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sarea
The Seahawks won't be making a return trip to the NFC Championship Game, nor, obviously, the Super Bowl, and it really sucks. I mean, considering they started the season 2-4, they've come a long way, so kudos to them for making it as far as they did. But this loss was particularly annoying because 1) WTF with the way they started out; if they hadn't dug themselves that hole, they actually could have won the damn thing; 2) I really cannot stand Cam Newton; and 3) I really can't stand Panthers fans. Now I know how the rest of the league feels about the Seahawks/Seahawks fans, so I guess there's that, lol. But I guess we lucked into even making it to this game, because it was poor Blair Walsh and his missed field goal that got the Seahawks to Carolina in the first place. Kearse had a great game, so yay for that. Too bad the team as a whole completely choked in the first half.
In good news... I was actually productive the rest of the day, and I have the sore body to prove it. In addition to making a fabulous lunch (if I do say so myself!), I also put together three more furniture items: an entryway bench, my second bedside table, and my new TV stand. AND I moved the exercise room's TV up from the family room (and that thing is heavy!). Oh, and I unpacked and reprogrammed the new Todd (aka my Roomba). Now all I need to do is put together my mom's new desk, a really involved project, which is why I've saved it for last. After that's done, I'll be able to move her dresser from the guest room to her room, and set up all the upstairs TVs (you're supposed to do them all at once, so only the main TV is set up right now). I still have unpacked boxes, but I feel like I'm making sure (if slow) progress. Originally I wanted to host a Super Bowl party, but now I'm thinking it might be an anti-Super Bowl party. :P
Also, very excitingly, my new washer and dryer have finally arrived! Wow, I just did a check and it looks like I never told LJ the story -- yes, everything is a saga -- about that whole thing. That'll have to be in a new entry, I think. Anyway, pic!
Sooooo beautiful... /pets Only I haven't even used them yet, because after reading the instructions I found out I would have to use "high efficiency laundry detergent," which, WTF is that? Apparently regular detergent is not recommend for use in these machines, so now I'm like, great.
OK, couple of quick recipes and then I must dash...
These were both AWESOME. And not that hard.
Fancy beet salad: Sorry, no measurements on this one, but really none is necessary. Just make to your taste, as I did. I got this organic 50/50 mix of arugula and spring mix, which seemed to be perfect for this salad. A few days ago, I roasted some beets in the oven (I put red and golden beets into separate foil pouches and roasted at 350F until tender... maybe about an hour. I washed them, but otherwise did nothing to them), then peeled and kept in the fridge til I could use them. I made up my usual vinaigrette (red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, salt, and olive oil), but this time added a dash of white truffle oil. I tossed the greens with the vinaigrette when I was ready to serve (I used tongs, like I noticed chefs use on Chopped, and it is so much better than any other way of tossing, ever!!). I sliced each beet into 8ths, and each plate got half a red beet and half a golden beet. I arranged the beets around the edges of the plates, piled the salad in the middle, then topped with chopped pecans and little dabs of goat cheese. IT WAS SOOOOOOOO GOOD.
Butternut Squash Soup
I specifically wanted to find a soup that didn't use any dairy in the recipe. It's very common to add heavy cream or milk, but I didn't want that creaminess for this soup. I also tried to avoid both roasting the squash and blending it, but those things seemed unavoidable so I did them anyway. I don't regret it.
Ingredients:
- 1 medium butternut squash, about 2 lbs
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 tbsp grated ginger (paste like)
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 3 tbsp salted butter
- salt and pepper
Method:
1) Cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Line a baking tray with foil and spray it with cooking oil. Put the squash onto the tray, cut sides down. Roast in a 400F oven for about 50-60 min. (I used the convection/roast setting on my oven, so it took maybe about 40 min.)
2) Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large pot with the heat on medium-low. Saute the onion and ginger until soft, about 5 min. Add the chicken broth and let the whole thing simmer for about 10 min.
