Monthly Archives: March 2012

March 28, 2012 · 8:18 am

Mega spring/summer salad

Nothing puts spring in my step quite like knowing there’s something tasty waiting for me at the end of my workout.

Joe and I are training for the Drake Relays Half Marathon in order to get swimsuit ready for our trip to the Dominican Republic this May. It’s sort of working, because we’re doing a pretty good job of motivating each other to lace up the shoes and get in our miles and my clothes feel looser. The pizza from El Chisme we split after a Friday evening 10-miler and this amazing BLT-inspired gargantuan post-run salad, however, might not be hastening the slimming process.

Super yummy BLT inspired salad!

But it was SO GOOD. I played sous chef, chopping and washing the greens. Spinach and thinly sliced cabbage (left over from some delicious roast cabbage wedges we did for St. Patrick’s Day) were the base, and then we piled on chunks of watermelon, avocado, some little tomatoes, grilled green onion and asparagus and, of course, bacon. The dressing was a mix of Ranch and Greek yogurt, and the whole wheat pitas were toasted and sliced on the side.

I think we’ll continue to make some variation of this salad all summer long, with more seasonal ingredients. (Raise your hand if you can’t wait for roast sweet corn to make its triumphant return!) I could see adding some Feta, too.

As far as the training goes, we’re actually using a real plan this time. It’s one Joe found on his friend’s “Bad Angels Rules for Running” blog. I’ve felt pretty good on our long runs, but surprisingly it’s the mid-length runs that are hardest for me. I even wrote in to Coach Jenny to see if my bad form is going to destroy me now that I’m about to enter my late 20s. (And she answered!)

Are you a runner? What are your favorite post-run meals? When I was in Cross Country in high school, my best friend and I used to joke that any calories we consumed within 30 minutes of practice “didn’t count.” Ten years later, I’m still holding onto that myth!

Oh! And we’re starting seedlings for the first time, using the cool plant stand Joe spray painted and gave me as a gift. I love watching them sprout!

Sure hope we're doing this seedling thing right! This area gets lots of sun in the afternoon. We can never keep our window boxes alive.

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March 25, 2012 · 7:36 pm

Weekend peek: Galena bride

This weekend, we went to Galena to witness the wedding of my wonderful friend Arin. We arrived into the picturesque historic river town as a light rain fell, and I got to sit out on the Victorian B&B porch with the bride while she got ready.

Arin looking radiant on her wedding day.

Arin is co-owner of Ephemera and, as such, is around brides and invitations and pretty things every day. So in this inspiration-board and wedding blog world, it might surprise (and delight) some to know that she put her faith in her fiance when he offered to surprise her with wedding plans. She knew the date, but not the details! Josh certainly delivered, and friends and family pitched in with their talents. (When out friend James sang at during the ceremony, it brought even the reverend to tears!) I won’t share too much, because it was Arin’s day and she might want to write about it, but I loved to see how happy she was at each little moment. (UPDATE! Arin and her ring on APW. I know she’ll absolutely need to write about the whole experience and I cannot WAIT to read it!)

A quick hug with the bride after the ceremony.

It was a tiny little wedding at a sweet little chapel a few miles out into the country off the main street, and then dinner at a Greek restaurant in the heart of things. Simple. Special. Lots of happy crying and even some flaming fried cheese!

Doesn't Joe look dapper? I'd enjoy a supper club dinner reception with him any time!

Have you ever been to Galena? It’s the most darling town just east of Dubuque. We went there a few times as a family growing up, but I think Joe and I will have to return for a romantic weekend full of walks up the winding roads, historical haunted tours and canoeing on the river.

P.S. We camped in north-eastern Iowa on our way to James and Katie’s wedding last fall and I blogged about a few of the stops here.

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March 23, 2012 · 4:52 pm

“I found this shirt on Pinterest”

RAYGUN launched a couple of new shirts today, and this time the joke’s on Pinterest:

get the shirt, $19

So, I decided to have a little fun and turn the tables on Mike with a “Stuff Mike Draper Likes” board on Pinterest.

I’m having a great time working with Mike on the TEDxDesMoines team, so I couldn’t resist. Have a fantastic weekend, everyone!

