December 13, 2009

• a few random bits

  Something I need to remember more often:

  “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember that what you now have was once among the things only hoped for.” –Epicurus

  Work has been super busy — Superman and I were on the verge of booking a dive trip to Rangiroa (in French Polynesia), but had to scrap it so that we can work if necessary. Rangiroa doesn’t have reliable electricity in many of the hotels, so we figured internet was going to be hard to come by. I was totally bummed out, but we’ll probably take a road trip if we have time, and that’s just how work is — I’m lucky it hasn’t happened like that more often. I’m just not used to it.

  I’ve gotten to do more work with clients other than my least favorite client lately, and I’ve been working on deals and projects that (in my opinion) are more valuable, so that has helped my outlook a lot. In fact, on Friday, at the end of the day (which I should note included our department lunch and a really cool new toy), Superman commented that I was very “jolly,” and asked me why. I noted the lunch and the toy, and he said that it seemed to go beyond that. I thought about it some more, and realized that it was the first work day in over a month during which I had had zero meaningful contact with my least favorite client. That’s how much they affect my mood. On days when I do have to deal with them, I become much crankier.

  What else… Our department got Goodwill to set up a bunch of bins at the office so that we could bring in stuff to donate, which was great, because I had sorted out a bunch of clothes to donate last year, but had never gotten around to bringing them to Goodwill for donation. In order to get a receipt for tax purposes, I had to itemize everything I was donating. I tallied it up, and there were 94 things. This disturbed me very much, because it was so close to 100, but it wasn’t 100. Then I realized that there were six pairs of shoes, and so I thought, “OK, if I count individual shoes, then it would be 100 things,” and that was better. But then I thought, “Wait, if I’m counting individual items, then the remote for the DVD player would be another piece, so it would be 101.” And so I was once again annoyed. So I rooted around until I found six more things to donate, so that there were 100 things, as long as you count each pair of shoes (and the DVD player plus remote) as one item. Then I went to sleep before I could find something else and throw the numbers off again. Yes, I’m lame, but at least I’m lame in the name of charity!!

  Today, Superman and I went up to the city for a cooking class, where we learned some Italian comfort food recipes and techniques. It was fun, and we liked the school enough that we’re thinking of finding a class that spans more than one day. There were eleven students at the class today, and we spent three hours making eleven dishes. The kitchen had three stoves, six ovens, tons of counter space, a seemingly unlimited supply of pots, pans, cutting boards, measuring cups and spoons, knives, bowls, and other cooking implements, and a person who washed all of our dirty stuff as soon as we dirtied it. So now I know how to make an amazing spread for a dinner party — get a professional kitchen, lots of cooks, and a person who spends the whole time washing dishes.

  And now, because I am feeling lazy and have a fun new toy to play with, I’m going to put one of my go-to recipes here, instead. I first had this when I was in Chile on a singing tour in between college and law school, in 2000. I asked for the recipe, and I make it every winter. I often double the recipe and have friends over, and freeze any leftovers in small portions for later. It’s easy, filling, and yummy — the chorizo is the key.

  Lentil Stew
  Serves 6

  List #1
  1.5 cups chopped leeks
  1.5 cups chopped carrots
  3 cloves garlic, minced
  1.5 tbsp oil

  List #2
  1.5 cups dry lentils, rinsed
  3/8 cup rice, washed
  7.5 cups broth of your choice
  11.25 oz canned tomatoes
  1.5 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
  3/4 tsp dried thyme
  3/8 tsp ground cumin
  1 bay leaf

  Other ingredients:
  1.5 cups chopped celery
  1/2 lb. sliced chorizo
  minced parsley

  Directions:

  1. Cook all ingredients on list #1 in the oil until soft
  2. Add all the ingredients on list #2, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes
  3. Add celery and simmer about 20 minutes, until lentils are tender
  4. Remove bay leaf
  5. Add chorizo (already cooked)
  6. Garnish with parsley and serve

  • 11:49 pm
  • 4 Comments