lemongrass miso soup with mushroom dumplings

adorable miso dumplings

This month, the Branch Ranch is splitting up. What a beautiful, crazy ride it has been. Our origin story began in March of 2011, when I put an ad on Craigslist looking for roommates. At the time, I had no idea that I would find four roommates and friends that would help me survive grad school in rural Pennsylvania. Feeling nostalgic, I rifled through my hotmail to find the original ad, and when I read it, I found myself getting a little Ramotional. 

It's just Ramotions, takin me over...

The ad that started it all:

 $600 Hey Roomie! Female PhD student (Near Downtown)

Hi,

I know some people who have had success with this, so I am going to try it out. I am beginning a PhD program at Penn State in the fall, and it looks like it is a lot easier to find a nice place with a good location if you have a roommate. I am looking for housing:

- close to Downtown, in walking distance to campus
- non-carpeted floors (wood, concrete, wood laminate), with an open kitchen
- with or without pets

I have a Google Excel sheet full of possibilities if you are interested, price range: $500-750.

I am looking for a roommate who is:

- Female grad student (s), preferably who have lived in an apartment before
- Non-smoker
- With or without pets (I love animals!)
- Neat in general living areas (I don't care if you are a mess in your own room :) ).

I love to cook and cook almost every meal... would love to cook for you too if you are up for some vegetarian food. I have a car but don't plan to use it except for groceries.

If you are interested, email me with some information about you and if you think we would be a good fit! I have a few places in mind, some 2 and 3 bedrooms. Hope to hear from you soon!

In the ad, I was hoping to strike a chord as "fun and carefree," but not the kind of carefree that is cool with hosting cockfighting in the backyard. It turns out I didn't get anything on my "apartment wishlist," but I did get something I didn't even know I needed. The Branch Ranch has been a little like ADPi: The Sequel, the story of "five strangers" who supported each other through two years of grad school hazing. 

We have celebrated many milestones together. Katie and I traveled to Philly to celebrate our first two weeks in grad school, and wound up at a piano bar popping champagne. This was just the first of many memories we've created together. And I'll never forget my first conversations with Desiree -never afraid to get deep- we debated the restrictions on food stamps over Gchat. Over a year later, I beamed with pride when she was the darkhorse MVP of the CAS softball team. Amber and I have navigated graduate school and traveled around the country, flying first class for the first time together (it pays to be sweet to the ladies at the counter!) Jessie changed my life; she introduced me to long-distance running and we finished our 3rd race together in May. Much like in my sorority, I find myself continually inspired and supported by these women. I feel so lucky to know them. 

Those who know me well I know that I express my emotions through cooking. In our two years together, it turns out my four roommates took me up on my offer to cook. None have accepted so enthusiastically as Katie, who recently sprung for a few bags of groceries in exchange for a week of lunches. My first endeavor was this make-ahead dumpling soup. Click the hyperlink for the recipe.

lovingly packed little bishop's hat dumplings

Pro tips:
Be sure to drain the mushrooms; the moisture really makes a difference.
Pack the dumplings with parchment paper, not touching each other.
Grind the lemongrass mixture in a molcajete.
Cook the dumplings in the microwave for four or more minutes; the dumplings take a bit longer than the recipe states.

dumplings for my dumpling!