Category: Life

My Book List Updates: Historical Suspense Novels Are My New Obsession

Posted on by Kristine
A historical suspense novel by Erik Larson.
Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania by Erik Larson

Well I finally finished Erik Larson’s Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania. This is the first historical suspense novel I’ve read by him but I know it won’t be my last. I have The Devil in the White City waiting for me somewhere in my stack of books in my office.

I think historical crime/suspense novels are now my new favorite genre.

To be honest, I didn’t know much about the Lusitania. I remember learning a little bit about it in high school. My sophomore year history teacher was a World War history buff so we spent the entire first semester on World War I and second semester on World War II.

We briefly touched on the sinking of the Lusitania and how it ushered the United States into The Great War, but we didn’t go into depth about the particular event, so my knowledge on this topic was a blank canvas.

I struggled a lot with the maritime terminology in this book. I don’t know how many times I had to Google words and descriptions that I’d never heard of. Once I got to the part where the Lusitania and the U-boat encounter each other, that’s when the pace picks up quickly.

The Daily Mirror reports on the sinking of the RMS Lusitania
News headline from the actual sinking.

Erik Larson is a very talented storyteller when it comes to historical events. Now though I not only have a much greater understanding of the event itself, but I also can sympathize with the victims and their loved ones. If anything, the victims’ stories are rarely touched on in history books, but Mr. Larson truly has a gift for bringing them to life one last time.

His acknowledgements and author notes fascinated me at the end. I’m so amazed that he got to travel to all of these locations while he was researching. And I mean not just to where these things took place, but to the various libraries and museums that kept the artifacts left from the wreckage. He even got to read Schweiger’s captain’s log and look at the photos of the unidentified and unclaimed victims of the Lusitania. To be able to touch a piece of history… to me, that would be a dream come true. That’s really the only way to describe it.

So now I’m moving on to my next book. Rather than reading another Larson novel (which I’m itching to do!) I figured I’ll give one of the other books on my “to-read” stack a chance.

This time it’s In Cold Blood by Truman Capote. The book is about the brutal murder of a small family of four in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas in 1959. There was no motive and almost no clues. 

Instant Ramen Hacks: How to Amp Up Your Ramen Noodle Game

Posted on by Kristine

I don’t know when instant ramen got its reputation as being a poor man’s food. Since I’ve lived with Craig, who is an admirable vegetarian, I’ve learned to appreciate ramen’s potential as a healthy and complete meal. Here are a few instant ramen hacks that I’ve picked up that will completely change your view of grocery store ramen noodles.

Your basic packet of instant ramen contains a minimum of 2 things: dried noodles and a seasoning packet. Sometimes there’s more to it, such as an additional seasoning sauce packet, dried seasoning flakes, or seasoning oil. When you’re enhancing your final bowl of ramen, you’ll want to consider 3 additional things: vegetables, proteins, and additional toppings.

Frozen Vegetables for Ramen

Because frozen vegetables are picked at the height of their season, they add nutrients that your instant ramen is seriously lacking. In addition to nutrients, frozen vegetables add much needed fiber. Usually you don’t even have to cook the vegetables before putting them into the hot broth. You can just pour them right in and allow the heat of the broth to bring them up to temperature. Below is a list of frozen vegetables you can find in your local grocer’s freezer:

Instant Ramen Hacks: Buttered Corn
Corn is one of the most popular ramen toppings. You’ll find it on the menus of almost every ramen shop along the west coast. This requires almost no prep time, unless you want it buttered before adding to your bowl. In that case, you would put your desired amount of corn into a separate microwaveable bowl with a tablespoon of butter and nuke it for about 30 seconds or until the corn is defrosted and the butter is melted.
Instant Ramen Hacks: Frozen Stir Fried Vegetables
The frozen asian vegetable mix is Craig’s favorite. He adds it to his ramen, still frozen, and then turns off the heat. The hot broth warms up the vegetables and defrosts them, but they still remain crispy and perfectly cooked. Then he’ll season it with sriracha and maybe a dash of soy sauce.
Instant Ramen Hacks: Frozen Shelled Edamame
A half-cup serving of shelled edamame boasts 9 grams of fiber, 13 grams of carbs, and 11 grams of protein. That can be significant if you’re looking for healthy vegetable options. Like corn and other mixed vegetables, this really doesn’t require much cook time. All you do is just add it to the hot pot and stir until thawed.

