Well, since pictures are worth a 1,000 words (Thanks, FabYo and Ham), Jameson and I have created a collage to highlight the memories and show WHERE the time has gone.
Yes.... time passes too quickly.
All the Best!
Jameson and LoLa
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Where HAS the time gone?!?!
Time passes too quickly. Today, I poked my head up and out of the proverbial gopher hole ---- looked around ---- and noticed I have neglected my Blog. I have neglected my Blog for TWO years!! Dang... where HAS the time gone?
Well, since pictures are worth a 1,000 words (Thanks, FabYo and Ham), Jameson and I have created a collage to highlight the memories and show WHERE the time has gone.
The photos quickly reminded Jameson and me of the blessings experienced over the last two years. We were blessed with spending special times with my father and Uncle Jerry; developed an amazing friendship with Jesse and Kai; created many new friendships that will last a lifetime; and, reconnected with sooooo many old friends. Over the two years, we witnessed LuLu graduate from high school, LuLu move back to Texas, FabYo maturing into a young man, and Jameson settle into his new face. Our family and friends have truly been incredibly supportive as we have sought out our adventures, tackled hurdles, cheered the successes and mourned our losses over the past two years.
Yes.... time passes too quickly.
All the Best!
Jameson and LoLa
Well, since pictures are worth a 1,000 words (Thanks, FabYo and Ham), Jameson and I have created a collage to highlight the memories and show WHERE the time has gone.
Yes.... time passes too quickly.
All the Best!
Jameson and LoLa
Saturday, September 24, 2011
1408 Thibodeaux
Selling a house gives time for reflection, saying good bye to the past and anticipating the future. A few months ago I sold my home of 10 years, 1408 Thibodeaux. The bitter sweet transaction left me feeling a bit empty, longing for those memories that seemed to have slipped away far too quickly. But don't get me wrong, for I am not depressed and I have little desire to relive what has already occurred. What lies ahead is an amazing life in a new home with my husband, children and trusted pets. New memories will be collected and cherished. Nevertheless, I can't help to recollect all which has passed while living at 1408 Thibodeaux.
Through the past 10 years, we have overcome losses of family - funny sweet Nina, Grandma Ta, Grandma Costar and the ever so strong Grandpa Graven (our hearts will always ache for them). However, it is those bonds and the strength of our family which has given us our backbone and have molded us into who we are today.
Through the years, 1408 Thibodeaux has watched inches become feet, maturity develop, love lost, love found, sickness, health, much laughter shared.....
The years have seen friendships come and go, with each friend making the good times a little better and the bad times not so bad....
1408 Thibodeaux kept everything in tact while we traveled to Mexico, Jamaica, Ireland, Spain, Malaysia, London, Florida, NYC, LA, Oregon, Arizona, Utah, Nevada.... the list is long. Though we enjoyed our journeys, we always welcomed coming home even more.
Within the walls of 1408 Thibodeaux are 10 years of happy stories and endless memories forever cherished in our hearts. The house was good to us. The house kept us safe and warm. So as I closed the front door for the final time and placed the house keys into a small envelope, I said a prayer for the next family and a silent good bye to my trusted friend, 1408 Thibodeaux.
Through the past 10 years, we have overcome losses of family - funny sweet Nina, Grandma Ta, Grandma Costar and the ever so strong Grandpa Graven (our hearts will always ache for them). However, it is those bonds and the strength of our family which has given us our backbone and have molded us into who we are today.
Through the years, 1408 Thibodeaux has watched inches become feet, maturity develop, love lost, love found, sickness, health, much laughter shared.....
The years have seen friendships come and go, with each friend making the good times a little better and the bad times not so bad....
1408 Thibodeaux kept everything in tact while we traveled to Mexico, Jamaica, Ireland, Spain, Malaysia, London, Florida, NYC, LA, Oregon, Arizona, Utah, Nevada.... the list is long. Though we enjoyed our journeys, we always welcomed coming home even more.
