A weekly round up: eats, workouts, watches and reads. The big news of this week is that I encountered my first ever IRL two legged carrot. And that's kind of all there is to say about that.
Eats
I have a mixed success to report. I saw a post on IG that led me to a pasta dinner that was just OK, but Hubs and the boys looooooved it, it was very easy to make, and we got a ton of leftovers out of it, so I feel that it's worth a mention.
- Skip the red pepper in place of sun dried tomatoes.
- Use the very specific quantity of "the amount left in the jar in the fridge" for the sun-dried tomatoes - I'm guessing maybe half a cup?
- Ditch the cream and use half and half instead. If I made this again I would use milk since I don't think it makes a difference to final product.
It's still very cold, and we still have a lot of snow. That means
that my regular workouts are happening inside and underground in the
basement until further notice.
Thankfully on Sunday it was almost 30 degrees with minimal wind and lots of sunshine so I got a hike in. Last year the hiking challenge was all about mud, and this year it's all about snow. One isn't more difficult than the other, they're just two different difficult things to contend with. It's all worth it for that view of the blue sky.
Watching
- George had a different dad in season 4!!!! Which is consistent with Jerry having a different dad in season 1.
- A very young Jeremy Piven plays George in Jerry's sitcom pilot. He was a long way away from Ari Gold.
In movie watching we saw a 90's blockbuster that I skipped back in the day because I was annoyed that it was a remake of a silent movie. That would be The Mask of Zorro.
Me in 1998: "Gah, how lame that there are no more original movies to make so everyone is ripping off old Douglas Fairbanks movies".
Me in 2025 after Hubs showed me the trailer: "Why didn't anyone tell me that Anthony Hopkins was in this movie???? I am so in".
I told Hubs that there is a condition for watching this movie, which is that we need to watch the OG 1920 verison, The Mark of Zorro. Stay tuned.
Reading
I'm still in a reading slump, and still not concerned because it will pass like all reading slumps do. My report is:
- Currently reading J is for Judgement by Sue Grafton.
- Over the weekend I listened to an audio book. I have complicated feelings about Modern Mrs. Darcy - on the pro side I've found some incredible reads there, and on the anti side it's been a long time since I found a good read from her, I never really got into the podcast, and her first book was a miss for me. I would never ever have read her second book, I'd Rather be Reading: The Delights and Dilemmas of the Reading Life if not for the fact that Engie raved about it a while back. Anyway, something made me think of Engie's review which led to me getting the book and loving it. If you like reading and you have two hours on your hands, I think you will be delighted to spend them listening to this book.
Hubs and the boys thought that it was the greatest thing ever (most likely because it was bland). lolololol Preach this. I hear "this has too much onion in it" way too often for my comfort.
ReplyDeleteDoggo's ears!!! She hears EVERYTHING.
I feel very important in your reading bullets because I think Suzanne and I lobbied hard for you to read Kinsey. I'm so glad you love those books as much as I do.
I needed the dual endorsement from you and Suzanne to start Alphabet. I know I've told this story before, but Once Upon a Time I dated someone who did not like to read, which is all you need to know to understand why the relationship did not work out. He said that the only books that he ever liked were the Alphabet books, and that was the first time that I ever heard of them and I took an instant dislike. "Well if THAT guy loves those books they can't be any good". Now that I know better, I do better.
DeleteDid the boys like the pasta because it was bland, or because it was creamy? My guy is all about the cheese and cream. If it has that, pretty much, it's always a winner! And although we don't have snow where we live now, I've lived in snow and would prefer snow over mud hiking!
ReplyDeleteSarah, I think you nailed it! Creamy FTW.
DeleteSnow hiking vs mud hiking: snow is more slippery, but also less of a laundry disaster if I slip.
Reading your (and Nicole's comments from your prior) posts about Seinfeld makes me watch again!
ReplyDeleteI love the Alphabet books, too! I wish that I could've read them in order when I did but I just read whatever was available at the library. I don't remember which ones I read but maybe it's been long enough I could read them again and be surprised again. Kinsey was the reason I tried cheese sandwiches with pickles. I mean I love pickles but I never would've thought to put them in a cheese only sandwich. It was a short-lived fascination on my part but I remember enjoying them during that period!
Yes, I've seen double-legged carrots...and maybe even triple-legged. We grew carrots in a container one year and there were many irregular ones!
I bet that Alphabet would hold up as a reread. This sounds kind of bad, but I don't read them for the mystery part. I read them so that I can hang out with Kinsey. I also don't think that the order matters (though I wouldn't know since so far I've read them in order).
DeleteI'm with you on working out indoors indefinitely, but it is supposed to be in the 40s here on Friday, which is my day off and I am contemplating going for a run. I prefer to run in the morning though, and if I was a betting person, I'd bet that it won't be near 40 till later in the day. Hmm.
ReplyDeleteThat carrot is amazing. No, I've not encountered a two legged carrot.
Our go-to pasta dish is pizza casserole, which I think is called spaghetti pie in some circles. It's a crowd pleaser. I don't bother to make it GF, so I make it for my people, and there is always much rejoicing.
I bet the guys would love pizza casserole! And I would not hate it. Thanks for the idea!
DeleteNot too legged Carrot is funny! The only pasta I make is a dish with marinara that I put minced vegetables in to kind of trick the boys into eating more vegetables. But I eat mine and zucchini noodles because gluten-free pasta is kind of meh.
ReplyDeleteI’m reading the covenant of water right now, which is a book that’s been available in Libby so many times that I’ve deferred each time. This week seems like the right time to read a doorstop of a book since I am trying to rest as much as possible I know Kyria didn’t love it, but I’m really enjoying it But it’s like 700 pages! It’s stupid cold here but will warm up into the 30s today. I’d like to go for a walk but need to figure out if any of our mittens will fit over my cast.
Yay for a long, engrossing book to get you through your down time.
DeleteI wonder if you could wrap a scarf around your cast? It wouldn't be too heavy and would keep your hand covered. Yes to getting outside if you can.
I used a man's tube sock to cover my foot when it was in a cast during winter, so you might find a sock helpful, too!
DeleteTo clarify, re Covenant, I actually enjoyed the first....half...maybe, and then it got too long and I lost interest. But it will be interesting to see if you continue to like it, Lisa!
DeleteOh I love when weird shaped produce presents itself. I have had a carrot with two legs before and I usually make it walk around the counter before chopping it up cruelly (have you ever read The Edible Woman? That just reminded me of that book.) I wish I was doing a Seinfeld rewatch, I am getting nightmares from Barry. I think I told you about this already so I won't bore you but my god, it's getting weirder and weirder. Luckily we finished season 3 yesterday, so the end is in sight! Only eight more episodes. And I do want to know what happens, so I will keep watching.
ReplyDeleteI just finished a reread of The Body by Bill Bryson (A MAN!) and now started a really light book called Don't Forget To Write. It seems silly but fun.
I have not read The Edible Woman and I want to! All I know about it is that they quotes a few lines in the doc that I saw about Atwood.
DeleteSigh, it's tough when you're so invested in a show that you HAVE to keep watching. I've been there. Not to worry, you'll reach the end and then you can turn to Seinfeld for a palate cleanser.
That snowy hike looks absolutely stunning—nothing beats a clear blue sky as the perfect backdrop!
ReplyDeleteA grocery store in Switzerland is taking a stand against food waste by offering not just the flawless fruits and veggies but also the quirky, misshapen ones. It’s amazing how many two-legged (or even multi-legged!) carrots make an appearance in that box. Nature’s little surprises! 😊
Talking about food, I'm in with the bland (and creamy) team!
If you ever come over to my house we will make the pasta for dinner!
DeleteI don't make pasta very often, but LOVE when it's rich and creamy. I have my eye on a Italian sausage and pasta soup. I think I might just toss ingredients in a pot until it comes together and hope for the best. I have some leftover basil, some leftover coconut milk, some sausage, some carrot, some zucchini. We'll see where my whims take me :)
ReplyDeleteNom! The soup is perfect to use up all of those odds and ends.
DeleteMy kids STILL talk about the day I packed a carrot with fingers for asnack at gymnastics!
ReplyDeleteGood times!
DeleteI used to grow a lot of carrots when I had a garden, and they were mostly all deformed, two legged, three legged, bent, and weird! If I got a normal one, it was amazing! I wasn't skilled at gardening and gave up on it years ago! 🤣
ReplyDeleteI'm all about bland food, so I'd fit right in with your crew! Your orzo dish looks amazing.
I LOVED the Mask of Zorro!
I'm not skilled at gardening. The only time we tried to grow carrots they were tiny, skinny things. So you did way better than us!
DeleteI definitely have seen some deformed veggies in my day. I once grew a two legged radish, and a two balled peach! :)
ReplyDeletePasta is not really my go-to, but I can make a mean mac 'n' cheese with a roux and everything, but I also like to put mustard into the sauce, and I would eat it with a healthy dose of hot sauce for sure! I also have a great recipe from an old Italian lady for pasta with peas, which really is just onion, peas, cream/milk, and parmesan on penne pasta, but it HAS TO BE PENNE according to her, because you want the cream and peas to go in the holes. She was very specific about that!
A two balled peach you say?
DeleteI'm not Italian but "it has to be penne" is never bad advice! Also yes to just making a roux already with a touch of mustard.
I suppose my go-to pasta dinner is pasta, sauce from a jar, and roasted vegetables. We had this delicacy just this week (I think the rest of the family sprinkled vegan parmesan on their's.) I'm sooooo not into cooking (have I mentioned that?)
ReplyDeleteYou're lucky you have the alphabet books- there's not better way to spend a reading slump.
I've definitely seen two legged carrots before!
On the one hand I can't believe I waited this long to read Alphabet and on the other hand yes I'm so glad to have it now.
DeleteI have not yet read the Alphabet books. They seem right up my alley - I don't know what is stopping me... I am not the biggest pasta person, but the Mr is. Our easy Thursday night dinner right now is pasta, broccoli, and chicken sausage with marinara for me, the same for him but with a chickpea pasta, and then Lil Mamma having what I am having but no marinara - she has olive oil and extra garlic instead.
ReplyDeleteThat's the kids in this house - buttered noodles with onion powder!
DeleteLOL! I love bland creamy carby foods so i bet I would love that too.
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a warm day to get a hike in! I too some leave at the end of the day today to run. It's super windy but warmer than it has been.
LOL love that 1998 you was already annoyed about movie remakes/no original ideas.
Yes, I did not foresee the day when everything would be a Marvel movie. Ah the good ol' days.
DeleteI am extremely late to comment, but this cracked me up SO much: "Use the very specific quantity of "the amount left in the jar in the fridge" for the sun-dried tomatoes" That is my kind of measuring! I also feel your pain when it comes to bland vs. flavorful. And if you spice up the pasta to your tastes, it will suddenly not be palatable for the rest of the family. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteIt is so fun to tag along as you rewatch Seinfeld. The number of cameos (is it a cameo if they weren't yet famous?) of now-famous celebs is astounding. And delightful.
Oh, that orzo dish sounds like something I would throw together on the regular basis... I am sorry you found it bland (I make a lot of dishes with spinach and sun-dried tomatoes and esp. the tomatoes never make it taste bland to me. You may need to add some sofrito :)
ReplyDelete