Thursday, April 29, 2010

Legumes galore...



Curried lentils with peas, smashed yams, steamed zucchini, and sour cream.

Still on the dog thing...

So, I've been compiling a list of dog breeds I want to own someday, arranging them into groups of three, and brainstorming names for them. Because I think this is a really good use of my time right now. Assuming an average lifespan of 12 years per dog, and assuming I won't want more than three dogs at any given time, in order to own one each of the following breeds I need to start fifteen years ago and live to be 154. Hm. Still, this was fun.

Note: A few breeds are interchangeable to me, as is indicated by slashes (/).








GROUP ONE


Leonberger: Orson or Ursa



Brittany: Bourbon


Boxer: Augustus ("Gus")






GROUP TWO


/


Weimaraner/Viszla: Nickel/Penny



Australian Kelpie: Oz




Briard: Filibuster





GROUP THREE


Australian Shepherd: Matilda

Chesapeake Bay Retriever: Charlotte



Basenji: Yosemite


GROUP FOUR



/

Standard Schnauzer/Kerry Blue Terrier: Moses


Doberman Pinscher: Turtle


Akita: Ticonderoga ("Ty")







GROUP FIVE


Schipperke: Escher


/

Borzoi/Afghan Hound: Baryshnikov

Airedale Terrier: Wallace


GROUP SIX

/
Pharoah Hound/Ibizan: Niles



Norfolk Terrier: Graham



Bernese Mountain Dog: Stella


GROUP SEVEN
Great Dane: Horatio


Shiba Inu: Kismet


Standard French Poodle: Wellington




GROUP EIGHT
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever: Chloe


English Foxhound: Hugh

Canaan Dog: Jerusha





GROUP NINE

Belgian Tervuren: Wagner



Black Russian Terrier: Trotsky



Finnish Spitz: Terwilliger


Group Ten

Newfoundland: Noah


Dachshund (miniature smooth): Shoe



Yorkshire Terrier: Pudding



Group Eleven
Border Collie: McCoy


Kuvasz: Magellan


Gordon Setter: Charlemagne



Group Twelve
Rottweiler: Grissom


Siberian Husky/Malamute: Mush


Rhodesian Ridgeback: Malcolm

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Dinner tonight



Curried lentils with roasted broccoli and pickled ginger. Good combo.

Fish Tacos



Note: Asadero is one of several Mexican cheeses made fresh from part-skim milk -- the Mexican equivalent of mozzarella. Like mozzarella, asadero (along with fresco, panela, an quesadilla cheese) has an equal fat-to-protein ratio. But unlike mozz, these cheeses have an extremely low "melting" temperature, but do not run or separate, or even lose their shape, really; they just get hot and very soft. Also, asadero has a deeper, nuttier flavor than mozzarella. 


Fish Tacos

olive oil
tilapia fillets
salt and pepper
lime juice

6-inch corn tortillas
asadero cheese, sliced or grated
cilantro, chopped
salsa/hot sauce/chilis, green or red

ripe mango, diced
sour cream
lettuce or cabbage, sliced into ribbons

Heat a little oil (about half a teaspoon per fillet) in nonstick pan over medium. While it heats, prepare the other ingredients. Pat tilapia dry with paper towel and set in hot pan. Season with salt and pepper. Let it cook several minutes, until thin side of fillet is almost opaque throughout (it's hard to overcook tilapia, and you want both sides to brown nicely). Meanwhile, continue preparing other ingredients. Flip tilapia and continue cooking. When done, remove from pan, turn heat to medium-low, set fish aside on cutting board or plate and drench fillets with lime juice. Add a little oil to the pan if needed and heat the tortillas on one side, flipping them over after a minute or so and sprinkling hot side with cheese, cilantro, and salsa/hot sauce. When cheese is melted, remove tortillas to plate, add tilapia, mango, sour cream, and lettuce. Wrap up and enjoy.



Monday, April 19, 2010

Puppy Love

I discovered this (and last) year's Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is on hulu. Watching it, I was incensed anew that the Leonberger is still not yet recognized by the WKC. What is wrong with these people?


I mean, look at this. Is this not the most beautiful thing you've ever seen?!



Also, HUGE. Oh my gosh. His paw is the size of her FACE. 

They have friggin' GOLDEN EYES, okay?


And GIANT BUSHY TAILS,




which they sometimes carry curled in a highly adorable fashion.

In addition, they are brave and noble altruists, rescuing wanderers in the Swiss Alps in their spare time...


... and are 100% safe around small animals.




Basically, coolest dog ever. I so want one. Highfive.