While staggering around the kitchen, blowing my nose and losing track of my recipe, I managed to produce a good stir-fry. Here's how I did it, since I'm sure I won't remember in another few days.
1 pound firm tofu
about 1/4 cup vegetarian stir-fry sauce
1 red pepper, cleaned and cut into bite-sized strips
1 or 2 heads baby bok choy, cleaned and separated and cut into bite-sizes chunks
1 large clove garlic, peeled and minced
a scary amount of olive oil... maybe 1/4 cup?
If you're cooking brown rice, start that first because it will probably take longer than the entire stir-fry.
Press and blot tofu for 10-15 minutes. Slice into bite-sized strips (thin and flat works well for this cooking method) and marinate in the stir-fry sauce while cooking the vegetables.
Heat a small amount of oil in a large wok. When hot, saute peppers until nearly soft, then add some of the garlic for the final minute of cooking. Remove to a large serving bowl; do not clean wok.
Heat an additional small amount of oil in the wok. Add the bok choy stems and saute until nearly soft, then add the leaves and garlic and stir constantly while they cook. Remove to same large serving bowl; do not clean wok.
Dump in more oil. Add half of the marinated tofu and spread into a single layer. DO NOT STIR! (I know this seems counter-intuitive but it's the key to browning the tofu.) After several minutes, carefully flip each piece and brown the other side. Using a slotted spoon, remove tofu to same large serving bowl. Do not clean wok.
Repeat cooking procedure with second batch of marinated tofu.
When tofu is nearly done, add dump everything else back in the wok for 30 seconds (until it gets hot again) and stir GENTLY to combine. Serve immediately. It's good over noodles or brown rice.
(You can now clean the wok.)
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Ten on Tuesday (late): 10 random things
Well, it looks like Carole is on vacation this week, so I'll just have to make up my own topic!
Ten random things in my life:
1) The Red Sox have a new batting line-up tonight and it's messing with my head. (For the record: Ellsbury, Scutero, Gonzalez, Pedroia, Ortiz, Lowrie, Crawford, Veritek, and McDonald. I'm used to Scutero batting late, like eighth, and Pedroia batting second.)
2) I went to the Korean store today and got home-cooked Korean side-dishes, which I'm now eating over white rice. I have almost no idea what's in them, and I certainly don't know how to cook them. (Note: one claims to be fish cakes with vegetables in spicy sauce. The other is called "Seaweed in oil" and certainly tastes like it.)
3) I should learn how to cook Korean food.
4) I seem to be coming down with a summer-cold.
5) Being in the middle of both The Stand and Feed, this is unduly alarming to me.
6) I really shouldn't have been playing Pandemic while reading The Stand. My germ-paranoia levels may be at an all-time high.
7) Almost all the Patricia Wentworth mysteries are now available as e-books, which may have lead to a little purchasing binge on my part.
8) Next year, I want to try growing okra again. (I tried two years ago, and my garden-mate weeded them out by mistake.)
9) Apparently the Red Sox are now back in 1st place in the AL East.
10) Recently, my DH checked the standings, and found out that the THIRD PLACE team in the AL East (that would the Rays) had a better record than the first place teams in the AL Central and AL West. Something seems wrong with this system.
Ten random things in my life:
1) The Red Sox have a new batting line-up tonight and it's messing with my head. (For the record: Ellsbury, Scutero, Gonzalez, Pedroia, Ortiz, Lowrie, Crawford, Veritek, and McDonald. I'm used to Scutero batting late, like eighth, and Pedroia batting second.)
2) I went to the Korean store today and got home-cooked Korean side-dishes, which I'm now eating over white rice. I have almost no idea what's in them, and I certainly don't know how to cook them. (Note: one claims to be fish cakes with vegetables in spicy sauce. The other is called "Seaweed in oil" and certainly tastes like it.)
3) I should learn how to cook Korean food.
4) I seem to be coming down with a summer-cold.
5) Being in the middle of both The Stand and Feed, this is unduly alarming to me.
6) I really shouldn't have been playing Pandemic while reading The Stand. My germ-paranoia levels may be at an all-time high.
7) Almost all the Patricia Wentworth mysteries are now available as e-books, which may have lead to a little purchasing binge on my part.
8) Next year, I want to try growing okra again. (I tried two years ago, and my garden-mate weeded them out by mistake.)
9) Apparently the Red Sox are now back in 1st place in the AL East.
10) Recently, my DH checked the standings, and found out that the THIRD PLACE team in the AL East (that would the Rays) had a better record than the first place teams in the AL Central and AL West. Something seems wrong with this system.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Ten on Tuesday: 10 favorite romantic comedies
While RomCom isn't my favorite movie genre, I've certainly watched enough of these to come up with a solid list...
*SPOILER ALERT* Some of what I love involves the endings. I've tried not to give too much away, but be warned.
1) Twelfth Night - I don't know if Shakespeare really qualifies, but this is one of my favorite movies EVER so I'm putting it on the list. Hey, two (three?) couples end up happily married!
2) Moonstruck - my family doesn't understand how I can watch a movie that stars Cher, but I think she's brilliant in this one. (She won an Oscar for the role, so I'm not alone in thinking this.) Plus, young Nicholas Cage... swoon... and the dialogue is terrific.
3) Pride and Prejudice (the Keira Knightley version) - once again, I don't know if Jane Austen really qualifies, but I adore this movie and it makes me giggle, and it ends with two - no, three - no, four couples married, at least two of them happily.
4) Four Weddings and a Funeral - I love the slightly off-beat plot. I love the lack-of-wedding ending. I love Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell and Kristen Scott Thomas....
5) You've Got Mail - I love the gentle chemistry between Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, and I particularly love the Golden Retriever and the houseboat owned by Tom Hanks's character.
6) Sabrina (the Audrey Hepburn version) - gorgeous, classic, and romantic.
7) Singin' in the Rain - another classic, with some great music and amazing dancing to top it off.
8) Much Ado About Nothing - I adored the team of Kenneth Branaugh and Emma Thompson while they were making movies together. Dead Again is my favorite, but it isn't a comedy, so I'm going with this one. Aside from a badly miscast Keanu Reeves, the movie just sparkles. And hey, it's by Shakespeare!
9) Stranger Than Fiction - I'm usually not a fan of Will Ferrell's star vehicles, but this one is far more than that, and manages to be funny, touching, poignant, and romantic all at once. The terrific cast of women (Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Queen Latifah) really elevates the picture.
10) Heathers - black comedy, and not entirely a romance, but I have to stick this one in. It's hysterical! Watch Shannon Doherty and Winona Ryder before they screwed up their adult lives and professional careers! Enjoy a very young Christian Slater chewing up the scenery as his character slowly goes nuts! Enjoy the not-a-typical-romance ending (I won't say more...)
And the runners-up...
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
My Best Friend's Wedding
Shakespeare in Love (again with The Bard)
The Wedding Singer
Groundhog Day
Clueless (again with the Jane Austen)
*SPOILER ALERT* Some of what I love involves the endings. I've tried not to give too much away, but be warned.
1) Twelfth Night - I don't know if Shakespeare really qualifies, but this is one of my favorite movies EVER so I'm putting it on the list. Hey, two (three?) couples end up happily married!
2) Moonstruck - my family doesn't understand how I can watch a movie that stars Cher, but I think she's brilliant in this one. (She won an Oscar for the role, so I'm not alone in thinking this.) Plus, young Nicholas Cage... swoon... and the dialogue is terrific.
3) Pride and Prejudice (the Keira Knightley version) - once again, I don't know if Jane Austen really qualifies, but I adore this movie and it makes me giggle, and it ends with two - no, three - no, four couples married, at least two of them happily.
4) Four Weddings and a Funeral - I love the slightly off-beat plot. I love the lack-of-wedding ending. I love Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell and Kristen Scott Thomas....
5) You've Got Mail - I love the gentle chemistry between Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, and I particularly love the Golden Retriever and the houseboat owned by Tom Hanks's character.
6) Sabrina (the Audrey Hepburn version) - gorgeous, classic, and romantic.
7) Singin' in the Rain - another classic, with some great music and amazing dancing to top it off.
8) Much Ado About Nothing - I adored the team of Kenneth Branaugh and Emma Thompson while they were making movies together. Dead Again is my favorite, but it isn't a comedy, so I'm going with this one. Aside from a badly miscast Keanu Reeves, the movie just sparkles. And hey, it's by Shakespeare!
9) Stranger Than Fiction - I'm usually not a fan of Will Ferrell's star vehicles, but this one is far more than that, and manages to be funny, touching, poignant, and romantic all at once. The terrific cast of women (Emma Thompson, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Queen Latifah) really elevates the picture.
