Pantry Scraper Gourmet

Towards the end of the month when I'm broke, or when I'm so busy I don't have time to go shopping, I tend to throw together what I call pantry scrapers.  Those are the meals that you make when you scrape the back of the pantry for whatever's there.  

Fortunately, since deciding to eat vegan at home, my pantry is well-stocked all month long with plenty of dried goods.  I go shopping once a month and only buy fresh produce or specialty items in between. 

This week has already been busy, between a concert and preparations for contest on Saturday, so I haven't had the time or energy to go to the grocery store.  I was proud of myself tonight for pulling together the delicious item you see above.

Greek Stuffed Bell Peppers with Tzatziki Sauce

Serves 2, or 1 with leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

Bell Peppers:

1/2 cup cooked chickpeas, drained

1/2 cup cooked quinoa, drained

olive oil

handful chopped green onion

1 clove garlic, minced

juice of 1/2 lemon

1 tsp fennel seed

pinch of fresh dill

1 tomato, chopped (or whatever veggies you like)

1 large bell pepper

1.  If you are using dried chickpeas (my preferred method) soak overnight and cook. 

2.  Rinse, drain, and cook the quinoa. 

3. Preheat oven to 350.

4.  Saute onions, garlic, fennel seed, dill, and other veggies in the olive oil until the onions are tender.  Drizzle with the lemon juice. You can add the quinoa and chickpeas to the mixture if you like-it makes the chickpeas crunchy on the outside. 

5.  Core the bell peppers.  Slice in half and clean.

6. Stuff the peppers with the mixture you just made and place right side up in a baking dish.  Bake until the bell peppers reach desired tenderness. 

Tzatziki Sauce

4 tbs Veganaise (or similar...I've also seen recipes that use vegan yogurt/tofu, but it was a pantry scraper!)

1/2 large cucumber, chopped

juice of 1/2 lemon

dill to taste

1 clove garlic, minced

salt and pepper to taste

Throw it all in a  food processor or blender and process until it's as chunky as you want it.  

Serve the peppers with a  drizzle, or as I did, drowning in the sauce.  There will be plenty of extra sauce!  I know it's hard to see in the above photo because the plate is white.  Enjoy!

My Favorite Green Things

In honor of Easter this past Sunday, and of spring, here are my favorite green things around my home.  I meant to post this for St. Patrick's Day (also my birthday) but of course I got too busy.  Imagine that!

1.  My entire bedroom

 

2. This tea infuser, by Tea Forte.  It was part of a conductor's gift I got this year.

3. These green fountain glasses.  They were my mom's.  For storage I hang them upside down in my dining room with all of my other wine glasses.

4. These aluminum champagne flutes (a gift from my good friend Jared) and the Irish coffee mugs and bell (a gift from my good friend Gina).

5. Galactic Vino bottle and a Roswell Alien Wine Festival glass.

6. This stuffed alien and Kiss Me I'm Irish frog.

7. This tiny MKT model train car.  My grandfather worked for the MKT, which is no longer in business, so this whole collection is special.

8. UFO Christmas ornament and Pyrex promotional Green Dot Cinderella mixing bowl (1960's).  The ornament was a gift from my friend Chelsea that I couldn't bear to put away, and the mixing bowl was an antique store find for about $10.  

9. My robot lamp with a green bulb.

10. The Theracane.  Seriously, I don't know how I could live without this thing.

DIY Retro Robot Lamp

Over our two week school intercessions, I need things to keep me occupied.  This time, I decided I needed a reading lamp for my living room but didn't find anything unique enough.  I wanted something that looked like it belonged in the space age, and a Google search led me to this:

Unfortunately, these things are as expensive as they are hard to find.  I looked at it and thought, "I could make that!"  If you want to make your own, here are the materials* you need:

-A cylindrical metal container with a bottom, like a cup or bowl

-Two metal bowls of the same size

-Three smaller metal objects, at least two of which are the same size (for the eyes and top of the head)

-A spring (optional, for the antenna)

-Two round drawer handles with necessary hardware

-1/2" long machine screws (with nuts)

-1 roll galvanized pipe strapping (found in the plumbing aisle)

-Lamp kit with cord and socket

-Duct or electrical tape (optional)

-Drill with different sized bits

-Screwdrivers

-Pliers

-Superglue, metal epoxy, or similar

-A paintbrush you don't care about

-Eye protection

-Gloves

I didn't take pictures as I went (sorry!), but here are the steps and pictures of the final product so you can see how it's put together.

1. Drill all of your holes. Drilling metal is dangerous and tricky.  Wear gloves and eye protection, and work over a fire-proof surface like concrete.  Expect hot chunks of metal to fly and protect exposed skin accordingly.  In your cylindrical container, drill 6: two for "feet", one for the lamp assembly itself, one for the cord, one for the pull chain of the lamp assembly, and one for the "kickstand" you'll put in the back to stabilize your robot.  In one metal bowl, drill 5: two for "eyes", one for the top of the head, one between the eyes and near the lip of the bowl, and one directly across from the last one.  In the bowl that will be the bottom, drill two holes near the lip of the bowl in the same locations as the other one.  

2. Make a very large hole in the bottom of the last bowl-basically you're removing the bottom.  I accomplished this by using the largest drill bit I had and drilling several holes close together.  Then I used pliers to sort of rip the rest of the bottom out.  It wasn't perfect, but it worked.  If you're worried about the sharp metal edges, cover them with some tape. 

3. Add the robot's feet by screwing your drawer handles in place.  There will likely be too much space between the handle and the body of the robot-fill it with nuts or washers. Cut a 2-3" piece of the pipe strapping and screw it to the body of the robot with a machine screw.  Bend it to form a kickstand.

4. Remove your lamp kit from the packaging and familiarize yourself with the directions.  Remove the pipe and cap from the bottom of the socket.  Thread the following onto the cord in this order: nut and washer if you need it, pipe, body of robot (cylindrical container), washer if you need it and nut.  Tighten the nuts on either side of the pipe; you don't want too much sticking out of the bottom.  

5.  Thread the socket cap onto the cord and tie an underwriter's loop with your two wires above the cap.  

6.  Loosen the terminal screws on the socket.  Find the wire that is either white or covered in a ribbed coating, and loop the exposed end around the SILVER terminal screw and tighten.  Attach the other wire to the BRASS screw in the same manner.  Fit the socket back together and screw it onto the end of the pole.  

7.  Disconnect the ball from the pull chain, thread the chain through the hole in the bottom of the robot, and reconnect the ball.  Pull on it to make sure that it can move freely.  TEST THE SOCKET.  If it doesn't work the first time, try a different bulb.  Remove the bulb and set this portion aside.  

8.  Cut a 2" and a 3-5" piece of pipe strapping.  Attach the 2" portion to the bowl that will be the top of the head using a machine screw.  Use the hole that is at the BACK of the head-opposite the eyes.  Attach the other end of the pipe strapping to the bowl that will be the bottom of the head.  You want there to be very little space between the bowls.  This piece of pipe strapping is the hinge and it's easier to attach if you bend the pipe strapping "open" before attaching the second bowl. 

9.  Attach the longer piece of pipe strapping to the holes in the front of each bowl.  You may want to leave one side unattached until you are finished and put in the bulb, depending on how small your robot is.  This will allow you to open and close the robot's mouth to control the amount of light.  The pipe strapping will bend inward when the mouth is closed.

10.  Using your glue or epoxy, coat the edges of the eyes and the top of the head and adhere them over the holes you drilled.  Attach the spring or whatever you're using for the antenna.  Remember that you have to work quickly with this stuff, and whichever paint brush you use should be one you plan to trash when you're done.  Follow ALL of the directions on the package.

11.  Coat the top edge of the robot's body (where the light socket is) with the glue or epoxy and settle the robot's head onto the body.  Fill in any gaps and allow to dry.  

12.  Place your bulb in the socket, tighten up any loose screws, plug it in, and enjoy!  If you want more light, open the mouth.  Less light, close the mouth.  

I decided to try mine with a green bulb and really like the effect.

It goes perfectly on these shelves I found over the weekend.  After searching flea markets all day, I saw this  shelving unit sitting in someone's driveway with a "for sale" sign on it when I was driving home.  It's very solid (not particle board!) and the price was right.

This lamp fits right in with my odd collection of alien and retro stuff that I'm starting to accumulate, and with a regular bulb in it is perfect for reading.  Hooray!

*A word or two about the materials:

-Lamp kits are available at craft stores, but I recommend the hardware store.  Your selection of switch types will be limited at the craft store, and the kits often come pre-assembled with the wires already attached.  They aren't attached with screws and if you try to remove them to thread them where they should go in your final project, they'll break off inside the socket and you're out ten bucks.

