Recipe of the Week: Orzo With Roasted Veggies

This Recipe is from the Barefoot Contessa, who is actually a jerk, but is a really good cook.  Ina Garten, the Barefoot Contessa, twice turned down a little boy who's dream was to cook a meal with her.  Oh, and the little boy asked her though the Make-A-Wish foundation because he is has acute lymphoblastic leukemia.  Like I said, she's a jerk.  Anyway, here is the recipe, with couple changes here and there.  This is a recipe you can flavor to taste.  Just have fun with it, it's really hard to go wrong.

Ingredients:

Zucchini
Bell Peppers (Red, Orange or Yellow)
Onion
6 Scallions, (Green Onions), sliced on a bias
3/4 lb. Feta Cheese, 1/2 inch diced or crumbled
2 cups Fresh Parmesan Cheese
1/4 cup Pignolis, (Pine Nuts), toasted
2 lb. Orzo
Fresh Juice of 2 Lemons
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
1 can Chicken Broth
15 Fresh Basil Leaves, cut into julienne
3-4 Cooked Chicken Breasts cut into chunks

Cut vegetables (zucchini, peppers and onions) into one-inch chunks then toss them with 1/3 cup olive oil, salt and pepper (if you can, make it fresh ground black pepper).  Roast the vegetables in a single layer on a cookie sheet at 400° F for 35-40 minutes, or until golden brown.  Cook orzo according to directions.  Add the chicken broth to the lemon juice and drizzle in 1/3 cup olive oil while whisking to make vinaigrette.  Season the vinaigrette with salt and pepper and then pour over the pasta.  Add chicken and vegetables then toss.  Sprinkle in Feta Cheese, Parmesan, pine nuts, basil, and green onions.  Toss again before serving.

I recently made this concoction with three one inch round zucchinis, three bell peppers (one yellow, one orange, and one red), and one onion.  It was a good amount of vegetables for the amount of Orzo I used (two one lb. boxes).  I found a tube of fresh basil by the fresh herbs that works like a charm (http://www.gourmetgarden.com/us/product/view/Basil).  Also, I didn't add pine nuts.  They taste amazing, but they are wicked expensive.  Also, the original recipe calls for eggplant, which I love, but my husband doesn't, so I didn't add any.  If you want the original recipe, it can be found here, http://www.food.com/recipe/orzo-with-roasted-vegetables-barefoot-contessa-ina-garten-111976.

To slice on a bias cut diagonally so that the finished product has a trapezoid type shape.  This is often seen with fancy carrots.  To cut into julienne, cut into thin slices, like matches.  This is used for making fries and other thin cut dishes.

Adventures In South Lake Union

While going to Whole Foods to get Matt some vitamin C rich juice so he could get better from his cold, I saw a poster for a vigil tonight.  I thought the vigil was at the South Lake Union Park, but when I got there, there was no Vigil.  But it was an absolutely beautiful park and I am glad I ended up there.  I eventually found the vigil (and apparently an art show) on my way back home.  It was being held in the Inner Chapters Bookstore.  There was some interesting Easter art.  While I wouldn't have hung any of that art in my home, I respected the painters for working so hard to encapsulate their vision of our Savior.  

A bridge to the park over South Lake Union

Pretty Weeping Willow

Reflection of the Space Needle in a reflection pool

Random guys flying a kite.  It was awesome. 

Ominous crow sitting in a tree

The Daily Bites: Pike Place Chowder, Doc's Marina, Zeeks Pizza again, Lunchbox Laboratory, and Ivar's

We ate at a lot of delicious places while Shan and Billy were here.  


Matt and I had eaten at Pike Place Chowder before, but it was more amazing then I remembered!  The first time I had chicken and corn chowder, and this time I had California Clam Chowder.  I would definitely recommend it!  Matt had scallop chowder, I may or may not have had several spoonfuls, and it was also amazing.  Later I looked up some tips from the owner, apparently they add dill and lime juice.  Whatever they do, they should keep doing it.  


Kristin Hannah treated us to Doc's Marina when we met her on Bainbridge Island.  I had the lobster bisque and it was really good.  I am mainly excited I discovered they serve lobster mac and cheese, which are two of Matt's all time favorite foods.  We will be going back, probably for Matt's birthday.


We had to introduce them to Zeeks Pizza, and they picked the club chicken pizza.  It was really good, but the Buffalo Soldier is still my favorite.  I love that Zeeks uses fresh herbs.


