Whoo Hoo, Witchy Woman

Castro's Mexican Restaurant in Clinton Hill

Mexican breakfasts at Castro's this morning.  We passed by all the slightly upscale spots for a more casual environment.  We sat in the enclosed front area where there was a very nice cool breeze. I got the Mexican scramble with a side of sad looking bacon.  

P got the Chorizo scramble.  Both came with beans and rice and flour tortillas.  Gone are the days when you are given chips and sauce to begin a meal.  Every little bit counts these days for restaurants and I realize nothing is free, but a tiny bit of pico de gallo would have perked these plates up or a small stack of lettuce, tomato and onion.  My folks ran a Mexican restaurant and their plate presentation game was tight. You first eat with your eyes and that is important to how the customer remembers the experience which in turn affects their desire to return.  I can't say enough about all the small details.  Friendly staff, coming back to see if everything is okay, coffee refills.  I couldn't do it, it's truly an art.  I was a terrible waitress and realized it after a few hours trying it one night. 

Immediately after finishing the meal, we left to walk home, I felt a virus come on strong and by the time we reached home I had to go directly to bed and called out the next day.  It is unclear how I was affected so soon after the meal and I am a little spooked by the mean waitress that we've had before.  I halfheartedly believe that some women have abilities to put curses on you, and this lady gave me scary vibes.  It's unclear whether I'll be able to resist coming back for their amazing Chilaquiles.

You Can't Hide Your Lyin' Eyes

Cafe Luluc

Sometimes one needs excuses to eat out for lunch or breakfast.  Sometimes we just do it without thought.  I think the difference is, when we spend a little more to go to the nicer spot it's a thought.  And that is about the difference these days in a nicer establishment, a few dollars more. Like this highly desirable meal at Cafe Luluc on Smith Street in Brooklyn. Even the outdoor space is decorated much nicer, which in turns makes the experience that much more pleasant.  The quality of the food is better, although that doesn't always equate to better tasting.  This time it did, except for the beans and rice were just so, so.

The excuse this time was my new glasses that were waiting for me at See Eyewear.  They are larger and heavier than I thought, not flattering, yet people comment on how much they like them constantly.  Which is how I feel about them.  They look awesome, except on me.  The sales lady was so pushy I wanted to leave the second I met her and I should have, because the experience left me cold for that place.  So much that I didn't want to pick them up or get them adjusted.  I ran in and tried them quickly before rushing out.  The prescription was not even comfortable.  I end up wearing my reading glasses most days even though I allegedly need the bifocals. 

Lighten Up! While You Still Can

Sister's backyard view in Colorado 

Quick Ham and Potato Soup

What I love about soup is the template formula you can follow in order to bring almost any ingredients together.  If you often hanker for a brothy meal, it's good to keep carrots, onions and celery on hand and of course chicken stock (freeze the real deal if you can muster).  After that, there are endless possibilities of combinations that can be had very quickly.  One single ham steak with chunky russets and Yukon gold potatoes made for a delightful meal. Instead of using cream, I mixed a bit of corn starch with yogurt and almond milk.  Also, I smashed up some of the potatoes to release much of the natural starch to thicken. 

It's important to lighten up your meals, although one great thing about aging is that you don't want all the fat and heaviness very often anymore, if at all.  Times like this, when you do crave something more decadent it can still be unprocessed with your own ingredients.  

There's Gonna Be a Heartache Tonight I Know

I was just telling my sister that when Barack Obama won the presidency we literally ran down the street along with tons of other New Yorkers, yelling and screaming for joy.  There were actual tears and for days after.  Seeing my black coworkers talk about the pride it gave them was overwhelming and moving, even for a crusty heart,

Working a late shift last night I asked my mate to warn me if there was murder in the streets or mass rioting so I could make my way home early, a sign they called the race and the news was bad. 

Everything went fine that night so going into the weekend I figured we'd wait until Monday or longer to hear the news.  After a biggie breakfast suddenly we hear honking and screaming outside and run to the window.  I look on my phone to see the Breaking News.  I text my sisters and friends in celebration and once again immediately ran outside.  Within minutes thousands of people flooded the streets.  Cars were honking, trucks, delivery drivers, city busses, taxi's! As if a great weight was lifted off of each of us individually and simultaneously, the whole city erupted. 

