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a good life

Saturday, 15. August 2009, 00:53:50

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another interuption from the present time. life in noho.



today for a change i decided to just relax and do whatever pleased me.

so i'm out in the back yard sitting under my one avocado.



i'm listening to horace silver on the radio "kjazz", reading john fowles' "the ebony tower" drinking my 'kiccakapoo' joy juice, lemonade with ginger, maple syrup, cayenne, molasses and a dram of apple vinegar. so i'm feeling pretty good, loving the book, loving the sounds.

suddenly i go, hey, i'm hungry. i was so hungry, i had to do something fast and satisfying. so i invented this open faced sandwich. i had one biscuit left which was getting a little hard. a coat of butter, smoked salmon and mozzarella cheese would hit the spot i thought. i played with a pepper i grew and an olive. ha ha. (i didn't know it was a hot pepper.)



i planned to broil my snack for five minutes. but i checked what was happening in opera and got there a little late. so i repeat for everyone's benefit. "do not... i say, do not cook while you're Internet-glued.!" seven minutes was just two minutes too long.



i ate them anyway. they were delicious.

the journal beginsa good life II

Comments

PainterWoman 15. August 2009, 01:03

Sounds like my kind of day Scott....sipping, reading and munching. And, yes, I've burnt a thing or two. I was in the middle of boiling some gnochis when my son called me out to the patio to discuss something he was helping me with. Five minutes too long. All the water had boiled away and the bottom layer was burned. About two dozen unburned ones were saved off the top but, unfortunately, had to toss them too because the burnt flavor was too strong.

scott cumming 15. August 2009, 01:22

it's easy to get distracted and time goes by. it can be very surprising that we forget what we're doing. i think i will stick to doing one thing at a time. i've boiled away the water before too.

anyway, like my father used to say when he burned the steaks "carbon is good for you. they're just well browned."

Mags 15. August 2009, 01:29

I'll never forget Easter, 2007. I was expecting about 18 people for brunch. While I was broiling bread crumbs, I kind of got distracted. When I returned, my oven was on fire :cry: I opened the door and flames were shooting out everywhere. In a panic, I unplugged the stove and call the FD. They were there in a flash. Luckily, the house didn't burn down, nor was my stove damaged, but the house was filled with smoke and it took several heavy duty fans to clear it all out. In gratitude, I invited the FD back for brunch, but they declined.

PainterWoman 15. August 2009, 01:30

It depends on how much it's browned. :lol:

I've got a small gas stove that I've learned to love cooking on. It was the first gas stove I'd ever cooked on in 30 yrs and the first month, I think I burned quite a few things just by turning my back. It's a very small kitchen so I'm right there but it took a while learning how to adjust the flame and stir often.

Mags 15. August 2009, 01:32

Sandwich looks yummy. It's making me hungry. :chef:

Mags 15. August 2009, 01:38

Gas stoves cook nicely, but I have to admit I'm afraid of them. Grew up with them when I was younger and I remember the pilot light going out so often. Us kids were told to "stand back" Guess I was always expecting an explosion of some sort :lol:

L2D2 15. August 2009, 01:44

I am cooking two chicken breasts that I have basted throughout the baking process with butter seasoned with herbs, rosemary, garlic, lemon and pepper. I am treating myself. Not quite sure what I will have with it though, as I am out of salad fixins and it is time for a trip to the grocery store.

Those sandwiches look good to me, Scott, but when I saw the first picture, I said "Hi!" Looks like two eyes complete with eyebrows. :lol:

Angeliki 15. August 2009, 02:07

you are the :king: and I love you much!:knight:

*pulls a chair next to meli's*
and
*shares one if the ear phone buds too,
he reads loud and she closes her eyes* :heart:

scott cumming 15. August 2009, 02:34

mags,
i agree they cook much better when you know how high the flame should be. it's easier for me to see and remember the height of the flame than a number on the electric dial.
my mother once lost her eyebrows with a gas oven. scary. :yikes:

yep, pam, stirring is critical for the success of many dishes. that's the way to cook. just stay there. :happy:
i made tofu stir fry tonight and after my earlier experience i stayed right there and stirred. they whole apartment smells like sesame oil and tamari sauce.

linda, it's probably too late, but corn on the cob and a boiled potato or rice would be nice... chicken is my favorite meat. especially those skinned breasts. :cool:
i guess you are treating yourself to celebrate motw. :up: wine you got it.

i did that on purpose just for fun. i'm such a kid at heart. the faces got a little messed up. :mad:

ahhhh meli :heart: that would give me so much pleasure. :happy:

Angeliki 15. August 2009, 02:36

same here :heart:

I love dreaming on a Friday night :smile:

