I thought "Milk" was a better movie, but "SM" was pretty amazing. "Milk" is a political story that could have been a scold but it is made with such a light hand that makes it fun to watch. Still, Danny Boyle should definitely win for Best Director for that opening scene alone. Acting was a little uninspiring once the kids grew up. I liked the jazz hands at the end.
Anyway, it inspired me to cook Indian for dinner Sunday. Despite his British heritage, Iain doesnt like Indian food. I chalk that up to the gloopy cafeteria curries he had at school. This is more of a southern Indian meal so not really geographically-correct, but highly recommended. Not difficult if you can find all the ingredients. Careful w the chiles - even with 1 in each it is still rather spicy. Click on the links for recipes.
Indian Shrimp Curry
Beet Cheera Pachadi (Beet Curry)
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
OK, so the crowns look silly
They are a British thing. Christmas dinner with Iain's family in London.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Live London, Die Young
I leave for London tomorrow. I'll be there for 2 weeks to spend the holidays with Iain's family. I'm really excited.
People ask me if I miss London. The answer is yes, of course, but it is slightly more complicated than that. London is like my imaginary first serious boyfriend: I was totally crazy about him. he was wild and good looking in an offbeat way. All I wanted to do was spend time with him. But the longer we went out, the more I realized that he was probably not great for me: we partied a little too hard, he made me spend all my money, and after awhile he started to come between me and my family. I moved out and try not to think about him too much anymore.
And I'd probably take the scoundrel back in a second.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
Thanksgiving: A Review
The NYT had an article on Wednesday about how to run your Thanksgiving Dinner like a CEO (“'It starts with asking yourself, as the Thanksgiving chief architect, what is your vision for this day and this meal,' said Amy Edmondson, the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School. ") If I manage at work the way I did the dinner last night...well...that explains a lot.
So the menu and the reviews:
Turkey: I tried the LATimes dry-brining recipe and let me tell you, dry-brining is the way forward. Totally juicy, totally firm/not fuzzy texture, tasty and and easy.
Mashed potatoes: An oversight. Lumpy.
Chestnut, Prune & Pancetta stuffing: Very tasty. Very good. Not good for you. Expertly executed by Executive VP of Thanksgiving, Laura.
Sunchoke Gratin: Easy and always a crowd pleaser.
Laura's Famous Pan-Roasted Brussel Sprouts: Love the little cabbagey-nuggets.
3-Day Turkey Gravy: I made the mistake of making the NYT "Turkey Gravy from Scratch" recipe. It was very good, but those are 3 days of my life I will never get back.
Rustic Apple Tarts: I almost ruined Thanksgiving with these freaking things. They sound easy, esp if you've bought the puff pastry, but there's plenty of opportunities to screw them up. Still, people were very indulgent and pretended like they liked them (after they scraped off the burnt bottom layer).
Pumpkin Spice Cake w Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting: Another star turn by Laura. I had another piece for breakfast this morning.
Wine: Laura brought a schmancy Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay which was yummy and really complimented the meal. I provided a St Supery Virtu - a white Meritage blend. That was slightly less successful.
All in all, a very enjoyable culinary outing. Pictures to come.
So the menu and the reviews:
Turkey: I tried the LATimes dry-brining recipe and let me tell you, dry-brining is the way forward. Totally juicy, totally firm/not fuzzy texture, tasty and and easy.
Mashed potatoes: An oversight. Lumpy.
Chestnut, Prune & Pancetta stuffing: Very tasty. Very good. Not good for you. Expertly executed by Executive VP of Thanksgiving, Laura.
Sunchoke Gratin: Easy and always a crowd pleaser.
Laura's Famous Pan-Roasted Brussel Sprouts: Love the little cabbagey-nuggets.
3-Day Turkey Gravy: I made the mistake of making the NYT "Turkey Gravy from Scratch" recipe. It was very good, but those are 3 days of my life I will never get back.
Rustic Apple Tarts: I almost ruined Thanksgiving with these freaking things. They sound easy, esp if you've bought the puff pastry, but there's plenty of opportunities to screw them up. Still, people were very indulgent and pretended like they liked them (after they scraped off the burnt bottom layer).
Pumpkin Spice Cake w Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting: Another star turn by Laura. I had another piece for breakfast this morning.
Wine: Laura brought a schmancy Ferrari-Carano Chardonnay which was yummy and really complimented the meal. I provided a St Supery Virtu - a white Meritage blend. That was slightly less successful.
All in all, a very enjoyable culinary outing. Pictures to come.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Saturday, November 8, 2008
The Silver Lining
I'm headed out on holiday to Hawaii today. There are a few silver linings to this giant hurricane cloud of economic doom hanging over us (aside from the sweet, sweet taste of schadenfreude) and one is that Hawaii is affordable. I'll try to post some pix of us at a volcano or making juvenile jokes about leis.
I watched our President-elect's press conference yday and noticed one of his advisors is the chairman of the board of my company. I have met him (the chairman) several times, including one memorable time in Davos when we were invited to dance with him, and he is quite possibly one of the coolest humans alive. He is a Republican, but apparently pulled a Joe Lieberman on McCain and supported O. Anyway, the 2 of them together in an administration might exceed nationally-recognized coolness limits - seriously I think if you took their body temperatures together they would not add up to 98.6.
The man has his own vineyard.
I rest my case.
I watched our President-elect's press conference yday and noticed one of his advisors is the chairman of the board of my company. I have met him (the chairman) several times, including one memorable time in Davos when we were invited to dance with him, and he is quite possibly one of the coolest humans alive. He is a Republican, but apparently pulled a Joe Lieberman on McCain and supported O. Anyway, the 2 of them together in an administration might exceed nationally-recognized coolness limits - seriously I think if you took their body temperatures together they would not add up to 98.6.
The man has his own vineyard.
I rest my case.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Guest blogger: Laura the Badmother
A new feature: my sister is guest-blogging today while I recover from the election. Ladies and Gents, put your hands together for Laura the Badmother.
Yes - I am recovering from the Disney orgy otherwise known as Disney on Ice. After watching an ice skating performance no better than when Rachel used to ice skate, and people literally throwing up money to purchase piece of crap plastic toys that light up, I wondered where did I go wrong as a parent that I am actually paying money for my daughter to be corrupted even further by Disney princesses. Although watching a five year old high as a kite on $10 cotton candy (yes, you get a crap crown with ears too)saying, "How do they balance like that?" is a plus. On the car ride home, I began to ponder where my downward spiral into horrible mother began. Driving in the rain I began to plan my redemption. I was going to take Soph out of public school, enroll her in Waldorf, sign her up to volunteer in a soup kitchen, and god forbid, join a church. My plans were interrupted by a voice from the 2nd row seat of the minivan. Sophia then said that if she were one of the Incredibles and she was able to have a super power she would pick the power "to make people's boo-boos go away."
Well - I must be doing something right. Good - I can't afford Waldorf anyway.
Yes - I am recovering from the Disney orgy otherwise known as Disney on Ice. After watching an ice skating performance no better than when Rachel used to ice skate, and people literally throwing up money to purchase piece of crap plastic toys that light up, I wondered where did I go wrong as a parent that I am actually paying money for my daughter to be corrupted even further by Disney princesses. Although watching a five year old high as a kite on $10 cotton candy (yes, you get a crap crown with ears too)saying, "How do they balance like that?" is a plus. On the car ride home, I began to ponder where my downward spiral into horrible mother began. Driving in the rain I began to plan my redemption. I was going to take Soph out of public school, enroll her in Waldorf, sign her up to volunteer in a soup kitchen, and god forbid, join a church. My plans were interrupted by a voice from the 2nd row seat of the minivan. Sophia then said that if she were one of the Incredibles and she was able to have a super power she would pick the power "to make people's boo-boos go away."
Well - I must be doing something right. Good - I can't afford Waldorf anyway.
Friday, October 31, 2008
OMG OMG Election Fever!
I'm about to hyperventilate. I cant believe its almost over. I mailed my ballot yday and almost teared up. I need a holiday.
