Finding My Kd

January Reads

2012-01-31T22:49:00.032-05:00

With finally feeling better comes the inclination to read (and the unofficial hope that I will be a far more frequent reader this semester). For some reason, three of the four books I've read this month were about English girls in India. No idea how that one happened...

Apple: A Global History, by Erika Janik
(from the MIT Browsery, a section of the library set up for new fiction and non-fiction)

Part of the new Edibles series, it's a look at the cultural and environmental history of apples. The most interesting part of the book? Learning that apples are not native to North America. They are native to Kazakhstan. Amazing.

A Great and Terrible Beauty, by Libba Bray
(checked out the Kindle version from my library in Minnesota)

Fascinating but a bit on the contrived side. I didn't dislike it, exactly, but I think I would have loved it far more if I was still 14. I'm told by a friend that the rest in the series simply aren't as good. It is marvelously freeing to say, well, then, I just won't read them.

The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett
(free Kindle version)

I had forgotten how atrocious those two children were, my word. They are both sallow spoiled brats. Thank goodness for gardens to bring out the best in people (also---Maggie Smith as Mrs. Medlock is perfect. Love).

East of the Sun, by Julia Gregson
(borrowed from a friend)

I'm just a few pages into this one, but I already like it.

Doggelganger

2012-01-28T21:35:00.004-05:00

Upload a photo, it finds a dog that matches you (a la 101 Dalmations).

Science and a great user-interface...too bad the puppies are across the globe.

The Charles is finally frozen

2012-01-23T20:43:00.005-05:00

1.14.12

1.21.12

Pompeii

2012-01-22T22:50:00.002-05:00

A friend came down from Maine this weekend to see the Pompeii Exhibit at the Museum of Science - if you get a chance, go. It's very---affecting. I don't know that much about Pompeii, or volcanoes (pyroclastic flow isn't really a part of my active vocabulary), but it was incredibly sad and yet fascinating all at once. I'd like to know more about it, but there are about a zillion books on it and I have no idea which one would fit best with my curiosity (this one looks promising, but the MIT librray doesn't have it, bummer).

Lots of tromping in the snow. My boots have had enough.

Love the kinetic sculpture.

now and then

2012-01-21T20:41:00.009-05:00

Then: both presenting at John Wesley Powell, as research rockstars.

Now: A birthday Boston Creme Pie at the Top of the Hub; one in Boston interviewing for post-medical school residency programs, the other, surprise surprise, still in school. Both, however, are still addicted to scarves.

Jewelry

2012-01-20T21:20:00.010-05:00

After using my new camera to take pictures of the driftwood jewelry, I had the idea that it'd be great to take pictures of the rest of my jewelry, for both posterity and insurance reasons. Here are some from the first set:

from my grandmother

from Nervous System

from a friend of the family

from Gotland (sheep!)

Christmas - Extended Family Edition

2012-01-19T21:46:00.024-05:00

One wouldn't think that my main story about Christmas to be about Old Crow bourbon. But hey, every family is different, right? Now, Old Crow is awful. But not as awful as you'd think (it's one of Serious Eat's favorite bottom shelf liquors). Drinking Old Crow has always been a family tradition, down to shots at my grandfather's funeral and the bottles gifted to us from Pa the Christmas after he passed away. Until fairly recently, I was extremely squeamish about alcohol. My first sip of non-communion wine was when I was 20, and I did not like it. I didn't drink again until someone sent me three mini bottles of champagne for my 21st birthday! ...and even then I think I mixed them with orange juice. Anyway, despite the fact that my last trip to the liquor store cost me $525 and I'm now a girl who loves her cocktails, I think the old stereotype dies hard, and my family is convinced that I don't drink.

So, it was hilarious when at the annual family Christmas gathering, there were three independent events all commenting on the same exact subject of Old Crow. Not even kidding.

Uncle Number 1: Bridget, this Old Crow is from 2003. How old were you in 2003? And why isn't it gone yet?

Uncle Number 2: Bridget, seriously, you have half a bottle of Old Crow left. Why did your brother not make you drink this on your birthday?

Cousin Number 1: Bridget, when did you turn 21? Wasn't that four years ago? I think you're the only one in the family to take this long to drink your Old Crow.

My response: Oh my WORD. Do you people think I don't drink? I've gone through two handles of Old Crow in Boston, I promise I drink! I just haven't spent much time in Minnesota since I turned 21!

They all just look at me, thinking I'm making excuses. So I take a shot. And five minutes later, another. Jeesh.

But the other best story about my Christmas was this little lady:

My mom gave her a set of plastic food and an apron to go along with Santa's gift, a play kitchen! And boy oh boy was she ever a great cook!

Ayden and Hillary, kept in a bedroom for most of the afternoon, were let out once, and Ayden ran right for the bright pink apron-clad young cousin of mine, practically knocking her over. She's used to giant dogs, though, so she was a champ through the whole thing.

Make Way For Ducklings!

2012-01-18T21:03:00.025-05:00

I was a voracious reader as a child, and Make Way for Ducklings and Blueberries for Sal were definite favorites. While I gave my cousin's kids The 12 Days of Christmas in Minnesota this year, just maybe next year will be the perfect time to give a Boston-themed gift (believe it or not, it's the official children's book of Massachusetts!)

Written by Robert McCloskey in 1941, it tells the story of a family of ducks that make their new home in the Boston Common. It became such a popular book that statues of the ducks were installed in the common in 1987. Apparently there is a duckling parade every year on mother's day where little kids dress up as ducks and retrace the duck family's journey around Boston (I am so there).

Saying hello to the ducks in October (picture courtesy of MK)

Christmas Picture, 2011!

2012-01-17T20:38:00.000-05:00

Ayden is on the left, Hillary's on the right (she's the one with the stripe on her nose)

Afternoon Tea at L'Espalier

2012-01-16T20:19:00.002-05:00

While my mom was here in Boston, we went with some of my girlfriends to afternoon tea at L'Espalier, a fancy restaurant on Boylston Street in Back Bay (right by the Prudential Building).

The meal started out with the waitstaff pouring hot water into wine glasses. We were quite confused. Then the tea sommalier came by with flowering tea, a bundle of tea leaves wrapped around flowers.

(from Wikipedia)

We placed them into our glasses and watched the flowers bloom!

A toast!

Look at the red and white flowers! So lovely. You can buy them at any tea shop, though to me they are far prettier than they taste.

(Starting at 4 o'clock and moving clockwise)---Scottish Smoked salmon with crème fraîche and American caviar, English cucumber with fines herbes and lemon cream cheese, Casco Bay Lobster profiterole (I had to look this up, Casco Bay is the bay in Portland Maine), Jonah crab croissant with sauce gribiche, roasted chicken walnut salad with fall spices and apricot jam. While we initially looked at the actual amount of food on the plate skeptically, we all left quite satiated.

Tea! The sommalier suggested that we order four to five different kinds of tea, in order of strength of the tea (so you end with a very strong tea). We tried their afternoon blend, Yunnan Gold, Darjeeling, a Nepalese, and finished with the breakfast blend (plus one more that I can't remember). My daily tea is either bagged green or black tea, and usually over-steeped at that, so it's really remarkable to taste tea with so many different flavors, none of them the least bit bitter. If you think you don't like tea, this is the place to try it.

Next was the pastries plate (starting at 4'o clock and moving clockwise): panna cotta with rounded apple truffle and coconut cake crumbs, passionfruit gâteau with a blood orange sassafrass gelee (won oddest taste of the day award, rootbeer-toothpastey mint with citrus), chocolate decadence cake, pâte à choux swan with espresso chantilly cream, (citrus scones not pictured, and there's a trifle in a shot glass above the plate; it had chestnuts and mango, so delicious!).

A bit more about the tea sommalier: her name is Cynthia Gold, and she's a chef that decided to bring tea into greater prominence in her cooking. She wrote a book called Culinary Tea which looks quite intriguing. I can say that I have used herbal teas in making ice cream (rosehip ice cream is quite possibly one of my favorite creations) ---but I've never used "real" tea in cooking. Though I do have an Earl Gray Pudding recipe in my list...

The other thing to do, I think, is continue trying different afternoon teas around Boston. The Boston Harbor Hotel was lovely: gorgeous room, lots of light, and right on the water. The pastries and sandwiches were more traditional with a focus on mini sandwiches and scones (plus clotted cream!). L'Espalier was far more modern and I would say the actual tea service was better, and the food was really rich and had interesting flavors. Other places to try include The French Room at The Taj Hotel, The Courtyard Restaurant at the Boston Public Library, The Athenaeum (which is members-only, so out of our reach unless an invitation is extended to us as it was to these Boston tea reviewers), Upstairs on the Square in Harvard Square, and the Bond Restaurant and Lounge at the Langham Boston (The Gallery at the Boston Common Ritz Carlton and Swan's at the Boston Park Plaza no longer serve afternoon tea). I think I know what I want to do for my birthday in March!

Mom in Boston!

2012-01-15T22:21:00.002-05:00

She was only here 36 hours, but much was accomplished! There was eating: peanut butter sandwiches, shrimp, lobster, shawarma, french fries, toffee, a fancy afternoon tea...we are both still stuffed from this weekend. There was also waiting for the 1 bus (does one ever not wait for the 1 bus?), watching Say Yes to the Dress Atlanta in jammies, and learning about sialic acid-dependent invasion. I can't wait until the next trip, when I finally get her to the Cape, Maine, and Walden Pond.

Gorgeous blue sky!

It's January 15th. And the Charles is not frozen. Insane. Freeeeeeeezing winds, though, brr.

Sunset over Boston

Despite the lack of snow, and the fact that it was 50ºF on Friday morning, it is now cold out. Even for us Minnesotans. (it's currently 8ºF, feels like -9ºF...my windows are completely covered in condensation)

now and then

2012-01-03T21:18:00.003-05:00

Then: Camp Fire girls smiling in their sweatshirts, sanding down dowels for a throwing stick game (lummi sticks! the song goes something like this: a wooney cooney chock a wooney etc..)

Now: Two young ladies both into crafts...one a rockstar submitter to the Minnesota State Fair, the other a dabbler with hopes (I'll finish the skirt eventually Lo, I promise!)

to my puppies

2012-01-02T21:47:00.002-05:00

I love you. That is all.

2011: a year in pictures

2012-01-01T21:02:00.057-05:00

January

Exploring around town, complete with chocolate and oodles of snow!

February

More winter walks.

March

My brother visited for my 25th birthday and the Planets!

April

Spring has sprung, with gardening getting started and Easter Eggs to decorate!

May

A trip to DC and Pittsburgh to celebrate both my mom and the wedding of a college roommate!

June

A whirlwind trip through New York, Pennsylvania, Niagara Falls and Vermont for a friend's wedding, plus the second annual Midsommarfest!

July

A friend here for the fourth, and a lovely trip home to the cabin!

August

A lab trip to the Boston Harbor Islands, a weekend trip to my friend's home in Maine, a weekend seeing my friends from IWU in Chicago, and my cousin's wedding back home! So much traveling, I love it!

September

Finally getting to the cape (!!), a trip to the farm, and enjoying the start to fall in Boston.

October

Cupcakes and a weddin'!

November

A friend's visit---and lots of pie!

December

Another friend coming to visit for med school residency interviews, and a lovely break at home.

Goodbye to 2011, hello to 2012!

