I started a blog about food and titled it "Fishsticks, Fiddlesticks and Failing Forward". Originally, I wanted to force myself into a good relationship with food. I've moved from hate/hate to love/hate and I'm calling it progress.
My original "About Me" said: "I am a frustrated mom who decided to feed my finicky kids fish sticks while I form my own friendship with food. I frequently find myself swearing fiddlesticks (and other words beginning with f) while I fail forward in my adventure with food. I also occasionally talk fingernails. Apparently, unbeknown to me prior to this blog, I have a love affair with ALL words beginning with f. All this time, I thought it was just the one! Disclaimer: Fish sticks is a catchall word for stuff my kids will eat. Literalists beware. Hyperbole is my friend."
That's when I started to realize that I had a special relationship with F words that extended far beyond what I considered to be a one word category. I also simultaneously at the same time realized that I might possibly be what some might call weird. I've accepted it and moved from unconscious incompetence to conscious incompetence and I'm calling it progress.
I've also come to accept that if I keep this blog singularly focused on food:
1. I'll post about three times every other year,
2. I'll be holding my own feet to the fire about resolving my cooking issues
3. Why on earth would I want to do that?
4. I'll be continually awash with guilt for numbers 1-3.
5. Oprah says not to awash myself in guilt so I'm not going to.
6. Also, I'm pretty sure Jesus said something about that, too, although I really don't think blog guilt was exactly what he was aiming at...nonetheless...
7. These numbers are erroneous.
8. Case in point
So, I'm here asking forgiveness from my 12 faithful followers for changing the rather benign, albeit strange title of "Fishsticks, Fiddlesticks and Failing Forward" to the broader, albeit possibly offensive title "Writing with F Words". I realize that looking at your "blogs I follow" and seeing that title could make you think you've been somehow spammed and cause you to say something like "what the f***?!" I will not be offended if you "unfollow". My low-teens follower numbers will cloak your decision in anonymity.
For those of you who do stick around, I promise to still write about Food (three times every other year), I also guarantee there will be plenty of Failing, hopefully with Forward movement. But now I Feel the Freedom to also write about my other Favorite F words: Friends, Family, Faith, Fingernails, France and Farming (gardening doesn't start with an f). I also think the new title is Freaking Funny.
Your Friend,
Jenny
P.S. What is your favorite f word?
Monday, April 4, 2011
Friday, March 11, 2011
Thursday, March 10, 2011
A Toast for Girls' Night
When we talk about bringing ourselves to the table,
it means being present,
engaged,
and contributing.
Thank you for bringing your whole selves to this table tonight.
All of you...hearts,
souls
and beautiful faces.
Your sweet hearts...
some are broken,
mended
and mending.
Your beautiful souls...
each is broken,
healed
and healing.
Your lovely faces...
all are radiant,
gorgeous
and smiling.
Here's to breathing the air of grace,
living in each moment,
and celebrating an ordinary Friday night
Made special by friendship in candlelight.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Need something to waste your valuable time...
other than reading this blog?
If you have Netflix Instant Queue, search for SNL Season 23, Episode 18. You will learn some excellent dance moves, feast your eyes on the eye candy that is Steve Buscemi, and gain insight into the cryptic blog post title: "Wallet wallet." I am sure no one got that reference. If you did give me a shout out, because I will then know we are soulmates. At least in the humor department of our souls.
If you have Netflix Instant Queue, search for SNL Season 23, Episode 18. You will learn some excellent dance moves, feast your eyes on the eye candy that is Steve Buscemi, and gain insight into the cryptic blog post title: "Wallet wallet." I am sure no one got that reference. If you did give me a shout out, because I will then know we are soulmates. At least in the humor department of our souls.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Bonus Mini Post: Wallet Wallet
It is one hour away from being the fourth day of March in my 35th year on this blue planet and....
I still have 10 long(ish) homegrown fingernails on the tips of my fingers.
This post is for my hard core followers who know that I really started my blog as a way to track my fingernail growing progress and to recount the saga of the last 30 or so years of my dramatic quest for a nail biting cure.
I figured I'd just hide the true blog within a blog about food. Food seemed more widely appealing than fingernails.
Dwight Shrewt and I would be friends if he was a real person. We see eye to eye when it comes to cunning plan with in a plan plans.
I still have 10 long(ish) homegrown fingernails on the tips of my fingers.
This post is for my hard core followers who know that I really started my blog as a way to track my fingernail growing progress and to recount the saga of the last 30 or so years of my dramatic quest for a nail biting cure.
