Perpetually Learning- a blog of studies and studying

Kitchen Adventures- South American Nut Brittle

elizabeth ann — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:39:59 +0000

So I have this thing where I love to cook. I love baking. I love being in the kitchen and making something new and delicious. I generally try and make dinner a few times a week (I cook for just me but have never been good at only cooking enough for one person, so… leftovers). My mom cooked most nights when I was growing up and at the holidays food is always a centerpiece- from the dinner to the treats! So I think that she has a lot to do with why I love it. And I remember learning things when I was a kid, so it’s not something that I picked up as an adult- it’s always been a part of me.

For years there have been cooking appliances that I’ve wanted- the Kitchenaid mixer, a blender, etc- but I’ve never bought them for myself. This year for xmas I asked for an received a toaster oven! And last fall, I purchased a blender (with a food processor!) for myself. And then just recently I used giftcards and funds on my acct from trading textbooks back to Amazon and FINALLY bought my Kitchenaide mixer. So… I plan to have many adventures in the kitchen. Plus, I grew up (sorta) in South America (Peru) and in the last decade the food has started appearing all over the United States. So I found a couple of cookbooks because it’s food I remember and love but I have no idea how to make anything- so I’ve decided to learn some dishes. I’ve also decided to occasionally- not frequently- document the adventures in the kitchen here. So you can all enjoy them with me.

I tend to be more of a baker or dessert maker then a person who follows recipes for main courses so I thought that my first adventures with South American cuisine should be sweets. Behold- Nut Brittle.

So… I’ve never actually made anything like this. My mom and brother do the candies at Xmas, I make cookies. So let’s see what we start with…

Sugar and peanuts… which then get put on medium or so heat… creating the following transition

Which once the sugar is all melted and carmelly- which it is tough to not burn the peanuts if you follow the directions in the book (note to self, put sugar into the pot FIRST, allow melting process to begin- then add peanuts)- then you simply dump into a pan and allow to cool. You’re supposed to score it for cracking but honestly it cooled so quick while I was spreading it in the pan… I didn’t really get to or need to score it.

And there you have it. That top pic is actually all the broken pieces put into the storage container. And I should tell you, that aside from a slight overdone taste on a few of the peanuts- damn sugar to forever to melt!- it is quite tasty. And different from the brittles I’ve had before. It’s supposed to be, according to the book, a street vendor type food throughout South America. I have no idea if it is or not- I don’t recall it. But I will tell it’s very simple to make and quick and will probably get added to my staple of edibles.

Next time in Kitchen Adventures- Almond Cream (Peru)

Filed under: ramblings Tagged: adventures, family, Kitchen Adventures, personal, travels

Reader Love

elizabeth ann — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:30:40 +0000

I just want to take a moment and THANK all of you that pop in and read my little blog. Thank you for taking the time. I want to thank those that have liked, commented, and followed posts (and the blog in general). I appreciate every one of you.

I sure things will get more serious around here soon-ish… the spring semester has just begun and that will surely inspire many strange topics and thoughts. But before that happens, anyone have any questions? Anything you’d like to say? Any blogs you think I should check out? I’m interested! Talk to me!

Filed under: ramblings Tagged: personal, thinking

Nerdsplosion!

elizabeth ann — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 09:56:28 +0000

OK, so one of my favorite things is when my real life and nerd life get to collide and turn into awesomeness! This was a pretty good week for this to happen.

In my real life, I am a grad student working- semi-diligently- on my doctorate in forensic psychology. I have a masters in my field and a bachelors in human services. This means that I am very much the kind of person that wants to be there for others and help them in any way I can. I got to talk with a friend this week who needed that. And though, I don’t/didn’t know the particulars I was still able to leave him feeling better. Ya know what I mean? Grateful to be able to do that- really wish there was more that I could do. I plan to keep my eyes and ears open for opportunities to help more.

We also know I’m a bit of nerd, bit of geek… like my comics, my sci-fi, and I love my moments of fangirl squee. Well, for this grand feeling… this week I got to partner with new friend, Amelia (not linking to her anywhere unless she gives me the go ahead due to some of the content on this site), and work a press line for Action Flick Chick. The guest blog we are responsible for can be found here. We attended for the premiere of Spartacus Vengeance- I snapped the photos and Amelia wrote the words… Altogether, it’s quite a fun little guest blog. And a really great experience.

As I’ve written in the past, doing these sort of fun geeky events (of many different varieties) is sort of like a battery recharge for me. Studying what I study, knowing what I do, can be very draining both physically and emotionally. It is incredibly important to find something that recharges your soul. I love going to live music shows and happen to have made friends with many of the musicians that I love. I happen to love being silly and letting my fangirl out, so attending these events allows me the opportunity to detoxify my soul and release stresses that often we don’t know we have. I’ve been able to meet amazing people and made friends with many of them over the years. And I have some great friends that also enjoy the silly things that I do and thus can be counted on to run out and play when I need to.

I guess there wasn’t as much ‘sploding as the title might suggest but… I’m OK with that too.

Filed under: ramblings Tagged: event, friends, geekery, links, personal, thinking

query…

elizabeth ann — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:56:04 +0000

I’ve got a couple of friends- I’m looking at Shannon and Jackie!- who I would like to have post here. I think their thoughts should be shared… how do I convince them?

Filed under: ramblings, Uncategorized Tagged: friends, thinking

Equality and Safety… why are there ever steps not taken?

elizabeth ann — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:32:27 +0000

This week I have been led to, by posts others have made, some very interesting articles. The first was in the LA Times. An investigation into alleged sexual misconduct with children in the entertainment industry. There is a Bill coming up that will require background checks for individuals in the entertainment industry in order to protect children (and others) from dangerous predators. My first question is- why is this only happening NOW? Children have been a mainstay in the entertainment industry since it began. When I think back to old films and TV shows, most of them starred children. And those children grew up in the business; became adults in the industry. How many of them were preyed upon because nobody bothered to make sure the adults around them (often more often than there own families!) were safe? Corey Feldman claims (and personally, I believe him) to have been a victim. He plans to name names soon. Good on him. And there are other kids in recent years who have clearly been victims of the industry… though maybe not sexually brutalized. There has needed to be a watchdog for generations. Why is this only happening NOW?

The original article that sparked my thinking can be found here.

The second was posted by Jim Beaver on his facebook page tonight, a link to a Huffington Post article about a Girl Scout who wants to boycott the annual cookie sales because a Colorado troup allowed a 7 year old transgender child to be included. Um… excuse me? A child HATES another child so much that she wants people to not support an agencies annual fundraiser? Where did this little girl come from and how did SHE get to be a Girl Scout? I think she missed the point of the group. Pretty sure HATE isn’t one of the Girl Scout credos, though since I wasn’t one I can’t be too sure. But I know several when I was a kid (and later) and I doubt they’d have been members if HATE was a value the organization upheld.

So… I personally plan to be out buying every box of Girl Scout cookies I see. I hope you do the same.

What is this world coming to?

Filed under: articles, links, ramblings Tagged: links, news, personal

2011- A Look Back

elizabeth ann — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:30:16 +0000

It’s the end of the first week of January, and by now I should’ve posted something to celebrate or mourn the passing of a year. However, I’m dealing with a sick animal right now and as much as I want to sit and write, I also want to spend all my time with him. I’ve recently dealt with my mother being sick and hospitalized again and while I know most people are saying “he’s just a cat”, I’d like to point out that he’s an 18 yr old beast who has traveled the country with me and been a grounding and supporting center when I was literally alone, 1000’s of miles from family and friends. We’ve been through a lot. However, my worries have been eased as the treatment is working and he’s returning to his old self. Additionally, I just got off the phone with the vet- no cancer was found in the biopsy. So… my heart soars.

But… while I have a few minutes, I want to think about those things that made 2011 the year it was.

