in case i haven't mentioned it, i got this cookbook for my birthday and the goal is to cook everything in it. i have a tendency to hoard cookbooks and not use them, but rather google things and make my own recipes up.

this masala chai totes itself to be tradtional, and it does taste very strongly of ginger and pepper. it just pisses me off to no end that 1) masala chai uses shitty ass tea, 2) it seems like all the recipes i find burn/overbrew the tea 3) nothing is as spicy as my own home blend. if you're fmailiar with the methods my personal blend is more of tradtional pot of strong english tea with tons of masala and milk for kicks.

that said, this is a nice warming mellowly spicy chai blend, and it's easy to make.

1.5 c water
1/2 c milk
4 peppercorns
10 green cardamom pods
pinch of green fennel seeds
stick of cinnamon (i skipped the cinnamon, i wasn't feeling it)
1 inch chopped fresh ginger
1 tea bag (i used 1 tsp of fresh black tea. TEA BAGS. heathens.)
suagr to taste (used 1 tsp)
tiny pinch of salt opt.

simmer all ingreidents minus the tea for 15 min, being careful not to scald the milk. remove from heat, brew tea for 1 minute. (usually fresh black tea is 1 tsp per cup and brewed 3-5 minustes, but i tried the 1 min reccomended and it was nice and tea flavored, but most likely light in caffeine)

*i will try it again and add the cinnamon

i removed about 10 people today, not because of any bad reason. most likely it was because i wasn't giving you the attention i feel like you deserve, or in some cases, it hurt me to see you hurt (believe me, that was not just one person of the 10 either). if i was not reading and commenting the way i thought i should i took you off.

so if you're STILL on my fl, and you don't read or comment to my journal, take me off :) read being the important thing. i know it's just babble, but i like to think if your on my fl you're at least reading most of what i have to say.

i made this tonight from foodtv.com, it's a bobby flay recipe. strike throughs are changes i made.

White Bean Hummus:
3 cups white beans garbanzos cooked, or canned, drained and rinsed
6 cloves roasted sauteed garlic
1 tablespoon harissa
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons tahini (i used fresh from tj's)
1/2 cup olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Place beans, garlic, harissa, lemon juice, and tahini in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth. With the machine running, slowly add the olive oil until emulsified. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

it really makes a difference to add the oil last. i had to halve it, my fp is small. i tried to a couple of different ways. i'm def going to try it with white beans. it's pretty yummy. seth digs it. now i need pita.

someone page the pita fairy.

Current Music: The Cure - Catch

i'm busting out my bday cookbook, and it does not define chaat masala. help?

http://www.theepicentre.com/Spices/chaatmasala.html

Chaat Masala Recipe 1
For quick conversions use our pop-up conversion calculator.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons cumin seeds
1 1/2 teaspoons fennel seeds
1 teaspoon mint
1 tablespoon amchur (mango powder)
1 tablespoon black salt
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Preparation
Toast and grind cumin and fennel seeds and combine with remaining ingredients. This mixture can be refrigerated and stored in a jar with a tight fitting lid.

i'm still too raw over it, i can't be freinds with anyone who is freinds with cyndi.

[directed at those i unfreinded]

1/2 c. veggie oil
3/4 c. sugar [1/2 c. evap cane juice]
3/4 cup brown suagr [raw sugar]
3 lg eggs
1 tsp vanilla
15-16oz can plain pumpkin
2.5 c flour
1.5 tsp each baking soda, baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
1.5 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg [1/4 ginger and caradamom, i was out of nutmeg]
1 cup pepitas
2/3 cup chopped dates

mix wet and dry, fold together until wet. add nuts and dates. butter and flour pans [i used oil and flour]. 2 9x5 laof pans, filled halfway. i did one loaf and one pans of 12 muffins. bake 350 for 50-55 minutes.

it's really good, but i find it a bit sweet, so of course j and the boys LOVE it. there is also a struestel topping, but i didn't have any butter.

on the way home from irvine park we took a detour down a side street for fun, we do that alot, and found a dog.

YES, a dog. we called her tags (no addy, just name and #) and walked around the nieghborhood. i think we found her house but they were not home or not answering the door. i think it was the house becasue the nieghbors confirmed they had dogs and the side gate was knocked over.

her name is pally, and she looks like a lab/pit mix. she has a long face. we think she is older, she has grey on her muzzle. her collar is a BELT someone hacked off and her teeth are gross. she is also filthy.

boo is playing with her in the backyard with j.

