baking on a holiday

Maybe it's all those Christmas and Easter dinners, but even when I don't have somewhere to go or other people to cook for, I still feel the need to spend time in the kitchen. Granted, I do like spending time in the kitchen anyways, experimenting with new ingredients and trying out new recipes, along with working with tried and true ones. And today was no different.

Firstly, I started out with a long-promised recipe for my office: Fried Nutella Ravioli. The result? Yum. Oh, so yum. Speaking with some friends, I said that I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out, and that I should haven't said anything about bringing it in until I knew how it turned out. But as someone pointed out...it's fried and it's Nutella...how could it not turn out? Too true.

And not to worry. It turned out delicious, if I may say so. I did forget the garnish of fresh mint leaves, and while I think it tastes ok without, I can imagine that the fried ravioli would taste even better with sugared mint leaves. I think the mint would add a nice crisp, freshness.

Other than preparing the ravioli, they didn't take too long to cook and definitely didn't make a mess. I was a little concerned about the hot oil splashing, but I guess I used a deep enough pot. A little later in the afternoon I had another project: a coffee cake with dried apricots, pine nuts and sliced almonds. I've made this once before, and loved it. I thought this time around I would make it for family, since I'm going to see them in a few days.

I haven't tried it yet, but it came out of the oven looking nice and toasted on the top. And I'm hoping it will taste like the last time. If it does, then I'm sure the family will enjoy it with some coffee. Hope you all had a nice Easter Sunday as well!

western review

So last weekend I watched Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid after having the film recommended to me by someone I know and trust. And his opinion didn't disappoint. After watching it, I have to say that for the most part, I really enjoyed it. I have only one real beef with the film, and I'll get that out of the way first.

There's this scene with Etta and Butch riding around on a bicycle (the new invention of the future!), and I had a problem with the pop music playing over this montage: "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head." Ok, so granted I just looked up the song, and it was written just for the movie and won an Oscar. It just...it didn't really sound very Western. And so that really kind of took me out of the movie for a little bit.*

But that was really about it. Otherwise, the banter between Paul Newman (Butch) and Robert Redford (Sundance) was excellent. And Redford had such a presences, even though he maybe only said about ten words throughout the movie. Ok, maybe a few more. I'd like to say more, but I'm curious first. I was told that after I watched it, I would be informed of a bit of trivia about the movie and Butch and Sundance. So I think I'm going to wait for that.

One more movie I can now say I've seen. You know how there are just some movies that you feel you really should have seen because it seems like everyone else has? I've been going through a lot of the "classics" that way on my Netflix list. Some have been absolutely terrific, and others...well, not so much. But we'll see what kind of trivia I learn now that I've seen it.

heat

I turned on my heat last night, for the first time in awhile. I've been enjoying that crisp, coolness that spring winds bring, but last night...I don't know, it was a little too cool with a little less crispness.

And what was this about possible snow flurries last night? I heard that just as I was about to fall asleep and tried to juxtapose snow flurries with that beautiful warmth and sunshine that we had over the weekend. Hmmm....

I have this slightly lighter but still warm trench that I've been wearing (well, except over the weekend when I didn't need a coat at all!), and I'd really kind of like to put it away for good. At least I haven't needed my wool coat again (knock on wood).

Growing up I was all about the cold weather. I wanted more of it. But that was before I moved somewhere where it's cold for slightly longer stretches than I was used to. Now I'm all about the sunshine and the warm weather. Is there anything better? Well, with that caveat that the humidity stays away. If I'm going to spend a lot of time outside, I'd rather not have my hair frizz.


*As an edit, when I looked over the blog, the bottom page is all about snow. What a difference a month makes. And how different that looks!

2009 Cherry Blossoms

I spent yesterday first down at the Japanese Street Festival and then around the Tidal Basin to see the cherry blossoms, despite the crowds. The festival was larger, and more crowded, than I'd expected. I've been down there for the Turkish festival in the fall, which occupies less street space. But it made sense, the size. So many people are in town for the cherry blossoms and the cherry blossom festival. But after checking out the festival some, which had some great jewelry and paintings, and then also had a fun karaoke tent and game tent (no...I didn't sing), my friends and I head to the tidal basin to look at the cherry blossoms. With all the people at the festival, one would think the tidal basin wouldn't be so crowded, but...you'd be wrong. It was packed! And it was beautiful weather, for the most part. There was some business with the wind, but that was bearable. Although it did make it really, really cold when I headed home after some sushi and sake. I survived though.

I can't recall if I went down to see the cherry blossoms last year. It's one of those things when you're not around, you can think that you can miss them. And I mean this, of course, as a very general you. You've seen them once, you've seen them all kind of thing. At least, that's kind of what I've been thinking leading up to this weekend. I've gone down and seen them at least twice. And did I really want to brave the mad crowds to see them again?

Would I do it again next year?

Yeah, I would. Because they're beautiful! And next year I'm going to take a little picnic. I would have been happy to just sit nearby with the sun pouring through the pale pink petals, the wind rippling across the water and maybe, if the wind blows just right, some of the music from the stage set up in front of the Jefferson Memorial. It's one of those things that I really should take advantage of while I live here. I don't have to plan a trip far in advance to ensure a decent ticket price or to find a hotel room and rent a car, all of that.

And it was also one of those weekends when I just kind of thought "huh...I'm really lucky to live here."

Now granted, that may change during another unbelievably hot and humid summer weekend, but for now as I'm sitting here looking through pictures of cherry blossoms with my window open and my apartment only slightly chilled, I enjoy it and can wonder why I would ever want to leave.

westerns

I have homework this weekend. And no, it's not homework from any classes I'm taking. I graduated a couple of years ago, and while I have taken some language classes since then, I'm not taking any currently. I have homework from my father. Hahaha...and yes, I'm grinning while I type this.

Hmmm...I guess I should explain.

I spoke with him last weekend and got to ask a few basic questions about basic military organization. Long story short: I had a very brief question about injuries and a wounded man receiving water that I was curious about and while receiving my answer, I figured I'd ask a couple of other questions I was curious about. I was in the last 100 pages of The Naked and the Dead and it really helped with my understanding. Anyway...somehow we moved from that to Westerns.

And apparently the one Western that I have to see, and haven't yet, is Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. And there will be some trivia information I hear after I watch it. So...like a dutiful daughter I have netflixed the movie and will watch it probably tomorrow night or Saturday evening.

You know what? I'm really looking forward to it too. I actually had it on my netflix list awhile back, but took it off after my list was far too incredibly long (I like shorter lists because I like the feeling of making progress while seeing the numbers drop...don't ask). So this was a really good reason to put it back on there.

I'll let you know what I think about it. I mean...it's a Western with Paul Newman and Robert Redford. And it comes very highly recommended from someone who's opinion I trust, especially with movies. I'm already thinking I'll like it.

So...I guess it's not really homework, is it?