Recipe: quinoa/squash curry-tahini (Indian-American-medit.) experiment

Indian, as in dot, not feather. American as in Native American. I threw this together a week ago, but can't remember it too well. This is mostly for my reference.

Baked spaghetti squash
quinoa
saute onion and garlic (e.v. olive oil)
fresh ginger
(?--not sure about the spices) coriander, allspice, cinnamon, salt, pepper
Tahini paste
lemon juice

Something like this.. anyways, it was good

Ode to Gnuplot

In writing an academic research paper, I needed a break and come up with this. Publishing here for reference and as inspiration to all chart-makers everywhere!

Gnuplot, ode to ye of great graphical complexity.
Draw thee line, axis, label, and series;
with you in my text who would dare reject me?

Tomato WINE

Found this online.. wow!

Medium Dry Tomato Wine
4 QUARTS unpeeled tomatoes
1 gallon boiling water
2 lemons, sliced thinly
2 oranges, sliced thinly
3 lbs sugar
yeast

Clean crock or large pickle jar
Strainer/Cheesecloth
Large Saucepan
Fermentation Jar
Siphon

Place the fruits in the crock. Pour the boiling water over top. Bruise well with a wooden spoon or squeeze it well with your hands. Repeat each day for 3 days.
Strain the liquid into a large saucepan. Warm to lukewarm, stirring in the sugar until it is all dissolved.
Remove from heat. Add the yeast.
Set it away to work in a fermentation jar until it is clear. Then siphon, bottle, and store for at least One Year..maybe even Two..

Garden 2009

I just spent all afternoon planting things.. (just for my own reference)
West Strip planter:

• Celebrity tomato (from Dave)
• cinnamon basil
• mint
  
• Sun Gold cherry tomato
• Japanese eggplant
• Brandywine tomato
• Blue Lake 274 stringless beans

East Strip planter:

• Hubbert (?) winter squash
• Yellow zucchini
• Giant Belgium tomato
• Juliet cherry tomato
• Black Beauty eggplant

Misc:

• Potted Celebrity tomato - patio
  
• Morning Glory (scarlet o'hara) east strip along neighbor's garage (will trellis as a screen). Also right side of patio and in front of front porch.
  
• Hyacinth Bean (purple) - left side of patio and in front of front porch.
• Corsican Violet - Mediterranean wild violet. perennial. Good for Utah climate. Should have gravelly soils. In front of front porch
• Dead Nettle - transplanted from neighbor's hard (with permission!) - front of front porch.
  

Work overwhelming?

Couldn't have said it better! Although humor is obviously the aim of this graphic, it really puts things in perspective! Don't fret the small stuff, smile, and enjoy what time we have!

Making one think.

At Mass today, there were two moments that really made me think "whoah, that's different." The first was the Priest apparently was going into some engineering/science where computer programming was involved, before he found his calling for the priesthood. Interesting - not what I would expect. The second moment came during "prayers of the faithful" where a guy said something like: "for the members of Osama's family and their loss." A few more heads than normal turned to look back at him. I'm not sure what or who he was referring to, but I do hope it caused others besides me to think something like "hmmm, thank you for the reminder that we should attempt to love even our enemies and wish them the best."

Anyways, I enjoy things which happen that throw people out of their comfort zones and make them think (yes, I'm including myself in this group).

Feeding the Hungry - Epilogue

This is a followup of my original entry "Feeding the Hungry" a few months back.

I was just getting in my car with some groceries, after having passed a ringing bell for Salvation Army, when who should spot me and approach me..? Oh yes, Mr. Smooth-talking "I'm hungry since I spent all my money on car repair today". I instantly recognized him and asked "So did you enjoy that Wendy's?" It took him a while, but he remembered me as the "math guy". Close enough. The point is, he was still running his panhandling, but in a different location. I completely got taken by him last time. He's probably making more than I am. I wish I confronted him more about it.. but it probably wouldn't have changed anything. It made me quite angry that he didn't own up to it, and tried to pass another story "oh, now it's my house that I need money for".

This is further reinforcement that I should give money only through the proper channels. I haven't donated nearly, however.