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flux, n.
flux, n.
The natural state. Our moods change. Our lives change. Our feelings for each other change. Our bearings change. The song changes. The air changes. The temperature of the shower changes.Accept this. We must accept this.
― David Levithan, The Lover's Dictionary
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Packing pt. 4
I tried packing really light this time, it doesn't look like it but it is really light weight. If you have read any older posts, I always pack essentials for trips such as here and here and here.
My Essentials:
1 pair of socks - preferably black, cashmere. The plane is always cold.
1-2 packs TigerBalm patches, for aches and pains sitting on a long flight.
1 heat pad
Ipod/ipad, music speaks to my soul and it's definitely an important essential
Face masks when cabin's humidity drops along with the temperature when up in high altitude
Thermal Spring water spray
Tea packets/instant coffee packets. I always like to bring my own.
1 pair of flip flops/walking shoes
1 pair of nice dress shoes
1 light jacket, you can never be too ready for unpredictable weather
1 pair of nice pants/leggings, then just pair with tops, no need to bring multiple pants.
1 pair of favorite sunglasses
1 sweater/cardigan
Lastly, something to remind you of a familiarity, such as scents/cologne or a picture or anything that help you remember your way back =). In my case, the scent from the cologne that I sprayed liberally in my suitcase and bag, I even brought small vials with me and my security pillow, can't do without it.
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I had an ex from a very long time ago. So some time ago, this person contacted me and I corresponded briefly for awhile. I tried to give people the benefit of the doubt, hoping time helped people mature and grow up. People change, I know I have over the years. Then there are people that just don't change no matter what, some just gotten more rotten over time, and unfortunately this was the case. I have no problem in steering clear of bs and people who are full of it. I spoke to someone we both mutual know, I could barely contain my disgust and irritation when it was brought up. The nerve of this person trying to get in contact with me and with ulterior motives, the shameless swine. I have no respect for those who lack such dignity and integrity. One of the lowest of the low in my eyes. Somehow, thinking about it now, I sneered and am glad I handled it well and swiftly. Life taught me a lot, and at my age now, I have very little tolerance for people and bs in general.There will come a time when you have to face certain unpleasant situations, how you handle it is important, swiftly and effectively is key. Cut the drama out of your life. Never hesitate. Surround yourself with people with good hearts, genuine, have dignity and integrity; ones that inspire your life. Inspire others. We all need inspirations.
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Recipe: Zuppa Toscana
This is probably one of the easiest soup to make. It's very comforting during this time of the year with unsavory weather conditions...and perhaps situations, I should know.
Get ingredients ready . Set out a large heavy pot.
I used Italian spicy sausage but you could use chicken sausage instead. I like spicy food so I went with the hot sausage but feel free to use the sweet or mild variety. Kale are normally sold in big bunches with large stems. The stems are often too thick to eat, just strip off the leafy greens from the stems or buy ones that's already been stemmed. Give it a good wash and shake dry. I used two bunches of kale.
Freshly cracked black pepper, salt, nutmeg and crushed red pepper flakes. All are completely optional.
Chop up one large onion or two small ones. You'll need 3 cloves of garlic or so, minced. I used about 5 potatoes, you can use any variety you want, I wanted the soup to have a rustic feel so I roughly chopped the potatoes and left the skin on.
I used two cans of chicken broth but vegetable broth is fine too. I also added a few cups of water to dilute the soup. I pretty much just eyeballed it.
Turn the heat up to medium-high. Cook the sausage, using a wooden spoon to break up and crumble the sausage.
Continue to cook the sausage, breaking it up, until it has browned and crisped. Using a slotted spoon, remove the sausage from the pot and transfer it to a plate or bowl and set aside.
Drain some of the oil in the pot that was from the sausage. Turn pot on medium heat. Add a pat or two of butter, once the butter melted add in the chopped onion and garlic.
Stir with wooden spoon. Sauté the onions and garlic until they are soften. Add the seasonings salt, freshly ground black pepper, and crushed red peppers. Once onions have caramelized, add the cooked sausage back to the pot and stir in with the ingredients. Add the potatoes.
Add broth until everything is covered. Add more water if needed. Allow soup to come to a simmer.
Add the kale to the pot, in batches and allow it to wilt down, it will turn a bright green. Add a pinch of nutmeg at this point.
Season the soup if needed.
Drizzled in heavy cream, it will give the soup a velvety richness. Give soup final stir.
Voila. Serve hot, optional but you can add a couple of drops of brandy per serving.
Yield: 6-8 servings
Ingredients:
- 1 pound hot Italian sausage, removed from casings if there are any
- 1-2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper, plus more to taste
- 1/2-1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
- 2 large bunches of kale, stemmed and chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon or a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
- 5 small or 3 large potatoes (use the hardy variety such as russet), roughly chopped
- 2 cans chicken broth or stock
- 1 can vegetable broth
- 2-3 cups water
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Preparation:
1. Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Once the pot has heated through, add the sausage. Using a wooden spoon, break up the sausage and allow it to cook, until it has fully browned. Remove the sausage from the pot and transfer it to a plate or bowl. Set it aside.
2. Lower the heat to medium, add the butter or oil and add the onions and garlic. Stir with a wooden spoon, and cook until soft and translucent about 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes, if using. Continue to sauté until the onions have caramelized. Add sausage back to the pot. Stir to incorporate ingredients. Add the potatoes. Pour in the chicken and/or vegetable broth and water, bring it up to a boil. Lower the heat and allow the soup to simmer until the potatoes are tender and soft. Add the chopped kale in batches, allowing the kale to wilt down as it cooks. Add the nutmeg and stir. Cook the kale for another 3 minutes until it has turned bright green and completely wilted down.
