NOW I AM REALLY DEPRESSED

Today it was brought to my attention, via this article, that the yearly bonuses at many firms are more than my entire yearly salary at Ye Old Non Profit!! Dejected doesn't even begin to cover it.

H/T to Lack of Scienter for pointing me to the article.

FRIDAY'S FEAST - NOVEMBER 24, 2006

First off HAPPY THANKSGIVING to everyone! I hope you had an enjoyable holiday.

Feast One Hundred & Nineteen
Appetizer
Have you ever changed a flat tire by yourself?
Nope, don't know how. I have AAA for that.

Soup
Do you have an "innie" or an "outie" belly button?
innie

Salad
Name a new paint color and describe it.
mint pizazz, light forest green w/ flecks of gold in it

Main Course
What is your favorite holiday tradition?
burning the tree stump of the Christmas tree from the year before in the fireplace on Christmas eve or Christmas Day

Dessert
If you were a cookie, what kind of cookie would you be, and why?
Snickerdoodles, because they are my favorite, and they are sweet and unique and a little spicy, like me ;)

AM I AN IDIOT? SHHHH! DON'T ANSWER THAT

This morning I was standing at the sink in the bathroom about to brush my teeth when I suddenly looked down and realized that I had coated my toothbrush in green, gloopy hair gel instead of toothpaste. I should have gone back to bed right then and there. I guess I should consider myself lucky that it never made it to my mouth.

At least it wasn't as bad as the time I thought I grabbed hairspray and coated my entire head in deoderant. I had to get another shower and start from scratch that day.

I need a nap. After a massage. Any volunteers?

RECIPE REQUEST

At Judy's request in my previous post, here is my recipe for Chicken Cider Stew. I can tell you that I don't make it exactly the same every time. It all depends on what I feel like and what produce looks good in the supermarket. All of the veggies are optional, it's just a matter of taste.

Also keep in mind that I overcook all the time. I always have tons of leftovers. This stew requires a very large pot if you make in the same proportions that I do. It is excellent reheated the next day. I also freeze leftovers in those chinese soup containers.

CHICKEN CIDER STEW

• 1 package boneless, skinless chicken thighs cut into lg chunks
• 1 package boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into lg chunks
• flour for dredging
• olive oil and butter for browning
• 1 lg white onion (you can substitute 2 sm yellow onions or even shallots) minced, I use a mini food processor, I'm lazy
• 2 tsps chopped garlic
• 1 32 oz carton of Swanson chicken broth (I prefer it b/c it is less salty)
• 1 bag mini peeled carrots (you can peel and cut lg ones - again, lazy)
• 1 bunch celery cut into chunks (no leaves)
• 2-3 lg parsnips peeled and cut into chunks (parsnips look like albino carrots and they are a bit sweeter)
• 2 small turnips peeled and you guessed it cut into chunks (the sm ones, not those huge ruttabaga ones)
• 1 head fennel (anise) remove stalks and eat raw if you like, core and chop or slice head (this tastes like black licorice when raw, but gets sweet and delicious when cooked)
• Optional: 1 or 2 peeled and diced apples, I like Romes, but any cooking apple works
• 1 qt (more or less) fresh apple cider, this is the refrigerated cloudy stuff, the clear liquid found in the juice aisle isn't the same
• handful fresh dill chopped
• handful fresh watercress chopped
• fresh parsley chopped (dried works ok for this, but the dill and watercress must be fresh)
• some type of starch (you can use small red potatoes, no chopping required! [did I mention sometimes I'm lazy??] or quartered, peeled white potatoes or orzo pasta)
• 2 tbsp cornstarch mixed w/ equal amount of COLD water
• salt & pepper to taste

1. Sprinkle salt and pepper on all the chicken. Dredge in flour.
2. Brown in batches in the bottom of your stew pot in a mixture of butter and oil. The butter is for flavor but it has a low smoke point which is why you need the oil.
3. Remove chicken once it is browned [but not necessarily cooked through] and put in a bowl to the side.
4. Add onions and garlic and saute w/ a sprinkle of salt until tender.
5. Once the onions and garlic are cooked add the chicken stock and use a wooden spoon to deglaze the pan (scrape all the yummy browned bits on the bottom)
6. Add chicken (along w/ any juices) and bring to a simmer.
7. Add all the chopped veggies and the apple cider. (Add potatoes first so they are at the bottom since they take the longest to cook, if you are using orzo pasta as your starch don't add it yet!)
8. Bring to a low boil and let cook for 40-45 minutes. Once you get it to temperature you can turn the burner all the way down and all that liquid will hold the heat.
9. Next add the fresh herbs, salt and pepper to taste and the Orzo if you are using it.
10. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring to blend everything.
11. Mix cornstarch and cold water, pour into stew and stir to incorporate.
12. Let come to slight boil. (This is to thicken the stew, you have to bring it back to a boil in order for it to work.)

Serve in bowls with crusty bread and enjoy!

FRIDAY'S FEAST RETURNS!

November 17, 2006
One Hundred & Eighteen

Appetizer
Do you believe there is intelligent life on other planets?
Statistically it is likely. There are so many planets and so many solar systems out there that it would be naive and arrogant to think that the combination of circumstances that created life on Earth never existed or will exist someplace else.

Soup
What is one thing you said you'd never do, but you eventually did?
I let my heart get broken.

