New Year's Eve

Whoo hooo!!! It's New Year's Eve!!! Makes is sound like we're having a wild time, huh? Not so much. It's about 5:00 pm and I'm curled up under a quilt writing this blog entry, the Boyfriend is napping (though will be woken up soon by me if he doesn't rouse on his own), and it's snowing outside-- again. It seems that we've gotten snow at least once a week for the past month and I have to say, I'm getting a little tired of it. Sure, it's picturesque-- frosty trees, the snow cat in the neighbor's yard, snow capped campaign signs in front yards--but it's also cold and wet. And, we haven't seen the sun in ages. Ugh. But, the new year is upon us and the weather is supposed to warm in the next few days, so things are looking up.

In other news, I successfully took the GREs this morning. (Successfully meaning that I emerged in one piece unscathed by gnarly algebraic equations.) I took the GRE about seven years ago, but wouldn't you know that your scores are only good for five years, hence, my morning of test taking fun. The verbal section was a-okay, but no one is going to mistake me for a would-be mathematician or statician. That said, it's done and I feel fairly confident that I will never have to memorize quadratic equations ever again. And, after finishing the test by 11:30 am I was able to spend the rest of the day lounging on the couch and taking in a Law and Order marathon in between catnaps.

We're planning on a cozy evening in to welcome the new year, complete with a festive dinner of homemade calzones. We had these for Christmas Eve dinner and liked them so much that we decided to make them again. They are incredibly easy to make and taste fabulous. While you could make these with store bought dough, the dough is super easy to make at home if you use a mixer. I used a recipe from the Baking Illustrated cookbook and it was a snap.

Here are a few pictures, from mixing to eating:

Mixing the dough in the mixer using the dough hook.

The dough resting in an oiled bowl, pre-rise.

Post-rise-- two hours later.

I divided the dough into six sections, two of which are resting here on the baking sheet waiting for us to shape into tonight's calzones.

The Boyfriend, pictured here, closes his calzone filled with vegan ricotta (homemade!), vegan mozzarella, vegan sausage, red peppers, and roasted garlic tomato sauce.

The Boyfriend and my calzones, stuffed, shaped, and ready for the oven.

Fifteen minutes later. Mine is on the left.

A peek inside the inside of my calzone-- ooey gooey with peppers, ricotta, and mozzarella. Yum!

Six Days and Counting...

With caucus night nearly upon us, just six days away-five if you count caucus night itself-Iowa Democrats are getting ready to decide who they want to choose as their presidential nominee. With Clinton, Edwards, and Obama in a virtual dead heat here in the state, it's anybody's guess what will happen on caucus night. Although I've been a loyal Edwards supporter for months now, I went to an Obama event this morning at Northwest Junior High School in Coralville. I got there early enough to sit in the second row (hence the pictures of the senator looking directly at me) which not only meant that I had a great view and was able to make eye contact with the senator, but also that I was able to meet Obama after his speech and shake his hand. And, to be honest, I found him incredibly inspiring. There is just something about the man-- not just what he says in a well honed stump speech, but what he makes you believe is possible about America. I realize this sounds a little hokey, but he truly does make you think that change is possible and the country can be a better place. I'm not saying that I'm abandoning Edwards, but I am carefully (re)considering my options and the candidates. I'll keep you posted.

In the meantime, here are a few other pictures from the Obama event today and a Hillary Clinton event I attended in Mount Pleasant, Iowa earlier this week.

Iowa Congressman Dave Loebsack introduces Senator Barack Obama at a campaign event at Northwestern Junior High School in Coralville on Friday, December 28th.

Senator Barack Obama telling Iowans that it's time to "Stand for Change." And, stand they did at the end of his speech.

Former President Bill Clinton introduces Senator Hillary Clinton at Mount Pleasant High School on Wednesday, December 26th.

The Rooster Bride

My apologies to my three readers for being so delinquent in my posting. In the past week or so the Boyfriend and I traveled to New York for the wedding of my dear friend (see the picture of the bride to the left) and hosted the folks for a little visit to Iowa City. The wedding trip was delightful, but was notable for the little car mishap we had at about 2:00 a.m. along I-80. Apparently the alternator belt is an important thing to have checked before a car trip. I had the oil changed, but, alas, that wasn't enough. Thankfully, though, the friendly folks at Rick's 66 in South Bend, Indiana were able to fix the car and get us back on the road again without too much hassle. And, while the excursion to South Bend was unplanned, I did have what might be the best cheese danish I've ever eaten at the Country Bake Shop while we were waiting for the mechanics to finish up their work on the car.

