The Easiest Iced Tea, Ever

Drinks associated with summer? Lemonade, of course, but also iced tea.

The Splendid Table recently had a piece on the easiest, fool proof iced tea there is. That is: add your tea to cold water and place in the refrigerator overnight. Okay, that's pretty easy. Turns out, too, some teas need considerably less time than that.

I've tried this method with Good Earth green tea (which is flavored with lemongrass).

I'm also becoming quite addicted to using this method with Celestial Seasoning's Red Zinger herbal tea, which needs more like 15 minutes to "steep." And you really can taste the hibiscus without burning your tongue (as in, what I normally do when I make hot tea).

Driving

I will be signing all of you up for remedial driving lessons. I am not even talking about rude driving or inconsiderate driving, not using turn signals, etc. I am talking about basic rules of the road.

So, here's today's lesson: If you are making a left hand turn, you are allowed -- in fact, it is to be highly encouraged if not required -- that you put your vehicle firmly into the intersection. The purpose is two fold: (1) you will be able to see oncoming traffic to determine whether it is safe to make the left hand turn and (2) if there is a lot of traffic, you will still be able to make your left hand turn when the light turns yellow. This is considered considerate to everyone behind you who doesn't stand a chance of ever making a left hand turn if you don't do this.

Seriously, I'm seeing this more and more. Have people forgotten?

Thought for Today

Has my blog become a repository for my crotchedy old lady complaints?

Kids these days .... dress inappropriately, are rude on the Metro, and can't spell.

I think this may sum up many, if not most, of my recent blog postings. Hmmm. Now, where's my cane, so I can shake it threateningly if any youngster gets too close.

What Not To Wear ... to Court

Another installment in my occasional educational series on sartorial choices.

This blog had an interesting round-up of comments attributed to judges referencing appropriate courtwear for attorneys -- although appropriate courtwear seems to be always limited to appropriate courtwear for women.

(I will note, though, actually, I had heard a story of male attorneys during a weeks-long trial who were admonished not to wear sports jackets to trial. And there was that patent attorney from the Pacific Northwest who thought he coul go without a tie to the Federal Circuit, which didn't go down so well).

Anyway, I will say that the whole pants suit v. skirt suit thing is a little silly. I wear both, although usually skirt suits. The rest should really be obvious for both sexes --dark, neutral colors, and basically don't wear anything that would make the judge remember what you were wearing rather than what you were saying.

I do have to disagree with the blog author, however, if she thought that high-heeled leather boots with her skirtsuit was appropriate footwear for court appearances. Even if it was winter in the Midwest. There's another, more vulgar term for those types of boots -- and that is not the message you want to be sending to the bench or to opposing counsel.

Signs of Spring

Hostas, geraniums and a forsythia (?) (ed: azalea) from our garden. Everything is green with all of the rain...it's amazing how alive everything looks.

Couch Surfing

Blog item here on couchsurfing. A million people worldwide are part of the network of people looking for a free place to crash in a visiting city and people who have empty couches/futons/guest bedrooms ready to lend them out to anyone who needs it. Would you be willing to couch surf on your next vacation to save some bucks or meet some locals? How about serving as a host?

Gym Etiquette

What, exactly, is the point of working out on the elliptical trainer while you talk on your cell phone? Are you really getting the full benefit of your workout that way?

Spelling Rant

Does no one know how to spell anymore? Is there an editor left in the world? Or in the world of electronic media, has everyone assumed that SpellCheck will do the work, even though SpellCheck can't catch homophones (that is, words which sound alike but are spelled differently and mean different things)? Why yes, my Harbrace College Handbook does happen to be on my desk, why do you ask?

I give you two recent examples. In the first, I received an invitation via e-mail from my college rowing club sent to all alumni. The title? "Your invited"
AGGHHHH! your signifies a possessive; you're is a contraction of the words you are.

Next, I was looking through the Montgomery County Parks & Planning catalog to see if there might be any interesting classes offered this spring and summer. The brochure advertises some cooking classes in the following manner: "Allow your pallet to travel different countries." (emphasis added).
Ahem. You find a pallet in a hardware store. You find your palate on your tongue.

In both cases, there appears to be a major failure of proofreading. I can assume that the rowing coach did not have someone else read the e-mail before he sent it (although he should have), but presumably the county did have a proofreader or two, so there really is no excuse for that one.

Metro Etiquette Tip #125

Using your commute to sample your selection of downloaded cell phone ringtones is not appropriate Metro behavior.

Unsolicited Fashion Advice #303: Dressing Your Children

If your daughter is under the age of five, here are some hints on what not to dress her in:

*Mini-skirts. Even if they have "girly" ruffles.
*Halter tops.

This list is not exhaustive. You are welcome.

Quote of the Day

"Love does not result in a lack of conflict: Intimacy and conflict are inseparable, for we grow in our personal lives through conflict."

--David Augsburger, The Peacemaker

Greetings & Salutations

I'm really trying to work on letting little things bother me less, I really am. I do believe I am not half as wound up as I was ten years ago, perhaps some evidence supporting the adage that age mellows us all. I don't know. But I had occasion to consider a funny habit recently (not mine): the habit of using "I love you" as a sign-off on the phone.

As in:

"Do you want chicken or pasta for dinner tonight??"
"Chicken.."
"Okay, I'll see you at home. I love you."

or

"Did you just try to call me?"
"No, I was in a meeting."
"Oh, okay. I love you."

