(no subject)

[felicula]

I'd like to say a nice, gigundous, smiling, "Welcome!" to everyone who has added me to their friends list since the housewarming party this past weekend.

I'm sorry I was eepishly shy Friday night and for an earlier chunk of Saturday. I don't do so well with large crowds of people, especially large crowds of people I don't know well. Damnitol, I wish I wasn't such a shy ham...

I think it took taking part in the round of Pass-the-Baby with Ewan, then joining in with storming the porn store to fully shake off the shy-quiet-eep-ies.

Despite that, I'd have to say that it was the best party I'd ever attended. Thank you, dawnstar and kolys!

Before mechanchaos and I left the dawnstar's and kolys's place Saturday night, there was some interest in my meatless balls recipe. I remembered posting the recipe before, so I dug it out of my archives.

I also have made tofu ravioli (well, more like tortellini), and tofu cincinatti chili. I've been on a kick of pushing the envelope of just how many dishes I can substitute tofu in place of ground animal. I've been pleasantly surprised.


Vegetarian Black Bean Chili

1 Tbsp canola oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
1 large carrot, sliced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
1 sweet green pepper, chopped
6 roma tomatoes, chopped
2 19-ounce cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp salt

In a large saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. When hot, add carrot. Cook, stirring, for 2 1/2 minutes. Add Onion, pepper, jalapeno, and garlic. Cook, stirring, for another 2 1/2 minutes.

Reduce heat to low. Stir in chili powder, cumin, salt, beans, and tomatoes. Cook for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Turn off heat and let the flavors meld for 10-20 minutes, then serve.


This chili is great when fresh veggies are in season and temperatures outside are high. I serve it with Asian-style white sticky rice. I adapted this from a recipe from a little free cookbook mechanchaos had clicked on a link to receive from Ontario Greenhouse Vegetables. I wish I had the link he used to get the cookbook. Everything I've made from this little free book has been delicious.

Edit:I found out the reason I couldn't find the recipe book earlier. They do have recipes available on their website here. There are actually more recipes than just those in the little book I have too.

The problem with the way they wrote the recipe for the chili is that it didn't look like the photo if you followed what they'd written. The picture in the book looked like a very colorful fresh veggie summer recipe. The recipe itself tended to lose its color with more of a winter comfort food feel. It also had rosemary in it which, though it offered a more sophisticated flavor, lessened its family appeal. The recipe above was how I solved the problem of color loss while shifting it from winter to summer appeal. Now it looks like the photo and tastes just as good - better, if you ask me. ***grins***

If you're interested in any of the other recipes I've mentioned, drop me a comment here and I'll post them.

All in all, I had a great time. It was neat to meet and get to know lots of folks, even though I was terrified of meeting new folks at the same time.

Comments

[janinedog]

Hi! :) It was great meeting you too. I now have 5 new LiveJournal friends as a result of this party, heh. :)

[blackfelicula.livejournal.com]

I've added quite a collection of new LJ friends as well, and been added in return by most of them. It's a neat feeling. Now if only I could muster up some more interesting content for folks to be reading from me... :)

[lite.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking there might be something to be said about an "Extended Brain"
Dawn and Oli's/My/Jen and Robby's Friends... Plus Brain.
Somehow.. it works :)

[abyssmalloner.livejournal.com]

It was good to meet you, too. Welcome to my friends list!

[blackfelicula.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I relaxed enough to get to know folks better than I had previously. It's a beginning, and a good one at that.

[dustkitten.livejournal.com]

ARGHHH I forgot to try the chili!

Monkeys.

-A-

[blackfelicula.livejournal.com]

's OK. It's not as if it was that broadly advertised as being there. In any case, if you have the time and inclination, you could try the recipe. It only makes 1/3 of the big-ass pot I took to the party.

Or maybe we'll have to contrive of another event big enough to bring folks together that I could make it for. :)

[dustkitten.livejournal.com]

Ha ha ha, me cook.

Jen and Robby's apartment warming!

-A-

[blackfelicula.livejournal.com]

It would be neat to get to go to their party. I'm not sure if the logistics will pan out for us though.

[grey-wolf.livejournal.com]

Hmmm - you never struck me as a shy type of person, the black bean chilli looks wicked, will have to try it

[blackfelicula.livejournal.com]

I am and I'm not. It's complex. I can chat it up with a stranger when I'm stuck in a line somewhere. My husband always says I'm the social one between the two of us. When I know folks well I'm a rather boisterously perverted ham. Stick me in a party with a large proportion of people I've just met or barely know, though and EEP!

Online it's so much easier to relax and be myself. I'm not worried about first impressions, body language, eye contact and how much I really want people to know about me. I just am, take me or leave me. I don't have to worry about my voice shaking if I'm nervous, or the rest of me shaking.

I tend to be a weirdo. Even if I'm dressed as normal as could be, I would stick out like a sore thumb in a crowd. It's made me rather self concious, no matter how resolved I am to wear my uniqueness proudly. When I feel I have something to offer, I like being the center of attention, even if it takes a good chunk of time drumming up the courage to step into the light.

I am the wallflower who loves to dance. I am the shy ham.

[blackfelicula.livejournal.com]

BTW - It is a very tasty chili. My husband and son both like it. Folks (including myself) who don't like cooked peppers like it. People who aren't interested in hot foods like it. I'm the sort who usually smothers lots of things with hot sauce. The balance of flavors is good enough in itself that I don't feel the pang to add to what's there.

mmmm.

[pupcake.livejournal.com]

I just checked my LJ for the first time since the party and I saw about 5 new people who added me to their friends list! Which made it a lot easier for me to add everyone, rather than remembering everyone's id. Now I guess I'll have to start posting.

It was great to meet you. And I am totally going to make that chili recipe. I think I had at least a few helpings of that.

Re: mmmm.

[blackfelicula.livejournal.com]

The party definitely expanded my friends list too. I know all were folks I'd at least heard of before. Getting to meet nifty people in person is a good impetus for adding on lj. :)

I'm glad you liked the chili! Sometime during the day about half of it disappeared, which was nifty. I enjoy cooking for people, especially if I can find recipes that are both healthy and delicious.