Lentils Lentils Lentils

Last night, we ate more lentils.  This has become quite the obsession, but I think we’ll be taking a bit of a break–not long, maybe just a week or so.  I think I just heard a faint “thank you” from my colon. 

We had the Lentil Burger recipe, again from 101cookbooks.  I’m now her biggest fan.  I actually made these twice over the weekend.  Once for 7 or 8 folks who joined us for dinner on Friday night and once for just David and I yesterday.  Just a warning–this was not really enough for that big of a crowd.  I ended up making them much thinner than the recipe called for and compensating with three sauce options, a big salad and two oven-fulls of fries.  The way these folks raved about those oven-fries–honestly, they’re just potatoes with olive oil,and what I like to call “the poverty spices”: onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. 

If you make these burgers, I think you’ll appreciate how cohesive they are.  Often, veggieburgers are sort of crumbly, but I think since these are blended up a bit and fairly moist, they stick together very well and I had no trouble turning them.  Not sure how they’d hold up on an actual grill, though. 

Now I’m going to abruptly change the subject to something that’s been getting on my nerves.  My niece won’t speak to me. 

My sister and mother maintain that she talks ALL THE TIME and that she repeats EVERYTHING THEY SAY, etc, etc…  Then they say, Ellie, do you want to talk to your Aunt Jilly?  And she reaches out for the phone and I am saying hi and asking her what she’s doing and telling her I love her and popping blood vessels in my eyes with my excitement and high pitched talk-to-baby voice and all I hear in the background is my sister saying “Aww, Jill, she kissed the phone!” or, “She’s pointing to Elmo! She’s showing you Elmo!”  And then they take the phone back and I am defeated.  Again. 

This is driving me crazy!  Why is she so SILENT??  I think we’ll need to employ a webcam since she insists on only miming at me. But would my sister use it, or would I just be at my computer staring into blackness? 

Carrie?

Lentils, revisited

Thursdays may now officially be Lentil Night at our house.  Last night, I used another recipe from one of my favorite cooking sites 101 cookbooks.  This time for lentil almond stir fry.  Now, stir fry implies something very different from what this meal actually turned out to be, but it was a huge winner nonetheless and we both loved it. 

The changes I made:

Kroger didn’t have any “marble sized purple potatoes” (I know you’re shocked at this news), so I just used smallish redskin potatoes and cut them into bite sized pieces.  We have no Trader Joe’s here (sigh), so I just used the dry green lentils.  I’m interested in trying out different colored lentils, though because I think they’d look more appetizing.  Also, instead of the yogurt-mint sauce, I used goat cheese and added the juice of 1 1/2 lemons, chopped up mint leaves, s&p, and a splash of olive oil.  It was more of a dip consistency and, come to think of it, would make a really good and easy dip or spread for crostini or something.  You know, at your next cocktail party. 

I also forgot to add the almonds.  Oops!

Some notes about this dish: It’s not very pretty.  Also, when exactly did my tastebuds do a complete 180 degree turn regarding brussels sprouts and dates?  I hated brussels sprouts with a passion as a kid–even the smell made my stomach lurch.  Now I can’t get enough of them.  And Dates!  Hello!  I was (and am) such a sugar fiend–how did I not realize that they are essentially CANDY??  Kids are so stupid, no? 

Anyway, so the lentil obsession continues.  More to come.

First things first

Whenever we move, one of the first things we do is go out and get a new shower head.  Isn’t that strange?  But it’s true–we’ve replaced the shower head at almost every apartment we’ve had.  At this house, the old shower head sort of pummelled me with a single stream of water, so I had to turn back and forth to rinse out my hair and I was afraid when washing my face that the pressure would pop my eye right out of its socket.  An uncomfortable shower is a terrible way to start your day. 

So, last night, we got a new one.  It’s a Waterpik EcoRain and this morning, I tried it out and I really enjoyed it.  It looks a lot like other more expensive shower heads, but we got it at Wal-Mart (I know–Home Depot was closed) for less than $30.  Our favorite thing is that it has a push-button to switch between the two modes (all over “rain” or a more concentrated stream), which we were excited about because all that turning of the showerhead this way and that at 6:30 in the morning means that you just end up keeping the same mode all the time, even though you’ve paid for a head with 14 settings.  This one is so easy to switch that this morning, I changed to the more concentrated setting to rinse out my shampoo and then back again for everything else and there was no cursing involved.  Anyway, I think I may have just reviewed a shower head, so that was strange.

Lentils are the new black bean.

David and I experienced two Significant Dried Bean Failures in 2009, involving beans that boiled and boiled, but never softened (even after 14 hours of soaking and 5 hours of boiling).  Never again, my friends, for I have discovered the Silver Bullet of the legume world. 

Lentils. 

They have all the meaty goodnes of regular beans, but they cook in 20 minutes.  All other beans are now dead to me and I am forever devoted to the lentil. 

