Autumn musings.

Tonight, I had the option of reading the U.S. Army and Marine Corps Counterinsurgency Field Manual in preparation for a no doubt extremely heated class discussion in my development anthropology class on Thursday. Or, goofing off and writing blog posts after a month of ignoring my duties here at Rice and Beans: A Belizean in DC. Try and guess which I ended up doing.

Yes, the allure of reading about interrogation and espionage tactics just couldn't keep me from my blog. That's how devoted I am. Mind you, the fact that I had to venture out on foot in 30 mile an hour winds and the freezing cold to retrieve the book from a big chain store in Georgetown may have played a part my decision making process. After losing all feeling in my fingers, a cup of hot masala chai and some relaxation time sounded better than military jargon. Plus I just finished writing a paper today, thanks very much. I deserve a break and you guys deserve some more posts!

So here I am, hanging my head and sending abject apologizes your way. If you haven't given up on me already, you will see that I have also posted a couple recipes in the last day or two, in a rushed attempt to make up for four weeks of silence. I beg you to try the sweet potato and corn chowder. And make extra. It just gets better after a couple days in the fridge.

Things have been busy here. For one thing, as you can see we now have a kitten. A beautiful grey fluff-ball with blue eyes that a police officer rescued from some kids intent on killing her and her siblings. How? By putting them in paper bags and tossing them repeatedly in the air. It worries me to think what the parents of those ten year olds must be doing to them that they would be so sadistic towards such tiny creatures. Nonetheless, our kitty was rescued and ended up at my boyfriend's work. He, of course, took one look at her and couldn't say no. So now we have a kitty named Blanche after the Golden Girls character. Who hasn't been weaned yet. And must be fed with an eye dropper. Every couple hours. Without fail. First thing in the morning, as soon as I get out of work, before class, after class, before bed. After two weeks she is much bigger and healthier but she refuses to eat on her own even though her teeth are getting bigger (and sharper) every day.

Schoolwork, well, schoolwork is the reason you haven't heard from me in a month. Lets leave it at that. I have been cooking, but that is because I have to eat, don't I? And believe me, there have been no all-evening culinary sessions in my apartment in a long time.

Then there are the university applications. Aside from Indiana University, about which I wrote previously, I am also applying to Brown University and Emory University, both excellent schools with excellent anthropology programs that require excellent applications and perfect statements of purpose, writing examples, etc. Do I have time for this? No. But the deadlines are in December, so I am trying to squeeze it all in between my current schoolwork.

Aside from the turnips and the chowder, I recently came up with two new salads that I have been going gaga over and plan on posting about as soon as possible. They involve, respectively, apples and fennel and whole wheat couscous and cannelloni beans. Can I just say that whole wheat couscous is awesome? It cooks in 5 minutes (if you do it the American way), which is perfect for someone with no free time (ahem...think working graduate student) and its whole grain! What a great invention. I've been getting mine from Trader Joe's but I'm sure there are other sources.

I also recently tried this fantastic recipe for a North African tagine-style chicken with olives and apricots, and then made it again with just vegetables. Both ways it is scrumptious! Many thanks to Warda of the 64 square foot kitchen for sharing it with the world.

Ok, I promise my next post will include a recipe. Stay tuned for: Red Snapper Ceviche, Belizean-style (yes, that means it is spicy. In fact, you might as well go put habanero peppers on your grocery list right now.)

Til next time! (which, if fate allows, will be less than a month from now).