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Cook with Jamie

nainadg

 

I’ve decided to start a new project with a new Cookbook that I got. I really like Jamie Oliver (The Naked Chef) and his approach to food and I got his latest cookbook recently and I’ve decided to start doing one recipe from the book every week, most likely sundays. I don’t know if I’ll just get bored and busy and drop it very quickly but I’m really going to try. 

I think on sunday we are going to attempt the Gnocchi from his book from scratch. 

http://www.amazon.com/Cook-Jamie-Guide-Making-Better/dp/1401322336

Life

2009

nainadg

I can’t believe its 2009. It seems odd and when I really think about time I feel old. Also nowadays, 2 glasses of wine gives me hangover. But I guess thats how it goes. 

I’ll have to do the Christmas and New Year posts later because my dear J will not upload photos for me cuz he is busy. So I have to do it myself sometime later tonight. So other than that the only thing I have to blog about is just my thoughts for 2009.

I think 2009 is going to be an interesting year for me and J . This year J and I have a big move coming up- we are 90% sure we will leave NC but we are yet unclear on where to move. I think this move will be very different for us than the one we made 4 years ago, with just our car, music, books and clothes. No trucks, no packing, no plans, no apt, just showing up in Durham NC. 

But now we are older, we actually own stuff- we would have to rent a truck, fly out to wherever we move, to rent/buy an apt, worry about jobs and neighborhoods before we actually move. Perhpas, it will permanently cement our transition into adulthood. 

Other than the move, we also have a vacation coming up in 10 days . We are going on a cruise to the Bahamas. We are super excited and I’m planning on taking loads of pics of the tropical waters.

Uncategorized

December Thoughts

nainadg

Since I just got back on the wagon, there will be a few posts with no photos…as in I have a memory card full of images that have yet to uploaded. Also, I bought a brand new camera this week and I still need to test it out. But more on that later.

I can’t believe its two weeks in to december already, this year has zoomed by really fast, so whats going on with me?

1) Major Diet – trying to look fab for J and My anniversary trip to the Bahamas

2) Christmas shopping and panicking- J and I have been doing our holiday shopping and so far we are terribly behind. Our goal is to have everything done and shipped by sunday.

3) Its J’s birthday tomorrow so we have a fun day of eating out and hedonism planned.

Travel, Wedding

A Bahamas Extravaganza

nainadg

So J and I have now completed one year of marriage. To celebrate, we are going on a 4 night cruise to the Bahamas and Key West. We will be travelling from Jan 19th through the 23rd and our tickets have already been bought. It was our anniversary present to ourself. We will be sailing on Royal Carribean’s Majesty of the Seas

Our itinerary is Miami-Nassau-Cococay Islands-Key West -Miami. I am so excited for this trip and to go snorkeling and doing other fun water activities.

Some photos of CocoCay , Nassau and Key west-

CocoCay Island- Cant wait to jump in that water
CocoCay Island- Can't wait to jump in that water

 

Buildings in Nassau. I am more interested in exploring the city this time, as Ill probably do most of my water/beach stuff at Cococay
Buildings in Nassau. I am more interested in exploring the city this time, as I'll probably do most of my water/beach stuff at Cococay

 

Hemingway House- J loves Ernest Hemingway, so well probably check this out
Hemingway House- J loves Ernest Hemingway, so we'll probably check this out
Food and Drinks

100 Foods

nainadg

Like the book list I did a few weeks ago, but for the foodie in me! Sidenote, I think this list is definitely geared more towards the British than Americans.

 A Very good Taste ‘s list of 100 things that every “good” omnivore should have tried at least once in their life. Bloggers are encouraged to copy the list and bold items they have indulged in.

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB& J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

Travel

Fall Break

nainadg

With J gone, its been a dull few days around here, but I’m finally all cheered up because I leave for Freeport Maine today. I am really excited for this little quick getaway and to see the beautiful Maine fall. I am also really excited about Maine’s coast and I’m planning on taking a little ferry ride to see some seals and birds. I’ll post photos when I’m back!

Stuff, Vintage Books

Vintage Harlequin Romances- Finds for September

nainadg

 

 

 

I fell in love(pun, ha ha) with Harlequin/Mills and Boon covers when I discovered my mom’s old books from the 1970s. Since then I have a very strict time period for which I collect 1980 or earlier and I usually only focus on a few authors because they make for an entertaining read every now and then.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a big fan of the typical romance genre, in fact I don’t think I have read any contemporary Harlequin romances, what I love like my passion for other vintage books is the language, and settings. I like really convuluted sexist (I know, I know shame on me as a feminist and I am a feminist) plots and I love that the heroines aren’t imagined, or spunkier or different from their times, which I think is the case with a lot of historical fiction. The vintage books actually have a more accurate representation of that current society. I love reading especially the books from the 1960’s and 1970’s where you see the conflict between traditional women’s roles and the new modern roles and of course its a fantasy, so there is always a happy ending and the woman gets both.

As for the covers, I love the old school illustrations, in fact the style of the first one is actually my favorite, its so pulpy and awesome and I wish I had a better vocabulary to describe it.  I’ll try to do a monthly post about my collections. Its going to be harder and I have to be more selective because my local thrift store has raised prices for old paperbacks from $.25 to $1.99