Within the walls of 1408 Thibodeaux are 10 years of happy stories and endless memories forever cherished in our hearts. The house was good to us. The house kept us safe and warm. So as I closed the front door for the final time and placed the house keys into a small envelope, I said a prayer for the next family and a silent good bye to my trusted friend, 1408 Thibodeaux.
Monday, September 5, 2011
The End of One Adventure
Yep, the end of one adventure is the beginning of many more. Several days ago, Jameson and I packed up the trailer to begin the haul back to Hutto. We waved good bye to Hot Springs and Catherine's Landing, recalling the amazing times we shared drinking the water, hiking the Arkansas hills, listening to life stories by Jonny Steele and Chuck the Fishing Guide, fishing endless hours, diamond mining, swimming the pool at night and spending time with each other. There is no doubt the seven amazing days have been nothing shy of amazing!
On the way home we made a stop in Shreveport, Louisiana, to set up camp at the Tall Pines RV Park and for a bit of gambling. The hosts at Tall Pines were exceptionally nice, the park is well laid out and their RV store is better than many bigger commercial RV stores. If you pass through Shreveport, this is a great place to consider!
http://tallpinesrvpark.com/
Instead of driving home, Jameson and I detoured towards Lake Livingston for a few days of camping with JoJo, JB, Mother "H", Walker, and Texas Ranger. Why not spend a portion of our honeymoon with family?
A honeymoon could not have been better spent. Heck! If we can spend 10 days in a 29 foot travel trailer, we are certainly good for a lifetime of marriage!! xoox
On the way home we made a stop in Shreveport, Louisiana, to set up camp at the Tall Pines RV Park and for a bit of gambling. The hosts at Tall Pines were exceptionally nice, the park is well laid out and their RV store is better than many bigger commercial RV stores. If you pass through Shreveport, this is a great place to consider!
http://tallpinesrvpark.com/
Instead of driving home, Jameson and I detoured towards Lake Livingston for a few days of camping with JoJo, JB, Mother "H", Walker, and Texas Ranger. Why not spend a portion of our honeymoon with family?
A honeymoon could not have been better spent. Heck! If we can spend 10 days in a 29 foot travel trailer, we are certainly good for a lifetime of marriage!! xoox
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
You and me going fishing in the dark.....
 |
| Is there an ocean near by?? |
 |
| Happy to be canoeing on the water!! |
Http://www.catherineslanding.rvcoutdoors.com/
Armed with Verizon 3G cell phone service, we were able to log into the Arkansas fish and game website to buy two fishing licenses and, within 7 minutes, Jameson and I had the state of Arkansas' approval to fish the river's limit. Incredibly easy!
Day 1 - 7:00 pm .... As the sun slowly dropped in the summer sky, the fish were screaming to be caught. Jameson and I grabbed our poles, a bucket of minnows, a can of worms, and made our way down to the Catherine's Landing dock. Once again we had high aspirations of catching the fish of the year (this appears to be a theme in our relationship - high expectations). Cast after cast from the dock resulted in great conversation and little fish biting action. The results after 3 hours - a well bonded couple and three really tiny bream.
 |
| Day One - 1 of 3 Monsters... all similar in size |
Day 2 - 10:00 am .... Who starts fishing at 10:00 am? No one who wants to catch a fish so I won't bore you with the details. The results after 2 hours - a newly wed couple with differing opinions of how to catch a fish but zero fish caught. Tomorrow we will try a different strategy.
Day 3 - 8:00 am .... Different strategy - rent canoes! The canoes were peaceful and relaxing... ummm.... that is if you were to ask LoLa. For Jameson, he fought with his dragging minnow bucket, an uncomfortably stiff life jacket, the beating sun, competing poles and navigating his directionless canoe. The results after 3 hours - a relaxed LoLa, an aggravated Jameson and zero fish caught. Tomorrow we will try a different strategy - hire a guide!
P.S. Perhaps I should add one small caveat my husband believes is relevant. After fishing for several hours without a single bite, I mentioned to Jameson my deep love for fishing though my success rate continues to be less than 3%. Hmmmm..... he thinks I am a jinx.