Family

James and Lump, November 2011, don't tell him you saw this...

family photo, December 2011

mom and i, December 2011

Friends

Phil X and i, October 2011

David and i, September 2011

Deb and David, March 2011

Hally and i, Seaworld, September 2011

Kathleen and i, Seattle, October 2011

best friends!, DeeDee and i, August 2011

Kathleen and i, Seattle, October 2011

with Natasha and Suzy Q, Drills gig, September 2011

the best kind of friend sandwich, Steve, Jackie, and i, Chicago con, August 2011

my Chicago!bff Jackie and i, August 2011

good friends, Steve and Scott, Chicago con, August 2011 (photo by Karo McQueen)

Jessica and i, December 2011

Samantha and i, September 2011

Deb, Elsha, and i, April 2011

Rachel and i, April 2011

good friends- Briel, me, and Deb, April 2011

Emily posing, New Orleans con, January 2011

Deb, Elsha, and i, July 2011

Suzy Q and i, March 2011

shelley and i, San Diego, March 2011

amazing photo by Karo McQueen!, emily, jacqui, and i, New Orleans, January 2011

Pudgey

Pudgey, December 2011

Pudgey, November 2011

Pudgey, August 2011

Pudgey, June 2011

Pudgey's xrays, December 2011

Adventures and Travels

LA Zoo, May 2011

heading to see a friend, March 2011

Seattle, October 2011

amazing!, Seattle, October 2011

Space Needle, Seattle, October 2011

walking tour of cemetery, New Orleans, January 2011

street musicians in the French Quarter, New Orleans, January 2011

walking tour of cemetery, New Orleans, January 2011

me, Seaworld, September 2011

hally, Seaworld, September 2011

Geekery

Suzy Q, Dane Cook, and i, October 2011

can't beat this, Mike, DeeDee, me, Lael, and Emily, September (?) 2011

combining two loves- Evil Squirrel Comics and Nick Brendon, with Jacqui, Shawn, me, Kelly, and Nick, Chicago con, August 2011 (photo by Karo McQueen)

JONATHAN FRAKES, Seattle, October 2011

Michael Rooker, Chicago con, August 2011

Noah Hathaway, Chicago con, August 2011

Chad Lindberg, Chicago con, August 2011

my best friend, her family, me, and Nick, April 2011

JOHN SCHNIEDER, April 2011

geeking out with R2 and my monkeys, April 2011

with the adorably hilarious James Leary, New Orleans con, January 2011

with the stunning Clare Kramer, New Orleans con, January 2011

this is what happens when Darth Vader doesn't get his latte, New Orleans con, January 2011

great family of cosplayers, New Orleans con, January 2011

Deb, Elsha, and i, screencap from So You Think You Can Dance, July 2011

amazing photo captured by Karo McQueen!!!, me and Nick, New Orleans, January 2011

Music

Steve Carlson and i, August 2011

James Marsters, Ghost of the Robot, March 2011

Daniel Spriewald, The Drills, March 2011

Phil X, The Drills, December 2011

The Drills, December 2011

Phil X, The Drills, December 2011

Michael, Automatic Hotel's last show, March 2011

DeeDee, Automatic Hotel's last show, March 2011

Automatic Hotel, last show March 2011

It wasn’t always fun and games… there were some very difficult points for me this year. I think the fact that I continue to push forward and not let them hold me back, says a lot about who I am. And who I will be.

I look forward to seeing what 2012 has in store.

(to see more of Karo’s amazing photos, take a gander at her Flickr)

Filed under: ramblings Tagged: adventures, family, friends, geekery, music, photo fun, travels

Seems like just yesterday the semester began…

elizabeth ann — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 07:45:12 +0000

Today was the technical last day of the Fall 2011 semester. Oh my god, yay! I say technical because grades are due by Friday, and grading is the only thing I have left to complete. I turned in my last assignment- an updated draft of my dissertation- about an hour ago. The rest of my assignments were completed a few days ago. I am done done done done done! This was tough semester. Not entirely because of the classes, either. Honestly, most of the work was cake. What made it difficult was that somewhere in the middle, the “senioritus” kicked in. Especially since the last hurdle for the dissertation is within my grasp- the stats part.

But somehow we (I) managed to persevere and the semester is done. Very proud of one peer as she has completed and defended her dissertation already. A few others are close to being at that point- spring is going to be a very exciting semester.

My last post here, made on Thanksgiving, was about being thankful. I was very thankful that I had gone home for the holiday as just days after my mother went into the hospital. She’s home, and fine now. But after the illness earlier this year- it was something I was glad that I home for. And very grateful to my peers and instructors because I was able to stay home for two weeks instead of having to rush back and not be there for her and with my brother.

Well… I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m taking tomorrow off. I’ll grade things on Tuesday. Happy winter break, y’all!

Filed under: ramblings, school Tagged: dissertation, family, personal, school

Sharing & thanking

elizabeth ann — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 20:54:27 +0000

As we sit down to enjoy this Thanksgiving holiday, take a moment to say thank you for those in your life. I have much to be thankful. I have the best family and friends- they support me and push me, they share my interests and share their own with me. Beyond these loves, I am thankful for those, past and present, who serve our country and protect us. I am thankful for those that create beauty and share it with the world. I am thankful to be in a position where I don’t worry about where my next meal is coming from, about the roof over my head, and while my path is not always as straight as I had planned, I am grateful for those that guide me. I am grateful for the many experiences I have had over the last year- including travels, adventures, shows, and the chance to meet new and amazing people.

Now to the sharing piece… I don’t normally post here about my other site, but as there are a few posts coming up and while there are some new readers here, I thought I’d point it out. I have a photo site, In Darkness (Guerilla Photos), where I share some photos. I do want to say that I am by no means a real photographer… I just like to take pictures. So… enjoy. And I’ll try to update more often.

Filed under: ramblings

My inner geek is showing.

elizabeth ann — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 23:38:28 +0000

Ha! Like I have an inner geek, my geek is all outer for everyone to see. In fact, I talked about it a bit a few months ago explaining why I enjoy cons and geeking out so much- a battery recharge. Thus, this is not a new topic.

I got into a conversation with Jackie (I talk about her a lot… she should probably make posts here) last night about how being human sucks sometimes. The origin of that thought is not important. What is important is that comment took us to realizing we wouldn’t want to be a super hero either. For me, it was partially due to the fact that I would hate to have to invest in all the necessary doublestick tape required to keep the costume from revealing any inappropriate things. How does Wonder Woman keep her top up? Superman had it easy.

And ya know what… I’ve got several friends that are comic artists and writers… damn these men for continuing to dress the ladies in such a fashion that my fear would not be helping those in need, but keeping my clothes on! I follow a page on facebook called Girls Read Comics Too and I think sometimes the boys need a reminder of that. I don’t need to see my heroine running around wearing nothing. And how about the Buffy comics… SMG has nothing up top but suddenly in comic form, she is stacked!

For me, the stories were what kept me reading comics. Or the characters development. Not the looks. For god sakes, it’s 2D. You can’t tell if that guy has a pert butt in 2D! Even Barbie got a breast reduction in the last 15 years! Let’s have some realism! Or if the girls are gonna be super skimpy and trampy… I want to see the guys running around in just their BVDs or something.

Equality in my comics!

Alright… I lost the plot somewhere… I got distracted making plans with my brother for football over Turkey Day weekend. (Our team SUCKS but it’s still fun to go and hurl the curses for their sucking!) But you get the idea.

Filed under: ramblings Tagged: geekery

Bring it!

elizabeth ann — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 08:44:50 +0000

Well, since I seem to be getting more traffic lately- which I blame completely on the fantabulousness of one Deborah Bryan (sorry, Deb, too tired to link right now)… I’d like to ask a favor.

Point me to your blogs or others that you think are worth a read! I’d like to return the favor of visiting.

Filed under: Uncategorized