After I introduced him to one of my favorite cold-weather alcoholic beverages (Kahlua and hot cocoa... trust me, it's amazing), my friend Colin gave me this amazing recipe for homemade cocoa mix...
2 cups powdered sugar
1 cup cocoa powder
2 1/2 cups powdered milk (this turned out to me the most difficult ingredient to acquire for me...)
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cornstarch
1 pinch cayenne pepper (I actually have a measuring spoon for "pinch." It comes in handy)
Mix everything together (a whisk works well to get any lumps out) and store in an air-tight container. I used a rubber-maid container, but I think I'm going to get some mason jars or something for next time. Because I am definitely making this again in the very near future. Anyway, it should last for a long time... or maybe a few days if you're anything like me. I found about 3 tablespoons of mix worked well for a standard coffee cup. I may play with the proportions a bit to make it a little more chocolate-y and spicy (if you've never had spicy chocolate, you're missing out).
I also enjoy peppermint schnapps in my cocoa, and I've been told Grand Mariner is also good (thanks Jeff!)
Anyone have any other hot cocoa recipes? Or other favorite cold weather beverages?
Friday, November 5, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
... in which I make a triumphant return
Yes, that's right, I'm back.
Not that I was really gone, since I have been on twitter and I think all my readers come from there anyway.
"Why were you gone?" you might ask. Well, I'll tell you. I got a new job. And not just any job, but my dream job. A job where I could potentially stay forever. A job that pushes me and challenges me and stretches me to my limit. Which bring me to why I was gone... This ultimate job kind of saps my energy. Those who follow me on twitter know my tweets for the past two months have mostly been along the lines of "Oh my god I'm so busy. So tired. Bed now. #ilovemyjob #razztag."
But I'm back! I'm finally getting into the swing of things, so I'm going to try to re-direct this blog back to what I intended, a movie/book/food review. It is supposed to reflect my interests, not just serve as an open journal for ranting.
So, for my triumphant return, I'll start with a review of an excellent film based on a fantastic production of one of the greatest plays ever written: Hamlet. Specifically, last year's Royal Shakespeare Company's production. Starring David Tennant and Sir Patrick Stewart. Not unexpectedly, the best part of this production was the acting. You expect brilliant acting from the RSC, and this is no exception. The classic "To be or not to be" speech has been performed in many different ways... my (previous) favorite was Kenneth Branagh's version directed into a mirror. Here, the speech is delivered as a close-up on Tennant's face, very little movement, simply watching the emotion flicker across his face. The fourth wall is broken many times in the production, not only giving it the feel of a stage play, but allowing the soliloquies to become more intimate. And Tennant knows exactly how to play on this, when to look directly at the camera and when to look off. It really is the most moving performance of that speech I've ever seen, and that includes several actual stage plays.
Anyone who knows me knows I love Shakespeare. To often we get bogged down in the language, and Hamlet, with it's long speeches, is one of the worst. But here, the actors strive to almost skim over the worst parts, making it easier to understand. The production itself was almost stage-like, very minimal and very little set dressing. So, basically, if you like stage productions of Shakespeare and really really good acting, you'll like this. If you like David Tennant, you'd probably enjoy this too. Overall, I recommend it.
Not that I was really gone, since I have been on twitter and I think all my readers come from there anyway.
"Why were you gone?" you might ask. Well, I'll tell you. I got a new job. And not just any job, but my dream job. A job where I could potentially stay forever. A job that pushes me and challenges me and stretches me to my limit. Which bring me to why I was gone... This ultimate job kind of saps my energy. Those who follow me on twitter know my tweets for the past two months have mostly been along the lines of "Oh my god I'm so busy. So tired. Bed now. #ilovemyjob #razztag."
But I'm back! I'm finally getting into the swing of things, so I'm going to try to re-direct this blog back to what I intended, a movie/book/food review. It is supposed to reflect my interests, not just serve as an open journal for ranting.
So, for my triumphant return, I'll start with a review of an excellent film based on a fantastic production of one of the greatest plays ever written: Hamlet. Specifically, last year's Royal Shakespeare Company's production. Starring David Tennant and Sir Patrick Stewart. Not unexpectedly, the best part of this production was the acting. You expect brilliant acting from the RSC, and this is no exception. The classic "To be or not to be" speech has been performed in many different ways... my (previous) favorite was Kenneth Branagh's version directed into a mirror. Here, the speech is delivered as a close-up on Tennant's face, very little movement, simply watching the emotion flicker across his face. The fourth wall is broken many times in the production, not only giving it the feel of a stage play, but allowing the soliloquies to become more intimate. And Tennant knows exactly how to play on this, when to look directly at the camera and when to look off. It really is the most moving performance of that speech I've ever seen, and that includes several actual stage plays.
Anyone who knows me knows I love Shakespeare. To often we get bogged down in the language, and Hamlet, with it's long speeches, is one of the worst. But here, the actors strive to almost skim over the worst parts, making it easier to understand. The production itself was almost stage-like, very minimal and very little set dressing. So, basically, if you like stage productions of Shakespeare and really really good acting, you'll like this. If you like David Tennant, you'd probably enjoy this too. Overall, I recommend it.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
The Third Man
After much searching (okay, after a brief Google search) I found a few recipes I thought would be good. Sam graciously offered to make the apple strudel (which turned out great despite his initial misgivings and a recipe that makes Primer seem logical and straightforward) and I tackled the Black Tea Chocolate Cake. It also turned out okay, if a little dry. I would definitely cut the baking time down in the future. And cut out the hazelnuts. And add a glaze or icing. But I generally like my dessert really sweet. Anyway, on to the movie...
I was somewhat surprised how much I like this movie. The plot was relatively simple. A writer arrives in Vienna to find the friend he was supposed to stay with has been killed in a mysterious car crash. The rest of the movie involves the writer trying to find out what happened. The characters are interesting, and you're never really sure who is the good guy and who is not, which I always appreciate. The thing that stood out for me though was the cinematography. The play of light and shadow, and the all of the attached symbolism, was masterfully composed. The chase scene in the sewers at the end was particularly amazing. I think the way the camera was utilized would not have worked in a color film. I was also somewhat surprised to see how modern Orson Welles acting style was. I've not seen him in anything (which is a travesty, I know, you don't have to tell me), and he was only in a small part of this one, but I was still struck. Not only the lighting, but the shots of bombed-out areas contrasted with the loft architecture of the city was a commentary on the characters' situation and personalities. Truly an interesting movie.
Every time I see an older, little-known movie like this one, a small part of me wonders what a remake would be like. I can imagine this one being much more action-packed or suspenseful. They'd get some young, attractive actors for the lead roles. Actually, I think it would be pretty good. But I can almost guarantee it would not be as visually striking. I don't think there are too many directors these days that can do so much with so little.
Overall, the evening was a success. I give the movie a definite B+.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Movie Review-splosion
This weekend was an epic movie-watching weekend for me. No particular reason, I just didn't have anything better to do. So, here goes...
Love Me if You Dare (Jeux D'Enfants)
In recent years I've started to watch more international films. Sometimes I'm confused by them, but never disappointed. This movie, about two childhood friends that continuously play an escalating game of dare, was no exception. Marion Cotillard is the reason to watch this flick. She was, as always, brilliant. Otherwise it was kind of cute, but not earth-shattering. Bottom line: 3 out of 5.
What's Your Rashee?
Occasionally I enjoy watching Bollywood fluff movies. That's exactly what this is. Basically, this guy has to get married in 10 days, and he decides to meet women based on their astrological sign. Oh yeah, it's exactly as cheesy as it sounds. The one really interesting part is all 12 women are played by the same actress. She's so good you don't even realize it right away. If you enjoy Bollywood movies, this is a pretty good one. As Western movies go, it's nothing special. It's certainly not something I would advise a Bollywood virgin to watch (if you want to get into the genre, start with either Bride & Prejudice or Bollywood/Hollywood) . I'd give Rashee a Bollywood 4 out of 5, but maybe a US 2.5 out of 5.
Nine
If you liked Chicago, you'll like this movie. It has the same aesthetic, realistic scenes interspersed with theater-style song and dance sequences. The music is good, the best piece is probably "Cinema Italiano," which was written just for the movie. (by the way, did you know that Kate Hudson can sing? Oh yeah, she kills that song.) Daniel Day-Lewis was brilliant as tortured director Guido Contini, and the bevy of fantastic actresses around him were also great. It was almost surprising how brief their scenes were, I didn't even notice how little time each spent on screen. The story is almost painful to watch, as Contini's mental breakdown progresses and he really starts to lose it. Visually this movie is shot well, with an interesting mix of black-and-white and color, and beautiful shots of Italy. Overall: 3.5 out of 5.
Where the Wild Things Are
When this movie came out, there were very mixed reviews. I understand that now. There was very little story, but it was very beautiful. It really was like watching the book. It's hard to comment on the acting, when most of the actors were giant fuzzy monsters. The kid was pretty good. Bottom line: this movie is not for everyone. If you like artsy movies with little substance, you might like it. 3 out of 5.
New York, I Love You
I watched Paris, je t'aime a few years ago and absolutely loved it. It's basically a series of short films, written and directed by different filmmakers, set in Paris, telling different love stories. New York, I Love You is the companion piece set in NYC. It was filmed a little differently, more continuous, but each story was touching. I liked the way both films didn't tell the whole story, but a part. The beginning, somewhere in the middle, the end... It was a brief look into each relationship. It also tells the story of life in the City. I've never lived there, only visited, but I was able to identify with much of the commentary. All the actors were great, even some I didn't expect (I didn't even recognize Shia LaBeouf at first). I really enjoyed both of these movies, and I encourage everyone to check them out. 4 out of 5.
Men Who Stare At Goats
I wasn't sure what to make of this when I added it to my Netflix queue. The previews looked great, but then I heard nothing about it. Well, turns out that's because it really is different. Bob (Ewan McGregor) is a journalist interviewing Lyn (George Clooney) who used to work for a military psychic warfare group. I did like the balance they struck with the psychic stuff. If you wanted to believe in it, you could, but the skeptic in me could also explain away everything that happened. The more interesting part was the commentary on war in general, and specifically the war in Iraq, what it does to people and how it's fought. I'm not going to get in to all of that... I'll just say watch The Hurt Locker to see the serious side, and watch this movie to see the slightly lighter side. Anyway, this was funny and thought-provoking. Worth a watch.3.5 out of 5.
