Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Sweet and Sour Turkey Thighs
This flavor profile appealed to me because I wanted to experiment with using cinnamon in a savory dish. I must admit, I found the recipe in the package of thighs but the process they used was intuitively wrong to me. With the exception of baking, I don't measure so just deal with that.
Ingredients:
2 Humongous Turkey Thighs
flour
cinnamon
ketchup
cider vinegar
honey
cloves (i didn't have any so I used some nutmeg)
vegetable oil
1/2 large white onion chopped
curry powder (my idea)
garlic powder (my idea. fresh garlic woulda been better but I didn't have any)
Water
Season turkey with salt, cinnamon (not too much), garlic powder, pinch of nutmeg, and curry powder.
Coat in flour. Heat vegetable oil in pot. Add turkey and brown on both sides. Remove and add onions to pot and let them sweat it out. Add more cinnamon and garlic powder and saute some more until it smells like heaven in your kitchen. Add ketchup, honey and cider vinegar and stir. Add turkey back into pot and coat both sides with the mixture. Once coated, leave skin side up and then add enough water until it just almost covers the top.
Bring to a boil and then cover and turn down the heat to simmer.
In about an hour and 1/2 later, the turkey should be falling off the bone. Take the top off and simmer some more to reduce the sauce.
OMG. This is so YUMMY!
I'll either serve it with stuffing or mashed potatoes but I sure wish I had some couscous in the cabinet..DARN!
Ingredients:
2 Humongous Turkey Thighs
flour
cinnamon
ketchup
cider vinegar
honey
cloves (i didn't have any so I used some nutmeg)
vegetable oil
1/2 large white onion chopped
curry powder (my idea)
garlic powder (my idea. fresh garlic woulda been better but I didn't have any)
Water
Season turkey with salt, cinnamon (not too much), garlic powder, pinch of nutmeg, and curry powder.
Coat in flour. Heat vegetable oil in pot. Add turkey and brown on both sides. Remove and add onions to pot and let them sweat it out. Add more cinnamon and garlic powder and saute some more until it smells like heaven in your kitchen. Add ketchup, honey and cider vinegar and stir. Add turkey back into pot and coat both sides with the mixture. Once coated, leave skin side up and then add enough water until it just almost covers the top.
Bring to a boil and then cover and turn down the heat to simmer.
In about an hour and 1/2 later, the turkey should be falling off the bone. Take the top off and simmer some more to reduce the sauce.
OMG. This is so YUMMY!
I'll either serve it with stuffing or mashed potatoes but I sure wish I had some couscous in the cabinet..DARN!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
New "Nerdy" Headphones on their way...
I don't do earbuds and here's why...
Everything sounds like it was recorded in a tin can
Every time I chew gum they pop out
I refuse to share them with others in fear of earwax exchange issues
I can still hear the people talking
They stop working after 1 month
I became a convert to these that are now, as you can see, totally worn out down to the bone (or cord):
The features:
Reduce the level of noise around you with these noise-canceling headphones. They reduce ambient noise by 87.4%. The included adapter is compatible with in-flight sound systems for more enjoyable air travel.
The Price
Only $47.50
The alternative:
Monster - Beats by Dr Dre - I aint spendin $300 on headphones.
In Memoriam...Headphones...You did your thang; blocking out all the noise. Giving me all the sound that $50 can buy AND allowing me to share with others. Sure you didn't fit under my winter hats and you did mess up my hair on those fabulocity days, but you were worth it...I will always love you...
Just got my email shipping notification from BestBuy that these new babies below are on their way...CAN"T WAIT!
Same great sound. Updated sleeker look. Will I still look like a nerd? Probably. But will all the sounds I love to hear be heard? Ya damn skippy they will...
Everything sounds like it was recorded in a tin can
Every time I chew gum they pop out
I refuse to share them with others in fear of earwax exchange issues
I can still hear the people talking
They stop working after 1 month
I became a convert to these that are now, as you can see, totally worn out down to the bone (or cord):
The features:
Reduce the level of noise around you with these noise-canceling headphones. They reduce ambient noise by 87.4%. The included adapter is compatible with in-flight sound systems for more enjoyable air travel.
The Price
Only $47.50
The alternative:
Monster - Beats by Dr Dre - I aint spendin $300 on headphones.
In Memoriam...Headphones...You did your thang; blocking out all the noise. Giving me all the sound that $50 can buy AND allowing me to share with others. Sure you didn't fit under my winter hats and you did mess up my hair on those fabulocity days, but you were worth it...I will always love you...
Just got my email shipping notification from BestBuy that these new babies below are on their way...CAN"T WAIT!
Same great sound. Updated sleeker look. Will I still look like a nerd? Probably. But will all the sounds I love to hear be heard? Ya damn skippy they will...
