orcas, .

We took a mini-vacation up to the San Juan Islands in Washington last week before Thanksgiving. I had never been, and it was lovely. We missed whale season by about 2 months- Orcas Island is one of the best places in the world to see orca whales (killer whales). Maybe one day in the future we can go back and see the whales, when the babe is older. The ferry ride was great fun, and the cabins that we stayed at were so cozy, wood-burning-stovey, comfy-bed-snuggly nice. I highly recommend it… especially if you want to elope.

…no, we didn’t. But you should!

king dad discovers baby crowns

Hello Everyone,

It has been a while since the last time I wrote a blog, and thought that updating would be a good thing to do. I am still alive, and very active, except when it comes to updating the blog lol. So anyway I would want to talk about the food I cooked for my 1 year anniversary with my lovely GF. So I tried to make something from the food my GF (not sure if I should use real names lol) really enjoyed. So I decided to make shrimp kabob’s, mash potatoes, and string beans. The shrimp kabob contains shrimp (of course), pineapple, and onions. I marinated the shrimp first, then applied the sauce as I was grilling the kabobs. The sauce I used was a honey barbecue sauce mixed with pineapple juice, and garlic with parsley powder. I decided to grill the kabobs, and I was happy with how it turned out. The mash potatoes are made from real potatoes. After boiling the potatoes till they were really soft, I mashed them with butter, milk, garlic salt, and pepper. The string beans were easy to make. You just steam cook them for 10-15 minutes, then mix with melted butter and salt and pepper.

Overall I believe the dish turned out good. The only thing I would change is instead of using onions on the kabobs, I would try to use something else. The onions remained pretty raw, and did not turn out as I expected them to be. So yeah, thats what I wanted to blog about. Farewell and God Bless, and I am not dead!

july 5th, special for many reasons
:sunday
:sunny
:warm
:new dress day
:baby’s 3 weeks old
:krugers stays open til sundown!

so, we celebrate by driving out to the farm on sauvie’s island. we visit the maybe pregnant pig, pull the wildly-growing chamomile from the grass,  eat lots of blueberries + just wander around enjoying the day.

$5 Dinner: Pork Chop and String Beans

Originally uploaded by LarimdaME.

Center cut pork chop from Associated: $3.50.
French cut frozen string beans from Associated: $1.50

Approx 20 minutes to cook.
Serve with rice, feeds 2, possibly 3.

saute pork chop in a glaze of soy sauce and pepper and sesame seed oil (olive or any oil will do, mostly to keep the meat from sticking to the pan). Soy sauce for color, pepper for the fat (it sticks to the fat like bees to honey, I dunno why).
2 table spoons soy sauce, 1/2 table spoon pepper, 1 table spoon of oil, if you insist on measuring. I don’t, and all I have are tablespoons.

Marinating ahead of time would be bettter, but who has time for that fancy shit, yo.

Simmer string beans in a small pot with a splash of water, garlic powder, pepper, salt to taste, and a chicken bullion cube. Don’t add more than a splash, the frozen veggies have plenty of water.

Reduce until almost no water, then add 2 tablespoons sesame oil and keep reducing until threatening to start burning. You can stop earlier and avoid the oil step, but I like my string beans a bit dry.

I’m a single guy, so I usually just throw everything into the pot i was cooking with and eat it on the couch while watching TV. But people asked to see it all plated, so I did it for a change.

Rice is about half a cup uncooked. Possibly 2/3rds cup.

I went to the Victory Garden and was surprised to find string beans ready to pick. String beans always come a little bit earlier than a lot of other things, but the ground hog wrecked the plants last year and I guess I had forgotten.

I also picked a nice bunch of radishes. The dirt in the yard has a lot of clay in it and root vegetables like radish and carrots never did very well. The dirt at the Victory Garden is much looser and these turned out well.

Tom turned 30 this year. I can’t believe it! The first time I can remember seeing Tom- at our college library- he was probably 21. I was with my friend Katie and I was wandering off to look at the videos and magazines while they chatted. What a difference 9 years makes.
Our original idea for celebrating this landmark was taking a trip to Mexico. However, last October when we discovered that I was pregnant, we realized this trip wouldn’t be happening this year.
Next best way to throw a party when you’re 8 months pregnant? Happy Birthday brunch!