I figured I'd just hide the true blog within a blog about food. Food seemed more widely appealing than fingernails.
Dwight Shrewt and I would be friends if he was a real person. We see eye to eye when it comes to cunning plan with in a plan plans.
Sage Wisdom & Rosemary Chicken
What was I thinking ending that last post with something that required follow through?
The ancient sages said, "Know thyself." I always liked my friend's version of that saying. It was on a plaque on her mother's fireplace mantel: "Smack thyself." Much more fitting in my case.
So, since there was not an overwhelming outcry from the the nether reaches of the internet for the curry recipe I tried last week. I'm movin' on. If one of the three of you who read the last post would like the recipe, please comment and I'll get right on that (next year). (<---know thyself).
Here's what I'm up to this Friday:
Just sent this email to my girlfriends...If you are one of my girlfriends and did not receive this email, please comment and I'll get right on that (this minute). (<---smack thyself).
"Hi Girls!
Anyone up for an impromptu Girls' Nite at my house tomorrow night?
Here's the plan(ish):
1. Eat good food.
2. watch a movie/hang out
*See end of email for menu and rsvp (so fancy) information
4:00/4:30
Michele and my friend Adriana (who cooks with me out of the goodness of her heart every Friday night) are planning to come over early to help prep food. Anyone is welcome to come over and backseat cook. If you decide to come over early, you might want to bring your chef's knife with you b/c you will be put to work. :) And if too many girls (can there really be "too many") come over early be prepared to be sent out of the kitchen to sit on the couch and snack b/c you know what they say about too many cooks in the kitchen.... Or maybe I'll just go snack on the couch and you all can cook! haaha! :) kidding, of course.
6:30
eat.
6:45
eat.
7:00
eat.
7:01
stop eating. we're americans we don't linger and "dine" :(
7:05
watch movie/talk/hangout
7:09
dessert of some kind that I have not planned yet.
11:00
call husbands and tell them we are still hanging out and will be home in a couple of hours.
12:00
feel bonded and loved and thankful to be females.
RSVP:
please let me know asap if you can come and what part you plan on coming to. feel free to come late.
I need to know how much chicken to buy. I'm going to the store at 10am tomorrow, so it would be great to know before then, but if you really want to come over for dinner and didn't rsvp before I go to the store, I'm sure someone will be willing to half their chicken with you.
bring $2-$3 I ain't rich. wish I was. but I ain't.
feel free to bring a dessert if that does not stress you out. No girls stressed out about making a dessert allowed. Unless you're stressed out and need a good place to vent. that is definitely allowed.
Menu:
Roasted Chicken with lemon, rosemary garlic and thyme
roasted potatoes, butternut squash, parsnips carrots
I know this isn't super "spring-y" but its still solid winter everywhere else, and I want to honor that.
some kind of salad I haven't planned yet.
and maybe I'll get fancy and make some kind of bread. (this is a big maybe.)
Movie:
something from my chickflick collection or whatever is good on the netflix instant queue. Not that movie with meg ryan and the dude that travels in time. I had a girls night ruined by that movie. and i haven't recovered from it. never. again.
Okay, I think that's it. Knowing me, I've left out something important, so feel free to email me with questions and your "yes" rsvps! :)
Love,
Jenny
P.S. I drink wine. If you drink wine, bring your favorite. If you do not drink wine and would be uncomfortable around other people drinking wine. I'm sorry (for you). On Friday nights I drink wine. I'm religious about it. ;) "
So far I have received 8 wish-i-could-be-theres. I have a bunch of planners for friends.
I found the aforementioned dinner menu on a Jamie Oliver cooking show. I think I'm in love. I think he is helping me make peace with my issues (the cooking show issues...we haven't shared our other issues. yet.)
I am so tempted to say that I'm going to tell all about my new relationship with Jamie Oliver in my next blog post. But in an effort to know myself I'll refrain so I don't need to smack myself.
The ancient sages said, "Know thyself." I always liked my friend's version of that saying. It was on a plaque on her mother's fireplace mantel: "Smack thyself." Much more fitting in my case.
So, since there was not an overwhelming outcry from the the nether reaches of the internet for the curry recipe I tried last week. I'm movin' on. If one of the three of you who read the last post would like the recipe, please comment and I'll get right on that (next year). (<---know thyself).
Here's what I'm up to this Friday:
Just sent this email to my girlfriends...If you are one of my girlfriends and did not receive this email, please comment and I'll get right on that (this minute). (<---smack thyself).
"Hi Girls!
Anyone up for an impromptu Girls' Nite at my house tomorrow night?
Here's the plan(ish):
1. Eat good food.
2. watch a movie/hang out
*See end of email for menu and rsvp (so fancy) information
4:00/4:30
Michele and my friend Adriana (who cooks with me out of the goodness of her heart every Friday night) are planning to come over early to help prep food. Anyone is welcome to come over and backseat cook. If you decide to come over early, you might want to bring your chef's knife with you b/c you will be put to work. :) And if too many girls (can there really be "too many") come over early be prepared to be sent out of the kitchen to sit on the couch and snack b/c you know what they say about too many cooks in the kitchen.... Or maybe I'll just go snack on the couch and you all can cook! haaha! :) kidding, of course.
6:30
eat.
6:45
eat.
7:00
eat.
7:01
stop eating. we're americans we don't linger and "dine" :(
7:05
watch movie/talk/hangout
7:09
dessert of some kind that I have not planned yet.
11:00
call husbands and tell them we are still hanging out and will be home in a couple of hours.
12:00
feel bonded and loved and thankful to be females.
RSVP:
please let me know asap if you can come and what part you plan on coming to. feel free to come late.
I need to know how much chicken to buy. I'm going to the store at 10am tomorrow, so it would be great to know before then, but if you really want to come over for dinner and didn't rsvp before I go to the store, I'm sure someone will be willing to half their chicken with you.
bring $2-$3 I ain't rich. wish I was. but I ain't.
feel free to bring a dessert if that does not stress you out. No girls stressed out about making a dessert allowed. Unless you're stressed out and need a good place to vent. that is definitely allowed.
Menu:
Roasted Chicken with lemon, rosemary garlic and thyme
roasted potatoes, butternut squash, parsnips carrots
I know this isn't super "spring-y" but its still solid winter everywhere else, and I want to honor that.
some kind of salad I haven't planned yet.
and maybe I'll get fancy and make some kind of bread. (this is a big maybe.)
Movie:
something from my chickflick collection or whatever is good on the netflix instant queue. Not that movie with meg ryan and the dude that travels in time. I had a girls night ruined by that movie. and i haven't recovered from it. never. again.
Okay, I think that's it. Knowing me, I've left out something important, so feel free to email me with questions and your "yes" rsvps! :)
Love,
Jenny
P.S. I drink wine. If you drink wine, bring your favorite. If you do not drink wine and would be uncomfortable around other people drinking wine. I'm sorry (for you). On Friday nights I drink wine. I'm religious about it. ;) "
So far I have received 8 wish-i-could-be-theres. I have a bunch of planners for friends.
I found the aforementioned dinner menu on a Jamie Oliver cooking show. I think I'm in love. I think he is helping me make peace with my issues (the cooking show issues...we haven't shared our other issues. yet.)
I am so tempted to say that I'm going to tell all about my new relationship with Jamie Oliver in my next blog post. But in an effort to know myself I'll refrain so I don't need to smack myself.
Friday, February 25, 2011
A Few Announcements. Few meaning 10.
#1. I am SO proud of myself! Because, I am in this, y'all. I am so doing this!
#2. My friend Adriana rocks.
#3. I will not, I repeat, NOT be having tacos for Christmas Dinner next year. I've already got my sights set on a couple of killer recipes that I'm going to start practicing. Yes, I know its only February.
#4. It is the end of February and I still have long nails. Do I have any fellow long term nail biters out there? I never make it out of January with the "quit biting my nails" New Year's Resolution or my nails in tact. I know this is somewhat unrelated, but it didn't seem quite right as a facebook status update so I thought I'd just sneak it in here. Thanks for reading.
#5. I am a resolution-crossing-off-machine because it is the end of February and I have cooked circa 7 times. Disclaimer: This may be an exaggeration.
#6. I have more low quality iphone pictures of raw chicken in bad lighting than I ever imagined possible when I purchased my iphone3. I know you're now on the edge of your seats....inching closer to the screen... I really wouldn't do that if I were you. I mean, I want you to read this post, but I'd back up for the chicken pics.
#7. I am serious about my Foibles to Fabulous cooking journey. I am also serious about alliteration and the letter F. To prove to myself the seriousness of my determination to stare down the cooking dragon once and for all this year, I employed the help of my friend Adriana, who I mentioned in my first blog rant. I asked her to cook with me every Friday night and to the credit of her insanity and devotion to mine, she agreed.
