Saturday, February 26, 2011

A Costa Rican driving in Colorado

Have you ever seen a Costa Rican driver at the wheel?  We are great (most of us), and yes I totally include myself in that statement.  We believe most traffic laws should be followed by the masses and we consider them mere suggestions when we are behind the wheel.  


DH is known to flinch, cringe and tightly shut his eyes when I am driving and he is in the passenger seat.  More and more if we need to go somewhere together, unless he is heavily impaired (meaning if he had a limb broken or has been impaled) he is the one behind the wheel.  Mind you, this is the man who taught me how to drive and for a while I was in his opinion a "good" driver but then the Costa Rican indoctrination kicked in and there has been no going back.  What makes matters worse?  If I have recently been in Costa Rica and driving and return to Colorado and forget I have now left the "autopista" behind.


But something I really must concede about Costa Rican drivers is that when we are on the road we are totally having a conversation with each other and it becomes almost like a "flow of traffic" dance ~ even though sometimes someone might step on your foot in the form of a hasty brake.  


In Colorado I think many drivers are just rude and could give a rat's ass about the flow of traffic.  Take for example the dreaded left turn only lane/light.  Imagine this: it is rush hour, you are the third car in a left turn lane with it's own light.  The light turns green but the car at the front of the line is dilly-dallying and when they finally realize the light is green and go there is only enough time for an additional car to go - my reaction: UGH!!!!!  Now I am at the front of the line but it sucks that I have to wait longer to take my left turn simply because "rude" at the front didn't give a crap about everyone else.  In the meantime, traffic is backing up behind me because of "rude".  Now I on the other hand take it upon myself to be very attentive when I am at the front of the line and as soon as it turns green: go, go, go! to ensure that as many cars as possible (if they are on the ball as well - not if it includes a "rude" in there) can make the turn as well.  Is this Costa Rican madness?  Maybe.  But next time you are in a turn left lane and have a rude at the front of the line or you are at the front... think of a Costa Rican behind the wheel and maybe, just maybe... emulate (it's okay, I won't tell!).

5280 Denver Restaurant Week has begun - woohoo!!

For those of you that don't live in the Denver Metro area... sucks to be you!  Denver offers many lifestyle opportunities, has great weather (310 days of sunshine a year, bite me Honolulu, Miami and San Diego!), and tons of outdoor and indoor recreational options, you can choose from 6 different sports teams to cheer, we have 12 ski areas within 90 minutes and for all our beer-loving friends it is the brew-pub capitol of the world but most of all it offers Denver Restaurant Week (a misnomer because it is 2 weeks long).  This means that if you eat at one of the participants restaurants your meal for 2 people will cost $52.80 or for 1 person $26.40.  These meals normally include 3 courses (appetizer, entree and dessert), you get to sample all kinds of lovely dishes AND this is a great way to try new, fancy (read expensive) restaurants for a very reasonable price.  


This year my friend K and I are partaking of a few restaurants (mileage reimbursement put to good use), we have chosen ones that we have never been to before and one where I have been but she hasn't (and I don't mind going back to) - and a couple of times I am letting DH coming along as well.  The contenders are:
Restaurant Kevin Taylor, Elway's, Red Square Euro Bistro and The Melting Pot.


Restaurant Kevin TaylorWe went to Restaurant Kevin Taylor and were slightly disappointed.  The service was extremely attentive (although the waiter had a very thick accent and spoke in a whisper which made things a little difficult), the restaurant itself has a great ambiance and the menu had many options ~ we were good about not getting the same dishes so as to try more but none of the dishes left us wanting more or craving to come back.  I think I would much rather go to Racine's for their awesome Solitaire Salmon Salad than go back to Restaurant KT and pay a bunch of money for something that does little to nothing for me.  


If you are in Denver, drop me a line and let me know what restaurants you have chosen for DRW and if you liked them!

I can't help, falling in love with you...

From Elvis Presley's (or UB 40) lips, to mine.  This is our 'song', the one we first danced to back in 1996 but since we were cool we had UB 40 playing and not the king - ha!  Because of Valentine's Day having come and gone, I've been reflecting on our love and my love for DH.  We have had some great V-Days in the past including a trip to Paris and getting a new family member (Zoey) and some awful ones which shall remain unnamed but might include trying to give me a stupid teddy bear instead of the puppy I was asking for.  Let's be clear, I don't think V-Day should be the day you profess your undying love for others but it is one of the days where the world has to shut up and put up with it.  


