Thai, Occupy, Frank

I feel like running. 

RIGHT NOW 

but it's quarter to twelve, and I have to work tomorrow. 

I'm afraid if I run now I won't sleep at all tonight. 

I'm one of those weird people that the more energy I burn, the longer I stay awake. 

Figure that one out. 

Tonight we went out to my favorite Thai restaurant (we can only go there when we have a babysitter because it's not really kid friendly), got some coffee and took a stroll downtown to look at the Occupy Seattle crowd. I really need to invest in a nice point and shoot camera for the times I don't feel like, or am not comfortable, lugging my DSLR around. Just something about carrying an $800 camera around after dark makes me uneasy.

Over dinner we talked about things we'd like to do, and decided that over the summer if we can get the little man in a summer camp program that we'll take up bouldering at the local bouldering gym (hear that Jim?) Pretty excited to get a chance to give that a try - just hard to do with the tight schedule we have.

There had been a march yesterday which saw the movement spread into the thousands. They marched form the park they have been occupying to the famous pike place market, sitting down in one of the roads closing it for around 10 minutes. There's been some arrests - but all of it has been respectful and peaceful - protestors even thanking the police for doing their job respectfully.  The park is supposed to close at 10 pm - but they have only been arresting people who refuse to take down tents/shelters.

Where they are gathered, or 'occupying' is in an open area smack dab in the shopping district of downtown - across from the mall. Today there was tons of tents (I think I read about the night of 500 tents to take place yesterday evening...) When we went by it was still fairly early in the night but there was at least one news stations, a big police van/bus and at least 5 cop cars. Interested to see what happened with all of that tonight - so far nothing on the news websites about anyone else getting arrested.

Afterwards we headed back up to Neumos to see Frank Turner. As a side note, Neumos is a great venue, but to tell you the truth Seattle has tons of awesome, small venues. There was a few bands playing before him, we managed to miss the first one and the second one, while not bad, seemed to go on forever. We were only able to stay for about half of Franks show, but it was good and fun none-the-less.

Not bad for a GO phone cell pic eh?

During the opening act (that we caught) there was a bunch of kids (guessing high school) moshing. Which is funny - because this is sort of folk punk music. The band stopped to tell them during the set - it wasn't Pantera or anything, chill out.

When Frank came on the guitarist that was playing as part of the band looked drunk or drugged out of his mind, or maybe he was just suffering from heat stroke and dehydration from the amount of sweat pouring off him. All I could think was damn, these guys must be really well hydrated.. and the fact that the people way up front must be getting spit on.

But! it was a good time, glad we went, and need to figure out a way to do it more often.

By the way, if you don't use Pandora, you should.

Chicken Noodle Soup

I decided to make some chicken noodle soup.

I had some chicken broth that I made previously in the freezer and had left over celery, carrots and chicken from an event at work.

I highly highly recommend making your own chicken broth. It tastes so much better than the soy-protein-and-whatever-the-hell-else-is-in-that-stuff you can buy at the store. Not only that, but it's better for you too.

"Science validates what our grandmothers knew. Rich homemade chicken broths help cure colds. Stock contains minerals in a form the body can absorb easily - not just calcium but also magnesium, phosphorus, silicon, sulphur, and trace minerals. It contains the broken down material from cartilage and tendons - stuff like chondroitin sulphates and glucosamine, now sold as expensive supplements for arthritis and joint pain"

If you'd like to read the rest, it can be found at this site - Broth Is Beautiful.

It's easy to make - and can be made as a byproduct of a different meal - and it tastes better.

Here's one for you 

Step 1 -

Take whole chicken you bought from the store take the giblets out of the center, put all of it in a crock pot (including the giblets).

Step 2 - Sprinkle whatever seasonings you'd like on top (salt, pepper, garlic, coriander, paprika .. whatever.) If you feel like it, you can add onions, celery, carrots and such. 

Step 3 - Place lid on crock pot and set to low. (don't have a crock pot? I got mine at goodwill for around $5)

**Note** that I did not add any water. No need to. 

Step 4 - Go live your life. I usually get this set up before bed and just let it cook until dinner the next day. 5 or more hours should be enough though. 

Step 5- Take out chicken, which is probably falling off the bones and separate the meat from the bones (it's on to not get every last bit of meat, it will still go to use) 

We usually get enough meat off the chicken for at least two meals. This of course will depend on the size of your chicken, appetite, how many people you're feeding and what else you make with it.

