Parched

Nurse, start an IV of Riptide Rush Gatorade stat! I am so dehydrated. No, not from too much wine or being sick, just plain lack of H2O. While in Winona I totally forgot to drink anything other than coffee for breakfast. I have been chugging water for 24 hours now but I still feel like a desert. Our house is so dry too both Jake & I have "maladies" from the dryness. So far all the things wrong with us include: red eyes, neck irritation, thinning hair, cellulite, fatigue, sore wrists, parched mouth, chapped lips, skin & noses. So, I decided to create the poor man's humidifier by filling a giant stock pot with water and placing it on the radiator in our bedroom. Is it working? Hells no but I admire my own creativity! Oh Hawaii, we need you and your moist moisture. I don't even care about the frizzy hair anymore, you are so worth it.

Told you!

Ferosha Coutura wins PR!

Some words from Dorothy...

If you are like me and think SoS has gotten way too PG/Babies R Us lately, check out a very humorous blog at DListed. Michael K may be mean and crass but he cracks me up daily.

always your bitch,
Dorothy

zoom zoom zoom

So who would load up her too small sedan with a baby, baby gear, dog, dog gear and take to the freeway? Guilty. Okay, I am leaving the dog at home and the car is only mildly cramped if you let stuff hang out the windows and wear a warm hat. Tomorrow we are heading to Winona, home of the free, to visit family while Jake is working/playing tennis/taking a whole day off to go the HS hockey tourney and tour the establishments of Saint Paul. I am praying I don't have to listen to any "are we there yets". Or country music for that matter. Should be fun to get out of the 55104.

Lazy Sunday

No Parnell but lots of lounging. After my super Saturday what did I expect? Jake slept in and I took a nap after my workout (foot is on the rebound). Grandpa Steve & Grandma Liz and Auntie Elle came all the way up for a visit, too. Nori continues to be a big draw. We had to have Chipotle and Jake & I finished off the chocolate fondue (fond-don't) and fruit from last night. Seriously, I need to get myself hula-ready by April so fine me everytime I mention another sweet I eat. That grass skirt and coconut bra are not going to wear themselves. All in all, a fun productive weekend.

Asian Ribs

• 5 pounds beef short ribs, cut into 4-ounce portions
• 1 cup soy sauce
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
• 1 tablespoon peeled and minced ginger
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1 quart water
• 1/2 cup sliced green onion bottoms, white part only
• 3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 1/4 cup fresh orange juice
• 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons finely grated orange rind, for serving

In a wide stockpot or Dutch oven, combine the short ribs, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, lemongrass, ginger, brown sugar, water, green onion bottoms, crushed red pepper, and 2 tablespoons of the orange juice. Make sure that the stockpot is deep enough so that the short ribs are submerged in the liquid.

Bake the short ribs, covered, for about 3 hours, or until the meat is tender and falling off the bones. Remove the short ribs from the braising liquid and cover to keep warm. Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F.

Drain the fat off of the cooking liquid and discard. Place the remaining braising juices in a medium saucepan with 1/4 cup of the hoisin sauce and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the liquid until only about 1 1/4 cups remain. Strain through a fine-meshed strainer, discarding the solids. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of orange juice and the lemon juice.

Return the short ribs and the reduced sauce to the stockpot or Dutch oven, coating the short ribs well with the sauce. Bake for 10 minutes, until the short ribs are heated through and slightly glazed. Serve hot over jasmine rice.

So ambitious!

Weeks of laziness have paid off with one killer day of energy. Already today I have showered (!!) visited my Dad & Linda at their house in Plymouth, made a Costco run, super cleaned the office/guest room, done laundry, created a play area for Nori and now am trying my hand at those ribs from last weekend. Take a peek at my day...

** Linda not pictured due to serious salon issues resulting in red, purple and now black hair.