convoluted confusion

I've made the leap

2008-07-25T12:52:00.001-07:00

You can find me at: http://convolutedconfusion.wordpress.com/

Update your bookmarks.

You can read old stuff both here and there, though I'll likely delete this blog eventually.

iPhone + wordpress = awesomeness. hopefully, you'll get a lot more from me and see more too (yay iPhone camera). I think I'm also going to stick with the food theme. I've found my niche.

Sometimes my brother really is just a dude.

2008-07-25T09:24:00.000-07:00

This is one of 5 bananas (and this one looks the best) that were purchased LAST NIGHT. *shakes head* Men, I tell ya.

I never win anything.

2008-07-21T16:56:00.000-07:00

But I DID win a cook book from my previous mentioned favorite food blog.

Go me.

So very tired after a long weekend, in which I didn't accomplish the one thing I was going to do (namely: pick up a bike from a friend), but it was a whirlwind of fun and fraternity. Pictures fortcoming. In the meantime, time to kill the last 30 minutes of my work day so I can go home and get in bed.

Interacting with the real world

2008-07-16T11:35:00.001-07:00

I know I've missed the past few days, but I've been busy with the *real world.* Last night, I had an actual-to-goodness date. We met up at the Tap Room in Pacific Beach, and I was very good by only ordering one beer. (Hey man, it was a Tuesday night and already 8:30 or so by the time we met up. I've mostly got my priorities in order.) It was good as first dates go... awkward silences at all ... and I'm sure we'll go out again. Here's to getting out there. (PS - We shared a DELICIOUS pizza with fresh mozarella, roasted garlic, basil and tomoatoes. The Slice keeps putting photos of NY pizzas up and I had a SERIOUS craving.)

Tonight, I'm headed to see Eric Hutchinson at the Scripps Aquarium in La Jolla. If you don't know who he is (and many don't apparently, because I keep getting "who is that?" asked when I share my excitement) check him out. And if I'm being forced to compare, I would liken him with Jack Johnson + Jason Mraz.

That's all from the peanut gallery. We'll see what kind of food I experience tonight.

Babies, Babies, Everywhere.

2008-07-12T20:00:00.000-07:00

Today was my friend's baby shower. (At a REEEEEDICULOUS house in Encinitas, literally ON the ocean -- see photo).

We ate:
Sun tried tomato tortellini with a cream sauce.
Angel hair pasta with pesto and LOTS of pine nuts.
Mozorella, basil and proscuitto pinwheels
Fizzy drinks (no booze, boo!)
Fresh pineapple and mango
Deliciously yummy chocolate chocolate cake.

I went home and napped afterward.

Happy Birthday Hannah

2008-07-11T23:00:00.000-07:00

Today was a day about drinking. At my friend Hannah's birthday party. Yay!

This picture took place inside an ambulance. Don't ask.

Another day, another day of meals

2008-07-10T16:53:00.001-07:00

Today was kind of a "cheat" day (women, you know what I'm talking about...) being that is was a pseudo-vacation day. We had a staff retreat at a nearby beach in Encinitas (thank god for Southern California) and I was one of the lucky people to secure our plot of sand early this morning (8am). Since staff wasn't actually going to be on-site until nearly noon, I had some time to kill. My co-worker guarded our stuff and recommended a neighborhood cafe up the street for some breakfast. It ended up being a very good recommendation (as recommendations should always be -- unless its a recommendation NOT to do something). I got a fresh yogurt parfait (as in they made it an hour earlier, not unpacked it from the refrigerated box) and a yummy "Baja" latte (coconut, almond and cinnamon). I consumed my wares while attempting to complete the NY crossword puzzle (I'm worthless past Tuesday) and watched the ocean. Not a bad way to start the morning.

Lunch was catered with your standard beach food fare. Pasta and fruit salad, all the fixings for sandwiches, potato chips and soda. I could have gone for a cold beer, but it's a work event, so what can one expect?

