After almost two years of being occupied every weekend, having unplanned days can be a challenge. Luckily I have some good friends and numerous social acquaintances. It's not that there's a lack of things to do or people to see, but when you would rather be spending time with one particular person it can feel sad. Today I ran some errands and went to see a friend read poetry at a coffee shop nearby, which was fun. I planned some meals for the week, grocery shopped and then cooked a nice stir fry for dinner. I wasn't motivated to go out, thankfully one of my best friends picked up the phone when I called around 9:00pm. Sometimes all I need is a familiar voice and someone who has known me for ten years to remind me how far you've come and provide comfort.
This friend also happens to be one of my cooking inspirations so in addition to catching up on life, we talked about food. She works full time and is responsible for feeding her family of four. She's a vegetarian and cooks delicious meals almost every night of the week. We talked about some of the things that I've learned over the past month. First, I've realized that cooking can be fun and creative. I also like the focus on one thing that is like nothing else I do during the day. I've also learned that almost everything you prepare yourself tastes far better than most restaurant food. I have eaten at some elegant restaurants and there's nothing like exquisite food that not only tastes good but also looks beautiful. It turns out though, creating good meals at home is not has difficult as I thought. Granted, it's not the same as eating at a five star restaurant in NYC, but its better than a lot of the over-priced one or two star restaurants I've been to over the years. Tonight I changed a recipe and improvised. Everything turned out fine.
All evening, except for the two hours I spent on the phone with my BFF in California, I listened to Wynter Gordon. A local Brooklyn artist, she sounds at times like Gwen Stefani at others like Tori Amos, but she's really an R&B singer-songwriter who has written songs for Mary J. Blidge. Some of the songs make you want to get on the dance floor. Others are more reflective but rather than a slow groove, they build like a powerful and epic Florence + The Machine tune. Gordon has a powerful voice and her music, although full and robust deep orchestration, is mainly electronic. Some of her songs carry an ache that just captures my feelings right now. The drum beat and backing keyboards with a few electric guitar interludes remind me of something from the early 1990s or even the 1980s. "Waiting" sounds like a song that I should know, but can't quite place.
You led me to believe
That some day we would be
More than a question mark
A possibility
We're living in denial
'Cos this just can't be true
I could still wait all my life
To die right next to you
I'll be waiting around for you
I'll be waiting around for you
I'll be holding on another day
Don't know how we gonna make it
But I know we can make it alright
All I know is there's no other way
Don't know how we gonna make it but I
Know we can make it alright
Spicy Chicken Stir-Fry with Peanuts from Everyday Food Light (page 313)
Serves 4
Total time about 30 minutes
1 Tbs plus 1 tsp peanut oil
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (6-8 oz each) thinly sliced
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 serrano or jalapeno chile, thinkly sliced
8 oz snow peas (about 4 cups)
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup chopped roasted peanuts
3/4 cup fresh basil, torn
In wok or non-stick skillet, heat oil over high.
Add chicken, cook until brown on one side, 2-3 minutes
Turn chicken and add garlic, chile, and snow peas
Cook until chicken is cooked, about 2-3 minutes more
Season with salt and pepper
Stir in lime juice, peanuts and basil
I wanted to use the remaining snow peas I had from earlier in the week, but wasn't feeling like chicken for dinner. I used shrimp instead. Since it was just me, I halved everything or estimated about half. I didn't even have basil, but it still tasted good. Some days I am totally shocked how easy it is to cook something that tastes good. It was much better than the Chinese take-out I thought about picking-up tonight.
This friend also happens to be one of my cooking inspirations so in addition to catching up on life, we talked about food. She works full time and is responsible for feeding her family of four. She's a vegetarian and cooks delicious meals almost every night of the week. We talked about some of the things that I've learned over the past month. First, I've realized that cooking can be fun and creative. I also like the focus on one thing that is like nothing else I do during the day. I've also learned that almost everything you prepare yourself tastes far better than most restaurant food. I have eaten at some elegant restaurants and there's nothing like exquisite food that not only tastes good but also looks beautiful. It turns out though, creating good meals at home is not has difficult as I thought. Granted, it's not the same as eating at a five star restaurant in NYC, but its better than a lot of the over-priced one or two star restaurants I've been to over the years. Tonight I changed a recipe and improvised. Everything turned out fine.
All evening, except for the two hours I spent on the phone with my BFF in California, I listened to Wynter Gordon. A local Brooklyn artist, she sounds at times like Gwen Stefani at others like Tori Amos, but she's really an R&B singer-songwriter who has written songs for Mary J. Blidge. Some of the songs make you want to get on the dance floor. Others are more reflective but rather than a slow groove, they build like a powerful and epic Florence + The Machine tune. Gordon has a powerful voice and her music, although full and robust deep orchestration, is mainly electronic. Some of her songs carry an ache that just captures my feelings right now. The drum beat and backing keyboards with a few electric guitar interludes remind me of something from the early 1990s or even the 1980s. "Waiting" sounds like a song that I should know, but can't quite place.
You led me to believe
That some day we would be
More than a question mark
A possibility
We're living in denial
'Cos this just can't be true
I could still wait all my life
To die right next to you
I'll be waiting around for you
I'll be waiting around for you
I'll be holding on another day
Don't know how we gonna make it
But I know we can make it alright
All I know is there's no other way
Don't know how we gonna make it but I
Know we can make it alright
Spicy Chicken Stir-Fry with Peanuts from Everyday Food Light (page 313)
Serves 4
Total time about 30 minutes
1 Tbs plus 1 tsp peanut oil
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (6-8 oz each) thinly sliced
4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 serrano or jalapeno chile, thinkly sliced
8 oz snow peas (about 4 cups)
Salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup chopped roasted peanuts
3/4 cup fresh basil, torn
In wok or non-stick skillet, heat oil over high.
Add chicken, cook until brown on one side, 2-3 minutes
Turn chicken and add garlic, chile, and snow peas
Cook until chicken is cooked, about 2-3 minutes more
Season with salt and pepper
Stir in lime juice, peanuts and basil
I wanted to use the remaining snow peas I had from earlier in the week, but wasn't feeling like chicken for dinner. I used shrimp instead. Since it was just me, I halved everything or estimated about half. I didn't even have basil, but it still tasted good. Some days I am totally shocked how easy it is to cook something that tastes good. It was much better than the Chinese take-out I thought about picking-up tonight.
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