Sliders!!!
Finished products, off to lab with Raghu:
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Pets!
Duncan, at home in Andover, eating dinner:
Exercise time for HAMMMSTARRR
Getting coaxed into a paper towel roll:
Eating an apple:
Sleeping it off:
Exercise time for HAMMMSTARRR
Getting coaxed into a paper towel roll:
Eating an apple:
Sleeping it off:
Chicken Makhani
Raghu getting ready (look at the mobile I made at his house!):
Browned chicken and cooking rice:
Putting the sauce in the blender!
Melting the butter in:
Finished product!!!
Okee: I'm not sure of the recipe 100%, but here is the general idea:
1.5lbs of chicken thighs, cut into strips.
Brown them (but don't cook them fully) in oil, ginger garlic paste. Set aside.
Add water, a big chopped onion, about 1 tsp cumin, about 1.5 tbs ginger garlic paste, a handful of fenugreek, coriander, those spices you put in oranges and hams at christmas that look like little torches, maybe 1/2 cup cashews, green pepper, and red pepper powder to the crispy chicken bits still left in the pan. Add 2 chopped up big tomatoes.
Simmer for at least 10 min or so, or until soft.
Put in a blender and blend till very smooth. Careful not to burn your face.
Return to pan and mix in a stick of butter. And put the chicken back in.
Cook until chicken cooked through.
Add some garam.
If you want, you can color with some red food coloring so it looks more orangey/red and not so brown.
DEEEEEEELicious!
Browned chicken and cooking rice:
Putting the sauce in the blender!
Melting the butter in:
Finished product!!!
Okee: I'm not sure of the recipe 100%, but here is the general idea:
1.5lbs of chicken thighs, cut into strips.
Brown them (but don't cook them fully) in oil, ginger garlic paste. Set aside.
Add water, a big chopped onion, about 1 tsp cumin, about 1.5 tbs ginger garlic paste, a handful of fenugreek, coriander, those spices you put in oranges and hams at christmas that look like little torches, maybe 1/2 cup cashews, green pepper, and red pepper powder to the crispy chicken bits still left in the pan. Add 2 chopped up big tomatoes.
Simmer for at least 10 min or so, or until soft.
Put in a blender and blend till very smooth. Careful not to burn your face.
Return to pan and mix in a stick of butter. And put the chicken back in.
Cook until chicken cooked through.
Add some garam.
If you want, you can color with some red food coloring so it looks more orangey/red and not so brown.
DEEEEEEELicious!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
o.m.g.
omg. m made butter chicken from scratch for valentine's day yesterday!!!!! we no longer have a need for akbar.
pics and recipe to come, courtesy of our vah-chef sanjay thumma!!!
there was also brownie cupcakes and a mobile involved, stay tuned!
pics and recipe to come, courtesy of our vah-chef sanjay thumma!!!
there was also brownie cupcakes and a mobile involved, stay tuned!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Trip to Sarver!
Chronologically backwards version:
Franny! makin me breakfast mmm
Breakfast - brie and egg english muffin sammich
Birdies
Roomies
Dinnahs - Franny's homemade pumpkin ravioli and veggies
Franny! makin me breakfast mmm
Breakfast - brie and egg english muffin sammich
Birdies
Roomies
Dinnahs - Franny's homemade pumpkin ravioli and veggies
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Run update/Visit to Franny's
Run update: still on the damn trainer. Biking around 1-2 hrs a day, usually while watching Hardball with Chris Matthews on my miniscule TV. Intervals on the shorter days. Tried running a couple times with not much success, so I've been emailing this damn orthopod about getting some PT but he is not emailing me back. I may try to sneak behind his back again and try to see a sports med doc in his group (aka also covered by my insurance) if he doesn't want to help me.
