- Upholstered furniture, coffee tables, rattan furniture, bookshelves, media storage, doorknobs: Swedish place names
- Beds, wardrobes, hall furniture: Norwegian place names
- Dining tables and chairs: Finnish place names
- Bookcase ranges: Occupations
- Bathroom articles: Scandinavian lakes, rivers and bays
- Kitchens: grammatical terms, sometimes also other names
- Chairs, desks: men's names
- Materials, curtains: women's names
- Garden furniture: Swedish islands
- Carpets: Danish place names
- Lighting: terms from music, chemistry, meteorology, measures, weights, seasons, months, days, boats, nautical terms
- Bedlinen, bed covers, pillows/cushions: flowers, plants, precious stones; words related to sleep, comfort, and cuddling
- Children's items: mammals, birds, adjectives
- Curtain accessories: mathematical and geometrical terms
- Kitchen utensils: foreign words, spices, herbs, fish, mushrooms, fruits or berries, functional descriptions
- Boxes, wall decoration, pictures and frames, clocks: colloquial expressions, also Swedish placenames
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Method to the "Madness"
You know all those "strange" names for the merchandise at IKEA? Apparently there is a system to choosing the names for everything. See below...
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Frustrations with Comcast
Great article from the Washington Post today. Totally describes how I'm sure many of us in this area feel about Comcast. In May I was close to acting like the subject of the article, but I resisted the urge. Just because I hate Comcast, doesn't mean I like Verizon either. I really have nothing good to say about either of them.
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Annoying phone calls
Recently I seem to be getting a lot of phone calls from random people that I don't know. Some calls actually show up on the caller ID with a person's name and some show up as "unknown." They never leave a message. I usually don't answer the phone if I don't know who it is, but I am always curious as to who they might be. I have learned that you can Google phone numbers, but that doesn't always show something. Today while Googling a phone number I found a pretty cool website called 800Notes: Directory of Unknown Callers. You can search for phone numbers and see if other people have commented about it, as well as make comments yourself. Check it out!
Friday, August 03, 2007
With all due respect and deference, tequila is my preference
Last week I went to a Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers concert at the State Theatre. As usual the show was excellent, but the best part was actually during the opening band. The Cheaters from
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Quiz Answers
Sorry for the long wait! Got a little sidetracked on vacation for the past few weeks. Haven't been around a computer much. Anyway, here are the questions (repeated) and answers to the quiz I posted a few weeks ago.
1. Name the one sport in which neither the spectators nor the participants know the score or the leader until the contest ends.
Boxing.
2. What famous North American landmark is constantly moving backward?
Niagara Falls. The rim is worn down about two and a half feet each year because of the millions of gallons of water that rush over it every minute.
3. Of all vegetables, only two can live to produce on their own for several growing seasons. All other vegetables must be replanted every year. What are the only two perennial vegetables?
Asparagus and rhubarb.
4. What fruit has its seeds on the outside?
Strawberry.
5. In many liquor stores, you can buy pear brandy, with a real pear inside the bottle. The pear is whole and ripe, and the bottle is genuine; it hasn't been cut in any way. How did the pear get inside the bottle?
It grew inside the bottle. The bottles are placed over pear buds when they are small, and are wired in place on the tree. The bottle is left in place for the entire growing season. When the pears are ripe, they are snipped off at the stems.
6. Only three words in standard English begin with the letters "dw" and they are all common words. Name two of them.
Dwarf, dwell and dwindle.
7. There are 14 punctuation marks in English grammar. Can you name at least half of them?
Fourteen punctuation marks in English grammar… period, comma, colon, semicolon, dash, hyphen, apostrophe, question mark, exclamation point, quotation marks, brackets, parenthesis, braces, and ellipses.
8. Name the only vegetable or fruit that is never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form except fresh.
Lettuce.
9. Name 6 or more things that you can wear on your feet beginning with the letter "S."
Shoes, socks, sandals, sneakers, slippers, skis, skates, snowshoes, stockings, stilts.
1. Name the one sport in which neither the spectators nor the participants know the score or the leader until the contest ends.
Boxing.