Outsourced
I added this to the Netflix queue a long time ago, but was prompted to watch it this weekend when I heard there was going to be a TV show of the same name and similar premise starting this fall. Based on character names, it's based on the movie. The idea is a customer service manager is sent to India to train phone center employees. It sounds like the plot of a screwball comedy (which is likely what the tv show will be), but end up being a really touching look at the clash of cultures. This movie in particular struck me because in Todd (Josh Hamilton) I recognized myself. I spent two months in Nepal a few years ago, and many of the things he went through I also experienced. The random power outage. The differences between the city and the small village. The crammed and often... interesting... modes of transportation. Learning to haggle over prices. Culture shock is something you don't think about until you travel somewhere so completely different. So while the average movie viewer would give this maybe a 3 out of 5, it struck a chord with me, so I give it a 4 out of 5.And I'm making my Nepal travel buddy watch this as soon as possible.
In the next blog post (sometime this week maybe) I'll talk about Alice (which I've watched 3 or 4 times in the past few weeks), Primeval (and how the two are connected), and The Guild (which I finally got around to watching this week). Something for you to look forward to...
Love Me if You Dare (Jeux D'Enfants)In recent years I've started to watch more international films. Sometimes I'm confused by them, but never disappointed. This movie, about two childhood friends that continuously play an escalating game of dare, was no exception. Marion Cotillard is the reason to watch this flick. She was, as always, brilliant. Otherwise it was kind of cute, but not earth-shattering. Bottom line: 3 out of 5.
What's Your Rashee?
Occasionally I enjoy watching Bollywood fluff movies. That's exactly what this is. Basically, this guy has to get married in 10 days, and he decides to meet women based on their astrological sign. Oh yeah, it's exactly as cheesy as it sounds. The one really interesting part is all 12 women are played by the same actress. She's so good you don't even realize it right away. If you enjoy Bollywood movies, this is a pretty good one. As Western movies go, it's nothing special. It's certainly not something I would advise a Bollywood virgin to watch (if you want to get into the genre, start with either Bride & Prejudice or Bollywood/Hollywood) . I'd give Rashee a Bollywood 4 out of 5, but maybe a US 2.5 out of 5.
NineIf you liked Chicago, you'll like this movie. It has the same aesthetic, realistic scenes interspersed with theater-style song and dance sequences. The music is good, the best piece is probably "Cinema Italiano," which was written just for the movie. (by the way, did you know that Kate Hudson can sing? Oh yeah, she kills that song.) Daniel Day-Lewis was brilliant as tortured director Guido Contini, and the bevy of fantastic actresses around him were also great. It was almost surprising how brief their scenes were, I didn't even notice how little time each spent on screen. The story is almost painful to watch, as Contini's mental breakdown progresses and he really starts to lose it. Visually this movie is shot well, with an interesting mix of black-and-white and color, and beautiful shots of Italy. Overall: 3.5 out of 5.
Where the Wild Things Are When this movie came out, there were very mixed reviews. I understand that now. There was very little story, but it was very beautiful. It really was like watching the book. It's hard to comment on the acting, when most of the actors were giant fuzzy monsters. The kid was pretty good. Bottom line: this movie is not for everyone. If you like artsy movies with little substance, you might like it. 3 out of 5.
New York, I Love You
Men Who Stare At Goats
OutsourcedI added this to the Netflix queue a long time ago, but was prompted to watch it this weekend when I heard there was going to be a TV show of the same name and similar premise starting this fall. Based on character names, it's based on the movie. The idea is a customer service manager is sent to India to train phone center employees. It sounds like the plot of a screwball comedy (which is likely what the tv show will be), but end up being a really touching look at the clash of cultures. This movie in particular struck me because in Todd (Josh Hamilton) I recognized myself. I spent two months in Nepal a few years ago, and many of the things he went through I also experienced. The random power outage. The differences between the city and the small village. The crammed and often... interesting... modes of transportation. Learning to haggle over prices. Culture shock is something you don't think about until you travel somewhere so completely different. So while the average movie viewer would give this maybe a 3 out of 5, it struck a chord with me, so I give it a 4 out of 5.And I'm making my Nepal travel buddy watch this as soon as possible.
In the next blog post (sometime this week maybe) I'll talk about Alice (which I've watched 3 or 4 times in the past few weeks), Primeval (and how the two are connected), and The Guild (which I finally got around to watching this week). Something for you to look forward to...
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Ah, nostalgia...
Watching last night's Glee made me nostalgic for my show choir days. I broke out my old sheet music and tried out my audition song. Well, both of them, because I had a couple. I usually did better when singing "On My Own" from Les Mis. Anyway, I found out my kitchen has great acoustics, and my voice is not what it used to be. In college I was singing with some sort of choir at least 3 times a week, and sometimes taking voice lessons on top of that. Now, other than singing in the car, I don't get much practice in, certainly nothing that really stretches my range. (Though "45" by Shinedown is a surprisingly good vocal workout...)
(Evidence of my show choir days. Yes, that's me. I swear.)
I know I have the dress and shoes, now I feel like going up in the attic and digging through my boxes to see if I still have the boa...
