Vegetable Stir Fry-urry (aka- A Guest Post from My Husband)!

In general, domestic tasks are pretty balanced in my household. Dishes, laundry, cooking, grocery shopping and cleaning are pretty much always team-efforts. Of course, there are times when one of us is completely overwhelmed and the other steps in- lately, because of school-related craziness, Joe has picked up my slack in the kitchen, often cooking while I finish homework. 

Many of our friends are surprised to learn that Joe's actually a pretty damn good cook. I like to think I had a little something to do with that- his culinary skills have improved greatly since we first met and at my insistence, he's become a much more nutritionally aware chef. It is for these reasons that I feel comfortable handing him the reigns for tonight's coincidentally vegan and GF (I think) guest-post! Enjoy! 

Hello Keelie’s blog aficionados! Tis I, The Hubs of the aforementioned Keelie. Tonight I cooked dinner and have been asked to blog about said dinner. This dinner started with me glancing in our cabinets, only to realize there were things in there that hadn’t been thought of since the CW had good programming (that is to say never).

So, let’s get to it!

I shall call it...Vegetable Stir Fry-urry

Ingredients:
-1 Cup Instant Brown Rice
-1 Can (13.5 oz) Coconut Milk bought when Bush was still president (Sr?)
-2 Portabella Mushrooms
-1 Can (8 oz) Sliced Bamboo Shoots purchased while listening to the newest ‘NSYNC album
-1 Can (20 oz) Sliced Pineapple gotten while gas prices were hovering around a dollar
-1 Zucchini
-1 Yellow Squash
-1 Red Pepper
-1 Tsp Curry Powder
-1 Tsp Cinnamon
-1 Tsp Garlic Powder
-1 Tsp Paprika
-1 Tsp Cumin
-Salt & Pepper to Taste
-What Keelie will say is too much olive oil

1. Make the instant brown rice according to the package.

2. Add the coconut milk to the rice, bring to a boil and reduce to simmer. Stir often. Do this until creamy and rice puddingish.

3. Add all the spices (to tell you the truth, I didn’t really measure out all the spices. Be creative!)

4. Stir fry the veggies, bamboo shoots and pineapple in a separate pan with some oil. (Do the mushrooms separately if you have a partner that doesn’t like mushrooms, like mine).

5. Put the creamy rice curry in bowls.
6. Heap stir fried veggies over rice.

7. Eat the crap out of your Vegetable Stir Fry-urry!

That’s it folks. Hope you all enjoy the recipe. Also, I hope you all delve into the depths of your pantries and discover strange things bought as an impulse purchase back when The Sopranos was still on the air and use it now to make dinner. YAY!

Pumpkins and Readings and Plays (OH MY)!

Friday AM found both Joe and I with the opportunity to sleep in (a little). Oh happy day!

Oh HAIIIII there, TJ's Pumpkin Pancake Mix. Thanks for being just as delicious as you sound!

I sauteed some apples in a bit of coconut oil and added some cinnamon and vanilla for a topper. 

This is Joe's "no photographs, please" face.

No- that's not a faintly spreading black eye- just some leftover mascara. 

I was honored to participate in a reading of Brooklyn College MFA Candidate Kim Davies' new play Maidenhead. 

In a feudal, alternate-universe United States, high-school prom queen Angela Johnson is a vestal virgin gone rogue, dragging her gay bestie and her father's AmEx to the big bad city and throwing them all into high-stakes crime.  Nothing is sacred when you're sharp, subtle, and a shapely seventeen, and schoolgirl Angela knows how to play for keeps.  If beauty is fleeting and virginity is a woman's treasure, she'll buy low, sell high, and take her payment in unmarked bills.  But even when the future seems most certain, Angela can't escape her past.  In K. Davies's sharp new satire, sex sells, winner takes all, and nobody comes out clean.

 Yours truly reading the role of the naughty Angela with my classmate Jeremy Ping, who read the role of Father. 

 With BC Acting Alum Paula Jon deRose reading the Aunt and Mother.

 Holy cast! All BC Alums or current students!

With Michael Colby Jones who read for His Majesty.

 Darius Stone reading Mr. Oliphaunt and Mervyn Morris reading Ethan. 

Thank you to Kim for sharing this beautiful piece of theatre with us! I can't wait to see what happens in the future with this play. 

 Joe and I met up with my scene partner Sarah after the reading for a quick rehearsal and some dinner at Ovi's- a sweet little deli/ sandwich shop near the school. 

Since there's a Target a block away from campus, Joe and I swung over after rehearsal to pick up a few essentials...

 And some Starbucks treats for pick-me-ups!

Later that evening we attending Brooklyn College's production of In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play by Sarah Ruhl- beautifully acted, directed and designed! Congratulations to the cast and crew!

School = The Boss of My Life

 School has forcibly yanked me off the blogging bandwagon the past week or so, sadly. And honestly, it's also put quite the damper in my workout-style. Fortunately we're fairly active in all my classes, but I could not tell you the last time I went on a good run or had a killer strength session and that makes me sad. My body misses it. A lot. I've had several 14 hour days recently, leaving my house around 8a and not getting home until 10p and then  beginning homework. Oy. Vey. 

I'm happy to report I'm still thoroughly convinced it's worth it, though! :)

Here's what I've been up to the past few days. 

The Brooklyn College Library recently announced it's collection of William Alfred letters. I was asked to read a letter by Elizabeth Hardwick, a friend of Alfred's going through a difficult divorce. 

The readers and directors at the performance: from L to R Professors Robert Cohen and Judylee Vivier, MFA Actors Jeremy Ping and Aaron Mednick, MFA Director Josh Penzell and MFA Actors Patrick McCormick and me!

A good time was had by all!

I'm also rehearsing for the reading of a new play called Maidenhead which will perform tomorrow at 2p. I'm absolutely in love with this play and so honored to be a part of it's development!

The rest of my time has been spent in class with these crazy kids. (Photo credits- Jeremy Ping, which is why he's not in any of these photos- I'm kidnapping his camera when he brings it in next)!

 I'd assume I'm making fun of Aaron in this picture because... I do that. A lot. 

 Jonny and Andrea studying for our Speech Midterm. 

 I'm so very, very in love with this picture.... Sarah and Patrick- being Sarah and Patrick.

 Can you tell I'm excited?

Aaron pretending to study for the midterm. 

I really am not sure what I'm doing here, but Andrea is dutifully studying in the background...

I'm sorry there hasn't been much of my usual nutrition/ fitness chatter on here- I promise to get myself sorted out ASAP- thank you for hanging in and not abandoning me! :)

Food Insecurity

Some of my absolute favorite comments have been in regards to posts similar to this one, where I share an article that struck me. Today's article is from Care2 and deals with food security in children. Please share your thoughts!

Those Kids Could Be Hungrier

• by Robin M.
• October 14, 2011
• 11:00 pm

 

• 
  

Sesame Street, the children’s television show that has for decades addressed early educational needs especially for inner city children, has always been at the forefront of combining learning skills with diverse and everyday situations made palatable to the preschool set.

As the economy has worsened and more American children than ever before are struggling with poverty, lack of health care, stable housing, and having enough to eat every day, the show has introduced a new character to help kids understand the issue of food insecurity.

But conservatives have belittled the addition.  After all, American kids aren’t literally starving — they get to eat most of the time, right?

Amanda Marcotte notes a National Review columnist who thinks that not having enough food everyday really isn’t that much to whine about. “[T]he idiom ‘food insecure’ — a term created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture — means one has either ‘reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet’ or ‘disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake.’ So, far from hungry or starving, Lily suffers from a much less dramatic condition — unpleasant to be sure, but at its core, just a somewhat boring, irregular, and occasionally reduced diet.”

