Reconnecting with Friends: Lauren & New Things

To continue getting back in touch with friends, I met up with Lauren too. I have seen her much more recently than the other two, but it's still been too long - maybe two years? So it was really great seeing her again and doing not one, but two new things!

First we met up at the Tivoli, where we saw Melancholia. I was a bit worried about this movie after looking at the reviews on Netflix. It was an either you love it or hate it movie. Luckily I did not regret spending my money - it was a good movie! It's an end of the world type movie, where a planet that has been hiding behind the Sun is now hurtling towards Earth. Maybe people saw the summary and thought it would be an action movie - if that was the case they were in for a boring surprise (in comparison). Since it was made by the director of Dancer In the Dark I pretty much knew what to expect, so wasn't disappointed. My rating would be 4 out of 5 stars. It was also nice being in the Tivoli again, I forget how pretty it is!

Then we walked down the street in the blistery winter wind to Cheesology to get some Mac & Cheese. I got the bacon bacon with added breadcrumbs. They also managed to talk me into buying a rice crispie treat. Delicious, I tell you!

- Megan Leigh

Reconnecting With Friends: Caitlin and Heather

Since one of my goals for this project is to get back in touch with old friends I decided to make sure this Thanksgiving vacation I did just that. Luckily Caitlin was in town as well, so I met up with her and Heather at Pin Up Bowl. Heather I haven't seen since her high school graduation party (and that was only for about two seconds). Caitlin I last saw for a very short visit over winter break of our freshman year of college. So ten years for both, which is just amazingly sad since they are two of my favorite people!

Seeing them was great. They look exactly the same and still have the same personalities! It was almost like no time had passed, except for the all grown up thing. One is married. One owns a house.

In addition to getting back in touch with these girls, I also (hopefully) made a new friend that also lives in New York. (Another Cor Jesu girl.)

The night couldn't keep going well forever though. The universe saw that there was too much happiness in my life and needed to put the positive and negative back in balance - so it sent a drunken Heather my way, who knocked my brand new phone out of my hand onto the concrete where the back glass shattered. It was a terrible thing, but a sacrifice I am willing to make.

- Megan Leigh

Good Food: Ants on Trees with Shredded Carrot Salad

I love ants on trees (the little pieces of pork are the ants, and the noodles are the trees), and we've made this a couple times for friends. Tonight we made this for Rachel and Mark. Here we are eating it--if you look closely, you can see the food on our plates. I didn't think ahead and take a close-up photo of the food! Ben made up this recipe for a carrot salad to accompany it, and I love it too.

Ants on Trees (Serves 5-6)
1 lb ground pork
4 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp roasted red chili paste
2 tsp corn starch
16 oz cellophane noodles
4 tbsp peanut oil
4 scallions, the white and light green parts only, thinly sliced
4 jalapenos, minced
1 c. chicken stock
2 tbsp soy sauce
cilantro, chopped

In a medium bowl, combine the 4 tbsp soy sauce, sugar, red chili paste, and cornstarch. Add pork to the marinade and refrigerate for 20 minutes.

Place the noodles in a large bowl and pour boiling water over them to cover. Soak 5 minutes, stirring occasionally (this part is important), then drain in a colander.

Heat oil in a skillet or wok over medium-high heat. Add the scallions and jalapeno and cook 30 seconds, stirring frequently. Add the pork and stir-fry until no longer pink, breaking up any chunks, about 3 minutes.

Add the noodles, chicken stock, and 2 tbsp soy sauce. Cook, tossing the noodles with two wooden spoons, until the sauce is absorbed and the pork is well distributed throughout the noodles. Serve immediately and garnish with cilantro.


Carrot Salad (Serves 6)
1 lb of carrots, grated and drained
1 heaping tbsp of ginger, finely minced
1/2 c. cilantro, finely minced
1/2 c. of peanut oil
 2 tsp of sesame oil
1/2 c. of rice vinegar
1 tsp of sugar
salt and pepper to taste
crushed cashews to garnish

Combine all the ingredients but the carrots in a bowl and whisk. Toss in with the carrots (which should be grated and drained first), and cover and put in the fridge to sit at least 2 hours (or as many as 24 hours). Garnish with crushed cashews and serve!

Megan notes that if you don't grate your finger, you're not doing it properly.

- Kristin

One New Thing: Getting Fitted For Running Shoes

After work, I met my friend Kim in the village after work and we went to Jackrabbit Sports to pick out some real running shoes. When you get there, a salesperson meets you to help you pick the right type of shoe. They have you run on a treadmill and videotape your feet in order to tell what kind of gait you have and what type of shoe would be best! Then you try on many, many different types of shoes to find the one that fits best. It is kind of like going to the eye doctor... "Which is better? This? Or this?" You start to rule out shoes, then when you find a few pairs you love, you wear one on one foot and another on the other foot and prance around the store, winnowing the choices down even further, until there is just one pair left. I found a pair of Saucony shoes that made me feel like I was walking on clouds, and Kim found a pair of very cute New Balances. No, my shoes aren't super cute, but I guess you can't have everything--they are the most comfortable pair I have ever had. It was very exciting, and I can't wait to try them out!

Then, since we were out and about, we grabbed dinner in Chelsea... so I think this also counts as making time to spend with friends. It was a nice evening!

-Kristin