tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38987640863257696452024-03-13T20:29:20.708-07:00ParlancerCherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.comBlogger187125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3898764086325769645.post-30869642915982569912011-06-17T12:58:00.000-07:002011-06-17T13:08:30.366-07:00Aspen Goes Meatless on MondaysHave you seen <span style="font-size:85%;">the <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/17/us/17meatless.html?smid=fb-nytimes&WT.mc_id=US-SM-E-FB-SM-LIN-MMC-061711-NYT-NA&WT.mc_ev=click">"Meatless Mondays Catch On, Even With Carnivores</a></span></span><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/17/us/17meatless.html?smid=fb-nytimes&WT.mc_id=US-SM-E-FB-SM-LIN-MMC-061711-NYT-NA&WT.mc_ev=click"><span style="font-size:100%;">"</span> article</a> in the NYT today yet? You go, Aspen!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOMrgn2HNv7WcpC6bq1CcMvo9AkP4scbgSU6lEzAgtXPCRAEI_AOAH4-AjL8JjqhuIkp92hFe5nfNl7T9hr-218gEpIp3Unk4ejZsm09FnM7984oUB_bojZUdENT9FyhBbG2uLj15ecXn/s1600/MEATLESS-2-popup-v2.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzOMrgn2HNv7WcpC6bq1CcMvo9AkP4scbgSU6lEzAgtXPCRAEI_AOAH4-AjL8JjqhuIkp92hFe5nfNl7T9hr-218gEpIp3Unk4ejZsm09FnM7984oUB_bojZUdENT9FyhBbG2uLj15ecXn/s320/MEATLESS-2-popup-v2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619281090499051618" border="0" /></a>Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3898764086325769645.post-28760876541627093832010-08-09T08:14:00.000-07:002010-08-09T08:20:15.203-07:00National Publicity for Meatless Monday<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhki9TieIOsnKJLGY8eIru5f6FDzLJymaZiNuZjvjAN0-gFPCL5ZBFKNkSqoiWPiY54ExA30PplbbfX_rGisIl_QE6ZtkKGWaefkWjVFPaVdr3bMLKLxFZNOhZrAP7mmBDXkvJkd4V5StOW/s1600/meatless.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhki9TieIOsnKJLGY8eIru5f6FDzLJymaZiNuZjvjAN0-gFPCL5ZBFKNkSqoiWPiY54ExA30PplbbfX_rGisIl_QE6ZtkKGWaefkWjVFPaVdr3bMLKLxFZNOhZrAP7mmBDXkvJkd4V5StOW/s200/meatless.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503429923305355842" border="0" /></a>NPR's Allison Aubrey presented a good <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129025298&sc=fb&cc=fp">story</a> today about Sid Lerner and his involvement in the Meatless Monday movement. Check it out.Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3898764086325769645.post-48543348115214547902010-05-24T12:08:00.000-07:002010-05-24T12:10:27.646-07:00Weekday VegFor anyone who wants to take going meatless to the next level but isn't quite ready to go all the way, you might want to check out <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/06/try-weekday-vegetarian-diet-eat-green-food-without-taking-the-plunge.php">Weekday Veg</a>, a concept being popularized by Graham Hill of <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/">Treehugger</a>. Below is a very short video in which he describes the concept, and here is a link to a <a href="http://www.ted.com/speakers/graham_hill.html">bio of Graham on TED.com</a> and <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/about/?campaign=th_nav_top_about#3">one on Treehugger.com</a>.<br /><br /><br /><!--copy and paste--><object height="326" width="446"><param name="movie" value="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="bgColor" value="#ffffff"> <param name="flashvars" value="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/GrahamHill_2010-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/GrahamHill-2010.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=860&introDuration=15330&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=830&adKeys=talk=graham_hill_weekday_vegetarian;year=2010;theme=new_on_ted_com;theme=a_taste_of_ted2010;event=TED2010;&preAdTag=tconf.ted/embed;tile=1;sz=512x288;"><embed src="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf" pluginspace="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" bgcolor="#ffffff" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/dynamic/GrahamHill_2010-medium.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/GrahamHill-2010.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=860&introDuration=15330&adDuration=4000&postAdDuration=830&adKeys=talk=graham_hill_weekday_vegetarian;year=2010;theme=new_on_ted_com;theme=a_taste_of_ted2010;event=TED2010;" height="326" width="446"></embed></object>Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3898764086325769645.post-35511213931078369902010-01-11T00:01:00.000-08:002010-01-10T23:51:40.171-08:00Meatless Monday: "Mostly" Meatless and Other Musings<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjmW0JyCeU-KSFotBR8Igj4HhAMK2Oo1LE7pBDY4QHAbRcescnz4TaWCibZ34MUGLaNYOa1O2xEvLkVFRGSlVDEv85j66o2FDU4fNyHuI8aGz9WgY77qSMyXYPMxvSy5Xljtl7N1p0DqDk/s1600-h/weight+scale.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjmW0JyCeU-KSFotBR8Igj4HhAMK2Oo1LE7pBDY4QHAbRcescnz4TaWCibZ34MUGLaNYOa1O2xEvLkVFRGSlVDEv85j66o2FDU4fNyHuI8aGz9WgY77qSMyXYPMxvSy5Xljtl7N1p0DqDk/s200/weight+scale.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425343965461159314" border="0" /></a>Less than two weeks into the new year, I'm still doing a lot of unofficial goal setting for the next 365 days. While I'm not really making a list of resolutions or goals, I <span style="font-style: italic;">am</span> spending some time thinking about my intentions and the direction(s) I want to go. After <a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/2010/01/meatless-monday-peanut-broccoli-stir.html">stating last week that my weight has </a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/2010/01/meatless-monday-peanut-broccoli-stir.html">nosed its way into the unhealthy zone</a>, not surprisingly, something I've been spending a lot of time contemplating is my eating habits. So I thought I'd share my thoughts about that with you this week in lieu of sharing a recipe.<br /><br /><br />In the grand scheme of life, a little weight gain is <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> a big deal, <span style="font-style: italic;">I know</span>, but I haven't been able to get away from this sinking feeling of utter defeat. After all, hadn't <a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/2008/07/fitness-file-1st-steps.html">I made a serious pact with mys</a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/2008/07/fitness-file-1st-steps.html">elf to be healthier just a year and a half ago</a>? Two years before that, hadn't I taken off almost 15 lbs. through <a href="http://www.weightwatchers.com/">Weight Watchers</a> and vowed to keep it off? Don't I say <span style="font-style: italic;">every</span> New Year's Day "This year is going to be different?" <span style="font-style: italic;">What exactly is my problem??</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgroANJZZ5V2yLgSP-HpJo42EbK_1FVPy7jlDC2BGcIcbMgn04HEBxNg7Ec6l3wVrXXH4j1zKmjp8zbnd-gEvyVrDbXCrrhXzOIttMGI-xqoferhRQLez8_fg79RsMTxHZQ9v2tSrj8KRi2/s1600-h/food_rules_197.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 123px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgroANJZZ5V2yLgSP-HpJo42EbK_1FVPy7jlDC2BGcIcbMgn04HEBxNg7Ec6l3wVrXXH4j1zKmjp8zbnd-gEvyVrDbXCrrhXzOIttMGI-xqoferhRQLez8_fg79RsMTxHZQ9v2tSrj8KRi2/s200/food_rules_197.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425367077333344338" border="0" /></a>Just in time to coincide with my (and almost everyone else on the planet's) New Year's resolutions to be healthier in 2010, <a href="http://www.michaelpollan.com/">Michael Pollan</a> (renowned author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143038583?ie=UTF8&tag=parlancer-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0143038583">The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=parlancer-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0143038583" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" />, whom <a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=pollan">I've spoken about on here before</a>), has come out with a new book that promises to give us all easy-to-understand-and-implement food guidelines to live by, 64 rules in all. The book is <span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/014311638X?ie=UTF8&tag=parlancer-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=014311638X">Food Rules: An Eater's Manual</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=parlancer-20&l=as2&o=1&a=014311638X" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /></span> and, I have to say, I'm intrigued. In <a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/08/michael-pollan-offers-64-ways-to-eat-food/">an interview with <span style="font-style: italic;">New York Times</span> writer Tara Parker-Pope</a>, Pollan seemed to nail my problem right on the head:<br /><blockquote>"[I]n the end, so much of the discussion about nutrition is a way to avoid talking about how much people are eating. People would rather talk about anything else than quantity."</blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">Yes!</span> That's <span style="font-style: italic;">exactly</span> it. It would seem that what I have been willfully ignoring is the fact that I'm just eating <span style="font-style: italic;">too damn</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">much</span>. I've been putting too much on my plate (and finishing every bite) and eating when I'm not really hungry, like when I'm bored or procrastinating. (That last one is a <span style="font-style: italic;">big</span> work hazard for freelancers who work from home. The stocked refrigerator and pantry shelves and a kitchen full of handy appliances are just <span style="font-style: italic;">far</span> too conveniently located.)<br /><br />In Pollan's NYT's interview, he also mentioned the flack he's gotten for an eating rule he included on the cover of his book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143114964?ie=UTF8&tag=parlancer-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0143114964">In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=parlancer-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0143114964" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /> - "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants."<br /><blockquote>"The adverb 'mostly' has been the most controversial. It makes everybody unhappy. The meat people are really upset I'm taking a swipe at meat eating, and the vegetarians are saying, 'What's with the "mostly?" Why not go all the way?' You can't please everyone. In a way that little word is the most important. It's not all or nothing. Mostly. It's about degree. But in the whole food discussion, I've learned the most from that, that little 'ly' and people's reaction to it."</blockquote>This really resonated with me because I feel like I get the same reactions to my <a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Meatless Monday posts</a> sometimes - meat eaters and vegetarians alike are offended. But I'm not trying to criticize anyone else's eating habits or philosophies; I'm just trying to find my own personal balance between that 'all' and 'nothing.'<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLAumAeYbC7lj-x2UV52hqEMMXFPnCVhhL0xWBzOJsP4R0Sgc6xLD1vg6PPmFOS1h_jJVP5KHPylPwe7FqgNTAaoas3h8rmHrH0Jkuqd3Xf5N5Kbi46ozuAwP4hqdda38rw-mXFkyvzdm/s1600-h/Eating_Animals2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 123px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMLAumAeYbC7lj-x2UV52hqEMMXFPnCVhhL0xWBzOJsP4R0Sgc6xLD1vg6PPmFOS1h_jJVP5KHPylPwe7FqgNTAaoas3h8rmHrH0Jkuqd3Xf5N5Kbi46ozuAwP4hqdda38rw-mXFkyvzdm/s200/Eating_Animals2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425378016530765778" border="0" /></a>Finding that balance is definitely a struggle. <a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/2008/03/lamentations-of-non-vegetarian.html">I've mentioned before</a> that I sometimes wish I could go fully vegetarian, but it's years later and I'm still not any closer to making that commitment. Maybe I never will. My husband has been talking about it more lately though too. <a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/2008/09/fitness-file-allies-saboteurs.html">As I've mentioned before</a>, partners can be allies <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> saboteurs when it comes to eating habits, so maybe his influence - or our combined influence on each other - will lead us more in the vegetarian direction. And if he doesn't sway me, maybe another book I recently added to my to-read list will --<br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316069906?ie=UTF8&tag=parlancer-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0316069906">Eating Animals</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=parlancer-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0316069906" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /> by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Safran_Foer">Jonathan Safran Foer</a>.</span> A description of the book on <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/">Goodreads.com</a> says:<br /><blockquote>"Jonathan Safran Foer spent much of his teenage and college years oscillating between carnivore and vegetarian. As he became a husband and a father, he kept returning to two questions: Why do we eat animals? And would we eat them if we knew how they got on our dinner plates?"</blockquote><br />Again, I'm intrigued - and I'll be sure to share my reviews of both these books with you once I've read them, . . . which, unfortunately, may not be for a couple of months because I'm up to my ears in work right now, I have a monthly <a href="http://www.rightsreaders.blogspot.com/">Amnesty International book club</a> obligation, and I've already got a list of other books I want to read that's about as long as my arm. Then again, Pollan's book is only 112 pages long, so I should be able to squeeze that in sooner than later. <span style="font-style: italic;">So, stay tuned!