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These are Jerusalem Artichokes aka sunchokes. They are native to North America and, better yet, a lower carb alternative to potatoes. Not only do they taste great roasted, they're actually becoming fashionable in the slow-foods set. Just know, in our household these tubers are also called, "fartichokes". I have read that American Indians served sunchokes to European Settlers who later complained of the "abdominal wind". I can't think of anything better than serving sunchokes to dinner guests to, you know, break the ice (or cut the cheese?).
Current Mood: 
dorky
[2007/01/23 10:21 am]
I'm the type that likes to read the manual before using the equipment. New food processor? Read the manual. New software upgrade? Read the documentation. My first question to anybody fumbling is, "did you read the documentation?". So, I'm reading up on how babies are made. Did you know that part of you was in your grandmother? A female fetus contains all the eggs she will ever need in life. That means part of you was in your maternal grandma. That's just as heady as finding out that, according to Carl Sagan, we're all made from space dust.
Wow.
Current Mood: 
thoughtful
[2007/01/09 2:28 pm]
Current Mood: 
contentCurrent Music: KCRW - Morning Becomes Eclectic
[2007/01/04 3:53 pm]
As well as having the first Woman House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, the first Mormon Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, and the first Muslim Congressman, Keith Ellison, there are the first two Buddhists in Congress! Hello, Congresswoman Mazie Hirono from Hawaii and Congressman Hank Johnson from Georgia.
Eat that Rush.
Current Mood: giddyCurrent Music: Pixies - River Euphrates
[2006/12/20 4:36 pm]
I didn't think there would be much of an adjustment post-wedding. I did the emotional, legal and financial homework so I thought I was well prepared for this new part of life. Most of that pre-wedding "work" was internal and private. Externally, we had a big party, signed some papers and got some nifty kitchen gadgets.
What I didn't account for was the social adjustment. I'm a little puzzled as to why people automatically take us "seriously" now that we're married people. Like as if being two financially independent, stable, college educated, tax paying, voting, career people in their thirties, living together with a signed lease and a cat was not enough. I'm really trying to wrap my brain around the "now that you're married, we can take you seriously as an adult" thing. By that measure, Jessica Simpson got married younger than I did so she's considered more of an adult than I am? And what about those who can't get legally married, will they never be considered "serious" adults? I'm ever competitive and Capricorn goal oriented, so I'd like to know at what point do I hit maximum "seriousness"?
Current Mood: 
annoyedCurrent Music: PJ Harvey - Working For The Man
[2006/12/07 11:21 am]
Yesterday, I took the afternoon off to do some volunteer work with my department at the Mercy Center in the Bronx. Yesterday's mission: to throw a holiday party for the children of the center. Before I left in the morning, Husband noticed I took some care to my appearance, as in, I groomed myself. It was then I shared a secret wisdom: it's much easier to get a group of children to cooperate and listen to you if they think you're pretty. Sad but, in my experience, true. I even replaced my linty bandaid with a spiffy Hello Kitty bandaid on my finger.
Well, the kitty bandaid was a huge conversation starter, the girls were fascinated by it. They asked all sorts of questions, "Do you like Hello Kitty?" Yes! "Does Hello Kitty make you feel better?" YES! Sadly, as a thirtysomething year old woman, I really do mean YES! Hello Kitty makes me feel better.
In the kids say the darnedest things department...
The weirdest thing a kid said to me was, "Somebody said Santa was coming, I'm scared he's going to kidnap me!" WhaT?!
The saddest thing I heard was when a co-worker in Santa drag asked a little girl, "What do want for Christmas?". Little girl replied, "I want somebody to love me". :(
[2006/11/10 7:01 am]
The Bestfriend said, "I had to get you one of these, all the girls in Ho Chi Min City are wearing them." I love it! It's both creepy and cute. I can't decide if reminds me of SARS outbreaks, a gag to oppress free speech, a cartoon surgeon or anime terrorists. Anyway, girls wear these masks on their mopeds with really long sleeved gloves. The Bestfriend got it at a department store in Vietnam.
Current Mood: amused
[2006/11/09 10:35 am]
We keep giggling about the following:
- Californian!
- San Franciscan (!!!)
- Liberal!
- Madam Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, second in the presidential line of succession, immediately after the Vice President!
I believe she has now reached "Grande Dame" status right next to Diane Feinstein and Barbra Boxer. I wonder who the right-wingers fear more: Hillary or Nancy?
Current Mood: pleased
[2006/11/02 3:06 pm]
The other night I fell asleep on the couch while The Boy (need to come up with new title) was watching TV. At some point, I sat up and told him to "Turn off the f-ing machine!" then went back to sleep. I do recall this in dream format but he confirmed that I actually said that while asleep. Hrm, let's catalog my sleep disorders:
I'm thinking this might be neurological, stress or my best friend, Caffeine, related. At any rate, had I known somebody to have all these sleep problems, I wouldn't want to sleep with them, that's for sure!
- bruxism (teeth grinding causing dental problems)
- periodic limb movement disorder (body jerking)
- Restless Legs Syndrome (feeling like you want to go jogging but you're trying to go to sleep!)
- hypnopompic paralysis (sleep paralysis)
- somniloquy (sleep talking and laughing)
[2006/10/27 3:20 pm]
Istanbul was wonderful, we had a great time. We really lucked out by visiting towards the end of Ramadan. We shared an evening meal under a tent with observant Muslims breaking their daily Ramadan fast. The couple next to us was very nice and sort of pantomimed us thru the meal. Afterward, they offered us a smoke (everybody smokes in Turkey). We learned to say "Thank you" in Turkish really fast: "tea" + "sugar" + "a dream".
After Ramadan, there is a big three day holiday, Eid al-Fitr, where people give out candy and everybody's cheerful. Public transportation is free and everybody is walking about town enjoying the holiday. At night, during the "sugar days”, as somebody called it, there are big family feasts.
Funniest moment happened in an upscale tourist shop when a sales guy chatted us up about our visit. We were asking about Ramadan and he said he was unsure of the details since he's not really observant and his wife is Catholic. He mentioned in Turkey, there are all kinds of Muslims and beliefs. He gestured towards his co-worker and said, "That guy over there he's an Atheist, he doesn't believe in God. He believes in Marilyn Manson" to which the guy turned to us and said, "He is my God". I almost peed my pants hearing that.
Another memorable experience was taking a traditional Turkish bath. I went to the historic
Cemberlitas Hamami built by the legendary architect Sinan. Having a naked lady slap your ass to turn you over to scrub your front is surreal. This was no Bliss spa but the results were the same as any NYC spa and about a quarter of the price.
The Turkish people are very nice, the food very good, the sites breathtaking, and prices very affordable. I loved taking time to stop and listen to the calls to prayer. You can hear it echo throughout the city as the mosques broadcast their calls. Eventhough the city has changed hands many times over, I'm very impressed with the efforts to restore the Christian Mosaics and sites. How, for years, there's been churches, synagogues and mosques next to each other without problems. I would recommend Istanbul to anybody (with some caveats). I would go again in a heartbeat but there are many other UNESCO World Heritage sites to see!
Oh, and CATS! There are friendly cats all over Istanbul and they are well loved. The Prophet Mohammed liked cats so they are seen as a blessing in the city. Istanbul is definitely a kitty town!
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