j u l y . 2 0 2 3

 oh the weather!

     july is starting off hot as a firecracker ... 85 degrees before 9:00 a.m. on the 1st!

     on the 2nd, we had pre-purchased tickets to see the latest Indy movie, in 4DX!  we had great seats in the top row center, and shared the theatre with only about a dozen other people.  I've decided I can't do 4DX ... it's too much like the flight sim rides a Disney parks.  but the movie was excellent, and we were glad we went!

     after our matinee, we headed to the River and had late-lunch-early-dinner at Crawdad's where we enjoy Mardi Gras drinks, gumbo, and I had Cajun pasta. 

     by the time we were headed home the temps were up to 114!  it's going to be a hot holiday long weekend.  

     what better way to combat the heat ... I made a gallon of grape sherbet ... from scratch! 

 

in honor of the late Queen Elizabeth II, I found a pattern online and crocheted a poppy, Britain's symbol of remembrance for lives lost during the many wars since the beginning of the 20th century. 

     I took another class from the Shuffle team, this one breaking out our handy-dandy mandolin utensil. I also got chef-level training on how to filet a branzino, or Mediterranean sea bass!  it all turned out delicious!!

  

     our garden is going great, but I'm most proud of how the morning glories are filling in.  these two pictures are a week apart. 

  

     I was having a craving for the shawarma I used to get in the bay area, but that restaurant has long since closed.  I looked online for recipes, found one first for the necessary rub to get the right flavors, and next how to make the shawarma once the rub has marinated the beef or lamb.  this picture is of the jar of rub - I made lots - and the beef marinating in the rub/yogurt yumminess!

     I laid out a spread of fillings and pita including house made pickled snow peas, and made a delicious rice pilaf with golden raisins.  

     for another dinner I made New Orleans cajun shrimp with coconut rice!

  

     I had replied to our director from the HP Choir, of which I had been a member for many years when I worked there, that I would be delighted to sing at his church in a small gathering of former choir members.  we had three sopranos, three altos, and two baritones, plus a small combo of guitar, bass and piano.  we sang two songs, and the congregation was delighted to know that at one time HP had had a choir, and expressed to us how wonderful we sounded together!

     the Thursday before the Sunday, I drove down for the only in-person rehearsal, working from headquarters during the day, dining at a new Mexican restaurant that Janet recommended, going to the rehearsal, then staying overnight, to return home midday on Friday.  the food at the restaurant was excellent, and I even enjoyed a fiery drink!  (flame is burning from center of lime float.)

a famous pink doll that was invented the year before I was born had a movie premier, and our favorite rum company made a delicious pink bev in her honor.  of course I had to get the ingredients to make it at home!  it paired very well with shrimp and scallop stir fry. 

     last month our friend Ted passed, and this month his family hosted a gathering in Los Gatos to celebrate his life.  I drove down to work from headquarters in the morning, then spent the afternoon with a hundred or so of his dearest people.  it was wonderful to see so many treasured theater friends, but sad that we gathered for this purpose.  my junior high school English teacher was one of the oldest attendees there, and he said in his remarks they many times joked about what Ted would say at his eulogy.  it was heartbreaking to see his pain at the situation being reversed and far too soon.  Ted's favorite food was pizza, so after the memorial and for dinner, I went to the local pizza restaurant and had some in his honor.  Snoopy the Musical was the play we did together, with me as his producer and costumer, and there was an adorable memento on the display table in front. 

  

     the last few days of the month I felt like I cooked up a storm.  first I cooked a Korean themed meal using my favorite short ribs from a trader named Joe.  I paired it with a Korean cold noodle soup made with some of our garden veggies, and it was delicious, and perfect for hot summer dining.  I also used our garden's first chard and paired it with pecans and dried cranberries.  

     45 years ago, in my gap year between high school and college,  I worked in a Saratoga French restaurant. I worked 8:30-4:30, so food prep before lunch service, dishwashing during lunch, and food prep before dinner. [They were closed between lunch and dinner service.]  I learned with this experience a real appreciation of fine food ....and that I didn't have the temperament to own/run my own restaurant,  which is what I had planned to study when I did get to college.  I also got to try amazing food, every day, because the chef valued my opinion and would test run foods by me and the other staff before introducing them to guests.  

     I would make her crazy however when she would ask me what I wanted for lunch - the all-day crew got free lunch! - and I would often ask for her amazing tuna melt!  Tuna melt?! you ask?  Yes!!!  Until then I had only ever had cheap oily brown/gray tuna prepared badly.  Marsha's was the best water packed Albacore, made fresh (by me) daily, properly seasoned, not too much mayo, and topped with melted sharp cheddar and grilled to perfection!  

     I haven't had one of Marsha's in 44 years, and I haven't made one in quite a while myself.  But I got a hankering the other day, so I got the cheddar slices, celery and scallions, and whipped this beauty up for lunch one day!!

     next I made marinated lamb chops in the air fryer, homemade chimichurri, and one of our garden's tomatoes was ready to be sliced with shallots, watermelon radishes and homemade vinaigrette.  light.  simple.  delicious!

     July ended the way it started out ... temps in the high nineties.  the sunflowers appear to be loving it!

     mid month I ventured out into the theater world again, as I saw an audition notice for something where I thought I might have a shot of getting cast ... a local community theater group is presenting Pride and Prejudice, a show I particularly adore!  [<sigh> Colin Firth!]  I went in with no expectations and read for three of the non-ingenue parts - Mrs. Bennet, Mrs. Gardiner and Lady Catherine.  I wasn't cast as any of those characters but I did get a small part, playing Mrs. Reynolds the Pemberley housekeeper.  I also offered my services as a helper with costumes, of which they said they would happily take advantage!  on the last night of July we had our first gathering, for our table read.