Taking the slow road

We recently made a quick trip to San Antonio to visit the little one's Granny & Granddad. That is always a treat, because when we get there stuff like this is waiting for us. Sigh. And then Granddad makes us the most delicious paninis we've ever tasted. Wish I had a pic of those, but I inhaled both (yes, both) of mine before I thought about it!

Granny is always up for a game of tag.

And their kitty Babs lifts our spirits when we start missing our own fur balls.

On the straight, flat, and mind numbing drive home, we decided to make a detour. We hopped off of I-10 and took the old highway instead. It runs through all of the little old Texas towns that were passed by when I-10 was built. Little old Texas towns are great for lots of reasons, not the least of which is that you're virtually guaranteed that they'll have a Dairy Queen. Look what I found there :

Riding around past cow pastures and windmills with the sun streaming through my window, and eating a banana split. Well, that is one of the best times I've had in a long time.

Taking the old highway will lead you through towns with names like Flatonia and Schulenburg. Places that still have town squares that look like this :

You will also get to drive over pretty bridges like this :

And if your family is anything like ours, your own little one will take about 150 pictures of her toes.

Can't wait to do it all again.

Update :

Strange fruit still strange.

After looking at way too many varieties of figs, I think it might be from a weeping fig vine. Still not positive though.

The little one has taken to calling it the Freckle Fig, and I think that's just about the cutest name I've ever heard. Heretofore ... the strange fruit shall be called the Freckle Fig (at least in this old house).

Strange Fruit

The little one and I were taking a walk around the school this past weekend, when we ran into this :

There were literally hundreds of these fruits (?) hanging over the school yard wall. Do you know what they are ? Definitely not ripe yet. I haven't a clue.

My first thought was that maybe it was some sort of fig, but after exhaustive research (one google search) I have my doubts.

I should know what a fig looks like being that I'm 38 (and a half) and all ... and because behind my grandmother's house on Evangeline Street in Baton Rouge, there was a beautiful and huge fig tree. It sure was fun to play under, but not once did I ever eat a fig off of it.

PS: Fig. Fig. Fig. That's just not an appetizing word to me. Plumb. Plumb. Plumb. Now that sounds sumptuous.

Isn't he lovely

I'm always telling people that my husband is a renaissance man, and today he once again proved that to be true. While making the worlds most grunt worthy man food, he looked at his bacon weaving technique and proclaimed ... "Korto's seatbelt jacket has nothing on me!" ...

I think he's right. Project Runway, here he comes.

If life gives you lemons ...

... give them to your husband, and if he's anything like mine, he'll make you a lemon merengue pie. Thanks honey !

PS : Thanks for the lemons Judy !

A table for two

Cozy wing back chairs, table built for two, candlelight, fireplace ... yes please ... I'll take it all. 

House Beautiful

And at my table built for two, I would make us one of our favorite things. A fruit and cheese plate. Doesn't sound very exotic, I know, but done well, it's all I need.

My favorite place to go for a fruit and cheese plate is The Black Labrador. It looks like a relatively authentic English pub inside, and that's never a bad thing. Stilton cheese, water crackers, thinly sliced tart green apple ... mmmmm ... I can't go and not order it.

PS: Above The Black Lab restaurant is the best place to hear jazz in all of Houston (in my opinion anyway). It's called Cezanne's, and it's about the size of my living room. You are just feet away from the music, and I swear, you can feel it everywhere. 

What's cooking

These are busy, busy days in our little old house ... none the less, I will always find the time to make this pot roast recipe. So satisfying and delicious. The roast has whole cloves of garlic stuffed into it, and as it bakes, they get creamy and mellow. Yum. It's what's for dinner tonight.

*update* I fixed the recipe link

I also get to break out my beautiful Le Creuset Dutch oven to make it in. That's always a treat for me, since I rarely get to use it. 

Three things that are making me happy this morning

I ate a brownie (or two) for breakfast. This is just one of those mornings when it seems like a completely appropriate thing to do. 

Our new refrigerator arrived at 8am, and now I don't have to be annoyed by the constant LOUD buzz & rattle of our old one.

Elvis, our almost 17 year old pound dog , despite being blind, deaf, and constantly confused, is sleeping happily and (hopefully) having sweet dreams.

What I'm watching

Iconoclasts on the Sundance channel is must see TV for me. Two notable people, with a common thread, but most often from completely diverse worlds, interviewing each other. Actually, it's less "interview", and more of them stepping into each others lives while we watch. There are always fabulous combinations of people like, Jeff Koons and Tom Ford, Christiane Amanpour and Rene Zellweger, Mario Batali and Michael Stipe ... I could go on and on ... My favorite episode by far. The one I have "save until I delete"ed on my Tivo, is Mikhail Baryshnikov & Alice Waters. I love them both.

What's cooking this week

Monday

Baked Ziti - Salad - Crusty Bread

From Martha

Tuesday

Enchilada Casserole

From Dallas Morning News

Wednesday

Winter Minestrone

From Giada

Thursday

Hamburger Steaks with Bleu Cheese & Sauteed Onions and Potatoes

From Me

Friday

Take Out Night !

What's cooking

This is what Daddy is making for dinner tonight ... I can't wait !

Grilled Cheese & Turkey Chili from Southern Living 

Oh...My...God

Red Currant Sorbet and Faiselle Ice Cream with Fried Strawberries

This looks so deliciously beautiful, and beautifully delicious, that it's hurting my feelings ... In this house, if something isn't easy enough to cook with one hand, and one eye ( while the other is holding or watching my sneaky 3 year old ) ... well, it's not likely to get made. I found this on Tartelette, where the food and photos are so pretty, it just might break your heart. 

They swear that this recipe is simple and uncomplicated ... Well ... J'accuse Tartelette blog, j'accuse ... because I do not believe you! Sorry, I have Tim Gunn on the brain ... and if you don't watch Project Runway ... just ignore my j'accuses.

Plums = heaven , especially in a cute red bowl with white polka dots .

What's cooking this week

MONDAY

Minestrone & asiago cheese bread - from Michael Chiarello

TUESDAY

Chicken Noodle Hold the Soup - from Rachael Ray

WEDNESDAY

Tacos , Beans , and Guacamole - from Moi

THURSDAY

Baked Spaghetti & Salad - from Paula Deen

FRIDAY

By Friday, Mama is d-o-n-e with the cooking - so we feast on take-out.

Early front runners : El Tiempo , Vietnam Restaurant , & Chicago Pizza

photos via - Scrumptious Street , McCormock , i.ehow , and Food Network respectively

 

What the world eats

This is SO interesting . What families around the world eat in a week, and how much they spend on it . 

Click here for the slideshow

Just one of those days

I would totally sell my soul right now for one of these

What I need

I'm so ready for the weekend. Oh, what was that? Ah yes, you are too... well, if you are anything like me, weekend = Mexican food.  Pardon me while I daydream... 

Mmmmm... that would hit the spot. Oh, and please don't forget the margarita(s)...

While were at it... could I please be having this experience in San Miguel de Allende... that would be just super....

 And if it's not too much trouble... a table next to the fountain please...

Sigh... that is all, carry on . 

All images via Flickr

Husband , don't read this

image via The Food Network

So , my sweet husband has a birthday coming up .  One thing I know for sure, is that the man looovves a Reeses peanut butter cup . He's been an especially good boy this year, so I'm thinking about making these for his birthday .... Yes kittens, those are homemade chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter icing .... from the kitchen of the Barefoot Contessa no less ! Yum Yum Yum ...