Healing

The corners became gathering spots for groups to cheer on drivers as if they were passing the baton for a race.  The joy was infectious and many of the scenes were in a type of slow motion, the way you experience accidents.  I recall really seeing each of the faces of the rejoicers, black, white, Asian, every type of Latin, Indian, Russian, Polish, French, as they waved and cheered with the crowds from their vehicles or on the streets.  We were a city again!  This asshole was going down and even though the weeks before felt like no one was sure about the person sitting next to them on the subway or at a light, in passing cars, today we were united breathing a heavy sigh of relief.  Brooklyn, Manhattan and all the boroughs broke out in concert and that energy was undeniable.  Trump Goes Down in Brooklyn

Cute family

At one point elated little girls popped out of a car roof singing in such a way that brought an immediate reaction from the crowd.  The father who was stopped at the light, jumps out of his car and stands on his hood causing a momentary stop of traffic as folks rushed to him.  It became apparent that we were in a such a frenzy that you almost didn't know what to do with yourself.  This joy wasn't in any particular place, it just was.  And to truly experience it you just had to acknowledge it existed and it was hard not to jump up and down, run, shout and seeing it in others only broadened the experience.  Truly another key New York memory to include with a handful of others I'll never forget. 

I know there will be a lot of disappointed Trump lovers out there but America has spoken!   

Life in the Fast Lane, Surely Make you Lose Your Mind

Using crispy rice as a crunchy topping for a salad was a fun idea to use up the small leftover black grain.  Heated on a hot pan until it begins to crust, rice takes on a very nutty and savory flavor that any cook knows.  When was the first moment someone discovered that secret awesomeness, perhaps while cleaning up they scraped the pan and like me, tasted the caramelized wonder.
Today I felt it is culinarily (yes, its a word in food land) time to take these bits and give them their moment in the spotlight.

I'm pretty easily entertained and satisfied so a small new delight can really shake up my nerd world. I eat a lot of burger patties over salad, because it's tasty, easy, fast and relatively healthy.  The best things about this type of easy meal is the countless variations.  You can make a turkey, black bean, ground chicken or beef burger, topped with many different cheeses.  You can use so many types of lettuce, theme your salad or make the dressing the star.  So one idea can be several meals.  I added fresh orange juice and zest to this iceberg salad with chick peas and avocados. 

I'm so inspired today by my own lame low-bar values that I'm making a cup of orange peel tea with you guessed it, my own orange peels that I pulled off with my own tiny nail-bitten fingers.  And guess who has fresh mint!? My mom used to make it this way, so it's nostalgic, green, and planet saving but not at all pretentious because it's just me enjoying life in the cheapest ways possible.  To continue the festivities I also whipped up a jar of my house blend popcorn seasoning.

Desperado, Why Don't You Come to Your Senses

Tender Beef Tenderloin

I'm not the expert on large pieces of meat but I know some things.  I don't cook them as often because you either need a plan or a bigger freezer when you're only cooking for two.  I've screwed up beef tenderloin before so here's what I've learned, here's what I know to be true:
- you must allow your meat to come to room temperature, takes a good hour or so.
- always pat dry before adding rub, oils, etc.
- brown it on all sides first
- oven temp is high, like 450-475, so roasting time is quick, 20-25 minutes.
- let it rest for 15 minutes, tented

And it desperately calls out for some type of fatty condiment.  I'm not a huge fan of lean meats, because well, they're just not as fun.  Even juicy and tender like this, for me it's slightly boring and one-note.  And clearly I overcooked the broccoli.  Nothing worse than a dull colored vegetable.

You Get the Best of My Love

You can look at this plate and see that I did not make this.  This is clearly someone else's work.  Patrick made dinner tonight, I think for the first time in like a year but the funny thing it was almost this exact day.  I was sick in the head and he came through.  If he applied himself, he could make killer burgers but he likes to act like he is incompetent in the kitchen.  This gets him out of any future rescues.

You know when someone cooks for you, it's so much better because you don't have to do anything but just wait to be served, preferably laying down in a bed. There is something to that plate coming right at you.  That alone is worth it.  He did good, kept it simple.  Not like he would have if we were just dating mind you.  This is definitely a husband's effort.  He's not making it special, not trying to get laid. If he was trying for that, he would have toasted that bun and slapped some mustard on it, not left it all lonely and naked like that.  No, this was more out of long term obligational guilt.  This plate is like a passing C grade, just enough to slip by.  A well done burger with condiments. He did cut and buy fresh tomatoes.  The pickles and stuffed garlic olives were a nice touch. And he opened and heated a can of black eyed peas.   I would have never thought I'd enjoy those peas.  Bought them thinking some day I'll use them as a side, all dressed up.  They were good warmed up out of the can though. (clearing throat)  If that's all he had in him for his WIFE that cooks almost every day but wasn't feeling well enough this day...then, who am I to complain?

Life in the Fast Lane

Taco Salad Bowl

This was one of the first fresh type dinners of the spring.  Still some hot but also cool refreshing things like avocado and tomato, some berries.  Meals change like the seasons.

Also I'll be able to photograph food in natural light again.  That always makes it look better.  You know what else changes in spring? New bikers.  Thousands of new bikers.  Couples riding in tandem.  And the absolute worst, Citi-bikers in their no helmet wearing casual strides.  I'm not a snob. I'm just a commuter, trying to get to work quickly and without hassle.  I'm not all geared up and clicked in with matching multicolored pants.  But I will say this.  Citi-bikers are dangerous.

They are either going way too slow and unaware that they are actually in traffic, or they are hauling ass with those big ole' beach combers. Problem is, they are unable to stop on a dime as you will need to do lots of times.  They're writing checks their ass can't cash.  Here is my suggestion.  I feel in order to rent one of those things, you must have a dedicated number of clocked road hours, preferably spent in the parks, away from humans that matter.  I don't want to see your high-heeled, skirt-wearing ass on my streets until I know that you have fallen on that sweet little bottom out there once or faced death as a cab passenger casually almost doored you. Perhaps you came this close to your face stopping a school bus or a pedestrian text zombie caused you to catch a mini stroke as they walked aimlessly into traffic without warning.  Until that time and only then have you fully realized how shit is real out here and yes you could be flattened in a hot second. I've seen it.  Drivers are not your friends. In fact, they hate you.  Or at the very least resent you and no they don't share the road.  They will bully you straight into a mac truck if it will get them through that light faster.  And don't fool yourself, bike lanes mean nothing.

And another thing.  You are not cool and you are not in Europe.  Your shit is awkward looking.  So just keep it simple. Pay attention and don't try advanced stuff out there because it's super annoying.  I want this to work.  More bikes mean better bike lanes and that's all a good thing.  There's room out here for all of us knuckleheads.  But I need to get to my destination without being taken down by a giant blue tank in flipflops.

And let's just assume you know better then to get on one of those things at night.

One of These Crazy Ole' Nights

This was the second of 3 ideas I found for use of chicken breast on www.BonAppetit.com.  It's loosely based on the great Thai soup Tom Kha Gai.  I know!  Easy and ready in under an hour.  As with every recipe, I didn't fuss much with exact ingredients.  I had red bell pepper instead of jalapenos and no snap peas but it was great anyway.  And c'mon isn't it so great to eat well on a normal night that has no business being special?  I already had everything to make this except the fresh basil that set me back $1.69 at the corner market.

Like a squirrel I store nuts.  I wait for some of these specialty items to go on sale and will buy them randomly.  The pantry stuff, like coconut milk and fish sauce. I notice when the grocery stores need to reduce their overstock of these less popular items, the discounts are deep.  And to grab one during a regular run doesn't hurt the budget.  So when the urge hits and you get a wild hair, it's all there and free and ready.  And it's even better because you know you were smart about it.

One of These Nights

You know all those Grill Mate Seasonings that you see in the grocery stores and if you're like me you say, 'uh, no thanks I'll make my own'? Telling yourself they probably taste artificial and are filled with bad things. Well....um, maybe if you're feeling a little less inspired one night, I'd encourage you to pick up McCormick's Mesquite seasoning.

Tonight after work I was faced with pork chops and no particular big ideas. I'm in a tiny Brooklyn apartment with no chance in sight to ever grill. I miss those tastes.

Add a little orange juice and a squeeze of lemon after a good snowfall of this stuff, a hot oiled pan and I had myself some perfectly seasoned blackened pork chops that could have come straight off the grill! Giant flavors and very real. I loved it!

As the kids would say at work, 'Good on you McCormick!' for keeping up with the upgraded tastes of your customers. America's tastebuds are growing up and you have been there with us!'

I Can't Tell You Why

I've never been all that good at showing up for my life events, either physically or otherwise. I can't explain it. But that is a flaw or quirk or social defect that I have come to live with as fixing it altogether at this point seems a bit unrealistic. I manage it, maybe how another would manage their overspending.

However, I do make efforts. Here and there I actually do make appearances. Two holiday parties this year posed a new problem though. An early commitment to bring Salted Caramel Bacon Brownies to the department party was what some thought a guarantee of attendance. Amateurs.

Sure it upped the chances because I really always do aim for progress but my success rate is low at best. When asked each time if I was to attend I definitely said there was a 15% chance. I did make it to the official store wide Holiday event that unfortunately included watching two of the only guys I respected at the store go down in a drunken fighting and eventual firing mess. They were a nice gay couple from Sweden. A true pity.

There was a plan to actually get someone to drive my promised brownies to the 2nd event but that person also had issues and bailed. So, the next day I packed the bite sized beauties into festive bags and stuffed them into my biker bag and offered them up to my coworkers with apologies and lame but actually legitimate excuses for not showing up.

To me, these brownies are amazing, although some feedback was that they couldn't taste the bacon enough or they thought they would be saltier. Please read that last line in a mocking tone. I added 4 pieces of bacon, which was double the recipe. //savour-fare.com/2010/03/17/bacon-salted-caramel-brownies/ And that recipe is awesome! Screw 'em and I'm not sorry I didn't go to that stupid party!