We went to Lunchbox Laboratory because we had heard a lot of good things about it.  It was all true.  But it was dramatically under-exaggerated.  THAT WAS THE MOST AMAZING HAMBURGER I HAVE EVER TASTED.  It was like a Fourth of July firework display in my mouth, but on Christmas, while wearing my favorite Halloween costume.  It was Dork (duck and pork), feta, black truffle mayo and gorgonzola spread.  My mouth is literally watering just thinking about it.  Enough about an amazing sandwich.  


We also went to Ivar's (Keep cɐlm) the Seattle classic.  I had scallops and chips.  And it was tasty as always.

Our First Visitors!

This last week Matt and I had visitors!  My elementary school friend Shannon and her boyfriend Billy.  We were busy people and saw oodles of things!  we saw the Space Needle, Pike Place Market, Bainbridge Island, Pulsbo, the Underground Seattle Tour and the Seattle Aquarium.

The all hat shop in Pike Place Market.  Shannon is a pharaoh and I am Jafar.   

The Pike Place Market sign.

View from the Bainbridge Ferry

Shan and Me on the Ferry

Billy and Me on the Ferry

We got to meet the New York Times best selling author Kristin Hannah!

It was an incredible, sunny day!  This is in Pulsbo, a little New Norway town. 

I ate THE most amazing hamburger here.  I really can't believe how good that sandwich was.  It was a Dork (Duck and Pork), Feta, Black Truffle Mayo and Gorgonzola Cheese spread.   

This is Jim Gall, the tour guide for the Underground Seattle Tour.

This is Underground Seattle

Jim again!

This was an adorable ally way with tulips in the windows.

Shannon caught me poking a starfish in the tide pool.

I got attacked by an octopus! 

          Jelly fish

Crazy colored fish!

Crazy Crab!

Vanna, and Vanna Showing off the poster. 

This was an amazing picture, mainly because we couldn't see the white graffiti until we took the picture!  It could only be seen on the camera.

The Most Recent Reject: The Neverending Story

I just couldn't get into this book.  The beginning was alright, but by the middle, it just got worse.  The book reminded me of an 80's drug trip.  I thought the premise was to inspire children to write their own stories, but it turns out, the more wishes you make the more memories you lose.  According to the book, to create you own world/story you have to lose your identity.  Furthermore, the main character's imagination started to seem more like hallucinations.  The poor kid's mom died and his father was distant, and to add to the problem he was unathletic and overweight.  There are healthy ways to deal with issues like that.  Talking to a school counselor is a good start.  Escaping into a fantasy land where you are the perfect version of yourself, not to mention all powerful, is not healthy.  I'm all for getting caught up in a good book, but don't use it as an excuse for not tackling real issues that need to be addressed.  I am going to stick with the Chronicles of Narnia.  Even though the stories take place in an unreal would, I feel like Lewis inspired children, and adults, to overcome the problems in their real lives.

The Daily Bite: India Gate Restaurant

After going to the Bellevue Temple last night Matt and I went to the India Gate Restaurant.  I have loved Indian food ever since Matt introduced it to me on our first date at India Palace.  I have been missing India Palace's mango lassis and Coconut Chicken Korma.

India Gate was pretty good, but it wasn't India Palace.  The mango lassi at India Gate had less mango and more yogurt flavor, and Matt thought it was more sugary.  I liked the Chicken Korma, but the real treat was the bite of Matt's Lamb Tika Masala.  The lamb tasted just like venison my Opa Lynn made, except Opa's was a bit more salty.  It brought me back to years ago, sitting at Opa's table, enjoying the delicious meat.  If we do end up going back, I will skip the lassi, but I will definitely get the Lamb Tika Masala.

Wet Winter Wonderland

It's snowing!  Big fluffy flakes!  Some are even an inch an a half around!  They are slowly floating to the ground.  It's absolutely lovely!  But I am glad I am warm inside our apartment, looking out our balcony door.

A Day at the Beach

You can barely see it, but the seagull in the picture caught a fish and was eating it! 

Today Matt and I went to Alki Beach in West Seattle.  The view from the beach is amazing.  It was beautiful, but windy and cold.  We ate lunch on a bench and then went searching for sea glass.  We actually found a lot of smoothed sea glass and shell pieces.

Most Recent Read: American Shaolin

My motivation for reading American Shaolin, by Matthew Polly, was my husband's passion for martial arts.  He as won martial art tournaments and does several types of martial arts. (I know about Shotokan Karate, Taekwando, Budoshin Jujitsu, Brazilian Jujitsu, Hapkido, and Capoeira.)  I enjoyed reading about the Shaolin monks and Chinese culture.  That said, the book is riddled with swearwords, namely the f-word, so I couldn't in good conscience recommend it without a warning.  Also, there are one or two inappropriate parts to watch out for.  Other then those glitches, it was a phenomenal read.    

