No outfit posts today – I spent the long weekend at The Rocket Scientist’s apartment and I pack light for those trips, so it was largely the same pants and comfy sweater every day. However, I had a lovely weekend and ended up taking a lot of photos. So, for all of you who’ve always wondered what a weekend in the life of two homebody nerds is, enjoy:
I rushed to The Rocket Scientist’s on Friday to see the openings of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. I don’t remember ever watching the opening ceremonies before, largely because I don’t care about sports. However, I was living in Canada when Vancouver won the bid for the 2010 games, and the excitement was infectious. Even though I don’t live in Canada right now, I was so excited to see what one of the two countries I call home was going to do, and it was incredible! People keep talking about the set malfunction at the end, but I think it’s important to remind everyone that the “Fall” portion of the ceremony was finished by famed Canadian fiddler Ashley MacIsaac. This man, while an incredible musician, has a penchant to not wear anything under his kilt. All I’m saying is, the equipment malfunction could have been worse. Eh? Eh?
The Rocket Scientist got a deep fryer for Christmas, so we decided to take it for a test fry. Sweet potato tempura is basically the most delicious thing ever, so we made some and put into yummy, yummy sushi rolls.
If some of the sushi looks funny, it’s probably mine. I don’t eat seafood so The Rocket Scientist always cooks up some chicken and puts it into my rolls.
The sweet potato tempura turned out so well that we decided to try making falafels. This is when the weekend turned ugly…
We followed the recipe perfectly, made gorgeous falafel balls, dropped them into the oil…and they disintegrated. So we took the next batch, rolled them in flour to adhere them together a bit better, dropped them into the oil…and they disintegrated. So we took the next batch, rolled them in flour, froze them overnight, dropped them into the oil…and they disintegrated. So, finally, we ended up baking the ones that were left over. You won this round, Bella Kitchen Fryer, but we’ll be back.
Ever wondered what deep-fryed falafel dust looks like? Really, me neither.
The Rocket Scientist chiseling the frozen falafel balls out of the pan with a hammer and screwdriver
Deconstructed falafel pitas
With so much of the weekend spent eating while watching athletes, The Rocket Scientist and I decided to take a walk up to his lab. I’m not sure what he does there, but I hope part of it involves building me a helper robot because those dishes aren’t going to do themselves. While he was busy engineering, I amused myself with lab equipment:
Matryoshka Beakers!
Aerial View
The world's largest graduated cylinder next to the world's smallest beaker (dime for reference)
Here's The Rocket Scientist hard at work. He's hoping since the pen he's using is blurry, you won't notice that he's holding it upside down...
After he was done fake-using his pen, he stuck it up his nose
Eventually I got bored, so I invented a new lab race game where you try to scoot a wheelie chair from one end of the lab to the other without using your hands or feet. Keith claims he won, but I’m calling foul and demanding a recount.
On the way home I discovered this old farmhouse.
And I’ll leave you with the one photo The Rocket Scientist took of me this weekend. I think it’s a solid arguement for Peter Jackson hiring me to be an elf if he ever makes another Tolkien film.
Its like Spock and Alfred E. Newman had a baby...
Curses! Now I want yam tempura rolls, and they’re all the way down the street. To be fair, though, I pretty much always want yam tempura rolls, since they are pretty much the greatest thing ever that isn’t fish.
Gaaaaah now I want fish. Stupid vegetarianism!
I sort of wish I had a lab.
Also, I’ve gotten falafel to work by pan frying them, but if you’re set on a ball shape that may not work.
We may try that next time. The deep fryer scares me.
I find using canned chickpeas that the falafel balls tend to fall apart. Instead try using dry chickpeas and soaking them overnight (or boiling them for faster results). I find that the result is a more coarsely textured ball that stays together better. I also use way more coriander than advised in he recipe, cause I like em like that.
Yeah, The Rocket Scientist used canned because he’s too impatient to wait the 12 hours for them to soak…
oooo the sushi looks good!!!!
Maybe I have a dirty mind but this: “I spent the long weekend at The Rocket Scientist’s apartment and I pack light for those trips” sounds very like there should have been a *wink!* sound effect right there.
I can see you had lots of fun this weekend. I especially like the falafel and lab pics. And yes, you’d make a great looking elf in LOTR!
Yep, you have a dirty mind. What I mean was that I end up living in the same jeans and sweater for three days because I’m always rushing to get out the door and I forget to pack well.