we had a cookout for 4th of july yesterday, and i decided to try to make shortcake. except, in my crazy, timecrunchy life, i didn't want to take the time to handroll and cut biscuits. so here's what i did:

2 packages pilsbury grands biscuits: southern style
2 quarts strawberries
2 quarts blueberris
1 pint blackberries
1 quart heavy whipping cream

1 dusted the biscuits with sugar, cinnamon and fresh grated nutmeg, then baked according to package directions. i quartered the strawberries, and dusted with a small amount of sugar. i also dusted the blueberries and blackberries with a little sugar. i let all the berries stand at room temperature while i whipped the cream.

to the cream i added about 2 Tbls vanilla extract and maybe 1/2 cup sugar. i used my stand mixer to beat until it became whipped cream. i put the biscuits, which i had let cool on the cookie sheets for about 10 mins, out and let everyone assemble their own shortcakes.

easiest "homemade" dessert ever, and everyone loved it.

check it out: for our memorial day gathering i made a real southern cobbler (mixed berry), cast iron skillet and everything. is that not the platonic ideal of cobbler?

so, around halloween i decided to start the 50 books challenge. this is generally done by most on a calendar-year basis, but i was feeling the need to push myself to read more at that point, and it was close to my celebrated new year. so i decided to start november 1. however, i have not posted an update since then.

it's been about 7 months--hm, more than halfway through the year and i am pretty certain i am not through more than 25 books yet. but this goal has had the desired effect, i am reading a whole lot more. this has also been helped by the ereader i have on my phone. it means i always have books with me, and instead of playing silly video games while waiting for depositions or standing on line somewhere, i read.

nov 1-feb 15 (pre-ereader)
1-4. harry potter 4-7, by j.k. rowling (see my original post, i am counting rereads.)
5. the golden compass, by philip pullman
6. fledgling, by octavia butler
7. the graveyard book, by neil gaiman

feb 14-june 1 (post-ereader)
8-15. sookie stackhouse books 1-8, by charlaine harris (fodder for True Blood on HBO)
16-19. twilight series, by stephenie meyer
20. dead and gone (sookie stackhouse book 9), by charlaine harris

ok, i'm not quite finished with that last one yet, but i plan to be by the time i go to sleep tonight.

also, two observations: approximately the same amount of time passed before i downlaoded my ereader as after, but i have read almost twice as many books. also, i seem to big on the cheesy vampire series lately.

i actually cooked 2 dinners this week. or at least heated up enough food that we did not need to get take out.

wednesday night i picked up some frozen garlic bread on the way home, threw together a salad from the veggies we had bought earlier in the week and put a frozen lasagna in the oven. instant dinner, just add heat!

last night was a little more ambitious. max had been having a really bad day, and last time we were at the grocery store he mentioned that he loves stuffed pork chops. so i made some. 1lb of boneless pork chops, cut to have pockets, filled with a box of stovetop. then i dredged each chop in beaten egg and bread crumbs. i baked all of this covered at 350 for 35 minutes, with the extra stuffing around the edges. then i served it with steamed broccoli. max must have liked it, he ate 3 of the 4 chops.

yay for actual food.

i have decided to participate in the 50 book challenge, which is much like the 50 recipe challenge: try and read 50 books in one year. yes, it is a strange time of year to be announcing such things, these posts do indeed usually show up much closer to january 1. but october 31 is my chosen new year, and i have decided to start my resolution now, instead of waiting another 2 months.

because i find it difficult, after spending my time in the office reading police reports, cases, evidence books, statute books, and many other documents, to spend my evenings reading the printed word, i have decided to include audiobooks and books read aloud to me. i'm also including books i am re-reading because this is more about getting myself to read again, rather than reading new things.

i will post brief synopses, reviews and/or thoughts after finishing each book.

and everyone else, it's just that i kept trying to show this to the people with whom i lunched, but my phone did like the network access at the restaurant. anyway, here, the most awesomest graffiti ever:


see more pwn and owned pictures

eta (9 july 08): forgot to say i got this from egowumpus.

Here's Entertainment Weekly's list of the top movies of the last 25 years. Go through their list and BOLD the ones you have seen, ITALICIZE those you love/would watch over and over again, STRIKE OUT those you dislike strongly or really would rather never see again.