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March 22, 2012 · 6:58 pm

Brianne’s Des Moines restaurant go-tos

Someone asked me on Twitter what my favorite restaurant in Des Moines is and I felt guilty keeping it to 140 characters, because it’s hard to pick one when different places are better for different things. Here are a few of my favorite spots and what I tend to order there, organized more by occasion than cuisine:

Indulgent weekday breakfast with the ladies
Where: La Mie
What I order: Avocado tartine, which is a hearty piece of toast covered in cream cheese and sprouts, eggs over easy and a half avocado.
There are few better ways to start the day than walking into La Mie on a crisp morning and settling into a table with some of my dearest Des Moines friends and a little cup of coffee. This is where we catch up and gather energylike batteries powered by each others energy and passion for life. If you go the pastry route, my favorite are the long rectangular ones that are filled with some sort of cream and chocolate chip concoction. They should be illegal.

Payday lunch with downtown workers
Where: Basil Prosperi
What I order: Spinach Ricotta pasta
Carbohydrate overload? Definitely. This lunch is for Fridays at the end of the month when you’re feeling rich and in the mood for something with a taste to match. I miss working so close to this tucked away Skywalk staple, where the line moves fast but you’ll feel full well into the evening.

Sunday evening doing crossword puzzles and drinking crappy beers
Where: High Life Lounge
What I order: Broasted chicken meal with tater tots and corn on the side
You know how healthy eating doctrine says you’re not supposed to have a plate of entirely brown food? This is worth breaking the rule.

Craving hot wings
Where: Gerri’s
What I order: These are the best wings in Des Moines, and you can order them in five pound increments. (CABCo comes close, but theirs aren’t as cheap.) These have the perfect sauce and a slight crisp in the skin. I used to hate hot wings, but these converted me.

Double date night
Where: Flying Mango
What I order: Grilled Cajun Chicken, with Goat Cheese & Thick-Cut Bacon
Joe and I went on a kind of double date the other week with the Heggens and this was a great spot. It’s so unassuming on the outside, but then the dining room opens up and it’s got a great atmosphere. There’s a good beer selection, and even good vegetarian options, which you might not think about coming out of a place known for its 24-hour brisket.

Satisfying the sweet tooth
Where: Chocolaterie Stam
What I order: There’s a sweet little wine flight/chocolate pairing deal that was only $10 the last time I went!
Even though it’s right on Ingersoll, the little side yard next to Stam is like a tucked-away wonderland. There’s a babbling fountain, pretty lights strung up and lots of gelato options!

A ladies "picnic" at Stam

Power lunch
Where: Des Moines Art Center Restaurant
What I order: “Pick two”
Where: Proof
What I order: Lamb burger
I always forget about the Art Center restaurant, and each time I re-discover it, I vow to go back soon. One of the IHAD mentors is the chef there, and the setting and food are inspired, but the price is right. My boss, Emily, and I had lunch here a few weeks ago and she told me to do the “pick two” selection because the portions are generous enough you don’t really have to choose, if you’re wavering between options.
Proof is the downtown go-to! Everything is amazing, fresh and made with care. Love it.

Saturday afternoon “linner”
Where: Gateway Market
What I order: Veggie burger (which is crazy, considering I looove burgers)
You know when you’re in the zone running errands and you don’t have any food in the house and it’s 2 p.m. and you probably shouldn’t go to the grocery store hungry? Gateway Market is the go-to for a fresh-tasting option. Then you can also pick up some essentials to tide you over to your next shopping trip. And by “essentials,” I mean wine and bread. Right? Also, last time I got the veggie burger here was on the way to get my new bike, and some guy walked up to me and asked me what I was eating because it looked awesome.

A taste of suburbia
Where: Rock Bottom Brewery
What I order: Various burgers
Sometimes we go past 63rd Street. Not a lot, but sometimes. Rock Bottom has some awesome perks for their mug club members (and being a member is free.) Plus, their beer is brewed on-site and the place is huge, with a patio. They used to have half price burger nights, I think on Wednesdays, which made for a really reasonable dinner out.

OK, a few other picks! I’m going to be lazy and not include links, but you can find details for most Des Moines restaurants on DesMoines.Metromix.com.

