Queenkv’s Brainpickings

Exploring the other side of the rainbow

July 7, 2007

Post-Holiday Glow

Things are bumping nicely at work. It seems fireworks, cookies and the Independence holiday put folks back in a good mood.

I had a blast taking live shots from Lake Shawnee for the choreographed light show. One anchor was kind enough to thank me for providing July 4th fun for the newscast.

After our July 4th show, we stepped outside to check out everyone else’s fireworks. The air smelled like gunpowder. Driving home, I could see people shooting off their fireworks by the highway.



originally uploaded by queenkv.

At home, I watched the last explosives light-up the sky with my hubby. Mark pointed out that with everyone shooting off their fireworks - the sounds would muffle gun shots. We figured Independence night would be a smart time for a naughty person to shoot someone. The next morning, I read about four shootings in Northeast Topeka. Good grief.



originally uploaded by queenkv.

I had my kitchen groove on the other day. So, I cooked up some Morning Star meat starter with rice and a lemon cilantro sauce. I added chick peas and frozen peas. I was pleasantly surprised by the texture and flavor of the chick peas - chewy, hearty and complimentary to the sauce and the tofu meat. I think I’m cooking more rice in our paella pan than with our rice cooker.

April 8, 2007

Happy Bunny Day!

I thought this would be the Easter Sunday when I get to prepare a lovely dinner for Mark and Daisy…and enjoy a relaxing celebration of Spring, the Lord and all that jazz.

Well, I fit in plenty of relaxing with a long nap in the middle of the day. Then I spent the early evening hours with my yoga practice and reading headlines. I hope these morning rituals will fool my body into waking up for my graveyard shift. Instead of enjoying the Easter holiday, I’m getting ready for work. Hello to the lonely hours in the newsroom, the scanner harping about mothers, sons, fathers and daughters smacking themselves around like a Jerry Springer show and guzzling 6 cups of coffee to stay awake until sunrise.

Bottom-line: I’m a team player, willing to step off my night shift to cover the morning show. Plus, some people were not cut out to be journalists.

Let’s move on to some happier thoughts, pictures and flavors.



originally uploaded by queenkv.

A happy moment from my morning, Daisy trying out her snazzy new shirt from my sister-in-law and family in Cali. She loves it! She really does!

March 30, 2007

A Veggie Twist on Laarb

I had a craving for my Dad’s laarb. He does amazing things with ground beef and I love coming up to his cooking.

On the way to the store, I called him for the ingredients. At the end of our conversation, I mentioned I was trying it all with some fake meat — tofu grounded up to look like beef. I imagined the look of disbelief on his face.



originally uploaded by queenkv.

Here’s my vegetarian version of my Dad’s Laarb. I used Morning Star’s grilled beef starter. I could totally taste the difference between ground beef and this substitute because I knew what was going into the dish. But I’d love to do a blind taste test some day and see if my palate knows the difference.

March 21, 2007

Cooking Veggie

For St. Patrick’s Day, we took a roadtrip down the Turnpike to Emporia. We toasted the holiday at Natasha’s.

If you get a chance, I hope you’d consider voting for this pix. The more votes it get’s the more chances it has to be published in the next issue of JPG Magazine. How neat is that?

So, I gave up meat for Lent. This usually makes cooking a challenge for me, since I like to craft my meals around the meat-of-the-day. I’m still cool with chicken and seafood, I just made a promise to myself to avoid red meat.

So far…I’ve managed to avoid red meat. At work, someone’s mom treated us to a pizza meal for his birthday. Very sweet, but all the pies were meat pies! Eeck! I stuck with the bread sticks. I also ended-up picking off the pepperoni slices, after I saw another co-worker do so.



originally uploaded by queenkv.

I decided to embrace tofu as my meat-of-the-day.

This is an Alfredo risotto with tofu, grounded-up and seasoned to look and taste like ground beef. During this kitchen session, I tried out Morning Star’s Sausage Crumbles. Not bad…I’d love to a do a side-by-side taste test with ground beef. Maybe after lent.

February 26, 2007

Weekend Distractions

Last night, I dropped by Fally’s for a rockin’ Oscar party. It was nice to be surrounded my humans who talked back and who didn’t get all defensive when the doorbell rang…unlike one puppy I know.

Yummy brownies and spinach & cheese dip.

I’m pretty ticked-off at the Academy for snubbing Pan’s Labrynith for Best Foreign Film. I’m also bummed about Little Miss Sunshine, Abigail Breslin, losing Best Supporting Actress So, Hollyweird - kiss my butt.

I also spent my weekend cooking, writing and taking advantage of a break in the winter weather.



originally uploaded by queenkv.

This is saffron cream rice with sauteed tofu and peas

February 11, 2007

An Early Valentine Celebration

We got a late start to the weekend. We spent Friday night toasting one of my co-workers who’s moving on to bigger and better things. The farewell party involved lots of people, alcohol and dancing. It was the first time I went dancing in a while. Granted, it was in somebody’s living room and the music was tuned to the greatest hits channel from Digital Cable. Still, it was dancing and I had fun boogieing with co-workers and new people.

We didn’t get home until 4:00 AM. I remember taking Daisy out to do her business and that’s about it. Mark said I passed out and he had to put me to bed.

What a good hubby! I’d do the same for him.

After waking up with a little hangover, we slowly started up our Saturday morning with homemade french toast and bacon.



originally uploaded by queenkv.

My honey is brilliant when it comes to breakfast. So he took whipped up the tasty French Toast. He had a batter of eggs, cinnamon and milk…I think. He coated sourdough bread slices with the batter and fried them up over the stove. I took care of the coffee and bacon. The apartment was covered in bacon smoke for a bit. Thankfully, I didn’t burn too many slices.

It was a yummy breakfast and it helped us recover from the heavy night of drinking.

January 3, 2005

first day in the DC newsroom…

wow. I feel so drained….but in a good way.

March 10, 2003

5 figures isn’t enough….

i overheard one of my customers discussing his recent job offer:
“They made an offer of $70,000. I don’t think they understand what I’m worth…I had to explain to them what I should be getting. But it’s understandable, since this company’s from the midwest.” (paraphrasing here).

Good grief! I don’t know about you, but I think that’s an amazing offer! Sheesh - you can’t satsify some people!

February 10, 2003

totally a hit with me - Thai Brunch at a Buddhist Temple

I just wanted to write a review about the amazing Thai food I stumbled upon, yesterday morning.

part 1 of my loteria cabal adventure….