r01339113

Puppy Paw Gloves

nobody@vox.com(r01339113) — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:37:08 -0800

I just received these adorable gloves in the mail from My Mommy Who Loves Me. They are so cute! She said she was sending something and that I would laugh when I saw it. I never thought anyone would make gloves with little leather pads for general (non-costumey) use. The weather has even changed enough that I can start using them soon. Oh, and they're v. softly lined, too.

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Momus Karaoke!

nobody@vox.com(r01339113) — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 22:08:50 -0700

Momus Karaoke

We're planning a cabaret party for November. I bought some software that can minimize the vocals on an MP3 -- sometimes. It worked pretty well for one of my fave Momus songs, The Penis Song. There are a few more tracks in the linked collection.

What fun!

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Damn you, marketing!!

nobody@vox.com(r01339113) — Thu, 27 Sep 2007 10:45:08 -0700

There're a group of marketing people behaving like protesters under my office window. They're marching and chanting to promote juice. They've been doing it for hours and it's making me grumpy. No more will I buy that brand of juice. It's all Odwalla for me from now on, evilly marketed Other Juice. grrr!

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Chocolate Cake

nobody@vox.com(r01339113) — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 22:03:52 -0700

INGREDIENTS
1 cup margarine
1 3/4 cups white sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups milk
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan. Sift together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the milk, mixing just until incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.

I used butter instead of margarine; 3/4 cup milk & 3/4 cup Kahlua instead of 1 1/2 cup milk; and added about a tablespoon of ground allspice and some dried fruit (mango, papaya and pineapple). mmmmm!

(jacked from AllRecipes)

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Scrambled Egg Pie

nobody@vox.com(r01339113) — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 20:39:22 -0700

Vegi Quiche

GARLIC CRUST:
1 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup shortening
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 small garlic clove, pressed through garlic press to measure 1/8 tsp.
1 1/2 tablespoons milk

QUICHE:
2 or more large garlic cloves
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1 cup coarsely chopped fresh spinach
1/2 cup grated fresh carrots
2 large eggs
2/3 cup milk
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon tarragon, crumbled
1/4 teaspoon dill weed
3/4 cup grated Gruyere or Swiss cheese

GARLIC CRUST: Combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening and butter or margarine until particles are size of peas. Mix garlic with milk and sprinkle over flour mixture, mixing to a stiff dough; adding a few drops more milk, if needed. Shape into a ball.

QUICHE:
Preheat oven to 425ºF. Prepare Garlic Crust and roll out to a 10-inch circle. Fit into 8-inch quiche pan 3/4 inch deep. Set aside while measuring remaining ingredients. Set a sheet of foil in the quiche pan and add a half-inch layer of uncooked beans (or aluminum pie weights). Bake in hot oven 425ºF. 10 minutes until crust is partially baked. Remove foil and weights. Meanwhile, finely chop garlic to measure 1 tablespoon. Melt butter and add garlic and mushrooms. Sauté over moderate heat about 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add spinach, cover pan and turn heat low. Cook about 2 minutes longer, just until spinach is wilted. Remove from heat and add carrot (if carrot is very moist, squeeze out excess liquid). Beat eggs; stir in milk, salt, herbs and cheese. Add vegetable mixture and mix well. Pour into partially baked shell. Return to lowest rack of oven and reset thermostat to moderate (350ºF.) Bake about 35 minutes, until set in center. Remove from oven and cool at least 15 minutes, before cutting. One 8-inch quiche.

I used Gruyere, carrots, zucchini, mushrooms, onion, and garlic.

(jacked from Basic-Recipes)

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Chocolate Blackberry Cake

nobody@vox.com(r01339113) — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 20:41:11 -0700

1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/4 pound butter, soft
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted
3 egg yolks
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups cake flour, sifted
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup milk
3 egg whites, stiffly beaten

Cream sugars and butter. Add melted chocolate. Beat yolks; add water and vanilla extract and blend. Gradually add yolk mixture to chocolate mixture; beat until light and fluffy. Sift together flour, salt and baking soda. Alternately add flour mixture and milk, blending well after each addition. Beat egg whites until stiff but not dry, fold into batter.
Turn into two greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans or one greased and floured 13x9x2-inch cake pan. Bake layers or loaf in moderate oven 350 F about 30-35 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly.

Turn out on cooling rack. Yield: two 9-inch layers or one 13x9x2-inch loaf.

I substituted Kahlua for the water (although something like dark rum -- which I don't have -- may have been even better), and added allspice and whole fresh blackberries. But it's too late to eat chocolate cake right now. I need to go to bed some time tonight. I'll just have to wait until breakfast to taste it!

(jacked from cooks.com)

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zydeco

nobody@vox.com(r01339113) — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 16:28:07 -0700

Merriam Webster's Word of the Day

Placing higher in Dogpile's search results than Buckwheat Zydeco:

Buckwheat: Wholesome Nutrition

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extirpate

nobody@vox.com(r01339113) — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 13:33:35 -0700

Merriam Webster's Word of the Day

Used for historical purposes in Dogpile's #1 search result:

The History of Rome, by Theodor Mommsen: . . . to warn us against the childish belief that civilization is able to extirpate brutality from human nature.

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Orange Marshmallow Frosting

nobody@vox.com(r01339113) — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 21:09:27 -0700

I made some pineapple pecan muffins that turned out bland because I left out the strussel topping, so I had to make some other sweet topping to keep the whole enterprise from being a boring failure. We have mini marshmallows, so I searched and found the below recipe.

1 cup sugar
1 tsp cream of tartar
2 egg whites, unbeaten
1 dozen large marshmallows
1/4 tsp salt
3 tbsp water

1. Cut marshmallows into pieces. Set aside. Place other ingredients in top of double boiler.

2. Cook and stir quickly until sugar is dissolved and mixture turns white.

3. Remove from heat and add marshmallows.

4. When marshmallows become soft, place back over boiling water and heat until mixture stands in peaks.

5. Spread immediately on cake while still hot and let cool.

First, it reminded me of an Orange Julius drink. Then I realized what it's most like: the orange icing in Pillsbury cinnamon rolls.

(jacked from cooks.com)

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disinformation

nobody@vox.com(r01339113) — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 11:34:27 -0700

Merriam Webster's Word of the Day

Helping people be less stupid online in Dogpile's #8 search result:

Using the Internet for Reliable Health Information: I don't know about you, but I sure do get a lot of spam email. Aside from the *ahem* adult-themed spam, most of it is health related. With so much disinformation floating around the Internet, how can you wade through it to find reliable information? Read my 10 tips to spot the factual from the fraudulent.

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