NOOoooOOOoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Associated Press
Updated 5:50 p.m. ET Feb. 28, 2006

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Boondocks, the black comic-strip family living in white suburbia, are going on vacation.

Aaron McGruder, the cartoonist behind the strip syndicated in about 350 American newspapers, said Tuesday he would take about six months off beginning in March.


wtF? he's going on vacation?!?

forever roasted pork...

... courtesy of michael chiarello and mario batali.

the lasagna pan on the left is the part courtesy of mario batali, and you can find it @ http://www.italiankitchen.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=AFBB2CD4-475A-BAC0-51D3BD90D967DC71&fid=AFBB2CE4-475A-BAC0-573F6A92411FF8A4



the recipe is the part courtesy of michael chiarello. don't it look too scrumptious for words? my husband cooked it. i only dealt with the sides tonight. i just wanted to share because pork shoulder is a very economical piece of meat, and if it's cooked properly, it is the most succulent, delicious thing you'll ever eat.

anyone from the south who's had pulled pork knows what i'm talking about.

anyhow, you could serve this with any sort of green veg and just about any kind of starchy side dish... polenta, gnocchi, roasted potatoes... you name it, it would probably work well with this pork.

so, without further ado, here's the recipe:


4 pounds pork shoulder, butt end, boneless (have your butcher bone it for you if you're not sure of your butchering skills)
2 T extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
1½ t finely chopped fresh sage leaves
gray salt and freshly ground black pepper
about ¼ c fennel spice, recipe follows

bring pork to room temperature by removing it from refrigerator 1 to 2 hours before cooking.
preheat the oven to 275°F.

heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until hot. add the onions, cover pan, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook until light brown. be patient, and don't turn up the heat. add the sage and season with salt and pepper. cook until the onions cease throwing off water, about 3 minutes. remove from heat, allow to cool on plate.

open up the pork roast and spread a good amount of the fennel spice and add the onions directly to the middle of the roast. fold the roast back over the onions and tie closed with kitchen string. season well all over with the remaining fennel spice.

arrange the meat in the lasagna pan, drizzle with more olive oil and cook until the meat is very tender, about 8 hours. it is ready when it pulls away easily if picked at with a pair of tongs. it is often easiest to cook the meat overnight, or put it in the oven in the morning and let it cook all day. it does not need to be attended. you'll want to, because it will smell so good you won't be able to keep your face out of it, but it really requires no more work at this point.

fennel spice rub:

1 c fennel seeds
3 T coriander seeds
2 T white peppercorns
3 T kosher salt

put the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and peppercorns in a heavy pan over medium heat. watch carefully, tossing frequently so the seeds toast evenly. when light brown and fragrant, pour the seeds onto a plate to cool. they must be cool before grinding, or they will gum up the blades if you use a coffee grinder. if you're truly patient though, you could use a mortar and pestle.
pour the seeds into the coffee grinder and add the salt. grind to a fine powder, shaking the grinder occasionally to redistribute the seeds. store in a tightly sealed glass jar in a cool, dry place, or freeze.
yield: about 1¼ cups

i suck, yo!

4 slices bacon, cut into ¾" pieces
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 T unsalted butter
2 t ground cumin
3 T all-purpose flour
4 c chicken stock
1 large potato, peeled and cut into ¼" dice
½ c heavy cream
10 oz package frozen corn kernels
½ lb sharp cheddar, grated
pepper and salt (if necessary)


cook bacon in a 3 quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat, stirring, until crisp and transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain.

add onion and butter to fat in pan and cook, stirring, until onion is softened. add cumin and cook, stirring, 1 minute. add flour and cook, stirring, 1 minute. whisk in broth and bring to a boil, whisking occasionally. add potato and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until just tender, 8 minutes. stir in cream and corn and return to a simmer. add cheddar, stirring just until cheese is melted (do not let boil), and season generously with pepper.

serve topped with bacon.


i'm serving with grilled cheese sandwiches... extra sharp cheddar on english muffin bread from trader joe's.
should be yummy. :)

happy valentine's day kids!

so... tom cruise, of jump the couch infamy, and katie holmes have allegedly bitten the dust.

she remembered which louis vuitton or kooba bag she stashed her brain in, i say.


anyhoo, i sit here @ 3:14 pm with lunch for my husband's entire office in the oven. well, the entire office minus the owner, who had back surgery last week. asian-style braised short ribs (recipe to follow), jasmine rice, and assorted asian-style veggies in a soy sauce-based glaze.

i have to do the short ribs in shifts.

here's the recipe:

