Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Back to Blogging (if not quite work)...

The looooooong plane ride(s) back from the desert left Josephus feeling a tad under the weather, so the big return to work is postponed a day. Blame United Airlines' system wide computer failure.
The BIG return to OWFL begins now! And in the spirit of back to basics lunch blogging let me tell you the delicious treat I plan on eating in about 85 minutes.

2 slices 12 grain bread
two slices honey ham
2 slices smoked turkey
one slice swiss
one slice muenster
two slices tomato
two thin slices onion
a liberal helping of sandwich peppers (courtesy of ethics)
4 slices avocado
mayo on both slices of bread
5-6 drops of my new soon to be "world famous" salad dressing

I sampled the sandwich last night and nearly passed out it was so good.
Ethics' peppers and the soon to be "world famous" salad dressing really made the difference.

I will enjoy this sandwich while bundled up on my couch watching Mr. & Mrs. Smith...and drinking Vernors (again ethics).

What will you poor working souls be dining on today?

82 comments:

The Doctor said...

I had a couple beers last night on an empty stomach while watching Michigan lose to IU. It wasn’t a bad game, really. We played shutdown D and were without our best player. Couldn’t hit a shot in the first half to save our lives. Oh well. On the way to the train I popped into the Berghoff for a boilermaker. Seemed like the thing to do. Hit me hard. Might be getting sick.

Anyway, I’m starving. I think I’m going to have to eat a very early lunch. I brought the last remnants of some leftovers – arroz con gandules y pasteles. This is going to be a heavy lunch, metaphysically speaking.

LizTurtle said...

My office holiday party is today. Hurrah! I had no breakfast in anticipation. Our spread doesn't sound as good as that sandwich, though. God, I love a good loaded up sandwich. We're having: shrimp, fruit, veggie, cheese, cookie, and sandwich wrap platters, Honeybaked Ham (tm), Honeybaked Ham (tm) Turkey, cheeseball, and sheetcake. Oink. And I am sooooooo hungry. Also tired. I stayed up watching that ridiculous football game last night. Can I buy a freakin field goal

LizTurtle said...

Oh, and beer. I forgot we have beer. It might be skunky, though . . . :-(

The Doctor said...

I like the post-new year holiday party! Kudos to your company, LT. If I had a company, its holiday party would be in May.

HaterTot said...

Steamed chicken and veggies, with a smidge of low fat feta for flavor. A handful of almonds and lots of zazz - mandarin. (it's the only flavor left in the kitchen, otherwise I would have brought some from home)

HaterTot said...

If I had a company, we'd party all the time.

Much like Eddie Murphy's girl.

Unknown said...

post new years parties are the way to go. i just love a free lunch.

my meal today is tuscan italian bread toasted with swiss cheese and thinly sliced turkey breast with german spicy mustard along with a green salad with tomatoes, cukes, carrots, and oil/balsamic dressing. i am trying to eat healthier this year. but i know i'm just going to be hungry by 3pm. my plan is to drink plenty of zazz and water to fill me up instead of eating crap. we'll see how long it lasts.

LizTurtle said...

Yes, it's the one thing my company has done right lately. Although, really, it's just my little section, so I can't give the company credit. Yeah, it still sucks. But my section is pretty cool! Our party is usually mid-Dec. I'm kind of happy to have had something to look forward to before our busy season starts!

LizTurtle said...

Hee hee. Party all the time, party all the time, party all the tiiiiiime. Eddie Murphy was a dance-hall genius.

Jada said...

I am so freaking excited! I just got the greatest email ever -- inviting me to join as a contributor to the Original What's For Lunch. I am so honored and I will do my very best to uphold the sacred tradition of lunch and blogging.

Yesterday I said I was going to eat light and I ate 2 hot dogs [chicago style] fries and a jumbo RC, so I need to go light today. I'm still feeling the sushi, but it probably won't happen.

Unknown said...

congratulations jade!!!!!!! having you as a contributor is going to be so much fun.

Josephus said...

Welcome Jade. It goes without saying that we are ecstatic to have you with us.

The Doctor said...

It's great to see something good happen to someone who deserves it.

Congratulations!
Best Wishes!
Good Lunching!

HaterTot said...

Congratulations and Welcome, Ms. Jade!

(well, not welcome so much, since you've been here for awhile, but welcome to the posting crew)

I can't wait for your first lunch post! I'm expecting lots of horse cock!!

Unknown said...

ok, so i devised a strategy so that i'm not tempted to buy a second lunch today.

i'm eating half of a sandwich now, and then drinking a lot of water. then i'll eat the other half with my salad at around 2pm. this way, i can hopefully fight off the late PM cravings. man, i hate moderation.

Jada said...

Thanks, guys!

A coworker told me yesterday he was working from home and making noodle kugel and that he would bring me some today. He just showed up empty handed and I feel betrayed. My malt o meal with honey and milk isn't sustaining me properly. I don't know what to do for lunch.

HaterTot said...

Zazz is Giant brand flavored Seltzer water. It is tasty, and you can procure it at the lovely new Giant by your house!

I'm glad to see you blogging A-Girl - I hope and and Mr. A-Girl had a lovely New Year's!

Josephus said...

spaghetti kegels?

dizkonekdid said...

BAG LUNCH!
I know it sounds 'orrible, but trying to save money after the trip. Ro and I spent ~$688 in just alcohol on our trip (those bastards!).
:) all in all the cruise was pretty damn nice .. relaxing ... I'm tan now and long for another mojito at a swim up bar in 90 degree weather.

dizkonekdid said...

Abunaigirl
Kugel is a gift from the jewish gods :) It is a cassrole (like a blintz) that is layered noodles and tastes like crepes. Most people hack off a slice and smother the sweetness with more strawberries (with sauce).

Jada said...

Noodle kugel is a Jewish delicacy. It's also sometimes called noodle pudding. Egg noodles and raisins and a custard and a little cinammon all baked together and cut into squares. It is heaven.

HaterTot said...

No worries A-girl, LaChoi and I also did not have access to the blog at 4am b/c we were locked out of my apartment with the rest of the NYE party. But, I drunk dialed 911, so it was all okay in the end. We missed you guys - you would have been a welcome addition!

Unknown said...

as an honorary jew, i have to say that i'm always crying for more kugel...a hunk o' kugel makes the world a better place. add some hommentashen to that plus some drunken/strip dreidel and you've got one happy choistein.

damn that bastard coworker who let you down! s/he should know better.

HaterTot said...

Yes. I drunk dialed 911. I can only guess that I was trying to call 411, but in my booze addled brain, got confused and asked 911 to send me a locksmith.

I'm thinking about eating soon too. I'm not actually hungry, but I know it's a good idea.

Unknown said...

ok, that better not be it jo. that doesn't sound so hot.

Josephus said...

Jo’s World Famous salad dressing
1/2 c. packed brown sugar, 1/2 c. olive oil, 1/4 c. balsamic vinegar, 1/4 c. white wine vinegar, 1/3 c. ketchup, 1 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce, 1 teasp. Soy sauce, 1/4 c. chopped shallots, 3 slices prosciutto or bacon, fried and crumbled.
1/4 tsp. Tabasco sauce, salt, pepper to taste.
In a bottle or jar, combine all dressing ingredients. Shake well to mix. Refrigerate. Can be served over salad heated or cold.

Jada said...

I do not do thousand island, ever. I love a good rueben, but if there is even a trace of thousand island I will send it back.

I just ordered my lunch: Szechuan vegetables and egg drop soup from Charming Wok. I was told it would be 45 minutes, but I am not believing it. They always have speedy delivery. Of course, now that I am so hungry I am ready to chew off my own arm, it will be the slowest delivery from them ever.

Jews have one of the most underrated cuisines. I could eat bagels, cream cheese and nova every single day. Not to mention the matzoh ball soup, noodle kuegel and new dill pickles.

Jada said...

OK, Jo's dressing is NOT thousand island with oil and vinegar, what he desrcibed sounds yummy. I am going to have to make it.

Josephus said...

"Grubb Road Deli" is also known as the Parkway Deli and is a favorite destination for many of the contemporaries of josephus and abunai girl. When we have the Summer OWFL conference here in DC we will have to make a stop.

The latkes, lox & eggs (over easy) are my favorite as well. I had them Saturday morning with a side of sliced tomatoes and english muffins. Usually I add a side of the turkey sausage.

Unknown said...

whoa jo, that's an interesting combination of ingredients. i shall try it some day soon. i'm very curious indeed.

jewish cuisine is underrated and so is kosher wines...golan heights anyone?

a-girl, that brekkies sounds like divine! it basically combines every kind of thing i love onto one plate. we must eat brekkies there during spring conference.

Unknown said...

it's in DC? wow! i'm so going there...breaking healthy eating rules now and again will be ok as long as i work out.

Josephus said...

The deli is just up the road in Silver Spring. And best of all they have a...PICKLE BAR!

HaterTot said...

Goddamnit.

I love steamed chicken. I know it's weird, and I must be channeling my inner-nursing home resident dining in the cafeteria, but I do.

