Can you hear it? - July 5, 2008 -
Our town does a fantabulous fireworks show. It’s on the bay, it is huge, and this year we had our boat and could motor on out and view it at anchor.
But we didn’t. Instead it poured rain all day, only clearing up in the late afternoon, so we stayed home and cooked. I made Chris’ potato salad, and this Flag cake, cupcakes, some BBQ ribs and baked beans. We stuffed ourselves, and then everyone showered and got in their jammies………well, not everyone. Let me rephrase that. I got in my jammies, and Bill and the kids went out front to wait and see if they could see the fireworks from our yard.
Bill called me outside as the sun was setting and told me to bring my camera. The sunset was just stunning. Red skies at night, sailor’s delight. I clicked away.
We never did see the fireworks…….the majestic coastal oaks blocked our view.
Then again, we might have been disappointed after seeing the Masters show……there was no music, no rockets, no bangs and pops.
But if you listened carefully, you could hear Creation sigh.
Defying gravity - May 15, 2008 -
I love this picture. Why? Well, for one thing it has a hot surfer in it. But you knew that, right? Slim, broad shoulders…ahem.
It is a baby wave….nothing spectacular. Kinda sloppy and mushy as waves go, to tell the truth. But I love it because it is so typical….the arm flying out, sometimes grazing across the water. The way his body leans at angles that defy gravity. How relaxed he is on a board. I am not sure if I can say that I have ever seen him fall.
I love this picture because it is my definition of contentment. Laid back, healthy, hanging on a board on an island in the sun.
La flippin’ buena vida, baby.
On an island in the sun, we’ll be playin’ and having fun. And it makes me feel so fine I can’t control my brain. ~ Weezer
Gin Freeze-or how to make a frozen drink when you allowed the house to run out of RUM! - February 26, 2008 -
I imagine this has other names, but this is the concoction that we came up with one day when we were out of rum (gasp! Never run out of rum at the coast).
-Frozen Bacardi Real lime Mixer (or frozen lemonade)
-gin
-ice
-lime seltzer water (or lemon)
-lime sugar (or lemon…I am sure you got that by now)
Fill blender 1/2 full with ice. Add 1/2 can of Bacardi lime mixer. Pour in gin (this should be stored in the freezer so it is nice and cold) to taste. I don’t really measure the booze, but I would imagine I put in about 2 full shot glasses in each blender of frosty goodness. Turn blender on and blend until very smooth.
Pour into a glass and fill about 2/3 full. Now take that cold seltzer water and pour about an ounce on top. Sprinkle with lime sugar. Top with a lime wedge and enjoy!!!
Eating at 8:40p.m……..Or how to starve your family while they wait for you to make Torta rustica - February 6, 2008 -
I have had a cooking bug lately. It must be the coming of spring that is bringing it on.
Or the fact that my friend Pam sent me The Mediterranean Light cookbook for my birthday just a couple weeks ago. Pam is a real life friend who I have known my whole life. We are only 3 months apart in age, and when our moms used to get together (they live right across the street from my childhood home) they would put us in the same crib together while they had coffee. Go say “Hi” to Pam.
I’ll wait…….
I saw a picture of the Torta on her website and it looked to die for, so I had to make it.
My firt mistake was to start the dough at 3:15p.m.. I had just enough time to put together the water and the yeast before I had to leave for school pick up. Upon return, after 4pm, I added the flour and started the mixer up. I allowed it to knead until it was time to go pick up yet another child from school. Turned off mixer, picked up kid, returned and started mixer again. 10 inutes later I had to leave again to take a kid to soccer practice. At this point, this is the worlds most kneaded lump of dough.
Upon return at 5:30, I kneaded dough by hand just a tad, then turned it in an oiled bowl and placed it in the warming drawer of my oven so it could rise…..for 2 hours.
Then I make the filling, which involves roasting some red peppers, peeling them while helping 10yo download Weird Al songs from iTunes because he must have them TODAY, picking basil from my garden, giving Mia some Barbie vitamins because WE FORGOT THEM THIS MORNING, chopping onions, garlic and basil, painting on the back porch with watercolors that are getting EVERYWHERE, and lots of mixing. It has spinach, egg, cottage cheese, herbs, onion, garlic and some parmesan cheese.
6:30 Bill is home with the soccer kid, whom he has picked up on his way home from work. Bill is starving and asking what is for dinner. At this point dinner is a lump of dough and a large bowl of strained spinach.
6:45 The kids are pulling the drawer on the warmer and looking at the large dough ball and deciding if it is growing or not.
6:50 Bill lets me know he is starving again.
6:55 The kids are now starving.
