Half-Assed Homemaker

Blogs everywhere are linking to an article blasting people who blast Ikea and Starbucks. It was written by someone who absolutely loves Starbucks (so much so that he can't seem to fathom people not liking their coffee.) I can't help but give a "Whaaaaa!?" to the following.

"you try and find another place in Beijing, or on I-40 in the ass-end of nowhere, that rocks coffee this good... What's that? You can't? Or if you can, it is solely because Starbucks tutored the mass audience in what to demand of coffee?

All along I thought roasting coffee beans and preparing beverages from them was a tradition ages old. I thought espresso was invented in Italy. But then, what do I know? I'm not nearly as worldy as our friend who apparently jaunts off to Beijing and the ass-end of nowhere.

If he means that Starbucks has brainwashed us to accept something as good or worth $2-4 simply because it was pumped out of a big, loud machine, then he's got something.

Here's a lesson in what to demand of coffee: take a plane ride, spend 1 Euro, class dismissed.

I've been steaming vegetables a lot lately. It is so good, broccoli gets nice and vibrant looking and when steamed just enough, has this great crisp snap to it. Chinese broccoli and bok choi both provide leafy and crunchiness from the same vegetable. I add some tofu right into the steamer which solves the dilemma of how to cook tofu. I've never been very good at cooking tofu, or at least I rarely enjoy the way tofu is cooked but I do love it and understand its potential. Steamed tofu is tofu at it's best. I cook some soba noodles in the same steaming water, drizzle some soy sauce and I have a meal in under ten minutes.

A meal that quick is great since we've been so busy and either eating out (or taking out) or steaming which balances the various naughty things that make their way into prepared food.

A couple of months ago. jen asked Ethan for some Pavement mp3s. He burned a CD for her, she listened to it one day while she painted and I coded. I could hear it but I never listened to it.

Last month, Carsten gave me a Pavement record. I heart Pavement.

Lesson Learned: The way get to the music experimentation portion of my brain is vinyl.