July 4th rules
The last few days have been great! Due to Independence Day, I got a four day weekend, and I enjoyed it thoroughly! The only sad note is that we had to give back a cat we'd been sitting. Our friend was at a wedding, and asked us to take care of his cat, Smash. The cat was aptly named - he really liked to smash and crash around the house, but it was really nice to have a cat again. I used to have a cat growing up, and sometimes I miss the affection that only a cat can give you. I think it has something to do with the purring....
Despite missing Smash, the weekend was still awesome. Saturday was spent roaming around the farmers market and going food shopping. The highlight of the day was definitely making home-made pasta. I decided a while ago that I would try to do it, and I bought a hand cranked pasta maker. Then I struggled because I couldn't find a recipe I liked...but I finally found it:
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3/4 C semolina flour
3/4 C all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
2 tbsp. water
2 tbsp. olive oil.
Combine the flours and salt on a cutting board and make a well in the center. Combine the eggs, water and oil in a small bowl and beat lightly. Pour the egg mixture into the flour well and slowly mix the flour into the egg mixture until it forms a dough, being careful to keep the mixture inside the well. Kneed the dough for 10 minutes, then wrap it in plastic and let it rest at room temperature for at least 20 minutes (don't skip this step).
Divide the dough up into egg sized pieces, and pass each piece through the pasta maker until it is as thin as you want (1 or 2 on my machine). Then, starting at the beginning again, take each strip of dough, cut it the length you want it, and then pass it through the pasta machine cutters. Hang the pasta on a pasta hanger (or, if you don't have one, on clean hangers) and let it dry for 10 minutes.
Boil pasta water with a handful of salt and add the pasta. Cook it until it's done to your liking, about 2 minutes for me. Serve it with your favorite sauce.
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Being half Italian, my favorite sauce is a simple tomato sauce with garlic, onions, and canned San Marzano tomatoes sautéed in olive oil and seasoned with fresh basil and oregano. I also like to put in some black pepper and crushed red pepper in it to up the flavor ante. If I want to make it more substantial, I'll add baked eggplant or sauté some pancetta before I add the garlic and onions.
Sunday was shopping day. I bought some more work clothing and finally decided to open an account at Banana Republic. I've been putting that off for years, but came to the conclusion that I shop there enough to warrant it. I also got my eyebrows waxed, which hurts like hell and makes my face red for about 24 hours. The good news is I no longer look like cookie monster.
Monday was also awesome. I got up early and played golf. I suck at golf (I hit a 65 on a 9 hold course!), but I'm trying to learn and I'm getting a lot better. I actually hit a couple of really great shots with my new clubs (I bought them two weeks ago). I was especially proud of my 180 yard shot with my 3 wood. That one shot made the entire day worth it. We topped this off with an incredible cook-out. A bunch of friends came over and we had grilled filet mignon, loaded baked potatoes, grilled corn and apple pie. We also had daiquiris and mojitos. The last thing I remember was passing out into a food coma sometime around 3am. It was wonderful!
The best thing about Monday was that we got a new couch and a temporary replacement TV. We found this couch on Craig’s List for $100. Up to now, we were using a broken futon, so the couch, even used, was a big upgrade. We also broke down and got a $20 TV, also off of Craig’s List. There are some things a person just can't live without. Best of all, Best Buy came through, and we managed to get the repair guys to come to our house on Monday. We found out that Best Buy finally screwed up in a good way - they apparently think we paid $800 for our TV, which means if it is really beyond repair, we get a new $800 TV or a store credit in that amount. I think I've already mentally spent the money on a $300 TV and a $500 sound system. Laurence (my boyfriend/fiancée) and I have been wanting one for a while. Does anyone have any suggestions for a nice $500 sound system?
Tuesday was also great. Laurence and I went to and Indian food buffet - the all you can eat kind. We ate too much, and then went home to sleep it off. I actually got some work done, and then we went to see Superman Returns in 3D. Now, I know I said I would never do movie reviews, and I won't. All I'll say is that this movie is worth seeing. We got out of the movie theater just as the fireworks were starting, and we sat in the parking lot and watched the show. We went home and watched Frasier (the really good one where Daphne leaves Donnie at the alter and runs away with a newly married Niles and the Donnie sues Daphne and Frasier).
Today was also good. I had to go back to work, which should have sucked, but it didn't. I got to see one of my law firm's lawyers prepare a witness for a hearing. It was pretty neat to see what she thought was important, especially since I'd worked on a project related to the litigation. Then I picked up a few pretty neat projects and turned in one that's been on my desk for weeks. It felt really good to get the one turned in. I got home and actually worked out for the first time in weeks. I hurt quite a bit now, but Laurence is cooking a pork recipe we found on epicurious and the smell is so good, it's killing me! The recipe can be found at: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/recipe_views/views/233147
So, as you can see, I had an awesome weekend. Next weekend, I'm going to Elkhart lake and get to go horseback riding (which I have not done in years). I only hope I can get the 3 projects I have due by Friday done in time to really enjoy the weekend.
