Maylith's New Writeups

Blackened sun-dried tomato and Brie pizza with mayonnaise-mustard dipping sauce (idea)

2006-08-12T17:03:14Z

This recipe is one with the heady memories of my first job out of university. Two thousand miles from home, I was fortunate enough to find a friend. Marit was my age, had a similar educational background, and started work in my group the same day I did. Later I heard that overnight the all-male software engineering team into which we were hired suddenly acquired rudimentary grooming habits. I'm sure that was because of her, as she was lovely.

Marit had an unconscious grace and boundless common sense except for when she didn't. She could solve complex software problems, fix a car, and Lord help you if you became distracted while out on a walk with her, because when you looked back again you might well have found her halfway up a chain link fence, scoping out the guards on the other side. She is also…

Prosciutto-wrapped figs with goat cheese (idea)

2006-07-09T12:18:59Z

One day not so long ago, I was in the produce section of the supermarket, lost in thought as I tried to remember my shopping list. Apparently my vacant gaze fell on a basket of fresh figs. An elderly man shopping nearby mistook my glazed-over stare for interest. He got my attention and then with great enthusiasm began to tell me about the fig bush he had at home. The fruits were perfectly ripe just now and they were unbelievably tender and sweet. "Most people don't know about fresh figs," he said sorrowfully, and then shook his head in amazement at the $0.99 each sign on the produce bin. I said something polite and off he went, but I stood there for a few moments, absolutely floored. Brief as the encounter was, he reminded me so much of my father – his age, his phrases and mannerisms, his love of growing things – that I almost felt I'd seen a ghost. How do you reach out to someone like that?…

Drabble (idea)

2006-01-03T02:52:22Z

A drabble is a type of story. Writing a drabble is known as drabbling. I learned about it...no, I won't confess my fanfic sins here. Drabbling is aggravating, highly addictive, and great fun. It also teaches editing.

Here are the rules for drabbling:

The body of a drabble may be factual or fiction. It must be coherent and be exactly one hundred words long, including articles.

Use complete sentences and standard grammar.

Standard contractions are permitted.

Using acronyms or hyphenation is cheating unless it's standard for the word in question.

Special E2 rule: Don't pipe any links.

Happy drabbling!

A Man's Salad (idea)

2005-12-10T23:49:52Z

Since borgo beat me to the punch by a matter of minutes, I had to rethink my response to IWho's tragically incomplete (though yummy!) writeup. Therefore, I give you:

A Man Salad

I may possess two X chromosomes, but I'm married to someone who's very definitely XY. This individual has rather strong feelings about what makes good man food, and it's an ongoing battle for me to get something green into him and thus stave off his tragic death. However, to keep him happy and decrease his tendency to sneak off and eat stuff that's terrible for him, once in a while I throw up my hands in defeat and descend into the darkling world of Man Food.

While this recipe is guaranteed to make any cardiologist cross themselves and shudder, I daresay it's still far healthier than the typical…

Double crust death by lemon pie (thing)

2005-11-25T13:53:31Z

It all started out very innocently, but over time this pie has developed quite a following.

The original recipe caught my eye as I was skimming an old cookbook. I brought the recipe up to date and was happily stunned with the result, especially as I am much better at cooking than at baking. A few years later, the subject of baking came up with a kitchen design customer of mine, and I mentioned the recipe. The customer just had to have it. We had already developed a great working relationship so I thought nothing of printing out the recipe for her. Little did I know the reason why she'd asked me for it was that her matriarch-in-law absolutely loved lemons, and was coming cross country for Thanksgiving. And so, this gal made my recipe for the first time, for Thanksgiving dessert! (When I heard this, I nearly fainted.) Thankfully, the pie was a complete hit. The matriarch-in-law (so I was told) gushed about how it reminded her of the pies of her childhood. She flew back home with a copy…

The Painter's Cock (thing)

2005-11-11T01:40:08Z

A lovely day
with a house to paint;
this is the task I've chose.

Titanium White
Cerulean
Cobalt Violet Rose

The lighting is good,
my brushes are clean;
the clapboards await my new prose.

Quinacridone Rose
Cadmium Blue
Nickel Titanium Yellow

Intaglio itch, then
an urgent release,
and now there's some paint on my nose.

Reference: Dick Blick Art Materials. No, I'm serious.