2. What famous North American landmark is constantly moving backward?
Niagara Falls. The rim is worn down about two and a half feet each year because of the millions of gallons of water that rush over it every minute.
3. Of all vegetables, only two can live to produce on their own for several growing seasons. All other vegetables must be replanted every year. What are the only two perennial vegetables?
Asparagus and rhubarb.
4. What fruit has its seeds on the outside?
Strawberry.
5. In many liquor stores, you can buy pear brandy, with a real pear inside the bottle. The pear is whole and ripe, and the bottle is genuine; it hasn't been cut in any way. How did the pear get inside the bottle?
It grew inside the bottle. The bottles are placed over pear buds when they are small, and are wired in place on the tree. The bottle is left in place for the entire growing season. When the pears are ripe, they are snipped off at the stems.
6. Only three words in standard English begin with the letters "dw" and they are all common words. Name two of them.
Dwarf, dwell and dwindle.
7. There are 14 punctuation marks in English grammar. Can you name at least half of them?
Fourteen punctuation marks in English grammar… period, comma, colon, semicolon, dash, hyphen, apostrophe, question mark, exclamation point, quotation marks, brackets, parenthesis, braces, and ellipses.
8. Name the only vegetable or fruit that is never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form except fresh.
Lettuce.
9. Name 6 or more things that you can wear on your feet beginning with the letter "S."
Shoes, socks, sandals, sneakers, slippers, skis, skates, snowshoes, stockings, stilts.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Goodbye Yahoo Photos! Hello Flickr!
For reasons unknown to me, the Yahoo Photos website will be "closing" in a couple. In an effort to be proactive and not lose all my pictures, I have moved everything to a new website. You will now be able to see all my photos at my Flickr photos website. Note that I have also changed the link in my links section on the right hand side of the page. I'm going on a long trip to Sweden and Norway next week, so I'll make sure to post all the pictures when I get back!
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Trivia Quiz
1. Name the one sport in which neither the spectators nor the participants know the score or the leader until the contest ends.
2. What famous North American landmark is constantly moving backward?
3. Of all vegetables, only two can live to produce on their own for several growing seasons. All other vegetables must be replanted every year. What are the only two perennial vegetables?
4. What fruit has its seeds on the outside?
5. In many liquor stores, you can buy pear brandy, with a real pear inside the bottle. The pear is whole and ripe, and the bottle is genuine; it hasn't been cut in any way. How did the pear get inside the bottle?
6. Only three words in standard English begin with the letters " dw" and they are all common words. Name two of them.
7. There are 14 punctuation marks in English grammar. Can you name at least half of them?
8. Name the only vegetable or fruit that is never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form except fresh.
9. Name 6 or more things that you can wear on your feet beginning with the letter "S."
Answers to be posted later!!
2. What famous North American landmark is constantly moving backward?
3. Of all vegetables, only two can live to produce on their own for several growing seasons. All other vegetables must be replanted every year. What are the only two perennial vegetables?
4. What fruit has its seeds on the outside?
5. In many liquor stores, you can buy pear brandy, with a real pear inside the bottle. The pear is whole and ripe, and the bottle is genuine; it hasn't been cut in any way. How did the pear get inside the bottle?
6. Only three words in standard English begin with the letters " dw" and they are all common words. Name two of them.
7. There are 14 punctuation marks in English grammar. Can you name at least half of them?
8. Name the only vegetable or fruit that is never sold frozen, canned, processed, cooked, or in any other form except fresh.
9. Name 6 or more things that you can wear on your feet beginning with the letter "S."
Answers to be posted later!!
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
I Love Cable TV!!
You may or may not know that my favorite band is Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers (official, Myspace). I've definitely mentioned it a few times on this blog before (here, here, here and here). A good number of you have probably never heard of them before, which is a shame, but now you have an excellent opportunity to learn all about them. A two part documentary from their new album (No More Beautiful World) is being shown until July 15th on Concert.tv.
What is Concert.tv you ask? I didn't know until just recently either, but it is a FREE on demand television network that shows "memorable performances, compelling documentaries and unique originals." It is available for subscribers of Comcast, Cox, and many other digital cable services. Their website is www.concert.tv. If you have Comcast, go to channel 1 (On Demand channel), choose Music and then Concert.tv. If you have Cox, go to channel 1 (FreeZone), choose Music and then Concert.
This documentary is definitely worth checking out. It shows the band on the road, at shows, and in the recording studio, as well as interviews with all the band members. Really the best thing is to see them live, but if you can't then watch the documentary. Hopefully you'll see why I and their many many fiercely loyal fans love them so much. Incidentally, they are coming to the State Theatre here in my area on July 26th. Anyone who wants to experience them at their best is more than welcome to accompany me!!!
What is Concert.tv you ask? I didn't know until just recently either, but it is a FREE on demand television network that shows "memorable performances, compelling documentaries and unique originals." It is available for subscribers of Comcast, Cox, and many other digital cable services. Their website is www.concert.tv. If you have Comcast, go to channel 1 (On Demand channel), choose Music and then Concert.tv. If you have Cox, go to channel 1 (FreeZone), choose Music and then Concert.
This documentary is definitely worth checking out. It shows the band on the road, at shows, and in the recording studio, as well as interviews with all the band members. Really the best thing is to see them live, but if you can't then watch the documentary. Hopefully you'll see why I and their many many fiercely loyal fans love them so much. Incidentally, they are coming to the State Theatre here in my area on July 26th. Anyone who wants to experience them at their best is more than welcome to accompany me!!!
Monday, April 16, 2007
Right to bear arms?
August 1, 1966: Austin, Texas = 16 killed, 31 wounded
May 4, 1970: Kent, Ohio = 4 killed, 9 wounded
November 1, 1991: Iowa City, Iowa = 5 killed, 2 wounded
August 15, 1996: San Diego, California = 3 killed
February 19, 1997: Bethel, Alaska = 2 killed, 2 wounded
October 1, 1997: Pearl, Mississippi = 3 killed, 7 wounded
December 1, 1997: West Paducah, Kentucky = 3 killed, 5 wounded
December 15, 1997: Stamps, Arkansas = 2 wounded
March 24, 1998: Jonesboro, Arkansas = 5 killed, 10 wounded
April 28, 1998: Pomona, California = 2 killed, 1 wounded
May 21, 1998: Springfield, Oregon = 4 killed
April 20, 1999: Littleton, Colorado = 13 killed, 23 wounded
February 29, 2000: Mount Morris Township, Michigan = 1 killed
March 5, 2001: Santee, California = 2 killed, 13 wounded
January 16, 2002: Grundy, Virginia = 3 killed, 3 wounded
October 28, 2002: Tucson, Arizona = 3 killed
March 21, 2005: Red Lake, Minnesota = 10 killed
August 25, 2006: Essex, Vermont = 1 killed
September 27, 2006: Bailey, Colorado = 1 killed
October 2, 2006: Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania = 6 killed
April 16, 2007: Blacksburg, Virginia = 33 killed, ?? wounded
120 people killed, 108+ wounded in American schools by people with guns
Furthermore 10,000 to 12,000 people die in gun-related murders every year in the US
Considering the above figures how does this make it okay for people to have guns? I'm sure there are many very reliable guns owners in this country who would never hurt a fly, but seriously what is the purpose of having a gun? What are you going to use it for? To kill people, to kill animals, to look pretty mounted on your wall? I just don't get it. I don't get the point. I'm sure there are plenty of people who could argue with me about this ad nauseum, but just as they are entitled to their opinion, I am entitled to mine. In my opinion, regular people have no rational need for guns. The likelihood of making every single person in American an upstanding and responsible citizen is little to none and therefore new legislation is warranted. I think that it should be pretty damn hard for anyone to get a gun. Law enforcement needs to be stepped up to prevent illegal and underhanded weapons sales. Things need to change! I know that some people say, "Guns don't kill people, people kill people." As I see it people kill people WITH GUNS. If you didn't have a gun, how easy would it be to walk into a college classroom and kill over 30 people. Innocent people should not have to die in this way.
