The modern world has destroyed my concept of multitasking. The other day my grandmother called and I immediately asked, "What are you up to?" (which is what I always ask when I get on the phone with someone). And she said, "Well I'm calling you."
Oh.
Right.
Placing a phone call IS an activity. Typically, making a phone call is something I do when I "have some free time": i.e. when I'm walking somewhere, or cleaning something, or baking a cake. Because God forbid anyone ever actually sit in one spot and perform one activity at a time, on a phone that only performs the function of making phone calls.
Do you remember the last time you answered a landline phone and had to make an excuse for someone who was there but didn't want to take the call?
"Hello?"
"Hey, is Bob there?"
(Bob gesturing frantically in the background)
"Uhh, no, Bob went out to buy a can of catfood, can I take a message?"
Or my favorite, the passive aggressive refusal to make excuses:
"Hello?"
"Hey, is Bob there?"
(Bob gesturing frantically in the background)
"Yeah! He's right here. He's been waiting for your call!"
This happens to some degree in an office, but is way less fun because of Caller-ID and voice mail and general office etiquette.
I'm not saying that I want to go back to a world without cell phones. But it was kind of cool to have everyone's phone number actually memorized in my actual, real brain (how many phone numbers do you have memorized now?), and I liked answering the house phone and getting to talk to whomever called for a second before passing it off to my mom, or dad or whoever. Conversely, I always liked calling my friends and talking to their moms for a second before they got on the phone. And knowing that if they didn't want to talk to me, they had to fess up and make an excuse instead of just ignoring me and letting it go to voice mail.
Sooooo passive aggressive.
Ahhh them good old days. I think I can feel the rain a'comin' in my bum knee.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Tolstoy Treats: UPDATE
Thinking about the potential freedom of getting to read independently was seriously making it impossible to concentrate, especially since my desk faces my "unread books" bookshelf, which is either shamefully or awesomely burdened with books depending on how you feel about personal libraries (and personal budgeting).
I also kept thinking about the books I put on my Christmas wish list and whether or not it's evil to buy one for yourself ahead of time. I went to Borders for the first time in months today, and it was like falling off the wagon. Falling off the wagon.
I haven't been to Borders in so long I feel like my sponsor should give me a chip. Aaaaaand today they should take it away.
Anyway, this is my current short-list. I'm not fishing for gifts here. I'm posting this because these are all books I've heard nothing but great things about, and though I haven't read them, you might be looking for a read or a gift idea. Trust me, you don't really want to know about the books I've been reading for class, so this in lieu of a book review.
Anyway, so my solution to my book dilemma was to buy myself a book that wasn't on this list, wrap it, and stick it under the tree. I'm not telling what it is because... it's a surprise ('cause it's a gift, get it?). I can open it and read it when my last paper is turned in. And hopefully now I can stop thinking about it!
I also kept thinking about the books I put on my Christmas wish list and whether or not it's evil to buy one for yourself ahead of time. I went to Borders for the first time in months today, and it was like falling off the wagon. Falling off the wagon.
I haven't been to Borders in so long I feel like my sponsor should give me a chip. Aaaaaand today they should take it away.
Anyway, this is my current short-list. I'm not fishing for gifts here. I'm posting this because these are all books I've heard nothing but great things about, and though I haven't read them, you might be looking for a read or a gift idea. Trust me, you don't really want to know about the books I've been reading for class, so this in lieu of a book review.
- Celebrity Chekhov: Stories by Anton Chekhov, by Ben Greenman A remake of a classic without and zombies or vampires. Unless celebrities count as bloodsuckers.
- How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe, by Charles Yu I love new, unique science fiction that just has that feel to it
- At Home, by Bill Bryson Is it because I'm engaged, or because I'm sick of renting?
- Shop Class as Soulcraft, by Matthew Crawford We live in a world where people are primarily interested in buying things, this book is interesting to me because he celebrates the pleasure of craft.
- Packing for Mars, by Mary Roach Roach's books are always insanely entertaining--dead bodies, the afterlife, sex, and now the final frontier. Sign me up.
