PRESENT CONTINUOUS BLUES

Fridays are my day off. I have a lot of time to unwind and reflect on my (hardly) work week. These are the highlights for February 1-5, 2010.

1. WATCH THIS

2. I accidentally joined the Twitter network and I follow 7 people through their twisted ideas and lives: Barack Obama, MIKA, Alex Spieller, Lady Gaga, Emily Thompson, Björk & Neil Patrick Harris. I think I got the # and @ tricks down. Not quite sure if I totally understand Tweets on the whole, but I'm intrigued for sure. How else would I have stumbled up THIS? If you'd like to follow the happenings of yours truly, find me: cabecita_loca

3. My girl Kendy just proposed this LIFE OPTION on Facebook.. It's just, I want to live everywhere in the world. Canada, Mexico, Every country in Central and South America, not really Russia at the moment, somewhat dreaming about spending my summer in Gulu, Uganda with a good friend, Brooke Hodges who is doing real good for the world and betters my life in many ways...to continue: the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, Thailand, regular Asia & Emily T even suggested stopping in Iceland on a flight to or from Europe.. (it's only 3 hours from NYC!) etc etc etc.. Today is a beautiful day though, and that's the only thing I can think about. There is one wall of our apartment building that gets the best late-afternoon sun while blocking all the wind at the same time. I think this is the weekend to invest in beach chairs and get some quality reading time done on the curb of our street.. (Requiem for a Dream?) Speaking of ladies, that brings me to my next point.

4. Today is a fiesta, and it's all about the fem-bots with TETAS! Signs started popping up around town for different Saint Agueda celebrations tonight. Our female colleagues have made dinner reservation for a nice well rounded group of ladies basically ranging in age from 22-50's and we're hitting the town. Before dinner, we're starting the night out classy with a concert; pianist brother-sister duo notable for their classical piano renditions, Mozart, Beethoven, etc. A dinner break at El Pacha and from there... the night is ours. We can either cruise back across the bridge and catch a midnight drag show at the hotel by our house or head to the newly opened discoteca, Oxid, for a special ladies night. All we know is the elementary teachers want to go dancing. Done and done. Happy day, chicas!

5. I have a confession, and it's one I will have to shamefully admit to a class on Monday. You CAN use the present continuous to talk about future plans. Oops, sorry Adrian, you were right. Reasons I should be teaching Spanish grammar and not English.

6. I've been test driving one of my favorite Christmas presents ever. It's my soup bible. 1 stock, 100 soups. We've had to twist and personalize them a bit, especially because 2/3 of us in the house are vegetarians (for the time being, and hey, I feel great!) but so far, we've had no failures. Two weekends ago I was a bit under the weather and Sara bear mommy'd up on me and made a most delicious Tomato and White Bean soup. Last night, we took a different route... Squash & Lentil. I had to share the recipe, it was... Easy! and Jummy! Wintry and Hearty!

Onion, chopped. (calls for 2, I used 1.5)
Garlic. (calls for 2, I used probably 7)

Heat 3 tbsp of olive oil in a large pot and simmer Onions and Garlic until softened.

2 lbs or 1 kg of squash or pumpkin, cubed. (it's really however much you want/fits in the pot)
1/2 cup lentils. (I used dried lentils because they'll cook in the broth. but there's no need to go light on the lentils, so much iron!)

Add squash and lentils to pot, simmer for a few minutes. (5 maybe)
Add these spices to the pot, too: Cumin, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Ginger, Coriander.

Add vegetable broth, 7.5 cups (7 cups couldn't fit in the pot so it really doesn't matter, plus, less watery more squashy? Anyways, you can pre-make the broth or just put the water in and drop the vegetable bouillon)

Bring to boil, then reduce to medium heat. Let cook for 45 min - 1 hr.

Then the fun part: FOOD PROCESSOR!! We have a hand held one, so that's way easier than transferring to the processor and back again.

Lastly, salt, pepper and the one ingredient that will MAKE OR BREAK your soup, I swear: LEMON JUICE, fresh squeezed trumps, 1.5 - 2 lemons will serve.

Wouldn't hurt to add a dollop of plain Greek yogurt (healthier alternative to sour cream) for garnish!

Now, this is a way to enjoy winter. Warm hugs to everyone, XOXO

P.S. I tried to get a trim as I am finally accustomed to and happy with long hair... She chopped it off. Guess 4 fingers is more than I thought