A happy Thursday

In appreciation for an unexpectedly nice day.

It started with breakfast, which was leftover tilapia fillets that had been steamed over onions, scallion, zucchini, and red chard. For some reason, greens and fish were just what I wanted, plus the fish had turned just ever so slightly pink from the stems of the chard, which was pretty.

During lunch I went up to the Old South Meeting House for the last of the Benjamin Franklin-themed lectures, this time about him and ( the turkey. )

I sat at the back, where I could appreciate the effects of the wavy glass in the windows, distorting the advertisement across the street. It's amazing how little change in a face can change it far from modern ideals of beauty.

After work, there was time for a quick workout at the gym and buying the coworker's novel before catching the commuter rail out to Brandeis. I felt a bit rushed, but made it to the train with minutes to spare, and a new book to read for the trip.

Dinner was at Sherman, the first meal there in over a year. There's now a little section of commercial kosher foods up by the cashier. It seems a bit odd to have them in the kosher cafeteria (since the kosher line would be open any time this food is available), but I suppose if the menu doesn't appeal, then students can use points this way instead. (I'm such a dinosaur: when I was there, there were literal meal tickets, little numbered squares for each breakfast, lunch, and dinner to rip out, and it was definitely a use it or lose it proposition. (Thank goodness the hours have changed since I was there, too; dinner ended at 6:30, which wouldn't have worked at all, but now runs until 8.)) It was odd eating there; I know it's me getting older, but the students looked so incredibly young. At least I had a fun book to distract me (so far, so good; actual plug likely once I've finished (and have time enough to post)).

Next, over to Spingold to pick up tickets to ( a play beyond our control. )

I want to replicate the balance of new stuff, exercise, shared time, whatever it was that made me so happy with the day.

Shabbat food (not quite as planned)

When I left this morning, only one thing was on in the kitchen. Unfortunately, it wasn't the thing I'd thought I'd left on, so when I got home, the challah hadn't baked on time bake (and had somewhat overrisen, so flattish challot), and my lovely spicy eggplant was bits of eggplant charcoal. Thank goodness it was in the cast iron skillet, so it was merely bits of eggplant charcoal and not anything worse. Of course, I got flustered, and so the pies are rather less wonderful than I'd wanted, but I needed to get them out of the oven with time enough to cook the chicken (in the oven now on a very high heat...)

So, the food:

• whole wheat challah
  
• grape juice
  
• steamed broccoli
  
• steamed green beans (that might get dressed with ume plum vinegar and sesame oil, or maybe not)
  
• mustard chicken thighs roasted over red onion, zucchini, pine nuts, bread crumbs, black pepper, and tarragon
  
• ginger-pear-walnut pie
  
• mixed berry pie (that didn't really set

I could make a tomato salad, I have cheese and smoked fish to put on bread, and there are bananas to snack on, so I definitely have options. I'm still annoyed at myself for this mistake.