This morning's vacuuming necessitated getting at remote, disheveled corner revealed by a recent section reorganization and overstock purge. My usual option, the power strip under the register, wouldn't quite reach. I couldn't find our (frayed, disreputable) extension cord, so I hunted around and discovered (rediscovered?) a dusty metal outlet box between a display case and the front window.
While the machine noisily absorbed the cobwebs, brick dust and light snowfall of accumulated dust jacket chips I noted how different the experience was from the usual routine. Vacuuming a swatch of rug I've covered countless hundreds of times, plugged in to the opposite wall. Using the same tool powered by the same energy, presenting a novel vantage.
In a small way that perception shift mirrors raising a child. You've gone about your self centered routine for however many years, lines of intent and perception radiating from a central core, when you're confronted with uncharted territory, presenting vistas you know inside out suddenly viewed outside in.
Ongoing vertigo.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
it just isn't that hard
Trolling around the internets I reeled in a discussion thread soliciting cheap, filling and delicious recipes. An appalling number of respondents thought jarred tomato sauce + pasta fulfilled the cheap and delicious requirements, leaving pasta to take care of filling.
I've had good jarred sauce in my time, but if it's good it isn't cheap.
This one is good, but retails around $7. And I can whip up a supremely basic, dirt cheap red sauce that kicks its ass in less time than it takes to boil the pasta water. I've probably posted this before...too bad for you! =P
super basic red sauce:
olive oil, 1 tsb
1-4 cloves garlic, to taste
28oz can diced tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 tsp sugar
basil, to taste
Mince or press the garlic, saute in olive oil over medium until starting to brown. Add the tomatoes, increase heat to medium high. Stir periodically until sauce starts to darken and thicken, about 10 minutes. Stir in chopped basil, sugar and salt and pepper to taste. Serve over pasta.
You can increase the complexity a bit without adding much in the way of cost by sauteing a diced onion, then adding the garlic and proceeding as above. And if you have any half-drunk bottles of wine lying around, deglaze the pan with half a cup or so before adding the tomatoes. If you want a more refined presentation and you have an immersion blender, you can puree it right in the pan.
Total cost, roughly 4 bucks.
And that's using primo canned tomatoes- you could cut it almost in half with a 'house brand'.
I've had good jarred sauce in my time, but if it's good it isn't cheap.
This one is good, but retails around $7. And I can whip up a supremely basic, dirt cheap red sauce that kicks its ass in less time than it takes to boil the pasta water. I've probably posted this before...too bad for you! =P
super basic red sauce:
olive oil, 1 tsb
1-4 cloves garlic, to taste
28oz can diced tomatoes
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 tsp sugar
basil, to taste
Mince or press the garlic, saute in olive oil over medium until starting to brown. Add the tomatoes, increase heat to medium high. Stir periodically until sauce starts to darken and thicken, about 10 minutes. Stir in chopped basil, sugar and salt and pepper to taste. Serve over pasta.
You can increase the complexity a bit without adding much in the way of cost by sauteing a diced onion, then adding the garlic and proceeding as above. And if you have any half-drunk bottles of wine lying around, deglaze the pan with half a cup or so before adding the tomatoes. If you want a more refined presentation and you have an immersion blender, you can puree it right in the pan.
Total cost, roughly 4 bucks.
And that's using primo canned tomatoes- you could cut it almost in half with a 'house brand'.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
true customer tales
One college gal to another, while perusing the sale cart:
Physical anthropology is the study of bones....and like, monkeys and stuff like that.
true customer tales
Two 40-ish guys discuss current cinema.
Guy One: Did you see the new Harry Potter?
Guy Two, petulantly: It was like, y'know, they're all just *flying around* everywhere. I already seen it, ya know?
Guy One: Yah....
Penetrating insight, Ebert beware.
Guy One: Did you see the new Harry Potter?
Guy Two, petulantly: It was like, y'know, they're all just *flying around* everywhere. I already seen it, ya know?
Guy One: Yah....
Penetrating insight, Ebert beware.
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