Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Random Dozen



Linda at 2nd Cup of Coffee, is our question guru. To play, copy the questions onto your blog with YOUR answers. Post on Wednesday, then visit others and leave nice comments.  That simple!


Last week I visited "6's". Today will be "4's".


1. What is one really fast, know-by-heart "go-to" meal to fix in a pinch?
You mean besides calling for pizza? Okay, it's this one:
THAI GRILLED BEEF WITH STRING BEANS
Prep Time: 10 minutes            Cook Time: 20 minutes

1½ lbs flank steak
2 tsp extra virgin olive oil, divided
¼ cup fresh lime juice
1 Tbsp Asian fish sauce
½ tsp (or more) chili paste or 1 tsp seeded, minced serrano chili
1 tsp granular sugar substitute (or sugar)
1 cup coarsely chopped cilantro
½ cup thinly sliced scallions
1 lbs green beans, trimmed (or asparagus), cut into 1 inch pieces
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Heat grill.  Rub steak on both sides with 1 tsp of the oil and season with salt and pepper.  Grill until desired doneness, about 4 minutes per side for medium-rare.  Remove from heat and set on a cutting board for 5 minutes.
Whisk together lime juice, fish sauce, chili paste, sugar substitute, cilantro, and scallions in a large mixing bowl.
Heat a saucepan of salted water until boiling.  Add beans and cook until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes.  (About 5 minutes for asparagus).  Drain.
Thinly slice meat across the grain.  Toss with lime juice mixture, adding any meat juices that have accumulated on the cutting board.  Add beans, toss, and serve.
Per serving:  340 calories, 17 g. fat, 6 g saturated fat, 38 g protein, 10 g carbohydrate, 3 g dietary fiber, 530 mg sodium (if you use sugar sub and beans)

2. What is one item you won't leave home without. (Purse and license do not count.) I have left the house without the one thing that everyone else remembers from time to time (including purse and license), so really -- NOTHING!
3. Where is one place you never tire of visiting? The National Cathedral. I only go when there's nothing political going on - and it's beautiful. http://www.nationalcathedral.org/
4. Share one factoid of your family's history. I fell into a fish pond on Okinawa when I was 18 months old.
5. Complete this sentence: "Once upon a time I ...." dreamed of being a pilot.
6. If you could win a one year's supply of anything, what would it be? Sun Butter My teen nut-allergy son goes through this stuff like other kids go through peanut butter.
7. "One quirky thing you may not know about me is ...." that my left foot is 1/2 size longer than my right.
8. You have one dollar in your pocket. What will you buy? Nothing. It will probably go through the wash in my pocket a couple of times.
9. "One thing that always makes me laugh is ...." watching the teen-aged male cardinals out on the suet feeder expending more energy than they can possibly be consuming. They're too scared to perch on the feeder, so they hover like hummingbirds. (Note: the females have mastered holding onto the feeder and getting a leisurely meal).  They parallel real teen life!
10. What is one thing you could do today to help yourself reach a personal goal? Exercise self-control when I go to 'end of year' events that always involve tons of calories.
11. What is one thing you could do today to bless someone else?  Pick up flowers for my daughter's piano teacher. It's her last lesson ever -- after 6 years with this teacher we're ceasing lessons. It's sad, but my daughter has been playing for 10 years and has no interest in continuing. We'd rather the teacher use the spot for a student who is motivated to keep learning.  Update: Did this yesterday. Teacher very happy.
12. What is one thing you're looking forward to soon? School being finished for the year.

17 comments:

Mary said...

We haven't gotten by the National Cathedral on our visits yet...maybe this summer.
Your last answer was the same as mine...vacation is almost here!

Jaime said...

I forgot I was looking forward to summer too!

Jill said...

#8 cracked me up. That would happen to me too!

Susanne said...

Your go to meal sounds really yummy!

Melli said...

LOL! I am FOREVER laundering MY money too! :)

10 years is a loooong time for a kid to play piano! I bet she will always be glad to know how - and that she will enjoy it again for years and years to come!

samurai said...

#1 looks like a good recipe... i think i might just copy and give it a try.

#3 - i now have a new place i would like to see in Washington DC! 8)

#8 - chuckle, so that's how you launder your money, eh?

#12 - i am somewhat not looking forward to that... a house of 5 kids running around... wow. 8| But, that's me. 8)

Thank you for stopping by the "dojo". I have not been to Burke lake for over 235 years... wow, has it been that long. I bet the paths around the lake are a little more crowded now. Loudon county - completely agree... but we are holding our own (so far) out here in the Shenandoah. If you ever have time come on out to Route 81, and drive south of Winchester... beautiful.

Mocha with Linda said...

You always have great answers. #8 made me laugh - ain't it the truth! Hope we never get in trouble for money laundering! :-)

The Bug said...

Well, if the dollar actually made it home it would end up in the laundry for sure - whereupon Dr. M would filch it!

I took piano lessons for 8 years. I must say that my teacher probably wished she had a better student. The good news is that I can read music now which helps in the choir.

About audio books - I get mine from the library - either from the actual physical library or I download e-books (in MP3 or WMA format) from their e-library. I LOVE listening to the Janet Evanovich Stephanie Plum books - they require no thought & are quite entertaining. Debbie Macomber is in that category too - although she does take things a little more seriously. Lately I've been "reading" the Barbara Holloway series by Kate Wilhelm, Barbara is an attorney in Oregon & the books are essentially murder mysteries with LOTS of courtroom antics. Which might be a bit like a busman's holiday for you :) But very well written & lots of thoughts on the true nature of justice...

Going Cerebral said...

we've been on the east coast for almost 10yrs and I have yet to go to DC. Thinking about making a trip this summer...perhaps. Will have to add the cathedral to the list of possibilities when we do finally get there.

Happy Wednesday!

Joyce said...

I'm going to try your go to meal...sounds like something we would love. Thanks for sharing.

Stef said...

Loved your answers. Too much fun! Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Debby@Just Breathe said...

A pilot, very interesting.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

I'm sorry, I meant to say more. So how do you handle the shoe thing? I think everyone is looking forward to school getting out!

SouthLakesMom said...

Mary - if you get there during the Christmas season they have a fabulous display of creches from around the world.

Melli - yes, our goal was for her to be able to fill in for church if they were short a pianist. That we did accomplish. She has a gift, but not the passion. Sigh.

Samurai - see the comment above for Mary about the Nat Cath

The shoe thing - I just buy shoes to fit the left foot.

quilly said...

#2 -- I am willing to bet you've never forgotten the one thing I always remember!

#6 -- if you picked my answer Sun Butter wouldn't be an issue. ;)

http://quilldancer.com/2010/05/19/a-late-random-dozen/

Lisa Laree said...

Oh, wow! A recipe!! Bonus points!!!
Laundering the money sounds good...I have a bank in my laundry room; any loose cash found in the washer goes into the bank. Someday I'll have enough to buy myself something... ;)

Pam from alertandorientedx4 said...

I'm impressed that you know quantities for your go-to recipe. As far as piano...my grandmother was my teacher and I hated lessons. Now I'm glad that I took them for 10 years, but 10 was enough!