More Garden Antics

Gunter in the Garden of Good and Evil

Gunter and the Bright Stripe

A Little Slice of Pug Heaven

Day of the New Fridge Happiness

As those of you who know me, or have lived with me (or both), you are aware that I love to cook. I love it! I love chopping up salads, braising cabbage into a buttery delicious side dish, baking breads, scones, pies, tarts, cookies, concocting sauces to drizzle over fresh handmade pasta, sizzling up some hot italian sausage, roasting potatoes/beets/garlic/cauliflower, mixing up a hot curry, whipping up a delicious dinner of home made pizza and salad.... But how can a person do these things when their fridge is the size of a 1930's icebox?

Exhibit A:


Dearest Peeps, please note that the entire upper right quadrant of this fridge is devoted entirely to cheese and deli meat. The lower back of the bottom shelf is taken up entirely by jarred sauces and chutneys of suspect origin that are at least a decade old. The bottom drawers are about the size of shoeboxes (and that is being generous).

Exhibit B:

This miniscule freezer was entirely taken up by frozen vegetable medlies (ick), and ice packs. I swear to you, at least half of this freezer was chock full of icepacks. Until I my foot down, that is. Now it's crammed with bread (to go with all the cheese) and bagels.

Exhibit C:


For size reference I include Gunter in the right hand corner of this photo. Please note that this little fridge is in the space that would normally be occupied by a normal size fridge. See where the counter and cabinets are? See all that space to the left of the fridge and the microwave on top of the fridge? That is all the space I will have with the new fridge!

Why do I blog about the miseries of a tiny fridge? Why do I go on about the hours spent putting groceries into that fridge as though it were a game of tetris? Why do I take pictures of my shamefully cramped and unorganized fridge and post them for the whole world to see?

Because today is the Day of New Fridge Happiness! As I type this a shiny new LG fridge with ample shelf space is on a truck on it's way to me...ETA 4-6pm.

Glory, Glory, Hallelujah! I have been freed from the chains of tiny fridge slavery. Rejoice! Rejoice!

Let the real cooking begin.

The Pug Lurks in the Tall Grasses

Yesterday was beautiful, so Andreas and I took a little car drive through the hills and found a lovely spot to do a little light hiking with the Pug.

Tiny Bathroom Makeover

I was tired of living with a bathroom that appeared to be located in a university frat house.

Witness the (slight) transformation:


Before
After

And we even have new hand towels to match the new rug. I like it! I think the main transformation is due to the shower curtain. I finally convinced the German to get a cloth one, instead of just having a plain clear plastic one (covered in mold).

Thank you, Target!

Gunter and the White Tag

Beans and Tomatoes-the perfect meal

When I was in college and shortly thereafter, I didn't enjoy anything more for dinner than a giant bowl of refried beans and sliced tomatoes. Preferably topped with a giant dollop of Daisy brand sour cream (the only real sour cream).

These days you'll find me eating pretty much the same thing. Except when I'm eating bread and cheese, which, seeing as I live with a man who thinks that cheese is the only food group (I'm not kidding, it's like a speciality cheese shop german cheese case in our fridge, jarlsburgh...ick), is just about every other day for dinner.

Quick and tasty snack:

refried or whole black beans, heated
grated zucchini
salsa
grated cheddar (missing from this photo...I'm lazy)
sour cream
handful of chips

Delish! And healthy.

Breakfast of Champions!

Last week I had a big day of work ahead of me, and I thought: "What would be the best, most nutritious, most healthynessfull, best breakfast I could feed myself in order to make it through a grueling day of designing and metal working?" And what did I come up with!?

This:
This, gentle readers, is a Dutch Baby* pancake. Delicious eggy goodness that is baked into a crispy, chewy delight at a high heat in the oven.

Serve it with some lemon or lime juice, some butter, and a bit of powdered sugar and you are set for a lovely dessert...I mean breakfast.


How To Make:


What you will need:

3 eggs
vanilla
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup flour
pinch of cinnamon


What is indispensable in this recipe is a well seasoned cast iron pan, which is pictured below. This particular pan was purchased at an antique stone on the Oregon coast while I was on a camping trip with my Mimsy.



Heat oven to 450. Place cast iron pan in oven to heat. While pan heats, make coffee or beg for treats (all treats hidden behind that door):



When coffee is prepared, whisk together all ingredients until smooth. Open oven, remove pan and add a generous pat of butter and swirl around until melted. Pour in batter and return to oven. Bake until puffed and golden, about 12-15 minutes.

Enjoy!

*Dutch baby is also the name my Dad called me when I was little. Sweet, yes? We are dutch on my paternal grandpa's mother's side. Last name Jackman, perhaps we are cousins, Hugh, what do you think?

A Random Sampling of Gunter's Day

Sick Day Fun

I was sick on Wednesday, so Gunter and I decided to take to our bed early in the evening to read and relax. Of course, as soon as we were in bed, Gunter had different plans.



(A note to Kel, you should watch this with the sound on. Gunter makes some fun sounds.)

I'm sick and Gunter knows it

Poor pug, doesn't want to get kisses from a sicky.   I have a raging sore throat!  Woke me up in the night because it hurt so bad.  Things are better this afternoon, but I still feel icky.  That's why I plan to go get pho after I finish my work.  Mmmmm, warm fragrant beefy pho!

Now you see where I get my good looks.

The Return of the Bryan

Friday Drawing

Theme: Breezy

I didn't have a chance to finish this one, and I don't think I ever will, but I thought I would put it up anyway.

Where food is, There Gunter will be also

This is why I love living with the German. Homemade spätzle of the highest quality.