Fresh Vegetables for Ramen

Don’t forget about the fresh produce section of your supermarket. Fresh vegetables can be just as convenient to any bowl of ramen as frozen vegetables, especially if you choose in-season vegetables or vegetables that grow year round. Here are a few vegetable suggestions that you can find at your local grocery store.

spinach
Fresh, tender greens such as spinach, napa cabbage, and baby bok choy add color and nutrients to your instant ramen bowl. They require minimal prep and cook time, just wash thoroughly. Cut into bite sized pieces and then place into the bottom of your serving bowl. Pour your hot ramen broth over the leaves and allow to cook for a few minutes.
mushroom-assortment
Sliced mushrooms such as shitake, enoke, or oyster. You can purchase these mushrooms at Asian markets, but if you you don’t have a market near you, white mushrooms will be fine. Baby bellas or cremini mushrooms are good too, but in my opinion impart a different flavor.

Proteins

When it comes to instant ramen hacks, a bowl of ramen wouldn’t be complete without protein. No matter what your dietary preferences are, there are a variety of protein sources available that make a great addition to ramen noodle dishes.

Pictured above are different types of tofu. For soups, I usually use soft tofu since it has a more subtle, delicate flavor. Photo from Tofupedia.com.
Pictured above are different types of tofu (visit Tofupedia for more information). For soups, I usually use soft tofu since it has a more subtle, delicate flavor. Photo from Tofupedia.com.
Ajitsuke Tamago (marinated soft boiled egg) is another common accompaniment to home made ramen if you happen to have all the ingredients. Even if you don't, regular hard or soft boiled eggs will do just fine.
Ajitsuke Tamago (marinated soft boiled egg) is another common accompaniment to home made ramen if you happen to have all the ingredients. Even if you don’t, regular hard or soft boiled eggs will do just fine.
And for the non-vegetarians, your protein options are much broader. Braised pork is often the meat of choice for a hearty bowl of ramen, while grilled or baked salmon is good too.
And for the non-vegetarians, your protein options are much broader. Braised pork is often the meat of choice for a hearty bowl of ramen, while grilled or baked salmon is good too.

Seasonings

When I talk about seasonings, I’m talking about more than just your typical salt and pepper mix. I’m talking about that magical word you hear sometimes called umami. We often associate umami with glutamates and categorize it with the different tastes. Not everything listed below falls into the umami category, however their unique flavors can elevate your grocery-store ramen to the next level. Seasonings are high on the list of necessary instant ramen hacks.

Furikake is actually a rice seasoning made of a mix of shredded nori, dried wasabi, and other dried ingredients. You can purchase them in spice-sized glass jars from Asian markets. I buy the JFC brand I like the flavors they offer and they're easy to find. You can also make your own at home from various recipes.
Furikake is actually a rice seasoning made of a mix of shredded nori, dried wasabi, and other dried ingredients. You can purchase them in spice-sized glass jars from Asian markets. I buy the JFC brand I like the flavors they offer and they’re easy to find. You can also make your own at home from various recipes.
Bonito flakes are slices of dried and thinly shaved fish. They're not just paper thin, they're tissue paper thin. They're packed with meaty, slightly salty flavor and make a great topping for ramen (in moderation). You definitely don't want to overdo it because it can really overpower a dish.
Bonito flakes are slices of dried and thinly shaved fish. They’re not just paper thin, they’re tissue paper thin. They’re packed with meaty, slightly salty flavor and make a great topping for ramen (in moderation). You definitely don’t want to overdo it because it can really overpower a dish.
An old friend introduced me to Maggi seasoning sauce. I've seen it before, but I've never tasted it. It's kinda like soy sauce, but not quite. In fact this is comprised of the "glutamates" I mentioned earlier when I mentioned umami. And really you only need a few drops--it's that powerful. Not only is it great in soups, but I love sprinkling it on eggs and tomatoes. Delicious!
An old friend introduced me to Maggi seasoning sauce. I’ve seen it before, but I’ve never tasted it. It’s kinda like soy sauce, but not quite. In fact this is comprised of the “glutamates” I mentioned earlier when I mentioned umami. And really you only need a few drops–it’s that powerful. Not only is it great in soups, but I love sprinkling it on eggs and tomatoes. Delicious!

Here’s an extended list of some more seasonings I recommend adding to your pantry list. They’re not only great instant ramen hacks, but they amp up other Asian dishes and stir fries as well.