- The Magicians, by Lev Grossman Harry Potter for grown-ups? Jessica R., your continued endorsements have sunk in.
- Snow Crash, by Neil Stephenson This is supposed to be the best work of a phenomenal science fiction writer.
- Everything Ravaged, Everything Burned, by Wells Tower I don't usually like short stories at all, but these are all about men. Put that way it doesn't sound that great, but I've heard great things.
- The Food of a Younger Land: A portrait of American food- before the national highway system, before chain restaurants, and before frozen food, when the nation's food was seasonal, by Mark Kurlansky His book Salt was wonderfully enlightening and entertaining, this one promises to be even better. (And isn't that a hell of a subtitle?)
- The Hunger Games Trilogy, by Suzanne Collins It's for teenagers. I don't care.
Anyway, so my solution to my book dilemma was to buy myself a book that wasn't on this list, wrap it, and stick it under the tree. I'm not telling what it is because... it's a surprise ('cause it's a gift, get it?). I can open it and read it when my last paper is turned in. And hopefully now I can stop thinking about it!
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Tolstoy Treats
I'm reeeeeally supposed to be working on my final papers, but I'm distracted because somewhere in the middle of yesterday I decided that I would allow myself to read ONE (1) for-fun book after finals, over the break.
Why?
Well this is what's going on: my oral exam is scheduled to take place at the end of January, hence am currently in my six-week reading period for said huge exam, meaning that I am supposed to be living and breathing all things Boxing in American Literature. This is fine in that I constructed the reading list myself, so I get to get down and dirty with some texts I really want to read like Gus Lee's China Boy, and Trevor Von Eden's The Original Johnson.
This is not cool in that if I don't get to just turn my brain off and consume some brain candy, and STAT, I might actually, physically explode.
You would think, as a graduate student, as someone whose job it is to read all the time, I would want to go on vacation and maybe run a marathon, or re-watch all of Battlestar Galactica, or put myself in a corner, and oh, say stare at a blank wall and hum quietly. But I enjoy reading. This summer I read thirteen books. Last holiday break I read four (yes, I do keep count, thankyouverymuchas). I really think that this on-the-side reading is what has kept me from from going ballistic.
So while I'm sitting here trying to eloquently describe the class and gender implications in Million Dollar Baby (hooo boy), what I'm really thinking is, "which book, which book, which book, which booooooooooook will I read when this crap is over???" I'm like a dog looking at a buffet table which is just a little too high. If someone would just throw me a friggin' bone, I would be so happy!
Why?
Well this is what's going on: my oral exam is scheduled to take place at the end of January, hence am currently in my six-week reading period for said huge exam, meaning that I am supposed to be living and breathing all things Boxing in American Literature. This is fine in that I constructed the reading list myself, so I get to get down and dirty with some texts I really want to read like Gus Lee's China Boy, and Trevor Von Eden's The Original Johnson.
This is not cool in that if I don't get to just turn my brain off and consume some brain candy, and STAT, I might actually, physically explode.
You would think, as a graduate student, as someone whose job it is to read all the time, I would want to go on vacation and maybe run a marathon, or re-watch all of Battlestar Galactica, or put myself in a corner, and oh, say stare at a blank wall and hum quietly. But I enjoy reading. This summer I read thirteen books. Last holiday break I read four (yes, I do keep count, thankyouverymuchas). I really think that this on-the-side reading is what has kept me from from going ballistic.
So while I'm sitting here trying to eloquently describe the class and gender implications in Million Dollar Baby (hooo boy), what I'm really thinking is, "which book, which book, which book, which booooooooooook will I read when this crap is over???" I'm like a dog looking at a buffet table which is just a little too high. If someone would just throw me a friggin' bone, I would be so happy!
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
When Harry Met Sally Met Chicken
Do you remember that part in "When Harry Met Sally" where they both say "Chicken Paprikash" over and over again and it's really funny? What about the part where they're playing Pictionary and the clue is "baby's breath" and the fat guy keeps guessing "baby fish mouth?"
hahahahahahahah
I love that part. It has nothing to do with anything, but I love it anyway.
