Product Review: Kombucha

I am a slave to Kombucha. This product is fermented tea (pictured left: vat of fermented kombucha) that contains usnic acid derived from lichens. If you have not tried this delectable drink, follow the gypsies, soccer moms, and men with shoulder length hair to that store. Whole Paycheck, that is. Or any surviving food coop.
Kombucha tastes faintly of rotten apple cider, or maybe fermented urine. Honestly, I have no idea why it is so drinkable. See for yourself. For beginners, try GT's Gingerberry flavor. Or jump right in and grab the one with green flotsam drifting around inside the bottle.
Another admirable quality of Kombucha is the health claims prominently displayed on the label. Maybe they are giving consumers the placebo effect in a bottle. Snake oil, indeed.

Big Burrito

I find the Chipotle vegetarian fajita burrito very difficult to eat and too filling. I am reaching out to you, frequent Chipotle eater, for help. How can I change my burrito?

I asked the staff today to cut the burrito thinking they would have professional grade knives, but instead they used a plastic knife, further mashing the burrito. THIS DOES NOT MAKE THE CHIPOTLE BURRITO EASIER TO CONSUME. All the ingredients of the burrito were exposed and on the brink of falling out.

I thought the problem was too much rice, so I squeezed some of the rice out while eating and it stained my light beige "work" jeans. This seemed to make it easier to eat and I'm not as sickeningly full as usual after a monstrous Chipotle burrito.

Would they make two smaller size burritos upon request? I'll report back with my findings.

Leotards Welcome

Trying to think of activities you can do with those leotards you bought at American Apparel? How about yoga?! If you live in Laramie, Wyoming, you should check out my class. Here is the flyer.

What's Cookin' at KFC?

Check out the latest, greatest menu items from KFC here, as described by Patton Oswalt. Scroll down to "Patton Oswald" to listen.

Barack: Hawk or Dove?

For a few days, I was very excited about the campaign of Barack Obama, but yesterday my co-worker called into question my enthusiasm. Are the Dems much different than Republicans when it comes to foreign policy? Obama has said he won't rule out military force when it comes to Iran and Pakistan. This article in the New York Times "Who's Against the Next War?" casts a dark shadow on our future with a Democratic president (God willing) and examines "national-greatness liberalism" in the Democratic candidates. How do we handle our power? Is it fair that we seek to maintain it? Shouldn't the UN be the ruling body of the world (A's opinion and sometimes mine)?

We are a bully, but we are the best bully out there, some say. If we weren't the most powerful, who would step up? China? Scary prospect. It's all very depressing and unfair--it makes me want to not pay my taxes in an act of civil disobedience.

Wait, don't despair! Today I found some good news on Obama. My sister C sent this email on his domestic policy:

The US Senate recently rejected the Dorgan-Grassley
amendment which would have put limitations on farm
subsidy payments to mega farms.

Even though the amendment failed, 56 senators voted
in the interest of small farms and rural communities.
One of these was Barack Obama.

Better news of Obama's Iran policy appeared in the Times, suggesting that he plans to take merely a more aggressive diplomatic approach which I suppose is okay and a big improvement on our current leader. I don't like his threats of military action BUT if he means that he wants to sit down and really engage with leaders in the Middle East, this is good. I hope he's done his homework.

Museum of Science and Industry is free in January

January 12-31st: Admission to the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago is free! I'll be making a visit. Tickets for the Star Wars exhibit are sold out--don't cry.

Are You Registered to Vote?

Our man lost last night, but we have 48 states to go. You can register here at Rock the Vote. I'm going to start bringing registration forms to parties and other events, propelled by O's loss last night. You have to register 28 days before an election in Illinois, but it's not too early to start registering people for the national election (too late for the primary now in IL).

You can also add a Register to Vote widget to your blog, myspace etc here. I added it on the left.

Letter to the rep

Sent this today:

Dear Mr. Gutierrez,

Thank you for hard work serving my district. I am writing to you today about the war in Iraq. It is very important to me that you vote against any funding of the war in Iraq in 2008 and work to bring the troops home immediately. This issue is the most important issue to me politically and I will cast my vote accordingly in all future elections. I believe this war does not serve our political interests and it is causing great harm to our troops, the Iraqi people, and the image of America abroad. I encourage you to look at the work of Douglas Johnston at the ICRD and his "faith-based diplomacy" as a commendable model for political problem-solving. Thank you for your attention and I trust that you will give great consideration to this issue since many lives are at stake.

Sincerely,

Me

Quinoa and the Easiest Appetizer Ever

New quinoa recipe from epicurious, very tasty and reasonably healthy. The recipe says to steam the quinoa but I got impatient so I just dumped it in the water and boiled. It turned out great. Also a very easy appetizer which was eaten very quickly at our NYE party(from Mark Bittman, NYTimes, 100 simple appetizers).

***
Portable Caprese: Skewer a small ball of mozzarella, a grape tomato and a bit of basil leaf. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and drizzle with oil.

***

quinoa and black bean salad

Gourmet | July 1994

Serves 4 to 6 as an entrée or 8 as a side dish. ingredients 1 1/2 cups quinoa (small disk-shaped seeds)* 1 1/2 cups cooked black beans, rinsed if canned 1 1/2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar 1 1/2 cups cooked corn (cut from about 2 large ears) 3/4 cup finely chopped green bell pepper 2 pickled jalapeño chilies, seeded and minced (wear rubber gloves) 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh coriander For dressing 5 tablespoons fresh lime juice, or to taste 1 teaspoon salt 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cumin, or to taste 1/3 cup olive oil *available at specialty foods shops and natural foods stores preparation In a bowl wash quinoa in at least 5 changes cold water, rubbing grains and letting them settle before pouring off most of water, until water runs clear and drain in a large fine sieve.In a saucepan of salted boiling water cook quinoa 10 minutes. Drain quinoa in sieve and rinse under cold water. Set sieve over a saucepan of boiling water (quinoa should not touch water) and steam quinoa, covered with a kitchen towel and lid, until fluffy and dry, about 10 minutes (check water level in kettle occasionally, adding water if necessary).While quinoa is cooking, in a small bowl toss beans with vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.Transfer quinoa to a large bowl and cool. Add beans, corn, bell pepper, jalapeños, and coriander and toss well.Make dressing: In a small bowl whisk together lime juice, salt, and cumin and add oil in a stream, whisking.

Drizzle dressing over salad and toss well with salt and pepper to taste. Salad may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Bring salad to room temperature before serving.

Really tasty. The pickled Jalapenos add a lot to the dish, don't skip

Drizzle dressing over salad and toss well with salt and pepper to taste. Salad may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered. Bring salad to room temperature before serving.

Could Religion Be Part of the Solution?

I heard an interview with evangelical minister and veteran Daniel Johnston this weekend discussing the "faith-based diplomacy" he is using to build peace in war-torn areas. Why can't more Americans take his approach? He looks at the things people of faith have in common instead of complacently supporting our foreign wars. The most bad-ass thing Johnston does is visit Madrassas (Muslim schools which are often training centers for terrorists). There he talks with the imams about peaceful solutions to international problems, incorporating elements of his faith and their faith.

Here is the statement from his website:

The most serious threat confronting the world today is the potential marriage of religious extremism with weapons of mass destruction. Billions of dollars have been spent to address the symptoms of this problem, with little targeted at underlying cause. The International Center for Religion & Diplomacy is about "cause" and has as its highest priority the task of preventing conflict rather than dealing with its consequences after the fact

Lemon Gnocchi with Spinach and Peas

I made Lemon Gnocchi with Spinach and Peas on Saturday. Sweet, filling, and with a lemon twist.

Lemon Gnocchi with Spinach and Peas

The zing of fresh lemon enhances both the peas' sweetness and the natural flavor of the spinach. The whole quick, creamy dish is bolstered by soft pillows of potato gnocchi.

Makes 4 servings

Quick Kitchen

Andrea Albin
ingredients

1 cup frozen baby peas (not thawed)
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon dried hot red-pepper flakes
1 garlic clove, smashed
3 cups packed baby spinach (3 ounces)
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 pound dried gnocchi (preferably De Cecco)
1/4 cup grated parmesan
preparation

Simmer peas with cream, red-pepper flakes, garlic, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a 12-inch heavy skillet, covered, until tender, about 5 minutes.

Add spinach and cook over medium-low heat, uncovered, stirring, until wilted. Remove from heat and stir in lemon zest and juice.

