Yesterday morning was spent with more Leo laundry, cuddle-time and grocery shopping. Lisa asked me to make Butterscotch Pots du Creme with Salted Caramel. Lenny just loves this dessert, served at Gjelina in Venice Beach. The restaurant - and several recipes - was featured in the September 2011 Food & Wine Magazine. I have no idea what happened, but the custard curdled! How did this happen? (It's not like I don't know how to make a custard, read, follow directions or cook.) I was so disappointed, but I had a plane to catch. The puddings went down the garbage disposal. Bummer too, as it included expensive (organic, of course) cream, eggs and an entire vanilla bean! Drat.
After the kitchen disaster, which also required making the caramel sauce twice (don't try to make caramel with organic sugar!) and I still think it is stoopid to add water to a perfectly fine caramel sauce and want to kick the chef at Gjelina.Don't even ask me how I was able to leave Leo. I thought about slipping him into my carry-on, but wasn't quite sure what do with him when he was hungry. It was harder to leave Lisa than it was to leave Leo. It isn't very often anymore Lisa actually needs me. This week she needed me.
My flight back to Portland was uneventful, but I was strangely seated next to the same dude I was seated next to on my flight down to Los Angeles Monday morning! What are the chances? We were both surprised to meet each other again. We are practically dating now.
DT was waiting for me at PDX and he whisked me away for dinner at Cafe Mingo, where I just about fell asleep in my plate, so My Husband brought me home. I slept for 10 hours straight.
Seriously.
Today, we received Leo's birth announcement (with a very boring postage stamp attached!) in the mail! This photo was taken by a professional photographer/friend of Lisa's when Leo was six days old.Is it just me, or is this kid really cute?
Things are looking good around Taylor Manor. The field is filled with pretty poppies.
And Queen Anne's Lace.And bees.
And Poison Oak.
It's all real purrty out there.
And my Hydrangeas are finally in full bloom. Gorgeous. It was 92 degrees today! Finally, we needed the air conditioner instead of the furnace! It is, after all, the end of August.We think it is a good idea to try our air conditioner at least once every-other-year... just to make sure it still works.
I found a recipe in another food magazine - Bon Appetit - for Anchovy & Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette, in a small notation from Alex Harrell of Sylvain in New Orleans. The vinaigrette sounded good, but I didn't think a few of the ingredients (Dijon mustard, sugar, canola oil) sounded quite right... so I improvised and made my own (simpler) version.
Drizzled over sliced organic heirloom tomatoes, I could not be more pleased with the result... and I have completely forgotten about the failed custard. Recipe will be posted tomorrow.Unless I sleep all day.
Until my next update, I remain, your Oregon correspondent.