This blog post doesn't have any pictures, but........

So earlier this summer I promised to many of you that I would start (and maintain) a blog. The whole "maintain" part has slipped as of September, and I have more than 15 drafts sitting in my account. I have tried to write about everything from my last temporary position, to my new apartment, to another round of facing unemployment, recipes, and a sudden decision to head to New York - something that I will never forget, and although I love that city so much I have missed it each and every day since I got back....I still couldn't find the inspiration to write. I tried to find something that inspired me to share with you, yet every time I noticed that I kept focusing on what was happening to, well...me. Too selfish, kinda boring, and reading more like diary entries, I never finished any of those drafts.

So I guess I'll just jump to the point and let you know that all of this has culminated finally into what took six months to get: a job. A real, permanent, full-time job. I'm saying this now because I'm looking at those 15 drafts and I need a reason to get rid of them, and move on to writing about things that actually matter. This job involves editing, writing, formatting, and deadlines. It involves three windows that are taller than I am that look out towards downtown Portland, and a building that is on the Register of Historic Places. It involves a group of people that care about not owning a car and influencing others to consider the same. Sometimes I wear jeans to work, and I can sit cross-legged in my chair. I don't hear blackberry's going off every minute and so far I'm lucky enough to not sit in a two-hour meeting. There is even a compost bin.

To celebrate new beginnings and looking towards the future, I am currently eating my favorite meal that requires barely any preparation: an assortment of meats, cheeses, vegetables, bread, and wine. I am also going to delete all 15 posts that I couldn't find the inspiration to finish. Instead, I'm going to summarize my last 3 months of unemployment and frustration now - in serious hopes that tomorrow I may be able to blog about something you can actually relate to.

In October my temporary job had ended, and I had ended up going from preparing to move to San Francisco to take on a marketing job in a satellite office....back to searching for jobs in my current city. Feeling flat and defeated (again), I scrounged up the money I had made, the money I had saved, and the last spark of adventure I had gained while thinking about San Francisco and the possible idea of moving.....and charged all that energy into my first ticket to NYC. Fast forward about a month - and it's 5:30 AM at the PDX and I'm standing in the security line waiting to board my plane.
Sometimes people can write novels about New York. They even say a picture can be worth a thousand words. I have told my story about New York countless times and each time it never seems like I can hit it right. I remember everything, everything about New York. I remember how I felt when my plane touched the ground in JFK. I remember the sheer confusion when I took two subway lines into Manhattan. I remember feeling elated when I first popped up from underground and found myself on the Upper East Side. I remember my first meal there. I remember my first morning. I can even remember when I finally fell into the pace that New York sets and felt completely comfortable with that city. That was around the time when people started asking me for directions. I remember how it smelled. I can remember how it moved. I have a picture of Union Square on my desktop at work and to this day I can look below those trees and see the streets I took to get to Chelsea Market, SoHo, and the West Village. I can't really explain how much I miss New York, except that I'm pretty certain that I will go again this coming Spring.
Once back from New York, reality really kicked at me. I had three interviews, one of which kept interviewing me, the other hired someone internally, and the third one fell off the face of the planet. The first one though I was so close, but with the holidays approaching, they kept saying "January". Thanksgiving came and went, Christmas came even faster. This was the first year I couldn't afford gifts for anyone, (which by the way - if you want to know what depression feels like ...not being able to give during the holiday season is what depression feels like). New Years eve rolled around, and in a ridiculously sparkly dress and plastic champagne cup in my hand, I rang in 2010 and silently hoped for things to get better.

Present day: I'm gnawing on a piece of dry salami and washing it down with some leftover ginger ale from a bout of food-poisoning I just recovered from. The New Orleans Saints have won the 2010 Super Bowl. The sun is taking a little longer to set. That first place I interviewed at re-posted their job advertisement. A friend of mine just signed his first work contract and come tomorrow he too will say goodbye to six months of unemployment. I am relaxing after my third Monday of tackling proposals, editing resumes, and becoming familiar with a new company. The days of waking up at 10 AM and wondering what I am going to do feel so far away. The consistent, nagging, uneasy feeling of unemployment-related stress is an afterthought. Although instead of moving right along and falling into the bad-habits of blowing paychecks on dinners out and overpriced tank tops, I am writing to say how much value there was to not having work. There is value when you have only $812 in your checking account - and rent is $800 and there are two bills that are due. There is value when you drink your first microbrew after a month of choking back cheap beers. There is value when you have to remember to file for unemployment every single week. There is value to drinking tea at home with your best friend and sharing a pot of pasta and sobbing over the fact that you are scared of what the future might not give you.
In the last year I have been forced to act, think, and react differently. It was filled with unexpected surprises that were sometimes unwanted. It was scary, it was sweet, and most importantly it was very humbling.

I am about a month and 8 days late in saying this, but here is to hope in 2010. Timing is never really what we want it to be (for instance I got laid off right after my 25th birthday, and I got kicked out of my apartment exactly one week after I started my temporary position.) However, the year is still young enough where we can hope that things might change for the best. I hope that the economy keeps creeping up and that unused talent starts to find themselves homes. I also hope that during this lull that we seem to be in that the young, creative, and restless people keep innovating and changing the way we do things. I hope that we don't give up all of this energy and that we keep working towards something better.

Call your mom.

Sometimes it's best to not update status all the time, get things organized, and regroup after a storm hits. Like putting your head under the covers and sleeping in for a while.
Since my last post I moved, tried to get settled in, got used to a new neighborhood (where it is much quieter, something that I'm still trying to get accustomed to), lost a lot of sleep, and felt out of odds. Instead of filling every moment with something to distract me from what was happening, I took about a month (and one long weekend) to stay here and focus on regaining some of that energy I spent. It's not completely back yet, but I intend that soon I'll get it back 100 percent. Proof of this, is that I've started cooking again, and although the new stove isn't running on gas heat, it's far better than the old electric one I had earlier this year.

I haven't found the best photo of my new place yet (it looks the best when the sun is out, and each time I forget to take a picture), and some parts of the apartment haven't been put away yet (for instance, the office). However, this place has yellow walls, a full patio, two floors, and two bedrooms. This is by far the nicest apartment I have ever lived in, considering the circumstance in which I moved in. To make a long story short, I got my vacate notice, searched and found this place, packed, and moved in within exactly 8 days.

Everything around me feels very different. This new job isn't new anymore, and in fact it's about to grow into a bigger opportunity than I expected. My apartment is finally starting to feel "lived-in", due to the following cooking I have done to break in this new place:
Greek Salad
Spicy Pork Chops (this turned out to be absolutely amazing and I had no clue as to what I was doing)
Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes
Kale (3 times)
Spaghetti with olive oil, red peppers, and garlic
Beef stir-fry
Shrimp and Scallops with Asparagus
Steak (yes!)
Breakfast burritos
Chocolate Chip cookies (2 times)
Black bean soup
BLT sandwiches

I chose to prepare the easiest things on purpose, sometimes with the help of friends, and sometimes on a whim. However the apartment doesnt seem to be completely broken in just yet. I have been craving hearty, simpler things now that its a little cooler out. During this time I just crave anything familiar, safe, and warm. The above picture is something that makes me feel all of the above. It's my mother and the family pug, whom I tried to talk to using video and Skype!
I have gone back and forth in deciding which recipe to feature of my mom's. This will probably be the first of many. There was a soup that she would make when I was little. It was creamy, hearty, and filled with everything I craved when that first snap of cold would hit. This isn't one of those healthy recipes, or something that uses alternatives to cut fat. This is something straight out of your mother's recipe collection. It has ham, bouillon cubes, half and half, bay leaves, wild rice, corn....nothing but the original goods....
As I type this, my mother is probably practicing the art of carmelized onions, which she has tried many times. I have made this soup two times, and both times I haven't made it nearly as good as she does. After all of the simplest dishes I have made here, I think it's time for the challenge of repeating something that reminds me of home to finally break in this home.

WILD RICE AND HAM CHOWDER
1.5 C water
3/4 C uncooked wild rice - rinsed
1/2 C flour (don't you dare use wheat flour!)
1/2 C chopped onion
3 cloves minced garlic
1/4 C Butter (yeah!)
4 C Water (set aside)
4 Chicken Bouillon cubes (I actually had to ask to see where these were at the grocery store one time. The clerk even looked confused.)
1.5 C cubed potatoes
1/2 C chopped carrots
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp nutmeg
Several turns of a pepper mill
1 can of whole kernel corn
2 C Half and Half (I should mention now that the introductory line for this recipe says "Great to serve to a group of friends after a holiday caroling party". I hope to heck that this line was written at least 30 years ago)
3 C Cooked Ham
1 Bay leaf

In Medium Saucepan, combine 1.5 C water and wild rice. Bring to a boil, reduce heat. Cover; simmer 35-40 minutes. Do not drain.
In large saucepot, saute onion and garlic in margarine until tender, stir in flour *TIP: FLOUR CAN BURN, DO THIS CAREFULLY* cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Gradually stir in 4 cups room-temp water and bouillon. Add potatoes, carrots, thyme, nutmeg, pepper, and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, reduce heat. Cover and simmer 10-30 minutes until slightly thickened. Add corn. Cover and simmer additional 15-20 minutes until vegetables are tender. Stir in half-and-half, ham, and rice, cook until thoroughly heated.

The Last Meal

I am writing to you while I am surrounded by packing tape, boxes, dust bunnies, and furniture out of place. I am writing to you after two weeks of a brand-new job that is going fabulously well, and a notification I received last Friday that I had to vacate my apartment for "unfortunate circumstances". I'll spare you the bad details, (it wasn't an eviction notice), but in one weekend my parents and I searched, looked, viewed, and found a new apartment that is larger, brighter, nicer....and it has a bigger kitchen.
I also had to say goodbye to my old computer, which crashed on me last Monday and never really got back to it's old self again. I am writing to you from a newer version of itself. In 14 days my life went from unemployed to very employed, from apartment to apartment, from depressed to back to good spirits, and from an old computer to a shiny new one.

I think I'm kind of tired....

I am writing to you while sitting in an apartment that I only moved into 6 months ago.
While I hate like heck to leave this place (especially the gas stove, it's proximity to New Seasons, and it's surprisingly short distance to two bars, a famous bagel place, and the best breakfast restaurant Portland has to offer), I am looking forward to moving into another apartment. It is about the size of a duplex, with two floors, two bedrooms (!), and even a patio.
So far this year I've taken a few surprising (and unnannounced) bumps in the road, lemons, bad moments (or whatever you call it now) and done my best to turn it around into a smooth shoulder, lemon pound cake, and a good time. The year isn't over yet, and neither is summer - I'm both excited and scared for what the next 4 months of 2009 holds.
Upon hearing the news that I needed to vacate my apartment, and after my mom and I pinned down the new place, I invited my good friend Sarah over for one last meal in this apartment (she lived here before I did). The above picture is what we ate: a simple meal that held all the goods. Kale, salami, chevre, fresh bread, Kalamata olives, and cherry tomatoes. All of which was washed down with a $7 bottle of Chianti. We sat in my little window that pushes out into a makeshift balcony and listened to the traffic outside die down so we could listen to the silence.
Both Sarah and I have endured the heat this apartment holds in the summer. Sarah can tell you stories of how the front door freezes shut in the winter. We both know how cool it is to have the balcony. We both love the makeshift fireplace that serves as the sole heater in the apartment. We both hate those attic stairs while doing laundry. We both know it only takes 20 seconds to get from the front door to Kettleman's Bagels in the morning. Everything here was simple, quaint, and cozy.
This is my last night here. I feel very fortunate to have been laid off during the time I was here because I got to spend a lot of time in this apartment just before I had to leave it. I also feel very fortunate to have started this blog while living here, because I got A LOT of use out of that gas stove. I am also glad that a lot of those unexpected turns in life happened while I was living here.
I intend my next post to be from the new place. It might take me a while, I don't know what the next week or two will hold (maybe even a permanent position at the place I am currently at, which is right now, temporary). Hopefully though I can fill you in on the first meal I made to break in the stove, and share with you (FINALLY) another recipe.

Soup From a Can

A lot has happened in the last week and a half. Most notably: I have a job!!!!!! I start on Monday (a 6 week temporary position, however there is much hope that it turns into a permanent position), and I'm taking over some duties as the Marketing Coordinator for Glumac. Since the good news happened yesterday, I've been doing some celebrating on my own: I've finished three books, enjoyed myself at a couple of happy hours, had breakfast with a friend, and cooked by far one of the most interesting meals of my life. However, it's that exact meal that I feel is appropriate to send me off into my new future.

It's been raining the past couple of days. After such sunny, summery weather it's easy to just want to stay inside and cuddle up with a book (hence why I finished three, trust me this never happens!) and make some sort of comfort food. A couple days ago, I made a vegetarian stroganoff (recipe coming soon!), this morning my friend Erin and I had a "champagne breakfast" complete with mimosa and a scramble at Blue Pig, and just now my friend Sarah and I have polished off an accidental pot of "Spaghetti-O's".

Let me repeat myself, we did not intend for this to happen. Accident.

Sarah likes Tomato soup, and ever since last night at the happy hour at Eastburn, where I watched a girl scarfing down tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich - I've been craving it. Sarah is the queen of comfort food, so this afternoon she e-mailed me with the grand idea of Tomato soup for dinner, and I would make the grilled cheese. Well, since she's on a diet (and I had too much dairy for the day) we skipped on the grilled cheese part, and by the time she showed up in my kitchen we had three small cans of tomato soup, saltine crackers....and that was it.

This girl and I go way back to our freshman year of college where we quickly found out what it means to be improvisational gastronomes: spicing up our pizza with herbs and different types of vegetables, seeing just how far we could take a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and I believe one time we made a salsa from canned tomatoes. Some of it was good enough to eat, there were times when we really wished that the macaroni and cheese had stayed macaroni and just cheese, but we were proud of our creations and our quick thinking.

As Sarah was pouring soy milk into the steaming pot of tomato soup, I was searching around my fridge for any possible pairings other than just saltine crackers. Leftover from my vegetarian stroganoff was a bowl of cooked yet naked pasta, still perfectly al dente and sitting right in front of me. Maybe it was the book from culinary genius/still curmudgeonous author Anthony Bourdain that I had just finished that made me do it: but I heated the bowl up and threw the pasta into the tomato mix, not realizing until halfway finished that I was in fact - making spaghetti'o's. Why waste a perfectly good bowl of pasta on just olive oil and garlic anyways? This might be more fun. Cheap, ridiculous, but fun. After a dusting of Parmesiano Reggiano (Ok, so I splurge on my cheeses please give me a break, I'm about to be employed), a couple turns of fresh pepper, some finishing salt, and a kick of cayenne - we called it good and sat down with steaming bowls of our version of Spaghetti'O's. Or Poor Man's Spaghetti. Or whatever.

I have eaten at several notable restaurants, tasted everything from Osso Bucco at the Veritable Quandary, to the perfect squash puree at Andina, to a gorgeous cut of Toro Tuna anyone could ask for at Murata's. I have eaten fresh pasta, Pig that was freshly killed and prepared, and dark greens from farmer's markets. I have had the joy of eating croissants that had just come out of the oven at St. Honore, and gotten giddy over the "crack" of the carmelized layer of Creme Brulee and tasted the ocean from oysters with a small drop of lemon juice.

Sitting on my couch on the eve of a new job and a new opportunity that would give me that same freedom to taste all that I previously mentioned again, I transcended into the very simple pleasure of eating a very simple meal on a really tight budget. The tomato soup was the perfect consistency with the right amount of creaminess, and the pasta had added a little bit of a thickening factor while still maintaining it's shape and doneness. The finishing salt and cayenne had added just the right amount of flavor needed to brighten the soup, and the dusting of cheese made it that much more special. It wasn't overly salty, it wasn't bland, it wasn't a congealed mess. I'm really not kidding you, Sarah and I kinda hit this one out of the park. Call it what you may, but I couldn't have asked for a better cheap meal on one of the last days of being unemployed. It was a stroke of luck and timing on both our parts to come up with something this simple, stupid, and good. I could try putting down the recipe, but try making this (if you even want to) on your own.

Unemployed Tip #4: Misbehave as much as you can

The purpose of this blog is to provide you all with a positive voice in order to cut through all the other crap that's out there, for instance, reading declining quarterly earnings, increasing foreclosures, increasing demand for healthcare, and decreasing funding for public services. Or just to help you get over a bad breakup, a dwindling bank account, or even a bad hair day.

However, in order to keep up a positive and informative site....I have to keep up a positive and informative attitude. This can be hard.

The last several nights though I have been blessed to stay up past bedtime (for me, that's usually around 10:30 PM), and eat with friends both new and old. In fact, just last night I played a board game for about two hours over a $4 bottle of wine, hummus, and gummy bears. Probably not the classiest mix of foods, but with the game, conversation, and laughter tossed in - who cared if the wine glasses were in fact ceramic mugs and the hummus was slathered on chips with a dollop of guacamole on top? The greatest part, is that when you get a small group of friends together to eat, more than likely you'll end up with more food than what was there to begin with (for instance, I am now the proud owner of a pint of blackberries, two wheat pitas, a box of champagne grapes, and half a box of Rice Krispie cereal, all of which came in from friends who pitched in for food.)

