Saturday at the Bayou City Farmers' Market

I hadn't here been for quite a while. We used to go fairly often, but haven't gone since Mike has been spending every Saturday at the Proton Therapy Center "making cancer history." I finally decided to go by myself. Not as much fun, but an enjoyable experience nonetheless.


In Wisconsin, we didn't get tomatoes at the farmers' market until late July or August...not the case here in Houston.


And look at these lovely squash...


I usually have a tendency to go overboard and buy way more than we can use, but this time I exercised some self control. This is what I came home with...


These beautiful eggs...

And this delicious chevre from Blue Heron Farm


Tonight I am going to make this Summer Tomato Salad with Goat Cheese, Basil Vinaigrette, and Fresh Herbs. Doesn't it sound yummy?

What to make for dinner when it's a record 97º

Grilled Fish Tacos (from the May 2008 edition of Bon Appétit)

I made them on the indoor grill because it was too hot to cook outside. I will definitely make these again...simple prep, quick cook, light and refreshing to eat!

Ingredients:

2 cups chopped white onion, divided
3/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro, divided
1/4 cup olive oil
5 tablespoons fresh lime juice, divided
3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon dried oregano (preferably Mexican)
1 pound tilapia
Coarse kosher salt
1 cup mayonnaise
1 tablespoon milk
Corn tortillas
2 avocados, peeled, pitted, sliced
1/2 small head of cabbage, cored, thinly sliced
Salsa Verde
Lime wedges

Preparation:

Stir 1 cup onion, 1/4 cup cilantro, oil, 3 tablespoons lime juice, orange juice, garlic, and oregano in medium bowl. Sprinkle fish with coarse salt and pepper. Spread half of onion mixture over bottom of 11x7x2-inch glass baking dish. Arrange fish atop onion mixture. Spoon remaining onion mixture over fish. Cover and chill 30 minutes. Turn fish; cover and chill 30 minutes longer. Whisk mayonnaise, milk, and remaining 2 tablespoons lime juice in small bowl.

Brush grill grate with oil; prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Grill fish with some marinade still clinging until just opaque in center, 3 to 5 minutes per side. Grill tortillas until slightly charred, about 10 seconds per side.

Coarsely chop fish; place on platter. Serve with lime mayonnaise, tortillas, remaining 1 cup chopped onion, remaining 1/2 cup cilantro, avocados, cabbage, Salsa Verde, and lime wedges.

I couldn't make this up...

Sometime during the last month, postage went up while I wasn't paying attention. I do have some 2¢ stamps left from the last time it went up, but I hate giving the USPS more than I have to. Cheap, no...OC, yes! So I ordered some stamps online...the $1 they charge for delivery is so worth it! It saves my sanity from having to deal with the local post office. I got some 1¢ stamps and also some of the new 42¢ Minnesota sesquicentennial ones. When they arrived they were in this envelope...


And this is how I found them in the mail slot in our front door...



Does anyone else see the irony here?

More orange clogs

I guess there are a lot of Mario Batali fans out there. I have seen his show on the Food Channel a few times (we don't have cable, but I have watched it at my mom's) and I have seen him on Martha as well. We have a couple of his cookbooks that Mike cooks out of fairly often. I only happened to find out that he was going to be here in Houston by chance while shopping at Central Market. I went to the book signing to pick up a few birthday/Father' s Day/housewarming gifts.
Well, while I was standing in line, I was amused by the number of Mario wannabees waiting with me.




Joe Bastianich was there too, promoting his wines and his book Vino Italino: The Regional Wines of Italy. We have eaten at one of his mother's restaurants, Lidia's Pittsburgh, and really enjoyed it. I think most of the people were there to see Mario, but Joe was much more hospitable and even stood up for me to have my picture taken with him

Orchid and orange

Someone gave me this orchid as a dinner party gift three years ago. They said, "Just throw it away after it is done blooming." Even the grower's tag on it said essentially the same thing, but hey, they just want you to spend another $25. And why would I throw away a living plant just because it didn't have any flowers on it. I know just a tiny bit about orchids. What I did with this one is to put it in the back guest bathroom with no heat for the winter, then put it on the screen porch once the weather warmed up in March and gave it some water. This is what it looked like on April 12.And this was taken May 3. This is the third year in a row that it has bloomed for me (not counting the blooms it had when I got it). It still looks like this. It must be loving the tropical weather we are having...80º and 80% humidity this morning.
And since everyone was so impressed with the picture of me with Will Shortz, here is a more recent on with another famous celebrity. He was doing a book signing at Central Market. Doesn't he look thrilled?
And that was before I took the picture of his equally famous shoes.

An Engineer's Guide to Cats

What I did today...

I may have mentioned that I am a nerd. I do the New York Times crossword puzzle EVERY Sunday. I have Will Shortz's autograph. I got it when I met him in New York in the fall of 2000. We were there for the ACR meeting and I just happened to hear on Weekend Edition Sunday (while I was listening to the puzzle) that he was going to be at a book event just a few blocks from our hotel. So of course I had to go. I had him sign that week's NYT puzzle and got my picture taken with him. After a decade of submitting entries, I finally got to play Puzzle on the air with him and Liane Hansen on 11/02/03. You can listen to it here.

