Sightseeing in California

Well, it's gorgeous outside.  And when it's gorgeous outside, it's VERY hard for me to concentrate on my thesis.  So I have a new plan - sightsee (is that a word?) during the day (and apply for jobs!) and then work on my thesis at night.

So far, it's working out well. 

Yesterday was my first attempt at sightseeing, and it was a good day, if not what I'd intended.  My plan was to go to the Irvine Museum, stop at Newport Pier for lunch, and then go to San Juan Capistrano to see the mission there.

When I was on Googlemaps planning my route, I noticed it was much easier to do Newport Pier first, and then Irvine, and then SJC, so that's what I set out to do.

Newport Beach is LOVELY, all sunny and pretty and shockingly crowded considering it was a Tuesday.  To be fair, this is the first week of summer vacation (if the radio dj is right), so that could be part of it.  Most of the parking is metered, so I shelled out $1.50 in quarters, parked (got so lucky that I got to pull into a parking almost as soon as I started looking, in a primo area of the pier!), and wandered around.

I paddled in the sea for a little bit (it smells so good there, Long Beach is so polluted it barely smells like ocean anymore), then washed off and went to get lunch on this cute restaurant perched on the end of the pier.  I got a cucumber salad (with crab meat and spicy tuna) and unagi nagiri, and they were absolutely delicious, and very calorie-conscious so I was quite proud of myself, and proceeded to reward myself with a $2 chocolate soft serve cone on the boardwalk.  I walked around, looking at the shops and beachfront properties while I was eating it.  I saw a bike that was bejeweled with a million rhinestones - every surface that wasn't a wire or tire was covered with them!!  I wanted it so much, but how silly would it be to buy a ridiculously expensive bike when I'll be here for only a couple months?

The real estate was GORGEOUS - probably millions and millions of dollars, but lovely to look at.  Maybe if I'm rich when I'm old, I can retire to one.  They really are very lovely, and such enormous windows towards the beach!  Their views must be fabulous!

Once my ice cream was done I got back in the car and went looking for the Irvine Museum - I couldn't find it anywhere, and used my Garmin to direct me to the Irvine Historical Museum - a tiny, two-room historical house perched on the edge of a golf course.
The docent explained that the Irvine Museum is in a business block, and for that reason most people (like me) can't find it, when they're looking for a freestanding non-business variety building.  I was going to go find it, but she was very excited about my being an archaeologist and she ended up telling me about the history of Irvine and Orange County.  At one point a gentleman came in, and started talking to us (he seemed to be a regular visitor) and told me a little about his life - he was born in Hamburg, Germany, and conscripted into the army during WWII, came to America with "ten dollars in [his] pocket" and made it through college without any debt.  Of course, he joined the US Airforce and had his education paid for, but that's still quite an accomplishment. 
I stayed talking to them until about 3:30 and then left for the African Hut, deciding it was much too late to head to either the Irvine Museum or SJC Mission since they both close at 5 pm.

The African Hut was delightful as always, and this time they had peppermint crisp bars which was VERY exciting!  I managed to only spend $35 (that's really very good) and I resisted all of the clearance-priced Easter Eggs (including one filled with Godiva truffles!), AND the Terry's Chocolate Oranges.  I LOVE chocolate oranges, it wouldn't feel like Christmas without them.

Of course I managed to get stuck in an awful traffic jam on the way back and when I finally got home I was so frustrated at my 30 minute drive turning into a 60 minute one, most of my pleasure at the day was evaporated.  I settled down with a book, but it was a couple hours before I felt happy again.

I had two mangoes for dinner, since I realized they were all ripening much faster than I'd bargained for, and will probably do the same again today.

Today I was going to go sightseeing, but I remembered that Portugal plays Spain in the semifinals of the Euro Cup today, so I'm watching it now, and might go to somewhere afterwards...but I really hate the idea of being stuck in MORE traffic so I don't know.

More food!

So here is the second cornish game hen I made a couple days ago:

Does that look incredible or what???

Believe me, it was because get this - I MADE MY OWN CHICKEN STOCK FROM SCRATCH!!!

There, the photographic evidence.  Am I dedicated to deliciousness or what?

Today I went grocery shopping and found a $13 organic chicken for $4.30, so naturally, I just had to buy it!

 I had a thigh in my fridge defrosting for two days so I just had to cook it, hence why it's in the pan.  Glad it got to roast in the delicious organic juices, I bet it'll taste awesome!

 Can you believe the size of that chicken heart??  (Above picture, to the left)  I've never seen one that big!  They also gave me ALL of the liver, which is exciting, I can't wait to make hash with it and the onion...yummm!!!

That is after I carved it up and devoured the carcass.  Delicious!  And now I have meals for the week, hooray!!!

Hoo...it might be naptime now.  Nighty night!

I love food

Because food never tells me I'm not good enough.

For dinner last night had broccoli, peas, corn, potatoes, and Cornish game hen.  Left about half the bird, so I'm going to roast a potato and eat it with the leftover hen and gravy, with veggies and the Harvard beets I made last night.

Food is good.

This is my life

This and the "Classical Masterpieces" Music Choice Channel that I have playing constantly because I can't stand the silence or the sounds of happy people without.

I just want to finish my thesis and go home!!!!

So Tired

Yes, I'm so, so, SO tired.  Work for two more days and then the job is done...still need a second job...still working on my thesis justification...seriously craving Taco Bell right now. 

So I'm leaving you with my last great creation: bacon-onion toastlets with cheddar

Got a care package from the best mommy ever today:

I have chicken wings in the oven, work at 1 pm, and no second job lined up.  Thesis is kicking my butt.  Life is mildly depressing, but I'm going to try and get it all figured out.  I wish I'd get that check from CSULB refunding some of my Memphis money, that'd make life a LOT easier.

I can't wait to go home and be with my family.

My Adventures in Cooking: Mixed-Rub Ribs

So, it's been a hot minute since I updated.  In my defense, I've been very busy.  Working 30 hours a week, going through finals (I got A's in both Remote Sensing and GIS though, yay!), and working on my thesis is no cakewalk.

But tomorrow is Memorial Day, and since I have no soldiers to cook for, I decided I'd make myself a festal (pair of) meal(s) to cheer myself up.

First, be awed by my incredible thriftiness:

 

But wait - there's more -

So, when was the last time YOU saved $15.42 on your groceries?!

 I got peaches for $0.88 a pound, and a "personal" watermelon for $1.88.  I'm excited for them...will probably have them for dinner since I'm so full.  But more of that later.

 This is my secret wing sauce.  I'm still perfecting the recipe.  Once it's perfect I may share it, but it's not perfect yet, and I won't share it til it is!!

 All that meat for $5!!  I love sales!

 Mmm...yum!

 I decided to try mixing a dry rub and a "wet" one, to see what it would taste like.  So this is a little bit of my wing sauce.

 My dry rub.  This one is a secret that is coming with me to my grave!

 Yeah...that bit was a little gross.  But I covered it with foil and put it in the oven for 3 hours at 300F.

 I love wings.

 I LOVE wings!

 Also, marinating in separate bags is awesome, because you only have to cook a little at a time.  How perfect?

 My new favorite Brussels sprouts recipe.

 So there weren't as many sprouts left in the bag as I thought (and a couple had bugs, ew), so I had to add a little something.

 Luckily, I had some asparagus I'd forgotten about, so I chopped half of it up and threw it in too.

 It tastes SO good - but it's SO messy!!!

 Is that awesome or what?

 I mean really, how do you get better than that?

 Oh yeah, once it's cooked.  Mmm...so delicious!

 Mashed potato time!

 I love this mixer - and it cost me TEN DOLLARS!  I've paid more than that for a roast!

 Most invaluable tip to new cooks: clean up as you go along!  It makes SUCH a difference.

 Now, is that a tender cocoon of awesomeness or what?!

 Getting it out of the pan and onto the plate was pretty nerve-wracking, but I managed it.

 Look.  At.  That.

 Mmm...so delicious.  SO delicious!

 Asparagus was great in this recipe, I gotta add it again.

 ...there are no words.

 Except for "mmmmmmmMMMMmmmmmMMMMmmmmm"!!!

 It all fell off the bones!  So I removed them from the plate.

 Those bones are picked clean.

 This was so rich and so fatty I had to start drinking diluted lemonade just to cut the fat.  Finally, I understand what they're always talking about on Chopped!

 Pretty much says it all.

So...after all that, guess what I'm going to do?  Goodnight!