May 4, 1970: Kent, Ohio = 4 killed, 9 wounded
November 1, 1991: Iowa City, Iowa = 5 killed, 2 wounded
August 15, 1996: San Diego, California = 3 killed
February 19, 1997: Bethel, Alaska = 2 killed, 2 wounded
October 1, 1997: Pearl, Mississippi = 3 killed, 7 wounded
December 1, 1997: West Paducah, Kentucky = 3 killed, 5 wounded
December 15, 1997: Stamps, Arkansas = 2 wounded
March 24, 1998: Jonesboro, Arkansas = 5 killed, 10 wounded
April 28, 1998: Pomona, California = 2 killed, 1 wounded
May 21, 1998: Springfield, Oregon = 4 killed
April 20, 1999: Littleton, Colorado = 13 killed, 23 wounded
February 29, 2000: Mount Morris Township, Michigan = 1 killed
March 5, 2001: Santee, California = 2 killed, 13 wounded
January 16, 2002: Grundy, Virginia = 3 killed, 3 wounded
October 28, 2002: Tucson, Arizona = 3 killed
March 21, 2005: Red Lake, Minnesota = 10 killed
August 25, 2006: Essex, Vermont = 1 killed
September 27, 2006: Bailey, Colorado = 1 killed
October 2, 2006: Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania = 6 killed
April 16, 2007: Blacksburg, Virginia = 33 killed, ?? wounded
120 people killed, 108+ wounded in American schools by people with guns
Furthermore 10,000 to 12,000 people die in gun-related murders every year in the US
Considering the above figures how does this make it okay for people to have guns? I'm sure there are many very reliable guns owners in this country who would never hurt a fly, but seriously what is the purpose of having a gun? What are you going to use it for? To kill people, to kill animals, to look pretty mounted on your wall? I just don't get it. I don't get the point. I'm sure there are plenty of people who could argue with me about this ad nauseum, but just as they are entitled to their opinion, I am entitled to mine. In my opinion, regular people have no rational need for guns. The likelihood of making every single person in American an upstanding and responsible citizen is little to none and therefore new legislation is warranted. I think that it should be pretty damn hard for anyone to get a gun. Law enforcement needs to be stepped up to prevent illegal and underhanded weapons sales. Things need to change! I know that some people say, "Guns don't kill people, people kill people." As I see it people kill people WITH GUNS. If you didn't have a gun, how easy would it be to walk into a college classroom and kill over 30 people. Innocent people should not have to die in this way.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Homeowner
This past Wednesday I joined leagues of other Americans and finally became a homeowner. It is probably one of the most exciting and yet scariest things I have ever done. I have never moved around that much money in one transaction and I will have never paid this much money for "rent" in my life. But pretty much everyone will tell you that homeownership is one of the best investments you can make and I think that they are probably right.
My new place is a 3 bedroom 2 1/2 bath condo townhouse. It is the end unit that you see in the picture below. The couple that sold it to me were the original owners and have lived there for over 30 years. They recently moved down to South Carolina to be closer to their kids and grandkids. You can tell they put a lot of love into the house and must have a lot of wonderful memories of raising a family there. The wife of the couple was apparently quite the gardener and I only hope that I can keep up some of the things she was started. I will be moving in at the end of April and once I get things settled, anyone who wants to come to Washington DC will be more than welcome to stay at my place!
My new place is a 3 bedroom 2 1/2 bath condo townhouse. It is the end unit that you see in the picture below. The couple that sold it to me were the original owners and have lived there for over 30 years. They recently moved down to South Carolina to be closer to their kids and grandkids. You can tell they put a lot of love into the house and must have a lot of wonderful memories of raising a family there. The wife of the couple was apparently quite the gardener and I only hope that I can keep up some of the things she was started. I will be moving in at the end of April and once I get things settled, anyone who wants to come to Washington DC will be more than welcome to stay at my place!
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Stuff and things
1) I love the new Gillette Fusion razor! I got one in the mail a while back and it is awesome! I don't really care if it is supposed to be men. The five blades really DO make a difference. Smoothest shave I have ever had! The downside? The price of course! I'm not really sure why they have to be so expensive, because I'm sure that they are not nearly that expensive to make. I have yet to try the Gillette Fusion Power, as it scares me a little bit. Anyone tried that one?