Monday, September 21, 2009
I used to be a NewYorker
I used to be a New Yorker. Back then, I...
- knew not to put coins in the slot where the metrocard goes...sigh
- knew not to smile a strangers in the street
- would walk along 34st and not gaze into store windows like I neva saw clothes before...
- could walk crosstown from 3rd ave to 7th ave in 15 min or less...not 50min or more
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Old
Not really sure about what the moral of this entry is...
I was equally not really sure about what to title this blog entry, so I left it to simply Old.
Three stories in chronological order, by three different people. My story is called Mami. Each of them told from the perspective of a person from the hood with different degrees of "a past" in said hood. We have all moved on to a better life; mind, body, and soul. Oh! And we're all Old.
Good Samaritan - 1999 (??)
It was late at night (late late) and on a recent visit home to Bed-Stuy Brooklyn, 30ish year old K figured she'd do a walk/run home to her Mom's house. At the tail end of her work-out she spots a small group of young girls walking as well. In her mind, she figured these young innocents were in a hurry to get home and so naturally K's maternal instinct kicked in. She decided to start walking next to them keeping pace with their strides so that they would feel safer (seriously people). Oblivious to their stares (and rude observations about the @#$!%* following them), she stayed true to her mission until she saw the glimmer of a bottle whose trajectory was coincidentally pointed in her direction. Fortunately for her it missed, and she came to her senses. So she left her post as Guardian and considered ending her walk/run with a run for one more block. But just before she was about to come out of the blocks, she realized that those same girls would chase her down (like a pack typically would after it's prey) and decided that a nice late night stroll to her Mom's house was a better idea...
O.G. (2009)
Walking home late from a party, Dap was spotted by some young thugs with nuthin better to do. Without getting into details, it is no exaggeration and accurate to state that Dap was a seriously bad mofo back in the day...(nuff said). So needless to say, he knew these dudes were about to start some shit. He heard one say to his dude "Yo!.. hole up man. That dude is an O.G.!!!" Another replies "So!" They all proceed to chase Dap's ass for a number of blocks. I can't remember if they caught up to him and whether he had to duke it out or not.
Mami (Aug 30, 2009)
So this happened to me this weekend...
My friend Joe had his 33rd bday bash at Pop Burger in the Meat Packing District this year. Good times were had by all. Just before leaving, I went down to use the ladies room and I use this term 'ladies" lightly. It was the typical scene downstairs in the restroom hallway area; but seedier and grimier then I expected. No biggie. Been there; done that. As I proceed to push open the door to the ladies room, I felt some resistance on the other side and then this young Latino dude sticks his head out. Of course I'm like "Wassup with this?" Mainly because I have a habit of entering men's bathrooms by accident (heh heh) and also because he was hesitating letting me in.
When he finally allows me in, I see there's another young guy and girl in there. The new guy is having a fit about my comment and his friends are trying to calm him down...meanwhile explaining to me that they're gay and it's ok, I can use the bathroom...I'm nonplussed and bored. All I wanna do is get in and get out. As I walk further in, I notice another young girl sitting on the floor in one of the stalls; head in the bowl barfing her brains out. So I innocently state that I don't care what they are and I can plainly see that they're helping their friend while she barfs her brains out.
Well that sets off both new guy and barfin girl...they're verbally slammin me (him while primping in the mirror and her while she continues to barf) as the other two tell them to stop yelling at me. Remarkably, I'm still cool but I can feel the adrenaline creeping up my neck and as I make my way (finally) into the next stall, I start making preparations to come out swingin' if I had to. So I powder my nose (love that term), and step out of the stall ready for my scene from Warriors to begin...I get total silence; not a peep. New guy is all of a sudden demure and moves from his post at the sink and mirror and gives me space to wash my hands and even turns on the hand dryer for me. I'm at a lost for words...temporarily.
Most sensible people would have walked out and given thanks to whatever God they worship. And while I am "mostly sensible", this night I pushed the envelope and while drying my hands, I began to lecture new guy. What I said didn't matter. What did matter, however was his reaction. Total respect with a bit of "Yes Mami" here and "Yes Mami" there for good measure. The others were completely silent and as I exited, I could still feel the adrenaline in my heart, ears and throat and it stayed there pumping all of the way out of Pop Burger, across 14th St, and down into the A train station.
That's right I still take the subway late at night. Cuz I'm a New Yorker and that's how I roll...
I was equally not really sure about what to title this blog entry, so I left it to simply Old.
Three stories in chronological order, by three different people. My story is called Mami. Each of them told from the perspective of a person from the hood with different degrees of "a past" in said hood. We have all moved on to a better life; mind, body, and soul. Oh! And we're all Old.
Good Samaritan - 1999 (??)