</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Other Meatless </a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Monday post</a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">s</a>Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3898764086325769645.post-2255525627236336142010-01-05T14:46:00.000-08:002010-01-06T15:00:30.441-08:00New Year's ReflectionsLinda over at <a href="http://www.sundrymourning.com/">SundryMourning</a> has been posting a <a href="http://www.sundrymourning.com/2009/12/30/new-years-tradition/">New Year's quiz</a> for the past several years and has encouraged others to answer it on their own blogs. I did it last year and figured I'd carry on the tradition too by doing it again:<br /><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} p {mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-margin-top-alt:auto; margin-right:0in; mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">I went to <a href="http://www.ehfop.org/">Hemingway’s childhood home and museum</a>, the <a href="http://nixon.archives.gov/">President Nixon Museum and childhood home</a>, the <a href="http://www.rbhayes.org/hayes/">President Hayes Museum</a>, the <a href="http://gowright.org/visit/home-and-studio.html">Frank Lloyd Wright home and studio</a>, <a href="http://www.griffithobs.org/">Griffith Observatory</a>, the <a href="http://www.rockhall.com/">Rock and Roll Hall of Fame</a>, the <a href="http://www.clemusart.com/">Cleveland Museum of Art</a>, the <a href="http://www.missiontour.org/sanfernando/index.htm">San Fernando mission</a>, the <a href="http://www.mortonarb.org/">Morton Arboretum</a>, <a href="http://www.nps.gov/CUVA/index.htm">Cuyahoga Valley National Park</a>, Tampa, and a Hindu wedding ceremony.</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">Not really, but I try not to be hard on myself for not accomplishing things in an arbitrary 365-day window.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">3. Did anyone close to you give birth?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">Two of my sister-in-laws gave birth to beautiful nieces.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">4. Did anyone close to you die?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">Thankfully, no.<u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">5. What countries did you visit?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">Sadly, none.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">More energy, patience, creative inspiration.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" >Jan 20 – (crap, I can’t remember if I have the date right) – niece (Avery) was born<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" >Feb 6 – niece (Olivia) was born<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" >May 31 – surprise birthday brunch<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" >Jun 26 – cousin-in-law (Denise) got married<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" >Jul 11 – cousin-in-law (Katie) got married<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" >Oct 1 – moved from Moorpark to Montrose<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" >Nov 15-16 – Rita’s visit<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" >Nov 26 – Dec 2 – Husband’s parents’ visit</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><br /><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">Finding a cool new place to live and moving was challenging and fun. I also finished some big projects that I think will go on to do very well as printed texts or journal articles. I don't know that I'd call those "achievements" (like <span style="font-style: italic;">great</span> goals or ideals I strove to realize) - maybe accomplishments would be a better word (they were big tasks and I think I did them well).<br /><!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br /><!--[endif]--></span></p> <u1:p></u1:p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">9. What was your biggest failure?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">Gaining weight</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">10. Did you suffer illness or injury?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">Had an evil stomach flu</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">11. What was the best thing you bought?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">Nothing exciting. I’ve been trying to be more mindful of the types of purchases I make and to buy only things I really need. (<i style=""><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743269365?ie=UTF8&tag=parlancer-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0743269365">Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=parlancer-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0743269365" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /></i> is on my to-read list!)</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">12. Whose behavior merited celebration?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">My husband’s – he got a promotion. Woo-hoo! Well-deserved.</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.glennbeck.com/">Glenn Beck</a> – that man is a knob.</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">14. Where did most of your money go?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">To pay off debt.</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">Finding a new place to live</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">16. What song will always remind you of 2009?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">“<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m48GqaOz90">Boom Boom Pow</a>” by the <a href="http://www.blackeyedpeas.com/">Black-Eyed Peas</a> (I think I’m choosing this one only because it’s the last song I heard on New Year’s Eve before calling it a night.)</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">17. Compared to this time last year, are you:<br />a) happier or sadder?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">Happier.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br />b) thinner or fatter?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">Fatter – same answer as last year. . . . not a good trend. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br />c) richer or poorer?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">Probably roughly the same.</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">18. What do you wish you’d done more of?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">Exercising, taking photos, and keeping in touch with friends.</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">19. What do you wish you’d done less of?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">Complaining, eating, and procrastinating.</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">20. How did you spend Christmas?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">Quietly at home. No holiday travel for us this year – yay!</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">21. Did you fall in love in 2009?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">Same answer as last year - I didn’t ‘fall,’ but my love grew deeper.</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">22. What was your favorite TV program?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">“<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367279/">Arrested Development</a>” – I’ve been watching re-runs and falling in love even though I know I’m going to be so disappointed when I come to the last episode and there aren’t any more to watch or wait for. Although. . . I hear there’s going to be a <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0901469/">movie</a>!<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">No.</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">24. What was the best book you read?<o:p></o:p></p> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <u2:worddocument> <u2:view>Normal<u2:zoom>0<u2:trackmoves>false<u2:trackformatting/> <u2:punctuationkerning/> <u2:validateagainstschemas/> <u2:saveifxmlinvalid>false<u2:ignoremixedcontent>false<u2:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false<u2:donotpromoteqf/> <u2:lidthemeother>EN-US<u2:lidthemeasian>X-NONE<u2:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE<u2:compatibility> <u2:breakwrappedtables/> <u2:snaptogridincell/> <u2:wraptextwithpunct/> <u2:useasianbreakrules/> <u2:dontgrowautofit/> <u2:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <u2:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <u2:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <u2:dontvertalignintxbx/> <u2:word11kerningpairs/> <u2:cachedcolbalance/> <u2:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4<u3:mathpr> <u3:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <u3:brkbin val="before"> <u3:brkbinsub val="--"> <u3:smallfrac val="off"> <u3:dispdef/> <u3:lmargin val="0"> <u3:rmargin val="0"> <u3:defjc val="centerGroup"> <u3:wrapindent val="1440"> <u3:intlim val="subSup"> <u3:narylim val="undOvr"> </u3:narylim> </u3:intlim> </u3:wrapindent> </u3:defjc> </u3:rmargin> </u3:lmargin> </u3:smallfrac> </u3:brkbinsub> </u3:brkbin> </u3:mathfont> </u3:mathpr> </u2:browserlevel> </u2:compatibility> </u2:lidthemecomplexscript> </u2:lidthemeasian> </u2:lidthemeother> </u2:alwaysshowplaceholdertext> </u2:ignoremixedcontent> </u2:saveifxmlinvalid> </u2:trackmoves> </u2:zoom> </u2:view> </u2:worddocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <u4:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <u4:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:lsdexception> </u4:latentstyles> </xml><![endif]--> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">It’s hard to choose just one, so here are my top choices:<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Non-Fiction</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i style=""><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/074324754X?ie=UTF8&tag=parlancer-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=074324754X">The Glass Castle: A Memoir</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=parlancer-20&l=as2&o=1&a=074324754X" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /></span></i><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"> by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeannette_Walls">Jeannette Walls</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i style=""><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743266250?ie=UTF8&tag=parlancer-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0743266250">The House at Sugar Beach: In Search of a Lost African Childhood</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=parlancer-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0743266250" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /></span></i><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"> by <a href="http://authors.simonandschuster.com/Helene-Cooper/18871279">Helene Cooper</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i style=""><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0812973402?ie=UTF8&tag=parlancer-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0812973402">Another Day in the Frontal Lobe: A Brain Surgeon Exposes Life on the Inside</a></span></i><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"> by <a href="http://www.katrinafirlik.com/">Katrina Firlik</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i style=""><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143038583?ie=UTF8&tag=parlancer-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0143038583">The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=parlancer-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0143038583" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /></span></i><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"> by <a href="http://www.michaelpollan.com/">Michael Pollan</a></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">Fiction</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i style=""><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1933372605?ie=UTF8&tag=parlancer-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1933372605">The Elegance of the Hedgehog</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=parlancer-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1933372605" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /></span></i><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"> by <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fmuriel.barbery.net%2F">Muriel Barbery</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i style=""><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=" com="" gp="" product="" ie="UTF8&tag=parlancer-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1594483299"">The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=parlancer-20&l=as2&o=1&a=1594483299" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /> </span></i><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">by <a href="http://www.junotdiaz.com/">Junot Diaz</a><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><i style=""><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307476308?ie=UTF8&tag=parlancer-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0307476308">The Road (Movie Tie-in Edition 2009) (Vintage International)</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=parlancer-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0307476308" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /></span></i><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"> by <a href="http://www.cormacmccarthy.com/">Cormac McCarthy</a></span><a href="http://www.cormacmccarthy.com/"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><br /></span></a></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <u6:p></u6:p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">25. What was your greatest musical discovery?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="http://www.grizzly-bear.net/"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">Grizzly Bear</span></a></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <u6:p></u6:p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">26. What did you want and get?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">A move closer to civilization</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <u6:p></u6:p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">27. What did you want and not get?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">Nothing (see answer to #11)</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <u6:p></u6:p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">28. What was your favorite film of this year?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1022603/"><i style=""><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">(500) Days of Summer</span></i></a></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><i style=""><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></i></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <u6:p></u6:p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">My parents threw me a surprise birthday brunch with family back in my hometown. I turned . . . 