I gave in.
I signed up for Facebook.
Friend me, friend me! I'm under my gmail account.
PS: Thanksgiving was tasty!
28.11.08
26.11.08
bird bath
I picked up my 14.99 lb pasture-raised-in-Nebraska turkey yesterday.
And it is rock hard.
I thought they were going to pop it in the fridge a day or two ago to get the thawing process started (I am supposed to salt it today) but maybe that was only for the other woman's turkey.
Never fear! I saw an Alton Brown Good Eats method a week or so ago and the wonders of YouTube refreshed my memory. Ms. Turkey is going into a bucket of cold water (changed every three hours) and should be pliable and ready for salting by this evening.
Look at me! Look how NOT BOTHERED I am by this!
I am totally lying. Wish me luck!
ETA: I didn't have a large enough bucket so I had to duct tape the holes in my largest planter.
And it is rock hard.
I thought they were going to pop it in the fridge a day or two ago to get the thawing process started (I am supposed to salt it today) but maybe that was only for the other woman's turkey.
Never fear! I saw an Alton Brown Good Eats method a week or so ago and the wonders of YouTube refreshed my memory. Ms. Turkey is going into a bucket of cold water (changed every three hours) and should be pliable and ready for salting by this evening.
Look at me! Look how NOT BOTHERED I am by this!
I am totally lying. Wish me luck!
ETA: I didn't have a large enough bucket so I had to duct tape the holes in my largest planter.
24.11.08
tuesday, 24 Nov.
I should not have blogged about that coat, because that makes it so easy to look at. And savor. I even checked the measurements against one of my coats, and the length on that one is perfect.
And I keep looking and thinking . . . I had that page open in my browser all day long.
Tomorrow I am a third grade teacher, and I fear the day will be a little dicey. The schools here get three days off for Thanksgiving, and tomorrow is the last day of education before the long weekend. On the good side, the teacher has known of this absence for a while and should (SHOULD) have detailed lesson plans. Not so good: over-excited kids and maybe even a classroom party where they are dressed as pilgrims or something. I try to avoid opportunities for chaos. I especially try to avoid large groups of nine- and ten-year-olds in construction paper Native American and/or Turkey garb.
Tomorrow I also pick up the turkey. (I found out today it will be less than sixteen pounds, meaning Bruce and I each get maybe seven pounds of meat each. Just kidding. I will probably slice off a big chunk and wrap it tightly and freeze it to be enjoyed later.)
After Thanksgiving I gotta make me some Altoid Brownies. Oh goodness me.
PS: Bruce was somewhat disgruntled that I did not mention that HE did the installation of the range hood (with help from me). I am put out that no one has commented on the ELECTROCUTION I underwent because someone didn't turn off all the circuits. That is all.
And I keep looking and thinking . . . I had that page open in my browser all day long.
Tomorrow I am a third grade teacher, and I fear the day will be a little dicey. The schools here get three days off for Thanksgiving, and tomorrow is the last day of education before the long weekend. On the good side, the teacher has known of this absence for a while and should (SHOULD) have detailed lesson plans. Not so good: over-excited kids and maybe even a classroom party where they are dressed as pilgrims or something. I try to avoid opportunities for chaos. I especially try to avoid large groups of nine- and ten-year-olds in construction paper Native American and/or Turkey garb.
Tomorrow I also pick up the turkey. (I found out today it will be less than sixteen pounds, meaning Bruce and I each get maybe seven pounds of meat each. Just kidding. I will probably slice off a big chunk and wrap it tightly and freeze it to be enjoyed later.)
After Thanksgiving I gotta make me some Altoid Brownies. Oh goodness me.
PS: Bruce was somewhat disgruntled that I did not mention that HE did the installation of the range hood (with help from me). I am put out that no one has commented on the ELECTROCUTION I underwent because someone didn't turn off all the circuits. That is all.
23.11.08
yeast: my new favorite microorganism
Today was rewarding. Over the course of six hours, flour, water, salt and a bit o' honey (I hate those candies) and yeast came together and made a heaping basket of "Rustic Dinner Rolls" for Thursday.
Six hours is a while, yes, but the total active work time for the rolls was maybe thirty minutes? Including weighing out the ingredients. And I am a meticulous weigher.
