FUCKIN' FRIDAY!

It's my fuckin' birthday too. What a sucky way to spend a birthday. In pain, in bed and a crazy 8 year to boot.
What's a crazy 8 year you ask?
There is a little bit if a story there, if you really must know.
You really must know now?
It's not that exciting of a story...really it's not.
You still want to know?
Well, you asked for it.

See, when I was about 7, I became intrigued with the idea that I would be alive at the turn of the century. I'm sure some teacher brought up the whole concept, maybe my dad now that I think about it. Whoever it was set in motion a train of thought that still chugs through my mental station every 10 years without fail.
At the tender age of 7 I calculated how old I would be when the calendar changed from 1999 to 2000. The ripe old age of 28-which every 7 year old knows beyonf a shadow of a doubt is ancient indeed. So with thoughts now focused on my inevitable extreme elderliness just 20 short years away I began the process of breaking that up into more managable chunks of time-tens of years rather than twenties-after all every almost 8 year old longs for the day she turns 18 right?
The following 10 years did not exactly fly by but without my planning any great thing away they did fly. At 18-not when I graduated highschool nearly 6 months earlier-I finally felt emancipated and well, officially "grown up" and did what any self respecting teenage girl does...I got in a fight with my mom(just a day or two after "the big day" if I recall) and vehemently moved out.

The following 10 years did not fly by but once again without my planning any great thing away they did fly. I had somehow accumulated a child, a mortgage, two dogs, two parakeets and a lover leaving for China so I did what any self respecting almost 28 year old does and vehemently moved to China.

Fortunately my mom and I had made up by then and though she wouldn't take the greyhounds or(at first)the mortgage she did agree to keep the child for me.

There I was, in China, in 1999 partying like well, like it was 1999 when it hit me...I was about to become old, ancient even. Yup. I was about to be *gasp* 28. Just ask Big Daddy D-I was very traumatised by my 20 year obsession with the number 28 in combination with the number 2000.

The following 10 years did not fly by and still with no great planning I find they have once again flown away. I have some how managed to accumulate a husband, two more children, a couple more dogs, several cats, innumerable fish, three parakeets, a couple of hamsters and another mortgage. I've lost plenty along the way-a child and most of the pets but not(unfortunately) the mortgage and like any respectable now 38 year old, I wonder...

What am I going to vehemently do now?

A recipe to go with the last of the Whine

Wow.

I have spent some time re reading this blog and see that I have been rather sad as of late. When did I get so sad?

I was pretty happy when I started writing this baby. I wonder what changed?

Whatever, it sucks.

Gonna have to fix this.

I hate whiners and here I've been whining constantly for the past 4 months.
I need some cheese, maybe a *crack*er.

So.

Howz about a recipe?



Shrimp with Lemon Linguine (serves 4)

Put on to boil:

Water in your largest pot

Peel and devein:

1lb shrimp(I use 30-40 ct because well, it's cheaper and ends up feeling like you're eating more shrimp for the money)

Zest 2 lemons and add half of the zest to 1/4 cup olive oil-set aside oil and remaining zest

By now your water is boiling so add to the water: salt and 1/2 lb of linguine-set the timer according to the package erring on the too little time to allow for al dente pasta(who likes soggy pasta anyway?) Also, when your pasta is done don't drain and rinse it! If you must drain it, reserve about a cup of the cooking water.

(make sure the kitten is NOT chewing through your power cord as you type your recipe)(very crucial step here!)

Heat your largest skillet over medium hi heat

Slice thinly:

2-3 shallots(or a good red onion-go for the flavor profile you like best)

Add some olive oil to the skillet and the onions and saute. When the onions are not quite cooked to your liking add the shrimp and cook until the shrimp is almost done.

Add to the skillet:

juice of 1-2 lemons(once again adjust for your palate)

a pinch of salt, a grind of pepper

a splash of dry white wine(optional)

linguine

Toss and add:

1lb of baby spinach

reserved lemon zest

reserved lemon oil

1/2 cup or so of Parmesan cheese

Toss some more and if needed add up to one cup of the pasta water to loosen up your pasta.

Serve hot, with additional Parmesan and maybe some bread if you're feeling especially carberiffic.

PS I need to figure out how to override the autoformatting that happens with my recipes!