It was late at night (late late) and on a recent visit home to Bed-Stuy Brooklyn, 30ish year old K figured she'd do a walk/run home to her Mom's house. At the tail end of her work-out she spots a small group of young girls walking as well. In her mind, she figured these young innocents were in a hurry to get home and so naturally K's maternal instinct kicked in. She decided to start walking next to them keeping pace with their strides so that they would feel safer (seriously people). Oblivious to their stares (and rude observations about the @#$!%* following them), she stayed true to her mission until she saw the glimmer of a bottle whose trajectory was coincidentally pointed in her direction. Fortunately for her it missed, and she came to her senses. So she left her post as Guardian and considered ending her walk/run with a run for one more block. But just before she was about to come out of the blocks, she realized that those same girls would chase her down (like a pack typically would after it's prey) and decided that a nice late night stroll to her Mom's house was a better idea...
O.G. (2009)
Walking home late from a party, Dap was spotted by some young thugs with nuthin better to do. Without getting into details, it is no exaggeration and accurate to state that Dap was a seriously bad mofo back in the day...(nuff said). So needless to say, he knew these dudes were about to start some shit. He heard one say to his dude "Yo!.. hole up man. That dude is an O.G.!!!" Another replies "So!" They all proceed to chase Dap's ass for a number of blocks. I can't remember if they caught up to him and whether he had to duke it out or not.
Mami (Aug 30, 2009)
So this happened to me this weekend...
My friend Joe had his 33rd bday bash at Pop Burger in the Meat Packing District this year. Good times were had by all. Just before leaving, I went down to use the ladies room and I use this term 'ladies" lightly. It was the typical scene downstairs in the restroom hallway area; but seedier and grimier then I expected. No biggie. Been there; done that. As I proceed to push open the door to the ladies room, I felt some resistance on the other side and then this young Latino dude sticks his head out. Of course I'm like "Wassup with this?" Mainly because I have a habit of entering men's bathrooms by accident (heh heh) and also because he was hesitating letting me in.
When he finally allows me in, I see there's another young guy and girl in there. The new guy is having a fit about my comment and his friends are trying to calm him down...meanwhile explaining to me that they're gay and it's ok, I can use the bathroom...I'm nonplussed and bored. All I wanna do is get in and get out. As I walk further in, I notice another young girl sitting on the floor in one of the stalls; head in the bowl barfing her brains out. So I innocently state that I don't care what they are and I can plainly see that they're helping their friend while she barfs her brains out.
Well that sets off both new guy and barfin girl...they're verbally slammin me (him while primping in the mirror and her while she continues to barf) as the other two tell them to stop yelling at me. Remarkably, I'm still cool but I can feel the adrenaline creeping up my neck and as I make my way (finally) into the next stall, I start making preparations to come out swingin' if I had to. So I powder my nose (love that term), and step out of the stall ready for my scene from Warriors to begin...I get total silence; not a peep. New guy is all of a sudden demure and moves from his post at the sink and mirror and gives me space to wash my hands and even turns on the hand dryer for me. I'm at a lost for words...temporarily.
Most sensible people would have walked out and given thanks to whatever God they worship. And while I am "mostly sensible", this night I pushed the envelope and while drying my hands, I began to lecture new guy. What I said didn't matter. What did matter, however was his reaction. Total respect with a bit of "Yes Mami" here and "Yes Mami" there for good measure. The others were completely silent and as I exited, I could still feel the adrenaline in my heart, ears and throat and it stayed there pumping all of the way out of Pop Burger, across 14th St, and down into the A train station.
That's right I still take the subway late at night. Cuz I'm a New Yorker and that's how I roll...
Friday, August 28, 2009
My Near-Death Experiences
Yes, I do have a flair for the over-dramatic...but this is not one of those moments. For this blog entry, I chose to provide a list with brief (hmmm..ok ok I'll try) descriptions.
What prompted me to even consider writing this? An episode of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations - the one about Thailand. This dude typically runs into questionable situations but nothing seemed to go right during the taping of this specific show and it made me think about the few times I've run into some sketchy episodes myself. So here are my Top 4 life-threatening stories...
#4 Asthma Attack in the Ghetto - I suffered from this disease as a young child and for as long as I could remember. Back in the day, if you weren't suffering from a gun-shot wound or a heart attack, you had to wait in the emergency room for literally hours (no over dramatization here). My Mom and I would sit and sit and sit until we were called and usually by that time, I was in such bad shape, I had to be admitted. Eventually the protocols changed (unfortunately due to various asthma-related deaths across the city) and I was taken in right away, but I did come pretty close to dying before that.
#3 Jamaica: Exact Location Unknown - Briefly, three young women, no ID, in a stranger's truck with some...strangers, driving up some mountains, destination: some uknown beach. There was a party. We miraculously made it back to the hotel in one piece...unharmed of course, but I think about that time often and how stupid we were...There but for the grace of God.