This week so far though has been a testy one. It's hard to keep your head above the water when there aren't many job postings, and your friends are slowly being laid-off, or their hours are being reduced. There are days when I do stuff where all I'm trying to do is just get by, or fill in the hours. I'm admitting this now because it's the truth. I'm also admitting this now because I'm human and yeah there are times when it sucks to be unemployed, and I kinda sit there with my coffee cup in one hand, my head in my other hand and think "What am I going to do in six months if I'm still unemployed?"

The above picture is of my friend Cristy. She is someone who knows how to take anything ordinary and turn it into a hilarious situation. For instance, this moment was captured when she took two decorative items and decided it would be a good idea to balance them on her head and see how far she could walk. It was her day off, it was 2:35 PM, and a sudden burst of energy (perhaps it was the yellow walls!) made her do this. Everything that was bothering me earlier was sucked out of me as I watched her try to walk with a very heavy bowl/vase on top of her head (that bowl, which I am the proud owner of now!)

That evening I made Rice Krispie treats (with peanut butter and chocolate chips!) late at night with Kate. I don't remember the last time I have made Rice Krispie treats, but at that moment, nothing could beat getting our hands sticky with melted marshmallows, or the hilarity that ensued when we both realized that the cereal was falling on the floor and not into the bowl. That was a Tuesday night. I felt like I was a kid again, giddy that I was staying up into the wee hours of the morning on a school night.

When you are unemployed, down and out, feeling bad, or even confused - do whatever it takes to make yourself laugh. It's times like this that you can't put down on your resume, and let's face it you kinda have to curb it at work. So, my tip for you today is to let it out. It doesn't have to involve downing as much PBR as possible or doing keg stands like you did in college. Fun and laughter come for free (surprise!)


Late Night Rice Krispie Treats

3 T Butter
4 C Miniature Marshmallows
6 C Rice Krispie cereal
1 C creamy peanut butter
1/2 C chocolate chips

Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Add the marshmallows and stir until melted. Remove from heat.
Slowly mix in the cereal. (This is when it gets fun!).
Fold in peanut butter and chocolate chips
Spoon mixture out into 9x12 inch dish
With wax paper, press down onto the mixture, spreading it out evenly in the pan

Don't even take the time to cut them into neat little squares. Just dig in with your hands.

Time from prep to mouth: about 20 minutes
Cost: Rice Krispie cereal - $2.50, Marshmallows - $1.99, Peanut butter - $2.99, Chocolate Chips: $2.99

Whew!

The last week or so I've been trying to stay away from the computer unless to do something of importance (aka: apply for jobs, email) instead of actually writing. The heat wasn't very nice to any of us, and it certainly wasn't too nice to my computer. Every time my computer got too hot, it threatened to shut down. Of course, as I expected the heat also affected my writing, creativity, and took it's toll on productivity. For the most part I did what a lot of you did, sat in front of a fan and sweated!
Although the hot weather threw me off of my normal routine, I managed to get through it in the best of ways, (and through a couple of nights spent in a hotel room with AC! Thanks Katie and Mom!) and soon the 105-107 degree heat will start cooling off (Rain is predicted for this Thursday, folks!).
I also went off of my normal routine of cooking. I did a lot of trips to the New Seasons deli, tried to scrounge free food at parties, and mostly drank a lot of iced tea and water. I also got creative in ways to cool down.....

1.) I learned this a long time ago in one of my "Seventeen" magazines when I was in high school. Take all of your daily toiletries, including shampoos, face washes, lotions, sunscreen, etc and put them in the fridge.

2.) Keep a spray bottle next to you. Throw in some herbs like lavender or rosemary if you have some on hand.

3.) Ice Cubes.

4.) Go to a coffee house where they give you $.50 refills on iced tea and coffee and do your job search there. The air-conditioned space is worth the $2.50 that you spend.

5.) Keep a couple wet washcloths in the fridge.

In the dead heat of last week I managed to get to the river with a couple of friends, nail an interview (Fingers crossed!), finish a book, celebrate a friend's birthday, got back together with another few friends from college, saw my boyfriend who was in from New York this weekend (yay!), and we went to a wedding of a childhood friend of mine (Congrats Katie and Elijah!). Although unemployment certainly hinders other means of lifestyle, such as buying a plane ticket to Europe or a $50 shirt at Anthropologie, it definitely makes meeting up with friends seem more leisurely and fun, as you aren't running up to the bar every hour getting another $4 drink. Instead, things are more focused on conversation, slowing things down, being creative and finding better (and cheaper) things to do. Having to scratch by makes buying a beer or a bottle of Kombucha a treat. This is probably the poorest I've been in a long time, but is by far the best summer ever, record heat and all.

On an even hotter day....

Today, I checked the weather on my phone to see what the temperature damage was to be today. It hit over 100 degrees. You probably have understood by now that I don't deal well with heat. Sometimes I get cranky, mostly I just get lazy. It's like I can't seem to drink enough water, and I wouldn't dream of turning on the stove. For days like this, it's kinda fun to break out some cheese, meats, slice up a baguette, a handful of kalamata olives, and some carrots or tomato slices and make yourself a party platter. Usually, I only eat these things while holding a fancy cocktail and I'm in the company of friends - but the simplicity of this is almost romantic and is really nice to do just for yourself. I notice that I slow down while eating this, I play around with pairing the foods, I pour some cheap wine, and turn on some music and enjoy the food.

Speaking of music, I've toyed around with how to write about this topic. I listen to music wherever I'm at. I have music that I've heard in movies and commercials, I've walked up to registers at stores asking what is playing on the speakers, I've asked to see Ipod playlists at food cart windows, and I have a growing Itunes list that has over 3,000 songs and a CD library that takes up 4 large plastic boxes. I listen to music when waking up, while cooking, while I was figuring out what to write in proposal responses, while putting together presentations, driving, reading, running, and sleeping. During this last 'bout of job searching and cover letter editing, I have made many playlists, and my Itunes DJ has gotten a serious workout. I figure, the best way right now to write about music is to at least tell you what I'm listening to.

Right now, the breeze has kicked up, and outside I can hear blues music playing at a nearby party. I just popped in a piece of bread that was soaked in olive oil with just the right amount of tangy bite from the balsamic vinegar, finished with a salty piece of salami and crumbly sharp cheddar, and besides what I can hear outside - these are the sounds that are filling my apartment. If you want to sample them, try Itunes or Amazon.com. Also, for those of you trying to find out what was playing during a TV show or on an advertisement, go here: www.adtunes.com. I have found TONS of music on this chat forum.

The Magnetic Fields - Never Make You Stay
Kruder and Dorfmeister - One and Only
Coldplay - Yellow
Tori Amos - A Sorta Fairytale
Beck - Broken Drum
Fatboy Slim - Rockafeller Skank
Count Basie - Lester Leaps In
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Is This Love?
Prince - Take Me With You
Norah Jones - Sunrise
The Dining Rooms - Dreamy Smiles
Benny Goodman - King Porter Stomp
Modest Mouse - The Good Times are Killing Me
The Busy Signals - Futon Hopper
Cat Power - Metal Heart
Doves - Melody Calls
Bjork - Wanderlust
Gotan Project - Epoca
Ani DiFranco - Akimbo
The Republic Tigers - Fight Song
Magic Bullets - Heatstroke
The Clash - Straight to Hell
Working for a Nuclear Free City - 88
Mr. Scruff - Get a Move On
Girl Talk - Can't Stop
The New Pornographers - All for Swinging You Around
The Sound Providers - Autumn's Evening Breeze
Deerhunter - Never Stops

Black Beans on a Hot Day

Another potluck in the park was held, and I made my Black Beans. Surprisingly, everyone who ate it asked for the recipe, so here it is! This is by far one of the simplest recipes you can make, and either you can make it by soaking the beans overnight or straight out of the can (because yes, sometimes bulk can be a little more expensive!) I have made this once when I was sick, twice for a couple hungry friends (Cat, who lovingly calls it "Bean juice soup"), and sometimes when I need a really quick lunch.

A key ingredient in this dish is Braggs Liquid Aminos. You need this in your pantry. It tastes salty (a natural occurance - there is no added sodium), and it goes well with everything. The downfall is that a 16 Fl. oz bottle will cost you around $5. However, it's a wonderful seasoning and it should last you a few months. Worth the investment if you ask me. You can get Braggs usually in the natural foods section, or at a local Co-Op.

The Simplest Black Beans Ever
2 Cans Black Beans (try to find ones without salt added)
4 T of Braggs Liquid Aminos
2 t garlic powder
1 t cayenne pepper
1 t sage (or a sprig of fresh sage)
2 bay leaves
freshly ground pepper

Bring beans (and their juices) and all seasonings to a boil, then let simmer for about 15 minutes. If you taste it towards the end, and it's not "salty" enough, don't go for the table salt, put in a dash or two more of the Braggs. Also, leave in the bay leaves.

Another thing I have tried was throwing in about a can and a half of water, and turning it into a soup. All you have to do is double up the seasonings. In the end, grate some pepper jack cheese over it.

I told you it was simple....

Cost: Black beans - anywhere from $.80 to $1.00 a can, Braggs - $5
Time from prep to mouth: 30 minutes
Tips: If you have a red bell pepper on hand, dice it up and toss in a 1/2 cup of it while it simmers.

A Lasagna that will get you through anything

I have an old blue folder that I bought my freshman year of college, originally intended to keep information on a place I used to volunteer at. This folder eventually started to store collected recipes that I found online, in magazines, and clippings that my mother would send me. Some of these recipes have scrawled notes next to them, ones have oil splatters, some are torn, and all are yellowing with age. This folder has grown over the years to contain over 80 saved and found recipes, mostly vegetarian as during college I was one of those "I do it because I care" vegetarians (man, I used to think I was SO cool)...who broke the rules and ate fish once in a while.
The recipes contain risottos, quesadillas, pie crusts (use cold water!), hearty bakes, soups, sauces, stews, cookies, and one particular lasagna recipe. I found this recipe when I was going through that whole self-discovery phase, where suddenly being a cook and experimenting with food sounded better than writing and reading and waxing philosophical on the Empirical Therories of Communication Phenomena.
This was a Black Bean Lasagna recipe, pulled off of the allrecipes.com website. I've made this lasagna during finals week, after a long day of being an Orientation Leader, after long days that included 16 credits worth of classes, when I was having a good or a bad day, one time for an unimpressed guy I was dating (he was an avid meat-eater), for many friends, and of course - while I was unemployed after college. I think what I liked about it mostly was the process. Cooking the lasagna noodles, simmering the beans, mixing the Ricotta and eggs all while listening to Death Cab for Cutie and figuring out how to expound upon my thoughts on whatever thesis it was I was working on. It serves well for a dinner party, gives you about a week of leftovers if you are by yourself, and you can make this for under $10!
I've made this so many times, that I've given it my own twist, but since this is from a website, and an original poster had to post this - I guess I should give "Carol" a nod. Cheers, Carol.


Black Bean Lasagna

9 Lasagna noodles
1 Pint part skim ricotta cheese
1 Egg
1/2 chopped red onion
1/4 chopped green bell pepper
1/4 chopped red bell pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 cans black beans (or try kidney beans!)
1 can tomato sauce
1 large tomato (try heirloom), diced
8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
Parmesan cheese

In a large pot, boil the lasagna noodles until al dente (trust me!) and drain

In a bowl, blend ricotta cheese and egg - set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and coat a 3 Quart baking dish with cooking spray

In large skillet, saute onion, both bell peppers, and garlic until tender. Mash 1 can of black beans. Stir in mashed black beans, whole beans, and tomato sauce into skillet, and cook until heated through.

