sunny and 40*

Vermont Curry and the death of a couple kitchen gadgets

Friends, it's been a sad time for us. Not one, but two of our kitchen gadgets have bit the dust. One might not be completely dead...I have hope!

Has anyone frozen their coffee maker before? We had set it up at the new house for our plumber, with water in it and everything all set to just press "ON." With the last couple days of 16 degree weather--everything froze. But I didn't quite realize that, and started up a pot for Tavo and I. (We were also trying to figure out how to remove the upper cabinets--that's a mystery!) Then we heard it....trickle, trickle, SPLASH..."What IS that?" I asked Tavo--then, dismayed, watched as 10 coffee cups of water poured all over the counter and floor, from the BOTTOM of the coffee maker!

So--will it thaw and be okay?

Other than that--I went to the Japanese store by my work yesterday to pick up some essentials and I usually grab one or two random things, too.
These would be my randoms--sliced pork loin (I usually never by ANYTHING already sliced. I'm always afraid they're giving me the "bad" olives, jalapenos, meat, etc.) and Vermont Curry mix. I also don't buy many premade sauces, but I was intrigued by the spicy apple and honey flavor. And the fact that "Vermont Curry" was made in Tokyo.
So, following directions I start to brown onion and pork in my electric fry pan. Hmm...the light on my pan turned off. Maybe I'll just bend the cord a bit to ensure there is a connection....
POW! ZAP! SPARKS FLYING!! BURNT ELECTRIC SMELL!! LINI YELPING IN TERROR!!

R.I.P. oh great Electric Fry Pan. This was my Mom's--I think she got it right around when my parents married, so we'll say 1975-2009. Many a great chili and pork chop have been made in this pan.
So, I threw everything into a safer receptacle and continued on with the Vermont Curry.
Hmm...looks like the world's largest bouillon cube. Probably not the healthiest.
But Tavo declared it to be delicious. I tasted some of the sauce, and it WAS pretty good--not too salty at all. Tavo wasn't a fan of the pork, though. So, I guess I'll stick to basic Kroger/Food Depot/don't tell Tavo but I'm at ALDI type stores for meat, but maybe will venture into the other line of curries from the Japanese store. (There's a whole row of them!)

Tennessee and some coconut curry tofu

Headed out to Tennessee and we decided to take the Coyote, aka the little white '95 Ranger Tavo traded his motorcycle for. I adore the Coyote, as it reminds my of my old "Honolulu Blue" (same color as the Lions jerseys) Ranger that finally expired after 8 cross country trips and 250,000+ miles. Who says a Ford can't last as long as a Toyota??
This sign says, "Peach and Pecan Pies" Can you believe they were closed on Sunday??
And right next to the border, someone is flying the old Georgia flag. Stars and bars...


Skyline of the 'Noog (Chattanooga, for those less informed!)

Cool stuff by the aquarium and riverfront
Tavo came down with a case of elephantiasis AND two left feet. Luckily he recovered.
This delicious concoction was called "the Nun"
ooh! it's filled with chocolate mousse type deliciousness!!
A certain Tavo thinks I will steal his Nun....
(I did!) And then I made him drive through a dusty tunnel...
and we came home to make lunches :) Here is my nicely prepped broccoli. Do you guys use the stems? I just peel them and throw them in. Why not?
Tofu--okay kids, this is the secret. Freeze your tofu, then you can thaw it while you are at work. At night, it squeezes WAY easier than fresh tofu. Fry on med high heat for about 5 minutes on each side. Then dump them in your marinade. If you marinade them first, your tofu will likely burn during the frying process. The benefit of frying at high heat is a crispy exterior and a delicious, spongy interior full of said marinade...
"Green" rice--minced cilantro, partial can of coconut juice and a bouillon cube with the allotted amount of water.
Basic coconut curry stir fry--after your tofu is cooked, push to the side and crank it up to high heat. Add onions and peppers, then carrots and garlic. Then I usually add my spices--for this, its really easiest to just add a couple spoonfuls of that Thai chili paste they sell in the Asian section of your grocery store. Finally add your broccoli and toss a cookie sheet on top to steam it a bit while still stir frying at hot heat. 5-6 minutes from when the first onion was added and all your vegetables should be crisp tender. Turn off the heat, add coconut milk, 1/2 cup broth, and fish sauce if so desired. Stir and throw the cookie sheet back on it until the rice is done.
oh yeah--you know you want some sriracha!
lunches!
and I realized there are no pictures of me in this post, so here's a random.

I like really, really crusty bread. Fresh from the oven!

Tennessee (hey this is post 200!)

I remember pleading with my mom when driving home on school nights..."Mom, let's keep going! Let's go to Toledo!"

Not that Toledo is the promised land, but somehow it's really enticing to leave the state line. Go to another state.

Luckily, I'm able to talk Tavo into it :)

We're heading out to eat breakfast...in Tennessee! Here is the always powerful Arrested Development.

nostalgia, tape decks, and some pizza / chili

I am training for my half marathon--but Tavo has also caught the running bug! As a Marine, he's already done a half marathon (and can run about a jillion times faster than me)...but that doesn't stop him from being excited about some new shoes...


I, too, am excited by my crazy silver and blue new adidas...(seriously--all running shoes are gaudy...I want the SILVER ones!!)

One can never go wrong with pizza
or chili...from Maggie's--of Dog Hill Kitchen recipe
Vegetarian Chili. Maggie is from my (Lini's) hometown--Detroit. She is astounding in the kitchen and also building a gorgeous home in northern Michigan. (props to anyone who noticed the Eugenides novel)

and when you have leftover chili and leftover dough...one makes chili pizza!
Tavo and I grew up in a great time--we remember house phones, television without cable, keyboarding, and yet we appreciate and have quickly adopted new technology. Regardless...we fondly embrace the mixed tape. While I love my cell phone, internet and of course, I do dig the I Pod (Tavo says its apparent in my typing that I don't own or use an ipod....) Regardless--its nice to just chill in our 90's truck, and listen to the tape deck. A mixed tape is something that can't quite be replicated in our "I Pod" type world...
you guys remember something like this, I'm sure....
view from truck with tape deck
time for a new tape


This song breaks my heart every time I hear it--yet, I love it. John Prine, done justice by Bonnie Raitt.

Some work on the house and a fantastic Caribbean dish!

We're both breakfast people. Today, it was eggs, toast, and the last of the blood oranges. Now let's get to work on the house!
We've been tearing up the floor for our plumber, Steve. We should have plumbing soon--he's been busy recently due to the frigid temperatures and many pipes freezing and bursting in the area. Here's our kitchen:

Laundry room
Bathroom. Quite a bit of work to be done yet..
Today, though, it was over 40 and sunny--so we decided to stay outside and finish painting the house. Orange!

Tavo, Sprayer Extraordinaire!

Yep, it's bright.
And we decided to try one of Cynthia's fantastic dishes from her blog, "Tastes Like Home." She recently published a cookbook, as well. We tried the Stewed Pork with Lima Beans from her recent post. Tavo was floored--it was FANTASTIC! Definitely, we have to make Caribbean food more often. Thank you, Cynthia!

Blood Orange Lemonade

My friend and hiking buddy, Jennifer, came over on MLK day to go for a hike south of the city. She came with a present for us...lemons from her dad's lemon tree! (Jen is from Florida)

Seems only logical to make lemonade with these giant, juicy lemons.