Inauguration Day

I watched the Inauguration, of course. Truly a glorious day.



Domestic-minded me wondered what they got for lunch.


Seafood stew en croute

Brace of American birds – duck and pheasants on a bed of vegetables: brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots and spinach – and a wild cherry chutney.

Corn muffins baked in a corn husk

Apple cinnamon sponge cake and sweet cream glace

And the kids had:

Hot dogs
Cheeseburgers
Macaroni and cheese
French fries
Grilled cheese sandwiches
Cheese pizza
Chocolate chip cookies
Apple and orange juices


(from here.)

***

I watched the inauguration, remembering the last time I paid attention to one (by marching in a protest against Bush, in San Francisco.)

Then I made In Honor of Obama Onion Soup. It's done with attention, good ingredients, and additions which make it thoroughly delicious and profoundly good for you. It will also warm you after a long walk in the January day.

This recipe is from The Whole Foods Market Cookbook (which is really good, by the way). It's called French Onion Soup for Everyone.

1/8 c olive oil
3 large onions, thinly sliced
1 large portabello mushroom cap, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp dried thyme, or 1 tbsp fresh
1/4 cup tomato paste (I like less, actually)
1 cup dry red wine
4 cups vegetable stock
1/4 cup tamari or soy sauce
1/8 c dark miso dissolved in 1 cup warm water or vegetable stock
1 tbsp nutritional yeast
Freshly ground pepper to taste

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, saute the onions for at least 3 minutes before stirring. The onions should start to brown before you move them around with a spoon. Continue to cook the onions, stirring occasionally in order for the natural sugar to brown. Cook for 20 minutes (or longer), until the onions are well browned.

Add the mushroom, garlic, thyme, and tomato paste. Continue to cook for 5 minutes, until the tomato paste turns brown.

Add the wine, and scrape the pan bottom, removing all the brown bits that are sticking to it. This is called deglazing. Reduce the wine as you simmer for another 2 minutes. Add the stock, tamari, dissolved miso, and nutritional yeast. Continue to simmer uncovered for 10 minutes longer, season with pepper.

This goes perfectly with homemade croutons.

Listen Up For the Partyin' Feet

A little dance music for your Saturday night...

Intimate Faves

Tell me you want to play, and:

1. I'll respond with something random about you.
2. I'll tell you which song or movie you remind me of.
3. I'll pick a flavor of jello to eat with you.
4. I'll say something that only makes sense to you and me.
(if possible. If not, I'll say something that only makes sense to me.)
5. I'll tell you my first memory of you.
6. I'll tell you what animal you remind me of.
7. I'll ask you something I've always wondered about you.
8. I'll tell you my favorite thing about you.
9. I'll tell you my least favorite thing about you.
10. If you play, you MUST post this on yours.

Numbers from Last Year

Books read: 75
Savings account interest earned: about $200
Children babysat: 5, multiple times
Children taught: approximately 841, many 3 or more times
Percent of retirement account lost: 40
Number of baths taken: at least 330
Inches cut off hair: 4
Weddings attended: 3
Friends who died: 3
Published works: 8
Babies born in my world: 4 (Audrey, Augustus, Maria, Nicholson)
Places visited: 3--North Carolina, Toronto, Michigan