#2 Childbirth - Fetal distress resulting in an emergency c-section. The baby was absolutely fine but I had complications; infection, high-blood pressure, etc. Hospital stay of two weeks...
#1 Thailand - Ironically I had no reaction to the food, but instead I went into anaphylactic shock by ingesting...Alka-Seltzer. I kinda knew I was allergic to aspirin, but who knew it was the first ingredient in an antacid for God's sake! Long story short, face-swells, eyes closing, throat closing, called the hotel Dr (THANK GOD!). He runs up to the room and knocks on the door. By now, I am unable to speak and crawl to the door, turn the knob and as I attempt to speak, he waves me off; nurse in tow with some sort of contraption. Right away he instructs me to throw up...NO PROBLEM! way ahead of you buddy! Meanwhile he's prepping all sorts of syringes. I have no idea what's in them, and frankly I don't give a damn. Whatever it was, it made me live to see another day...
So that's my top 4 and I hope I never have another one to add to the list...
What prompted me to even consider writing this? An episode of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations - the one about Thailand. This dude typically runs into questionable situations but nothing seemed to go right during the taping of this specific show and it made me think about the few times I've run into some sketchy episodes myself. So here are my Top 4 life-threatening stories...
#4 Asthma Attack in the Ghetto - I suffered from this disease as a young child and for as long as I could remember. Back in the day, if you weren't suffering from a gun-shot wound or a heart attack, you had to wait in the emergency room for literally hours (no over dramatization here). My Mom and I would sit and sit and sit until we were called and usually by that time, I was in such bad shape, I had to be admitted. Eventually the protocols changed (unfortunately due to various asthma-related deaths across the city) and I was taken in right away, but I did come pretty close to dying before that.
#3 Jamaica: Exact Location Unknown - Briefly, three young women, no ID, in a stranger's truck with some...strangers, driving up some mountains, destination: some uknown beach. There was a party. We miraculously made it back to the hotel in one piece...unharmed of course, but I think about that time often and how stupid we were...There but for the grace of God.
#2 Childbirth - Fetal distress resulting in an emergency c-section. The baby was absolutely fine but I had complications; infection, high-blood pressure, etc. Hospital stay of two weeks...
#1 Thailand - Ironically I had no reaction to the food, but instead I went into anaphylactic shock by ingesting...Alka-Seltzer. I kinda knew I was allergic to aspirin, but who knew it was the first ingredient in an antacid for God's sake! Long story short, face-swells, eyes closing, throat closing, called the hotel Dr (THANK GOD!). He runs up to the room and knocks on the door. By now, I am unable to speak and crawl to the door, turn the knob and as I attempt to speak, he waves me off; nurse in tow with some sort of contraption. Right away he instructs me to throw up...NO PROBLEM! way ahead of you buddy! Meanwhile he's prepping all sorts of syringes. I have no idea what's in them, and frankly I don't give a damn. Whatever it was, it made me live to see another day...
So that's my top 4 and I hope I never have another one to add to the list...
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Whateva-u-got WholeWheat Bread Pudding
Pre-heat your oven to about 350.
Tear up that whole wheat bread you got left in several different bags in the fridge.
I put that in a bowl with some frozen fruit mix I had in the freezer.
In another bowl mix some eggs (i dunno how many. i don't measure nuthin), milk, melted butter, brown sugar, pure maple syrup (if you grab some pancake syrup, ima kick yo ass), and some kinda extract (i had some almond and banana in my pantry..hehe pantry). OH! and some cina..ciman..cinnamon.
Pour that mixture over the bread and fruit, and let that sucka soak up alla dat liquid (where'd I get this weird accent?)
Let it sit until most of the liquid is gone.
Pour mixture into a loaf pan or mini loaf pans...whateva you got.
DON'T FORGET TO SPRAY THE PAN!!
Put in the oven and bake for...until you can smell something good. Go check on it. Is it all puffed up and goldenish on top??
Then it's done!
Enjoy!
Tear up that whole wheat bread you got left in several different bags in the fridge.
I put that in a bowl with some frozen fruit mix I had in the freezer.
In another bowl mix some eggs (i dunno how many. i don't measure nuthin), milk, melted butter, brown sugar, pure maple syrup (if you grab some pancake syrup, ima kick yo ass), and some kinda extract (i had some almond and banana in my pantry..hehe pantry). OH! and some cina..ciman..cinnamon.
Pour that mixture over the bread and fruit, and let that sucka soak up alla dat liquid (where'd I get this weird accent?)
Let it sit until most of the liquid is gone.
Pour mixture into a loaf pan or mini loaf pans...whateva you got.
DON'T FORGET TO SPRAY THE PAN!!
Put in the oven and bake for...until you can smell something good. Go check on it. Is it all puffed up and goldenish on top??
Then it's done!
Enjoy!
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