Feet upon feet of snow = time for baking

Yesterday, inspired by deep-seated boredom and the approximately two feet of snow (and higher drifts) that have piled up around the house, I decided it was time to do away with some leftover bananas and a heavy dose of malaise by baking. I took another swipe at this banana bread recipe. This time, I used real eggs, a hand-me-down Kitchen Aid stand mixer (thanks mom!), more vanilla and twice as many bananas than the recipe called for, and walnuts. The results were very, very tasty. Banana bread having been accomplished, I decided I wasn't satisfied yet. I decided to make pizzas for an early, delicious dinner. I used Joanne Weir's recipe for crust (from Wine Country Cooking), which worked out DELICIOUSLY. I messed up the first step (the yeast/water/flour mixing part), but it worked beautifully anyway. Here's the dough before shot:I was worried about how small the dough was before rising (it did NOT look like enough for two 10-11" pizzas as I had been promised), but in an hour it had almost tripled in size! It was a light, fluffy, almost frothy dough, which resulted in puffy, crunchy, perfect crust. Crunchy under the sauce and toppings, but it had enough body that munching on the crusts afterward was pleasant. I wish I had reserved some sauce for dipping.

Speaking of sauce and toppings... while the dough was rising, I assembled toppings (with Dan's able help).There you see (clockwise from top left), 1. the wine I was drinking, 2. green peppers and zucchini, 3. red sauce (I whipped this up from some canned crushed tomatoes, lots of rough-chopped garlic, dried thyme, salt and pepper, and a generous dose of cayenne for kick), 4. mushrooms, sauteed with salt and pepper to release the juices, 5. rough-chopped broccoli, 6. rosemary prociutto, chopped, 7. goat cheese, 8. fake pesto I made from that basil in a tube stuff (kind of gross, but effective), some garlic paste (ditto), salt, and pine nuts (whole), 9. Ricotta. We then assembled these toppings into these two pizzas:1. (top) Veggies with spicy red sauce (broccoli, zucchini, 1/3 of the mushrooms, and green peppers, dusted with shredded mozzarella, topped with lots of good pecorino romano).

2. (bottom) The piece of resistance (as Dan and I have started saying): Green Pizza. (fake pesto base, LOTS of mushrooms, rosemary prociutto, clumps of goat cheese, and dollops of ricotta). It was Ridiculously Tasty. I heartily recommend this recipe, but maybe with real pesto instead of the fake stuff. But keep the whole pine nuts. They're delicious.

Clip Show

It's been a slow-blogging season, but I'm back now, packed with new resolutions and resolve to do everything better and more this year. Not realistic, but optimistic, you've got to admit. Winter has settled in on Watertown and I find myself buried under snow as well as much-procrastinated work. Here are some highlights:

Before Christmas, I baked these:
Apricot and Nut Cookies with Amaretto Icing. Delicious and Not Too Sweet!

This is what I did on my Christmas Vacation:Then we came back to town and showed Boston off to Dan's mum and aunt:
While we were gazing at Boston (from the Top of the Hub), we drank lovely cocktails and looked at the lovely orchid on our table:Finally, Lucy is dismayed by the snow. It sticks to her. These are what Dan refers to as chesticles:

This is what a feminist looks like

Oh, Hillary.

Read this and tell me she isn't great.

A Maybe Resolution?

My mom gave me a subscription to Fine Cooking magazine for Christmas. Maybe I'll try one recipe from each issue? Just for starters?

To Do before 12/19

It's the lead-up to going home for Christmas and the Wedding! Crunch time to-do list (in no particular order):

1. Get on top of grading a little bit
2. Read for meeting on Wednesday
3. Pull together Wedding accessories
4. Get together Christmas presents
5. Finish shopping for Christmas presents
6. Underwear shopping
7. Return stuff to Gap
8. Pack: don't forget DF's shirt and tie, cameras, batteries, wedding accessories
   
9. Fill out paperwork at the Core office (12/15)
10. Pay bills/rent
11. Buy Guest Book
    

Faux toes

Fig. 1. This is Lucy on a travel day. She was having a problem with static electricity.


Fig. 2. Dan and Lucy in Chicago O'Hare Airport.

Fig. 3. Dan and I had our fourth anniversary. I made curry and blood orange martinis. Lucy wanted in on it.

Fig. 4. The African violet in my office finally bloomed again.

R.I.P. Bettie Page

I have a real soft spot for Bettie Page, and she died yesterday. I also love that she was not only a massive, gorgeous sex object, but also articulate and charming. She said, "I want to be remembered as I was when I was young and in my golden times. . . . I want to be remembered as the woman who changed people's perspectives concerning nudity in its natural form."

Thinking about Drinking

It's always a bit puzzling to me that I have such a hard time defining something that I so clearly identify as, but an article on New York Magazine .com and a response on Jezebel made me stop and think about what constitutes a Feminist in a pretty remarkable way today. I'm by no means close to an answer myself, but the following really bothered me. A few choice quotes from "Should Gender Equality Extend to Drinking."

"My point here is that the closing of the gender gap isn’t about men—needing to compete with men or wanting to feel like men. It’s about women going after the things they want and feeling that alcohol, variously, can help them. If men come into the picture at all, it’s only because what women sometimes want is sex, the final frontier of gender equality..."

This quote sounds a little unrealistic when read side-by-side with the next one, about the author's friend Kate, who works in the hyper-masculine investment banking fast-track:

Going out with them meant drinking, usually heavy drinking, which suited Kate’s mind-set at the time. “I felt like I deserved it,” she says. “I realized I can work crazy hours, I can work just like anyone else, so I can party just like anyone else.” Soon she had an agenda: If she could finish her work by 2 a.m., she would grab a guy from the office—“I had no girlfriends, it’s such a male- dominated industry”—and they’d hurry to a bar, order a few rounds of shots, and try to catch up with the people who were already drunk. “I drank almost every day,” she says. “But I thought it was normal because I was always going out, and when you’re out, everyone else is drinking.”

The part of this that bothers me is the "I had no girlfriends" and the fact that she felt like she had to go out [drinking] with "the guys" to be accepted and get ahead in her career of choice. No, none of that is explicitly stated in the article, but yes, that is the (not very hidden) subtext of this particular drinking anecdote. I think PilgrimSoul put it best in her response (on Jezebel.com) to this passage:

Also maybe ambitious young women drink more because the frontiers for ambitious young women are pretty depressing. You all know me as a bit hardcore now, but before I ended up in the "high-end" job I'm in now I thought workplace sexism was something of a myth. I thought, hey, I will never find myself in discussions where superiors are joking about prostitutes or making awkward and ill-timed remarks about what I'm wearing or people at my same level are telling me to answer the fucking phone for them because clearly by virtue of my possession of ovaries I want nothing more than to be their assistant. I never though that I would be convinced, as I am now, that, "I will always be the bitch in the corner who doesn't find your hall-soccer-playing, chest-beating masculinity impressive or something to emulate." I thought, I will never see an acquaintance hired and fired by a person who claims to care about gender equality while simultaneously justifying said firing by way of the phrase, "I tried to tame a mustang." About all of this I was, however, wrong.

So I'm not really going to fault ambitious young women for drinking, nosiree, I am not.

And then there's this one:

For the bulk of history, women have skewed toward the teetotaler end of the spectrum; not until the middle of the last century did a burgeoning relationship with alcohol coincide with Second Wave feminism and a general impulse to close the gender gap across the board. “As women ‘immigrated’ into the culture that was once unique to men,” says Grucza, “they picked up a lot of the same mores and attitudes and behaviors and ideas about what is socially acceptable that men had previously held. We call this acculturation—people adopt the drinking attitude and behaviors of the dominant culture.” Which explains why researchers have found that women in the demographic closest to being dominant (young, white, middle-class, educated) are leading the charge in terms of increased alcohol consumption. The trend is so pronounced that in Britain, home to the Bridget Joneses of the world, public-health officials launched an ad campaign picturing a grizzled man in drag (or a very mannish woman) with the caption: “If you drink like a man, you might end up looking like one.” But no public-service announcement is likely to turn back this tide, especially among the very young.

This, too, seems to undercut the notion that the increase in women's drinking is not about men. The quote about acculturation also underlines the assumption (apparently un-challenged) that male culture is still the dominant culture. The other thing that bothers me about this article in general is the comparison of women drinking more (as much as men) to any of the other feminist-driven gender-gap-closing projects of the past. i.e. "I want the right to vote" is roughly equivalent to "Another scotch, please." If we are meant to worry as much as this article tells us to about the negative repercussions of drinking, is it also telling us that our other progressive leanings are subtly dangerous as well? (This reminds me of a much-beloved teacher I had in high school who said the fall of all great empires was foreshadowed/caused by the merging of roles between men and women in a given society. In other words, the narrowing of the gender gap in our country must presage the great Fall of our Civilization. In other words, stay down and stop wearing pants, ladies!)

Also, about the ad mentioned in the quote above [see horrific image, above], why does Britain (home of famed "Effed Feminism" find it so deplorable that England's fair roses are drinking more now? Why is there a public service announcement-style campaign targeting women drinking and not one about men drinking? Even if you say that yes, Britain does have plenty of anti-drinking-in-general ads, the fact that they think women need their own, personal (beauty-standard-motivated) ad campaign (not health-related, mind you, because women -- and society in general -- only care about their looks and not the state of their livers) excludes them from mainstream society. It's just a new stripe of separate but equal, in my opinion.