So I made Chicken Paprikash for dinner the other night, and I figured that since it was both easy and delicious, you might want to try it too. This recipe is modified to serve two people.
1/4 cup butter
1/2 white or yellow onion, diced
3 heaping teaspoons paprika
salt
pepper
4 chicken legs or 2 large boneless chicken breasts, cut up
3/4 to 1 cup chicken stock
3/4 cup sour cream
1 tbsp flour
Egg noodles, rice, mashed potatoes, or potato dumplings to serve underneath the Paprikash.
In a large pot or frying pan, melt the butter on medium low heat and stir in the onions. Saute the onions approximately ten minutes or until quite soft and translucent. Add paprika, a dash of salt and a few dashes of black pepper (don't over do it). At this point, add your chicken. It will need to cook a different length of time depending on the cut. For legs, cook at least 5-6 minutes on each side, for cut up pieces, cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
If you have chosen to use legs, remove them to a plate and slowly mix in the chicken broth, making sure to gently scrape any delicious bits from the bottom/sides of the pan (AKA, deglaze the pan). Return the legs to the pan. If you using boneless chicken, this processes can be done, slightly less gracefully, with the chicken still in the pan.
Cover and cook for ten more minutes over medium heat. If it looks as though your sauce is boiling away, feel free to add a little more water/broth or turn down the heat a little. It shouldn't be boiling too hard. Mix flour into the sour cream. After ten minutes, add the sour cream mixture into the sauce and make sure it is stirred well and all the chicken is coated (you can remove the legs again if you wish).
Serve over egg noodles, rice, mashed potatoes, or potato dumplings.
MeatandCheese-Only said, "this is zesty!" and also cleaned his plate, which is two thumbs up, I believe.
hahahahahahahah
I love that part. It has nothing to do with anything, but I love it anyway.
So I made Chicken Paprikash for dinner the other night, and I figured that since it was both easy and delicious, you might want to try it too. This recipe is modified to serve two people.
1/4 cup butter
1/2 white or yellow onion, diced
3 heaping teaspoons paprika
salt
pepper
4 chicken legs or 2 large boneless chicken breasts, cut up
3/4 to 1 cup chicken stock
3/4 cup sour cream
1 tbsp flour
Egg noodles, rice, mashed potatoes, or potato dumplings to serve underneath the Paprikash.
In a large pot or frying pan, melt the butter on medium low heat and stir in the onions. Saute the onions approximately ten minutes or until quite soft and translucent. Add paprika, a dash of salt and a few dashes of black pepper (don't over do it). At this point, add your chicken. It will need to cook a different length of time depending on the cut. For legs, cook at least 5-6 minutes on each side, for cut up pieces, cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
If you have chosen to use legs, remove them to a plate and slowly mix in the chicken broth, making sure to gently scrape any delicious bits from the bottom/sides of the pan (AKA, deglaze the pan). Return the legs to the pan. If you using boneless chicken, this processes can be done, slightly less gracefully, with the chicken still in the pan.
Cover and cook for ten more minutes over medium heat. If it looks as though your sauce is boiling away, feel free to add a little more water/broth or turn down the heat a little. It shouldn't be boiling too hard. Mix flour into the sour cream. After ten minutes, add the sour cream mixture into the sauce and make sure it is stirred well and all the chicken is coated (you can remove the legs again if you wish).
Serve over egg noodles, rice, mashed potatoes, or potato dumplings.
MeatandCheese-Only said, "this is zesty!" and also cleaned his plate, which is two thumbs up, I believe.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Shreveport, Knife and Fork
Is it possible to get a cold from eating too much? If so, that's what has happened.
Tim (who I'm beginning to think should have a blog code name, like "Meat&Cheese-Only" or "Gilligan") and I went to Shreveport for Thanksgiving break. His sister has an enormous, awesome house there with her fiancé so she graciously accommodated about 30 people for Thanksgiving dinner.
I'm particularly fond of Shreveport because it's the only place I've ever moved to all on my own, out of my own free will. That's not to say that I didn't want to live in Crawford or Boulder, just that I lived in those places because my family already did and those were my options. And well, DC is DC is DC is... not my first choice.
Shreveport is also particularly amazing because it's a weird place. It looks a little like a sleaze-pit sometimes (it's undeniable--and there's proof on the interwebs). HOWEVER: it also has a thriving arts culture that existed well before all the movie studios got wind of it and the restaurants are the perfect combination of varied, delicious, atmospheric (I said it) and (compared to other cities of its size) affordable. After the thanksgiving smorgasbord, we ate at a number of my Shreveport favorites because Meat&Cheese-Only's family--despite his seeming aversion to all things delicious--knows how to have a good time.
Friday:
The Blind Tiger
The Regular: Creole Pecan Catfish with extra mustard cream sauce, jambalaya and cajun fried corn.
This is the restaurant where Meat&Cheese-Only and I had our first date. There was a car wreck outside and I wore my foxtail. Those two things are not related. Anyway, unless you happen to show up on karaoke night, The Blind Tiger has good atmosphere, and even if it didn't the food is wonderful. The fried corn is a half cob of corn that is indeed battered and deep fried. Paula Deen--are you listening? The red beans and rice are thick (real thick) and the sausage is spicy. And the mixed drinks come in mason jars. Who could want anything else?
Saturday:
Superior Bar & Grill
The Regular: Superior Nachos con pollo. I love the way they build each nacho on the plate individually. I've never seen that done anywhere but Shreveport and it makes me resent restaurants that bring you a giant messy, soggy pile of nacho ingredients. It takes real TLC to make nachos the way Superior does. And their margaritas will knock you on your face, which is probably why all of their drinks are served in styrofoam cups. In addition, the chips are freshly made and the salsa is served in a carafe and each person gets an individual cup, so you can double-dip until your arm falls off if that's your thing.
PieWorks
The Regular: The Wing It.
Meat&Cheese-Only delivered pizzas here so I sometimes have mixed feelings about the place. On one hand, it's almost like home and I can order off-menu items and they'll still make them for me. On the other hand, when I SEE a PieWorks, this stale pizza stench fills my nostrils and I get a mini-panic attack remembering the way MCo's person and car smelled that year. However, their pizza is undeniably delicious. We ordered a Wing It (hot wings pizza), a BBQ chicken pizza, a fetamato and breadsticks. We tried to order a Heathbar pie, but they were out and comped us three pieces of turtle cheesecake. Which is a fine trade.
Superior's Steak House (for cocktails)
The Regular: A Tanqueray Gin and Tonic
But at Superior's, you have to order a cocktail, because they do them so well. I got a Lemon Drop, which made my hands completely sticky somehow, but still tasted like heaven. They also make a mean Cosmo. And they have live piano and are one of the few remaining restaurants to have Andes Mints at the exit rather than those terrible hard peppermints: I take this as a real sign of quality.
Sunday:
Strawn's Eat Shop on King's Highway
The Regular: Biscuits and Gravy, Home fries, Unsweet Iced Tea and Strawberry Icebox Pie.
This time, however, I got the "Hungry Man" special because I was craving pancakes. This is two eggs, toast, choice of meat, choice of potatoes (or biscuit or grits before 10), two hot cakes and a pound of butter. I think the real reason I hate DC is because while there are placed to get breakfast here, there is nothing, I mean nothing like Strawn's.
Part of it is simply local. We ran into Will, MCo's choir director from college there, which is just something you know will always happen when you walk in the doors. But it's also the atmosphere and the total disregard for frills or health conventions. You honestly cannot get a chicken fried steak like that here. And the pie? Forget it.
Sunday we had to leave. But had I been able to stay, I would have gone to Tacomania, Yeero Yeero, The Real Pickle, Oyster Bar, Counter Culture, Ichiban, Bear's, and I would have loved to go to Murrell's but apparently they closed, which absolutely breaks my heart. I can't see how, as there was always a huge crowd. Perhaps the no-smoking law really did take its toll on just one little place. Anyway, there are other places I'm forgetting (the Glenwood Village Tea Room!), but Shreveport is so full of things to enjoy. I would move back. I said it.
