I love love love couscous. It is so easy to make and no prep time involved. This specific recipe I used a spice mix this, that I can only find at asian markets or on the internet. But I collect spices so it I have easily over 100 herbs and spices in my kitchen. Also, going to central market and the bulk bins saves you tons. You can get just the amount you need. And they have everything to arrowroot to za'atar.

But this recipe, I just added golden raisins, dried cranberries, and pistachios.

Fall has to be my favorite time of year, the smell of burning leaves and cold wind burning my nose.

Wait, I forgot I was in Texas....Where you can't burn leaves and there is no such thing as cold.


The best part is definitely the Farmers Market and cooking the bounty I haul home. I would bring a wheelbarrow if it was socially acceptable.


I would love to see snow again. I would love to be back in Chicago for the winter
This was last year:


You forget the way it smells and tastes. I miss catching snowflakes.


I'll be flying to Scotland this March. With camera in tow.

Oklahoma

I took a week off work for a vacation. Its my third time to go to OKC to visit my best friend and while most may not think of OKC as a tourist destination, I love it.






HAHA, What? I wouldn't get my chinese here.


We found Ted Kopels hair piece at Bad Grannys


Somehow I wouldn't be suprised if they played WOW and D&D






my favorite picture


I love Katherines and Kenneths house, it is so effing adorable. A house like this would be 1700 in Austin, while its 700 there a month





And then home.



I had a great trip, we took our regular trip to Super Cao. Which we have MT in ATX which is the same thing, but we always go. Then to the Oasis place above where they are consistently out of taro so I end up with avacado and vanilla boba. The guy who owns the place reconizes me everytime we go in. Which really kind of creeps me out. We went to the zoo too. Growing up in Chicago, we had the Brookfield and Lincoln Park zoo (as well as Field Museum) so it was always a huge event to go there. In OKC, we got in the car and drove three blocks...We could have walked there. I was so amazed that they have a zoo in their backyard.

Then we ate vegan cupcakes at Green Goodies. Katherine and I both commented on how we much rather enjoy eating vegan, in a more vegan environment. ie Austin kids with dreads, barefoot, in a little bakery out of someones house. This was like Martha Stewart threw up gluten free products in a strip mall. The place was a little too kitchy and we were slightly weirded out when the girl questioned K's vegan diet. When people go into a organic and vegan cupcake places, you really don't question it. I mean, you wouldnt have started the company for no reason. But at the same time you get the feeling they started it because veganisim is a new trend...right?

Salmon...

My dad's side of the family is Scandinavian. Apparently this is where I get most my features from....and more so, my appetite. I love salmon. I could eat it pretty much for the rest of my life. Okay, maybe not the rest but at least once or twice a week. But my favorite thing in the world to eat is gravlax, on a bagel with cream cheese, capers, red onion, and a slice of tomato. I have this problem, maybe you do too, where I eat one item consistently for months. This happened with the lox (another name, a slightly different cure). My family is from the midwest and this particular breakfast is the norm. WELL, not in Texas. I say the word lox and people curdle their mouths in a unattractive fashion, most likley because it isnt something that is grilled or covered in white gravy (another story). And it costs about 8 bucks for 4 oz. Really? 4 oz?

So, being the person I am. I made it.

First, I took the skin off the back




Then I added equal parts sugar and sea salt.




Three days later I had this



And finally!

Seasons are changing

There are two seasons in Texas. Hot and really fucking hot. Right now it's cooling off a bit, but not enough to change to real shoes from your flip flops. As a born and raised mid-westerner, dontcha know, I despise the sweltering heat. I want to sit infront of the fireplace with a big bowl of soup and watch the snow fall outside....Don't get me started on the smell of the snow. About a year ago I had the ability to venture up to Lake Geneva and go back home to Chicago for a bit. The weather was a bit different, just a tad bit colder, ha! We stayed at our friend's lake house, there was all together about 25 of us. Mostly adults, but four little ones. And no worries there were plenty of places to sleep, no babies in dresser drawers and cupboards.

I want to go back so bad. But for now I guess I will stick with the heat and watch the leaves fall without even changing to gorgeous autumn colors.

This is Seidi, my baby. Right now she has her head on my shoulder looking over what I am doing, I love her more that life itself. The little bit of red is her allergies, poor thing gets a runny nose and itchies.

a brief reintroduction of sorts

Its been some time, but I needed to get my thoughts out again. Too much going on up there and not enough output to put my brain on autopilot.

I was on livejournal as stereosanity and shred_a.

Hopefully I can regather some of my old acquaintances and associates.

You can be my hero, by not letting me down

Not letting me down again, and being around

It's been awhile. But I have made it back.