The Fourth

Continuing with our "Time Flies" theme, the Mr. and I celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary a couple of weeks ago. Yah. I KNOW. The fourth anniversary is the fruit/flowers anniversary, so we decided to splurge on some of the more exotic items we find in the legendary Wegmans produce section as a special treat. What more appropriate moment to spend ten dollars on a single piece of fruit?

Pineapple, mango, kiwi, cherries, plumcot, feijoa and dragon fruit. We even bought a cherry pitter to commemorate the day.

O(nly in) Canada!

Yes, what you see there are snacks available at a convenience store in Montreal - Smoky BBQ and DILL PICKLE flavored sunflower seeds! I'm surprised there are no ketchup flavored ones (*shudder*).

Happy Turkey Day!

I am thankful for (aside from the obvious):

• the improvement in my career path in the light of the recent economy
• the excellent doctors who have helped/healed our respective families
• a year of many visits and reconnection with old friends
• the prospect of going home for the holidays for the first time in too many years
• Chipotle (yes.. you were saying?)

There's plenty more, but I gotta go pick up some guacamole at Malibu. Thank you Malibu!

Wow. Just Had to Share.

So my Dad took me to dinner at Red Hot & Blue before I left Dallas. I ordered iced tea to drink. This is what they gave me - a pitcher with a straw. In spite of the super spicy BBQ sauce I poured all over my delicious plate of brisket, I was unable to finish my beverage.

I guess it's the heat, but I'd forgotten how much liquid people seem to consume here.

I Know You're Envious, But Try to Restrain Yourself

Those of you who've never been to Braum's won't understand, but BEHOLD! The Cherry Limeade. See how it glows in the light of the setting sun... taste the glory of real lime juice. Can't go to Dallas and not stop at Braum's. Yes, back in Dallas just for a few days to see my Mom.

Oh, Yes We Did...

AT LAST! Chipotle has come to town!

We went on the actual first day of business, and the line wrapped all around the building. The parking lot was gridlocked, as it is still under construction and there were just way too many people looking for burritos. People were walking over from other parking lots and several were sitting on their cars to eat. So we kept driving.

We went back on the second day of business and actually got a parking place and stood in line (see photo). Yes. We stood in that line for tacos. The line was even longer when we left.

It was totally worth it.

How many days until...?

Gratuitous cat shot!

It takes so little really. New Miss Marple series out on DVD next week and Chipotle is coming to Rochester next Friday. BBC and barbacoa... this is way harder than waiting for my birthday!

Veg. It's What's for Dinner!

We're trying to get back to cooking at home more often. Saves money and it's generally healthier all round.

I'm calling it Texpacho. With saffron rice and roasted sweet corn. Lovely summer dinner. The book recommends Sauvignon Blanc or Viognier, but we're fresh out. Next time!


4 medium sized tomatoes (seeded)
juice retained from seeded tomatoes
1 cucumber (peeled & seeded)
1 poblano pepper (seeded)
1 jalapeno pepper (seeded)
1/2 large red onion
2 cloves garlic
1/4C lime juice (1 large lime)
1/4C olive oil
1/4C original V8 juice
2T red wine vinegar
1tsp toasted coriander seed
salt & pepper

Chop tomatoes, cucumber, peppers and onion, and run through the food processor in small batches. Do not over process. Serve chilled.

New Word for the Dictionary

Wreckerater: individual responsible for the creation of a real wreck of a cake.

I just stumbled across this blog in my usual stream-of-consciousness, no-idea-how-I-got-here manner of net surfing. But HOLY CATS would you look at some of these cakes! I am so glad our wedding was as fabulous as it was... once you've seen that post, check out the more current ones.

Take THAT You Turkey (or Season's Greetings from the Christmas Plague Rat)!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year (almost)! We had a wonderful visit with Adam's folks, as well as his Uncle Chris and my Dad. Daddy wins the Christmas Trials & Tribulations Award for spending the night in Chicago O'Hare airport with three pounds of frozen tamales and no phone charger when his connecting flight to Rochester was cancelled. AND THEN his flight out today was cancelled - so we'll be seeing him off at 4:30 this morning instead. Standing ovation please!

And... WhaBAM! Turkey chili! Courtesy of the Houston law firm Whoosie, Whatsit & Thingimie - the world's cutest little cajun spiced turkey was delivered to our door amongst the holiday loot. The thing that amazed me was that the six of us did not polish it off Christmas Day! So less than 24 hours after Christmas dinner - I used the left-overs to make chili to go with the fabulous tamales Daddy brought along from Dallas. Mmmmmm...

Black Friday, Turkey Soup

We are partaking of a time-honoured family tradition this year and have made the leftover turkey soup. Last Thanksgiving, we had intended to make the soup, but forgot and left the turkey out on the counter all night. Ah well. So this year, the Mr. jumped on the soup-wagon straight off and got it boiling before the dishes were in the dishwasher. We'll just have to wait and see if we uphold the remainder of the tradition, which is apparently to do absolutely nothing with this turkey broth until we are so frightened of its potential that we have to toss it out. I've heard tell of this road... it's paved with good intentions.

And yes, I worked the bookstore today. We'll just say the customers were friendlier than my coworkers today, and THAT'S saying something. I'm wondering how I'll make it through the season. I do believe I shall be dependent upon the kindness of strangers.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Cheers, y'all!

What to Eat

As I may have mentioned previously, Dallas is a major restaurant test market, and you can get some really great food at a WIDE range of prices. Below are some of our favorite places to chow down in Big D, grouped by approximate price ranges. At least one of us (frequently both of us) have eaten at and enjoyed all of these selections. Obviously, the higher range options will require an advance reservation.

Cheap/Fast
Taco Bueno - one step up from Taco Bell, just as cheap, but with fresh salsa.
Chipotle - Barbacoa taco!! NOM NOM NOM! Kelly's favorite.
Tin Star - one of Adam's favorite Tex-Mex stops.
Schlotzsky's - sandwich chain, but not available everywhere.
Jason's Deli - admirable rendition of a muffaletta!

Mid-Range/Comfortable Sit-Down
Snuffers - they were making cheese fries before Outback existed. Mate.
Cafe Brazil - 24 hour step-up from a diner (some locations DO close on weeknights)
Green Papaya - Vietnamese
LaMadeleine - chain of French-type yumminess, good for breakfast/lunch/dinner.
El Chico or El Fenix - staple Tex-Mex, Kelly's childhood favorites.
Gloria's - Salvadoran, recommended by Adam!
Mia's - OMG! sour-cream enchiladas that will make you weep with pleasure!
Blue Mesa Grill- just slightly chic, nouveau Mex.

Oooh-la-la/Suit and Tie
Stephan Pyle's - you know, from the Cooking Channel?
Fearing's - at the Ritz. Really.

Ponca City, USA

And we return for another visit to Ponca City, home of the Rains clan and the Pioneer Woman! It was a full house this time, with friends Rick and Malin visiting from Sweden as well. We were greeted on our arrival by live music pouring out of 221 N Oak. There were 3 guitars, one bass guitar and one harmonica rockin' the house, and an appreciative audience spread round the house and out on the porch.

We spent a lovely evening catching up with Herb & Margareta and getting to know Rick and Malin. Herb grilled up some steaks, and we did a bit of reminiscing and some wedding planning. Sunday was Herb's birthday, and there was a big celebration with BBQ ribs and deep fried turkey and all manner of sinful indulgences. We even got to do some sight-seeing!

In the picture above you may just catch sight of the Braum's cup...

At some time in the past, I introduced Adam to the Sonic Cherry Limeade, and he was hooked. Oddly enough, every time we stopped for one of these special treats, I was vaguely disappointed by the experience. Something always seemed to be missing. So when we passed the Braum's here in Ponca City, and I recalled the Cherry Limeades of my childhood, I knew Adam needed to try one. EPIPHANY! That's what was missing - I didn't grow up on Sonic, I grew up on Braum's! We'd been drinking the wrong Cherry Limeade! Much like the burgers at Johnnie's, if you get to this part of the world, you've got to try the Braum's Cherry Limeade - you won't be sorry!

Let them eat cake!

And so we begin the hunt for sweets! We had already decided that we wanted a carrot cake for the Groom's Cake, as chocolate is not Adam's favorite. We were open to ideas for the Bride's Cake, but I had found a picture of a cake I liked for inspiration.

Our first stop was at a well known Dallas cakery which shall remain nameless. After sitting around for 15 minutes, watching teenagers build cakes, we finally met the wedding cake saleswoman. I won't call her the baker, as it seems the teenagers do all the actual work. Simply put, quite possibly the most awful cake ever. Stale cake, utterly lacking in flavor of it's own, slathered with overly sugared icing and fillings. She also informed us that they couldn't do carrot cake, and that no one could reproduce the inspiration for the Bride's Cake. Don't call us, we'll call you... or not.

Our second stop was a tiny little bakery in the Park Cities, with tasty cake and a willingness to make the effort and give us what we were looking for. Turns out the woman is cousin to the people who own Malibu (our favorite gourmet take-away) in Montreal! Talk about a small world! The lady was really nice, and the cake was quite good, but still not quite what we were looking for.

Our third and final cake tasting was with the pastry chef at the Adolphus. We had emailed the selection of cakes we wanted to try ahead of time, including our special carrot request. This was the only place that allowed us to choose what we would taste in advance. Our wedding coordinator ushered us into a small private dining room, where we (Adam & I, my Mom & Dad, two wedding coordinators, the pastry chef and her assistant) all sat down at a beautiful table with linens and china and candles and everything. We were served coffee (oh such lovely coffee) before the cakes were brought out. As the foot long cake plate was delivered to the table, I assumed it would placed in the middle so we could all take bites from the line of 5 small cakes it held. And then they sat it right in front of me. "Oh - I get to taste first!" I'm thinking, till they sat identical foot long plates in front everyone. Now, I make a pretty mean carrot cake, and anyone who knows my Mom knows she is a genius at sweets, but I have NEVER had a carrot cake this good in my life.

Done deal.

Filet Mignon, Please!

One more stop in the gravy train! It seems like we do nothing in Dallas but go from one meal to the next... food here is like nowhere else. In case you were not aware, Dallas is a major restaurant test market for the United States. Snuffer's was making some killer loaded cheese fries long before the Outback Steakhouse was a gleam in anybody's eye! We get some seriously good food here. That said, the dining plan for the week is even more complex than the wedding vendor appointment schedule! From Bacon & Eggs ala Erlann to barbacoa tacos at Chipotle, from the French Room at the Adolphus (that's another post entirely!) to table-side guacamole at Mariano's... excuse me while I wipe the drool off my chin...

Ah, that's better. So for one of our "must dine's" we went to Dunston's Steakhouse on Lovers Lane, where we've decided to hold the rehearsal dinner (How apropos, I hear you say). For those of you who are uninitiated, Dunston's is a Dallas Institution with a capital "I". My parents love to tell about me, age 4, asking the waitress (I think her name was Sunshine, and she was about 87) for a filet mignon medium rare and "Yes ma'am- she knows what that means and that really is what she wants to order thank you..." Needless to say Dunston's was a mainstay of my childhood. They have an open mesquite grill in the middle of the main room, where you can watch your steak cooking, and a salad bar that reminds you that salad can be comfort food, too, and certainly it needn't be healthy if you don't want it to be. At Dunston's, you know you're in Texas!

Remember I said they have an open mesquite grill? You probably won't notice till it's time to go to bed, but mesquite smoke clings...