treefroggirl

posted by Thomas on Sep 28

Stuffed UFO Squash and Salad

Originally uploaded by treefrog girl.

I decided to be terribly middle class and order some organic fruit and veg from a company that sources everything from UK farmers.
In the veg box were these cute little squashes with scalloped edges that after a bit of research I discovered they are aptly called UFO or Patty Pan squash.

I decided to bake and stuff them for dinner and I was really happy with the result. Was really tasty and the squash have a delicate flavor.

Even though the skin was thin and was tender enough to eat, I couldn’t scrub the dirt out completely so I skinned them with a veggie peeler.

Next time I make this I think I will add goat cheese and or sundried tomatoes.

This isn’t a really scientific recipe I’m afraid. When I cook something without a cookbook I usually throw in a bit of this and that and go by instinct… but this is a cakewalk. It’s just sautéing veggies really- not too much and not too little… adding each layer so it builds the flavor.

UFO squash
Onion
Garlic
Celery
Mushrooms
Zucchini
Roasted red pepper
1 Chicken breast – I used leftover meat from the roast chicken I made the night before
olive oil
white wine
tarragon
red pepper flakes
salt and black pepper

Cut squash in half and scoop out seeds. Rub all over with olive oil and salt lightly.

Bake 10 minutes in a preheated 200 C oven. Keep eye on them so they don’t collapse.

Sauté ½ minced onion and 2 garlic cloves until translucent.
Add 1 minced celery stalk… sauté some more on medium low heat. Add 1 diced zucchini… cook some more (can you tell this isn’t a really technical recipe?)
Add 5 minced mushrooms and a splash of white wine.
Add tarragon, Salt, pepper and red pepper flakes to taste.
Simmer until all liquid is gone.
Add 1 minced roasted red pepper and minced cooked chicken breast. Taste for spice…
Stuff squash and bake for aprox 10-15 minutes…

I had a ton extra stuffing mixture left over because I only had 2 squashes. Guessing this is enough to stuff 4-6 (maybe more).

posted by Thomas on Sep 24

“Thomas. You heard about the new Liam Neeson movie?”

“I saw the one sheet in the tube.”

“It looks good.”

“What’s it about?”

“You know I don’t read reviews.”

“You don’t have to read reviews to find out what it’s about.”

“That’s what one sheets are for.”

“So you just go see a movie if the one sheet is cool.”

“Yes. They say that it’s the best film since The Bourne Ultimatum.”

“Who says?”

“The poster. . .Why are you laughing?”

posted by Thomas on Sep 22

I’m crying. I’m doing the dishes and I’m crying. Stuart had been in a bit of a mood because I had hung my coat on a back of a chair when I came home from yoga and hadn’t managed to magically do the dishes before I consumed my dinner.

My crying instead of getting angry has been good for one thing because it has taken the wind out of his sails and what normally be an out and out row to the death has resulted in him trying to make me feel better.

“It’s like you’re looking for reasons to hate me,” I wailed.

“No I’m not. I’ve always had those reasons.”

I burst out laughing.

“What. Why are you laughing.”

I laugh harder.

“Are you having some sort of breakdown?”

posted by Thomas on Sep 22

Slept 4 hours or so on the plane. Landed at noon. Napped from 3:30 to 6:30 Bed at 10. Awake at one. (Poor Stu was getting up to sleep on the sofa because I was snoring. We had a 30 second, I’ll go, No, I’ll go discussion which I won.) I took an Advil PM and am drinking chamomile tea whilst on the Internets looking for the meaning of life or a good diet. Rather glad I am working from home tomorrow. I mean today. Later. When that big glowy warm ball thing is in the sky.

posted by Thomas on Sep 19

Saw the first ad at the company meeting yesterday and I immediatly twittered: “I’m a PC ads kick ass.”

I say that as someone that goes both ways.

I mean, I use a Mac as well… what did you think I meant?

They’re wonderful ads- and if what I saw yesterday of the goodies coming up in software is any indication, there are some amazing things afoot. I may need to buy myself a VAIO for home…

I’m a PC: Ad One

Pride – I'm a PC

I’m a PC: Ad Deux

I'm a PC 2

I’m a PC: Ad the Third

I'm a PC 3

posted by Thomas on Sep 14

Not sure if this clip of Tina Fey as Sarah Palin and Amy Poehler as Hilary Clinton will play outside the US… NBC has forced it off of you tube… so I have included the NBC transcript below.

FEY AS PALIN: “Good evening, my fellow Americans. I was so excited when I was told Senator Clinton and I would be addressing you tonight.”

POEHLER AS CLINTON: “And I was told I would be addressing you alone.”

FEY AS PALIN: “Now I know it must be a little bit strange for all of you to see the two of us together. What with me being John McCain’s running mate.”

POEHLER AS CLINTON: “And me being a fervent supporter of Senator Barack Obama — as evidenced by this button.”

FEY AS PALIN: “But tonight we are crossing party lines to address the now very ugly role that sexism is playing in the campaign.”

POEHLER AS CLINTON: “An issue which I am frankly surprised to hear people suddenly care about.”

FEY AS PALIN: “You know, Hillary and I don’t agree on everything…”

POEHLER AS CLINTON: (OVERLAPPING) “Anything. I believe that diplomacy should be the cornerstone of any foreign policy.”

FEY AS PALIN: “And I can see Russia from my house.”

POEHLER AS CLINTON: “I believe global warming is caused by man.”

FEY AS PALIN: “And I believe it’s just God hugging us closer.”

POEHLER AS CLINTON: “I don’t agree with the Bush Doctrine.”

FEY AS PALIN: “I don’t know what that is.”

POEHLER AS CLINTON: “But Sarah, one thing we can agree on is that sexism can never be allowed to permeate an American election.”

FEY AS PALIN: “So please, stop photoshopping my head on sexy bikini pictures.”

POEHLER AS CLINTON: “And stop saying I have cankles.”

FEY AS PALIN: “Don’t refer to me as a ‘MILF.’”

POEHLER AS CLINTON: “And don’t refer to me as a [flurge]. I Googled what it stands for and I do not like it.”

FEY AS PALIN: “So we ask reporters and commentators, stop using words that diminish us, like ‘pretty,’ ‘attractive,’ ‘beautiful.’”

POEHLER AS CLINTON: “‘Harpy,’ ’shrew’ and ‘boner shrinker.’”

FEY AS PALIN: “While our politics may differ, my friend and I are both very tough ladies. You know it reminds me of a joke we tell in Alaska…”What’s the difference…

POEHLER AS CLINTON: “Lipstick.”

FEY AS PALIN: “…between a hockey mom…”

POEHLER AS CLINTON: “Lipstick.”

FEY AS PALIN: “…and a pitbull?”

POEHLER AS CLINTON: “Lipstick.”

FEY AS PALIN(AFTER A BEAT): “Lipstick. Just look at how far we’ve come. Hillary Clinton, who came so close to the White House. And me, Sarah Palin, who is even closer. Can you believe it, Hillary?”

POEHLER AS CLINTON: (AFTER A PAUSE)”I can not.”

FEY AS PALIN: “It’s truly amazing and I think women everywhere can agree, that no matter your politics, it’s time for a woman to make it to the White House.”

POEHLER AS CLINTON: “No. Mine! It’s supposed to be mine! I need to say something. I didn’t want a woman to be President. I wanted to be President and I just happen to be a woman. And I don’t want to hear you compare your road to the White House to my road to the White House. I scratched and clawed through mud and barbed wire and you just glided in on a dog sled wearing your pageant sash and your Tina Fey glasses.”

FEY AS PALIN: “What an amazing time we live in. To think that just two years ago, I was a small town mayor of Alaska’s crystal meth capitol. And now I am just one heartbeat away from being President of the United States. It just goes to show that anyone can be President.”

POEHLER AS CLINTON: “Anyone.”

FEY AS PALIN: “All you have to do is want it.”

POEHLER AS CLINTON: (LAUGHS) “Yeah, you know, Sarah, looking back, if I could change one thing, I should have wanted it more.” (RIPS OFF PIECE OF PODIUM)

FEY AS PALIN: “So in the next six weeks, I invite the media to be vigilant for sexist behavior.”

POEHLER AS CLINTON: “Although it is never sexist to question female politicians credentials. Please ask this one about dinosaurs. So I invite the media to grow a pair. And if you can’t, I will lend you mine.”

FEY AS PALIN: And as we say in Alaska…

POEHLER AS CLINTON: “We say it everywhere…”

FEY/POEHLER: “Live from New York, It’s Saturday Night!!!

posted by Thomas on Sep 12

I’m putting together a Call Excellence Workshop and I thought it might be fun to break the ice with a clip from The Fonejacker. Been looking at a few of the clips looking for one that won’t be an HR violation.

 I won’t be sharing this one…

Best lines: “I just installed the world wide thingamgigy.” and ”That’s a bit special.” and “He’s spanking her now.”

posted by Thomas on Sep 11

Classic Fonejacker

posted by Thomas on Sep 10

I had told Kelli about 37 days, a blog I love and knew she would dig it too. The author Patti Digh has written a book called “Life is a Verb” and through one of the rare times the stars are alligned is doing a reading in the U District in Seattle tonight. I say the stars are alligned because I will be in Seattle tonight.

Going to be lagged as all hell, but I don’t care. Chance to hang out with Kelli and to go to a book reading of an inspiring writer, speaker and coach.

posted by Thomas on Sep 10

Putting on my rings, one of them was a touch tight.

“I think I’m retaining water.”

“What do you mean you’re retaining water,” Stuart said. “Does that mean I can squeeze you?”