I posted this @ 3/26/2008 03:39:00 PM.............Need a link?..........
WRAPPED UP IN YOU
C'mere... SHHH!!! I've got a secret for you. I've got a knock-off recipe of PF Chang's lettuce wraps. Ok ok... so maybe it's not a HUGE secret, but there are a lot of versions of lettuce wraps out there. This one is pretty damn spot on.
Here's the scoop:
1 head of lettuce 1lb pkg of boneless skinless chicken breasts 1 pkg of button mushrooms 2 cloves of garlic 1 small onion 1 small can of water chestnuts 1 pkg of crispy rice noodles 1/2 cup soy sauce chili paste Chinese hot mustard
Take the chicken breasts and put them in a pot of water. Bring the water and chicken to a boil. This will cook it, keep it moist and tender. Check to make sure the chicken is done by taking one of the breasts and cutting it open. If it's still pink, let it boil for a little while longer. You can't overboil the chicken so don't worry. Once the chicken is no longer pink inside, remove the chicken from the water and let it cool. You can either food process the chicken or hand chop it into pieces. We're looking for rather small pieces. A fine dice on the chicken is the technical term, I think.
While the chicken is poaching, finely dice the onion, garlic and mushrooms. Add a few table spoons of olive oil to a skillet and brown the mixture. When the mushrooms have browned and the onions have softened add the diced chicken to the mixture and turn the heat on low to keep everything warm.
Put your soy sauce in a small bowl. I like to use two healthy spoonfuls of both the hot mustard and the chili paste. But I like it spicy. If you like it mild, just add one. You can always add more to your individual wrap.
Put the chicken mixture into a serving bowl. Dice the water chestnuts into the same size pieces as the chicken and mixture. Add to the bowl. It doesn't have to be perfect, but we're looking for everything to be generally the same size. Top with a couple handfuls of the crispy rice noodles. Toss to combine.
Remove the lettuce core. Chop the head of lettuce in half and gently peel away the first couple of layers. Separate the rest of the lettuce leaves for easy use.
You can either have the sauce on the side for everyone to add their own. (Much like PF Chang's does) or you can just pour the sauce over the chicken mixture if everyone likes it the same heat level.
Now... I feel like Rachael Ray, but... you can find chili paste and Chinese hot mustard in most major super markets anymore. If you can't you might have to find an Asian food market. I found the crispy rice noodle in the same area of the store as the French fried onions. But most likely it's in the Asian food aisle as well.
I posted this @ 3/26/2008 02:24:00 PM.............Need a link?..........
3/18/2008
IT'S ELECTRIC - Part 2
Ok. So we're into Day 5 of the Amish lifestyle. I've adjust decently considered that I worked over the weekend so I wasn't really home all day to have to entertain myself without TV. Now some may find TV just a noise box that is full of trash. Fine. I don't. I like TV. I miss TV. Even if I'm not watching it I didn't realize how much quieter the place is without it. Sure I've still got my computer and thus music and can watch some shows online. Which I have been doing... But The Food Network or Discovery Channel was a staple on my days off during the afternoon. I miss Paula Deen's laugh. I miss Mike Rowe and The Mythbusters (which would be an awesome band name).
Here's the latest on Surgegate. OPPD is claiming responsibility for the incident. This is what I'm hearing from the apartment manager. She told me that several residents reported losing items. Even the complex itself took a hit losing such things as stoves and refrigerators. One person reported losing a plasma TV. I'm significantly bummed and pissed off, but a fancy plasma TV going down the drain would make me call forth the fires of Hell.
Now... all I have to do is file a claim. Which means filling out a form. Which means getting a hold of the guy who handles this. Which means getting him to call me back. So far no luck. I've left him messages. He's called once, but I was at work in a 'no cell phone' environment. I couldn't do much at the time and called back as soon as I could.
My hopes, while still dashed that I lost all this stuff, are a bit better for getting it replaced. Mark and I have even done a bit of dreaming about a new TV. Obviously I won't get an upgrade from OPPD, but it will certainly help towards a new nicer one. One that doesn't weigh 80 pounds. Seriously... how did I end up with all heavy shit when it came time to move?
I posted this @ 3/18/2008 02:28:00 PM.............Need a link?..........
3/16/2008
IT'S ELECTRIC!!
Some may dispute this, but I don't really believe that I am a drama king. I may have dramatic things that happen, but I rarely feel that I harp on them for days upon days til everyone is sick of hearing about them.
Having said that... Expect to hear a lot of whining, bitching, and complaining about this.
On Thursday I had a note on my door from the apartment complex that said OPPD (power company) was coming to replace a transformer and the power would be out from 930a to 1p on Friday. No problem. I'd be at work then and Mark wouldn't be here yet. So all should be good.
I come home at 6p to find the power still out. As we're deciding what to do. A brief flicker of power gives me hope that things are back to normal. Alas, no... Mark and I decide to go out for dinner rather than bring back fast food. Getting back from dinner around 830p the power is STILL out... I don't know what time they arrived at the apartment, but it worries me that it's STILL out. I usually am in bed around 1030p on a night that I work. So the idea of no alarm clock or my alarm clock losing power in the middle of the night bothered me.