This posting is not going to be sappy (maybe just a little) since I am known for saying things like "most of the time you annoy the crap out of me, but thanks for xyz", nor do I claim that we have a perfect relationship since we have had highs (that range from post-it notes and writing messages in the snow to great adventures) and lows (I'm pointing my finger at law school) and when people do claim to have one it makes me want to gag myself with a spoon mostly because I believe there is no such thing as "perfect" in life but also because it sets an unachievable and unrealistic standard.


I love the grand gestures I have received from DH in the past (and will love them in the future), many of them having to do with V-Day, but what I have learned to love most recently are the little/grand gestures.  This wasn't always the case.  I have had a really hard time at recognizing all the ways in which DH loves me.  Last year I told him that my "bank" felt depleted from all the withdrawals he made and very few deposits, he said he thought he made several deposits but that I didn't count them so we came up with a system.  I created paper deposits slips for my bank and every time he did something that made me feel loved I would fill one out and give it to him to show that it counted.  This system not only made me recognize all the deposits he made but it also showed him that I appreciated them.  We used the system for about 4 months and it really helped both of us realize that we show each other how much we love one another in daily gestures that can tend to go unnoticed but in our household no longer do.


Most recently this includes DH making me breakfast every morning - a soft boiled egg with toast (with tomato and avocado on some days) to be exact.  I am not a morning person so I don't get up early enough to make myself breakfast because every last second of sleep counts AND although I love to cook, the preciseness of a soft boiled egg has always been daunting to me and therefore not something I am willing to put myself through.  So DH started making these for me this week and they make a huge difference in my day.  I feel fuller the rest of the day, I eat less and I have more energy - plus the added bonus of feeling loved.  You may not think much of this gesture but this is coming from someone who won't take the time to warm up something in the microwave for himself because "that's too much work" and so instead will eat it cold (I know, right?!?!).  But there he is every morning making me breakfast and he puts SO much effort in to trying to make me the perfect egg.  And every morning I can't help falling in love with you.... 
I was extra lucky on this particular morning and got tomatoes and blueberries as a bonus.

Brownies I took in to work on V-Day - nothing says love like chocolate!

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Memories, Food and Love

Sniff sniff, yes, I'm a sniffer.  I believe my super power to be my sense of smell, a cold for me is like death.  I tend to have many olfactory memories, some bad but most of them good and most of them are tied to food because if anything food is, well, smelly.  Or aromatic, depends on who is cooking and what is being cooked.  Most importantly, food is not something we need merely for bodily nourishment but something that we need for our souls.  


Think about it, no milestone, accomplishment, holiday, celebration or event happens without food.  Birthday parties, anniversaries, graduation, promotion, wedding, Christmas, 4th of July, Easter and many others wouldn't be the same if it weren't for food.  I mean, there is a holiday where you give thanks by making a bounty of food!  And that is just the joyous and fun occasions (I know you are wondering what's fun and joyous about the stress and dysfunction of family together at a holiday but you say po-tay-to, I say po-tah-to). And what happens when someone passes away?  We serve food after the service and we bring food to the most bereaved.  Someone lost their job?  Let me take you out to eat and get your mind off of it.  Dumped?  What flavor of ice cream is your favorite?


Food is also a way to show appreciation as DH and I recently did by giving our neighbors a pan of brownie/cookie bars (don't ask, DH made them) to the neighbors for shoveling our walk (which prompted them to do it again!), care by bringing chicken soup to a sick friend or nurture when our mom makes us our favorite meal or we cook for our loved ones.


If you stop to remember your favorite event or holiday (or any good time for that matter) or person, you will most likely remember the food involved.  For years I have remembered a dish made by the mother of a dear person and friend, Patrick Blessing.  Mary Catherine Blessing is famous in my mind for making BBQ meatballs.  Yes, you read correctly, BBQ meatballs.  The first Merriman formal I ever went to was the house formal in February 1997, when I was a freshman.  My friend Mel and I had been "dieting" all week by eating only cereal, Lucky Charms to be exact, cause we wanted to look extra cute in our formal dresses (and we did, I have the pics to prove it) so by the time we made it to the party I was starving.  