Anyway
Just got back from work trip to NYC. The election night set is gigantasaurus. I thought at first that it must be bigger than my apartment, but OF COURSE it is bigger than my apartment. Actually, it is so large, it is bigger than my last 3 apartments combined. If I liked the red white and blue color scheme more, I might ask to live there in lieu of my dwinding 401k. I could sleep under the exit poll desk, and put the kitchen in under the magic map. Wolf & Anderson would drop by every 2 years between the hours of 5p and 10p for a drink and a chat about politics.
I had a lovely dinner with my mom who happened to be in town. We ate a grownup restaurant called Dovetail on the Upper West Side. I was so broke the entire time I lived in NYC, but I imagined that people with real jobs who made real money ate at places like this. All tasteful neutrals on the walls and truffles on the plate. We ordered the tasting menu. Most of the food was very good (mmm brussell sprout, apple, pancetta & manchego salad and house smoked salmon wrapped around wasabi panna cotta amuse bouche) and some weak (grilled lobster and grapefruit appetizer and prime rib). Didnt rock my world, but a really nice dinner.
Other non-work distractions: I had coffee w Q (he's ok), and tromped out to Brooklyn in the pouring rain to meet the brand new Ben Kafka (he's cute). I guessed that the neighborhood has changed somewhat since I lived there, but WOW has it changed. There's a WINE BAR for chrissakes.
Anyway
Just got back from work trip to NYC. The election night set is gigantasaurus. I thought at first that it must be bigger than my apartment, but OF COURSE it is bigger than my apartment. Actually, it is so large, it is bigger than my last 3 apartments combined. If I liked the red white and blue color scheme more, I might ask to live there in lieu of my dwinding 401k. I could sleep under the exit poll desk, and put the kitchen in under the magic map. Wolf & Anderson would drop by every 2 years between the hours of 5p and 10p for a drink and a chat about politics.
I had a lovely dinner with my mom who happened to be in town. We ate a grownup restaurant called Dovetail on the Upper West Side. I was so broke the entire time I lived in NYC, but I imagined that people with real jobs who made real money ate at places like this. All tasteful neutrals on the walls and truffles on the plate. We ordered the tasting menu. Most of the food was very good (mmm brussell sprout, apple, pancetta & manchego salad and house smoked salmon wrapped around wasabi panna cotta amuse bouche) and some weak (grilled lobster and grapefruit appetizer and prime rib). Didnt rock my world, but a really nice dinner.
Other non-work distractions: I had coffee w Q (he's ok), and tromped out to Brooklyn in the pouring rain to meet the brand new Ben Kafka (he's cute). I guessed that the neighborhood has changed somewhat since I lived there, but WOW has it changed. There's a WINE BAR for chrissakes.
NY can sometimes feel like a Wes Anderson movie. Driving in from JFK, I had a Haitian cab driver listening to a radio show featuring Quebecois sea shanties. Seriously.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Rachel's Rules for Debt-Free Living
As of today, I am officially free of credit card debt. I still have a Kirsti-Alley-on-a weeklong-donut-binge-size mortgage on my flat in London, but still. I consider paying off my credit cards a major achievement. Forget Suze Orman, or any of those other money witch doctors: here are a couple of the crucial rules that helped free me of my credit card debt.
1. Dont buy shit. Dont buy "shit" as in crappy crap that you dont need and "shit" in the sense of dont buy anything at all, ever. Its hard, but you get used to it.
2. Marry a husband that can live off air and the flesh of small insects if the need arises. It helps that he (occasionally) has a job, but the fact that he doesnt seem to have any material desires whatsoever is helpful.
3. Make your parents pay for college. I did, and it works. It helped that I didnt get into any of the horrifyingly expensive private colleges I applied to and was forced to go to a state school, but now I'm just quibbling. They paid, and I came out of college able to wait long enough to get a job I actually like and pays me a fair amount of money. Which brings me to number 4.
4. Get a job that pays you a fair amount of money. Its nice to be a community organizer, but Obama was a community organizer and he's never been able to live it down. Become a banker. At least when you get laid off, you'll get a golden parachute.
1. Dont buy shit. Dont buy "shit" as in crappy crap that you dont need and "shit" in the sense of dont buy anything at all, ever. Its hard, but you get used to it.
