Sole Food: Pinching pennies post-grad style

Horchata

In light of this recent heat wave, I thought it would be nice to post a recipe for horchata = refreshing and delicious summer beverage made from rice milk/water/cinnamon.

Ingredients:

1. 1 1/3 cup uncooked white rice
2. 1 cup milk
3. 5 cups water
4. 2 sticks of cinnamon (I prefer using sticks--they're $1 for a package located in the hispanic foods aisle at most grocery stores) Otherwise, use 1/2 tablespoon of ground cinnamon.
5. 1/3 cup - 2/3 cup sugar
6. Splash of vanilla (to taste)

Directions:

1. Add rice, 2 cups of water and cinnamon sticks into blend and blend until sticks and rice are ground.
2. Add the rest of the water and continue to blend. *
3. Place out in hot sun (on porch or balcony, etc.) and let sit for 6 to 12 hours. **
4. Strain mixture into a pitcher through a sieve (I bought a handheld one for about $1 at Haggen--baking section)
5. Stir in milk, sugar and vanilla---serve over ice. Delicioso!

*Be careful not to over mix this part; I always do and a lot of grounds make it through when I use the sieve.

**Direct sun is best, but next to a window or in the fridge is just as good too!

Photo: foodnetwork.com

Original recipe + tips from comment by "Serena" from July 16, 2008

It's...so...hot

During the disgusting heat wave, my tiny, top floor apartment gets hotter than a broom closet in the seventh circle of hell.

In a state such as this, my roommates and I try everything to cool down the apartment---from opening and closing certain windows, to strategically placing fans to try and invite in as much cool air as possible. Nothing seems to be really working.

If anyone has any advice, please let me know before we all melt!

Photo: Inhabitat.com

So Good: Put your foot in it...

"Ankle Boot with Chain Detail" by Giuseppe Zanotti

Retail: $1,037.76

Keeping Competitive

Over the past few months, as I inch ever closer toward graduation, I have been noticing that among my peers who have gone off to bigger and better things--those bigger and better things did not necessarily come along with a single internship under their belts.

Before landing big business internships right out of the classroom, these people had completed at least two internships as well as quite a bit of volunteer work and extracurricular activities. I am starting to think that above average is no longer acceptable; that to make it in the present job market will require extraordinary measures and/or excellent contacts.

When my parents graduated from high school, they both received white collar jobs right out of the gate, no degree required. When my old babysitters graduated from college, their bachelor's degrees automatically won them $50,000+ a year. Now as my generation approaches graduation, B.A.'s are a dime a dozen and minimum wage, secretarial positions are being fought for, tooth and nail.

There was a time when I was proud of my resume, but month by month as I look to update it, my life's work isn't looking so good on paper.

As soon as I catch up and add charity/freelance work and two internships--someone comes along and ups the ante and sets the standard for employment at 6 internships, being a contributor to the New Yorker and job shadowing Margaret Thatcher.

Perhaps the key to getting ahead of the game is to not play by the rules.

If the real world is like a never ending game of corporate chutes and ladders, there are those who will waste their time playing it safe and climbing every short ladder, in succession, that comes along; these people will be doomed to always be one climb away from the leader, only choosing to climb because that's what the first guy did.

And then there are those who will go balls to the wall (and risk a few rides down chutes) in order to reach the express ladder, straight to the top.

When you can no longer work within the system, perhaps it's time to take a risk. Instead of trying to rise the ranks in a Fortune 500 company, get in at a budding business and help build it from the ground up. In the end, maybe all of that hard work will pay off.

No guts, not glory.

Sole Food: Pinching pennies post-grad style

Quick & Dirty Gyros

Ingredients:

1. 1 lb. ground beef (lamb is way expensive, and beef tastes better anyway!) = $4
   
2. (1) package of frozen spinach = $1.50
3. 2 tbs. olive oil
4. Minced garlic ~ 3 cloves
5. Lots of spices (to taste): salt, pepper, cayenne/chili powder, cumin, a dash of cinnamon, grill seasoning, oregano *
   
6. Feta cheese = $3

Total cost: ~ $10

* The gyros will taste great with whatever kind of spices you choose to put in, so feel free to experiment! I like to use Garam Masala--it's a $6 spice, but I use it on absolutely everything and a little goes a long way!

Directions:

1. Defrost the spinach (squeeze out all excess liquid) and ground beef -- throw into bowl and blend together using hands.
2. Blend in the cheese, garlic and spices.
   
3. Transfer meat mixture to baking sheet and form into a log--about 3-4 inches wide and 11 inches long.
4. Drizzle log with olive oil and bake in oven (425 degrees) for 30-40 minutes. Note: It'll go fast, so be sure to start checking about 20 minutes in--watch the hot oil!
5. Cut log into 1 inch slices and serve gyros with fries/pita bread/tzaziki, etc.

*Recipe tweaked from original Rachael Ray Gyro Platter
Photo: Melarky.com