Thursday, January 29, 2009

Like Peas and Carrots

Forrest Gump said that he and JeNAAiii were like peas and carrots.

That's what I was thinking about this morning, while I was driving to work. I was eating a peanut butter and banana sandwich (totally not hands-free driving), listening to my audio book (Barack Obama's Audacity of Hope - highly recommended, but Dreams of My Father is even more recommended), and while I was paying attention to Barack Obama's take on how to fix the economy, I got distracted by the wonderfulness of the combination of peanut butter and banana. I've been eating this sandwich for breakfast for about a year now. I don't know if the banana was just better this morning, or I had gotten the ratio of the PB and B just right, but it was so delicious today, and it got me thinking about pairing of food. Hence, it got me thinking about the Peas and Carrots reference. It also reminded me of the enthusiasm my 60+ year old Executive Director from work showed, when he was telling me about the greatness of Yogurtland fro-yo with red beans. "It's like hot dogs and mustard!"

The American in me puts peanut butter and banana in at least the top 5 of food combinations, but here are some others that are Western and wonderful pairings:
- potato and ketchup
- potato and cheese
- cheese with fruit perserves ( like membrillo and cheese.... oh.. HEAVEN!)
- pineapple and pizza
- guacamole and mango
I think I just like fruits with salty things. I go through 2 jars of peach salsa each week. I'm going to die from hypertension.

When I get in touch with my Japanese side, I think about these:
- eggplant and miso
- eggplant and miso and RICE ( I'm going to exclude rice from now on, because, we all know it goes with everything. Apparently, it's even good for dessert. I don't like rice pudding, though)
- pasta and ketchup ( You are truly Japanese if you get me on this.)
- Japanese mayo and roe (masago) ( I don't like mayo, and seldom use it, but I make exceptions about the MSG-laden Kewpie mayo.)
- Red bean and kinako (soy flour)

Tell me your favorite food combinations!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

I feel validated!

This is basically what I've been eating for lunch for the past 3 months, because of it's labor-less cooking process.  Except, instead of soy sauce and scallions, I would top it with some sort of tomato-stew-with-black beans-and-some-kind-of-leafy-green  thing and giant dollop of greek yogurt (which is SO much better than sour cream, in my opinion).  

Now that I know Mark Bittman does something similar, I know I can laugh at everyone (namely my sister) who looks at what I eat, and say "What is that?" 

HA! 

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Inaugural Post

I've been away for a little bit from this blog, because I was actually focusing on writing in my journal a lot more.

But, what more appropriate to write the first post of the year, than the inaugural day of this new administration?

I'd like to start this year with a letter to special people in my life, who I have shared special moments during this entire presidential election. I feel like I connected with a lot of people, so I'd like to address them right now.


To my brother and sister:

This is the second election where we were all able to vote together, but it's arguably the first where we all knew exactly what was happening. Louie, it was good to trade funny and ridiculous links, as well as thoughtful conversations about what it meant to be hopeful ( a word that is sadly becoming trite and cliched, but it's what describes what we were all thinking). Mickie, it was good to talk about state propositions and marching with you on behalf of all of our rights, as well as watching the returns with you in your room. Oh, and yes, thank you for allowing me to actually vote.
I feel like we lived through history this past year, and we will be able to tell our offspring (if we have any - oh God, that's a scary thought) about these days that we spent together.

To my roommate, Peter:

We talked and talked and talked about Proposition 8, and we marched, and we posted signs in our Mormon apartment. We laughed about it, we were enraged about it, but most of all, we were together about it. Although we lost this time around, this election was an affirmation for me about how we are mentally and intellectually in tune with each other. I

To my co-workers:

I'm still convinced that there are hidden McCain supporters who could not come out during the election, for which I feel badly. But, watching some of you pick up your things and go to Vegas to campaign, organize phone banks, tell your children how to say "Obama", and generally seeing your passion for this election made me so sure that I was working in the right place. We've had countless late night conversations, and I'll cherish that memory forever. It was an honor to be with you all this morning, eating our red,white, and blue food, while we watched President Barack Obama swear into office.

The worst is still ahead of us, and I leave with a quote from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. :
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

YAY!