Into the Wild

"'You could tell right away that Alex was intelligent,' Westerberg reflects, draining his third drink. 'He read a lot. Used a lot of big words. I think maybe part of what got him into trouble was that he did too much thinking. Sometimes he tried too hard to make sense of the world, to figure out why people were bad to each other so often."' Chapter 3, pg. 18

I was really anxious to read this book for a few reasons. 1) I really enjoyed Into Thin Air by Krakauer, 2) I also really enjoy his writing style, very casual and as if you are hearing him tell the story, 3) Knowing the ending before reading it (it is in the summary of the book) made me very intrigued about what kind of person would do this and how he died doing it, 4) I wanted to read it before the movie came out.

It's a true story, covering the life and death of Chris McCandless. He was extremely intelligent and was raised by a well-to-do family in an upscale neighborhood in Washington, D.C. He ventured out on his own to live in the wilderness because he was so unhappy and unfulfilled in the life he lived up to that point.

The character is very frustrating. The good thing is that Krakauer lets your form your own opinion as to whether you think the main character is a tragic hero or a complete idiot. I flip-flopped back and forth a few times while reading the book, but by the end I knew what my sentiments toward the guy were. I think he was a fool. Ungrateful for the opportunties and lifestyle his parents were able to provide him. Unforgiving of his family for the same kind of mistakes that a lot of people make. He thought he was smarter and wiser than everyone who loved him, and didn't appreciate advice from the people who cared for him the most.


Overall, I'm glad that I read it, and I would like to see the movie now.

Roasted Shrimp and Orzo Salad

Roasted Shrimp and Orzo Salad
Copyright 2006, Barefoot Contessa at Home, All Rights Reserved

Last night I tried this recipe for the first time (finished product above). I had most of the ingredients already, so it was fairly easy prep-wise from the start. We ate it warm since we were hungry and it was our dinner, but I think it might be better to serve cold, as a salad. Owen and Lindsay said they really liked it, so hopefully they weren't just being nice =). I liked it, and would love to try it again. We watched the Cowboys defeat the Bills, and it was a great game. I tried to read a good portion of Into the Wild, but only got through about another 20 pages or so. I brought some orzo with me to work today, so that I can decide which way I think is better. Please see below for the recipe.

Ingredients
Kosher salt
Good olive oil
3/4 pound orzo pasta (rice-shaped pasta)
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (3 lemons)
Freshly ground black pepper
2 pounds (16 to 18 count) shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 cup minced scallions, white and green parts
1 cup chopped fresh dill
1 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1 hothouse cucumber, unpeeled, seeded, and medium-diced
1/2 cup small-diced red onion
3/4 pound good feta cheese, large diced


Preperation
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Fill a large pot with water, add 1 tablespoon of salt and a splash of oil, and bring the water to a boil. Add the orzo and simmer for 9 to 11 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it's cooked al dente. Drain and pour into a large bowl. Whisk together the lemon juice, 1/2 cup olive oil, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Pour over the hot pasta and stir well.


Meanwhile, place the shrimp on a sheet pan, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to combine and spread out in a single layer. Roast for 5 to 6 minutes, until the shrimp are cooked through. Don't overcook!


Add the shrimp to the orzo and then add the scallions, dill, parsley, cucumber, onion, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Toss well. Add the feta and stir carefully. Set aside at room temperature for 1 hour to allow the flavors to blend, or refrigerate overnight. If refrigerated, taste again for seasonings and bring back to room temperature before serving.

Mama's magic

“I was in yoga the other day. I was in full lotus position. My chakras were all aligned. My mind is cleared of all clatter and I'm looking out of my third eye and everything that I'm supposed to be doing. It's amazing what comes up, when you sit in that silence....
'Mama keeps whites bright like the sunlight, Mama's got the magic of Clorox 2.'”

-Ellen DeGeneres


We finally had some sunlight in Houston; here is proof!

VIN

Owen, Joseph, Isla and I went to VIN last night for dinner. It's located in the theatre district, right next to the Verizon Wireless Theatre. None of us had ever been there and the food was really good, but the place was dead! We thought it was the restaurant but after bar hopping later that evening, we realized that the city itself was pretty dead last night. I guess everyone was headed to Dallas for the big football weekend.
We ordered grilled calamari and shrimp n' grits for appetizers, I thought both of them were pretty tasty. The dressing on the calamari was really good, and the shrimps were nice and tasty. I had scallops as my entree, and they were excellent. Very filling too. Owen and Joseph ordered the filet, which was very tasty, and the mashed potatoes that came with them were pretty awesome. Isla ordered the salmon, and I think she really liked it too. We had the this yummy cinnamon bread pudding for dessert. All in all, I thought the restaurant was really good. It was pricey, but I thought the quality and taste of the food was fairly commensurate compared to other Houston restaurants of that level. I think that if it would have been busy, we would have left with quite a different impression.
I don't see why I wouldn't go back, but there would definitely have to be more people there than last night. (Sorry, no pictures)