Things that are not my dissertation -- the weekend edition

Here are but a few of the things I have done today that do not involve me doing my dissertation:

(1) woke up late (if 9 is considered late)
(2) got a long overdue oil change
(3) drove to a suburb to buy some stuff (eg., cat food from big box pet supply store)
(4) ate lunch
(5) made otsu for tomorrow's lunch (make this recipe. go, do it now! this blog will be here when you get back.)
(6) baked lemon coconut bundt cake from veganomicon
(7) popped open a schlitz ("just a kiss of the hops")
(8) wrote this silly blog entry

Okay, I can't procrastinate anymore. Although, the floors could use a good scrubbing...

I don't wanna work, I just wanna bang on these pots all day.

Seriously, y'all's. I have a problem.

All I want to do is cook. Breaded, Italian herb-crusted tofu. Tofu with lemon and capers. Baked tofu with soy and ginger. Brownies. Cookies. Pudding. Tomato sauce with fresh basil, chili flakes, and kalamata olives. Lemon garlic broccoli with chili flakes. Tofu omelettes. Vegan meatloaf. Mashed potatoes. Gravy! Potato enchiladas with green chili sauce. Lasagna with tofu/spinach mousse. Spaghetti sandwiches. Lemon bars. Custard-y fruit tarts. Coconut cake with lemon curd. Pot pie. Mujadarreh. Split pea soup. Kale-lentil stew. Bread. I want to use my new pots and pans, my tiny baby whisk, my mini muffin tins. I wake up at night with recipes in my noggin. Too many to write down.

Instead, I think I'll work on my results section. Guess where my heart is(n't).

Foodie Dreams

Why am I doing a PhD? Pre-grad school, I had decided I'd try opening a vegan restaurant if I didn't get it. I got in, and I've gradually become more aware of really wanting to open a place where I can serve food to people. It makes me happy. Maybe post-doctoral career?

The goal: vegan lunch counter complete with blue-plate specials (I'm a southerner, for crying out loud) that makes a foray into fancy schmancy in the evenings. Everything would all be from scratch, including the bready things and desserts.

What would you want to be on the menu?

What I Did During My Bronchitis-Themed Staycation

Tuesday: Doc-in-a-box says, "Girl, you sick!"



Wednesday: Sleep. Take Drugs. Sleep. Sleep. Drug. Sleep. Does anyone else get hot-face when they take Prednisone? It's ooky.

Thursday: See Wednesday. Bake 4 loaves of bread (3 edible ones), motivation unknown...



Friday: Begin to feel stir-crazy. Not better, just stir-crazy. Make ill-advised late morning trip to 'burbs to stake out stainless steel cookwear. Go home empty-handed. Return to mall on Friday night to enjoy teenagers ogling each other. Adorable, actually.

Be in right place at right time to tell young lady (25?) that her tiny dress has inched up to her waist on one side, baring her unclad cheek to all. I think I was the only one to notice. She was appropriately horrified.

Return home with Emeril's 10-piece set. I can't stand the man, but All-Clad's done good with this one.



Also, snuck in a Martha cookie dough scoop. Can't wait to use it! Because I'm a dork!



Ate perfectly spicy kung pao tofu. Smoky peppers = amazing. Do you eat them? Or am I the only one?



Watched Ghost Whisperer. See "dork" comment.

Not bad, huh?

What's your week been like?