Pineapple Upside-Down Cake from How to Cook Everything:

Lots of fresh coffee :

Cute friends:

Backyard Bunny time:

Happy Birthday Tom!

One month ago today, Tom proposed to me by a waterfall in the Columbia River Gorge. Rainy day, cold toes, wet faces, muddy trails and all. I take off the hat to reply. Of course, I say, of course. What a sweetheart.

He even traded rain pants with me when I discovered that I’d outgrown mine.

It was definitely a rough time getting up this morning… I guess after three days of getting to sleep in until 7am, today really hit me hard!  I still feel like I’m in a fog, but I’m going to blame it on the snow & the freezing 20 degree weather that we are experiencing… come on Spring!

Luckily, my breakfast put me in a good mood… nothing like a hearty bowl of oats to get me going, right?  In this delicious bowl, I combined 1/2 c oats, cinnamon, splash of vanilla, 1/2 cup of frozen blueberries, chopped pecans, ground flax, and a sprinkling of Zoe’s granola.  Uh, can you say YUM?!

Since I knew it would be cold out, I packed some oatbran to make mid morning at work.  When I packed my lunch, I figured I’d be in the mood for a warming snack and I was glad I did that because it sure warmed me up!

For lunch, I packed a chicken & pepperjack cheese sandwich on Vermont wheat bread.  I just LOVE this bread, it’s still so fresh and I LOVE the texture!  On the side I had an apple and a 100 calorie pack of Girl Scout cookies.  Yes, the cookies are playing chameleon because they blend in perfectly with my foil!

I got stuck at work later than normal since I wasn’t there yesterday and I also skipped the gym.  I did get in my cardio yesterday and well, to be honest, today I just felt both mentally and physically exhausted so I decided to rest.  I did go home and do my yoga though, which made me feel fabulous.  I did a 25 minute Rodney Yee session.  I have yet to try Yoga Downloads simply because I’m hooked on Rodney Yee & the P90X Yoga X; however I think Yoga Downloads will be making an appearance at some point this week, I can feel it   What sessions do you recommend (I’m BAD at flexibility & stabilizing myself)?

I am trying to cut back on cardio since I have become even more addicted.  Not that there is anything wrong with it, but I want to feel like I don’t HAVE to do it all the time.  When I strength train, I feel like it’s not a workout because I’m not dripping sweat everywhere (sorry for the visual).  Has anyone else gotten over this feeling?  If so, I need your help!!!

Despite the fact that I’m cutting back on cardio, I have a special announcement to reveal tomorrow morning in regards to training…

When I got home, I knew we still had about 2 hours until dinner and I was feeling a little hungry, so I had a snack of Nature’s Path Vanilla Almond Flax Plus granola and almond breeze.  I love this granola, but I wish it wasn’t so calorie-dense.

Dinner as a totally new recipe for me.

Peanutty Pasta, Protein, & Peas

• 2 Servings Cooked WW Pasta
• 8 ounces thawed chicken breast
• 1 bag frozen pea, carrot, string bean, and corn mix
• 1/3 C natural chunky peanut butter
• 2 T garlic powder
• 1 T crushed black pepper
• 1 T lemon juice
• 1 T sugar
• 1/2 T salt
• 1 T sriracha

Mix peanut butter, soy sauce, sugar, sriracha, lemon juice, and seasonings in a bowl.  Microwave for 30 seconds and then whisk until well combined.

Cook chicken in pan and cut into chunks.  Once chicken is well cooked, add in the bag of frozen veggies, stirring until cooked well.  Pour chicken and veggies into large pot of drained pasta (keeping a little bit of pasta water, maybe 1/4 cup remaining in the pot) on low to medium heat.  Pour in peanut sauce, stirring while combining well.  Once everything is well combined and HOT (after a few minutes), then serve and enjoy!

Ok, well before I go, I have to share with you a fantastic giveaway that Chocolate Covered Katie’s is hosting:   Jocolat giveaway!  How amazing is that?!  I <3 the Jocolat bars, however haven’t found them in any local stores.  The only time I tried them was at a race last year!

Now off to snuggle in my pj’s & get ready for the Biggest Loser!