(if you want to see pictures up close, check them out on Flickr...2011 part one, 2011 part two, 2010, and 2009)

last day of 2011

2011-12-31T19:15:00.004-05:00

Today's fog covering Boston

...and I'm stuck in my apartment, self-quarantined with strep, shaky and slurping down soups and jello to soothe my raw throat. I'm also currently planning to best my speech record of 22 cough drops in a day..that is, if my stomach doesn't rebel first. And thank goodness for whomever negotiated to get five seasons of Say Yes to the Dress on Netflix Instant - it's inane and beauty, all in one shiny reality TV package. Perfect for my current state. (end pity party).

I did manage to rally and make mom's famous layered jello dessert, Christmas style. I had been planning to make it the last week I was in town, but it didn't happen. But today, oh yes.

Happy new year, everyone! See you in 2012!

Driftwood necklaces

2011-12-30T21:17:00.003-05:00

Beautiful pieces of driftwood from Maine + my dad's tiny drill bit + bronzed jump rings + bronze necklaces = handmade jewelry! It's been so long since I've done anything like this, but I'm pretty stoked about how they look:

Block

Thumbprint

Keyhole

Canoe

Nazar

Wishing stone

Diamond

Giving tree

Paddle

Horizon

Hatchet

I thought about oiling them or sealing them with polyurethane, but there's a slight problem in that I don't have a space with good enough air circulation to do such treatments. But the next time I'm lucky enough to get back up to Maine, I think I'll have to collect a second batch!

December 2011

2011-12-29T21:25:00.004-05:00

(better late than never, ha).

Inspiration

The 12 Days of Christmas, by Fernando Volken Togni

Snow art on Lake Baikal, by Jim Devenan (via Design for Mankind)

Christmas of yesteryear

2011-12-22T17:11:00.001-05:00

My mom and her two older brothers...adorable.

Today in Minnesota

2011-12-21T20:31:00.000-05:00

Snow!

new camera!

2011-12-20T21:07:00.001-05:00

It's beautiful. I can't wait to play with it a bit more and learn how to really use it.

A Facebook History of the World.

2011-12-16T21:01:00.000-05:00

...amazing. (written by Susanna Wolff) Very profane, though. Some of my favorites:

A beautiful Thanksgiving day

2011-11-30T19:52:00.001-05:00

There were still cornflowers blooming, kind of crazy to believe! (called blåklint in Sweden, one of my favorite flowers)

A Walk in Newton

2011-11-29T21:53:00.037-05:00

One of the most interesting things I found on my search for 101 things to do in Boston was a suburban hike through the Sudbury/Cochituate Aqeuducts in Newton, Massachusetts (accessible via the green line). Back in the day, a tributary of the Sudbury river was dammed to form an artificial lake, Lake Cochituate. The aqueduct was created to funnel water from Cochituate to the Brookline Reservoir. Brookline Reservoir actually fed directly into the Boston water system, and apparently the ceremony to celebrate the first water from Lake Cochituate flowing into Beacon Hill in 1848 garnered quite the crowd!

from Wikipedia (the darkened stripe is the watershed/aqueduct area).

Neither of the aqueducts are in use anymore, becoming both green spaces and sewer lines (which is why some of the aqueduct is underground and some of it was still ravines cut into the ground).

Posted here, this loop traverses people's backyards (stepping stones often provided), and a park, winds along a Whole Foods, and we walked under trees and through meadows, and next to a marshy bog. Although we missed the fall colors, a long walk with crunchy leaves underfoot, eating honeycrisp apples on the way, watching the trains go by at Eliot, and conquering the most marvelous sledding hill - it was a great way to spend an extra-balmy November afternoon.

Earth

2011-11-28T21:34:00.000-05:00

Time Lapse From Space - Literally. The Journey Home. from Fragile Oasis on Vimeo.

via Discover Blogs

"Beautiful Destruction"

2011-11-27T21:53:00.000-05:00

Wonderful colorized charts of lava flows...very cool. (from Wired, via Discovery Blogs)
(I also sent this along to Erin at Design for Mankind, and she posted about it!)

Thanksgiving Pies!

2011-11-26T21:06:00.000-05:00

I tend to be a person that goes overboard with baking. Constantly. Ever year I say "oh my word, that was too much. Next year, I am not making seven pies."

Famous last words. Ha.

But some friends have asked me how I do it, so I thought I'd write the exhaustive guide to how I plan for this sort of thing. (a la Rachel, from Heart of Light. She's the queen of creative DIY planning with just enough OCD thrown in to stay on top of things. A friend once asked me why I wasn't freaking out when throwing a dinner party for 40 people, and it's because I had people like Rachel to look to in terms of lists and planning. Everything was prepared, if things go wrong, there's a plan B already set up. No need to worry. None of that allowed). So. Here goes!

While all of those life magazines say don't overdo it during the holidays, don't make things overly stressful, I've found that over-doing it so often, holidays or not, well, it has been very good practice to learn how to be a good and resourceful cook and baker. Part of it lies in knowing a recipe, and making sure that you don't make too many new things when you're on a time crunch. But part of it also relies strictly on preparation. Thanksgiving is particularly hard for me since I don't take the day off to bake. If I did, that would be perfect...but as a grad student, it is not to be. So knowing exactly what I'm doing, the order of operations, that is what's important. The one ringer last year that I made was sweet potato pie, complete with sweet potatoes put through a ricer. Dude, no one wants to be ricing sweet potatoes at 2 am. Just sayin'. And I love cooking. Pick your battles.

So yes, it's all about the preparation. Making sure you have enough pans, ingredients, time, space, storage of the finished product...especially enough butter. There's also the very important factor that doubling or tripling things very rarely works well in baking since you're dealing with complex chemical reactions. You're far better off doing things in series to avoid the issues that come with, overloading a pan or oven. This is why when I did cupcakes, I did one batch at a time. Slower, yes. But more precise, and I'm certain that it was better-tasting because I didn't try and over-do it.

Then there's the whole issue of having enough pie pans to do the whole thing...which is why one pies is being made in a 9x13 pan and another is being made in tart pans. In particular, while I love key lime pie, I don't have covers for my pie pans and not enough room in my freezer for a foil-covered frozen pie pan (for those of you who have seen my freezer, you know exactly what I'm talking about). But making key lime bars still gives me that lovely key lime taste without the fuss of juggling bags of corn and ice cube trays to get things to fit in the freezer.

So how do I start? I choose a bunch of pies that I want to make and then prioritize. Sure, I want to make 12 pies, but that is really getting unreasonable. And I don't have enough pie tins anyways.

Starting list
1. double crust apple
2. dutch apple with pecan crumble
3. traditional pumpkin pie
4. pumpkin tart with a gingerbread cookie crust
5. key lime
6. pecan
7. strawberry rhubarb
8. pear with gruyere crust (the Pushing Daisies pie!)
9. banoffee pie
10. cheesecake
11. blueberry pie
12. maple buttermilk pie

Then I sit back and remember that every single pie I want to make does not have to be made for Thanksgiving. This is important. Pies can be made at other times. Panic attack, relieved!

So, I decided I'd make the pear and gruyere pie the weekend after as a treat. And while I want to make a banoffee pie, that's one I've never made before, and right now I'm in a bit of a vendetta against bananas (curse you, fruit flies!) so I'm going to wait on that one, too. The maple buttermilk and blueberry are also on my list for January pies.

That leaves me seven pies in total, and only one of them that I haven't made before (strawberry rhubarb). I know this is completely a summer pie. But I have a freezer full of frozen fruit from this year that needs to be emptied a bit so I can fill it with breakfast sausage from Blood Farm to take home to the family for Christmas. So---a summer pie for Thanksgiving it is!

The next step is matching each of these pies to their respective baking vessesls. I have three glass pie tins, two metal pie tins (from grandma), oodles of tart pans (confirmed addict) and 9x13 pans to use.

1. double crust apple
--glass. Apples are heavy, and I like my apples with about 1.5x as many apples as a recipe calls for. Using the glass pan makes things easier to handle, that's for sure.

2. dutch apple with pecan crumble
--glass

3. traditional pumpkin pie
--metal

4. pumpkin tart with a gingerbread cookie crust
--deep well tart pan

5. key lime
--glass 9x13 pan

6. pecan
--metal

7. strawberry rhubarb
--glass (also a heavy pie)

Ideally, I would have more glass pie plates, and I keep an eye open for this sort of thing on amazon. Does a person really need that many? ...no. But if they get used, that's something.

Next, I look to the crusts. First thing--there are many different recipes and methods for making pie crusts. Butter tastes better, but shortening is flakier. I just use super cold butter (bring to room temperature, cube, and put back into the fridge) and keep all my utensils cold to preserve flakiness and butter chunks in the dough. I also make all of my crusts the day before, so they have a chance to chill overnight. I just put the dough into my pyrex glass storage containers and stack them in the fridge, ready to be used the next day. This whole process includes other crusts, too---I crumb up all of the graham crackers ahead of time as well, so I can get the food processor out of the way for the minimal counter space that I have.

For this set of 7 pies, I need six single crusts (apple, pumpkin, pecan, strawberry rhubarb), a gingerbread crust (pumpkin tart), and a graham crust (key lime). So--the way that I'll do this is Monday evening right after work, I'll take out all the butter that I need for the dough. Right before I go to bed, I will cut the now-room temperature butter into small cubes and aliquot into 2 cup pyrex containers and put back into the fridge. Each dough recipe requires 1 cup of butter (two sticks), so I cut up six sticks total.

Tuesday, I make dough and crumble up gingersnaps and graham crackers (I do the latter first, since they're not messy, and I'm all about not making more mess than necessary in the kitchen).

My simple dough recipe (adapted from Smitten Kitchen, method adapted from Alton Brown)

2 1/2 cups flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 sticks butter, cubed and COLD
3/4 cup (ish) cold water (from the fridge)

Put flour, sugar, and salt into the food processor and pulse a few times to mix. Add butter and pulse about 15 times, or until butter chunks are about pea sized. Add water through the feed tube while continuing to pulse, pulsing a few times after all the water is added to thoroughly combine. Since this dough makes two 9" pie crusts, split in half and put each crust into a separate container and refrigerate until tomorrow.

Wednesday is when the real fun begins. As soon as I get home, I'll take out two pie crusts and get started on the double crust apple pie. I preheat the oven, and then go crazy with my favorite apple peeler in the world (save the peels for bread pudding! just puree in a food processor with buttermilk, then add to the mix of milk, eggs, and sugar. Seriously delicious). I peel enough apples for both pies, put them in two separate bowls, and then clean up the apple peeling equipment (it makes a bit of a mess). Cleaning as you go is key. By this time, the dough is soft enough to roll out, so I roll it out, put it in the pie pan, and put back in the fridge for 10 minutes. I make the pie filling, roll out of the top of the pie, then fill with apples. I put pie number one in the oven, and add a timer to my computer browser. (actually, this is kind of a lie. I stole my lab timer from work, because I can clip it to my skirt! Brilliant).

Double crust apple pie with traditional filling

My adaption from many recipes

Ingredients

3-4 pounds apples (weight is post-peeling and coring)
1 cup brown sugar (ish. This is for tart apples, use less if you have sweeter apples)
1/4 cup flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon/apple pie spice (my combination, a gift from a friend, has two kinds of cinnamon, mace, and cloves)
1/4 cup Calvados (apple brandy)
chunks butter+sugar for topping

1. Mix together brown sugar, flour and spices. Pour over apples in a large bowl, and toss to coat.
2. Add a splash of brandy, and let sit for a few minutes before stirring again. If it super liquidy, add a bit more flour.
3. Put filling into crust, and dot with chunks of butter and a sprinkling of sugar.
4. Put on the top crust, score five times, and wash with an egg wash (beat a whole egg and a bit of water together, pain on the crust with a brush).
3. Bake at 400ºF for 10 minutes, then bring temperature down to 350ºF and bake for an additional 50 minutes.

Now onto pie number two! (the other apple). But before this, I check all my recipes and see if there are things that need to be taken out and at room temperature. In this case, I need eggs for the pecan pie, eggs for the pumpkin pies, butter for the crumb topping of the dutch apple pie, and 6 egg yolks for the key lime pie (egg whites become dinner!).

Once that is taken care of, I take out the pie crust for pie number two, roll it out, place it in the pan, and put it back into the fridge. I make the filling, add the crumble to the top, and about at this point, pie number 1 is ready to come out of the oven. I put in pie number two.

Dutch apple pie (a single crust apple pie with a pecan crumble and dairy included in the filling)
adapted from Heart of Light

Next, I do crusts for my key lime pie and pumpkin tart, and make the pecan pie.

Pecan pie
Originally from the lovely family of MK

(quilted leaf-patterned table runner from my aunt)

Next up are the two pumpkin pies:

Traditional pumpkin pie
Originally from the Libby's can! It's the kind my grandma made.

Alas, not as photogenic as a store-bought pie, but still pretty delicious.

Pumpkin tart with a gingerbread cookie crust
Originally from Martha Stewart

(camera died before being able to take this picture, sorry!)

and then the strawberry rhubarb:

Strawberry rhubarb pie
Originally from Smitten Kitchen

Confession: this was supposed to have a crust on top. Whoops.

Last but not least, I make the key lime pie (it uses a mixer, and the counter with the mixer is my pie-rolling station, so it's covered in flour until the end).

Frozen key lime pie
Originally from Ina Garten

No picture either, sorry! And the housemasters wouldn't let me leave any pie, but I did let their son know that the key lime was still in their freezer.

Now, the above is a fine basic schedule, but if you want to be really on top of things, you want to make a full-blown timetable:

(yes, this does go on until it finishes)

I'm still trying to find a template that has times on the "lines" instead of in boxes so when things start and end is a bit clearer. But this certainly keeps one organized and on point. Cleaning up in the free spaces is also pretty crucial. But yes, there you are! Many pies made for many happy young ladies. And let's be serious, having pie for two breakfasts in a row is pretty wonderful.

Replacing a camera

2011-11-25T21:40:00.006-05:00

My SD card reader bit the dust a couple weeks ago, and yesterday while taking pictures of pie, my SD card suddenly became unreadable. While we do have a reader I can borrow from lab, I feel like I'm being nudged slowly but surely to find myself a new camera. I've had my brick since June of 2004, and it's, um, old. And performs rather poorly under low light conditions. It has been a very good camera for me, and I'll be sad to retire it (==pass it on to my younger brother so he has one to fool around with), but it needs to happen. So--much of my spare time has been spent browsing DP Review and other websites, trying to find a camera that balances cost, utility, and the bells and whistles.

At the end of the day, I want a light camera (not a full DLSR) that I can hold comfortably one-handed, one that is small enough to fit in my purse, and great in low light conditions (image stabilization and operation in low ISO). While a fancy camera would be great fun to play with, at the end of the day I want a camera I can take everywhere I go, all the time, not something that is so big it requires its own case. Not gonna do it, sorry. I also want it to last for at least 15 years, double what this current camera lasted; we'll see how it does. I did find an article from PC World about the best compact low light cameras, which is where I found some of my options.

Current Camera: HP Photosmart 935 (specs taken from a very thorough DP Review article from 2003)

price back in 2004: close to $275
Size: 4"x3"x1.75"
Weight: 9.9 ounces
Maximum resolution: 2608 x 1952
ISO: 100-400
(this camera came with a 32 MB sd card. I upgraded to a 512 MB three years ago, but I need to buy a new one, I think, haha)

Camera option number 1: Canon Powershot S95

Size: 3.94" x 2.28" x 1.18"
Weight: 6.88 ounces
Maximum resolution: 3648 x 2736
ISO: 80 to 3200
Battery: rechargeable lithium ion (lasts about 200 shots)

Price 11.25.11
Amazon: $289
Tiger Direct: $399
New Egg: $399

I also checked out the Canon Powershot S100, which is more expense ($429 on Amazon) but offers better HD Video and other things that are slightly better. Basically, it's not enough to be worth it for me...if I want a video camera, I'll buy a Flip.

Camera option number 2: Olympus XZ-1

Size: 4.4"x2.6"x1.7"
Weight: 9.2 ounces
Maximum resolution: 3648x2736
ISO: 100-6400
Lithium ion rechargeable battery with USB, lasts about 320 photos

Price 11.25.11
Amazon: $415
Tiger Direct: $450
New Egg: $445

Camera option number 3:

See, I was trying to be open-minded, searched through about a zillion cameras, all that, but by hour three of searching today (plus the many many hours I've searched before this), I became more and more convinced that the Powershot S95 is exactly what I need right now. Add one or two extra batteries to be safe, and the amazon deal comes with a 4GB SD card and a mini-hdmi cable...basically, I'm set. Now, I just have to wait for it to arrive!

Minnesota

2011-11-23T20:09:00.002-05:00

Why I love where I live. (but where is the snow? They need to do an edition for each season, I think.)

"Minimalist Walrus"

2011-11-18T21:12:00.003-05:00

...ha. Thanks to a labmate for passing this along!

Pie!

2011-11-17T21:20:00.001-05:00

Easiest Thanksgiving Recipe. Coming to girl obsessed with pie near you!

Stand With Science.

2011-11-16T21:52:00.011-05:00

And then read this. The Science Policy Initiative is a group that I've tried to support since I arrived at MIT (I took their public policy bootcamp over IAP my first year here). Admittedly, I've been fairly focused on research lately, but I still stand with them, that's for sure. Take a gander, see what you think---and then if you agree, sign the petition here (there's already 6000 signatures!)

Hair

2011-11-11T21:39:00.010-05:00

Once upon a time I had short hair, believe it or not.

But it got longer...

And longer.. (this skips my awkward ages from about, oh, seven til fifteen. But I still had longish hair, never shorter than shoulder length).

Then girls in band decided to straighten it while we were in New Orleans (seriously, what do 18 year olds do in New Orleans? Answer...nothing. Straighten my hair, apparently).

And sometimes I'd be fancy and put it back in two low ponytails and buns. Kind of Leia-ish, but not really.

Then I had friends who loved to play with my hair in college (thanks Nicole!)

But really, it was mostly frizzy and in a bun. Seen here with flowers, which were my favorite.

Or here. See the frizz? So much of it. It was just the practical way to be with so much time spent in lab (hair had to be back, no exceptions).

Fast forward to today...I hardly ever wear my hair up anymore. Actually, I wear it all down and back in a clip. And yes, I use the same one every day. My braiding skills are atrocious, though a friend has promised to teach me how to french braid my hair. And online tutorials make me feel like I'm all thumbs. Seriously, was there some slumber party magic class that I missed to get my certification in doing hair?

So here's the question...anyone out there have ideas for me? Besides chop my hair off and start over? (the thought of that gives me a panic attack).

Chicken Marbella

2011-11-10T21:17:00.000-05:00

(also known as chicken mirabella...or just plain delicious).

Last made in January of 2008 for a crew of hungry college students...notice the fancy wine glasses. And the sitting at the table, backs up straight (instead of eating in the living room watching Boy Meets World).

On a bed of wild rice, too, just like I'll be making tomorrow. So good. And don't let the green olives/prunes/capers scare you. They mellow out overnight, promise.

Chicken Marbella

adapted from The Silver Palate Cookbook

Ingredients (this is for 10 pounds of chicken; reduce as necessary)

1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1 cup pitted prunes
1/2 cup pitted Spanish green olives
1/2 cup capers with a bit of juice
6 bay leaves
1 head of garlic, peeled and finely pureed
1/4 cup dried oregano
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
4 chickens (2 1/2 pounds each), quartered
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup Italian (flat-leaf) parsley or cilantro, finely chopped

Instructions

1. Combine the olive oil, vinegar, prunes, olives, capers and juice, bay leaves, garlic, oregano and salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the chicken and stir to coat. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
2. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
3. Arrange chicken in a single layer in one or two large, shallow baking pans and spoon the marinade over it evenly. Sprinkle chicken pieces with the brown sugar and pour the white wine around them.
4. Bake, basting frequently with the pan juices, for 50 minutes to 1 hour, until the thigh pieces yield clear yellow juices (rather than pink) when pricked.
5. With a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken, prunes, olives and capers to a serving platter. Moisten with some of the pan juices, sprinkle with parsley or cilantro and serve with the remaining juices on the side.

Muppets!

2011-11-09T21:28:00.004-05:00

Please tell me I'm not the only one excited to see the new Muppet movie...

Fall in the City

2011-11-08T21:05:00.002-05:00

I cannot even express how much I love fall. The leaves are even prettier than usual on campus this year. All I want to do is take a long walk outside...

A Murmuration of Starlings

2011-11-07T21:55:00.002-05:00

Absolutely incredible. (via SwissMiss)

Portrait of a Lady

2011-11-06T21:53:00.000-05:00

Mary Robinson, by J. Hoppner (1782). Anyone else entranced by that smile?

(via Emma...I wanted to do an expanded portrait search in the National Portrait Gallery, but boy is their advanced search system ever clunky! I couldn't find anything I was looking for.)

Just in case you forgot...

2011-11-05T19:48:00.000-04:00

MIT will remind you what you're supposed to remember.

And for your listening pleasure, here is the second best use of the 1812 Overture (embedding disabled, sorry). The best is obviously Fourth of July Fireworks in Boston with the Boston Pops. Cannot be beat.

Wedding!

2011-11-04T21:38:00.017-04:00

All smiles!

The lab!

The lab, outtake!

Dancin'!

A Cupcakes Adventure

2011-11-03T21:54:00.025-04:00

This October, I spent a lovely day out in Brockton for the wedding of one of my labmates. In addition to attending, I made them cupcakes! Actually, I've spent June until now preparing for this: cupcake tastings, learning how to make Swiss buttercream, piping, the whole shebang.

Starting the day off right by frosting oodles of cupcakes! (and getting some help from the head pastry chef at Tastings Caterer, who was such a wonderful help! And food was delicious, if you ever need a caterer here in Boston, I'd highly recommend them)

Notice the carefully chosen attire--any frosting disasters will disappear into the print of the dress!

Cupcake tree!

The cupcake table, complete with bride and groom!

...and because I'm at a school all about the numbers, here's the rundown:

Time started: 8 am Friday
Time ended: 4:30 am Saturday

Frosting
Batches of lemon swiss buttercream: 4
Batches of maple cream cheese frosting:
Batches of white chocolate mint ganache: 4
Batches of cherry swiss buttercream: 3
Batches of espresso buttercream: 4
Total amount of frosting: 80 cups in 12 large pyrex containers

Cupcakes
Lemon cupcakes: 96
Chocolate cupcakes: 216
Pumpkin cupcakes: 84
Vanilla cupcakes: 90
Total: 486

Number of people at the wedding: 137
Number of times I winced on the car ride over: at least 17
Number of spoons of lobster mac and cheese I ate while decorating: 1 (should have been 18)
Number of times asked if I deliver cupcakes: 2
Number of times I washed a pastry bag: 8
Number of people that told me baking should be my backup plan: 4
Time I fell asleep Saturday night after the wedding: 9:23pm
Time I woke up Sunday morning: 11:30am

(also--if anyone is interested in a .doc file of all the recipes I made plus some cupcake-making-for-a-crowd tips, feel free to email me)

Girl crush: Lisa Hannigan

2011-11-02T21:17:00.000-04:00

Right? Who doesn't have a crush on this girl? I got to see her live recently, and she's pretty much adorable. And plays about eight different instruments to boot.

November 2011

2011-11-01T21:41:00.013-04:00

Inspiration

Sesame Street + youtube = hours of nostalgic wonderfulness.

Things on the calender:

-McCormick Thanksgiving! And likely making 6 pies.

-Boston Ballet!

--Girl's night with pumpkin punch and chicken mirabelle

The Hudson Highland Cup

2011-10-27T21:40:00.002-04:00

The Hudson Highland Cup

Originally from The Tippling Brothers

Ingredients

2 oz Highland Park 12-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky (I used Old Crow like a good Gugisberg granddaughter)
1 teaspoon apple butter (my favorite recipe here)
1 oz fresh lemon juice
0.75 oz maple syrup
1 dash Pastis (anise? Really? I didn't have any and wouldn't have used it anyway)
Hard cider (Newton's Apple from Trader Joe's)

Add all ingredients except the hard cider to a shaker and fill with ice. I use a scale for this, jiggers are nice, scales are better. Shake, and strain into a highball glass filled with fresh ice. Top with hard cider and garnish with an apple slice if desired.

Drank while watching Labyrinth (a friend's first time seeing it!). What a movie---and you can't forget David Bowie's epic proportions, ha.

A broken fridge! ...or why I had hotdish for dinner last night.

2011-10-20T19:04:00.001-04:00

So...a couple mornings ago I woke up to puddles of water emanating from my fridge. I opened both the fridge and freezer door, checked for leaks, made sure I didn't leave the freezer door open all night, the whole shebang.

Nothing.

So I down a bunch of paper towels to mark the trail (and sop up any more leaks) and put in a work order. I come home to no paper towels, meaning that someone had come by to check up on what was up...but there was no note on the door, no nothing. Usually they go ahead and close the work order after they've cleaned up a mess or checked on something for you, but mine was still open. Okay, they must have just forgot.

Fast forward to today, when at about noon I get the email saying the work order was closed with no other details. "Ah, there we go. Finally!"

I think no more about it as I walk home in the downpour. I dig my keys out of my bag, open the door, and squelch out of my shoes so I don't make too big of a mess. The light switch is a bit far from the door, so I open the door as wide as I can and walk my drenched self across the kitchen floor (did I bring a jacket or rainboots? Ha. Funny question. No, I didn't).

As I make it to the carpet, I notice to my right that the floor is really dirty. As in, really dirty. I clean my kitchen floor every night since it's the kind of sickly baby blue that attracts dirtiness like a magnet. And it was clean this morning, I swear!

I frown and take one more step, and feel myself step on something sharp. I lift up my foot and see a half inch chunk of glass on the carpet.

"What in the world is going on! This is ridiculous. Who was in my room??"

I finally turn around, and things make sense. I have a brand new fridge. Which is great!

A Frigidaire!

But there was also glass all over the floor...so I took care of that before finally opening the fridge. I'm not even sure what broke, but I did email the house manager to find out.

Anyway, when I opened up the fridge, I burst out laughing, not even kidding. There are lemons in the cheese drawer, eggs near the vegetables, ketchup not on the fridge door, it kind of looked hilarious. I know, first world problem, I have to reorganize my fridge now that I have a new one.

Even more curious was the distinct presence of many things that are not supposed to be in the fridge. Frozen hashbrowns. A defrosted pile of mushy bananas (seriously? It's a brand new fridge and I already have to clean it?). Several bags of frozen fruit from strawberry picking and farmer's market rhubarb. My half-eaten loaves of bread that I keep frozen for my occasional toast craving. Do you know what frozen then defrosted bread looks like? Smushed, moist, and very unappetizing. It went straight into the bin.

So, here's where the hotdish comes in. You can't refreeze hashbrowns, and these are already fairly old (about a year? I don't eat them often). And the one dish I use them for is confirmation potatoes, a wonderfully artery-clogging dish composed of hashbrowns, sour cream, cheddar cheese, cream of chicken soup, and butter-soaked cornflakes on top.

Let's put it this way: it's delicious.

While the potatoes were cooking (and more than one girl wandered past my door saying "Oh my god it smells so good!") --I called my mom to tell her the story of my night. My brother answered, I passed along the hilarity of the evening. His reaction? "I feel sorry for whomever had to take all of your food out of your fridge, what a disaster."

...he's right. What a disaster, ha.

Garden update!

2011-10-19T21:38:00.000-04:00

Today on MIT news: "Green-thumbed graduate students create skyline oasis at McCormick"

...a wonderful way to end a great year of gardening. Some things worked, others didn't, but that's how a garden is. Not only do plants grow, but so does your knowledge of what works and what doesn't. It's the perfect engineering challenge; you test variables, you see what works, and you change your growing scheme. And you get to eat your successful test cases. Love it.

Someone just forwarded me this picture---we're apparently the most viewed story! I kind of feel like a celebrity.

Apple picking!

2011-10-13T21:43:00.000-04:00

October 2011

2011-10-03T21:52:00.012-04:00

Inspiration

Blurred out artsy model pictures from Ms. Moss...so impressionist, I love it! (seriously, is there anything this girl can't do? What a rockstar).

Exploded flowers from Thoughtful Photography (via Ms. Moss)

Aerofauna by Valeo Doval (via Craftzine)

Branding Minnesota's 10,000 Lakes, by Nicole Meyer (via Simplesong). Maybe I'll get lucky and see Lake Sanborn one day!

Things to do:

--cupcakes for my labmate's wedding

--a couple of girl's nights

--MIT Symphony concert

--apple picking and apple-dessert baking with girls in McCormick

--bioengineering retreat

Red Fire Farms

2011-10-02T21:43:00.012-04:00

A few weeks ago, friends and I went on the long car ride out of the city to Red Fire Farm in Granby - we're members of the CSA there and pick up produce every Friday to use for the next week.

See the McCormick name on the equipment sign? That's the family that donated all the money for McCormick Hall.

Picking beans

Husk cherries!

Tomatoes!

A chicken. A very curious one, at that.

We stopped at BT's Smokehouse in Sturbridge on the way back for barbeque. I wish they'd open a Cambridge branch.

Pulled pork, the best onion rings I've ever had, hush puppies with molasses...love.

Pulled pork sandwich.

Mmm, pulled pork.

Beans

Cherry tomatoes

Cranberry beans

Husk cherries

Carbonator!

2011-10-01T21:47:00.003-04:00

Upon seeing this article on the Etsy blog, a friend and I decided---yes! We must have a way to make seltzer.

For a job such as this, you must have the right tools.

Drilling holes under my kitchen sink for the safety strap.

Buckled in and ready for action!

Does it work?

Answer? YES.

My life is awesome.

(thanks to a fabulous mechanical engineering friend for the installation help!)

I love my job.

2011-09-30T21:56:00.005-04:00

(and yes, that's a fish. It's from an awesome MN State Fair hat from a sporting goods store that my mom sent in a package a couple weeks ago. You just wish you were that cool).

Drink!

2011-09-28T20:57:00.013-04:00

A flight of aviations from Drink: a shot of Creme Yvette, an aviation with Creme de Violette, one with simply gin and lemon, and one with the Creme Yvette.

Drink in Fort Point is my favorite bar here in Boston, plain and simple. Courteous bartenders, tasty and interesting drinks, fascinating history---all put together in one place. Love.

Sunday in the City

2011-09-27T21:40:00.002-04:00

SOWA

2011-09-22T22:51:00.000-04:00

A beautiful day to be outside, get my knives sharpened, have some delicious grilled cheese and poutine from Roxy's, and wander around SOWA. It was chilly enough to remind me that fall is coming...

101 Things to Do in Boston Before You Graduate

2011-09-19T20:31:00.011-04:00

Last year, I sent McCormick seniors a list found on BU's website describing 101 things to do in Boston before you graduate...the page is now defunct, but the list did exist at one time, promise. Even though I did pass it along, I found it to be lacking in the sort of things that were more tailored to the MIT crowd---cheap eats, lots of culture and history, more randomness, less BU sporting events. So, I decided to completely overhaul the list. I didn't realize how hard it would be, but it really helped me learn more about my city, as well as give me a few more things to see around town! Did you know that Boston has a giant Irish culture center? Me neither. I'm going to have to make a pilgrimage out there next summer, I think. So, without further ado:

Restaurants and Food

1. Do a cannoli tasting between Mike's Pastry, Modern Pastry, and Maria's Pastry in the North End.
2. Go to afternoon tea at the Boston Harbor Hotel or have the original Boston Creme Pie at the Ommi-Parker Hotel in downtown Boston.
3. Have cookies and drinks at Top of the Hub in the Prudential Center; be sure to go on a clear night to get the best view of Boston.
4. Sample one of the 100+ beers on tap at Sunset Bar and Grill in Allston.
5. Have dim sum in Chinatown (Hei La Moon is my favorite!).
6. Drink hot chocolate at Burdick's in Harvard Square on a cold winter day.
7. Try hot pot (shabu shabu!) in Chinatown (Hot Pot Buffet).
8. Try Ethiopian food at Asmara in Central Square, or Habsha in Malden.
9. Eat a lobster roll at Neptune Oyster in the North End or B and G Oyster in Back Bay.
10. Drink bubble tea either close by at Leisure Station in Kendall, Infusions Tea Spa in Allston, Dado Tea in Harvard Square (also has great Thai iced tea) or My Thai Vegan Cafe in Chinatown.
11. Eat delicious ramen noodles at Blue Asia in Allston.
12. Eat wonderful shawarma, fasulye piyaz and burnt milk pudding at Brookline Family Restaurant in Brookline.
13. Try the famous celebrity-moniker burgers, sweet potato fries and a Lime Rickey at Bartleys Burgers in Harvard Square.
14. Eat wonderful drunken noodle, pork belly or duck dishes at S and I Thai in Brighton.
15. Try a crabcake at Legal Seafood in Kendall Square or Abe and Louie's in Back Bay.
16. Eat the famous Bobby Flay-beating caramel rolls from Flour Bakery just down the street on Massachusetts Ave.
17. Try a slice at Regina's Pizzeria in the North End.
18. Walk to Inman Square and try the ice cream at Christina's.
19. Try the pumpkin kaddo at Helmand in East Cambridge.
21. Eat ice cream at local favorite Toscanini's in Central Square.
22. Try a Cuban sandwich, fried plantains and a fruit smoothie at El Oriental de Cuba in Jamaica Plain (show your Charlie Card, get 10% off!).
23. Eat a Chilean sandwich at Chacero's near Downtown Crossing.
24. Take a quick road trip or bus out to Cabot's Ice Cream in Newton.
25. Try the clam chowder at Legal Seafood in Kendall.
26. Take the blue line out to Revere Beach and try the roast beef sandwich at Kelly's.
27. Have an absolutely giant plate of pasta at La Famiglia Giorgio in the North End...there's a student discount!
28. Go on a behind-the-scenes tour of Taza Chocolate in Somerville.
29. Visit Haymarket for cheap produce (great for a fruit smoothie party, if I do say so myself!)
30. Have ice cream at the original JP Licks in Jamaica Plain (the JP in JP Licks!).
31. Go apple-picking and drink fresh apple cider and hot apple cider donuts (try Honey Pot Hill in Stow, Carlson Orchards in Harvard, or Autumn Hills Orchard in Groton).
32. Eat ice cream and sponsor the Jimmy Fund for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at the annual Scooper Bowl at Government Center.
33. Drive out to Groton, and buy some farm-fresh eggs and grass-fed meat from the fifth generation of butchers at EL Blood and Sons
34. Tour a Boston brewery; Sam Adams in Jamaica Plain and Harpoon off the silver line near the airport are great fun!
35. Have a cocktail at Drink near South Station (the bartenders are really nice, I promise!)
bonus (thanks Mary Kay!). Try a three course lunch ($10!) at the Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School in East Cambridge.

Only in Boston

36. Stand on the B.U. Bridge. You’re now at the only place in America where, simultaneously, a plane may fly over a car driving over a train traveling over a boat. (bonus points if you actually wait around for this to happen!)
37. Walk the Freedom Trail in downtown Boston!
38. Visit the Franklin Park Zoo in Dorchester.
39. Buy a copy of Make Way for Ducklings and read it in the Boston Common (also a great Boston-based gift if you have young children in your life!).
40. See an improv comedy show at Improv Boston.
41. Watch the Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony in the Boston Common.
42. Attend the St. Patrick's Day Parade in South Boston.
43. Ride a swan boat in the Boston Common.
44. Browse the homemade wares, vintage clothing, and antiques at the South End Open Market (SOWA)-- be sure to get something delicious from one of the food trucks or the farmer's market!
45. See Boston on a Boston Duck Tour.
46. Cheer on the runners of the Boston Marathon on Patriot's Day every April.
47. Visit the Christian Science Center (especially for the calm reflection pools; easily accessible via the 1 bus). Edit from a friend: be sure to check out the Mapparium next door to see giant globe made of stained glass that you can actually walk inside!)
48. Stand on the sidelines to watch the famous Running of the Brides for discounted wedding gowns sponsored by Filene's Basement.
49. Follow the path of Paul Revere's ride to warn the colonists that the British were coming! (there is a ride every year on Patriot's day as well!)
50. Watch the Fourth of July Fireworks!
51. Watch the races at the Boston Dragon Boat Festival on the Charles near Harvard.

Museums and Learning

52. Visit the Museum of Fine Arts (off of the green line; tickets are free when you show your MIT ID).
53. Go browse through the Harvard Library.
54. Admire the cluttered chaos of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (also off the green line).
55. Visit the Deer Island Sewage Treatment Plant!
56. Go to the waterfront and enjoy the views and modern art at the Institute of Contemporary Art (tickets are free when you show your MIT ID)
57. Visit the Kennedy Library (JFK/UMass stop on the red line)
58. Watch the reenactment of the Boston Massacre in March in downtown Boston.
59. Visit the Bay State Model Railroad Museum--it's only open twice a year! (take the orange line to Forest Hills)
60. Sit in on one of the Science and Cooking Lectures at Harvard.
61. Go to Salem and visit the Salem Witch Museum.
62. Show your MIT ID to get into the Boston Museum of Science for free! Edit: If you want to do a very fun science scavenger hunt, search for the planets in the to-scale solar system anchored with the sun inside the Museum of Science---Pluto is all the way in Newton!
63. Visit the William Hickling Prescott House, one of the only two houses on Beacon Hill open to the public.
64. See the exhibits or attend one of the events at the French Cultural Center near the Boston Public Garden.
65. Attend the free monthly stargazing event at the Harvard College Observatory.
66. Visit the New England Aquarium (tickets cost $10 through MITAC).
67. Attend a reenactment of the Boston Tea Party.
68. Browse around the Harvard Museum of Natural History.
69. Visit the Hooper-Lee-Nichols House in Cambridge, a former house of ill repute and current museum full of Cambridge history.
70. Browse through the stacks of the Boston Public Library in Copley Square (the first free city library in the United States).
71. Visit the Irish Cultural Center in Canton (you'll need a car) to see a rugby game, traditional Irish musical and dance performances, or special events celebrating the Irish presence in Boston.

The Arts

72. Attend one of the Bach Cantata masses at Emmanuel Church on Newbury Street or one of their special concerts (John Harbison, MIT faculty, is the conductor of the ensemble)
73. Go see a classic film at the Harvard Film Archive.
74. See the Boston Pops Orchestra in concert (the holiday concerts are really fun).
75. Attend a free concert at King's Chapel near Park Street
76. See the Boston Symphony Orchestra---as an MIT student, you are given a free college card, which gives you a free ticket to many performances throughout the year (Symphony Hall is right off the 1 bus).
77. See one of the many films at Coolidge Corner Theater in Coolidge Corner (classic, art, silent, and everything inbetween!).
78. See a performance at the Boston Ballet (seeing the Nutracker Ballet during the Christmas season is a particularly traditional choice).
79. Watch a performance of the Boston Lyric Opera.

Sports

80. See a Bruins game at TD Garden (North Station).
81. See the Boston Red Sox play at Fenway Park.
82. See a Celtics game at TD Garden (North Station).
83. Attend one of the harder-to-get-to Boston sporting events: see the New England Patriots (football), the Boston Blazers (lacrosse), or the New England Revolution (soccer).

The Great Outdoors

84. Have a picnic lunch at Corey Hill Park in Brookline.
85. Spend a summer night attending Shakespeare in the Park in Boston Common.
86. Take the blue line out to Revere Beach, America's first public beach (there's a great sand sculpting event there every year, too!).
87. Go ice skating on the pond in Boston Common (McCormick has ice skates you can check out for free!).
88. Visit the Arnold Arboretum in Jamaica Plain (Lilac Sunday in May is a beautiful time to walk around).
89. Take a Boston Harbor Cruise to visit one of the many islands in the Boston Harbor.
90. Have a picnic in the secret garden of Kendall Square.
91. Go for a long meandering walk on the Cochituate and Sudbury Aqueducts (go to the Newton Center stop on the green line).
92. Cheer on the racers at the Head of the Charles, an international regatta held on the Charles River each October.
93. Walk along the Emerald Necklace.
94. Go whale-watching! ($35 through MITAC).
95. Bike the Minuteman Trail.

Only at MIT

96. Take a hacking tour.
97. Learn how to sail at the free lessons given through the Sailing Pavilion.
98. Wander through the MIT Museum (tickets are free for you and a guest when you show your MIT ID).
99. Take a glass-blowing class (and if you can't get into the class, be sure to watch some of the classes behind the glass windows in the basement of the Infinite Corridor).
100. On a day you need some peace and quiet or need to make a decision, go visit the MIT chapel to think.
101. Take the free MIT/Wellesley bus to Wellesley College and wander around the campus (do this in the fall, it's a gorgeous way to see the autumn colors of New England!)

Beautiful late summer day

2011-09-13T21:46:00.000-04:00

now and then

2011-09-11T22:38:00.001-04:00

Then: Two brunettes from the biology department, recently finished with a year of biochemistry under the tutelage of a most excellent professor and chocolatier.

Now, both doing research, one temporarily for a med school rotation before her fourth year of med school, one forever, or until she finishes. Or something.

garden update!

2011-09-08T22:21:00.022-04:00

Sunday morning was spent sweating and having a grand old time harvesting, documenting, and enjoying the garden. The flower above is one of my favorites, a blue dwarf cornflower. Beautiful.

Kohlrabi did well, but were planted too densely.

Lovely zucchini.

The haul: carrots, Easter egg radishes, cucumbers, kohlrabi, and beets, all left at the front desk for students to take and eat!

Some general thoughts and ideas for next year:

--herbs do really well up in the Penthouse; each herb should have two full boxes
--one planter box should have 8 seeds for cucumbers and zucchini, not 30
--plant things like carrots, beets, and onions in three rows instead of two, and less densely
--start lettuces sooner in the winter (say, early April) and sew them directly outside
--use the indoor grow lights for lettuces in the winter
--of the wildflowers I tried to plan, only one kind came (the cornflower); some of them are a bit pickier, but I think in general it's okay for them to be planted outside in the designated flower boxes
--weed more often! this year, the weeds have infiltrated.
--split the chives once again before the winter and let them continue to colonize their boxes
--peppers need to be planted early, say May, to get peppers before late September
--none of the strawberries came up, try and get a cutting from the housemasters (though even they said this was not a banner year for strawberries)
--I saw bees polinating flowers every time I was walking up in the garden; this is fabulous.
--stagger the plantings of cilantro; they bolt really quickly and go to seed, so if between two boxes I always had starter plants going, I could actually have fresh cilantro all summer
--some of the rosemary plants died over the winter, but some are better than ever...I have no idea why there's a discrepancy.
--do research on which herbs/plants I can let over-winter

20s inspiration

2011-09-07T21:12:00.003-04:00

I know I've already posted about the Jazz Age party on Governor's Island, but now that it's become a real trip next summer (with three lovely ladies joining me!) I am looking forward to finding some beautiful things to wear: shoes, jewelry, a dress. I already have four purses from my grandmother's collection that will be making an appearance, but the rest of my outfit is still to be found.

I've been looking through flickr and and made a pinterest board to gather inspiration from the lovely ladies at prior Jazz Age Parties, and wow, do they all look wonderful.

During my weekend in Minnesota for my cousin's wedding, my mom and I squeezed in a trip in between errands to My Sister's Closet, my favorite vintage spot at home. While Boston does have great high-end and current consignment (Poor Little Rich Girl, Second Time Around), I do feel like it's a bit harder to find vintage there. Yes, Dame is great, but the storefront in Jamaica Plain recently closed...and 40 Street South has very little before the 60s. Some of the SOWA vendors have great vintage, but the availability is spotty. Garment District is overrated, but you can sometimes find good deals there. The Goodwills are always a possibility, but they are hit-or-miss. Boomerangs is a nice thrifting spot, but again, real quality vintage is a rarity there. Oona's is probably the closest to My Sister's Closet, but the prices are really high (compared to Minnesota, certainly). The owner, while perhaps gruff at first glance, is willing to talk about particular items you're looking for and has some incredible resources for vintage hats. But word to the wise: avoid during the month of October, lest you be run over by Harvard undergrads.

Maybe there are some better places in the suburbs, or maybe I haven't given them enough of a chance, but Minnesota wins for me. It is true that my two years as a driving teenager in Minnesota gave me far more freedom to explore thrift stores. Bloomington, IL had hardly any options, and I guess right now in Boston I just haven't needed all that much, and I just don't have as much time to wander around and shop.

Anyways, my love for My Sister's Closet exists partly because the owner, Arlene, is pretty much amazing. I've spent many a lovely hour putting on fashion shows for Arlene behind the counter, and savoring the Dove chocolate that made its way into my bag with every purchase. I bought my prom dress there, as well as the dress I wore out on my 21st birthday. She's always been the best cheerleader, loving everything that I put on for her. While she wasn't around when we were there, my mom did find a lovely cream-colored silk dress that could be perfect for the party; all for the completely reasonable price of $12. Even better, I had $11.50 leftover from a prior consignment, meaning the dress cost 50 cents. Perfect.

Now to find shoes. And a hairpiece. I think this sort of event definitely calls for a fascintator.

a friend's visit!

2011-09-06T21:12:00.010-04:00

The first Saturday in August, my friend from Pittsburgh joined me for a weekend in Boston: seeing friends, taking pictures, and best of all, nectarine and blueberry picking!

At Carlson Orchards in Harvard.

All smiles under the nectarine trees!

And you can't forget having a picnic at Walden Pond. (yep, the actual real-live Walden Pond. Living in Massachusetts sometimes feels like you live in history).

So lovely.

(For pictures of the trip that are zillions better than mine, see my friend's photos of Boston here and here and here)

guess who finally got to the Cape?!

2011-09-04T20:37:00.009-04:00

This girl. So much fun.

Heading to the beach!

The waves were crazy! I had thought I'd only go in to the bottom of my dress, but then I got completely drenched by a wave, and gave up. Swimming in a dress really isn't that bad, though don't be surprised if you find seaweed in your pockets...

All smiles at the beach near Woods Hole (also known as WHOI, or the Woods Holes Oceanographic Institute, said who-ee).

Crashing waves and sailboats.

You can just barely see Martha's Vineyard across the Vineyard Sound.

September 2011

2011-09-01T21:55:00.003-04:00

I can't believe it's already here. August has been a month zipping around all over the place (Boston with a visitor, Chicago, Minnesota, and then the hurricane) and September starting, well, I kind of wasn't expecting it quite so soon.

But here it is! And here am I, sans funny things to post. Except this:

from here

Some exciting things for this month:

--girl's nights will be continuing! I had so much fun this summer that I will be hosting them in my apartment throughout the year - love this. Something to look forward to, absolutely.

--orchestra is starting again, and while I am not at all ready for my audition (I never am, honestly. There's a reason I switched from music performance to biology)....regardless, I can't wait for this season to begin.

--two massages! Thanks, groupon.

--making more practice cupcakes and piping oodles of icing for my labmate's wedding in October.

--a trip to Red Fire Farms, the farm that delivers my veggies every week.

And sleeping more. Traveling always messes up my sleep schedule, and being able to shut off my computer at 10:30, read a bit, and be snoozing by 11, well, that's the life. Sure, it means I don't get quite as much done as I'd like, but the sleep is worth it.

A Norweigen Wedding

2011-08-29T22:32:00.000-04:00

St. Olaf Chapel.

Eric and Johnny.

Inside of St. Olaf Chapel.

I don't have a picture of the bride's Norwegian costume, which is a real shame. She looked stunning.

Ha.

Brother and sister.

Pear cider and beer inbetween the reception and the after party.

The cousins!

The groom and I.

And Hillary, because she's gorgeous. Ayden was also around but as the puppy currently known as "Cone of Shame" while she recovers from getting spayed, she wasn't up jumping and looking pretty for the camera.

Hurricane!

2011-08-28T13:56:00.003-04:00

In case anyone has missed the trouble that is Hurricane Irene, well...she's here. Heavy rains (over an inch so far) and wind gusts up to 40 mph and sustained winds up to 20 mph, it's not as bad as we thought it would be...but I'm sure glad I'm not outside in the nearly-horizontal blustery downpour.

This weekend was supposed to be my first weekend ever on the Cape - sun, beach, picnic, sand, all that is good and wonderful about the end of summer here in New England. But Irene intervened, so instead of a beach weekend, my friend and I made the best of our situation. We had wanted to attend afternoon tea at the Boston Harbor Hotel, but it was booked! So instead, we went to the lovely hipster haven of Jamaica Plain for some thrifting and the best Cuban sandwiches in Boston (with friend plantains and mango/papaya shakes, of course). Then, back to my place for movies, drinks, and food. We started off with caipirinhas with lots of lime, then made a hurricane sorbet based on the classic hurricane drink:

Classic Hurricane

2 oz light rum
2 oz dark rum
2 oz passion fruit juice
1 oz orange juice
juice of a half a lime
1 tablespoon simple syrup
1 tablespoon grenadine

Squeeze juice from half a lime into shaker over ice. Pour the remaining ingredients into the cocktail shaker. Strain into a hurricane glass. Garnish with a cherry and an orange slice.

Hurricane Sorbet

¼ cup light rum
¼ cup gin
¼ cup vodka
¼ cup amaretto
¼ cup triple sec
½ cup grenadine syrup or 100% pomegranate juice
2 1/2 cups juice (could be 1 cup orange juice, 1 cup passionfruit juice, ½ cup pineapple juice; I used 2 cups of Trader Joe's Mango/Orange/Peach juice with 1/2 cup of pineapple juice)

Mix together and process in your ice cream maker.

Next was making the best gazpacho in the world (not kidding). I've made it twice since Thursday, and it changed my life.

Andalusian Gazpacho (adapted from Serious Eats)

3 pounds (about 4 large) very ripe tomatoes, cored and cut into rough 1-inch chunks
1/2 pound (about 1 small) cucumber, peeled, seeded, and cut into rough 1-inch chunks
1/3 pound (about 1 small) small red onion, peeled and cut into rough 1-inch chunks1/3 pound (about 1 medium)
green or red bell pepper, cored, seeded, and cut into rough 1-inch chunks
2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more to taste
4 ounces (about 2 slices) white sandwich, French, or Italian bread, crusts removed, torn into rough 1-inch pieces
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for serving
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar, plus more for serving
Freshly ground black pepper

Combine tomatoes, cucumber, onion, pepper, garlic, and salt in a large bowl and toss to coat thoroughly. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Drain juices into a large bowl and add the bread. Transfer the drained vegetables to a rimmed baking sheet and place in freezer until vegetables are frozen, about 30 minutes. Remove vegetables from freezer and allow to sit at room temperature until mostly thawed, about 30 minutes. Transfer vegetables and all their juices from the pan to largest stock pot you own with soaked bread. Using stick blender, blend vegetables, juice, and bread at high speed, slowly drizzling olive oil and sherry vinegar into blender as it blends. Strain soup through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl. This will take awhile, but it is worth it. Season to taste with salt and black pepper. Serve, drizzling each bowl with olive oil, a few spirnkles of sherry vinegar, extra cracked black pepper, and chives. Gazpacho can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You do end up having a bit of leftover tomato goo, but I'm trying to figure out something to do with it...maybe food process it to get in even finer pieces and then use as a pizza sauce? I'm not sure yet.

With gazpacho was fresh bread, serrano ham, fresh figs, and manchego cheese. Dinner of champions, I tell you.

After dinner was a gin tasting; as I am quite new to gin (three months?) I really haven't had a chance to taste different varieties. We ended up doing a test gin-and-tonic for Bombay Sapphire, Hendrick's, Citadelle, and Tanqueray 10. Tanqueray 10 is by far the most expensive, but by far the best.

Last but not least for the evening was dark and stormy ice cream, also based on the cocktail:

Dark and Stormy

1.5 ounces dark rum
Ginger beer

Fill highball with ice, and add rum. Fill to top with ginger beer.

Dark and Stormy Ice Cream (adapted from Gosling's)

2 cups milk
2 cups heavy cream
6 large egg yolks
½ cup dark rum
½ cup ginger brandy
1 ½ cups ginger syrup

In a saucepan combine the milk and cream and scald the mixture over moderate heat, stirring. In a large bowl beat the egg yolks until they are light and thick. Temper with a few spoonfuls of the hot cream/milk mixture and then add to the saucepan, continuing to cook over moderate heat, stirring, until it coats the spoon. Pour through a sieve into a large bowl and chill in the fridge. Add rum and ginger syrup, and freeze in an ice cream maker.

In case anyone is keeping count, we had 11 different liquors last night, which is awesome. We also watched The French Lieutenant's Woman with Meryl Streep, which was missing the final fifteen minutes on Netflix, leaving us in great suspense. Irene is obviously to blame.

Chicago!

2011-08-17T22:43:00.014-04:00

Trying to open the wine (A Frenchman awkwardly saved the day when we couldn't get it opened).

The spread.

Enjoying dinner!

Pritzker Pavilion, all lit up for the concert (the Grant Park Orchestra played The Book With Seven Seals, an oratorio by Franz Schmidt to much acclaim; we all enjoyed it!)

Biology girls from IWU, reuniting for lunch!

I love the El.

now and then

2011-08-13T22:20:00.023-04:00

Then: baking pies for my last Thanksgiving at IWU. That poor oven had to be on halfway through the night, mostly because one of us accidentally put 2 tablespoons of salt into the crust instead of 2 teaspoons. No matter, the two of us just made another apple pie and ate the entirety of the filling from the first salty-crust pie. Delicious and sugar-coma inducing.

Now: Getting together for brunch in Minneapolis! One is volunteering for a year with the Lutheran Volunteer Corps at Kaleidoscope Place, a community center for children in the Philips neighborhood of Minneapolis, and the other is planning to join a program sponsored by the Cambridge Science Festival that matches scientists with Boston-area teachers. (one step closer to my goal of becoming Ms. Frizzle).

now and then

2011-08-11T22:19:00.001-04:00

Then: visiting Sioux Falls on a trip to the family farm in Worthington.

Now: one back from a year working in China, ready to go back again for his second tour of teaching English (and learning 5000 characters, which is crazy), one home for a summer trip to Minnesota. He traveled quite a few more miles to take this picture, that's for sure.

How to catch a fish

2011-08-10T21:27:00.000-04:00

Step 1: go out about an hour before official sunset.

Step 2: Cast into the weedier-ish part of the lake, about 40 feet out.

Step 3. Reel 'er in!

Step 4: Bring fish close to the dock, and kneel down.

Step 5: Grab fish firmly, making sure to immobilize pernicious top fin. Examine hooks and remove carefully but authoritatively. Fish wiggle more when you are skittish.

Step 6: After successfully removing the hook, fake throwing the fish at your sister, just because it's fun.

Step 7: Throw him back.

Step 8: Look at the pretty sky.

Step 9: Tease the sunnies.

old-lady street cred.

2011-08-09T19:59:00.017-04:00

The sunflowers and cherries were found at a church sale up north for a pittance...I wish I knew which lady spent time embroidering them, but I'll just have to live with the hope that making these is a labor of love for her, and buying them was getting me one step closer to my grandma's kitchen.

The magnolia blossom was made for me by this dear friend, after remembering my love for the flower after going crazy seeing them for the first time on our band trip to New Orleans. Eight years pass, I said nothing about magnolias to her, and then she presents me with that gorgeous tea towel, not knowing that I practically have an addiction to the magnolias that bloom outside of McCormick every spring. (my first year living here, I took over 300 pictures of them in two weeks). Friend/flower ESP, oh yes.

24 hours in Maine

2011-08-08T21:46:00.045-04:00

Building near North Station.

North Station is also the TD Garden, home of the Celtics and Bruins (nice use of space, Boston).

Morning beach walk.

Deserted.

Beach at high tide.

Exactly what I'd expect of a Maine coastline.

Sand and driftwood.

The view from my reading spot.

Wild Maine blueberries, hidden among the University of New England campus.

The University of New England has a Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center, and this little guy was abandoned. My friend swears that seal pups are the devil in disguise, but look at that face! How could that ever be evil, I ask you?

Their research lab just seems so much cooler than mine. Maybe because you can play with baby skates! The little ones were about two inches across, but the adults were larger than a dinner plate.

The gas station and deli where we bought lunch. When you first enter, it looks like a normal gas station: an aisle for pop and beer, and aisle for chips and crackers, and then you see the giant lobster tank. Welcome to Maine.

My beautiful five-claw lobster roll on a lightly toasted bun. So delicious.

The marshland near the beach.

The beach at low tide.

Looking back towards land.

Exploring.

Ripples in the sand.

Looking out towards the ocean.

The other Salty Dog, currently beached.

Martian landscape.

Beautiful grasses.

The beach, much larger than it was at high tide.

Buildings in the town of Saco, Maine.

Clam chowder and beer at Run of the Mill...a perfect way to end a beautiful day in Maine!

Lab Outing: George's Island and Spectacle Island

2011-08-07T19:58:00.027-04:00

Pier on a foggy day.

Is it weird that I absolutely love wandering around decay and things falling apart? Probably.

Fort at George's Island

Fort Warren was a pentagonal force to be reckoned with, defending Boston Harbor back in the day. Interestingly, Boston Harbor is the only place in the US where glacial formations called drumlins intersect with a coastline, meaning that the harbor is full of underground hills. This seems like just a bit of trivia until you realize the impact this has on ships arriving in Boston Harbor. Because of the drumlins, there is only one natural channel deep enough for ships, especially ships of war, to enter the harbor. Nowadays, there are some shipping ports that have dredged the harbor to change that, but it meant that Fort Warren was really an effective means of defending the one channel through to Boston proper.

Pivots for cannons on the ramparts.

In the magazine.

In the end, nature always wins.

Last vestige of the military presence on George's Island.

Ferry. (you can buy tickets and find more information here, it's cheap and tons of fun!)

View of Boston from the harbor.

Spectacle Island, former landfill and glue factory converted into an eco-friendly deposit of dirt from the big dig. Definitely wins the award for best reuse of space and resources.

Now and then

2011-08-05T21:38:00.008-04:00

Then: together on a high school band trip to New Orleans, outside of the "Interview with a Vampire" Mansion. (why yes, I am wearing a white cheerleader skirt over jeans, gosh I miss high school).

Now: One just bought her first home in the burbs (so cute!), one still living in an apartment in the city. One has a rockstar job with the bone marrow donor register (register here!, it's quick and easy!) ---the other is stuck in school forever (=me).

Summer in Minnesota! (cabin edition)

2011-08-04T21:45:00.015-04:00

Hazy sunset over the lake.

On the dock.

Looking northeast over the lake.

The sun has set.

Twilight is coming.

Clouds.

Loon!

Enjoying the water.

Fairy ring.

Fishing.

Catch of the night.

...even better with beer.

Smiles in the new swing Dad put together.

Cabin and the clothesline.

"Hey dad, you're going to give me some bacon, right?"

Christmas picture?

Watching the sunnies.

Goodbye til next summer...

Summer in Minnesota! (up north edition)

2011-08-03T19:56:00.000-04:00

Lake Mille Lacs (artfully composed and taken from the backseat while driving, if you can believe it).

Giant fish.

A bar, Northern Minnesota style.

A quick stop at Culvers for burgers and fries.

A storefront in Backus.

My favorite store, the butcher. We were here picking up our cajun bacon and also an order of green onion brats.

A blizzard and reading New York Times break down in Pine River.

Sunset on the way home.

Backus Post Office.

Gorgeous day lilies in front of the post office.

Mini golf in Longville.

You've never really played mini golf til you've played it out in the open, hot as blazes, sweating through every layer you've got.

Cousins and the munchkins.

Woman Lake

Cousin with munchkin number one.

Me with munchkin number two.

The Salty Dog Restaurant.

Summer in Minnesota! (St Paul edition)

2011-08-02T21:36:00.013-04:00

A boy and his dog.

Coming home all the way from China, ready for the customary picture.

I have really been craving Dairy Queen: hot fudge sundae with anti-freeze green creme de menthe and that delicious soft serve.

"Hotter than the Amazon" (dew point, 83º).

Home. Notice the haze?

It's almost like I'm using a Holga.

Feet in the haze.

Dog staying cool (yes, she matches the wood floors, and yes, I believe this was an intentional move on my dad's part).

Bridge.

Minneapolis.

A different boy, and his dog. (Ayden is learning how to sit).

August 2011

2011-08-01T22:54:00.000-04:00

(the lake as seen from the dock. I miss you already)

Inspiration

Dot to Dot Mona Lisa from Thomas Pavitte. 6329 dots. Wow. (via D Sharp Journal)

Art Made from Google Maps by Jenny Odell (via Design Sponge)

The Color of Anything, a hue synthesis program which takes the colors from 80 photos from Flickr that correspond to a given search term, and puts them all together. Rad. (via) --the search terms need a bit of help with tagging and such, but it is in beta, so here's hoping that bit of it improves.

Star Wars and classic movie mashups. Heart. (via)

Excitement to come:

--friend from Pittsburgh coming to visit!

--blueberry picking.

--Chicago weekend to catch up with IWU friends (and drink at The Violet Hour and feel incredibly glamorous!)

--My cousin's wedding at the St. Olaf Chapel

--visiting the Cape

--school begins! The emails of the new freshmen arrived yesterday, and soon they'll be here on campus. It's hard to believe it's already August.

Summer Girl's night

2011-07-29T20:51:00.000-04:00

The menu:

Zucchini strand spaghetti (adapted from Deb, the wonderful blogger and mom behind Smitten Kitchen)

Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 pound whole-wheat dried spaghetti
1 1/2 pounds zucchini (two rather large 12-14 inch zucchini)
1/4 cup olive oil (I used hot pepper oil from the expensive but lovely O and Co on Newbury Street)
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cup grated Parmesan

Bring a large pot of water to a boil in the largest stockpot you have and add salt. Add the pasta and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes. While the water comes to a boil and the pasta cooks, cut the zucchini with the fine French-fry cutter on a mandoline. If you do not have one, cut by hand into the longest, finest julienne you can manage. Season with salt and pepper. If your zucchini is very finely cut, it does not need to be cooked. Otherwise, place in a metal colander, suspend over the pasta pot, cover the pot, and steam the zucchini until still slightly crunchy, about 2 minutes. Heat 1/4 cup of the olive oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Add the garlic and saute briefly until light brown. Turn on the exhaust fan and add the red pepper flakes. Quickly mix in the basil and remove from the heat. When the pasta is al dente, drain through a colander, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. Pour the pasta into a warm serving bowl; add the zucchini, oil, the garlic mixture, and 1/2 cup of the cheese. Toss well, adding cooking water as needed to make a smooth sauce. Taste for seasoning and add salt and pepper, as needed. Grate about 2 tablespoons Parmesan over the top and serve at once.

Farmer's market plums and blueberries

Blue Fin Viognier ($3.99 at Trader Joe's, good with the spicy pasta)

Maple spice ice cream --turned root beer float! (adapted from The New York Times)

1/2 cup maple syrup

2 cups heavy cream
6 cardamom pods
2 whole cloves
1 4-inch cinnamon stick
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup milk

In a small saucepan over medium heat, reduce maple syrup by half, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, in a separate saucepan over medium-low heat, simmer one cup cream with cardamom pods, cloves, cinnamon and salt, stirring occasionally until cream begins to simmer, about 5 minutes. Allow to stand, off heat, for 20 minutes. Strain into a bowl, discarding spices. Stir in reduced maple syrup, remaining cup cream and the milk. Transfer bowl to refrigerator or set into an ice bath to chill. When cold, pour into bowl of an ice cream machine and churn according to manufacturer’s directions. Transfer to a container and freeze until solid, at least 2 hours. Let sit at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes before serving, or in refrigerator for 15 to 30 minutes. Spoon into a glass, and top off with good root beer (Virgil's, A and W).

heat wave!

2011-07-16T12:25:00.000-04:00

Weather, seriously? I want to be outside all week!

now and then

2011-07-15T21:31:00.001-04:00

Then: two about-to-be-graduates in biology at the girl's graduation brunch I hosted at 1305 Roosevelt during our last few days at IWU.

Now: one girl finishing her third year at MIT in bioengineering, another doing an away rotation at a clinic in Maine for her third year of medical school. And we're still all smiles.

Summer girl's night

2011-07-14T21:25:00.016-04:00

The menu:

Rosemary citrus spritzers (adapted from here)

2 lemons
2 oranges
4 (4-inch) sprigs fresh rosemary
3/4 cups sugar
1/4 cup honey

Peel off thick strips of zest from 1 lemon. Juice the lemons and oranges into a liquid measuring cup – you should have about 1 cup of juice. Top off with water if necessary to make 1 cup. Combine zest, juice, rosemary, sugar, and honey in a saucepan over medium heat. Boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly to dissolve the sugars. Remove from heat and let sit 10 minutes. Strain, discard solids, and let syrup cool completely. To serve, fill an 8-ounce glass halfway with ice cubes, add syrup, alcohol to taste (I used gin), and fill glass to the top with soda water.

Mediterranean Nachos

Pile blue corn tortilla chips with kalamata olives, feta cheese and mozzarella cheese--broil or microwave until cheese is nice and melty. Add scallions and enjoy! (also good with tomatoes, ground lamb, lots of options)

Coffee Amaretto Ice Cream

3/4 cup sugar
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons instant coffee or espresso powder
2 cups heavy cream (one pint)
Amaretto (Disaronno, while not required, is always better. Always)

Whisk together sugar, milk, and coffee. Add cream and continue to whisk. Add between 1 tablespoon and 1/4 cup amaretto and chill. Process in ice cream maker and freeze.

PS: squash blossoms!!

Rick comes to visit!

2011-07-13T21:22:00.000-04:00

Jet-lagged and exhausted from the 45 hour journey from the other side of the globe, Rick and I started his few days vacation here with a culture shock: pasta without chopsticks! ("where are they? I can't eat pasta with a fork anymore!")

From there, we went all-American and made both chex mix and puppy chow for the next evening's festivities in the Penthouse. Life? Deliciously American.

On Tuesday, we ended up walking across the bridge (hello, arms, you so white! No worries, mom, the 15 minute walk gave me the only sun I'll be getting sans sunscreen this summer).

Symphony Hall, decked out for the Pops

Boston Pops + 1812 Overture + howitzers = I love America.

The MFA entrance, highlighting the Chihuly exhibit.

So here's the thing. Rick and I met long ago at band camp. Ha. This was also about two years after American Pie came out, much to the chagrin of flute players everywhere. Anyways, we were up at the University of Minnesota, Duluth for a week, a time that felt Extremely Grown Up. We shared dorm rooms, we made our own decisions about free time, we ate what we wanted to, ah, freedom.

And oh goodness--we also played unsanctioned ultimate frisbee at midnight, propping doors open to make sure we could. There was also the fact that the boys playing were shouting random things for the charge after every point (kind of like the kick off in football) and this degraded into shouting about one of my friends "---- is hot!" as well as applying this to other young ladies in the crowd, even yours truly. I can't remember, though, exactly why. My memory is obviously fading in my old age, for I can't remember if Gena told one of the guys to do it to make me feel better, or if I made some smart aleck comment, or if they just cycled through the names of the brave young lasses who decided to join them for the fun. Ah well, that is one story lost to time. (in trying my best to remember what actually happened that night, I did some checking into old emails and my word, what gossip I have forgotten. Ha!)

Rick, in particular, was a character. He walked around with a little black book, taking down funny stories, addresses, people, soaking it all in. He and the other percussionists had a great time together, and in their exploring found the University of Minnesota at Duluth Art Museum, which just happened to be showing an extended documentary about Dale Chihuly. And then they watched the entire thing, no joke. They invited us all to watch with them, and we kind of looked at them like they were nuts. (and they were). Since then, Chihuly has been a great joke between Rick and I, hence the visit to the MFA's exhibit being of paramount importance.

Shadow of a chandelier

The thing I love most about Chihuly is that he is completely without artistic pretensions; when asked to describe the boat piece he said, "Well, I was dropping my glass pieces in a stream just because, and I was paying some local boys to put it back in the boat for me. I liked how they all looked in the boat."

He also loved Pendleton blankets.

It's impossible to really show this room to scale. It was incredible.

These are details from the Persian ceiling. I want them in my bathroom. (when I marry a zillionaire, obviously).

photo credit: MFA, my camera batteries died. The story behind this one? "So I was in the glass factory in Amsterdam that had really high ceilings, and I just wanted to see how tall I could make them!" Excellent.

The night ended with dinner at the Cambridge Brewing Company followed by a couple rounds at Drink, a local establishment with somewhat Prohibitionist decor (the guys wear suspenders, be still my heart!) Drinks are expensive, especially for a grad student that doesn't go out much. But, they are worth the money, and the bartenders are wonderful. Knowledgeable and friendly, I don't think they'd do this job unless they loved it.

All smiles in front of 77 Mass Ave before heading back to Minnesota.

Summer Girl's night

2011-07-11T21:24:00.000-04:00

The menu:

Prosecco and saft (fruit juice concentrate)

Add fruit syrup to ice, add Prosecco, and stir lightly. Easy peasy.

Pizza

Roll out your pizza crust of choice (I use frozen leftovers from the McCormick pizza nights).

Toppings for this evening:
--fig preserves, goat cheese and caramelized onions
--pancetta, caramelized onions, and olive tampenade

Cherry mascarpone ice cream (adapted from Not So Humble Pie)

1 1/2 cups fresh cherries
1/4 cup golden brown sugar (or light brown)
1 cup granulated sugar
1 3/4 cups heavy cream
1 cup milk
1/2 cup mascarpone cheese (homemade! see here)
1 large egg
splash of lemon juice
splash of cherry kirsch, if desired (um, yes)

Combine cherries and brown sugar and mix until well blended in a food processor. Add the remaining ingredients and blend for roughly 15-20 seconds. Chill the mixture for 30-60 minutes and then prepare in your ice cream maker according to the manufacture's instructions.

Fourth of July

2011-07-09T08:33:00.005-04:00

(photos courtesy of Nick, a mechanical engineering student at MIT and photographer---he took some great photos throughout the night, leaving me free to co-host and enjoy the evening)

This may be my favorite photo - for it shows just how crowded the Penthouse was! We had about 60 friends there, all watching the fireworks.

The calm after the storm.

July 2011

2011-07-02T21:26:00.000-04:00

(new graffiti on the Mass Ave bridge, it made me smile)

Inspiration

Elizabeth Shippen Green is one of my new favorite artists. There's a biography written about her and two other female artists of the times that I've requested from the library - I can't wait to read it.

Hipster Lord of the Rings.

On the docket:

--Fourth of July party, tomorrow!

--a friend coming to visit! I haven't seen him in forever, so this will be fabulous.

--HOME. Cabin, beer, hammock, family, brats, writing letters to friends (let me know if you want one!), ice cream, lake, swimming, toasted Peeps, Hillary, and starry nights.

--girl's nights are fast becoming my favorite evenings of the week; good food, company, and a view. What more could I ask for?

--more ice cream, fruit, summer, all good things.

Summer girl's night

2011-06-30T22:29:00.070-04:00

The menu:

Mojitos

Trader Joe's limeade, a touch of mint simple syrup, rum, and mint leaves to top it off - it's pretty sweet, so dilute with club soda as necessary.

Spring roll salad (adapted from 101 Cookbooks)
I know it looks complicated, and yes, it does take time, but it is worth it.

3/4 pound fresh shiitake mushrooms (or other mushrooms)
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons shoyu (=soy sauce)
4 ounces (4 cups loosely packed) fettucine-style rice noodles (Trader Joe's sells these)
2 carrots, sliced into matchsticks (1 cup; I actually shaved using a vegetable peeler, much quicker than doing a fine julienne, and the texture is nice. I also used shaved cucumbers, yum)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
(I also added all my CSA greens for the week; these aren't included in the original recipe, but I think tipping the balance toward vegetables makes it an even better summery salad)
1/2 cup dry-roasted peanuts, roughly chopped in food processor

--Roasted Shallot Peanut Sauce
3 medium shallots, unpeeled
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon shoyu
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice

Tamarind dipping sauce (or in my case, dipping sauce, for I still can't find tamarind concentrate. Oh well, it's still good)
2 tablespoons sugar
6 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon tamarind concentrate
1 tablespoon shoyu
1 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro
1 garlic clove, minced (I used CSA garlic scapes)
1 teaspoon finely slivered seeded red serrano or Thai bird chile (I have a jar of Thai chile paste that saves me here, Thai chiles are hot and apparently physically painful to cut. Thank goodness for the World Aisle at Shaw's)

Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Cut the stems off the shiitakes and discard them (or save them for stock). Thinly slice the caps; you should have 5 cups. Toss the shiitakes in a bowl with the olive oil and shoyu. Then spread them out on a parchment-covered baking sheet and transfer it to the oven. Also, place the shallots in a baking pan. Roast both the mushrooms and shallots in the oven, stirring the mushrooms twice, until the mushrooms are shrunken, browned, and fairly crisp and the shallots are a bit oozy (about 40 minutes).

Place the mushrooms in a small bowl and set it aside. Let the shallots cool, and squeeze into the bowl of a food processor. Add additional ingredients in the peanut sauce and puree until smooth (makes about 2 cups, keeps well in the fridge).

To make the dipping sauce, combine sugar and water in a saucepan, and warm over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat and add lime juice, tamarind, and shoyu. Let cool, and stir in cilantro, garlic and chile paste (makes about 1/2 cups, does not keep as long as the peanut sauce, but will keep a couple days).

Cook noodles as directed, and drain, rinsing with cold water. Enjoy the salad buffet style.

Rhubarb ice cream (adapted from Not Without Salt)

3 to 3 1/2 cups rhubarb chopped in half inch chunks
1/2 stick butter
1 vanilla bean, seeds removed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup brown sugar, not packed
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup milk

7-10 drops cherry blossom extract or rose water (optional)

Combine the rhubarb, butter, vanilla bean and seeds, vanilla extract, sugar and salt in a medium sauce pan. Cover and braise over medium-low heat until rhubarb is soft (this takes about fifteen minutes). Take off heat, break up any obvious chunks, and let cool for about twenty minutes. In a medium bowl combine the cream and milk then add the cooled rhubarb mixture. Add the extracts at this point, and let chill completely before churning.

Watermelon sorbet (adapted from Tartlette; this works with any kind of melon, oh yes)

4 cups watermelon, seeded and diced
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
Splash to 1/4 cup liquor (vodka, elderflower liquor, pick something delicious; keep in mind that the more alcohol you add, the lower the freezing point dips---which can make for smoother sorbets, but it can also make them loose the frozen texture that some people really love)

Combine all the ingredients in a blender and process until smooth. (or in my case, put in my largest stockpot and puree using an immersion blender. Much easier, less mess). If the graininess bothers you, strain it. If not, let cool completely and churn.

Midsommarfest 2011

2011-06-29T20:19:00.025-04:00

(more about Midsommar and last year's Midsommarfest here)

The day dawned dark and dreary. Oh well. Sometimes it isn't so sunny in Sweden, either.

But I set the tables up with the help of one of my lovely undergrads here for the summer and her friends from work and got to making food.

Seating for 34 people. I love dinner parties.

Bacon-wrapped apricots. Delicious.

In line for food: Swedish meatballs, cucumber and dill salad, potato salad, cheese flan, smoked fish, cheese, bread, beet salad, all manner of other good things.

...and a bonus? The sun came out!

So many people!

Me and my first taste of aquavit - delicious! It also tastes rather delightful with lingonberry saft and water.

All smiles. What a great night.

Road trip: day 4

2011-06-28T22:59:00.031-04:00

Day 4: Burlington, VT to Boston, MA

We stayed overnight at my travel partner's uncle's home in Burlington - an expansive home full of sports equipment galore and everything that could make the neighborhood kids love it. They live a block from Lake Champlain, the lake that we ferried across the night before.

Lake Champlain in the morning - it reminds me of Lake Mille Lacs

Enjoying the view and the sunshine.

Ben and Jerry's!

The factory is really nestled within the mountains, I love it.

Cabot Cheese!

The cider mill - alas, wrong season for operation, but I was able to get some apple molasses to use in something or other. Not sure yet - probably cakes and sauces, but salad dressing may work as well.

Not pictured: a stop at the lovely NH state liquor store to stock up:
--vodka for making vanilla
--gin for the Tom Collinses at girl's night (my first try of gin, ever. I know, I know. I've lived under a rock. But---lemon and gin fit so well together!)
--campari to make a wonderfully tart David Lebovitz grapefruit campari sorbet that was the most lovely shade of coral
--Disaronno, for I owe a composer friend of mine a batch of amaretto chocolate chip cookies once it's cool enough to send them his LA way (meaning December. But I don't get to NH often, so there you are).

We arrived home around 4, just in time to get everything clean and put away, and hey, get ready for the lab meeting I presented on Tuesday! Fun, fun, oh yes. Our total mileage for the trip ended up being 1437 miles, with 32 mpg...not bad, little car. You served us well.

Road trip: day 3

2011-06-27T21:59:00.048-04:00

Day 3: Niagara Falls, ON to Burlington, VT

Rainbow Bridge

Under the rainbow bridge.

Little did I know that the Canadian side of the falls is a tourist trap full of wax museums, haunted houses, and casinos...

I guess they thought it was a good idea? I'm not convinced.

Boston Pizza. I'm not sure what Boston-style pizza is, so...yes.

We had breakfast at Tim Hortons - maple donuts are delicious.

Getting ready to board the Maid of the Mists!

Breakfast still in hand...good thing the ponchos are gigantic.

All smiles!

I was speechless. I could literally not believe that this place existed. Incredible. (this is the American falls, by the way).

The Canadian Falls. (how is this real? Blows my mind. That, and the fact that the vast majority of the water is held back for hydroelectric power means that the falls would look even more spectacular in real life)

The mists

Very wet.

American Falls, from the promenade on the Cana

Guard tower at the border crossing

Michael's Inn (literally a block from the border crossing)

We stopped in Utica for a late lunch (early dinner? The only other people in the restaurant were seniors). It was a town that seemed far too quiet and empty, but it must have been quite a hopping town during the shipping era (Utica is on the Erie Canal trading route).

Then - there was a ferry!! I was super excited to drive onto a boat.

Our little car - on a boat! (you can see the bridge under construction in the left side of the photo)

Hey guess what!? We're on a boat!

I don't know what this is (lights maybe?) but it's cool.

Welcome to Vermont!