Arrange 3 lasagna noodles in bottom of of the baking dish, and layer with 1/3 each of the ricotta mixture, black bean mixture, diced tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese. Repeat twice. (Tip: keep the bottom heavy, the top lean. Therefore you won't have that crater in the middle of lava-hot cheese/lasagna mixture).

Bake 40-45 minutes in preheated oven. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and top with any leftover diced tomatoes.

Time from prep to mouth - about 1 hour, 20 minutes
Cost - Lasagna noodles - $1.50-$3, cans of black beans - $1.00-2.50, Tomato sauce - $.85, mozzarella - $3.50, Bell peppers (depending on season) $1.50 each, Ricotta - $2.50-$3.00

Car tripping, potlucks, and catching up...in no particular order.

It has been almost ten days since the last post. For those of you who have been checking this blog regularly (I know there are a few of you, and to those of you - hello!), the last week has been quite the whirlwind of activity. For starters, a group of us kids got together for a Friday evening potluck and featured food that was made (or store-bought!) on the creatively cheap! Above is a picture of my Kale (please see previous post for the recipe), Kyle's Quesadillas, Lindsay's fritattas, and Brenna's deviled eggs. I am hoping to get my hands on these recipes and more to share with you as this blog continues to grow.
The next day I turned right around and hopped in a car for a road trip adventure that involved four National Parks (Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, Wind Caves, the Badlands) one National Monument (Devil's Tower) and one National Memorial (Mount Rushmore). I also visited a former gold mine, and toured around probably one of the most interesting rest stops which had a small hike around lava rock. Never....EVER in my life did I think I would do a trip such as this one. I've spent most of my life driving up and down the West Coast, pretty much memorizing the terrain of Eastern Washington, Central Oregon, the Willamette Valley, and Northern and Southern California, with the occasional flight to other U.S. cities peppered in. But there isn't a single excerpt from a book or any picture that prepares you for what you see while sitting in a car and driving through America. The above picture is what I saw right after we turned around a curve outside of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I ask for forgiveness on the photo quality, as this picture (as is most of the pictures on this blog) was taken from my Iphone. But you get the idea that those mountains, which are the Grand Tetons - are enormous while driving by. That, and they feel like they are right next to you.

I cannot put down in one blog post or several paragraphs what this entire trip meant to me. A picture can't express what it feels like to climb and run around the pinnacles and feel the prehistoric rock at the Badlands, or the smell of sulfur and feeling the waves of warm steam on your face from roiling hot springs at Yellowstone. Open prarie fields during the late afternoon have the most pleasant silence.

If you get the opportunity to drive across the country or visit a National park by all means fill up the tank and go. If it's not one more notch in your belt of things to do before you die, it's surprising how much more you get out of such an adventure.

Oh, and for those of you who are already asking - we obeyed the advertisements in South Dakota and drank the ice water at Wall Drug.....

Road Trip

I will be driving towards Chicago with my boyfriend until the 17th. I'll have some content when I get back, involving the trip, a recession potluck (held yesterday, thanks to all who came!), and a post on the best singer/oboeist in the world.

Take care,
Vanessa

Unemployed Tip #3: Dough

For me, I got laid off on a Monday. It went like this: got meeting call from boss, walked into conference room, saw blue folder and my HR representative, was told my position was eliminated. It took about 30 seconds.

What followed though was a 45 minute recap of severance, benefit enrollment with COBRA, job hunting sites, and a literal walk-through of my agreement to termination which included enrolling for unemployment.

I don't know what your experience of being laid off was like, but if you were like me - I couldn't understand a word my HR rep was saying. The only things you are thinking about is "What am I going to do" and "Oh (well, I'm not going to say this on here, but the word I'm thinking of rhymes closely with 'Duck' )"

After you get home and set your box of belongings down, don't head straight to the bar, don't start immediately looking for jobs, don't pick up the phone and sob to your mom. File for your unemployment because the clock starts ticking the day you sign your termination agreement.

For those living in Oregon, go here:

http://www.employment.oregon.gov/EMPLOY/UI/index.shtml

If you have either been laid off, or been given temporary leave without a concrete start date, you qualify for Unemployment benefits. Because this is the State system (Oregon), there are a lot of things you need to know about filing for unemployment. My first suggestion is this: be patient.

1.) On the page, there is a link to fill out your new claim online. This is faster, more accurate, and easier than doing it by phone.
2.) Your employer should have given you your last paycheck. Make sure you have this with you as you will need to enter what your salary and yearly earnings were.
3.) If you have questions about what your weekly (yes, I said weekly) check will be, there is also a benefits calculator, which gives an estimate of what your benefit will be.
4.) It will also ask you which week you want to start your benefits. Keep this tip in mind: You want your benefits as soon as possible. Consider that there will also be a waiting week after you file your claim.
5.) It will ask you if you want to deduct State and Federal taxes from each check. This is up to you, but if you do elect to not withhold taxes, I also suggest setting aside about 10-15% of each check for end of year taxes.
6.) When you file your claim expect to wait about one week to hear from the state. If you do have a question though, or you feel you are getting impatient, call this number: 503.451.2400
7.) KEEP EACH AND EVERY DOCUMENT THE STATE MAILS YOU. This is a pain, but you need to do it in the event of if something happens (such as your check doesn't come)
8.) WRITE DOWN YOUR CONFIRMATION AFTER YOU HAVE FILED. Duh
9.) It will ask you for a Pin code. Don't want to lose this number
10.) Your very first check is going to be a paper check that you need to get cashed. From there on out it will come via a USBank Reliacard. It acts as a debit card, and each week the state directly deposits to that card. Another option is to have the money directly deposited into your account. If you choose to do this, you have to fill out the Direct Deposit form on the employment website and physically mail it in.
11.) When you do recieve your confirmation letter that you are eligible for a set amount of weekly unemployment pay - it's your job to make sure that at the end of every week (say it with me - SATURDAY) you either call or file online. In my experience - it takes you literally 15 minutes to get through the damn phone call (it's because they have to repeat everything that you enter - makes sense). It is easier to do it online: http://www.workinginoregon.org/ocs (one tip - make double sure that you have completed your claim! It will tell you at the end that your claim is complete).