So after months of striking out, after months of visiting my older lova, I’ve finally done it….I managed to snag a date with a boy.  While traditional dating has always been a goal for me since coming out of the closet I’ve found that it isn’t as easy as I naively thought.   I’ve found it hard to meet nice guys who just want to go to the movies or out for coffee etc. I’ve also found it hard to keep my gay hormones at bay enough to go on a date (I get a drink in me and the next thing I know I want to devour the guy in front of me instead of going on a nice date to the movies, come on you’ve never felt that way?)….I don’t know perhaps I don’t have the self control I once thought I did?  But last night the stars aligned and the universe seemed to favor me…but not without some trials and tribulations!

I had met Brad at the bar last week while I was doing mental battle with Will and though he might be nice to get to know.  Low and behold he was at the bar again last night.  So me and my friend Steve head on over to get a drink and he starts making small talk with us and we end up just chatting for a bit.  It was a good start to the evening….although I did have to reintroduce  myself cause he was drunk last week and couldn’t remember me.  (I know what you are thinking Sammy’s hittin’ on the drunken ones again)  Steve leaves for a bit to find some of his friends and as we talk we comment on guys etc and I don’t know whether he is hitting on me or trying to avoid me.  At one point he motions to a particularly good looking guy who I secretly know.  This guy is nothing but trouble!  And Brad mentions how good looking he is.  This guy is 30, overly tanned, and a myriad of gay stereotypes.  I’m in no way attracted to him and all I can think is other guys find this attractive….I mean lets just say there isn’t much going on behind the eyes if you get my drift.  Now I on the other hand am the complete opposite.  I’m 26, 5’8”, tanned only during the summer, drink beer, and I fancy myself to have a decent intellect and wit.  All I can think is if Brad finds this guy attractive there is not a chance in the world for me because I am totally opposite.  We eventually part ways, he goes to the front of the bar and I close out my tab.  I end up talking with some of my lesbian friends for a bit and eventually find myself back out front…Imagine my surprise when Brad asks if I’m going to dance with him.  I’m pretty please and we head off to cut a rug. (Of course I said cut a rug.)

Let me give you an idea of Sammy and dancing.  I love it!  I’m not the best at it but my motto is an empty dance floor is a sad dance floor.  Now at the straight bars I will let loose and have a great time dancing it is a completely different story at the gay bar.  I tend to be more self aware at the gay bar and dancing…far be it from me to dance badly and end up cursing my dating probability LOL.  So I’m on the dance floor and dancing with Brad when the guy from the bar (the one Brad had pointed out earlier comes over and begins trying to dance with Brad)……all I can think is, “no you don’t…I’ve worked far to hard to get to this point to have you come in here and try and steal this guy I want to ask out on a date.”  That’s it IT’S A MOTHER FUCKIN DANCE OFF!!!! Me and Mr. String bean dancing it out for the affections of Brad.  It’s a mind blowing spectacle that Mr. String Bead doesn’t even know he is participating…Hair flying, sweat running and I’m giving it my all….okay it wasn’t quite like that I was shimmying and be-bopping around just trying to keep String Bean away. I did have some unexpected help though…it came in the form of a straight girl that kept dancing up on String Bean.  Go team Sammy!  When all has died down I find myself victorious….until Brad leans over and says to me, “you don’t have to dance all ghetto like.”  I said I was a decent dancer not the best mind you… But anyhow we end up by the bar and have the oddest discussion.  Brad who is now drunk continues telling me how all the guys he’s hooked up with and tried to date were all wrong and hasn’t worked out for him.  He continues to tell me that he thinks String Bean is hot but he clicked with me first and how important sexual attraction is….As I mentioned before I am nothing like String Bean and I am trying to figure out if he is trying to hint to me that he isn’t interested.  I just can’t tell and that drives me nuts.  So I get a text and end up having to go close out my friends tab I head to the back bar, figuring that Brad isn’t interested and I’m not going to give him my number, but invite him to come with me.  He accepts and I’m a little forlorn over these recent developments.  At the bar we keep chatting and he again tells me that all the guys he’s attracted to are no good and usually end badly, which makes me feel like he is looking for something different (yours truly )  But I am confused as hell right now and really not wanting to make a full of myself.  That’s when he asks if I have his number to which I reply no and he proceeds to give it to me.  I’m texting my number to him when Steve shows up ready to leave and I decide to ask Brad out.  I tell him if he is looking for something different then perhaps he and I could catch a movie on Friday.  It’s simple not very committal just something different that isn’t a hook up after a boozy night at the gay bar.  Then he says, surprisingly, “Great, but” there is always a but, he works on Fridays.  Well it ends up that we will be going out to the movies tonight.  Gulp much quicker than I had anticipated!  At this point he leans over and asks if this is a date and I say yes and his face seems to give off a look of approval.  Then he kisses me on the lips.  Shocked I was in shock.  So I have to call him today and give him times so we can go out. 