7:00 Bill pulls out some crackers because he is STARVING. The man has the most efficient metabolism ever and has been experiencing hypoglycemia since his stroke. He MUST HAVE FOOD.
7:15 My kids have now poked at the growing dough and are wondering how it could possible turn into something edible. I may not have to punch it down, since that has already been done for me.
7:30 Dough has doubled in size. I roll it out 2/3 of it and line a springform pan.
7:35 Begin filling torta. Layer of 1/2 of spinach mixture, layer of roasted red peppers, then cottage cheese mixture, then more peppers, then the rest of the spinach mixture.
7:40 Roll out top to torta, cover it and crimp edges. It looks very……rustic.
7:45 Place torte in the oven and set timer for 45 minutes. Kids all start moaning and groaning! 45! MINUTES!! I thought it would be done at 7:30?!!! Tell them they will get worms and salmonella if they eat it now…..never eat raw egg or raw dough.
8:00 Bill reminds me that he is really, really, really starving and that nothing could be good enough to be in this much agony for.
8:15 Bill reminds me that the food may come out of the oven at 8:30, but it “MUST THEN COOL FOR ANOTHER 15 MINUTES…….and I AM STARVING……SEE MY RIBS???”
8:20 Kids open oven door and oh and ahh over the torta and its fluffy largeness.
8:30 Remove torta from oven, being careful not to take off broiler coils, because yes…it has risen. Alot.
It begins the cooling process, which brings on more hungry “I am STARVING” groans from children and husband.
8:40 Slice torta and serve it to all the emaciated people of my family. The little kids realize it is filled with spinach and only eat the outside bread.
This was so delicious it was sinful……and for me, well worth the wait.
Next time I might start making it upon waking at 6am. Maybe then, between all the driving, watercolor painting, Barbie vitamins, iTunes and cooking it will be done before bedtime.
A twist - May 26, 2007 -
Just a quick note to give you a great tip.
When making your evening, frozen lime daiquiri (limeade, rum and ice, blended smooth), substitute Cruzan coconut rum for the Bacardi.
Pour into a glass, and sprinkle with fresh coconut.
That is where we are tonight. It’s a boat party of sorts.
Todo bueno!!
She’s all well now - May 3, 2007 -
Way back at the beginning of the year, I can’t even remember when, my Vibiemme got sick. She decided that it was too dang much effort to signal her boiler to heat up the water required for espresso, and that was that. I was devastated.
After months of putting it off due to dread of having to cart 65lb of molten steel to Austin for warranty work, I finally loaded her up and dropped her off. She was in expert hands, and I left dreaming of crema and cappuccino’s to come.
Vibiemme came home from the barista doctor yesterday and is feeling even better than before.
It was deemed there was a loose wire that had eventually burned up, so that is why I was never really able to get her to pour a primo cup of espresso.
Bottom line is, she is now pouring the best shots I have ever produced in my life.
For Jamie and Kathy, I present coffee porn
A Recipe for Bonnie - July 11, 2006 -
Pizza Rustica
Dough:
2 packages dry active yeast
2 cups whole wheat flour
3 cups ubleached white flour
2 cups hot water (120-130 degrees F)
6 tablespoons olive oil
Ground rock salt to taste
In a large bowl, combine yeast and 1 cup of each of the flours. Stir in hot water and olive oil. Allow to sit for a few minutes for yeast to dissolve. Stir in additional cup of wheat flour and 1 1/2 cups of the white flour and salt. Knead dough, on surface floured with remaining 1/2 cup white flour , until smooth and elastic. Knead for at least 5 minutes. Cover dough and let rest while you prepare toppings. Then divide dough in half, and roll each section into a large round.
I used a prepared green pesto sauce for the spinach pizza, and a roasted red pepper tomatoe sauce or a red pesto sauce for the other pizza. Put whatever toppings you might enjoy on top of the spread pesto, and brush edges of crust with extra virgin olive oil. Bake at 400 degrees until crust is lightly brown and spinach is wilted (I thinka bout 15-20 minutes, but watch it carefully)
I also took whole garlic cloves, roasted them, then sliced these onto the pizzas. MMmmmmmm
Pizza Rustica - July 9, 2006 -
I announced in the afternoon that I would be making pizza for dinner. It was met with cheers, hugs and general excitement.
Until they saw the pizza.
“That isn’t pizza!”
“Where is the cheese?”
“It has broccoli on it”
“Is that spinach?”
“Why is the crust brown?”
In an effort to reduce Bills genetically and dangerously high lipid levels, in addition to medication, we have gone all anti-cheese, anti-trans fat and are eating so healthy I have dropped a butt load of weight. I will not reveal just how much, until I am back at my pre-4babies5miscarriages weight.