An “occasionally reduced diet” is “unpleasant?”  Unpleasant is when you added too much salt to the soup, or when your broccoli gets a little overcooked.  Food insecurity is about children who only get meals when they show up for school, who have to choose between having lunch or dinner on a weekend because there isn’t enough groceries for both.  Kids who never get to see a fresh fruit or vegetable or only get to eat what their parents bring home from work at the end of the day after waiting tables in restaurants or working the counters of fast food.

The columnist then mentions all of the myriad of places that the poor can get food easily — WIC, food stamps, free school meals, charity food banks and “church-run food assistance.”  All of which, except for the church groups, the conservatives have been doing their best to defund while they defend tax cuts for millionaires.

Then again, they are trying to defund PBS as well, but that doesn’t seem to stop her from having her child watch Sesame Street.

**** 

As someone who's lived with food insecurity and received help from some of the resources above while growing up, and as an educator who has worked with children who only eat what they are served at school, I respectfully disagree that food insecurity is not a serious problem and that the resources we currently provide are sufficient. The fact that the term 'food insecurity' spans such a wide spectrum does not mean that no or few people sit at the more desperate end of the spectrum, it simply means that it's a very broad term. I would love to hear your thoughts!

Dinner at Bedouin Tent, Groceries and Giveaway Winner!

One of the best parts of Mom visits (aside from getting to see her, OF COURSE!) are the treats! Someone reads my blog... :) Crystal Light, Newman's Own Vanilla Caramel Coffee (Fair Trade Certified), Madhava Agave and Once Again Sunflower Seed Butter! Hooray! 

Saturday was another run-around-crazy school day. I whipped up a pumpkin pie smoothie while getting ready- canned pumpkin + greek yogurt + cinnamon + vanilla protein + ice + water + liquid stevia. Blend and top with granola! YUM!

My mom and I headed to campus- I got her tickets to see In the Next Room or The Vibrator Play while I attended my rehearsals for Shakespeare's Richard III and a reading of personal letters to Brooklyn College Alum and former Harvard Professor/ playwright William Alfred. 

After rehearsals and the show, my mom and I headed up Flatbush and then across Atlantic to one of my favorite spots, Bedouin Tent. 

Picky eater Mama-Pajama suggested this place- I'm not sure where she heard about it, but I was happy she was willing to go- I've been many times! 

The restaurant itself is small, cozy and bright with a nice outdoor seating area for warm weather. 

We decided to go with the Pitzas (pita bread pizza). 

Mom got tomato and cheese with peppers and onions... Not terribly exotic, but quite good. 

I went with my old standby- the Lambajin- ground lamb, onions and spices. OH. BABY. Sweet and savory and delicate and warm and juicy and wonderful. 

Can you tell I'm excited? I order the Lambagin Pitza every.single.time. It will never get old!

Yesterday was another school-centric day- I rehearsed for an upcoming reading of Kim Davies' new play Maidenhead. I am so stoked about this reading- the play is phenomenal, the cast is exceptional and we're working with the fabulous Welker White as our director! 

Here's the announcement from the theatre dept- if you're in the NYC area and free on Friday afternoon- please come! I'm IN LOVE with this play, especially the character Angela Johnson, who I'll be reading!

****

The Brooklyn College Department of Theater, in association with Mac Wellman, Erin Courtney and the Graduate Playwriting Department, cordially invites you to a reading of "The Maidenhead" by MFA candidate K. Davies, the first installment in our monthly play-in-progress reading series.

In a feudal, alternate-universe United States, high-school prom queen Angela Johnson is a vestal virgin gone rogue, dragging her gay bestie and her father's AmEx to the big bad city and throwing them all into high-stakes crime.  Nothing is sacred when you're sharp, subtle, and a shapely seventeen, and schoolgirl Angela knows how to play for keeps.  If beauty is fleeting and virginity is a woman's treasure, she'll buy low, sell high, and take her payment in unmarked bills.  But even when the future seems most certain, Angela can't escape her past.  In K. Davies's sharp new satire, sex sells, winner takes all, and nobody comes out clean.

