A Blender, A Blender, My Kingdom For a Blender!

A new phase has started. The meal planning phase. I have a list of 30 or so meals. Now I just need to get it all in the computer, along with the ingredients list and the recipes. The idea is that the list can be printed out, the meals that are wanted can be highlighted, and the necessary items can be purchased. Then I need to figure out how to turn those meal's leftovers into still more meals.
This is all in an attempt to cut meal costs. And eat healthier. Also, this is not my idea. It is my mother's idea. I will be cooking my folks meals. Since they live next door, this is not as weird as it might seem.
All of these meals are pretty healthy. Lots of chicken. And Turkey. And veggies. No red meat, very little pasta or other starches. The upside is that I may continue to lose weight, but at a faster rate. The downside is that I will be cooking ALL THE TIME. I like to cook, I really do. I just don't know if I want to cook all the time. That or I need to get a few more kitchen gadgets. Ahhh, gadgets! Just a few more I promise. A blender. A large stockpot. A mezza-luna. A waffle maker. There's more, but I can't find my list right now. All of this in my teeny-tiny closet sized kitchen.
Other than that there is no real news. There aren't any jobs out there it seems. I have some feelers out there, and hope to hear back from a few places soon. The tricky part will be telling that employer (should I get a job) that the week of Christmas I will be in another state. I hope to be in New Mexico then. Enjoying the crisp, dry air.

--Little Bird is in the kitchen with Dinah

Disaster Lasagna

So yesterday TRIMP, some friends of his and I all went to nextfest in Millenium Park. I had to Google it because I had no idea what it was. Technology. Lots of new technology. Including this odd car/wheelchair thing from Toyota. The video was a travesty. The concept is not a bad one, and I could see it used for the paraplegic, but not for those whose legs work just fine. The idea is you drive this thing on the streets. In Chicago this is an accident just waiting to happen. The snark factor at this event was extremely high.
After this, TRIMP and I went to my place and I made lasagna. It was disaster lasagna. The noodles stuck together when I boiled them. I didn't put it in the baking pan in the right order. I ran out of the sauce. The beauty of lasagna is, it's pretty hard to truly fuck it up. It tasted great. And now I have left-overs for the week. Next week I'll make stuffed pasta shells.
I finally have the Halloween costume figured out. And no, I won't tell you. Some people already know, but as I am going to a party and I want it to be a surprise.
My folks are in the wilds of New Mexico again. I am suitably jealous. I wish I could be there, it's soooooo pretty out there. And quiet. You can see the stars. Peaceful. Every time I go I enjoy it. Every time I have to leave and come home I'm a little sad. For some reason, food tastes better out there. I can't explain it. I cook the same stuff there that I make here, and it tastes better there. It's not fair.
One of these days, I'll figure out how to get photos up on this site, and I can show you some of the things I talk about. I also need a camera so this could take awhile.