Brianne’s favorite places for:

Chips: City Bakery. They basically slice a potato lengthwise and crisp it until it’s a chip, then pepper and salt it. Thanks to the ladies of Ephemera for turning me on to these.
Margaritas: El Patio in the summer. Awesome hanging planters and a sweet patio that’s a good respite from the rest of the world.
Chinese: Rolling Wok. I only ever order Mongolian Beef from Chinese places. They have great lunch specials, but are otherwise a bit pricey.
Romance: Cafe di Scala. Joe and I went here after we got engaged, so it will always be a special place. I also recommend just dressing up and getting a drink and appetizer at the bar.
Pretending I’m French and mysterious: Baru 66. I dined alone here once, which was a strangely amazing experience for me. I should have worn stripes and red lipstick. I also took my mom and aunt here as a thank you for throwing me a wedding. A lovely special occasion spot.
Tamales: La Rosa. I buy them by the dozen and freeze them. These remind me of the ones we’d get in Pilsen growing up.
Fancy brunch: Centro. You will not regret getting the French Toast.
Fancy dinner: Django. This doesn’t HAVE to be fancy, and sometimes we go on random nights, but my birthday dinner here last year was a pretty epic chicken dish that made me dream about caramelized pearl onions for months.
Quick Drake-area lunch: Gazali’s. I’m a little too obsessed with their chicken salad. This, coming from a person who almost never orders salad anywhere.
Lunch with a big group of co-workers: Gusto Pizza Company. Call ahead for a big long table.
Random lunch date with Joe: Woody’s Smoke Shack. Free cornbread!

I’d also have to say that the only place I’m really a “regular” is Mars Cafe! It’s that “third space” for so many of us.

I’m also probably forgetting other favorite spots! What are yours? What did I miss?!

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March 12, 2012 · 11:36 pm

Girl Scouts: On staying in

Girl Scouts turned 100 today.

Girl Scouting was a fundamental shaper in the person I’ve become, so I’m compelled to share a few memories — and hilarious photos.

I've got something in my pocket that belongs across my face...

As a kid, camp was a trial run at independence. A few short days spent in the woods close to home, holding a flashlight in one hand and my nose in the other in the spider-filled latrines. Then a week or two in the northern woods of Wisconsin, where we’d sing over the calls of loons in the night. My mom used to send me with candy to help me make friends with girls on the bus during the eight hour ride up. (Because everyone wants to sit with the girl packing treats, right?)

I’d always come back changed in some way, and come back with new ideas (sometimes about nose rings and eating baby food as a snack, like my counselors). It was a chance to be a little bit wild, to live as a girl outside of time and city.

Swallowed by a sleeping bag.

Most girls only stayed in through Brownies, or a year or two of Juniors. Girl Scouting stopped being cool when sports and boys and those sorts of things entered the picture. I was never very cool. And my mom was the leader, so I was in for life. I remember selling cookies in the freezing cold outside of the video store in high school, and being mildly mortified when people I knew (OK, people I had a crush on) would see me. It taught me hard work. We collected cans and turned them in for spare change so we could take trips to places like Mackinac Island and … Cleveland. We were Troop Beverly Hills, with braces.

Troop 784, in all of our nerdiest glory.

Old Timey photo as a troop. Clearly not my favorite moment in scouting.

We rented these uniforms because none of us really owned them at this point.

In high school, I had an after school job in the council shop, selling badges and whatnot. Sometimes I’d even dress in historic uniforms and give presentations from the persona of Juliette Low, Girl Scouts’ founder. And then things started to get truly fantastic. Through the Wider Ops program, I spent a week backpacking in the Sierra Nevada mountains with instructors from Outward Bound.

Outward Bound adventure.

I flew to Germany by myself the month after graduating high school for a three week tour of Europe that involved hiking in the Alps (an experience I re-created with Joe for our honeymoon!) and crewing a sailboat with other Scouts from all over the world. Thanks to Girl Scouts, I have a stamp from Liechtenstein in my passport and the courage to push myself to experience adventures.

The summer after my freshman year of college, I worked as a counselor at a camp in Colorado. I went by the camp name “Ripple.” I lost a llama. My walk to work every day passed a field of horses. I got helicoptered out of the wilderness. A rodent ate my sleeping bag while I was climbing Pike’s Peak. I had close encounters with bears while carrying pizza supplies. It was the most random, story-filled summer of my life. And I owe it to Girl Scouts.

Planned on getting a tattoo of Grateful Dead lyrics after this hike. Yeah, that didn't happen.

Because of Girl Scouts: I’m more creative, more outdoorsy, more open, more hardworking, more loyal, more generous. Thanks to my mom for encouraging me to stay in it and for showing me what it means to be a leader. Happy Birthday to all of the Girl Scouts out there!

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March 11, 2012 · 11:30 am

My first homebrew

Yesterday was perfect brewing weather in Des Moines. T-shirt afternoon, then light jacket evening with the sun shining and a slight breeze.

