I am a graduate student. Sometimes that feels like more than a full time job. And I'm sure some of you are wondering "does she even have time to make anything but frozen pizza?" While there are definitely nights where that digiorno gets popped in the oven, more often than not I will find ways into the kitchen.

For example, last March WSU had the "Iron Coug Video Cooking Competition." It's a fairly dorky video, but I had just bought my new MacBook and was thrilled to try out the video editing software. What's more, I won! Hoorah!

The video even features my music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apGRLWV2_f0

Tonight it was breakfast for dinner! I had a hankering for poached eggs (I know, odd) so I went to the store and bought some new white wine vinegar and had a bouquet of flowers follow me home. I'm in a new house, a 1930's bungalow style, and I think fresh flowers will become a mainstay here.

I whipped up a hollandaise with egg yolks, vinegar and butter and then added some tarragon and orange peel to spice it up. The seeded baguette I bought at the farmer's market served as the platform, upon which I piled prosciutto, tomato, fresh basil leaves and the poached egg. Topping it off with the hollandaise made this a delicious little eggs benedict!

I remember how I used to buy eggs benedict at breakfast places and be amazed at it, thinking it was such a difficult dish. Really, it's not! I was surprised. Although the poached eggs can be a bit temperamental, the rest is quite easy if you're patient. Thankfully the meal didn't take long, as I still have quite a bit of reading to do for my class in the morning. Doesn't it look delicious? Kind of like an eggy ice cream scoop!

This is my second year of graduate school, and it is going quite well. Last year I quite literally cried for the first few weeks fairly regularly. I had taken 5 years off between undergrad and graduate school, and my brain was just not used to reading all the material. This year, no tears yet. Although... some of these classes are very difficult.

I study archaeology. Before you think "oh cool, dinosaurs!" that's paleontology. A common mistake, don't feel bad. Archaeology is the study of human cultures. I am working with Dr. Tim Kohler, certified genius, doing agent-based modeling of pre-hispanic people in the southwest. I specifically am interested in looking at how cooperation and conflict both affect a group's ability to survive in marginal climates. I get to work with some of the most amazing archaeology. Last week Tim took me to Bandelier National Monument, where I got to talk to our collaborators (also certified geniuses) and wander the forest with my advisor looking at archaeology. Amazing!

Okay, well, enough for tonight. I have much to tell you about; I have made so much jam, and my man and I have brewed 7 batches of beer and two batches of mead! Details will soon follow; as well as posts about cooking with strange meat (octopi!) and trying to salvage a pheasant I hit with my car... what's wrong with road kill? I mean, really?

Goodnight friends