San Francisco

San Fransico has a special place for all, wheather you've been there or not. Of course we've all been there at least through the movies or TV. As a child I can remember chasing down bad guys on "The Street's of Sanfransico." Humming "Rice a Roni, a San Fransico treat."  Tootsie walking coming down the hills to the apartment. As of recently a bunch of Apes taking the bridge to the man... Oh that list could go on and on.

One of my first encounters with the city was a memory of my father. A young Korean War soldier eating his first pizza, and Chinese food before shipping out. There is something about seeing The Golden Gate Bridge in person, that incredibly awe inspiring achievement of engineering. There is also the joy of walking along fisherman's wharf and smelling the salt and sea. Hearing a sea lion barking and gulls jabbering.

The Golden Gate engulfed in fog.

But of course fisherman's wharf is about fish. The bounty of their labor for those land lubbers who want to feast on the oceans treasures.

Crabs!!

It's lunch time!!!

"Mine! Mine! Mine!" Hey you, this isn't yours, it's mine!

Can't blame them. It was so wonderful. If you are in the city make it a point to get a sampling of the sea. Have a lunch with a gull, and quietly hum, "I left my heart, in San Francisco..."

I'm back! Or hip???

Ok so I know it's been almost a year since I've last posted. I do have an excuse all be it perhaps weak. Last spring my hip pain had progressively gotten worse to the point I'd go to a great city and not feel like getting out. In May, I had a total hip replacement.

Out of myway!! I'll run you down. Anyway I'm back to 100% and will be taking in the sites and ambiance to share with you.

By the way some friends helped out by cooking meals for a week or two. They were all great and a joy to consume.

I look forward to sharing with you soon.

Diet to die for!!!!

Well this is a keeper whether you are watching the calories or the fat. Tilapia is a great choice and the flash frozen fillets are inexpensive.

This is also pretty quick and easy. Start by making a salsa for the topping, this is where the labor is. My suggestion is getting a good helper to cut up the stuff. No, I didn't get help and it was even my birthday.

It is a strawberry salsa. If you want mango or kiwi that would be good too. It just so happened that the springtime strawberry sales were perfect. $1.99 for a quart of nice berries was perfect.

Chop them up nice and fine. Cut it all very fine. It lets the variety of  flavors marry in a unique way.

Strawberries
Red onion
Cilantro
Jalapenos
Red/yellow bell peppers
Garlic salt
Lime/lemon juice

I put mine on a bed of asparagus because I like it and it was on sale. Cooked rice, squash, green beans, peas...whatever you like.

I put the asparagus in a 400 degree oven after spraying them with Pam butter, garlic salt, pepper, lemon pepper, and paprika.

I cooked them on top of the asparagus. The asparagus got a 5 minute head start. I cooked the fish for about 18 minutes.

Topped it with the salsa and it was great. Maybe 300 calories a serving. I ate two!!!! Enjoy

The Bull

You may enjoy the bull fight, or for most people, not. I was in Madrid a while back and we decided to go watch one just to experience what it was all about. Interesting to say the least, gruesome to say the worst.
It's not like a man and a bull enter the arena to fight to the death. Not like that at all. First Mr bull gets beat up,  Mafiosi style. After hazers wear him out horse backed riders gouge him with jousting sticks. Now if this isn't enough the picadors come out and stick 2 foot long spears in his back.

OK so I'm not sharing this trying to make you anti -bull fight just telling you about my experience. It was to say interesting....

It's not like they choose a big riding bull. Just a little fighting bull. Still bull I will add.

So on another Madrid layover. We met for dinner to go to the oldest restaurant in Europe. Sure to be good. Well it has been here a while.

We took the bus to Plaza Del Sol and then walked to Plaza Mayor.

We saw sponge Bob and a dozen Mickey Mice along the way and then entered the Plaza Mayor.  I suppose when your unemployment rate is about half for young people you get a few Mickey Mouse activities.

Once the kings of Spain watched parades, executions, and the bull fight here. Ole

Now it is a memory of those grande events and today boasts restaurants, bars, and shops with street performers highlighting the day. One such bar which lines the courte is the Bull Bar. It reminds us of days past. Now the young cabeleros fight soccer balls.

This place sympathizes with the bull. Boasting pictures of Jimmy Carter, Bob and Teddy Kennedy, amidst post heroes slain by the bulls.

These young bulls hitting the mark before being slain without thoughts.

Eat drink but be ware. The bull is out there...

Today it is bueno comedo, bueno vino e mucho fun. Come and enjoy.

The Bull!!!!!

Valencia Spain on A Summer Day

 It is mid December and it is perfect shorts and t-shirt weather for me here in Texas, but I know for many of you it is winter and cold.  I hadn't posted anything for a while so I found this draft that I never got around to posting.  Hope you enjoy the beach and the thought of summer days...


Located on the Costa De Sol, or coast of the sun it is a favorite beach town for Europeans.

We met in the afternoon on the beach to enjoy the sand and surf. A nice beach chair under an umbrella was perfect to soak it all in. It is all such a relaxing laid back atmosphere. Yes it is warm but with the breeze blowing in off the Med. Sea it isn't so bad.

Beach side sangria and tapas. Yummy and fun!

Good to the end. PS. That was broiled calamari squid. Yea looks a little odd but was so good!!!! It kind of looks like a rubber band and if overcooked it will have the texture of one, but when cooked correctly it is so succulent floating in garlic butter.  The Spaniards do a good job with their sea food. Audios

Italian Ravioli Kale Soup

Most people don't associate Italy with cold weather but in the north you have those wonderful snow covered alps. The food is also a bit different. When you come in from a day of skiing nothing is better than a hearty bowl of soup and a crusty loaf of bread.

This dish can be made from scratch making your own Raviolis (that will be it's own blog at some point but not now) while cooking down some chicken broth. Another quicker solution is to use some canned broth and grocery store raviolis which you will find in the refrigerated section. You can do cheese ones but I prefer the sausage ones.

The heart of the dish is fresh kale. After washing it cut out the heavy stem and discard that.  Take the green leaves and cut it up. Boil them in the chicken broth.  I put in some chopped onion and garlic. Tinker with it until it tastes yummy and the kale is cooked tender. Now you can add the pasta and cook until they are tender and hot. Don't overcook the pasta or they will start falling apart. This is a great soup and so simple.

No Party is Complete Without A Police Visit and Every Holiday Needs A Fire!

Holidays are a fun time for enjoying family and friends. Relaxing and reminiscing about all the past good times and even dreaming of the future ones. Decorations and seasonal music and the sweet aroma of A FIRE!!!!

We started a new tradition at thanksgiving and that is the burnt offering of food.

The truth is we don't always pray for just the meal but we offer a burnt offering unto the Lord.  Not a bad idea to also pray for our safety as things get hectic around the holidays what with company and all. Have you noticed alot of those stupidest videos where people do dumb stuff are shot with a Christmas tree in the background?

This actually occured last year but the sentements are still the same.  Be careful as you cook for the hollidays!!!!

It's good to keep in mind even the best chefs will make mistakes.  I always like to keep a box of baking soda handy to dowse the occasional oven fife

It's also a good idea to have brilo pads available!!!!   Please don't attempt this trick in your own kitchen.                        (No don't do it someone elses either!)