Tuesday, April 16, 2013

We Are Boston


Yesterday was a day of reflection for me. Immediately after hearing what occurred at the Boston Marathon, I reached out to family and friends who participated to ensure their safety. Happily everyone was okay, but the familiarity of where the tragedy took place amplified the discomfort and the control that I no longer have living on another coast. 

I lived in Boston only briefly but the streets were always easy to navigate, the T schedule naturally memorized and the historical city-scape more than embedded into my brain. When we New Englanders spoke of heading to the city... it meant Boston. Boston is our Haven. And yet, Boston represents so much more than that.

History - Patriots' Day commemorates the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the first battles of the Revolutionary War, on April 19, 1775.  This is merely one date. One small, yet incredible important point in Boston's and America's history. Memories of field trips along 'The Freedom Trail' learning of Revolutionaries from the Boston Massacre, the Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere's 'Midnight Ride', and Bunker Hill. This city, where our ancestors settled to begin a new and promising life, is full of so much history, so many stories that we have and must continue to learn, respect, and grow from, each and every day.

Pride - We Bay-Staters are a proud bunch to say the least. Proud on the brink of arrogance with a touch of humility. We understand the ridiculousness of our proclamations but demand your acceptance despite the fact. We bleed Black & Gold all winter and wear Red Sox all summer.  The Pats are Gospel on Sundays and Shamrocks can be picked from parquet floors. All we ask from outsiders is that you accept that we are never wrong and that Belichick is always right.

Tradition - Red Sox vs Yankees. The most heated rivalry in U.S. sports engulfs Boston every time the Yanks visit Fenway Park.  The Beanpot Tournament occurs every February & March between Boston’s top collegiate hockey teams; Harvard, Northeastern, Boston College & Boston University play each other at the Garden.  Boston was also the first major city to host the annual First Night festival, which occurs during New Year's Eve. Started in 1976, it has since been emulated in other cities worldwide. The Saint Patrick's Day Parade occurs in March and is popular with the city's large Irish population specifically in South Boston.  Every year from June to September, celebrations honoring several Roman Catholic saints are held in the streets of Boston's Italian-populated North End. These celebrations, or feasts, include Italian foods, religious services, parades, festivities, games, and live music and entertainment. The largest celebration of the year is the Feast of Saint Anthony in August.  One of the best-known is yesterday's Boston Marathon, one of the oldest and most prestigious marathon races in the world. Taking place on the third Monday in April, the Marathon attracts professional runners from all over the world, and hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts residents gather to watch and cheer on the runners, who range from first-time participants to well-known athletes. My attitude towards what occurred yesterday and the future of traditions in Boston and everywhere... 'The best way to show those who attempt to stop, change and scar what we believe in is to continue believing.'

A personal preference in 'dealing' with yesterday's tragedy are quotes from those with better words than myself:

"When evil men plot, good men must plan. When evil men burn and bomb, good men build and bind.  When evil men shout ugly words of hatred. Good men must commit themselves to the glories of love." -MLK Jr.

 "When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me 'Look for the helpers.  You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of 'disaster,' I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers - so many caring people in this world."- Mr. Rogers

"Boston is a tough and resilient town. And so are its people." - President Barack Obama

From all of this, I can say we have many prayers for those affected.  Boston is home to me and home to many. Those who are responsible did not calculate who they provoked. We are a Commonwealth of many and representation of so much more. We are Tradition. We are Pride. We are HistoryWe are Boston. And we will overcome.



Friday, October 12, 2012

What's In the FRIIDDDGGGEEE!!!???!!! Friday!

I LOVE BREAKFAST!


The cupboards and fridge were pretty bare this morning, which means I had to get super creative and/or need to visit my boy Trader Joe. Continuing; here's the little number I managed to make.



Scrounged up Food:
- Potato (shredded)
- Bacon (ends & pieces)
- Lentils
- Mushrooms
- Garlic (diced)
- Egg
- Avocado
- S&P
- Sriracha

Cooked down the bacon in a skillet, added everything but the egg and sriracha and cooked it for 5-7 minutes. Cracked the mother F in egg on top and popped it in the oven for another 10 or so. After the egg seemed cooked I topped it with the sliced avocado and some sriracha and HOUSED it!

Nap Time.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Labor Day Soirée Rough Draft menu


Celebrating having days off by inviting new friends over. Tomorrow's menu is today's 'What's in the Fridge!?!'. Here's my brainstorm/rough draft (theme is the cities we saw on our westward adventure);

- Philly: roast pork broccoli rabe sandwich
- Chicago: Speakeasy Cocktail; vodka cucumber etc etc (Juliet & Romeo = gin, mint, cucumber, rose water)
- St Louis Vegetarian Sliders ( black bean & chipotle patty, apple jalapeño salsa, cranberry sour cream
- Beale Street Chicken Braid
- NoLa muffuletta
- Texas; Fries chickpeas!!!
- Santa Fe; onion rings? Like the miraculous staircase or green chiles?
- Grand canyon. Cheap booze!
- NYC - dirty water hot dogs!!!!
- Rhode island mussels:calamari?
- Massachusetts??? Sauce?



