Signing off for now...

Hey guys. I'm taking a break from blogging for a while. If something comes up that I can't resist, I might post something. But I'm in the midst of a huge creative block and need to remove some of the pressure, so no blogging for me until I have something worthwhile to say.

In the meantime, if you need to reach me, you can email me at elizabethfuss@msn.com.

See you in a bit!

Lizzy

A Words Week

This week is a good week to appreciate words. Just because. Here are a couple of events that will help you appreciate your favorite words:

Friday, December 18th
Write Around Portland Community Reading & Anthology Release
6:30 - 8:30pm
First United Methodist Church, Collins Hall
1838 SW Jefferson St.

The new anthology is called More Than a Book, with a special introduction by Dave Eggers, who was the very reason I got involved with Write Around Portland to begin with. It's a free event, and like I have said many times before, these events are inspiring and life changing. I hope you can make it. All of you. Yes, I'm looking at you.

Saturday, December 19th
Live Wire!
8:00pm
Aladdin Theater
Tickets

An always entertaining, funny and inspiring evening, Live Wire! is a variety show taped live once a month at the Aladdin Theater for broadcast on OPB. Poets, singers, storytellers and other fascinating people are interviewed by the fabulous and funny Courtenay Hameister. Music and good words. This is seriously the best use of $20 on a Saturday night. And come prepared to write a Haiku.

Wherein I Tell You My Diabolical Plan

So I've been busy lately. Just kidding. I haven't. I've been taking a big fat break from life since Thanksgiving. And it's been nice. Lots of naps and working out and cooking and taking deep breaths. And. I've formulated a plan for my jobless life. And I'm really excited about it.

I'm going to be partnering with my dad in his accounting practice to do payroll, bookkeeping and HR consulting for small businesses, an area that I've been working in for the past 10 years. I'm excited to be bringing my expertise and knowledge to his business.

I'm also going to be spending a great deal of time writing. Which I am thrilled about. I'll still be blogging, but I'm aiming at something bigger. And also maybe tackling a little freelance writing.

Whatever happens, I'll keep you posted. Because I feel like you are all my friends. I've met several of you recently and I just have to say how wonderful it is to see you in person and exchange pleasantries in real life. Thanks for reading.

**P.S. If you need any payroll, bookkeeping, HR consulting services, or someone to write crap for you, please drop me a line at elizabethfuss (at) msn (dot) com.

Storytelling!

I know I've said this before, but Portland has the best storytelling events. I just bought my tickets for Back Fence PDX and Mortified for November 19th and 20th. You should come! Because I only bought one ticket for each event and I'll need people to talk to and laugh with.

Let me know if you will be there!

I'm leaving on a jet plane, with tears falling.

Portland's literary events are SHINING right now. And I can't go to any of it!

Tomorrow night: Back Fence PDX - Temporary Insanity

No, this is not all about me. That would be called PERMANENT insanity. Stories about temporary insanity from lots of people, including a pet psychic and a 14-year old musician! Also free cupcakes from Saint Cupcake. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. At the Mission Theater. GO.














Thursday night: Wally Lamb at Portland Arts and Lectures.

I love this series. Like I'm in love with it. It's so insightful to hear these writers read and talk about their work. Because don't you want to hear them read their own words in their own voice? And answer your questions? Of course you do. GO.

October 3: XY&Z: A Benefit for Write Around Portland

Because if I had all the money in the world and all the time in the world. I would spend all of it on Write Around Portland. Writing and community get married and breed well at Write Around Portland. Don't you want to be a part of that?

October 9-10: WORDSTOCK.

I'm absolutely the most sad about missing this event. Last year I was in Wordstock, organizing emcees. And I loved it. I loved all the people I worked with - good people. And smart. And they put in literally hundreds and hundreds of hours to pull this off. Mostly volunteering! This year, they have a focus on food. Which is one of the reasons I am so sad. Because, you know, I love food.

Portland! Go to these events! Give them your money! Keep these events going! You will get smarter. I promise.

Apology Photos

I have been a terrible blogger of late! So sorry. I'm afraid the next couple of weeks don't look much better. I've just moved this past weekend and am staying with my parents for the next two and a half weeks before I leave for Greece. And, as the HR manager of a plant that is shutting its doors in the next two months, I have pretty much been stressed out of my mind and unable to write anything good by the time I get home at night.

So. I'm leaving you with some pictures that I managed to photograph at some recent meals. I promise I'll go back and do real write-ups as soon as I can. I'll be writing hopefully every day from Greece, with all my adventures, which will include good food, handsome Greek men and carefree happiness.

Thanks for your patience, dear readers!

1. Lamb + kale gratin at Nel Centro
2. Sausage + eggs + potatoes + toast at Stepping Stone Cafe
3. Caprese Salad at Caffe Mingo
4. Bucatini + meatballs, at Nel Centro

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

The next three months will be so exciting. I'm moving, going to Greece, leaving my job (or it will be leaving me, I guess), and embarking on whatever new career I come up with. I will be writing to you from Greece, on this blog, keeping you apprised of my adventures (of which I expect to have many) during my month of travels.

I have so many ideas of what to do when I get back from Greece and finish up my job. But I haven't decided definitively on anything yet, except that I want to keep writing. Since I will be unemployed, my eating out budget will be significantly reduced, so you may see some other topics discussed here. I will also be staying just outside of Vancouver, Washington for several months and plan on checking out some of the restaurants in that area on a limited basis (suggestions welcome).

So that's all. I'm excited. There are so many possibilities and I can't wait to explore them. In the meantime, I may be posting less frequently as I get all this straightened out and prepare for my upcoming adventures. As always, thanks for reading!

Sunday Experiments with Pomegranate Juice

Every once in a while a company will send me products to review or sample. I only write about them if I like them and if I think it will be useful to my readers. Last week, the POM Wonderful company emailed me to see if I would like to receive some pomegranate juice. This was an easy one for me. Because I loved pomegranate juice long before my love was reciprocated.

I was surprised when a box of 8 bottles of pomegranate juice arrived in the mail. What would I possibly do with that much juice? I drank some, which was delicious, but then I got the urge to cook and packed the rest up for my cooking extravaganza this weekend at my parents' house while they were out of town.

First up:

Pomegranate Blueberry Sorbet

1/2 c. water
1/2 c. sugar
16 oz. pomegranate juice
2 c. frozen or fresh blueberries

Combine water and sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil, until sugar is dissolved. Add pomegranate juice and blueberries. Bring to a boil again, stirring occasionally to break up some of the blueberries. Let it cool completely. Pour into ice cream maker and follow manufacturer's instructions.

Yield: 1 qt.

A scoop of this sorbet in a glass with club soda poured over it is very refreshing.

Next:

Chicken with Pomegranate Sauce

4 chicken thighs, skin on, bone-in
Kosher salt
fresh ground pepper
olive oil
1/2 yellow onion, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 c. vegetable stock
8 oz. pomegranate juice

Season chicken thighs with salt and pepper and place in a preheated pan, skin side down. Cover and turn heat to medium high. Cover and let chicken brown until skin is crispy and brown, about 12 minutes. Turn thighs over and cook for another 5-6 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside on a plate.

You may need to spoon some of the skin grease out of the pan after the chicken is cooked, leave 1-2 T. in the pan. Add the onion and garlic and saute until caramelized and lightly browned. At this point, you can remove the onions and garlic and set aside to use in a side dish (mashed potatoes are good) or you can leave them in the sauce. I prefer to remove them so that the sauce is smooth, but still has the flavor of the onions and garlic.

Add one cup of the vegetable stock to the pan to deglaze and scrape up the brown bits off the bottom of the pan. Once the pan is deglazed, add the pomegranate juice, kosher salt and fresh ground pepper. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 10 minutes, until reduced by half. Add remaining stock and bring to a boil again. Add the chicken back into the sauce and turn off the heat. Cover and let it sit for 5-6 minutes. Be sure to spoon sauce over the chicken, so the flavor is in every bite.

**********

Pomegranate juice is rich and deep and more intense than regular juices. It's also good for you. But mostly it just tastes really good and is versatile in cooking. The chicken recipe that I made today was not super sweet, just a touch of sweet, like I had added wine to the recipe. The sorbet was sweet, but not overly so, but again had that deep richness that I so appreciate in food. It can be expensive - so don't buy it at the gourmet stores. Shop around a little. It's worth it.

How Live Wire! Helped Me Get A Boyfriend (I mean how it will get me a boyfriend or a date or a good time or whatever)

Last night, I took my out of town guest to a Live Wire! taping at the Aladdin Theater. Every time I go to a Live Wire show, I am reminded how utterly incredible it is. The music, the interviews, the humor - it's entertainment at its best.

Live Wire also makes you smarter. Because I went to last night's show, I can now use the following pick-up lines at parties with attractive, intellectual men:

- Shawn Levy is of the opinion that it is not a tragedy that Paul Newman, the specimen that he was, was appreciated by more than one woman during his life. Incidentally, I'd like to appreciate you.

- Twitter is just another tool we use to interact with each other, and can sometimes enhance marketing strategies. I think you are a tool in my love life strategy. How can I use you?

- I saw this couple on Live Wire! They were on a date on stage on the show. They wrote haiku about the date. It was awkward. I don't think it would be awkward for us, though.

- I love the Captain Bogg and Salty band. They do shows for kids. Do you want to have some with me? Kids, I mean.

I know. You are probably ready to call me and ask me out, just from reading my pick-up lines. But stop. Before you do, head on over to Live Wire! and make a donation. They have a budget deficit this year and we need to keep this show on the radio no matter what it takes. Because these lines will get old and I will definitely need some new lines by next month.

Seriously. Do. It. Now. Also. It's sexy to donate.

Giveaway Winner

Congrats to Daniel who won the drawing for the movie viewing tickets for Where God Left His Shoes this Thursday at the Memorial Coliseum. Daniel, please email me at elizabethfuss (at) msn (dot) com. Thanks!

Where God Left His Shoes (Giveaway!)

A few years ago, I volunteered at a homeless shelter and spent the night there, sleeping on mats, just like everyone else. I was struck by how normal some of the people were. One lady, wearing a suit, could have worked in my office. Sure there were a few crazies, but for the most part, these were normal people in unfortunate circumstances. The line between me and them vanished as I realized that maybe the only difference between us was that I had family in the area that could help me if I was in a bad way.

This coming Thursday, the 16th at 6pm at the Memorial Coliseum, there is a private viewing of Where God Left His Shoes, a film about a family who experiences homelessness, starring John Leguizamo. The viewing and discussion benefits the Bridges to Housing organization and the NAHRO Regional Scholarship Fund.


We have a pair of tickets to give away for this viewing - a $30 value. Leave a comment and I'll draw a name on Tuesday night. If you wish to purchase tickets, please go to the Neighborhood Partnership Fund.

Calling Jodi B!

Jodi B! You won one of the set of books for the Food Inc. contest. Email me with your address so I can send you the books. Congrats!

Caught Red-Handed

I just bought my ticket for Back Fence PDX's June show. I am really excited because I have been wanting to go to one of their shows, but have never been able to make it for one reason or another.

The theme this month: Caught Red-Handed. I'm sure it will be more exciting than the time I got caught stealing chalk from my second-grade teacher.

CAUGHT RED-HANDED

Wednesday, June 17th
6:00 doors/7:30 show!
Come at 7:15 for the Popina Swimsuit Fashion Show

Free wallets at intermission from Tinymeat!

The Mission Theater
1624 N.W. Glisan
Portland, OR 97209

Alcohol. Food. True Stories.
$10.00 online /$12.00 door
21 AND OVER

Presenting our storytellers…

VIVA LAS VEGAS Stripper and author

RAEL DORNFEST UX Engineer, Twitter

JAMI CURL Owner, Saint Cupcake

PEMA TEETER Playwright and ghostwriter

ERIC SCHNIEWIND Geologist

NICOLE GEORGES Comic artist and advice columnist

JEFF HARDISON Preacher’s Grandson

Purchase tickets through Brown Paper Tickets. For more info go to: Back Fence PDX.

Food, Inc. Giveaway!

The movie Food, Inc. is opening on Friday the 12th in selected cities and on Friday the 19th here in Portland at Cinema 21. To find out when it's playing in your city, click here.

This is an important movie for people to see, regardless of your politics, religion or even your eating lifestyle. I saw it a couple of months ago at an advance screening and it really woke my mind up to the realities of the food industry. But what I loved about it is that it doesn't just complain about the problem. It gives you solutions and how you can help and improve the food industry's future in our country.

So. We're giving away two books: The companion book for the movie, Food, Inc. and Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser, who is interviewed in the movie.

To win, you just need to comment on this post, telling me your most favorite thing to buy at the farmers' market. I'll pick 2 winners on Friday, June 12th (in only two days!) And each winner will receive a set of books.

Can't wait to hear what you like to buy!