3) When the squash is out of the oven, let it cool down until you can handle it, then scoop out the flesh, right into the soup if you want. Let it cook together for a couple of minutes, then get out your blender, food processor, or immersion blender. I used an immersion blender, which was nice for easy cleanup. Blend the soup until it's like a puree. You can also add more water at this point to reach the consistency you want.
4) Add salt to taste and a generous sprinkling of pepper.
That's it! And it was deeeeeeeeeeelish!
In good news... I was actually productive the rest of the day, and I have the sore body to prove it. In addition to making a fabulous lunch (if I do say so myself!), I also put together three more furniture items: an entryway bench, my second bedside table, and my new TV stand. AND I moved the exercise room's TV up from the family room (and that thing is heavy!). Oh, and I unpacked and reprogrammed the new Todd (aka my Roomba). Now all I need to do is put together my mom's new desk, a really involved project, which is why I've saved it for last. After that's done, I'll be able to move her dresser from the guest room to her room, and set up all the upstairs TVs (you're supposed to do them all at once, so only the main TV is set up right now). I still have unpacked boxes, but I feel like I'm making sure (if slow) progress. Originally I wanted to host a Super Bowl party, but now I'm thinking it might be an anti-Super Bowl party. :P
Also, very excitingly, my new washer and dryer have finally arrived! Wow, I just did a check and it looks like I never told LJ the story -- yes, everything is a saga -- about that whole thing. That'll have to be in a new entry, I think. Anyway, pic!
Sooooo beautiful... /pets Only I haven't even used them yet, because after reading the instructions I found out I would have to use "high efficiency laundry detergent," which, WTF is that? Apparently regular detergent is not recommend for use in these machines, so now I'm like, great.
OK, couple of quick recipes and then I must dash...
These were both AWESOME. And not that hard.
Fancy beet salad: Sorry, no measurements on this one, but really none is necessary. Just make to your taste, as I did. I got this organic 50/50 mix of arugula and spring mix, which seemed to be perfect for this salad. A few days ago, I roasted some beets in the oven (I put red and golden beets into separate foil pouches and roasted at 350F until tender... maybe about an hour. I washed them, but otherwise did nothing to them), then peeled and kept in the fridge til I could use them. I made up my usual vinaigrette (red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, salt, and olive oil), but this time added a dash of white truffle oil. I tossed the greens with the vinaigrette when I was ready to serve (I used tongs, like I noticed chefs use on Chopped, and it is so much better than any other way of tossing, ever!!). I sliced each beet into 8ths, and each plate got half a red beet and half a golden beet. I arranged the beets around the edges of the plates, piled the salad in the middle, then topped with chopped pecans and little dabs of goat cheese. IT WAS SOOOOOOOO GOOD.
Butternut Squash Soup
I specifically wanted to find a soup that didn't use any dairy in the recipe. It's very common to add heavy cream or milk, but I didn't want that creaminess for this soup. I also tried to avoid both roasting the squash and blending it, but those things seemed unavoidable so I did them anyway. I don't regret it.
Ingredients:
- 1 medium butternut squash, about 2 lbs
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 tbsp grated ginger (paste like)
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 3 tbsp salted butter
- salt and pepper
Method:
1) Cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Line a baking tray with foil and spray it with cooking oil. Put the squash onto the tray, cut sides down. Roast in a 400F oven for about 50-60 min. (I used the convection/roast setting on my oven, so it took maybe about 40 min.)
2) Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large pot with the heat on medium-low. Saute the onion and ginger until soft, about 5 min. Add the chicken broth and let the whole thing simmer for about 10 min.
3) When the squash is out of the oven, let it cool down until you can handle it, then scoop out the flesh, right into the soup if you want. Let it cook together for a couple of minutes, then get out your blender, food processor, or immersion blender. I used an immersion blender, which was nice for easy cleanup. Blend the soup until it's like a puree. You can also add more water at this point to reach the consistency you want.
4) Add salt to taste and a generous sprinkling of pepper.
That's it! And it was deeeeeeeeeeelish!