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Vacation Re-cap
I know it's been a while since my vacation (a month, to be exact), but I finally uploaded some photos I thought I'd share. I drove up to Green Bay in the middle of a thunderstorm, spent Easter with my parents, then the three of us drove to western Wisconsin to my aunt & uncle's cabin.
I spent most of that week reading, sleeping and taking photos. Unfortunately most of the photos were with my mom's new fancy camera, but I did manage to get a couple nice shots with my little P&S...
One rainy day my mom, my aunt and I drove in to town for a change of scenery. We found the coolest used bookstore, housed in an old tobacco warehouse. I picked up a bunch of James Bond books I didn't have so it was definitely a success.
Our last day in Hay Valley we visited what my aunt calls the "Amish Walmart," but is more like a junk shop or thrift store. It's run by an Amish family, and had the weirdest collection of stuff I've ever seen for sale in one place. I took some fantastic photos, but there are way too many to post them all here... Here's the Flickr set, and a preview of what you might see:
On the drive back to Ohio it was much nicer, and I managed to get a nice shot of the large windmills in northern Indiana:
It was great to get away for a week, see my family and play with my dog. Unfortunately the week after my getaway was filled with flying to Florida for a day then to Chicago for two days, both for interviews. All the benefits of my relaxing vacation were immediately erased. It all worked out in the end, though, I got the job in Chicago. Hooray for permanent employment!
(PS: You can click on any of the photos here to see them larger.)
I spent most of that week reading, sleeping and taking photos. Unfortunately most of the photos were with my mom's new fancy camera, but I did manage to get a couple nice shots with my little P&S...
One rainy day my mom, my aunt and I drove in to town for a change of scenery. We found the coolest used bookstore, housed in an old tobacco warehouse. I picked up a bunch of James Bond books I didn't have so it was definitely a success.
Our last day in Hay Valley we visited what my aunt calls the "Amish Walmart," but is more like a junk shop or thrift store. It's run by an Amish family, and had the weirdest collection of stuff I've ever seen for sale in one place. I took some fantastic photos, but there are way too many to post them all here... Here's the Flickr set, and a preview of what you might see:
On the drive back to Ohio it was much nicer, and I managed to get a nice shot of the large windmills in northern Indiana:
It was great to get away for a week, see my family and play with my dog. Unfortunately the week after my getaway was filled with flying to Florida for a day then to Chicago for two days, both for interviews. All the benefits of my relaxing vacation were immediately erased. It all worked out in the end, though, I got the job in Chicago. Hooray for permanent employment!
(PS: You can click on any of the photos here to see them larger.)
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
A crazy weekend...
I'm not usually a social butterfly, but I could've posed as one this past weekend. It all started on Friday night, with a screening of "Rocky" at Take the Cake Cafe for Watch This...
First of all, Take the Cake makes some killer cupcakes. I had the red velvet, and it was fantastic. After some trouble shooting (And watching Alex sprint to a video store to get the movie) we watched the greatest boxing movie ever made. Now I'm not going to dispute the fact that the story of the first movie is a powerful one, but consider this: What kind of movie would it have been with a more dramatic actor, or an actor with more acting ability? I'm sure it would be different, that's for sure. I wonder these things sometimes.
Saturday began very early for me. Very, very early. Alex, Scott, Val and others are working on a video about Foursquare, and needed some extras for a scene in the library. Thankfully, they provided coffee and donuts. I'll definitely link to the video when it's finished. Based on the shots I saw, it's gonna be hysterical!
After the video shoot, I had a few hours to get ready for the Cincinnati Ballet's production of Mozart's Requiem. I've been looking forward to this for a long time. My concert choir sang this in college, and I was very interested to see what a ballet would be like. I was not disappointed... it was fantastic. The set design was unusual, lots of scaffolding and random doors. The costumes were very understated. In the first half the lighting was mostly from up stage and the wings, creating lots of shadows on the dancers. Which brings me to the dancing. It was phenomenal. A good mix of classic ballet style with more modern movement and angles. A preferred the darker, more modern first half to the brighter, classic second half, but the whole thing was enjoyable. Oh, and the choir... Xavier University concert chorale was amazing. You could hear every part, none of them were overpowering (I'm looking at you, sopranos...). The Dies Ire was powerful and imposing, and the Lacrymosa brought tears to my eyes. Overall a really great performance.
After the ballet, my brother and I jetted home to change out of our finery for the pre-Rollergirls tailgate tweet-up. First f all, if you've never been to a roller derby bout, go. Find a team in your area and go. It's crazy fun, and there are great people-watching opportunities. Anyway, the tailgating was a success, and there are already plans for a more elaborate set up at the next home bout.
The Cincinnati Rollergirls have two teams, a "junior" team (the Silent Lambs) and a "varsity" team, the Black Sheep. The Lambs killed the visiting team from Indianapolis, 112 to 30. The second bout was very close, and therefore very exciting. I spent the bout explaining rules and scoring to the gang from twitter. I'm not sure how I ended up the de-facto expert, but at least people learned enough to enjoy it! The Black Sheep ended up losing to Sand Diego in the last few minutes, 108 to 129.
