mourningdove

ESC#11: Shellfish Edition

This one truly went to 11 (to quote Spinal Tap). I was in Sacramento visiting friends and having a wonderful dinner at Localis–more on that trip this weekend–and I knew this was my chance to pick up some fresh seafood I couldn’t get in my home town. So, I packed a cooler with me inContinue reading “ESC#11: Shellfish Edition”

Mocktails in Space!

My friend Brooke had her birthday party at our local Planetarium, and as they don’t allow alcohol, she wondered if I could whip up a couple of space-themed mocktails for the event. Challenge accepted. I got out the old specific-gravity tables, ordered up some butterfly pea flower tea, and got mixin’. Of course, either ofContinue reading “Mocktails in Space!”

I Have Notes…for The K2

You may be sensing a theme, and that’s Ji Chang-wook. I’ll admit it—he’s so pretty and talented that it annoys me when a show he’s in doesn’t rise to his level. But truthfully, I get annoyed whenever a story draws me in and then lets me down, whether the particular actors in it happen toContinue reading “I Have Notes…for The K2”

ESC #10: Valentine’s Edition

You just can’t beat Italian for Valentine’s Day. The Sunday Gravy was phenomenal—none of us could believe that so much flavor came out of so few ingredients (basically a couple of kinds of meat, garlic, and Italian herbs added to tomato purée). The semolina gnocchi (aka Roman gnocchi) were really interesting—kind of like rustic gougères.Continue reading “ESC #10: Valentine’s Edition”

Friday Favorites: Recent Photos

OK, a day late and likely a dollar short as well as these are all just iPhone photos from SOMA mushroom camp and other recent outings.

National Cowboy Poetry Gathering

Not the most inspiring pic, I realize. But for probably very good reasons, you’re prohibited from taking pictures or video in the actual sessions unless you have written permission. So, I figured I’d get a picture of the lines you have to wait in (not very long) to get into the performances at the NationalContinue reading “National Cowboy Poetry Gathering”

Japanese Whole Wheat Milk Bread: Attempt #3

This one’s the ticket: it didn’t make the most beautiful loaf ever, but that’s on me. And despite the operator error, the texture and flavor were spot on. I reduced the wheat flour in this recipe to 50% (because honestly, if you’re going to add barley malt and wheat gluten to your whole wheat toContinue reading “Japanese Whole Wheat Milk Bread: Attempt #3”

ESC #9: Burns Night

So in case you don’t happen to be Scottish (or partly so), I’ll bring you up to speed: the poet Robert Burns’s birthday is January 25th and is usually celebrated among Scots with the eating of haggis (if you don’t know what all that ent[r]ails, it’s probably best not to Google it) and the drinkingContinue reading “ESC #9: Burns Night”

Slow Motion Baby Goats!

youtube.com/watch

I Have Notes….for “Welcome to Samdal-ri” (plus bonus ending for Wuthering Heights)

I’m starting a new series on the blog today. I realized the other day that I have had a nearly lifelong habit of rewriting stories that drive me crazy—usually because I love them but they just took a wrong turn at Albuquerque, but sometimes because a particular character didn’t get what was coming to them,Continue reading “I Have Notes….for “Welcome to Samdal-ri” (plus bonus ending for Wuthering Heights)”