#8. Tonight we cooked "Mild Green Calcutta Curry of Chicken and Vegetables" from Jewish Cooking: the Traditions, Techniques, Ingredients, and Recipes. <--- Hey! look I figured out how to do a link! If I had music on my blog, I'd play Madonna's "Like a Virgin/Linked for the very first time/like a vir..ir..ir...ir..gin...". Ok, anyway, you can click on that link and check out the book on Amazon. You can buy it new for $43 or used for $3. Apparently, it, too, has been a victim of the housing bubble. Not recommended as an investment piece.
I do recommend the recipe. Highlights for me were using coconut milk for the first time (vir...ir...ir..ir..gin) and using mint from my garden, albeit withered and ill-kept. If I had to pick one more highlight, it would be the way the spices and herbs looked so vibrant and colorful just before blending in my magic bullet blender (that my grandma bought for me off the TV). And the way the spices and herbs smelled so aromatic just after blending in said magic bullet blender. I assure you it was worth every penny of her $19.99. Actually, my particular magic bullet was free. Hers cost $19.99. She had fast fingers and called just in the nick of time to get mine as an additional at no extra cost.
#9. I don't need an inheritance.
So, what happens when you drag out your magic bullet and mix
six spices, herbs, onions, garlic, ginger,
chillies, lemon, coconut milk,
chicken stock, sugar, bananas,
sultanas (foodie for raisins),
pineapple, mint,
blood, sweat, tears
and a woman two glasses of white wine in on an empty stomach?
#10. Some curry goodness cooked by a light weight. That's what.
Recipe and pictures tomorrow. I'm using "tomorrow" here in the broadest sense of the word.
Here are the two most important pictures from tonight's adventure:
#2. My friend Adriana rocks.
#3. I will not, I repeat, NOT be having tacos for Christmas Dinner next year. I've already got my sights set on a couple of killer recipes that I'm going to start practicing. Yes, I know its only February.
#4. It is the end of February and I still have long nails. Do I have any fellow long term nail biters out there? I never make it out of January with the "quit biting my nails" New Year's Resolution or my nails in tact. I know this is somewhat unrelated, but it didn't seem quite right as a facebook status update so I thought I'd just sneak it in here. Thanks for reading.
#5. I am a resolution-crossing-off-machine because it is the end of February and I have cooked circa 7 times. Disclaimer: This may be an exaggeration.
#6. I have more low quality iphone pictures of raw chicken in bad lighting than I ever imagined possible when I purchased my iphone3. I know you're now on the edge of your seats....inching closer to the screen... I really wouldn't do that if I were you. I mean, I want you to read this post, but I'd back up for the chicken pics.
#7. I am serious about my Foibles to Fabulous cooking journey. I am also serious about alliteration and the letter F. To prove to myself the seriousness of my determination to stare down the cooking dragon once and for all this year, I employed the help of my friend Adriana, who I mentioned in my first blog rant. I asked her to cook with me every Friday night and to the credit of her insanity and devotion to mine, she agreed.
#8. Tonight we cooked "Mild Green Calcutta Curry of Chicken and Vegetables" from Jewish Cooking: the Traditions, Techniques, Ingredients, and Recipes. <--- Hey! look I figured out how to do a link! If I had music on my blog, I'd play Madonna's "Like a Virgin/Linked for the very first time/like a vir..ir..ir...ir..gin...". Ok, anyway, you can click on that link and check out the book on Amazon. You can buy it new for $43 or used for $3. Apparently, it, too, has been a victim of the housing bubble. Not recommended as an investment piece.
I do recommend the recipe. Highlights for me were using coconut milk for the first time (vir...ir...ir..ir..gin) and using mint from my garden, albeit withered and ill-kept. If I had to pick one more highlight, it would be the way the spices and herbs looked so vibrant and colorful just before blending in my magic bullet blender (that my grandma bought for me off the TV). And the way the spices and herbs smelled so aromatic just after blending in said magic bullet blender. I assure you it was worth every penny of her $19.99. Actually, my particular magic bullet was free. Hers cost $19.99. She had fast fingers and called just in the nick of time to get mine as an additional at no extra cost.
#9. I don't need an inheritance.
So, what happens when you drag out your magic bullet and mix
six spices, herbs, onions, garlic, ginger,
chillies, lemon, coconut milk,
chicken stock, sugar, bananas,
sultanas (foodie for raisins),
pineapple, mint,
blood, sweat, tears
and a woman two glasses of white wine in on an empty stomach?
#10. Some curry goodness cooked by a light weight. That's what.
Recipe and pictures tomorrow. I'm using "tomorrow" here in the broadest sense of the word.
Here are the two most important pictures from tonight's adventure:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)