The official Rollergirls after party was at Molly Malone's, but we headed to the Pub in Rookwood instead. It was very loud, there was live music and beer.
Luckily, I got to sleep in on Sunday.
First of all, Take the Cake makes some killer cupcakes. I had the red velvet, and it was fantastic. After some trouble shooting (And watching Alex sprint to a video store to get the movie) we watched the greatest boxing movie ever made. Now I'm not going to dispute the fact that the story of the first movie is a powerful one, but consider this: What kind of movie would it have been with a more dramatic actor, or an actor with more acting ability? I'm sure it would be different, that's for sure. I wonder these things sometimes.
Saturday began very early for me. Very, very early. Alex, Scott, Val and others are working on a video about Foursquare, and needed some extras for a scene in the library. Thankfully, they provided coffee and donuts. I'll definitely link to the video when it's finished. Based on the shots I saw, it's gonna be hysterical!
After the video shoot, I had a few hours to get ready for the Cincinnati Ballet's production of Mozart's Requiem. I've been looking forward to this for a long time. My concert choir sang this in college, and I was very interested to see what a ballet would be like. I was not disappointed... it was fantastic. The set design was unusual, lots of scaffolding and random doors. The costumes were very understated. In the first half the lighting was mostly from up stage and the wings, creating lots of shadows on the dancers. Which brings me to the dancing. It was phenomenal. A good mix of classic ballet style with more modern movement and angles. A preferred the darker, more modern first half to the brighter, classic second half, but the whole thing was enjoyable. Oh, and the choir... Xavier University concert chorale was amazing. You could hear every part, none of them were overpowering (I'm looking at you, sopranos...). The Dies Ire was powerful and imposing, and the Lacrymosa brought tears to my eyes. Overall a really great performance.
After the ballet, my brother and I jetted home to change out of our finery for the pre-Rollergirls tailgate tweet-up. First f all, if you've never been to a roller derby bout, go. Find a team in your area and go. It's crazy fun, and there are great people-watching opportunities. Anyway, the tailgating was a success, and there are already plans for a more elaborate set up at the next home bout.
The Cincinnati Rollergirls have two teams, a "junior" team (the Silent Lambs) and a "varsity" team, the Black Sheep. The Lambs killed the visiting team from Indianapolis, 112 to 30. The second bout was very close, and therefore very exciting. I spent the bout explaining rules and scoring to the gang from twitter. I'm not sure how I ended up the de-facto expert, but at least people learned enough to enjoy it! The Black Sheep ended up losing to Sand Diego in the last few minutes, 108 to 129.
The official Rollergirls after party was at Molly Malone's, but we headed to the Pub in Rookwood instead. It was very loud, there was live music and beer.
Luckily, I got to sleep in on Sunday.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
A walk around the zoo...
I went out for a walk around the zoo this afternoon to take some photos for a presentation. Of course the one time I actually want to see squirrels around, I can't find one. Anyway, here are some shots from this afternoon...
The first flowers of spring
The Andean Condors were enjoying the sun.
The grey foxes thought I was a keeper bringing their dinner. They started climbing the fence & chattering.
Here's a shot you won't see often... Mexican wolves from the back of their exhibit. The building in the background is where visitors can view them.
The train tracks as they go over the trellis by the Zebra exhibit.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Ginger Molasses Cookies
In my recipe book these are called Ginger Snaps. I prefer my cookies a little on the chewy side, so I tend to under-cook them a little so they're less crunchy. I have no idea where I found this recipe, but I suspect it was among the stack of recipes from my Grandmother. She taught me to bake when I was little, and I inherited her love of it. Every Christmas she would cook up dozens of types of cookies and candy. I remember helping her experiment with toffee, which tasted great but looked scary. I use her cookie sheets when I bake, and I think of her every time. Anyway, here's the recipe...
Ingredients:
2 cups flour
2 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
Preheat the oven to 350. Sift or whisk together the first 5 ingredients (flour, soda, salt, and spices) and set them aside. Cream the butter (I soften it in the microwave first) and beat in the sugar. Blend it well, then add the egg and molasses. Beat this mixture well, then gradually add the dry ingredients. Stir them until smooth. This takes a lot of elbow grease if you're mixing them by hand. Shape the dough into 1 inch balls and roll them in sugar. Place them at least 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. They expand a lot, so give them plenty of room. Again, my oven runs hot so don't bake them for very long, but here's a general guideline: For chewier cookies bake for 10-11 minutes, for crispier cookies bake for 13-14 minutes.
Ingredients:
2 cups flour
2 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup sugar
3/4 cup butter
1 egg
1/4 cup molasses
Preheat the oven to 350. Sift or whisk together the first 5 ingredients (flour, soda, salt, and spices) and set them aside. Cream the butter (I soften it in the microwave first) and beat in the sugar. Blend it well, then add the egg and molasses. Beat this mixture well, then gradually add the dry ingredients. Stir them until smooth. This takes a lot of elbow grease if you're mixing them by hand. Shape the dough into 1 inch balls and roll them in sugar. Place them at least 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. They expand a lot, so give them plenty of room. Again, my oven runs hot so don't bake them for very long, but here's a general guideline: For chewier cookies bake for 10-11 minutes, for crispier cookies bake for 13-14 minutes.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Best Peanut Butter Cookies Ever
I don't like to brag, but I do make the best peanut butter cookies. I've tried many recipes over the years, and I keep coming back to this one. It's from the Good Housekeeping book, and I'm going to share it with you.