Your unemployment benefits are based on your past work history of the last 18 months. Don't get your hopes up, chances are the benefits will help you a little with your mortgage, car payment, student loans, bills, rent, credit cards, etc. After you get all of this done though (it takes about 45 minutes) THEN you can have your friends buy you some beer, get on the phone and let it out to your mom, and after you've let all that emotion and fear and anger out - start getting excited about the rest of your life.


Again: here are the relevant numbers/links.

http://www.employment.oregon.gov/EMPLOY/UI/index.shtml - this is where you file for unemployment as soon as you get home

503.451.2400 - Employment in Oregon main number, call this if you have a general question

http://www.workinginoregon.org/ocs - this is where you file your weekly claim

(503).224.0405 - weekly claim hotline (for those in Portland/Metro)

A healthy and cheap addiction

I just ate an entire bunch of kale in one sitting. No fancy cut of meat to go with it, no exotic type of fish, no bread. No $10 bottle of wine to wash it down. I love kale that much. In fact I think there's something wrong with me.

I could eat this stuff every day if I wanted to. This is as healthy as it gets - packed with Beta Carotene, Vitamin A and C, Lutein, and B6. Toss it with some garlic - Also rich in B6, C, Calcium, Zinc, and Iron. If you are feeling dragged down from all the Carbohydrate-rich foods that are quick to cook and appeal to those of us with thin wallets, this one will get you back up to speed in no time. Perfect for a Sunday dinner while watching re-runs on TV and folding laundry.

Warning - addictive therefore giving possibility to no leftovers. I suggest that you cook this only for yourself, and that if you intend on having leftovers, to refrain yourself on grabbing seconds. Also, keep away from hungry roommates, curious kids, boyfriends, and girlfriends.


Selfish Helping Sauteed Kale

Olive oil
1 bunch Kale (there are different types of kale, any type works although I am partial to Lacinto Kale)
5 cloves of garlic, peeled and diced
Red pepper flakes
Water (keep some in a glass by the stove)
Salt and pepper to taste


*In large frying pan, heat olive oil over medium high heat. Toss in garlic and saute until slightly fragrant.
*Toss in Kale, making sure to coat in olive oil/garlic mix.
*once Kale is completely coated, bring heat down to medium and toss in water (a little goes a long way. This is to prevent the kale/garlic from sticking and burning). Partially cover and let it steam for about 7-10 minutes.
*Add in red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.

Time from Prep to Mouth: 20 minutes
Cost: depending on the season and where you buy the Kale - anywhere from $1.50 to $2.00 a bunch. Garlic - $1.00 a head

Extra tip: if you have it on hand, toss in some pinenuts or slivered almonds at the end when the water has evaporated.

Unemployed Tip #2: Prepare yourself for Monday

I hate looking for jobs. I really do. I hate the time that it takes to create every cover letter for each and every job and making sure that it exemplifies all the requirements that the position holds.

However, I love that feeling of accomplishment when you have completed your last spellcheck, have attached the final version of your cover letter and resume, have given your email a digital blessing, and have hit the "Send" button.

I have done massive job searches now four times in my life. In the last three years. Although this might seem odd on paper, I consider this another huge gain for me. I have been through enough crappy versions of resumes, enough mistakes that HR representatives have pointed out to me, and many, many applications to obscure companies that don't list their name on Craigslist. Be careful of those companies that give small one-liners about the job. Be especially wary of those who say you can gain anywhere from $300-$3,000 a month. Also, don't be careful but just plainly don't apply for those where they ask you to pay or sign up before you apply. You are desperate for a job, but you aren't that desperate. Pull back a bit and try out some research about the company before you apply.

1.) If they list a phone number or fax number - type it into a Google search along with the State that the job is in. It will turn out in the search results and from there you can dig in a bit deeper about the company.

2.) Sometimes the job poster wants you to email a certain person at the company. Look up that person. Although this person might not be your boss you might find a couple good tips to help you through your interview or email, such as you both might belong to the same co-op or that the person is really into those detailed Edward Gorey drawings. Try not just a Google search, but look them up on Facebook, Twitter, and professional networking sites such as Linked In. You also might find out more about the position that you are applying for, and what role that person will be playing in your possible career.

3.) No matter what, keep your resume to one page. Keep detailed information on the cover letter, keep the relevant information on your resume.

4.) Get as much input on your resume as possible. Check out the resources that Monster.com and Careerbuilder.com have on resume feedback. It will take some time to complete, but it's valuable! Also, shed the shame and post your resume on headhunter sites such as Filtertalent.com and Boly Welch (for those in Oregon). Look around on the internet for other headhunter places that are more specialized. There are ones that are focused on sportswear, others that are focused on office jobs, and ones that specialize in placing people in higher positions such as executive and CEO levels.

5.) There are other places to search for jobs other than Craigslist.
*www.idealist.org
Non-Profit and volunteer opportunities. Also, it's a great networking tool, as you can create your own profile and list what your interests are and post your resume.

*www.indeed.com
This lists posts from both Monster and Careerbuilder and several other 3rd party sites. One thing is you can always be assured that you know exactly who you are applying to.

*Your local newspaper
Bringing it back old-school. You never know what you will find

*Your State employment website
It's one of the first resources given to you while you are being laid off.
In Oregon: www.employment.oregon.gov/EMPLOY/ES/seeker/index.shtml

*Make a list of companies that you've wanted to work for. Look them up online, go to their About Us section and more than likely they will have a "Career Opportunities" section. You don't know what you'll find

So there you have it. 5 tips to keep in mind for tomorrow when you spend three hours of job applying/searching after your long, leisurely coffee you'll enjoy after waking up!

A celebration....

