Mythology: Tzatziki

"Give me a place to stand and I will move the earth." -Homer, The Iliad

Paleo triple-berry sorbet!

For my contribution to the theme of Mythology, I chose to make a cucumber-yogurt dip called tzatziki. I had never even heard of it until we went to Romania, where we had it quite often on schnitzel and later on shaorma. Tzatziki is one of those things that you make and then think, "Now what?" And since it's a versatile sauce, that question is fairly easily answered. In Romania we had it on meat and sandwiches, here we dipped vegetables in the flavorful sauce. Also, I made a few alterations to the original recipe so it was extremely light and sour and a little more modern than your general serving of this Greek favorite. Below is the recipe as I made it--next time I would replace the lime juice with lemon, and add some fresh dill-weed:

Tzatziki (cucumber-yogurt) Sauce

and do forgive the poor image quality. this was done with my tablet-camera

what you'll likely need:

2 large cucumbers, peeled and seeded

2 cups Greek yogurt

3 Tbs. olive oil

Juice and zest of one lime

1 Tbs. minced garlic

salt & pepper to taste

1.) Grate your cucumbers and mix in medium-size bowl with yogurt and olive oil.

2.) Zest and squeeze lime and add with remaining spices to the cucumber-yogurt mixture

3.) Cover and chill in fridge until ready to use. Serve on pita-sandwiches or with fresh cut veggies.

In a fortuitous turn of events, we also had a lot of unused goat's milk in the fridge so I tried my hand at making homemade feta cheese. It wasn't until much later that I realized that too will fit into this week's theme, since feta cheese is an essential part of Mediterranean cuisine! The cheese requires salt-curing for 4-5 days so I won't be able to taste it and tell you how it turned out till next week. However, so far it looks perfectly edible! I also was set the task of pickling our overabundance of cucumbers--one of my favorite summer jobs. The results are, according to Daniel and one of his colleagues, "Unbelievable." Let us hope this is true, and not just a recommendation from starving bachelors. ;)

The tzatziki was fresh, delicious, and something we'll definitely make again! I'm hoping to use the rest in sandwiches or on a salad with the feta cheese next week--in the fridge I'm positive it will last that long. So now I'm wondering, what did you make? Don't forget to link up in the post below! I can't wait to look at all of the recipes you submit. :)

Culinary Cabaret Challenge #1: Mythology

The name of this category came to me because of the kind of food I've been craving. If you're freaking out by now thinking, "What on EARTH will I make for this?" I will just give you a hint: 

When I think mythology I think "Greek".

(Shout-out to Elizabeth Rose of Literary Lane for guessing "Greek" as the first theme!)

Artemis

As a writer-friend of mine said recently, "If you want to get anywhere in literature you must know your Greek myths", and while this is something I need to brush up on, I do recall reading D'aulaire's Book of Greek Myths in school and finding it pretty and entertaining. Thus, the food challenge for this week is "Mythology". I will be taking inspiration from Grecian cuisine, but you will still be counted in the challenge if you take your mythology-inspired food from Celtic, Germanic, Babylonian or whatever folklore. Or you could go a different tack, like making ambrosia because it is considered to be the food of the gods in mythology. But I'm going Greek and already have an idea of what I will be making!

Remember, you have until next Monday to submit your post to the link-up-er thingy-do at the bottom of this post! Spread the word, and I cannot wait to begin! I am a growing fan of Mediterranean food so I'm especially excited about the chance to branch out in that manner! Here are some of the images inspiring me:

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Have fun! Remember: Just one new recipe! Just one. You can do this.

New Blog Series: Culinary Cabaret! :)

Okay guys! I am thrilled and excited to introduce to you to the new blog series starting here on Two's Company! This series will be called "Culinary Cabaret" after the line in Disney's "Be Our Guest" which runs: "Beef ragout, cheese souffle, pies and puddings en flambe! We'll prepare and serve with flair a culinary cabaret!" Essentially, this series is a challenge you all will be able to link up with any week you'd like! It will run for 52 weeks (hopefully 52 adjacent weeks...we'll see how that works out) which is a year. The idea is that each week I'll post a theme, and you will have a chance to make one new recipe (or a variation of an old one) that fits the theme. Themes could be as simple as "Indian", "Greek", "Italian" or as complex as "Pixar Movies", "Downton Abbey", "Autumn", or, hey, something as crazy as "Oxford don". Sarah and I will chose one new recipe a week and blog about it--and you'll do the same!

