vault backup: 2026-03-14 23:47:41

chili.md

@@ -13,24 +13,24 @@ tags:
 
 ## Ingredients
 
-* **2 tbsp.** olive oil
+* **2 Tbsp.** olive oil
 * **1** yellow onion, diced
 * **2 cloves** garlic, minced
 * **1 lb** ground beef, turkey, or pork
 * **3⁄4 cup** dry kidney beans, soaked overnight and drained
 * **3⁄4 cup** dry black beans, soaked overnight and drained
 * **(1) 15oz can** diced or crushed tomatoes, not drained
-* **6 oz** canned tomato paste
+* **(1) 6 oz can** tomato paste
 * **1 cup** water
 
 ### Chili Seasoning
 
-* **1 tbsp.** chili powder
+* **1 Tbsp.** chili powder
 * **1 tsp.** ground cumin
 * **1⁄4 tsp.** cayenne powder
 * **1⁄4 tsp.** garlic powder
 * **1⁄2 tsp.** onion powder
-* **1⁄2 tbsp.** brown sugar
+* **1⁄2 Tbsp.** brown sugar
 * **1 tsp.** salt
 * **1⁄2 tsp.** black pepper
 
@@ -56,3 +56,17 @@ tags:
 ## Notes
 
 * Makes 6 cups.
+
+%%
+
+## Chef's Notes
+
+I ought to make this one more often.
+It has very high [[utility]].
+
+I think what stops me is the canned ingredients, which I never love
+and the foresight required to soak the beans
+(which I'd always prefer over buying canned).
+Now that I have room I just need to stock more of both.
+
+%%

coconut-shrimp.md

@@ -3,20 +3,23 @@ id:
 aliases: []
 title: Coconut Shrimp
 tags:
+  - authorship/original
+  - destiny/permanent
+  - status/draft
   - type/recipe
 ---
 # Coconut Shrimp
 
 ## Ingredients
 
-- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
+* 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
-- 1/2 tsp. salt
+* 1/2 tsp. salt
-- 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
+* 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper
-- 2 large eggs
+* 2 large eggs
-- 3/4 cup Panko bread crumbs
+* 3/4 cup Panko bread crumbs
-- 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
+* 1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
-- 1 lb. raw large shrimp, peeled and deveined with tails attached
+* 1 lb. raw large shrimp, peeled and deveined with tails attached
-- 3-4 Tbsp. vegetable oil, coconut oil, or olive oil
+* 3-4 Tbsp. vegetable oil, coconut oil, or olive oil
 
 ## Instructions
 

cornbread.md

@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+---
+id:
+aliases: []
+title: Cornbread
+tags:
+  - authorship/original
+  - destiny/permanent
+  - status/draft
+  - topic/hobbies/cooking
+  - type/recipe
+---
+# Cornbread
+
+* 1/4 cup vegetable oil
+* 2 cups finely ground cornmeal
+* 8 Tbsp. all purpose flour
+* 2 1/2 Tbsp. baking powder
+* 3/4 tsp. salt
+* 2 large eggs
+* 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
+* 1 3/4 cups buttermilk
+
+### Instructions
+
+1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
+
+2. Add 1/4 cup oil to a 9 inch cast iron skillet over high heat.
+
+3. Add the remaining ingredients to a medium mixing bowl
+    and mix until combined.
+
+4. When the skillet is thoroughly heated
+    (a drop of batter should sizzle immediately),
+    pour in the batter to within 1 inch of the top.
+
+5. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven.
+    Bake until golden and done throughout (25-30 minutes).
+
+6. Let cool for at least 20 minutes.
+    Invert and return the cornbread to the skillet before serving.

daily/2026-02-09.md

@@ -16,4 +16,4 @@ yearly: "[[2026]]"
 ---
 # 2026-02-09
 
-Made recipe: [[granola ]]
+Made recipe: [[granola]]

daily/2026-03-06.md

@@ -16,4 +16,4 @@ yearly: "[[2026]]"
 ---
 # 2026-03-06
 
-Made recipe: [[granola ]]
+Made recipe: [[granola]]

eggroll-in-a-bowl.md

@@ -43,7 +43,20 @@ tags:
    If cabbage isn't cooked all the way cover again for a few minutes.
 
 6. Remove from heat.
-   Stir in the **hoisin sauce** and **sriracha or gochujang**.
+   Stir in the **hoisin sauce** and **chili sauce**.
 
 7. Serve with wonton strips or over rice.
 
+%%
+
+## Chef's Notes
+
+I love this recipe.
+I've made it dozens of times.
+
+My one gripe,
+which is only a complaint of my own preparation,
+is that preparing leftovers is not as easy as throwing them in the microwave,
+since I cook the rice with each serving.
+
+%%

granola.md

@@ -52,3 +52,15 @@ tags:
   with few or no clumps.
 
   Use honey for a more neutral flavored, clumpy granola.
+
+%%
+
+## Chef's Notes
+
+I have made this recipe many dozens of times,
+nearing a hundred if not already past it,
+on account of me eating it every day.
+
+Last time I checked the cost per recipe was right at $5.
+
+%%

ice-cream-making.md

@@ -1,3 +1,13 @@
+---
+id:
+aliases: []
+title: Ice Cream Making
+tags:
+  - authorship/original
+  - destiny/permanent
+  - status/incomplete
+  - topic/hobbies/cooking/ice-cream
+---
 # Ice Cream Making
 
 ## Terminology

mulled-wine.md

@@ -40,3 +40,16 @@ tags:
   Their subtleties will be overwhelmed by the aromatics.
   A mid-range bottle (or box) will do.
   Look for Zinfandel, Merlot, Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon, or Syrah.
+
+%%
+
+## Chef's Notes
+
+There's no classier way to drink
+as far as I'm concerned.
+
+Reading on the couch
+while sipping from a steaming mug of this stuff
+makes me nostalgic for experiences I've never had.
+
+%%

rice-pudding.md

@@ -42,3 +42,13 @@ tags:
 
 7. Optionally serve with walnuts and/or raisins.
     Garnish with additional cinnamon.
+
+%%
+
+## Chef's Notes
+
+This recipe can be quite tasty,
+but it can't fill the ice cream shaped hole in my heart.
+It's not really any easier either.
+
+%%

risotto.md

@@ -55,3 +55,13 @@ tags:
     1 tsp. **salt**, and more **black pepper** to taste.
 