35. <i style="">Yikes.</i></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><u6:p></u6:p>30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">Spending more time vacationing, hiking, going to the beach, and pursuing creative projects.<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <u6:p></u6:p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">Practical – I work from home, so most of the time anything comfortable (usually t-shirts and jeans) works for me.</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <u6:p></u6:p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">32. What kept you sane?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">My flexible job and my supportive husband.</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <u6:p></u6:p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><span style=""> </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000439/">Neil Patrick Harris</a> – so very talented</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <u6:p></u6:p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">34. What political issue stirred you the most?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">The <a href="http://www.teapartypatriots.org/">Tea Party</a> nutjobs make my brain want to explode.</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <u6:p></u6:p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">35. Who did you miss?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">My friends and family back east.</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <u6:p></u6:p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">36. Who was the best new person you met?</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">My answer is a team rather than just one person – the editor and the author duo I met in December for a new project I just took on.</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <u6:p></u6:p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.</p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">When you are faced with conflict</span><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">, compromise is a great goal , . . . but it’s not always possible.</span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><o:p> </o:p></p> <u6:p></u6:p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.</p><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><o:p></o:p></span><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0in; margin-right:0in; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" >I’m never any good with pulling lyrics out of thin air, so I’ll just choose this song that is apropos for the new year:<o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" >“<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MwhxdGAnic">The New Year</a>” by <a href="http://www.deathcabforcutie.com/">Death Cab for Cutie</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p>So this is the new year,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" >And I don’t feel any different.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" >The clanking of crystal<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" >Explosions off in the distance (in the distance)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p>So this is the new year.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" >And I have no resolutions<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" >For self-assigned penance,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" >For problems with easy solutions.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p>So everybody put your best suit or dress on.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" >Let’s make believe that we are wealthy for just this once,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" >Lighting firecrackers off on the front lawn<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" >As thirty dialogues bleed into one.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p>I wish the world was flat like the old days.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" >Then I could travel<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" >Just by folding a map - <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" >No more airplanes, or speedtrains, or freeways.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" >There’d be no distance that can hold us back. [x3]<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:12pt;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"></o:p><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">So this is the new year. [x4]</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/2008/12/end-of-year-reflections.html">my answers from last year</a><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">How would you respond to these questions? In the comments section here, share your own answers or direct me to your own blog where you've posted them.</span></span>Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3898764086325769645.post-47276266775630865322010-01-04T16:53:00.000-08:002010-01-04T17:25:49.011-08:00Meatless Monday: Peanut-Broccoli Stir-FrySorry to have neglected my MM posting, but the holidays were a complete blur. We didn't even travel for the holiday this year, but it still seems like we were busy non-stop. I'm afraid to admit that there was plenty of meat-eating done over the course of those weeks (e.g., on Christmas Eve we had the traditional Italian-American "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_the_seven_fishes">Feast of the Seven Fishes</a>"), but we did have plenty of vegetarian dishes too. This next recipe is one of those dishes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimi6w0616Ti_OI9MvA-pxyranwx-WwRZ6k_0Yh4OLwdAUPeMvIP6Wm_bglAUcjngdNpIbzJ80QxZ315XA6Tr59Vif_FtL8HkSszIxcyjC2uirCe-nIqh8oIBzai4c27S_KmNiPn-AB_a4N/s1600-h/broccoli-stirfry-sl-1694189-l.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimi6w0616Ti_OI9MvA-pxyranwx-WwRZ6k_0Yh4OLwdAUPeMvIP6Wm_bglAUcjngdNpIbzJ80QxZ315XA6Tr59Vif_FtL8HkSszIxcyjC2uirCe-nIqh8oIBzai4c27S_KmNiPn-AB_a4N/s200/broccoli-stirfry-sl-1694189-l.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423054436101880786" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Peanut-Broccoli Stir-Fry</span><br /><a href="http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1694189">Recipe</a><br /><br />We were out of brown rice, so we used quinoa, which was great because I prefer quinoa anyway. It was quick and easy to throw together and it was pretty tasty too. We made it just this past week after all the holiday mayhem had quieted down. It was nice to have a light, healthy dish after all the indulging that had been going on since Thanksgiving (see <a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/2009/12/meatless-monday-pumpkin-cheesecake.html">previous post</a>).<br /><br />Speaking of indulging . . . I stepped on the scale at the doctor's office the other day. <span style="font-style: italic;">Woo, what a bad idea!</span> There was the evidence of my indulging and not exercising all year staring me back in the face. I won't share the number with you, but I will say this - it was SOBERING.<br /><br />I knew my pants weren't fitting very well lately, but I had no idea how out of hand things had gotten. Let's just say I've officially stepped outside the "healthy" zone for my height. Not <span style="font-style: italic;">far</span> outside, mind you, but still not cool. I was pretty bummed about finding this out, but the timing is actually good. I was poised to set my New Year's resolutions anyway, so I just added one more to the list. What that means is that I'll be being extra diligent about finding low-fat and low-calorie recipes to eat in 2010 - and I'll be sure to share the vegetarian ones with you!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Did you make any special vegetarian dishes for the holidays? Please share!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Other Meatless </a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Monday post</a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">s</a>Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3898764086325769645.post-27122358216773146742009-12-07T18:07:00.000-08:002009-12-09T13:55:03.273-08:00Meatless Monday: Pumpkin Cheesecake<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5NQCSNMrQrIeCSKMwNU1YKopBwLsC7zIIAYMHYjUNEZDrtfvsNMRuZ4g1OpkorGtaNQQAWeV8UyfwVHOdw13NksoV-_Q11ePaYUr3_9_k3whk7SMLjcNfG00Y9irF4Wqgr5XXuFee-P9/s1600-h/Pumpkin+Cheesecake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5NQCSNMrQrIeCSKMwNU1YKopBwLsC7zIIAYMHYjUNEZDrtfvsNMRuZ4g1OpkorGtaNQQAWeV8UyfwVHOdw13NksoV-_Q11ePaYUr3_9_k3whk7SMLjcNfG00Y9irF4Wqgr5XXuFee-P9/s200/Pumpkin+Cheesecake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412681533109172514" border="0" /></a>I had my in-laws in town for Thanksgiving, so things were a little busy for a while, what with cooking preparations; squeezing everyone into our little house; and touring here, there, and everywhere. We had lots of fun . . . and consumed monstrous amounts of food. I can't even begin to calculate the number of calories consumed in the course of their visit, but I'll tell you one thing - I don't regret one bite!<br /><br />I'm happy to report that everything in our Thanksgiving meal came out excellent. There were no <a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/2009/07/meatless-mondpan-roasted-corn-and-cumin.html">major mishaps</a> with any of the dishes this year - not even with the one recipe I'd never made before. (My philosophy is that you should stretch the limits of your cooking comfort zone by making at least one new recipe each Thanksgiving). I had a pretty good idea it was going to be amazing though because my friend had already made the recipe and posted a picture of the results (see her picture above). I reasoned, "How could anything that looks <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> gorgeous NOT taste amazing too?!" I'm happy to report that I was not wrong, or as my grandfather used to like to say, "Seldom am I wrong, but I was right this time."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Pumpkin Cheesecake</span><br /><a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pumpkin-Cheesecake-II-2/Detail.aspx">Recipe</a><br /><br />My friend suggested the following adjustments to the recipe (which I followed):<br /><blockquote><ul><li>Bake at 325 in a water bath for 45 minutes.</li><li>Turn off oven and allow to cool in oven for 60 min.</li><li>Cool on counter for 60 min covered.</li></ul></blockquote>The only other thing I did differently was to use neufchatel instead of cream cheese. You know, to make the <span style="font-style: italic;">healthy</span> version. . . . <span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />What? . . .</span> Okay, so maybe you'll have a little trouble fitting into the holiday outfit you recently purchased after eating this cheese cake (even with the nuefachatel/cream cheese swap), but that's <span style="font-style: italic;">okay</span> because everyone knows that "no one likes a skinny Santa" anyway! ;)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Got any favorite vegetarian or vegan recipes?? Please share!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Other Meatless </a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Monday post</a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">s</a>Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3898764086325769645.post-83639317840802173832009-11-23T00:01:00.000-08:002009-11-23T00:01:01.048-08:00Meatless Monday: Spinach Calzones with Blue CheeseA couple of weeks ago, both my husband and I were really busy with work. With our limited time, I knew putting together dinners for the week was going to be a challenge. My solution was to find and print out a bunch of yummy sounding but simple recipes with limited ingredients lists. I did all the shopping at the beginning of the week. Then, each night when Matt called to say he was on his way home, I'd take a break from work and prep the ingredients for one of the recipes. When he got home, he'd take over doing whatever mixing, constructing, sauteing, etc. that was needed to finish the recipe and I'd go back to work. In this manner, we put together some tasty dishes that neither of us had to exert too much effort to make.<br /><br />This next dish is one of the one's from that week's menu. It only calls for 7 ingredients, two of which (cooking spray and garlic) you'll likely already have in your pantry!<br /><br /><a style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxl_l4rO3Dcp3j8KbzZxnQteDGD8IHYAHwh5fALavlQ-mU0db9NBDlsaX3ZMe04DLV_6s8Vwe9Ow5chVDiNHV5EyWuAggFJ4O3lJ3P1WQ478CwRNiq3F9TA70IJYV3w-CmmlADsNLYCP7/s1600/calzones-ck-223649-l.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMxl_l4rO3Dcp3j8KbzZxnQteDGD8IHYAHwh5fALavlQ-mU0db9NBDlsaX3ZMe04DLV_6s8Vwe9Ow5chVDiNHV5EyWuAggFJ4O3lJ3P1WQ478CwRNiq3F9TA70IJYV3w-CmmlADsNLYCP7/s200/calzones-ck-223649-l.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407042716711490754" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Spinach Calzones with Blue Cheese</span><br /><a href="http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=223649">Recipe</a><br /><br />When I think of calzone, I think of the traditional calzones I grew up eating in a very Italian suburb of Boston, the kind that look like large flat logs that you cut into slices to eat. The calzones we made with this recipe looked very different from those traditional ones, but I liked them because they were very pretty (see pic) and were sized for individual consumption.<br /><br />We used gorgonzola (an Italian blue cheese) because we had it left over from <a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/2009/11/meatless-monday-pasta-with-mushrooms.html">two dishes we'd made the previous week</a>. And we drizzled some fresh pizza sauce from a local Italian market on top. They were pretty good! When I make these again though, I will probably try a more traditional cheese like mozzarella or provolone and a bag of fresh pizza dough from the bakery. I thought blue cheese might be a little too strong a choice for a recipe like this, and, while the canned pizza dough is quick and convenient, real pizza dough has a better taste and texture.<br /><br />Another option you might consider - make much smaller versions of these as hors d'oeuvres for your next gathering!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Got any favorite vegetarian or vegan recipes?? Please share!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Other Meatless </a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Monday post</a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">s</a>Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3898764086325769645.post-13300624221196072972009-11-09T11:37:00.000-08:002009-11-09T20:09:01.465-08:00Meatless Monday: Ginger AleI'm not very fond of ginger, but I love ginger ale. Weird, I know. Doesn't make much sense, but I guess I <span style="font-style: italic;">rarely</span> make sense . . . .<br /><br />At the sushi bar, I always leave the neat little pile of sliced ginger on the corner of my plate untouched, and I often leave out ginger when making Chinese dishes, but, for some unknown reason, I think ginger ale is just delicious. Maybe I've been subconsciously brainwashed by marketing campaigns, but I really do find ginger ale a very crisp and refreshing drink.<br /><br />I don't have ginger ale all that often, but when I do, I've always been more than happy with a can of Schweppes or Canada Dry to sate my craving - that is until this past week when my husband made me ginger ale from scratch!<br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51); font-weight: bold;"></span><blockquote><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtyEJmBGXxgjfpGNdz8QZgkxIR2m5QNKyYEvK08tFNwhvGxNXV3gaRH3LQNpzeuA_B3Kbmof6vwnl7orst5FyqGyVHovLg4M-Tzcum8lM5FkCX1ANixpscGuOzGgVmWpHSSCXWGB12mK-/s1600-h/ginger-ale-rs-633419-l.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPtyEJmBGXxgjfpGNdz8QZgkxIR2m5QNKyYEvK08tFNwhvGxNXV3gaRH3LQNpzeuA_B3Kbmof6vwnl7orst5FyqGyVHovLg4M-Tzcum8lM5FkCX1ANixpscGuOzGgVmWpHSSCXWGB12mK-/s200/ginger-ale-rs-633419-l.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402194538861396450" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51); font-weight: bold;">GINGER ALE</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Recipe</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Simple Syrup</span><br /><ul><li>1 c sugar</li><li>1 c water</li></ul>Boil until dissolved. Let cool and refrigerate.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ginger Liquid</span><br /><ul><li>1/2 c grated fresh ginger</li><li>1 c water</li></ul>Boil 5 min. Let stand 40 min. Strain out ginger and retain liquid. Let cool and refrigerate.<br /><br />You can store the simple syrup and ginger liquid separately or stir them together in one container, making 2 c of flavoring. If you mix them together, you can pour the flavored mixture about 2 fingers high in your glass. Then add ice and club soda and stir. Alternatively, you can adjust the ratio of ginger to sugar if you've kept them separate. Either way, <span style="font-style: italic;">bottoms up!</span></blockquote><br />The nice thing about making ginger ale yourself using this recipe is that you can control the proportions of the ingredients per glass. For instance, my husband likes his ginger ale a little less sweet than I do, so he uses a little less simple syrup in his glass.<br /><br />Another cool thing about ginger ale? Its salutary digestive effects. I know I'm not the only one who was given a glass of flat ginger ale when I was a kid with an upset stomach, right? To this day, when my stomach isn't reacting well to food but I'm still hungry, I immediately reach for ginger ale and saltines. Nothing more reliable or comforting.<br /><br />I also have great memories of drinking Shirley Temples (which are non-alcoholic drinks made with ginger ale, grenadine, and maraschino cherries) at my grandparent's 50th wedding anniversary as a child. My cousins and I felt like "big kids" because we got to order drinks at the bar.<br /><br />And, of course, ginger ale is a caffeine-free drink, which is great for me because my system is super sensitive to caffeine. If I have 1/2 a can of Diet Coke early in the day, I won't sleep that night, and I run the risk of getting addicted. And let me tell you, the migraines I get associated with caffeine withdrawal are UG-LY.<br /><br />So, ginger ale - a nice go-to drink for all kinds of reasons. And now you can make some at home!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Got any favorite vegetarian or vegan recipes?? Please share!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Other Meatless </a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Monday post</a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">s</a>Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3898764086325769645.post-26395365717525119862009-11-02T00:01:00.000-08:002009-12-08T11:52:38.828-08:00Meatless Monday: Pasta with Mushrooms & Pumpkin-Gorgonzola SauceBack when I was reading Michael Pollan's <span style="font-style: italic;">Omnivore's Dilemma</span> (see an <a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/2009/07/meatless-mondpan-roasted-corn-and-cumin.html">earlier post</a>), I came across this sentence in the "Gathering: The Fungi" chapter:<br /><blockquote><br />"Mexicans call mushrooms carne de los muertos - 'flesh of the dead.'"</blockquote>"<span style="font-style: italic;">Greeeaat</span>. Thanks, Mike," I thought. "Way to ruin one of my favorite foods for me." But, turns out, give me enough time and, like a proverbial goldfish*, I forget all about the 'flesh of the dead' and return to shoveling forkfuls of mushrooms into my mouth at every opportunity. (Yay for bad memory!)<br /><br />I was reminded of the whole 'mushroom/rotting flesh' thing today because it is the Mexican holiday<b> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_the_Dead">Day of the Dead</a></b> (or <b>El Día de los Muertos</b>), during which Mexicans celebrate and honor their deceased relatives and friends. I thought, what better way to celebrate than with a mushroom dish? And, since we're fresh off of Halloween and it's in season, why not a recipe with pumpkin in it too?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPl3T8C64il4Ft8V3OcHGbfAEMd1YWww8EzLoLSmThkuKWGM2Q90Qi3oiDqlJ10va_F_Tjmwl71mQlskchsZfs955s2UNBsTAUBfMO0vhRTpmVK_N0sye2J7yNtAJBtYf2rszM4MRGZAu/s1600-h/pasta-mushroom-ck-550003-l.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPl3T8C64il4Ft8V3OcHGbfAEMd1YWww8EzLoLSmThkuKWGM2Q90Qi3oiDqlJ10va_F_Tjmwl71mQlskchsZfs955s2UNBsTAUBfMO0vhRTpmVK_N0sye2J7yNtAJBtYf2rszM4MRGZAu/s200/pasta-mushroom-ck-550003-l.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399741997177985810" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Pasta with Mushrooms & Pumpkin-Gorgonzola Sauce</span><br /><a href="http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=550003">Recipe</a><br /><br />I don't have much to add to the recipe instructions other than to say that:<br /><ul><li>Shitake mushrooms taste great and really complement the gorgonzola, but definitely feel free to substitute the mushroom of your choice;</li><li>Freshly ground nutmeg will taste so much better than jarred pre-ground nutmeg;</li><li>Use however much onion suits your taste; personally, I think 4 cups is overkill;</li><li>However, I don't think 4 cloves of garlic is overkill - again, depends on your taste; and</li><li>Remember to only use about 1/3 of what the recipe calls for if you're going to use dry, jarred sage; again, as with the nutmeg, fresh is better.<br /></li></ul>The cool thing about this recipe? If you've got leftover gorgonzola cheese, pumpkin, and sage (and you will if you get the usual package sizes), later in the week, you can always make the following recipe, which is also great.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Pumpkin Ravioli with Gorgonzola Sauce</span><br /><a href="http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1673006">Recipe</a><br /><br />This isn't as good as ravioli made from real, homemade pasta, but, on the plus side, it's also not as difficult or time-consuming to make and it should sate your craving for ravioli.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Got any favorite vegetarian or vegan recipes?? Please share!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Other Meatless </a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Monday post</a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">s</a><br /><br />*I say 'proverbial' because <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldfish#Memory">goldfish memory</a> actually<span style="font-style: italic;"> isn't </span>as bad as the common saying would suggest.Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3898764086325769645.post-44797365007273049252009-10-12T00:01:00.000-07:002009-10-12T00:01:00.795-07:00Meatless Monday: Lime Peanut NoodlesLast week, when I was drafting my post about PB&J, I came across the following recipe and thought YUM! I love soba noodles but hadn't had any in quite a while, and I love satay sauce in Thai restaurants but had never tried making my own peanut sauce before, so I was intrigued. I had almost all the ingredients in the refrigerator, and the cooking prep seemed super quick and easy, so I said, "Why not?!"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dwwEJMlvrd-_LA-GTH5XrZogS6O66NHYyNy3wItV8fMPKyU1IoRpKd3o6zZs4n3Wp63wn1jA8KtORt8ONZTRedebEZtamcC9U1ukeMDGqhRgYfv473ZOFCJ5XzhwWYoDTJeuJods_Xxw/s1600-h/noodles540.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dwwEJMlvrd-_LA-GTH5XrZogS6O66NHYyNy3wItV8fMPKyU1IoRpKd3o6zZs4n3Wp63wn1jA8KtORt8ONZTRedebEZtamcC9U1ukeMDGqhRgYfv473ZOFCJ5XzhwWYoDTJeuJods_Xxw/s200/noodles540.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391387697539346658" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 153, 51); font-weight: bold;">Lime Peanut Noodles</span><br /><a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102830505">Recipe</a><br /><br />I know, I know. After all the hemming and hawing I did about never willfully eating another carrot or radish after the bushels of it we got from Underwood Family Farms, here I am making a recipe that calls for both. What can I say?<br /><br />I wasn't so sure about this dish when I saw it coming together, but I'm happy to say, despite appearances, it tasted great. Here are the few adjustments I made or would suggest:<br /><br />I substituted parsley for the cilantro (surprise-surprise!) and didn't use as much as was called for. I used a julienne peeler on the carrots. I didn't use as many radishes as it called for. It suggests cutting the cucumber and radishes thinly, but I would actually suggest chopping them finely; I think you can toss the ingredients with the soba noodles more easily that way.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Got any favorite vegetarian or vegan recipes?? Please share!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Other Meatless </a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Monday post</a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">s</a>Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3898764086325769645.post-58156420864453665332009-10-05T15:35:00.000-07:002009-10-05T16:02:42.111-07:00Meatless Monday: PB&JIn this post, instead of a recipe, I offer a reminder of how easy it is to go meatless for just one day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFaQ7INl4w63hEBz_NMjY4aVUV9Kg1GuHp1QtrwCk6sGPRlZn6osIb6FGu5L-HsuUaiYFtfL1sdR7Juvlizi5kysrXJxtQ-VOIxXLwIc3pLy2EpazeTLjukfAb1UaQ7X6IMA5WgNJo-l8T/s1600-h/460_home_img1_peanutbutter.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 172px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFaQ7INl4w63hEBz_NMjY4aVUV9Kg1GuHp1QtrwCk6sGPRlZn6osIb6FGu5L-HsuUaiYFtfL1sdR7Juvlizi5kysrXJxtQ-VOIxXLwIc3pLy2EpazeTLjukfAb1UaQ7X6IMA5WgNJo-l8T/s200/460_home_img1_peanutbutter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389246728010501858" border="0" /></a>Feeling like there's nothing meatless in the house that sounds appetizing? <span style="font-style: italic;">Oh, come onnn.</span> You must at least have a jar of peanut butter and a jar of jelly on hand. <span style="font-style: italic;">Who doesn't </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">love</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> a good </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255); font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" ><a href="http://www.entertonement.com/clips/xjpzqlmdhx--" style="font-size: 14px;">PB&J</a></span><span style="font-style: italic;"> now and again??</span> Who, I ask you?! I say there's nothing like a PB&J and a tall glass of milk to make you feel young again. So simple, so satisfying, . . . <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> (who knew) also very good for the environment. Check out the details at <a href="http://www.pbjcampaign.org/how">The PB&J Campaign</a>.<br /><br />Opening up and carving your knife into a new jar of peanut butter has to be right up there on life's list of simple pleasures. And there are so many different nut butters and brands to choose from! My husband likes Laura Scudder's brand peanut butter, which is an old-fashioned peanut butter with no <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14ux7AGW6tTP4LUCoxPjGZ0bm5y6SPtDQZUcclTLwKLbrzTC_zo5SI98u7v2YbugZof6ee7aJ918Uh8XLKUFQFnPqs2qViBs9MEuC1zVaiG2dmrVGqQ9vuRKJHSc3vFXMLg9cYhWQyCns/s1600-h/peanut_butter_mixer.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14ux7AGW6tTP4LUCoxPjGZ0bm5y6SPtDQZUcclTLwKLbrzTC_zo5SI98u7v2YbugZof6ee7aJ918Uh8XLKUFQFnPqs2qViBs9MEuC1zVaiG2dmrVGqQ9vuRKJHSc3vFXMLg9cYhWQyCns/s200/peanut_butter_mixer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389239005457156434" border="0" /></a>hydrogenated oils and no trans fats. It's tasty but a little high-maintenance because the oil separates from the peanut butter in the jar and you need to stir it with every use. That's why I bought him the <a href="http://witmerproducts.com/pbutter.html">Witmer peanut butter mixer (model 100)</a> as a stocking stuffer a couple of years back. Works like a charm. Others adore Nutella (a hazelnut butter). Personally, I find it a little too sweet for a whole sandwich.