Mussels with Chorizo sausage · Sunday February 18, 2007 by colin newell
This was the sunday meal served with a loaf of Italian bread and 3/4 of a bottle of Pinot Grigio. The mussels were from Thrifty Foods Victoria (via Prince Edward Island…)
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 medium onion, finely chopped
1 Chorizo sausage, finely chopped
1 to 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3/4 teaspoon chili flakes
1 cup white wine
2 lbs. fresh mussels, rinsed (see Note)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1 chopped roma tomato
Heat the oil in wide-bottomed pot set over medium-high heat. Add the onions and chorizo and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more. Add the wine and bring to a simmer. Add the mussels, cover, and cook just until they open. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, the chopped tomato and the fresh basil. Divide the mussels and cooking liquid among bowls and serve.
Note: Discard any mussels that do not close when tapped before cooking, or do not open after cooking. Both are signs the mussel was dead prior to cooking and should not be eaten.
Something with a nutty, coffee twist · Friday February 16, 2007 by colin newell
Disclaimer If you make these cookies do not take them anywhere outside of your home or kitchen. There are so many people that suffer from peanut allergies that it is just not worth the risk of harming someone.
That said – here is my take on the classic peanut butter cookie with a coffee twist. They are very good and the minute amount of instant coffee powder gives them a pleasant twist on the classic flavor.
In one big bowl add:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup peanut butter (any style) – I like smooth and organic
Cream the butter and peanut butter with electric blender. Make sure that the butter is VERY soft and at room temperature before you proceed.
Add 1/2 cup of demerera sugar – continue to blend
Add 1/2 cup of granulated sugar – continue to blend
Add one egg, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder (sub. instant coffee if necessary) – continue to blend
Gradually add 1 and 1/4 cups white flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon baking soda.
Mix by hand when cheap blender is about to explode.
Form into 1.5 tablespoon sized balls and place on parchment paper on ungreased pan.
Bake in 375 degree oven for about 10 – 12 minutes or until lightly brown at base of cookie.
Cool for 5-10 minutes then eat with black coffee.
Tech to the rescue · Friday February 2, 2007 by colin newell
I work as a technician at a local University. Sometimes I need to parachute into tense situations where technology has failed…
Yesterday I was sent me into a classroom (in session) with
specific instructions to cut into a cable
and replace the DC Plug with an Audio Plug.
Anyone with any electrical or electronics knowledge knows that cutting into anything live is usually a bad idea.
I advised my contact person that it was probably not a good idea
but I went anyway –
Off I went to a lecture in the Womens Studies faculty
...in full swing. Trust me. Facing 35 or 350 sets of eyes with the clear intention of solving a tech problem in less than 5 minutes is challenging at the best of time.
Sure enough, there was some kind of power cable on the top of the counter that I could not identify.
The room was near dark as the class was in progress
with the Video Data Projector on and about 3 or 4 people talking to a class of about 35 ladies.
As I fumbled around the a/v cabinet, I realised that this
cable on the counter top was indeed NOT an audio
cable. I had no idea what it was or what kind of voltage was waiting to bite my ass.
Annoyingly, every 2 minutes or so, someone in the group would
introject: WHEN the audio problem is solved, we
will continue with the AUDIO presentation…”
Within about 15 minutes I was able to find and isolate
the audio cable in question (it had been stuffed into the
tech cabinet and force plugged into the back of the DVD player
RCA input!) The class was back in business and I quietly excused myself to limit the interuption to the learning process.
I think in the future, under circumstances like these, I will put off these kind of re-wiring tasks til the classroom is illuminated and safely cleared out. It is just better for everyone. We used to do service to VDP’s while classes were in progress – but it is just too dangerous. The very thought of dropping a VDP 15 to 30 feet from the ceiling to the floor or onto the head of a student is just too much of a risk to take.
Anyway. I got the job done today.
Ironically, the classroom topic being discussed was
about how useless men are and how poorly they treat
women.
Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose.
Oh Damn, not another hobby... · Wednesday January 24, 2007 by colin newell
There aren’t too many Christmas gifts that make me light up like a…
well, you know.
My sister-in-law and brother-in-law bought me one of these for the holidays.
And I curse their names every hour of every day…
that I am playing with it.
I mean, if you know me, you know that I have one too many hobbies.
One too many.
This one actually takes the cake though. It looks simple enough but it demands 100% of your attention to keep it in the air and out of your hair.
The Micro-Mosquito coaxial helicopter is a lot of fun. There are online forums dedicated to the discussion and dissection of this toy.
Alas, I have almost moved on to this website
located in Canada no less.
I have my eye on a tricked out Nitro Raptor with a Futaba radio, tight damping and all metal swash-plate…
whatever the heck that is…
Gift givers – I curse your name!