And to end the evening, I kept it simple. I grilled up some polenta, grated some fresh parmesan cheese over it and ate it right up. That I have pictures of. Though it's not really exciting since it's just a bunch of shiny circles with yellow cheese on top. Perhaps I should work on my presentation. BUt when you're cooking for yourself, does it really matter? :)

Back on track... but with zero energy

2008-07-09T19:17:00.000-07:00

I think last weekend took it out of me more than I'm willing to give credit. Either that, or I have a case of the Incredibly Lazies. It really could be either. Tonight, I'm feeling worthless, I'm sick of doing dishes (read: washing my pots and pans and rice cooker), so I'm being lazy tonight for dinner and going to a great stand-by: Trader Joe's frozen foods. (Seriously, folks, TJs has some of the best frozen dinners, etc.) It's hard to believe that the frozen cube of soup (of which I cannot find a picture, and for which I am too lazy to take myself) will turn into this:

Well, maybe not EXACTLY like that, but it sure tastes like it. And of course, I have some yummy sourdough to toast to dip, dip, dip away, so all in all, it should still be a delicious meal. Though, I'm sure I'm going to regret eating hot soup on a warm summer's evening. Dumb dumb dumb.

Oh well. It has CHEESE. YUM.

Monday Monday

2008-07-09T12:32:00.001-07:00

Breakfast is a meal I can eat any time of the day. Whether it be cereal, french toast, BACON, eggs, hash browns... I'll take any of it.

Tonight, I made a fried egg sandwhich that always makes me think of an ex-boyfriend from college (being that he was the one who first made it for me.) It's very simple and delicious.

2 slices of (good) sourdough bread. (Which kind do you think I used? Why, Boudin, of course!)
2 eggs, slightly scrambled. Just enough to break the yolks up. (I'm an over-medium gal myself.)
Mayo
Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded for maximum melting capabilities

PS - yes, I am a post-dating bastard. These were all written in my mind, just hadn't had time to put them to the internet yet. Hope you don't mind. Back on track for the 9ths post. yay me.

My pantry is the devil

2008-07-07T12:23:00.000-07:00

I don't keep sweets in my house for a reason: I have ZERO self-control and I'd like to stay skinny through my 30s. :)

Lo and behold! I discovered 6 ounces of 70% dark chocolate in the pantry. All I need now is butter, eggs, sugar and a bit of flour and voila! Molten Chocolate Cakes. UM. YUM.

Here's the recipe. It's retardedly easy to make.
adapted from Bon Appetit (1999)

INGREDIENTS
6 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1 tablespoon brandy (optional)
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
5 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon all purpose flour

PREPARATION
Generously butter four 3/4-cup soufflé dishes or custard cups. Arrange on baking sheet. Stir chocolate and butter in heavy small saucepan over low heat until smooth. Remove from heat; stir in brandy. Cool 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Using electric mixer, beat eggs, yolks, and sugar in medium bowl until very thick ribbon falls when beaters are lifted (it'll be light yellow and thick), about 8 minutes. Sift flour over batter; fold in flour. Fold in chocolate mixture 1/3 at a time. Divide batter among dishes, filling completely. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover loosely; refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before baking.)

Preheat oven to 425°F. Bake cakes until tops are puffed and dry and tester inserted into center comes out with moist batter still attached, about 13 minutes. Cool cakes 5 minutes. (Or if you're impatient like me, dig in immediately after scooping vanilla ice cream on top.)

Enjoy some food porn:

Recovery from the 4th

2008-07-06T12:17:00.000-07:00

Trying to recall what I consumed drinkwise on the 4th was easy enough (beer, beer, and more beer), but trying to recall what I ate was a different story. I know midday there was Roundtable pizza. I don't think there was much after that.

I would have liked to eat a bunch of good ol' fashioned BBQ. Perhaps it's time to invest in my own grill. In any case, no other talk of food today. here's a photo from 4th shenanigans. I've got some work training to do on my computer today, so I'm outta here.

What the hell to do with radishes, part II

2008-07-05T12:12:00.000-07:00

I dare you to search for radish recipes. Because all the recipes I was able to find fit into one of three categories.
1. Sauces
2. Raw for dipping
3. Roasting <-- the one I chose

I roasted up my bunches of radishes (simple olive oil, salt, pepper and a bit of rosemary) in a glass pan for 30 minutes at 400 degrees. Note to self: less salt. I also brined two breasts of chicken (1 part water to 1 part vinegar + 1 bay leaf and some more rosemary) and grilled them up to accompany my radishes. Quite a lovely supper if I do say so myself.

What the hell can I do with radishes?

2008-07-04T12:10:00.000-07:00

Bunches of radishes were on sale for $1 for 3 bunches. Who am I to pass up such a deal? Now... what to do with them is the question.

Spinach & Risotto With Goat Cheese

2008-07-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

As I put on the comments of this recipe from my favorite foodie blog, "You had me at goat cheese."

I saw this recipe a few weeks (months? time seems to be flying as of late) ago and had planned on making it for dinner tonight, but after my cooking class was cancelled, plans to go to dinner quickly fell apart. (My pregnant friend was beat and ready to go home.) Instead of heading to the gym, I went to my local farmer's market and got my wares. Recipe for the fabulousness after the experience.

First off, I'm a fan of cooking food I don't have to babysit. Risotto is not such a food. I was barely able to pour myself a glass of wine during the intensive stirring process (1/2 bottle for me, 1/2 bottle for the recipe), because stirring CONSTANTLY is really the key.

Round 1:
Because I am impatient, after I ladled the last bit of stock, I stirred long enough to get rid of most of the liquid and readied my bowl. Decent... on the brink of mind blowing, but not quite there.

Round 2:
The yellow stuff you see on top of the goat cheese is Parmesan cheese. (Because what's better than cheese? More cheese.) And, while eating my first bowl, the rest of the liquid was soaked up. Yum. Mind-blowing? We have arrived.

Changes: For the first time, I didn't pretty good. I didn't wait long enough for the onions to get truly soft (again, I'm impatient) and I could have seasoned a bit more, in my opinion. I also would have liked more garlic (as with cheese, what's better than garlic is more garlic.) :) Anywho. Enjoy the recipe.

Spinach Risotto with Goat Cheese
- serves 4 -
Adapted from Cook with Jamie by Jamie Oliver.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 tablespoon butter
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 cups Arborio rice
3/4 cup white wine
4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
nutmeg, for grating
5 oz spinach, washed and dried
2 handfuls Parmesan cheese
1/2 lemon
4 oz soft goat cheese

Procedure
1. In a heavy saucepan, heat the olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter over gentle heat until the butter melts. Add the onion and a clove of garlic and cook gentle until soft and sweet but not browned, 10 minutes.

2. In the meantime, melt a tablespoon of butter in a saucepan with a splash of olive oil, a good grating of nutmeg, and the second clove of garlic. When the butter has melted, add the spinach and cook until wilted down and intense, about 5 minutes. Allow to cool and puree in a food processor or chop by hand.

3. Add the rice to the onion and raise the heat to medium-high; toast, stirring constantly, until the rice begins to look translucent. Add the wine, stirring, until absorbed, then ladle in some stock. Continue adding stock to the rice little-by-little, stirring continually, until the rice loses any chalkiness and tastes smooth. Salt as necessary.

4. Turn off the heat and add the remaining butter, Parmesan, and the spinach mixture. Stir to incorporate well. Serve with a little goat cheese crumbled on top.

Color me pissed off

2008-07-02T16:01:00.000-07:00

Damn you Sur La Table!

My class was cancelled due to low registration. When I signed up for the class, there were 17 spots remaining and when they called to cancel today, there were only 10. What exactly warrants enough people for a cooking class? 2 people seems like enough to me. Just do the math: 2 people times $70 a piece. I mean, come on! It costs LESS to feed us a good meal at Ruth's Chris. I, of course, exclude booze in this equation because this cooking class did not include booze. Stupid people. That's their fatal error! Maybe they'd have more people interested in attending their classes if they did. I am a genius.

In any case, tonight's menu will not include the delicious fare previously mentioned. I am however, keeping my dinner plans with the co-worker I was taking the class with and it will be delicious and wonderful. I'll still be sure to take photos of the meal I eat tonight. (And every subsequent meal or food related item for the next month.)

Let the food blogging begin!

2008-07-01T16:55:00.000-07:00

Today marks July 1st -- and my wonderment of how fast time is flying -- and my first food blog. Well, actually not my first, because I've spouted about the love that I have for Boudin Bakery. More than once. But what I'm most excited about food-wise is my cooking class tomorrow night at Sur La Table. (tomorrow I'll have photos)

The class theme
An Evening Under the Stars

The menu
Tomato Rubbed Grilled Flat Bread Topped with Manchego Cheese
Grilled Peach, Prosciutto and Arugula Salad
Grilled Rosemary Dijon Lamb Chops
Haricot Vert and Roasted Potato Salad
Individual Blackberry Cobblers with Cinnamon Biscuit and Honey Ice Cream

Can we say FREAKING YUM?! I guess the "diet" can wait another week. ;)

shedding some baggage

2008-06-30T14:42:00.000-07:00

I'm finally getting my scooter back from my ex.
Maybe I'll get the money he owes me too.
If not, it doesn't really matter. I'm done.

There's nothing more I can do to help him and there's nothing he's willing to do to help himself. It's hard to see someone you care about hate themselves so much and impossible to sit around and wait for the final demise. I hope he finds some peace in his life. Before it's too late.

NaBloPoMo for July

2008-06-27T10:42:00.000-07:00

So, I received an email notification about NaBloPoMo's theme for July.

FOOD!!!!

I'm a pretty avid reader of many food blogs (Serious Eats is among my favorites) and I love to cook (and eat) so I think this may be my month to shine! I'm excited to share food related tidbits for the month of July.

I also find it TOTALLY appropriate that I'm taking a cooking class at Sur La Table on July 2nd!Let the foodie blog begin!

In other news, my 2 windows and slider are being replaced today. I very much look forward to keeping cool during the summer, keeping warm during the winter and not hearing the high school kids as they walk to and from school throughout the day. :) I am also looking forward to keeping a weekend for Me Me Me-- as my brother is gone on a road trip to Oregon and I have the place to myself. Hermitness commences.

farewell dear friend

2008-06-25T16:46:00.000-07:00

I was rearranging last night -- like I do quite often -- and found my brother's hamster under the couch. Dead. However, this farewell is not about Derby (the hamster's name), but I thought it would serve as a preface to the true loss I've experienced; namely, my work laptop.

This is FAR worse than the time all my settings were "mysteriously" changed. What sucks even more is that it was my wireless keyboard that caused the abrupt blue screen of death and the loss of everything I (secretly) save on my desktop.

Goodbye to the following:
- all the files for my entire graphic design website. FUUUUUUUUUUCK.
- Photos from the past 3 months travels -- thank god for Facebook/MySpace, so at least they are slightly salvageable. (Though, having the photos in 72 DPI resolution just makes me more angry. If you don't understand that statement, don't worry. If you do, you feel me.)
- 5 recently-purchased albums from iTunes. I'm hoping I can finagle a re-download from Apple, but knowing their bastardly policies, I'm SOL.
- and an assortment of other things I've probably forgotten, but will no doubt notice I'm missing over the next few weeks.

*tear* anyway. I continue to truck on. I've just spent the past two days getting a loner laptop up to par, but have hit road blocks along the way, making me curse our seriously lacking IS department. Oh well.

Ultimately, this is the point: Back your shit up, people!

Police Magnet

2008-06-23T09:50:00.000-07:00

I've had two weekends in a row that have involved interaction with an officer of the law. Last weekend, I was pulled over (no worries -- I only received a warning. It's amazing how far a "Sir" at the end of every sentence can go). This weekend (last night specifically), I had to call the po-po myself.

