Figly

I have a weird obsession with figs. I have tried growing them for years, and failed – though once I did have a couple coming to ripe and the squirrels got them. Now my tree looks like a Charlie Brown fig tree.

But since I can’t grow them, I buy them. This week they were on sale at the local grocery store and I couldn’t pass up those little bundles of goodness. As soon as I got in the car I started nibbling and found the orgasmic reality of these perverted looking fruits to be overwhelming. That was dinner last night.

Tonight I held myself in check and let the flavors and delights of these fruits come to their full beauty. Inspired by a Tyler Florence recipe (he inspires a lot both in food and other carnal pleasures in me). The recipe is in this book “Eat this book” and I made due with what I had to create my own wonderful dinner.

The burger I had for lunch was still holding me in satiation and I wasn’t too hungry, just a little peckish. Knitting and watching "Repo: The Genetic Opera” and holding myself back from murdering the crazy pups, I took some moments to peruse Tyler’s tome and see what the master had in mind for these sensual pouches of goodness.

Green Bean and Fig Salad (My version)
Green Beans blanched (boiled for 3 minutes and then dunked in an ice bath)
Turkey Bacon (cooked to crisp)
Figs cut in half, brushed with walnut oil and grilled until carmelized
Layer these on a plate

Vinagrette
1TBSP butter
1TBSP Honey
1TBSP diced Vidalia Onion
Cook all of these together until they are brown
Add 1TBSP red wine vinegar
1tsp walnut oil
Whisk together

Poor the vinagrette on the salad and top with grated cheese (I used some salty, sharp, hard cheese Effie gave me from Greece.)

Pepper

It was delicious and just the right thing to get rid of that bit of hunger and hold me over for the evening. And a great way to treat myself, Just Me.

Just Me Weekend

As last weekend was a whirlwind of people and places to see, this weekend is the polar opposite with the only similarity being the heat. I dwelled in cube land all day thinking only of what to do with my three days of Just Me Bliss. (No wonder I had a hard time figuring out how cloud computing and virtualization make the world go round.)

Coming off the Julia and Julie high I have been on for weeks, I set about with a very flexible plan to make this weekend just as exciting as the last, just with less people and spending less money. As an INFJ, I need a plan at all times. Flying by the seat of my pants is not recommended for my sanity and since there is only a smidgeon left, I had to treat it with care.

Food – cook new recipes from the South Beach books that have yet to be returned to the library. See Julia’s book was being requested by another resident on the waiting list, but South Beach books are free and clear to be re-checked out as often as my little carb-free heart desires. Plus, as my last entry got me thinking, I want to go through at least some of the printed-out recipes I have and see what I can make. You ask, Just for one person? Well there is always another work week and willing guinea pigs to chow down on my leftovers.

Love – Spending more time with the kids is necessary for not only my heart, but theirs as well. I have missed them so. Unfortunately it is too hot to do much outside, but we can play inside and make time for kitties too. Maybe even catch up with some old friends.

Art – Knitting!!! Even better knitting flowers. Since there are so many projects I want to do (preferably knit flowers) I will work on those I already started and tease myself with the knitty bits. How to do this with the pups around is another thing to plan out since they don’t like when I take their yarn.

Exercise – I have rejoined the Y and am looking forward to getting back on the ball this weekend (that sounded naughty). I quit WW and my office gym giving myself an extra $15 a month after paying for the Y. It is closer to my home, has more to offer and now even has dance classes – sweet.

Rest – There is something to be said for lounging around. I lounged at Patrick’s, but this weekend is alone rest time and I get to choose what to watch and when. Plus there is nothing else exciting beckoning me to leave the comfort of my couch and bed. So far I have “Repo: The Genetic Opera” and “The Secretary” to watch. I’ve been waiting for the right moment for “Repo”, and found that the small cinema near my house has a group that is doing auditions for the piece. It’s sort of like a Rocky Horror Musical Thing. I was going to watch it with Guy, but that never transpired so I get this weekend for Just Me. Then there’s “The Secretary”. This is the second time I am watching the stunningly cute as he got older, James Spader and the wild Maggie G as they perform the rituals so many couples desire in their bedrooms. My first time was with a boyfriend who was very into the oh so nice on the outside, dirty on the inside theme (but the rest of that story is documented only in my memoirs).