I have some reservations about the date tonight; Brad is definitely not someone I had ever expected to land a date with nor does he remotely come close to guys that I’ve pictured myself with.  They say variety is the spice of life well this is definitely variety in my life at the moment.  I telling myself keep and open mind enjoy the date and the whole point about dating is that you get to see what the person is like and a date doesn’t mean a commitment either.  I will give you all the dirty details later this week

Who doesn’t love food? Come on, you must be kidding! If you aren’t, please leave this blog immediately and return once you solemnly declare you love food as much as I do. Amen Now, today it’s all about  food. I am talking about serious cooking. Ahem.. The ones who prefer not to cook, have left this building (blog) by now for sure

OK, how many of you find it difficult to rustle up a meal or two after a hectic and long day? I know, it’s difficult and some times frustrating! The easiest way I’d imagine is ordering a takeout. But for how long? There were days when I did not have the luxury of time to prepare a hot meal. Takeout seems the only best option available. The cycle is something like this – placing the order, drive to pick the order and drive home. Now, the whole process of takeout basically takes me around 30-40 minutes, even with delivery services. In that amount of time or lesser, I could rustle two simple and delicious Chinese dishes accompanied with rice! Forgive me, for I am born with a tinge of Chinese cuisine I love Indian cooking, but it can be a little heavy consuming it all the time — not that I am complaining I do try to balance our diet at home with variety of dishes ranging from Chinese-Indian-Indonesian-Thai influences.

This was last night’s menu and recipes. Simple, nothing too elaborate or culinary schoolmarmish If you still insist to put on an apron and a chef cap, I salute you

String bean with Chicken

Cast: oil, minced garlic & ginger, boneless chicken, salt, string bean, Lee Kum Kee’s Original Stir-Fry sauce & chinese rice cooking wine and fresh coriander.

Method: With a wok on high heat, add 2 tsp of cooking oil and stir fry boneless chicken for 2 minutes. Add a pinch of salt and string bean. Fry till beans are seared and almost done. Add ginger, garlic paste and 2 tbsp of Lee Kum Kee’s Original Stir Fry Sauce. Fry for a minute. Add a dash of Chinese cooking wine and done! Don’t forget to turn off stove and plate the dish in a serving bowl. Garnish it with fresh coriander leaves. Serve hot with rice!

Try substituting meat with fresh mushrooms for a wholesome vegetarian dish. Yum!

Stir-fry Broccoli

Cast: oil, minced garlic, broccoli crowns, Lee Kum Kee’s Vegetarian stir fry sauce and salt.

Method: With a wok on medium low heat, add 2 tsp of cooking oil and stir in 1 tsp of garlic. Fry till garlic is fragrant and not burnt! If you’d burnt the garlic — trust me, you’ve not sinned. Just redo the whole process from scratch. You would dislike the taste of burnt garlic, for sure Add broccoli crowns and fry for 3minutes. Stir in 2 tbsp of Lee Kum Kee’s Vegetarian Stir-Fry Sauce and a dash of salt. Fry for another minute and done! Serve hot with rice!

Caution: You might have the urge of just dumping all the ingredients in one pot, fry it for a few minutes, and voila! the meal is done? Patience is virtue. You would be rewarded with flavorful meal without a stomach ache

Thanks for visiting my eKitchen and do join me again in exploring the wonder of food… *burp!* excuse me!

String Bean

Originally uploaded by skudfisher

I wasn’t planning on making anything last night but then suddenly around midnight I had the sudden urge to try and quickly make a smaller guy… 3 hours later String Bean was born.

James rightly points out that it needs to be made clear that the man arrested for frightening children by feeding pigeons while wearing a g string backwards is from Perth SCOTLAND, not Perth Western Australia.

I must say I have some sympathy for this fellow. There are no instructions with thongs, and many people are used to having the larger area of the undies at the rear. A “friend” spent the most uncomfortable 3 weeks of their life, including the honeymoon…But perhaps that chapter should be closed. All I can say is, ADD MORE DIAGRAMS! Bonds et al.