10) Heathers - black comedy, and not entirely a romance, but I have to stick this one in. It's hysterical! Watch Shannon Doherty and Winona Ryder before they screwed up their adult lives and professional careers! Enjoy a very young Christian Slater chewing up the scenery as his character slowly goes nuts! Enjoy the not-a-typical-romance ending (I won't say more...)
And the runners-up...
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
My Best Friend's Wedding
Shakespeare in Love (again with The Bard)
The Wedding Singer
Groundhog Day
Clueless (again with the Jane Austen)
Friday, July 29, 2011
Pleasant Surprise Recipe
Every now and then, I cook something that tastes far better than it sounds (or even smells!) like it will.
Tuesday's dinner was one of these.
Ingredients:
1/2 large red onion, diced
1 large clove of garlic, minced
1 fairly large zucchini, cut into bite-sized slivers or matchsticks (should be fairly thin on at least one dimension)
2 small Japanese eggplants, cut into bite-sized slivers (as above)
about 15 cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1 pound mushrooms, cleaned and cut into quarters (if small) or equivalent (if large)
Enough olive oil for cooking (3 Tablespoons?)
1 tablespoon butter
chopped fresh basil, marjoram, and oregano (I used one stem each of oregano and marjoram, and about 10 large basil leaves)
pine nuts
feta cheese
I cooked the vegetables in batches so that they'd each get cooked thoroughly, and also so that the juice from the mushroom and tomatoes didn't change the cooking method from "stir-fry" into "braise."
While doing all of this, also cook a pound of rotini.
1) In wok or large frying pan, heat up 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add onions when oil is hot. Stirring frequently, book until softened. Add garlic and cook another minute. Remove from pan. Do not clean pan.
2) Add a little more oil and heat up again. This time, cook the zucchini until just turning brown. Stir frequently or the zucchini might stick. Remove zukes from pan (add them to the bowl with the onions), do not clean pan.
3) Add a little more oil and heat up again. This time, cook the eggplant until browned on both sides. Do not stir frequently or the eggplant will never properly brown. Only move them around to flip over each piece. Place eggplants into colander and sprinkle with salt. Allow eggplant to drain at least 20 minutes. Do not clean pan.
4) Add a little more oil and a tablespoon of butter. Cook mushrooms, stirring frequently, until just browning and soft. Add tomatoes and cook for one more minute, then dump in all other cooked vegetables and add the herbs. Stir together and allow to heat through. Serve over hot pasta with a handful of pine nuts and a sprinkle of feta cheese.
Tuesday's dinner was one of these.
Ingredients:
1/2 large red onion, diced
1 large clove of garlic, minced
1 fairly large zucchini, cut into bite-sized slivers or matchsticks (should be fairly thin on at least one dimension)
2 small Japanese eggplants, cut into bite-sized slivers (as above)
about 15 cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1 pound mushrooms, cleaned and cut into quarters (if small) or equivalent (if large)
Enough olive oil for cooking (3 Tablespoons?)
1 tablespoon butter
chopped fresh basil, marjoram, and oregano (I used one stem each of oregano and marjoram, and about 10 large basil leaves)
pine nuts
feta cheese
I cooked the vegetables in batches so that they'd each get cooked thoroughly, and also so that the juice from the mushroom and tomatoes didn't change the cooking method from "stir-fry" into "braise."
While doing all of this, also cook a pound of rotini.
1) In wok or large frying pan, heat up 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add onions when oil is hot. Stirring frequently, book until softened. Add garlic and cook another minute. Remove from pan. Do not clean pan.
2) Add a little more oil and heat up again. This time, cook the zucchini until just turning brown. Stir frequently or the zucchini might stick. Remove zukes from pan (add them to the bowl with the onions), do not clean pan.
3) Add a little more oil and heat up again. This time, cook the eggplant until browned on both sides. Do not stir frequently or the eggplant will never properly brown. Only move them around to flip over each piece. Place eggplants into colander and sprinkle with salt. Allow eggplant to drain at least 20 minutes. Do not clean pan.