Tim (who I'm beginning to think should have a blog code name, like "Meat&Cheese-Only" or "Gilligan") and I went to Shreveport for Thanksgiving break. His sister has an enormous, awesome house there with her fiancé so she graciously accommodated about 30 people for Thanksgiving dinner.
I'm particularly fond of Shreveport because it's the only place I've ever moved to all on my own, out of my own free will. That's not to say that I didn't want to live in Crawford or Boulder, just that I lived in those places because my family already did and those were my options. And well, DC is DC is DC is... not my first choice.
Shreveport is also particularly amazing because it's a weird place. It looks a little like a sleaze-pit sometimes (it's undeniable--and there's proof on the interwebs). HOWEVER: it also has a thriving arts culture that existed well before all the movie studios got wind of it and the restaurants are the perfect combination of varied, delicious, atmospheric (I said it) and (compared to other cities of its size) affordable. After the thanksgiving smorgasbord, we ate at a number of my Shreveport favorites because Meat&Cheese-Only's family--despite his seeming aversion to all things delicious--knows how to have a good time.
Friday:
The Blind Tiger
The Regular: Creole Pecan Catfish with extra mustard cream sauce, jambalaya and cajun fried corn.
This is the restaurant where Meat&Cheese-Only and I had our first date. There was a car wreck outside and I wore my foxtail. Those two things are not related. Anyway, unless you happen to show up on karaoke night, The Blind Tiger has good atmosphere, and even if it didn't the food is wonderful. The fried corn is a half cob of corn that is indeed battered and deep fried. Paula Deen--are you listening? The red beans and rice are thick (real thick) and the sausage is spicy. And the mixed drinks come in mason jars. Who could want anything else?
Saturday:
Superior Bar & Grill
The Regular: Superior Nachos con pollo. I love the way they build each nacho on the plate individually. I've never seen that done anywhere but Shreveport and it makes me resent restaurants that bring you a giant messy, soggy pile of nacho ingredients. It takes real TLC to make nachos the way Superior does. And their margaritas will knock you on your face, which is probably why all of their drinks are served in styrofoam cups. In addition, the chips are freshly made and the salsa is served in a carafe and each person gets an individual cup, so you can double-dip until your arm falls off if that's your thing.
PieWorks
The Regular: The Wing It.
Meat&Cheese-Only delivered pizzas here so I sometimes have mixed feelings about the place. On one hand, it's almost like home and I can order off-menu items and they'll still make them for me. On the other hand, when I SEE a PieWorks, this stale pizza stench fills my nostrils and I get a mini-panic attack remembering the way MCo's person and car smelled that year. However, their pizza is undeniably delicious. We ordered a Wing It (hot wings pizza), a BBQ chicken pizza, a fetamato and breadsticks. We tried to order a Heathbar pie, but they were out and comped us three pieces of turtle cheesecake. Which is a fine trade.
Superior's Steak House (for cocktails)
The Regular: A Tanqueray Gin and Tonic
But at Superior's, you have to order a cocktail, because they do them so well. I got a Lemon Drop, which made my hands completely sticky somehow, but still tasted like heaven. They also make a mean Cosmo. And they have live piano and are one of the few remaining restaurants to have Andes Mints at the exit rather than those terrible hard peppermints: I take this as a real sign of quality.
Sunday:
Strawn's Eat Shop on King's Highway
The Regular: Biscuits and Gravy, Home fries, Unsweet Iced Tea and Strawberry Icebox Pie.
This time, however, I got the "Hungry Man" special because I was craving pancakes. This is two eggs, toast, choice of meat, choice of potatoes (or biscuit or grits before 10), two hot cakes and a pound of butter. I think the real reason I hate DC is because while there are placed to get breakfast here, there is nothing, I mean nothing like Strawn's.
Part of it is simply local. We ran into Will, MCo's choir director from college there, which is just something you know will always happen when you walk in the doors. But it's also the atmosphere and the total disregard for frills or health conventions. You honestly cannot get a chicken fried steak like that here. And the pie? Forget it.
