More Cards

Some cards I made recently.

And another.

And the last one.

Osso Buco

Years and years ago, JC came home from a trip to Montreal talking about a fabulous dish he'd had called Osso Buco. Well, you know I'm going to make it, right? I've been making this dish ever since and I use a recipe (click to go there) by Emeril Lagasse that calls for two 8 oz pieces of veal shank. You could easily add two more pieces of veal and not change any of the other ingredients.

Serve with white or brown rice, crusty bread, and a rich hearty red wine. Yum!!

Sherman's Deli, Palm Desert, CA

We recently met some folks in Palm Creek who, when learning that we were going to spend time near Palm Desert, told us that we just had to eat at Sherman's Deli. Well we're not going to pass up a recommendation like that so today we made the short trip from Indio to Palm Desert for a culinary delight.

This was some tasty comfort food!!

After taking our order, the waitress asked if we wanted pickles - well, sure!! She brought them immediately and if you think we are waiting for the food before we indulge, you don't know us very well!! The pickles were briny and crisp and peppery. Oh and that other stuff is what was left of some really yummy sauerkraut that JC chomped on before I got my Iphone out to take pictures.

I ordered latkas because I LOVE latkas. These were huge and OK. I actually have made better latkas as JC was quick to point out, but they were good enough and I didn't have to mess with the grating and pressing out the water and saving the potato starch, etc. The applesauce was homemade and excellent!

But this . . . THIS . . . was a work of art!! The Reuben was grilled to perfection and piled high with corned beef, a layer of swiss and just the right amount of kraut. The meat was tasty and very tender. They even served the Thousand Island dressing on the side much to JC's delight!

Sherman's Deli in Palm Desert - order the Reuben - you won't be disappointed!!

El Mexicali Cafe, Indio, CA

JC and I packed up and left Palm Creek yesterday with mixed emotions. We really enjoy our vagabond life style, but we also loved being at Palm Creek this winter and we will return again next year for several months.

We are now in Indio, CA, famous for dates among other things!

You know how we love to try local cuisine, so JC googled good places to eat in Indio and found El Mexicali Cafe. The review said the food was wonderful but it was not a place to take out of town guests - couldn't pass that up!!

This is not a tex-mex restaurant. The menu leaned heavily toward seafood with a whole fried red snapper as one of the entrees. JC seriously considered that one. But then I spied empanadas on the appetizer menu. I love empanadas but only if the crust is made with masa harina and these were!! Had to have them. There were three on the plate, each with a different filling: queso blanco, shrimp, and a spicy beef mixture. They were very similar to what we used to eat in Venezuela when I was a child. Yummy!!

After that indulgence, we weren't so hungry so JC ordered the fish taco plate: two fish tacos (cod we think) with lots of fresh toppings and beans and rice. Very good.

I ordered from the a la carte menu: a shrimp stuffed pepper (wished I'd ordered two or three or . . .). Shrimpy, spicy, yummy!
And a crispy taco with carne asada, tender with just the right amount of zing!

This is an artist's rendition of the cafe, proudly displayed on a wall in the tiny dining room.

And this is what it actually looks like from the outside. Not the most inviting place and that, coupled with the very industrial area and the railroad tracks not 40 feet out the back door, earns it dive status. Don't be fooled, this shabby exterior holds a real gem of a restaurant!!

More Comfort Food

Here in Palm Creek, we have many pot lucks. It makes life easy because no one person has to do a lot of preparation and we all get to try different dishes. Recently, I needed a dish and decided to do an old favorite, Jiffy Corn Casserole.

I just did the basic version with out any of the optional ingredients because that is JC's favorite.
Yum, yum, yum!! Corny and velvety and rich - perfect comfort food!

Jiffy Corn Casserole

½ C. butter, melted

2 eggs, beaten

1 (8 ½ oz.) pkg. dry corn bread mix (Jiffy)

1 (15 oz.) can whole kernel corn

1 (14.75 oz). can creamed corn

1 C. sour cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and lightly grease a 9x9 inch baking dish.

In a medium bowl, combine butter, eggs, corn bread mix, whole and creamed corn, and sour cream. Spoon mixture into prepared dish.

Bake for 45 minutes or until the top is golden brown.

Optional ingredients:

1 C. sharp cheese

1 small can green chilis

chopped green onions

caramelized onions

cooked and crumbled bacon

cooked sausage

Another Easter card.

Kind of a more masculine Easter card.

Easter Cards

The card I sent to my daughters had to be simple because one of them lives in Denmark and I was afraid to add much in the way of embellishments.

And the card I sent to my mother.