Exams...I'll say no more...

here

Ashes to Ashes. Battlestar Galactica. Spooks. Lost. Keeley Hawes. Marilyn Monroe. Marion Cotillard,.....



What is this Scooby-Doo?

In the Media

-- Reactions to "Guess What's Coming to Dinner": The Flick Filosopher, Zap2It, Entertainment Weekly, The House Next Door, and What's Alan Watching?
-- Film Experience: Casting directors should pay attention to Sackhoff.
-- Hollywood Reporter: ... and Sackhoff will appear in four episodes of Nip/Tuck next season.


LJ Reactions to "... Dinner"

( Cut for those who haven't yet seen it. )


Miscellany

asta77: Recaps the 4.01 podcast.
arkady_: Hopes people will preorder the Fedcon DVDs with BSG cast interviews.
lyssie: Some Gaeta humor, and points out a TV Guide goof.
blackcurrant: Ponders the Cylons and astrological signs.
uloe: Why is Baltar's cult growing?
ez_as_pi: Some caps from the latest videoblog.
elly427: Watches "Faith".
ifrackedcraig: Spec about the 4.08 preview.

( You are about to view content that may not be appropriate for minors. )

Today is Vesak Day, a public holiday in most of Asia - but *not* in Europe. For some reason, I committed to deliver a draft outline of a project to my European colleagues by end of day.

So far, I had a dimsum brunch with the hubby, walked by the river, browsed (and eventually caved in to buy) dresses at my fave local store, and am now at home pondering what to do next. Perhaps it's high time I caught up on those S4 Doctor Who and BSG episodes....

Work? What work? I may as well enjoy the calm before the storm, knowing what's coming up over the next 3 weeks.

( The Unicorn and the Wasp )

I <3 this season.

( Moar )

This is a slaw that was inspired by one of Alton Brown's recipes

didn't have enough peanut butter, but I had peanuts that I added, plus I used garlic chili paste rather than Serrano chili and I used all red bell peppers as well as red onion, carrots and regular cabbage - cuz that is what I have - we had a rather nasty heat way in Northern Califirnia recently and I felt a nice cool slaw (with the heat kick for an added twist) would go well

granted the heat wave broke, but I am still looking forward to chowing down on this over the next few days

this is going to age nicely in the fridge - and go really well with the cold soba noodles my husband made earlier today

I don't remember if I posted this before. If I did, I am sorry. 
This is what we call "Pork Dish".  It is thin pork cutlets breaded in cracker crumbs. Fryed till cooked.  In another pan I fry up red peppper, green pepper and a sweet onion.  I get the onions carmelized and the peppers soft.  At the last bit I put the veggies on top and the the juices soak into the breaded pork.  It is simple, very fatty but oh so tastey. 

( Mmmm.... )

I felt like cooking today. I was looking for recipes for rice pudding for my dad because he loves it so much (mainly 'cause it reminds him of his mama *rolls eyes*). All my previous attempts at rice pudding have met with lukewarm reviews. I love it too and I have to admit, it was never like my grandma who took her recipe to the grave. I was seriously considering paying a medium to get me the recipe when I remembered we have three bags of Quinoa in the kitchen that someone gave us when we moved in. We haven't used them because dad isn't the type to try anything new. 

So I decided to experiment. *ominous music* I didn't find any recipes for a Quinoa pudding online that looked anything like what I wanted so I made up my own. So, in a fit of culinary arrogance, I have decided to name this: Quinoa Pudding Chantal :)

Minus the smiley, of course.

Quinoa Pudding Chantal

4 servings.

1 c. Quinoa
4 c. Milk
1/2 c. sugar
1 to 1-1/2  tsp. grated lemon zest
1 tsp. vanilla essence

- Wash the Quinoa really well to remove the bitter saponins.
- Optional: you can toast the Quinoa lightly in a dry pan to enhance the nutty flavor but I didn't do it. I'm lazy.
- Toss all the ingredients into a saucepan and bring to a boil.
- Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer, covered until the Quinoa is cooked (about 20-25 mins, check the package the Quinoa came in). It will look pretty liquid at this point.
- Let cool to warm or cold. It will thicken as it cools.  
- Enjoy (but I shouldn't have to tell you this :D )

It was very, very good! I wish I had pictures but dad ate it up. He was reluctant at first because it was one of my experiments but he knew he would have no choice but to eat it, especially after I said he didn't have to eat it all if he didn't like it. Dad knows what that means, he's the only man in a family of five. So, with some trepidation, he tried it and before I knew it, it was gone and he was asking me to make it again tomorrow. Woot! This is like getting an Oscar (but shaped like a cooking pot)! Huge victory for healthier grains and me! 

Next time I'll make it with Splenda and skimmed milk because if he's gonna eat four servings worth of pudding, he won't last long otherwise.

But I won't tell him it's with Splenda.

Hi, I hope some of you have a sweet tooth. Here's my attempt at a summer birthday cake. Pardon the sloppy writing.



( sliced )

I tried making pizza for the first time in my life tonight. I've never made any kind of pie crust or pastry dough or anything like it.

I made this: ( Big pizza photo! Look out! )

With this: http://americastestkitchen.com/recipe.asp?recipeids=3369&iSeason=8

It was fun to make and totally delicious. The recipe is great and easy to use for anyone with cooking aptitude. It even includes an option if you don't have a standing mixer to make fabulous pizza from scratch.

Lookee what showed up under the bird feeder last week!

It's your newly appointed mod, stopping in to say hiyas! I've done some updating and redecorating, so feel free to come in and look around. It's a work in progress, so if anyone has any suggestions, or links you'd like me to add, let me know. I'm thinking about creating a system of tags, but I'll keep you posted on that.

From what I've seen, y'all have always been an awesome group, so you know, carry on with that. :)

a bunch of season 4 icons.

001

002

003

loveclaireicons

So, who all is going? Leaving in two days (a friend and I arrive on Wednesday). I put together a pictorial "Guide to Stargate Atlantis Whump" door decoration which I'll put up as soon as the hotel gives the okay for us to paper the doors, etc. :)

Just saw the series finale for MOONLIGHT. Gotta say Claudia Black is making a career of being in tight black outfits, but her character was great. At least they didn't end this series with killing off anyone. Saw that NEW AMSTERDAM got the axe, but that didn't surprise me. Hope the actor, whose name escapes me, gets a new gig. I have to watch ALL the season finales of shows I'm interested in as otherwise I'd have to walk around the con with my fingers in my ears. NCIS is gonna be tough as I may have to record it, grab it and run out the door and watch at the con. So now will watch SUPERNATURAL, even though I've barely seen any of the third season (I'll buy the DVD set and stick it with the other two seasons to hopefully get through one of these years). I knew CSI was gonna end on that gawawful bad note when Gary Dourdan got busted. I mean, alas poor Warrick, I knew him well. Geez. CSI NY ends on a cliffie, I hear, and Miami I can't recall, but it's on tomorrow.