m00se

- smashed garlic thrown into any old thing

- philosophy supernatural powder

- wine, in general

- leftover candy bars from the trip

- wedge heels

- olives. especially garlic stuffed olives

- reading random books

report on the trip to come before i forget what we did/where we went.

we’re home. we’re tired. we’re cuddling with the cat.

lunch smoothie

Originally uploaded by l@in.

The other day 1L asked me some questions about my smoothie making. I thought they were pretty good so I thought that I’d just write about them here, instead of responding on my flickr stream. I didn’t really start making smoothies until the cancer thing was really under control. I wanted to eat more healthfully which was something that I’ve been trying to work on for the past few years, but my health issues really kicked this into high gear. I started reading about people who were using nutrition to combat cancer, mainly macrobiotics. I feel like I’ve made a lot of progress, but it’s an ongoing thing. Joanna and I did a week of raw eating last summer. I’d definitely like to do that again. I don’t think I could do it all the time but I think it’s a good break from normal eating and gets me back into eating more fresh, unprocessed foods. I still eat too much sugar and sweets in general. That said, the last time I saw my doctor, he said my cholesterol was in a really healthy range and I’d lost some weight, so clearly I’m doing something right.

Anyway, 1L asks:
“I’ve been thinking about juicing for a while now, and I’ve got a couple questions for you, if you have the time:
-Where do you find your smoothie recipes, or do you just make them up and experiment?
-Did you buy a special juicer or blender? I don’t have either right now, but was looking to buy a blender with some BB&B gift certificates that I have.
-Do you transport smoothies to work for lunch, or just drink at home?”

At first I looked for smoothie recipes online. I think I found a lot on raw food blogs. It might have been through Kris Carr’s Crazy Sexy Cancer documentary that I really started to consider juicing and green smoothies, using kale as a base for the smoothie. After I made them a bunch, I just started throwing anything in. Now I’ve started to experiement with more vegetables. The other day I put leftover broccoli in it, and today some fresh carrots that need to be eaten. I’ve discovered that pretty much everything works. Also, if you’re drinking it right away, ice is a good thing to add for texture and temperature.

I usually try to throw a little bit of fruit juice in too, but not too much and I use water as the liquid base. Though, if you’re looking for protein, all fruit and a little yogurt or milk is a yummy smoothie. I think the weirdest smoothie I’ve ever made was when I was recovering from surgery and got a really big protein craving. I put a banana, milk, and a few tablespoons of peanut butter in the blender with some ice. It was pretty good.

I use a plain old Oster blender that I’m pretty sure I got in college to make frozen drinks. It’s not special. I don’t think it was the cheapest model I could get, but I don’t think it cost more than $40. You could get something nicer, and it might work better, but right now this one is working for me.

I used to only drink smoothies at home but I was chatting with a friend recently who said that she’d been taking them to work for lunch. I peppered her with questions and she said that it separated a little, but a little stir fixed that. It was fine in terms of temperature if she put it in the fridge right when she got to work. She said that she just put whatever fresh or frozen fruit she had on hand and sometimes used yogurt and it always worked out fine. I tried it the other day; I made a smoothie, popped it in a drink bottle with a straw and froze it. I took it to work and let it sit on my desk and it thawed out in about four hours and was yummy and slushy. This way I don’t have to make the smoothie in the morning, because I’m really lazy and unless I’m working from home, it won’t happen.

Tonight I adapted this awesome recipe for Dark Chocolate Cranberry Blondies and delivered it to Hillary HQ for the volunteers calling voters in Texas and Ohio.

the recipe with my adaptations:

3/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 kosher salt
1 cups milk chocolate chips
1/2 cups dried cherries

Lightly grease 8 x8 baking dish.

Melt butter in pan, remove from heat and cool. Stir together butter and sugars. Beat in eggs one at a time, followed by vanilla extract. Stir in flour and salt, mixing just until no streaks of flour remain, then add chocolate and dried cherries. Pour into prepared pan and spread evenly with a spatula.

Bake for about 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the top is a light golden brown. If using a 9×13, the brownies may be slightly thinner, so be sure to check them early; it is better to check once or twice than to have overdone blondies.

Cool on a wire rack before slicing.

Again not my recipe, but the way I adapted it. I think it turned out very well.

I made some calls to voters on Saturday, and was amazed that many of the people that I talked to weren’t aware of the so-called Texas “two step” process. Others regretted that they couldn’t make it to the caucus because they had work. What a really screwy system. Regardless, tomorrow should be an exciting day.

Go Hillary.

0225081905.jpg

Originally uploaded by l@in.

Saw Hillary Clinton tonight at Lisner Auditorium on the GW campus and I must say she rocked it.

I am seriously considering campaigning for her in Ohio this weekend.

Recently we watched the first season of 30 Rock, and were really impressed by the show and how funny and well written it is. So we watched Saturday Night Live last night for the first time in I don’t even know how long because Tina Fey was going to be on. We were not disappointed. This was by far the best moment in the show:

What’s John McCain doing right now?

In December I blogged about my less-than perfect experience at Washington Hospital Center, during my stay after breast reconstruction surgery. Since then I’ve received 2 letters of apology, including one from the pharmacy that took a bloody decade to dispense my drugs (why the drugs have to be dispensed by the pharmacy and aren’t more readily available to the nursing staff to be administered quickly to patients in the hospital is completely beyond me, especially when the drugs have been prescribed by your doctor.) Some responses sounded more sincere than others, but overall I’m pleased at the response and genuinely hope that improvements are made so that someone else doesn’t have the same lousy experience I was treated to.

That said, the nicest response came from the head nurse of the ward that I was in. Not long after my surgery, I received a call from her. She apologized, talked to me about my experience, and said that she was looking into the matter in the attempt to make sure that it didn’t happen again. It was a nice thing to do and she sounded genuinely concerned.

Ultimately, I’m glad I sent the letter. I would encourage anyone else in a similar position do the same. It doesn’t hurt to send praise to an institution where you’ve received exceptional care either. Up until the point that I was admitted to my hospital room, my experience in recovery at WHC was so good, I was already composing the letter in my head, between injections of pain killer and nausea medication.

If you know me, you probably know I’m a Hillary supporter. I volunteered for her senatorial campaign until the whole cancer fiasco became too consuming to continue. I waited for her to officially announce her presidential run with great anticipation and was thrilled when she did. I won’t skirt the gender issue - I am extraordinarily excited about a viable female presidential candidate. Especially a Democrat who is wonderfully qualified, erudite, capable and can command campaign dollars. I really thought that the first viable, female presidential candidate would be a Republican. For once I am happy to be wrong.

I could keep gushing, but Dorothy really sums up my enthusiasm and general feelings on the election when she says,

“…your vote will be historic this year. And I’m not trying to influence your vote in any way; that’s your vote and yours alone. In fact, I really like Barack Obama. I’m tremendously moved by his words… if he wins the nomination I will support him 100 percent and put up yard signs and wear pins and vote with gusto. But that doesn’t mean I can’t vote with gusto for Hillary right now.

What has always bothered me about the way these campaigns have been framed is that one is transformational and the other is the same old same old. Certainly, the Clinton name is a standard-bearer in American politics. But why raise one candidate’s “otherness” above another candidate’s? In our nation’s 232-year history there has never been a black man or a woman president. Ever. So why pit them against each other? Both are extraordinary. Both would signal a massive seed change in the culture of our country.”

I’m also excited about Hillary’s recent endorsement by the American Nurses Association, and am of course, looking forward to voting next Tuesday.

breakfast cereal muffins

Originally uploaded by l@in.

So I have a meeting tomorrow morning and said that I’d bring in snacks. I seriously considered popping by the store on my way into work but decided I’d make muffins instead.

I adapted them from this crunchy muffin recipe.

* 3/4 cup sifted all-purpose flour
* 3/4 cup sifted whole wheat pastry flour
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 5 tablespoons butter
* 1/2 honey
* 2 eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 1 cup crisp whole wheat cereal flakes
* 1/2 cup milk
* 1/2 cup walnuts
* 1/2 cup dried cranberries/cherries (or more)

:
Grease bottoms of 12 medium muffin cups or line with paper liners. (I used spray canola oil.)

Sift flour with baking powder and salt; set aside. In mixing bowl, cream butter. Gradually beat in the sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla and cereal flakes. Add flour mixture alternately with milk, stirring just enough to moisten the flour mixture. Stir in nuts and dried fruit.

Divide the batter among prepared muffin cups. Bake at 400° for about 15 minutes or until muffins spring back when lightly touched.

It makes for a simple, hearty, lightly sweet muffin.

Just in case this isn’t sweet enough, I’m also making Chocolate Banana Bread. Hope it turns out.