<br /><br />If no brand satisfies you, you can always make your own nut butter from scratch too -<br /><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" id="howcastplayer" height="273" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=185793"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.howcast.com/flash/howcast_player.swf?file=185793" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="273" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />And there are tons of jellies and jams from which to choose as well. There is everything from the jam your grandma makes from scratch, to the tiny jars of exotic fruit preserves dressed up in gingham cloth and ribbon at gourmet boutiques, to the big-brand standbys in new squeezable bottles, to the Frankenjam concoctions of jelly and peanut butter in one jar (for the <span style="font-style: italic;">truly</span> lazy . . . and, apparently, taste bud-impaired).<br /><br />Everyone seems to have their favorite ingredients when it comes to PB&J, even celebrities. For instance, most folks know that Elvis loved fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches. But did you know that Jerry Seinfeld will only eat one kind of peanut butter? They make it at <a href="http://www.ilovepeanutbutter.com/sandwichshop">Peanut Butter and Co.</a> If you're in the NYC area and feeling just too lazy to slap some PB&J on two slices of bread yourself, you can check out Jerry's favorite yourself at the company's sandwich shop in Greenich Village. Some of their sandwiches sound more like desserts (e.g., the Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Sandwich), but to each his own.<br /><br />Me? I'm happy with a plain ol' tub of Jif. And I usually go old-school with a jar of Welch's Concord grape. But I do mix it up once in a while with raspberry, strawberry, or blackberry jelly . . . or even . . . FLUFF. <span style="font-style: italic;">Ohh, the Fluffernutter!</span> A whole other topic for another day.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">How do </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">you</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> PB&J?<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Got any favorite vegetarian or vegan recipes?? Please share!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Other Meatless </a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Monday post</a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">s</a>Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3898764086325769645.post-19548054389359443192009-09-28T11:57:00.000-07:002009-10-05T10:39:45.804-07:00Meatless Monday: Fast FoodSo, as I may have mentioned, I'm in the process of moving. The prospect of doing such a thing always sounds so easy, but of course it's not. The movers come tomorrow, so I've been frantically trying to get every little trapping of my material life stuffed into boxes over the past couple of days.<br /><br />Last night, I packed up the last of the kitchen items. As you might imagine, it's a little difficult to cook without pots, pans, spices, utensils, and whatnot. Couple that with the dilemma of not having very much time to eat and an inevitable evil looms in the near future . . . FAST FOOD! How's a girl to eat healthy and, today, <span style="font-style: italic;">meatless</span> with the kind of options available at your average fast food restaurant, where sometimes the "healthy" items rack up just as much fat and and as many calories as a burger-and-fries combo meal?!<br /><br />I'm not going to eat at your average fast food restaurant, <span style="font-style: italic;">that's how!</span> In California, I've got some great options . . .<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzh-Y5AeGvmcVU10wgtD7B6VxmgziD-bBZUYwvmM8TlOKOzujv0cPTpTRMn87prE1oEAjUVja-6G3qVrS52SRmKEXt6uPwwmP7URJZVGMm61sg_y5ZavbIdXoVhASX8Hbg1UKWbfEqEps/s1600-h/CALIFORNIA+CRISP+-+LOGO.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 103px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzh-Y5AeGvmcVU10wgtD7B6VxmgziD-bBZUYwvmM8TlOKOzujv0cPTpTRMn87prE1oEAjUVja-6G3qVrS52SRmKEXt6uPwwmP7URJZVGMm61sg_y5ZavbIdXoVhASX8Hbg1UKWbfEqEps/s200/CALIFORNIA+CRISP+-+LOGO.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386582659619418962" border="0" /></a><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.californiacrisp.com/">California Crisp</a><br />This small chain only has 7 locations, but they're worth seeking out. A lot of items on their <a href="http://www.californiacrispcafe.com/menu.html">menu</a> come with chicken, but you can always ask them to hold it. Try their BBQ Chicken Wrap sans chicken. The sauce is yummy and the jicama adds a great juicy crunch. <span style="font-style: italic;">LOVE</span> jicama.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FE70T303ewX6srW7-cmt8tuImyyGf8MMLhOhY0OO8R9wOOCJTe0xbIXMpxfzqptEV2nKcU3Vs0x5S1SxrLvolopJKkROJUtrUxKFF_YcbpgBIIVREn356R2ACNLejs6RuLNGjuQvOBfy/s1600-h/logo-copy.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 85px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1FE70T303ewX6srW7-cmt8tuImyyGf8MMLhOhY0OO8R9wOOCJTe0xbIXMpxfzqptEV2nKcU3Vs0x5S1SxrLvolopJKkROJUtrUxKFF_YcbpgBIIVREn356R2ACNLejs6RuLNGjuQvOBfy/s200/logo-copy.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386582724679906962" border="0" /></a><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.thenaturalcafe.com/">Natural Cafe</a><br />This restaurant only has 10 locations, but, as with California Crisp, they're worth seeking out. Their <a href="http://www.thenaturalcafe.com/menu.php">menu</a> offers a HUGE list of vegetarian options. I'm a big fan of the "Mr. Natural" - fresh, seasonal vegetables steamed and served over short-grain brown rice. I get it with sauteed tofu. I don't know <span style="font-style: italic;">what</span> they cook the tofu in, but it <span>is</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">DELICIOUS!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0Yy48apaPFbmReB9vR9pR_M4RG7mp2lfFC_zP2TWKb60ZygQN0MkivsVYS2JziXf1ELvT7Kus033HCByHVffZ3ReR0rin95FMwIzJ8BdA_sUtJUn8hgZ_GQ2Akn1FvIeMg3TXz1gXJZX/s1600-h/o-logo.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 80px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0Yy48apaPFbmReB9vR9pR_M4RG7mp2lfFC_zP2TWKb60ZygQN0MkivsVYS2JziXf1ELvT7Kus033HCByHVffZ3ReR0rin95FMwIzJ8BdA_sUtJUn8hgZ_GQ2Akn1FvIeMg3TXz1gXJZX/s200/o-logo.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5386582783133500274" border="0" /></a><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.blogger.com/www.oreanshealthexpress.com/">Orean's Health Express, Inc.</a><br />Where I'm moving is relatively close to Pasadena, which means I'll finally get a chance to check out Orean's, which touts itself as "the first vegetarian fast-food take-out." Their <a href="http://www.oreanshealthexpress.com/menu.asp">menu</a> is definitely more fast-food-y than the first two places I've mentioned here, offering items like burgers, dogs, burritos, and fries. Their website says they're open from 9:30a - 9:00p, but I remember trying to go at least twice when I lived in Pasadena and it being closed. If memory serves, I think both times might have been a Sunday, so maybe they're closed on Sundays. I drove by a couple of Saturdays ago when we were still house hunting, though, and saw that they were open. So, fair warning, African Burrito<span style="font-style: italic;"> - You Will Be Mine!</span><br /><br />Hopefully someday on-the-go vegetarian places will be as <a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/2009/09/data-visualization-map-distance-to-the-nearest-mcdonalds.html">ubiquitous as McDonald's</a>. Until then, . . .<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">If you know any good fast-food vegetarian places (or fast-food places with good veggie options), please share!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Other Meatless </a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Monday post</a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">s</a>Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3898764086325769645.post-18066881587445407082009-09-21T12:31:00.000-07:002009-10-23T13:18:19.444-07:00Meatless Monday: Cucumber SoupI'm in <span style="font-style: italic;">such </span>denial that the summer is officially coming to a close. Well, I guess you could say I've actually been in <span style="font-style: italic;">perpetual</span> denial since I moved to the west coast . . . but, seriously, even though the weather here will be mild in the fall and winter, there's still something about the carefree days of summer I'll miss - more BBQs, warm weather in other states I like to visit, weddings, vacations, AND light and delicious summer dishes.<br /><br />One light summer treat we had recently for the first time was the cucumber soup at <a href="http://www.iltram.net/">Il Tramezzino</a> that <a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/2009/09/meatless-monday-rigatoni-with-vegetable.html">I mentioned last week</a>. I liked it so much, I immediately started looking for recipes when I got home. I found the following one on <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.foodnetwork.com">www.foodnetwork.com</a> and gave it a whirl.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITgIY8SUtZYYpp3ZcmPXBEpgjc4HCaz-NLzo5YLcygwcOiOxPZEqVjnv_dGoMjzvs8mxqWtrmApyjvM7m95AIvgDhaW1vuXotTeRJL6ftS8SwYqX6ismBRMhFLxhaTfdKuloDLZOfADAZ/s1600-h/cucumber-soup-sl-258580-l.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjITgIY8SUtZYYpp3ZcmPXBEpgjc4HCaz-NLzo5YLcygwcOiOxPZEqVjnv_dGoMjzvs8mxqWtrmApyjvM7m95AIvgDhaW1vuXotTeRJL6ftS8SwYqX6ismBRMhFLxhaTfdKuloDLZOfADAZ/s200/cucumber-soup-sl-258580-l.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384011871665668770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 204, 0);">Cucumber Soup</span><br /><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/cold-cucumber-avocado-soup-recipe/index.html">Recipe</a><br /><br />This is so quick and easy to make, but there are a couple of things I would suggest doing to make it <span style="font-style: italic;">even</span> better. First, I would recommend using either an English cucumber (as someone suggests in the 'comments' section of the recipe) or a couple small Persian cucumbers. This is important (!) . . . and I say that from experience. I started out with a regular ol' run-of-the-mill cucumber and that first batch came out yucky because the cucumber had a bitter taste to it. You won't find that with an English or Persian cucumber. Second, I would recommend adding fresh dill to the recipe - both when you blend it and as a garnish. And, third, if the sour cream is a little too much for you, you might consider using a light, plain yogurt (as many other cucumber soup recipes suggest). Fourth, the recipe calls for chicken broth, but you can substitute vegetable broth or water with equally yummy results.<br /><br />This makes a fantastic side dish for a sandwich or salad lunch. Whip some up for yourself and hold on to the memories of summer <span style="font-style: italic;">just a little bit longer</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Got any favorite vegetarian or vegan recipes?? Please share!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Other Meatless </a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Monday post</a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">s</a>Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3898764086325769645.post-54645338590828866372009-09-14T00:01:00.000-07:002009-09-14T10:12:19.520-07:00Meatless Monday: Rigatoni with Vegetable BologneseHope you didn't think I forgot all about Meatless Mondays! Don't worry, I haven't been secretly hiding in the shadowy corners up to my molars on a leg of mutton. I've just been busy orchestrating a relocation. Sadly, the move will place us outside of convenient driving distance of <a href="http://www.underwoodfamilyfarms.com/">Underwood Farms</a>, so we'll have to cancel our CSA subscription (*sniff*), BUT it will place us within walking distance of a fantastic weekly farmer's market. Yay!<br /><br />The CSA program has been terrific - it taught me to choose items that are locally grown and in season, I felt really good about supporting a local business, and the fruits and veggies have been <span style="font-style: italic;">so</span> fresh - <span style="font-style: italic;">but</span> I've really missed being able to choose <span style="font-style: italic;">which</span> seasonal fruits and veggies I bring home every week. For instance, I <span style="font-style: italic;">won't</span> miss suffering through multiple weeks of pounds upon pounds of carrots and radishes. So, I think switching to buying produce at a farmer's market again is going to be a great change for us.<br /><br />So, as I alluded, while I was spending a lot of time on the road driving around looking at potential new homes recently, I <span style="font-style: italic;">didn't</span> neglect my Meatless Monday pledge. We found some great meatless meals on the go at places like <a href="http://www.iltram.net/">Il Tramezzino</a>. (The soup and 1/2 sandwich special was perfect at $9.99. I got their cold cucumber soup and grilled Sicilian sandwich. Yum!) And we also had time to make a few of our own delicious meatless dishes at home. We had the <a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/2009/08/meatless-monday-sweet-corn-squash-soup.html">corn soup</a> I made a couple of weekend ago again (because it was so good, I <span style="font-style: italic;">had</span> to have more!). And we finally got around to making a dish from the <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/">Food Network</a> that a friend recommended to us quite a while ago. So glad we checked that last recipe out, because now I can share that experience with you now!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CZHN_TMVI1uVqSHPQc8v3YwN4KQ-ysyT9uLyOpDWxFuxzpluYcXDna2VpQWw2XgJqAGqLKPknhc3g5HbWuKxYjBpRI7nz6-3Jh3s6l6lfXaXBSZVW69ht-EXdPJW4kdbZNLyUvrX2NYF/s1600-h/ei1012_rigatoni_lg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0CZHN_TMVI1uVqSHPQc8v3YwN4KQ-ysyT9uLyOpDWxFuxzpluYcXDna2VpQWw2XgJqAGqLKPknhc3g5HbWuKxYjBpRI7nz6-3Jh3s6l6lfXaXBSZVW69ht-EXdPJW4kdbZNLyUvrX2NYF/s200/ei1012_rigatoni_lg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380788296418131282" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(153, 102, 51); font-weight: bold;">Rigatoni with Vegetable Bolognese</span><br /><a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/rigatoni-with-vegetable-bolognese-recipe/index.html">Recipe</a><br /><br />I know what you're thinking - <span style="font-style: italic;">Bolognese?