my pet

Most of my Minneapolis friends either have dogs or are constantly pestering their spouse to get one. As most chabel.net readers know, I do not like dogs. At all.

I am interested, however, in having a meerkat (pictured above) as a pet. I would probably construct some sort of elaborate tunnel system in my house to make it hospitable. Unfortunately, as I continue researching the subject, it seems that it may be illegal to own meerkats in the U.S.

So does anyone know a good meerkat poacher?

in the kitchen: baked ziti and cauliflower gratin

For dinner: baked ziti, broccoli and orange cauliflower gratin and fresh bread. The ziti was uninspired but the gratin was terrific with a béchamel sauce and a bit of extra-sharp cheddar. The bread continues its magnificence.

the thanksgiving spread

in the kitchen: hot pastrami and cheddar

Upon returning home, one of the first things I did was make some bread dough. When a shipment of deli meats arrived the next day, it was clear I'd be feasting on grilled meat and cheese sandwiches for days. This one, pastrami and cheddar was delicious with a little Thousand Island dressing.

my ipod smells like butt

On my flight home yesterday I was perusing the SkyMall catalogue for the latest stupid products. We have a winner:

a home to call my own

By year's end, this is where I'll be living.

a good day

All in all a good day:

• Had the eggs benedict I've been craving for weeks.
  
• Saw The Departed, the best film I've seen in years.
  
• Had dinner at Quang.
  
• Oh, and I bought a house.
  
• Late addition: And I talked to Scot Hall.

I didn't even have to use my AK.

the waiting game

I've put an offer on a duplex. Now I wait for a response. This is the least fun part of real estate.

in the kitchen: bread

Last week the New York Times published a breadmaking recipe so easy that promised foolproof, bakery quality bread. Though not much of a baker, I decided to give the recipe a try. The results are incredible.

Here's the recipe:

• 3 c flour (I've been using bread flour)
  
• 1 5/8 c water
  
• 2 tsp. salt (the official recipe calls for 1.25 tsp, but I've found this to be too little)
  
• 1/4 tsp. instant yeast (if not available, use active dry yeast and warm the water to 120 degrees F)

1. In a large bowl combine flour, yeast and salt. Add 1 5/8 cups water, and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy and sticky. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest at least 12 hours, preferably about 18, at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.

2. Dough is ready when its surface is dotted with bubbles. Lightly flour a work surface and place dough on it; sprinkle it with a little more flour and fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 15 minutes.

3. Using just enough flour to keep dough from sticking to work surface or to your fingers, gently and quickly shape dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel (not terry cloth) with flour, wheat bran or cornmeal; put dough seam side down on towel and dust with more flour, bran or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise for about 2 hours. When it is ready, dough will be more than double in size and will not readily spring back when poked with a finger.

4. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6- to 8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under towel and turn dough over into pot, seam side up; it may look like a mess, but that is O.K. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.

The result is a thick crusted chewy bread as good as any I've had from Washington bakeries. All for ten minutes of effort and 20 hours of patience.

blogger beta (blogblogblog)

My blog has just been migrated over to blogger beta. For some reason the blogger computers have determined that my blog might be a spam blog. I clicked the button to tell them I'm not a spam blog. They are looking into it. SoI guess, welcome to chabel.net, blogger-beta-style.

Fantastic.

it is not allowed

Reviewing the TSA list of prohibited items in preparation for my flight to Minneapolis Wednesday morning I was relieved to learn that nunchakus are not allowed in carry on luggage.

A post on a life changing bread recipe from the New York times is forthcoming.

rock and roll hotel: say hi to your mom

Say Hi to Your Mom is, like Bright Eyes, a one man band. Tonight, Eric Elbogen took the stage alone, his guitar accompanied by drum machine sounds emanating from what seemed to be a computer.

All in all, a good show. But the "band's" strength is layered indie pop, something that's tough to do alone. Most of the songs sounded a bit thin, though Elbogen offered plenty of energy while playing and the crowd (of 40 or so) seemed pretty into it for most songs.

The show also might have been better had two drunkards not spent half the set talking loudly about how Say Hi to Your Mom is not, in fact, Blink-182. Good to know. During one sing Elbogen was singing at a slower pace than on the album, catching the drunks braying lyrics before their time. During another, the drunks were talking so loudly so close to the stage that Elbogen started laughing at them.

After the show I gave Elbogen $10. I so enjoy his music and I wanted to make sure he was properly compensated for it. He seemed a bit bewildered by the gesture, but took the money nonetheless.

I never knew

So this is what it feels like to wake up on the winning side of an election. About time.

election predictions

What's the point of having a blog if you don't offer election predictions:

Dems pickup 23 seats in the House, and Nancy Pelosi becomes the highest ranking woman in the history of U.S. Government.

Dems pickup five Senate seats, leading Darth Cheney out of his lair to break all Senate ties.

Dems kick ass in governors races, as well as state legislative races.

Unfortunately, Robert Fitzgerald does not win the Senate seat in Minnesota.

in the kitchen: split pea soup

Cooking split pea soup is a lengthy enterprise. First I had to cook the ham hocks...

...taking care to reserve the cooking liquid.

Then the whole mess had to cook for several hours:

Finally it was finished.

It needed salt and potatoes.

in the kitchen: cajun tilapia

1. In a foil pouch, place tilapia, butter, sliced onion, garlic, lemon, cajun seasoning.
   
2. Bake for 30 min. @ 400.
   
3. Serve with mashed potatoes.