Anchimon’s Web Log

DAISO is terrific. i spent an hour there, and bought a laundry list of $1.50 items i don’t know how I lived without before.

Highlights include:

- Garlic peeling tube
- Flexible cutting board
- Egg slicer
- Vacuum clothing storage bags
- Fine cat brush
- Star shaped twinkle yellow sponge
- pink nail clipper “skin”

I also bought loads of actually useful things like cat toys, wine glasses, kitchen utensils, bathroom supplies, and a cool pitcher.

Anyway, really cool.

UPDATE: Cool pitcher, in Alex’s capable hands, quickly became cat dry food dispenser.

In other food news, i am bummed to find out that the awesome Burrito Express here on Eastlake has moved to Capitol Hill. Don’t they have enough places to eat at over there?

Tried to make roux last night for the bechamel sauce to go with fish/mushrooms. Well, actually a veloute sauce, because I figured out half way through the cooking that coffee creamer isn’t the same thing as cream. Regardless, every step of the roux preparation turned out almost entirely different from what was described in the recipe. The mixture went through several transformations, and I finally managed to whisk it into something saucy-looking, only a lot thicker. Tasted pretty good but looked sort of like mashed potatoes.

Bottom line - internet recipes lie. Need to buy cook books.

Empirically adjusted measurements: 2 tbsp butter, 2 tbsp flour, 2 cups broth.

Alex and I are both exhausted, having finally purchased all of the necessary gifts and food ingredients. We are watching the Giants lose, and getting ready for one last pre-xmas effort - wrap and tag a mountain of presents, then make brownies and artichoke dip.

It’s been a bit more emotional than I was ready for, so next year I’ll make sure we are somewhere out of the country for the Christmas week. it’s insane.

Some nice shirts at http://dirtymicrobe.com/

To watch “Children of Men” when it comes out next week. 91% so far on rottentomatoes.

Also, bookmarking iwatchstuff.com, always a good read.

Also also, poker on youtube.

The turkey day went well, no disasters in the kitchen. In fact, turkey turned out great.

Some more pictures should be here shortly.

I am going to be cooking my first turkey tomorrow. Picked a simple apples and champagne recipe, with some mashed potatoes, string beans, pumpkin pie on the side. Will take pictures.