Franny's: Went to Franny's after my Pitt interview! She works for the Audubon society and lives in this house they own with another intern in the woods. Very cool and peaceful and pretty and birdy. Will post the few pics I got when I find the cord to attach my camera. Got to her house after my interview around 4 or 5 - the drive there was very scenic and I was kind of scared in this really twisty road that was only cleared 1-lane wide, but was for 2 directions of travel. Her house was deep in the woods, far from the road, and covered in snow! We went for a short hike at a nearby trail in the snow, after getting her car stuck in the drive way and pushing it out, then went to Walmart! I have not been to Walmart in years and I was sad I didn't have my camera to take pictures of both the hike and the trip to Walmart. Walmart was incredible - very big, cheap, and it sold groceries. The fruit quality and variety was 3.8 birds out of 5 and 3.3 birds respectively. Clearly better quality and significantly cheaper than the Baltimore Superfreshes and Giants and Safeways. They had cherries for 1 dollar a pound! We bought other things like honey and brown sugar for cheap, then ate a pair of Reese's Pieces on the drive home. They did not have vegetable broth, which Franny says is a chronic problem. Then, we went home, and when we got home, I could see more stars than I have ever seen in my entire life. And we got her car stuck in the driveway again, come to think of it, and I hope she got it out because I told her we'd get it out in the morning, but then this morning I left without helping her with the car.... Anyways, her roommate Kevin made a fire in the fireplace, and Franny made homemade pumpkin ravioli and sauteed some colorful veggies for dinner. Very tasty. We also had wine, which Kevin says he chooses by whether or not there is an animal (and preferably a bird). ME TOO!!!! The wine was very good, proof that this strategy can be successful. Then, we played Bananagrams while working on a pint of Ben and Jerry's Cheesecake ice cream with 3 spoons. Then, we made some kettlecorn and then Franny and I went and stayed up late talking. In the morning, Franny made us brie and egg on english muffins and I took pictures of the dozens of birds at the feeders/suet/pinecone feeder. We saw: a woodpecker (which I have never seen eat suet before), cardinals (male and female), slate-colored juncos (male and female... my favorite wild bird, tied with mourning doves), and titmice. I left early to get back to Baltimore for a doctor's appt, and I was so glad I got to visit! What an idyllic place to live. ^___^ Must go back in the spring to do more bird watching...
Misc: Will post food pictures soon, as soon as Raghu sends them to me!!
Franny's: Went to Franny's after my Pitt interview! She works for the Audubon society and lives in this house they own with another intern in the woods. Very cool and peaceful and pretty and birdy. Will post the few pics I got when I find the cord to attach my camera. Got to her house after my interview around 4 or 5 - the drive there was very scenic and I was kind of scared in this really twisty road that was only cleared 1-lane wide, but was for 2 directions of travel. Her house was deep in the woods, far from the road, and covered in snow! We went for a short hike at a nearby trail in the snow, after getting her car stuck in the drive way and pushing it out, then went to Walmart! I have not been to Walmart in years and I was sad I didn't have my camera to take pictures of both the hike and the trip to Walmart. Walmart was incredible - very big, cheap, and it sold groceries. The fruit quality and variety was 3.8 birds out of 5 and 3.3 birds respectively. Clearly better quality and significantly cheaper than the Baltimore Superfreshes and Giants and Safeways. They had cherries for 1 dollar a pound! We bought other things like honey and brown sugar for cheap, then ate a pair of Reese's Pieces on the drive home. They did not have vegetable broth, which Franny says is a chronic problem. Then, we went home, and when we got home, I could see more stars than I have ever seen in my entire life. And we got her car stuck in the driveway again, come to think of it, and I hope she got it out because I told her we'd get it out in the morning, but then this morning I left without helping her with the car.... Anyways, her roommate Kevin made a fire in the fireplace, and Franny made homemade pumpkin ravioli and sauteed some colorful veggies for dinner. Very tasty. We also had wine, which Kevin says he chooses by whether or not there is an animal (and preferably a bird). ME TOO!!!! The wine was very good, proof that this strategy can be successful. Then, we played Bananagrams while working on a pint of Ben and Jerry's Cheesecake ice cream with 3 spoons. Then, we made some kettlecorn and then Franny and I went and stayed up late talking. In the morning, Franny made us brie and egg on english muffins and I took pictures of the dozens of birds at the feeders/suet/pinecone feeder. We saw: a woodpecker (which I have never seen eat suet before), cardinals (male and female), slate-colored juncos (male and female... my favorite wild bird, tied with mourning doves), and titmice. I left early to get back to Baltimore for a doctor's appt, and I was so glad I got to visit! What an idyllic place to live. ^___^ Must go back in the spring to do more bird watching...
