What Charlene's Been Eating-Sashimi

Since Katie and I are separated for the summer, I thought it might be fun to post pictures of what I've been eating outside of New Orleans

Coming Up Next: What Charlene ate aboard the Carnival Pride

The one where Katie and Charlene try to make pita

So Katie and I both independently were thinking about making pita for quite some time. When we realized that we both wanted to make pita, we got right to it.

Above is a picture of the dough rising and below are the final results!!

So, the results were not as fruitful as we hoped. We made this earlier, when the weather would switch between warm days and really cold days. As the sun fell, out pita dough was rising. Unfortunately because it was colder, the dough didn't rise enough to make the pocket which is absolutely essential to pita so our results were more like flat bread.

Homemade Tortellini!

Long time no update! I recently made homemade tortellini following this recipe http://www.weareneverfull.com/homemade-stuffed-pasta-yes-we-can/.

Here are the results!

TUMAC Spring BBQ

In an effort to use our gym memberships (happily included in our tuition), and promote the importance of a healthy lifestyle & exercise... we joined the Tulane University Martial Arts Club aka TUMAC, last fall.

This past weekend I ventured down to Dorignacs in Metairie with our fearless leader, Tom. While Charlene was enjoying delicious crawfish and good music at Tulane's Crawfest 2010... I was occupied in Tom's kitchen assisting in the creation of grilled veggies (asparagus, scallions, onions, zucchini, squash, etc), lamb burgers, and beef burgers. In addition to the chicken (marinated in thyme, lemon, and olive oil), we had smoked sausage, avacado salad, baked beans, strawberry pie, and a vanilla ice cream dessert.

No BBQ is complete without the endless supply of beer, wine, and horseradish infused vodka. Yes, horseradish infused vodka to cleanse your palate and prepare the stomach for dessert. There's nothing quite like the feel of burning and the 'whoa what did i just put in my mouth' factor. If you've never tried it, I recommend having your camera's action ready for some great reactions! Unfortunately, due to technical errors, our video of 'horseradish infused vodka' shots was accidentally deleted. Instead, please enjoy the photos our festivities near Audubon park. Pictures courtesy of our very own Treasurer, Adrianna!

Shattered Dreams

This weekend was supposed to be the weekend. An official END to the lemon (2010) saga. But alas, the end came to a sudden and violent end for the limoncello. The jar, I had so carefully and diligently tended to these past few months... shattered.

There I was, admiring my jar of limoncello... sitting peacefully in my closet. I bent down to pick it up thinking, "This weekend you will be in bottles. And I will be able to drink you." But as I carefully picked it, not a foot from the ground, an insect (cockroach) appeared on the jar and attempted to crawl on my hand. I screamed, startled by the unwelcome presence.... and watched the jar slip from my hands and shatter on my closet floor. Still the smell of lemon vodka lingers. Memories of a shattered dream.

Thanksgiving: Florida vs Maryland.

Charlene and I come from two very different cultural backgrounds. Mine with a Greek/ Scottish/Swedish thing going on, and Charlene's from a Taiwanese/East Asia heritage.

My arrival in Florida heralded mostly my mom cooking and complaining we never help her. (A montage, I feel, that happens every year--- thanks Mom!). With a full menu planned, the preparation for Thanksgiving Day commenced!

Thanksgiving in the Sunshine State:



Thanksgiving in Maryland:A few days before Thanksgiving, my mom calls and the following conversation ensues: mom: "do you want duck or turkey for Thanksgiving?"me: "Oooh, duck sounds good and interesting." mom: "somebody* wants turkey, but your aunts and cousins**don't really care for it" me: "well then, let's have both"And that is how my family makes a holiday full of excess and gluttony even more fattening. Because we can't agree on what to eat, we just bring everything we like. Here's a sample:

*my brother is a staunch traditionalist when it comes to the holidays

**some of my family members didn't grow up celebrating Thanksgiving

On the Joy of Meyer's Lemons

Katie has a lemon tree back in Florida. After winter break, she came back with a bounty of Meyer Lemons. A note from Katie: "Over the Christmas holidays (2009) I picked a ton of Meyer's Lemons from my mother's yard in Florida. Upon my return to the Big Easy I had accumulated TOO many lemons. What was I going to do with them all?! All my friends were still home for the holidays, and these lemons were taking up far too much space in my humble kitchen/ dining area. Something had to be done."

Adventures with the Meyer Lemon: