Scrunchies? As in hair accessories? Random! I love that place. Nice reminder to get up north now while the weather is good.
2 Likes
Hear, hear to planning ahead for your wifeās food and beverage sustenance especially because sheās working long days.
Thatās something we try to do for each other in our house as well ā though my husband jokes that he does his best cooking with a credit card (takeout).
Enjoy your travels!
6 Likes
In principal, yes, but I just mixed celery salt and TJās onion salt into yogurt and mayo. I added dried dill.
2 Likes
Yup. I know - totally random, but when I saw them, I remembered that the few I had at home were pretty beaten up. And I know I can probably still buy them in CVS, but why not help out a local person who does this for a living.
And even though my mother no longer lives nearby, I still trek up to Cider Hill for unpasteurized cider once a year, as itās the closest to me that has it. Plusā¦hot, fresh cider donuts! 
3 Likes
Iāve been making olive oil cakes recently. Not sure why. I really like both Food 52 and Serious Eats versions. Iāve made each at least 3 times in the past month. The Food 52 is better plain and the Serious Eats is better with frosting (whipped mascarpone whipped shown). Just ate a slice of the Food52 cake after dinner last night and it was still great after 3 days.
Food 52:
Serious Eats:
14 Likes
Drooool. Is it the Food52 recipe with white wine?
Whoa you made 6 cakes in the past month?!! Impressive!!!
1 Like
Mrs. P made a deconstructed blackened Cajun shrimp taco (it had a Cajun dry rub), with homemade guacamole, jalapeƱo cream cheese with chipotle powder, queso fresco cheese, radishes, English cucumbers, tomatoes, arugula, sugar snap peas, red onions, scallions, and blue corn tortilla chips 
8 Likes
Oops, I clicked the link afterā¦different recipe. This is the one I meant. I prefer it with apricot jam, Sacher style.
This pound cake with Sherry is also quite good: http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2007/09/cook-the-book-olive-oil-and-sherry-pound-cake.html
2 Likes
I feel like I was channeling @ChristinaM tonight with this cucumber salad.
Doctored up jarred simmer sauce. Added shrimp. Sides of Jasmin rice and a cucumber, yogurt, mint, chive, lemon juice, garlic, salt thing. Loved that salad. But it didnāt hurt that it was the super tasty, full fat yogurt!
The baby ate rice.
13 Likes
Itās my Friday.
Left work at 6:15.
Ran errands.
Home at 7:15.
Wine poured.
Wine sipped.
Cats fed.
Wine sipped.
Clothes changed.
Wine sipped.
Meat sauce defrosted.
Wine sipped.
Spaghetti cooked.
More wine poured and sipped.
Spagetts and sawce was et.
Wine was drunk.
As if you hadnāt figured it out.
14 Likes
Crazy times so Iāve been cooking big so can skip it for several days. Iām also trying to finish off odds and ends purchased for hurricane season.
Madras vegetable curry over turmeric rice with nan.
Sauteed onion, red bell pepper & zucchini. Poured jarred sauce over, added a can of garbanzo beans. Needed some more liquid, added the 1/4 cup of cream hanging out in the fridge plus a little water. Stirred in several handfuls of spinach before serving. Rice was heat and serve packet (Hurricane food, since itās fully cooked). Warmed nan in the toaster oven. Sauce (Seeds of Change) was labeled hot. Not. Still tasty and plenty for another meal.
My elderly neighbor has been having some issues. Physically she is pretty darn good except for standing long periods. Mentally she is moving past normal age-related forgetfulness into the territory of uncertainty. In 48 hours she totaled her car (all parties are bruised but fine), lost her cell phone, lost all of her keys. Phone and keys finally located. No idea if she will drive again. It looks doubtful. Suggested Lotsa Helping Hands to her daughter for the interim. Their interactive calendar is great for arranging volunteers for driving, errands, visits, etc.
Iāve used it a number of times during critical health issues and caregiving. Itās a terrific free service.
So we have her transit set for this weeks gym visits, church and grocery shopping. Iāve upped visits to her, as have a few other neighbors. I suspect her kids will decide itās time for her to move to assisted living. Iāll miss having her nearby.
17 Likes
Interesting question about what capuchina means in this Spanish dish. In general, words in romance languages similar to this are referencing the distinctive hood that Capuchin monks wore and wearā¦cappuccino the coffee with foamed milk on top is an example. I suspect that the Spanish egg dish recipe by Janet Mendel refers to the ācloakā or ācapā or āhoodā that the asparagus adds to the traditional basic Spanish egg dish tortilla.
Iām far from a native Spanish speaker, but I did my doctoral dissertation on the Spanish artist Goyaās print series Los Caprichos, and there are several images of the traditional hoods worn by monks of that order.
4 Likes
Muy intersante!
Do love your new ātagā line āequal opportunity eater in the NC Triangleā
I think I am going to add to mineā¦equal opportunity eating plumber from Flushing NY"
3 Likes
what a wonderful friend, neighbor, family member, and community member you are! My mom in Raleigh NC just turned 87, my dad died 3 years ago. I live in Boston; luckily the youngest of our sibling group lives with her and another lives a mile away. I do what I can from afar with an adopted special needs late teen, but all seems as good as it could now.
Youāve become a compassionate and wise expert at caring for elderlyā¦neighbors and family. I sure hope you get some time off because I know that work takes lots of energy and vigilance.
9 Likes
Thanks. Sheās the sort of person you just fall in love with the moment you meet her.
Most of my caregiving for my parents takes place from afar. Iām thankful for the support network that is in place for them in Florida. Iāve just always tried to live the Golden Rule so if my efforts can make an appreciable difference for another I try to follow through.
I havenāt had much of a financial safety net in my adult life, nor have many of my friends. All of us decided long ago that we were each others insurance to a large extent! Looking outward from that pov you start seeing any number of small things that are within your means to do.
8 Likes
Ha! When queried as to my dietary preferences as a dinner guest that phrase somehow sprang forth. Iām pretty open to just about anything that might be served for a meal. My only absolute is half and half for my morning coffee.
3 Likes
Olive oil cake is relatively simple, itās one of those where the recipe matters more than technique in my opinion. But, umm, Iāve made a lot more than 6 cakes, haha. You know how sometimes you have an hour or two to unwind and, before you know it, thereās a cake sitting on your counter?
8 Likes
I am now making this Serious Eats taco filling every week.
San Antonio-Style Puffy Tacos With Ground Beef Filling Recipe
Beats well done burgers.
8 Likes