</span> Isn't a Bolognese sauce <a href="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bolognese"><span style="font-style: italic;">by definition</span></a> a <span style="font-style: italic;">meat</span> sauce?? Okay, sure, this recipe does stretch the limits of traditional food definitions, but with good cause. The sauce actually <span style="font-style: italic;">does</span> do an amazing job of mimicking the mouthfeel and appearance of a meat sauce (you know, without the actual icky meat). The porcini mushrooms - with their brown color, toothsome texture, and earthy flavor - can take most of the credit for that.<br /><br />I bought all the ingredients for this recipe with the full intention of making it that same day or the very next, but we found ourselves running off to house-viewing appointments every time we turned around, so my best efforts were often dashed. By the time I got around to cutting up the veggies, I discovered that my red pepper - that still looked perfect from the outside - had mold on the inside. <span style="font-style: italic;">Ewww</span>. We didn't really have time to run out to the store to pick up a new one, so we just substituted some tomato (with the seed goop removed). Came out great! When I make this again and have a non-mold-filled red pepper to put in it, I will probably roast the pepper and remove the skin before combining it with the other ingredients (<a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/2008/11/meatless-monday-baked-goat-cheese.html">as I've recommended before</a>).<br /><br />A bonus? This is <span style="font-style: italic;">definitely</span> a dish that improves with reheating. Yay for leftovers!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Got any favorite vegetarian or vegan recipes?? Please share!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Other Meatless </a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Monday post</a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">s</a>Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3898764086325769645.post-13643268402873831262009-08-24T15:52:00.000-07:002009-11-21T10:20:37.887-08:00Meatless Monday: Sweet Corn & Squash SoupFor Christmas, my brother- and sister-in-law got me <a href="http://www.workman.com/products/9780761153078/">The Wine Lover's Page-A-Day Calendar</a>. Every day, the author offers a wine recommendation or a unique fact, quotation, or multiple-choice question about wine. Some days, it's pretty interesting; others, not so much and I quickly toss the page in the recycling bin. Recently, though, I revealed the new page for the day and was <span style="font-style: italic;">inspired</span>! The page gave a recipe for corn soup. Perfect! I had 6 more ears of sweet corn in my CSA box and didn't know what to do with them. I had already <a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/2009/07/meatless-mondpan-roasted-corn-and-cumin.html">recently made cornbread</a>, and my husband's not all that fond of corn on the cob (it just never measures up to the fresh corn from his parents' farm, . . . even though ours is fresh from a farm too), so I was left scratching my head trying to think of something new and yummy to make.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqTsbGIuFiZ9IB0C4vg4GJ17IPzdFPcjg6fokXT5R3auTLIQlrLwIfHT1YIOQtiKmhjbDl0_AVoaoOkAZrP-USbrRfAE5YenY6mivWY6lKmwpSNqr5gyfORAb2xVlegFURgt4P_2WzEQc/s1600-h/corn-soup-ck-1816356-l.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLqTsbGIuFiZ9IB0C4vg4GJ17IPzdFPcjg6fokXT5R3auTLIQlrLwIfHT1YIOQtiKmhjbDl0_AVoaoOkAZrP-USbrRfAE5YenY6mivWY6lKmwpSNqr5gyfORAb2xVlegFURgt4P_2WzEQc/s200/corn-soup-ck-1816356-l.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373663065407645986" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 51); font-weight: bold;">Sweet Corn and Squash Soup</span><br /><a href="http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1816356">Recipe</a><br /><br />The recipe on the page-a-day calendar was kind of boring sounding and didn't give solid enough directions, so I dug around on <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.myrecipes.com">www.myrecipes.com</a> to find this one, which was perfect because it also called for yellow squash which I had in my CSA box too. I skipped the squash blossoms, added a little bit of garlic when I sauteed the onions, and added more salt and black pepper than was called for. The additional black pepper added a nice little kick. If you'd like even more kick, you could always add a little jalapeno pepper to your onions when you saute them. The wine-a-day calendar suggested adding cream, but a) I didn't feel like buying a whole container of cream when I was only going to use a small amount (I've wasted too much cream that way), and b) I thought the consistency of the soup was already nice and naturally creamy after putting it through the food processor.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFAwGmEo-FKTdFJ1mzi4mPP32VKsl1im6e62OCRTbXi8xpTlpzt8fza3xo6hNN3-JRaC82zfz-GrDJCzZxoSyAHuKbVSIXZzaqX2Iwk4PHlpKv96oJEojfQsMPEP2c9G-YVgq8YF07ys95/s1600-h/080817+cut+corn+8.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFAwGmEo-FKTdFJ1mzi4mPP32VKsl1im6e62OCRTbXi8xpTlpzt8fza3xo6hNN3-JRaC82zfz-GrDJCzZxoSyAHuKbVSIXZzaqX2Iwk4PHlpKv96oJEojfQsMPEP2c9G-YVgq8YF07ys95/s200/080817+cut+corn+8.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373663150081924674" border="0" /></a>It can sometimes be difficult cutting the corn off of the cob; the ears can be slippery to hold and cutting down into a bowl is awkward. My mother-in-law can take care of several dozen ears with the help of a meat slicer in less time than it'll take you to blink an eye, . . . but she's what I'd call an expert when it comes to all things corn-related, so I wasn't about to attempt that. Instead, I used a trick I learned from watching the <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/">Food Network</a>. You tip a small bowl upside down inside a large bowl (I used the smallest and largest of my nesting bowl set) and rest the leveled bottom of the ear on the small bowl. When you cut down the side of the corn, all the kernels falls neatly around the small bowl at the bottom of the big bowl. The small bowl provides great stability for the ear, you don't have to worry about hitting the sides of the bowl when cutting or trying to cut at awkward angles, and the kernels don't fall all over the counter like they would if you held the cob higher. Great solution!<br /><br />My wine-a-day calendar suggested having the soup with a glass of chardonnay. I agree that would have gone really really well. Chardonnays often go nicely with dishes that have distinct buttery flavors (e.g., I love it with boiled lobster). Next time, I might try one of our go-to chardonnays (<a href="http://www.ednavalleyvineyard.com/index.cfm?method=storeproducts.showDrilldown&productid=5777e1ca-1cc4-fbb6-23f3-e9bc55469cba&ProductCategoryID=56612076-c191-b639-12cf-dbe15906b0b1&WineryID=5F4078F0-1CC4-FBB6-2337-4CDA688E71D3&WineTypeID=&ProductType=&wineVarietalID=&wineRegionID=&lowprice=&highPrice=&vintage=&WineBrandID=&WineAppellationID=&lowletter=&highletter=&OrderBy=PXPC.DisplayOrder%20Asc,%20P.ProductName%20ASC&ShippingState=CA">Edna Valley</a>, often on sale at the local grocery store), but, this time, we happened to have a bottle of pinot grigio already open, so we went with that. Not bad. In fact, I think any soft white would be a good complement. For instance, I can imagine a sauvignon blanc or fume blanc working really well too.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Got any favorite vegetarian or vegan recipes?? Please share!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Other Meatless </a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Monday post</a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">s</a>Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3898764086325769645.post-28468930938939790862009-08-17T14:50:00.000-07:002009-08-21T11:57:12.427-07:00Meatless Monday: The MissionHoly moly, people, these past few days I've been sicker than I've ever been in my life. When I wasn't avoiding food at all costs, I was lucky to hold down a few crackers or a piece of plain toast. Those are, of course, <span style="font-style: italic;">technically</span> 'meatless' meals . . . but not exactly inspired recipes worth sharing with you.<br /><br />I'm starting to feel human again, . . . but not adventurous enough to introduce my stomach to a new recipe. So, instead, I'm probably going to revisit the blog vault and remake one of my old favorite <a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Meatless Monday recipes</a>. Hey, I know what you're thinking - "This is the equivalent of one of those sitcom episodes where they just slap together snippets of previous episodes in a "memories montage. <span style="font-style: italic;">I feel cheated!</span>" Well, I'm sorry, but it's either this or I may just pop open some store-bought mushroom soup. Yes, that's right - I said STORE-BOUGHT. . . . People, it's not always about culinary mastery. Sometimes, it's just about staying true to your mission, and my mission is to go meatless on Mondays.<br /><br />So, instead of a recipe, I share this with you this week - a video by MeatlessMonday.com that reminds us all what we're doing and why:<br /><br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bpnKeYmR1NM&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bpnKeYmR1NM&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday"><br /></a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday"></a>Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3898764086325769645.post-51491386277685334262009-08-10T00:01:00.000-07:002009-08-12T09:04:03.186-07:00Meatless Monday: Pasta PrimaveraWhile I'm not vegetarian, I have a few friends who are, and I've heard from them that, bar none, the vegetarian dish they most often see on a menu is pasta primavera. In fact, sometimes it can be the <span style="font-style: italic;">only </span>vegetarian menu option they have. So, I understand if the mere mention of the words "pasta primavera" inspires wincing, disappointment, or a yawn. It's exactly for that reason that I've avoided posting a past primavera recipe . . . until now.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgT0LGW3lFTw7HbeSZ2hP-sjhkWJkE26C8rUnRX7r14K_nrw4Y-i1xe3oU646AVbwwRnQAUoVSGuwZSguhGv8wHk_vjf2ChL3W8KZztlYu4SxhsfLBAf524J8mM_uJM_gFwVRWX8Y22WXt/s1600-h/primavera-ck-230666-l.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgT0LGW3lFTw7HbeSZ2hP-sjhkWJkE26C8rUnRX7r14K_nrw4Y-i1xe3oU646AVbwwRnQAUoVSGuwZSguhGv8wHk_vjf2ChL3W8KZztlYu4SxhsfLBAf524J8mM_uJM_gFwVRWX8Y22WXt/s200/primavera-ck-230666-l.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367307282151996434" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;">Pasta Primavera</span><br /><a href="http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=230666">Recipe</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"></span><br />I personally didn't love this recipe, but that's not stopping me from posting about it because my husband<span style="font-style: italic;"> really</span> loved it and I think most other people will too. I didn't like it because I'm not that fond of cooked carrots, but I do recognize that they lend a nice taste to the pasta (via the carrot-boiled water) and provide a certain fresh, healthy sweetness to the dish that most people will like. If I were to make it again, I'd still boil the pasta in the carrot water, but I'd add all the carrots themselves to my husband's dish and add more peas and pattypan squash to mine.<br /><br />The recipe calls for the baby carrots to be uncut and the pattypan squash to be cut into pretty big chunks, but I opted to cut the carrots and the pattypan squash into smaller pieces because I think it made the dish easier to eat. I don't know about you, but I find it annoying to have to cut things in a pasta dish when I'm eating it (just as I hate having to pull the tails off of shrimp in a seafood pasta dish). The recipe also suggests serving this dish with a fume or sauvignon blanc. I already had a bottle of mellow chardonnay open, so I used that both for the 1/4 cup needed in the recipe and as an accompanying drink and was very pleased.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Got any favorite vegetarian or vegan recipes?? Please share!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Other Meatless </a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Monday post</a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">s</a>Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3898764086325769645.post-43234574363731157362009-08-03T00:01:00.000-07:002009-08-03T00:01:00.748-07:00Meatless Monday: Ratatouille<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlepSP3n_niVcalaRRf4kshMYss9qSv16og7ZGhyphenhyphenC0A00qh6KP1LpLig4420ZSZ_SHjZMi2krRMqfY1Dpn3JrJTDG7A35o3UR9vE9Qo9Tz4L1EO_x4M_6e8Hske5dcqZhFFZhDiHpL2kxT/s1600-h/hair_brained.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 110px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlepSP3n_niVcalaRRf4kshMYss9qSv16og7ZGhyphenhyphenC0A00qh6KP1LpLig4420ZSZ_SHjZMi2krRMqfY1Dpn3JrJTDG7A35o3UR9vE9Qo9Tz4L1EO_x4M_6e8Hske5dcqZhFFZhDiHpL2kxT/s200/hair_brained.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365571315758480274" border="0" /></a>Back in June, after having had some ratatouille at <a href="http://www.cafeprovencal.biz/">Cafe Provencal</a>, <a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/2009/05/meatless-monday-eastham-turnip-potato.html">I mentioned wanting to make my own</a>. It's taken me a little while to get around to it, but I finally did. Okay, <span style="font-style: italic;">my husband </span>is actually the one who got around to it. <span style="font-style: italic;">. . . Technicalities.</span> I <span style="font-style: italic;">did</span> help . . . even if he'd say that I helped much in the same way that Remy helped Linguini in the movie <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0382932/">Ratatouille</a> . . . by pulling his hair.<br /><br />I had envisioned making a layered ratatouille, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratatouille">much like Julia Child would have</a>, but that takes a lot more time - and pans. Instead, Matt opted to try this next recipe that takes less time and can be made in one pan, care of the "Cooking for Engineers" website (he loves how intuitively they lay out their recipes). I'd still like to try the layered version of ratatouille some day, but this "cheating" version is pretty great for when you don't have as much time to devote to the preparation of a meal.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjgpoZ2SNgl7AjEejSG18WKqRXv-tf8QgAaP3G5772daGhyphenhyphen_47q2FsvmVoWffgKVZsFes02sK9sVFbbA87EjKcMWbcikRu_690ihcvQ7PWABMs6kxF7Jcr6aEjUpG29V9KMnO_rO6SA51/s1600-h/ND2_4806_crop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 179px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjgpoZ2SNgl7AjEejSG18WKqRXv-tf8QgAaP3G5772daGhyphenhyphen_47q2FsvmVoWffgKVZsFes02sK9sVFbbA87EjKcMWbcikRu_690ihcvQ7PWABMs6kxF7Jcr6aEjUpG29V9KMnO_rO6SA51/s200/ND2_4806_crop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365431598224608162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 153, 0);">Ratatouille</span><br /><a href="http://www.cookingforengineers.com/recipe/227/Ratatouille">Recipe</a><br /><br />Beware: this recipe calls for A LOT of garlic. For me, that's a selling point, but, depending on your tastes, you may want to use less.<br /><br />Also, as I've mentioned, I don't like skin on my peppers, so we used <a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/2008/11/meatless-monday-baked-goat-cheese.html">the same method I've talked about here before</a> to remove the skin from the peppers. I also don't like skin on my eggplant, so we took a vegetable peeler to that. Of course, <span style="font-style: italic;">you</span> don't have to, but I <span style="font-style: italic;">would</span> recommend it. I would also recommend having some yummy, crusty bread on hand to serve with it.<br /><br />This makes the perfect main or side dish, and it's great as a leftover because the flavors meld together even better given a little more time.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Got any favorite vegetarian or vegan recipes?? Please share!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Other Meatless </a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Monday post</a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">s</a>Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3898764086325769645.post-18291397574156879452009-07-27T09:55:00.000-07:002009-07-27T14:29:24.163-07:00Meatless Monday: White Bean Salad with Creamy Lemon-Dill DressingIn our CSA box the past couple of weeks, we've been getting bunches of green beans. They're so fresh, they *squeak* when you bite into them, and they're<span style="font-style: italic;"> so</span> tasty. I'm much more excited to be getting these on a regular basis than those blasted carrots and Easter radishes. (Seriously, I think I hit my <span style="font-style: italic;">yearly</span> allowance for beta carotene in just two months.)<br /><br />One of our go-to salad recipes for green beans is <a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/2008/10/meatless-monday-white-bean-tomato-green.html">one I've shared on here before</a>. We were tempted, of course, to make that again (<span style="font-style: italic;">because it's insanely good!</span>), but falling back on favorites too often just deprives you of the opportunity to find new favorites. Sure, sometimes you try something new and it's <span style="font-style: italic;">awful</span>, but "no risk, no reward." That said, I still wanted to mitigate my risk.<br /><br />Since I'm a sucker for the dill in the recipe I mention above, I was drawn to this next recipe because it's dressing also contains dill - even though no green beans are called for. The green beans would just have to keep another day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlIwal6dhrCuBtHPeVfKEE3I8D7UIIuP7a3SdSSrTM6EXL4qYNJgUvGomhIzE7NCQvccuRGwl83Gl0QW40lQ5l-cPGKEDwxoN9FxNpzVNoZ81G3Ig7im2WfsObmxXNastK_ZHLYKcFa9H/s1600-h/shrimp-salad-ck-1215903-l.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFlIwal6dhrCuBtHPeVfKEE3I8D7UIIuP7a3SdSSrTM6EXL4qYNJgUvGomhIzE7NCQvccuRGwl83Gl0QW40lQ5l-cPGKEDwxoN9FxNpzVNoZ81G3Ig7im2WfsObmxXNastK_ZHLYKcFa9H/s200/shrimp-salad-ck-1215903-l.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351017325009367378" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">White Bean Salad with Creamy Lemon-Dill Dressing</span><br /><a href="http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1215903">Recipe</a><br /><br />As I discussed in <a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/2009/07/meatless-mondpan-roasted-corn-and-cumin.html">last week's post</a>, not following a recipe <span style="font-style: italic;">exactly</span> doesn't always have to end in disaster. Last week, by accident, I didn't follow the recipe. This week, I <span style="font-style: italic;">couldn't</span> follow the recipe exactly . . . because I hadn't planned ahead well enough.<br /><br />I hadn't looked at the recipe for a couple of days, but I still thought I remembered all the ingredients. So, I just headed off to the grocery store and picked up the couple of things I thought I needed. I thought I was good to go. Turns out . . . <span style="font-style: italic;">not so much</span>. I obviously planned on skipping the shrimp, but how did I miss the red onion, watercress, <span style="font-style: italic;">and</span> fennel bulb??<br /><br />It was too late to go back to the grocery store (<span style="font-style: italic;">we were starving!</span>). So, it was time to <span style="font-style: italic;">improvise</span>! Watercress became arugula fresh from Matt's garden (which lent a similar tangy, peppery flavor). Red onion became Texas sweet onion from our CSA box (I'm thinking, probably an improvement on the recipe!). And kohlrabi provided the crunch that the fennel would have . . . without the icky fennel taste (icky to me anyway). The verdict? <span style="font-style: italic;">Criminally good!</span> And the best part? The creamy lemon-dill dressing. And we didn't have to feel bad about eating it because it's made with fat-free yogurt - a <span style="font-style: italic;">non</span>-guilty pleasure!<br /><br />Not interested in this salad but hankering for a simple summer salad? Check out <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/22/dining/22mlist.html?_r=2&src=twt&twt=nytimes">this article</a> posted last week by the <span style="font-style: italic;">New York Times</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">101 recipes!</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Got any favorite vegetarian or vegan recipes?? Please share!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Other Meatless </a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Monday post</a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">s</a>Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3898764086325769645.post-71725401071566925492009-07-20T12:10:00.000-07:002009-07-20T12:17:26.507-07:00Meatless Monday: Pan-Roasted Corn-and-Cumin Corn Bread<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxpL1S0aQEpbVWEfjGr_gevGx-_CGgdnZ7kQKIXfeYcIJVRzvaZHH5jrTt2DuapwoNf9ymVu6gZ3n4zzGGjtj6-cmZQmy9XLF92oqJvELdIC47CIkl0i8CKca9gvEH6SxKYUvn9ys1AA0/s1600-h/the_omnivores_dilemma_a_natural_history_of_four_meals-large.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxpL1S0aQEpbVWEfjGr_gevGx-_CGgdnZ7kQKIXfeYcIJVRzvaZHH5jrTt2DuapwoNf9ymVu6gZ3n4zzGGjtj6-cmZQmy9XLF92oqJvELdIC47CIkl0i8CKca9gvEH6SxKYUvn9ys1AA0/s200/the_omnivores_dilemma_a_natural_history_of_four_meals-large.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360618530448588082" border="0" /></a>Over the past month, I've been reading Michael Pollan's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Omnivores-Dilemma-Natural-History-Meals/dp/0143038583/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248114309&sr=1-1">Omnivore's Dilemma</a>, which discusses the "politics, perils, and pleasures of eating." I'm about 2/3 of the way in now and have learned a lot (despite Pollan's clunky writing style) about industrial vs. self-sustained farming and the ubiquitous of corn in our American diet. I started the book on a flight to the Midwest, which was interesting timing because we spent 4 days of our trip on my inlaws' farm. Their type of farming falls in line with what Pollan would consider industrial farming - i.e., bad for the environment and for consumers' health. It was awkward to be reading about crop chemical run-off getting into the water reserves as my father-in-law tried to downplay officials' warnings about high algae counts in the nearby lake. (He wanted to take us out on his boat.) Part of me wanted to recommend the book to him (I mean, why not? He suggested <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dawkins-Delusion-Atheist-Fundamentalism-Denial/dp/083083446X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248114271&sr=8-1">The Dawkins Delusion</a> to us!), but I thought better of it because there are parts of the book I find offensive and am sure he would too - e.g., this quote from a farmer who practices self-sustaining farming:<br /><blockquote>"Part of the problem is, you've got a lot of D students left on the farm today. . . . The guidance counselors encouraged all the A students to leave home and go to college. There's a tremendous brain drain in rural America. Of course that suits Wall Street just fine; Wall Street is always trying to extract brainpower and capital from the countryside. First they take the brightest bulbs off the farm and put them to work in Dilbert's cubicle, and then they go after the capital of the dimmer ones who stayed behind, by selling them a bunch of gee-whiz solutions to their problems." </blockquote>I don't think my father-in-law would take kindly to being referred to as "dim." He and my (college-educated) brother-in-law are very smart people and farm their land intelligently and responsibly. My mother-in-law is one in a line of farmers (or farmer's wives) who also happened to be valedictorians of their classes, and she and her husband produced two PhD sons. These people should not have to defend their intelligence and Pollan should be ashamed for perpetuating the stereotype of the "country bumpkin."<br /><br />. . .<br /><br />In any event, it was also funny to be in the Midwest reading about the evil's of industrial corn farming at the same time that the first few ears were ripe enough to pick and eat. People, <span style="font-style: italic;">there is nothing better than eating such fresh, sweet corn.</span> And, when we returned to California, we found more fresh corn in our CSA box. How could I bring myself to eat corn without feeling guilty after everything I'd just read? Easy. The corn at my in-laws' house and from my CSA box wasn't the industrial type of corn that travels hundreds of miles or goes through a mirade of processes to turn it into different chemical compounds. I was eating it directly:<br /><blockquote>"To eat corn directly (as Mexicans and many Africans do) is to consume all the energy in that corn, but when you feed that corn to a steer or a chicken, 90 percent of its energy is lost - to bones or feathers or fur, to living and metabolizing as a steer or chicken. This is why vegetarians advocate eating 'low on the food chain'; every step up the chain reduces the amount of food energy by a factor of ten, which is why in any ecosystem there are only a fraction as many predators as there are prey."</blockquote>This is what I decided to make from some of the corn we got in our CSA box - a great side for any Mexican dish or chili:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvONnI7BYj7eUZPzBQDauDKNWG2P6wt_S7TXAZXihqhPzu-Kbgw5u2FnSLhjtlGFUonAXreyqMijiPofbs2-et7ZyzlLZeycPEEZf35Vh0v_Axg2ZLwRIYacOoOsRIV466fcrS1zV_8hE/s1600-h/corn-bread-ck-223254-l.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhvONnI7BYj7eUZPzBQDauDKNWG2P6wt_S7TXAZXihqhPzu-Kbgw5u2FnSLhjtlGFUonAXreyqMijiPofbs2-et7ZyzlLZeycPEEZf35Vh0v_Axg2ZLwRIYacOoOsRIV466fcrS1zV_8hE/s200/corn-bread-ck-223254-l.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360618247905005922" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 204, 0); font-weight: bold;">Pan-Roasted Corn-and-Cumin Corn Bread</span><br /><a href="http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=223254">Recipe</a><br /><br />As can sometimes happen, I made a big blunder when putting the ingredients of this recipe together and<span style="font-style: italic;"> somehow</span> managed to forget to add a <span style="font-style: italic;">key</span> ingredient - <span style="font-style: italic;">flour!</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Yikes!</span> I also didn't have an 8-inch pan that was safe to go from the stove to the oven, so I was spreading the corn bread mixture out a little more thinly in an 11-inch pan. The result was something less like bread and more like . . . well, I don't know really. It was thinner, certainly, and a little crispy. And, you know what? I REALLY LIKED IT! Oftentimes, messing up a recipe can lead to disastrous results (like the time I mistook the powdered sugar for the flour when making turkey gravy for Thanksgiving - <span style="font-style: italic;">Ooh Nelly</span>, yes, it was as bad as it sounds), but every so often, you get lucky. <span style="font-style: italic;">Yay</span> for happy accidents!<br /><br />So, feel free to make your own corn bread as the recipe suggests or to skip the flour as I did. If you cook it like I did, though, you'll just want to leave it in the oven for less time. I think I took mine out at the 15-minute mark. Whichever way you choose to make it, I think you'll like the results. The roasted corn and cumin work well together to create a different flavor than you experience in your typical corn bread - not drastically different, but just different enough to be refreshing, I think. <span style="font-style: italic;">Yum</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Got any favorite vegetarian or vegan recipes?? Please share!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Other Meatless </a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Monday post</a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">s</a>Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3898764086325769645.post-1597105773845691572009-07-16T12:56:00.001-07:002009-07-16T12:59:58.353-07:00Free FOOD INC. Screenings<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyhfiYDMJwDKd0eHk2Ix9SKAIAqrz_3zFzxludKXWWJ8MfHOtI8Yjq5ehEaYf7n_wBG2wzvqRfwM5GK69AUSIyPwcdemWYQRbkioADaSEoxghXxOdE09og1USfLdJpn8wOrpBHgflwrjy/s1600-h/food-inc-poster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 135px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyhfiYDMJwDKd0eHk2Ix9SKAIAqrz_3zFzxludKXWWJ8MfHOtI8Yjq5ehEaYf7n_wBG2wzvqRfwM5GK69AUSIyPwcdemWYQRbkioADaSEoxghXxOdE09og1USfLdJpn8wOrpBHgflwrjy/s200/food-inc-poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5359149759186648178" border="0" /></a>Chipotle is sponsoring free screenings of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1286537/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food Inc.</span></a> Check out <a href="http://www.chipotle.com/#/flash/fwi_food-inc">their website</a> to find theaters/times near you!Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3898764086325769645.post-37638096576951401052009-07-13T22:20:00.000-07:002009-07-14T09:22:43.372-07:00Meatless Monday: Arugula Salad with Zucchini Carpaccio & ParmesanMy husband and I just got back from being on vacation in the Midwest for almost 3 weeks. Being away for that long was fun, but it left us missing many of the comforts of home. We were happy to return to our own bed, our mentally challenged but ever-sweet cat, . . . and our CSA box.<br /><br />During many parts of our trip, we found ourselves on long stretches of highway that offered precious little in the way of civilization between destinations. Not a good situation for hungry travelers to find themselves in. This, of course, meant we ended up eating fast food on more occasions than I'd care to admit (or care to remind myself).<br /><br />I know I've complained on a few occasions about our CSA box (like - What on earth am I going to do with yet ANOTHER bunch of Easter radishes? . . . No, seriously, any ideas??), but this trip left me jonesing for Underwood Family Farms' fresh lettuces, succulent strawberries, crisp green beans, and so much more. (The green beans I got with my dinner one night . . . were <span style="font-style: italic;">floati</span><span style="font-style: italic;">ng</span> in water and BACON BITS. The menu made no mention of meat being included in this side dish; silly me for not assuming!).<br /><br />We had just started getting zucchini and summer squash in our CSA box when we had to cancel pick-ups for the duration of our trip. (What a tease!) We were eager to get back and have more, and this next recipe is one good reason why.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCof2YrKlGFcWxNbLPNw27RsYBA3_uo_WPoUYPG4evtuWEPoKb2vp9fmDFHjcqSsiSz6zikPOI64-ciqGetPjtFJHDd3ML-9orO8rzI31p2KxF66NwbGBXsKzHZklGOV0PSfMv-WWRVqw/s1600-h/crusader-zucchini.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 173px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGCof2YrKlGFcWxNbLPNw27RsYBA3_uo_WPoUYPG4evtuWEPoKb2vp9fmDFHjcqSsiSz6zikPOI64-ciqGetPjtFJHDd3ML-9orO8rzI31p2KxF66NwbGBXsKzHZklGOV0PSfMv-WWRVqw/s200/crusader-zucchini.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358191528703442594" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Arugula Salad with </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Zucchini Carpaccio & </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Parmesan</span><br /><ul><li>Arugula</li><li>Zucchini</li><li>Parmesan</li><li>Salt</li><li>Lemon juice</li><li>Extra virgin olive oil</li></ul><br />This salad is kind of an amalgam of a few different recipes we've tried before, so I don't have real measurements or quantities to share with you, so you'll have to rely on your own culinary judgment and personal preferences to come out with the right proportion of ingredients for you. But that should be easy because this is a <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> simple recipe.<br /><br /><br />I'm borrowing the steps for preparing the zucchini from an old 2006 L.A. Times article (written by Russ Parsons), the link to which I just can't seem to locate right now:<br /><br />"1. Rinse and cut the ends from the zucchini. Cut the zucchini in lengthwise quarters and then crosswise into one-third-to one-half-inch slices. Do not slice thinner or the zucchini will turn mushy during salting.<br /><br />2. In a mixing bowl, toss the zucchini slices with the salt to coat well. Turn the zucchini into a strainer and position it over the bowl to catch the liquid that drains. Set aside for 30 minutes. You'll see when the zucchini is ready because the sharp cut corners will soften.<br /><br />3. After 30 minutes, discard the liquid that has collected in the bowl and wipe the bowl dry. Rinse the zucchini well under cold running water until it tastes only slightly salty. Pat the zucchini dry in a kitchen towel and return it to the mixing bowl."<br /><br />4. Arrange a bed of arugula in each of the salad bowls you're serving. Distribute the zucchini slices evenly over the top of the arugula. Shave pieces of Parmesan on the top (as much as you'd like).<br /><br />5. Drizzle extra virgin olive oil and squeeze lemon juice over salad. (I suggest using a light hand with both.)<br /><br />6. Eat!<br /><br />The zucchini preparation may seem like a bit much, but it's <span style="font-style: italic;">so</span> worth it. It really brings out the nutty flavor in zucchini and complements the Parmesan and spicy arugula really well. (I know - nutty? Zucchini? Trust me, you'll see [or, rather, taste] what I mean, and you'll LOVE it.)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Got any favorite vegetarian or vegan recipes?? Please share!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Other Meatless </a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Monday post</a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">s</a>Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3898764086325769645.post-34229648018858446182009-07-06T05:46:00.000-07:002009-07-06T06:21:50.058-07:00Meatless Monday: Jilted EggsSorry for the lapse last week. It was one of those days when I decided that vacation <span style="font-style: italic;">meant </span>vacation and couldn't be bothered with anything other than leisure activities with some of my favorite people. But that doesn't mean that Meatless Monday wasn't on my mind.<br /><br />While visiting with relatives, my husband and I thought it would be nice to make brunch for everyone one morning, and it didn't take much debating before we decided on this next dish.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI00kkXzA2VQ6ANz1NnjHBDnrplLGEZ_q4LEnkQ2-ZGPLBMe1h58DMkQwK4S_jQCbOmUBYngCUk4J0Syqpz_4t_Zo_eUByRW5BG9J-NOeK3bjgMS5cq9ASVrjUma_3tachoXlqvnfr5tlj/s1600-h/egg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 74px; height: 50px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI00kkXzA2VQ6ANz1NnjHBDnrplLGEZ_q4LEnkQ2-ZGPLBMe1h58DMkQwK4S_jQCbOmUBYngCUk4J0Syqpz_4t_Zo_eUByRW5BG9J-NOeK3bjgMS5cq9ASVrjUma_3tachoXlqvnfr5tlj/s200/egg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355334079437548306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 204, 0);">Jilted Eggs</span><br /><a href="http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=222974">Recipe</a><br /><br />You can think of this dish as a more sophisticated and tastier version of a McMuffin. I love it because I don't have to worry too much about breaking eggs while trying to flip them. Once they're in the baking dish, you don't really have to manipulate them. And the other ingredients can be chopped up lickety-split. You can just pop it in the oven and turn your attention to preparing other things like a nice fruit salad and the perfect pot of coffee.<br /><br />We made the recipe just as it is written, but you should feel free to experiment because this sort of recipe leaves you lots of room to play. After the egg and milk are in the dish, you can pretty much substitute or add whatever you like. For instance, next time I make this, I'm thinking I might try some mushrooms and/or spinach instead of the basil and tomato.<br /><br />If you try this and make substitutions, please feel free to post a message in the comments to let us know what your results were like!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Got any favorite vegetarian or vegan recipes?? Please share!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Other Meatless </a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Monday post</a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">s</a>Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3898764086325769645.post-67691935339443765422009-06-22T00:01:00.000-07:002009-06-22T11:51:35.996-07:00Meatless Monday: Tomato PieA couple of weeks ago on <a href="http://www.npr.org/">NPR.org</a>, I read about a challenge they issued to chefs and then to their general audience called "<a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103470173">How Low Can You Go? Submit Your $10 Meals</a>":<br /><br />"The challenge: Feed a group of four for under $10. Bonus points for dishes that seem more expensive<em></em>."<br /><br />Many news stations and sites have been running the topic of "these tough economic times" into the ground with story after story of how this downturn has affected different segments of the population, but they haven't often really captured the plight of the people who are affected most - those living at or below the poverty level and the working poor. Seriously, I remember listening to the radio as I was driving somewhere a couple of months back and NPR themselves ran some story about siblings who were "struggling" to figure out how to invest their money because they were no longer going to be able to rely on their trust funds (or some such equally ridiculous problem). Oh, <span style="font-style: italic;">boo-hooooo</span>. (For a good article that echoes this sentiment see <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/14/opinion/14ehrenreich.html">a recent NYT piece</a> by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Ehrenreich">Barbara Ehrenreich</a> [famed author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nickel-Dimed-Not-Getting-America/dp/0805088385/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245694798&sr=1-1"><span style="font-style: italic;">Nickel and Dimed</span></a>].) So, <span style="font-style: italic;">looong</span> story short, I was happy to see this $10-meal challenge that seemed to be acknowledging that practical solutions to everyday problems are needed if we are really going to help those hit hardest by the current economic climate.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPT18sunMx5ECHI65h_6T8uWHMxbfjZ-0khnUhOwTSHDQYq2_9zJMOqODOBjNgnu7_YFa2NsfocfIbkMbpZICOKQ9bF1WyG_1iuDupqg7_rs0eO7mgszftJomy0qpukKSncxcPJ7QD17J/s1600-h/tomato+pie+003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 119px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPT18sunMx5ECHI65h_6T8uWHMxbfjZ-0khnUhOwTSHDQYq2_9zJMOqODOBjNgnu7_YFa2NsfocfIbkMbpZICOKQ9bF1WyG_1iuDupqg7_rs0eO7mgszftJomy0qpukKSncxcPJ7QD17J/s200/tomato+pie+003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350207492102398754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Tomato Pie</span><br /><a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104470854&sc=fb&cc=fp">Recipe</a><br /><br />I had to fight my every instinct to make this recipe because it reminded me too much of a deep-dish pizza, and we all know that <span style="font-style: italic;">real</span> pizza has a thin, crispy crust! (Yes, I'm goading my friends from the Midwest to protest here. You like how I did that there? Goad? Goad - "to drive [as cattle] with a goad"? Livestock? Midwest? <span style="font-style: italic;">Oh never mind</span>.)<br /><br />Once I stopped thinking about the pie as any kind of pizza and focused on how much I LOVE tomatoes, I got kind of excited about this dish. I broke out my hand-dandy mandoline (you know how much <a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/2009/05/meatless-monday-eastham-turnip-potato.html">I love using that</a>) and had a neat pile of slivered tomatoes and onions in no time. Preparing the handful of ingredients and constructing the layers was super easy. . . . It was baking the crust that proved difficult.<br /><br />The recipe suggests either using baking beads or another pie plate on top to keep the crust from getting too puffy. I didn't have baking beads, so I used another pie dish. Seemed like a reasonable solution, but I quickly noticed that the second dish was keeping the middle of the crust from cooking properly. I removed the second dish and then had to bake it a little longer. The problem was that then the bottom and the edges got a little overdone and the middle, that did end up cooked, ended up too puffy - just what I was trying to avoid. I'm wondering if the author of the recipe actually tried the 'second pie dish' alternative herself before recommending it . . . After the crust cooled off a bit, I had to moosh it down by hand so I could fit in all the layers of onion and tomato, but it worked okay.<br /><br />Despite the crust debacle, the final product came out pretty good. (Both my husband and I had seconds.) That said, though, I probably will make some adjustments next time I make this, and maybe this advice will help you make a better dish your <span style="font-style: italic;">first</span> time around with this recipe:<br /><br />One obvious adjustment I'll make will be using baking beads, but I'll probably also try heirloom tomatoes for a richer tomato flavor and texture, a little less onion, and a LOT less mayo. (Seriously, an <span style="font-style: italic;">entire cup</span> of mayo is far <span style="font-style: italic;">far</span> too much.) And I'll probably only make it again when I am indeed cooking for at least four people (as the challenge suggests) - you don't want leftovers because it's not a dish that's that great reheated (because the texture of the crust won't hold up). Which isn't to say it's not a great dish. Plenty of really great dishes don't make good leftovers. . . . <span style="font-style: italic;">But</span> I might argue that this dish should not have been one of the winners of the NPR contest because leftovers are a mealtime staple for the financially strapped. Not saving leftovers is wasting food and money, and eating subpar leftovers just isn't fun for anyone.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Got any favorite vegetarian or vegan recipes?? Please share!</span><br /><br />To see other "How Low Can You Go?" challenge-winning recipes, visit <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104709974">www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104709974</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Other Meatless </a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">Monday post</a><a href="http://parlancer.blogspot.com/search?q=meatless+monday">s</a>Cherihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12879237630925649165noreply@blogger.com0