And this is why I love my pug. He is the living example of of the saying "hope springs eternal". Unlike human beings, pugs never feel depressed, they never lose interest in food. And even better, their enjoyment of life, the little things, the feel of sand against their feet on the beach, the smell of toast, the warmth of a crackling fire is always, always enjoyed to the fullest. You can learn a lot from a pug, I certainly have. I remember one time a few years ago, Gunter and I were going out for a walk across a snowy field and he was just reveling in it. He kept looking at me, and his expression was: "look, it's us, you and me, out for a walk, and it's the best thing ever, ever. Me and you, out for a walk. I wouldn't be doing anything else for the world." I know it sounds silly, but Gunter has taught me the meaning of life. Slow down, and enjoy what you are doing, whatever it is.

Ahhh! To much to do, no time to blog...

Once again no IF. And it was a good one too, the theme was instinct. Maybe I will do it anyway this weekend and post it just for fun.

No video of the goon-dog as yet, but I have one planned for this afternoon. Stay tuned.

Still No IF drawing, sorry

So busy this week, didn't have a chance to do my drawing again. I'm not too bummed, however, the theme wasn't that great.

But here is a video of Boo-boo, to tide you over till next week.

My Own Sour Dough

A thing of beauty is a joy forever. (Now, what movie is that from? Free slice of bread to the best guesser.)

I Need Some Of This!

I need a baby fix!

An Illustration-less Friday.

Sorry, peeps. I didn't have time this week to do my IF drawing. But I will share these with you:

random doodles that I do while I'm thinking in bed before I go to sleep:

A Correspondence No. 7

10/12/07
Mr. Edward Spencer: Greetings.

I feel compelled to inform you that while your scurrilous accusations may intimidate and sadden my client, they do not intimidate me. You must be aware that my client only returned to Nanjing, and hence to her computer and internet connection, on the afternoon of the 10th.
It was therefore impossible for her to communicate with your client before that time. She was busy being marched through the cities of Shanghai and Beijing by a tireless and exceedingly cruel German. If your client mistakenly believed that my client would be able to maintain communications throughout this inhumane treatment, she is completely wrong. Between tramping through temples and historic sites, arguing with shop keepers and cabbies, eating too many pastries and not enough street food, being compelled to visit German Pubs in the Chinese capital (to be force-fed schnitzel and cabbage), and directing a exhausting campaign of museum tours, my client was then disinclined to further search out scarce internet cafes.

My client expresses sympathy about your client's trying ordeal with above mentioned Crazy Mother (CM). But she would like to add that the CM deliberately chooses to burden your client with her craziness for reasons unrelated to my client. It is unfortunate, but my client is unable to think of a way to compel CM to more evenly distribute the craziness among them. She further states: "she would if she could, but she can't, so she won't".

This communication also serves to inform your client that she is now ineligible for reinstatement to the post of Older Sister, effective now. My client and I will be posting an advertisment for the opening immediately in all of the major world newspapers, including the New York Times, The Times of London, and the International Herald Tribune. Due to your clients pig-headed lack of empathy regarding the extenuating circumstances my client found herself in, my client and I now believe that your client is unfit for the position. If however, your client would like to prove that her Older-Sisterly capabilities remain unimpaired, she is welcome to send all conciliatory packages to the address that your client undoubtedly has on record.

Sincerely,

Sir Bynum

In Search of Toast

Illustration Friday

theme: flawed

Gunter Goes for a Walk

A Correspondence No. 6

10/11/07
Dear Mr. Bynum,

While your client's assertions that merely habitating in an Asian backwater may sway my client's sensibilities, they do not affect mine. My client has been under quite unusual stress this past fortnight, worrying about the safety of her sister. Please be reminded that the last communication between them was executed in such a way as to persuade my client that her sister was going to be back in communication after 7 days. This was either not the case, or the
sister's grueling and onerous social life must have kept her from immediately contacting my client upon her return.

Regardless of the paltry excuses offered by your client, the resignation will stand until such time as my client receives the aforementioned endowment. On a personal note, I would like you to remind your client that the reason the two women entered into a delicate contract such as this one was to allay such items as these "lonely" and "forlorn" experiences.

Be that as it may, my client would like to pass a message on to your client. The message is this: their shared mother is crazy and will be contacting your client regarding sustenance for a one Mr. Johannes. It is recommended that your client not "take the bait" as it were when prodded by the maternal figure (as will inevitably occur). Additionally, the craziness is such that it should have been shared, as in this manner is has reduced potency and makes the likelihood of infection substantially remote.

Please feel free to contact me regarding any further questions. Until then, I remain yours in the barrister brotherhood,

Mr. Ed Spencer, LLC, esq., II, Jr., BA, MBA, MSBS, PA, MPH, QWERTY

How cute is this baby?

So cute! I love her! I just want to kiss her all over!

Do you love buns?

I do. Especially buns of the Chinese variety. I was addicted to the veggie buns made by this old migrant worker woman in Bird Flu Alley. I would get a big steamy plastic bag (yum!) full of them for breakfast or dinner. But then one of the week long vacations that the whole country takes came around and she disappeared, never to return. I was heart broken. I moved on to another bun place, but they were never as good.

The ones up above aren't as good either. In fact, they stink. But they are shaped the same, and they do have a hint of the old soft goodness of the old ones. And if you drowned them in hot sauce they are edible. These particular beauties come out of the freezer aisle at the local Ranch 99 Market. They are filled with burdock, which according to the Google define function is: A hardy plant that grows wild in the UK. The long, dark burdock root is delicious in soups, stews and sea vegetable dishes or sautéed with carrots. Its is highly valued in macrobiotic cooking for its strengthening qualities.

I thought it was ok. Very hardy. I know there has to be real baozi out there somewhere. I might try a place I know of right near by. I just don't want to be disappointed....

Illustration Friday

Theme: Climbing