Life with Monkeys

Ya Gotta Love the Trader (and Carl, of course)

Lemon Drop Amnesia

Given the 'change' our country seems to be embarking on, I do believe I will take up drinking.  I am not much of a drinker, having spent most of my adult life as a teetotaler but desperate times call for desperate measures. Enter the Lemon Drop Martini. Here is one that I had the pleasure of drinking at a lovely little establishment in Long Beach, the Belmont Brewing Company. If you ever find yourself in the area and hungry or thirsty, stop in, you'll be glad you did. As for my Lemon Drop Martini, a few sips and I felt my cares just slip away! Obama? Obama, who?

The Tradition Continues

My mother-in-law used to spend hours days weeks, baking before Christmas so she could give her unspeakably delicious baked goods to friends and neighbors and family. She was a world class baker with varied recipes and impeccable timing. And though I do not celebrate Christmas, most people I know, do. And so, I find myself baking and assembling things to give friends and neighbors, as an homage to my dear mother (in-law) of blessed memory.  Here is one of the recipes boxes I used; Trader Joe's Brownie Truffle Baking Mix. You can make brownies from it but I prefer to make cookies. They are unbelievable moist and chocolaty. My mother-in-law would bake HUNDREDS of cookies, hundreds. She was very generous and had a great many friends. I have never seen anything like it, really. I miss her every day. Each and every day. She was simply the finest person I have ever met. So, anything I can do to emmulate her, I do. And so, today finds me baking and wishing with all of my heart, that I had my mother here today, baking with me.  

Buen Provecho

We have begun entertaining a bit after some months of, well, not.  A few days ago, as I prepared for some dinner guests, I found myself so focused on preparing the food that I forgot to think and worry and obsess. I had not realized how many worrisome thoughts had been sneaking in on me over the course of a day, until that moment.  I suppose that idleness is a luxury most of the world does not have and as such, I should be grateful I have the idle time to worry! The food I prepare is generally very simple to make. Sometimes it is time-consuming but rarely is it complicated. On this occasion, I made Spinach Lasagna, (which is time-consuming to make) salad and these lovely grilled veggies. It is amazing what a little olive oil, salt and pepper and heat can do to a vegetable. Grilling veggies brings out their sweetness and allows it to very nearly melt in your mouth. I do not like eating red peppers but I had to have them for their beauty and I thought some dinner guests would like them. They did. I found my own children, having seconds of veggies! There are a million reasons why I cannot fathom anyone doubting the existence of G-d. Chief among them is eating. And the pleasure it gives us. I don't believe for a second, that could have JUST HAPPENED. No, it was a generous and loving being who gave us the gift of pleasure. I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure, I'm not.

Canter's Deli

Last week found my mister and I on the hunt for something in LA. For me, no trip to LA is complete without a visit to the comfort food capital of my heart, Canter's Restaurant. I have loved Canter's even longer than I have loved my mister and children; after all, I have known Canter's longer! When I was first dating my mister, I lived in West Hollywood. Once when I came down with a brutal cold, my mister, then boyfriend, showed up on my doorstep with Matzo Ball soup. That may have been the moment I realized he would be the lucky sap to end up with me! And so, last week, I ordered the usual; matzo ball soup and a chopped liver sandwich.  My men have never understood my affinity for chopped liver but then, I have never understood the appeal of the bathroom humor they seem to enjoy so much!   On my way out, while the mister paid the bill, I had the daunting task of choosing which goodies to bring home from the bakery.  My all-time favorite cookie is the Florentine cookie. I ALWAYS buy some of those and this time I also bought some chocolate rugeleh and challah bread. Though the car ride home was rather delicious, I was sorry that not a single cookie made it to my house!

My Happy Place, Lunch

I lead a somewhat solitary life and I rather like it that way. I am a loner by nature BUT, several times a month, I see my home girls for lunch. If you have read my blog for any length of time, you have read about and seen some of the lovely dishes we have eaten. There is a restaurant we often go to called McKenna's, and whenever we go there, this is what I order; grilled hearts of romaine, with blue cheese and baby tomatoes, grilled onions with a wonderful Balsamic reduction.  I could eat this every day. Seriously, if I had the great good fortune to have a chef, I would ask him to make this for me every day. And yes, if I had a chef, it would be a him. So sexist, I know. Now that I think about it, I could make this. It wouldn't take much to put this together. I'm such a dork not to think of doing this already. I make this sort of thing all the time, just not this exact thing. So, I guess I will be getting the ingredients at the store and perhaps I will post a photo of my rendition.  As it was an achingly beautiful day, my home girls and I sat outside, in the sunshine. So sorry, pianogirl. I just had to mention it. Please forgive me...

Jewish Medicine

I woke up with a hangover although last night, I did not drink any alcohol. I did indulge in an obscene amount of M&M's though. The heaviness in my head and heart was emotional, I know. But today is a new day, a new era, as a country, we have made history. Of that, we should be proud. There may be pockets or incidents of racism but as a culture, racism is no more. Your color will not keep you from reaching the highest echelon of any field, if you are qualified and tenacious. 'Nuff said! I set about making soup to cure my emotional hangover.  I sauteed mirepois (onions, celery, and carrots) in butter and olive oil, add stock and cook for a while, then add cooked, shredded chicken and voila; Jewish Medicine. Though I suspect Jews aren't the only ones who enjoy this dish! I am now in possession of a huge amount of soup. Guess what's for lunch and dinner around here for the next few days?

The Perfect Lasagna

As  I have written before, I am more of a food assembler than a cook and this weekend I managed to assemble the most delicious lasagna ever. I don't mean ever, as in here in my house, ever; I mean, ever as in anywhere in the world, ever! Except for Italy, of course. How do you like that, for immodest? The thing is Yom Kippur is just a few days away and it is a fasting holiday so naturally, I am already obsessing about the food I will be missing. I know, very spiritual and mature of me.