After a few years of Joe and Andy brewing together, it felt like time for me to take a turn with the turkey frier, and they encouraged me to try.

They guys took me along to Beer Crazy, where I got the ingredients for a modified Marzen. (Marzen is the kind of beer they serve at Oktoberfest. I always enjoy them, and the thought of making something that I could alliteratively call “Manatee Marzen” was exciting. Yes, I am a nerd. Too bad we’re kegging it, because the labels would be cuuuute.)

After they finished up their newest batch, I attempted my first beer. I did a story on local homebrewers a few years ago, so I wasn’t that intimidated by the basic process.*

Image via Man vs. Ink.

For those unfamiliar with the brewing process, the first stage of home brewing is a lot like making a giant caldron of tea. I did what’s called a partial mash, because I used some grains and some powdered malt extract. The first stage is making wort, which involves steeping grains in a big mesh bag, then stirring in some malt extract powder and boiling the hops for different lengths of time.

I kept one eye on the thermometer/clock to make sure things didn’t boil over and heated for the right lengths of time. But my other eye was on “In the Garden of Beasts,” which I’m reading for book club. I am by no means an expert, which is to say that if I can do it, you can do it! You can get a lot more complicated about things, but you don’t have to at the onset.

You could use a stovetop, or brew kettle/propane burner combo if you don’t have a turkey frier. Joe brewed on the stove for a few years before we picked a frier up on supersale from Menards. I don’t totally hate the smell of brewing, but I will say that being able to do it outside is a lot nicer.

Also, sitting next to the boiling wort makes you kind of feel like a witch from MacBeth. Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and caldron bubble!

After you’ve steeped/boiled all of the ingredients, you need to cool the wort. Make sure all of the equipment you use for the rest of the steps is well-sanitized! (We have a neat-o copper coily contraption for cooling, which makes it much faster.) Then I transferred the wort to a carboy for the first stage of fermenting.

I’ve got my fingers crossed this brew will turn out, because I want to serve it at my friend Karen’s 30th birthday, which we’ll be hosting at the end of April or early May. I’ll post about transferring to the second ferment in a couple of weeks, and about the finished product, too.

*I followed this recipe, although I used a different kind of yeast so that I wouldn’t have to refrigerate it like a true lager. I also switched out the last kind of hops for a similar variety, because the store was out of Saaz. (Let me also say that the people at Beer Crazy are super helpful. It’s kind of expensive to get started on home brewing, but it’s a pretty cool hobby. We got my brother, the guy who has everything and whose typical interests are way to high-tech for me, a startup kit for Christmas and it was the best gift we could have gone for. He’s super into it, so it makes every other holiday easier to shop for him, too!)

That’s me measuring the original gravity of my first homebrew. Knowing this will help me know what percent alcohol by volume my finished beer is. I like that the color of this wort looks like it matches my Mizzou shirt.

See a few of my previous brewing-related posts:

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March 5, 2012 · 8:46 pm

True/False film fest recap

The True/False Film Fest in Columbia is like homecoming weekend for liberal arts and journalism majors. Instead of tailgating and a football game, it’s all about buskers and documentaries. I’d never turn down a crisp fall afternoon at my alma mater, but the spring film fest crowd is more my scene.

photo from Bully Q&A via Lucy Hewitt

We got down to Columbia on Friday night and in the span of less than 48 hours, we saw eight films. This is by no means a comprehensive recap, but I’ll let you know what we saw in case you’re looking to spice up the documentary section of your Netflix queue:

Queen of Versailles – From the description, I was worried this would be a vapid portrayal of the super rich. The filmmaker set out to chronicle the construction of the country’s largest private residence, but the 2009 financial crisis added unexpected depth to the storyline. The film does show some pretty ridiculous consumerism, but it also gets down to the truth of money’s inability to buy happiness (or good taste!), the psychology of greed and how not even the 1% came out unscathed.

Gypsy Davy – This movie chronicles the filmmaker’s deeply personal quest to understand who her father was and why he abandoned his family (families, really) for Flamenco music. How much of ourselves do we owe our children after we bring them into the world? How do our parent’s paths help us make sense of ourselves? Also, after watching this movie, I will never hear the Counting Crows song Mr. Jones in the same way again.

<Title redacted> There were a number of “Secret Screenings” of documentaries that haven’t yet had their official premiere. The T/F fest organizers asked everyone to abide by a code of silence as to what the films were, and I’ll honor that. In short, it was like this trip, but seen through the eyes of a boy under the age of 10.

