Month: January 2008

Peeeeeeeeeeectures!

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So I finally pulled the finger out and processed the picture backlog on my camera. The first set is from last xmas. Katy's dad commented on the fact that, shutterbug that I am, hadn't taken a lot of pictures on that trip. Meh. Those that did make it though, are really nice :)

http://www.flubu.com/various_pics/montreal_xmas_2007/

    

These ones are from our recent trip to London to see Varekai. I'll write more about that in another entry, but I have to say that it was one of the best London weekends we'd ever had. For once, the hotel didn't disappoint and we probably had the best steak dinner we'd ever eaten. Hmmmm, grilled dead cow *slobber*

http://www.flubu.com/various_pics/london_jan_2008/

   

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Board Chow

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I was browsing when all of a sudden, the letter 't' decided that it become stuck on my keyboard, even though I hadn't even touched the damn thing. I had to do a hard shutdown of my laptop because I couldn't do anything else.

I flipped my keyboard and shook it on my desk. A rather distressing amount of board chow rained on my desk… Granted, I've been working with this keyboard for about 3 years now without ever cleaning it.

I dare you to flip your keyboard and give it a shake to see what rains out of it.

Um, ew?

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Making it more difficult than it should be

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We went to Starbucks last weekend. I just wanted a cup of tea. The dialogue went something like this:

Me: I'd like a cup of tea please
Starbucks Zombie: what size?
Me: Medium
SZ: what kind?
Me: um, English breakfast?
SZ: one bag or two?
Me: um, two?
SZ: room for milk?
Me: buh?

I ordered something for Katy as well. I always feel like a bit of a berk when I say “I'd like a grande one-shot decaf skinny caramel macchiato with whipped cream”. Makes me feel dirty, somehow.

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The outside coming in

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There's a snippet of one of Dennis Leary's stand up routines where he talks about his kids and describes the “dangerous quiet” – the one where it's too quiet, the one where you find your kids giving the dog a bath in the toilet…

I have encountered my own version of the dangerous quiet this morning. The Kitten of Doom is normally vocal, demanding and rambunctious. This morning, all was quiet in the house. Nothing was stirring. Except the dead vole that was being batted around the living room and being happily disemboweled on the rug.

It would seem that the big fluffball is bringing presents back to the little one (who hasn't mastered the art of the catflap yet and isn't going outsite). If the kitten can't go outside, the outside will come to the kitten, apparently.

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No real content post

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Things are finally settling down on the home front. We've opened the cat flap so that the large grumpy beast we call a cat can go out and do cat-like things (usually involving getting rained on and walking back into the house with muddy paws). The little toxic waste we call a kitten is settling in. She's still farting, but at least they're starting to not smell as bad. She's taken to sleeping on the bed with us at night. She's an attention whore, but a cute one so it's all good.

I went to see the Terracotta Army exhibition at the British Museum last Sunday evening. It was a very interesting outing. I knew that the first Emperor of China had created over 7000 clay soldiers, but I didn't know he'd also included city administrators, acrobats, strong men, horses and carriages. Apparently, there are hypotheses that say that the central burial mound, which remains unopened, contains a recreation of the landscape of China (with a pearl-encrusted sky and mercury rivers). Toxic, but sweet!

We're going to do a bit of home reorganization this weekend. We've sold the large blue Ikea sofabed and we're going to move the office into the guest bedroom. We're also going to go visit some flats for [info]sbourge. He's under the optimistic impression that he can rent a flat in less than a week so we're going to do some of the leg work for him while he's playing in Montreal.

I've started looking into things to do and places to see for when I visit Tokyo in February. It promises to be an interesting trip. I only wish that Katy could come with me :( On the other hand, it gives us a reason to go together at some later date :)

Next weekend sees us in Londondinium. Still need to book the hotel for that…

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[Recipe] Marmorkuchen

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I tried this recipe over xmas to try out my new silicone baking mold.

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups sifted cake flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs, well beaten
1 cup milk
1/4 cup cocoa
3 tbsp. rum (optional)

Directions:

Measure sifted flour, add baking powder, and salt, and sift again. Cream butter and gradually add 1 1/2 cups of the sugar, creaming well after each addition. Cream until light and fluffy.

Add beaten eggs, about a third at a time, beating well after each addition. Add flour mixture and milk alternately, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat after each addition just until smooth. (Do not overbeat.)

Blend together the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, the cocoa, and rum. Stir the cocoa mixture into half of the cake batter. Layer batters alternately in a 10-inch tube pan. Cut through with a spatula just to marble the batters. (Do not blend)

Bake in a moderate oven (350F/175C) about 60 minutes (until a toothpick comes out clean).

Remove from mold and let cool. Dust with icing sugar before serving slices with a nice cup of coffee or tea.

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[Recipe] Madeleines

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I made these over xmas. My mom had been given a madeleine pan but had never used it. They were NUMMAY!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, melted
1 cup (140 grams) all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs, at room temperature
2/3 cup (133 grams) granulated white sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:

First, melt the butter and allow it to cool while you make the batter.

In a small bowl place the flour, baking powder and salt and whisk until well blended.

In a large bowl, beat the eggs and sugar with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until the mixture has tripled in volume and forms a thick ribbon when the beaters are lifted (about 5 minutes). Add the vanilla extract and beat to combine.

Sift a small amount of flour over the egg mixture and, using a large rubber spatula, fold the flour mixture into the beaten eggs to lighten it. Sift the rest of the flour over the egg mixture and fold in being sure not to overmix or the batter will deflate.

Whisk a small amount of the egg mixture into the melted butter to lighten it. Then fold in the cooled melted butter in three additions. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or several hours, until slightly firm.

Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Generously butter two 12-mold madeleine pans. Dust the molds with flour and tap out the excess. (Make sure the pans are well greased or the madeleines will stick and be hard to remove.)

Drop a generous tablespoonful of the batter into the center of each prepared mold, leaving the batter mounded in the center. (This will result in the classic “humped” appearance of the madeleines.)

Bake the madeleines for 11 to 13 minutes, until the edges are golden brown and the centers spring back when lightly touched. Do not overbake these cookies or they will be dry.

Remove the pans from the oven and rap each pan sharply against a countertop to release the madeleines. Transfer the madeleines, smooth sides down, to wire racks to cool. The madeleines are best served the same day but can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2 to 3 days or frozen, well wrapped, for up to 1 month.

When serving dust with confectioners sugar.

Variation: Lemon-Poppy Seed Madeleines – Substitute 3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated white sugar for 2/3 cup white sugar, substitute 1/2 teaspoon pure lemon extract plus 1 teaspoon finely minced lemon zest for 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and add l tablespoon poppy seeds after adding butter. Proceed with recipe.

Bittersweet Chocolate Madeleines – Melt 4 ounces bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate (in pieces) in top of double boiler (stainless steel bowl over a saucepan) until melted. Let cool slightly. Follow the above recipe but add the melted chocolate to the batter after adding the melted butter. Proceed with recipe.

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