5 pounds beef short ribs, cut into 4-ounce portions
1 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
6+ cloves garlic, peeled and smashed (i usually put in about 9)
1 (5-inch) stalk lemongrass, halved and smashed (be careful and use a very sharp knife)
1 tablespoon peeled and minced ginger
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 quart water
1/2 cup sliced green onion bottoms, white part only
3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 cup fresh blood orange juice
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons finely grated blood orange zest, for serving (you DO have a microplane, no?)
sliced green onion tops, optional for garnish

preheat the oven to 350°. in a wide stockpot or dutch oven, combine the short ribs, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, lemongrass, ginger, brown sugar, water, green onion bottoms, crushed red pepper, and ¼ c of the orange juice. make sure that the stockpot is deep enough so that the short ribs are submerged in the liquid. bake the short ribs, covered, for about 3 hours, or until the meat is tender and falling off the bones.

remove the short ribs from the braising liquid and cover to keep warm. increase the oven temperature to 425°. drain the fat off of the cooking liquid and discard. place the remaining braising juices in a medium saucepan with ¼ cup of the hoisin sauce and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. reduce the liquid until only about 1¼ cups remain. strain through a fine-meshed strainer, discarding the solids.

stir in the remaining 2 T of orange juice and the lemon juice. return the short ribs and the reduced sauce to the stockpot or dutch oven, coating the short ribs well with the sauce. bake for 15 minutes, until the short ribs are heated through and slightly glazed.

serve hot over jasmine rice. season each portion with the orange zest and garnish with the green onions if desired.



and remember... guns don't shoot people... vice presidents shoot people!

*cranking a blaster*

i ganked this pic and the title of this post from http://swilltopower.blogspot.com/, but the pic was
also on the front page of the los angeles times...

look closely at the shrub...

"goddammit george, you can't fart at her funeral!"

a recipe for laine

k, the other night i made what i called chicken marsala ravioli for dinner. to perfectly recreate the meal i made, one would need to be a member of costco. i got the ravioli already made. grilled chicken and mozzarella (the fresh kind even). however, any sort of fresh chicken-filled ravioli or tortelloni would work.

what i did was create the sauce.

i put a gallon of water on to boil. while it was getting hot, i assembled the sauce:

i sauteed a pound of sliced button mushrooms (i'd have gotten at least half criminis cept they looked like shit that day @ the supermercado) in 2 T of butter and 1 T of olive oil in the biggest pan i have. it's 14", and remember, i'm one of those übersnobs who normally cooks with extra-virgin. i'm with mario batali on that one. i didn't salt and pepper them till they were almost done. you're looking for good, even caramelization before anything else goes in. i also minced up 4 cloves of garlic and added it with the s&p.

when the water boils, add 2-3 T of salt to the water and cook your pasta according to pkg. directions.

i used a big slotted gizmo to remove them from the pan, and poured in ½ cup of marsala. i used sweet, but dry would work too. i scraped up anything that might have stuck and over med-hi heat, reduced it to a thick syrup. then i added about 1 cup of chicken stock. out of a box. *lol* let that reduce by about half. then add a pint of cream. stir frequently over med-hi heat till the sauce reduces enough to coat the back of a spoon.

add the now-cooked pasta to the sauce, and lower heat. allow to cook over your lowest low heat about 5 mins.

i served it with some blanched haricots verts that i tossed in a couple tablespoons of unsalted parma butter.

it was a most excellent meal.



i'm gonna do a roasted and glazed pork tenderloin, roasted asparagus and risotto for dinner tonite.

i'll post that stuff too.

you must check this out!

the 50 most loathsome people of 2005.click the title of this post for the url.

i found a link to this @ http://heyjennyslater.blogspot.com.

my husband wondered how it got narrowed to 50. that i don't know... what i do know is all 50 of those mofos belong on the list.

yes i know...

it's feast or famine with me, ain't it?

i'm cooking tonight. something i think is going to turn out just delicious. i got some ravioli stuffed with grilled chicken and cheese and various herbs and i'm making a marsala sauce with mushrooms and wot not. gonna serve it with some sauteed haricots verts in a shallot/sauvignon blanc reduction.

yes, i know... dinner will get me drunk.

i'll post the recipes when i know for sure dinner was a success.

learn to swim!

you know... all one would need to do to stay in shape is try to play "ænima" by tool on drums once a day.

some say a comet will fall from the sky
followed by meteor showers and tidal waves
followed by fault lines that cannot sit still
followed by millions of dumbfounded dipshits
and some say the end is near
some say we'll see armageddon soon
i certainly hope they will
i sure could use a vacation

cuz all i'd think about is how some people in this country, no in this fucking world, feel the need to ram their religion down my throat. down anyone's throat. i have but one thing to say to people like that. anyone who feels the need to hold himself up as a paragon of his particular mythology probably isn't such a good example of it.

and those fucking biblethumping wingnut christians in this country? the man they purport to worship was a communist. probably one of the purest examples of communism ever. how they've allowed themselves to get so wound up about gay marriage and abortion i'll never know. i don't think those would have been huge concerns of his in a world where people still starve and fall ill, and die in vain for the financial bottom line of the obscenely rich.

am i wrong about WWJD?