Mags 15. August 2009, 02:40

Linda got motw? Scoots away to check it out :cool:

scott cumming 15. August 2009, 02:53

now here is a very healthy dinner. tofu, bok choy, mushrooms, spinach eggplant, yellow squash and onions. a little hot pepper chopped fine. stir fry the tofu alone first then do the veggies in sesame oil and later splash a little tamari sauce on it. so good.



serve with brown rice or orzo. :happy: :chef:

L2D2 15. August 2009, 05:20

Scott, I am a Southerner---tofu is anathema! I think I have eaten tofu twice and I will let you have my share. You probably are healthier than I, but I think my food tastes better.:D

Nicolas Borgsmidt 15. August 2009, 05:50

I always have a tape running, with taped novels, from the library, in the kitchen, when I cook. At the moment I listen to Douglas Coupland´s "Miss Wyoming". Very funny :D . I´ve "read" many books that way :lol:

scott cumming 15. August 2009, 06:21

each to his own, linda. like anything, if you try it, sometimes you may not like it right away.
if it's cooked right, not as if it was meat, or trying to disguise its flavor it has an acceptable flavor.
lots of protein and no fat. a tiny bit of sesame oil makes it palatable even delicious once you acquire a taste for it. i still prefer a nice thick t-bone. but i believe what i read. (when i hear it enough).

now sushi, i thought even if i was starving in a life raft on the ocean, i wouldn't be able to eat raw fish. but the very first time i had it, my reaction was pure bliss. my body said yes. just as if it was a hot fudge sundae. that's because the body needs protein and will go back for more.
and the delicate and aesthetic manner of preparation helps an awful lot.

scott cumming 15. August 2009, 06:24

nic, i haven't tried taped books yet. well a friend gave me one recently and i tried it. i should have listened to it while i was cooking or cleaning. i just sat in a chair, getting my dose of vitamin d outside. and i fell asleep in five minutes.

anyway, i am a veteran reader and read like some people eat. like, all day long.

Nicolas Borgsmidt 15. August 2009, 06:32

:lol: It´s like me in front of the TV. No matter how interesting a programme might be...after 5 minutes :zzz:

scott cumming 15. August 2009, 06:37

yeah, it's so restful. so passive. unless it's bill maher or a good debate.
i only watch t.v. when i'm too tired to do anything else, so i'm in the same boat (cradle) :zzz:

Nicolas Borgsmidt 15. August 2009, 06:42

:D

L2D2 15. August 2009, 06:59

Scott, I don't do it any more because my eyes are getting so bad, and because I worked for a living, but I used to read all day and all night and into the next morning. I did that all the years I was growing up. I usually read a book every day or two. I read Gone With the Wind in two days.

L2D2 15. August 2009, 06:59

Well, actually 2 1/2 days

hungryghost 15. August 2009, 07:32

now I'm hungry too.

Oh wait! I already am.

scott cumming 15. August 2009, 08:02

linda, i know it's harder now. i'm contemplating cataract surgery. i just keep reading even though it is a strain. i can't live without reading.

question: how long did war and peace take you?

@hungryghost,
ghosts are always hungry aren't they?

Allan 15. August 2009, 15:12

Scott, open sandwiches are Danish specialties. We're world champs in that field :smile:

Yours look good, too - and I also like the idea of your solitaire avocado. Saving that for a special occasion?

Olga 15. August 2009, 16:16

Those burn sandwiches look tasty anyway! :smile: :lol:

Angeliki 15. August 2009, 18:30

Originally posted by I_ArtMan:

i just keep reading even though it is a strain. i can't live without reading.





as long as i know you meli,
reading is part of your identity .

I also believe it is a luxurious "cheap" entertainment
that many more should discover :heart:

scott cumming 15. August 2009, 18:46

allan,
glad you noticed my one avocado. yes i am saving it for a special occasion. it's as big as it will ever get and i could pick it now. it would ripen in the fruit bowl. but i have two to eat already. it's sort of a back-up avocado. last year there were about twenty. i wish i knew why more didn't come this year. i noticed plenty of blossoms. somebody is eating the blossoms.

i didn't know that you specialized in open faced sandwiches. what would you normally put on it?

Allan 15. August 2009, 19:46

A link for starters

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sm%C3%B8rrebr%C3%B8d

Nicolas Borgsmidt 15. August 2009, 20:19

Roast pork is my favorite. slurpe! p:

L2D2 15. August 2009, 21:29

Scott, as well as cataract on my left eye, I also have dry macular degeneration, which means I am losing my center vision.

The eye specialist has me taking OTC eye vitamins that are the AREDS formula. There was a study done on macular degeneration, and at this time, those two vitamin supplements are the only treatment that have any effect on macular degeneration. They help hold back the progress of the condition.