This reading of "The Maidenhead" is on Friday, October 21 at 2:30 PM in Roosevelt Extension 307.  Directed by MFA directing alumnus, Welker White, curated by Andy Buck, an MA candidate in Theater History, with design consultation by MFA Design candidate, Tatsuki Nakamura, the cast includes current students and acting alumni Emmanuel Elpenord, Paula Jon deRose, Michael Colby Jones, Jonathon Maldonado, Aaron Mednick, Mervyn Morris, Jeremy Ping, Keelie Sheridan, and Darius Stone.  

Please join us to kick of this exciting collaboration with the Playwriting Department, and to support the development of a unique new voice in contemporary American Theater. 

****

The sun was setting as I walked home to a pile of homework, a sink full of dishes, a phone conference and a TON of laundry to do,  but I was reminded of how very lucky I am to be so very busy doing something I love. 

And last but certainly not least, THE RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR HAS SPOKEN!

Congratulations, Christina! You'll be receiving your gift certificate soon!

Lunch at Press 195 and Theatre Dept. Fun!

On Friday morning, I had the opportunity to attend a talkback with Joel Zwick- Brooklyn College Alum and pretty darn famous director of Laverne & Shirley, Full House, Step By Step, Fat Albert and My Big Fat Greek Wedding, to name a few! He was so entertaining and informative to listen to! Thanks for stopping by!

After the talk, Joe and my mom swung by the campus to pick me up and we headed to Press 195 for lunch!  

My husband, the self-professed sandwich snob. 

Hooray for moms! Mine came by for the weekend to visit- I haven't seen her in months! 

We headed to their Park Slope location at around 4p on a Friday. 

The original!

The menu was overwhelming in a really wonderful way, and it even appealed to my mom, who has the palate of a 7-year old likes simple flavors. We sat for several minutes attempting to make sense of the impressive list of beautiful flavor combos- I can imagine this part would take some people a VERY long time. 

Once we decided, service was pretty snappy. 

We got a large order of Belgian Fries for the table to share. Flavor-wise, these were pretty delicious, but by textural standards I was a bit disappointed- they were soft and soggy- generally Belgian fries should be crispy on the outside (because of the double frying) and soft on the inside. 

My mom ordered the Meatloaf Knish and was quite pleased- the meatloaf itself was wonderful, topped with Vermont Cheddar and a delicious (if slightly salty) gravy. Pressing a sandwich in a knish is nothing short of genius. Thumbs up. 

Joe ordered the #13- sliced tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil and Press 195's pure maple syrup basil pesto with prosciutto. This was a really fresh and clean tasting sandwich and the maple syrup basil pesto is as amazing as it sounds. 

The showstopper of the afternoon was, unanimously, my #21- turkey and Fontina cheese with cranberry and roasted pear chutney. This sandwich is THE BOSS. The chutney would taste good on ANYTHING, but it melded perfectly with the mild and creamy Fontina and sliced turkey. Joe proclaimed this sandwich "the best sandwich on earth" and tried in vain to get me to trade halvsies with him. His sandwich was great, but mine was momentous. Sorry, Joe. 

After lunch I headed back to Brooklyn College to set up for the opening night of In the Next Room, or The Vibrator Play. We sold concessions to fund raise for the Showcase at the end of the year. 

Would you like some candy? Myself looking crazy with EJ (undergrad actor) and Jonny- a fellow MFA Actor. 

We're also selling raffle tickets for the Complexions Ballet Season and tickets to see King Lear at the Public. Tickets are $5- email me if you'd like to buy one!  

The seller of the tickets must wear the pink cowboy hat. Aaron won that honor. 

Hooray Graduate Theatre kids! From L to R- Jonathan (1st year MFA Director), Aaron, Myself and Jonny (1st year MFA Actors). 

After the show, the Graduate Theatre Organization Sponsored an opening night reception, which went quite well! Congratulations to the cast for a fantastic opening night! 

Today is the last day to enter my SunglassWarehouse.com giveaway! The winner will be announced tomorrow AM!