I made this lentil soup/stew as our last homecooked meal in our old house and my oh my, it was exactly what we needed.  I whipped up a little cumin/turmeric/cayenne pepper yogurt sauce to go on top and I’m now drooling over the memories.  So good, people.  Make this.  I used Kale for my greens, because the supermarket was fresh out of fresh hardy greens, so I bought a bag of Glory’s and still have a ton left over.  I have no styled pictures of this soup, as it is rustic and I was ravenous, but trust me, it was a thing of beauty.  Here it is all ready to go:

Also, for those of you who are concerned about my knitting, yes, I’ve been knitting (a very little bit) and am currently working on a blanket for my future offspring (refresher from last week: I’m crazy) and a shawl for me (Breaking news: I’m apparently old, too). No pictures because one is in the car–brrr–and one is….in a box somewhere. Or maybe taped inside of my nightstand.

Update on gypsy-like living situation: we moved last weekend and hope to never ever move again for the rest of our lives. Also, Donnie and David should be commended for their feats of strength.

Some things I’ve been thinking about

Although I have many Matters of High Importance to attend to right now (T minus 36 hours till the big move, by the by), I have found myself unreasonably obsessed with Matters of Little to No Importance.  I like to think this is normal.  I mean, there’s really nothing I can do about the move at the moment (because I’m at work, please don’t tell.), and anyway, who wants to obsess about packing and unpacking? STRESS! and also GUILT!  So instead, I’m thinking about the following:

1. Lentils.

 I enjoy them, but have never made them.  This will have to be addressed, and soon.  I found a recipe, read its reviews and comments, and am prepared to begin, but when??  Thursday, that’s when.  I have also been taken by a lesser interest in poached eggs and may make one to gently arrange on top of my lentil stew.  Is this disgusting?  This may be disgusting.

 2.  Pride for confidently wearing skinny jeans

        I cannot stop mentally patting myself on the back for this.  I have not only purchased a pair of skinny jeans (Divas from Old Navy), but have worn them and received compliments which I feel were most likely genuine.  I thought that this would be impossible (because I, unlike my new jeans, am not skinny), but I’ve managed to do it.  Good for me.

3.  My new candle

        Everyone else in my office has good-smelling candles that they burn (I know, fire hazard, much?) in their offices to make things seem more homey around here.  I kept forgetting to bring one in, so while I was out to lunch the other day, I bought one.  The scent is eucalyptus infusion and it smells a lot like vicks vap-o-rub.  I think it’s wonderfully calming, but I am being neurotic and not lighting it because I’m worried that other people in the office will think it stinks and then say things behind my back (*gag sounds* “What is that SMELL!? It smells like my grandma’s house!!). So instead, I stick my nose in it and inhale every 7 minutes or so, which is probably more likely to cause the coworkers to talk.  Why am I so insecure about this candle?

4.  Baby stuff

        David and I are pretty sure that we’ll be trying to get pregnant later this year and I am suddenly psychotic.  I have already decided on cloth diaper brands/methods, acceptable baby sling and carrier brands, a stroller, a crib, a rocking chair, crafts/knitting projects, parenting methods, preferred toys, baby food recipes, hand-me-downs my sister might give me, and possible birth locations and preferences.  Hello, my name is Jillian and I’m going to be One of Those Parents.

5.  Upcoming 5^th Wedding Anniversary

        Traditional Gift: Wood (I know).  I typically like to go with the traditional gift, so I’m thinking we could spend a long weekend in a cabin somewhere (a log cabin).  Possibly even a cabin in the woods, to really drive home the theme.  This is a departure for me, but I find myself oddly drawn to some sort of rustic vacation for this anniversary.  No tv, no computers, just….I don’t know, what’s in the woods?  Nature, I guess.  Hm. 

Please leave comments that reassure me that I’m not actually crazy.

New prints for the New House

We are slowly moving our stuff to the new house. Hopefully, by next weekend, all we’ll have left is furniture, so moving should go quickly and then we can move on to the pizza and beer portion of Moving Day. Pizza and beer are essential if you are moving. It’s like the light at the end of the tunnel for everyone. Also, it helps people to forget the blood sweat and tears associated with moving so that they will help you again the next time you move.

Speaking of moving, we bought a few prints from Etsy for the new house! You honestly cannot get a better deal anywhere else for quirky, unique artwork.  Here is my advice for searching for prints on etsy: just go with what you like.  I was an art student in college and can sometimes get so hung up on technique and meaning that I stop actually enjoying the artwork, which is a real shame.  So, last night, I just clicked “add to cart” whenever something struck my fancy, and this is what we ended up with:

It’s Dolly Parton!!  To David, Dolly is every bit as magical as unicorns, rainbows, and Gandalf combined.  This is no exaggeration.  To me, she seems like such a nice lady, so I’m happy to have her picture on the wall.  (Aside: It’s her birthday today!  Happy birthday Ms. Dolly!)

Of course, a bike.  David rides daily and I’m surprised how much The Bicycle has infiltrated our lives.  I don’t mind, though.

And finally,

This is a smallish letterpress print called Garden that I immediately liked.  On a related note, we’ve already chosen a place for a modest kitchen garden in the backyard of the new house!

indulging

So, we’re moving.  Again.

This will be our 7th move in less than 5 years.  We had really hoped that we would be able to stay in this apartment, but so many things have happened to make that impossible, so here we go again.  But, truthfully, I like moving.  I enjoy seeing all my stuff in a new place.  Rearranging furniture. Making all those little decisions that mark this new place as mine.  Where to put the silverware, which wall the bookcase will go in, whether to arrange the books by color, size or title.  I could go on…

As a kid, we moved around a lot, so I guess it’s not as jarring for me as it might be for other folks.

So, since we haven’t actually started packing yet (what? we still have two weeks!), we sit around and think about the new place.  And our furnace is broken (see what I mean about it being impossible to stay here?), so these decisions have been accompanied by lots of hot chocolate and black coffee.  I’ve also been indulging in individual helpings of whipped cream with a dash of cinnamon.  Do other people bother to make a single serving of whipped cream?  It is so totally worth it.

A few of my favorite things

Here I am! Coming out of the holidays is sort of a process for me. There’s the unpacking, the putting away of new stuff, the taking down of the Christmas tree, the house guests, the big party, the resolutions, and then there’s finally just…quiet.

So, last year, most of my resolutions revolved around crafty stuff, and I’m proud to say that all of the things on that list have either been accomplished or no longer matter to me. So, I would call that a success. This year, I only have two resolutions:
1. Start drinking my coffee black. I think this is the most impressive possible way to take your coffee and, as Raven’s husband, Donnie has pointed out to me, makes people more inclined to pour you a cup.
2. Learn to sew without cursing. I think a new machine will be vital to the success of this resolution.

Anyway, Christmas and New Year’s were lovely and, not to sound materialistic or anything, but I got some great stuff. So here are a few of my favorite things from Christmas!

The swift.  This has basically changed my life, Internet.  It has made all my loopy hanks of yarn into lovely, decorative, stackable “yarn cakes”… observe:

Glorious.  Here’s some other favorites:

A vintage martini set from our overly generous neighbor, Shannon

malabrigo sock yarn and my newest project, a hipster scarf.

A new little camera to spare you from the blurry iphone pics

Hope you are having a peaceful new year!

Around the House

Well, today is my last day of work until after Christmas, AND it’s supposed to snow two inches tonight, so if I’m not feeling more festive by tomorrow morning, I suppose there’s no hope for me this year. 

Let’s look at some scenes from around the house, shall we? (Please forgive the dark pictures–the solstice is coming, so the days will be getting longer soon, thank goodness!)

Our clear Christmas tree. This year, I really wanted to add some natural elements–I was thinking pinecones or acorns, or birds or something. Maybe next year. As always, I think our tree is beautiful and magical.

The gift pile. Most of the ends have now been woven in, and the only knitting I have left is one glove and two sleeves. And yes, that wine is absolutely necessary. We have now moved on to blocking.

Obviously, these are the hats blocking. Blocking (for non-knitters) is when you wash your finished project and then lay it out to dry in the shape you want it to be. It does wonders for the texture of your knitting–everything smooths out and becomes much softer and drapier. To block the many hats I’ve made over the past months, I used balloons set in coffee mugs, so that they would be nice and round, like the heads they will soon be warming, and so that they would dry a bit faster, since the air could circulate all around. This worked really well.

Although they did look a little creepy the next morning.

We need a little Christmas

Christmas is next week.  Next week.  N e x t.  W e e k.  Oh my.

Well, all those unfinished objects from last week are slowly but surely becoming finished projects.  David and I have decorated the house and listened to carols and bought gifts for eachother and watched Christmas specials and enjoyed egg nog etc. etc. etc. But for some reason, no matter what I do, I just can’t get caught up in that holiday mood yet.  There has been some added stress this year, what with the extra job and the general job-hating that’s been going on (luckily, I can see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel for that one), but really, is that a good reason? 

We’re going to my parents’ house for Christmas this year, so I’m hoping that being home, seeing all the decorations of my childhood (what is left of them anyway, many have gone the way of my favorite Ms. Green Pompon Head ornament, may she rest in peace), watching White Christmas with my dad, and eating my mom’s food will bring back that festive feeling.  We shall see. 

So, about new knitting.  Well, the pile of knitted Christmas stuff is growing at an alarming rate, and that is because I like the knitting more than I like the finishing, so I continue to merrily cast on for new stuff and ignore all those unwoven ends and unblocked garments.  Hence, a hat for our neighbor, Shannon.

Isn’t that cute? Can you tell those are owls?  The pattern is called Who? and I’m too lazy to link to it. I used a tiny bit of my leftover applewood malabrigo and nearly 1 skein of brown Lamb’s Pride Worsted. I finished this last night and wove in all the ends, and then I sloppily (I did mention the eggnog, right? ahem) embroidered on some owl eyes.  Here’s where we begin with the cheesy-ness: I embroidered blue eyes for David, brown-orange eyes for me, and then skipped 5  owls (to represent the 5 houses between us) and did green eyes for Shannon!!!!  I’m so happy about this, I can’t even tell you.  Maybe that’s all it takes to get into the Christmas spirit.  Owl eyes.