It hurts so good

After downing a half-smoke (like a chili dog, but better) and fries at the Nationals game today, my digestive tract was feeling a little less than stellar so I needed something light for dinner. I'm a big fan of both soup and Asian cooking these days, so I turned to this Wok cookbook I bought on a whim from Ikea. (It was clearly translated from Swedish, and features such poetic instructions as, "Gut the shrimps. Wash the shrimps. Dry the shrimps.") The few recipes I've made from it have turned out pretty bland, so I usually have to significantly doctor the results to make them tasty. The additions I made to this soup resulted in a soup rich in flavor but light enough to not wreak havoc on my already-taxed tummy.

Spicy Shrimp and Asparagus Soup

Serves 4

1 quart (4 cups) chicken stock or broth

8 oz. baby asparagus

8 oz. raw shrimp, peeled and deveined

4 shallots

1 tbsp. vegetable oil

1 tbsp. cornstarch

2 tbsp. fish sauce

1/2 tsp. chili bean paste (can be found in Asian foods section)

pinch of Chinese 5-spice powder

1 egg

salt and pepper, to taste

1. In a small pot, bring the chicken broth to a boil. While waiting for it to boil, wash the asparagus, trim off any woody ends, and cut into inch-long pieces.

2. Cook asparagus in boiling broth for 3 minutes, then remove with a slotted spoon and set aside. Turn broth down to a simmer.

3. In a wok or other large pot, heat oil and saute shallots for a minute or two, then add shrimp. Cook shrimp for 2 minutes, then add broth and asparagus to wok.

4. Stir in chili bean paste, 5-spice powder, and fish sauce and bring to a simmer.

4. Mix cornstarch with 1 tbsp. water in a small bowl. Stir into soup in wok until it thickens slightly.

5. Whisk egg in a small bowl, then stir egg into soup vigorously until threads appear (like egg drop soup.)

6. Salt and pepper to taste, then serve.

August

• new Mac, new (FREE!) iPod touch and hence, the demise of my social life 
• law school orientation
• mugginess and constant beads of sweat on upper lip (why does that HAPPEN?) 
• getting back on track, in every sense of the phrase
• singledom, happily
• kickball Thursdays
• trip home
• outdoor concerts
• the end of constant takeout meals 

Lighter fare

I'm forever having difficulty picking out the perfect gift for people, but Outblush has been helping me immensely as of late. It's got unique fashion, beauty, and home gift ideas, and even has a companion website for guys. Big fan. 

Remember that other shoe? Well, yeah. It dropped.

I remember having a conversation with my mother a couple of months ago, right after I found out I got un-waitlisted at the law school I most wanted to attend. I told her that everything in my life thus far had been so nearly close to perfect that I felt perpetually nervous, as if something bad must happen soon, just because no one should have it easy all the time. I mean, I'd always accomplished what I set out to do, my family is only very mildly dysfunctional, nothing had ever really been withheld from me, and even the small slips and stumbles only managed to make me a better person. This scared me shitless. No one's supposed to have it easy all the time, right?

The answer is, "ya damn right." While I would in no way classify the past month as anywhere near catastrophic and is only a minor grievance compared to what many people deal with, it has been, in my world at least, a doozy. 

I found out that my boyfriend of a year (The Brit) actually was leading a double life, and had multiple other girlfriends and a fiancee back in England the entire time he was dating me. He's actually a textbook sociopath.

If I went into detail about all the messed up things I learned about the person I thought I knew and loved, we'd be here all day, so I'll spare you the details. And while I normally wouldn't share this much personal info with strangers, I felt since I was missing so long, if anyone bothers to check this thing, they might be looking for an explanation. 

I was putting myself back together. And applying to go on Oprah. 

Dilemma.

Just bought this beautiful dining table (accessorizing my new condo and relentlessly searching Craigslist for bargains has taken the place of cooking for the time being.)

Alas, it does not come with matching chairs, and I'm at a bit of a loss, because I don't want to go too matchy-matchy. (It's black, by the way.) Internet people, what kind of chairs would you suggest pairing with this table?

Pretty much sums up dating in the District

The Old Tomato

Message sent to the Brit:

The Top Chef finale is on at 7:30 p.m. tonight.

That means, if you want to see me at that time, and possibly ever again, you must TiVo it.

Since you forgot to do it last night because you were "out," and having "fun." Sigh.

The Brit knows there are no compromises when it comes to Top Chef.