Randoms

Thank you all so much for your lovely comments on my book announcement! I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to have you all as my support group. 🙂

Some random things lately:

I ran out of disk space on my laptop. I ended up deleting a bajillion podcasts that I never listen to, and a couple of movies, and I moved all my photos onto my external hard drive, and I downloaded Aperture to better manage my photos. I’m still learning Aperture, and how best to organize my photos, and though I now have 12GB of space, Justin says it’s probably time for a new computer. Of course I want a MacBook Air, which is super expensive, but I feel bad letting go of a computer that still kind of works. It’s like putting up a pet for adoption or something. Granted, my laptop is a hand-me-down from Justin, so I haven’t had a new computer in about 5 or 6 years… hm. That MacBook Air is sounding better and better. 🙂

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I found these super-cute bags of quick-cooking grains at Central Market. They have several different kinds, and I’m totally in love with them. I cooked the barley, lentils & split peas, then mixed it with pesto and some cherry tomatoes. You know, it was good, but not great. I may have overcooked the peas. Or something. Anyway, I still have the bulgur and red quinoa to use, and I’m tempted this time to just cook it straight and use it as a base for something. Have any of you seen and/or used these? Any suggestions?

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I bought myself some roses at the market this week. They’re just so dang pretty, and they were $10 for the bunch, so I brought them home.

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I’ve been collecting paper ephemera for a while, and I’d like to do something artsy with it. I’m thinking a little hand-bound art book, or something. But I haven’t started on it, because I tend to want to know the outcome beforehand – how big will it be? What will it look like? What’s the best, most perfect way to go about it? My friend N. says maybe I could focus on just enjoying the process, instead of the end result. I like that idea. Hopefully I can gather up the courage to start the book today.

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I changed my inspiration boards again. I think my theme for the moment is CONNECT. The top one reminds me to focus on my marriage, that I want to travel in the fall, that I want more memories where I’m laughing THAT hard, that I want to stay connected to my best friends and my family, that I want to write letters.

The second board has items that remind me to stay connected to my work friends, that I want to go to Portland, OR soon, more reminders of my lovely husband, a list of my loved ones to think about during the day, a letter from my mom telling me that I am still young and still have time to find myself in this world, and that she’s sure I will, and thoughts of voyages, ephemera, and hope.

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I have decided that rotisserie chicken is the best thing EVER. I don’t have to heat up my little home with the oven, and I still get a wonderful meal. And I can focus on side dishes, which I never have the energy to do.

I made mashed Yukon gold potatoes with butter and creme fraiche, and made broccoli with garlicky bread crumbs.

The broccoli recipe is from Around My French Table. Basically, you steam broccoli (I always use the microwave), then toss it with breadcrumbs that have been toasted with butter, garlic, parsley and lemon zest. It’s quite lovely.

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Hope you are all having a wonderful Thursday!

5 responses to “Randoms”

  1. nice randoms Crystal. I’d hold off on the bulgar & quinoa until the fall, then use it to stuff squash! mmm. I’ve saved up to buy a new computer as well… and it stinks cause this one still works ok, but not great. I wish it would just break so I would feel better about buying a brand new one.

    1. Ooooh, stuffed squash sounds so lovely right now, probably because it sounds so autumny and I’m soooo ready for autumn.

      That’s exactly how I feel! If my computer would just break (but still leave all my stuff intact, of course), I’d feel better about replacing it.

  2. Crystal, congrats on the new book news, I wish you lots of success!

    I tried a recipe out recently and just had to share it, I am sure you will love it. I had it at a friend’s house, his mom made it and so now I refer to it at Ms. Macias’s Squash.
    You need half an onion, zucchini, corn, grape tomatoes, chicken stock and white cheese (I used muenster).
    I sliced thin strips of onion, sliced the tomatoes in half and for the zucchini I diced it into quarters.
    Saute the onion until tender, add the corn (I just used a bag of frozen but fresh would be good in summer) and saute them together. After a few minutes, I added the tomatoes and let that go for a few minutes then finally added the zucchini and let that go for a few minutes. I added the chicken stock, this was all just by feel, it was not more than a cup of stock and it did not cover the veggies at all, just a shallow bath for them.
    I covered it on low and let it the zucchini soften a bit and then before we were ready to serve I threw the cheese on top. Not to forget, but I also added salt and pepper as I went along.
    It is so delicious and really easy to throw together. I hope you’ll try it the next time you bring home a rotisserie chicken:) I love those things too!

    1. Thank you so much! This sounds so delicious. I’m adding it to my Evernote recipe file so I can make it soon!

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