4) Add a little more oil and a tablespoon of butter. Cook mushrooms, stirring frequently, until just browning and soft. Add tomatoes and cook for one more minute, then dump in all other cooked vegetables and add the herbs. Stir together and allow to heat through. Serve over hot pasta with a handful of pine nuts and a sprinkle of feta cheese.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Ten on Tuesdays (late): 10 favorite bumper stickers
Whew! Yesterday was so busy that I completely forgot about Ten on Tuesday until this morning! Now, I have to clarify that I don't have any bumper stickers on my car, just a bunch of parking permits for the various parks near us.
1) Gandalf for President - a classic, but one I still love
2) Republicans for Voldemort - was very popular in 2008, I believe
3) If You Think Education is Expensive, You Should Try Ignorance - don't know where I first saw this one, but I've seen it enough times to remember it.
4) COEXIST - where the letters are made of different symbols with religious significance... I don't know how to describe it if you haven't seen it for yourself
5) I'd Really Rather Be Biking - can't remember where I saw it, but I love the sentiment
6) If You Can Read This, You're Driving Too Close - another classic
7) My Kid Can Beat Up Your Honors Student - because that's probably true...
8) I Support The Right To Arm Bears - because I love Sandra Boynton's artwork
9) Do Not Meddle in the Affairs of Dragons, For You are Crunchy and Taste Good with Ketchup - another classic
10) and I had to look this one up to remember exactly how it went... I'm Not An Alcoholic, I'm a Drunk: Alcoholics Go to Meetings
1) Gandalf for President - a classic, but one I still love
2) Republicans for Voldemort - was very popular in 2008, I believe
3) If You Think Education is Expensive, You Should Try Ignorance - don't know where I first saw this one, but I've seen it enough times to remember it.
4) COEXIST - where the letters are made of different symbols with religious significance... I don't know how to describe it if you haven't seen it for yourself
5) I'd Really Rather Be Biking - can't remember where I saw it, but I love the sentiment
6) If You Can Read This, You're Driving Too Close - another classic
7) My Kid Can Beat Up Your Honors Student - because that's probably true...
8) I Support The Right To Arm Bears - because I love Sandra Boynton's artwork
9) Do Not Meddle in the Affairs of Dragons, For You are Crunchy and Taste Good with Ketchup - another classic
10) and I had to look this one up to remember exactly how it went... I'm Not An Alcoholic, I'm a Drunk: Alcoholics Go to Meetings
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Ten on Tuesday: 10 favorite beach songs!
Most of these are clearly referring to a beach somewhere, but a couple of them are just my own personal "beach music"!
1) Boys of Summer by Don Henley
2) Summer of '69 by Bryan Adams
3) Kokomo by the Beach Boys
4) Pink Cadillac by Natalie Cole
5) Hot n Cold by Katy Perry
6) Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding
7) Venus by Bananarama
8) Under the Sea (from The Little Mermaid)
9) California Dreamin' by The Cranberrys (or The Mamas and the Papas... I love both versions!)
10) La Isla Bonita by Madonna
1) Boys of Summer by Don Henley
2) Summer of '69 by Bryan Adams
3) Kokomo by the Beach Boys
4) Pink Cadillac by Natalie Cole
5) Hot n Cold by Katy Perry
6) Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding
7) Venus by Bananarama
8) Under the Sea (from The Little Mermaid)
9) California Dreamin' by The Cranberrys (or The Mamas and the Papas... I love both versions!)
10) La Isla Bonita by Madonna
Saturday, July 16, 2011
FO: green knee-socks!
My mother and I co-knit these: I did the heels, toes, calf increases, and bind-off, while she knit all the parts that were just ribbing or stockinette.
Yarn: Marathon Sock by Wisdom Yarns, North Pole Series, "Elf"
Needles: size 2 wooden, used two 16" circular needles
Pattern: nothing specific, just a basic 2x2 rib on a generic sock pattern for an 8-year-old. The toe has a Figure-8 cast-on and the heel is a gusset heel in Eye of Partridge stitch. The bind-off is Jeny's Surprisingly Stretch BindOff.
The pair of socks took just under a full skein of yarn. (The kid has small feet!)
Yarn: Marathon Sock by Wisdom Yarns, North Pole Series, "Elf"
Needles: size 2 wooden, used two 16" circular needles
Pattern: nothing specific, just a basic 2x2 rib on a generic sock pattern for an 8-year-old. The toe has a Figure-8 cast-on and the heel is a gusset heel in Eye of Partridge stitch. The bind-off is Jeny's Surprisingly Stretch BindOff.
The pair of socks took just under a full skein of yarn. (The kid has small feet!)
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