2) I went to Ikea a few weekends ago to help my sister and her boyfriend buy some furniture. As per usual, I made a stop in the little food shop before heading out the door. Much to my delight they had one of my favorite jams! In Swedish it is called "drottning sylt," which translated in English mean "queen's jam." It is a mix of raspberry and blueberry james and it is yummy!!! It is good mix into some plain yogurt or on top of pancakes or ice cream.
3) So, did you know that the next Harry Potter book and movie are coming out a week apart in July. I knew that last book was coming out July 21st, but I didn't realize that the fifth movie is coming out July 13th! The sixth movie is supposedly not coming out until November 2008. Apparently Emma Watson, who plays Hermione, has not actually yet committed to any Harry Potter movies beyond the fifth one. She wants to go to college and expand her career. I'm all for that, but does she realize how many people would hate her if she didn't do the last two movies. That would be a pretty dumb move if you ask me.
4) Did you hear about that ridiculously large squid caught by fisherman off Antarctica? It weighs approximately 990 pounds and is about 32 feet long! And you must understand that this was a colossal squid as opposed to a giant squid. Read the Wikipedia article to understand the differences.
5) Anyone who watched House knows that patients "lie." Whether it is outright lying or a lie of omission, it is still a lie. I have definitely experienced this in my years as a nurse and more recently as a nurse practitioner. It really doesn't do you any good in the end, so DON'T DO IT! Health care providers also need to be better about questioning patients, because sometimes it just takes asking a question the right way to get a patient to tell you something. There was a good little article on Yahoo a couple of weeks ago about this topic. Check it out!
6) My all time favorite band, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, is coming out with a new album in a few weeks! How excited am I? Pretty damn excited! I've written about them before on this blog (here and here and here) and I still hold that not enough people understand just quite how awesome they are! Get with it people!
2) I went to Ikea a few weekends ago to help my sister and her boyfriend buy some furniture. As per usual, I made a stop in the little food shop before heading out the door. Much to my delight they had one of my favorite jams! In Swedish it is called "drottning sylt," which translated in English mean "queen's jam." It is a mix of raspberry and blueberry james and it is yummy!!! It is good mix into some plain yogurt or on top of pancakes or ice cream.
3) So, did you know that the next Harry Potter book and movie are coming out a week apart in July. I knew that last book was coming out July 21st, but I didn't realize that the fifth movie is coming out July 13th! The sixth movie is supposedly not coming out until November 2008. Apparently Emma Watson, who plays Hermione, has not actually yet committed to any Harry Potter movies beyond the fifth one. She wants to go to college and expand her career. I'm all for that, but does she realize how many people would hate her if she didn't do the last two movies. That would be a pretty dumb move if you ask me.
4) Did you hear about that ridiculously large squid caught by fisherman off Antarctica? It weighs approximately 990 pounds and is about 32 feet long! And you must understand that this was a colossal squid as opposed to a giant squid. Read the Wikipedia article to understand the differences.
5) Anyone who watched House knows that patients "lie." Whether it is outright lying or a lie of omission, it is still a lie. I have definitely experienced this in my years as a nurse and more recently as a nurse practitioner. It really doesn't do you any good in the end, so DON'T DO IT! Health care providers also need to be better about questioning patients, because sometimes it just takes asking a question the right way to get a patient to tell you something. There was a good little article on Yahoo a couple of weeks ago about this topic. Check it out!
6) My all time favorite band, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, is coming out with a new album in a few weeks! How excited am I? Pretty damn excited! I've written about them before on this blog (here and here and here) and I still hold that not enough people understand just quite how awesome they are! Get with it people!
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
How cute/awesome is my mom?
Unless I have a secret admirer, I probably won't be getting any flowers or candy tomorrow. I did, however, get a nice surprise when I came home from work today. My mom used the spare key I gave her to sneak into my apartment some time today and leave me a little present (see pictures below). The bag included a card, two (!!!) bars of high quality chocolate and a pretty mug (perfect for hot chocolate or morning tea). And she was so good about being secretive too! I actually went straight from work to her house for dinner and she didn't let on a thing! Moral of the story...my mom is awesome!!
