Marathon

For a True Blood Marathon that last only 3 hours because we all got tired and scared and felt weird while watching the show, we get the universal...

Pizza

Garlic Bread

There was also some molten Lava chocolate cake which I was too full to eat after two pieces of the pizza.
My tummy started to hurt again :(

But Mango Smoothie was nice...so refreshing
So lovely

Production

So I wasn't aware of how many takes it took to get a show perfect and how much editing and re-writes
Its extremely annoying

But I am glad that I have a patient and reassuring producer and director and manager....
It's so tiring....
BUT I LOVE IT
SING
FOOD
SING
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Looking for lard

I want to try my hand at some pastries.
The pastry dough that I like is the flaky kind and you can only have flaky pastry if you use lard
I went to the store and there is no lard! I could not believe it!
People STILL use lard!
Maybe it was an off day but I can't really imagine that they ran out of it.
Now I have to drive further to see if they have it.
mmmmm
Flaky pastry! :)

Delicious Warm House

Elly suggested we cook dinner and that's what we did

Everything seemed to be on sale and the store was really busy.
It's the time of year
An influx of students I imagine...
So we made seared scallops in a white wine reduction

Japanese stir fry with extra mushrooms


That was spicy...

Spicy Tomato Chow

...and Hard Sweet Plums as a side

Then we had tea to relax

It was such a good time.

I had fun preparing compost too....

Engaged

Cris got engaged, so we went out for the engagement dinner

Mint Restaurant was definitely a great choice
They had Tapas that were the size of meals
Other Entrees and Appetizers
We rarely ever get dessert because we are always full by the time the main meal ends.
We wanted to get a special dessert for them but I think that we can save it for the next time we all roll out together
I had eggplant stacked with Mozzerella cheese and red peppers.

That was extremely good. Llike a Layering of the flavors.
I usually can only order vegetarian when I go out these days lol!

Cris had Risotto balls and Shrimp with Corn meal patty

Flor had Pasta

Z had Quesadillas (fancy)

M had Hamburger

R had ultimate mac and cheese. Cris said it wasn't like the REAL gourmet mac and cheese we had at the other place.

Picnic

So I have to think about this. My friend is helping.
We want it to be nice not grody- no red or blue tacky plastic cups allowed!
While the nice stuff is nice
The cheese and the wine etc I can handle it but for the sake of people who cant everything needs to be prepared before hand so they don't make a mess...
I have to think about this...
13 bees (that's the other blog where I got the following pic knows how to do it right...)


This is so cute
I got the other pic from Marie Claire
If only...

But soon :)

Something wrong

I think I did something very wrong.
I dunno
I have had Miso soup in restaurants before and they have always been so delicious and mild and so filling and wonderful.
Then I got a packet to make for myself that you had to add just water.
It tasted gross.
Well not gross but weird.
It was not like in the restaurants.
Of course I had added other things....
Ok maybe its my fault
I will just follow the instructions for the next bowl of soup.

Qu'est que c'est

Wow I just watched Julia and Julie
It was so inspiring -I just want to charge ahead and do what it is I have been planning to do all this time.

You CAN reinvent yourself with food!
Lovely movie! :)

Vegetarian recipe: couscous tabbouleh

Another friend of mine sent me this Couscous Tabbouleh recipe...very well done and easy to follow.
All the Narrative is his :)


"Another in my irregular series of recipes. I specify couscous as tabbouleh is traditionally made with bulgar wheat. It's a very simple dish and easy to make - this is just my slight variation."

1 cup plain couscous
1 small red onion
2 tomatoes
half a cucumber
half a cup of extra virgin olive oil
half a cup of lemon juice
2 large cloves of garlic, crushed
salt, pepper
fresh rosemary
half a cup of boiling water
a head of romaine lettuce

Couldn't be simpler. Preheat the oven to 400F/200C. Put the kettle on.

Put the rosemary in the oven for 2 minutes (not more) while you mix the oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper and crushed garlic. Turn off the oven and add the rosemary to the dressing.

Put the couscous into a lidded dish or bowl. The kettle has boiled, so mix half the dressing with half a cup of boiling water (making 1 cup total), pour over the couscous, stir and cover with a plate or lid. Put this bowl/dish in the freezer.

Chop the tomato, cucumber and onion into 1cm (2/5") cubes or so and mix with the remaining dressing (to taste). Put this salad in the fridge.

Take off the outer 2 or 3 leaves of the romaine, chop the tail off, separate and wash the leaves, dry in a salad spinner (if you don't have a salad spinner, get one - you won't regret it). Arrange the leaves vertically around the edges of a serving bowl (as if you stood the lettuce in the middle and they all fell outward perfectly to lean against the sides).

By this time, the couscous should have absorbed all the liquid and be reasonably cool. Throw in the fridged salad mix and stir. (At this point you are ready to serve, but if you're preparing ahead of time, you can refrigerate it indefinitely with no loss of taste - in fact it gets better - and just do the lettuce part at the last minute).

Pour the tabbouleh into the serving bowl, so it covers the bottom half of the romaine leaves. The idea is that you use the leaves as scoops to scoop up tabbouleh. Double dipping is encouraged.

Drinky x 2

My friend prepared white wine spritzers.

I had never had it before and promptly adored when I tasted it.

White wine
Ice

Club soda or sprite

Sprite makes for a sweeter version-club soda gives a vermouthy taste

Then we brought on the Yummy:)

I really like learning this stuff!


His friend went on to make a vodka, lime and club soda drink.

I'd had enough with the spritzers so I didn't taste it.

He assured me it was VERY good.

Fishy

My friend went fishing and caught a sheep head fish.

He smoked it..I never saw the smoking process before and it was really easy.

He was really sweet and obliged all my picture taking of the process and even prodded me to take pic of the knife he used etc :)

So here we go

We brought on the Yummy! :)

Had to...

You know I just had to go in once we got to this place :)

I HAD TO!!!!!!!!

Cute Mustard

My Pantry and Fridge is full of mustards I got as presents from Poland and other places so I have no reason to get any more mustard.
My favorite pairing is Mustard and Pepper Jack Cheese.
Bring on the yummy
The ony reason I would buy a new mustard is if the container is cute
Like this

I didn't Buy it.

Wine Spree

So I went looking and found this place that had very interesting wine.
Wine
Cheese
Mustard
Peppers

Gourmet food

Crackers

Everything for a party essentially

Let me loose in one of these stores for extended periods of time

This is where I am most happy

I like to look

I like to touch

I like to taste and then...

I like to leave

Decadence is great in small doses then you have to :

Return to reality.