Misc: Will post food pictures soon, as soon as Raghu sends them to me!!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Sunday, January 4, 2009
My dad: "Oh no, another mouth to feed!"
We got a bird! It's a yellow budgerigar. His name is Duncan, because my mom refused to name him Tim Duncan. My dad calls him Dunkin Donuts. He is pretty small and cute.
tg
tg
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Photo dump!
Dear Clio and Drink,
Thank you for being so awesome!
tg
Sashimi with wasabi foam, opposite caviar jelly over pickled pear
Raw oysters with caviar and a bit of tempura vegetable
Fois gras with star anise spread
Lamb with some unknown delicious thing on top
Lobster with risotto and coconut powder, coconut asian jelly, and mushrooms and baby carrot
Deconstruction of a s'more - frozen chocolate thing with graham thing and dulce de leche and a homemade marshmallow on a vanilla bean stick
After dinner espresso
After dinner melon cotton candy
Heading on over to the next destination, Drink
Yes please!
Beginning of the night, still quiet
The surroundings. On the right, my future Tom and Jerry.
Me
Raghu
Me+Raghu
The friendly bartender letting us try some of the goodies
Thank you for being so awesome!
tg
Sashimi with wasabi foam, opposite caviar jelly over pickled pear
Raw oysters with caviar and a bit of tempura vegetable
Fois gras with star anise spread
Lamb with some unknown delicious thing on top
Lobster with risotto and coconut powder, coconut asian jelly, and mushrooms and baby carrot
Deconstruction of a s'more - frozen chocolate thing with graham thing and dulce de leche and a homemade marshmallow on a vanilla bean stick
After dinner espresso
After dinner melon cotton candy
Heading on over to the next destination, Drink
Yes please!
Beginning of the night, still quiet
The surroundings. On the right, my future Tom and Jerry.
Me
Raghu
Me+Raghu
The friendly bartender letting us try some of the goodies
Happy New Year!!! Winter break plus a restaurant review plus a bar/lounge review!
W. Chan, I didn't forget that I'm calling you back - I will!!!
I came home for winter break and I've been hanging out at home w/ my parents, watching movies, doing puzzles, interviewing, etc. We've done a couple puzzles now, including a giant sailboat puzzle and this killer goldfish puzzle which is borderless and has just hundreds of copies of this one goldfish against an all blue background.
The highlight of my break, though, was that Raghu drove up from Baltimore to Andover to hang out for New Years! We went into Boston for the day - window shopped at Copley, got some coffee, went to see Slumdog Milli(o)nare (the movie about winning 20 million ruPEEEEE.......s), and most importantly went to Clio for dinner, then Drink for, well, drinks.
CLIO: 5 birds
I give Clio 5 birds! The rating system is 0-5 birds, with 0 birds meaning I'm actually offended by the eating experience and 5 birds meaning the best! It's a smallish restaurant that is part of the Eliot Hotel in Boston, which is also connected to a sushi bar called Uni (less $$$). The food is modern American/seafood, with a touch of "molecular gastronomy" (foam, those flavor pearls, etc.) The ambiance is cozy while classy and modern - they have a bar and then a larger seating area. The waitstaff were extremely attentive - filling water immediately, replacing a dropped fork right away, explaining each course in great detail, and were in general very alert and courteous. My only complaint was that I am a slow eater and got asked a few times if I was finished with my plate before I actually was. I didn't pay attention much to the winelist (was saving room for later that evening), but they had a few interesting cocktails and martinis. I had a mojito was good, but not anything to write home about. It was pretty strong though, in a good way. Raghu loved what he got (I forgot). They had a few "liquid nitrogen" martinis, which I assume steam and bubble, but I think I have played with liquid nitrogen enough in the lab for it to not be all that exciting/appetizing. The new year's prix fixe menu was 5 or 7 courses, with a choice or two within those. Raghu chose lamb from the 5 course menu and I chose lobster. I'll load pics from his iPhone when he sends them to me, but the meal was brilliant! The sashimi from the appetizer was SO GOOD, like eating butter. It came with a wasabi foam and some pickled pear and caviar. There were oysters out of the shell with caviar and a little piece of tempura vegetable, fois gras with star anise jam, and lobster with coconut powder and risotto. Dessert was a deconstructed s'more on a vanilla bean, and after that we had espresso. With the check, there was melon cotton candy. Everything was so delicious! I need to post pictures because the presentation was excellent as well.
DRINK: 5 birds
After Clio, we headed over to Fort Point, to a new bar called Drink, which, I am told is much like Bourbon and Branch in SF. Basically, they have this long winding bar (lots of surface area) so that lots of people can sit, you get a bartender for the night, and they make you drinks. This all sounds like what a normal bar is like, but here, you tell them what you are in the mood for, and they create something. It's a lot more about experimenting than anything else. It was very sleek and modern, yet casual, and the crowd and bartenders were great - not pretentious, the dress was upscale casual, and very friendly. Coming in from the cold, we started out with hot drinks - Raghu had a mulled port (I was jealous) and I got this thing called a Tom and Jerry, which is kind of what egg nog wishes it could be. Eggs are separated, sugar is added to the yolk, both parts are whipped, folded back in together, and then milk, brandy, rum, cinnamon, allspice, are all combined, and nutmeg is sprinkled over the froth on top. The Tom and Jerry was really strong at first, so I worked on it really slowly, but over time it got better and better. I like rum, so I asked for something with rum in it, and the bartender and I decided on a "Dark and Stormy", which was rum and their homemade ginger beer, which was VERY gingery, so most of that went to Raghu. We asked for "something on fire" next, and got some flaming bourbon/graprefruity thing for Raghu (I forget what it was called), but it was really good. We got to try some 110 proof liquor called "Chartreuse" (tasty!) for free and had 2 glasses of champagne for midnight. The bartender, Scott, was very friendly, creative, and knowledgeable. We obviously couldn't try every drink we wanted, but we saw some pretty creative stuff made by some of the other bartenders too. One woman was not trained originally as a bartender, but did research on cocktails and drinks and she made one party this drink whose recipe she discovered from some ship in the 1800s. Ha! All in all, a very fun, laid back night.
That's all for now! Pictures will be coming..
I came home for winter break and I've been hanging out at home w/ my parents, watching movies, doing puzzles, interviewing, etc. We've done a couple puzzles now, including a giant sailboat puzzle and this killer goldfish puzzle which is borderless and has just hundreds of copies of this one goldfish against an all blue background.
The highlight of my break, though, was that Raghu drove up from Baltimore to Andover to hang out for New Years! We went into Boston for the day - window shopped at Copley, got some coffee, went to see Slumdog Milli(o)nare (the movie about winning 20 million ruPEEEEE.......s), and most importantly went to Clio for dinner, then Drink for, well, drinks.
CLIO: 5 birds
I give Clio 5 birds! The rating system is 0-5 birds, with 0 birds meaning I'm actually offended by the eating experience and 5 birds meaning the best! It's a smallish restaurant that is part of the Eliot Hotel in Boston, which is also connected to a sushi bar called Uni (less $$$). The food is modern American/seafood, with a touch of "molecular gastronomy" (foam, those flavor pearls, etc.) The ambiance is cozy while classy and modern - they have a bar and then a larger seating area. The waitstaff were extremely attentive - filling water immediately, replacing a dropped fork right away, explaining each course in great detail, and were in general very alert and courteous. My only complaint was that I am a slow eater and got asked a few times if I was finished with my plate before I actually was. I didn't pay attention much to the winelist (was saving room for later that evening), but they had a few interesting cocktails and martinis. I had a mojito was good, but not anything to write home about. It was pretty strong though, in a good way. Raghu loved what he got (I forgot). They had a few "liquid nitrogen" martinis, which I assume steam and bubble, but I think I have played with liquid nitrogen enough in the lab for it to not be all that exciting/appetizing. The new year's prix fixe menu was 5 or 7 courses, with a choice or two within those. Raghu chose lamb from the 5 course menu and I chose lobster. I'll load pics from his iPhone when he sends them to me, but the meal was brilliant! The sashimi from the appetizer was SO GOOD, like eating butter. It came with a wasabi foam and some pickled pear and caviar. There were oysters out of the shell with caviar and a little piece of tempura vegetable, fois gras with star anise jam, and lobster with coconut powder and risotto. Dessert was a deconstructed s'more on a vanilla bean, and after that we had espresso. With the check, there was melon cotton candy. Everything was so delicious! I need to post pictures because the presentation was excellent as well.
DRINK: 5 birds
After Clio, we headed over to Fort Point, to a new bar called Drink, which, I am told is much like Bourbon and Branch in SF. Basically, they have this long winding bar (lots of surface area) so that lots of people can sit, you get a bartender for the night, and they make you drinks. This all sounds like what a normal bar is like, but here, you tell them what you are in the mood for, and they create something. It's a lot more about experimenting than anything else. It was very sleek and modern, yet casual, and the crowd and bartenders were great - not pretentious, the dress was upscale casual, and very friendly. Coming in from the cold, we started out with hot drinks - Raghu had a mulled port (I was jealous) and I got this thing called a Tom and Jerry, which is kind of what egg nog wishes it could be. Eggs are separated, sugar is added to the yolk, both parts are whipped, folded back in together, and then milk, brandy, rum, cinnamon, allspice, are all combined, and nutmeg is sprinkled over the froth on top. The Tom and Jerry was really strong at first, so I worked on it really slowly, but over time it got better and better. I like rum, so I asked for something with rum in it, and the bartender and I decided on a "Dark and Stormy", which was rum and their homemade ginger beer, which was VERY gingery, so most of that went to Raghu. We asked for "something on fire" next, and got some flaming bourbon/graprefruity thing for Raghu (I forget what it was called), but it was really good. We got to try some 110 proof liquor called "Chartreuse" (tasty!) for free and had 2 glasses of champagne for midnight. The bartender, Scott, was very friendly, creative, and knowledgeable. We obviously couldn't try every drink we wanted, but we saw some pretty creative stuff made by some of the other bartenders too. One woman was not trained originally as a bartender, but did research on cocktails and drinks and she made one party this drink whose recipe she discovered from some ship in the 1800s. Ha! All in all, a very fun, laid back night.
That's all for now! Pictures will be coming..
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Prosciutto-wrapped Pesto and Pine Nut Tilapia with Mushroom Risotto
Mexican Chicken Tortilla soup as appetizer and PB cookies and Pictionary for dessert (not pictured)
Monday, December 8, 2008
Homeostasis
I drank too much coffee today and then I went and drank an excessive amount of diet Pepsi post-dinnertime (so much so that I am too embarrassed to specify the exact amount in this pseudo-public domain). So now, it is 23:15 and it is past my bed-time and I cannot sleep :( I was lying in bed, thinking obsessively about running (as usual), and why I am so addicted. I've realized it's because running completely structures my life. It's not just something I do to feel good about myself physically... it forces me to be healthy, efficient, and focused.
When I am running, I have this great balance of good energy in (carbs and veggies and fruits, restful sleeping) and good energy out (workouts that are on the whole rewarding, good energy level, organization and focus during the day so I can run in the afternoon, great sleep at night). When I stop, everything goes down the tubes. I get eat like crap and get fat, I sleep horribly, I can't concentrate and waste my free time, and I'm tired and irritable all day.
::sigh::
The only good thing about not running is that I don't get night sweats!
Anyways, enough crying about my current knee injury... Despite having to bike all weekend, the rest of it was pretty good. I was off because I'm on inpatient Peds, so Friday night, I hung out at home with Raghu - we made my interpretation of his turkey burger recipe :) Saturday some friends and I made dinner (pictures to come!) - mexican chicken soup, proscuitto wrapped pesto tilapia with pomegranate seeds, mushroom risotto, peanut butter cookies, and wine, followed by a rousing, post-dinner late-night game of pictionary. Sunday, I studied and bought Bananagrams (most amazing game ever), and went to see Milk. It was a great movie - Sean Penn was so convincing! I wonder if had it come out before the election, would Prop 8 have passed?
Eep! time to go to bed. Night night~
When I am running, I have this great balance of good energy in (carbs and veggies and fruits, restful sleeping) and good energy out (workouts that are on the whole rewarding, good energy level, organization and focus during the day so I can run in the afternoon, great sleep at night). When I stop, everything goes down the tubes. I get eat like crap and get fat, I sleep horribly, I can't concentrate and waste my free time, and I'm tired and irritable all day.