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Paradise Bound
Starting tomorrow and until Friday I will be at the location pictured below. I will mostly likely not be checking my email while I'm there.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Scavenger Hunt
My friend Kellie sent me a link to the website for a company called Ravenchase Adventures. They create custom adventure races for any size group, occasion and level. Using riddles, anagrams, puzzles, actors, the far reaches of imagination and more, the races lead people through almost any city's landmarks and institutions (or any countryside's hidden secrets). They apparently also have "public events" in many locations, including: Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington DC. Check it out!
Happy 2nd Anniversary
Happy 2nd Blogging Anniversary to my blogging friend and fellow Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers fan Mr. Shife of Confessions of a dumb white guy.
Ridiculous Real Estate
I thought the real estate market here in Northern Virginia was outrageous until I read this news story out of London.
Friday, January 19, 2007
Restaurant Week Winter 2007
Last week was Restaurant Week here in Washington DC. Restaurant Week is a semiannual event usually occurring in January and August. It is a really great chance to go to some wonderful (but other outrageously expensive) restaurants for “cheap.” You get a 3-course meal for $20.07 at lunch and $30.07 at dinner. Of course you have to pay for drinks, tax, and tip, but if you pick the right restaurant it is totally worth it.
The winter week usually falls around my sister Anna’s birthday (January 10th), so this year on her birthday we (me, Anna, her boyfriend Trevor, and my parents) went to Willow in Arlington. The service was somewhat lackluster, but the food was pretty good and the portions were by far the biggest. I had the following:
On Saturday, I went to Charlie Palmer Steak in Washington DC with Anna and Trevor. This place is totally swank and we definitely felt a little out of our league, but then that’s probably what they expect during Restaurant Week. There were legions of different levels of servers. One to take our order, one two bring us our food, one to take it away. It was a little much and our “sous” waiter was actually better than our real waiter. I was pleased that they noted the note I made on my OpenTable reservation about it being a celebration for Anna’s birthday. They included a little strawberry with a candle stuck in it on her dessert plate. Willow was not so thoughtful. The food was great, but then I wouldn’t have expected anything less of a place that offers an entrée on their a la carte menu called “Porterhouse for 2” costing $82! I had the following:
On Sunday, I went to Colvin Run Tavern in Tyson’s Corner with my coworkers Jeff, Kellie, Therese and Hadley. We had all sorts of things to celebrate; Hadley and Kellie’s birthdays, Therese’s recent promotion and my graduation in December. I had to been Colvin Run twice before and knew it would be a good bet to satisfy everyone. I don’t think it disappointed this time. We all split a great bottle of wine (Riesling Kabinett, Weingut Rudolf Eilenz, Ayler Kupp, Mosel, 2005) and had a great time talking. I had the following:
The winter week usually falls around my sister Anna’s birthday (January 10th), so this year on her birthday we (me, Anna, her boyfriend Trevor, and my parents) went to Willow in Arlington. The service was somewhat lackluster, but the food was pretty good and the portions were by far the biggest. I had the following:
- Appetizer = Butternut Squash Bisque
- Entrée = Fried Chicken with Mashed Potatoes, Swiss Chard and Spicy Rosemary Dipping Sauce
- Dessert = Pear and Hazelnut Crumble with Danish Cream Ice Cream
On Saturday, I went to Charlie Palmer Steak in Washington DC with Anna and Trevor. This place is totally swank and we definitely felt a little out of our league, but then that’s probably what they expect during Restaurant Week. There were legions of different levels of servers. One to take our order, one two bring us our food, one to take it away. It was a little much and our “sous” waiter was actually better than our real waiter. I was pleased that they noted the note I made on my OpenTable reservation about it being a celebration for Anna’s birthday. They included a little strawberry with a candle stuck in it on her dessert plate. Willow was not so thoughtful. The food was great, but then I wouldn’t have expected anything less of a place that offers an entrée on their a la carte menu called “Porterhouse for 2” costing $82! I had the following:
- Appetizer = Potato and Leek Chowder
- Entrée = Pan Seared Halibut with Maryland Lump Crab Risotto and Beurre Blanc Sauce
- Dessert = Classic New York Style Cheesecake with Citrus Scented Blueberry Compote
On Sunday, I went to Colvin Run Tavern in Tyson’s Corner with my coworkers Jeff, Kellie, Therese and Hadley. We had all sorts of things to celebrate; Hadley and Kellie’s birthdays, Therese’s recent promotion and my graduation in December. I had to been Colvin Run twice before and knew it would be a good bet to satisfy everyone. I don’t think it disappointed this time. We all split a great bottle of wine (Riesling Kabinett, Weingut Rudolf Eilenz, Ayler Kupp, Mosel, 2005) and had a great time talking. I had the following:
- Appetizer = Salmon Tartar, Grav Lax and Herbed Crème fraîche, Cucumber and Tomato Salad
- Entrée = Roast Pork Loin with Apples, Red Cabbage, and Spoonbread
- Dessert = Warm Chocolate Soufflé with Vanilla Ice Cream
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Fifty in Six?
