Cherydactylogram

dactylogram dak-TIL-uh-gram, n: A fingerprint.

NOTES:
The study of fingerprints for identification purposes is known as dactylography or dactyloscopy. Dactylonomy is the art of counting on fingers. Dactylology is finger-speech -- communicating by signs made with fingers.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Greek daktylos (finger or toe) + gramma (something written).

USAGE:
"The dactylogram expert confirmed that Christina's prints were found on the gun and elsewhere throughout Lombardi's apartment."
--William Bernhardt; Blind Justice; Ballantine Books; 1992.

Green Bean Stirfry with Cashews

A vegan entree that even my 9-year-old loves. :) Posted partly in honor of preparing it for dinner tonight, and partly in honor of I like G.

Green Bean Stirfry with Cashews
A cherydactyl original (you can tell by the oh-so-precise measurements)

About 2 cups green beans, preferably fresh from the farmer's market
peanut or other vegetable oil, one to two tablespoons
2-3 cloves minced garlic
1-2 minced red hot peppers, seeds removed unless you like it fiery, or crushed red pepper (optional)
a quarter to a third cup (low sodium) soy sauce
A large handful of roasted, unsalted whole cashews; about a half cup or so

After washing beans, snap into large bite size chunks. Heat large saute pan or wok to high heat. When pan is hot, add peanut oil to coat and immediately add minced garlic and hot pepper, if using. Saute briefly, one minute or less, and then add the green beans. Stir fry until beans get tender and wilt a bit, about 8-10 minutes (unless you like them crunchier, in which case stir fry until they are how you like them). Add soy sauce and cashews. Stir to coat everything, stir about a minute more, then serve.

Great with or without brown rice to put it over.

x-posted to vegancooking

Trail-A-Bike oddessy

Today I finally went to assemble the Trail-A-Bike that came to our door two weeks ago. The box had been sitting in our living room across from my computer for long enough. Upon really looking at the box, I discovered that a tools needed list was printed on the outside of the box. This was a good thing. I am reasonably handy, but at least two of the items listed I had never heard of before. I googled "cone wrenches" for starters, and immediately decided that I should let a professional put it together, as buying new tools just for this one assembly job seemed like a bad idea.
( Read the whole saga, including our first tagalong trip, and pannier plans )