Day 4 - 7:30 am .... Chuck Emrick with "Fishing with Chuck on Lake Catherine" picked us up right on time in his bass boat. The foggy Wednesday morning and a boat full of poles were a positive sign we might catch something more than a few bream. Chuck's determined attitude helped us believe he could break my lifelong horrible fishing streak.
The day on Lake Catherine was beautiful! Slightly overcastted, the lake was clear as glass with crappie doing air flips, gar sliding along the waters surface and turtles scurrying to shore. What a perfect moment.... now, let's catch some fish!
Lines in the water, the three of us patiently waited for the first strike. Cast after cast, we looked for the first hit. An hour passes... two hours pass... no tags. No nibbles! Fishing hole after fishing hole, skunked. Jameson was beginning to get a little discouraged. Perhaps we should have gone golfing? I started to believe my own bad luck was a reality then Chuck got a hit. The pole was quickly passed to me to reel in the fighting monster. After a long 30 combative seconds, I was able to land the struggling 4 inch crappie into the boat. Not a huge catch (not even my catch) but the bad luck streak is technically over.
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| Jim's One of Two Fish - Crappie |
The first few fish were caught by the guide. Jameson was the first between the two of us to snag a fish. Thankfully, the small crappie put up a good fight. Perhaps the little fish felt sorry for our pathetic fishing skills. Perhaps the little fish knew we were on our honeymoon so he was giving his life for the great good. Perhaps this is all BS and Jameson just got lucky. Shortly after the one crappie, Jameson was able to catch one more.
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| One Bass for the day |
Eventually, my patience provided positive and I was able to pull in ONE fish. Yes ONE! A cute little bass ready to be held on display. At least mine was a game fish. Right? No crappie for me but who is counting?
Overall the day was a success, thanks to our fishing guide, Chuck. Chuck shared with us his love of fishing and his appreciation for Lake Catherine. He took us into his house and opened up a portion of his life to us for a few hours. Chuck is a good man and a guide we hope to use again!
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| Fishing Guide, Chuck |
Yes, fishing can be more frustrating than most care to admit. Perhaps the last few days were not as relaxing as a "day at the spa", nevertheless, who could ask for more than spending time out on the water, sharing an event with the one you love, and having no expectations for your day. Thankfully, Jameson and I don't compete with each other so it does not need to be stated who caught the largest fish of the day (Hint - LoLa).
Thank you for taking the time to read - - LoLa
Monday, August 29, 2011
Shiny Objects! Well... it is Saturday afterall
Getting distracted and following "shiny objects" seems to be a common theme in our days. Example - Jameson and I need to do chores, like go to the grocery store or mow the lawn or clean the garage BUT WAIT!! Look..... there is a shiny object inviting us to a one day Wine and Cheese Festival! How could we not attend the Festival?? Attending the Festival is our duty! So, as fate would have it, the "shiny objects" lure us away from what is important (or perceived important) and draws us into what is more interesting.
So why should this past Saturday be any different? Early in the morning Jameson and I piled into the truck, drove about an hour through the thick woods of Arkansas and arrived at our destination, Crater of Diamonds State Park. Our objective for the day (Yes, you've got it) find "shiny objects."
Crater of Diamonds State Park is 72 miles south west of Hot Springs Arkansas. This 37-acre park is the home of a former volcano and is the only public diamond mine in existence. Any person who pays to enter the park is permitted to search for their riches and keep their findings. The largest diamond found at the park was 42 carats, however, finding diamonds 1 to 2 carat in size is not uncommon. The diamonds range in color from brown, yellow to white.
For further understanding of how diamonds are created and why the park exists, the following is from the Crater of Diamonds State Park website.
Full of dreams and high expectations of hitting the diamond mother lode and enough knowledge to launch our expedition, Jameson and I rented a set of buckets, four screens and two shovels. Walking out onto the field was overwhelming. The 37-acres field was huge! Where do we start? Go where the most people are digging? No... We need to follow our instincts. We need to go with our intuition! We need to allow our gut feelings to determine where we will begin digging!! Onward, James!!!
After wandering the field for a few endless minutes, the ideal spot found us. Jameson and I squatted on the turned over dirt, pulled out our mining shovels and began sifting dirt through the screens. With the sun beating down and the field feeling more like a day on Venus, the heat is getting to us. Bucket after bucket we sifted through dirt with no diamonds found. Moments turn into longer moments. Sweat pouring down Jameson's face; we ponder our possibility of failure. I, sweating in a very unladylike fashion, determined we needed to change direction. Wet screening!
Wet screening is a similar process to regular dirty screening; instead, water is used to separate rocks from loose dirt. This process is good for finding smaller diamonds. Additionally, wet screening is performed in a small water trough in a covered building. Considering the incredible heat, adding water and overhead cover to the equation was an excellent idea we both quickly welcomed. Once again, bucket after bucket nothing. Frustration set in. Hours had passed when Jameson finally found a rock we felt was worthy of saving. Shortly thereafter I found a rock we felt worthy of saving. At the end of 4 tiresome hours, Jameson and I proudly collected 10 rocks we felt worth saving!! Hurrah!!!
Tired, frustrated and a little excited to identify the names of our riches, Jameson and I picked up our mining tools and called it a day. We returned our tools, then placed our treasures on the local geologist's desk. Anxiously we waited to be told the enormous value and identity of our gems. She methodically poured over our stones, carefully placing each into one of two categories. With an exaggerated breath and small smile, the geologist revealed our findings - Jasper and Calcite. No diamonds. Value - Very pretty rocks. Laymen break down - River rocks.
Alas, nothing shiny. Nothing of monetary value. Though riches were not made, our day together was beyond any measurable value. As we drove home discussing "what could have been," our conversation quickly died when we noticed a huge sign selling 12 oysters for $10! Oysters in Arkansas? Why not?!?! Yep, "shiny objects" misdirected us again.
Thank you for reading!! LoLa xoxoxox
So why should this past Saturday be any different? Early in the morning Jameson and I piled into the truck, drove about an hour through the thick woods of Arkansas and arrived at our destination, Crater of Diamonds State Park. Our objective for the day (Yes, you've got it) find "shiny objects."
Crater of Diamonds State Park is 72 miles south west of Hot Springs Arkansas. This 37-acre park is the home of a former volcano and is the only public diamond mine in existence. Any person who pays to enter the park is permitted to search for their riches and keep their findings. The largest diamond found at the park was 42 carats, however, finding diamonds 1 to 2 carat in size is not uncommon. The diamonds range in color from brown, yellow to white.
For further understanding of how diamonds are created and why the park exists, the following is from the Crater of Diamonds State Park website.
"Ever wonder why the earth produces diamond mines and why we have a field in Arkansas where diamonds are found? The story of the diamonds found at the Crater of Diamonds State Park begins over 3 billion years ago with the formation of diamonds as the stable form of carbon in the earth’s mantle. At the tremendous pressures and temperatures some 60 to 100 miles below the earth’s surface, diamond crystallized from carbon, and under those conditions it remained stable.
"During the past 3 billion years, many geologic changes have taken place on the surface of the earth. Crust formed and was destroyed, continents formed and migrated, and mountain ranges were built and eroded away. About 300 to 250 million years ago, the continent we now call South America collided with the southern portion of present day North America. This collision formed the Ouachita Mountains from sediments that were deposited in a deep ocean environment. The Ouachitas began to erode and during the Cretaceous Period (144 to 66 million years ago), the southern area of this eroded mountain range was covered by seas and the area of the Park was near-shore, but under shallow seawater. About 100 million years ago, an instability in the Earth’s mantle caused the movement of gas and rock to the surface. This volcanic vent, known as the “Prairie Creek” diatreme by geologists, rose rapidly through the upper mantle and crust, carrying with it fragments of mantle and crustal rocks and minerals, until it came near enough to the surface to explode due to the release of gases. When it exploded, it created an 83-acre funnel-shaped crater with sides sloping inward at about 45 degrees. Much of the airborne material formed by the initial explosion fell back into the vent. The speed of rise of the mass allowed the diamonds to be preserved in this material.
"Geologists calculate that only about 160 feet of the original vent has been eroded away, concentrating the heavy minerals, including diamond, in the present day soil. At the Crater, diamonds are often found loose in the soil, having been released during the rapid weathering of this unstable mantle rock."
After wandering the field for a few endless minutes, the ideal spot found us. Jameson and I squatted on the turned over dirt, pulled out our mining shovels and began sifting dirt through the screens. With the sun beating down and the field feeling more like a day on Venus, the heat is getting to us. Bucket after bucket we sifted through dirt with no diamonds found. Moments turn into longer moments. Sweat pouring down Jameson's face; we ponder our possibility of failure. I, sweating in a very unladylike fashion, determined we needed to change direction. Wet screening!
Wet screening is a similar process to regular dirty screening; instead, water is used to separate rocks from loose dirt. This process is good for finding smaller diamonds. Additionally, wet screening is performed in a small water trough in a covered building. Considering the incredible heat, adding water and overhead cover to the equation was an excellent idea we both quickly welcomed. Once again, bucket after bucket nothing. Frustration set in. Hours had passed when Jameson finally found a rock we felt was worthy of saving. Shortly thereafter I found a rock we felt worthy of saving. At the end of 4 tiresome hours, Jameson and I proudly collected 10 rocks we felt worth saving!! Hurrah!!!
Tired, frustrated and a little excited to identify the names of our riches, Jameson and I picked up our mining tools and called it a day. We returned our tools, then placed our treasures on the local geologist's desk. Anxiously we waited to be told the enormous value and identity of our gems. She methodically poured over our stones, carefully placing each into one of two categories. With an exaggerated breath and small smile, the geologist revealed our findings - Jasper and Calcite. No diamonds. Value - Very pretty rocks. Laymen break down - River rocks.
Alas, nothing shiny. Nothing of monetary value. Though riches were not made, our day together was beyond any measurable value. As we drove home discussing "what could have been," our conversation quickly died when we noticed a huge sign selling 12 oysters for $10! Oysters in Arkansas? Why not?!?! Yep, "shiny objects" misdirected us again.
Thank you for reading!! LoLa xoxoxox
Friday, August 26, 2011
Hot Springs - Hmmm Day Two is GOOD
While in Arkansas I have been craving a fresh berry pie. In Texas, berries are limited, so I figured Arkansas should come through. Right? :-) Welll, "This Cakes for You" did exactly that!! When Jameson and I explained to "This Cakes for You" we were looking for a blackberry pie, they made one specifically for us AND delivered to our travel trailer site. The service was beyond amazing and the pie was crazy delicious. Seriously!?!? Who delivers two pieces of pie 30 miles from their home office? ONLY someone who pays attention to customer service, quality and small town pride. Yep... a million appreciative thank yous!!!!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/This-Cakes-For-You-LLC/228968030463194
Thank you for reading!!! LoLa xoxoxox
http://www.facebook.com/pages/This-Cakes-For-You-LLC/228968030463194
Thank you for reading!!! LoLa xoxoxox
First Dinner ALONE as Husband and Wife
We (Jameson and LoLa) arrived in Hot Springs, Arkansas, early yesterday. Travel Trailer in tow and amazing food on board, we made the trek from Hutto to Hot Springs in approximately 7 hours. Hurrah!!
Too tired to cook, we drove into Hot Springs proper for dinner. The quaint town appears to have been built straight into the hills and is full of lush trees, deep green grass and summer flowers. For a Texan, green grass and flowers is certainly an oddity to see consider our current drought! Historical buildings line the streets of Hot Spring and are in various stages of life. Hot Springs is an interesting town that has certainly lived through better days and seems to long for moments of past. Hungry and in need of food, Jameson and I strolled the streets for a few blocks before we decided to stop into Bella Arti for dinner.
Now, we have watched endless episodes of "Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmare" so we believe we are experts at redesigning... reconfiguring... redoing.... recreating a restaurant. Are we experts? Oh... certainly NOT. Regardless, we seem to have an opinion of how to make a restaurant better and the food tastier. Yes, this approach is a bit egotistical, but we are good with it.
