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Friday, February 27, 2009

News The Morning News

Posted by Erica C. Barnett on Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 9:01 AM

Down South: Seven South King County cities plan to build new jail.

Defensive: Obama's budget spends as much on defense as Bush's did.

Under Fire: People didn't like Metro's snow response.

Forgetful: Laura Bush "totally forgot" to watch Obama address.

Enfranchised: D.C. to get a full House vote.

Overturned: Obama to reverse Bush-era "conscience clause" allowing health-care providers to refuse health care on religious grounds.

Glad That's Resolved: Helmsley's dog's inheritance can go to non-dog-related charities.

Silver Lining: Reduction in traffic may be due to unemployment.

High Stakes: US to increase federal ownership in Citigroup.

Boo-Hoo: High-end apartment buyers abandoning six-figure deposits in NYC.

Boo-Hoo, Part 2: OMG! People are having to learn to dye their own hair and sew buttons on their own clothes!!!

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Recipe of the Day: Sweet Potato, Corn, and Jalapeno Bisque (Recipe via The Wednesday Chef; photo by Flickr user Christ-o-phile.)

Sweet Potato, Corn and Jalapeño Bisque
Serves 2 if that's all there is for dinner, or 4 as a first course

1 tablespoon peanut oil
1/2 cup chopped onions
2 teaspoons minced garlic
3 medium sweet potatoes (about 2 1/2 pounds total), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
4 cups vegetable or chicken stock
1 medium jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped
1 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
2 tablespoons molasses
1/2 tablespoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Scant pinch ground cinnamon
Finely chopped scallions, green parts only, or minced parsley

1. In a large saucepan or soup pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and sauté until just soft, 2 to 3 minutes. Add sweet potatoes and stock and bring to a boil.

2. Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are soft, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Using an immersion blender or a food processor, purée contents of pot, in batches if necessary, until smooth.

3. Reheat soup, stirring in jalapeño, corn, molasses, salt, cayenne, black pepper and cinnamon. Taste, adjust seasonings and serve, topped with scallions or parsley.

Comments (25) RSS

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Very disappointed about the new Pentagon budget.

Posted by formanoreasta on February 27, 2009 at 9:06 AM

Why is the recipe of the day always soup? Does the Stranger benefit package neglect dental?

Posted by kitschnsync on February 27, 2009 at 9:17 AM

That soup looks DELICIOUS.

Posted by this guy I know in Spokane on February 27, 2009 at 9:21 AM

I love that ECB is on a soup kick. Hey Erica, how about a killer gumbo that doesn't have pork?

Posted by Bauhaus on February 27, 2009 at 9:42 AM

Obama is actually only including in the budget what was spent anyway by the Bush administration. But Bush did it by "emergency" spending outside of the appropriations bills.

As for the derisive "boo hoo" this is going to put a lot of people out of jobs and the majority of that "insourcing" work is done by already overworked people. Of course anyone who ran up debt to pay for these services is an idiot.

Posted by Gypsy Kaz on February 27, 2009 at 10:11 AM

Eeesh, that's a lot of sweet potatoes for two people.

Posted by Asparagus on February 27, 2009 at 10:12 AM

Soup week is great. "Poop Soup Week," less so.

They all sound delicious in theory, but look like what you'd find in a fraternity bathroom the night after the annual all-you-can eat corn dog and tequila banquet.

Posted by Karla on February 27, 2009 at 10:13 AM

When you have a mouth full of anal warts soup is about all you can gag down.

Posted by damn if it doesn't leak out before you can finish dessert on February 27, 2009 at 10:18 AM

@7
Yeah. Vomit Soup is best consumed while blindfolded or really wasted.

Posted by Julia Childs on February 27, 2009 at 10:20 AM

May be due to unemployment?!

Lemme tell you, when MS gave the axe to 1500 people in one day, 520 cleared up instantly (for the Seattlites commuting to Kirkland). And I-90 is kind of empty in comparison to 2 months ago.

Wasn't there something like, "I wished for traffic to clear up, but not like this. Not like this."

Posted by TheMisanthrope on February 27, 2009 at 10:22 AM

I'm happy about DC. It had some of the highest per capita taxes yet no vote in Congress. The feds (especially the old District Ctte in Congress full of especially racist southerners) did not seem to understand the idea of no taxation without representation.

