I <3 Soup

I discovered an amazing line of soups a few months ago. Since I want them to continue to stock them for ever and ever and ever, I will share them with you, and thus increase demand.

The brand is Pacific Natural Foods, and the soups are organic, non-dairy, wheat free, low-sodium, low-fat, etc. etc. etc... Wait wait wait! Don't run away! The reason I bought them the first time was that they were WAY CHEAPER than just about any soup in the store. The feel-superior vibes of Organic low-this, non-that were just deal sweeteners. I shop by comparing price per ounce, and both grocery stores I shop at put price per ounce on the label for most things.

First, the packaging they use is that pressed-cardboard stuff like juice boxes. This is way way way cheaper than metal cans and those plastic microwavable Campbell's Soup things. Second, there are about 4 servings per container, so it is like buying in bulk ONLY BETTER because the container is re-sealable. That means I can have a tiny mug of soup one day, a giant bowl of soup the next, and a regular bowl a week later, all without that metallic taste of soup in a can, or cleaning tomato soup stains out of Tupperware.

Did I just say Tomato Soup? You may (or not, if you don't love me, but that's ok, I swear) be aware that I hate tomato soup with the fiery passion of a Orthodontic Torture Veteran, but The Husband loves it very much. I bought all 3 varieties available: Butternut Squash, Tomato, and Tomato w/ Roasted Peppers. I HAVE NEVER LOVED ANYTHING MORE THAN I LOVE THIS TOMATO SOUP!!!!!!!!!!!!! *gasping for breath* It turns out he likes the roasted peppers more, and I love all 3 pretty much equally. The squash is nice and sweet, and I like it slightly cool on a hot day. The other two go great with my grilled cheese sandwiches and are good with a little diced green onion or shallot mixed in, or some shredded cheese.

Um. I think my crazy is showing, just a sec...

Ok.

They also have smaller boxes of creamy corn, and some ginger thing that I tried. Not so good as soups, but pretty good as a sauce on roast chicken and rice.

OH LOOK! There's one called Creamy Roasted Carrot. I'm going to have to try that!

There's my crazy again...dammit!

Diapers

We need BSG diapers, so we don't have to take bathroom breaks during episodes and risk missing critical seconds of BSG greatness.

Also, apparently some car company is in with the Cylons, the background is just like the lights when the final 5 were revealed to the 3's.

I really need to pee right now.

Reflections

Reflections on a Gift of Watermelon Pickle

Wow, I needed this today. I've had a pretty rotten day (week, month, etc.). I went to my local coffee shop for a sandwich and picked up a book off the shelf, thinking the sandwich would take awhile to be ready. I was wrong, the food came quick, but I still stayed for nearly an hour because the book was so good!

These poems made me feel sentimental, open. They are honest, humorous, and intense in their simplicity. I was halfway through and almost walked to the counter to ask if I could keep the book. I changed my mind, and returned it to the shelf. Everyone deserves to read this book, I can buy my own copy.

Happy Hatchday!

The little card that described the birdy in the cage said he was hatched on 20 April 2007. It also called him Sonny. A year later, he has a better name, a willing servant/playgym, and the gift of flight.

Here are a few pictures I took of Rigel this month. There are more on my flickr account.

Goo Bath

I fully expect Cally Tyrol to wake up in a goo bath.

That is all.

It's 5 o'clock....now!

Oh. it. is. so. FINALLY. The Weekend.

This week has been stressful. It started with registration and scheduling problems, and therefore stressing over my finances. The Husband filed his taxes, and we decided to file separately because I didn't have my W-2 ready. Also, he has had some breathing problems while running, and the chest x-ray showed cause for concern. The CT scan results are pending. I spent all day yesterday studying for a physics test, but still felt lost this morning when faced with Lenz' Law.

I went to the nearby H&R Block this afternoon, where they did a great job for me. I'm getting back way more than I thought, actually ALL of what I payed in last year. Very nice. Turns out I won't have to use my considerable "skills" to put myself through college. Not this year, anyway. This also means Rigel gets a play stand, long overdue, and I get to come home for a week or two in late June (probably).

So...yeah...It's 5 o'clock right ....now. Last week I set some strawberries to soak in some lemon vodka. Today, I added the lemonade. Much of this post might not make sense. I'm okay with that.

Also, there's sake, but I want to be mostly-conscious for tonight's episodes of The Sarah Jane Adventures (AMANDA YOU MUST WATCH THIS!!!!!) and Battlestar (also this, but you knew that already, (holy shit they're going to unbox the 3's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)).

Um. Yeah. Strawberry Lemon Vodka Yumminess.

WE'RE GOING THE WRONG WAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I swear the director told her, "play this one like a 3 year old in a tantrum" FUN!)

TJ: "Special", Has No Class.

I've been told that before, I just never knew it was official. I am "Special," and I have "No Class." Actually, it has been fixed now, and I am officially a non-special Senior. Still, today was stressful. After re-re-rethinking my English minor, and this Professional Writing specialization, and talking to several people , and getting special permission and exceptions for a bunch of stuff, I am finally registered for both Summer and Fall. I'll be full-time in the fall, because otherwise I will start donating blood plasma get a job to cover my expenses. I might still get a job with the VA this summer, which might put any going-home plans in jeopardy. We'll see.

Cinnamon Rolls

My recipe is at RecipeZaar.com, unfortunately I keep getting an error when I try to access it. So sad. I made a new batch tonight, and tweaked it a bit and they are even better. I rolled the dough out much thinner, which meant I made two different rolls. One was honey-caramel and apple butter inside, and the other was sugar and apple butter. They are much more like cinnamon rolls now, instead of whole-grain bread with some flavoring. Here's the recipe, with a few changes from the original. Also, now with pictures!

10-Grain Honey-Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Time: 2 hours or more-ish.
Makes: 12-35, depending on how thin you roll them and how thick you cut them.

Dough:
10-Grain Bread Mix (Bob's Red Mill)
yeast packet (included)
3 tbs olive oil
1 1/4 cup warm tap water
Extra flour for kneading

All further measurements are approximate, that's just how I roll. (get it? haha)
Filling:
3 tbs soft butter
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 tbs cinnamon
1/4 cup apple butter
1/2 tbs warm water to seal

Caramelized Honey Topping:
1/4 cup honey
1 tbs butter (optional)
dash cinnamon (optional)
1/2 tbs vanilla extract

Directions:
Honey Topping:
Make while the dough is rising. Ingredient amounts are VERY rough and to taste. Add honey, cinnamon, and butter to small saucepan and heat on medium for 5-10 minutes, watching that it doesn't boil over. It will darken alot. Remove from heat and allow to cool until it is the consistency of regular warm caramel, cool enough that you can dip a skewer in and taste. Add vanilla to taste. You may not want any at all, but straight honey is to strong for me, and the vanilla mellows it nicely. You may want to warm it a little to drizzle it into the buns, but don't get it too hot.

Dough Per package directions:
Add the yeast packet to the mix. Add the oil and water and mix until combined. Using the extra flour, knead for 8-10 minutes. Place in oiled bowl, cover and let rise for 90 minutes.

Deviate from package directions (as per my usual behavior):
Punch down dough and roll thinly into a rectangle, or divide into two and then roll out. Keeping everything an inch away from the top edge so the batter will seal later, Spread the soft butter, sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar, drizzle some honey topping, and spread apple butter. Roll tightly away from you toward the top edge. Lightly wet the top edge and seal the roll. Turn the roll onto so the seal is down and cut into individual rolls with a bread knife. Place approximately 1/2 inch apart in greased pan. Cover and let rise for another 30 minutes. Butter the tops lightly. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes or until not squishy inside. Drizzle with more topping and allow to cool 15 minutes.

Devour warm.

Hints: Leave enough honey to dip the rolls in.

These aren't exactly light and fluffy, the whole grain gives it a crunchiness, but mine were still moist underneath. I think these will make a fairly healthy breakfast bun, good with coffee.
Before Baking:


After:

Boys Are Cute

I got a call this morning that the blood test came back, and Rigel is a boy. That's good, because it means we won't have to worry about issues like egg binding. I was pretty sure he was a he anyway, because male birds are known for having more vibrant colors than females.

Also, his birthday is this month.

Just sayin'.

Some Crappy Original Poetry

Today I walked half a mile in my own shoes,
Through the park and to the playground.
She asked if I would like to play.
Suddenly, I wished I was eleven years old,
for the first time since I was ten.

I walked half a mile in my own shoes
until I became, for a moment, myself.

Only 20 Percent?

Created by OnePlusYou

Around 20% of the pages on your website contain cussing.This is 150% MORE than other websites who took this test.

Do they count things like "I fraking love The Battlestar Galactica!!!!!!!!!!!!!"? If not, their count is off.


Also, please watch this cute and serious little video about body image that I found via Shapely Prose

I may be excited.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA'S FINAL SEASON STARTS TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!

I made some fairly kick-ass cinnamon rolls last night, mostly from scratch, which took nearly 4 hours. The recipe should be up at RecipeZaar.com eventually, and when that happens I will post a link. They're made with a 10-Grain bread mix, and I've eaten 6 so far, so I may never poo again. I'll let you know.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA'S FINAL SEASON STARTS TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!

Rigel is cute and cuddly, and only has 2 more flight feathers to grow out. I'll take some pictures this weekend so you can see how pretty blue they are. We went through a bit of bloody ordeal at the vet because I wanted to find out his real gender, and they did that while trimming his toenails. He was such a good bird, though. We find out in about a week, and I'm trimming his nails myself from now on.

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA'S FINAL SEASON STARTS TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!

I have a Calculus test tomorrow morning. I am fairly unprepared, but there will be more studying this afternoon. For real. No seriously. Oh shut up, you never believe me. :P

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA'S FINAL SEASON STARTS TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!

School is generally good right now. I'm still waffling on what to do this summer, but I'm probably taking Medieval Lit and Technical Writing during Second Summer. That fills my advanced requirement for the minor, and I just need one more course. I can wait and hope that the new Professional Editing course doesn't conflict with my Physics schedule when/if it comes available. If it doesn't then I can always stick an easy lit class in my schedule and be done. I think that's the plan, but I still have to run it by my Advisor.

Oh , also, in case you were unaware, the best show currently on television will start its final season tomorrow. I'm kinda excited.