Saturday, July 18, 2009

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 Information 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?

Sunday, February 8, 2009

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

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

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

Saturday, January 3, 2009

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!!!