Poco-Cocoa – Page 71 – Things & Stuff

Randoms
Mmmm, tempura udon.

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I have thought of a few things that make me frown:
- Biting my tongue/lip/cheek. Not only does it hurt crazymuch, but then I also inevitably bite the same spot again several times before it heals.
- Hiccups. When I was a kid I read in the Guinness Book of World Records that someone had the hiccups for like 68 years. And ever since then, when I get the hiccups, I get very anxious and uncomfortable, because what if they never go away?
- Too much snarky. I have no idea why people feel the need for so much snark these days. Rather than seeming funny and witty, it always seems kind of mean to me, but then again, I am quite sensitive.
- Super-crazy heat. Summer is my least favorite season, so I have no idea why I live in Austin, which has summer 837 days a year. Lately I’ve been looking through old photos and videos just to prove to myself that sometimes, it is nice and cool here, and we take long walks downtown, and wear sweaters, and sometimes even coats.
- Lovely restaurants closing.
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In other news, tonight we made pizzas like so: Toast whole wheat pita bread in the toaster oven. Meanwhile, saute mushrooms, garlic, and zucchini in olive oil, then toss in some fresh oregano, salt and pepper. Smear a bit of marinara on the pita, then top with mushrooms/zucchini and shredded four-cheese blend from Central Market. Broil in toaster oven until cheese is all melty-good.

Also, Justin made linguine with bacon, green onions, and cream last night. I have no idea how he made it, but it was really good.

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I went on a magazine spree at BookPeople this weekend. I decided that since I don’t like reading newspapers, I could have lovely magazines around for my morning cocoa and buttered-bread habit. I got Real Simple, Good, Lucky Peach, Gastronomica, Frankie, and Dumbo Feather. These should keep me busy for a while. Or, I’ll end up reading them all tomorrow, and then I’ll need to find more.

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I haven’t been carrying my cameras around with me. It’s been kind of nice, actually, not to have that added weight, and also the added obligation of photographing my every move. I’m trying to decide whether to try out iPhone photos, or whether a photography break in general is a good thing.

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I learned from the Antonellis that if you go to Madam Mam’s, you should order: P15, P41, P48 and S3. You must order all of them. I have no idea what these dishes are, but apparently this is the best meal ever, so we’ll be trying it out very soon.

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Hope you all have a good week!
August 29, 2011

Everyday Life

edibles, reading, restaurants, Yashica FRII
Things that make me smile.

Spaghetti with meat sauce, my favorite meal.

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Picking up burrata and ciabatta from Antonelli’s, and giggling on the way home because they rhyme.

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Getting my first issue of Diner Journal in the mail.

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Me: It’s hot outside.

Him: It’s a hundred and f*ck.

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Bumper sticker seen on Lamar: DON’T DALLAS MY AUSTIN

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2 1/2-year old Opal, as she tries to use her fork to eat her rice: Mom, can you help my rice?

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Me: I’m really nervous that I’m becoming the crazy cat lady.

Him: Well, at least you’re a hot crazy cat lady.

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Me: So, the guy who plays Neville Longbottom is kinda gorgeous now.

Him: He’s Neville Hot-bottom?

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Him: Last night I had a dream that you were naked in the Oval Office. I asked you why, and you said, “It’s just so wonderful to be in here, I just wanted to soak it all up.”

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Hope you all have a great weekend!

August 26, 2011

Everyday Life

Canon Rebel T1i, edibles
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!

August 18, 2011

Everyday Life

Canon Rebel T1i, edibles, inspiration boards
An Announcement…

Internets! I suppose it’s time for me to let you in on my new project.

I’m writing another book! This one is titled Austin Chef’s Table, and it will be a cookbook of Austin restaurant recipes with full-color photographs. I’m so excited – I’m busy contacting restaurants and hoping they will all want to participate, and then it will be all writing and editing and creating shot lists for photography. I’ll be working with a photographer on the project, which I think will be a lot of fun.

So! It’s back to writing for me, but this time without the stress of a full-time job, which seems surreal. It will be so different to write a book when I actually have the time to write a book!

I would like to thank you all again for all the support you have given me through the process of writing my first book, and I do hope you enjoy my second book just as much. 🙂

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

August 17, 2011

My Books
Twelve

Yesterday was our 12th anniversary. We’ve been married a dozen years! And still, he’s my favorite.

We celebrated with tons of food – dinner with a friend at Parkside, drinks with the guys at Fino, dinner at Fabi + Rosi, brunch at Foreign & Domestic, dinner at Justine’s. We even had drinks with our friend J., who got engaged on Friday! Lovely, lovely, lovely.

We also went to Violet Crown Cinema yesterday for the first time, to watch The Trip. The cinema was lovely, though I would only go again if I could sit in the middle. Justin’s neck was sore from looking sideways for so long, since we were sitting on one end. And I wouldn’t go there for a big action movie, because the sound was just so-so. But for indie films and foreign flicks, it’s perfect.

As for The Trip, it was funny, and sometimes a bit slow, but still good. I was surprised – I thought I would love the food aspect the most. I thought I would be inspired by it, and maybe even distracted by it. But in truth, the most interesting food bits to me were the burned pasta dish Rob’s wife makes him, and the English breakfast they have at the end of the trip.

Anyway, it was a great anniversary weekend, with my favorite man in the world. 🙂

August 15, 2011

Everyday Life

Justin, me

Randoms

Things that make me smile.

Randoms

An Announcement…

Twelve