At 10 the power finally came on. But not all of my things come back to life. The computer starts up. The ceiling fan starts to spin. A bedroom light comes on. My cable box didn't start up. My stereo's clock didn't start blinking 12:00. I'm confused and a bit worried. I go upstairs to shut off the light and notice my alarm clock is also out. I try it in several outlets and it doesn't work. Yet the outlest themselves DO work. This isn't looking good. I'm afraid to even test the TV.
I call OPPD and report an issue. The phone jockey says that it sounds like either the breakers might have a short or that it is an internal problem and to contact my apartment maintenance. By this time I'm thinking... if maintenance comes it'll be late and I need sleep before work. I'll deal with it in the morning.
I call in the morning and they come to look at the outlets. I was at work, but Mark relayed the news I was afraid to hear. There was a power surge and I've lost some electronics. My alarm clock, 2 stereo, VCR, cable box, and TV have all gone the way of the dodo. I'm pissed... Hot pissed. But I can't do much at work. I couldn't wait in the 10-15 minute phone queue while at work.
So I call OPPD on the way home. They tell me that it's their policy that they don't take responsibility for power surges. In one of my more forceful ways I explain that if it was an 'act of God' I could understand, but when it is due to work that was being done by their company they will be taking responsibility. No question about this... The guy (who I swear is the same one from the previous call the night before) gives me the Claims Department number. I call and leave a tersely (as terse as I could) worded message. I also left a message on their customer relations line. Both of which only maintain regular business hours. Of course.... God forbid they have customers on the weekends who might have an issue. But I digress...
So this is where we stand right now.
I don't have a TV. I luckily still have a computer and my cell phone wasn't affected. I might end up workign tomorrow, but in the meantime of not working I plan on being on the phone with OPPD getting someone who will replace my lost electronics. I'm under the impression that I'm not the only one in the building who lost things. So I'm hoping they also file claims.
I'll keep you all updated.
And here I didn't think I had much to talk about a couple days ago and hadn't posted in a while.
In related news, I gotta thank Mark through all of this. On the weekends that I work he hangs out here. And usually there is enough saved programs to watch on the DVR to keep him entertained while I'm gone. I'm sure Saturday was pretty nerve wracking. No TV. Couldn't use the PS2 or watch a movie. I expected to come home and find that he'd wrapped himself in the tin foil to keep the spy beams from watching. Instead I find him making a nacho casserole.
DUDE... this is awesome! Seriously tasty stuff.
Not too mention he fielded questions from the apartment maintenance as well. Thanks hon! I TRULY appreciate it.
I posted this @ 3/16/2008 06:15:00 PM.............Need a link?..........
3/12/2008
UNDER PRESSURE
My job is stressing me the fuck out... There are days that I realize that I asked for this. Some days, I realize that I could have done better. Everyday, I realize that I can. One day, I will.
I posted this @ 3/12/2008 11:03:00 AM.............Need a link?..........
3/10/2008
DAYS GO BY AND STILL I THINK OF YOU
So... I occupy my mind with the oddest things.
Describe the flavor of an egg. Prepared in any way. Not the toppings you put on the eggs, but the egg itself. Does it really have a flavor other than 'egg flavored'?
I posted this @ 3/10/2008 05:39:00 PM.............Need a link?..........
3/04/2008
I AM NO GOOD FOR YOU
Sunday evening I felt the beginnings of a cold or flu or Hanta Virus coming on. I can usually tell because my ears will get hot and itchy. Sure enough, by the time I went to bed I was feeling achy. Now this week is kind of busy. I can't miss work, because they're Nazis. This weekend is the school musical Mark has been co-directing. I don't want to miss it or spread my contagion. So health matters! I went to the store first thing yesterday to procure the needed supplies. I came home with coca-cola, cough medicine, and a couple cans of ravioli. Because let's face it. When you really can't taste anything, there is something good to be said about the mushy pasta/sauce vegetable protein disguised with meat flavoring that really sounds good. I forgot the juice... DAMN!
You may or may not be surprised how effect a nice cold coke is at eating away any junk in your throat. Seriously... it's the new Magic Mouthwash.
So I get home and take a dose of the cough syrup when I notice two startling things on the box.
Non-drowsy? ALCOHOL-FREE?!! WTF?! I was looking forward to a syrupy induced mental haze brought down upon me by the makers of Robutussin. I was sadly disappointed.
To help induce the feeling I was looking for I watched this video endlessly. It's my new favorite song of the moment.
I posted this @ 3/03/2008 08:36:00 AM.............Need a link?..........
I'm a 30-something student of human nature. A music-lovin', groove-shakin', laugh-inducin', dish-cookin', gossip-slingin', type of guy. This is my diary of sorts...
I won't lie. I totally ganked 
Thanks Bryan, for the link... Now I can add 
