Pepitas Paprikash

You know that early-Internet-days game where you had to type two random words into a search engine and see if you had the most random search terms ever? Well, nowadays it's damn near impossible to do that, even if you limit it with quotes.

Well.

I just pan-roasted myself some pepitas (I use them in place of nuts in a lot of recipes, because my headache-prone head doesn't do well with nuts). I tossed about a 1/2 cup of them with *maybe* a teaspoon of [regular] olive oil (they release some of their own oil when cooked, so you don't need much), sprinkled them with a tiny bit of sea salt and a good dose of hot smoked paprika, and tossed them in a nonstick pan over high heat for about 3 minutes, until they started to pop.

I shall call them "Pepitas Paprikash." And ohmygoodness are they ever delicious.

Out of curiosity, I googled it without quotes and got this. Not seeing the two words together, though, piqued my curiosity more. So I put quotes around it and got THIS. (Edit: it *used* to say No results found... but not anymore!)

Oh HELLS yes!

I mean, I'm not naive. I've been around the pepita block a few times and know people have roasted pumpkin seeds with paprika before. But do you see where I'm going? If anyone else ever thinks to google those two words *without* quotes, they will be directed Right. Here. Think of the fame! The fortune!

Unfortunately, though, not the pictures. I snarfed all of them (uh, the pepitas, not the pictures) before I photographed, and if I make more right now, I'll snarf them, and that would be un-good.

Here, maybe this will tide you over. Not. But I did just say "not."

sources: pepitas, paprika

But now that I'm [maybe...] back on the blog train, I could...say...post those wedding details I never got around to. And write about all the yummy food I'm making this month while I'm actually not traveling for once. And whine (snarkily and sardonically, of course) about things, because that's what blogs are for.

You with me?

WHOA.

Holy CRAPOLA, people. I think I'm not subscribed to comments on my new blog (or something's messed up, because I haven't been getting email notification). I'm an idiot. Or Blogger's an idiot. In any case, thank you so much for all your comments on the previous wedding updates, and I'm so sorry I didn't reply! I just saw all of them!!! 

I'm in Helsinki right now for three concerts with ICE on this festival and am having a great time so far. The jury's still out on whether I'm going to try reindeer pizza.

More soon, and thanks again!

Helsinki's Sibelius Monument source

fresh start?

It's been over a month since my last post. I'm blogged out. I'm not sure where my blogging is going, but if you're still subscribing to the feed, thanks!... and I was inspired by Amy to do this, probably because I just got done with the "25 things" Facebook meme.

99 things

Rules: Bold the things you've done, and post the whole list on your blog. Leave me a comment if you do it!

I have...

1) started my own blog

2) slept under the stars

3) played in a band

4) visited Hawaii

5) watched a meteor shower

6) given more than I could afford to charity

7) been to Disneyland

8) climbed a mountain

9) held a praying mantis

10) sung a solo

11) bungee jumped

12) visited Paris

13) watched a lightning storm at sea

14) taught myself an art from scratch

15) adopted a child

16) had food poisoning

17) walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18) grown my own vegetables

19) seen the Mona Lisa

20) slept on an overnight train

21) had a pillow fight

22) hitchhiked

23) taken a sick day when I wasn't ill

24) built a snow fort

25) held a lamb

26) gone skinny dipping

27) run a marathon

28) ridden in a gondola in Venice

29) seen a total eclipse

30) watched a sunrise or sunset

31) hit a home run

32) been on a cruise

33) seen Niagara Falls in person

34) visited the birthplace of my ancestors

35) seen an Amish community

36) taught myself a new language

37) had enough money to be truly satisfied

38) seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa

39) gone rock climbing

40) seen Michelangelo's David

41) sung karaoke

42) seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43) bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44) visited Africa

45) walked on a beach by moonlight

46) been transported in an ambulance

47) had my portrait painted

48) gone deep-sea fishing

49) seen the Sistine Chapel

50) been to the top of the Eiffel Tower

51) gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52) kissed in the rain

53) played in the mud

54) gone to a drive-in theater

55) been in a movie

56) visited the Great Wall of China

57) started a business

58) taken a martial arts class

59) visited Russia

60) served at a soup kitchen

61) sold Girl Scout Cookies

62) gone whale watching

63) gotten flowers for no reason

64) donated blood, platelets, or plasma

65) gone skydiving

66) visited a Nazi concentration camp

67) bounced a check

68) flown in a helicopter

69) saved a favorite childhood toy

70) visited the Lincoln Memorial

71) eaten caviar

72) pieced a quilt

73) stood in Times Square

74) toured the Everglades

75) been fired from a job

76) seen the Changing of the Guard in London

77) broken a bone

78) been a passenger on a motorcycle

79) seen the Grand Canyon 

80) published a book

81) visited the Vatican

82) bought a brand new car

83) walked in Jerusalem

84) had my picture in the newspaper

85) kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year's Eve

86) visited the White House

87) killed and prepared an animal for eating

88) had chicken pox

89) saved someone's life

90) sat on a jury

91) met someone famous

92) joined a book club

93) gotten a tattoo

94) had a baby

95) seen the Alamo

96) swum in the Great Salt Lake

97) been involved in a lawsuit

98) owned a cell phone

99) been stung by a bee

The less serious part.

This fortnightly posting thing is making me feel really guilty.

OK, I'm over it. More pictures!

We hired an AWESOME klezmer band to augment the otherwise iPod-only reception. I had been adamant about not spending too much money on live music because groomsman Randy has an incredible collection and offered to make playlists, and honestly I get really annoyed with live bands at weddings because I can never hear myself (or anyone else) speak. The guy in the middle playing tuba, Ryan Zawel, is the leader of the Cornell University Klezmer Ensemble (CUKE!). I started going to rehearsals and playing with them a little bit in the fall, and I realized it would be amazingly fun to have them play during cocktail hour. They got everyone in the mood to party and we started dancing right after Tim and I returned from Yichud (our ceremonial cider-drinking), which really got the reception hopping. It was torturous to hear all the amazing music coming from downstairs while we were sitting up in our room, so I dragged Tim down there before we were supposed to go!

Right when we came down, my dad introduced us (with unchanged names) and gave a toast.

He took the opportunity to make fun of me (that's my glare, in case you couldn't tell).

I LOVE this picture of our friend Gabe LITERALLY SLAPPING HIS KNEE. Apparently my dad is funny! :-)  (I can't remember if I blogged about it, but Gabe and his now-husband, Drew--right next to him in the gray suit--got married in June in Saratoga Springs, NY. One of the most amazing weddings I've ever attended - beautiful, personal, and absolutely incredibly fun.)

This picture of my aunt and grandpa completely encapsulates the scene. My grandpa's giving us his I'm-a-wise-sage look... which is very believable. :-D

This was after my dad mentioned something about Tim's financial responsibility and independence, and hoping it would rub off on me. Tim smirked and whispered something in my ear... like, "wow, I have your dad snowed."

My dad was having issues coordinating the page-turning and the microphone-holding. It was very adorable.

This little munchkin is the adorable daughter, Mila, of our friends Erik and Marie, who got married in Ithaca 5 years ago.

OK, let's dance!

Bridesmaids in motion!

My mom had tried to talk me out of the chair dancing because of my illness, and I was pretty convinced... but Tim had other plans. He knew I'd regret it forever if I didn't get lifted on a chair (he's right), and he made all the necessary arrangements.

Unfortunately, I had decided not to bring our sturdy kitchen chairs because I thought we weren't going to use them... and the only chairs the Fontainebleau had were very light plastic folding chairs. Yikes.

We had one planned toast just before dinner after everyone was seated, and the other right before dessert. Groomsman Ken (who essentially introduced us) sang "Sweet Caroline" at the beginning of his toast - a Red Sox reference. Ken and I are Sox fans, and Tim is unfortunately under the spell of the Evil Empire. He can't help it... he was born into it. But I still hate the Yankees.

Groomsman Vic gave a short (unplanned) toast that seemed totally cryptic to the crowd...

...but Tim and I were cracking up. I guess the funniest thing about it was its randomness. And I *love* this picture!

My two best friends from high school, Melissa and Chrissy. They are hot ladies (and aren't their dresses awesome???).

Melissa gave a sweet and extremely funny toast in which she demonstrated to the crowd just how well she knows me... and my shitty driving record. I have to get started thinking about my toast for her April wedding.

Mila and flower girl Ariel got along famously... it was so cute. And they matched! Ariel was a little difficult that day (I'm going to leave it at that, because I love her and I think she was just overexcited), so her having Mila to play with and take care of was fantastic for her.

Melissa and her older brother Michael (her little bro couldn't escape work).

Gratuitous third shot of Mila (with her mom, Marie), wearing my sunglasses.

My favorite part is next... details!!!