Ingredients:
2 & 1/4 cups flour
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2/3 cup honey
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1/2 tsp baking powder (apparently baking soda works too, since that's what I used this last time by accident)
Preheat the oven to 350. You can just mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl, but I prefer to mix the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder/soda) together in a smaller bowl first. Mix everything else in the large bowl, then dump the flour mix in. Shape the dough into 1-2 inch balls and place them 2-3 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Dip a fork in flour and press it across the top of each ball in both directions. Bake them in the oven for 15 minutes. My oven runs hot, so they only need 10 minutes. These cookies are not good if they're in too long, so I suggest starting them at 10 minutes & increase as needed. They'll just start to turn golden at the edges when they're done.
Ingredients:
2 & 1/4 cups flour
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2/3 cup honey
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
1/2 tsp baking powder (apparently baking soda works too, since that's what I used this last time by accident)
Preheat the oven to 350. You can just mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl, but I prefer to mix the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder/soda) together in a smaller bowl first. Mix everything else in the large bowl, then dump the flour mix in. Shape the dough into 1-2 inch balls and place them 2-3 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Dip a fork in flour and press it across the top of each ball in both directions. Bake them in the oven for 15 minutes. My oven runs hot, so they only need 10 minutes. These cookies are not good if they're in too long, so I suggest starting them at 10 minutes & increase as needed. They'll just start to turn golden at the edges when they're done.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
The Brothers Bloom
Every once in a while Netflix recommends a movie that I hate. But, again, once in a while they get it right. Almost exactly. This move was one of those rare very, very right times.
The Brothers Bloom is about, well, two brothers. These brothers are con artists, played by Adrian Brody (Bloom) and Mark Ruffalo (Stephen). As with most con-men movies, one brother wants out, but is talked into one last job. In this case, the job is to take Penelope (played by Rachel Weisz) on an adventure around the world to take her money. Sounds simple. There are many, many layers to this movie that I didn't expect. I expected a simple romantic adventure comedy, not a commentary on family, how to tell what's real, and what it means to face your fears and take control of your own life. You never really knew what was real and what was part of the con, including the way people felt. Even right up to the very end, I wasn't sure what was real. I also didn't expect it to be as beautiful as it was. The editing and the camerawork was great, and little subtle touches made what would have been a good story into an excellent movie.
Ever since I saw The Pianist years ago, I have been captivated by Adrian Brody's acting (If you haven't seen it, you really need to. It's a wonderful piece of acting). Maybe it's the sad eyes, but he makes everything so believable. There's a scene in this movie in which you can see the scared little boy behind his eyes, and it breaks my heart. He gives the character of Bloom so much depth, without making him seem weak. As much as I loved the way the brothers were portrayed, and as much as I love watching Brody work, my favorite character was Bang Bang, played by Rinko Kikuchi. She only had one line in the whole movie, but she stole almost every scene she was in. I laughed out loud several times at her facial expressions.All the actors were phenominal.
I'm really not doing this movie justice. I wondered why I never heard of it, I think maybe it wasn't really marketed right. The poster looks more like an action flick (see below). There's some explosions, but nothing like a Michael Bay film.
The Bottom Line: If you like movies that are more than what you expect, that make you think, then you'll enjoy this. It's funny, moving, and beautiful.
The Brothers Bloom is about, well, two brothers. These brothers are con artists, played by Adrian Brody (Bloom) and Mark Ruffalo (Stephen). As with most con-men movies, one brother wants out, but is talked into one last job. In this case, the job is to take Penelope (played by Rachel Weisz) on an adventure around the world to take her money. Sounds simple. There are many, many layers to this movie that I didn't expect. I expected a simple romantic adventure comedy, not a commentary on family, how to tell what's real, and what it means to face your fears and take control of your own life. You never really knew what was real and what was part of the con, including the way people felt. Even right up to the very end, I wasn't sure what was real. I also didn't expect it to be as beautiful as it was. The editing and the camerawork was great, and little subtle touches made what would have been a good story into an excellent movie.
Ever since I saw The Pianist years ago, I have been captivated by Adrian Brody's acting (If you haven't seen it, you really need to. It's a wonderful piece of acting). Maybe it's the sad eyes, but he makes everything so believable. There's a scene in this movie in which you can see the scared little boy behind his eyes, and it breaks my heart. He gives the character of Bloom so much depth, without making him seem weak. As much as I loved the way the brothers were portrayed, and as much as I love watching Brody work, my favorite character was Bang Bang, played by Rinko Kikuchi. She only had one line in the whole movie, but she stole almost every scene she was in. I laughed out loud several times at her facial expressions.All the actors were phenominal.
I'm really not doing this movie justice. I wondered why I never heard of it, I think maybe it wasn't really marketed right. The poster looks more like an action flick (see below). There's some explosions, but nothing like a Michael Bay film.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
... in which I introduce the world to a long-standing family tradition
My family is sometimes odd. Ten years ago my aunt bought my mother a really ugly seashell-shaped nightlight from the Bahamas, beginning a long tradition of tacky gift giving. My mother and I countered with a giant pencil from the Mall of America. My first solo contribution was a t-shirt for my aunt from Kathmandu. It was in the style of Hard Rock Cafe shirts, but said Hard Yak Cafe. It was brilliant, believe me. Since my aunt died three years ago, my mom and I have continued the contest in her honor.