::sigh::
The only good thing about not running is that I don't get night sweats!
Anyways, enough crying about my current knee injury... Despite having to bike all weekend, the rest of it was pretty good. I was off because I'm on inpatient Peds, so Friday night, I hung out at home with Raghu - we made my interpretation of his turkey burger recipe :) Saturday some friends and I made dinner (pictures to come!) - mexican chicken soup, proscuitto wrapped pesto tilapia with pomegranate seeds, mushroom risotto, peanut butter cookies, and wine, followed by a rousing, post-dinner late-night game of pictionary. Sunday, I studied and bought Bananagrams (most amazing game ever), and went to see Milk. It was a great movie - Sean Penn was so convincing! I wonder if had it come out before the election, would Prop 8 have passed?
Eep! time to go to bed. Night night~
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Run update: Have run 1.5 then 3 miles in the past week, my comeback from a 2 month break! I'm using this terrible brace my orthopedist gave me that has these velcro straps designed to keep my patella from moving too lateral, but the straps are so rough on the edges, it ends up cutting my other knee when they sometimes rub together... I am still struggling with the knee pain... He said try to run for 6 weeks and if it doesn't work, I'll get you a referral for PT, but I think I need to do that now.
Bike update: The bike is amazing. It doesn't particularly do it for me as a way to feel good about myself, and I can never really feel like I get in the zone like I do when I run, but this is by far the best bike I've ever had! I still need to make some adjustments and buy some parts to make it fit me better, but for now it's working out well. As part of my denial that I am not in fact really that injured and that I will get back running as usual say, TOMORROW, I have not really invested that much into bike-specific clothing. I've got my bike shorts and my cleats.... that's about it. So 1 pair of bike shorts to wear EVERY DAY. GROSS.
Cooking extravaganza tonight! On the menu:
Herbed mushroom custard
Bim bim bap? or Asparagus and triple cream pizza... or cauliflower and pancetta pizza... tbd
Some thing that Vinh will make with brussel sprouts in an effort to convince me that I should like brussel sprouts
Walnut cream cheese sandwich cookies!
Hopefully I can find my camera in time to wow you.
Bike update: The bike is amazing. It doesn't particularly do it for me as a way to feel good about myself, and I can never really feel like I get in the zone like I do when I run, but this is by far the best bike I've ever had! I still need to make some adjustments and buy some parts to make it fit me better, but for now it's working out well. As part of my denial that I am not in fact really that injured and that I will get back running as usual say, TOMORROW, I have not really invested that much into bike-specific clothing. I've got my bike shorts and my cleats.... that's about it. So 1 pair of bike shorts to wear EVERY DAY. GROSS.
Cooking extravaganza tonight! On the menu:
Herbed mushroom custard
Bim bim bap? or Asparagus and triple cream pizza... or cauliflower and pancetta pizza... tbd
Some thing that Vinh will make with brussel sprouts in an effort to convince me that I should like brussel sprouts
Walnut cream cheese sandwich cookies!
Hopefully I can find my camera in time to wow you.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Amanda's visit and home-made goat cheese and ricotta and chive and mushroom ravioli and goat cheese potato salad New York Times style
Walking about at the Fell's Point Festival
Later that night!
First time making pasta!
Making up the dough:
Action shot!
Stuffing:
Dough is getting firmer! Chives added to cheese filling:
Ball of fresh pasta!
Stuffing all done: mushrooms added!
Goat cheese warm potato salad with mustard seeds:
Rolling out the pasta:
Ravioli and experimental tortellini awaiting cooking:
Buttermilk sauce with bits of tomato and ham:
Ta-da!
Later that night!
First time making pasta!
Making up the dough:
Action shot!
Stuffing:
Dough is getting firmer! Chives added to cheese filling:
Ball of fresh pasta!
Stuffing all done: mushrooms added!
Goat cheese warm potato salad with mustard seeds:
Rolling out the pasta:
Ravioli and experimental tortellini awaiting cooking:
Buttermilk sauce with bits of tomato and ham:
Ta-da!
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