Once in a while instead of ending the week (and starting a holiday weekend) with a beer in each hand and about three shots of tequila in to the evening, it's nice to pull back and relax instead. I have the prospect of an interview (fingers crossed!), and I had some saved cash to throw towards something celebratory, so I opted for an evening with a glass of Moscato and a sparkly tart shared with this girl.

All you need to know about her is that her real name is Kathleen (her W. Virginia name), we all called her Katie (her W. coast name) but she likes to be called Kate (ultimately given to her by a certain Jr. High Honor Band name tag, and it just kinda stuck). She has visited all 50 states, knows a thing or two about trees, knows even more about dogs and cats, flew with me to L.A. , has gone through some of the hardest experiences a kid could go through, and is as tough as nails.

If there is one meal that will ever stand out from this girl it's the one I had with her a few Thanksgiving's ago. That was my first year out of college, and my first year that I worked on a holiday (and had a morning shift the day after so I couldn't go home). She and her mom were kind enough to let me come over and just watch movies and eat a thanksgiving dinner and let my mind settle all the day's stress over taking care of other people's thanksgiving plans. No big table, no needing to get to know other family members, no serious prep work. It was easy, on paper plates, and I had a coke sitting next to me. I missed my family and I felt guilty for not going down to see them, but I was in a time bind and I hoped that my parents were at least giving thanks in their own way.

Then I took a bite of the mashed potatoes.

You know that feeling of biting into something and without even chewing you go "oh now this is special". I raved about it the entire night. In fact, I think that's all I even ate that night.

(Before I go on I'll admit that when I explained this fact to my mother it broke her heart. Please understand, she admits frequently that she hates to cook, but when she does she shines. So mom, I'm still deciding on which recipe of your's that I will share!!!!!)

As I started in on my second helping, Kate with her mouth full said "half and half!"

I'm not kidding you, these potatoes don't require extra salt, extra butter, or the need to turn it into a gravy-lava volcano. It will certainly set off your 5K Turkey Trot that you completed earlier, or your game of family football, but it's worth it. I would advise that if you make this, that it be for a small celebration such as your first interview, your first unemployment paycheck, a rainy day in the middle of summer, or because you have a few other unemployed friends who are hungry. Potatoes got this nation through the depression of the 1920's, so bring the spuds back to get us through the recession of the first part of the 21st century.

Glass of Moscato optional.



Moneyhun-Freeland mashed potatoes

1 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes
butter
salt and pepper to taste
1 pint half and half

I'm not giving strict cooking directions. Reason why is this: you will not make this as good as the original cook: Kate's mother - Patty Moneyhun. However you can try.

Boil potatoes until soft enough to mash with fork.
Add half and half until creamy consistency
Add butter, salt, and pepper to taste.

Time from prep to mouth: about 30-40 minutes
cost: potatoes - $3-5 depending on season, Half and Half - $1.50, Butter - $2.00
Remember, this is for a celebration so get friends to pitch in to help out. Also, you will feel guilty if you just ate this by yourself for days.....

When life hands you lemons, throw them in pasta

In California today, it was 108 degrees. In Oregon, it's creeping up to 90 degrees tomorrow. For those of us who don't like Oregon's rather humid heat, 90 degrees is near hell. The last thing I want to do is slave over a stove, so it is a good thing that angel hair cooks fast.

I'm not a huge fan of cold pasta, but this is one that is satisfying and will go well with that bag of near-wilting spinach sitting in the back of your fridge.


Seriously lemon-y herb pasta

12 ounces Angel Hair pasta
Juice of one entire lemon
1 tsp lemon zest
2 cloves of garlic, sliced thin
2 tsp basil
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp rosemary
Olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

While Angel hair is cooking, in frying pan saute garlic slices in olive oil for a few minutes on low heat (be careful not to go overboard or else they will get bitter, therefore making your already sticky summer day suck that much more!)

Once pasta is finished, rinse off with cold water and immediately toss it with the garlic and olive oil

Add both lemon juice and lemon zest, basil, oregano, and rosemary

Season with salt and pepper

Time from prep to your mouth: approximately 15 minutes

Cost: Angel hair, lemon, garlic, - roughly $5 (add another $10 if you don't have dried herbs on hand)

Other options for if you have extra $$$ - throw in diced tomatoes if you have them on hand, or throw in some of that near wilting spinach while sauteing the garlic. Or use summer squash, asparagus, a little onion, or even artichoke hearts.

Found on a lightpost

I saved this paper bag taped to a lightpost and from what was already taped/painted on to it I turned it into a consistent reminder. You can't see it, but I had written down the day and time of when I found it on the back: 10/10/06 at 10:10 PM.

First post on my fourth round of unemployment

It is my intention that this blog will make you feel happy. I am terribly surprised that I am doing this, considering that there are hundreds of blogs out there, many of which go unnoticed. I am facing my fourth round of being unemployed within the last three years. Unlike the other three times, this time I was laid off from a job I never felt comfortable in, am able to qualify for State unemployment benefits, and enough food stamps to at least buy soy milk and bread for the month. I'm in the state with the second highest unemployment rate, the highest minimum wage rate, one of the highest homelessness rates and a state that can barely live without sales tax.

I have a resume that ranks up there with about 10,000 other graduates with Communication Studies degrees. It lists things like my former boss's cell phone number, my first job out of college as a hotel concierge (where I could lift suitcases above my head and where I met Stephen King), that I know both ACT and CRM sales databases, and that yes indeed I am organized, good at communication, a proven people person, and I can handle the toughest situation with ease.
What it doesn't show is that I have more creativity, ideas, interests, and goals than what 8.5x11 inches won't allow me to fit in.

So, to those of you who are scrambling to find change in your winter coat pockets (I just found $5 in one of mine so in celebration I bought some lime popsicles) and creating spreadsheets on every penny spent - this blog will be geared towards creative outlets, job searching tips, and cooking on the terribly cheap all while exemplifying fabulousness and ultimately giving you hope and something positive to look at and consider.

I mean shit, I have to do something.....