Eccelctic Epicurean

I've realized recently that this blog is rather spazmatic in terms of content. It seems to be part fail blog, part travelog, part Christian Century, and part stream-of-consciousness-reflection on the boring details of my life. Having recognized this undeniable fact, I've decided that instead of fixing it, I'd like to add something else: food journal! Mr.LIOLI and I do quite a bit of cooking, and I think I'll start posting some of my reflections about that important and wonderful and frustrating art.

So, here's what was on the table at Christmas Dinner today:
Roquefort Grapes (simple, elegant and scrumptious)
Wild Greens with Baked Goat Cheese (I'll never eat another salad again!)
Salmon Escalopes with Lentils and Wild Rice (A unique mix of flavors but actually quite good.)
Glazed French Carrot Medley (Who knew steamed carrots could be so wonderful!)

It was all scrumptious and one of the first multi-course meals of this kind that I've made:
1) By myself AND
2) With everything coming out at the same time AND
3) Without having a complete freak-out.

And with that success under my belt, I think I just might have enough energy left for Bananas Foster (I consider anything that one lights on fire to be a culinary Coup-d'Etat.)!

Merry Christmas

I know it's late, but I wanted to log on and wish all my readers a Merry Christmas. I'm not sure how many of you are out there, three or three hundred (the former a more likely estimate), but wherever and whoever you are, I hope you have a peaceful and pleasant holiday.

It turns out that many of my Christmas wishes were granted this year, but one especially: a white Christmas. It just started snowing not an hour ago. Not unusual for around here, but special on Christmas.

So here's wishing you some similar unexpected blessings,
LIOLI

At long last, the Book of Things that Suck (Electronic Edition)

When I was in college, a friend and I had the idea to create a book called "The Book of Things that Suck." It would mostly be pictures of things that suck: a bike whose seat and tires were stolen, cars with the boot, etc. But we would also include other things like my friends' three (yes, count em' three) rejection letters from the school of architecture at our undergraduate college (they just wanted to make extra sure she knew she didn't get in). We often brainstormed about it, but never brought it to fruition.

But I met an awesome couple last night at my friends' birthday party and our conversation rekindled my passion for the important work of documenting the suckage of the world. They even gave me my first few ideas.

So I have added a side-bar to this blog as an electronic book of things that suck....a clearinghouse for mockery and hilarity. I hope you'll enjoy it or even consider suggesting items for the list or submitting photos that might be included.

Over and out. Suckas!

Bring on the Chemicals

Over the last year or two, in an effort to do our part to stem the tide of pollution and climate change, we've tried to make a move in our household toward reducing the number of chemicals in our lives and home. We've transitioned to mostly all natural cleaning products (did you know you can mop wood floors with vinegar? Or that vinegar and baking soda are an incredibly effective drain cleaner?), all natural, non-animal tested toiletries, biodegradable detergents for dishes and laundry, and home remedies for pesky things like fruit flies (we still keep some very poisonous, very aerosol chemical around to deal with the gargantuan centipedes we sometimes find in our basement apartment....more on that later).

But recently, I've come to an unfortunate but obvious conclusion: chemicals were added to stuff for a reason....because they make things better! My desire to go "all-natural" has unfortunately left me with oily hair, a dirty floor, a greasy stove-top, and streaky dishes.

I know there are scientists out there working day and night to clone things like sheep (which already look alike.) and study other obscure and random stuff. Don't you think at least a few of them could take some time out to develop a quality shampoo made from bamboo or something?

Best Books

A friend just sent me the following link to a list of the best books of the last decade (http://www.avclub.com/articles/the-best-books-of-the-00s,35774/1/) I'd read 10 of them, and reading through it gave me some great new ideas about a few things to add to my "list." But it also motivated me to develop by own list of literary bests. So here goes, my list of the best books ever:

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Middlesex by Jeffery Eugenides
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
And the Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Ann Fadiman
The Bretheren: Inside the Supreme Court by Bob Woodward and Scott Armstrong
Love Poems from God by Daniel Ladinsky
Iron and Silk by Mark Salzman
Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
The Brothers Karamazov by Fydor Dostoevsky
Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet
Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam
Lamb by Christopher Moore
Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes

Which ones would you add to the list?

In the Dog House

We've been in the market for a new dog house for the Love-it-or-leav-itt hound. What do you all think of this?

Fabulous Foliage

When I first moved to Boston (and only slightly less often now that I've been indoctrinated into the culture here), I often wondered why the HELL the pilgrims ever settled here. If I had laid eyes on this frozen hell hole after 3 months on a boat, I would have taken a big fat left and headed for the warmer waters of Florida. I've never understood why people would want to live here. If asked, natives will talk about the beauty of the landscape or the wonderful fall foliage. But I've never agreed. We have deciduous trees in other parts of the country too, I'd say.

That was until this year. We had some incredibly magical foliage this year that almost made me glad to live in New England. Everywhere I turned it seemed this tree or that was absolutely exploding with color. Orange, red, yellow, all three....my drives to and from work were a treat for the eyes for almost two months.

And seeing the foliage always reminds me about the true limitations of the human knowledge. Though we can splice the atom, we still don't know why and how the leaves change color. To me, there is something magical about that.

Here are just a few shots from our neighborhood. These were taken after the more intense colors had past, but are still wonderful:



Even the ivy on many of the buildings seemed to be ablaze in color: