Tuesday, January 20, 2009

A good day


Various observations on Obama's Inauguration Day

1. A really busy day at work, but from the snatches of news reports I caught on NPR while in the car and from websites, it sounds like the nation is touched. Nay, the world. I could say the same about myself.

2. The most important part of Obama's speech:

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

3. You know you are overwhelmed at work when you update your to-do list and two of the action items are to get through two other, different checklists.

4. We have finally made a hire! And we are excited about her. On her plate: (1) Learn the products, (2) Learn the customers, and (3) Restore Laura's faith in the American worker.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Not using online coupon codes is for chumps


My new thing is finding coupon codes for online purchases.

It takes about 15 seconds to find one. Just type into Google: "[name of online company you were about to give money to without entering a coupon code, like a chump] coupon code."

Enter it -- and poof! It's like there's money on the ground, and you just need to go to the trouble of picking it up.

Call me a penny-pincher, but I get real joy out of this. And afterward, I like to imagine what I could go buy in sushi with the money I just saved.

E.g. With the 9 bucks I saved a half hour ago on Canadadrugs.com with coupon code PPC-0207, I can now go get the following at Hide Sushi: 2 pieces of yellowtail nigiri and a vegetable roll. Or a scallop special and a tamago. Or one order of dynamite. Oh yeah!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

If ground turkey is what you have on hand...


Cheating again and posting recipes that I send to my brother in college, in place of a real blog entry:

Stuffed bell peppers

2 bell peppers, any color
1/2 pound ground turkey
1/2 onion, chopped
1 small can tomato sauce
1 cup cooked rice or veggies (I chopped up some boiled carrots/cabbage that I had in the fridge, but frozen corn or carrots could also work, as long as it is a veggie that is not watery)
Seasonings (Like oregano or parsley, chili flakes, salt and pepper)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut the bell peppers in half lengthwise, scooping out the insides but leaving the stems intact. Spray or brush the empty peppers lightly with oil and pop them into the oven for about 10-15 minutes.

Meanwhile, brown the onions in a frying pan, then add the ground turkey. When the meat is nearly cooked, add the cup of rice or veggies and half the can of tomato sauce, and combine well. Add seasonings and taste the mixture. It should taste good on its own.

Take the peppers out of the oven and stuff them with the filling, then pour the remaining tomato sauce over the peppers. (This will help them stay moist.) Put them back in the oven for another 30 minutes, or until they smell and look good.


Turkey meatballs

1 pound of ground turkey
1/2 onion, chopped
1 fresh egg yolk
Breadcrumbs or crackers smashed to bits
Seasonings (Worcestershire sauce, ketchup, garlic powder, oregano, salt and pepper -- whatever you might put in a meatloaf)

Sautee the onions in a frying pan. Let the onions cool, and put them in a big bowl with all the other ingredients and seasonings. Combine well but do not overmix. Using your hands or a pair of spoons, form the mixture into balls.

Pan fry the meatballs in a pan over medium-high heat until they are cooked through and nicely browned on all sides. These can store in the fridge for a few days, or in the freezer for longer. Eat them simmered in tomato sauce over spaghetti or in a meatball sandwich with some tomato sauce or ketchup.