STELLA'S ROAR: January 2011

The last couple of weeks...more work, more cooking, more dinners out, more friends, more meetings, more, more, more... I did attempt to debut my new ridiculously high black pumps (Fabulastic said, "After the Oscar de la Renta ones, these just look poor and dull...") Well, I can't be an embellished peacockette all of the time! Practicality has its moments. I bought these for Winter to wear with tights because it's been so damn cold...said tights make the shoes incredibly slippery on my heel and I was hobbling around like a baby giraffe. I say giraffe, because I wore them to the Zoo. 5 1/2 inch heels to the Zoo! I'm an impractical idiot.

I'm manicured!

To The Main Man's chagrin, I don't get my fingernails done. With all of the cooking, handling materials for my design projects, gardening, etc...it's just a useless endeavor. And, sitting there trying to let them dry is just pure Hell. I don't have the patience. Well, now I'm a convert to...

Shellac

After the cuticle wasteland, it's all of 6 minutes to paint my nails with three separate concoctions...several trips under a UV light...and done! 6 minutes, I say!...they are dry, dry, dry. It's a friggin' miracle. So far, it only comes in 6 colors...but, I'm sure there will be more in the future. I'm on my second week and they still look perfect.

Gift from a friend...you can never have too many hounds! Well, that's not true...inanimate hounds I can't get enough. The living, breathing kind...I'm out of patience.

I can't back down from a dare...of course from The Main Man...although apparently I wasn't giving the hookah enough attention. This is a hookah that a client brought back from a trip to the Middle East for me. Three plane trips and three bus rides...my clients love me! At least most of them.

After two years, BIKO chefs Mikel Alonso and Gerard Bellver came back from Mexico City to cook a meal in celebration of the El Hilo de la Memoria exhibit at the El Paso Museum of History. This exhibit is a US debut of rare Spanish documents. The exhibit is being held in only three cities, Santa Fe, El Paso and New Orleans. Jason, you should check it out. Once done in the US, it goes back to Seville. I was sort of on the planning committee, but work and my "illness"...as The Main Man called, it curtailed my involvement. Although, I did make it to the dinner.

caught off guard

This was a pistachio encrusted foie gras...mutual consensus was that it resembled something other than pistachio encrusted foie gras...that's all I'm saying.

Apparently, I'm a flame fanner.

The Mushroom/Almond Crusted Sea Bass with Porrusalda Sauce (Basque leek sauce) was everyone's favorite.

Now to Ina...my lady crush

I'm continuing the Ina binge...

Spicy Turkey Meatballs with Spaghetti

Amazing...and they made great leftovers. I tend to cook for an army. So, I made enough meatballs for the two of us for two days, and with what was left, a meatloaf.

Chicken with Forty Cloves of Garlic

It was Ok, may not make it again. Got lazy and didn't take pictures.

Moroccan Couscous with Roasted Vegetables

Served with the Chicken and Garlic...very good. The vegetables alone without the couscous were great too.

Warm Mushroom Salad

Also, served with the Chicken and Garlic. We all decided that instead of Parmesan cheese, a blue cheese would hold up better to the sherry vinegar "dressing".

Another night...

Coq Au Vin

The sauce wasn't thick enough...I cheated and used some Bisto...a tip from a long ago Scottish friend.

Roasted Leek and Potato Soup with Crispy Fried Shallots

This is fabulous and easy...take the time to do the shallots...they were well worth it.

For this post...some of these recipe's were found on the blog
Barefoot Bloggers. Hopefully, all of the links work...I've been pasting this post together willy-nilly for a couple of weeks.

Finally...my friend Tom told me about this...

Mondays with Marlo: Ina Garten Interview

That's it for Ina parade.

Last night we went to a wine dinner at Aroma...the word for the night was...

S: (n) gadabout (a restless seeker after amusement or social companionship)

My friend Tom said the definition doesn't quite fit him....he's more of a restless sleeper after amusement or social companionship.

Tonight, I'm abandoning Ina and trying out a new recipe from Cuisine at Home...Chicken Tikka Masala done in a slow cooker. The chicken marinates overnight. Don't forget that part.