And finally, this article takes a pretty heavy-handed swing at my favorite website out there:

This conversation is from a posted IM exchange (with tidied punctuation) between two editors at Jezebel.com, a Website that is an avatar of a certain of-the-moment brand of feminism appealing to women too young to remember the heyday of Ms. magazine. Jezebel is very pro-alcohol.

Jezebel is not pro-alcohol. The Jezzies talk a lot about alcohol. But they also talk a lot about health concerns, sex, careers, Feminism, and the economy, entertainment and politics, politics as entertainment, etc etc etc. What Jezebel provides, (beyond a non-judgmental (in most cases, but notably not in the case of this article's comments), supportive, progressive, feminist community at a time when I feel a good feminist is hard to find) is a forum for women to discuss what happens in women's lives. For all their immodest disclosure about bodily fluids and sexual encounters as well as bad credit and shitty jobs, why should they not talk about the cocktails they enjoy and the hangovers they suffer? It is a full disclosure website and I, for one, find it refreshing in a time when post-feminism seems to have ushered back into style some more traditional feminine (anti-feminIST) values.

To take a part of Jezebel Jessica Grose's quote out of context “You know, the whole point of Third Wave feminism is that individual choice should not be judged." While I don't know if that's the whole point of 3rd wave feminism (I've yet to find a definition of the Third Wave that doesn't grate on me), I do applaud the sentiment that we are not here to judge other people's actions or choices. At the same time, though, when a woman tells me that she's choosing to be a stay-at-home mom, my inner Second Waver gags a little, which the Third Waver in me wouldn't be allowed to do. (I also thought it was a tragedy when Charlotte quit her job to get pregnant.) I guess what bothered me most about this discussion was some of the comments on Jezebel... so many of the women there were saying some really retro/misogynistic things about women drinking being sluts and using standard conservative scare tactics about getting trashed/getting STDs. It was just so negative and unproductive, not like Jezebel usually. All of these women, the ones saying "Yes, drink!" and the ones saying, "A feminist models herself on the Virgin Mary" were all flying the flag of feminism. So what is a feminist these days? Is it someone who feels she has the choice to do whatever she pleases or someone who bristles at other women choosing more traditional roles because their very progressive feminist values tell them it's okay to not want to be CEO? Does considering myself a feminist give me the right to question other people's decisions? Or is it specifically anti-feminist to judge, no matter what your motivation is?

In the interest of clearing up any confusion, I drink, not heavily, but regularly (I am getting a Ph.D., as you know, and the article drives home the point - mentioning it twice - that the more educated a woman is, the more she drinks -- ergo, less education = better for women in general, since drinking is so bad?), I do not think that drinking is feminist, but I think that women feeling like they have the choice to and that it's not specifically forbidden them is a sign of progress. (Also, many of the more inflammatory comments on the Jezebel post have since been deleted based on the rules of Jezebel posting etiquette.)

It's my birfday.

I looked back at the blogs in search of something interesting I wrote on my birthdays past, but apparently I'm not very inspired on my birthday. I'm a great proponent of New Years' posts, though. This is what I found.

2007: a Boring meme
2006: the same Boring meme
2005: nothing inspiring

Huh. I thought I had posted resolutions before...

Anyway, I'm posting new-birth-year resolutions, since I've decided in recent years that January 1 is kind of arbitrary and generally disappointing. Please bear in mind that this list reflects a small measure of anticipatory holiday funk-ness and the attending need for cheer.

1. I'm smart, so I'm going to start doing smart work more smartly.
2. I have friends, so I'm going to see my friends more often and keep in touch with the ones who aren't handy.
3. I actually have it pretty good, so I'm going to be a little more aware of that and thankful for it.
4. Short-term: I will enjoy the rest of the wedding planning a lot and I will also enjoy my wedding.
   
5. I will attempt to be healthier.
6. I will attempt to be happier.
7. I will read for pleasure regularly.
8. I will do things other than go to work and watch TV.
9. I will cook more interesting things.
10. I will be creative.

That's the short list, anyway.

Happy birthday me. Now back to grading tests.

Holidays again

It's getting to be Holiday time again, and though this one promises to be different from any other so far (Wedding, anyone?), the same thoughts I always have have already started running through my work-weary brain. Nostalgia for holidays past with pets past running around Christmas Trees past, the residual memory of the smell of a particular dish that we'll never eat again, precisely, the wish that some family members were still with us and that some disagreements had never happened. All this is bundled together with the hope of good things to come, of new families evolving out of the old one, and with the hope that these holidays will be different, but will also be exactly the same as all the others.

These thoughts are all hitting me at a time when I actually do have a little free time on my hands and when I am beginning to feel old creative urges that I haven't indulged in at least a couple of years. It may be time to create again and to try to get myself back to a happy, productive energy that also allows me that creative outlet. I'm taking film home. I'm envisioning a collection of still lifes (lives?) taken around my house. Maybe also some scenic shots, but I want to do something a little more rigorously artistic. Whatever that means.