3. Taste soup and adjust seasonings as needed, at this point you may add more salt, pepper or red pepper flakes. Once the potatoes are fully cooked, stir in the heavy cream. Served immediately with some crusty bread.
- 1 pound hot Italian sausage, removed from casings if there are any
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The Hands. The King. The Lover.
I sometimes ponder about many things. Many things going on at once and sorting them out so that they make at least some sense to me. I currently have a one track mind. I keep recalling to that day....that night.Tonight reminded me of that one night. There's many people you meet in life, all types of people, some more memorable than others. Then there's those very extreme few that somehow crossed your path and left such deep imprints in you that your mind and body now refuses to forget. They ticked off all of the boxes and etched such lines deep in me so that I won't be able to forget but also open my mind up to possibilities and plant inspirations in me. Tonight I reminisce that moment, a single moment that changes everything.
It's hard to forget someone who gave you so much to remember. So rare that it could ever occurred to me, I didn't realized it then at the time or for a long time afterwards but now....I can't forget it...the memories had been carved in me forever. Still, deep down inside there's sadness when I think of the hands.....the hands that will never clap in unison. I used to dream of the hands and now they no longer appear in dreams or anywhere that I could see.
Will the king choose his country or will he choose his people? Will excuses be his alibi or will courage be his alibi? I will soon find out. Mayhaps. If not I will continue to be hopeful that one day I will find my answers and what I seek.
So simple. As how it should always be....
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Pizzeria Lola
One of my sisters was in town visiting last weekend and so we decided to take her out to a new place. There were many options but we settled on probably the most popular and a local favorite pizzeria in St. Louis Park. Pizzeria Lola has a definite neighborhood vibe. We arrived at around 7:20 knowing the line will be long for our party, and the place was already full. We were told the wait would be about 60-70 minutes for our group. The staff were friendly and attentive. We moved to the back of the restaurant and had fun taking some pictures in the photo booth while we waited.
We started out with the the seasonal vegetable - Roasted Brussels Sprouts with butternut squash, pearl onions & Grana Padano. The Brussels sprouts were excellent, a little charred--crispy on the outer leaves, the sweetness from butternut squash and the Grana Padano accompanied the Brussels sprouts well.
Roasted cauliflower with lemon & Calabrian chili. This dish has some fiery kick when you bite into the peppers that were finely sliced throughout. The lemon zest gives the cauliflower and refreshing taste and balance out the spiciness from the peppers.
The Iowan - La Quercia prosciutto, ricotta, mozzarella, garlic confit & arugula. This was my favorite pizza that we ordered that night. The saltiness of the prosciutto, the creaminess of the ricotta and garlic confit, and the very subtle bitterness from the arugula makes this pizza a it at our table.
The Boise topped with potato, gruyere, fontina, caramelized onion, olive oil & rosemary was our gorup's least favorite. It simply did not stand out to us. Rather, it tasted somewhat bland after having tried the others. I didn't feel like the dose of sweetness from the caramelized onion went very well with the potato.
Lady ZaZa house-made kimchi and Korean sausage, serrano peppers, scallions, sesame & soy chili glaze. This was a colorful pizza, in looks and in taste as well. It had an array of flavors, a spicy zing from the serrano peppers, sweetness from the soy chilli glaze, and the distinct tang from the kimchi.
House-made vanilla soft serve ice cream drizzled with extra-virgin olive oil and a sprinkling of fleur de sel. I'm not really into ice cream all that much, or I can't have a lot but I did have a spoonful of the ice cream. The fruitiness of the extra-virgin olive oil brings forth the vanilla flavor of the ice cream, and the sea salt brings out the sweetness of ice cream. I think for ice cream lovers, it would be an awesome dessert to try, but for me who's not big into ice cream, thought it was ok.
Overall, we had a good time here. As busy as this place was, the service was efficient, friendly, and attentive. I'd like to go back again and try some other pizzas such as the The Forager with crimini, shitake, and portabella mushrooms, taleggio, fontina, tarragon & truffle oil, Korean BBQ with Grass Run Farm beef short ribs, mozzarella, scallions, arugula, sesame & soy-chili vinaigrette, The Xerxes with sautéed spinach, sheep’s milk feta, mozzarella, kalamata olives & almonds (minus the olives), and The Sunnyside with La Quercia guanciale, pecorino, cream, leeks & two organic eggs sunnyside up.
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One my good friends from my younger college years invited me to his company's holiday party last weekend at the contemporary Cosmos hotel. It has been a crazy and busy last few months so I thought it would be nice to dress up and go out. I arrived at the hotel around 6pm to check in, it more quieter than I thought but very nice nonetheless. I quickly got ready in the room and was able to snap a few shots of the room before I head downstairs to the banquet hall. The room is pretty nice, I just wanted to lay on the bed and stay there. Food was decent, people were nice, drinks were free, and my date was attentive. Mingling with a bunch of strangers was really not my forte, and by 10:30pm was was ready to head upstairs. One or two drinks and I'm ready to go to bed, I think this is what you'd refer to when your age is catching up to you hahaha. I was able to rest for a couple of hours on soft Frette sheets before heading home. All in all, it was nice to be out and about once in awhile.
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