Studying My History

They say we should study history because it repeats itself.  Well I think history is pretty boring.  But I'm a bit self-centered and I've noticed something about my own personal history.  Every three years I have a really amazing year.  When I was 11 I got my first dog.  When I was 14 I was in the 8th grade and we ruled the school!!!  When I was 17 I was on a rowing team and made great friends, and I had a car (aka Big Dirty) and I wasn't scared I was going to die every time I got behind the wheel like I was at 16.  At 17 I was also not too worried about college yet, or anything besides rowing really.  When I was 20 I spent the year studying abroad in Australia, and life is good in Australia - no explanation necessary.  Now I'm 23... the year has just begun but it is looking so very promising!

But most things look promising when you have a new puppy!

Even if she has decided that the little herb garden I planted, which was once used extensively for cooking, is the best place to play, sit, pee, poo, and do other doggy naughtiness.

We have a big garden judging by London standards, and plenty of room for her to play soccer.....

Or grab sticks...

But that little herb garden is her favorite spot.  There are a few positives about that though - she IS going potty outside, and she smells like lavender.  MMmmmmmmm.....

Heidi is only one positive thing about 2010 so far.. but we have a very exciting new development in the works which could put my 23rd year of existence into the top of the charts, and of course fullfill my prediction of an amazing year!  But it's still a bit of a secret... details to come soon!

Apple - Pear Chutney with Goat Cheese on Toasts

I made this Apple-Pear chutney the other day since we got a bunch of apples in our Riverford order.  The recipe is from Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone, and once again Ms. Madison has not let us down.  Though this time, unlike my last failure, I managed to pair it with something that would be a success - goat cheese and toast.

Apple-Pear Chutney

Ingredients

• 3 apples
• 2 pears
• 1 cup honey
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1 3 inch cinnamon stick
• 5 cloves
• 10 peppercorns
• Several slices of ginger

Peel and thinly slice the apples and pears.  Add all the other ingredients to a saucepan and bring to a boil.  Stew each fruit separately in the syrup until they're fully cooked and transparent, about 15 minutes.  Then pour everything into a jar, and voila - chutney!  I used an old Bonne Mamman jar because I'm just so eco-chic!

I actually only made half the recipe because I didn't have enough honey on hand, but I wish I'd made more!  The vinegar really sweetens up in the cooking process, but it still lends the chutney an edge that will allow it to swing both ways - sweet or savory.  

I cut little rounds of whole wheat bread and smeared goat cheese on them and then added a spoonful of the chutney.  I think they looked pretty cute and tasted lovely.  A perfect little appetizer - I'm practicing for my future dinner parties.  Do you think they're classy lookin?

Heidi's First Week

I have something to admit.  When we decided to get a puppy I was worried.  Would it be possible for me to love any dog as much as my best friend, Maddy?  If you don't know, she is the best dog in the world.  She's a little chubby and lot of love, and she has always been there for me... even during my awkward tween phase when I'd come home crying because some jerkwad boy said I looked like a gummy bear.  Maddy would sit there with me, loving me unconditionally and begging for a piece of my special comfort food - the butter burrito.  (butter in a soft tortilla - the jerkwad did have a point... I seemed to eat my feelings a lot).

But luckily we made it through that phase and we continued to be BFFs, she was even the ring bearer in my wedding!  I couldn't have ever asked for a better dog and I wish she could come live with us in London, but she is a nati kind of girl!

But here I am with a new dog in my life, and all my fears of loving her as much as Maddy have completely subsided.  She is just too stinking cute to not love.

And she's very smart.  We've already taught her how to sit, lay down, come, stay, and go to her crate - which, despite people telling us it is cruel to keep her in, she absolutely loves.  Oh, and did I mention she only peed in the house once today?! Potty training success is just within reach!

She also loves to sit on your lap, which is pretty adorable, but since she's going to grow up to be about 80 pounds or so, we're trying to break that habit.  But sometimes we give in...

OK, OK, a lot of times we give in.  I'll tell you what though - is there anything cuter than a boy and his dog?  One piece of advice my mom gave me when I was younger and we were walking Maddy was, "Make sure you find a man who treats his dog right, then you know he'll treat you right."  Mom, I think I found a winner.

Avenue Q - Totally Underrated!

When Cecilia was here last week I wanted to take her to the best tourist attractions and ensure she had a spectacular visit to London, as any good hostess would.  Since she is in her last year at college, and I'm currently unemployed, we needed to get the best bang for our buck... eh... punch for our pound?

A lot of the tourist activities in London are just plain tourist traps.  They'll frisk you like a very good pick pocket, and you'll leave the city feeling robbed of all your money and a little of your dignity.  I try to skip these traps, especially because many things are free here - but man, the things that aren't free will sure cost you.

There is one touristy thing I always recommend though, and that is going to the theater.  There are tons of shows in London, and Leicester Square is host to plenty of half price ticket booths.  This is an ideal place to pick up tickets the same day or a few days before a show, especially if you're not super picky.  

Like a good hostess, I told Cecilia that she could pick the show.  Of course, I didn't actually mean this, because I'd already seen most the ones I wanted to see.  So she went through the gauntlet of shows and I kept saying, "seen it."  That is until she said Avenue Q.  I hadn't seen this one, nor had I heard anything about it, except for all the advertisements which said it was "pant-wettingly funny".  I had wanted to see it for awhile, mostly because of it's self-proclaimed hilarity, but I was kind of embarassed by this because the show is done with Muppets.  

So we went to my favorite half-price booth and we managed to score tickets for a mere £15 each.  

Then when we arrived at the show the next day, they upgraded our seats!  Little did we know we were about to enjoy the most hilarious piece of Muppet theater ever...

Imagine if you will, the genius that is The Labyrinth, combined with Sesame Street, only this show addresses adult topics.  I felt I could particularly relate to the main character, who felt so sure that he would do very well after his graduation, however, he soon finds out that his BA in English is pretty much useless.  There was a bunch of musical numbers that really got the audience going such as, "It's OK if you're Gay" - done by two male muppets whose relationship resembles that of Bert and Ernie.  This show certainly wasn't afraid of adressing taboo topics, however, by doing it with hand puppets, statements that would generally be offensive were transformed into words of true comic genius.  For example, the Avenue Q crew comes to the realization that "everyone's a little bit racist" and of course they burst into a song that addresses this fact.  If the idea of puppets discussing politically incorrect topics appeals to you, then you really must see this show. 

There is one downside to this show - I found myself getting pretty perturbed at my fellow audience members.  They kept laughing!  I mean, what good is a comedy if you can't hear the next joke because everyone is laughing too hard?  Don't answer that. 

The moral of the story is - never be embarrassed of your love of Muppets and when given the opportunity go see Avenue Q!

Pumpkin Patties with Goat Cheese on Mixed Greens

OK, OK, I know I cook pumpkin A LOT... but bear with me for awhile here.  I only have one left after this recipe.  And before we know it spring will be here and squash will be out of season, out of sight, and I'll have to start cooking food that maybe you'll appreciate more than pumpkin.  However, until that time comes I am going to shove this pumpkin recipe down your throat in hopes that maybe someone out there will decide to make something pumpkin inspired (that isn't dessert) and will fall in love with this winter vegetable in the same way I have.  

Without further ado, I bring you my very own recipe for Pumpkin Patties!

Ingredients

• half a medium sized pumpkin, rind cut off, and grated (with food processor unless you're working on your guns in the new year)
• 4 apples, 2 grated and 2 chopped
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon 
• 1/4 tsp all spice

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.  Form them into hamburger sized patties.  In a pan, melt a bit of butter and heat your patty until it's golden on both sides.  You'll be able to fit four or five in at once.  At this point, you may want to place your patties on a baking sheet and put them into the oven to keep warm while you finish cooking the rest of them.  It should make about 15 patties - hooray for left overs!

Place patties on a bed of mixed greens, sprinkle with goat cheese and toasted pine nuts, and dress with a simple balsamic vinaigrette.  And thank me, because I think this is on your diet plan.