2. Marry a husband that can live off air and the flesh of small insects if the need arises. It helps that he (occasionally) has a job, but the fact that he doesnt seem to have any material desires whatsoever is helpful.
3. Make your parents pay for college. I did, and it works. It helped that I didnt get into any of the horrifyingly expensive private colleges I applied to and was forced to go to a state school, but now I'm just quibbling. They paid, and I came out of college able to wait long enough to get a job I actually like and pays me a fair amount of money. Which brings me to number 4.
4. Get a job that pays you a fair amount of money. Its nice to be a community organizer, but Obama was a community organizer and he's never been able to live it down. Become a banker. At least when you get laid off, you'll get a golden parachute.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Bob
I wish I had a dog. A French Bulldog. I would name him Robert Downey Jr. and we would call him Bob for short.
These are funny (click here)
Monday, October 20, 2008
I dont want to lose you
So, dear reader, it has been awhile...
I got busy at work, had to travel, but that's really just an excuse.
This election is overwhelming in so many ways: every day I go to work and every day the story is wilder and weirder and faster than when I went to bed. You could not script this stuff. Truth is, indeed, much, much stranger than fiction. The election was given to us by the News Gods, but now please stop the world because I would like to get off (for a little while, at least).
Then, as if the election isnt enough to keep even a serious case of ADD in check, then comes a global financial meltdown. And Madonna is getting a divorce! The sky really is falling!
I cant keep up. And more importantly, I probably shouldnt. My esteemed employer has some pretty strict rules about what I can talk about in the public sphere and they tend to be quite religious (if you forgive the phrase) about enforcing them. I like my job. I like my health insurance. I like my (ever-dwindling) 401k. So I cant really talk about what I think of this insane election. The meltdown has become pretty politicized as well, so prob should not talk about that either (although I do think the Bailout was a fundamental failure of democracy, but I mean that in a populist, Lou Dobbsian, I-hate-everyone-equally kind of way. So sue me.). With all the really important, really heavy things going on in the world at the moment, I felt a little Marie Antoinette-y writing about a nice restaurant we went to for my bday (Hatfields) or the latest tv (Korto should have won "Project Runway") or my latest fabulous/glamorous holiday (er, none).
Anyway, it has become clear to me that the world is going to continue being weird so that should probably not stand in the way of my totally inane ramblings. So I'm back. Sort of.
Pass the cupcakes.
I got busy at work, had to travel, but that's really just an excuse.
This election is overwhelming in so many ways: every day I go to work and every day the story is wilder and weirder and faster than when I went to bed. You could not script this stuff. Truth is, indeed, much, much stranger than fiction. The election was given to us by the News Gods, but now please stop the world because I would like to get off (for a little while, at least).
Then, as if the election isnt enough to keep even a serious case of ADD in check, then comes a global financial meltdown. And Madonna is getting a divorce! The sky really is falling!
I cant keep up. And more importantly, I probably shouldnt. My esteemed employer has some pretty strict rules about what I can talk about in the public sphere and they tend to be quite religious (if you forgive the phrase) about enforcing them. I like my job. I like my health insurance. I like my (ever-dwindling) 401k. So I cant really talk about what I think of this insane election. The meltdown has become pretty politicized as well, so prob should not talk about that either (although I do think the Bailout was a fundamental failure of democracy, but I mean that in a populist, Lou Dobbsian, I-hate-everyone-equally kind of way. So sue me.). With all the really important, really heavy things going on in the world at the moment, I felt a little Marie Antoinette-y writing about a nice restaurant we went to for my bday (Hatfields) or the latest tv (Korto should have won "Project Runway") or my latest fabulous/glamorous holiday (er, none).
Anyway, it has become clear to me that the world is going to continue being weird so that should probably not stand in the way of my totally inane ramblings. So I'm back. Sort of.
Pass the cupcakes.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Hunkering Down
Still here.
The hurricane is moving in, so I'm working the weekend. That will put a crimp on exploring Atlanta's substantial charms, but hey I'm here to work.
