Poem of the Month

POSTMANTERRORISM

by Nick Lantz

Would it make a difference to say we suffered
from affluenza in those days? Could we blame
Reaganomics, advertainment, the turducken
and televangelism we swallowed by the sporkful,
all that brunch and Jazzercise, Frappuccinos
we guzzled on the Seatac tarmac, sexcellent
celebutantes we ogled with camcorders while
our imagineers simulcast the administrivia
of our alarmaggedon across the glocal village?
Would it help to say that we misunderestimated
the effects of Frankenfood and mutagenic smog
to speculate that amid all our infornography
and anticipointment, some crisitunity slumbered
unnoticed in a roadside motel? Does it count
for nothing that we are now willing to admit
that the animatronic monster slouching across
the soundstage of our tragicomic docusoap
was only a distraction? Because now, for all our
gerrymandering, the anecdata won't line up for us.
When we saw those contrails cleaving the sky
above us, we couldn't make out their beginning
or their end. What, in those long hours of ash,
could our appletinis tell us of good or of evil?

Your Daily Vomit

I'm so sorry. But this is so gross -- and so prevalent -- that I had to share. Sorry to make you vomit.

Bacteria Linked To Feces Found In Nearly Half Of Fast Food Soda Fountains

Eww. Eww. Eww.

Just another sign from the universe to stay far, far away from nearly all fast food "restaurants" and industrially produced "food."

Happy Birthday, Mom

Today is my mom's birthday (it's a big one) and she and my dad are in town to celebrate it. We're going to celebrate -- me and hubby, my mom and dad -- at one of the area's most delicious restaurants and loveliest locations around: King Estate Winery. (Plus they are rad because they use organic and sustainable agri- and viticulture methods, and their restaurant's produce is all sourced right there on the land: they've got quite the kitchen garden).

I can't wait! The wine is divine and the food is so so good. Being in the Willamette Valley and all, King Estate's Pinot Noir is fantastic. Check it out next time you see it in your local vintner's!

Now, on to peruse the menu to figure out what I'm going to order....

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Five Hundred Dollar Friday

Happy Friday the 13th, y'all!

Oroweat (why is there no 'h' in their name? That bugs) is giving away $500 -- all for one easy comment. Pop on over here and leave a comment letting them know how you simplify your life. It might be worth $500!

I entered, and my comment was easy: menu planning makes my life sooooo much simpler.

If you win, let me know!

I <3 Goats

In the peripherally about food category, I give you this awesomeness (check out the before and after photos!):

Goat Renting to get rid of invasive blackberry.

Um...it's so cool I can't stand it. Not only am I obsessed with goats on a general level (I have already picked out the breed I want to own someday, and believe me am I bummed we can't have one here at our new house), we have now have proof of their total gloriousness as envinronmentally-friendly weedkillers. Not only do they provide companionship, laughter (because have you ever hung with a goat? They're really funny little creatures), milk, and the best cheese ever, they also rock when it comes to getting rid of really-hard-to-get-rid-of weeds in a totally safe, no-environmental-impact way. GOATS ROCK.

A pic of an Oberhasli goat. They look like little deer. And they're very sweet-tempered.

Whenever I do get my goats (you gotta have at least two, otherwise they get lonely; also, did you know they come when called?), I'll happily rent them out to whomever would like to get rid of the very-invasive-in-Oregon Himalayan blackberry or whatever else. And then I'll make delicious, finger-licking cheese out of their milk.

Which reminds me, I have got to post photos from my cheese-making class! It rocked my world.

Off to dream of cheese and calling little goat kids by name....

New Washer?

Okay so technically this doesn't directly have to do with food. However, Mama Needs a New Washer. I am so over leaning on our washer for the last 10 minutes of its cycle to get it to spin and just be done!

And we do use our washer to wash napkins, dishtowels, and other such items with which we cook and eat, so it's kinda apropos to this blog, right? Ha.

Anyway -- go here to enter for a chance to win a $200 Best Buy gift card! By blogging this, I get an extra entry to win. So excuse the self-serving post. ;-)

If I win, we'll be looking at washers....

Top Chef Prediction

I'm going to go out on a limb and make my prediction for the winner of this season of Top Chef (which is pretty good this time around, I think). My pick is the same person I thought it would be from the very first episode, actually.

Jennifer Carroll.

That's right: I think she's going to be the second female Top Chef, ever.

I do think she's going to face some fierce competition from Kevin and both Voltaggio brothers (especially Bryan). In fact, I predict those 4 will be the Final Four if Michael Voltaggio doesn't get in his own way.

But I think she's going to win it all. Go Jennifer!

What about you? Any predictions?



P.S. We're in the midst of packing and getting ready to move into our new house THAT WE OWN in 2 weeks. (!!!) So thanks for your understanding regarding the light posting here both in the past and until we get settled.