ICAPS Areds formula is one, the other is Preservision AREDS formula. I don't take them as often as I should because of money situation, but they appear to help.

scott cumming 15. August 2009, 22:06


meli, :heart:

Originally posted by ellinidata:

I also believe it is a luxurious "cheap" entertainment
that many more should discover



i have given a list to my young friends. they are using it. :up:

scott cumming 15. August 2009, 22:07

olga,
thanks for the visit and for commenting. glad you enjoyed the visual snack. :happy:

scott cumming 15. August 2009, 22:10

allan: oh that is my kind of snack. thanks for the link :happy: i'll be back. :cool:


nic,
we call it the 'other' white meat. i like pork too :happy:

scott cumming 15. August 2009, 22:14

linda, sounds like you have the situation in hand.
q. medicare doesn't pay for the macular medicines? we need across the board health care. i wish they would get on with it. i'd like to do a few things, but i'm waiting to see what happens with healthcare. one is cataracts. that's first.

Allan 15. August 2009, 22:16

Oh, yes Scott - that one is a true classic. Particularly on rye bread.

scott cumming 16. August 2009, 00:34

i read all about it. got some good ideas for the future. 'smorgasbrod' is like most of my lunches. i make my own pickles even. red onion, radish smoked salmon. i also make a chicken liver paste or pate' half liverwurst and half chicken livers cooked in olive oil and butter with garlic. very good on a slice of rye bread. :chef: pumpernickel is nice for a change. my aim is to start making my own bread. :happy:

L2D2 16. August 2009, 03:20

Scott, how long before you get Medicare? Cataract surgery won't cost you anything, and will also pay for a pair of glasses afterward.

The Areds formula eye vitamins are over the counter, not prescription. therefore the Medicare drug plan won't pay for them.

Angeliki 16. August 2009, 03:21

Originally posted by I_ArtMan:

i have given a list to my young friends. they are using it




this is exactly why after 11 hours of work my first stop if at melis' place...

the reward?I just got a smile :smile:
I hope you had a great day meli :heart:

scott cumming 16. August 2009, 04:34

linda, i have medicare now. there are two lenses. one is stable at a certain average ability, call it depth of field as in the camera. no depth of field, just an average. :down:

the other one is new, with sliding focus, much more complicated device; which is sharp close and adjusts to sharp distance.... better than most eyes.... but it costs more than two thousand dollars and medicare won't pay for it.

these are the kind of details that the healthcare war is all about. it's all about profit. if research and development invested 10 years at a cost of a billion dollars on the better cataract operation, they want to get their money back.

but i, as an artist would need the lens with the capabilities i have been used to. so i wait. :happy:

scott cumming 16. August 2009, 04:40

meli, :heart: thanks for the wonderful compliment. the 'kool-aid' house is always brightened by your presence. :happy:

L2D2 16. August 2009, 05:03

That stinks doesn't it. We are stymied at every turn it seems. Probably, no more decent thing than we have now will happen in our lifetime----just praying it doesn't get worse.

scott cumming 16. August 2009, 05:21

i wouldn't say that linda. i figure if i just keep trying, things will get better. anything can happen. :happy:

i consider myself very lucky so far.

L2D2 16. August 2009, 05:50

You see the glass half full don"t you Scott? :smile:

scott cumming 16. August 2009, 05:55

no, linda, i see the glass as overflowing. :smile:

L2D2 16. August 2009, 06:00

I stand corrected. Just goes to show how differently people are wired. But did you always think the same way?

scott cumming 16. August 2009, 06:08

i admit that is in the 'program'. i watched the end of 'charlie rose' last night and he had this wonderful man i've never heard of who kind of put it like this. that we are all 'two'... hardware and program. it was a very digestible analogy. he called the animal, the physical, surviving, eating and propagating is the hard drive. and the dna is the program. very astute of him.

something comes through the genes which is corroborated by the example of your parents... just thinking. if your parents are out of sync with their program, it transfers to you. the only escape is understanding that it's all mechanical. then i suggest we get serious and try to verify the truth or the goodness of things. so the glass is overflowing with work. :happy:

Mays 17. August 2009, 22:29

it seems to me like a pattern.. you always forget food in the oven when you're on opera.. lol and it always turn out to be delicious..

Missed reading your thoughts Scott .. :happy: :smile:

L2D2 18. August 2009, 03:10

He isn't the only one---I am always forgetting frying food and boiling teakettles because I get so embroiled in the happenings on OC. It is a pandemic.

scott cumming 18. August 2009, 03:21

mays, nice to see you again. don't be a stranger. :happy:


@ linda, one wonders when the wily psychiatrists will discover this new pandemic. perhaps they should try it for themselves in order to better understand the phenomenon. :cool:

L2D2 18. August 2009, 03:24

Scout, there would be no more psychiatrists if they started Opera-ating. They would forget to keep their appointments----and that might be a very good thing. :cool:

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