At least my hotel is nice - nice gym, nice pool, a kitchen etc. Plus, it is, apparently, a hot spot. Every night when I get home the parking lot is full of Bentleys and Ferraris and the bar is crowded with professional athletes - or at least I assume they are professional athletes because they are GINORMOUS. Lots and lots of very gigantic men with little drinks in their oversized paws and women who would benefit from a proper bra fitting because the cup sizes appear to be too small for them.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
I'm pouting.
You will notice my new, company-mandated disclaimer at the top. Obviously, the only interesting thing to talk about this week is politics, and I cannot. So I'm going to pout. If you want my analysis of her speech last night, email me and I'll send it to you, but remember: the views contained within are simply my personal views and not the views of my employer. I am ostensibly a journalist and have no real personal views. Ever and ever amen.
I watched, despite myself, the new 90210. Horrifying. The female actresses are so painfully thin, they make the women of Gossip Girl look zaftig. Plus they are all kitted out in tank tops and hot pants the whole time so I was forced to look at their chicken arms. Yuck. I made it to the point where the bobblehead with the big teeth got angry/upset/indigestion at the bobblehead with the heroin-addict eyes before I started hoping that some creature from a Guillermo del Toro movie would land on the boy(?i think?) bobblehead and munch on an eyeball. Yucky. And how the HELL did that kid who was so amazing on The Wire drop into this. Fire your agent, kid.
I am headed to SF tomorrow morn to meet up with the inestimable Verna. She is there for some emergency medicine conference, I am there for the burritos. We are having dinner at the Zuni Cafe on Saturday, so I can find out if my roast chicken has reached the heady heights.
Then I soldier on to the Mothership, arriving just before what looks like a major hurricane is supposed to hit the eastern seabord. I will require constant infusions of pep talkery, so please give generously.
I watched, despite myself, the new 90210. Horrifying. The female actresses are so painfully thin, they make the women of Gossip Girl look zaftig. Plus they are all kitted out in tank tops and hot pants the whole time so I was forced to look at their chicken arms. Yuck. I made it to the point where the bobblehead with the big teeth got angry/upset/indigestion at the bobblehead with the heroin-addict eyes before I started hoping that some creature from a Guillermo del Toro movie would land on the boy(?i think?) bobblehead and munch on an eyeball. Yucky. And how the HELL did that kid who was so amazing on The Wire drop into this. Fire your agent, kid.
I am headed to SF tomorrow morn to meet up with the inestimable Verna. She is there for some emergency medicine conference, I am there for the burritos. We are having dinner at the Zuni Cafe on Saturday, so I can find out if my roast chicken has reached the heady heights.
Then I soldier on to the Mothership, arriving just before what looks like a major hurricane is supposed to hit the eastern seabord. I will require constant infusions of pep talkery, so please give generously.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Meet The Blueberry
Our new toy!! Our new Smart Car finally came in and I've been making it feel at home. When I drove it around LA this weekend, people waved at me like I was a parade float and came up to me in parking lots to ask about the car. It definitely makes people (and me) smile.
The ride is a bit rougher than I remembered from the test drive, and it has the acceleration of an angry golf cart, but it is better on the hills and has a lot higher clearance than the Prius. Gas mileage is roughly the same (Prius is marginally better). I was too nervous the first few days to take it on the Big Bad LA Highways, but actually it is just fine. Because you sit so high in the car, you can look all the SUV and monster truck drivers in the eye so they can see you much better. I did get it up to 80 on the I-10 last night. Once it gets going, the Blueberry can shift.
Funny that I started out my driving life about 20 years ago with Blue Thunder, a gigantic 1973 Pontiac Catalina given to me by my Grandpa Jack. It was royal blue - almost the exact same color as the Blueberry - with a white leather interior vs. the Blueberry's black leather interior. And Blue Thunder didnt have satellite navigation and an ipod dock.
In other news, Iain looks like he will be back from the desert in mid-September, earlier than we thought, so that's good. I am meeting Verna in SF this weekend, and then I'm off to Hotlanta for 2 weeks for work. I always seem to land in Atlanta during hurricane season. Hopefully the windows on my hotel room wont blow out this time.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Facebook has eaten my creativity
I'm having a hard time budgeting my time around work, Facebook, and blog. I was hoping Facebook would dwindle in popularity like MySpace and I could go back to my nice quiet life. Sigh. More to come....
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