*she just pooped soft yellow poop. :/

the plan is to hold on to her for a day or so, and keep calling the owner. we'll have to take her to the shelter after that, or call a rescue.

eta: i googled the phone # on the tag, and it is the house we'd thought.

eta: owners on the way over to pick up this dirty dog

if anyone ELSE has anyone questions or concerns re: boo/myself and my new pets rats (brought home roughly a month ago) please ask now, because after this the matter will no longer be up for discussion.

i may be kind of dense, but i am capable of learnign form my mistakes beleive it or not.

so please - if you have any concerns, shoot. if i am going to lose any more freinds over this i need to know now.

8-14-06

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SETH!!!

you were born late and grumpy, and you continue to be my little crabby patty. 2 years old!! yay baby!

i loved this, j has yet to weigh in (will edit later). boys wouldn't eat it. like that's odd or anything, *snort*

12 small red potatoes
1/2 each red, yellow and orange bell peppers
1/2 small onion, quartered
4-6 peeled garlic cloves
double handful marinated edamame, shell and just use beans

i roasted the veggies in the broiler, then put aside. chopped and boiled red potatoes, set aside til cool. peeled skins from cooled peppers, diced all cooled veggies. shell edamame. ~1/4 cup? mayo to potatoes, add veggies and beans. salt and pepper to taste. YUM.

i also made a cous cous/garbanzo bean/seed blend with parm to go with this, and the peppers were meant for that. i accidentally grabbed them instead of the celery/carrots i'd chopped.

boyos loved the cous cous, it's been a consistent hit. it's from tj's, and it's called 'harvest blend'.

there should have been a salad too, but i was lazy.

free range chicken broohaha in vegetarian giving me a headache.

just so my stance is clear:

MY GOAL is to be vegetarian in the true sense of the word, no fish, just dairy and eggs and vege-mables. i've gone veggie at least 4 times, always breaking and going back to meat because i wasn't doing it right. the last time was ok, and i made it 8 months, but i got tired of making two dinners, because j refused to go veggie with me.

i'm doing really well this time nutrition wise, and granted it's only been 3-4 weeks. i have had 0 meat cravings. i'm still eating fish, because i like it, and i'm easing into my new diet.

i like cheese. i like baking. if i didn't need eggs for baking, i wouldn't eat them. not a huge egg fan here. but the boys (who are also going veggie with me) LOVE eggs. j loves eggs. i have to cook and shop for four damn people.

i can't eat soy. it disagrees with me. i do like tempeh, and if i keep the soy to a few times a month i'm ok.

i'd love to have pet chickens, and a goat. that's a goal. not really feasible while i'm renting ^^

my decision to go veggie this last time was not concious. it was a an aversion to meat that crept up on me. the taste. i'm not immune to the animal rights issues, but i'd be lying to say they factored into my descison. the FIST time i went veggie was for animal rights. the second time was to lose wieght. the third was an elimination diet for my allergies. the 4th, just a lack of interest for meat.

so good fl, i really don't care what you eat. unless it's white suagr, that shit is evil. or white bread. or fast food :P beyond that, eat what you want. i'm not your mommy.

if i start wanting to eat meat again, i just might. *shrug*

/babble

i'm getting REALLY tired of being berated over in the broohaha that i am in denial where my food comes from. am i densitized? apathetic? lazy? yes, maybe, no. whatever. i do think i'm somewhat removed from the food sources, and i'm not very empathetic long distance.

how do you feel about food? do you not think about it? do you feel bad at all for dietary choices? do you try to bring freinds to your POV?

nathaniel had a meltdown today when i told him he had to eat oatmeal instead of cereal for breakfast. lame. you know, forgetting even that 4 out of 7 days he ASKS for oatmeal. so i tried to make granola because i r broke and can't go shopping for a week.

original recipe i found:
* 8 cups rolled oats
* 1 1/2 cups wheat germ
* 1 1/2 cups oat bran
* 1 cup sunflower seeds
* 1 cup finely chopped almonds
* 1 cup finely chopped pecans
* 1 cup finely chopped walnuts
* 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
* 1/2 cup brown sugar
* 1/4 cup maple syrup
* 3/4 cup honey
* 1 cup vegetable oil
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2 cups raisins or sweetened dried cranberries

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Line two large baking sheets with parchment or aluminum foil.
2. Combine the oats, wheat germ, oat bran, sunflower seeds, almonds, pecans, and walnuts in a large bowl. Stir together the salt, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, oil, cinnamon, and vanilla in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, then pour over the dry ingredients, and stir to coat. Spread the mixture out evenly on the baking sheets.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until crispy and toasted, about 20 minutes. Stir once halfway through. Cool, then stir in the raisins or cranberries before storing in an airtight container.

what i actually did:
* 4 cups rolled oats
* 1 cup sunflower seeds
* 1/2 cup sliced almonds
* 3/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 cup evap cane juice
* 1/8 cup maple syrup
* 1/3 cup honey
* 1/2 cup vegetable oil
* sprinkle ground cinnamon
* 1 diced slightly oven dried fuji apple

OMG FOODGASM. it's so fucking good i just had it for lunch. i stored it in one of my large tupperwares, let's see how it lasts.

ps - half is plenty. half of the recipe was the equivlant of a large box of cereal you buy

FUCK EVERYONE WHO SELLS ME STUFF ON GT AND THEN DOESN'T LEAVE FEEDABCK SAYING I PAID

ASSHOLES

just because i want to pay cash doesn't mean i'm trying to screw you, kthxbye

i just want ONE goddamn pair of earrings and i've been 'shopping' for 2 weeks.

Created in honor of the Slavic Black God of the Dead. A nighttime god of grief, evil, chaos and woe, he is paralleled by his twin brother Bylebog, god of light, joy, order, and good fortune. A combination of three musks, with splashes of dark myrrh, vetiver and mullein.

dark, musky, rich love.

LOVE

it lives on me pretty well - i applied at 11am, and i can still smell some wisps at 9pm.

while i do like it on me, and i find it sensual and dark, i think this would be AWESOME on a guy.

love potions
Hetairae
The sublimely beautiful, fiercely independent, impeccably cultured, fascinatingly worldly and witty courtesans of ancient Greece. A seductive and dazzling blend of golden honey, fiery patchouli, sweet fig and clove, and a blushing touch of ylang ylang.

WOAH incense! i like it, it's very femme and sexy. had a light powder touch. the honey really comes through after a couple hours. i applied at about 10, and it's 2:30pm now.

i think it's too intense for me, i sneezed for abour 45 minutes.

too bad. :(

up for swap

baobhan sith: grapefruit, white tea, apple blossom and ginger.
10:20am grapefruit- citrus, slightly sweet. i mostly have bite.
5:30pm j says i smell like grapefruit and cotton candy. i don't think that counts, as i can't smell it at all, and his face was buried in my neck. i burn off 'fruity' like whoa. i wish all bpal stuck around on me like hunger, we're talking 2 days + with that one.

j wore:
10:20am Pannychis: Night-blooming jasmine, moonflower, cardamom, sandalwood, black currant, ylang ylang, frankincense and lily.

i pick up mostly frankensense, jasmine, lilies, and currant on him. and YET AGAIN he still smells like this at 6pm. i hate him. it's about at half strength, but still there. 

Akuma: Devilish temptation, as sweet as sin: blood orange, neroli, and raspberry
10am: slightly chemical, sweet, sharp, fruit? sweet bitter fruit. (i just checked the description, i rock)
10:05am: raspberry! sweeter
10:10am: sweet raspberry oranges. awesome. i hope it stays like this.
3:30pm: pretty much gone, i get bare traces. i loved it while it lasted. j said it smelled a bit like sweet tarts, i disagree, though i did get a powdery note.

Santa Muerte: A deep, resonant scent, both comforting and soft: lovers’ roses, solemn chrysanthemum, dark vetiver and dazzling cactus flowers. (on j)
1005:am: strong woodsy/musky, slightly sweet, light floral, (the cactus flowers)
3:30pm: true to the 10am first impression, awesome. this lasted on him well past 9pm.

Santa Muerte: A deep, resonant scent, both comforting and soft: lovers’ roses, solemn chrysanthemum, dark vetiver and dazzling cactus flowers.

9:20am: peanut butter?! that fades quickly, no more pb thank god.

12:20p roses, dark musk, and unkown floral. nice.

5:00 just as strong as 12, so good lasting power. the floral has faded a bit, leaving me with a nice sweet dark musk. this is a good one for days you want to smell nice for yourself and a loved one, but not good for wafting. lol.

i wish it had a bit more power. i'm going to try it again tomorrow with more slather, maybe a reap after a few hours.

-no throw at all. *my husband says he can smell it about a foot or so away. so 6-12 inches throw.

kabuki:
"Compelling, complex, and utterly enigmatic: a luxuriant, exotic blend of cherry, red musk, and star anise."

wet: cherries! sweet sticky marachinso cherries! hint of anise.

dry: sweet cherries, musk, a hint of spice. i got no licorice note. *cry*

i will try on me again. it didn;t seem to have much throw.  this smelled awesome on j, his manly chemistry deepened it up and brought out a dark musky note. on me its a little too sweet

*today i'm wearing hellcat, which is in my top five. "A soft, sensual, luxuriant blend with a wicked bite: hazelnut, buttercream, honey mead, rum and sweet almond."

i smell DELICOUS.