After returning home, we had a little visit from Susan and Don. We ate at home on Thursday night. I zipped home from work to make sauteed kale with toasted pine nuts, roasted butternut squash, and apple sausage and sage cassoulet, with baked pears with brown sugar and hazelnuts for dessert. On Friday, Susan and Don treated to us to dinner at the Red Avocado. They had to leave on Saturday, but not before the four of us took a walk through the Raptor Rehabilitation Center at the Macbride Nature and Recreation Area. Devoted to rehabilitating sick and injured raptors, the Raptor Project cares for roughly 150 to 200 birds a year. At any one time, a dozen or so of their wards are on view for the public to visit and learn about. While I found many of the birds fascinating, my favorites were the Barred Owl, the Turkey Vulture, and the rather cantankerous Bald Eagle, Spirit.

Here are a couple of pictures from our little nature walk:

The Boyfriend skipping stones on Lake Macbride.

Don and Susan looking at fossils.

Sunday Dinner

Our Sunday dinner wasn't this crowded, nor was it this somber. Tonight the Boyfriend and I were on our own for dinner and I decided to do something with the three Sweet Dumpling squashes I had leftover from yesterday's trip to the farmer's market.

I stuffed the squashes with a (veggie) sausage, sage, and onion dressing and baked them in the oven for about an hour at 375 degrees. They were incredibly tasty-definitely a make-again meal. We also had a spinach and herb salad, with dried cranberries and pepitas, tossed with a balsamic vinaigrette. And, of course, the leftover rosemary focaccia from yesterday's dinner. The Boyfriend finished off the meal with a piece of mocha chocolate cake, but I opted for a third (!) piece of focaccia instead.

A few pictures of our super tasty Sunday supper:

Veggie-Sausage, Sage, and Onion Stuffed Sweet Dumpling Squash.

Spinach and herb salad with dried cranberries and toasted pepitas.

Homemade rosemary focaccia.

Close-up: Sweet Dumpling Stuffed Squash.

Everything on one plate.

Quick Notes on Dinner

Last night we had one of the Boyfriend's former students over for dinner, and while the occasion didn't call for a super fancy meal, I did take the opportunity to spend a leisurely day preparing for dinner. My cooking started with a trip to the Iowa City farmer's market in the morning where I bought three bunches of beautiful kale, three heads of German garlic, a Delicata squash, and five Sweet Dumpling squashes. Once at home, I spent the afternoon making a super rich Chocolate Mocha Cake with a Chocolate Ganache and Espresso Buttercream frosting (recipes adapted from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over The World). Dinner consisted of:

Rosemary Pecan Crusted Seitan with an Herb Gravy
* * *
Garlic Kale with Toasted Pinenuts
* * *
Oven Roasted Autumn Squash
* * *
Rosemary-Thyme Focaccia
* * *
Chocolate Mocha Cake
with Chocolate Ganache and Espresso Buttercream

Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of the focaccia last night when it was hot and fresh out of the oven (take my word for it though, it looked-and tasted-great!), but since we only ate half of it, I decided to go ahead and take a few photos of the remaining half this morning.



While I didn't take the picture of the focaccia immediately, I did make sure that there was some photo documentation of the dessert masterpiece.

Voila!

The filling includes chocolate ganache and the espresso buttercream.

And, since the focaccia was so delish, I thought I'd share the recipe. It's from the Baking Illustrated cookbook which, if you don't already know, is hands-down one of the best baking books out there and one that I use all the time. Everything I've ever made from it is wonderful. So, without further ado, here's the recipe. Enjoy!

Rosemary Focaccia

DOUGH

1 medium baking potato (about 9 ounces), peeled and quartered
1 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
3 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup warm water (about 110 degrees)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
cooking spray

TOPPING
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves
3/4 teaspoon coarse sea salt (or 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt)

1. Bring 1 quart of water to a boil in a small saucepan; add the potato and simmer until tender, about 25 minutes. Drain the potatoes well; cool until it can be handled comfortably; press it though the fine disk on a ricer or grate though the large holes on a box grater (I use the ricer method). Reserve 1 1/3 cups lightly packed potato.
2. Meanwhile, using a standing mixer or food processor (this is all a breeze with a mixer), mix or process the yeast, 1/2 cup flour, and 1/2 cup warm water until combined. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and set aside until bubbly, about 20 minutes. Add the remaining dough ingredients, including the reserved potato (but not the cooking spray). If using the mixer, attach the paddle and mix on low speed until the dough comes together. Switch to the dough hook and increase the speed to medium; continue kneading until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. For the food processor, processor until the dough is smooth and elastic, about 40 seconds.
3. Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, turn to coat with oil, and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm, draft-free area until the dough is puffy and doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
4. Use the cooking spray to generously oil a 15 1/2 by 10 1/2-inch rimmed baking sheet. With wet hands (to prevent sticking), press the dough flat into the pan. If the dough resists going into the corners, cover it with a damp cloth and let it relax for 15 minutes before trying to stretch again. Or, if making rounds, halve the dough and flatten peach piece into an 8-inch round on a large (at least 18 inches long), generously oiled baking sheet. Either way, cover the dough with a lightly greed or oil-sprayed plastic wrap (don't neglect this step, it prevents the plastic from sticking to the dough, which it will do if you don't oil it); let rise in a warm, draft-free area until the dough is puffy and doubled in volume, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.
5. Meanwhile adjust the oven rack to the lower-middle position and heat the oven to 425 degrees. With two wet fingers, dimple the risen dough at regular intervals. The dimples (there should be about two dozen) should be deep enough to hold small pieces of topping, herbs, and pools of olive oil.
6. Drizzle the dough with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and sprinkle evenly with the rosemary and coarse salt, landing some in the pools of oil.
7. Bake until the bottom crust is golden brown and crisp, 23-25 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool slightly. Serve warm. (Focaccia can be kept at room temperature for several hours and reheated just before serving. Or wrap cooled focaccia in plastic and then foil, and freeze fro up to 1 month; unwrap and defrost in a 325-degree oven until soft, about 15 minutes)