Can you name all fifty US states in six minutes? Get a piece of paper and write the numbers 1 through 50 on it. Then set a timer for 6 minutes and see how you do. When I did it I had thirty seconds left and three blank spaces. I racked my brain, trying to picture a map in my head, but still couldn't come up with the last three. It's harder than you would think.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Gourmet Grilled Cheese
The other night my parents, sister, her boyfriend and I enjoyed the following "gourmet" grilled cheese sandwiches. They are both from the cookbook "Grilled Cheese: 50 Recipes To Make You Melt" by Marlena Spieler (ISBN 0-8118-4129-4). Both were excellent and a departure from the standard grilled cheese sandwich, which is why I share them with you now.
Fresh Mozzarella, Prosciutto, and Fig Jam
4 soft French or Italian rolls (or half-baked if available)
10 - 12 ounces fresh mozzarella, thickly sliced
8 ounces prosciutto, thinly sliced
¼ - ½ cup fig jam or fig preserves, to taste
Soft butter for spreading on bread
Split each roll, and layer with mozzarella and prosciutto. Spread the top slices with the fig jam, then close up.
Lightly butter the outside of each sandwich.
Heat a heavy nonstick skillet or panini press over medium-high heat. Place the sandwiches in the pan, working in two batches depending on the size of the pan. Press the sandwiches or close the grill and brown, turning once or twice, until the bread is crisp and the cheese has melted. Though the rolls start off as round, one pressed they are considerably flatter and can be easily turned, albeit carefully.
Serve right away, cut on the diagonal.
Smoky Bacon and Cheddar with Chipotle Relish
Chipotle Relish
½ onion, thinly sliced lengthwise
6 tablespoons ketchup
¼ cup mild vinegar, such as white wine
3 tablespoons sugar
6 large cloves garlic, sliced
Generous pinch of ground cumin
Generous pinch of dried oregano leaves, crushed between the hands
Small pinch of cinnamon
Small pinch of ground cloves or allspice
Black pepper
Several big shakes of Worcestershire sauce
About 4 tablespoons chipotle sauce such as Tabasco or Buffala
Sandwiches
8 pieces smoky bacon, preferably meaty lean bacon such as Canadian
8 large slices rustic country bread such as sourdough, sliced medium thick
About 1 tablespoon brown mustard
8 ounces sharp Cheddar, thinly sliced
Olive oil for brushing bread
1 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
To make the Chipotle Relish (this can be done up to 2 days ahead of time and kept covered in the refrigerator): In a small heavy saucepan, combine the onions, ketchup, vinegar, sugar, and 3 tablespoons water. Bring to a boil, then simmer a few minutes, until the onions begin to soften and the liquid thickens.
Remove from the heat and add the garlic, cumin, oregano, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and as much chipotle sauce as you dare (best to taste as you go). Makes ½ to ¾ cup.
To make the sandwiches: Brown the bacon in a heavy nonstick pan until it is cooked but not crisp. Remove bacon from the pan and place on a piece of paper towel to drain.
