Saturday, January 30, 2010

Fun Things I Have Done

Last Saturday (i.e. 1/23) Sue and I went to the MFA to see the current special exhibit The Secrets of Tomb 10A.  It showed off the stuff left over after looters took all the bling from the tomb of Djehutynakht and his lovely wife.  We saw lots of wooden model boats and some excellent tomb painting.  We took the audio tour, which was fun.  All you blog-readers should check this exhibit out.
Afterwards we ate at Betty's Wok & Noodle.  Sue's pad thai was too dry, but my peanut noodle bowl was good.
I did not take my camera with me, so I have provided you with pictures of Osiris, in the upper left corner, and Anubis, to the right.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

I'm Still Alive at 55


And got these cards and gifts (a gift card good for a facial and some polymer clay earrings).  Over the long weekend I visited my college buddy Brenda in Hamden, CT.  We visited Guilford, CT where I saw a flying saucer-like house among the typical olde New England houses.  I tried to find out something about it online, but could find nothing.  It was on Old Whitfield St..
 
 
Update:  After further searching I found out that this is a bunch of condos designed by Wilfred J.O. Armster in the 80s.  See this NY Times article.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Snookums's Ultrasound



It seems she has a kidney infection and will have to take antibiotics for 5 weeks.  But this is much better than having stones in the bladder, about which the vet was worried.

Thursday, January 07, 2010

The Ultimate Molasses Cookie Recipe

This is from the Sofra Bakery, and it's the best I've ever tasted:

3/4 cup canola oil
1/4 cup molasses
1 cup sugar, plus additional sugar for cookies
1 large egg
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1. Combine all dry ingredients, except sugar.  Set aside.
2. Combine oil, molasses, sugar, and egg in bowl of a stand mixer.  Paddle on medium speed until smooth.  Be careful not to incorporate too much air.  Mix 15-20 seconds (or vigorously by hand).
3. Add dry ingredients and mix until well-combined, about 20 seconds.  Chill dough until it reaches room temperature, about 2 hours.  If preparing dough in advance, freeze so the oil doesn't separate.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Using a small scoop, place formed dough into a bowl of granulated sugar to coat.
5. Place on parchment-lined baking sheet 1/2 inch apart.  Bake 12-15 minutes.  Cookies will appear underdone.

[I like to use brown sugar instead, and I don't bother to roll the dough in sugar before baking.]

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Vending Machine Economics

You must enlarge the photo to get the full story.



Monday, January 04, 2010

Friday, January 01, 2010

Photo Op Bomb

I headed out today with my small camera.  The first time I tried to use it, I realized the battery was dead.  Oh well, I don't need to take pix all the time.  So I am on the Red Line going over the Longfellow Bridge, and suddenly people are saying what is that?!  A stealth bomber was flying over the Charles.  Check your batteries people.  Here's what I missed: