How does that injustice taste? February 14, 2011

It’s Valentine’s Day everybody!

It’s the over commercialized, misunderstood, over-romanticized celebration of being in love. For those in a relationship it means chocolate, flowers and a mid-week date night. For the singles it means sitting at home gorging yourself on the candy your mom sent you, watching shitty TV and masturbating.

I tend to take a softer nose on Valentine’s Day and try to release some of the cynical tension that I carry around the rest of the year. It seems as though there is enough negativity and self-loathing from others that I can take the day off. Unfortunately, there is a dark side to this most lovey-dovey of holidays, and that is human trafficking and child slavery.

It is estimated that Americans consume 3.1 billion pounds of chocolate annually, and about one eighth of that is consumed on this day alone. Most of that chocolate is made by multinational companies such as Nestle which buy cocoa on the commodities markets. Cocoa coming from all over the world gets mixed together, making it impossible to source the particular order of cocoa being purchased. Anti Slavery International says, “Because of the way the chocolate industry buys its cocoa it is not possible to ensure that slave or other forms of illegal exploitation have not been used in its production.”

Ivory Coast, the largest cocoa-producing nation, is estimated to supply roughly 50 percent of the world’s cocoa, and as much as 90 percent of which is contaminated by slave labor, according to Slavery, a documentary produced by the BBC. The International Labor Organization (ILO) and US State Department have reported widespread instances of child slavery in the Ivory Coast as well as the international chocolate industry. Exploitation of cocoa farmers and farm workers is the norm in the chocolate industry. Companies that buy cocoa from Ivory Coast support child trafficking and bonded slavery for millions of people.

In 2002, the Cocoa Protocol was signed by the World Cocoa Foundation and Chocolate Manufacturers Association which set date-specific goals on human trafficking and slavery regulations. The agreement was originally hailed a success, but due to lack of follow-through and lenient enforcements, some of the worst farms have been allowed to continue forced labor practices.

There is a saving grace out there for all of you choco-holics. It comes in the form of Free Trade. What is free trade, you ask? Free trade is a label put on chocolate that is sourced at small farms where the farmer received a fair price for their cocoa, the workers are treated fairly and stewardship of the land is considered. Free trade products range from coffee and chocolate to cotton and flowers.

Sales of free trade products have steadily risen annually since 2000, by anywhere from 40 to 90 percent. Although some form of fair trade has been around since the mid-1960s, the Fair Trade Labeling Organizations International (FLO) launched the Fair Trade labeling initiative in 2002. This iconic insignia has helped to increase sales and overall consumer awareness drastically.

So remember, if you are feeling the need to indulge this Valentine’s Day do it with a sense of social conscience.

Getting caught up January 28, 2011

I know it’s been a long while since I’ve written and so much has happened in that time.  I don’t even know where to begin.  The bottom line, I guess, is that things are going well.

A view of the San Francisco Bay, from the Marin Headlands

I went home for the holidays, and spent 11 amazing days in California. While I was home I saw old friends, got too drunk, made mistakes, made new friends, enjoyed the glorious sunshine and even made it to Chico for one night.  Even though I had been back in November, it was great to see people and be in a familiar environment again.

Upon my return, I moved (yet again) into an awesome new house! I’ve got three sweet roommates and three dogs to come home to! We have quite the menagerie at the new place with the dogs, two ferrets and my bunny Hendrix.  It’s kind of insane but seems to be a good fit. It’s comfortable and friendly; what more could a girl ask for?

One of the best things about my new house is the kitchen! The newly remodeled, fully-stocked kitchen is such a pleasure to cook in! I have been making many tasty treats, and I will be sure to share the recipes!

As a matter of fact, I think I’ll start now.  The following recipe is an original, and it’s vegetarian of course.  It is one that was changed at the last minute due to my inability to read a shopping list.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

Mushroom, Spinach and Red Pepper Quiche Cups

Mushroom, spinach and red pepper quiche cups

Cooking spray
1 tablespoon olive oil
10 ounces white mushrooms, coarsely chopped
1 small shallot, thinly sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups baby spinach
Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
4 large eggs
4 egg large whites
1/4 cup skim milk
1/3 cup (1 1/2 ounces) grated Fontina cheese
1 package prepared pie crust

 

 

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly coat a 12-cup nonstick muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.

 

In a skillet, heat oil and add the mushrooms, shallot, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook until shallots are soft and the mushrooms are dry and lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the baby spinach and nutmeg until the spinach is just wilted, but still bright green, 2 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.

 

Unroll one pie crust at a time on a floured cutting board.  Cut each round crust into about 6 fairly-even square pieces. Place each piece of crust into a muffin tin. When the pan is full, bake pie crust for 5 minutes.  Remove from oven and set aside.

 

Meanwhile, whisk the eggs, egg whites, milk, and salt and pepper until well combined. Stir in the cheese. Divide the egg mixture evenly between the muffin tins, filling them about halfway. Top evenly with the mushroom and spinach mixture.

 

Bake until the quiches are well risen, golden brown and set, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in the pan 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature with a side salad.

Butterbeer Cupcakes :) December 7, 2010

I must admit, I have never been a big fan of Harry Potter.  I realize this next fact will make me somewhat of a social anomaly, but until recently I had never even seen a HP film in its entirety.

In the last few weeks I have made an effort to watch the series and I have now seen the first four films, and the seventh. Regardless of my ignorance of the series, I came across this recipe on a food blog I read, amyBITES.  After trying Butterbeer at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Orlando, the blogger developed a recipe for cupcakes that mimicked the drink fabled in the Harry Potter series.  They looked SO good in her post, I just had to try them!

Image courtesy of amyBITES

I am usually not very interested in baking, preferring rather to cook savory soups and casseroles, but these cupcakes are truly divine.  I forwarded the recipe to a friend who has an affinity for baking, and she made them too.  It was agreed that they are the best cupcakes either of us has ever made.

With that being said, I hope that you will enjoy them as much as we did.

Butterbeer Cupcakes

For the cupcakes:
2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
3 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon butter flavoring
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup cream soda

My Butterbeer cupcakes: not as pretty, but just as good.

For the ganache:
1 11-oz. package butterscotch chips
1 cup heavy cream
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For the buttercream frosting:

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup butterscotch ganache
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon butter flavoring
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 16-oz. package powdered sugar
Splash of milk or cream (as needed)
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For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line cupcake pans with paper liners. Combine your flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a bowl and set aside. In a large bowl, cream your butter until light and fluffy. Add your sugars and beat until well-combined. Beat in your eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Then beat in your vanilla and butter flavoring.
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Alternate adding your buttermilk, cream soda, and dry ingredients in batches until all are well incorporated. Fill each cupcake liner 3/4 full, then bake for 15 to 17 minutes until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean and cake springs back to the touch. Cool completely on wire racks.
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For butterscotch filling: In a double boiler (heat-proof bowl over a pot of simmering water on the stove), combine butterscotch chips and heavy cream and stir until completely combined and smooth. Cool to room temperature. Fill a squeeze bottle with ganache and insert into the center of each cupcake, squeezing until filling begins to overflow.
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For buttercream frosting: Cream butter in a large bowl until fluffy. Add in ganache, vanilla, butter flavoring, and salt and mix until well combined. Beat in powdered sugar 1 cup at a time until reaching desired consistency. Add milk or cream by the Tablespoon as needed. Frost cupcakes and top with a drizzle of butterscotch ganache.

Watch it! December 7, 2010

Hello All!

I am sorry that it has been so long since my last entry.  I feel like the absentee parent that only shows up when they need money for booze or smokes.  I only blog when I need to vent, or when I have the driving force to share what I perceive to be pertinent information.

In Life on the Mississippi, Mark Twain wrote, “We write frankly and fearlessly but then we “modify” before we print.”

My first snow!

I fear that I am guilty of this.  There are many things that I have put on paper and then, when revisited, I censored myself.  Whether it was for self-preservation or simply cowardice, there are simply things that I should not put out there for people to read.

This is a very valuable lesson that I have had to learn.  There are so many outlets in which to embarrass one’s self nowadays.  Between Facebook, Twitter, blogging and any other manner of social networking, one must be very careful about what they write.

View from Mount Hamilton, Washington.

I never really used to think about who was reading my status updates on Facebook until a “friend” brought a story up that I had linked to in conversation.  I just had said what I had to say.  It never crossed my mind just who had access to my thoughts and actions.

There are constantly stories in the news about the residual effects of social networking. Just this week, in the wake of the massive release of confidential documents by Wikileaks, the job placement office at Columbia University warned students  to not access the leaked cables.  According to an article by the Guardian UK, students at the Ivy League school were warned by the Office of Career Services that if they discussed the Wikileaks cables on their Facebook and Twitter accounts, or accessed the leaked cables, it would severely hurt their chances for employment with the government or State Department upon graduation.

It had been previously reported that the State Department had issued the statement, which was later retracted.

There have been many other examples of warnings such as this, of varying degrees.  A good friend of mine was fired from a summer camp counselor position when photos on someone’s MySpace page surfaced of a group of counselors drinking in their uniforms.

It was wrong for my friend to drink in uniform.  The pictures shouldn’t have gone up on the internet.  But, it leads to the realization that there are limits to privacy and you can’t put anything out there that you cannot defend or take responsibility for.

So, be careful what goes online because you never know who’s watching.

Managing Up November 9, 2010

There are a few things to look forward to once you are gainfully employed. They include a steady paycheck, less of a social life and waking up before 10 a.m., just to name a few.  Having jobs during college is a great preview for life thereafter, but I don’t think that it can fully prepare you for the life of working in a professional setting. There are certain social cues that are specific to a corporate environment.

Office politics and professional decorum were something that was totally new for me once I entered the post-baccalaureate world.  I had always worked in more relaxed environments with supervisors that were either friends or at least friendly. At my internship over the summer, I experienced a crash course in professionalism. I had supervisors, coworkers, vice presidents and other forms of higher-ups breathing down my neck in a variety of capacities. The corporate ladder was 50 feet in front of me and I had to navigate a professional-social minefield to reach it.  I tried my best to get out unscathed, but I think I need a little more practice in this department.

The one positive side with having employers that have a very hands-on management style, is that they make their expectations and objectives known.

I have also been faced with the opposite situation of being micromanaged.  I have been in the situation of having supervisors that are very hands-off, almost to the point of neglect.  These situations are almost harder to deal with than the managers that breath down your neck.  Being in the position of having no direction can lead to a decrease in motivation and productivity.  It is frustrating to go to work and have to guess what you are supposed to be doing.  Everyone needs at least the most basic level of direction and support to thrive in a work environment.

Having this lack of management  creates the need for self-motivation and the concept of “managing up.” This is a term that means performing your job in a way that can lead to your success through working with your supervisor, and getting an end result that can suit both of your purposes. This is a hard lesson to learn, and I am still trying to figure it out. The qualities that are developed by learning to manage up are highly regarded in a professional environment, and give someone the tools to become highly employable and successful.

The article, “Managing Your Boss: 12 things you need to know,” from MySalary.com has some really great tips for personal and professional development when dealing with an unruly and unorganized superior.

 

My soap box. November 3, 2010

So I am freshly back from Washington, D.C. and it is the day after the midterm elections. Politics are on my mind, as well as an individual’s role in the political process.

I have always made an effort to stay informed and engaged in current events, as well as local and national politics. Becoming aware of problems that our country faces, and understanding what we can do to take part in it, is a power that every American can possess. That power can give you the tools to make effective change.

Going into this midterm election, there were several contests that could drastically alter the political climate for the next two years. Since President Obama’s inauguration, he has faced unprecedented adversity. In spite of inheriting the worst economy since the Great Depression and two unsolicited wars, he has made amazing lengths in improving the economy, job market and social climate.

The stimulus bill that was passed in 2009 included the largest single tax cuts since Lyndon Johnson’s administration.  The repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Law, restricting homosexuals from openly serving in the military, has been a huge step in the LGBTQ civil rights movement.

Many of the details of the legislation passed by the Obama administration have been overlooked by the mainstream media. The important facts that affect the American people the most have been overshadowed by the extremist voices of cable news and political talk radio. The loudest voices are the easiest to hear, but that doesn’t mean that they are right and that they deserve the attention that is wrought.

At the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear, Jon Stewart gave an inspiring oration about the need for rational, moderate political dialogue.  He emphasized in an eloquent, non-partisan way that for any progress and improvement to be made, we need to stop listening to the fanatical talking heads who insist that our leaders are socialists, and that everyone of a particular faith is out to hurt innocent people. That dialogue is hateful, unproductive and nonsensical.

“If we amplify everything, we hear nothing,” Jon Stewart said on Saturday.

The fact is, is that there are things to fear in this world. There are dangerous, insidious people whose motivation is to hate, to hurt and to prey on less powerful people. However, grouping individuals together and profiling them because of certain characteristics only compounds the problem. This makes working together to solve the tremendous problems currently plaguing our country impossible.

As a result of yesterday’s elections, congress is now split with democrats ruling the Senate, and republicans ruling the House.  With a democratic executive branch and a right-leaning judiciary, a bi-partisan spirit is more important now than ever.  As Stewart said on Saturday, “we are in hard times, not end times.”

The need now is not for odious, divisive speech, but for unity in a common goal and proactive action.

TL;DR Can’t we all just get along?

I didn’t want to leave you hanging. November 1, 2010

Greetings from our nation’s capitol!
As I write this post from my cell phone, I am waiting for my flight from Washington, DC. I can’t write too much but I wanted to get a quick update posted.
The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear was amazing. The outpouring of support for a rational dialogue was overwhelming, and I am so grateful for being able to go.
I will get pictures posted as soon as I’m at a computer.

Homesick. October 25, 2010

There’s something about the fall that makes me miss home the most.

On a cool, crisp day when the leaves are changing and the wind is blowing, I get really homesick.  Today was one of those days. It started just like any other and somewhere around my second cup of coffee I starting thinking about years past and old friends.  My birthday, being just a week away, has compounded my longing for familiar faces.

For the past several years, my birthday has been a gathering event for my old friends that have scattered. My birthday being just three days before Halloween presents the perfect opportunity for my friends to get together and have some fun. For the first time in several years, this will not be happening and I’m kind of sad about it.

This morning on my 40-mile drive to work, I started thinking about my last few birthdays.  There were some great memories made at those infamous parties, as well as many Jell-o shots consumed.  I have always loved dressing up for Halloween and taken great joy in planning parties.

Not being able to be with my friends on Halloween this year will be hard.

Fortunately I will be doing something fun.  I will be going from one Washington to the other.  On Thursday, I will be flying to Washington, D.C. and meeting a group of friends from Chico, to participate in the Jon Stewart and Stephan Colbert rallies.

I’m so excited to take part in such an awesome, influential event.  This will still be a great birthday and I’m sure it will create some interesting blog fodder.  But while I’m there, I know I’ll be missing the costumes and Jell-o shots.

Answers. October 18, 2010

Have you ever been in a situation where you feel like there is no way out? You worry constantly about how you are going to handle your ever-increasingly difficult situation. Then, as if some kind of divine intervention, you get an answer to your problems. It may be the answer you’ve been looking for or it may have come out of left field.  After more than a month of searching and searching, I have found my answer.

Lava Canyon, Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument

So to say that I finally found a place to live in Vancouver would be an understatement. I found the quintessential perfect living situation.  It is close to work, it is cheap and my future roommates are awesome!

I know it probably sounds kind of lame that I am so excited to have found a rental, but after more than a month of scouring Craig’s List daily and meeting (almost) every freak show in the Vancouver metropolitan area, it feels great to have it figured out.

With my resource constraints and wanting to live close to work, my housing options were somewhat limited to a small residential neighborhood on the north side of the downtown area.  The house that I found is smack-dab right in the middle of it.

Looking for roommates can be tough.  Living with friends is even tougher.  Anyone that knows me will tell you that I have had my fair share of bad roommates.

Moving to Washington, living with friends wasn’t really an option.  I also didn’t want to live alone.  So, I had been searching the internet fruitlessly, asking everyone I met about possible rentals.

I don’t want to drag this out too much, but it finally all came together.  I found a great place to live with friendly, cool people.  Hopefully, in the coming months, they will become friends and not merely roommates.

I am more optimistic about my situation and my future here now that I will have a place to call home. It makes it feel more comfortable and more permanent when there is something that is yours.

What was a time when you got the answer you had been asking for?

Nothing better to do. October 11, 2010

Hello,

As happens often in the world outside of Chico, nothing eventful has happened in my life this past week.

My search for a habitable dwelling continues, as I find every freak show in Southwest Washington in the process. Work has been very busy, but is slowing down as the weather cools and the rains become more frequent. As it turns out, people don’t like to pick up trash in the rain.

Because I have little wisdom to impart this week, I will share a recipe. I love to cook, and sometimes I feel that it is one of the only things keeping me sane. I really enjoy visiting a farmer’s market, buying a bunch of vegetables and going home and seeing what delicacies I can create. Unfortunately my lack of planning in this department usually means missing ingredients, therefore the need for substitution. But the good thing is it usually turns out edible good.

This recipe for stuffed peppers is vegetarian, but could easily be made for meat-eaters by adding browned ground turkey or beef to the mixture.

2 large green bell peppers

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 zucchini, cut lengthwise and chopped

1 cup Fresh green beans cut into 1” pieces

1 large tomato, diced

1 ½ cups cooked rice

½ tablespoon dried thyme

½ tablespoon dried oregano

½ tablespoon crushed red pepper

Salt and pepper, to taste

½ cup sharp cheddar cheese

Directions:

Bring a large pot of water to a light boil. Cut off tops and hollow out bell peppers. Blanche peppers in boiling water by submerging the peppers and turning them with tongs, for about 2 minutes.

In skillet over medium heat, combine olive oil, onion and garlic and cook until onions begin to turn translucent. Add zucchini and green beans and continue to cook until tender.  When the vegetables are cooked, remove from heat and add tomatoes, rice and seasonings.  Fill each bell pepper with vegetable mixture and top with cheese. Place in a baking dish with high sides. Bake peppers at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, or until cheese is melted.  Enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by!