Writing is what I always wanted to do, but I worry about the influence of all this academia. Clearly, A.S. Byatt manages all right. I just need to find that balance (does it only come with rejecting, wholesale, the theories we're meant to internalize here?) and then find a story. And time and space in which to write.

Tomorrow it's the long trip home, flying in to Chicago with its serpentine suburban culs de sac, then proceeding South over the neatly parceled patchwork of rural Indiana. This time it will be in grey-greens, beiges, and browns, very different from the gold and green of the summer.

(written in the Barker Center; internal soundtrack: Joni Mitchell. You know the one.)

To-Do 24.11-26.11

• Make Vet Appointment for Lucy (for Tuesday or Wednesday) Tuesday at 4
  
Look into haircut for Lucy Tuesday at 10:30

• Call for cab on Thursday at 4 AM
• Get together NOAs for travelling purposes
• Buy/Mail that thing I have to mail
• Read Appleton
• Grade
• Pack for home (clothes to wear, outfit for shower on Saturday, Dan's wedding clothes, Lucy things, book to read, Wedding stuff)
• Talk to parents about wedding stuff: photography, music, embroidery stuff
• Clean out fridge
• A little laundry -Not going to happen.
  
• Dinner with K: tonight at 6
• Dinner with Emi: Wednesday at 4
  
• CVS run: band-aids, cotton balls, lip stuff, etc.
• Start Christmas list
• Start Christmas shopping

Muppety goodness

If you're in a bad mood, this is the ultimate antidote.

Apple Cider Martini

Delicious - my own recipe

3 Parts Vanilla Vodka
5 Parts Apple Cider
1 Part Spiced Rum
dash cinnamon
1 tsp brown sugar

Shake with ice and serve with one maraschino cherry

When 1 Part = 1 Oz this recipe yields two generous cocktails.

The Clip Show, Part The Second

Warning: The following will only be funny to German speakers.

Imbissbudendeutsch für fortgeschrittene

Deutsch für Nazis

Die Deutsche Kochschau

The Clip Show, Part The Third

There has been a rash lately of suggestions for economical good eating. A result, obviously, of the economy going down the toilet. These struck me as good (and they're the only ones that I managed to save the links for).

This article has good tips on cooking "for one," but their tips also work for cooking "for two," if you both work and don't eat a lot of leftovers.

This is a great suggestion on how to make one chicken last three (or more) meals.

The Clip Show, Part The Fourth

This is an awesome graphic comparing the first 100 Days in Office of all the presidents since FDR. They've pulled famous quotes from inauguration speeches ("The only thing we have to fear is fear itself"; "Ask not what your country can do for you..."; "A thousand points of light"), violent moments (JFK assassination, Reagan shooting, etc.), and major policy moves (the pardon of draft dodgers, Emergency Banking Act, etc.). It's really fascinating to see where lots was happening and who didn't get jack done (Nixon and - oddly - JFK, I'm looking at you) and to imagine how the days between January 20 and April 30, 2009 will look. (Also to think about the 100 Days of Action - fun project.)

The Clip Show, Part The First

This very amusing post from Jezebel makes me think about my ideal morning routine. The difference between me and these other women is that I don't have the fantasy of massive productivity in the morning. I do, however, have the fantasy of a life in which I can sleep late, spend time with my mans in the evening and stay up reaaal late at night. So here, in Jezebel fashion, is my ideal routine.

Ideal:
10:00 - Roll out of bed, walk Lucy while coffee is cooking. Eat leisurely breakfast of yogurt and granola while reading the internets. At work by 12. Home from work at 6, eat delicious dinner, watch amusing TV OR go out to fabulous club or bar with fabulous friends who can also sleep late. Alternatively, resume work for a couple hours around 11 or midnight, then go to sleep.

Actual:
Alarm goes off at 6:53. Snooze until about 7:15, at which point my mans and I begin the morning firedrill of fast showers, no breakfast, abbreviated dog-walk, and half-running to the bus. Somewhere between 7:55 and 8:05, get on the bus. At work by 8:45. Prepare for and teach class til 10, at which point I procrastinate until it's time for a leisurely lunch with my fabulous colleague. Then more procrastination until I go home around 5. Ready for sleeping by 6, but drag myself through dinner and doze while my mans watches TV and moans at me for sleeping.

This is really really awesome

Look at these election maps!

Strange thought

Isn't it odd to think that some places in the country are as sad and negative about the future as we are happy about it? Bizarre, but apparently 48% of us are probably a little dejected right about now.

Transition

NYTimes has an informative article about the Obama transition team. Very exciting! I would LOVE Lugar for State and think Dean could be exciting for Health/Human Services, though I'd prefer Hillary.