When I entered the house this wonderful aroma drifted towards me and led me to this crock pot filled to the brim with a wonderful concoction, the BBQ meatballs.  Mind you, I had only moved from Costa Rica two years prior and this dish was something that I had never encountered in my life.  After having a few (trying to restrain myself) and licking sauce off my lips, I asked how this group of guys was so lucky to have had someone make this and found out who was behind it.  I must confess that throughout the night I had my fair share and I believe I visibly pouted when I went back to the crock pot one final time to find that it was devoid of meatballs.  For years I wanted to ask Pat if he could get this recipe for me from his mom but was too shy (hold back your snorts) to do it.  DH will back up the fact that I have talked about these meatballs repeatedly throughout the years (as he agreeably nods his head and mutters "um-hmm, I remember" and probably thinks "when will she shut up about these meatballs?"), especially when we have come across similar concoctions that just don't measure up.


Now that we no longer have Pat with us the meatballs are so much more special to me than before.  When I think of the meatballs, they bring back memories of him and all the good times we had including a memorable moment when Mama and Papa Ruiz were having a cookout to celebrate Los' graduation (see??? food.) and while Mama Ruiz and I were going on about something or other Pat asks with a huge smile mixed with bewilderment: "Jen, you speak Puerto Rican?", my answer as I laughed: "Yes Pat, I speak Spanish".


So last night I decide, I'm making these meatballs.  No recipe, no nothing, just going for it.  Today, our crock pot is full of BBQ meatballs.  Are they as good as Mary Catherine's?  Not really, but all day long the smell and taste of them have brought me memories of a loved friend, made me smile and most importantly reminded me of what love means.  Back then it meant a mother nurturing her child, his brothers, friends and guests.  Today it means we miss you but you live on through our thoughts, memories, your wonderful wife and adorable baby girl and... through BBQ meatballs. 

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Thank you for being a friend

Yes, you know I'm quoting the cheesy Andrew Gold song used for the show "The Golden Girls" but recently I've realized how in society we tend to say "thank you" to people for actions such as holding the door open for us as we walk into some place, watching the kids while we take care of something (in my case the pets), lending us some sugar, a couple of eggs or even a vacuum cleaner, or doing us a favor but how often do we say to someone: thank you for being you, for being there for me, for being a friend?  How often do we let people know just how much they mean to us?


Last week, my friend Chef moved back to Mexico to open his restaurant Xix-ím and two wonderful ladies had planned a surprise going-away get together before his departure.  I had a massive headache/migraine all day that day and DH wasn't feeling too hot either but (and this one of the reasons I love him so much) he still accompanied me and drove to Sullivan's so we could say "see you soon" and "good luck" to Chef.  We got there late because I had a late meeting so Chef was already there along with others.  When he saw us, his face lit up, he got up from his seat and gave me the biggest bear hug (Chef is a big guy and his hugs are pretty good) ever!  He kept saying "que bueno verte" and "no lo puedo creer" with me saying back "we wouldn't have missed this".  I think because we were late he thought we wouldn't be showing up.  


As we sat down, ordered and such Chef introduced me to the husband of one of the organizers (I know her but hadn't met him) and said: Jenny is one of my dearest friends, she is one of the first people I met when I moved to Denver and she just always made me feel so at home here.  My jaw nearly dropped.  I care a lot for Chef, he's a great guy with a caring spirit, loads of talent (and never lets his fame amongst Latinos go to his head as a local celebrity) and he is always happy to go along with my crazy ideas but I had no idea that this is what I meant to him, in 5 years he had never said a word.  We had a nice time that night regardless of our ailments and on our way home I kept thinking about what Chef had said and it made me think of my lovely friend Meche.


