Monthly Archive for March, 2008

Caramelized Leek Soup and Cheesy Bread

Published
by
mai
on March 23, 2008
in crumbs from your table and things to make and do
. 1 Comment

We recently *joined* a CSA (community supported agriculture where the buyer is considered a partner of the farmer, so in a nutshell the buyer agrees to buy what the grower grows) because well, we’ve been thinking of getting more veggies in our diet (that is the first step, regular exercise is the second and more difficult step); I’ve been wanting to eat more responsibly (grass fed beef vs. corn fed, better treated food, etc); and hey, the fruit really does taste better.

So we signed up and got a 4 week trial subscription from Eatwell Farm and 2 weeks ago J picked up our box of fruit and veggies and half-dozen eggs. We got leeks, spinach, thyme, green garlic, chard (curious veg, tastes like beets), parsley, lettuce, stirfry mix, apples, kiwis and the sweetest navel oranges I ever tasted. We’ve been going through these and I am proud to say we’re down to the spinach and half a bunch of the stirfry mix and 4 eggs (we’re having spam and fried egg tomorrow hehe).

From this box I made a parsley-walnut-sundried tomato pesto, a green garlic pesto that would prob. be great on bread — I actually used some of this with cream cheese on a pumpernickel bagel and it was yummy, and a delicious caramelized leek soup we just had for dinner. We had the soup with some semi-smelly cheese toast.

For the leek soup:

Take about 1.5 to 2 lbs leeks, white and pale green parts. Slice lengthwise, rinse clean, and then slice thinly crosswise. Melt 2 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp olive oil in a soup pan and then add the leeks, cover and keep under a very low flame until leeks get soft wilty and light brown (about 40-45 minutes), then add 1 1/4 tsp sugar and cook for about 10-15 minutes. Add 1/4 cup sherry or vermouth and cook until the liquid is absorbed and the leeks are golden brown (another 10-15 minutes. Add 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable stock, cook for another 10-15 minutes, then add 3 1/2 cups more stock. Ladle into a bowl, top with chopped chives if you want. Serve with cheese bread.

Cheese bread:

Preheat oven to 350. Split a baguette then cut each side into 3-4 pieces, brush bread with dijon mustard, top with grated or thinly sliced raclette / gruyere / other similar cheese. Drizzle with olive oil and pop in the oven for about 10minutes until the cheese is lightly golden and sizzling.

Delicious, I have to say.

Van Damme

Published
by
mai
on March 13, 2008
in Noteworthy, heartland and zooropa
. 0 Comments

Read about Van Damme on Lizzie’s blog. (Which is a must-read for animal lovers)

van-damme_.jpg

*Help Van Damme find his forever-home by re-posting this in your blogs, websites, yahoogroups, forums, etc., and forwarding to relatives and friends who you might think would be interested in giving a good dog a good home. (Some even go as far as printing these out and posting in their school / office / neighborhood bulletin boards! :D) Thanks! :)

The best intentions

Published
by
mai
on March 13, 2008
in desire
. 0 Comments

I’ve been quite good with my spending this month. Ive actually brought lunch most days, and have not made any clothes or shoes purchases (although those gold Tom’s looked yummy ehhh).

I’ve been wanting to get a candle for our bedroom though, and so I walked to the nice store near my office and picked up a small candle Agar Wood too sexy that I’ve been wanting to get. And then today Dil, my coworker, and I went back to sniff all the others. Bad decision. Now I want the Fig, the Levende, the Black Tea (gorgeous) and even the Cassis. Auuugghh…

And I found some on sale! Go get one it is so worth it. (I bought the Mimosa and the Orange Tree)

Chubby

Published
by
mai
on March 2, 2008
in Noteworthy, heartland and zooropa
. 2 Comments

Written by Sharon Say
Edited by Alya Honasan
Photo by Sharon Say

chubby-1.JPG

Just when Christmas was about to come, Chubby found himself abandoned by his human, all alone on the doorstep of PARC. Beside him, though, was a colored ball, almost like a bittersweet message from his owner, telling us that he was loved but could no longer be kept. Today, Chubby still keeps that ball near him, waiting for the day when he can happily run around with a human again, ball in mouth.

Chubby is about 4 years old, an energetic male. He seems to have some Labrador in his blood, what with his deep brown eyes and pristine white coat. He must have been chubby when he first arrived, which was why he was given that name. Over the months, however, missing a home and initially being set apart from the other dogs in PARC has saddened him and affected his appetite, making him a lot less than chubby nowadays.

He has no diagnosed ailments, is fully vaccinated, and is well taken care of by the staff. He’s a bit of a leash-puller, and wants to inspect every nook and cranny. He’s also very crafty; he surprised the staff one day when he unhooked the latch of his cage on his own! Chubby has so much spirit, yet you know he could be so much happier. He needs a bit of supervision with other dogs, but with humans, he is a sweet bundle of joy.

Will you be the one to give Chubby a new home, and to throw that beloved ball for him to chase once again?


CLICK HERE FOR THE ADOPTION PROCEDURE.
You may also email us at philpawsATyahooDOTcom
or call up PARC (the PAWS Shelter) at 475-1688.

*Help Chubby find his forever-home by re-posting this in your blogs, websites, yahoogroups, forums, etc., and forwarding to relatives and friends who you might think would be interested in giving a good dog a good home. (Some even go as far as printing these out and posting in their school / office / neighborhood bulletin boards! :D) Thanks! :)