I introduce to you “Let’s Keep Daddy Alive” pizza (sorry, I didn’t get cooked photos):
Marinara, zucchini, black olives and broccoli with whole wheat crust
Pesto, spinach, red peppers and roasted garlic with whole wheat crust
The kids? Well, they actually liked it. Even with zucchini “pepperoni”.
The deadliest catch………. - July 3, 2006 -
…………for the crabs, that is.
1/2 of the Alaskan King Crab leftovers:
Fish Tacos - May 22, 2006 -
Okay, recipe time. In an effort to help Bill’s Crestor be all that it can be, we are all about fish, chicken and pork (the other white meat) at our house these days.
Last night I made fish tacos, and they were incredible! I substituted Mahi Mahi for the fish and baby spinach for the cabbage. In addition, I used more lime, and poured the sauce over the fish as it cooked instead of dipping it. All but one of the kids devoured them and it was sooo easy to make.
Enjoy!
Fish Tacos
(makes 8 servings)
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons taco seasoning
1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lime juice
1 tablespoon fresh squeezed orange juice
1 pound halibut
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup green cabbage, shredded
1 cup red cabbage, shredded
1/2 cup green onions, chopped
3/4 cup nonfat sour cream
3/4 cup salsa
8 whole wheat flour tortillas
lime wedges
Directions:
1. In a medium-sized bowl, combine taco seasoning, lime juice and orange juice and mix well. Add fish and toss to coat.
2. Heat oil in a nonstick skillet to medium high heat. Add fish and sauté for about 5 minutes or until done.
3. In a medium-sized bowl, combine green and red cabbage, and green onions. In a separate bowl, stir together sour cream and salsa and mix well.
4. Heat tortillas according to package instructions. Spoon 1/4 cup of cabbage mixture in center of tortilla then equally divide fish and place on top of cabbage vegetables. Top with up to 3 tablespoons salsa blend and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. Fold or roll up tortillas and enjoy.
They’re heeeere! - February 23, 2006 -
Girl Scout cookies. I won’t tell you how many boxes. I will just say 2….little…..words……
I am sending the hateful little Scout a Damn Dollie for doing this to me. Maybe Bianca…she looks like she has Thin Mints stuck between her teeth.
I don’t know how, but I almost ate an entire roll of them. OMG! It says there are 9 serving per container. Whooooops.
I’m warning you….they are coming your way. DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR to strange little girls in green.
Mmmmm….Thin Mints.
24 hours of grease - January 21, 2006 -
Can you inject Dawn into your arteries? I need some de-greasing.
I cooked 2 pounds of bacon yesterday morning…………it is gone.
After having consumed , oh, say 6 pieces of bacon yesterday morning, in the chaos of my day I failed to eat anything else until around 6:30 pm. At that moment, I was on a cricket run to the city, and the “I have to eat NOW’s” hit me! I stopped at Wait-A-Burger and ordered a #1. If I eat take out like this, I usually just get the fries OR the burger….not both. I ate all of it including 1/2 the gigaticus regular Coke.
HOW do people eat like this on a daily basis. I thought I was going to be sick all evening. My Gawd, it was NASTY. Don’t get me wrong, it tasted great while I was eating it, but the gall bladder effect afterwards was enough to make me never do that again.
As for the bacon, how gross is that that a family of six can swoop through 2lb’s of bacon in less than a day? 2lbs is a heck of alot of bacon. Are we a 4lb bacon family now? shudder I can’t imagine sitting in front of the stove and cooking 4lbs of splattering fat.
Now, I leave you with something to make the cholesterol in your arteries solidify just by reading it. Gak!
The HORROR - March 28, 2005 -
I have this thing I do every evening.
I go to the outside refrigerator, get a nice cold beer and bring it upstairs.
Then I open the freezer and get out my frozen mug.
It is not just any old frozen mug, but a bright blue, miniature kid mug with water in a section surrounding the mug that freezes and makes your drink REALLY cold.
This little mug can make a beer better than sex, and it holds a mere 6oz, so it is all I need.
I pour the beer in and watch as a small amount of slush forms on the top. Ahhhhhh, cold, cold beer. I am in Texas, with a cold beer and life is good.
Tonight, I open the freezer and, God of Heaven and Earth, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, WHERE IS MY TINY MUG FOR MY BEER!!
Remember, my mother was here. She hides EVERYTHING. She is a huge help to me, but when she puts stuff away, it is never where it should be.
My little, child’s freezer mug for my beers? She put it in the cabinet with the sippy cups!!! Go figure! So, it is not frozen as God intended it to be, but warm and…….not frozen.
So I sit. The kids are at Scouts with their dad, and I am waiting….for water to freeze.
Sort of like watching a flower grow.
