I tried Candace's yummy orange chicken recipe, but made it with tempeh instead - delicious! I had the same issue as before; I'm so green of a cook, that I end up using way more pots and pans because I put in the ingredients and I think oh, this needs to be bigger, or I use things out of order (ie cornstarch!). Anyway, I was really surprised that it turned out so delicious because I ended up making my own recipe. The best part was the powdered mustard - delicioso. A really yummy spice addition. I ate it with a coconut rice I had made last week and cilantro. It was even better for lunch today because the honey had dripped all over the rice. Thanks Candy Wrapper!

This Week in San Francisco

Monday: Pilates at the gym. My co-worker friend got us free passes to a swanky gym and we have been using them like it's the New Year. Pilates was a little tough, but we weren't even sore the next day. I feel like Jane Fonda.

Lentil soupie for dinner.

Tuesday: Zumba.

Wednesday: Met Mr. Craigslist Salsa in Diamond Heights. He wasn't the typical dancer. He's 40 years-old, white and really outspoken. He thinks Roger should have moved to the US a long time ago. He suggested that I tell Roger that I can do without him if he doesn't get on it. The reason is that I have above average looks in the states even though I'm a little below average in Amsterdam. I didn't think that was a convincing argument.

Thursday: Traveled to Daly City by BART, back by bus. Saw the episode of Seinfeld where George's co-worker tells him the shrimp store called and they are running out shrimp. Zumba.

Friday: Flamenco is tap dancing in beautiful dresses with way better music. Last night I attended the De Young museum's opening night of Balenciaga and Spain. Flamenco dancers opened the floor with a gypsy king esque band - really fun! Emily Katz, ex-Visalian and current friend happened to be a member which meant we got free drink tickets. We flirted with the guy who the gave the tickets and he doubled ours. Emily said by none of our power because he was gay. She says my gaydar is rusty, but he was totally checking us out, so maybe hers is rusty. Two drinks on an empty stomach later, Emily and I picked out our wedding dresses, and what we would wear as fashionable nuns, ate our share of free-member only hazelnuts and pistachios, then began our walk home. I donated my members sticker to a woman so she could see the members only exhibit. Emily disappointingly donated hers to a family, who was skeptical of its use and barely offered a thanks. Whereas, my girl was beautiful and Spanish, and really happy to not have to wait in line. Two points for me.

Saturday: Basically had an open house for the plumbers so they could fix something happening with the pipes. Finally met Toni from Sushi Toni. Cleaned the fridge, mopped the floors, and worked on removing the crap between the stove and wall - serious business. Talked with Roger for more than three hours.

Netflix Goodies

Some treats on Netflix instant play. There are lots, but this is to introduce you to ones you may just pass over. My netflix genre suggestion is: Quirky Foreign Family Films. What's yours?

1. 180 South - Documentary about this guy who quits his job and travels south to make a climb he has been dreaming about. Features the guys who began Patagonia and North Face. If you aren't into documentaries, don't despair, it's filmed sooo beautifully and good music. There is a love story too. It's more like a journal entry than a documentary.

2. Blame it on Fidel - A little girl has to make some changes when her pristine priveleged life is turned upside down as her rich parents get involved in a a 1970's political movement in France. It's really interesting to see it from her eyes.

3. The Edukators - German story about these youngsters who rearrange furniture in the rich peoples homes as a political statement. They get caught up in some funny business. It's gooood.

4. Amelie is on instant play! What a gem. Amelie spends her days bringing goodies to people's lives - forged letters from a loved one, detailed descriptions of what's going on to the blind, love matching. Quirky and oh so endearing.

5. Parks and Rec - Candance and Robby introduced me to this sitcom. I'm sad there are only two seasons on because I finished them both. I cried when I saw the last one; I wasn't ready to leave Pawnee.

6. As It Is In Heaven - Swedish film about a famous composer who moves back to his childhood town and turns it upside down when he directs the church choir.

7. My Life As a Dog - Another Swedish film about a little boy who loses things he loves, but tries to find his place in life. He's really odd in a beautiful way, like you want to babysit him. He does this "trick" where he acts like he can't control himself when he drinks his milk and then throws it in his face. He's also a ladies man, by accident.

8. End of Poverty - A real documentary (unlike 180 South) which talks about the decisions made in government that encourage poverty. It's really sad; I was in quite a funk after wards, but also encouraged to take responsibility for my own decisions (purchases and lifestyles). Probably the most influential film in my personal life to date.

9. Billy Elliot - for all of us who didn't quite fit in, or who still don't. The story of a boy who wants to dance even though he belongs to a gruff single dad who thinks ballet is fruity. It's funny and we are blessed that it's on Netflix - way to go 'flix!

10. The Young Victoria - Emily Blunt plays a new queen deciding who she'll marry. She takes the burden of the people, succumbs to others' influence and fights with her mom. Oh - the pressures of being a queen.

There's so many more too: motorcycle diaries, sunshine cleaning,

gratin... fancy word, easy grub

My cooking isn't day to day. Since I'm only cooking for one, I have to eat the leftovers the next day or use up whatever else is there. What I am learning is that there is a way to make simple dishes tasty. So today I made an asparagus gratin. What that means is you food process some bread for crumbs, boil asparagus, cover with cheese and the crumblies and broil it! Add some parsley, olive oil and it's super yummy. I felt like this is actually something I could serve as a side dish. I ate it as my main dish with some coco rice.

This dish was no biggie, but what a breakthrough to realize I can make my own breadcrumbs from the stale bread at the end of my loaf.

By the way, I don't know if I'm going to keep posting about my cooking. I'm too green and it's embarrassing.

...but they all hate the war

To celebrate the anniversary of the Iraq invasion, protests were organized all over the U.S. Of course, there was one in San Francisco, a mile from my apartment in the UN Plaza. It was interesting, because it became a catch all for any protest - labor rights, animal awareness, anti - war. A tourist asked a cop what people were protesting.

"He's protesting the Westin hotels, he thinks the US should monitor a no fly zone in Libya, she wants to people to be vegan, that man there wants the government to prosecute the banks." He pointed to signs. "But they all hate the war."

It was an eclectic group - many demographics were represented. The typical dread locked hippie was there, but there were also a surprising number of normal folks. Students who looked like my little sisters in fur uggs, moms with families, veterans and musicians. Even amidst all the types, I felt out of place at first, no friend to chat with or boyfriend to stand next to. My only interactions were with a woman who complained that the rain was ruining her picture taking abilities - then she thanked me for letting her complain. Another two women asked if they could hide under my umbrella to exchange e-mails, which was really awkward because then they finished their conversation right under my umbrella space without any acknowledgment of me. And another man complimented my zebra rain boots (which incidentally are really ugly). As we marched on though, I began to feel much more connected, like I also had a right to be there as well. The reason many people were normal because normal people have been affected by all of these things. Some of the younger men had been in the war and had changed their position since returning. A mom had lost her son in the battle. I thought about my dad, and even though I can't picture him holding a sign marching downtown, he has every right to demand that the banks share their bailout. As a man who has played by the rules all his life, he is losing to the system right now as well.

If you're wondering how a protest ends, I can tell you. It ends with a woman on her loud speaker saying the protest is now over.

chicken livers

My mom brought me seven chicken breasts as a sacrifice for her weekend visit. She cooks really well, so they were tasty. But I never want to eat chicken again. I had chicken scramble for breakfast, a chicken, pesto and jalapeno cheese sandwich for three lunches and chicken pasta for dinner. So, many of you were asking why I haven't made the promised dinners, that's why: chicken.

I did get the cookbooks from the library. They are humongous! Good thing I was able to stuff them in my gym bag. I found them a little overwhelming - none have the name college in the title, so you can guess I'm already out of my league. Tonight's recipe was featured from "How to Cook Everything Vegetarian." It was coconut Thai sauteed potato and eggplant over rice.

And it was delicious. It took longer than the suggested 40 minute cooking time. It can be really complicated making a dish if you aren't used to it. All you cooks don't realize that. But there is an art to cooking, and more importantly a correct order. My order was a little skeltered, totally throwing off my swagger.

My potatoes had sprouted so I ran to the market, literally. My red shoe fell off three times and finally I just picked it up and ran without it. The Bush Market didn't have good patats, but I made do. Back in the kitchen, I peeled the tots and eggplant, then crushed the garlic. The garlic went in the pan with oil, but it was too hot, so it burned. Dumped that business and started again with lower heat. The the eggplant and patat and eventually some coco milk, curry paste and ginger. The ginger was a really great addition. Way to go Bittman! Good recipe.

I could totally feed this meal to Roger. I'm on my way to wifehood....

"I was 32 when I learned to cook, until then, I just ate." Julie Childs

There is a proper way to heat a pan and it starts by enrolling in an online cooking school trial period for 14 days. Yes, in order to know how to heat a pan, you have to know there is a wrong way.

Inspired shamelessly by Julie and Julia, I'm going to learn to cook in front of your very eyes. Incredibly, like Julia, I do like to eat and I am good at it. Twins!

I checked out two crappy books from the library. I chose these books really carefully: one by its beautiful pictures and the other by the word "college" in it. The beautiful picture book has a list of 20 ingredients per recipe and the college book is for the student at COS, living at home, eating mostly peanut butter. Luckily for me, Amazon has suggested some better books, and the library has offered to track them down from Chinatown and text me when they're in. Hopefully they'll be there tomorrow as their status says they're in transit! The library is right by the farmer's market at the Civic Center. So, two birds with one stone: sweet patats from the market and a quickie to la biblioteca.