As you may imagine, I have opportunities in my daily life to hear inane conversations such as this, and while it's clearly someone else's relationships, not mine, it still kind of drives me crazy.

It reminded me of a thought I had several years ago about not letting "I love you" become another way of saying "good-bye."

Consumer Products

How much love do I have for the ShamWow? A lot. The commercials--with the guy with his headset mic, just put a smile on my face every time they seem to appear on Fox Soccer Channel. (The commercial always seems to be playing on Fox Soccer Channel, inexplicably)

Anyway, a showdown between Shamwow and Zorbeez, the product plugged by Billy Mays (of OxyClean fame?) How could I resist?

And I am happy to report that Shamwow was the hands-down winner. Now I shall get to stocking up right now.

Choices

Both my ten year college reunion and the World Spinning Conference in Miami are held on the same weekend. Choices, choices.

Today's Photo

Our gnome braved the cold today.

Sweet Potato and Leek Gratin

An Up Close View of the Gratin
Sweet Potato and Leek Gratin
This is a wonderful dish. I think you need another side or a protein to really round this out into a full meal, (eating some leftovers for lunch today left me hungry by 3pm), but this would be a great side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas or any potluck. After all the time in the oven, the sweet potatoes just melt, and if you burn the leeks (as I did, accidentally), it adds even more sweetness, I think. Another great excuse for using the oven.

Sweet Potato and Leek Gratin
(adapted from recipe in Vegetarian Times, February 2009)

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp olive oil
3 medium leeks, white and light green parts chopped
3 cloves garlic
3 Tbs rosemary
1/2 tsp sumac
2 medium-to-large sweet potatoes, cut in thin half moons
1/2 c. water
3 Tbs breadcrumbs
2-3 Tbs freshly grated Parmesan (The original recipe called for Romano, which I am sure would also be delicious)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450F. Coat 9x9 baking pan with baking spray.
2. Add oil to nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add leeks, garlic and rosemary, saute 8 minutes, until soft. Season with pepper and coarse sea salt.
3. Arrange sweet potato slices on the bottom of the baking pan. Alternate leek mixture and sweet potatoes.
4. Sprinkle the sumac on the top layer and pour the water over the entire dish.
5. Cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes.
6. Stir breadcrumbs and grated cheese together.
7. Remove foil from gratin and shake the breadcrumb-cheese mixture over the dish. Cook uncovered for another 10 minutes. Let cool slightly.

More Soup

I was happy to read through February's copy of Vegetarian Times and find a lot of good recipes worth trying out. This is one of them, which is a perfect, warm, thick, creamy, winter soup, with easy to find and inexpensive ingredients. I am thinking of using it for a church soup supper this Lent. If you use soy milk (as the original recipe calls for), it's a vegan soup as well.

Roasted Corn Chowder
adapted from Vegetarian Times, February 2009

Ingredients:
1 tbs olive oil
1/2 small onion, chopped
1 orange bell pepper, diced
2 c. frozen diced potatoes
4 c. vegetable stock
16 oz frozen roasted corn kernels (I used Trader Joes brand)
2 c. milk (I used 2%)

Directions:
1. Heat oil and saute onion and bell pepper for 5 minutes. Stir in potatoes and cook for 3 minutes more.
2. Add broth and corn and bring to simmer; reduce heat and cook 7-10 minutes.
3. Using immersion blender, blend soup, leaving some corn kernels and potato bits unblended.

How to Eat More Vegetables

I'm trying really hard to support my local, forgotten, unloved Safeway that's right by the train station. It's so convenient and yet so eerily....unused. So I try to reward them when they have decent produce and/or organic stuff by purchasing it, which is how I ended up with a bag of parsnips. I like parsnips; however, parsnips do not usually end up in my cooking equation. Fortunately, I've also been drooling over Deborah Madison's cookbook, Local Flavors, which I thoroughly enjoy perusing and yet almost never cook any of the recipes in this cookbook (unlike Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone, which, as the name indicates, everyone needs).

I found this really easy recipe for a galette which uses the parsnips and another wonderful winter vegetable, chard. And even though some of my Spanish tortilla-flipping has been less than perfect in the past, this galette flipped easily. This is perfect with a side salad and packs wonderfully for lunches.

Parsnip Galette with Greens
(adapted from Local Flavors by Deborah Madison)

Ingredients:
1/2 lb parsnips
sea salt & fresh pepper
4 c. mixed greens (I used rainbow chard)
2 large eggs
1 tbsp all purpose flour
1/4 c. parmesan cheese
2 tbsp butter
1/2 c. chopped walnuts
1./2 tsp herbes de provence
olive oil

Directions:
(1) Peel and grate parsnips. It should be about 2 cups.
(2) Boil water, and drop the chard in the water for about 4-5 minutes. Drain the chard and chop it up.
(3) Beat eggs, whisk in the flour, and then add salt, pepper, herbes de provence, parsnips, cheese, and greens.
(4) Melt butter in 8 inch nonstick skillet. Add walnuts and cook until toasty (3-4 minutes). Add walnuts to parsnip-egg mixture.
(5) Wipe out skillet, add a bit of olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan and add parsnip mixture, flattening it down with the back of a wooden spoon.
(6) Cook on one side until brown, about 8 minutes.
(7)Slide galette onto plate, put skillet face down onto plate & flip the galette. Finish cooking on the second side another 3-4 minutes.
(8) Remove from skillet and cut into wedges.