The text was peppered with Chinese proverbs, one of which Matt taught me "I do not fear the 10,000 kicks you have practiced once; I fear the one kick you have practiced 10,000 times" (7).  Another by Lao-tzu, I heard before but have forgotten where, "The knowers do not say; the sayers do not know" (139 & 242).

The way Polly wrote sometimes sounded like a Chinese proverb.

"[Coach Yan] was the most in touch with his inner monster...his mean streak wasn't wide, but it was deep" (8).

"Life started to imitate art" (57).

"Kungfu had started as physical exercises meant to help the monks focus on their sitting meditation.  Now sitting meditation was used to help the monks focus on their kungfu.  The evolution was complete" (138).

And some words of wisdom came from his acquaintances.

"Who knows? It is hard to separate life from fiction"-Cheng Hao (85).

"No, you didn't," [Doc] said with a stern look.  "No one does, because he doesn't go around showing off all of his skills..." (108).

"This is China. The leaders' children are like the descendants of Heaven.  This is their world not ours"-Cheng Hao (131).

"But muscles that are too big reduce the quickness of your technique," Deqing said. "Power is generated by speed, not size.  You saw what a tiny bullet can do" (167).

"It doesn't take much courage to fight when you still believe you can win.  What takes real courage is to keep fighting when all hope is gone" (168).  Deqing

At the time Polly was living with the Shaolin Monks, he was in the middle of getting a degree from Princeton University in Religion with a focus in mysticism.  He writes,"What I discovered from studying the Zen monks, the Sufi mystics, and the Catholic saints was a similarity in the descriptions of their experiences.  They used different images, metaphors, and theological concepts, but they seemed to me to be pointing in the same direction.  It brought to mind a saying form the Upanishads I'd always liked: "God is one, but the scholars call him by many different names"...My working hypothesis was that the cosmos was made up of spirt and matter, heaven and earth, and that humans consisted of both elements, a body and a soul, dust and divinity.  The mystical experience was what happened when the divine or God or Allah or whatever name you prefer breaks through the mundane in a particular soul and exposes it to the universal spirit" (139).

The book is filled with culture references that I found fascinating.  I love learning about different cultures.  Also, it was inspiring to me to learn how dedicated people can be.  The monks practice Kung Fu for seven hours a day six days a week.  It was a good reminder that sometimes we have "eat bitter" to get to where we want to be.  It was also a good reminder that "Life is a one shot deal" (340).  We need to make the most we can, with the time we have.  But, from the wise words of LeVar Burton, "Of course, you don't have to take my word for it."

Recipe of the Week: Chicken Pot Pie with Corn Bread Crust

I made up this recipe this week because both Matt and I have colds, and I wanted something hearty and warm to eat.

3 cups chicken thighs, cut into one inch cubes
2 cups pre-sliced mushrooms
1 medium onion diced
1 (16 oz) bag baby carrots
1 (14.5 oz) can cut green beans (low sodium)
1 (15 oz) can green peas (low sodium)
1 (10 3/4 oz) can cream of chicken soup
1 (10 3/4 oz) can cream of potato soup
1 bag Marie Calendar's® Original Cornbread Mix (Low Fat)

Preheat the oven to 375° F

Add the baby carrots to a pot with about two cups boiling water and boil the carrots until they are tender.  Meanwhile, combine the chicken, mushrooms and onion in a frying pan and cook until the chicken is cooked all the way through.  I like to wait until there is a little golden brown on the bottom of the concoction.

Drain the green beans and green peas and mix them together in a large bowl, then mix in the cream of potato soup and cream of chicken soup (don't add any water to the soup!).  Drain the water from the boiling carrots and add them to the green bean bowl.  Finally add the chicken, mushrooms and onions to the green bean bowl and thoroughly mix all the vegetables, chicken and soup together, and then put the mixture in the bottom of a large casserole dish.  Make the cornbread by following the directions on the box, and then pour the batter over the top of the vegetables and chicken.

Bake for 35 minutes and then reduce the heat to 350° F, and continue to bake for about 10 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean.  Cool for a couple minutes before eating and enjoy!

Most Recent Read: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot was an interesting read.  It took me back to my Bioethics class at BYU.  The book touches on some really important, but controversial issues, including tissue ownership, informed consent and cell-line research.

I liked that Skoot took a holistic approach to telling the story.  I am really glad she didn't paint out all the scientists and doctors as heartless people.  I was impressed to learn that the Doctor who took the cancer cells from Henrietta Lacks, was willing to have experimentation done on his cells.  Dr. George Gey [pronounced guy] first grew the HeLa cell line.  When he found out he had pancreatic cancer, he insisted the surgeons take samples of his tumor while Gey was being operating on.  Gey was willing to use himself as a test subject (171).

So, random interpolation, I have thought for years now that science could be art.  One time I walked into the pathology lab I was researching in and some crystal violet was left in the sink.  It was a like an oil spill of gold and dark purple.  I really wanted to take a picture.  When I would look thorough the microscope at gram stained cultures, I was amazed at how remarkable they were.  Skoot writes, "Christoph had famed a foutreen-by-twenty-inch print of Henrietta's chromosomes that he'd "painted" using FISH [fluorescence in situ hybridization].  It looked like a photograph of a night sky filled with multicolored fireflies glowing red, blue, yellow, green, purple, and turquoise" (234). I am really happy that I am not the only one who thinks photographs from science can be art.

It is sad to read about morally reprehensible studies that were carried out before government legislation protected the rights of patient subjects.  Skloot gives examples of several cases where doctors experimented on patients without the patients knowledge or consent.  While today, human studies are fiercely regulated, and patients have control over what happens to the cells still living in them, patients lose the rights to their tissues after those tissues are removed from their bodies.

When John Moore's spleen was removed and then used for profitable research, Moore sued David Golde, the Doctor who took his spleen.  But Moore lost the initial suit and eventually lost his suit against the Supreme Court of California, which ruled, "When tissues are removed from your body, with or without your consent, any claim you might have had to owning them vanishes" (205).  A similar situation happened to Ted Slavin, but there is a critical difference between the two cases; the doctor treating Slavin told him how valuable his cells were before they were removed.  Therefore, Slavin was in control of what happened to his lucrative tissues (202).

It is a tricky issue to deal with.  It seems logical that a person's cells should still be considered their property even after those cells are removed, however, the judge ruling on the case feared litigation disputes over cell ownership would impede valuable research.  However, because of the ruling, scientists were able to claim ownership of the cells, which ended up impeding research.

Myriad Genetics, a company in Utah, was referenced as one of the companies that holds patents for genes (BRCA1 ad BRCA2).  In the Afterward, Skoot writes "In May 2009 the American Civil Liberties Union, several breast-cancer survivors, and professional groups representing more than 150,000 scientists sued Myriad Genetics over its breast-cancer gene patents.  Among other things, scientists involved in the case claim that the practice of gene patenting has inhibited their research, and they aim to stop it.  The presence of so many scientists in the suit, many of them from top institutions, challenges the standard argument that ruling against biological patents would interfere with scientific progress...Many scientists have interfered with science in precisely the way courts always worried tissue donors might do" (324).

It is a tricky issue.  While the original cells studied may have come from Lacks, Moore and Slavin, they did not have the tools or skills necessary to personally do anything with their cells.  It was necessary for researchers to analyze and synthesize those cells before they were useful.  Furthermore, because of the research done in the past century with individual cell lines, HeLa cells especially, thousands, if not millions of lives have been saved.  Although, if doctors are taking samples away from the patients without informing them, or compensating them, the least the doctors can do is make those samples available so everyone can benefit from the cures developed from those cells.

It is Official

Walking backing from the Seattle library today, someone asked me for directions! I think that means I'm officially a Seattlite! Well that, and I have a library card.

Zoo-a-pa-looz-a!

Australasia

Snow Leopard!  

Rawr!  Except Snow Leopards cannot rawr

Then he left.  

Tiger, which was content to hide in his corner

Malayan Sun Bear

Tropical Rain Forest

Snnikity-snake! 

Snnikity-snake again!

Green Snnikity-snake

Turtle! 

Turtle looking at me! 

Lizard!

Creepy Toad.  He will Kill you. 

Jaguar

Ocelot hiding in a tree

Poison Tree Frogs

Golden Tamarin

Little Toucans

A little bigger Toucan

African Savanna

Lemur 

GOR-ILL-A

Little Gorilla

Peacock

Ostrich, with ostrich eggs in the background!

Giraffe

Patas Monkey

Lions.  Sleeping.

Tropical Asia

Elephant

Macaque Monkey

Siamang

Hanging around. Y'now.

Orangutan; we thought he wouldn't turn around...

But he did!

Northern Trail

Wolf!  Boys becoming men, Men becoming wolves!

Snowy Owl or Hedwig

Bears.  Possibly Brother Bears.  

Mountain Goat

Sea Eagle

Ominous Crow

Penguin!

Matt and I had so much fun at the Woodland Park Zoo! We saw so many of my favorite animals, a snow leopard, tigers, and giraffes.  Yay!