The beaver is a proud and noble animal
Notes from a bemused canuck
I need to change my music listening habits.
Starting from now until further notice, the following artists are off my playlist:
Peter Gabriel
Sting
Creed
Staind
Tea Party
Coldplay
Their music is good, but there's a context associated with them that just depresses the shit out of me.
Anybody have suggestions?
From the people at http://www.wackywarnings.com, it seems that the mean IQ of North America has finally been brought down to the level of a sack of hammers. Dumb ones, at that.
The $500 grand prize for the wackiest label was awarded to Robert Brocone of Euclid, Ohio for a warning he found on a bottle of drain cleaner which says: “If you do not understand, or cannot read, all directions, cautions and warnings, do not use this product.” […] It used to be that if someone spilled coffee in their lap, they simply called themselves clumsy. Today, too many people are calling themselves an attorney.
I'm still waiting for the following labels to appear on products:
WARNING: This Product Warps Space and Time in Its Vicinity.
CAUTION: The Mass of This Product Contains the Energy Equivalent of 85 Million Tons of TNT per Net Ounce of Weight.
HANDLE WITH EXTREME CARE: This Product Contains Minute Electrically Charged Particles Moving at Velocities in Excess of Five Hundred Million Miles Per Hour.
ADVISORY: There is an Extremely Small but Nonzero Chance That, Through a Process Know as “Tunneling,” This Product May Spontaneously Disappear from Its Present Location and Reappear at Any Random Place in the Universe, Including Your Neighbor's Domicile. The Manufacturer Will Not Be Responsible for Any Damages or Inconvenience That May Result.
THIS IS A 100% MATTER PRODUCT: In the Unlikely Event That This Merchandise Should Contact Antimatter in Any Form, a Catastrophic Explosion Will Result.
PUBLIC NOTICE AS REQUIRED BY LAW: Any Use of This Product, in Any Manner Whatsoever, Will Increase the Amount of Disorder in the Universe. Although No Liability Is Implied Herein, the Consumer Is Warned That This Process Will Ultimately Lead to the Heat Death of the Universe.
ATTENTION: Despite Any Other Listing of Product Contents Found Hereon, the Consumer is Advised That, in Actuality, This Product Consists Of 99.9999999999% Empty Space.
PLEASE NOTE: Some Quantum Physics Theories Suggest That When the Consumer Is Not Directly Observing This Product, It May Cease to Exist or Will Exist Only in a Vague and Undetermined State.
COMPONENT EQUIVALENCY NOTICE: The Subatomic Particles (Electrons, Protons, etc.) Comprising This Product Are Exactly the Same in Every Measurable Respect as Those Used in the Products of Other Manufacturers, and No Claim to the Contrary May Legitimately Be Expressed or Implied.
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO PURCHASERS: The Entire Physical Universe, Including This Product, May One Day Collapse Back into an Infinitesimally Small Space. Should Another Universe Subsequently Re-emerge, the Existence of This Product in That Universe Cannot Be Guaranteed.
I'm just folding up the last of my laundry. Of course, I have mismatched socks. Of course, I have one of each type of sock that I own (my sock philosophy is to buy in bulk).
The throat situation isn't getting any better.
I'm feeling quite blah tonight.
To quote a friend, “that is all”.
Tonight was my sushi trial run. It took two and a half hours of prep work, for a meal that was eaten in 30 minutes. The spicy mayo was kick-ass, the tempura shrimp were good, though I need to find a better batter recipe. We had enough veggies, and rolling decent maki is fairly straightforward. The only bad point was the rice. ![[info]](http://stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
sbourge, you do NOT have a rice cooker. You have a steamer with pretensions to being a rice cooker.
The rice sucked, there's no half-measure about it. It was sticky as desired, but way the fuck too pasty and starchy. It felt like eating lead, and the taste overpowered everything else. Still, it's a positive test. I'll buy a decent rice cooker and do some tests before the girls come over for the real meal. I want my tiramisu :P Everything looked really good to eat, so that's a good start :) The individual components were also good, so only the rice needs major work.
I went to Miyamoto's this morning. That shop rules. Nice fish selection, lots of cool stuff. I fell in lust with a set of sushi knives but, dear lord, those things are expensive.