So last night, I finally went grocery shopping, came home and steamed up lots of yummy chicken. I put it in the steamer with a lemon (quartered) and a red onion (also quartered). Now, here's the trick. If you KNOW you're going to be reheating it, you don't steam it all the way through, b/c overcooked steamed chicken is horrible. Rubbery and kind of stringy - just bad. So, the point is to not quite finish cooking it, so when you pop it in the micro, it comes out perfect. (best to add a dash of H2O before microwaving) I did all of this last night, removed what I wasn't planning to eat for dinner, let the rest cook up just right, and packaged up leftovers for today, tonight and possibly tomorrow. I tossed in some steamed cauliflower and green beans, for good measure.

I put my delicious parcel in the microwave - the new microwave, with I hadn't used before today - with a bit of water, and then opted to use the "Reheat-Dinner Plate" option, figuring that I'd stay in the kitchen to watch over it. Except, I got distracted by a snowglobe, from the fine folks at Laughing Cow, which a lovely coworker handed me while I was waiting. Before I knew it, the microwave beeped.

I now have rubbery chicken, people. I am not happy. I am eating it because it's here and I'm hungry, and much like LaChoi, I can't waste leftovers, but I am so unhappy.

My pursuit of a delicious lunch was thwarted by a microwave and snowglobe. I smell conspiracy. And overcooked chicken. Dammit.

HaterTot said...

LaChoi, how are you going to eat breakfast in Silver Spring, whilst conferencing in Chicago. Is this part of your whole clone plan, again?

Josephus said...

Ethics, chop it up and make an impromptu chicken salad.

HaterTot said...

No Mayo, Jo. Or anything else, for that matter. Not only do I not have those things handy, I'm not eating any of that stuff.

I'm serious about the dieting and working out, otherwise, I'll have surgery and become a big, giant pear/apple whatever - something not pretty!

Jada said...

"I got distracted by a snowglobe"

That's the funniest freakin' thing I've read in ages.

A pickle bar? A PICKLE bar? That is too stinkin' good to be true.

HaterTot said...

Someday, Jade, you will come to my home, look in my guestroom, and become alarmed at that statement, rather than amused. I have a snowglobe obsession - but not the nice ones, though some well-meaning folks have brought those to me as well. If it costs more than $6, I don't want it.

But, the Laughing Cow snowglobe is now mine, and joins Hawaii, Ireland, Miami and Costa Rica on my desk.

Josephus said...

Ethics, chop it up and eat it with some non or low fat concoction then. get creative. it never makes sense to eat rubber chicken, I don't care what your motives are.

HaterTot said...

It's done. It's sitting in my belly.

I am a martyr for smaller thighs and gut eradication.

But, believe you me - this will not happen again. My focus tomorrow will be laser. I won't be foiled.

HaterTot said...

And, why do I not know of this pickle bar. You all hear me rant all the time about the utter, shameful lack of first and second world ethnic cuisine around here. (but if you're lookin' for the third world, we're all about it) I'd think someone would have said, "Hey, there's this place in Silver Spring..."

Though, Silver Spring Jews can't compete with Baltimore Jews. Fun fact for Wednesday: Baltimore has more Jews per capita than anywhere else in the country. Tonight, I will dream of Attman's

HaterTot said...

SS- You got locked out too??? This is so exciting.

You can read about our adventures here: Shameless Whoring of Ethics' New(-ish) Blog

Unknown said...

ethics, i realized post-post that the place is in DC. but yes, if my cloning plan were to come to fruition, she would SO be eating there right now.

her snowglobe collection is a little OOC, but i would expect nothing less from ethics. they are small and kitchy though, so it's actually kind of cool how they're all on display.

yes, rubbery chicken is fucking terrible. i'm eating second half of sandwich and the salad now...feeling good! hopefully i won't get hungry in an hour. i'm also trying to eat slower so i can feel fuller. so much work!

The Doctor said...

Francesca's by chance, SS?

I ate my lunch early and now I have no more lunch and I am hungry again.

I suppose I will get fruit at the drugstore downstairs.

Oooh...hate pangs. Haven't had those in a while. Where'd that come from?

HaterTot said...

My chicken has made my back hurt. I know that might not make sense to any of you, but it's true.

Stupid microwave, and shiny plastic snowglobe.

HaterTot said...

Well, A-Girl, I'm not sure what to say to that, except, I promise to try to only use my powers for good.

The world needs more giggling Asians, I always say.

Unknown said...

a-girl, i can picture you now. i had a boyfriend once who said that he found it sexy when a girl laughed or smiled and their eyes turned into half-moons. i'm not joking. he was half japanese, so i guess his comment was only half odd? who says shit like that?

i chortle and snort and open my eyes big like white people.

Josephus said...

Nothing quite as sexy as a giggling Asian. Except maybe a guffawing Indian. Or maybe a yawning Chaldean.

Josephus said...

a frowning francophone?

Jada said...

What are the hate pangs for, Dipster?

HaterTot said...

Oh, yeah - good catch, Jade. I was wondering that myself, as I have been hate-free almost all day.

Share the hate!

LizTurtle said...

Tipsy at work . . . have work to do . . . holiday party started about an hour too early . . . . If it started an hour later we would still be in there and then be going home in 1/2 hour. Yargh. All beer was skunky as I feared. And yet I drank 3. Then I switched to skunky wine. To skunky even for me. Ugh.

Jada said...

Did anyone notice that I am on top of the contributors list? This blog loves me.

HaterTot said...

Awww... we just know you like to be on top!

Jada said...

I knew it. I knew it the second I said I was on top, someone was going to make a dirty joke about. I should have guessed it would be you, Madame Presidente.

HaterTot said...

Well, then I'll also be the one to point out that your comment was number 69.

Jada said...

This is all very appropriate. I was talking to my ex boyfriend last week and he very condescendingly called me a "blog hootchie."

HaterTot said...

Well, who's the hoochie, the one who pointed it out, or the one who inadvertanly did it?

This must be why people think I'm not marriage material.

The Doctor said...

Right, the pangs. I don't know exactly. It happened right when I was thinking about buying fruit at the drugstore. There might be a connection there. That can't be all there is to it. It was hate, though. No mistaking it. Hate for my fellow humans. Hey, I'm finally getting to see my HMO head doctor this week! I can ask him.

Right now a certain eye-fluttering nutso co-worker is sitting in my office blah blahing and doesn't even seem to notice that I'm almost completely ignoring her. You know who, Jo. Apparently I'm lucking out and the various tones and inflections that I'm applying to my periodic grunts are functioning as appropriate rejoinders to whatever she's talking about. She's still talking!

So, I never got that drugstore fruit. Instead I had a mini Take 5. That's a pretty sassy candy bar! Anybody familiar with its constituents off the top of his or her head?

HaterTot said...

Is Take 5 the one that's packaged to be like an energy bar, but is really a crunchy Reese's peanut butter cup, in stick form?

Jada said...

Sometimes I get hate pangs at the thought of fat free dairy products, but never fruit. I love fruit.

HaterTot said...

Some fat-free and low fat dairy products are perfectly delicious.

Perhaps you should steer clear of my fridge when you come to visit, and just hang out with the snowglobes in the guest room.

Jada said...

Next you'll try and convince me that there are some edible vegan baked goods. There is no such thing as a good fat free dairy product, low fat maybe. Dairy requires some fat to be palatable.

The Doctor said...

Pretty close. Pretzel, caramel, peanuts, peanut butter, milk chocolate.

You should see the unnaturally perfect, enormous granny smiths they have down there at the Osco. They're like softballs. That ain't right.

I love veggies. I think its a toss up between asparagus and brussel sprouts for favorite food.

HaterTot said...

Skim milk, Fat free sour cream, fat free Redi Whip and Cool Whip, fat free cottage cheese, fat free yogurt and fat free ricotta (depending what you're using for - I add splenda to mine, but I know that would send you into fits and convulsions) are all perfectly tasty. Low fat mayo, some cheese and cream cheese are also good, but their fat free cousins are vile.

I don't necessarily prefer these things to their full fat counterparts (though, some, I do), but they are decent, and in some cases, good substitutes. Or so I tell myself.

HaterTot said...

Whoa. Dipster. You are my long lost kindred. Outside of my mother and I, you are the first person I met who claims to love brussels sprouts!

We used to fight over them growing up. I always have them around. I love them. They are one of my top 5 comfort foods!

(asparagus rocks, too. But liking it isn't as remarkable)

Jada said...

I NEVER use redi whip or cool whip. It is the real deal freshly whipped heavy cream or nothing for me. "Whipped topping" is not the same as whipped CREAM.

Fat free ricotta and splenda? I think I just threw up a little in my mouth.

I drink 1% milk, because vitamin D is a fat soluble vitamin and requires a bit of fat for proper absorption. I prefer the thick creaminess of whole milk, but I also like fitting in my jeans.

Jada said...

I love brussels sprouts, too! I quarter them and then sautee them with water chestnuts in pancetta drippings and then crumble the pancetta on top. Yummy.

My parents have 40 acres af asparagus on their big orchard in Michigan. I usually eat it with every meal when it's in season.

The Doctor said...

I want to talk more about brussel sprouts!

How do you prepare them, Ethics?

