Been a Long Haul...with a U Turn

It's been sooo long since I posted, I actually forgot how. I forgot my password..the works!

I've been busy insulting people I love, finding a really great therapist, starting new medications, asking forgiveness, etc. There's a few people I haven't gotten to yet...but I will. Not to insult...no not that.

I am very frightened about certain politicians wanting to rule every uterus in the USA..and the women who support them. So I get some bumper stickers made up that say "Women's Rights 2012..WE Won't go Back" and "Women's Rights, Obama 2012..take a stand" but I feel like I am having to beg people to take em. I could go stand downtown and pass em out I guess but then they'd end up in the trash somewhere.....or perhaps on a homeless person's napsack, which would be fine with me. Maybe I should hit a college campus?

I spend too much time on FB talking to myself. I have met some great friends there though....but mostly I just talk to myself.

I've been cooking but not blogging. Am thinking about not blogging about food anymore. I am fat and need to lose 50 lbs. We'll see.

Emotionally, I am feeling better than I have in a long, long time. Whew!! That is a load off.

My husband and I will celebrate eight years of wedded bliss next week...and it's been almost 15 years since the first time we talked. I brought a lot of baggage to this relationship...and I am so happy I found a loving man who helped me unpack it. (I read that quote somewhere but can't recall where...but I like it.)

My grandkids are ages 6 and 4...getting big. I miss them. Hope to go visit next month. They fricken' crack me up!

Till next time....who knows, maybe I'll finish that book I started.

Lazy Blogger... but I am cooking!

One of Nathalie Dupree's dishes from her upcoming cookbook!
A big pot of it. I could serve quite a few wonderful meals from this dutch oven.
Stella Koontz....for Governor of CA. Don't hate me because I'm beautiful.

**I am one lazy blogger. I have been cooking quite a bit lately. Testing recipe's for Nathalie Dupree's newest cookbook, so all top secret really...but I think I can share a photo. :) You know, Nathalie is running for Senator in South Carolina. Write in candidate! Seriously. Go Nathalie!!!! I know she'd do a great job too. Watch her on CNN here!

I have posted a couple of photos of one of her fabulous recipes from her up-coming cookbook....delish.

(I've shared that my cat, Stella Koontz, is a write-in candidate for Governor of California. She has not spent one dime on her campaign. No matter. The top two candidates have spent millions and we still don't have a decent choice).

Stella likes to sit in the kitchen and meow loudly, she is for same-sex marriage (is in love with female cat next door) and believes that all beings are created equal...except for her brother's, Buddy and Stanley. They are dorks.

Blasts from the past

This snail race was fun. The snail closest to you kept trying to make a u-turn!
Warning! These are addictive.
One of my favorite pics of Ethan.
Preserving Meyer Lemons was fun...and I am still using them.
Had a wonderful time making clams for the grandkids..on vacation at the coast! Elaina loves her clams..and so does Ethan. They also love salmon roe..eaten with chopstix.
My favorite...preserved tomatoes over quinoa pasta.
Deep-fried baby artichokes with grey salt.
Frozen pom seeds. Oh, and those vacuum-sealed beets from Trader Joe's.
My fave meal...lamb and veggies. Well, one of my favorite meals.
Yes...I always have some chicken fat for schmaltz-making in the freezer. I also save bacon grease. Don't mix em up though. :)
I love brown basmati rice.
Brick...my new favorite thing. I love Brick a L'Oeuf.

I am off to Portland for 9 days. Can't wait to get there! Dave and the cats will hold down the fort.

Preserving Summer Tomatoes -Two Ways

I ended up with 6 quarts of peeled tomatoes and 6 quarts of mushroom/basil/preserved lemon pasta sauce. Will do more next weekend using romas! Thanks to Eileen...and Phil's suggestion, I'll be doing pickled peppers as well.

Food We Cooked/Que'd This Week

Those Memorial Day ribs....oh my. They don't call him Grilldave for nothin'.
Dave had to have a burger and fries one night. Potato buns are the best.
It looks like a lot of oil...but I barely used any. Hmmmm.
Seared scallops in a basil/tomato/artichoke/shallot/meyer lemon sauce over quinoa pasta. It was Holy Crap Good!
Dave's low and slow cooked ribs were sublime .....although he used Pappy's rub and it was a tad salty this time. He also brined the ribs before he added the rub.
Mom's potato salad recipe was a hit...as usual. :)
Dave put a marinade of herbs and lime juice under the skin for an hour before cooking..plus he brined the chicken first.
Dave made this killer Thai dipping sauce for the BBQ'd Chicken. Sooo just right spicy/sweet.
My garlic/kosher pickled veggies were refreshing with Memorial Weekend BBQ.