Watermelon Jam
Like I may have mentioned earlier, I started following a new blog called Tasteologie. One of the first recipes I saw on there that I wanted to try was Watermelon Jam. It would give me something delicious as well as add another technique to my cooking skill list: canning. The result is a delicious (though I only tasted the stuff that was still on the funnel I used to put the jam in the jars) brightly colored jam.
However, i should note that the recipe is suposed to make 7 jars and I wound up with 2.5 jars. Some of that is because I lost some after starting in far too small of a pot. Some if it is also likely due to me boiling off more water than I was supposed to because I was using an IR thermometer when I should have been using an insertion thermometer. Therefore my Jam may turn into watermelon candy instead of watermelon jam, but i have hope.
Update: It is very thick, but VERY delicious! expect more canned things in the future too!
The recipe follows the break!
Liege Waffles
In Eugene the last couple years a new food slowly surfaced. Off The Waffle opened and introduced me to the greatest waffles ever made. I've since moved back to Portland, and here I was dying to have a Liege waffle.
First, Liege waffles are one of two kinds of waffles from Belgium. Often when you get a "Belgian Waffle" you are ordering a Brussels style Belgian waffle. Both Brussels and Liege waffles are named after cities and are both Belgian waffles. True belgian waffles are also prepared as a dough, not a batter, but are still cooked in a waffle iron. The most notable difference between a Brussels and a Liege waffle is that Liege waffles use pearled sugar, kind of like broken sugar cubes, to create a carmelized, crispy sugar shell on the outside of the waffle. It is a delightful taste and I'd reccomend getting one made by a professional, but if that is not possible the next best option is to make it yourself.
This is where I come in. I made some today and they came out wonderfully. I found a recipe through google, but couldn't find pearled sugar. Instead I bought sugar cubes and broke them into pieces (~1 cm). Everything else is pretty standard cooking/baking supplies. I hope you enjoy!
(recipe after the break!)
Resident Evil 3D
Update: Charlie and I did not get into the theater. The studio put the pre-release into the smallest theater Lloyd cinema had.
Charlie and I obtained a free pass to the pre-premier showing of the new Resident Evil movie at the Lloyd Center movie theater. I am currently waiting in line while Charlie grabs us some dinner. Charlie was quite excited about the movie, I am expecting complete crap. Check back later for our impressions post film!
Subway of SCIENCE
Update: Recently he released version 1.0. He added some new scientists and re arranged some things.
I know many of you, like me, are concerned with how Rene Descartes is related to Charles Darwin. Luckily, an awesome person developed a subway map for science. It is AWESOME. check it out.
Also, this guy seems to be updating the map based on comments possibly. If you see something wrong, let him know. Also let him know how AMAZING it is.
I'm just hoping a poster gets made from it soon.
Anamanaguchi Live in Portland
Hey readers, I'm down in downtown Portland to see the chiptune punk band Anamanaguchi. If you don't know them, I highly recommend checking them out.
I am going to live blog this event, but if there is a low frequency of posts, don't think they sucked, rather, it probably means they're rocking!
7:30 just ate some voodoo donuts to get me pumped for the show.
7:35 asked about tickets, was told to get them when the show opens. Also, I've been seeing the band members(I think) around the location, but I don't know what they look like enough to geek out.
7:48 getting in line. I can hear the band warming up inside and hyping on it.
7:50 someone in line nearby has a sex bob-omb shirt on.
7:52 said girl is more geeky than me and is kinda creeping me out. Also I believe this is an all ages show too. Hence this girl who I would guess is high school age.
7:55 this guy is wearing a Mann co. Shirt (team fortress 2). He is cooler than the other girl.
7:56 the voodoo crew was just dissing chiptunes. I think they just like dissing things.
8:02 doors should be open...
8:08 I'd just like to go in so I can not be standing on the street leaning on a trashcan.
8:12 doors are open. Other band is named Pegasus Dream Girlfriend. Don't know them.
8:21 inside. Got a drink. Some might say "don't drink and blog" but I laugh in the face of danger.
8:23 DJ is totally rockin' some sweet electronic beats!
8:25 a concert with a bunch of nerds. Not necessarily the best place to go make friends. Lots of introverts.
8:40 normally I am very cautious about hearing. But I think today I'm probably going to be pushing it.
8:47 did I mention I'm even digging the pre-band music here?
8:50 also I like the atmosphere of this venue. Big ceramic faces on the walls.
8:55 is it bad that the under-21 side is much more full than the cool side? I would guess that it is partly because many of the older crowd is already going to PAX.
8:57 I think the Pegasus dude is getting on.
8:59 he's set up in front of the stage with multiple instruments oriented around a drum set. Kinda excited for him too.
9:09 nvm. Two bands, this is Girlfriend. Enjoying him.
9:12 not often you get music that is featuring drums.
9:24 This guy ROCKS
9:31 got his CD free.
9:37 I enjoyed him greatly!
9:43 there is someone pulling some SICK dance moves in the underage section. Blowing me a away a bit. I'd join, but I don't want to give up my drink.
9:50 observation: all Scott Pilgrim shirts have been under 21, all anamanaguchi shirts have been 21 and over.
9:58 second band setting up. They're on main stage so there is lighting for them.
10:04 Pegasus Dream is rockin' too!
10:30 Pegasus Dream rocked it! I hotta remember to look them up when I get home!
10:33 just got a closer look at the DJs. Three or 4 button pads, some knobs and 3 macs. These guys got the toys man. Also they are playing the Zelda Overworld Theme right now.
10:36 Anamanaguchi is up next. The crowd is getting more excited. You can almost feel it.
10:44 a nice (but drunk) man named Marshall and I just had a nice conversation. He doesn't know who anamanaguchi is.
11:00 Anamanaguchi on stage!
11:04 one of the band members is changing a string so there is a "be nice competition"
11:06 the 21+ side totally rocked it!
11:07 he's back! They're going to play!
11:56 AMAZING!!! I took a video, I'll get it up here by tomorrow night. Anyone who didn't come, MISSED OUT!