:(

i am the world's worst blogger. i will have something new for y'all shortly.

hope everyone had a lovely late december. i'm still so pissed at all those fox news types that i can't even say *holidays* anymore.

more soon i promise!

happy thxgiving kids!

i know i shouldn't be so thankful when our president makes an ass of himself. it's #19 on my list of things to be thankful for though.

have a good one everyone and remember... if you're going to mow on the turkey, designate a driver!

pic courtesy of http://socialitelife.com

i'm the undisputed queen of chicken stock, yo!

yes kids, you know it's that time of year when i break out the biggest stock pot i have and, well... make the whole house reek of thanksgiving. i'm sure the recipe is somewhere on my blog, but i'll post it again:

4 lb chicken backs, wings, or other parts that are as bony as they are meaty
3 med onions, quartered
4 ribs celery, roughly chopped
4 carrots, roughly chopped
4-5 intact garlic cloves
10 sprigs fresh thyme
good handful italian parsley
2 bay leaves
10-20 whole peppercorns

put all ingredients in the largest pot you have and cover to 1" deep with COLD water. cover pot and place over medium heat just until bubbles break the surface. remove lid and lower heat to low. you don't want it to ever cook any harder than bubbles breaking the surface. cook 8 hrs and remove the chunks with a spider or other straining utensil and then pour through the finest strainer you have into a very large bowl. it will remove the herby bits and whatever scuzz might still be lingering in the stock. place bowl containing stock into an ice bath and cool until the stock begins to take on a jello-like consistency.

using a ladle, fill large ziploc bags with the stock and freeze till needed.


tomorrow... tips on making the best pumpkin pie ever!

i just saw the word boob used as a verb

as in... *ms. x just administered a drive-by boobing of señor y*

ha!

anyhoo... busy day today... makin a grip of chicken stock for next thursday. the house just reeks of thanksgiving.

heard from someone for the first time today, thru a comment i left on someone else's blog. there's a new comment down at the entry about the ichthys n'chips car plaque? i should just go ahead and post the url for it while i'm thinkin about it. click the title of this post to visit the site that's sellin em.

i'll post more later. some tips for quality entertaining and menu suggestions for the big meal!

my first...

one year ago today, i gave and received one of these. yes kids, it's our first anniversary. the traditional gift for the first anniversary is paper... o yes, kids, my favorite kind of gift! the kind that folds! i will, upon request, provide an address for you to send any lovely, foldable gifts. :)

anyhoo... getting married was without a doubt the smartest thing i ever did. wen'l has been the absolute best husband. he rubs my feet whenever i ask, he doesn't give me shit about my continued unemployment... i could go on for days.

i want to thank you from the bottom of my heart mr. sexson. thank you for accepting my proposal, thank you for marrying me that windy november day, thank you for cooking your great big heart out 2 days later so our friends and family could join in our celebration.

thank you most of all for your patience and understanding. you're the best husband a girl could ever hope for. happy anniversary baby.

*smooches and hugs and wotnot*

*rotf*

tytyty to the angry sicilian! i'm gettin one for me and about half my xmas shopping list!

o wot a happy day!!!!!

from yahoo! news:

AUSTIN, Texas - A state court issued an arrest warrant on Wednesday for Rep. Tom DeLay, requiring him to appear in Texas for booking on state conspiracy and money laundering charges.


yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

another ganked meme...

(sorry piggyhawk.blogspot.com!)

my answers are the ones that are in BOLD PRINT.


i am bisexual.
i've consumed alcohol.
i've run away from home.
i have lied to my parents about where i am.
i don't like bush because he is dumb.
i don't like bush with my own reasons to back it up.
i am for bush.
i listen to political music.
i collect comic books.
i am shorter than 5'5".
i think i'm ugly.
i shut others out when i'm depressed.
i open up to others easily.
i am keeping a secret from the world.
i watch the news.
i own over 5 rap CDs.
i own an iPod or MP3 player.
i own multiple designer purses, costing over $100 apiece.
i own something from hot topic.
i own something from pac sun.
i own something from the gap.
i own something from abercrombie.
i own something i got on e-bay.
i love disney movies.
i am a sucker for hair/eyes.
i don't kill bugs.
i curse regularly.
i paid for that cell phone ring.
i am a sports fanatic.
i have "x"s in my screen name.
i've slipped out a "lol" in a real conversation.
i love spam.
i bake well.
i would wear pajamas to school.
i have a job.
i love martha stewart.
i am in love with love.
i am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS. *
i am self conscious.
i like to laugh.
i smoke a 1/2 pack a day.
i liked perks of being a wallflower.
i liked go ask alice.
i have cough drops when i'm not sick.
i can't swallow pills.
i can swallow about 5 pills at a time no problem.
i eat fast food weekly.
i have many scars.
i believe in ghosts.
i can't sleep if there is a spider in the room.
i am really ticklish.
i bite my nails.
i am comfortable with being me.
i play video games.
i'm single.
i'm in a relationship.
i'm married.
gotten lost in your city.
saw a shooting star.
wished on a shooting star.
saw a meteor shower.
i had a serious surgery.
gone out in public in my pajamas.
i have kissed a stranger.
hugged a stranger.
been in a fist fight.
been arrested.
laughed and had milk or another drink come out of your nose.
pushed all the buttons on an elevator.
made out in an elevator.
swore at your parents.
kicked a guy where it hurts.
been close to love.
been to a casino.
been skydiving.
broken a bone.
skipped school.
saw a therapist.
played spin the bottle.
gotten stitches.
drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour.
bitten someone.
been to niagara falls.
gotten the chicken pox.
kissed a member of the same sex.
crashed into a friend's car.
been to japan.
ridden in a taxi.
shoplifted.
been fired.
ever had a crush on someone of the same sex.
had feelings for someone who didn't have them back.
stole something from your job.
gone on a blind date.
had a crush on a teacher.
celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
been to europe.
slept with a co-worker.
been married.
gotten divorced.
had children.
been to africa.
driven over 400 miles in one day.
been to canada.
been to mexico.
been on a plane.
seen the rocky horror picture show.
thrown up in a bar.
eaten sushi.
been snowboarding.
been skiing.
met someone in person from the internet.
been to a moto cross show.
gone to college.
graduated college.
done hard drugs.
had someone cheat on you.
miss someone right now.
taken painkillers when you didn't need them.
smoked weed.
snorted cocaine.
ate shrooms.
inhaled nitrous.
been in love.
cheated in a relationship.
woke up crying.
cried yourself to sleep.
peed from laughing.
had sex.
had sex in a car.
had sex in public.
had sex in the shower.
had sex in a sibling's bed.
had sex in a parent's bed.

ganked from http://piggyhawk.blogspot.com... look, i even left the caps!

and since not capitalizing my responses would look, umm... stoopid?

Favorite Beatles song: "Tomorrow Never Knows"
Favorite solo song by a former Beatle: "Imagine"
Favorite Rolling Stones song: "Gimme Shelter"
Favorite Bob Dylan song: "The Times They Are A Changin"
Favorite Pixies song: "Gigantic" or "Monkey Gone to Heaven"
Favorite Prince song: "When Doves Cry"
Favorite Michael Jackson song: umm... none?
Favorite Metallica song: "Blackened"
Favorite Public Enemy song: "Bring the Noise"
Favorite Depeche Mode song: "World in My Eyes"
Favorite Cure song: "Hot Hot Hot!!!"
Favorite song that most of your friends haven't heard: "Too Many Puppies" by Primus.
Favorite Beastie Boys song: "So Whatcha Want" or "Root Down"
Favorite Police song: "J'aurais Toujours Faim de Toi"
Favorite Sex Pistols song: "Pretty Vacant"
Favorite song from a movie: "Birth Ritual" by Soundgarden ("Singles") or "Wave of Mutilation (the surf one)" by Pixies ("Pump Up the Volume")
Favorite Blondie song: "Dreaming"
Favorite Genesis song: umm... I'm gonna take a pass on this one too.
Favorite Led Zeppelin song: "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You"
Favorite INXS song: "Don't Change"
Favorite Weird Al song: Ya know, I never have understood the appeal of the Weird One.
Favorite Pink Floyd song: "Hey You"
Favorite cover song: "Hallelujah", the Jeff Buckley version.
Favorite dance song: "Stinkfist" by Tool... it's a looooooooong story.
Favorite U2 song: "Drowning Man"
Favorite disco song: "Le Freak" by Chic.
Favorite The Who song: "Baba O'Riley"
Favorite Elton John song: "Daniel" or "Rocket Man"
Favorite Clash song: "I Fought the Law"
Favorite David Bowie song: "Suffragette City"
Favorite Nirvana song: "Come As You Are"
Favorite Snoop Dogg song: "Gin and Juice", but as done by Phish.
Favorite Ice Cube song: "Wrong Nigga to Fuck Wit"
Favorite Johnny Cash song: "Ring of Fire"
Favorite R.E.M. song: "Fall on Me" or "Perfect Circle"
Favorite Elvis song: "Suspicious Minds"
Favorite cheesy-ass country song: "Little Boxes" by Malvina Reynolds.

k... i snorted so hard i think something broke

from eschaton and the star trib.

k... i snorted so hard it hurt.

seen in the comments on the *delay indicted* thread on dailykos.com:

* [new]
The plural for "booze" is... (4.00 / 11)

"Bush Family Picnic."

by Jujuree on Wed Sep 28th, 2005 at 09:52:28 PDT