  • Seasoned seaweed sheets or shreds
  • Toasted garlic
  • Fish sauce
  • Maggi Seasoning Sauce
  • Toasted sesame oil
  • Toasted sesame seed
  • Chopped green onion
  • Canned or frozen broth (in place of the seasoning packet)**

Have a Delicious Inexpensive Meal Anytime With These Simple Instant Ramen Hacks

The great thing about a lot of the ingredients I listed is they can stay on your shelf or in your freezer for several weeks, even months. Once you begin to build up your stash of homemade ramen pantry items, you’ll be able to create a quick meal any day of the week in a matter of minutes.

** Indicates healthier option.

 

How to Live a More Productive Life With a Digital Detox

Posted on by Kristine

Two weeks ago, I embarked on something I never thought I would ever need. I participated in a self-imposed digital detox.

What is a digital detox, you ask? Studies show that Americans spend more than 11 hours consuming some kind of digital media. Digital media is anything that comes from a device such as a laptop, smartphone, or TV etc.

A digital detox is exactly what it sounds like. It’s the act of untethering oneself from the aforementioned devices and instead engaging in real life, non-digital activities.

Why a Digital Detox?

During the week of the 2016 U.S. Presidential election, my smartphone and I were almost inseparable. I woke up numerous times in the middle of the night to check Twitter for election news.

Well, we all know how that turned out. And in the days following, my media consumption grew worse and worse. It got to a point where I would waste so much time just reading tweets, news headlines, and Facebook status updates. Not only that, the more I read, the angrier and frustrated I became. It got to a point where Craig and I could do nothing but have angry conversations about what we read online.

And then Friday arrived. I would have a break from work, a break from sitting at a computer all day and being tempted to just glance at headlines. It was then that I decided to do a self-imposed digital detox.

The Rules for My Digital Detox

There were several things I observed about my life which led me to acknowledge my need for a break from media consumption. Some of these might sound familiar to you:

  • Basic household tasks were being neglected such as laundry piling up, floors needing to be cleaned, and furniture dusted.
  • Personal endeavors weren’t progressing as fast as I had hoped. Some weren’t progressing at all.
  • My “someday” list was getting longer and longer.

So just by evaluating what was weighing me down, I managed to also come up with an action plan for what needed to be accomplished during the weekend. The guidelines for my detox were as follows:

  1. The detox begins at 12:00 AM midnight Saturday and ends at 11:59 PM Sunday.
  2. All social media will be avoided. Facebook and Instagram were my worst culprits.

Since this was my first weekend, I kept the rules simple. And if I ever wanted to take a break from any of the other things I was doing, I would read a book. It was that simple.

The Outcome

By Sunday evening, I had washed, folded, and put away all the laundry that was pouring out of the clothes hamper. The floors were free of dead leaves, grass, and smudged paw prints. The kitchen countertops were cleared and wiped down. I also filmed a YouTube video and wrote a blog post to go along with it. There were other things I wish I was able to get to, but as it stood I had already accomplished a lot for an entire weekend.

In fact, I’ve scheduled a recurring digital detox on my calendar every 3 weeks. This means that I would at least have one weekend a month of digital freedom.

Hopefully now with regular breaks, I’ll make more progress on the things that matter in life.

Citation: https://www.makewebvideo.com/en/templates/logo-stings

Glass Fusion Art

By Myself

Posted on by Kristine

At some point in every blogger’s writing career, they begin a post with, “I know it’s been a while since my last post.” I’d hate to let the internet down if I didn’t throw my hat into the ring so…

I know it’s been a while since my last post.

I’ve managed to snag a 5 day weekend. Today was just day 1. Typically when I take long vacations like this, I tend to spend the first day decompressing, doing nothing but sleep, eat and relax. But not today. Today I decided to give myself a schedule to follow, and one of the things on my schedule was to go to an art studio and create something in glass fusion.

I’ve been so stoked about this since I decided to do it. I told a couple people, and while they were generally excited for me, it was usually followed by, “Who are you going with?”

It didn’t bother me that people would assume I would only be able to do things if I had a partner. Generally most people are that way I think. Still it kinda makes me wonder: what’s so wrong about doing something by yourself?

I’m not sure why anyone would think that time by yourself isn’t quality time. You’re still doing something fun, it just happens to be on your own. I’ve done those social painting classes before and it was fun, but I think I was more interested in being social than really creating a piece of artwork. In this case, I was wanting to learn a new medium, so yeah I preferred to not be distracted. And well, look at what I got out of it.

Glass fusion plate

Patience

Posted on by Kristine

Izzie and Craig have developed this bedtime ritual. Basically when it’s time for bed, Izzie goes into her crate and he brings her a treat and tucks her in.

But this time, Craig and I were both still on our computers, no where near ready for bed. She decided she was ready anyway and decided to wait patiently for Craig to tuck her in.