I would accepted it if they just called it a colony and let go of the Federal taxes the way they do with Puerto Rico. This is better.

Posted by ktk on February 27, 2009 at 10:43 AM

The Incredible Sulk is the finest Internet troll Slog has ever known, a true pearl among true swine and, indeed, as great a Slog troll as George Washington was a US president. And, just like George Washington, The Sulk cannot tell a lie. Therefore he must now sadly report the following undeniable fact.

GEORGE WASHINGTON WILL NOT BE PRESIDENT AT ALL THIS MONTH!

And no, I don't feel like letting it go.

Posted by The Incredible Sulk on February 27, 2009 at 10:51 AM

Yes, it is better that D.C. finally gets some representation. Unfortunately, the way they did it is unconstitutional as hell. Don't expect this to withstand a court challenge.

Posted by Fifty-Two-Eighty on February 27, 2009 at 10:54 AM

Hey ECB: It would be a right hoot if you walked up to my hairdresser and my gardener guys and scoffed "Boo hoo!" right in their faces. I'm sure they think is a real scream that they're losing business. Hey, $25 here, $50 there - it adds up.

Posted by Small biz on February 27, 2009 at 10:58 AM

@14: That's a valid point. But the perspective of the story was exactly as I described it: What a hardship for these poor people to have to learn to do things for themselves.

Posted by ECB on February 27, 2009 at 11:33 AM

No longer being a teenager, I would have to be in serious financial trouble to dye my own hair. If your hair is dyed anything other than one all-over color, it's easy to mess up and hard to fix. (My mom used to make me highlight her hair, with the holey cap and crochet-hook thing. Dicey.)

That said, the one time I paid someone else to sew buttons, they did a terrible job. It would serve everyone well to have rudimentary button-sewing skills, in case of a button emergency.

Posted by Aislinn on February 27, 2009 at 11:39 AM

I love soup. But I do have to say that soup does rather resemble something one would see on the sidewalk as one got off the Whirling Teacups ride.

Posted by Geni on February 27, 2009 at 11:43 AM

@4 is right. We need gumbo recipes!

Posted by Will in Seattle on February 27, 2009 at 11:45 AM

I understand the urge to blurt out 'Boo-Hoo' to the upper-middle class when they're faced with eliminating luxuries.

But I wish more people would see it as a positive change that we as a society are going through in light of a declining economy.

Maybe these people are experiencing an awakening of sorts to what life really is about - more than collecting symbols of status. Maybe they will change their whole value system! Maybe they will start to do things like volunteer to help those who are in true need.

That sort of shift would be amazing

Posted by Stripes on February 27, 2009 at 11:46 AM

Re D.C.: Weird that Leiberman, traitor himself, wanted this legislation to pass. I am confused.

Posted by Original Monique on February 27, 2009 at 12:23 PM

@20 - kind of like Michael Gerson claiming he liked most of what President Obama said in his speech, I guess.

Posted by Will in Seattle on February 27, 2009 at 12:26 PM

fuck you ECB.

As far as the war budget goes, you supported Hillary, who SUPPORTED the war. Obama is just keeping the funds in place necessary until he pulls the plug, he is going to end the mess that Hillary helped start.

Posted by Todd on February 27, 2009 at 12:36 PM

Because someone has to say it...

If you can find the time to drive to the tailor, wait for him to sew a button on your shirt, and pay him to fix your button, you can learn to sew it your own fucking self.

Also. If you can't be bothered to pick up your own fucking dog shit, don't get a fucking dog.

Lazy fucks.

Posted by can has drunk on February 27, 2009 at 1:00 PM

@19: Perhaps those people are using the time they would have spent sewing, etc., doing other things: volunteering, or exercising, or playing music, or attending theater. I for one am happy to pay someone to take care of my yard if it allows me to spend time pursuing pasttimes I find worthwhile.

Your assumptions say more about you than them.

Posted by rjh on February 27, 2009 at 1:08 PM

That soup looks delicious but it does not taste delicious. I made it last week. It misses the mark on many of the flavor combos and has some odd texture with pureed base with chunks of corn. Don't make it! Your taste buds will be sad if you do.

Posted by b-dizzle on February 27, 2009 at 5:26 PM