a bob. I think I will like it. Yet, time has proven that every visit to the salon is hazard by many well-laid plans, ideas and thoughts. Plans go awry. Ideas might work on her hair, but not mine. We shall see.
Meat
After four days of stomach virus, my body craved meat today. Apparently specifically in the shape of an Angus cheddar burger. After a swim, I found myself at Bear Rock Cafe in Shirlington at 10:25 a.m. ordering such a burger. It was lovely. Fresh baked, soft cheesy roll, big moist and only slightly pink-tinged meat, crisp leafy lettuce and tomato. Hold the onion for a day further away from the stomach virus. I even indulged in a cold Barqs to wash it down. Consumed by 11 am. I'm ready for the day now.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Ode to Humble Tomato Soup
Conspicuous consumption is out, according to the NY Times. Certainly this is not a surprising statement in itself, given the economic malaise and the apparent public disdain for anyone sporting an over-the-top gown at a charity function. And, even though I love to eat and eat well, I believe that we can rejoice in a return to simple foods.
This weekend I made a simple tomato soup with cheese toast and salmon cakes on the side--a homey meal that would not show up on most restaurants with cloth napkins. But, it was good. And frugal. Total cost for a meal for four: $5 (including the canned Trader Joe's salmon).
Tomato soup is deceptive. It can be an elaborate concoction with fresh tomatoes, prepared by poaching, skinning and de-seeding and calling for any number of base herbs, minute quantities of shallots and onions, cream or milk, butter and other rich coatings of the tongue. Yet, I believe these recipes mostly go astray. When tomatoes are in season and fresh, it is hot, not the time to serve a warm soup. Garden-fresh tomatoes are best eaten as they are, sliced with some salt and perhaps a sprinkling of green olive oil or balsamic.
Tomato soup is for cool days when you feel a bit down and need that extra astringent pick-up. Canned tomatoes of good quality work wonderfully well and make for fast preparation. Here is my recipe this weekend. It owes to my mother, who often made a similiar soup with or without noodles. With the younger children, I find my pureed version more accepted.
Humble Tomato Soup
This weekend I made a simple tomato soup with cheese toast and salmon cakes on the side--a homey meal that would not show up on most restaurants with cloth napkins. But, it was good. And frugal. Total cost for a meal for four: $5 (including the canned Trader Joe's salmon).
Tomato soup is deceptive. It can be an elaborate concoction with fresh tomatoes, prepared by poaching, skinning and de-seeding and calling for any number of base herbs, minute quantities of shallots and onions, cream or milk, butter and other rich coatings of the tongue. Yet, I believe these recipes mostly go astray. When tomatoes are in season and fresh, it is hot, not the time to serve a warm soup. Garden-fresh tomatoes are best eaten as they are, sliced with some salt and perhaps a sprinkling of green olive oil or balsamic.
Tomato soup is for cool days when you feel a bit down and need that extra astringent pick-up. Canned tomatoes of good quality work wonderfully well and make for fast preparation. Here is my recipe this weekend. It owes to my mother, who often made a similiar soup with or without noodles. With the younger children, I find my pureed version more accepted.
Humble Tomato Soup
- Pour 1 28 oz can of good quality diced or whole tomatoes in a 4 quart pot over medium heat.
- Add in 1 1/2 cups of either rice milk, soy milk or 2%/skim milk. Do not use whole milk or cream--these are wonderful, but not in this soup. You want a light taste. I prefer rice milk as it gives just enough richness with no additional change in flavor to the tomatoes.
- Sprinkle in 1 Tbsp or more of dill. If you have fresh dill, wonderful. If you don't, good dried dill will do.
- Heat the soup until just bubbling.
- With a immersion blender, blend in the pot until smooth. If you don't have an immersion blender, you may process in a blender and then return to the pot.
- Add in a good seasoning of salt .
- Taste and serve with broiled cheese toast and salmon cakes or add in some cooked noodles (smaller varieties or ABC-shaped for kids).
Thursday, March 5, 2009
To Miss Lizard and Other Postal Poachers
Please leave my sister's packages alone. I did not pick out these gifts for you. You might like Luna bars and the foam stickers could be amusing, but really, what will you do with the posters, books and clothes way too small for most adults outside of Asia? The color of the shirt is wrong for you. The pants will be too short. The artwork from my daughters will just be a puzzle to you, more than likely something you use to write down notes or visit the toilet. Going through someone else's mail might seem a mystery, but it really is a tragedy. Give it back. Pass it up. Let it go. Please.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Again
Everything is faster. My hyped technology-driven expectations are high and my attention span is short. Mike reminds me that we cannot truly multi-task, but that doesn't stop me from trying. Blackberries have given way to iPhones, the next level of substantive technology addiction. I had critical reading skills once and patience to write long hand (and re-write).
Forty days is a long time now. A long time to prepare for anything, we think. Too long. Surely, we don't need 40 days, 10 would be enough. My desire for immediate success makes re-starting each day challenging, humbling.
Today, I again climb out of the rut, the sameness and struggle with my inner voices and the whisperings of email to focus, focus, for just a few moments on just being, waiting, preparing.
The Wish to be Generous ALL that I serve will die, all my delights,
the flesh kindled from my flesh, garden and field,
the silent lilies standing in the woods,
the woods, the hill, the whole earth, all
will burn in man's evil, or dwindle
in its own age. Let the world bring on me
the sleep of darkness without stars, so I may know
my little light taken from me into the seed
of the beginning and the end, so I may bow
to mystery, and take my stand on the earth
like a tree in a field, passing without haste
or regret toward what will be, my life
a patient willing descent into the grass.
Forty days is a long time now. A long time to prepare for anything, we think. Too long. Surely, we don't need 40 days, 10 would be enough. My desire for immediate success makes re-starting each day challenging, humbling.
Today, I again climb out of the rut, the sameness and struggle with my inner voices and the whisperings of email to focus, focus, for just a few moments on just being, waiting, preparing.
by Wendell Berry
the flesh kindled from my flesh, garden and field,
the silent lilies standing in the woods,
the woods, the hill, the whole earth, all
will burn in man's evil, or dwindle
in its own age. Let the world bring on me
the sleep of darkness without stars, so I may know
my little light taken from me into the seed
of the beginning and the end, so I may bow
to mystery, and take my stand on the earth
like a tree in a field, passing without haste
or regret toward what will be, my life
a patient willing descent into the grass.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Snow day
N. Virginia doesn't handle snow very well...so we have a snow day today from work and school thanks to the 4 or 5 inches of snow. After suiting up the girls, we went out for some snow fun with some neighborhood friends.
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