La Quinta, California: After a few weeks respite, temperatures have returned to the 90s. Time to keep a few window shades down. The magical season of "no furnace/no air conditioner" will soon be over. Still, we are harvesting more lemons than we can possibly use and juicing the rest in ice cube trays, to use the remainder of the year in drinks, salad dressings, marinades, etc. Several mini tomatoes a week are ripe, the herbs are super plentiful, though the cilantro has bolted. Our San Marzano tomato bushes are loaded:
We have been busy with the University in town for a golf tournament and meetings. We attended neither, but did host cocktails one evening.
Do y’all remember I tore my meniscus a few years ago? I did. Proceeded with rehab, then had a steroid injection as well. This seemed to do the trick, until a few months ago when the pain returned. My usual (GP) doc appointment was scheduled for the end of February, so I asked her if she could refer me again to the orthopedist for another steroid injection. No worries - she just shot me up in her office that minute. Three weeks later, the injection is beginning to work and I am able to golf 9/18 holes with little pain.
Sadly, my golf game has not improved.
BOOKS: Previously mentioned, but while stitching I am usually listening to an audio book and have recently finished two real-life stories - each with a nautical/castaway theme. Isolda (by Allegra Goodman) tells the tale of a very pampered and very young woman abandoned by her guardian to a deserted island in the 1500s - and it was not tropical. This read may give one reason to double-check their will instructions. The other was A Marriage at Sea (by Sophie Elmhirst) - a true story set in the 1970s about a British couple having to abandon their sinking sailboat and survive in their life raft... for a very long time. I found both books to be so interesting and so far from anything I have ever experienced. You know what happens then? I LEARN something.
TV: Have you watched The Residence on Netflix? The producers of Bridgeton created this fun 8-series romp through the White House after a murder during an Australian State dinner. It did drag on the last few episodes, but the detective is an absolute hoot (no pun intended), and if you are clever(er than me), the whodunnit should prove as interesting as a game of Clue while reading Murder on the Orient Express. Bonus: Jane Curtain has a small, but hilarious, role. Bring vodka and binoculars.
The grandchildren performed a brother-sister duo at a school function:
Speaking of my favorite grandchildren, the kids soon have a two-week Spring Break and we have them the entire time (without their parents!). Check back on this blog beginning March 22nd.
St. Patrick’s Day is next week. My Irish Soda Bread is a great accompaniment to a corned beef dinner:
Also called Irish Soda Bread, my recipe makes a nice tea bread. Buttermilk is the secret to a tender crumb in this quick bread. If you think about it, soak the raisins in a little Irish whiskey while the butter, egg, and buttermilk are coming to room temperature - drain before adding the raisins to the batter.
1 stick butter, softened (¼ lb.), room temperature
½ cup sugar
1 egg, at room temperature
1½ cups buttermilk, well-shaken, at room temperature
2½ cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup currants (or raisins)
Heat oven to 350º. Oil a 9" round cake pan. In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the egg and mix until blended. With a whisk, blend in the buttermilk. In another bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add dry mixture to buttermilk mixture, beating with an electric mixer until just combined. Gently stir in currants. Batter will be stiff. Pour into prepared baking pan. Bake for 50-55 minutes. Let rest in pan for 5-10 minutes, then turn out onto wire rack. Slice into wedges and serve – with fresh butter!
Makes one round loaf.
Until my next update, I remain, your all-caught-up correspondent.