2.01.2006

phew.


You can all be proud of me - I had a lot of work to do last week, and instead of posting millions of entries and photos like I wanted to, I did my work instead. My talk last week went well -- it's the first of three big talks that I have to give to get my physics analysis approved so that it can be shown to the public. I would post the talk, but, since I'm giving these talks in order to have the result be shown in public, I can exactly post it yet.

I am working on a short summary of my thesis topic, so when I finally have a measurement I can explain what it means. When I finish, it'll go here.

Links!

If you like this sort of thing, here's an article on science funding and how the U.S. is falling behind in the world: “Our nation may very well kick itself several years from now,” Rep. Jim Cooper, a Tennessee Democrat, said at the time. [at the time that they cancelled the supercollider in Texas in 1993, that is.] “Basic science is extremely vulnerable right now. . . . But how else do you show the folks back home you care about the deficit?”

Every year, google puts together some graphs of interesting searches. The 2005 page looks especially snazzy: google zeitgeist. It's neat to see the weeks and weekends, and in something like the search for "London" under "World Affairs" I think you can even see more searching on Mondays and Fridays when people are at work but just kinda searching the web.

And now, a sweet, spicy soup.

I had posted some photos here of Cozy Noodles in Evanston, IL, near Northwestern University. If you click on the lovely soup, below, you can get to the rest of the photos. The place is decorated with Pez dispensers and lunchboxes and other kitchy goodness.

The soup is Tom Kha Gai. As far as I can tell, Tom means "boiled", "Kha" is galangal (a spice), and "Gai" is chicken, according to some internet Thai Food Glossaries. (1 2) It's my soup of the moment... I go through soup phases where I order the same one over and over to tell how it's made in different restaurants. I had a barley soup phase (beef barley, veggie barley), a matzo ball soup phase, and a period of Italian Wedding Soup. Last Year was French Onion, and lately, it's Tom Kha Gai. TKG is usually made with a coconut milk broth and that's one of my favorite things about it: coconut milk is one of my favorite ingredients in anything! What else is in there? Chicken, green onions, mushrooms, lots of spicy red chilies. When I find a good recipe, I'll post that too. Anyone have one?



cozy noodles


Comments:
Kathy -
Here's a recipe from the Boston Globe from October that I've been meaning to try:

Tom Kha Gai

Boston Globe, October 5, 2005

1 3/4 cups coconut milk
2 cups boneless chicken breast -- cut into thin strips
3 pieces fresh galangal (also called kha)
1 stalk fresh lemongrass -- cut into 2-inch pieces and bruised
4 kaffir lime leaves -- also called magrood
2 tablespoons fish sauce -- or more to taste
1/4 cup water
1 cup canned straw mushrooms or fresh oyster mushrooms
4 fresh thai chili peppers -- stems removed and halved
3 tablespoons lime juice -- or more to taste
1 tablespoon thai chili paste -- or more to taste
1 teaspoon sugar -- or more to taste
cilantro leaves -- for garnish

1. In a large pot over medium heat, bring 1 cup of the coconut milk to a
gentle boil. Lower the heat to medium low. Add the chicken, galangal,
lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, and fish sauce. Cook, stirring
occasionally, for 4 to 6 minutes or until chicken is opaque.

2. Add the remaining 3/4 cup coconut milk, 1/4 cup of water, and
mushrooms and bring to a boil. Add chili peppers, lime juice, chili
paste, and sugar. Stir well to combine. Taste for seasoning and add more
fish sauce, lime juice, sugar, and chili paste, if you like. Garnish
with cilantro.


Looks pretty much exactly like what you have in the picture. - Kate.
 
I'm in a never ending french onion freefall... though I did have some tasty clam chowder when Knucklehead and I went to Boston...
 
Post a Comment



<< Home