I met Meche 7 years ago when we both went through a leadership program together.  Recently she told me that our get-togethers were really important to her since I was part of her familia.  That group of people that first accepted and loved her for who she is right after moving to Denver.  I could have won an Oscar that night for not letting my jaw drop and all I kept thinking about was how I could have nearly not been a part of that and what a loss that would have been for me.  You see, my gay-dar is pretty sucky unless the person flaunts it, and by flaunting it I mean saying to my face: I'm gay/queer/transgender/etc.  We were in a leadership program with all women and didn't necessarily feel comfortable sharing everything about who we were and Meche wasn't going to tell everyone - hey, I'm a lesbian!  I remember always asking Meche if she had a love interest (never a boyfriend which is my normal M.O.) amongst other things (she was kinda shy) but I didn't know she wasn't straight and didn't find out until almost the end of the program.  She said she always felt safe and accepted by me and all I can think is "by the Grace of the Universe I never asked her if she had a boyfriend which might not have made her feel accepted" - can you imagine if I had? YAY Universe!!!


Common thread or point I'm trying to make you say?  I had no idea what I meant to Chef or Meche until they said something which takes me back to the original thought of this posting, how often do we let people know what they mean to us?  Not their actions mind you, but them, the person who can make a world of difference?  Rarely.   


Recently, I decided to tell my friend Patty what an important role she played in my life (and still does), I was nervous and feeling slightly uneasy (even though this is the friend I call to spill my guts to ALL the time) it took courage, although I'm not sure why but afterwards I felt so much better knowing that she now knew one more reason why she was/is so special to me.


My challenge to you: pick a couple of people in your life who mean a lot and then tell them.  It will make you feel closer to each other, because knowing how much you mean to someone makes you be a better friend to them and it's lovely to feel appreciated.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Oh the weather outside is frightful but inside it's delicious!

Along with the rest of the country, Colorado is having frigid temps and snow, however Coloradoans were the first ones to really be hit by this storm (although probably won't be hit hardest - no "thundersnow" here!) so we have been suffering through it a little longer than the rest which gives us a head start on... cooking!  


I've seen a lot of Facebook postings talking about stocking up on booze, snacks, pizza and other store bought crap but I happen to think this is perfect weather to try yummy new recipes that will keep you warm.  That is why I stopped by the store to buy a few additional ingredients on my way home yesterday knowing full well that my body would not be leaving the house for over 24 hours (if not more) and that if I was missing an ingredient: oh well! recipe would have to be modified cause my butt was not up to freezing.


First off is a recipe my friend Patty suggested the last time I posted some recent culinary accomplishments.  It is called Chicken in Garlic and Shallots and because I forgot a couple of things I made a couple of adjustments (just with the herbs) and in the future would probably add a lot more garlic cloves but it was if I do say so myself, awesome!! I really normally don't like chicken on the bone (I'm not sure why but hey, I live in the year 2011 and not back in 1901 so I can be that way) but this recipe made me not care about such a thing.  Plus, it was wwwaaaayyy cheaper than buying chicken breast.  The chicken was juicy, moist, tender and falling off the bone and the roasted garlic cloves were an explosion of flavor in my mouth.  This is definitely a repeat kind of recipe!! Friends don't let other friends not try this recipe (Patty, I can't believe you kept it from me for this long!!)!
Browned on the stove but pre-oven
Post-oven, doesn't it look wonderful?
I also made some Potato Bread, a really simple recipe (especially when it comes to bread) that is a real treat when you have it right out of the oven or later on after it has cooled or toasted with some butter or served along side some stew or any other way you may think of - just let me put it in my mouth already!  Many people seem to be unwilling to give bread baking a chance, especially if it doesn't involve a breadmaker but that is a huge mistake!  Making bread at home is an easy process and will give you olfactory memories you (and your family) will never forget.
This recipe makes 2 loaves or you can make them into rolls as well,
one is smaller cause I had already dug in when I took this picture!
And lastly a recipe that lives up to Neil Diamond's lyric of "crunchy granola's neat" because it was fun and easy to make, made the house smell fantastic and tasted better than any granola I've had recently (sorry Udi's Bakery but it's true).  I've been munching on it since which of course spoiled my appetite (you were right mom!) for dinner but who cares cause I don't have to set an example for anyone in my house!
Fresh out of the oven
Full of healthy goodness!
As always, happy to share any of these you might find appealing.  And if you live near me, are coming to visit soon or want to get together and have me prepare any of these I am happy to oblige! Stay warm!!