If today's results are anything to go by (and I KNOW there will be many missteps), I can wrangle yeast successfully and I am excited about baking larger breads in the new year. To take the most basic ingredients in the kitchen, mix them up and wait (repeat, repeat, repeat, etc.) and then all of a sudden (er, six hours later, I mean) you have real actual bread. The crusty, oddly-shaped buns with delicate interiors that came out of the oven are a different beast than the soft, square ones I buy at the store. And I do like the store-bought rolls, but these were flavorful! with texture! and I made them! Small miracles.
(Sixteen rolls are rather more than two people need for a feast so we ate a few tonight, testing, testing, and Bruce's
Of course, bread is nothing new, but making anything besides quick breads is new for me, and I'm working hard to get neighborly with yeast. We are not enemies; I am just a bit shy. (Instant yeast is THE way to go--forget the tiny packets and lukewarm water!)
Tomorrow's preparations:
make gelato base
combine salt mixture for turkey
figure out good wine options
defrost smoked ham hock
Oh yeah, a rockin' smoked ham hock for the tastee stuffing!
Any such thing . . .
. . . as too many black coats?
I LOVE this.
But I already have more than one black wool coat.
Now, if it was any OTHER color, we'd be in business, unless that color was Orchid and cost $350.
Sigh.
I LOVE this.
But I already have more than one black wool coat.
Now, if it was any OTHER color, we'd be in business, unless that color was Orchid and cost $350.
Sigh.
22.11.08
the PLAN
We have a new range hood! Hooray! There was trial and error, and I got electrocuted, but it is in and now the Thanksgiving preparation can begin. A pot of turkey stock is bubbling away as I type.
This year makes turkey number three in my experience. I've learned many things over the last couple years and hope to have the most accident-free Thanksgiving ever!
(By accidents, I mean things like buying a turkey without giblets when such tokens are needed for gravy.)
THE MENU:
Salted Roast Turkey with Chipotle Glaze and Caramelized-Onion Gravy from the November 2008 Bon Appetit magazine. I scored a local pasture-raised turkey this year and look forward to seeing how it cooks up.
Sausage-Maple Bread Stuffing from last November's issue of Fine Cooking. Repeat performance--SO GOOD! (And the recipe is now online, if you are in a quandary about stuffing and looking for something amazing.)
Purée de pomme de terre à l'ail by Julia Child. I now declare this a tradition! This will be three years in a row.
Green Beans with Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette & Parmesan Breadcrumbs from the Nov/Dec 2008 issue of Fine Cooking. Bruce picked this out. He's not a big one for veg, but he disliked this one the least out of the ones I'd tagged. (I think it was the Parmesan that caught his eye.)
Rustic Dinner Rolls using a recent Cook's Illustrated magazine recipe. This is new--rolls from scratch! Yeast! I will make them tomorrow and pop 'em in the freezer.
Ocean Spray Jellied Cranberry Sauce, the only other item on the menu all three times. There is no substitute.
Gianduja Gelato (from The Perfect Scoop) for dessert, which we won't have room for until late Thursday night, if at all, but I can make this early and stash it in the freezer.
I'm not sure about the wine yet. (Must have several bottles so I can sip while I cook and not go crazy.) We've been drinking a lot of German stuff lately.
We took care of the major grocery shopping this morning, before the rush. I just have to put the cooking schedule together (what's on the stove/in the oven and when) and go in for some produce on Tuesday and that is it!
What are your Thanksgiving plans? Or, if you are Italian, what are you eating on Thursday night?
Past Thanksgivings . . .
20.11.08
18.11.08
18 November 2008 - 4th Grade
8.25
I've been in this class before, but that was for a mere half day, after lunch. I came done like a ton of bricks that day and things went smoothly.
Not quite the situation today, as morning prep time, so full of unpacking and de-jacketing and talking etc. is casual and haphazard. The students trickle in. It is a new day.
They are at Media now (I suppose "Library" doesn't cover enough territory? Horrors!) and I get to lay down the law when they get back. I am not encouraged by the disciplinary notes I found. Notes about biting; watch out for that kid! A BITING fourth grader?!
Yesterday's classroom was overdone frog-explosion style, but at least it was tidy and organized (that teacher must spend hours after school straightening up miscellaneous froggy objects). This room is simply an explosion. I can't stop myself from tidying piles of paper and books or putting pens and crayons away.
9.00
Flow flow flow. Keep flowing.
9.45
The only way this room is going to stay clean is if we pick things up each time we leave.
No tears! No biting! Yay!
I was bitten once, in a kindergarten class, four years ago. I don't sub in K classes anymore--and first grades rarely. First graders don't become proper first graders until January or so, and even then, a sarcastic, unfeeling cynic like me runs risks. I am teaching in a first grade on Friday, but only for half a day. The regular teacher will get their day going (hardest part, most routine) and prep them for my grand appearance after lunch.
Please teacher, prep them for my appearance!
12.15
Brought Lauren Myracle's Bliss to read with my peanut butter and jelly.
Still no tears. LOTS of arguing. Two trips to the nurse for eye problems. L. missing part of afternoon recess because I caught him throwing eraser bits at people. He gets to pick them all up off the floor, lucky duck.
I spend the next two days as a middle school MEDIA person. No idea what to expect. I hope for no crying and no biting. Is that asking too much?
I've been in this class before, but that was for a mere half day, after lunch. I came done like a ton of bricks that day and things went smoothly.
Not quite the situation today, as morning prep time, so full of unpacking and de-jacketing and talking etc. is casual and haphazard. The students trickle in. It is a new day.
They are at Media now (I suppose "Library" doesn't cover enough territory? Horrors!) and I get to lay down the law when they get back. I am not encouraged by the disciplinary notes I found. Notes about biting; watch out for that kid! A BITING fourth grader?!
Yesterday's classroom was overdone frog-explosion style, but at least it was tidy and organized (that teacher must spend hours after school straightening up miscellaneous froggy objects). This room is simply an explosion. I can't stop myself from tidying piles of paper and books or putting pens and crayons away.
9.00
Flow flow flow. Keep flowing.
9.45
The only way this room is going to stay clean is if we pick things up each time we leave.
No tears! No biting! Yay!
I was bitten once, in a kindergarten class, four years ago. I don't sub in K classes anymore--and first grades rarely. First graders don't become proper first graders until January or so, and even then, a sarcastic, unfeeling cynic like me runs risks. I am teaching in a first grade on Friday, but only for half a day. The regular teacher will get their day going (hardest part, most routine) and prep them for my grand appearance after lunch.
Please teacher, prep them for my appearance!
12.15
Brought Lauren Myracle's Bliss to read with my peanut butter and jelly.
Still no tears. LOTS of arguing. Two trips to the nurse for eye problems. L. missing part of afternoon recess because I caught him throwing eraser bits at people. He gets to pick them all up off the floor, lucky duck.
I spend the next two days as a middle school MEDIA person. No idea what to expect. I hope for no crying and no biting. Is that asking too much?
17.11.08
17 November 2008 - 2nd Grade
It's 10.45am and I've made three kids cry.
That may be a record.
Two of them started because they don't adapt to change nor heed the soothing tones of a complete stranger (me). Lesson plans said go over new spelling words and then give pretest. We went over the words (oo combinations) and I passed out paper. I heard much commentary. One spiel: that they were supposed to take the posttest, not the pretest. They have pretests on Thursday and posttests on Friday. This was met by arguing from many parties. I maintained that, regardless of what they wanted, we were taking a pretest, right now.
Then start the quiet voices--J. is crying, J. is crying, T. is crying, T. is crying.
Ah, lovely.
I am no stranger to test anxiety, but tears over a pretest are unfounded, since the score does not count. (NOTE: Perfectionist eight-year-olds do not care about this.) (This sort of thing makes me long for the apathy of middle schoolers.)
T., through streaky tears, explains that they were supposed to have last week's posttest today, that notes went home and it was all very very important.
I do use a soothing voice (really! I have one!) and let her know that her teacher will be back tomorrow and take care of everything, and that today we are following the plans and taking a pretest and it is OKAY. Really. Really.
J. is obviously embarrassed about his tears so I ignore them and carry on. He drips throughout the test.
I read the words and sentences out of the book. Despite following the order in the book, I read them in the wrong order, according to the class, but tell them to just carry on, keep going, don't worry. They are upset. There's nothing like not following Standard Operating Procedure in a second grade, unless you are in a 1st grade . . . or, horrors, a KINDERGARTEN.
(How easily they forget my bit at the beginning of class, about how I will do things differently than their normal teacher and that is OKAY. Really.) (They never remember, and for certain things, routine is the only way the kids work. Of course, the teacher will neglect to leave me such crucial information in the lesson plans.)
But, alas! we have another salty-eyed casualty, as I find young J. copying words off the new spelling word list that everyone oh-so-carefully put away. I take his pretest, say that I'm disappointed he made the decision to cheat, and walk away. The test continues; J. puts his head down on his desk.
The classroom itself resembles a Hallmark store on steroids, only with frogs. Frogs are this teacher's Thing. Stuffed fuzzy frogs, frog posters, giant stuffed furry frogs, frog curtains, tiny stuffed floppy frogs, frog figurines (oh, the figurines), frog cutouts and plastic frogs hanging from the ceiling and clinging to the windows and one real frog pet. The place is a frog marketing museum. (Or, as I thought when I walked in, piles, towers, shelves and stacks of utter crap.) Egypt's Biblical Plague of Frogs came through and never left. I spent the day stepping on frogs, picking up knocked-over frogs and moving frogs out of the way so I could write on the board. As the students are studying dinosaurs and Thanksgiving right now, little pilgrims, turkeys and terrible lizards round out the mix, enveloped in the green embrace of no fewer than nine giant hanging spider plants and eighteen other photosynthesizers spread around the room, ranging from tiny ivies to non-hanging giant spider plants.
I thought I'd walked into a mad rainforest experiment! Honest, it took actual searching to find the teacher's desk and it took a while before the pencil sharpener turned up.
Oy.
12 noon
No more tears except J. the cheater kept throwing pencils so I took them ALL out of his desk while the class was at music and he came to me going, "My pencils are gone!" and I said, "Yeah. Why do you think I took them all, hmmm?"
Then followed a very serious discussion about pointy objects and eyes, etc.
So he teared up and asked how he could do his work without pencils. I said how about you work on not throwing pencils during math and I'll give you one pencil to use? He agreed to this, and I checked in with him every thirty minutes about pencil throwing. How often does one get to say, "Good job not throwing pencils during math! Let's keep it up through Social Studies!"?
I brought December's Bon Appetit to read while I eat lunch. Not the best choice when one dines on peanut butter and jelly. Ag.
1.00
My voice hurts. So far, my hair has gotten caught in two frog mobiles. This room is giving me ADD.
End of Day
More tears on the playground, as P. froze in the uppermost level of the playground structure thing and stood screaming at the top of her lungs. She's an inclusion student and spent much of the day with the Resource teachers, but I don't know her situation. Right now I don't know what is wrong because she lisps and lisping while crying/screaming is bad for the effective transmission of information. She'd locked her knees and elbows and kept crying about her toes and her back and itching everywhere. My mind's whirling, thinking maybe her muscles seized up or she has some inner gut trauma? Five minutes of coaxing and talking and gentle shoving got her on the ground and one of the students took her to the nurse. I think she just freaks out. She came back shortly, talking about scratching and lotion I don't know what. I didn't really want to know. She'd rubbed a spot raw just under her nose.
Overall, that was a nice group of kids. Tomorrow is fourth grade. I expect less crying. Hopefully.
14.11.08
ding-dong!
We had a visitor! Actual company!
Former college roommate and super science educator Julie came to check out Omaha for a (far too short) couple of days. Most of our activities revolved around eating food, and when we weren't eating, we were planning what to eat and where to eat and how soon we could eat and shouldn't we go for a walk? I cooked filet mignon for the first time and Julie made and ate Malted Milk Ice Cream for the first time (complete with chopped-up Whoppers inside; David Lebovitz, you are a god).
Also thrown in the mix were Belgian Waffles with Mascarpone Cream Cheese, Sweet Potato French Fries w/Banana Ketchup, glorious stacked grilled veg sandwiches, Sarah's Magic Pancakes and Bacon, Ginger Liqueur drinks and we finished off the weekend with dinner at a Thai restaurant, thank you Bruce.
I don't have a terribly social nature, but these years of moving have made me more of a solitary being than I like. In a way, it is a gift, since when I DO have friends around, I rediscover how much I care about them and how amazing-brilliant-wonderful they are.
Here's someone I've known since 1995. We shared a tiny dorm room for two years and then a house for one. Here's someone I can say anything to, who chirps back when I talk in a stupid British accent and writes ten-year old punch lines on my bathroom mirror with a dry-erase marker for me to discover and laugh over. It's lovely.
It was difficult to go back to boring old substituting (and boring old meals) after Julie left, but I am determined to make more phone calls and hopefully more visits to people.
Friends living in states with sunshine right now get priority. Kristin???
3.11.08
november
Nothing exciting today, except it was over 80° and yet they are predicting snow on Thursday & Friday with lows in the 20s. But today was quite glorious in the weather department.
2.11.08
late night buns
Click through the photo to learn about my fascinating adventures making Chinese meat buns last night. Oy.
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