I long with all my heart to see the Prince...

Sweet honey and the rock, Richard III is open. I was a bit worried that I was going to go out on opening night with an unfinished costume. I didn't. I left after final dress and it wasn't done, I came in for opening night and it was finished. Huzzah! I still think everyone would have been much better off had she started sewing more than two weeks before we opened, but whatever. The costumes look good on us, the words come out in the proper order (mostly) and the bats are working on the bug population... all is right with the world.

Now, on to other, more important matters. Food. Specifically, bread.



I doubled the recipe because I wanted one plain loaf, and one cinnamon swirl loaf. It's nice that bread recipes multiply so easily. The only thing I did with this batch that was a little unusual is to take it out of the mixer and knead it by hand briefly. Partly this was because it wasn't making a coherent mass in the mixer and I needed to get my hands on it to see if this was an issue of the mixer or an issue of the dough. It was the mixer, it turned into a lovely, silky ball after only a short time kneading it. My wrists protested, so I put it back in the mixer (with the dough hook) for an additional few minutes of mixer kneading. Both loaves turned out nice and light, so I guess it got kneaded enough. I need to work on my dough shaping capabilities. I don't ever seem to get it even enough when I roll it out for shaping, so I end up with slightly lopsided loaves. It doesn't seem to affect texture (or flavor), but I like pretty loaves. I also remembered to turn my oven temp down a little this time. I use glass loaf pans, and I my gas is propane, so if I bake the loaves at 350, they end up really dark, even when I tent them. This time I baked them at 325, and everything worked out lovely.

My sweetie has been working most evenings lately, so my dinners have been thrown together noodle affairs. I rather wish I had taken a picture of Monday's dinner, it actually turned out quite pretty (as well as quite delicious). Sunday night I had buckwheat soba noodles in a quick peanut sauce with vegetables. Monday night I had rice noodles in the rest of the peanut sauce with vegetables. Both were very delicious. The rice noodles had a bit more eye appeal, but the soba noodles were (surprise!) quite a bit heartier.

Peanut Sauce (so not precise, because, really, why measure, it's all to taste anyway)

peanut butter (smooth or crunchy, preferably natural and unsalted, but whatever pb you prefer will work)
rice vinegar (seasoned)
chili garlic sauce
soy sauce
sesame oil (optional)
ginger (fresh or ground, optional)

Put all ingredients in a bowl. Mix to combine. Amounts will vary depending on your taste and how much sauce you are making, don't worry about it, just mix away.

Cook noodles of your choice according to package directions. Add some frozen mixed vegetables to the noodles in the last minute or two of cooking time (or if you soak the noodles in the hot water before draining, add the veggies just before you turn off the heat, bring the water back to the boil and then turn off the heat and soak as directed). Splash a little of the cooking water over the sauce and mix. Drain noodles and vegetables. Add to bowl with sauce and toss to coat. Eat up baby!

Rehearsal, rehearsal, rehearsal...

Rehearsals for the 2006 season of the Central Coast Shakespeare Festival have officially begun! I find that as much as I love the rehearsal process (and you have to love it to do theater, especially local theater, since more time is usually spent rehearsing than performing), I love my nights off equally. One doesn't appreciate a free evening until most of them are claimed by something. My favorites are the unexpected nights off. Like tonight, for example, we were supposed to have a second read through of Macbeth, but the director decided that we did such a lovely job of it last night, that she didn't need to hear it again tonight. This means my next rehearsal isn't until Sunday evening. At which time we will be doing preliminary blocking on the ballroom scene for The Three Musketeers, I believe. We might be doing something else, but I think I have it right.

I love theater. How else could I get foully murdered and almost have an affair alternately? Well, I suppose I could do those things in real life, but I could only do one of them once, and I don't think it would be too much fun. I'll do my best to stick with being murdered (almost) on stage. And, since I'm not the type to give a man twelve diamonds as a token of my affection, I'll save that for the stage too.

Endearment for the week: Sweet Pea (it works equally well on men, children, dogs, cats and horses, that sort of broad appeal doesn't happen too often)

Soon, I will go back to cleaning up and moving around. This weekend might be the last weekend for Tropicana Nursery. One part of me is very sad. Another part of me is ready for it to be over and done with. Especially the stupid people asking annoying questions part of it. Who knew that a closing sign would bring the morons out of the woodwork. I was pretty sure we would see people who had never shopped at the nursery before, but I didn't realize how many vultures would descend, or how rude they would be. I don't know why people think they are allowed to be insulting during a clearance sale. Sure, stuff is looking ratty, but that's because what's left is all the oldest stuff, the nice things went first, but saying how bad everything loooks is not going to get you a better deal. At least, not in my store.

Harley's rules for bargain hunters:

1.) I don't mind bargaining (I used to mind, but I've gotten better), but be polite, it'll get you a better deal. And, I won't make faces at you behind your back.

2.) Don't tell lies that I can easily see through. I've worked in the store for 10 years, I know who our regular customers are. I might not recognize you if you only come in a couple times a year, but come in more than three times in a two month period, and I will remember you for awhile (I can't promise forever, because information gets pushed out to make room for new stuff).

3.) Start with a compliment. It doesn't have to be much. "You have such interesting plants." "It's fun to look around." You know the sort of thing. It puts me in a more receptive mood to you asking for a better deal.

I'll post more when I think of some. If I think of some. Three might be enough. Especially since one and three are much the same. :-)

Talk on ya later,

Harley