Tuesday's Tune: Lost Boy

When my sister was here visiting me in June, she said she had listened to this song before it went mainstream.  If you're interested in the updated "mainstream" version, go here.

My Mister Man doesn't like the song because he finds it so sad.  I don't entirely disagree with him. It's a sad song when one thinks about the literal language and the images it paints (e.g. "no place to call home," "soared above the town that never loved me").  Yet, from a broader perspective, I look at the song as someone learning to deal with loneliness, even if it means being a lost boy for a little bit.  Haven't we all been a little lonely and lost?  Sometimes it's during these lonely and lost moments that we discover our own strengths and find out that we weren't really lonely or lost.  Just a little sidetracked.

Let me know what you think of this song.

Cutie Pie!

Pickled Sport Peppers

Since moving to the Midwest, I learned about Chicago-style hot dogs and pickled sport peppers.  For the longest time, I've been wanting to pickle sport peppers, but couldn't find actual sport peppers.  So, I've opted to do the next best thing, which is just pickle any ole pepper in vinegar.  The peppers I chose to pickle are thinner than jalapenos and serrano peppers, but thicker than Thai chili peppers.  I find that small chili peppers, such as Thai birds-eye peppers, don't pickle well because they become even smaller during the pickling.

I found the following recipe from Liete's Culinaria and modified the pickling method.  I didn't want any sugary tang to the peppers, so I hope that this recipe creates a savory vinegary pepper that I can eat as a condiment.  Yum.

Pickled "Sport" Peppers
Recipe from Liete's Culinaria (method modified)

• 2 C mixed sport peppers or small, slender Thai chili peppers
• 1 quart (4 C) white vinegar
• 2 tsp salt

1.  Wash and trim off green stems.  Put peppers into clean sterilized glass mason jar(s).
2.  In a pan, mix vinegar with salt.  Bring vinegar to a boil.  Salt should be dissolved.
3.  Pour hot vinegar into the jar(s).
4.  Cover and put in the refrigerator, or seal jar(s) according to manufacturer's instruction.

Enjoy and let me know what you think!

Sick Baby

I've been so busy with work and my son that I've had little time to do anything else, which includes blogging, watching the Olympics, or anything that isn't mandatory. 

This weekend, I've been taking care of my son and nursing him back to health because he caught a cold or the flu from his cousin's home.  He had a really high fever and threw up a lot.  His appetite wasn't severely affected, but he was really lethargic.  He just wanted to be held and sleep.

Other than being sick from getting his immunizations, the only other time he became sick was when his cousin gave him pink eye at 2.5 months old.  Like most moms, I fretted over him and worried about his discomfort.  I only wanted him to get better.

Today, it appears that he's really a lot better.  He's smiling again, cooing, and moving around like a busy little bee.  The sun is out shining (it's been raining for the last two days) and I might take him on a walk.  He loves being outside and I can't wait to take him out.  

I know this won't be the end of him getting sick, nor the last time I will nurse him back to health.  I keep telling myself that each time he gets sick, he's only strengthening his immune system.  It's great to see my son happy and healthy again.

I hope all is well with you in your world.  Take care and good health to all.

Reminiscing About Clams

This morning I was reading this chef's post about eating seafood in Paris and I was reminded of my trip to Oregon two years ago.  It really made me miss my friend, especially eating local Oregonian clams.

Our first trip together in Oregon, after I landed, was to go to the Pacific Ocean.  On our way there, we stopped off at Spirit Mountain Casino.  Seriously, I would have never thought of going to a casino to eat and I admit that I have a bias against eating at restaurants in casinos, but there we were.  She said the sit-in restaurant served some of the best local clams.  I was very skeptical, but trusted her judgment.

So we found ourselves at Legends and ordered our own meals, along with a bowl of "steamers" to share.  I got myself a salad (I think I got a "Legendary Louie") and when the clams came out, I was no match for her.  She methodically  and quickly took each clam meat out of the shell and then ate all the meat at once.  I liked doing it the slow, old-fashioned way:  eating the clam meat from each shell, sucking on the shell, licking my fingers, then moving on to the next.  I appreciate the whole dining experience while she prefers to have the clams in her tummy!

We got crusty break to soak up the delicious clam broth, which I couldn't let go to waste.  I have to admit, the whole meal was really yummy (including my salad) and one of the best I had while visiting her.

If you're ever near the Legends at Spirit Mountain Casino in Oregon, check out their steamers.  Today, I'm just reminiscing about that simple meal and realizing how much I miss my friend.

Let me know if you've ever been to Legends and tried their clams.  Happy eating.