bekeeblog

over a year ago, i said i was going to teach myself entrelac. i had just gotten this book in the mail and was all excited to start. well, i hadn't realized that you need 5 sets of dpns (i exaggerate) for each project... and i didn't want to add to my already overgrown needle collection.

fast forward to now. i found a hat pattern that i have the needles for... there's also this one. my yarn is a little less than worsted, so i'll probably go with the first pattern.

i've also been wanting to mix up my lunches ... salads-in-jars only entertains me for a couple weeks at a time. so i found these sweet and sour spicy strips to try, and i also want to make sushi again; it's been a while.

all that said, we have absolutely nothing planned this weekend. maybe that's an excuse to make a little more progress on the soft goods room .

Posted by bekee at 6:17 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

four days go by really quickly when you sleep late every day. i'm amazed that we can just lay in bed as long as we do. the dogs hate it. but! they loved the snow; so much that they don't listen very well since they're running around sniffing at everything.

i neglected to bother with my computer... i just don't want to commit to the 2-8 hours it might take to reformat and install windows. :/

we attempted biking in the snow with a pretty good success rate. i discovered that my tires kick up a lot of snow onto my calves, so wearing gaiters is required for a drier arrival.

i've been toying with the idea of going vegan for a month... just to see if i notice any discernible change. i might have to wait until after we have our celebratory non-smoking dinner at muramoto.

Posted by bekee at 6:30 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i feel like we got a lot done this weekend. on friday, i had a haircut and came home to beat my computer into submission to let me log into my work computer. i had it working a couple months ago, but it seemed to have stopped. with no documentation or help from work's helpdesk, i figured out what program needed to be updated and my mood was instantly transformed from surly to elated.

on saturday, we grabbed some grub and a dog and came home to dog sit for the evening.

matt cleaned and rearranged the bedroom while i picked up the first floor, did laundry, did a load of dishes, and caulked the tub!

there was an accident while we were at the grocery store, and we're not quite sure what carl got into, but i think he ate some cat presents... along with the wheat litter. apparently he made quite the mess at his home the next morning. :/

for dinner on saturday, we made clam linguini and i threw in some tomatoes from our garden that i had frozen; it was delicious.

yesterday, i met mom and geo for breakfast and came home to make more salads in jars, dal soup, and spritz cookies!

Posted by bekee at 12:38 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

last night's dream was very strange. it consisted of an easter party at what was supposed to be matt's parents house, but it seemed to be in a really expensive condo and his mom was actually another friends' mom. they had a mariachi band who ended up serenading me while matt's "mom" gifted us an entire new kitchen. complete with counters, cupboards, dishwasher, stove, fridge, and his "dad" was super excited about a stainless steel potato peeler!

i have no idea what that was about.

we don't have much planned this weekend. there was talk about rearranging the bedroom a little bit. we need to find an end table for the other side of the bed... maybe we should make a st vinny's trip this weekend.

also, i've been craving la hacienda for no good reason.

and sushi (for good reason).

Posted by bekee at 6:25 AM | permalink

it's finally friday. this week has been kinda stressful all over; so i'm hoping the weekend is low-key. i got a call back from my isp in regards to my email this week... they said that everyone received the $3 increase email, but it didn't affect everyone (i think they're fibbing to save face, but whatever), and! they're going to drop the monthly rental fee for the wireless router. booyah. i should speak up more when i'm disappointed in people or actions. it seems to work (100% of the time, at least as of right now).

this weekend is lutefisk in barneveld. i can't even count the number of years i've been going... i think i've only skipped one in the last 15 or so. it'll be nice to see everyone, it's going to be a bigger crowd than usual so we'll have to split up between tables. last year, matt and i sat at a separate table with some ladies who were very happy to see "such young folks" enjoying the meal. it was cute.

here are matt and i on halloween... we made severed head necklaces, but his broke.

Posted by bekee at 6:35 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

without coffee. i kinda miss the smell in the mornings... maybe i should get (make?) a coffee-scented candle. i can't say i haven't had caffeine in that time; matt frequently likes to celebrate little occasions with jaegerbombs.

we bottled batch three of my kombucha and now i have a scoby hotel started in the event of mold or vinegar eels (don't even ask, it's gross). when i brewed the two batches last week, i didn't realize that i hadn't enough sugar for the second one, so it "got done" more quickly, but it has a different ... texture. it's not as thick and tasty. it's like it's watered-down cuz the scoby didn't have enough to 'digest'.

i guess it's a good learning experience.

also, we have too many cucumbers. i might have to deliver some to the mickey's kitchen this evening...

Posted by bekee at 7:04 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

we picked our first results of all of our hard work last night:

i have a feeling we're going to be overwhelmed with cucumbers and might have to get used to eating them in creative ways so as not to waste them. two years ago, i ended up giving three 1lb cukes to the kitchen at mickey's because there was no way i could have eaten them in an appropriate amount of time.

also, i have another three-day weekend coming up. i'd like to vacuum out my car and mop the kitchen floor (that task from last weekend was dismissed as not-yet-necessary).

it is predicted that today will be the hottest day of the year, beating the record high by two degrees.

Posted by bekee at 7:14 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

my first successful batch of kombucha is ready to flavor... i have eleven old gt's kombucha bottles (at $3.49 a piece!) to fill. i can't believe i spent that much on kombucha and now i can make my own! hopefully i don't have another mold incident before i get the scoby hotel going.

progress pics to come, if i remember to take them.

Posted by bekee at 1:45 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i always think of lofty home-goals when i have a long weekend and feel as though i rarely make a dent in the list.

i'd like to start thinking about painting the rain barrels so they're not two big, white eyesores in the middle of the driveway. my intention, when the first one was installed, was to paint it the color of the house and foundation so it looked like it wasn't there... from certain angles.

we need to get the morning glories, moon flowers, and other vining plants into the ground... just not sure where to put them.

additionally, the front porch is becoming a bit of a disaster; one of the handrails rotted and needs to be replaced before someone gets hurt and i get sued by the mailman or something.

we still have to put together the soft goods room, but it involves some basement activity which makes me want to start project basement-cleanup... and that's likely a day's worth of work itself.

i'm sure we'll get the canoe into the water again... i don't know if we'll take another voyage to mickey's this weekend... the lake is sure to be busy with boaters celebrating the holiday.

in other good news! the scoby is growing nicely, there's the start of a film that will slowly turn into a mother; i think the warm temps are helping a lot. i'd like to start another batch soon so i have some more growing before the first batch is decanted so there's enough going without having to buy a continuous brew system.

Posted by bekee at 6:43 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

so we totally blew off planning the menu... and i realized on monday when i left the house that it's in a mildly embarrassing state of cleanliness. i should have been more selfless on sunday, but i was feeling lazy.

so, we need. to. plan. the. menu.

we were also talking about driving to the badlands the following weekend to camp, but it seems like a hasty decision since i haven't camped in about 5 years, i've never taken my car more than 4 hours away, and it's the weekend after the party so we'll probably want to relax.

it's also matt's bday in june *shh*. i haven't come across anything worthy of his ownership since his birthday ... wow, was that three years ago? i gave him my chain wallet that i'd had since i was 16. i bought it at the cat's meow and it saved me from ever locking my keys in my car. also, i never got my wallet stolen at any raves.

Posted by bekee at 6:18 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

we started a lot of seeds this year... we've buckets and a raised bed and pots; hopefully enough to support our endeavors.

we also need to install the second rain barrel. it'll have to sit where some peonies are, so those need to be either dug up or sat upon. luckily, after 5pm tomorrow, i'm off work until the 26th.

Posted by bekee at 7:18 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

"if you could only live off one food and one beverage for the rest of your days, what would they be?"

if it's just one of each: spicy tuna hand rolls and water.

if it's a type of food/beverage: sushi and vodka+soda, then sometimes i could just drink the soda.

Posted by bekee at 7:07 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i made italian sausages with rice and broccoli for lunch. i was happy to find that woodman's now carries nooch, which is a lot different than the brewer's yeast that i got a couple months ago.

Posted by bekee at 11:36 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

that was, quite possibly, the most productive weekend in a long time. it was practically non-stop from the moment i got home on friday until about seven last night. we tore down the bedroom, moved it into the front room, washed the walls and ceiling and threw two coats of primer on the red walls.

then proceeded to the glass nickel for dinner and wilson's for celebratory drinks; at which point we were just drunk enough to participate in karaoke. matt and i sang "long legged, guitar pickin' man". i can't believe it.

we went to mickey's for breakfast on saturday, then headed home to start the rest of the painting. i think we worked on it for about 6 hours before the lack of daylight made it obvious that we needed to stop.

on sunday, i slept in and finished the edging and touched up a bit. monday, we put the room back together and now we're all cozy in our new bedroom.

we decided to turn the front bedroom into a "soft craft" room. it's well-lit enough for sewing and yarn storage. i also want to keep drawing and painting supplies up there. it'll make the officeden seem less crowded, i think.

next projects: curtains for bedroom, shelves for the bedroom that don't look as cheap as the ones in the den, basement clean up (to make room for a work area), light installation in kitchen, herb planting (matt got me an indoor greenhouse and seeds so we can have fresh herbs all the time!).

also, we got the great idea to make pho for dinner last night, and it really didn't turn out very well at all. i got a little more upset than i should have, but it took over an hour to make and i was disappointed. one good thing came out of it, though. i successfully fried tofu for the first time ever, so it'll be nice to add that to my meals.

also, too! we want to get a chest freezer so we can store herbs; we'd also like to can this year and use the cistern room for food storage.

oh, and the dogs love the snow.

Posted by bekee at 9:08 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i had intended on not letting the blog go while i was on vacation, but it appears that i failed at that. i barely touched the computer except for to watch the office on netflix.

i just had a really bad panic attack standing in line at subway... it took everything for me not to leave the building but i knew if i did, i'd have to explain tomorrow because they know me by sandwich.

i didn't do a whole lot on my list of things, except for finishing the sweater. now i have to find an occasion to wear it.

we had a great holiday... probably my favorite in a long time. oyster stew and lots of fun time with friends, a house guest for a couple nights from new york, lots of dog walks and celebratory shots, and sushi. i tried crab legs for the first time, slept in a lot, ate out a lot, spent a lot of money.

i told a friend at work that we didn't get around to painting the room and he said, "you know what? that room ain't going anywhere." it made me feel less guilty.

i started getting this weird zappy feeling in the pad of my thumb... it actually started before break... i haven't felt it in a couple of days, but should keep track of it.

i've been lax in writing down my dreams; a couple i need to jot have to do with a blue sundress, a really old used toothbrush, and not being able to work a shotgun in my grandma's house in fennimore.

also, my scalp is really dry from the weather/furnace being on and it's annoying me.

and, this is the 16th entry i've titled "sorry".

Posted by bekee at 10:55 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

there's nothing quite as awesome as biting into an apple that is rotten.

:/

Posted by bekee at 3:16 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

woodman's has started carrying dole mini-cut carrots, and they taste like soap.

bolthouse farms are much better.

also, i found this delicious-looking list of yummy comfort foods; perfect for the frigid days ahead.

Posted by bekee at 10:35 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

things i'd like to do better, more often, continue:

• braille! i've left it for so long that i'll probably need to go back to lesson 4.
• get out my paints and canvas. i've been admiring lawrence yang's work for a while now.
• go to the dog park at least once a month. we haven't been since may or june and i think the dogs forgot about it.
• get back to making worklunches.
• stop leaving the kitchen in such a mess.
• knit more. i still have a sweater to finish.
• watch movies all the way through in one sitting.
• read. at least an hour a week.
• enjoy time. i spent a large part of the year wishing [whenever] would hurry up. things are enormously better now and i should remember to enjoy every minute of it.

Posted by bekee at 10:23 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

it doesn't really suit me. but, i've been trying.

on friday, we went to the west side antiques mall (it used to be much further west than it is now) and i managed to escape only spending $15 on a book. unfortunately, it is not brand new nor would i sell it if it were. it's an analysis and explanation of all of carroll's puzzles and riddles in his writing.

after spending two hours weeding through treasures, we went to menards to get hardware to finally fix the kitchen faucet. it'd been unattached from the sink for a while and i jb welded it which only lasted a month so it seemed time to fix it for good... especially after the mess we discovered under the sink. :/

we stopped at jeni st o the way home saturday night and got two huge lake perch. they were a pound a piece. the butcher-guy was surprised that we wanted two, but we saved one for last night. i made instant mashed 'tatoes and vegan chicken gravy. we watched the book of eli but i didn't make it much past the bar fight before zonking out.

yesterday, i whipped up this week's lunch: a huge pan of lasagna. i've come to love bags of frozen vegetables, for some reason. i just cooked 'em up and threw them in with some cheese and spaghetti sauce and noodles and baked it. $5 worth of ingredients for over a week's worth of lunch. i'm hoping to get matt to try some so he can experience vegetables in a yummy way.

side note: i want to get some more pin-making supplies and come up with a cute design to attach to a pair of bittens (or anything, really) when i knit them for someone.

Posted by bekee at 9:00 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i just haven't had anything significant enough to pen publicly. aside from becoming very lazy in my don't-eat-out endeavors... i do, however, think i'm ready to set a serious budget. now that my finances are pretty much as regular and stable as they're going to be (getting divorced isn't the cheapest life activity...) and now i can focus on rebuilding my safety net and maybe even starting a fun-fund for vacation or toys.

the annual lutefisk dinner went off without a hitch. matt came with and tried it for the first time with much success! we, then, hung out at the local bar playing cribbage until a wedding party showed up that sorta scared us out.

sunday found me at urgent care with a bladder infection... it was entirely my fault for not going earlier. i tend to try to wish things away for a day before giving in to my defenses. so, i'm on antibiotics for a week...

back to work today, but happy that i have friday off to look forward to. it's kinda nice to use up vacation time on fridays because they only count as 5 hours, so it ends up being more days off.

Posted by bekee at 9:58 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i noted that i had gone a month bringing food to work for lunch as opposed to making my daily trip to subway.

monday night, i just didn't have the motivation to do much of anything so subway was planned. upon arrival, the franchise owner wondered where i had been for so long, and said she was worried that i had been laid off.

perhaps that's a sign of being too habitual.

Posted by bekee at 8:36 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i made it an entire four weeks of making my lunch and bringing it to work. tho, i did go out once, but that was to meet with an old co-worker. that means i saved about $100 from not going to subway three times a week and hubbard ave once a week. i've spent way less than that on the food i've made.

also, the weekend was pretty great; i'm exceedingly happy in almost all aspects of my life right now.

Posted by bekee at 9:56 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

we're really lucky to live so close to a great market. we've made a good habit of stopping at jenifer st. at least three nights a week to get whatever fish we feel like, and whatever seasoning we want to throw on it. last night, we had tilapia fish tacos, and for some reason, they were exceptionally good. maybe it's the weather.

i have a three-day weekend to look forward to, but half of friday will be spent in the car. i'll give details about that later.

Posted by bekee at 9:13 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i guess that should be considered a good thing...

i'm going on day three of manicotti. it's still tasty, but i think i overestimated my patience with the same food item on repeat. i also mis-portioned and have two days worth more than i planned for.

i was also inspired by a friend to work on a project that i think will turn out quite awesome, if i get my arse in gear. it's a chess set with pieces of sushi/makizushi made from fimo (or sculpey, either one) and the board will look like woven nori and white nori. tho that is starting to sound too ambitious, so i'll keep you posted.

the pieces will be as follows:

black, pawns: salmon roll, knights: ebi, bishops: seared maguro, rooks: unagi, queen: tobiko, king: ikura

white, pawns: avocado roll, knights: amaebi, bishops: maguro, rooks: anago, queen: uni, king: shrimp head

i tried keeping cooked sushi for black and raw for white, but had to use the shrimp head for the king because they typically serve that when you order amaebi.

also, doing research for this project should be considered cruel and unusual punishment. :/

Posted by bekee at 8:32 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

in my morning haze, i whipped together a fake-bologna, fake-cheese sandwich with the proud intention of saving a few bucks. it now seems wholly unappetizing, therefore i will be getting my noontime sustenance from subway.

i'll eat it tomorrow, i promise.

Posted by bekee at 10:00 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i have a problem ... i have a strong attraction to food organization implements and accessories.

i tried three years ago, to start bringing lunch to work, and i used the bento craze that had begun as an excuse to buy a really expensive and awesome rice cooker, along with a mr. bento food containment system. i also have a laptop lunch set for when i didn't want as much food as the mr. bento holds. in addition, i have a couple japanese bentos which i haven't ever used.

i'd like to try again. i spend too much on eating out for lunch; even tho subway is cheap and yummy, it's still an expense that i don't need to have. so there it is, my new me resolution.

Posted by bekee at 9:20 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i might have to add these to the party menu.

peppered mackerel fish cakes

Posted by bekee at 9:01 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

as i'm sure you might have guessed, we didn't have our annual memorial day bash due to life events interrupting the flow of things.

now that a semblance of order is upon us, we're gearing up to get the house ready for our labor day extravaganza.

my goal of keeping the menu utensil-free still stands, but i'm betting others will bring items that need spoons and forks, so it's a good thing we have two people's worth of tableware.

i've been starring recipes in google reader and favoriting them on stumbleupon for weeks... in addition to wanting to reuse some from last year.

so far, i have the following comprehensive list but will by no means be making all of this:

spinach and feta filo pie (tho, i'll probably cheat and use puff pastry dough cuz filo is hard to work with).
summertime lasagna
quiche!
asparagus tart
zuchinni and ricotta tarts (i think it's funny when vegetables get fancy french names, like courgette and haricots verts. come on).
quesadillas maybe we can make tiny cute ones so there's more to go around.
and banana bread, cuz we have 9 bananas in the freezer.

Posted by bekee at 8:29 AM | permalink | licks (1)

i always have these great ideas for making yummilicous foodstuffs when i'm at woodman's, but then i eat out anyway; it's taking a toll on my pocketbook.

i have the fixings for some kick-ass nachos and i'm determined to eat them tonight.

dammit.

unless i get lazy and tired...

Posted by bekee at 1:58 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i hate it when the cafe at work has *nothing even remotely* vegetarian. at least no one suggested i buy the roast beef sandwich and take the roast beef off.

Posted by bekee at 11:14 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i've kinda shied away from the lino cut idea, just for now. i think i need to focus on recalling my ability to draw and design. it's been far too long.

i've pulled out an old sketchbook, which contained notes from life drawing, and my portfolio class (from 10 years ago!) and i will resurrect it for the purposes of design inspiration and sketchables.

aand, i'm kinda mad that i only just got a crock pot. i just put chopped onion, a can of diced tomatoes, a bag of crumbles, a can of water, and a bouillon cube into it. 4 minutes of work results in lunch for two days. amazing.

i have been thinking a lot lately about stuff i won't put on the internets, even in this low-traffic medium; but i realize that i cannot expect any one to be my muse. except for me, of course.

also, i will complete and hand in braille lesson 7 today. i think.

Posted by bekee at 1:06 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i've been really good about making food and not eating delivery for dinner. i've even kinda broken up with subway by bringing my lunch. except, sometimes kurt wants to go out to eat during the week so i have leftovers from ha long bay (if you have not yet been, you need to go) but didn't bring them to work today because i had goulash from sunday.

so, my current conundrum is whether to eat ha long leftovers tonight and subway tomorrow (total cost < $5) or treat myself to yummy food from burrito drive (total cost > $10) and bring leftovers tomorrow. i do have an avocado that needs to be put onto some tacos...

i think i already know what i'm gunna do.

Posted by bekee at 2:26 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i made a sandwich yesterday for lunch today... and had to throw it out because i couldn't eat it. it had gotten soggy and saturated with oil and salty from the olives and anchovies. i took two bites and got up to throw it away.

thankfully, the cafe at work was serving veggie burgers today.

Posted by bekee at 12:37 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

in my attempts to quit throwing money away (at takeout food), last night's adventure was to make something close to salmon with apricot couscous. since i have rice up to my ears, and an awesome rice cooker, i skipped the couscous and used basmati. i never realized how yummy it smelled while cooking!

i also didn't have green onions, so i just used some white onion and cucumber and mixed it with plain yogurt and added some cumin and herbamare. i also brought some frozen veggies into a boil and plated them. the result:

Posted by bekee at 8:43 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

in an attempt to eat more dinners at home, i started last night by stopping at the jenifer st coop to get some supplies. i figure i might as well pen the recipe that i made up in case i want to make it when i'm 60:

chil'd orzo salad

ingredients:
1c orzo, cooked al dente
1 small bunch green onions, diced
12" celery, diced
2tsp garlic, minced
10-12 sun dried tomatoes in oil (the dried ones discolor the pasta overnight)
1pkg plain feta cheese
olive oil
balsamic vinegar
bragg's amino acids
herbamare, to taste
third ward seasoning (from penzey's—the best spice you could ever own ever. unfortunately, it is only available for purchase at their wauwatosa location. i always have my mom get me lots and i freeze it.)

method:
while the orzo is cookin', sautèe the garlic over medium heat with a little oil and herbamare. before it burns, add the onions and celery, keeping the heat medium-low. when the orzo has about 2 minutes left, add the tomatoes to the veggies and squirt a little balsamic and bragg's on it. sprinkle with a little more herbamare.

once orzo is done, drain in colander and rinse with cold water (this will stop the cooking and make the salad cooler). put in bowl and mix in veggies. break up the feta and stir in well. add third ward seasoning and chow down.

serves 4; or one of you 4 times.

Posted by bekee at 8:20 AM | permalink | licks (2) | tracks (0)

i always wanted to do a three-day juice fast, but didn't want to stop smoking for three days (and smoking during a detox seems ridiculous... even more so now); so maybe i'll do one soon.

and, i found this recipe for smoked lox sandwiches that looks awesome.

Posted by bekee at 2:54 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

back in may, i sent some positive feedback to the subway website. knowing their restaurants are franchised, i figured it would take a little while for the information to trickle down to the manager. i didn't think it would take five months.

the manager of the place i go for lunch does all the veggies, and she asked me today if i had sent in some feedback. we had a chuckle that since it was positive, it took that long because it's not as important as negative.

Posted by bekee at 11:40 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

so i got my standard veggie sub and bag of chips from subway today... and as the fellas were chatting about viruses and people and dna, i decided to read the ingredients list on the bag of spicy chipotle sun chips. it's too long of a list already for chips that are "good for you". i won't even go into the use of artificial color... but imagine my horror when i read the words "Beef Fat."

wtf?! really?! so, their customer service department is receiving the following:

i find it quite silly that you'd use beef fat in a product that you claim to be healthy. i'm a fairly strict pescetarian, and was appalled to discover that i had just eaten a bag of chips containing beef fat. i'm sorely disappointed; and think that even tho there is no FDA mandate or precedent, your customers would benefit from the knowledge that you have added an unnecessary ingredient to your line of chips, maybe a dead cow next to those chipotle peppers on the bag.

it is because of this oversight on your part that i will discontinue consumption of any of your lines of product.

this means i will no longer partake in sun chips (now referred to as "beef chips"), baked lays (who needs the calories?), in addition to not having had fritos or cheetos for a number of years i can't count on two hands, as well as doritos, and tostitos. unfortunately, those are just the featured brands. their full list is much larger; however, the contents of that list already do not make it to my shopping basket.

update:

i got a response... the contents are pretty much what i expected.

Thank you for writing to us. Your comments are important, and we're glad you got in touch with us. Feedback like yours is greatly appreciated and will be shared with the appropriate teams within our company.

This is one of the few snacks that has a animal flavoring in the seasoning. The good news is that if a seasoning does contain this ingredient, it will be listed on the ingredient statement and not "hidden" under "natural flavors." This way you can always know if the snack is something you'd be able to eat.

I sincerely apologize for the bad experience you had with this snack. A replacement coupon is being sent to you and should arrive in about a week.

We consider you a valued consumer and hope you will continue to enjoy snacks from Frito-Lay.

Best regards,

Linda

the problem is that she's right. companies hide beef and chicken under "natural flavors" because they can. there is no fda regulation that states the use of animal products need to be specified because no one will die if they eat it (unlike the potential with peanuts, wheat, and soy). plus, corporations know that if (savvy) shoppers were aware of each and every single ingredient, we'd opt for brands that still make chips out of plain ol' corn.

Posted by bekee at 12:22 PM | permalink | licks (3) | tracks (0)

facebook is acting up, and twitter is down, so i'm forced to return to my tried and true; the blog.

i just finished reading this very interesting summary of amazon's subtle improvements on the purchase action, and came across a recipe for grilled mexican tofu that i wanted to pass on to a friend, but since fb is being a jerk, i can't.

also, i thought this CAPTCHA was funny:

Posted by bekee at 10:52 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i often have strange dreams after sushi night... but last night we decided to try ha long bay on williamson st. where bab's used to be.

the night started with me asking everyone in my vicinity what the name was, and everyone had a guess but they all sounded quite silly. then i asked facebook and got a response within seconds. ha long bay! my friend said. a search online revealed they lack a website, takeout menus, and a sign posting business hours or name (this was from a daily page forum post a month ago). we decided to give it a try anyway.

the ambiance is great. they added a wall so you can't see into the kitchen and the greeter counter is very inviting. we were seated immediately and had waters within seconds. be prepared with your tastes because their menu is twelve 8.5x11" pages, front and back. each entree type is divided into three categories, vietnamese, lao, and thai. luckily, i have the no-meat diet so that narrowed the menu down by about 2/3rds.

i got the veggie spring roll (2 for $3.95!) and yellow curry. i decided to try the curry first because if a place effs up curry, you know i won't be back. kurt got the pork egg rolls and a huge bowl of soup with "rare beef and well-done flank".

the spring rolls were delicious and crisp and fresh and not too minty. kurt's eggrolls were also devoured. the yellow curry (tho the mildest of curries) was good, but just a little bland. i'm used to yellow curry dishes with a little more coconut milk and less chili oil. kurt's soup was met with sheer delight. we'll definitely be back; it'll take 8 years to get through that menu.

-------------------

my dream was too long to describe to you, but it had a lot of people i know in it and was very strange. someone wanted to store a bunch of mattresses in my house (which was my childhood house) and after they moved them all in, i was like "wtf? hell no." and everyone got mad at me. then it was some 4th of july celebration and some weird bar party.

Posted by bekee at 9:09 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

we bought a bottle of bloody mary mix for our party and it never got opened.. so i think i'm going to prepare it for some inside out bloody marys...

Posted by bekee at 1:11 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

the house party went very well. all of the beer was gone by midnight or so, luckily we thought ahead and got plenty of cans. the fire was enjoyed by a small crowd until about 1am when i had had enough and went to bed. was up at the crack of 9 on sunday... i finally rolled kurt off the couch and cleaned up the back yard; a couple partyers came back to help.

the fire was going all day, and kurt stayed up watching it until 5am on monday. i finally got to mow the lawn all to the same length yesterday, so it looks much better now.

so now i'm back to work... it seems moderately more painful than my 9 days off in april. maybe a four-day weekend is just too short.

Posted by bekee at 8:21 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

ok, this is for me so i don't forget.

cream cheese rollups
"ham" and pickle rollups
caprese salad on-a-stick
edamame-stuffed wontons
goat cheese and tomato crostinis
apple zucchini crostinis
japanese pizza
vegan pumpkin cheesecake

*edit: i kinda want to make a pasta salad... knowing that will require a fork... i'll think about it.

and PEANUT BUTTER BALLS!

Posted by bekee at 1:58 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i think i'm getting in over my head with the food planning. i just found these (thanks to the miracle of social internets and google reader):

chile pea puffs. excellent for not needing utensils.

Posted by bekee at 11:10 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

coworker kevin put an idea in my head to serve only potato salads at our party, since there are so many kinds.

i probably won't tho.. i do need to finalize the menu and make a shopping list. soon.

we're getting a newused oven from kirch on friday. they're halving the charge to come look at our mouse-infested for buying the oven from them. i considered, for a second, getting a new one, but it's obvious we don't use it often enough to warrant spending $800 on a fancy machine.

part of me can't help but think we're getting swindled, tho. "yea, the mice got into the insulation so i wouldn't even bother fixing it, it'll stink forever. buy this one!"

Posted by bekee at 10:19 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i just sent the following message to subway:

i just want to write and say how awesome i think the employees at this location are. they are always cheery and never seem annoyed when it gets busy and customers are being slow. i go almost every day for lunch and everyone has learned the sandwich that i like and sometimes i don't even need to say anything! the past few times, the bread-gentleman has had my sandwich in the toaster before i even get to the counter. these actions make me feel valued and i appreciate that.

also, the veggies (i get the veggie delight with almost everything on it) seem far fresher than other subways i've tried.

thanks for providing a healthful meal at a very reasonable price!

Posted by bekee at 12:13 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i always want to make gazpacho for our annual party, but it's not that convenient to eat. plus, i'd like to try to shy away from wasting plastic utensils this year, if we can help it.

i've found some cream cheese roll-ups; i usually make vegan pumpkin cheesecake and grilled eggplant. i'll probably make some tomato, basil, mozzarella skewers. i usually make a vegan noodle salad with bell peppers and green onions, but i think i want to try this edamame salad with wasabi dressing. if my oven was working (i've asked kurt to call hirsch no less than 10 times in a week), i'd like to make little baby quiches.

or some gougères!

also, according to the weather channel, it's supposed to be 71 and no rain next saturday, yay!

Posted by bekee at 10:42 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

so i get home last night and my wireless wasn't working... so i quick ordered dinner from burrito drive via campus foods using the desktop, and start fussing with the modem; eventually my dsl stopped working all together.

then i get a call from burrito drive that my "campus foods account was overdrawn" and can i pay cash? uh, i know for a fact that i have enough money in my checking account but i agree anyway because it's storming and i'm hungry and i want my fish tacos.

i decided to not deal with the dsl because i was gunna watch eternal sunshine and just didn't feel like traipsing back and forth from the office to the dining room all night.

so now there's a pending charge to my checking account from campus foods for the meal for which i paid cash; and my dsl still isn't working.

Posted by bekee at 8:41 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i used to love peanut butter balls. i think i'll get the bits to make these soon.

if i remember correctly, we (mom and i) used plain powdered milk and i always was amazed that there was such a thing as powdered milk.

Posted by bekee at 1:18 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

one more work-day and i'm off for a long weekend. i'm excited to spend time away from four-legged creatures; we've been dog sitting since the 24th and i need a break.

in case you're on the edge of your seats, there are still no charges from the company claiming to change everyone's lives.

also, i had an impromptu presentation yesterday morning to our director and i didn't freak out in panic. that was nice.

oh, and burrito drive has been out of fish since sunday. wtf? it's lent!

Posted by bekee at 8:27 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i love the subway over here by work. the employees are really nice and they remember my sub every time i come in. i don't even really have to say anything except hi and how are you. i've been going there at least three times a week since october 2. i think they like me too cuz i usually get a few more veggies than the normal person.

Posted by bekee at 11:39 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

wtf is wrong with me that i like compartmentalized food containers so much? i haven't brought lunch to work in months, but i want this.

i already have a laptop lunch and a zojirushi mr. bento and do you think i use them with any regularity? no. i don't.

Posted by bekee at 10:26 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i'm happy to report that there is absolutely nothing on the menu of the new chain restaurant in middleton that i would even consider putting in my gullet. to be honest, it looks absolutely repulsive. i wonder why they opted to open in the middle of winter since they seem to cater to the ice-cream-malt-shake-slushy contingent.

in other news: i ordered another pair of boots to trek around in ... and an orange leatherman. :x

Posted by bekee at 10:57 AM | permalink | licks (2) | tracks (0)

i want to try to recreate the cajun chicken pasta salad from gino's italian deli.

Posted by bekee at 10:14 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

when we were in the process of buying our home, i realized that i would have to give up my insatiable sushi habit due to the high monthly cost i was incurring enjoying a healthful dinner nightly. for real. it was ridiculous.

well, kurt and i have found our new favorite sushi joint: takumi. the owners used to own takara on state street, so the interior is reminiscent. the menu is pretty much the same, too. and the head chef knows us now, so he yells "Irasshaimase!" when we show up, which basically means "welcome" or "come in!".

we've learned, through thoughtful trial and error, that five rolls is just enough to fill both of us sufficiently. we've also been there at least four times in as many weeks... :x

you won't hear me complaining.

p.s., sorry about the lack of updates, the content in my life is a bit lacking right now. plus it's cold out.

Posted by bekee at 2:06 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i took kurt out for dinner last night at the tornado room. it had been a while (quick blog search), according to my blog it's been four years, but i don't think that's correct.

it was pretty good.. not as excellent as it's been in the past. kurt blamed the economic climate cuz that's the funny thing to say. my salad was visibly smaller than in the past and his meat wasn't as tasty. the bread was really good, and of course the martini's were, too.

it was nice to see rick (he used to work at mickey's) and bob (who was in for his dinner--also used to work at mickey's). we felt right at home.

also, don't go to bed on such a full stomach because you will have crazy dreams from 4-7 and not want to get up for work. :/

Posted by bekee at 8:50 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

came across this site today and wanted to blog about it so i don't forget.

i've been getting lunch from subway for a while now but probably won't have that luxury when there's 4 feet of snow on the ground. so i need to start bringing my lunch. i was pretty good at it for a while, then i got lazy.

Posted by bekee at 9:56 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i have a lot of them.. probably not as many as people who actually cook, but i have at least 20. well, i just ordered two more. this one and this one.

Posted by bekee at 8:55 AM | permalink | licks (1) | tracks (0)

i'm hopping around vegan websites/cookbooks. do i have the wherewithal?

i'll probably have to give up sushi (well, the fishy kind) some time during my lifetime due to the depleted tuna and salmon. and the fact that they're not necessarily good for you in the quantities which i would like to consume.

cheese would be most difficult. i've only found one vegan cheese that came even remotely close to being appropriate to be placed between two slices of bread. i've switched to not getting mayo on my "6-inch veggie on wheat please"... maybe i should cut out the cheese once and see if it affects the flavor.

hm. it's worth thinking about, at least.

Posted by bekee at 1:20 PM | permalink | licks (1) | tracks (0)

every once in a while, i get a wild hair and decide to boycott the cafe at work. usually, my reasoning involves the amount of meaty specials they offer, which leaves me with a salad. while healthy, not necessarily always appetizing or filling. more recently, i've been struck by the amount they charge for a veggie burger, bag of chips, and a 16oz soda (i get iced tea) in a corn cup. so, i've been going to subway... and i'll have saved $10 this week by doing so.

Posted by bekee at 9:57 AM | permalink | licks (1) | tracks (0)

i just tried making wonton soup but they turned out really bland and soggy.. and they're really a lot of work. since i used seitan and roasted poblano peppers, i'll be able to turn that mix into tacos for lunch tomorrow.

i'm really trying to stop using the cafe at work cuz i don't need to spend $5 a day on lunch.

Posted by bekee at 3:01 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i just microwaved an amy's low sodium mexican bowl. and i'm now putting salt in it because it tastes like cardboard.

Posted by bekee at 3:03 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i love translations from japanese. i bought something from ebay and the notice says, "please do not put it near the fire. there is an error drinking danger. please do not give to the infant no matter what."

that's perfect.

Posted by bekee at 8:00 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i might get this.

maybe.

Posted by bekee at 8:45 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

kurt and i went to dinner at a new(ish) sushi place on the east side. it's called takumi and you can read my review at yelp. i even told the chef that it was better than takara and he told me that takumi's owner used to own takara but sold it to open the new place.

it was fantastic and delicious.

i was a little uncomfortable because they were not at all busy and the waiter was highly attentive, and kurt took a little long to decide what he wanted.

we ordered too much, which is always the case when we go out for sushi, but we brought the leftovers back to mickey's kitchen staff. they were highly grateful.

Posted by bekee at 9:18 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

and it made both weekly publications... the isthmus and the onion (can't find the online article). janie said she thought the isthmus one sounded dumb and she didn't believe that the author had ever been to the tavern.

wait til i tell her who he is and that i'm certain he's patronized the establishment once or twice.

regardless, the food's great, gil's an excellent chef, and business seems to be improving.

i've had dinner there every night this week. :x

Posted by bekee at 11:04 AM | permalink | licks (1) | tracks (0)

it's been a while since i started thinking about doing this bento thing. basically, it's really just a different container for lunch.. i ordered a laptop lunch system from reusablebags.com and i filled it up this morning. and, of course, i did not take a picture. so i will describe it to you.

tuna salad and avocado wrap. olive, red pepper, celery salad. pasta salad with tomatoes and red peppers. cherry tomatoes. apple fruit rollup. apple granola bar.

Posted by bekee at 10:05 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

so i broke my 20 day not-ordering-out streak with a veggie gyro from dimitri's.

boy was it worth it.

Posted by bekee at 10:45 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

not ordering dinner! as long as we don't count the egg drop soup that i threw on kurt's chinese order last sunday. i'm still paying for lunch, and breakfast on sundays, but other than that i'm doing pretty good with this self-imposed rule.

Posted by bekee at 3:09 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

the new ipod looks really cool.

anyway, i think i'm trying to make it a personal goal to not order out. i know, it's pretty silly and dumb to be like, "hey! i haven't ordered delivery in five days! look at me!" but it's an accomplishment, ferreal.

i was going to use the rice cooker for the first time tonight, but white rice takes 45-55 minutes, and i was hungry "now", so i made a tofurky-cheese-tomato-avocado toasted sandwich.

not before taking the dogs on a mosquito-infested walk. omg you guys. there were, quite literally, 30 of them hovering around jones the whole time. it was terrible! and then i caught a slug and it got between my foot and shoe and was squishing around. poor guy...

the pups are doing well.. by monday, i was kinda tired of hanging out with them, but the last two days have been okay. i think jones has figured out that nora is staying with us, and not just getting dog-sat for a little while.

i keep trying to give him the attention he had before, but it really wasn't that much; he's not a very cuddly guy, but nora is totally a cuddler and it seems to make jones think like he should be getting the same attention.

we just went for a quick run in the park (two-dog bonus), and they tired each other out within 10 minutes and are now quite content to lay on the diningroom rug. together.

Posted by bekee at 8:10 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

so, one of the goals set after buying this place was to try to eat in more often. and the reason it's a goal is because we eat out a lot. at least once a day each. that's a sh*tload of money if you sit down and think about it.

i've been trying to find new and exciting ways to make food... so, last night, we made tacos (with morningstar farms crumbles) and i saved the rest of the "meat" and made "taco egg rolls" tonight. omg, so easy! i ought to kick myself for not making these easy mealbits before.

previously, i used to spend saturday afternoons making some sort of new food concoction which either turned out poorly, or was too quantitative that i couldn't eat it all before getting sick of it. so, i'm trying... and momentarily succeeding.

Posted by bekee at 9:44 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i just found this recipe and had to blog about it so i don't forget. i think it will work out well in a bento... now i just have to find my mini-muffin tin.

Posted by bekee at 10:55 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

this is the result of my first attempt at making sushi. since i suck at rice, my batch yielded roughly half the rice it should have cuz i always end up burning the bottom and then the top stays all wet. :/

anyhoo, it turned out okay. below are cucumber and spicy tuna rolls. the tuna was cooked and mixed with sriracha and mayo, so it's not real spicy tuna. i'd still rather get it delivered. which i haven't done in like 3 weeks.

Posted by bekee at 4:49 PM | permalink | licks (1) | tracks (0)

i just found a bandwagon that i can hop on... bento boxes for lunch.

i also found a box on ebay... and a rice cooker (which costs more than my earth machine composter).

my boss suggests, "save your pennies!"

Posted by bekee at 2:57 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i just tried sauteeing some soyrizo and the smell turned my stomach. that has never happened to me before. i had to have kurt dump it down the garbage disposal.

Posted by bekee at 4:27 PM | permalink | licks (1) | tracks (0)

i can't even type this without feeling silly.

so, i've been getting sushi delivered, pretty regularly, since january. all the while, helping the delivery driver learn english (he's chinese). i let him know, when we put the offer in on the house, that we might be moving out of their delivery area... in the hopes that it would squelsh my habit. well, the cute little lady that takes my order told me tonight that as long as we still live in madison, they'll deliver to me.

when i order, i don't even have to recite my address or phone number. how effed up is that?

Posted by bekee at 7:48 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i hadn't ordered sushi since last wednesday night... they've been effing up my order by sending a regular spicy tuna roll instead of my favorite spicy tuna HAND roll. there's a huge difference, and if you don't know what that difference is, you haven't lived.

anyway, i ordered again last night since i've been good about eating what's in the fridge for a couple nights. they messed up again.

i'd call them to complain, but no one there speaks very good english...

Posted by bekee at 10:36 AM | permalink | licks (1) | tracks (0)

i just shared with coworkers how often and how much my recent sushi habit has cost me. it made me blush.

Posted by bekee at 3:24 PM | permalink | licks (1) | tracks (0)

i just reviewed lazy jane's on yelp. go check it out.

and sign up for an account, if you're an opinionated foody like me.

Posted by bekee at 12:29 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i think i'm allergic to shellfish. well, raw shellfish. we had shrimp last night and i had to pull all the legs off and my fingers were itching so bad! but they tasted yummers.

Posted by bekee at 8:13 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

not sure how many of my readers feed their dogs or cats fancy food, but there's been a major recall of "cuts and gravy" cans and pouches... you can see the list of recalled brands here.

Posted by bekee at 2:53 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

i blogged, a while ago about my habits. i've also told you about my favorite local restaurant. well, i ordered from them last night. and i have this weird way of stating my intention by which the gal who answers the phone has come to know me.

me: "i'd like to order a sandwich for carry out please."
her: "is this bekee?"
me: "yup!"
her: "okay, see you soon!"

i don't even need to say what i want. omg.

Posted by bekee at 9:15 AM | permalink

i frequently joke about "going to work at the coop", especially since my car will be paid off soon. i also mention to kurt, every once in a while, that i want to be a cook somewhere.

i just remembered the coop has an offsite kitchen. O_O

Posted by bekee at 8:59 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

so, it's been over a year since i've ordered from edo. they kept forgetting stuff, taking over an hour (which is ridiculous for food that isn't cooked), and generally being low-quality.

fast forward a little bit to the end of 2006 when kurt and i discover 'oriental wok' delivers both chinese food, and a small assortment of maki. imagine our pleasure. well, oriental wok is across the street from edo. they make the chinese food and then run across the street and pick up the sushi order(s) and deliver them together.

conclusion: i've ordered sushi the last two nights in a row, even though i said i never would again.

Posted by bekee at 8:22 AM | permalink | licks (1) | tracks (0)

so there's a new restaurant up the street; bab's french quarter kitchen. i've eaten there 6 times in the last two weeks. they're great. $6-8 po'boys, jambalaya (which i hear is pretty good). but stay away from the dirty rice... it's just white rice with sausage and green onions mixed in. :/

but! they've come to know me when i walk in the door, "there's bekee! yay!"

they're on the 1300 block of willy next to willalby's (the old rp's pasta joint) and they're open tues-sat 11a-11p.

Posted by bekee at 8:21 PM | permalink | licks (1) | tracks (0)

the one thing i miss most often, being a pescetarian, are gyros. i used to get the make-'em-at-home kit from woodman's freezer section when i was a kid, and nuke everything to yummy greek perfection. imagine my excitement when i learned dimitri's gyros (then, in the gateway mall, now on east wash) carried "veggie gyros". their veggies include the following: lettuce, onion, kalamata olives, pepperoncinis, and tomatoes topped with crumbled feta and yummy tzatziki sauce.

well, in the last year i've gotten into the bad habit of playing "who's going to deliver my dinner tonight?" and dimitri's gyros is in the rotation. so yesterday, i decided to knock it off and try replicating this delicious meal in my kitchen for a third of the cost. it turned out pretty well! i even "strained" water out of the yogurt for 3 hours. you'd be surprised how much water is in yogurt.

the only problem with my newfound dinner is that it's so good i had one at 5 and one at 9:30 :x!

Posted by bekee at 9:07 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

sushi pillows

why can't i think of stuff like this?

Posted by bekee at 8:55 AM | permalink | licks (1) | tracks (0)

i just bought 1/4lb of morels from someone at work for $5. we're gunna fry 'em up tomorrow.

Posted by bekee at 3:39 PM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

we made pizzas last night. a couple winters ago, my friend mary brought a snackie down during a football game, it was a simple pizza on a flour tortilla with cheese and green olives. it was so awesome in its simplicity that we stopped having any other kind of pizza almost completely. so, last night, we made soysage and sour kraut pizzas. it was actually pretty good. i recommend you all try it.

Posted by bekee at 10:02 AM | permalink | licks (0) | tracks (0)

kurt and i have perfected the art of the fish taco. yea, yea, you might be saying, "gross", but if you've never tried one, then you don't know what you're talking about.

we've determined, from a smattering of different fishes, that the best fish-taco fish is ahi tuna. we dry-rub simply organic's fish taco seasoning (just a half a packet per meal), and pan-fry the fish until it flakes. then we toast up the soft corn tortillas over the flame and top 'em with cheese, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and salsa.

however, last night we decided to try tex tubb's taco palace after having braved the grand opening two weeks ago. it was still pretty good, they got better with the homemade salsas, and the service was expeditious, almost too fast, as we weren't able to enjoy the chips and salsa for as long as we'd have liked.

the grilled portobella mushroom taco was awesome; it came sprinkled with chunks of feta. the mahi was a little dry, presumably because we arrived about an hour and half before closing, and they weren't very busy. the achiote tilapia was good, too. they serve up the fish tacos california-style.. that is, with cabbage, some sort of white sauce, and pickled onions; which i could do without. but, for tacos cheap, we'll be back, for sure.

Posted by bekee at 9:40 AM | permalink | tracks (0)

there are a handful of new restaurants opening up over here by work.. one of them is p.f. changs china bistro. i was enticed by the seared ahi on their appetizer menu, so mr. fly and i decide to go check it out. it was actually pretty good. i had the coconut curry vegetables and mr. fly had buddha's delight. they bring this little tray with cups and oil dispensers and make a sauce out of yellow mustard, soy sauce, and red chili paste before you order so that it marinates. the ahi was marvelous. that is all i have to say on the matter.

everything was going great until this table of six showed up and were seated adjacent to us. they were rude, loud, and stupid; and we shared anita the waitress. the first thing the guy whose mouth was pointed at me said was, "you better be extra sweet cuz we had to wait a long time." uhm what? whatever. it's noon and you're at a brand new restaurant on the west side. asshole. then it only took ~5 minutes before they started talking about me. i have a special look for people like that. as we were leaving, they were complaining about not having more white rice and soy sauce and a clean plate and can a person get any more needy?... so, i wrote on the receipt to anita, "don't let those guys let you down <- :)" as we were leaving, the loudy got up to take our little tray of sauces because his fat ass couldn't wait two more minutes. gross. it's not like grabbing a bottle of ketchup, it's like taking a half-eaten plate of fries. i wish anita had a blog like this guy, so i could read about her version of the six-top from hell.

Posted by bekee at 1:28 PM | permalink | licks (1)

usually, if i tell a story to more than one group of people, it's important enough to blog about.

so, tuesday night after work, we go to the weary traveler to say bye to a friend who's leaving town. i order a mandarin and soda, please. a caesar salad and two drinks into it, i ask for the check, to my surprise, my "mandarin and tonic"s were $7 a pop! i'm shocked and amazed. and of course, she takes like 20 minutes to come back and get my card (i had to charge two drinks and a salad because the $20 i thought would cover me didn't). i say to her, "were my drinks really $7?" and she says to me, "i'm sorry, the only mandarin we have is hangar one" i've never heard of this vodka so i say, "i should have ordered absolut mandrin" and she says, "we don't have that" and i nod knowingly at her, thinking, "yes, and then you would have told me that the only mandarin you have is $7 a drink." little does she know that i am friends with one of the owners. and i'm trying to decide if i should talk to him about this or if i should just not imbibe there ever again.

Posted by bekee at 8:31 AM | permalink | licks (0)

bob, you'll like this: A Japanese Tradition

Posted by bekee at 1:30 PM | permalink | licks (0)

the cutest bento boxes evar. Sushi Pictures

Posted by bekee at 10:39 AM | permalink | licks (0)

we just got back from lunch at the china wok buffet on university ave in middleton. it was, simply put, pretty bad. the white rice had a weird flavor, i'm not even sure the fried rice was even fried. the pile of egg rolls had one spring roll in it (which i could only assume was vegetarian). i took it and they never refilled the hotplate. but, it was only $5.75 w/tax. it's like the opposite of a sushi-high.

Posted by bekee at 12:45 PM | permalink | licks (0)

every weekday am, i have my 9 o'clock yogurt. i decided to try a new kind, silk key lime, but when i opened it up, there was a big blob of mold in it. so now i don't get to have my 9 o'clock yogurt.

Posted by bekee at 9:38 AM | permalink | licks (0)

this is just silly enough to work. Welcome to Flavor Spray Diet Online

Posted by bekee at 9:29 AM | permalink | licks (0)

sorry bobs. i broke down.

Posted by bekee at 8:23 AM | permalink | licks (1)

i've kinda been on an unannounced diet.. sorta. not really calorie counting but kind of; not really cutting out certain foods, but kind of. so today, we went out for lunch, and instead of getting the salad bar (which i should have), i got a grilled cheese and fries. my stomach feels like someone filled it with wet sand. yuck.

Posted by bekee at 12:46 PM | permalink | licks (0)

i need to pay someone to come home with me on wednesday nights and remind me that edo does not have good sushi and i shouldn't order it /solely/ because they deliver; which is the best part of edo. their rolls aren't spectacular and they sometimes forget essentials, like wasabi.
and last week i had sushi with bob and ed at takara and it was the best thing ever because i tried the white tuna (albacore) so i though, "yum! that was good, i will order it from edo." BLECH. that is all.

Posted by bekee at 11:19 AM | permalink | licks (1)

the grilled cheese at hubbard ave always tear up the roof of my mouth; yet i insist on getting it each and every time we go.

Posted by bekee at 4:03 PM | permalink | licks (0)

i've only been reading this guy for a month or so, but he's a great writer. he's a waiter at some fancy restaurant somewhere (ny?). this most recent entry is advice from his pov. on the last transaction of the meal (or the book of the meal, as kurt calls it), paying the bill.
Waiter Rant

Posted by bekee at 9:41 AM | permalink | licks (0)

what a great idea! i should have come up with it. :/
Eating in Madison A to Z
though, i'm too much of a food snob for most restaurants.

Posted by bekee at 2:37 PM | permalink | licks (1)

neat article about candy bar wrappers: Speak Up: A Century of Candy Bars: An Analysis of Wrapper Design

Posted by bekee at 1:35 PM | permalink | licks (0)

in celebration of the impending spinning, i broke down and ordered sushi from edo. i know i said i wouldn't ever again, but i had a craving. i must remember though, that their spicy tuna hand rolls are shite compared to takara's. edo's tuna sashimi, though slightly less tasty, is a larger portion, and you get two pieces with each order.
the black dragon roll was excellent, as always. it really hit the spot. i don't think i'll go wrong again if i stick to no more than four items.

Posted by bekee at 10:13 AM | permalink | licks (1)

it's chocolate. i still don't care for chocolate. even if it's in the shape of my favorite foodstuffs.

Posted by bekee at 1:46 PM | permalink | licks (0)

so i ended up ordering from edo last night. and they forgot my shrimp tempura roll. and i didn't call them back because i just won't order from them again. dumb.

Posted by bekee at 8:07 AM | permalink | licks (0)

omg the king of falafel on university/gilman is incredible! the falafel sandwich was only $2.95 and their hummus was delish! i also tried a bowl of their chickpea and rice soup. yumm. highly recommended, five stars.

Posted by bekee at 2:11 PM | permalink | licks (0)

kurt and i had a marvelous pre-valentine's day dinner at harvest last night. i got the pan seared scallops and they were mouthwatering! the evening resulting in staying out too late, and not knitting. so tonight, i must hunker down, get the fingerless mitts done and start on kurt's sweater.

Posted by bekee at 1:01 PM | permalink | licks (1)

sushi with the famous bob and amy last night. i hadn't been to takara in forever and it was super-tasty. today i get to have my taxes done and knit in public with kelli.

Posted by bekee at 8:23 AM | permalink | licks (0)

i had to take a picture, because the previous one really wasn't accurate. this is the big serving plate full of fish.

Posted by bekee at 7:37 PM | permalink | licks (0)

almost forever, the wisconsinized moen family has met in barneveld for their annual lutefisk dinner. that day is almost upon us once again. most people are scared of the notion. if you've ever had the chance to try it, you'll either hate it immediately, or be forced to come to appreciate it. basically, it's cod soaked in lye for preservation reasons. then there's a lengthy "de-soaking" process that takes a week, if my memory serves. they do get all the lye out before it's cooked, you know. then it's served with mashed potatoes, lefse, and melted butter. mom and i eat it like a little lutefisk burrito. whatever, don't make that face, i think "fish taco" sounds gross.

Posted by bekee at 9:30 AM | permalink | licks (1)

i'm attempting to make fantastic foods' version of falafels. wish me luck! *update at 5:46pm: it didn't turn out nearly as i had hoped.

Posted by bekee at 2:42 PM | permalink | licks (0)

For dinner last night:
Bekee's Kinda Mexi
3 flour tortillas (6")
1 cup white onion, diced
2 roma tomatoes, diced
1 can vegetarian refried beans
1 cup grated pepperjack cheese
Embasa green chile salsa
Preheat oven to 350.
Lightly spray a 12" glass pie pan. Spread beans onto one tortilla. Place tortilla in pan and layer with half the onions, half the tomatoes, as much salsa as you want and a third of the cheese. Repeat with second tortilla. Spread beans on third tortilla and place bean-side down on the top of the stack. Top with cheese and salsa. Loosely cover pan with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Take foil off and bake for another 10 minutes. Slice into quarters and serve. Good with Horchata.

Posted by bekee at 9:22 AM | permalink | licks (0)

my orange juice container says, "shake well for best taste". i think everything should say that.

Posted by bekee at 10:02 AM | permalink | licks (0)

I actually read a useful post on alt.animals.ethics.vegetarian! Most of the time it's this one guy, "God", telling everyone how not eating meat is killing the cows or some sh*t like that. Anyhow, I found this site, which has a ton of recipes for Dahl. I'll probably turn into a legume this winter.

Posted by bekee at 8:51 AM | permalink | licks (0)

After being all but flogged on the dailypage forum for asking what the benefits are of being a member at the Co-op, Kurt and I are now members. I think it'll be a good thing, though the prices are a little crazy. Benefits to me: 1. They really do have excellent vegetables. 2. I have at least 6 friends that work there. 3. The deli is yummy. 4. They have sushi-making supplies, books, and fish.

Posted by bekee at 10:47 AM | permalink | licks (0)

Cheater's Enchiladas Prep Time: approx. 10 Minutes. Cook Time: approx. 20 Minutes. Ready in: approx. 30 Minutes.
Makes 8 servings.
1 (8 ounce) container sour cream
8 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 (12 ounce) can green enchilada sauce
12 (6 inch) corn tortillas
1 (2 ounce) can chopped black olives
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. In a small bowl, combine the sour cream and cheese.
3. Into a 9x13 inch pan, pour a small amount of enchilada sauce to coat bottom of pan. Layer 6 tortillas on bottom of pan. Layer half of the cheese-sour cream mixture and 1/3 of the olives over the tortillas. Repeat. Pour the remaining enchilada sauce over the final layer.
4. Bake for 20 minutes. Cut into squares and serve.

Posted by bekee at 11:20 AM | permalink | licks (0)

Ohmigod! Dinner at Harvest was the most fantastic meal I've ever eaten. Thanks to Bob's suggestion, Kurt and I went there last night to celebrate our one-month anniversary of marriage. I don't want to spend too much time explaining things here, because there will be a review up before the weekend is over. Awesome. That's all I can say.

Posted by bekee at 9:39 AM | permalink | licks (0)

Well, I did it. I said I would never do it again, but sometimes I don't listen. I got an Acropolis salad (from the Glass Nickel) and ate it immediately preceding bedtime. The crazy dreams it gives me! I had to get up just because I was tired of dreaming! Sheesh. And you know what? They need an online menu.

Posted by bekee at 3:06 AM | permalink | licks (0)