Meanwhile, cook gnocchi in a pasta pot of boiling salted water (3 tablespoons salt for 6 quarts water) until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta-cooking water, then drain gnocchi.

Add gnocchi to sauce with cheese and some of reserved cooking water and stir to coat. Thin with additional cooking water if necessary.

Is the Turkey in Me or Am I in the Turkey?

Topkapi Palace

Sultanahmet Mosque

Many cats in Istanbul

It's Thanksgiving and we had a feast of fava beans, cooked artichokes, marinated mushrooms, and dolma from a neighboorhood deli near the apartment where we are staying. We turned the corner after visiting the deli only to see a large goose being fed small fish by a shop owner. This neighborhood had no car traffic, fortunately.

Today, we visited Topkapi Palace which includes the HAREM! The entrace fee was 10 Turkish Lira and then they slap you with another 10 YTL since they know you want to see the forbidden chambers of the harem. We learned that women could enter freely but once inside, they could never leave. The violence of the harem occurred primarily between the women, fighting for power within the harem hierarchy.

Then, we visited the Istanbul Modern to learn about the making of the Turkish Republic through photography and painting. Our favorite piece was a huge reproduction of a million lira note showing Ataturk with his eyes covered by his hands, symbolizing his disbelief at the devaluation of the currency.

Kicked out of a Cab

After visiting his cousin, A and I got in a taxi en route to the ferry back to the apartment. The driver was an older man with a white mustache. A's relative gave him directions to our destination, Besiktas port. Traffic was heavy since there was a soccer game. A gave me a kiss on the cheek and the driver stopped the cab. The driver said: "Find another cab." A asked him (in Turkish): "Why?". He responded: "Because I said so."

We got out out the cab grinning after our flagrant display of public affection. It was easy to find another cab but we couldn't believe we were kicked out for a kiss on the cheek!

A told his Dad the story and he said that when A was a child, he was speaking English in a cab in Turkey and the driver told him to shut up. His father made a retort to the taxi driver and they were then asked to leave the taxi. So it may have been our English that was offensive to the driver and the public affection was the last straw for him.

In other news, we visited the Grand Bazaar and Sultanahmet Mosque. GB is a crazy maze of ancient market commerce with evil eyes and hookahs in every shop window. At the Sultanahmet, we found the largest indoor rug ever! The first thing our senses detected walking into the mosque was a strong scent of mothballs.

I am still enjoying the food. In fact, I just polished off a bowl of Turkish ice cream called Halis Kaymak. "Kaymak" is milkfat skimmed from the top and let me tell you, it really improves a bowl of ice cream.

The Octopus and the Overpass: The Photography of Jeff Wall

Hokusai's South Wind, Clear Weather, from 36 views of Mt. Fuji


Jeff Wall's A Sudden Gust of Wind (after Hokusai), 1993.

(Photo: © 2006 Jeff Wall/Tate Gallery/Courtesy of MoMA)

It's the light box of Canadian photographer Jeff Wall which really stands out in a gallery. Go see the work yourself at the Art Institute before looking at the images online since they lack the power of the luminescent display. Wall uses back-lit boxes to house his large-scale cibachrome photographs, which are usually 6 feet by 8 feet. The photographs depict city life in the corner of an alley or the rise of an overpass. The human subjects don't meet the eye of the camera. They are generally absorbed in the activity of the scene, lending a cinematic quality to the work.
A Sudden Gust of Wind (after Hokusai), my favorite piece in the exhibit, shows a sudden disruption from nature in the life of some passerbys at a canal. The color of Hokusai's work is reinterpreted in the shininess of Wall's light box which shows movement in a still frame with the gleam of a television.

Barcelona

Leaving the hotel now for the airport, taking advantage of the free "wee-fee" (wifi) here. Barcelona is nice but full of tourists this time of year. We had dinner last night with a friend of friend, Ulisses, who lives in Barcelona. He took us to a Catalan restaurant where we sampled cod fish with creme, roasted red peppers with garlic, a mixed salad which means lots of olives in Spain, and a nice assortment of Catalan cheeses. Wine: Ribera. I haven't had a bad glass of wine yet in Spain.

Visited the beach in Barcelona and also the produce market "La Boqueria". We also had several failed attempts to visit the contemporary art museum (closed Tues) and the Picasso museum (didn't make it on time). "La Boqueria" is great if you happen to be visiting Barcelona anytime soon.

Under the Desert Sky

Yesterday we set off at 7am for a tourist trek to the Sahara, led by the Berbers. First you must take a very long ride throught the Atlas Mountains and the Draa Valley to reach the desert. This involves riding in the dreaded and perilous MINI-BUS. Hairpin curves, donkeys with large loads of straw, and the ever-present potholes make these mini-bus journeys even more interesting. Once a critic, I have now become a fan of Dramamine. We scored some at an airport farmacia in Spain called 'Biodramimine'. Not sure what makes it 'bio' but we made it through the mini-bus adventure without throwing up so it must be the right stuff.

At Zagora near the Algerian border, we said our tearful goodbyes to the mini-bus and also our non-English speaking guide (no French speakers in our group). Some of us knew a tiny bit of French but things got a little tense when we tried to tell him that we need to use the bathroom by shouting "toilette s'il vous plait" from the back and he yelled back, "No" and didn't stop for another 30 minutes.

Then we mounted our camels. The landscape was beautiful from the camels and the sun was just beginning to set in the clear desert sky. Little children ran alongside our loping camels shouting at us for 'bon-bons'. In exchange they made little camels out of palms and would toss them up on to our (live) camels.

We ate dinner in the Berber's tents and then sat and slid down the sand dunes while the Berber guides sang us traditional songs and played their drums. Among us were Welsh, English, Colombian, Polish, Canadian and Mexican--a 'mixed salad' as the Berbers called us.

Dawn came quickly at 5am and it was time to again mount the camels although some of us felt like we would rather eat sand than re-mount the beasts with our soreness. I rode for maybe 30 minutes and then dismounted and enjoyed a nice walk alongside the camel for the remainder of the walk out of the desert.

Marrakech

we started our day here by walking into the djemaa el-fna. ahmet immediately had a monkey and a snake shoved into his arms by a vendor, looking to make some cash on exotic animal portraits for tourists. food has been good although they cook the hell out of the veggies (baked in a tagine). we are going on a sahara trek tomorrow with an overnight stay in the desert in tents. Maggie note: there are tons of donkeys and kittycats here but some of them are really skinny. The medina is a labyrinth as they say--we found our way out after a couple of hours but it was the good kind of vacation-lost. Tonight: Royal Palace and Saadian Tombs. But first, I'm off to the hammam (traditional bathhouse) for a good black scrub and henna treatment.

Arrival

We had a four-hour layover in Philadelphia which we spent lounging in the rocking chairs and surfing the web. One would think four hours would be enough time to get to your gate, but at 5:42pm we realized our flight had already boarded and would be leaving for Spain shortly at 6pm. After racing across the airport pell-mell, we arrived at the gate panting and sweating and they let us board the flight despite our tardiness.

Madrid: Arrived at 8am and NO ONE was awake in the city. The streets were empty. At 10am, things still seemed a little slow. Later we went to the Prado for a dose of El Greco, Goya, Tintoretto and all the Old Masters. Today: Reina Sofia and flamenco?

Philadelphia

Cate sent me this letter written by her friend Jessica who is with the Peace Corps in Morocco now. The letter is addressed to a class of second-graders in the States and has some nice photos of Morocco. I like the lizards best.

http://www.artuntravel.com/morocco.pdf

Four hour layover in Philadelphia now after a slightly choppy flight from Chicago. Bernadette graduates tomorrow! Congratulations.

I've tried to learn a little Arabic but haven't achieved the overnight fluency I was hoping for yet. Here's what I can do in Arabic: "Excuse me waiter. My name is Mary and I'd like 5 pizzas".

Tapas and Tagine

A and I are leaving Saturday morning for our WARMER PLACES trip, Chicagoans desperate for sun and citrus. We will arrive early Sunday morning in Madrid.

Sunday ambitions include visiting the Prado (free until 2pm!), lunch in La Latina, and people-watching/staring at El Retiro Park. We'll see if these plans materialize with jet lag. We will be meeting Madrid residents Sean and Paloma that evening and following them around for the next few days. Tuesday, off to Morocco for camel riding and getting lost in labyrinthine medinas until Friday.

Saturday-Wednesday is the Barcelona portion of the trip.