Boiled or steamed with butter and S&P -- hard to beat. But I've done some other things. Some baking, broiling -- various sauces. I had a recipe for candied brussel sprouts that I was going to make for T-giving, before the whole holiday got sacked in my fam. I lost the recipe.

HaterTot said...

Well, whipped cream (the real kind) is an absolute favorite of mine, but the jeans thing is an issue. I've been known to go to Haagen Dazs just to get a giant bowl of whipped cream. And, it's one thing that I readily make at home, even when I'm at my laziest. But again, the jeans. The other two, are not substitutes, but rather wholly different entities.

I will not however use anything other than real butter. Which, I like melted, with lemon and parm on my steamed brussels sprouts. When available, I've been known to add leaks.

Whole milk, though I can not do. I hate milk. If I have to drink it, it's skim or nothing. Blecch.

The Doctor said...

I've incorporated bacon before. That sounds killer, Jade. Bacon/pancetta with water chestnuts is a great combo. (Scallop, bacon and water chestnut rumaki!)

I do like sprouts whole though. I like to bite through half and look at then look at it. Sometime bite from the top...and look. Sometimes from the side...and look. The bottom...you get it.

Jada said...

Instead of making rumaki, I like to take a whole date, stuff it with an almond, wrap it in bacon and then broil. Nice appetizer/nibbly bit.

The Doctor said...

I've done the bacon date. The almond's a nice twist, Martha.

Josephus said...

"I used to . . . I used to hate . . . water chestnuts. Now I would eat a hundred buckets of them. Everyday people go into restaurants . . . and they, they take the condiments and they, they take them and they put them on the . . . plate and they mix it up and put it in a glass and they dare their friends to drink it, and . . . they think it is funny. Right now I would drink it!! And I would thank them for it."

LizTurtle said...

Ugh, brussel sprouts. I used to think I was lucky with parents who had 2 rows of asparagus in their garden. Jade, your parents have forty fucking acres (and a mule?) of asparagus?? God, if you ever need help - in season I could eat nothing but asparagus. Every year my mom has a spargelfest (spargel = asparagus in german) & fixed a 5-6 course meal with spargel in every course. All kinds of yumminess. Your pee must stink to high heaven.

Fat free dairy is bullshit. In college 4 of us made pizza with Boboli crusts & I was the only one who insisted on using mozzarella that wasn't fat-free. I was also the only one whose pizza didn't look like some dried out shit with little dead white worms all over it.

I love my dates wrapped in bacon. Also, my one-night stands.

HaterTot said...

I have heart burn. I think that's what it is. Though, that is illogical, as I ate the blandest food ever.

I do not like anything much with my sprouts, they are tasty on their own, though I occasionally roast them with beets and other root vegetables.

I hate dates. (take whatever meaning from that you'd like)

Jada said...

My parents own a very large orchard in eastern Michigan, near the bridge to Canada. I did not grow up on it, but visited it regularly. Asparagus was a very small part of it, it was mostly sweet and sour cherries and apples, with some apricots and pears. They have also recently leased 10 acres or so near where they live on the west side of the state to grow raspberries. I did not inherit any of the gardening genes, but got a double dose of the eating genes.

Brian said...

Josephus said:
"I used to . . . I used to hate . . . water chestnuts. Now I would eat a hundred buckets of them. Everyday people go into restaurants . . . and they, they take the condiments and they, they take them and they put them on the . . . plate and they mix it up and put it in a glass and they dare their friends to drink it, and . . . they think it is funny. Right now I would drink it!! And I would thank them for it."


PANZIC POOJIRAN!!!! Hunger strike sponsored by Stenson's Mayostard, of course.

I myself prefer Vaunnie's Mustardayonnaise. "Drudgery. Are you a two jar slave?"

"LET'S GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!!!"

(sorry folks, I just had to recognize and then add to the Mr. Show reference posted by Mister 'Sephus)

HaterTot said...

That is why I bought Jo and Mrs. Jo the complete first season of Doogie Howser, rather than any of the Mr. Show dvds for xmas, as I knew he must already own them, evidenced by his ability to quote at will.

Brian - did you get Trapped in Closet for xmas? I finally watched it with LaChoi, and I must say - I'm thinkin' emmy, grammy AND oscar.

I need to go home. I need tums.

Josephus said...

In Brian I sense a kindred spirit.

Josephus said...

The Chicago conference might have to include some after hours Mr. Show watching.

Brian said...

Alas, I did not get "Trapped In A Closet" on DVD for Christmas. I still have the first 8 or 9 chapters on TiVo. No midget though.

Ain't no party like a Mr. Show party....hey....ho....hey....ho