Lent 1 of 3 is complete, and I'm looking forward to a nice slab of ham tomorrow for Easter supper. I also managed to keep my Lenten sacrifice and didn't watch any TV between 4 and 8pm, which turned out to be a great choice of habits to break as it freed up a lot of my time to accomplish other things like reading, or cooking, or watching films. It's funny how you don't even realize how a seemingly-benign routine can place you quite firmly in a rut.
022. (Re)watch each of AFI's Top 100 Movies - (009/100)
I think, in retrospect, that at some point I had actually seen about 80% of #92, Goodfellas (1990). Did I ever tell you that I am always happy to see Robert De Niro in a movie? I don't know what it is, but I adore him unequivocally. Ray Liotta kind of unnerves me, although he gets points for including Muppets From Space (one of my favorite Muppet movies, if I could choose) among his credits. The "gangster" genre is usually entertaining, combining intense interpersonal relationships with a heaping helping of action and intrigue, and Goodfellas doesn't disappoint. It wasn't mind-blowing, by any stretch, but it was entertaining from start to finish, lull-less, and not a bad diversion for a late Saturday afternoon.
040. Try 25 new wines - (03/25)
I tried Charles and Charles Red (2007, Washington) yesterday. It was tasty but, I have to admit, wholly unremarkable. Still, for an impulse purchase in line at the liquor store it wasn't disappointing. Really I was just taken with the label. I'm a sucker for anything that has a printing-press-on-parchment aesthetic.
042. Cook or bake 100 new recipes - (004/100)
Once in a while I really luck out and end up with something special when I'm just trying to get rid of the scraps of food that are left in my fridge. The dish I cobbled together for supper tonight was so delicious I'd definitely make it again, maybe with one or two tweaks. Unfortunately I didn't measure anything, since I just used up whatever was left, but I'll try to approximate.
Shrimp & Feta BakeServes one very hungry me, but you can increase the amounts as much as you want to make more.
Ingredients:
1 tbsp olive oil
1 thick slice of onion, chopped (use a sweet one, like Mayan or Spanish)
2 cloves garlic, diced
1 cup feta cheese (any crumbly goat cheese would probably be good)
1 cup chopped cooked shrimp (I used whole tiny shrimp, but if I made it again I'd chop them)
4 Roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped (or whatever kind of tomato you might have on hand... about 1/4c)
Dash of red pepper flakes or cayenne
Freshly-ground black pepper
Preheat the oven to 400F. In a small pan, soften the garlic and onion in olive oil over medium-low heat, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook until the tomatoes start to break down a bit and everything forms a sauce-like consistency (not very long, a few minutes tops).
In a mixing bowl, combine the onion mixture with the feta, shrimp, a pinch of red pepper (or more, depending on how much kick you want), and some freshly ground pepper. You shouldn't need to add any salt because of the feta and onions. Mix everything together thoroughly, pour it into a small oven-proof dish and bake for about 30 minutes or until bubbly around the edges (it might take longer if you are making a large amount). You may need to stir it after it's cooked to get the sauce to combine.
Serve hot and scoop up with slices of crusty bread. It would also make a great hors d'oeurve, I think... you could put a spoonful on toasted baguette rounds. A chilled, tart Pinot Grigio was a nice compliment, but I bet a Pilsner would go down a treat as well.
044. Take a picture a day for 365 days - (016/100)
1. The fake flowers on my dining table that brighten up the room without ever wilting.
2. I bought this wine purely on the appeal of its label
3. The pattern on the new bag I bought today which, incidentally, matches my wallet.
047. Complete all "Couch-to-5K" workouts within 2 months - (03/27)
Yesterday's run was much more trying than Wednesday's but I still managed to plow through, even though:
a) It was hot (80s) outside and I was sweating like mad
b) I inhaled and/or ate about 6 billion tiny bugs
c) My blisters are still fairly raw
d) Before the halfway point I already had a side stitch
e) My legs were stiff and sore
I was considering getting ahead of schedule a little bit (to give myself a little wiggle room in case I get stuck trying to break past a workout) by starting week 2 tomorrow, but I might give myself the weekend off and just pick up again on Monday. I suppose I'll have to see how my legs and feet feel.
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