So that is what I have planned. Don’t know if I will blog or not since that seems like I am being social and sometimes Just Me time is about being well … Just Me.

I Love The Rain

I love the rain. For some people, rain days get them down. I get exhilarated, at least until I realize that it is not Tuesday and I do have to go to work. Then I crawl back under the covers and dream about a morning of rain and no commute.

To add to the fun expectations brought on by showers (puddles, wet toes, frizzy hair) I also go to play tag with my umbrella which decided to conk out on me as I left my front stoop. No biggie. I forced it open and made my way to the car and then to the office.

But all things are solved with cupcakes, especially from the Cupcake Spot. They were handing them out at work and if it were any other run-of-the-mill place I would have passed, but not CS. Mine was butterscotch and so delicious, it was worth the treat. (Butterscotch Babies - Delectably buttery toffee cakes with vanilla butterscotch icing)

Luckily, the rainy morning brought a sunny afternoon. Mondays are always draining so I reserved my resources and saved cleaning up the storm’s debris for tomorrow. Instead I made a healthy dinner, to make up for the cupcake. I went with the Florida-themed Confetti Shrimp Salad (The confetti is all the colors in one bowl.) And a salad like this inspired one of those “just-me” moments*. No TV, no distractions, just me and the salad and a glass of water with lime and I delved into all the crunchy, sweet, savory and delectable goodness this creation had to offer. Yum. Being healthy never tasted so good.

Confetti Shrimp Salad
Peeled, raw shrimp (about 7 or 8 per salad) marinated in lime juice, lime zest, olive oil, red pepper flakes and salt.

While the shrimp soaks, make the dressing by combining the juice of 1 lime, equal amounts olive oil, minced jalapeno pepper, minced garlic, salt and pepper. I put mine in a jar and just shook the hell out of it.

To let the flavors meld in each bowl, I made the salad. I used chopped romaine and baby spinach as the base. Now comes the blast of color:
Per salad
½ cup sliced strawberries
½ mango cubed
¼ yellow and/or red pepper
¼ avocado cubed
A big pinch of chopped cilantro

Grill the shrimp and throw away the marinade. Top the salad with the warm shrimp and a touch of dressing, a little salt and pepper and toss.

For the next day keep the fruit separate from the lettuce and cube the avocado at the last minute then dress.

*Just me: Several years back when I was in massage therapy school, I was considered a bit of a wonder since I had delicious meals every night for break. Even after working 8 hours during the day and going to school four nights a week, I was still able to treat myself well with home-cooked meals most nights. The other students were a bit jealous and yet curious at the same time.

One woman asked me if I like to cook, and I answered in the affirmative, like she couldn’t tell. She then went on to explain, “I love to cook too, but it’s just me so why bother.” This really struck me as odd. If not for “just me”, then for who else? In fact at the time I was dating someone who didn’t let me cook for him even once in the year and a half we went out, but that never stopped me.

From that point on I developed this philosophy that “just me” isn’t a bad thing. Whether single or not, a person should honor who they are and what they love. I went on a pilgrimage to change the negative connotation of that phrase and give it the light it deserves no matter the roadblocks and there have been many.

I once had a friend who said that I was ridiculous and was just hiding from having a relationship with this philosophy. Of course, she also tried to convince me I was lonely and that I needed to be married and have kids in order to be fulfilled. She was single, over 40 and bitter, we don’t speak anymore.

So “just me” moments are those where I honor my time alone and value my own companionship. If I don’t value it and find myself great company why would anyone worthwhile ever want to share time with me? Do you have any “just me” moments you would like to share?