Now you can take some of the liquid sitting in your crock pot and make a quick gravy with it if you'd like. Otherwise move to step 6.

Step 6- Put all your bones back in the crock pot. 

Step 7 - Add 4 or 5 cups of water, or you know, however much you feel like. 

Step 8 - You'll probably want to add a little more salt, maybe some dried herbs. If you haven't added celery and carrots and onions, do it now, or don't. It's your stock, put whatever you feel like in it. They will add extra nutrients and flavors to your broth.

Step 9 - Let it cook for another day.

Step 10 - Strain into a bowl

Step 11- Cover bowl with plastic wrap and place in fridge. 

The fat will congeal to the top and you'll be able to easily remove it once cold.

Step 12- Remove fat congealed at the top

Now you have options. You can either use it now, or save for later. 

To save for later pour into ziplock freezer bags and lay flat in your freezer. Once it's frozen you can stand them up to take less space **once you make chicken noodle soup you can store it the same way** 

Now to make soup. 

What you'll need

Chicken broth (check)

Chicken (this could be left over chicken from when you cooked the whole chicken, or you can just buy some chicken breasts and cook them. I usually buy frozen chicken breasts and cook them directly from the frozen state. 350 degrees for usually around 30-40 minutes, or until the reach a temperature of 165 degrees.) 

Celery

Carrots 

Onion

Garlic

Egg noodles

Butter or Oil or both

Italian Seasoning

You'll notice I didn't put quantities because frankly it doesn't matter. It's your soup, make it how you like it.

Step 1 - Cut up your Celery, carrots, onion, garlic.

Step 2 - Put your chicken stock in a pot to start heating it up. Throw some italian seasoning in there for good measure. Not too much. 

 I didn't have enough chicken stock for my soup today so I did add a little better than bouillon - organic (I use this kind because it doesn't have any vegetable protein in it.) If you need to, go for it! It won't take away any of the positive aspects of the homemade chicken stock you added.

Step 3- Put a little bit of oil or butter ( I use both, butter first) and add your garlic. Cook this for a little bit and then add your onions (I usually add a tiny bit of oil here). Cook until the onions begin to turn translucent. You'll want to continue to stir this. 

Step 4 - Add to your pot 

Step 5 - Add your carrots and celery to the pan you just removed the onions and garlic from.. add a little butter. Cook these until there slightly tender - Add to pot. 

Step 6 - Add water to the same pan you cooked your veggies in. When water begins to boil, add some egg noodles. Cook until done. Strain. Add to soup.

Step 7 - Season to taste.

This is 6 POUNDS of chicken noodle soup

Let it cool down a little, and taste again. The most common thing needed is salt. Add slowly - you can always add more but you can't take it away.

Enjoy

If you want to make it look pretty, buy some fresh parsley, chop up finely and sprinkle on top.

To save for later pour into ziplock freezer bags and lay flat in your freezer. Once it's frozen you can stand them up to take less space.

Just Some Random Days

I've been a slacking a bit on my posting. Lets see what have we been up to.

We went berry picking - our seasons are all out of whack because of the cold weather we've been experiences. We got our Raspberries from Biringer Farm -they just came into season about a week ago. We picked our Blueberries a few weeks ago at Bill Pace Fruit and Produce . We'll probably go back to the blueberry fields before the seasons over to stock up a bit, but we went a little overboard with the raspberries and ended up picking 12 lbs. Opps!

This was the result of our berry picking adventure. He enjoyed himself.

This is what his hair always looks like.. it's uncontrollable.

We also went down to visit my in laws who live down by Portland and went to the county fair. Lots of cows, chickens, llamas and the like and a bunch of a cool old firetrucks.

I have a soft spot for llamas. They're so goofy.

 They also had a live pony merry-go-round. Surprisingly he liked it more than the fake kind. He's usually busy trying to grab back onto one of us as soon as it gets going.

We took a walk downtown. I'll have to write about Pike Place Market and how there's so much more to it than the fish throwing that everyone sees. Pike Place is huge and includes several levels and alleys.

Silver man repainting his glasses...

Almost forgot to add - I'm now up to running 2 miles at a go.. and the other day I ran a mile in the morning and another 2 in the evening. Baby steps, baby steps.