( on to the list )

wow, 28 out of the 100 that i have not seen. i have to work on that.

at the beginning of april i will be attending an event that leaves me in need of high fantasy/medieval/renaissance costuming. (i use all 3 descriptors to indicate that this is not historical and therefore the clothing need not be from any particular period.) i need to be dressed as a noblewoman of a household, attending court. and i would like something in green, although beggars can not be choosers.

anyone reading this have anything, or know anyone who has anything, that i could borrow? i would be eternally grateful.

for those of you who did not live with me for 1-2 years, let me tell you -- i love pie! pi day is one of my favorite "holidays" because it celebrates knowledge, something i highly value, with pie, yum! but i just found out that there are several chances throughout the year to celebrate pi day: check it out.

it turns out there is also national pie day on january 23. which means i missed a chance for pie this year. sad.

but still, happy pi day! i am celebrating with strawberry rhubarb (because noradannan gave me a wicked craving).

1. Pick 15 of your favorite movies.
2. Go to IMDb (or Wikiquote) and find a quote from each movie. (or in some cases, just remember them.)
3. Post them here for everyone to guess.
4. Strike it out Italicize it when someone guesses correctly, and put who guessed it correctly and the name of the movie.
5. NO GOOGLING/using IMDb/Wikiquote search functions. If you do, then please don't respond.

( on to the quotes )

let the identifications begin.

as you know my car is currently in the shop getting a new engine. in order to get back and forth to work i borrowed a car, and everything was going well. until this morning.

i'm about halfway between home and work and the engine just dies. seems like the engine has stalled, so i push in the clutch and turn the key. nothing. i pump the gas and turn the key. still nothing.

well shit.

i coast to the side of the road and pull out my phone to call work, the owner of the car and possibly a tow truck and rental car agency. but my phone is making that lovely beeping noise that indicates it is going to die soon.

shit, again.

i'm parked on the side of an on-ramp to a limited access road, but nevertheless i start walking. i make it to the beginning of the on-ramp and one of the nice construction worker guys lets me charge my phone a bit using his car charger. i make a very few calls. then he suggests taking the charger back to my car, so i don't have to perch outside his giant construction vehicle. so i walk back to the car and get in.

the phone won't charge because, duh, the car is not working. at all. so i use the 10 mins of battery power i managed to glean thus far to call my insurance company, who tells me they cannot cover this tow charge because it is not the insured vehicle, but nonetheless gives me the name and number of a towing company. then i call the tow company who (1) only takes cash, and (2) is not available for an hour and a half.

shit, shit, double shit. i need to get to work. i need to make sure someone is covering my files. "fine. put me on the list," i say, just as my phone dies.

pause. ok, i have to deal with this somehow.

i walk back to the beginning of the ramp, return the phone charger and realize i am no where near any business that would be remotely helpful. not even a dunkin donuts or a starbucks (since i have my wall charger in my bag). i spot a parking lot full of budget moving trucks and think, that place must have an office.

so i start walking. in the hot sun. in my business suit.

the budget rental place does indeed have an office, and they let me sit and make my calls. the woman behind the counter even recommends a towing company who (1) takes credit cards, and (2) is 10 minutes away.

so 3 hours and $140 later i get the car towed to the owner's home, and get my grandmother to give me a ride to work, meanwhile insuring that someone at work knows where i am and that my division-mates have my files so they can cover my cases.

all in all, not my best morning.

my car needs a new engine. that's right...a new engine. bugger.

check out the hot new shoes i bought yesterday:



i heart my new shoes!

so i made it not at all close to 50 recipes this year, hopefully i'll do better next year. haven't posted a recipe update in quite some time, so some of these are kinda old.

in september i had my mabon (autumnal equinox) feast this year. it was a small, sit down dinner party since i don't know many people in the area.

( roasted turkey & vegetables )

( sauteed apples & leeks )

in december, when my boy finished his first semester back in school, i decided he deserved a reward. i made him a special dinner.

( bacon polenta )

( scallops seared with bacon )

( sugar free mousse )

and while home for the holidays i helped make christmas dinner.

( brisket )

( roasted asparagus )

from arianwhyvar

The Recipe For malluna

3 parts Charisma 2 parts Tolerance 1 part Ambition Splash of Fascination Finish off with a squeeze of lime juice

the vending machine just ate my $1.

*grumble grumble*

left my phone at home today, if you need me use email or im.

( wilted spinach & tomatoes )

( hand held meat pies )

( pasta with shrimp and basil )

oh, that reminds me, does anyone know anything about caring for orchids?

( apple oatmeal muffins )

anyway, that's all from down here for now

omg! toy labradoodle!

check it out, the full text of books for free available online at bartleby.com.

good stuff.