 9. Serve hot, with more **Parmesan**, if desired.
+
+%%
+
+## Chef's Notes
+
+This recipe has very low [[utility]].
+It is easily the most complex of all my 
+
+
+%%

stroganoff.md

@@ -16,13 +16,20 @@ tags:
 * **8 oz** crimini mushrooms, sliced
 * **1⁄2 cup** onion, diced
 * **2 cloves** garlic, minced
-* **1 lb** ground beef, turkey, or pork
+* **1 lb** ground meat[^1]
 * **2 tsp.** paprika
 * **3-4 cups** low sodium beef broth
-* **8 oz** dry rotini
+* **8 oz** dry pasta[^2]
 * **1⁄2 cup** sour cream
 * fresh parsley for serving
 
+[^1]: Beef is the obvious choice,
+    but turkey is a bit cheaper and is still plenty flavorful,
+    and pork has its own unique appeal.
+
+[^2]: Egg noodles or any small pasta shape ought to be suitable.
+    Rotini is a common choice.
+
 ## Instructions
 
 1. Heat 2 tbsp. of **oil** over medium heat in a large pot.
@@ -52,3 +59,19 @@ tags:
   and stir in the **mushrooms** and **sour cream**.
 
 8. Serve with **fresh parsley**.
+
+%%
+
+## Chef's Notes
+
+It's tempting to use ground chicken or dilute the broth
+to save a couple bucks on ingredients,
+but I advise strongly against it.
+This is not an especially flavorful dish to begin with,
+and those two ingredients are pulling most of the weight.
+
+Certainly don't do both in the same batch.
+That's a recipe for food that will make you sad to eat.
+(I've done it multiple times.)
+
+%%

timestamped/2026-03-14_23-17-58.md

@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+---
+id: 2026-03-14T23:17:58-04:00
+aliases: []
+title: 2026-03-14 23:17:58
+tags:
+  - authorship/original
+  - destiny/permanent
+  - status/draft
+  - type/periodic/timestamped
+daily: "[[2026-03-14]]"
+date-created: 2026-03-14T23:17:58-04:00
+dg-publish: true
+monthly: "[[2026-03]]"
+quarterly: "[[2026-Q1]]"
+weekly: "[[2026-W11]]"
+yearly: "[[2026]]"
+---
+# 2026-03-14 23:17:58
+
+## Utility for Meal Planning
+
+Would you take this offer?
+
+> You can no longer eat or drink,
+> but you no longer need to to survive.
+
+I wouldn't, but I've known people who would.
+I've also known people like the villain from _Ratatouille_
+that would never eat something just for the calories.
+I'd say I lean more towards the first,
+certainly my interest in cooking
+is one of cost optimization,
+not expressing myself through the medium of food.
+
+Taste does matter to me though,
+I realized this recently while eating particularly bland [[stroganoff]].
+Novelty of taste as well,
+which is why I rotate through recipes
+rather than just picking my favorite.[^1]
+But the value of taste declines sharply above a certain point.
+
+[^1]: Internalized social stigma probably deserves more credit there,
+    but the outcome is the same.
+
+For me, a recipe with high [[utility]]
+is tasty, cheap, _and_ convenient to prepare.

tuna-salad.md

@@ -33,3 +33,13 @@ tags:
 * Makes 3 cups.
 
 * Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
+
+%%
+
+## Chef's Notes
+
+Big fan of this one, up there with [[granola]].
+I love a recipe that uses lots of shelf stable ingredients.
+I just wish I didn't have to open and waste _four_ cans to make it.
+
+%%

utility.md

@@ -20,6 +20,21 @@ The measure is intended to account for unintuitive quirks of human perception of
 A rich man is not as _satisfied_ by receiving one dollar as a poor man would be,
 therefore the utility of the dollar is contextual, not objective.
 
+## In This Notebook
+
+I use "utility" perhaps a bit loosely compared to Wikipedia.
+
+If I say that some voluntary activity "has high utility",
+I mean that it is worth doing,
+even considering the expense
+(usually labor or dollars).
+
+In this way "utility" is more of a signal
+that I'm speaking objectively,
+and that I've thought about
+
+## See Also
+
 [Sorites paradox in utility theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorites_paradox#Resolutions_in_utility_theory)
 
 ## Normative and Descriptive Utility

wishlist.md

@@ -10,13 +10,17 @@ dg-publish: true
 ---
 # Wishlist
 
-## Cheap
+## One Per Week
 
 * [ ] hand sewing thread set (multiple colors)
 * [ ] quality aux cable
 * [ ] half-letter 3-hole punch
 
-## Pricier
+## One Per Month
+
+* [ ] paper shredder (for composting)
+
+## One Per Year
 
 * [ ] [[e-ink-tablet]]
 * [ ] 61-key midi controller (M-AUDIO Keystation 61 MK3, Nektar Impact GXP61)