What I'm Thankful for This Year

Tofurkey.

My recent stab at veganism prevented me this year from having my traditional Thanksgiving salmon. When my mom asked me what I wanted instead, I started thinking about recipes involving things like seitan and whole wheat panko and other things that are probably a lot harder to find in Lacrosse, WI than they are in Brooklyn. Then I remembered the Tofurkey. Tofurkey is something I've often made fun of in my mind and thought I would never be feasting on one myself. I mean, come on, does the word Tofurkey sound like something you really want to eat? Also, I'd never actually seen one and kind of assumed it was tofu pressed into the shape of a small turkey. I should definitely know better considering I eat Gardenburger "ribs" on a regular basis and know that those are good among most other meat substitutes I've tried. I think I was just stuck on the name. I thought since I came to accept and enjoy Tofurkey this Thanksgiving, I would share my Tofurkey with you all too.

Here's what it looks like out of the box:



Ok, I admit it may not look tasty at this point. However, as I learned, an integral part of the Tofurkey preparation is a kind of baste made of oil and sage and other yummy spices.










Here's my Tofurkey all snug in it's casserole dish ready to go in the oven.










All done! Now doesn't that look yummy?! Check out the stuffing in the middle!







Here you'll notice how the Tofurkey, now covered in mushroom gravy, compliments the traditional (and vegan) Thanksgiving meal. Mmmm....








All gone! It really did taste good. AND the mushroom gravy recipe I used came printed on the side of the box and was most excellent. I hope you all have gained a new appreciation for the Tofurkey as I have. Really, it's all about understanding.

Things I've Learned from the City

1) If you're wearing stilettos DO NOT walk across subway grates.
2) Always have a book to read on the subway.
3) It's best not to get attached to certain stores or restaurants, but better to appreciate the constant change that makes the city alive.
4) Always buy tickets to shows early. You're competing with way more people here.
5) It's completely possible to feel completely alone in the middle of a crowd.
6) Never stop in the middle of the sidewalk or on the subway stairs.
7) The longer you're here the more annoying it is when someone stops in the middle of the sidewalk or on the subway stairs.
8) Don't take the rudeness seriously. Plus, if you don't it's hilarious.
9) Just because it's an express train, it doesn't mean you're going to get to your destination quicker.
10) Never feel self conscious because you're in New York and these people have seen plenty of weird stuff.

Keeping Kosher

As most of you may know, my internship this year is at a medical center. A Jewish medical center to be exact. These days East Flatbush, Brooklyn is certainly not a Jewish neighborhood anymore, but the Jewish origins of the hospital can still be felt. There is a Rabbi's office, and kosher options in the cafeteria. My favorite though, is a kosher vending machine I just noticed a few days ago. Upon noticing it, I immediately became fascinated by this vending machine that was like no vending machine I've ever seen. (And I've been to Japan!)

What makes this vending machine special is not just the fact that it's kosher, it's the selection! What do you do when you're craving potato knishes? The kosher vending machine! Cheese pizza? Kosher vending machine! Onion rings? Kosher vending machine!

Ok, you're probably getting the idea. But I mean, the food is not only kosher, but completely junk food! I mean, what would you really expect from a vending machine, but it just seems extra special gross that the food will somehow be heated up by the machine before it's dispensed into your waiting hands. I just really like imagining though that there's some kind of system that will dispense and microwave your food for you. Food that's been sitting for who knows how long in a vending machine.

So yeah, anyone wanna split some onion rings or mozerella sticks? I hear it's kosher!

Picking up Strays

First of all, I promised I tried to update again from time to time now that I've left you all for the city that never sleeps. So, I'm doing my best. See, look! I'm posting!

Wandering around my neighborhood I often see things left on the curb calling out 'Hey! Take me home with you! I'm free.... and you're a starving grad student... you know you want to.' These things range from clothes, to books, to furniture, and even mini-Christmas trees. Generally, though, I resist the temptation. Anyone who helped me move knows that I already have plenty of material possessions to fill my apartment so there's really no need to add to the clutter. This past Sunday, I finally gave in. On my way to go meet friends for dinner (and eat AMAZING asparagus tempura sushi) I noticed this sad little wooden blue chair with a woven seat. I know the description doesn't sound impressive, but I said to myself 'If that's still there on my way home, I'm picking it up.'

So an hour or two later, filled with sushi and sake I make sure to take the same street home, and there it is. My little stray blue chair. I veer over to it's side of the sidewalk and snatch it up without even slowing my pace. It may have looked strange to the guy passing by on his bicycle, but in New York City you don't have to worry too much about looking strange. I got my new pet safely up to the fourth floor, and here it is sitting proudly in my room:


Ok, yeah I see that the seat is kinda busted. But! I have a plan. Just picture a new seat woven out of neckties. Yeah, you like that, huh? I really think it will look great when I get done with it, and then you'll all want to come visit if only to see the finished chair. Plus, stray furniture is easier to care for than stray pets and it can give me a creative outlet. I'll just have to start putting my other stuff on the curb to make room for my finds :-)

P.S. Nicole- I finished putting the mirror in the window frame. yay!

Wear Old Clothes and Bring a Towel

I'm thoroughly convinced that the most exciting things happen without planning. Last Friday afternoon I wasn't sure what I was going to do to celebrate the start of the weekend. Then right before the end of my work day I get a wonderful call from Nicole. "My friend Peter is planning something. He said to wear old clothes and you should probably bring a towel. Do you wanna come?" Of course I wanted to come. What was going to happen exactly was a secret, but fun was promised. I met up with Nicole and we drove to a house in Cary. We were met by the organizers who said that something exciting was going to happen once more people arrived. We waited anxiously as more cars showed up, and then a drum starting beating in the distance. Peter and his friends came from behind the building ready to anoint our faces with war paint. Here's what Nicole, Sandra, and I looked like post war paint ceremony:


Then it was time to follow the guys down to 'the site'. We got in the car and parked at a library surrounded by new development. Wtf? We crossed the street and walked over to a hill to discover what the guys had been planning for the evening. On the hill was the longest strip of plastic I've ever seen with a kiddie pool at the bottom filled with water, flour, and krispy kream donuts. The plastic was greased down with cooking oil to aid the adult slip and slide and we were provided garbage bags to protect us, somewhat. They had dubbed the event 'sleuging'. The hill was incredibly muddy from the rain that day, and the slip and slide didn't actually work particularly well, but Nicole and I discovered that rolling worked just fine :-) Also, at one point a donut fight ensued. Basically, it was a night of muddy muddy chaos and fun. Here's some after shots:




So the moral of the story is, if some one calls you and invites you to a secret event that requires wearing old clothes, you should probably do it.