Basel the Basil II

I bought another Basil this year. I have high hopes for this one.

...even if he almost died overnight already

http://mandaflewaway.tumblr.com/post/2057242738

Good way to amuse yourself for a bit!

Brown Bagging Lunch

I've had trouble getting back on a schedule since Spring Break a week and a half ago. Typically I'll cook a ton of dinner and then pack some for lunch the next day since microwaves/fridges are abundant. (Although some of the fridges in lab are decidedly food free :p)

Side bar: is Mario Batali not wearing pants?? I need to stop watching Iron Chef at night - I just get so hungry. In case you're curious it's Battle: Rice! And now I want risotto obviously.

Anyway we've been eating out a ton and I'm already tired of sandwiches after 2 days. Ideas for more interesting lunches I can bring that are pretty easy to put together?

Glamping = glamorous camping

So a few months ago, Shorty was like 'let's go camping', even though Shorty is the least roughing-it person I have ever met, even more than me, and that's saying something. The boys were like "Let's pitch tents!" but the girls put an end to that real fast. So as a compromise, we decided to go to Hocking Hills for the weekend and do woodsy activities while staying in a nice cabin with 3 bedrooms and a hot tub.

We went ziplining and hiked in a beautiful forest with lots of interesting caves and waterfalls, but we also spent a lot of time at the cabin, making homecooked meals (I love having lots of foodies for friends), hanging out in the outdoor hot tub with wine, which is on the back porch overlooking the forest, grilling, roasting marshmallows around a bonfire, and watching movies. Highlights of our weekend food:

Granola and yogurt fruit parfaits (with THREE types of granola, and strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, bananas, and the best kiwis I've ever had)

Sandwich bar

BBQ grill out with hot dogs, meat kabobs, veggie kabobs, roasted carrots, potato salad

S'mores around the bonfire

Pancakes (plain, blueberry, banana, banana chocolate chip, and chocolate chip) with maple syrup and breakfast potatoes

Picnic lunch mid-hike: roasted eggplant and zucchini pearl barley salad, homemade potato salad, hummus, homemade bread, fruit salad, brie and rosemary asiago cheeses, brownies

West African Stew (slow-cooked in a crockpot all day while we were off on our hike) with crisp green beans that are tossed in minutes before serving...yummm

Did this blog die?

We are lazy :'(

I'll update on how grad life is. Had my rotation talk for the winter quarter. I'm finally getting really used to saying quarter. I think it went well. My PI said, "Good job. Nice shoes." I think that's good?

Unless there was nothing else good to say about my talk :'( But for reallies I think it went well. I liked the lab except for the nasty mice. I'm moving on to the next thing tomorrow so wish me luck!

Yummy Vegetarian Tortilla Soup

Here's an easy soup that I threw together last night for one of our Group Loser gatherings. People liked it and asked for the recipe, so here it is. It didn't require buying a lot of weird ingredients, so that was nice.

1 large onion, diced

2 cloves of garlic, crushed/chopped

3 TB. canola oil

1 green bell pepper (or any other bell pepper..bell pepper away!)

2 hot peppers, diced (I used one jalapeno and one thai chili)

1 28 oz. can of diced tomatoes (that's the big fat can)

1 normal sized can of black beans (aren't I good at writing recipes)?

2 TB cumin

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 TB cayenne pepper

2 c. veggie broth

salt and pepper to taste

Tortilla chips & shredded cheddar to garnish

Saute onion and garlic in oil. Add bell peppers and hot peppers. Dump everything else except for the garnishes in and bring to a boil, then lower to a simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve topped with cheese and broken up bits of tortilla chip. EAT!

Cincinnati Bucket List

First of all...whoa, someone else already came up with a Cincinnati bucket list. Eh?

http://www.cincinnatichamber.com/liv_b.aspx?menu_id=178&id=8256

This is mine:

(1) Go ziplining.

(2) Go to Cincinnati Museum Center Omnimax Theater

(3) Have Mike host a dinner party.

(4) Eat burritos at The Comet!!!!!!!!!!

(5) Go kayaking.

(6) I don't know if I'll be around for it still when it starts up again, but I would like to pack a picnic and go watch outdoor movies in Mt. Adams in the summer.

(7) Eat at Local 127.

(8) Have afternoon tea at Essencha (the full deal with food involved).

(9) Have Stu host Bad Movie Night, complete with snacks.

(10) Go camping. (umm...I'm actually more of a fan of renting a cabin, but we'll see)

(11) Have a fondue and wine night.

(12) More themed dinner parties: dim sum? sushi? Pizza? Southern food? Color theme? Cooking with booze (as an ingredient)? Stew-off, if Stu doesn't end up having his work one?

(13) I should probably eat Dewey's pizza at some point.

(14) Pool party

I know there are more but I can't think of them right now.