Spread the mustard onto 1 side of 4 pieces of the bread. Top with the cheese, bacon, a smear of the Chipotle relish, and the second pieces of bread. Press together well to seal the filling in.
Brush the outside of each sandwich with olive oil. Heat a heavy nonstick skillet or a sandwich press over medium high heat. Lower heat to medium-low and brown the sandwiches, turning once or twice, pressing on the sandwiches gently with your spatula every so often if using a skillet, until the bread is crisp and golden and the cheese has melted.
Eat right away, with dabs of extra Chipotle Relish to taste, and a sprinkling of cilantro as garnish.
Fresh Mozzarella, Prosciutto, and Fig Jam
4 soft French or Italian rolls (or half-baked if available)
10 - 12 ounces fresh mozzarella, thickly sliced
8 ounces prosciutto, thinly sliced
¼ - ½ cup fig jam or fig preserves, to taste
Soft butter for spreading on bread
Split each roll, and layer with mozzarella and prosciutto. Spread the top slices with the fig jam, then close up.
Lightly butter the outside of each sandwich.
Heat a heavy nonstick skillet or panini press over medium-high heat. Place the sandwiches in the pan, working in two batches depending on the size of the pan. Press the sandwiches or close the grill and brown, turning once or twice, until the bread is crisp and the cheese has melted. Though the rolls start off as round, one pressed they are considerably flatter and can be easily turned, albeit carefully.
Serve right away, cut on the diagonal.
Smoky Bacon and Cheddar with Chipotle Relish
Chipotle Relish
½ onion, thinly sliced lengthwise
6 tablespoons ketchup
¼ cup mild vinegar, such as white wine
3 tablespoons sugar
6 large cloves garlic, sliced
Generous pinch of ground cumin
Generous pinch of dried oregano leaves, crushed between the hands
Small pinch of cinnamon
Small pinch of ground cloves or allspice
Black pepper
Several big shakes of Worcestershire sauce
About 4 tablespoons chipotle sauce such as Tabasco or Buffala
Sandwiches
8 pieces smoky bacon, preferably meaty lean bacon such as Canadian
8 large slices rustic country bread such as sourdough, sliced medium thick
About 1 tablespoon brown mustard
8 ounces sharp Cheddar, thinly sliced
Olive oil for brushing bread
1 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
To make the Chipotle Relish (this can be done up to 2 days ahead of time and kept covered in the refrigerator): In a small heavy saucepan, combine the onions, ketchup, vinegar, sugar, and 3 tablespoons water. Bring to a boil, then simmer a few minutes, until the onions begin to soften and the liquid thickens.
Remove from the heat and add the garlic, cumin, oregano, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, Worcestershire sauce, and as much chipotle sauce as you dare (best to taste as you go). Makes ½ to ¾ cup.
To make the sandwiches: Brown the bacon in a heavy nonstick pan until it is cooked but not crisp. Remove bacon from the pan and place on a piece of paper towel to drain.
Spread the mustard onto 1 side of 4 pieces of the bread. Top with the cheese, bacon, a smear of the Chipotle relish, and the second pieces of bread. Press together well to seal the filling in.
Brush the outside of each sandwich with olive oil. Heat a heavy nonstick skillet or a sandwich press over medium high heat. Lower heat to medium-low and brown the sandwiches, turning once or twice, pressing on the sandwiches gently with your spatula every so often if using a skillet, until the bread is crisp and golden and the cheese has melted.
Eat right away, with dabs of extra Chipotle Relish to taste, and a sprinkling of cilantro as garnish.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Happy New Year!
I realize that I've been a little lax in posting recently as it has been over two months since my last post. But don't think that I've just been sitting around twiddling my thumbs. In December I finally finished my Master's Degree program. It has been a long two and a half years and I am so glad to be done at last! Starting next week I'll be going to part time at my L&D job and starting a part time paid internship at a women's health clinic. Because my program was a Family Nurse Practitioner program and not a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner program I didn't get quite as much obstetrics and gynecology experience as I would have hoped. I think the clinic will be a good place to get that experience. I have already done some clinical hours there during my last semester and really liked working the staff and patients there.
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