The contest rules are simple. Whenever we travel anywhere, we look for tacky gifts. But not just any tacky gifts, they have to be useful, so that you can't hide it in a drawer or box it up, you have to display it. We have a $10 price limit, and you get bonus points if the destination name is on the item. Airport gift shops are usually the best place to find these objects, I've found.
Now, there is some debate as to who's winning right now. On a recent trip to Tulsa for a conference, I picked up this gem at a rest stop in Oklahoma. I thought it was a pencil holder, my mom thinks it's supposed to be a votive candle holder. I paired it with a tin pencil sharpener in the shape of a saddle. I think it doesn't get much more tacky than this...
My mom believes she has won with a lobster shaped magnet she acquired for me on her last trip to Maine. She included a note in the package written on the lovely Montecello notepaper I got her for a previous contest entry, using a pencil she sharpened in the saddle-sharpener. While this does earn her bonus points, I'm not so sure she should win this round....
So my question to you is this... which Tacky But Useful gift should win?
The contest rules are simple. Whenever we travel anywhere, we look for tacky gifts. But not just any tacky gifts, they have to be useful, so that you can't hide it in a drawer or box it up, you have to display it. We have a $10 price limit, and you get bonus points if the destination name is on the item. Airport gift shops are usually the best place to find these objects, I've found.
Now, there is some debate as to who's winning right now. On a recent trip to Tulsa for a conference, I picked up this gem at a rest stop in Oklahoma. I thought it was a pencil holder, my mom thinks it's supposed to be a votive candle holder. I paired it with a tin pencil sharpener in the shape of a saddle. I think it doesn't get much more tacky than this...
My mom believes she has won with a lobster shaped magnet she acquired for me on her last trip to Maine. She included a note in the package written on the lovely Montecello notepaper I got her for a previous contest entry, using a pencil she sharpened in the saddle-sharpener. While this does earn her bonus points, I'm not so sure she should win this round....
So my question to you is this... which Tacky But Useful gift should win?
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
...in which I finally have a reason to care about politics
Last week a bill was introduced into Congress that piqued my interest. It's not every day that an Act is proposed that directly relates to my life in an intimate and potentially immediate way, but here it is: the Wildlife and Zoological Veterinary Medicine Enhancement Act.
This proposal has two basic foundations... First, that veterinary schools and other facilities do not provide adequate training in zoo and wildlife medicine. I was lucky that my school not only had a dedicated and fully-staffed Wildlife Clinic, but also an entire zoo & exotic medicine course. Many schools do not, and students interested in zoo and wildlife medicine must travel, often across the country, to get the experience they need. Part of the proposed Act introduces a grant program for schools, zoos and wildlife facilities to provide training in zoo and wildlife medicine. This is not only for veterinary student programs, but also for post-graduate internships and residencies. So basically, my zoo could apply for a grant to cover the intern's salary, conference and coursework expenses, and other training materials, freeing up money to actually treat animals.
The second foundation the proposal is built upon is that there are not enough zoo and wildlife veterinary jobs for the demand, those that do exist do not pay enough, and those of us that want the jobs are too in debt to actually take them. Representative Hastings (the sponsor of the bill) lists the average veterinary student loan debt as $130,000, not including interest. I can assure you mine is much higher. So another part of the Act (and the part that interests me the most) is a loan repayment program. It's similar to enlisting in the military... if they pay 4 years worth of student loans, they expect you to work in the field for at least 4 years. There's also a proposed scholarship program for veterinary students which basically works the same way. The idea of cutting my student loan debt by 99% makes me slightly queasy with joy.
An emergency medicine veterinarian fresh out of school makes almost twice what many experienced zoo vets make a year. And on average, there are less than 10 zoo and wildlife jobs available each year. Across the entire country. Another part of the bill is a grant program for zoo and wildlife associations to create veterinary positions. So the large zoo that would like to add another vet to their staff but can't afford to, or the small zoo that wants to hire a full-time permanent vet, could apply for a grant and hire someone. Like me. For instance.
Programs like this already exist for rural and food animal veterinarians, and the military recruitment process has some similar qualities, but this one is different. It affects me. This is the first time I've ever been actively excited about an act of Congress. That's because of course it quite literally has the potential to change my life. If you'd like to read more details, the full document is here. Please spread the word to any vets or Congress members you know.
This proposal has two basic foundations... First, that veterinary schools and other facilities do not provide adequate training in zoo and wildlife medicine. I was lucky that my school not only had a dedicated and fully-staffed Wildlife Clinic, but also an entire zoo & exotic medicine course. Many schools do not, and students interested in zoo and wildlife medicine must travel, often across the country, to get the experience they need. Part of the proposed Act introduces a grant program for schools, zoos and wildlife facilities to provide training in zoo and wildlife medicine. This is not only for veterinary student programs, but also for post-graduate internships and residencies. So basically, my zoo could apply for a grant to cover the intern's salary, conference and coursework expenses, and other training materials, freeing up money to actually treat animals.