Despite missing Smash, the weekend was still awesome. Saturday was spent roaming around the farmers market and going food shopping. The highlight of the day was definitely making home-made pasta. I decided a while ago that I would try to do it, and I bought a hand cranked pasta maker. Then I struggled because I couldn't find a recipe I liked...but I finally found it:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3/4 C semolina flour
3/4 C all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
2 tbsp. water
2 tbsp. olive oil.
Combine the flours and salt on a cutting board and make a well in the center. Combine the eggs, water and oil in a small bowl and beat lightly. Pour the egg mixture into the flour well and slowly mix the flour into the egg mixture until it forms a dough, being careful to keep the mixture inside the well. Kneed the dough for 10 minutes, then wrap it in plastic and let it rest at room temperature for at least 20 minutes (don't skip this step).
Divide the dough up into egg sized pieces, and pass each piece through the pasta maker until it is as thin as you want (1 or 2 on my machine). Then, starting at the beginning again, take each strip of dough, cut it the length you want it, and then pass it through the pasta machine cutters. Hang the pasta on a pasta hanger (or, if you don't have one, on clean hangers) and let it dry for 10 minutes.
Boil pasta water with a handful of salt and add the pasta. Cook it until it's done to your liking, about 2 minutes for me. Serve it with your favorite sauce.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Being half Italian, my favorite sauce is a simple tomato sauce with garlic, onions, and canned San Marzano tomatoes sautéed in olive oil and seasoned with fresh basil and oregano. I also like to put in some black pepper and crushed red pepper in it to up the flavor ante. If I want to make it more substantial, I'll add baked eggplant or sauté some pancetta before I add the garlic and onions.
Sunday was shopping day. I bought some more work clothing and finally decided to open an account at Banana Republic. I've been putting that off for years, but came to the conclusion that I shop there enough to warrant it. I also got my eyebrows waxed, which hurts like hell and makes my face red for about 24 hours. The good news is I no longer look like cookie monster.
Monday was also awesome. I got up early and played golf. I suck at golf (I hit a 65 on a 9 hold course!), but I'm trying to learn and I'm getting a lot better. I actually hit a couple of really great shots with my new clubs (I bought them two weeks ago). I was especially proud of my 180 yard shot with my 3 wood. That one shot made the entire day worth it. We topped this off with an incredible cook-out. A bunch of friends came over and we had grilled filet mignon, loaded baked potatoes, grilled corn and apple pie. We also had daiquiris and mojitos. The last thing I remember was passing out into a food coma sometime around 3am. It was wonderful!
The best thing about Monday was that we got a new couch and a temporary replacement TV. We found this couch on Craig’s List for $100. Up to now, we were using a broken futon, so the couch, even used, was a big upgrade. We also broke down and got a $20 TV, also off of Craig’s List. There are some things a person just can't live without. Best of all, Best Buy came through, and we managed to get the repair guys to come to our house on Monday. We found out that Best Buy finally screwed up in a good way - they apparently think we paid $800 for our TV, which means if it is really beyond repair, we get a new $800 TV or a store credit in that amount. I think I've already mentally spent the money on a $300 TV and a $500 sound system. Laurence (my boyfriend/fiancée) and I have been wanting one for a while. Does anyone have any suggestions for a nice $500 sound system?
Tuesday was also great. Laurence and I went to and Indian food buffet - the all you can eat kind. We ate too much, and then went home to sleep it off. I actually got some work done, and then we went to see Superman Returns in 3D. Now, I know I said I would never do movie reviews, and I won't. All I'll say is that this movie is worth seeing. We got out of the movie theater just as the fireworks were starting, and we sat in the parking lot and watched the show. We went home and watched Frasier (the really good one where Daphne leaves Donnie at the alter and runs away with a newly married Niles and the Donnie sues Daphne and Frasier).
Today was also good. I had to go back to work, which should have sucked, but it didn't. I got to see one of my law firm's lawyers prepare a witness for a hearing. It was pretty neat to see what she thought was important, especially since I'd worked on a project related to the litigation. Then I picked up a few pretty neat projects and turned in one that's been on my desk for weeks. It felt really good to get the one turned in. I got home and actually worked out for the first time in weeks. I hurt quite a bit now, but Laurence is cooking a pork recipe we found on epicurious and the smell is so good, it's killing me! The recipe can be found at: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/recipe_views/views/233147
So, as you can see, I had an awesome weekend. Next weekend, I'm going to Elkhart lake and get to go horseback riding (which I have not done in years). I only hope I can get the 3 projects I have due by Friday done in time to really enjoy the weekend.
posted by The Couchess @ 6:30 PM
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