I was sitting in bed with my window was open, the shade was drawn and I was settling in to watch some "Law & Order." (sidenote: I LOVE that one can find an episode of Law & Order anytime of day.) I heard a rustling in the dead leaves that surround the oft-forgotten back corner of our condo complex and knew something was crawling around beneath my window. Being that we've already lost one cat to a coyote and that I've seen-with-my-own-eyes a coyote in the very spot I heard the noise, I was a little reluctant to peep through the window. Imagine my suprise to see a (maybe) 12/13 year old girl crouched down in the bushes below my window. She didn't see or hear me (because I am stealthy like a cat) and so I watched her as she took a newspaper and covered one of the garden lights that surround the complex. My exhausted mind chaulked it up to Hide and Seek and I headed back to my bed. It was then I heard a HUGE crash of glass and a rustling of blinds at my neighbor's window. (Literally, 3 inches from my bedroom window.)

I didn't know if my neighbors were home and if they were now being burglarized... if the girl had taken off or what. So, I called the police and paced my house waiting for someone to arrive. At one point, I mustered up the courage to go outside (what is it with white people always wanting to know what's going on?) and didn't see any broken glass. I thought I was going crazy until the sheriff showed up at my doorstep and told me that yes, a rock was thrown into the window and that it had hit my neighbor in the HEAD while he slept. WTF. (He's fine, by the way.) I gave my statement and a description of the girl. The officer was shocked and kept repeating "You're sure it's a juveline?" I wanted to be like "Dude, I know what a kid looks like."

Anyway. Crazy night. Quite the end to an otherwise AWESOME weekend.

The best part about getting older

2008-06-20T18:32:00.001-07:00

Lower driver's insurance costs. Just a shade under $400 for the year! Woo hoo!

Ergonomics: Part II and III

2008-06-20T09:35:00.001-07:00

Read the first part to catch up. :)

A week and two doctor visits later and this is where I stand on my ergonomic dilemma.
- Doctor visit #1 on Wednesday produced not only 2 full hours at the office, but an x-ray as well. Good news! I don't have osteoarthritis. (Or anything else wrong with my right hip for that matter.)
- Automated-voice message on Thursday to remind me of my doctor's visit the following day.
- A follow-up phone call 3 hours later from The Man Himself: The Doctor. (Who knew this kind of service existed?!)
- Doctor visit #2 (this morning) produced a physical therapy appointment and another follow-up appointment next Friday.

All I asked for was an ergonomic chair. Thourough? Yes, indeed.

Chicago Doesn't Suck

2008-06-11T17:04:00.001-07:00

In fact, it's pretty awesome. Granted, the last time I was in Chi Town, I was 13 or 14, so this trip was a whole different ball game. Bars across the country should all be open until 4:00am. End of story.

busy bee

2008-06-02T16:05:00.000-07:00

apparently, the summer season is in full swing because my weekends have been packed and my work weeks have been crazy. I've got four work functions I'm doing pre-event graphic work for and the schedule is more wham-bam-thank-you-ma'am than easy-going.

Last weekend I went to a friend's cousin's wedding in San Gabriel. It was AWESOMENESS. The groom is Chinese, so there were elements of traditional Chinese ceremonies, including a Lion Dance.

I leave for Chicago on Thursday. Going to see a another friend who just finished his 2nd year in law school and we're headed to see Mark Farina play at SmartBar. So beyond stoked to get my dance on as there aren't many house clubs in San Marcos. (Sidenote: I did discover that my local Acapulco is THE spot for the chicano population on Friday nights. All I can say is, "Wow.")

I should have some fun shots from Chi town. I'll try to be better about my photo a day -- which I seriously want to do dammitt!!! I'm just a little busy bee right now with little time for photos. June is a new month, though, so hopefully I'll have great things to show you.

wisdom

2008-05-19T10:20:00.001-07:00

teeth. Found these when I was going through a bin on old cards, letters and such. I think I'll keep them even though they're slightly creepy. Make them into earrings perhaps?

PS - I had these removed when I was 17. So over 10 years ago, now.