Some may not make the cut, but I will share pics tomorrow!

Have a great weekend!

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Found Journal, Return Whenever

I really like journals. I have a few and only write in them sporadically. I usually just open to a random page and jot some thoughts or sketches down. No particular order and sometimes not even dated. It's fun to go back and read the entries later.

I found one of these journals the other day and thumbed to a paragraph I had written when I heard Heath Ledger died. I guess it affected me more than I knew;

'A truly talented and especially gifted individual passed away today at the age of 28. At the valley of his maturity and the very cusp of his creativity, he lost grip and could not regain composure. He was 4 years older than me! I don't know why this particular gentleman's early death hit me so hard, but it made me think. Every day counts!'

I'm 28 years old now and the passage has again ignited a need for reflection. But mostly a realization of those last three words.

Friday, August 10, 2012

What's in the FRIIIDDDGGGEEE!?!

Breakfast Edition:

Last night I peeped a killer dish on this crazy chick, Squirt Russell's instagram/twitter @RonnieWK. She always shares the most legit food pics and is just the right amount vulgar (check her out here too http://radmobile.tumblr.com).

Anyways, inspired by the breakfast dish I peeped, I headed to the icebox where my heart used to be, and made my own vurrsion.



Here's the things I found;
- Brown Rice Medley
- Sweet Potato
- White Onion
- Garlic
- Bacon
- Garbanzo Beans
- 1 Egg
- 1/2 an Avocado
- Salt & Pepper
- Tapatio (optional)

Here's a quick abridged, run-on sentence version of how I made it. I cooked the rice in a pot until tender and cubed the sweet potato then sauteed in a separate pan until you could put a fork through it. I added the diced onion and garlic, only using EVOO for the pan, chopped the bacon to small pieces and threw it in.  Garbanzo beans were added last and put the finished rice with everything until hot.  Fried an egg, sunny side up, slid it over the 'hash' and salt and pepped the dish. Sliced an avocado for color and because they are awesome. BOOM! Put it in your mouth. Enjoy.



Thursday, August 9, 2012

Fear is Good...

I'm scared

I'm scared that I will never find my true passion
Concerned that things will never work out
I'm shamed by the idea that I may not succeed
Haunted that my demons will catch up to me
I wonder every day if there is something out there that I truly excel in
Debt
I'm indecisive about the choices I continually do not make
Afraid my head will trap my heart
I know I am very good at this job and so I may not find that career
Selfish that I want a family but not right now
Will I be able to provide for them when the time comes?
Consequence
Plagued by 'what ifs' and 'if only's'
Conflicted by my free-spirit and my driven-mind
Weighed down by my love of the drink
Inspired by the promise of grandeur
Diminished by the thought of loss
Failure

But these words are good. Hearing them helps. I can take each one and grow, prove that I deserve everything I work for. Nice guys can finish first! Build character through experience. Get out of your own way. Find it. Share it. REFINE the REVOLUTION!

Friday, August 3, 2012

What's in the FRIIIDDDGGGEEE!?! Friday!


It's been a couple weeks since my last update, but it is Friday and I was hungry so here we go:


So you ready for this one? I had no idea it was going to be this good. And it did look way better in person.

The cast of characters;
onion
2 shiitake mushrooms
2 jalepanos
panko bread crumbs
canola oil
mozzerella cheese
raspberries
cilantro vinnigerette
butter lettuce
s & p


    I started off by caramelizing some onions in a small pan on low heat. Popped some beautiful butter lettuce on a plate.  After they were done, I put the onions aside and heated some canola oil in the same pan.  I then sliced some shiitake mushrooms longways (don't know the culinary term for that).  Lightly egg-washed the mush, coated them in panko breadcrumbs and fried them puppies up to a light brown.  Halved some jalapenos, longways again, de-seeded, egg-washed, panko-breaded, and fried em like the mushrooms. After they browned I placed the mush and penos on a paper towel to drain some of the oils. Alright all 'cooking' is done.
    Now, I cubed the mozzarella cheese and sprinkled it over the bed of lettuce. Strategically placed some raspberries on this same bed of lettuce. I then did the same with the fried mushrooms and jalapenos.  Lightly dressed the entire salad with some Trader Joe's Cilantro Dressing and some salt and pepper.  

Done.

Sweet Baby Heysus, that was a random and pretty awesome salad.

Stay tuned for next week.