#87: Cook a meal I have not made once a week – round 7
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Chicken Pasta with Thyme-Mint Cream Sauce
Ingredients:
1 pound pasta, such as linguine or fettucini
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 1/4 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into 1-inch cubes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup of dry white wine
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 1/2 cups heavy whipping cream
2 Tbsp chopped fresh mint
1 1/2 Tbsp chopped fresh thyme
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon sherry vinegar or apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt and more salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions:
Heat 4 quarts of salted* water in a large pot for the pasta. As the water heats, prepare the chicken. Heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium high. Season the chicken pieces generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Add the chicken pieces, spreading them out initially and then not stirring them, so they have an opportunity to brown. Once lightly browned on one side, use tongs to flip the pieces over so they brown on the second side. When pieces are browned on both sides, and just cooked through, remove to a paper towel lined plate.
Deglaze the pan with white wine. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the chicken stock and let liquids reduce by half (turn up the heat if necessary). Add the cream, mint, thyme, lemon zest, honey, salt, and vinegar. Reduce the sauce by half again.
Once the pasta water is boiling, add the pasta and cook following directions on pasta package. When pasta is ready, drain and add to cream sauce when cream sauce has been reduced by half and is thick enough to coat a spoon. Add chicken to the pasta and sauce. Add more salt and pepper to taste.
Results: Well, when it first came out, it was terrible. It kind've tasted like chicken-pasta dipped in tea. Yeeaah. About that. No thanks. However, as a leftover, I was surprised. It was delicious! Perfect for work lunches.
Recipe from Simply Recipes
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Uploaded on Nov 11, 2009
2 comments
#91: Build the NES-PC: Part 1
I am working on a project inspired by a couple of projects I saw on line, but with some major differences.
Basically the goal of this project is to build a computer inside an NES system. The computer will run the Ubuntu Linux Operating System, and will have 2 functions: Online-Video Watching [via Boxee], and NES emulation via the original controllers.
I have some requirements that must be fulfilled by this project, and I have begun organizing the parts to make it come to fruition. I have included them here to keep me honest as I continue.
*The Computer's only monitor will be a television. It must be able to easily connect to a TV using one or more of the more common display interfaces for a TV.
*The computer's grand total of parts in the computer must not be greater than $250.00, with a goal of under $200
*The computers main input will use original NES controllers, which must connect to the console through the original NES ports. This will involve programming a microprocesser, and making a converter inside of the box. Ideally the conversion will be to USB. A sub-goal is having the NES controllers be the computers only input.
*The NES-PC, when finished, must be as true to the original form of the NES as possible. There will be nothing sticking out of the case. The only alteration allowed is the cutting of a hole for the mobo frame. Even this should be avoided.
With that out of the way, let's give a status update:
Parts Obtained
*NES system, with NES controllers COST: $0.00
*Intel D945GCLF2 Little Falls 2 Micro-ITX motherboard with 1.6GHZ atom CPU COST: $93.00
*1 Gb Ram COST: $34.00
*Molex to P4 Power Cable COST $7.00
Total Spent to date: 134.00
Steps taken:
*Removed parts except controller parts from old NES
*Began research into microprocessor programming.
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Uploaded on Nov 9, 2009
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7 comments
Instinct
n.
1. An inborn pattern of behavior that is characteristic of a species and is often a response to specific environmental stimuli: the spawning instinct in salmon; altruistic instincts in social animals.
2. A powerful motivation or impulse.
3. An innate capability or aptitude: an instinct for tact and diplomacy.
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Uploaded on Nov 3, 2009
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#6: Stay for at least 24 hours in 13 states
[The rest of the D.C. photos and an understanding of the #'s]
Lewis and I traveled down to Washington, D.C. [Yes, I know it isn't technically a state, but for my purposes, it counts] to attend the National March for Equality, and whilst there we had a grand old time.
Lewis graciously drove, which meant that in between conversation I got to snooze in the car. We arrived fairly early on friday, and grabbed a snack at a burrito place, and took a walk-around, stopping to watch some skateboarders fall do tricks.
From there we met my old friend Liz for dinner! [Yay!] Lewis let us wander and get a drink, and very kindly volunteered to gather our car at it's lot. We were both pretty tired, so we crashed for the night, to wake up the next morning and begin our day with french toast at Mr. Henry's, followed by a walk-through of a farmer's market, where we got to sample an amazing apple I've never heard of before, and found a small folk band playing outside a cafe. It was neat to see the market in all it's aspects. So good to smell all the real live smells. Delicious.
We then wandered about, through the natural history museum where I got to see dinosaurs, and a Jesus fanatic. Then stopped by another museum and some green housing projects before hopping on the metro and makin' our way to the gaybourhood - dupont circle. It was a good walk-about, ended with food and margaritas at a mexicano restaurant that proffered tasty noms.
We made our way back to the hotel with the thought of napping and then going to a bear party, and ended up sleeping through the alarm, and then going straight through to the next day. The shindig didn't start till way too late, anyway.
The next day came and we made our way to the equality march, after stopping to talk to some folks and eat breakfast. That you heard about.
After the march, we found some folks doing... something and watched them in amusement and intrigue
We then made our way back to our car, stopped for pizza, then went to our second hotel. Relaxed for a bit, then did a walk-about of several memorials at night. I was insistent on seeing the FDR memorial at night. And yet, I don't have any photos of it. It is my favorite memorial, though.
We were exhausted after this, so we grabbed some snackies, and hit the hay, to wake the next morning and stop at the national cathedral, then mosey on home, with stops for five guys fries, and dinner-y noms in Connecticut.
A loverly long weekend!
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Uploaded on Nov 2, 2009
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#84: Eat Pizza in 20 states
Restaurant of Nomming: Ella's Pizza
Location of Nomming: Washington, D.C.
Menu description of Noms: Margherita: buffalo mozzarella, basil, tomato sauce, olive oil and sea salt
Cost of Noms: $12.95
Thoughts on Noms: I am a sucker for Wood Oven Pizza. Let's get that out of the way. I grew up right outside New Haven, CT... 'nuff said. The pizza was really good! Not quite enough Mootz, but the sauce was good, and it was fired up just right. And I'm addicted to basil on pizza. Really good noms.
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Uploaded on Oct 30, 2009
5 comments
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