freckles make me strong.
Month
(via thoughtsdetained)
Howard Zinn RIP
One woman wrote to me and said, ‘We are strained but hopeful, struggling but encouraged.’
It’s because of this spirit – this great decency and great strength – that I have never been more hopeful about America’s future than I am tonight. Despite our hardships, our union is strong. We do not give up. We do not quit. We do not allow fear or division to break our spirit. In this new decade, it’s time the American people get a government that matches their decency; that embodies their strength.
”—President Barack Obama, State of the Union Address 1/27/10www.michaellutin.com
Apparently, this is my January horoscope. The whole muddy waters bit might be more believable if it was raining.
( via rocknroll)
Sad Brad Smith - Help Yourself
From the ‘Up In The Air’ soundtrack.
The music is eloquently paired with this practically perfect movie.
What should I sing?
I have karaoke plans on Friday so I am working on a list of song possibilities. I would like to avoid the top 10 or so most sung karaoke anthems. I want something not too hard, something a little more original than Pat Benatar and something the crowd will enjoy. What should I sing?
Last Friday’s karaoke night was one for the record books. An amazing time was had by all who stayed the distance. Old friends, new friends and a largely Samoan frat can make for an unexpected evening. It was a wonderful night of comradery, with what seemed to be the whole neighborhood singing 90’s power ballads at the top of their lungs.
At the beginning of the evening, I did Sheryl Crow’s Everyday is a Winding Road. Then Matt and I tried to take a blog viewer’s suggestion and do Gangsta’s Paradise. We even had a back up dancer lined up but the dj couldn’t find the song. We went with 500 miles instead which was a bunch of fun. Thanks to everyone for your song suggestions, to Kona Kitchen for a wonderful night and to the frat kid who had the birthday, your friends are super great!
According to itunes I have downloaded enough podcasts that I could listen to This Amercian Life for 1.8 days. There are much worse things.
I have karaoke plans on Friday so I am working on a list of song possibilities. I would like to avoid the top 10 or so most sung karaoke anthems. I want something not too hard, something a little more original than Pat Benatar and something the crowd will enjoy. What should I sing?
4 servings
Prep: 5 min
Cook: 20 min
Total: 25 min
Ingredients
• 1 package, 5 to 7 ounces, white and wild rice (recommended: Uncle Ben’s or Near East brands) cooked to package directions – either chicken or herb flavors are fine
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan
• Salt and pepper
• 4 pieces, 8 ounces each, boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, eyeball it
• 1/4 cup water, eyeball it
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon leaves, plus extra for garnish
• 1/2 cup heavy cream, half-and-half or 1/3 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup, 1 (2-ounce) package chopped walnuts, available on baking aisle, toasted
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves
• Edible flowers (available in produce section with herbs) for garnish
Directions
Cook rice according to package directions.
Preheat extra-virgin olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Brown and cook chicken, 5 minutes on each side. Remove chicken to a plate and cover. Reduce heat a bit. Add vinegar and water, scrape up pan drippings. Stir in tomato paste, cream, half-and-half or sour cream and tarragon. Remove from heat.
Toss nuts and parsley with cooked rice. Slice chicken on an angle and arrange on a bed of rice. Top with sauce and serve. Garnish plate with edible flowers and tarragon.
This is a good recipe that tastes like it is a lot more effort than it actually is. I made this for Matt and Kerry a long time ago and I am making it again tonight. Delish!
ecklandacres:
There has been a request for the Lefse recipe and my dad has obliged. The key, I’m told, to keeping them tender is to not add the flour until the next day and not to add too much flour when rolling them out “so tin”. Best of luck!
Lefse
Yield 18 lefse
4 cups potatoes riced (or mashed)
¼ cup butter (or margarine)
½ cup heavy cream (DON’T WHIP)
2 Tblsp. White sugar
1 tsp. salt
Drain spuds well (6-8), Put spuds through ricer, stir in butter, cream, salt and sugar with spoon.
Cover with plastic wrap & leave on counter overnight.
NEXT DAY:
Stir in 1 cups flour with spoon until well blended. Knead it for a bit and make a log and cut into ¼ to ½ cup chunks. Roll out using a stockinette covered, flour sprinkled rolling pin until very thin and round on flour sprinkled pastry cloth. Cook on hot griddle about one minute on each side.
345 calories per serving.
Apparently, we are giving away the family secrets.