Live Action Farmville Pix

I'm really excited. I have so many plants germinating at the moment. So far I have around 225 plants sitting in little green houses on my kitchen island. I have:

Chives
Strawberries
Sunflowers
Tomatoes
Peppers
Basil
Onions
Cucumbers
Oregano
Cilantro
Beans
Rhubarb
Potatoes
Lettuce
Carrots
Squash
Asparagus

Now, I do not have a green thumb, and honestly, I'll be surprised if anything grows. The hardest part is despite having land to plant a garden, I can't. For one thing, the house is too old, with lead paint most likely, which has contaminated the soil. The other is the possibility of moving is high, and I want my veggies to go with me. So, all of these plants will be done via an outdoor container garden. But, I did it last year on my balcony, and have no doubt I can do it again, and maybe even utilize some of the important lessons I learned last year.

But yeah. Excited. I looked today, and a few of my onions and my cucumbers have sprouted a tiny bit. Fresh vegetables are made of win!

Now if I only had my chickens...can you imagine a fresh vegetable omelet, made with fresh veggies, fresh herbs AND fresh eggs? *drool*

Chickens

Maybe people are going to think I'm nuts, but I really want chickens. Only like 2 or 3, just enough to produce a couple of eggs. I've been reading and researching and really got my hopes up that I could get a few.

The City of Little Falls doesn't allow chickens. :( Boo! I mean, really? The CITY of Buffalo lets you have 3. I mean, chickens are small, 3 aren't going to be loud, just enough for an urban chicken coop! Proper cleaning prevents that musty barnyard smell. And I'm not talking about roosters. I'm talking about hens. That lay eggs! Deliciously fresh eggs! And this crappy little rural city says No...how mundane. Sigh.

The good thing is that we most likely are moving over the summer, and while I'm still waiting to hear from some of the other town clerks and code officers in the area, I'm optimistic. The town of Little Falls lets you have chickens...

Grillin' Salmon with whut??

Today I thought I'd share a recipe. Grilled Salmon on a Cedar Plank. One of my favorite grilled goods. Why I love warm weather. It's a delicious meal.


I actually got my planks in some crazy Woot! deal. Like 12 planks for 10 bux, or something ridiculous. It was a good deal, and the planks are good sized. First things first, Soak your plank in some water. I actually weighed mine down with a can of vegetables. Soak it at least an hour, more if you can.




When the planks are ready, take it out of the water, and dry it off a bit. Rinse the fish off, pat dry with a paper towel. Sprinkle the fish with salt. In a small bowl, mix a little brown sugar, some dill, some pepper, some salmon rub, and a little bit of cayenne pepper.

You can add any other spices you want. I've added basil and lemon zest before. Rub this on the fish, and let sit for 15 minutes, or while your grill is starting.
Drizzle on a little Olive Oil.

I use charcoal, started in my chimney starter, so 15-20 minutes is all it takes to get the fire nice and warm. Keep some water nearby in case of flare up. When ready, just pop the fish and plank on the grill. Cover it, and let it cook until it's done- 15-20 minutes, depending on thickness. I admit, I overcook my fish sometimes because raw fish scares me. (And I eat sushi, so really that probably makes no sense...) I usually make sure the salmon feels firm when I push on it, and not too soft. Take off the flames carefully, plank and all. I usually just toss it on a plate, and then serve the fish right off the plank.



Delicious, and easy, and yes, good for you! The brown sugar melts a bit to create a glaze. Serve up with a veggie, and some rice, and it's a nicely rounded meal! (Yes, I actually used a boxed pasta side this time...not at all pretty, and not the best choice, but the kids loved it.)

Grilled Salmon on Cedar Planks

3 0z of Salmon per person
1 TB brown sugar (I used Splenda Brown Sugar)
1 tsp dill
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp salmon rub (I used McCormick)
Salt
Olive Oil

1 Cedar plank, soaked in water for an hour.

Rinse Salmon, dry. Rub with salt, brown sugar, dill, pepper and salmon rub. Drizzle with Olive oil. Grill for 15-20 minutes.

Superstitions

I don't believe in superstitions. At least I try not to. I'd probably freak if I broke a mirror. 7 years of bad luck is a LONG time. So being a sports fan, especially a big fan, one who attends games...it's hard. I know nothing I do affects the game. Years of superstitious fans have not led my team to the big win. That's why I gave up on superstitious. It's silly. Yet somehow, I find myself thinking "What if...Did I...Should I...What did I do last time..." a lot. And stupid stuff too. Everything from how I wore my hair, which underwear, which shirt and what did I eat...It's crazy.

Caw, Caw, BANG! F*CK YOU'RE DEAD

If you ever need to be reminded of the sheer awesomeness of the 90's, may I suggest re-watching The Crow (1994). This movie is so bad, it's Awesome. It stirs the angry, goth strings of my 20 year old heart.

Just looking at the soundtrack tell you how awesome the movie was:

1. "Burn" - The Cure
2. "Golgotha Tenement Blues" - Machines of Loving Grace
3. "Big Empty" - Stone Temple Pilots
4. "Dead Souls" - Nine Inch Nails
5. "Darkness" - Rage Against the Machine
6. "Color Me Once" - Violent Femmes
7. "Ghostrider" - Rollins Band
8. "Milktoast" - Helmet
9. "The Badge" - Pantera
10. "Slip Slide Melting" - For Love Not Lisa
11. "After the Flesh" - My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult
12. "Snakedriver" - The Jesus and Mary Chain
13. "Time Baby III" - Medicine
14. "It Can't Rain All the Time"- Jane Siberry

Honestly, I can't help but love the movie, and laugh at myself for loving it (and hate myself for laughing at myself!)

And just to let you all know. There is a "The Crow" remake being planned.