And for those of you who are sitting there looking at this post thinking, "Aw, gee, I don't think I can be that creative," all I'm saying is that it is one recipe a week. Not a whole meal. It won't be expensive because, hey, people in India don't always have a ton of money and if you've got some watermelon and some milk and ice you can make a melon lassi that would fit that theme and not cost a dime. And besides--a challenge isn't supposed to be terribly easy. It's meant to be doable though, and I thoroughly believe that one new recipe a week is doable. I will be posting the theme for the week on Mondays and you will have until the following Monday to link up with your post and recipe. Not only will Culinary Cabaret improve your own creativity, but we can serve as inspirations for each other! And remember, linking up once does not mean that you have to do all 52 weeks! I would love to see you anytime throughout the course of the challenge. So please spread the word, and if any of you are wizards with blog buttons, feel free to make and share a button about the challenge. I want to get as many people involved as possible. :)

Looking forward to breaking out my skillz,
                                                          Rachel

I stand a new creation.

Photo Credit: Jordan Murray

"I see a near revival

Stirring as we pray and seek

We're on our knees

We're on our knees

Hosanna

Hosanna

Hosanna in the highest

Heal my heart and make it clean

Open up my eyes to the things unseen

Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks yours

Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause

As I walk from earth into eternity"

"This is my revelation
Christ Jesus crucified
Salvation through repentance
At the cross on which He died

Now here my absolution
Forgiveness for my sin
And I sink beneath the waters
That Christ was buried in

I will rise
I will rise
As Christ was raised to life
Now in Him
Now in Him
I live

I stand a new creation
Baptised in blood and fire
No fear of condemnation
By faith I'm justified"

-Sarah

MU 2013- A Movie Review

Like any true 90's kid who grew up with Monsters Inc, I was very curious and excited when I heard Disney/Pixar was finally making a sequel to this great movie! (I was also a bit skeptical)

Rachel took Anna, Leah and I to the theater a day after the movie came out and I was really hoping I'd come out with the normal Pixar buzz. ;)

Let's just say my hopes were raised as I watched the *amazing* short, The Blue Umbrella! This short was one of my all time favorites and the animation was almost unbelievable! :) 

But back to the feature film. The movie starts out with a tiny green monster named Mike. 

You should recognize him. :D Mike is a eager monsterling who is a little nerdy and doesn't have many pals at school. He's friendly and curious and all-around, pretty loveable. Mike's biggest dream is to attend Monsters University and become the greatest scarer out there. 

Now fast-forward 12 or so years.

This is Mike grown-up. Finally entering Monsters U!           And this is the cocky, popular guy, Sulley.

They meet each-other in scaring class, and there's immediate enmity between the two. Mike is the friendly monster who "doesn't have a chance" to become any sort of scarer, and Sulley is the cool kid who never studies, and shows off all the time. 

The rest of the movie focuses on the campus-wide Scaring Games where every fraternity competes to be the top scarers. Mike (and Sulley, too, after a series of events) belong to the "no-account group of misfits", Oozma Kappa. 

Oh, and here's one important person I forgot to mention:

The dean of Monsters University, is no push over. Dean Hardscrabble has had a problem with both Mike and Sulley, ever since the destroyed her highest ranking can of screams ever. She has it out for the two of them and they have to fight hard to stay at Monsters U. 

The animation blows my mind!!!

The boys of Oozma Kappa realize they have a lot to learn when they enter the Scare Games. Leadership and teamwork are the main weaknesses, and they have to overcome the odds to stay in the game.

I'm not going to spoil the ending for you, in case you haven't seen this yet.....but I'll just say that the story finishes very nicely, and lessons were learned. :) All us young adults who loved Monsters Inc as kids, were going into this movie with background to the story. (or foreground...) We had connected with Mike and Sulley when we were young, so I was slightly giddy when they threw in easter eggs from the first movie! (notes from Celia, "Little Mikey", "Winds of Change" poster, etc)
I really did like the story in this one, though it wasn't as touching as the first. (But with the college environment you'd figure that. ;)  And pretty much the only thing I missed was the songs! I enjoyed the bits of song in the first (Putthatthingbackwhereitcamefromorsohelpme) and even the credit song wasn't very lyrical. :P That would be my only complaint. There's great laughs, great lessons, and GREAT animation to be had at Monsters U.

Over-all Rating: * * * * * (5 stars)
-Sarah

We're Wishing You

A Star-Spangled

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Fire-Cracking

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Cake-Eating

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Anthem-Belting

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Small-town Lovin'

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High-Flying

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Bluegrass-Listening

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Cook-out filled

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Patriotism-soused

INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!

"My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy!" ~Thomas Jefferson