Spaghetti Carbonara with Crab and Meyer Lemon

It was an ordinary Thursday evening until  I get an email. The email was titled "L found a pin for you." L being my daughter. I had a sneaky feeling I knew what it was. The night before daughter L had come across a recipe she wanted me to try to make. It makes use of the numerous Meyer Lemon that are strewn across my kitchen counters. L LOVES Spaghetti Carbonara; to have it combined with Crab and Meyer Lemon was near perfection to her. She also loves Crab. She calls before leaving the office to ask what I needed to make the dish. LOL. The confidence of one well love. Ha, ha. 

I am happy to report that the dish was a huge success! Everyone gobbled it up and practically licked the pan clean. A few grumbles that someone had taken too much, leaving others without any seconds. It was declared a keeper!!

Say what?? - Vanilla Orchid Flowers

Recently, my husband came home with a gift for me. It was a cutting of a vanilla orchid vine that was growing in our New York office. That plant was vining itself rampantly across the ceiling of an office. Dear husband asked for the vine to be trimmed and brought me back some cuttings. 

Foraging for seedlings

These days I look at my Chula Vista garden with a difference eye. I am always looking at what plants I can take with me to my Temecula garden. It pains me that I cannot take my beloved Fuyu Persimmon tree with me. I have tried unsuccessfully in the past to marcot the Fuyu Persimmon. Looks like I will have to double up my efforts and perhaps improve my technique. Time is running out as the move to Temecula is getting closer.

My curry leaf plant on the other hand, has finally matured enough to start sprouting out seedlings. These seedlings are coming out from the roots.

Potting up

At this time of year, I have a little ritual each morning before work and again when I get home from work. A cup of coffee in hand, the dogs trailing at my feet, I step out to the little side garden to check on the seeds I have sowed and the seedlings that have sprouted earlier.

The tomato seedlings are growing bigger while other have finally sprouted. Looks like five year old tomato seeds are still viable. These came from Seed Savers Exchange.

Sprouts.....

A sneak peek of what will be in my garden this summer. I sowed the seeds two weekend ago. It was rainy and cloudy courtesy of El Nino. We had rainy two Fridays in a row. This week the rain stopped; San Diego blue skies returned and with it some sunshine.

All of a suddenly my seeds sprouted. 

First the Poona Kheera cucumber aka Loh Wong Kuah and the Armenian cucumber. Four angle beans seem to be lagging behind....

Poona Kheera at back, Armenian cucumber in middle
and four angle bean in front

Pork Medallion with Ancient Grain Salad

We have been trying to eat less white rice, particularly at night. Lots of salad topped with grilled steak, shrimp or tofu. Lately, I have been cooking lots of couscous and quinoa. I bought a bag labelled as Quinoa Ancient Blend. Essentially, is a blend of quinoa, amaranth and millet. Cooked it the same way as quinoa. 1- 1 1/2 cup of liquid to 1 cup of quinoa. Today, I used the Green Chili Adobo and Roasted Garlic marinade I have in the fridge, to flavour the quinoa salad. The quinoa blend was nuttier than plain quinoa. Somewhat more filling.

Irish Brown Soda Bread

May 27, 2015

I had a splitting headache all afternoon but still needed to get dinner together. Daughter had an early soccer game so dinner could be slightly later. Maybe, I could have a little nap first...Husband wanted a steak, salad and bread for dinner. Thankfully, I had 3 pieces of steaks I had marinated and frozen for such an occasion. Bread? None to be found. So, I thought Irish Soda Bread. So much for me wanting to avoid carbs.

I looked online and found Irish brown Soda Bread by Merrill Stubbs on Food 52. I had all the ingredients, including buttermilk. I liked that this recipe uses whole wheat flour and oats, in addition to regular flour. I omitted the wheat germ it asked for, which I am sure I have somewhere in my pantry. Too lazy with the splitting headache to go looking for it.