Note: You can make this with all sorts of variations, such as with different herbs, adding Parmesan, olives, tomatoes, whatever. Just be sure to always include the potato in the focaccia dough. It's the secret to keeping the bread soft and moist on the inside.

On the Occasion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Visit to the United States

This is just a little post in honor of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's visit to the United States. Today, the President met with His Holiness, making Bush the first president to do so publicly, and tomorrow Congress will present the Dalai Lama with the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition "of his many enduring and outstanding contributions to peace, nonviolence, human rights, and religious understanding." First presented to George Washington in 1776, the Gold Medal is awarded to individuals, institutions, or groups for outstanding service or distinguished achievements. Past award recipients have included Major General Andrew Jackson a.k.a President Andrew Jackson or King Andrew to his detractors, the Wright brothers, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Irving Berlin, Robert Frost, and Dr. Norman E. Borlaug.

While I've not had the pleasure of an audience with the Dalai Lama, last summer I was lucky enough to attend His Holiness' birthday celebration in Dharamsala, the northern Indian town where he has lived since his exile from Tibet in 1959. And so, here are a few pictures of the Dalai Lama's adopted hometown:

A foggy morning in Dharamsala, July 2006.

This mural is outside an old person's home near Namgyal Monastery, Dharamsala.

Om Mani Padme Hum rocks on the circumambulation path around Namgyal Monastery, Dharamsala.

A woman hangs prayer flags down the hill from His Holiness the Dalai Lama's house. People hang flags at this site throughout the year, but many more come to hang flags on the Dalai Lama's birthday.

Young monks debating at Namgyal Monastery, Dharamsala.

Of Baseball and Blogs

So, it’s clearly been a while since my last post—my apologies. Somehow the week-and weekend- got away from me. The Job is requiring me to work at least two nights a week for the time being and I haven’t gotten home until 8:30 or so, and then I’ve found myself settling in to watch baseball, not writing the blog. But, since I feel like I’ve been a bit derelict in my writing duties, tonight I’ve decided to combine blog-writing with baseball watching (Boston has just pulled within two runs of Cleveland).

Last night the Boyfriend and I went to see the band Wilco at the Iowa Memorial Union on the University campus. It was a great show and was apparently the smallest venue they’re playing on this tour. The crowd was an interesting mix of college students and post-college folks in their 30s and 40s. The band was rocking, especially guitarist Nels Cline, and had the crowd all fired up. All in all, a great show and only five minutes from home.

I’ve also started tutoring student athletes one night a week. A confidentiality agreement precludes me from discussing anything about my students, sorry. But, I can say that I have both male and female students and they pretty much cover the spectrum of student athletic opportunities at a Big Ten university. The pay is pretty bad- I think the local McDonald’s pays more (I’m not kidding)- but so far the tutoring has been a blast. I’d forgotten how much I enjoy working with college students. The tutoring combines the best of teaching- working with students, getting to know them, helping them transition to college- without any of the onerous work, like preparing for class or grading papers.

And, in local political news, Senator John Edwards tonight received the endorsement of the Iowa Service Employees International Union (SEIU), as well as from SEIU councils in California, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Minnesota, Michigan, West Virginia, Ohio and Oregon. While this is huge, and it’s always good when labor supports you (indeed as one of the chants the eager John Edwards workers like to proclaim “Put Your Gloves and Work Boots On, Labor’s Gonna Work for John!), the reality is that a union endorsement doesn’t carry the weight it used to. But, every bit of support helps. And, although the polls don’t have Edwards leading the pack at this point, it’s worth remembering that 1) most Democratic caucus-goers in Iowa remain undecided and 2) that at this point in the last presidential cycle Howard Dean was the front-runner. Bottom line, a lot can change between now and January 14th. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, since I imagine I'll only be talking about politics more in the weeks and months to come, here are a few maps so those of you who are unfamiliar with the state can brush up on your Iowa geography:



And here's one with population information: