Saturday, October 22, 2011
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Cucumber!
I know...2 posts in 2 days. And both about cucumbers.
Well yesterday, I was under the impression that I'd have to wait until next year to get a second chance for a ripe cucumber.
I was wrong.
You see, early in the season, my cucumber plant was growing in such a way that I was stepping on it. It was making it difficult for me to water my tomatoes. And to use my grill.
So I "encouraged" it to grow in a different direction. I "helped" the tendrils wrap around my planter and eventually between the slats of my deck rails.
I kept leaning over to see if there were any flowers. I didn't think so.
Again, I was wrong.
I looked down yesterday, and there was a full grown (yet still unripe) cucumber hanging down!
I am very excited!
I can even see it as I walk my dog.
Okay, enough about cukes.
Kristen out!
Well yesterday, I was under the impression that I'd have to wait until next year to get a second chance for a ripe cucumber.
I was wrong.
You see, early in the season, my cucumber plant was growing in such a way that I was stepping on it. It was making it difficult for me to water my tomatoes. And to use my grill.
So I "encouraged" it to grow in a different direction. I "helped" the tendrils wrap around my planter and eventually between the slats of my deck rails.
I kept leaning over to see if there were any flowers. I didn't think so.
Again, I was wrong.
I looked down yesterday, and there was a full grown (yet still unripe) cucumber hanging down!
I am very excited!
I can even see it as I walk my dog.
Okay, enough about cukes.
Kristen out!
Monday, August 8, 2011
July/August
Many of you already know that I was interviewed at the DC. It was fine. It's better now that it's done. My family wasn't able to come to see me do it live, so Josh recorded it for me. You can see it here. My interview starts at 2:20.
I also grew a cucumber.
When I finally got to go to the garden center at the end of May, I was seduced by the promise that I could grow cucumbers in a container.
And my plant always looked healthy. I got very excited early in the season when I had approximately 257 flowers and roughly 72 little cukes.
They all died. So I stopped looking and just continued to water. I guess good things come to those who ignore. I was rewarded with a real cucumber!
Alas, I should have ignored it a little longer.
You can see by how green the seeds still are that this cuke wasn't exactly ripe. The result is a very bitter cucumber. It is, however, crunchy.
So I cut it up and mixed in some of my homegrown cherry tomatoes, a little onion and doused it a vinaigrette.
I will eat it up, love it, and learn from it. Next year I will have to continue to be patient.
Patience has gotten me nowhere with my strawberries. My plants are bigger and healthier this year than last, but I haven't had any fruit.
So that's all that's new with me.
I'm exhausted from the convention and hope I will sleep well tonight.
Date nights have been a little crazy as Josh is working a funny schedule of late. This week should be on Friday, but we'll see.
Kristen out!
I also grew a cucumber.
When I finally got to go to the garden center at the end of May, I was seduced by the promise that I could grow cucumbers in a container.
And my plant always looked healthy. I got very excited early in the season when I had approximately 257 flowers and roughly 72 little cukes.
They all died. So I stopped looking and just continued to water. I guess good things come to those who ignore. I was rewarded with a real cucumber!
Alas, I should have ignored it a little longer.
You can see by how green the seeds still are that this cuke wasn't exactly ripe. The result is a very bitter cucumber. It is, however, crunchy.
So I cut it up and mixed in some of my homegrown cherry tomatoes, a little onion and doused it a vinaigrette.
I will eat it up, love it, and learn from it. Next year I will have to continue to be patient.
Patience has gotten me nowhere with my strawberries. My plants are bigger and healthier this year than last, but I haven't had any fruit.
So that's all that's new with me.
I'm exhausted from the convention and hope I will sleep well tonight.
Date nights have been a little crazy as Josh is working a funny schedule of late. This week should be on Friday, but we'll see.
Kristen out!
Friday, May 20, 2011
Opposite coasts
Yes, Josh and I will be on opposite coasts next week. I already had a trip planned to see my family in SC when Josh had a sudden business trip in CA come up.
We kinda like the way it worked out. Neither of us has to be home pining away for the other.
Sonny, the other hand has to miss us both. But his Aunty Amelia and Grandpa Peter will be looking after him. We are sure he will be well cared for.
So that's all the news.
Oh, I've lost 5lbs on SB. Woohoo!
Kristen out. I'll check in when I return next week.
Ciao.
We kinda like the way it worked out. Neither of us has to be home pining away for the other.
Sonny, the other hand has to miss us both. But his Aunty Amelia and Grandpa Peter will be looking after him. We are sure he will be well cared for.
So that's all the news.
Oh, I've lost 5lbs on SB. Woohoo!
Kristen out. I'll check in when I return next week.
Ciao.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Date Night 5/9/11
I made trout!
I know--weird. You see, I started South Beach again yesterday. I have three SB cookbooks and one of them had a recipe for Pecan Crusted Trout. So I called Josh at work. The conversation went something like this:
Me: Babe, how do you feel about trout?
Josh: I LOVE trout. I don't know that I've ever eaten it before, but I'm sure I love it.
And he did. Enough to take the leftovers to work today for lunch.
I even liked it. I'm very timid about fish, but I've ordered it a restaurant. Of course that preparation smothered the fish in onions and bacon. I'd like shoe leather prepared that way.
So I had trout in the back of my mind when I went to the market. I was at the fish counter getting shrimp for our appetizer when I notice whole trout. Seeing the fishy's face was enough to make me say goodbye to trout forever...pecan crust or not. But then another customer came to the counter and engaged the other butcher in a conversation about the trout. He said he could remove the head, the bones, clean it and fillet it. Sold! I said I'll take one like that.
If you were reading carefully, you noticed that I was buying shrimp. There's our appetizer.
As for cocktails...Josh made himself a daiquiri and I made myself a cooler of sorts. Cherry pomegranate Crystal Light, Fresca, and a squeeze of lime. I put it in a Collins glass with a cocktail umbrella and a bendy straw. I was very happy.
So, all in all first day of South Beach was a success.
And Date Night was as well.
I know--weird. You see, I started South Beach again yesterday. I have three SB cookbooks and one of them had a recipe for Pecan Crusted Trout. So I called Josh at work. The conversation went something like this:
Me: Babe, how do you feel about trout?
Josh: I LOVE trout. I don't know that I've ever eaten it before, but I'm sure I love it.
And he did. Enough to take the leftovers to work today for lunch.
I even liked it. I'm very timid about fish, but I've ordered it a restaurant. Of course that preparation smothered the fish in onions and bacon. I'd like shoe leather prepared that way.
So I had trout in the back of my mind when I went to the market. I was at the fish counter getting shrimp for our appetizer when I notice whole trout. Seeing the fishy's face was enough to make me say goodbye to trout forever...pecan crust or not. But then another customer came to the counter and engaged the other butcher in a conversation about the trout. He said he could remove the head, the bones, clean it and fillet it. Sold! I said I'll take one like that.
If you were reading carefully, you noticed that I was buying shrimp. There's our appetizer.
As for cocktails...Josh made himself a daiquiri and I made myself a cooler of sorts. Cherry pomegranate Crystal Light, Fresca, and a squeeze of lime. I put it in a Collins glass with a cocktail umbrella and a bendy straw. I was very happy.
So, all in all first day of South Beach was a success.
And Date Night was as well.
DDCP '11
It was a success. I only have pictures of food, but here goes:
First things first....it was a Cocktail Party! Mint Juleps for everyone!
Crudites platter. The empty bowl held my green goddess dressing/dip.
Stuffed Mushroom caps. Paula Deen's Chicken Picatta Stuffed Mushrooms.
Ham and Cheese Puff Tart. Clearly the star of the show!
And finally a shot of the table. Notice my beautiful roses (it is after all the Run for the Roses) in large mint julep cups. Those little sausage things in the foreground were Kentucky Bourbon sausages. Allegedly they were served at Churchill Downs on Saturday.
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