that thing with Feathers

Experiences of a 30-something wanderer, grad student, musician, womens health nurse and lover of all things green

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Calling my first Atlanta baseball experience a success!

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How I wish that every Sunday was #michelada day

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Oh ma gawd the ham... thanks be for @chipsjahoy and @tommyhaaanson for the most wonderful of NY Sunday brunches (at Momofuku Ssam Bar)

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The Hamilton Grange #itsquietuptown #mynybucketlist #3weekstoatlanta

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Such a good day! #mynybucketlist #3weekstoatlanta

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A post dinner stroll in Little Italy with @chipsjahoy ♡♡♡ #summatime #fresnofriends

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Thrilled to be celebrating #therevsruari2016 with these two inspiring and life-long friends from Oxy. In my heart. Always. (at Oliver Winery)

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My island

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This one got me through this year. #blessedbethegradschoolfriends #californiasgold

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Saturdays in the park #rittenhousesquare #phillyupretty

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Money Money Money

Anyone else feel like they operate from a perspective of personal frugality but still love to spend money? I’m itemizing each purchase for this past quarter, and realizing I should have been doing this for a long time already. My friend that was tied to Mint in college was absolutely on the right track. 

No time like the present to start on this! Anyone have a money tracker they swear by?

[science-junkie]

In 2010, the world used about 63,000 tons of antibiotics each year to raise cows, chickens and pigs. That’s roughly twice as much as the antibiotics prescribed by doctors globally to fight infections in people.

For The Love Of Pork (via science-junkie)

I don’t think this is a good thing...

[nursemuggie]

An Ode to the Chia Seed

Anyone else a newcomer to this little seed that becomes a delightfully gooey with some mixed crunch addition to water, juice, or *gasp* another novelty for me: kombucha?

I first had chia gel in a ridiculously overpriced but delicious smoothie at a juice cleansing bar on Melrose in Los Angeles: Glow Bio

http://www.myglowbio.com/

The idea of the smoothie (called something protein) was something like that by adding the "gel" that the protein-rich chia seeds create when soaked in water, their presence in my intestine would balance the water balance on the absorption side and the open space containing digested food, and prevent water loss into the gut space and keep you hydrated (as well as the countless minerals and nutrients this stuff purports to have). All I really know is this: the stuff is great after a jog/walk, during a power thru ER shift that last 11 hours without a meal break, or just to keep things moving on through as they should when you've been bad about your fiber intake.

It's been on my mind to buy some seeds of my own rather than the store brand beverages, which at $2.50 and more can add up (although one does last me several days), and so I found today that Bob's Red Mill sells a 1 pound variety. Of course they do. Bob's Red Mill grain products are reasonably priced as far as out of the ordinary products go, and the recipes included on the backs of their packages are always good.

Their chia description:

"Thousands of years ago, chia seed was a staple in the diets of ancient Mayans and Aztecs. The word chia is derived from the Mayan language, meaning "strength," and Aztec warriors relied on chia seed to boost energy and increase stamina. Today this tiny seed is a favorite of athletes, especially distance runners, who tout it as an endurance enhancing superfood. The mild, nutty flavor goes well with both sweet and savory dishes. Use chia seed in puddings and smoothies, sprinkle on top of porridge and salads, and add to baked goods in place of flaxseed meal or poppy seeds."

And thus, I will now attempt to make refrigerator-style Blueberry Chia Jam since I bought freshly picked berries at the new downtown farmers market and can't just eat all of them plain--though I've been trying. I'll report back soon.

And also coming soon, the amazing fresh apricot-ginger and almond topped muffins I created (if that's not a perfect SJ valley baked good, I don't know what is).

[nursemuggie]

The best laid plans o' mice and men gang aft agley. ~Robert Burns

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A home cooking weblog from a tiny kitchen in New York City. The place to find all of your new favorite things to cook.

[nursemuggie]

Woke up with a craving for pancakes this morning. I'm a pretty consistent fan of eggs and savory things for breakfast, but every once in awhile I crave sweet and carby breakfasts and I know to just go with it...or I'll end up at Denny's, regretting it. 

With the help of my favorite go-to recipe blog: Smitten Kitchen, at http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2011/06/blueberry-yogurt-multigrain-pancakes/, I crafted a batch of delicious pancakes without having to go to the grocery store. Made with plain yogurt instead of buttermilk, and with a kick of lemon zest and cornmeal, I was pretty pleased with these, and it was the first time in awhile that I hadn't burnt several of them to bits. I had to adjust the recipe because I didn't have the fancy grains it called for, but it turned out great with my unbleached King Arthur flour. I always add cornmeal to pancakes because to my grandmother: flapjacks weren't flapjacks unless they contained cornmeal for that crunch appeal. So I guess I make flapjacks, rather than true pancakes. And I love 'em.