But about the lasagna; spinach, marinara sauce, ricotta cheese, Parmesan cheese, nutmeg, eggs, salt and pepper. That's it and Voila! Heaven on a plate like you can't believe. I think I will freeze some for breaking the fast on Thursday evening. I will almost certainly find myself in synagogue trying very hard to focus on my prayers rather than my growling belly and perfect lasagna waiting for me at home! 

Who's Fancy Now?

Feeling fancy and wanting to impress the ladies in my book club, who would be coming to my house for the very first time, I pored over my favorite cookbooks looking for the perfect dessert that would say, "Yes, I am fancy but don't be intimidated. I'm just like you. Really."  I settled on making a Pavlova, (which is really just a giant meringue) in part because saying the name pleases me so. I whipped up the egg whites and added the sugar and vinegar and folded in the chopped chocolate and baked it. When I reached in to retrieve it from the oven after the 90 minute bake, I was a bit underwhelmed. It didn't bear much of a resemblance to the magnificent photo in the Nigella Lawson cookbook from where the recipe came. In fact, my big fluffy Pavlova was fairly well flat! Like pancake flat. I didn't despair as I know that there are a multitude of baking sins that can be solved or at least disguised by the heavy handed slathering of whipping cream. And I do so LOVE to whip cream, I do. Mostly because it gives me a reason to make myself an espresso and drop a giant dollop of whipped cream into it. And so I whipped the cream with just a bit of sugar and piled it on the Pav and sprinkled raspberries about and shaved a bit of chocolate on top for good measure. My book club ladies were generous in their compliments over the dessert and seemed to enjoy eating my little Pavlova and I just had to think to myself, "So, you think you're so fancy but isn't it really these ladies, who are gushing over your pancake-flat Pavlova, who are the classy ones!"

Waffles; They're Not Just For Breakfast Anymore

 

Need I say more?

It's Official

Summer is here. Heralded by the sunny, if somewhat windy days and the obligatory S'mores by the fire every time a friend or two drop by. Of the purchases I have made for our home, the copper fire bowl would have to be among my favorites. Right up there with my Alessi citrus-squeezer designed by the unparalleled genius Phillipe Starck!  I guess I kind of am a material girl, after all! We sat for hours by the fire, my mister keeping the fire fed and me keeping the teen-agers fed. For a dessert that is so wonderful, it does have a terrible name. There is nothing charming or lovely about it and it in no way does the treat justice. I will have to dream up an alternate name. I'd like to call them, Flaming Dessert of Love and Desire but I think that name's already taken! 

Chocolate Truffle Cake

Combine one pound of butter, one pound of chocolate, a few eggs, a cup of espresso and what do you get? Heaven, that's what! The photo above is the cake fresh from the oven. The one below is the cake upside down. Given that the cake is lined and funky looking from the foil or parchment paper, I usually serve the cake covered with freshly whipped cream but as one of my guests can't eat dairy, I served the cake 'a la mode' (reminds me of the gorgeous Steve Carrell in Little Miss Sunshine), vanilla soy ice cream for my friend, real vanilla ice cream for the rest of us. The cake is so dense and delicious, you could use a melon baller on it and roll yourself some truffles!

Paella Party

I don't have many friends. It's true. I have always liked being alone.  I have been a loner most of my life and having grown up with parents who rarely entertained and had few friends, that seemed perfectly normal to me. The past dozen or so years, I have come to appreciate the importance and luxury and benefit of having friends. I am a big believer in quality versus quantity in all things, so where friends are concerned I have a handful I adore; a few friends I would do virtually anything for. And so, a friend of mine, a woman who I consider the high water mark for many things, was having a birthday and I wanted to make a special dinner for her.
I decided to make Paella, something that is lovely and delicious (hopefully) and special. It is not terribly fancy and not much more than arroz con pollo (chicken with rice) with some seafood thrown in for good measure. 

I even made my own chicken stock; that's how much I love my friend! Paella is a Spanish dish and usually includes some sausage or chorizo, which is a pork product, I believe. As a Jew, pork is something I NEVER eat; never have, never will. Of course, I am also supposed to say no to crustaceans but I sometimes give in to my weaker side. Amazing the games we play with ourselves in that regard; oh, I could NEVER eat pork but maybe just a little shrimp and a clam or two... I was well pleased with the Paella that evening. I have never made it the same way twice, often by accident. This time I completely forgot to throw in the peas. We had toasted my friend's birthday with champagne and by the time the Paella would have called for peas, I was too tipsy to remember or care. Happy Birthday to my private and most beloved friend.  Knowing you has been a highlight of my life.  Pity she won't see this as she doesn't read my blog!

Zinc for Breakfast

The other day I was lucky enough to be on a field trip back to Sur La Table to return the fancy pants Capresso. I say lucky not just because that store turns me on so, but because I was accompanied by a dear friend of mine who I don't get see very often. She suggested we stop by a lovely little cafe in Corona Del Mar named Zinc. It is going to places like this that makes my life worth living. I don't think life is as much about the big things as it is about the details. We can punctuate our lives with the loveliest of details whether it's having breakfast at a place like Zinc or wearing your favorite perfume just to clean house. Of course, I do realize most of the people in the world lack the resources to afford them trips to cozy cafes and spending money on perfume. I never take for granted these little and sometimes, not so little, luxuries.  We ordered a couple of things to share and they were simply delicious. We each ordered a latte, hers soy, mine regular, an open-faced vegetable frittata and a quiche with a cucumber salsa. Can you say delicious? We did. And we talked and talked and talked. How lucky am I?

My Kryptonite

I don't eat very much. About 2 years ago, I realized I was putting on weight that I really didn't need and frankly, would look and feel much better without. So, I stopped eating carbs. I didn't realize until then, that most of my diet was actually, carbs. Toast in the morning, sandwich for lunch, pasta for dinner and cookies in between. Not good. Delicious, but definitely not figure friendly. As soon as I stopped eating carbs, I began losing weight. I didn't even exercise! Not one bit! As long as I ate mostly fruits and veggies and protein, I lost weight. I had set out to lose 10 pounds but I ended up losing 22 pounds! I now weigh what I weighed when I was 18 years old. I didn't even watch the fat intake. I understand that fat actually helps your body metabolize vitamins in other foods. So, what does that have to do with this spectacular display of fried food and thick milk shake? Well, on most days, I eat like a bird. Figuratively speaking, of course; no worms for me. Most days I eat salads, cheese, fruit, fish, an odd and altogether too small piece of chocolate. But occasionally, I give in to my darker side. I do have needs, you know. Needs that can only be satisfied by a large amount of fat, cholesterol, and sugar. Needs that can only go unsatisfied for so long. And so on those days, I can be found at Ruby's; where large portions and fried foods abound. Where you order a shake and they bring you two. Where it would be unthinkable for me to order a salad. My little monkey is only too happy to accompany me on my sinful errand. It is his particular preference to dip his French fries in his milk shake. Who am I to judge? And afterwards, feeling guilty and uncomfortably full, I promise myself that I will never go back. But I know that eventually, I will go back. I always do.

The Very Best Thing About Passover

Matzah. Caramel. Chocolate. Crunch.  I make it every year and every year I make myself sick eating too much of it. Around my house, we keep Passover for the whole 8 days which means that we don't eat anything that contains leavening, yeast, wheat or flour. Think about it. That means no cookies or cake or cupcakes or pound cake or toast topped with lemon curd or, well, you get the picture. Enter Matzah Caramel Chocolate Crunch. It is quite simple to make. You just need matzah, butter, brown sugar and chocolate. First, you melt two sticks of unsalted butter, add the brown sugar and boil it for about 5 minutes. You then pour the caramel over the matzah. You have to be very careful as the caramel is quite like lava at that point! Then, you put the matzah into the oven at 350 degrees for about 15 minutes. The caramel will be all bubbly and fabulous. After you take it out of the oven, cover the matzah with chocolate chips and wait for five minutes for the chocolate to melt. Then, spread the chocolate evenly and then put it in the fridge until the caramel and chocolate have set. Once set, take it out and break it up into pieces. Ideally, you will eat a few pieces and then store the rest in plastic bags for the rest of the family and for future consumption. If you are like me, however, you will promptly eat the entire first batch and then make a second batch while you are still too full to devour the second batch. Bon apetite!  I urge you to try this one recipe. If you don't like it, which is just unimaginable to me, you can always store it in the freezer and send it to me next Passover!

Kitchen Porn

There are a few stores that bring out my deepest fantasies and fill me with desire; Max Mara, Cartier, Stuart Weitzman, Tod's, Sephora, and Sur la Table. Mmmm, kitchen tools. There is something about just being in Sur la Table that makes me feel like I am a better cook than I actually am and that anything, anything is possible. I was there just last week as my coffee maker died and while I use a cheap Italian stove-top espresso maker for my morning fix, the mister drinks coffee and I also like to have it on hand for the odd guest. Not that having guests is particularly odd but some of my friends  tend to be. Odd. Birds of a feather, I guess. I was prepared for my purchase as I usually do plenty of research prior to buying an appliance of any type. I did my research and found the exact model that would be perfectly suit my needs. Or so I thought. I snatched up the last of the fancy-pants Capresso thermal carafe coffee makers and brought it home. While I was there, I got my two Global knives sharpened (Global makes the sexiest looking knives on the market, just so you know), picked up a few hostess gifts for my dear girlfriend who had invited us to her all-family (except for us) Passover Seder and left feeling renewed and inspired in all things culinary. A morning well spent indeed. Well, as it happens, the coffee maker I got was NOT the perfect one for my needs. It doesn't brew the coffee really hot unless you make a full (10 cup) pot! As the kid would say, "Are you kidding me right now?"  It looks like I will be returning my fancy Capresso and buying in its stead an ordinary old fashioned drip coffee maker. Oh well, at least it gives me a reason to take a trip back to kitchen fantasy land!

Look What I Can Do!

The other day at Trader Joe's I found they were selling gorgeous Ahi tuna, yum. I had never prepared any but how hard can it be to sear a piece of fish? I came home and after putting away the groceries; a task I find at once annoying and deeply satisfying as I often take the opportunity to rearrange and edit the fridge. But I digress. As my son has been working at a sushi restaurant and become more aware of how fabulous food is cooked, I asked if he had any suggestions. We worked together very well, I would suggest different ways of seasoning the fish and then he would give me his opinion and at some point in the process, he was on fire with suggestions so I went with it and what we ended up with was spectacular. Perfectly seasoned and seared tuna atop a bed of romaine lettuce dressed only in freshly-squeezed lemon juice.  We sat down and had a lovely and very satisfying lunch together.  As we were cleaning up I said, "I loved cooking with you. We should do that more often." He looked at me and got a huge grin on his face and replied, "You know what I liked? I liked telling you what to do and having you do it!"  I answered, "Oh, yeah? Well, I hope you enjoyed it because you aren't going to see that again for a while." Cheeky monkey!

Midnight Indulgence

Well, it has finally happened; after months of eating salads at midnight, I have completely lost interest in lettuce of any persuasion. Let me introduce you to my new favorite obsession; cookies and ice cream. Not as figure-friendly to be sure, but oh, so worth the indulgence! I am a complete ingredients snob so I buy only good ice cream made with a handful of ingredients, none of which are chemicals, and I use only Joe's O's (Trader Joe's version of the magnificent Oreo) cookies. You may be thinking that I must be an idiot not to just buy cookies and cream ice cream. Well, I don't find that premix of low quality ice cream with low quality cookies delicious. Not to mention, I don't just crave eating it; I enjoy the experience of scooping the ice cream, then choosing which type of Joe's O's cookies (vanilla or chocolate) to use and then the best part, chopping the cookies. I probably sound like a mental patient but since I don't do much cooking these days, this little activity satisfies my urge to play with food. And I do so love to play with my food!

Sushi, Party Dress, and Afghanistan

Back at Tsunami Sushi; this time with my dear friend, Virginia. I call her Veerheenya as she happens to have a very Mexican last name, courtesy of her mister. It seems so strange; she with her porcelain skin and white-blond hair. At Tsunami, I was greeted warmly by tall, dark, and handsome Peter, or as I like to call him, Cassanova. My favorite chef, George, was nice enough to personally make and bring us a special dessert. As you can see, the presentation was lovely. The photo simply doesn't do it justice. After dinner, Vee and I came to my place. First, we did the girly thing; I showed her the silk party dress I just got. Vee has exceptionally good taste so I was pleased to get her enthusiastic approval of my choice. I have been invited to a friend's 50th birthday party and I got THE cutest dress I think I have ever owned. The background is black and has a bright pink, white and gray geometric design. And yes, I had to get pink high heeled sling-backs to pick up the pink in the dress and they are gorgeous! The dress is a bit shorter than anything I have worn in years but hey, you only live once (though if you live it right, once should be enough) and I am adorable in the thing. Then, we settled on the couch, each of us covered with a blanket like an old woman and we watched The Kite Runner. I read the book and I thought the movie was a lovely adaptation. I highly recommend the book, written by Khaled Hosseini as well as his other book I read, One Thousand Secret Suns. They provide an extraordinary and vivid picture of what Afghanistan must have been like 30 years ago. So, there it is, from sushi to party dress to Afghanistan.  I'd say that it was a very nearly perfect evening!

Tsunami Sushi

Forget everything you thought you knew about delicious Asian Cuisine.  I am here to tell you, the most delicious Asian Cuisine is currently residing in Huntington Beach, California at a place called Tsunami Sushi. The first thing one notices upon entering Tsunami Sushi is the vibe; young and hip. Two things I most assuredly am not!  Upon entering, we were greeted by the handsome and muscular manager, Peter. To say he is charming would be an understatement. If his manner and smile don't charm you, his accent most certainly will. I suspect Peter is quite the ladies' man!  I began the dining experience with a fabulous Lemon Drop Martini. It was perfection; tart, sweet and strong. It was a bit hard to figure our what to order as their menu is varied and extensive. We settled on a variety of things we could share. This is a shot of the Tofu Vegetable Stir-Fry. The very best stir-fry dish I have had, ever. The tofu was fried but not greasy and the vegetables were cooked just right with a lovely sauce that brought out and enhanced their flavor without being overwhelming. Tsunami is very lucky to have a fabulous chef.  His name is George and he is not only a talented chef, but a lovely man, as well. This is what a great guy he is; he surprised (and delighted) us with a spectacular treat; a crunch roll. As my monkey would say, "He hooked us up." I have no idea what was in it but it was indeed crunchy and so tasty!  It was even better than the Crazy Boy Roll from Yen I wrote about a few weeks ago.  Frankly, it makes my OLD favorite the Crazy Boy Roll seem bland!  Even though we could not finish the food we had ordered, (we brought it home and I ate most of it in the middle of the night!) we had dessert.
Again, it was a hook-up from my new favorite chef. Just take a look at this spectacular extravaganza of ice cream and chocolate.  A rich and dense brownie, topped with ice cream and drizzled with chocolate sauce.  So, next time you are in So Cal, I heartily recommend you do yourself a favor and visit Tsunami Sushi. Maybe you will see me there!

Variation On A Theme

I have no imagination. It's true. I am not the least bit creative. What I am is a rule follower, a recipe reader, a fraidy-cat. I marvel at those people who throw things together or say they use recipes as a jumping off point. Can you imagine! I have dozens of wonderful cook books and though I enjoy reading them, I usually end up serving the half dozen dishes I have managed to find success with. As I am currently enjoying an obsession with salad, (when I take a break from eating chocolate) I got wildly creative and substituted baby spinach for the endive I normally use. I know, I went a little crazy! It was, as one might expect, a lovely contrast; the softness of the spinach against the hardness of the candied walnuts. I guess by writing about such a thing, I am avoiding focusing on the big things. Like I said, I am a fraidy-cat.

We're Eating Where?

There are few things I enjoy more than sharing a meal with someone I love.  Gee, not very original, am I?  Okay, like most people, I just love enjoying a meal with someone I love.  Occasionally, I get to drag my #1 monkey on errands. Today while we were out, we got quite hungry and so we thought we would try the Greek place in the little strip mall.  I will admit, I don't usually eat at restaurants in strip malls but the boy was wearing shorts and I refuse to go to a real restaurant with a grown man who's wearing shorts, unless we are near a beach, of course.  I'm not completely unreasonable!  The boy ordered a Falafel Pita and I ordered Spanikopita and an order of fries for us to share.  When the food arrived, my monkey who RARELY says anything negative about anything, proclaimed that it was pretty sorry looking Falafel.  I guess after his month in Israel, where he ate many a Falafel, he is something of an expert!  Delightful surprise that it tasted really good, much better than it looked, and the fries and Spanikopita were fabulous.  Who knew I would some day look forward to eating at a strip mall!

Midnight Snack

As a young woman, I struggled with insomnia.  I arranged my life accordingly; I worked late afternoons and evenings and I never, ever committed to being anywhere before noon.  I remember the feeling that would come over me after being up all night when I would look outside and the sky was beginning to turn pink with the sunrise.  I could finally relax and crawl into bed and fall asleep.  Delicious.  And strange.  Strange that I was 18 years old and found that perfectly normal. Anyway, I am once again having a bout of insomnia.  So, I stay up very late and read and obsess and watch the news and sometimes, make snacks.  Last night, I prepared one my favorite things to eat; Belgian endive, candied walnuts, and blue cheese salad with Balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.  It was simply heavenly.  The way I see it, it is indeed a bummer that I am not sleeping well but I am grateful for my great good fortune that I live in a country where I have easy access to lovely blue cheese, candied walnuts and endive and I have the great good fortune to afford such lovely food.  My only concern about getting so little sleep is that it will age me prematurely and I will be left a sleep-deprived, cranky and wrinkly mess.  It is no myth that ladies need their beauty sleep, trust me.

The Crazy Boy I Love

Shown here is one of my all-time favorite spots for lunch. Or dinner.  I'm nothing if not flexible. From the street this place isn't terribly impressive, I know. Once inside, you can see it is very tastefully decorated and very small.  My friends and I meet there for lunch occasionally.  The menu is quite extensive but I always order the same thing.  I only have eyes, (lips and stomach) for my crazy boy.  A Crazy Boy Roll is a California Roll that has been, (you should probably sit down for this) deep fried. That's right. Just when you think crab and avocado could not possibly get more delicious or decadent, they go and fry it! It is a gastronomic delight.  Of course, you could fry a shoe and I'd probably eat it.  There is just something I find utterly irresistible about fried foods. I don't usually eat them with the exception of the Crazy Boy I love and and the occasional onion rings that drive me wild with desire. I have very simple taste.  Once during a physical, my doctor asked me to describe my diet.  After I finished, he deadpanned, "You have a diet any eight year old would envy."   

Delicious In Any Language

When my handsome young man came home from Israel, he did not come home empty-handed.  What you see here is an array of tasty treats from the Middle East. I have sampled some of these things and the coolest thing ever is the chocolate in the red wrapper.  Here's a hint; there are fireworks on the wrapper. The chocolate has candy spread throughout that pops in your mouth!  It's basically chocolate covered Pop Rocks!  And they're loud, too! It is an absolutely delightful combination; the creaminess of the chocolate with the surprise of the popping candy! Those Israelis really know what they are doing. Although I, myself, have never traveled to Israel, based on the deliciousness of these chocolates, I would have to recommend going there. 

Simply Delicious

So, we were invited to a festive little dinner to celebrate the return of my #1 from Israel.  Our lovely friends, Todd and Kristy, are quite like family and I consider myself particularly blessed by their generosity towards my children.  I asked the lovely hostess if I could bring the dessert and salad so this is what I came up with.  I grilled romaine lettuce on a grill doused with olive oil and while still warm, I sprinkled fresh Parmesan cheese on said lettuce.  Let me just say this about the grilled lettuce, it is indescribably delicious.  If you have never eaten lettuce grilled on a searing hot grill, flavored with olive oil and melted Parmesan cheese, you must put on your shoes and overcoat this very minute and go buy some lettuce, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil, come home and make it immediately, if not sooner.  You will thank me, I assure you.  As for the dessert, I could not decide whether I should take a lovely little vanilla cake, dusted with confectioners sugar or dip delicious vanilla sandwich cookies in melted dark chocolate.  Hmmm, what to do, what to bring...I made both. How can one possibly go wrong making both?  It matters not at all how ridiculously simple the things I choose to make are.  I get just as much satisfaction from making these simple things as when I challenge myself and make something complicated.  Although now thinking about it, I realize I may just retire my trickier concoctions in favor of the simple ones.  I mean, if it's just as much fun and just as tasty, who needs the pressure?  Dinner was lovely, there were seven of us, Kristy and I being the only ones female. Even their dog, Paco from Jaco, is male. This means there were plenty of crude jokes and boys running around shooting Nerf guns at one another.  After dinner, Adrian brought out his laptop and showed us all his photos. The little boys were as quiet as I have ever seen them. On the screen, pictures of Adrian in military fatigues, in the desolate desert, putting up razor wire, and in one photo he stands posing with the bodyguard they had been assigned. Silver-haired, middle aged man with a heavily lined face, standing there casually holding what looked to me to be a machine gun next to my baby boy!  Good times!

Happiness is a Warm Pastry

There is simply nothing nicer than being invited to dinner at a friend's house.  One of the reasons being that it gives me a great reason to make something I would really like to eat for dessert!   As I have written in the past, I am less a cook and baker, more of an assembler.  Here is a photo of nearly all it took to make one of my very favorite pastries.  The only thing missing is the egg wash I used to brush on the finished product just prior to baking. I took sheets of puff pastry, cut them into squares and rectangles, dropped little piles of miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips into the middle, moistened the edges, folded the edges together, scored the tops, brushed the tops with the egg wash and baked them until the tops were golden.  The result was simply heavenly.  Take it from me, this may be one of the world's most satisfying eating experiences.  Bon appetit.  Buon appetito.  Buen provecho.

Chocolate Therapy

Once again, I felt a cloud of blue descending upon me so I headed for the pantry.  Even sad, I managed to scrape together a little gratitude.  I was grateful that I have the luxury of chocolate in my pantry and the time to play with it.  I eat a lot less chocolate than I used to.  I eat a lot less of everything now than I used to.  I have lost my appetite, I guess.  But I do still love to play with food.  So I get to melting the chocolate, over a double boiler, stirring, stirring, enjoying the moment.  I take the chocolate off of the simmering water and mix in lovely, lightly salted almonds.  The aroma of melted chocolate sends me and for a moment I forget I am blue.  For that moment, I am pink.  Like a newborn or a sunrise.  Or cotton candy.  Or like my first lipstick by Yardley, named Bubble Gum.       

A Girl's Gotta Eat

If I learned anything in Costa Rica, it's that delicious things can be found in the most unlikely (and sometimes unsanitary) places.  Like a gas station, for instance.  For years, we would take the red eye flight into San Jose and when we arrived, we would be ridiculously tired and naturally, quite hungry.  One day my mister discovered that across the street from the Aeropuerto Internacional Juan Santamaría (Juan Santamaría International Airport) there is a gas station that has a little restaurant, Soda El Coco.  He braved eating there once and ever after, it became our go-to place for breakfast.  Now, I am not saying you can order up Eggs Florentine (yum!) and a Double Espresso there, but if you are after a killer quesadilla, gallo pinto, and fried bananas, this is your place.  I will say that I am a complete food snob at home and I NEVER eat fast food or in sketchy-looking places.  I guess that's because here, in the states, I have a choice!  There, not so much.  That does get me thinking though; I could sure go for some fried bananas....

Feliz Navidad, Quepos

'Twas the day before Christmas, and Quepos was bustling.  We had headed into town to pay the cell phone bill, at la farmacia, of course.  Probably because it was almost Christmas and the children are out of school for summer (yes, you read that right) the town was jumping.  It was pretty nice to see so many people out and the stores full of happy consumers!  Good for the economy and all that.   
When we arrived at the spot where the Farmer's Market is held next to the beach, we noticed a huge crowd.  Mostly children, very excited children.  It's nearly impossible to see from this photo but at the center of the crowd is someone in clown makeup wearing a modified Santa costume.  Disturbing? Absolutely!  The kids were in a frenzy and I think the Santa clown was giving things away but it was impossible to tell from where we were and I was not about to get any closer!

After we had paid the cell phone bill, we decided to have lunch before heading back to the jungle.  We happened upon La Cueva del Marisco, The Cave of Seafood or The Seafood Cave.  Doesn't that just sound delicious?  The place was packed with locals so we figured the food would be tasty and likely fresh.  The food was good but I do look forward to a day hopefully soon, when I will eat in a restaurant that specializes in something other than arroz con something!

Club Pocares

Club Pocares is the closest restaurant to our house in the jungle.  I had been told by my men, who'd been there numerous times, that Club Pocares had pool tables and they made the best fried chicken, ever.  What I had not been told (because my men are immune to such things) is that the place is kinda gross and has an extremely limited menu of ceviche (yeah, right) and fried chicken. That's all, folks.  I don't really even like chicken.  So, just days after leaving my cushy and clean home and lovely, inviting restaurants of So Cal, there I sat.  In a poorly lit, cavernous restaurant likely last cleaned one decade ago, that had one communal sink in the middle of the place and even better, one communal towel.  I'm not exaggerating, not one little bit.  I pasted a life-like smile on my face and we all played pool and ate fried chicken and drank Fanta Naranja.
That first time I went to Club Pocares, I left feeling so deeply depressed, I turned to my husband and told him, "I never want to go in there again.  You can bring the boys but I just can't bear it."  What a baby!  I guess that night it was beginning to sink in that we were very far away from all the people and places that were comforting and familiar to me and Club Pocares hardly seemed like an adequate trade!  Well, a lot can change in three months.  In the past three months, my epicurean standards have been lowered substantially, I have been desensitized to the questionable sanitation practices of my adopted country and there are so few options in our immediate area, that unless I am in the mood for a Gringo place in Quepos, Club Pocares is as good a place as any to go to when we want a small outing.  We have even dubbed it Club Pokey!    

Cafe Agua Azul Revisited

On the last night that our friends were all here, we went to dinner at the Cafe Agua Azul in Manuel Antonio.  It was the perfect setting and the best weather we could have hoped for.  We were all in a festive mood and I managed to ignore the reality that in a few short hours these friends who had brought us so much joy, not to mention chocolate, would be heading back to the states.  We all took photos and shared stories and jokes and generally had the loveliest dinner in recent memory.  Since the first time I wrote about this lovely restaurant I forgot to shoot the food, I will try to make up for it this time.  This is what Adrian ordered; it was fish and it was as tasty as it was lovely to look at.

This is a shot of Dave's Asian chicken skewer things that he said were very delicious and here is the special shrimp something or other.  I may not know what these dishes had in them but I do know that everyone enjoyed their dinners.  It was a wonderful evening and I couldn't help but think of what an old friend used to remind me of, "You can't step in the same river twice."  Sure, we will see each other again, maybe even here, but this exact experience will never exist again.  I also thought about how foolish I'd been when I lived down the street from these people and sometimes  go weeks without seeing them!  Joni Mitchell was right; you don't know what you've got til it's gone. 

Tilapia Farm

The sign reads Rancho Las Tilapias, Comida Tipica.  Tipica.  I love that word.  Typical.  The better translation would be authentic.  Another really great word.  Around here, the phrase comida tipica, is used everywhere.  After all, while the comida tipica (authentic cuisine) here is simple, it is pretty tasty.  And one assumes, comida tipica is what ticos and travelers are here to eat.  No one around here is looking for the perfect burger or steak tartare.  On a lovely Sunday a few weeks ago, we got together with our friend Omar, his wife Rosita, and their darling son, Omar pequeno (Little Omar).  As it happens, one of Omar's brothers is the proprietor of the Tilapia Farm.  When we arrived, I was impressed by the sheer size of the place.  Within this Farm, there are two swimming pools, two Tilapia ponds, a restaurant and lovely grounds.  In the states, there is a lot of concern about farm raised fish.  Something about the water being dirty and gross and stagnant or something like that.  All I know is that with snakes in my yard and spiders in my house and crocodiles altogether too close to Adrian where he surfs, dirty fish water is not on my list of things to be worried about right now.  This is a picture of one of the Tilapia ponds.   
The boys and Omar ordered the Tilapia.  You order the fish, someone walks out to one of the ponds and within minutes, they have caught your fish and it's being prepared.  I don't think you can get any fresher than that,  The fish was a great choice since it is their specialty although Ivan wasn't completely stoked by the eyeballs and bones!  I ordered Olla de Res, (beef stew) and it was really tasty.  Full of delicious veggies.

After we ate, Ivan went for a swim.  They have this one GIANT pool that happened to be drained but the other one had a long slide, so Ivan went in that one.  The huge plastic slide is definitely not to code by any country's standards but what are you going to do?  Poor Ivan had a giant bruise on his hip for days afterward from a particularly gnarly curve but he claims it was well worth it.

My sons have had to adjust to the amount of time spent in a restaurant when we go out.  It's not just that it takes so long to get your order, but the whole experience lasts much longer than it does in the states.  There is something they do here that I grew up with called 'sobremesa.'  Literally, it means 'over the table' and it means that you spend time at the table after the meal.  Just talking, enjoying each other's company and frequently someone will find a guitar nearby and start playing and if I am very, very lucky, singing.  On this particular day, there was no guitar playing or singing but it was still a lovely afternoon, very well spent. 

Omar's Corn

Now here's something you don't get to do every day.  Our friend Omar, had shown us his property nearby that not only has a spectacular view, but also serves to grow crops.  Among other things, corn.  So, last week Omar appears on our doorstep and announces that today is the day.  The corn is ready and would Adrian like to make the hike up the hill to go and pick some corn for us.  He didn't have to ask twice.  Adrian had his socks and shoes on in record time.  Living here in the jungle can get bor-ring, believe me.  Especially to your average 18 year old young man from California, where there is always something to do.  I am so grateful when our slow motion life here is punctuated by picking corn or chasing bats out of the house or an impromptu invitation to go play futbol.  When Adrian returned a little while later, he was in possession of a plastic bag full of corn.  I cooked it right away and we all sat down and ate a dinner of lightly buttered and salted corn.  I have had fancier meals in fancier places but I can't remember a sweeter one.

Cafe Agua Azul

Reading this blog you may get the impression that I spend an inordinate amount of my time going out to eat, goofing off with my family, and shopping for food.  You notice I didn't say mistaken impression!  Some time ago, just prior to the weeks and weeks of torrential rain, we headed to Manuel Antonio for an early dinner.  It was a warm and sunny afternoon.  There is a lovely outdoor cafe we like to go to that overlooks the Manuel Antonio National Park.  It's called Cafe Agua Azul and it's owned and operated by a charming couple from the states.  They are warm and friendly and their food is consistently tasty.  As soon as we arrived, we began the afternoon's extravaganza by ordering a Caipirinha, para La Mama!
Before you get the impression that I'm some kind of a lush, (although how many kinds can there be, anyway?) let me say that I am not much of a drinker.  I usually average two or three drinks per month.  My lack of tolerance and my somewhat small size means that when I do have a cocktail, it goes straight to my head and I spend the next 45 minutes very relaxed and very, very, happy.  A Caipirinha, for those of you who haven't had the pleasure, is made up of a lime, cut into wedges which has been muddled in brown sugar, a little lime juice, two ounces of Cachaca (liquor made of sugar cane juice) and poured over ice.  Now, if that does not sound like the most heavenly thing you could possibly be sipping in the sweltering heat of the jungle, I suggest you run, not walk, to your doctor's office to get checked out.  As a purely precautionary measure, of course. 

As for dinner, I don't  remember what I ate.  I am sure I enjoyed it and my men have told me their dinners were delicious but after drinking my Caipirinha, well, you can imagine.  I didn't even think to shoot photos of the food so you know I was not exactly myself!  I do remember that while we were waiting for our dinner, we spotted a monkey in the trees just below us.  I picked up my camera and took nearly a dozen shots of the monkey as it moved about from tree to tree.  Not a single one of the pictures is fit to post.  They are all far too blurry.  Rather like my memory of that afternoon!   

  

Jungle Surf Cafe

A few weeks ago, the men and I went to Hermosa Beach for provisions and lunch.  There is a lovely cafe there called The Jungle Surf Cafe.  We had been there in the past and knew that they had a tasty item for each of us on their menu so we figured it was a safe place to eat.  In the past however, we went directly from our friend Kristy's house in Hermosa where I had made sure the boys and I had washed up.  This time, I excused myself to go to the 'servicios' to wash up.  It was a very interesting experience; I hope I can describe it accurately.  Before I do, I should mention that many sodas (cafe's) here have a sink set up in a common area out of the bathroom.  It's quite common to see someone in the corner of the soda washing his hands.  When I went looking for the sink at The Jungle Surf, I found a sink behind the building that had a full soap dispenser, no running water and no towels.  I looked around and found a hose that was hooked up to the building and the end of it was resting inside a washing machine in the yard behind the soda (cafe).  Nice!  So, I squirted a bit of soap into my hands, went and turned on the hose, then walked over to the outdoor washing machine and picked up the hose, washed up, then turned off the hose and dried my hands on my shirt.  Oh yeah, that is well within my comfort level!  Can you say Heath Department?  This is what I ordered.  Veggie stir fry with white rice,  It was really good!
The veggies were a bit overcooked which is exactly how I tend to make mine so I felt right at home.  I often wonder why it is that while so many places where we have eaten, would NEVER pass the type of health inspection our restaurants in the states are subjected to, I have NEVER become ill from eating here.  That is happy news, to be sure.  Brian had ordered 'casado con pollo' which is a plate of what you see here.  Casado is the typical dish here; rice, beans, fried bananas, a bit of salad and chicken or beef or fish.  Shortly after ordering, the very pretty waitress came to
tell us that they used up the last bit of chicken for Ivan's tacos, and would Brian like fish or beef instead.  He requested fish.  We were surprised that for four dollars he got a fresh Ahi steak that was very good.  Adrian
ordered fish tacos which never seem to disappoint here! After lunch, we set out for the Maxi Bodega but that's another story for another time!

CRPK - Costa Rica Pizza Kitchen

Last week, the boys and I were on our own for a few days and we decided to go for a drive and stop for lunch.  Adrian said he'd remembered seeing a pizza restaurant so we set out looking for it.  Just past 'downtown' Parrita, just off of the main road, there it was.  It is a lovely setting.  Set back from the highway, a large open patio filled with wood tables wearing checkered tablecloths, overlooking about one dozen palm trees and a great lawn.  We were greeted by a very charming man who turned out to be the proprietor as well as chef.   We were the only customers there.  This man spoke Spanish with a very pronounced ITALIAN ACCENT!  It was a trip and a half to hear him speaking Spanish with the cadence of Italian; the stretching out of words in the most lovely manner.  Italian, mmmmm.  I used my very limited Italian vocabulary on him.  You know, grazie, buon juorno, molto bene.  As he was speaking to us, and he spoke to us a lot, I just sat there thinking, YOU LEFT ITALY!  As Adrian would say, "Are you kidding me right now?"  I realize this speaks to my ignorance and limited experience in Italy.  I am quite sure it's not all fabulous.  There are probably many reasons someone would choose to leave Italy for Costa Rica.  So, at one point when I could no longer stand it, I asked, "Why did you leave Italy?"  I really hadn't even finished the question when he cut me off and with a very coy smile said, "No me acuerdo."  I don't remember.  His very polite response to what he has likely been asked one million times in the 13 years he has been here.  As our host was preparing our lunch of Fettuccine Alfredo and pizza, I took a peek into his kitchen.  Just check out the picture window in his kitchen.  What a view!

During our lunch, he spoke of many things, how Costa Rica has changed since he arrived, his grown sons, his enjoyment of fishing.  Lunch was really delicious and Ivan declared afterwards that this should become our regular dining spot.  The pasta was okay but the pizzas were pure heaven.  I don't have a picture of the most delicious pizza we were served which was sans tomato sauce; just pesto sauce and mozzarella cheese on top of the thinnest, crispiest pizza crust.  What a score, charming Italian host, lovely setting and great pizza.   Buon apetito!
 

Heaven on Earth

As I discovered, the fruit and veggie department at our local Megasuper is meager.  However, every Saturday there is a  'Feria' in downtown Quepos, overlooking the beach.  A Farmer's Market filled with the most lovely fruits and veggies imaginable.  Here we are yesterday buying mangoes.  This had to be one of my favorite experiences since moving down here.  After all, I am doing so many of my favorite things at once!  Shopping, spending time with Number #1 monkey, speaking Spanish, touching food, spending time with my dear husband, and enjoying the glorious breezes at the beach.
This  is a bowl of
Mamon Chino.  This is a juicy, magical looking fruit.  It looks like something out of a Dr. Seuss book.  The exterior feels almost like plastic.  The spikes are soft and pliable.  You can buy a kilo for about a dollar! Here is one I cut open.  You pop the whole white thing in your mouth, it is a bit sweet and tart and very juicy.  There is a large pit in the middle you most certainly do not want to eat, though.  Just to eat one feels fancy and exotic!

I Miss You, Joe

Trader Joe, that
is.  Here I am at my new neighborhood grocery store.  It is called the Megasuper.  I absolutely LOVE that name.  I mean, come on, Mega Super!  Not just mega, not just super, but both at the same time!  I would say that my favorite thing about my new store is the tall stack of egg cartons unrefrigerated in the middle of the one thousand degree store.  I love that.  Just another exercise to help me learn to manage my already mounting anxiety. 
Hmmm, what to make for dinner, what to make...I know, how about this!  Tongue!  Do you see these perfectly intact cow tongues?  But wait, I don't have a recipe for tongue so I will have to pass.  Keep going, it's about to get even better...

The young girl at the lukewarm meat counter noticed I was taking photos so I explained that they don't have this available
where I shop in California.  She asked if we have intestines in our local shop.  Why no, which are those.  Here are said intestines. Yum?  I really, really miss my Trader Joe's.

Ask and You Shall Receive

Brian gets back from town yesterday bearing gifts!  He may not be George Peppard, (see Breakfast at Tiffany's) but standing before me holding chocolate, he is the most irresistible man in the world!  The chocolate in the red wrapper comes from Brazil and the one in the yellow wrapper COMES FROM EGYPT!  My first clue was the lettering and the fact that the brand reads Pyramid!  Oh, sure, Egypt is well know for it's tasty confections!  I have already devoured the Brazilian one and I am here to tell you, it was fabulous!  Then, as today is my birthday, Adrian's gift to me was two bags of Hershey's miniatures that he had shopped for in California and carefully wrapped and stored in a fridge when we arrived here. 

All is well with the world.  Disaster has been averted and I needn't dive into my stash of Valium!