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What I'm writing in YEAR OF THE DOG

I just finished writing Year of the Dog ! It had a massive plot hole that I had to fix which turned out to be more work than I expected. Here’s a snippet: “Hey, Auntie Nell.” He wrapped his arms around her, bussing her on the cheek and breathing in pikake flowers and shortbread cookies. And suddenly he was nine years old again, and her solid presence had made his chaotic world stable once more. “What are you doing here?” He usually took her to dinner on Wednesday nights, but today was Tuesday. The edges of her smile faltered a little before brightening right back up again. “What, I can’t visit my nephew?” She angled around him to enter his home. “Is this your new house? Looks lovely.” Which was a blatant lie, because the fixer-upper was barely livable, much less acceptable to a neat-freak like his aunt. She also left four matching pink and purple floral suitcases on the stoop behind her. Only then did Ashwin notice the cab driver standing slightly to the side of the walkway. “Can ...
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I made artichokes!


I was thrilled to find the first artichokes of the season in my organic co-op basket this week! I used this pressure cooker method to cook them. They were a tiny bit overcooked, so I might go for only 5 minutes next time.

I grew up eating them with mayonnaise (plain, aioli, and also sometimes with soy sauce mixed in) but Captain Caffeine can’t stand mayonnaise. Normally he eats them with melted butter, but last night we ate them with extra virgin olive oil and garlic salt.

How do you cook artichokes? Any favorite recipes? I’m looking for any good recipes since we’ll start getting more artichokes from the co-op in the coming weeks.
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Trinka said…
Mmm, I LOVE artichokes :) Though, I gagged when I read you eat them with mayo :P I usually eat them with hollandaise sauce. Haha, but I guess that might sound gross to you! ;)
To cook, I just steam them in a pot using a steamer basket, turns out awesome. :)
Fri Apr 27, 06:35:00 PM 2012
Camy Tang said…
I used to steam them, but found the pressure cooker is faster and I could get more artichokes in the pressure cooker than my teeny little steamer basket. I've since gotten a larger steamer basket, but still use the pressure cooker. :)
Sat Apr 28, 04:05:00 AM 2012
Anonymous said…
I have always wanted to try Artichokes. Jenevive from Trading Spaces used to use the AC hearts as inspirations for her rooms. Do you eat the heart or take it out.
Also I love that you're a part of an organic co-op. We're a part of a local co-op run by an organization that employees developmentally disabled adults. Just bought from a farmer's market today.
Sun Apr 29, 07:13:00 PM 2012
Camy Tang said…
Oh, I LOVE the heart, although I remove the prickly part.
Mon Apr 30, 05:30:00 PM 2012
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