So, looking back on tonight, I'd say it's a good first trial. I know what I need to work on. eniran, strychnyn, would the weekend of the 24 be good for you?
I met with eniran and strychnyn for drinks tonight. It was a fun night. I'll admit to feeling a bit like the odd man out sometimes, mostly when they went off on a tangent of inside jokes, but that's to be expected when you meet two people who are such good friends. Still, between the shared stories, underwear flashing and boob grabbing, we managed to make it a fun night. I just don't know if I'll be able to handle those two and sbourge at the same time for our upcoming sushi night… That promises to be something.
I just satisfied my email jones, and now I'm going to bed.
Nighters all.
Never talk to muffin trees says: Kissing doesn't scare me. Never talk to muffin trees says: I'll kiss you. Never talk to muffin trees says: But you don't know where I've been. :D Talisker says: For a kiss, I'd chance it Talisker says: And don't take this wrong way muffin, but you don't even know where you've been sometimes Never talk to muffin trees says: ROTFL! Never talk to muffin trees says: You're right.
A gift from Hyde_grrrl
http://www.muffinfilms.com/
http://www.makingfiends.com
And as always, the classics found here
Things to buy for sushi making
| shrimp | mackerel (saba marinade!) |
| tuna | smoked salmon |
| chicken | soft-shelled crab (?) |
| japanese mayonnaise | tobiko and/or masago |
| avocado | cucumber |
| carrots | romaine lettuce |
| capers and sour cream | extra nori |
| rice wine | rice flour (for tempura) |
On the menu
Nigri sushi
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1-1/2 oz (50 g) white miso
1 cup salad oil
salt to taste
sprinkle of white pepper
a pinch of grated yuzu, lime, or lemon peel
Beat the egg yolks and lemon juice with a wooden spoon in a bowl. Continue to beat, adding the salad oil a few drops at a time until the mixture begins to emulsify. Keep on adding the rest of the oil, then stir in the miso and the seasonings. Refrigerate in a squeeze bottle.
Hints and Tips on making sushi
The number one hint or tip is this: rolling sushi is a self-correcting process. If your first roll does not turn out quite right, eat it to hide the evidence and roll another, which will be much better. If it has been a while since you made a roll, the first one may leave something to be desired, but it will all come back to you, like riding a bicycle or playing a piano (if you knew how to do those activities in the first place).
Rice doesn't stick to nori, or roll does not stick together when rolled. You most likely did not use enough vinegar in your rice. The rice should be very sticky, annoyingly so.
Roll is too thick, or does not hold together well. You probably used too much rice, or packed it down too tightly. The rice should be spread on the nori to within about 5/8-inch of what will be the outer edge, should not be squished onto the nori, and should not cover the nori completely. You should be able to see nori between the rice kernals, perhaps 1/4 to 1/3 of the space should be open to the nori below the rice.
Cucumber can be cut into larger chunks which are easier to work with. Try quartering the cuke lengthwise, removing the seeds, then cutting the flesh into a few large pieces about 1/4-inch thick by 3/8- inch wide. The length of the pieces should be half the width of the nori.
The thick-skinned black avocadoes are easier to work with. Cut in half and remove the pit. Then cut each half into half again. Using a paring knife, slice the avocado in the peel, then run the knife just under the peel to cut the slices from the peel. It is easier and faster than peeling the avocado and then slicing it.
Place a square of plastic wrap on between the nori and the bamboo mat when making rolls. This will keep the rice and messy ingredients out of the mat and make it last longer. (Washing a bamboo mat is NOT recommended, it warps when it dries.) Peel the plastic wrap back with the mat as you roll. When you are finished, wrap the roll in the plastic wrap and put the roll in the refrigerator. When you are finished making several rolls and are ready to serve them, unwrap them and slice them.
I hate this feeling. I know I'm coming down with something, and I have a feeling it's going to be annoying. I can feel something at the back of my throat, that's forecasting some kind of bug that will make my life miserable for a few days. Just the aftertaste I have right now when I swallow is fun fun fun. Bleh.
It's -40 outside. Normally, I hate talking about the weather, but this is just stupid. When you wake up to hear your radio morning man asking himself if it's colder here or in Kursk, that's NOT a good sign.