After being seated, we were greeted by our waiter, Jonny Steele (sounds like a porn star name). Lordy! He was a character. Recently transplanted from Portland, he and his cat, Molly, moved to Hot Springs to follow a girl. <<According to Jameson, everywhere we go, EVERYONE is from Oregon. Go Figure!! LOL>>. His quirky nature added to the "smile factor" of our meal. The meal was old school, delicious with an 80's presentation.
Where do we start? How about the beginning!! We initiated the dinner with a tepenade. Hmmmm.... though fine tasting, the appearance of the appetizer was more akin to sewage. Gratefully, the pungent garlic, tangy olives and warm bread saved the dish. The next meal to arrive was an Avocado Pesto Scallop Shrimp dish. The sauce was quite nice, however, far too overwhelming for the delicate scallops and shrimp. After much debate, Jameson and I decided on Cesar Salads for the salad. As a Cesar Salad snob (Thanks, Mom) Jonny stated the dressing was made as the restaurant and done in the traditional fashion. Well...... this was not the case. Many restaurants either import Cesar Dressing to save money or create the dressing with mayonnaise to reduce the risk of salmonella with a coddled egg. My personal opinion, ICK!!! Sooooo.....for those who don't know a good Cesar dressing recipe, we have included a basic recipe below. Cesar salad is easy and amazing.... when done right!!
http://www.reluctantgourmet.com/caesar.htm
For the Salad:
The final dish was the main course. I received a 8 ounce filet. The steak was amazing, sadly the steak was overwhelmed with Gorgonzola, mushrooms and too much salt. After a few bites, the meal was too much, however, we saved the steak for a breakfast frittata. Wow... he is an amazing cook!! That evening Jameson had the Osso Bucco. Happily, superb!!
The evening ended with Jonny sitting at our table to discuss the development of his cats, the wows of he and his girl, his ability to transform a car, and thought provoking tidbits regarding Hot Springs. Jameson and I made a friend and will keep in contact with Jonny and we will continue to share our love of food and Oregon. Yes..... a great start to an amazing honeymoon. Thank you for reading!!
Thank you for reading!! LoLa xoxoxo
Too tired to cook, we drove into Hot Springs proper for dinner. The quaint town appears to have been built straight into the hills and is full of lush trees, deep green grass and summer flowers. For a Texan, green grass and flowers is certainly an oddity to see consider our current drought! Historical buildings line the streets of Hot Spring and are in various stages of life. Hot Springs is an interesting town that has certainly lived through better days and seems to long for moments of past. Hungry and in need of food, Jameson and I strolled the streets for a few blocks before we decided to stop into Bella Arti for dinner.
Now, we have watched endless episodes of "Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmare" so we believe we are experts at redesigning... reconfiguring... redoing.... recreating a restaurant. Are we experts? Oh... certainly NOT. Regardless, we seem to have an opinion of how to make a restaurant better and the food tastier. Yes, this approach is a bit egotistical, but we are good with it.
After being seated, we were greeted by our waiter, Jonny Steele (sounds like a porn star name). Lordy! He was a character. Recently transplanted from Portland, he and his cat, Molly, moved to Hot Springs to follow a girl. <<According to Jameson, everywhere we go, EVERYONE is from Oregon. Go Figure!! LOL>>. His quirky nature added to the "smile factor" of our meal. The meal was old school, delicious with an 80's presentation.
Where do we start? How about the beginning!! We initiated the dinner with a tepenade. Hmmmm.... though fine tasting, the appearance of the appetizer was more akin to sewage. Gratefully, the pungent garlic, tangy olives and warm bread saved the dish. The next meal to arrive was an Avocado Pesto Scallop Shrimp dish. The sauce was quite nice, however, far too overwhelming for the delicate scallops and shrimp. After much debate, Jameson and I decided on Cesar Salads for the salad. As a Cesar Salad snob (Thanks, Mom) Jonny stated the dressing was made as the restaurant and done in the traditional fashion. Well...... this was not the case. Many restaurants either import Cesar Dressing to save money or create the dressing with mayonnaise to reduce the risk of salmonella with a coddled egg. My personal opinion, ICK!!! Sooooo.....for those who don't know a good Cesar dressing recipe, we have included a basic recipe below. Cesar salad is easy and amazing.... when done right!!
http://www.reluctantgourmet.com/caesar.htm
INGREDIENTS
For the Croutons:
- 2 large garlic cloves
- Pinch of salt
- 3 tablespoons virgin olive oil
- 2 cups French baguette slices cut up into 1/2 inch cubes (white bread works too)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 medium garlic clove, crushed
- 1 pinch salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons anchovy paste or 4 flat anchovies
- 1 teaspoon capers
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/3 cup virgin olive oil
- 2 medium heads of romaine lettuce -- outer leaves removed
- 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese -- grated
PREP WORK
Prepping the croutons - Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Crush the garlic cloves with the side of a chef's knife (be very careful) or with a garlic press. Slice up the baguette and cut them into 1/2 inch cubes.
Prepping the salad - Again crush the garlic. If you are using flat anchovies out of a can, mince one or two to make 1 1/2 teaspoons worth. Grate the Parmesan cheese. It's always better to grate it yourself if you have the opportunity.
Prepping the salad - Again crush the garlic. If you are using flat anchovies out of a can, mince one or two to make 1 1/2 teaspoons worth. Grate the Parmesan cheese. It's always better to grate it yourself if you have the opportunity.
HOW TO MAKE AT HOME
Croutons - Combine garlic, oil, salt, and bread cubes in a bowl. Mix until cubes are coated evenly. Spread the coated cubes onto a baking sheet and bake until the croutons are golden. This should take about 10 minutes.
To make the salad - Bring a pot of boiling water to boil, add egg and cook for just 45 seconds....NO MORE. This is coddling the egg. Remove from heat and let it cool off.
Meanwhile, mix the Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, garlic, salt & pepper, anchovy, mustard and capers in a bowl. Crack egg and add to these ingredients. Whisk until smooth.
Now for the tricky part. Slowly add the oil in a steady stream while constantly whisking again until smooth. Reason: if you add the oil too quickly, the dressing will be separate and not emulsify.
Tear the romaine lettuce into 1-2 inch pieces and add them to a large bowl (wooden if you have one). Add half the dressing, toss, add remaining dressing, Parmesan cheese, and croutons and toss again. Serve on chilled plates.
To make the salad - Bring a pot of boiling water to boil, add egg and cook for just 45 seconds....NO MORE. This is coddling the egg. Remove from heat and let it cool off.
Meanwhile, mix the Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, garlic, salt & pepper, anchovy, mustard and capers in a bowl. Crack egg and add to these ingredients. Whisk until smooth.
Now for the tricky part. Slowly add the oil in a steady stream while constantly whisking again until smooth. Reason: if you add the oil too quickly, the dressing will be separate and not emulsify.
To serve:Tear the romaine lettuce into 1-2 inch pieces and add them to a large bowl (wooden if you have one). Add half the dressing, toss, add remaining dressing, Parmesan cheese, and croutons and toss again. Serve on chilled plates.
The final dish was the main course. I received a 8 ounce filet. The steak was amazing, sadly the steak was overwhelmed with Gorgonzola, mushrooms and too much salt. After a few bites, the meal was too much, however, we saved the steak for a breakfast frittata. Wow... he is an amazing cook!! That evening Jameson had the Osso Bucco. Happily, superb!!
The evening ended with Jonny sitting at our table to discuss the development of his cats, the wows of he and his girl, his ability to transform a car, and thought provoking tidbits regarding Hot Springs. Jameson and I made a friend and will keep in contact with Jonny and we will continue to share our love of food and Oregon. Yes..... a great start to an amazing honeymoon. Thank you for reading!!
Thank you for reading!! LoLa xoxoxo
White Trash Honeymoon
Jameson and LoLa
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