The last two weeks of March, I made Mama Veli's Pozole soup and Black Bean Soup with a Hint of Orange.
Michael loves pozole, so he was happy to see this on the menu. I'm pretty sure this was the first time I'd cooked with fresh tomatillos. The soup was more involved than some, but the end result was tasty (five thumbs up) and I plan on making it again next year.
Black Bean Soup with a Hint of Orange was tasty, but the hint of orange was so hinty I couldn't taste it. And since that was the main difference between this soup and the black bean soup I've had for years, I don't know if I'll make it again, despite its five thumbs up. I did gain a recipe from this week, however. The Red, Yellow, and Orange Pepper Salad with Tequila-Lime Dressing was delicious.
We skipped soup for the month of April, since I was either cooking for just EM and I or in Costa Rica. Now we are into spring soups.
Last week's soup was Spring Risotto Soup, a mound of risotto covered with chicken broth containing mushrooms, snap peas, and green onions. I love risotto and I thought this soup was fantastic, the perfect comfort food when a spring cold comes knocking. (Side note: the Kindle is great for reading while you are stirring, stirring, stirring.) EM and IM also loved it. NB and Michael, however, gave it a sideways thumb. I told Michael I love it enough that I plan on making it next year anyway.
Today's soup was Dreamy Creamy Artichoke Soup, served with Watercress Salad with Red Onion and Chopped Egg Vinaigrette. Michael this is a yummy simple soup--just leeks, butter, frozen artichoke hearts, chicken stock, cream and Parmesan. Only three of us ate it (NB and IM were full of pizza from a birthday party) but we all liked it. The salad was good too, although I couldn't find watercress and substituted mixed spring greens instead. I need to find a watercress source soon, because watercress soup is coming up in June.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Costa Rica: A Very Tardy Trip Recap
Random impressions
* There are a ton of dogs and cats roaming the streets of Puerto Viejo. Anywhere you go, you have an instant pet (or two or three) following you around. Restaurants are no exception; at one point Michael and I had a cat sitting in the extra seat at the table, a dog resting his head on Michael's lap, and another dog who patiently sat by our table with hopeful eyes and a wagging tail for the entire dinner.
* Although the roads were much better than we saw on our last trip, by the end of the month we were dodging potholes in a road Michael had seen paved during his first week there.
* I lack the appropriate spatial awareness for driving in Puerto Viejo. Cars, trucks, bikes, scooters, pedestrians, horses, and the dogs and cats mentioned above all make use of the roads, which narrow to one lane for every bridge. Michael adapted just fine to the crazy passing and dodging; I closed my eyes.
* There is a limit to my feminism. When this showed up in our bedroom, I told Michael if the bug wasn't out of there by bedtime I was finding somewhere else to sleep:
I wasn't too found of this, either:
* If your private Spanish teacher is a good-looking, younger surfer, it's really great when you can shrug and say to your husband, "Well, you arranged the lessons."
* Land crabs are hard to dodge while driving. It's not until you are almost on top of them that you realize the rocks in the road are moving.
* It's nice of the aviary to ask us to stay three feet away from the birds, but someone should explain that to the birds.
* And the corollary: It's a little unnerving to be buzzed by toucans. Those beaks look wicked sharp when zooming toward your head.
* Although I am generally in favor of preserving wildlife, I don't quite see the need for the eyelash pit viper breeding program at the local animal rescue center.
* Tree frogs are a lot less noticeable with their eyes closed.
* It is possible to eat well in Costa Rica. The Caribbean had great seafood, including the best fish tacos I've ever eaten. And EM and I became quite attached to the bananas cooked with honey we encountered in the San Jose area.
* Three-toed sloths are even cuter than two-toed sloths.
* I suppose if I lived in Costa Rica, I too would become totally blase about howler monkeys in the trees on the edge of the beach. Eventually.
* Song is not the right word for the sound a toucan makes. You know those wooden friction sticks your music teacher let you play with in elementary school? That's what a toucan sounds like.
* There are a ton of dogs and cats roaming the streets of Puerto Viejo. Anywhere you go, you have an instant pet (or two or three) following you around. Restaurants are no exception; at one point Michael and I had a cat sitting in the extra seat at the table, a dog resting his head on Michael's lap, and another dog who patiently sat by our table with hopeful eyes and a wagging tail for the entire dinner.
* Although the roads were much better than we saw on our last trip, by the end of the month we were dodging potholes in a road Michael had seen paved during his first week there.
* I lack the appropriate spatial awareness for driving in Puerto Viejo. Cars, trucks, bikes, scooters, pedestrians, horses, and the dogs and cats mentioned above all make use of the roads, which narrow to one lane for every bridge. Michael adapted just fine to the crazy passing and dodging; I closed my eyes.
* There is a limit to my feminism. When this showed up in our bedroom, I told Michael if the bug wasn't out of there by bedtime I was finding somewhere else to sleep:
I wasn't too found of this, either:
* If your private Spanish teacher is a good-looking, younger surfer, it's really great when you can shrug and say to your husband, "Well, you arranged the lessons."
* Land crabs are hard to dodge while driving. It's not until you are almost on top of them that you realize the rocks in the road are moving.
* It's nice of the aviary to ask us to stay three feet away from the birds, but someone should explain that to the birds.
* And the corollary: It's a little unnerving to be buzzed by toucans. Those beaks look wicked sharp when zooming toward your head.
* Although I am generally in favor of preserving wildlife, I don't quite see the need for the eyelash pit viper breeding program at the local animal rescue center.
* Tree frogs are a lot less noticeable with their eyes closed.
* It is possible to eat well in Costa Rica. The Caribbean had great seafood, including the best fish tacos I've ever eaten. And EM and I became quite attached to the bananas cooked with honey we encountered in the San Jose area.
* Three-toed sloths are even cuter than two-toed sloths.
* I suppose if I lived in Costa Rica, I too would become totally blase about howler monkeys in the trees on the edge of the beach. Eventually.
* Song is not the right word for the sound a toucan makes. You know those wooden friction sticks your music teacher let you play with in elementary school? That's what a toucan sounds like.
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