Salad
Who is the teacher that influenced you the most in school?
Mrs. Kenciec, Mrs. Ruthrauff, Mr. Campbell and Prof. Goedecke

Main Course
If you could trade places with anyone for one day, who would it be and why?
Ruth Bader Ginsberg for sure, but on a more whimsical note perhaps Jennifer Aniston or a European princess

Dessert
What is your favorite dish to prepare?
chicken cider stew or squash soup

SOLAMENTE UNA PALABRA

Yourself: frustrated
Your partner: nope
Your hair: frizzy
Your Mother: talented
Your Father: opinionated
Your Favorite Item: cell
Your dream last night: hazy
Your Favorite Drink: tea
Your Dream Car: new
Your Dream Home: mine
The Room You Are In: office
Your Ex: immature
Your fear: lonely
Where you Want to be in Ten Years? settled
Who you hung out with last night: mom
What You're Not: docile
Muffins: cinnamon
One of Your Wish List Items: SATC
Time: ruinning
The Last Thing You Did: drive
What You Are Wearing: suit
Your favorite weather: cool
Your Favorite Book: Mockingbird
Last thing you ate: croissant
Your Life: improving
Your mood: impatient
Your Best Friends: amazing
What are you thinking about right now: meeting
Your car: jalopy
What are you doing at the moment: typing
Your summer: boring
Relationship status: single
What is on your TV: nothing
What is the weather like: wet
When is the last time you laughed: Saturday

Borrowed from APL

THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT

The other day I was driving home in the semi twilight and suddenly there was this THUMP in the middle of my windshield. I saw something sail up to my car beforehand, but it was quite windy so I assumed it was a leaf. The thump made me think otherwise. Whatever it was lodged into my wiper blade, so I flipped on the wipers to no avail. I finally decided it looked like a cluster of leaves on a twig and the twig must have stuck in between the wiper parts.

I totally forgot to check it out when I got home and the next morning I hopped in my car as usual to go to work. After I stopped for my morning coffee a guy in the parking lot asked me if the car belonged to me. [No, you just saw me open the door with a key and put my purse in the front seat, but noooo not my car.] I cautiously said yes since my car is an eyesore at the moment with more rust than paint and a missing rear bumper and I didn't know what smart ass comment awaited me.

"Do you know you're carrying around a little bat?"
"Excuse me?!"
"On your wiper there." and he points and then POKES it!!!!! "Yup, it's pretty cold too." EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW

OMG!!! I have been driving around with a dead bat carcass on my car!!!!

I grabbed a wad of napkins and dislodged the offending rodent and deposited it in the trash. The worst part was that in hindsight the bat episode was the better part of my day.

SCARLET KNIGHTS RIDE TO VICTORY TO REMAIN UNDEFEATED

Rutgers University's Scarlet Knights rallied back from 18 points behind in the fourth quarter to win it 28-25 against Louiseville last night. That makes them 9 and 0.

NINE AND ZERO PEOPLE!!!

If you're not from the tri-state area and you don't follow college football this may not seem that amazing. But consider that in the 1997 season they never won a single game, not one! [They were 1-10 in 1999 and 1-11 in 2002, not a very auspicious history.] In fact nine wins is the most for the school in a single season since the1978 campaign. The Knights are more than making up for it now, even setting a new record last night for stadium capacity. This is some well deserved recognition!!

Rutgers is on a winning streak and I am blogging about football. Expect the seas to boil any day now.

DOPEY ONLINE QUIZ

Your Expression Number is 9

An idealist and humanitarian, you strive to make the world a better place. You do your best when you follow your feelings and sense of compassion. Deep down, you dream of being loved by many. You are capable of much human understanding and have a lot to give to others. While you are very ambitious, you never lose site of perspective. You have an abundance of creative talents... you just need to tap into them. Although you are a giving person, you can become selfish if you are ignored. If you are not able to help people, you tend to shelf your talents. Without others, you become aloof and start to lack sensitivity.

What's Your Expression Number?

IRONIC CONSIDERING I HATE CHEESESTEAKS

What American accent do you have? Your Result: Philadelphia Your accent is as Philadelphian as a cheesesteak! If you're not from Philadelphia, then you're from someplace near there like south Jersey, Baltimore, or Wilmington. if you've ever journeyed to some far off place where people don't know that Philly has an accent, someone may have thought you talked a little weird even though they didn't have a clue what accent it was they heard.
The Northeast
The Midland
The Inland North
The South
Boston
The West
North Central
What American accent do you have? Take More Quizzes

H/T to Angry Pregnant Lawyer

FRIDAY'S FEAST - VACATION AND CONTEST

You may have noticed the conspicuous absence of Friday's Feast this past weekend. No, I was not late! The chef is apparently on hiatus until November 17. In the interim, he is restocking the pantry, and asking for help.

From 11/1/06 to 11/17/06, we are running a contest to replenish our stock of questions. Here's how it will work:

-- Send an email to fridaysfeast@gmail.com with at least 3 unique, original questions. (Please do not send questions that you find on other memes or in books. The best questions are the ones you make up yourself!)

-- For each group of 3 original questions you send, your name will be entered once into a drawing to win a $25 Amazon.com Gift Code! (So if you send 30 questions, your name will be entered 10 times.) Your questions will be used in future Feasts. (If you win the contest, but are unable to use Amazon.com Gift Codes, I can send you $25 via PayPal or mail.)

-- Please spread the word and post about this contest on your blog! I'd love to have lots of participation in this contest (because it's fun and it will help me out, too!).

-- All entries should be emailed by 10:00PM EST on Thursday 11/16/06. At midnight on Friday, November 17th, there will be a brand new Feast, and the winner of the gift code will be announced.

Submit your questions! This could be interesting.