The Pineapple Dilemma

When I was in middle school I had a horrible allergic reaction to pineapple. Ever since I’ve avoided it like the plague, but is that really fair?

Okay, so here is the deal, I went grocery shopping yesterday and it seems that pineapples are everywhere. Now, this isn’t to say that I haven’t had pineapple since, but usually it has been cooked until unrecognizable, as in a sauce or glaze, or dehydrated, neither of which has caused a reaction. But I’ve also had it both fresh and canned and the same reaction occurred; tightened throat and I squeal like a pig. Again, I was thirteen the last time I actually ate any regular pineapple chunks and I’m significantly older than that now, so perhaps it was one of those puberty allergies that go away. Or perhaps it is worse now and I could have a fatal reaction if I try it again. What can I say, I’m willing to live on the dangerous side. Of course, without health insurance maybe this isn’t such a good idea. Then again, I do have a very large bottle of generic Benadryl and can always pop six of those should a reaction happen. Either way, I bought one and it is sitting on the counter. My husband thinks the world of me for getting it.

Wasting Time

Why is wasting time more fun than actually doing something? I blame the internet… and TV.

Perhaps it is time to start unplugging. I mean, seriously, I spend way too much time either on the computer or watching television instead of doing anything productive. Sure, there are productive things to do on the computer and thought provoking programs to watch on the TV, but for the most part I am simply wasting away the hours on Pinterest or watching crappy B-movies on Netflix or television shows I’ve already seen. Maybe what I really need to do is start setting time limits so it forces me to do something else.

Dirty Kitchen

Ignoring the kitchen cleaning duties for the past few days is really beginning to show. Fine, so it started showing a few days ago, gawd, get off my back!

Clean dishes in the dishwasher; a full rack of dried pans and large bowls on the counter; a sink filled with grilling tools and bowls; the stovetop and adjacent counter covered in pots, pans, dishes and utensils… it is time to clean. I’m usually on top of this, doing dishes daily to prevent scenarios you would have found in the computer game The Sims, but alas, the last few days I’ve just not been into cleaning. I’ve been avoiding it with multiple episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer in a row.

So now the time to clean is upon us. A time to empty the dishwasher and rack; a time to wash the hand wash only dishes and pots and pans; a time to once again have an uncluttered kitchen counter space. Ugh. I do not want that time to be today.

Strawberry Shortcake

Strawberries for me are the first signs that summer is on its way. And then I pour sugar on them, macerate them and dump them on top of a slightly sweetened buttermilk biscuit and lots of freshly whipped cream.

While picked-fresh-from-the-garden strawberries are the best, store bought ones will do this time of year when strawberries are bountiful. We had quite a few ripening strawberries in a whiskey barrel that would have been perfect in a day or two, but alas, the chickens got to them first. The follies of letting them free-range. Still, during the summer and after a barbecue, there is nothing I like more than a large helping of strawberry shortcake. Okay, so perhaps it is quite a few hours after eating said barbecue food.

Spinach and Brie Frittata

For breakfast yesterday I wanted to make something different. To the cookbooks!

After perusing a dozen different cookbooks (okay, so four including one devoted to eggs) I decided to just come up with something on my own. I’ve had a wedge of brie in the fridge since March and figured I’d pair that with some spinach and make a frittata. I ignored the arbitrary expiration date on the cheese and decided to sauté onions and garlic in a little olive oil before adding the spinach, a wise choice. Since we also had cherry tomatoes on hand, I sliced a handful of them up and put them on top before putting the frittata into the oven to cook. The results? Amazing.

Cory’s Spinach and Brie Frittata

6 eggs, scrambled with salt and pepper

½ small onion, thinly sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon olive oil

1 to 2 handfuls of spinach

1 tablespoon butter

4 oz brie, rind removed and sliced

5 to 10 cherry tomatoes, sliced in half

salt and pepper to taste

basil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. In a nonstick medium fry pan over medium, heat the olive oil and add the onions, stirring occasionally for about 3 minutes. Add garlic and stir occasionally for another 2 minutes or until they just start to brown, season with salt and pepper. Stir in spinach and cook until it just starts to wilt. I had to split about half the spinach and added the rest about 30 seconds later. Season again with salt and pepper and set aside in a small bowl. Add butter to the pan and pour the beaten eggs in once melted. Using a wooden spoon, push from the edges into the middle after about 30 seconds to a minute. When the eggs are over halfway set, spread the spinach mixture evenly over the eggs then add the brie and tomatoes. Sprinkle with a pinch of basil and bake for about 5 to 10 minutes, or until the eggs have set. Slice into wedges like a pizza. Can be served hot, warm or at room temperature. Serves 2 to 4 people depending on if sides are involved.

Yard Work

Our yard is in desperate need of some attention. That doesn’t necessarily mean I want to give it any.

One of my least favorite things is yard work. I love planting flowers and tending flower beds and vegetable gardens. But the actual work itself? Not so much. I don’t care for mowing, and the only weed I like, the dandelion, is the only weed we actually have in our lease agreement that there are to be none of in the yard. Well, the yellow ones anyway. I can do without the white fluffy ones.

Fortunately our front yard is one giant rock garden. Unfortunately our neighbor overseeded her lawn last year and now we have grass, albeit dead grass thanks to a generous spray of Round-Up, covering the crushed rocks. The only thing worse than mowing is trying to pull up dead grass from compressed rocks. Is it sad that I am hoping for rain to wash out our plans to do yard work today?

June

It’s already June?! My, how time flies!

The weather is warmer and the air is humid and the flowers are in full array… must be June in the Pacific Northwest. Of course, at our house, the weeds are out of control and the grass is knee high and the only flowers we have are ones that came back from last year. Alas, now that summer is almost here, it might be time to do that Spring Cleaning people so fondly refer to. Time to throw open all the windows and clean every nook and cranny; time to open the garage and get rid of anything we haven’t looked at since the move; time to drink more coffee before making grand plans that will never come to fruition. Damn.