Sunday we had to leave. But had I been able to stay, I would have gone to Tacomania, Yeero Yeero, The Real Pickle, Oyster Bar, Counter Culture, Ichiban, Bear's, and I would have loved to go to Murrell's but apparently they closed, which absolutely breaks my heart. I can't see how, as there was always a huge crowd. Perhaps the no-smoking law really did take its toll on just one little place. Anyway, there are other places I'm forgetting (the Glenwood Village Tea Room!), but Shreveport is so full of things to enjoy. I would move back. I said it.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
The Brain Drain
I'm getting dumber.
No really. This is a fine art, so it's taking place on multiple levels. And it's distressing considering how much effort I'm putting into this fancy degree I'm earning, but hear me out.
Exhibit A: Last Saturday I had a great day with my friend Alsn, we went out for sushi, we went to Anthropologie, and then we went to see Harry Potter and The Most Depressing Camping Trip Ever, Part I. I realized that Alsn is officially my oldest friend within 500 miles, so that makes her the champion. Still, when we were driving around looking for the theater parking garage, I recommended a restaurant to her that we have eaten at together twice as if she'd never been there, and I told her that I've never been to a theater that we went to together. I can no longer remember where I've gone and what I've done with whom and when. Which really, is pretty embarrassing and like I said she's my oldest friend here. How degrading.
"Oh, you've eaten there you say? Oh, with me you say? Twice? Well, I am an idiot. Obviously the events of my life are not important enough for my brain to store in my memory compartments."
Exhibit B: I keep forgetting simple words. I can't think of any examples, but we'll just put that in the evidence file. Granted, this is probably a symptom of my migraine medication and isn't really my fault, but still, it's unfortunate to have to be reminded that the word you're looking for is "sandwich" or "banana". Tim makes up for this in his own life by saying things like "flibbertydoodle" and "dingledongle" but I'm trying to avoid that whole grammatical mess. Yesterday, he said "when we go to there" in a totally non-ironic way, so I try not to emulate him. Nonetheless, being caught without a simple word is infuriating, English degree or no.
Exhibit C: Ok, I'm actually still getting good grades, and I doing fairly well at Jeopardy, but I'm just fairly certain that I spend way too much time on my couch reading books instead of outside talking to real human beings. So maybe instead of getting dumber, I'm just getting a little weirder? Lately, occasionally, when acquaintances ask me questions, I truly cannot comprehend the literal meaning of those questions. It's as though our conversations have suddenly and rapidly changed context and I somehow did not notice. (This doesn't happen with old friends, for some reason.)
All signs point to a dire need to stop reading so much theory. And to maybe spend some time with some humans.
No really. This is a fine art, so it's taking place on multiple levels. And it's distressing considering how much effort I'm putting into this fancy degree I'm earning, but hear me out.
Exhibit A: Last Saturday I had a great day with my friend Alsn, we went out for sushi, we went to Anthropologie, and then we went to see Harry Potter and The Most Depressing Camping Trip Ever, Part I. I realized that Alsn is officially my oldest friend within 500 miles, so that makes her the champion. Still, when we were driving around looking for the theater parking garage, I recommended a restaurant to her that we have eaten at together twice as if she'd never been there, and I told her that I've never been to a theater that we went to together. I can no longer remember where I've gone and what I've done with whom and when. Which really, is pretty embarrassing and like I said she's my oldest friend here. How degrading.
"Oh, you've eaten there you say? Oh, with me you say? Twice? Well, I am an idiot. Obviously the events of my life are not important enough for my brain to store in my memory compartments."
Exhibit B: I keep forgetting simple words. I can't think of any examples, but we'll just put that in the evidence file. Granted, this is probably a symptom of my migraine medication and isn't really my fault, but still, it's unfortunate to have to be reminded that the word you're looking for is "sandwich" or "banana". Tim makes up for this in his own life by saying things like "flibbertydoodle" and "dingledongle" but I'm trying to avoid that whole grammatical mess. Yesterday, he said "when we go to there" in a totally non-ironic way, so I try not to emulate him. Nonetheless, being caught without a simple word is infuriating, English degree or no.