With that accomplishment under my belt, I have been compelled to move on to greater things. I have taken the Jeopardy online test twice, and apparently I passed it the second time. I was invited to an "in-person" audition in Dallas, which I went to today. This is the official synopsis:

How does one become a contestant on JEOPARDY!?

The four basic steps to qualify as a contestant are:

1. Qualify for an "in-person" audition by either passing the Online Test or attending a Brain Bus event and passing the pre-test.
2. If you pass the online test and are invited to an "in-person" audition, you will then take another 50 question written test. Your application will be judged based on your “in-person” test score as well as your online test score.
3. Everyone at the audition will play a short version of JEOPARDY! - Three at a time, just like on the actual show, complete with buzzers!
4. Participate in a brief personality interview.

The in-person audition test presents 50 clues from 50 different categories in the familiar JEOPARDY! format. Each clue is read aloud and simultaneously projected as text on a screen. The material covers a wide range of categories and response time is limited. Once the test is over, the contestant coordinators will lead the group through a brief game-playing tutorial, after which everyone will take turns playing a mock version of the game. At the end of the mock game, each applicant will be asked to tell a little bit about themselves; likes, dislikes, career, family, hobbies, etc. The whole process takes approximately two hours. Please arrive early. Because of the strict format of the testing process, latecomers simply cannot be admitted. No exceptions! Only the test-takers will be permitted to enter the test site, guests are not allowed. Dress as you would to appear on the show.

There is no fee to take any of the tests, but please know that any costs you incur in connection with the test and audition (including but not limited to accommodations, meals, transportation, parking) must be at your own expense. We can assume no responsibility in that regard.

How will I know if I’ve been selected to compete on JEOPARDY!?

If you pass the test and play well in the mock game, you are put in the active file for 18 months from your test date. Being put in the active pool does not guarantee that you will be invited to appear on the show. If you are selected to compete on the show you will be contacted by our contestant coordinators with full details and booking instructions.

I will let you all know if I get the call to come to LA :-) Right now I am going to watch the last 2 episodes, which I have taped (I told you I was a nerd).

Someone likes them...

Even though we decided the dwarf calamondin oranges were too small and tart to eat, apparently that doesn't bother Mr. Squirrel here. Just as long as he stays away from my tomatoes...

I'm back...just in time for summer!

Bellaire Weather

Current conditions as of 6 pm CDT

Partly Cloudy 93º

Feels Like: 100°

Barometer: 29.72 in and falling

Humidity: 47%

Visibility: 10 mi

Dewpoint: 70°

Wind: SSW 15 mph

Sunrise: 6:26 am

Sunset: 8:11 pm

A tribute to my father, from my daughter

My daughter Kate and her husband Kyle (remember the wedding last October?) have just bought a 108 year old house in NE Minneapolis. Before my dad got sick, I had planned a trip up to give them a hand (and some sage advice from someone who has owned a few OLD houses). We have been pulling up carpeting, tack strips, nails and staples in preparation for floor refinishing and have now moved on to painting. Kate is a manager for Trader Joe's and works 50 hours a week, in addition to having a small wedding photography business on the side. Photography is really her passion. When we were in Mansfield for the memorial service, she took some photos of his workshop and has been posting them on her photo blog. It is such a fitting tribute to him...he loved building and fixing things and spent many happy hours working there.

On hiatus

I know I haven't posted for quite a while, and don't know when I will be posting again. I was at my parents' near Fort Worth for 12 days. I originally went up just to help my mom get through her second cataract surgery, but ended up staying because my dad was hospitalized with pneumonia. He had surgery and was on a ventilator for 6 days. I came home last Thursday, the day after they took him off the vent. On Friday night he apparently had a stroke and passed away Sunday morning. The memorial service won't be until next Monday as we gather grandchildren from all around the country. Mike and I will drive back up on Sunday and come home on Tuesday. Then on Wednesday (a week from tomorrow) I am flying up to MSP to see my daughter and son-in-law and their new 108 year old house and lend a hand with getting it ready for them to move in. Right now I am just feeling exhausted from what I have gone through and the anticipation of what lies ahead. So, dear readers, please bear with me while I take a little break...

My new favorite toy

Over the years I have had several of these stainless steel steamers that start out all nice and tight looking like this.

But after a few years (and hundreds of uses) they end up coming out of the dishwasher looking like this. I guess the repeated stress of opening and closing them finally takes its toll. Not a big deal, just annoying.


Well, recently I bought this silicone steamer and I LOVE it! I have no idea how long it will last, but for the time being, it works great, and I don't have to deal with reattaching those aggravating little pieces, whatever you call them.

Brunch and Beethoven

Today was a wonderful day of indulgence...brunch at Brennan's of Houston (as in the Brennan's of New Orleans fame) and then a marvelous concert by the Houston Symphony. We have been to Brennan's a few times before for dinner with a large group, but we have wanted to see if their Sunday Jazz brunch was as good as the one we had at Commanders Palace...it was! Then we heard Beethoven's 7th as well as a remarkable piece by Ravel, Piano Concerto for the Left Hand. It was written by Ravel for a pianist who lost his right arm in World War I, and the piano part is played solely by the left hand...amazing!

Envelopes and socks and a scarf, oh my!

This is probably the prettiest time of the year in our backyard. This is the view from our bedroom upstairs. I love looking out at it, so lush and verdant. It will look like this for a while, inviting to the naive eye, not betraying the heat and humidity and bugs that will attack you if you should venture out into it. It is still trim and tidy, and actually quite cool and pleasant today. But summer is definitely just around the corner. And I'm not sure when, but sometime in July or August, the backyard starts to remind me more of a jungle than a retreat.


Ever since I saw the post about of security envelopes on Design Sponge, I have been obsessed with the idea (I told you that I am a nerd!) These are the ones I have amassed so far. The one on the bottom right reminds me of something from microbiology...gram positive rods?

I realized that I never posted a picture of the socks I was working on after they were finished, so here you go. Guess I will just admire them till next winter, as sock weather is over with here in Houston.
As for my latest knitting project, I found this yarn on sale at Michael's and was intrigued by the fact that it is 50% soy. So I bought a couple skeins to see what it would be like to work with.


I decided to just make the scarf that was the free pattern on the label. It is turning out nicely, even though I initially thought that K6tog was a typo. I finally figured out how to knit 6 together, which actually involves using a crochet hook...go figure!

Still a bad blogger

It seems that I have been behind ever since I got home from my parents' a week ago. I have had something going on everyday except Sunday (including four 12 hour shifts at work) and it seems that I am just now getting caught up with everything that needs to be done. I am hoping to take some "urban wildflower" photos...just need to remember to take camera with me when I go out.

Upon the recommendation of the vet (Graycie is getting a little pudgy), the cats are now on a diet. Well, not really a diet, just not unlimited grazing at the self feeder. They actually eat less than I thought. I have been giving them one cup of food (Science Diet dry) a day to share, which is actually less than the recommended amount and they don't even finish it. So maybe what they really need is more exercise (don't we all?). I found this really CUTE food bowl at Petsmart, on clearance for 50% off. Very Mary Engelbreitish, don' t you think?

What a difference a week makes

Yes, I know I have been a very bad blogger. I was out of town for 9 days playing opthalmology nurse. Not my area of expertise, but the patient (my mom :-) was satisfied with the care. When I got home, I was amazed at how the garden had blossomed while I was gone. These are the crape myrtles after I pruned them in February.

And this is them now. They will be full of magenta flowers all summer. The neighbors' tree appears to be doing well, too.


While I bemoan the lack of lilacs and peonies here, there is this amazing plant I never experienced in Wisconsin... wisteria. In two weeks, it goes from looking like this

to looking like this! It gets its leaves after it blooms, and will provide shade over the garden swing all summer (never mind that it's too hot to sit outside).

It has these incredible blooms that have a faint fragrance. I'm glad it blooms when it does so I can actually be outside to enjoy it.

And while the Azalea Trail was almost 3 weeks ago, ours are blooming now.

Another beautiful flowering plant that you won't find in Wisconsin.

On the knitting front, I made my first Itty-Bitty hat. I had seen the book on Sommer Designs and had to have it. This was just a trial run...can't wait to make some more!


Speaking having to have it, I saw this book at It's A Stitch yesterday, then promptly came home and ordered it from Amazon.

Happy Easter, bunny!

This was a candid shot, I promise! If you have cats, you know that they don't pose...

Spring forward

Even though we have been having below normal temperatures, there is no denying that spring is here. The problem with spring in Houston is that it is very short and it is followed by summer, which is verrrrrrry long. I am trying not to dwell on that and just savor the moment. And at the moment, this is what we have blooming in our garden:

Daffodils

Pansies

SnapdragonsHere is an overview of the flower bed and herb garden

And here is the herb gardenI finally found some basil to plant
These are the tomatoes we planted on February 2nd...yes those are blooms! Maybe we will actually get some tomatoes this year.

And here are my Meyer lemon blooms...
look at those little baby lemons :-)

And here are the roses which are thriving after their February pruning

But alas, no lilacs, forsythia or peonies...

Made in the USA

I recently bought this plastic watering can at Target. When I brought it home and took the label off of it I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was actually made in the USA by Arrow Plastic Manufacturing Company in Elk Grove, IL.
Don't get me wrong, I love foreign made products...Japanese cars, English bone china, Irish wool sweaters, Italian leather shoes...you get the idea. What bothers me is that so many things that used to be made in the USA are now being outsourced to China, India, etc. Coach bags, for example, which were originally made in New York are now made in China and are more outrageously expensive than ever. So I have started a Flickr group for people to share items they have found that are still American made, hopefully so that others may seek them out and support these companies. If you find something that is still made in the USA, please share it there. Thanks!