¡Vivan las Antipodas! – If human beings packed a satellite with information about Earth and shipped it off in the hopes it would be picked up by some other intelligent life, this is the movie they should include. The documentary felt like being inside of a National Geographic magazine, with breathtaking visuals of four antipodes (places diametrically opposite each other on the planet.) The cinematography was unbelievable, and there were moments of quiet humor and heartbreak, too. The oppositeness of some of these parallel places was striking, but the strange similarities were more so. Joe and I both would have awarded this movie the best of the fest (that we saw), even though it was so hard to compare them, since everything was very different. Filmmaker Victor Kossakovsky won the “True Vision” award at T/F this year, but unfortunately, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to track this film down because it’s not on DVD or anything.

Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope – This was by far the most lighthearted of the films we saw. Directed by Morgan Spurlock (although this movie doesn’t feature him at all), it follows some pretty likable geeks through the annual Comic-Con excitement. The tension comes from how genuinely these people want to be a bigger part of this fantasy/sci-fi world, and how the convention is evolving into more of a pop culture phenom than simply a celebration of comics. The crowd was super into this one, especially since a local guy is featured as one of the main characters and a few scenes were shot in Columbia.

Detropia -- Go inside the crumbling walls of a city and see for yourself the challenges that globalization, race relations and sprawl have heaped upon Detroit. The retired schoolteacher/ nightclub owner in this movie was one of the smartest and most entertaining characters in any of the films we watched.

The Island President – Will climate change submerge the Maldives? This movie follows Mohamed Nasheed, the island nation’s president (who was recently deposed) in his brave attempt to bring about real change at the Copenhagen summit. Nasheed is a political prisoner turned president turned global gadfly whose compassion and tireless work for his people is admirable, even against insurmountable odds.

Bully – Kids cruelty to other kids, up close and personal. Hardly an eye in the packed house was dry after this movie, which hit home a lot more than many of the other issues. Families (one of them in Sioux City, Iowa), grapple with how to protect their kids, and with suicides prompted by the torment of their peers. This is a must-see for educators, parents and anyone who works with kids. Currently, it’s rated R, due to foul language and violence (coming from the mouths and at the hands of pre-teens), but this movie would be a great conversation starter for families. You can sign an online petition to get the rating reduced to PG-13.

We didn’t see everything (full list here), but that’s my recap from the eight we did get to watch!

What’s your favorite documentary?

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March 4, 2012 · 10:48 pm

True/False tuneage

My brain is still reeling from the EIGHT documentary films I saw at the True/False Film Festival this weekend in Columbia, MO. The films create this mind-boggling yo-yo effect, the way they take you on a journey through macro issues in broad scope and compelling personal narratives that will bring tears to your eyes. It’s too much for me to type now, but I’ll share in a post tomorrow!

But first, a tiny taste of True/False busker awesomeness. I fell in love with Pearl and the Beard, a Brooklyn band that played before a few of the movies this weekend.

All three of the band members have spine tinglingly amazing voices, and their songs range from rollicking to almost ethereal. This latest music video doesn’t show the band, and it’s not at all what I pictured when they played this song live, but it’s gorgeous and makes me want to give hot pink yarn to all of the little girls I know.

Check them out!

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March 1, 2012 · 10:24 pm

It’s a birdhouse! It’s a treehouse for Borrowers! It’s a Tiny Library!

Delightful morsel of the day: This article on Little Free Libraries.

Barely bigger than a birdhouse, there’s a movement to install wee take-a-book, leave-a-book swapping spaces in yards all across America.

Is this not the cutest thing ever? Image via LittleFreeLibrary.org

I’m going to try to forget for a minute that our next house project should probably be sealing the basement and think about how awesome it would be to install one of these. We live on a boulevard that’s super popular for runners and walkers, so I imagine lots of people would use it! I’m always telling Joe how I want to put something weird in our yard so we’ll be “that house” that people use to give landmark directions. “Oh, we’re just a block east of that house with the weird tiny library in the front lawn!” (I bet you hooligans would put trash in it in two seconds, but I’ll try not to let my library fantasy dissolve.)

I imagine there are a bajillion different designs you could come up with, but the Little Free Library site offers some plans, too.

If you are a fan of miniature things, you have to check out the miniature barn museum in the Amana Colonies. It’s super weird.

What are you reading? I just started “In the Garden of Beasts,” by Erik Larson. Who, on the topic of libraries, is coming to Des Moines for the DMPL AViD series this May!

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