Exhibit C: Ok, I'm actually still getting good grades, and I doing fairly well at Jeopardy, but I'm just fairly certain that I spend way too much time on my couch reading books instead of outside talking to real human beings. So maybe instead of getting dumber, I'm just getting a little weirder? Lately, occasionally, when acquaintances ask me questions, I truly cannot comprehend the literal meaning of those questions. It's as though our conversations have suddenly and rapidly changed context and I somehow did not notice. (This doesn't happen with old friends, for some reason.)
All signs point to a dire need to stop reading so much theory. And to maybe spend some time with some humans.
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Cucumbers Another Way
I have a migraine today. That usually means spending the day in a cocoon of pillows and darkness, sleeping it off, but I can't sleep. So instead I'm trying to find something that will hold my attention without making me feel like I'm going to explode (so no reading or TV or really anything with color light or sound). Maybe blogging will work?
So here is a recipe for you.
This is a new take on my favorite simple side dish. This would be a great alternative to more traditional heavy side dishes that tend to get served with Mexican food. It's not even really a recipe, just something I got out of a book about migrant farm workers and then modified.
Cucumbers Another Way
1 Cucumber
1 Lime (the book says lemon, but I like lime and that's what I had)
salt
Chili powder
Peel cucumber however you like. I prefer to leave "stripes" in the peel for texture and vitamins. Slice as thinly as you like. I make 1/4" slices and then cut the largest slices in half.
Juice the lime. A citrus juicer is the best for this of course, but if you don't have one, here's a trick to handling stiff, stubborn fruit--microwave the lime for ten seconds, then roll it on your counter, pressing gently to loosen all the membranes inside. After you cut it in half, you can use the back of a spoon to help you get all of the juices out.
Pour lime juice over the cucumber in a bowl. Season with salt and chili powder to taste. This is according to your preference so start light and build up.
Let it chill for at least 20 minutes before you eat and you'll be glad.
Unlike a vinegar salad, this can be refrigerated over night and the cukes won't wilt dramatically.
You could probably put this in a glass, muddle with vodka and ice, and make a delicious cocktail. If you didn't have a migraine.
So here is a recipe for you.
This is a new take on my favorite simple side dish. This would be a great alternative to more traditional heavy side dishes that tend to get served with Mexican food. It's not even really a recipe, just something I got out of a book about migrant farm workers and then modified.
"Alejo thought of his own grandmother working in Edinburg, Texas, ironing, babysitting, cleaning houses, cutting cucumbers with lemon, salt, and powdered chile to sell at swap meets, or making tamarind and hibiscus juices to sell after Sunday mass. She would do anything to allow her grandson to get schooling." -Helena Maria Viramontes, Under the Feet of JesusCalling this something like "Zesty Cucumber Salad" seems really bourgious, since this seems like something people just eat. The way a baked potato is just a baked potato--but I don't know what else to call it. Anyway, here's how I prepared it.
Cucumbers Another Way
1 Cucumber
1 Lime (the book says lemon, but I like lime and that's what I had)
salt
Chili powder
Peel cucumber however you like. I prefer to leave "stripes" in the peel for texture and vitamins. Slice as thinly as you like. I make 1/4" slices and then cut the largest slices in half.
Juice the lime. A citrus juicer is the best for this of course, but if you don't have one, here's a trick to handling stiff, stubborn fruit--microwave the lime for ten seconds, then roll it on your counter, pressing gently to loosen all the membranes inside. After you cut it in half, you can use the back of a spoon to help you get all of the juices out.
Pour lime juice over the cucumber in a bowl. Season with salt and chili powder to taste. This is according to your preference so start light and build up.
Let it chill for at least 20 minutes before you eat and you'll be glad.
Unlike a vinegar salad, this can be refrigerated over night and the cukes won't wilt dramatically.
You could probably put this in a glass, muddle with vodka and ice, and make a delicious cocktail. If you didn't have a migraine.
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