The second foundation the proposal is built upon is that there are not enough zoo and wildlife veterinary jobs for the demand, those that do exist do not pay enough, and those of us that want the jobs are too in debt to actually take them. Representative Hastings (the sponsor of the bill) lists the average veterinary student loan debt as $130,000, not including interest. I can assure you mine is much higher. So another part of the Act (and the part that interests me the most) is a loan repayment program. It's similar to enlisting in the military... if they pay 4 years worth of student loans, they expect you to work in the field for at least 4 years. There's also a proposed scholarship program for veterinary students which basically works the same way. The idea of cutting my student loan debt by 99% makes me slightly queasy with joy.
An emergency medicine veterinarian fresh out of school makes almost twice what many experienced zoo vets make a year. And on average, there are less than 10 zoo and wildlife jobs available each year. Across the entire country. Another part of the bill is a grant program for zoo and wildlife associations to create veterinary positions. So the large zoo that would like to add another vet to their staff but can't afford to, or the small zoo that wants to hire a full-time permanent vet, could apply for a grant and hire someone. Like me. For instance.
Programs like this already exist for rural and food animal veterinarians, and the military recruitment process has some similar qualities, but this one is different. It affects me. This is the first time I've ever been actively excited about an act of Congress. That's because of course it quite literally has the potential to change my life. If you'd like to read more details, the full document is here. Please spread the word to any vets or Congress members you know.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Zoo Medicine
Ever wonder what it's like to be a zoo vet? Today I can sum it up in one word: frustrating. Frustrating as hell.
I spent most of today trying to find causes of diarrhea in adult pigs. We have a 7 year old pot-bellied pig who's had mild diarrhea for over a month, and no treatment I've tried has really helped. Luckily she's fine otherwise. Anyway, so I thought I'd look up some possible causes, in case I missed something. Most of the swine resources are angled toward production medicine. Which means diseases are approached from a herd perspective rather than individual animals, and pigs generally don't live as long. Most of the books and articles I found focused on piglets, infectious disease, and diagnoses made at necropsy. I'd rather not kill our pig to find out what's wrong with her. Also, most of the books discuss how to prevent the problem from spreading, rather than how to treat an individual. I'm sure these books are very useful if I should have a complete personality change and decide to switch to a swine production practice, but they're not helping me out right now. And all the wildlife and exotic books deal with exotic suids such as warthogs. Again, not so helpful with my case. So, for me today zoo medicine is frustrating.
It's not only cases like this that I have trouble with. How do you treat a cat in renal failure? Intravenous fluids until they feel better. How do you treat an ocelot in renal failure, who would really love to rip off your face? Very carefully. We're giving subcutaneous fluids once or twice a week, but the vets in the audience will agree with me when I say that's a drop in the bucket. What do you do with a snow leopard who chews on her tail when someone looks at her during the winter? How do you give a venomous snake that won't eat an antibiotic that only comes as a pill? How do you diagnose hypothyroidism in a Red Panda when no one else has ever measured normal thyroid levels in them? These are the sorts of things I deal with every day. I love my job, I really do. I'd prefer these sorts of problems to convincing people to part with their money for their pets. Is it weird that I'd rather deal with animals that could kill me than clients at a private practice? Maybe. But it's the truth. Zoo medicine is frustrating on many levels, but I would rather be a zoo vet than anything else.
I spent most of today trying to find causes of diarrhea in adult pigs. We have a 7 year old pot-bellied pig who's had mild diarrhea for over a month, and no treatment I've tried has really helped. Luckily she's fine otherwise. Anyway, so I thought I'd look up some possible causes, in case I missed something. Most of the swine resources are angled toward production medicine. Which means diseases are approached from a herd perspective rather than individual animals, and pigs generally don't live as long. Most of the books and articles I found focused on piglets, infectious disease, and diagnoses made at necropsy. I'd rather not kill our pig to find out what's wrong with her. Also, most of the books discuss how to prevent the problem from spreading, rather than how to treat an individual. I'm sure these books are very useful if I should have a complete personality change and decide to switch to a swine production practice, but they're not helping me out right now. And all the wildlife and exotic books deal with exotic suids such as warthogs. Again, not so helpful with my case. So, for me today zoo medicine is frustrating.
It's not only cases like this that I have trouble with. How do you treat a cat in renal failure? Intravenous fluids until they feel better. How do you treat an ocelot in renal failure, who would really love to rip off your face? Very carefully. We're giving subcutaneous fluids once or twice a week, but the vets in the audience will agree with me when I say that's a drop in the bucket. What do you do with a snow leopard who chews on her tail when someone looks at her during the winter? How do you give a venomous snake that won't eat an antibiotic that only comes as a pill? How do you diagnose hypothyroidism in a Red Panda when no one else has ever measured normal thyroid levels in them? These are the sorts of things I deal with every day. I love my job, I really do. I'd prefer these sorts of problems to convincing people to part with their money for their pets. Is it weird that I'd rather deal with animals that could kill me than clients at a private practice? Maybe. But it's the truth. Zoo medicine is frustrating on many levels, but I would rather be a zoo vet than anything else.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