-The bowls are hard to find in the right size.  I got mine at a thrift store.  

-The eyes and top of the head are salt and pepper shaker lids.  Again, thrift store.

-The body is an aluminum mug I found at the store.  I left the handle on in the back because it will make the lamp easier to move while in use (it will undoubtedly get hot). 

Cat Lady Cred

I had big plans for this evening.  They included coming home, finishing my cleaning of my apartment, cooking, and sitting on my butt.  I was also planning to do a blog post on my favorite green things in honor of St. Patrick's Day, but of course life intervened.  I got home around 9:30 with this in my hand:

Yes, that's my official animal bite certificate.  I was driving to the music store and saw a lady in the left turn lane with her hazard lights on.  As I drove past I saw that there was a cat hanging from between her bumper and radiator.  I picked up my items at the music store, and when I came out she was still there.  Nobody had stopped yet, so I walked over and offered to help.  The lady drove to the parking lot where there was a small auto servicing place and I ran to the vet's office up the street.  They told me they couldn't help and gave me the number for animal control.  

Meanwhile, back at the parking lot, a couple of big tough looking auto mechanic guys were attempting to free the cat, who was completely stuck. We were afraid that since he appeared to be so injured, calling animal control would most likely result in him being put down on the spot and we tried to free him. Given the position he was in, I was afraid that pushing on him too hard from under the hood would break his back, and every time the mechanics would push on him he'd scream.  I asked to borrow some gloves in case the cat was a biter (most scared animals are) and attempted to scruff him.

As you can see, his front paw is still stuck inside the car and his midsection is completely stuck.  He's not hissing in this picture; he's crying.  Anyway, he bit me and the glove wasn't thick enough.  At that point, we had to call animal control because he has to be quarantined.  I don't want to get rabies shots.  I called animal control and they were quick to respond because it was a bite.  The lady in the car and her friend/relative who she called wanted to drive the car to a Mazda dealership a couple miles away and have them remove the bumper.  I talked them out of it because a) the drive with the cat this close to the pavement would likely kill him very painfully, and b) if he lived there would be no way to contain him, and he'd be roaming injured.  And then I'd have to get rabies shots.  I felt kind of bad for keeping them there, but at this point it was probably their only option, and it didn't cost them anything.  Needless to say, the lady driving the car was pretty upset at this point and was in tears.  She obviously felt pretty bad for the cat. 

After half over half an hour of me holding the control stick and the animal control officer working under the hood of the car, we got the cat free.  I honestly was afraid he was hurt worse, but he came out pretty well.  Meanwhile, it had started to snow, of all things.  I went to urgent care because the wound hurt a lot worse than I thought it would (doesn't look like much, but it broke all the way through my fingernail on the top and punctured the bottom) and is swollen.  Also, animal bites are dirty and my immune system is the equivalent of a beat up Ford Pinto.  I got antibiotics, a tetanus shot, and instructions to watch for blood poisoning and tendon sheath infection.  It still hurts like crazy.

I'm thinking of framing my official crazy cat lady certificate.

Also, this is not the weirdest bite I've ever had.  I was once bitten by a camel (on my wrist) and ended up with a hematoma the size of a golf ball on my arm.  

Now, to my dear fellow El Pasoans:

Stop getting animals you can't or won't take care of.  We have a huge feral cat program in El Paso because a few people got cats that they didn't have neutered and they got out and bred.  When the weather gets cold, they crawl inside of cars to get warm and we end up with what happened today.  We have taken an animal and domesticated it, then left it completely to fend for itself and do nothing but breed in an urban area.  This is cruel.  More remote areas have endless problems with dogs running free.  Sure, they have "owners"...but dogs with owners who are responsible don't allow this to happen, regardless of what kind of dog they own.  (In a strange coincidence, I went to elementary school with this man's daughter).  

And when you see something like this happening in your own neighborhood, don't look the other way and wait for someone else to help.  Stop and see what you can do.  

It's less about being the crazy cat lady than it is about being compassionate.  

Hurts so Good

Yesterday, I went for a deep tissue massage.  I have a  membership at a local massage place.  For about $60 a month I get a massage every month that rolls over if I don't use it, and additional 1 hour massages are $30.  My back has a habit of knotting up and then completely going out, which usually means two days off from work while I recover in a pain pill and muscle relaxer induced coma.

This time around my back (and really the rest of my body) was pretty bad.  Everything ached and my posture was seriously terrible because it hurt so badly.  The manager at the massage place told me that this therapist was great at deep tissue.  I told him not to be afraid to dig.  He was careful to ask about my RA and whether anything hurt (of course it did) and to ask if I had any bruises; the last time I went in I had IV bruises up and down my arms.

This therapist was darn good; he definitely got all of the knots out and my back is loose for a change.  The popping noises it made when I sat up were completely astounding.  He also found trigger points everywhere else, which is not surprising.  I think with any chronic condition affecting the joints, muscles tend to overcompensate and end up tensing up, which in turn just makes the joints hurt worse.  It's a cycle.  My ankles and elbows also feel a lot better today.

Unfortunately, I am sore and bruised.  Below is a picture of the middle of my back.  You can see the visible swelling on either side of my spine as well as the impressive bruises.  For the record, I have done some research and with deep tissue massage some bruising is normal if you're really tense.  Bruising on this level, maybe not, but I also suspect that all of the meds are causing me to bruise quite easily.

I'm loading up on the ginger and tylenol and am taking epsom salt baths alternating with ice packs on my back. I'm also considering a ginger bath tonight to sweat some of this out.  Either way, my back still feels better than it did two days ago!

I Didn't Watch the Grammys

It's true, I didn't.  I thought about it, but I always cry at tributes.  I don't really follow pop music and I'm not into spectacles like this.  The Facebook posts about Nicki Minaj, however, were enough to make me seek out the performance on YouTube.

I understand that people were offended by the presentation and by the mocking of religion.  I'd like to point out, however, that this is nothing new.  Songs about exorcism have been around for a very long time and are well-known in the literature of classically trained musicians.  They're called Tarantellas.

Musicians and artists have been satirizing the Church and giving it a hard time since at least the 11th century when the Carmina Burana hit the shelves, so to speak.

Here's the difference: in the 11th Century, and for a long time after that, people had a better reason to satirize organized religion.  For a long time, the Church was the only major ruling power in the world.  If you were rich, you could buy forgiveness, but if you were poor you weren't being helped at all.  For the most part, things have changed since the middle ages.  Churches of all kinds have set up outreach to help people.  Since the separation of Church and state, no organized religion has any power in government.  Religious persecution continues, yes, but it's kept better in check in 2012 than it was in 1180.

I don't have too much of a problem with what Nicki Minaj might refer to as "performance art."  I'm all for free speech (well...except for this.)  The one instance in which Nicki Minaj crossed the line was her allusion to sex abuse in the Catholic Church.  If you're going to protest it, protest it.  Here's a good example.  When it's to enhance a performance of completely unrelated material and as background dancing, however, it's insensitive, pure and simple.

The biggest problem that I had with the performance was that the song truly stunk.  There was no real complexity or depth, the singing was average at best, and I finished watching with no idea what Nicki Minaj was trying to communicate.  People might praise the performance as avant grade or unique, but the bottom line is that you can't put makeup on a pig.

Recent Developments

I really stink at keeping things current, apparently.  If you're still following the epic saga of All My Kittens, here's a quick update.  We've gone from climbing the walls to this:

This is Wednesday in the picture.  Mac has made similar progress but overall Wednesday is more clingy and less camera shy.  Mac likes to chase things on the computer screen.  

In other news, after heading back into a flare my rheumatologist determined I needed to add methotrexate.  I was seriously hesitant about going back down this road.  I was up to 6 or 8 pills a week (can't remember which) when I was on it in high school and college, and it made me really sick. Methotrexate is a low-dose mild chemotherapy drug.  It is low-dose and mild but has the same side effects.  This time around, I'm on a very tiny dose of injectable methotrexate.  Injectable is better absorbed by the body than pills and since it bypasses the digestive tract the nausea isn't as bad.  Still, I'm taking mine on Fridays in case the day after is a bummer.  

These are way easier to do than Enbrel injections. They do require a little more preparation, but they don't burn and the needles are seriously tiny.  This is the first time I've ever felt comfortable injecting into my stomach.  Seriously, check out that tiny needle!

The vials are also tiny.  Two of them come in a pill bottle labeled with the prescription info.  

OK, it looks like radioactive Mountain Dew.  But it doesn't burn, and I have noticed an improvement so far.  The side effects aren't terrible....yet.