meara is in a dangerous mood.

Tonight for the first time I got brave enough to cook with anchovies. I'm not much of a fish eater, but I kept coming across recipes that called for them. And I figured I'd probably eaten them many times without knowing it in Italian restaurants. So I made a basic pasta sauce from a Mark Bittman cookbook: 2 T olive oil, a teaspoon of minced garlic, and four anchovies, sauteed together until the anchovies break up, after which you toss in a 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes and simmer till it boils down and thickens a bit.

It was good, though I did get a bite or two that was kinda fishy for my tastes. But it turned out much better than last night's ma po tofu experiment, which I found bland and DH found gross (he's not much of a tofu person).

I eventually calmed down enough from my towering rage over the research tiff with my CP to realize why it triggered me so strongly--it was an intellectual credibility issue, and one that's near and dear to my heart because I'm so dedicated to my research. I love it almost as much as my writing itself, so even the itty bittiest hint that I'm one of those writers who just relies on what I pick up from other novels, and I'm ready for pistols at twenty paces. Anyway, I apologized for my rant before I left for choir practice. Sort of. I said that I shouldn't have flown off the handle, but that you had to understand that suggesting I hadn't done my research is about like asking my mom the from-scratch baker what mix she uses for her chocolate cake.

chai cupcakes with ginger cardamom frosting

That sounds good. I will happily take care of any "mistakes" from that batch.

I have a (technical) niece! She is freaking ADORABLE. She doesn't even have that new-baby-Winston-Churchill-big-red-head look.

She does have the worst name I've ever heard though, the poor girl.

dangerously cute

oh yess she is, she is!

For your morning gronkiness, I bring you furniture porn: [link]

Oh, Suzi, this is getting downright ridiculous. I really hope you hear today, WITH the document!

o like, you can make lasagna, or pork tenderloin, you would still have to buy and make the veggies.

I LOVE the new Green Giant single portion veggies that you throw in the microwave for two minutes. HIGHLY recommend.

Looks like we might be going to the tattoo parlor Friday to figure out how much my compass will cost and make an appointment to get INKED!!!!

YAY!

I have a (technical) niece! She is freaking ADORABLE. She doesn't even have that new-baby-Winston-Churchill-big-red-head look.

Yay! Congratulations, Auntie! Being an auntie is SO much fun!

For your morning gronkiness, I bring you furniture porn

Ha!

It'll be fine. Now that you know that it's right there, it wont be special anymore. You'll buy a bunch of stuff right off, then taper off.

That's what we've discovered since the 2 in the Boston area opened up. After a while, you're all, JEBUS this is far too expensive! Can't I get something in Target just as good for much cheaper? But the bath bombs and shampoo bars are pretty mildly priced, and those are what we get the most of.

She does have the worst name I've ever heard though, the poor girl.

They named her Hitler???

She does have the worst name I've ever heard though, the poor girl.

They named her Hitler???

Alouicious Hitler.

Alouicious Hitler.

Mao for short.