NEW WORDS FOR 2008

BLAMESTORMING: Sitting around in a group meeting, discussing why a deadline was missed or a project failed, and who was responsible.

SEAGULL MANAGER: A manager, who flies in, makes a lot of noise, craps on everything, and then leaves.

ASSMOSIS: The process by which some people seem to absorb success, and advancement by kissing up to the boss, rather than working hard

SALMON DAY: The experience of spending an entire day swimming upstream only to get screwed and die in the end.

CUBE FARM : An office filled with cubicles.

PRAIRIE DOGGING: When someone yells or drops something loudly in a cube farm, and people's heads pop up over the walls, to see what's going on.

MOUSE POTATO : The on-line, wired generation's answer to the couch potato.

SITCOMs: Single Income, TwoChildren, Oppressive Mortgage.  That's what Yuppies get into when they have children, and one of them stops working to stay home, with the kids.

STRESS PUPPY: A person who seems to thrive on being stressed out and whiny.

SWIPEOUT: An ATM or creditcard that  has been rendered useless because magnetic strip is worn away from extensive use.

XEROX SUBSIDY: Euphemism for swiping free photocopies, from one's workplace.

IRRITAINMENT: Entertainment and media spectacles that are annoying, but you find yourself unable to stop watching them.

PERCUSSIVE MAINTENANCE: The fine art of whacking the crap out of an electronic device to get it to work again.
 
ADMINISPHERE : The rarefied organizational layers beginning just above the rank and file. Decisions that fall from the admonisher are often profoundly inappropriate or irrelevant to the problems they were designed to solve.

404 : Someone who's clueless. From the World Wide Web error Message '404 Not      Found,' meaning that the requested site, could not be located.

GENERICA:Features of the American landscape that are exactly the same, no matter where one is, such as fast food joints, strip malls, and subdivisions.

OHNOSECOND: That minuscule fraction of time in which you realize, that you've    just made  a BIG MISTAKE. (Like after hitting send on an email, by mistake).

WOOFS: Well-Off Older Folks.
 
CROP DUSTING Surreptitiously passing gas, while passing through a Cube Farm.

VEGGIE BURGERS



With the new E coli scare, burger lovers are scrambling to figure out what to do at their evening or weekend cookout!  Might I suggest some meatless options?  In my opinion Boca makes a veggie patty that tastes most like the real thing.  It's all in the toppings.  Try a little red onion, lettuce, tomato and pickles!  Want to try an AWESOME pickle specifically made for burgers?  Try the GT 1000's from Rick's Picks!  You can find them at Whole Foods and the Farmstead store on Westminster Street (not sure if the Wayland Square location has them.. but check.. they're worth it!)



GardenBurger is also selling some new veggie steaks that are much more substantial than the ones they put out in the past.   Click here for the scoop!

Also.. please send me an email with any recipes or your favorite burger substitute!  I'm always willing to try new things!

Oh.. and in my opinion?  The best veggie burger you can get out is at Johnny Rockets.  Try the Streamliner.  You'll never believe it's not a real burger! 

TRY THESE RECIPES AT HOME:

Black Bean Burgers

3 cups cooked black beans
4 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
1 onion, finely chopped
1 cup breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon olive oil

Puree the beans and eggs in a food processor, leaving a few chunks of whole beans. Pour into a mixing bowl and stir in the salt, cumin, bell pepper, and onion. Mix in the breadcrumbs and let sit for 10 minutes.

Heat the oil in a heavy skillet over medium low. Spoon bean mixture into pan, shaping into patties. Cover, and cook for 8-10 minutes. Flip the patties and cook for 7-9 minutes more.

makes about 8 patties.

Very simple and yet quite tasty on a bun with all the fixin's. They also freeze well and can be reheated on a grill!

Veggie Burger:

1 OrganicPortabella Mushroom Cap
3 Small New White Organic Potatoes (cooked)
1/2 One Small Organic Onion
2 Organic Celery Stalks
1/4 Organic Green Bell Pepper
5 Organic Baby Carrots
1/2 Cup Organic Vegetable Broth
Salt and Garlic Salt To Taste
2-3 Cups Organic Herb Stuffing Mix
Organic Olive Oil

Blend or process all ingredients but olive oil and stuffing mix. When ingredients are liquified, stir in enough stuffing mix to form. Brown in olive oil over medium heat.