“Did you think we’d make it this far?” I asked him. He told me no, that he’d told me he didn’t think it was going to work, four weeks in. I completely forgot about that! Like Ruth Bader Ginsburg noted, sometimes it’s better to be a little deaf with your spouse, while married.

Emma and Guillermo came over for dinner Tuesday. I reheated some delicious Lemon Chicken Thighs (recipe to come) I’d made the night before to go along with Caesar Salad (made by Zeke) and Sausage and Onion Pizza, that got a little burnt on the bottom. It’s getting harder and harder for Emma to navigate and she said when she drops things these days, she’s not sure she will even be able to get up. She was wearing some strap under her belly that a co-worker recommended for back pain. In my day, they told us to wear girdles! It reminded me of something a horse would wear, but, if it works, more power to her.

She was talking about things Guillermo did that drive her crazy while she’s pregnant and I was talking about things her Dad does that drive me crazy in general. Like putting soap in the kitchen sponge (who does that?), leaving little crumbs on the counter when he cuts bread (evidence that he’s been there) and re-loading the dishwasher after I load it. Come to think of it, most of my complaints about him revolve around the kitchen. Oh! And looking over my shoulder when I cook (and offering unsolicited advice). I hate that!

But an anniversary is not a time to nit pick, so off we went to Tam Tam, a Vietnamese restaurant downtown, across from the courthouse, that I’d heard was great. It was a very funky- not fancy- place. Kind of a funny pick for our anniversary, but the food was great and I loved it! It was interesting and adventurous, kind of like our marriage. We talked about favorite trips we’ve taken and future trips we want to take and came home and ate our Misha’s Cupcakes and Vegan Guava Cheesecake, compliments of Tam Tam.

My low point in our marriage was when we had three teenage girls at home, while I was going through menopause. I feel if I could survive that, I could survive anything. But, when kids are at home, you’re in the thick of it and now it’s just us and this big, empty house. It’s so quiet! All the grandkids are out of town (until July) and we are trying to navigate this next chapter in our life as Empty Nesters. We’ve been looking at houses, but the more we look, the more depressing it gets.

And, while twenty years is a big deal, like age, it’s just a number. The question is really: “How is your marriage today? Do you still do things to show that you love each other? Are you happy with each other?” Yes, yes and yes. It’s time for the next chapter in our lives and I am ready for it. After being married twice (17 years for #1) I think I’ve learned a couple things that are important in marriage.

#1 Communication #2 Compromise #3 Respect #4 Appreciation #5 Being a little deaf

The secret of a happy marriage is finding the right person. You know they’re right if you love to be with them all the time.”

Julia Child

Up Next: Lemon Chicken Recipe and Tam Tam review

Mais y Agave

This Mexican restaurant, which has been years in the making, finally opened on the former Randazzos restaurant site at the end of April. We went there for our daughter’s birthday and, luckily, got there a couple minutes early because they couldn’t find our reservation. 

The hostess, dressed in a beautiful black Frieda Kahlo-like outfit, with perfect slicked back hair and red lipstick, gave us the impression we were out of luck, especially when we told her the reservation was for six, not two. Luckily, she was able to seat us. Unfortunately, encountering a snooty hostess was not a good first impression of the restaurant.

Mais y Agave, an imposing massive wood and glass structure with a riot of greenery, bougainvillea and neon at the entrance, has three floors. The first (El Patio) is casual dining, with a big glassed-in kitchen, where staff in hats prepare homemade tortillas and there is a huge open courtyard. The second floor is Los Balcones, which is fine dining and the third floor is the Bar and Rooftop (La Azotea). 

Another hostess escorted us onto the elevator and the second floor, where we encountered a colorful, Mexican monkey sculpture. The kids likened it to being escorted by a bouncer into a disco and Mais y Agave does radiate that exclusive air. Other than the one hostess, the staff were friendly and helpful. There were plenty of open tables, by the way.

The cocktail list is Tequila and Mezcal heavy, with lots of Margaritas; the only wines they serve are Mexican. Who knew? They were, unfortunately, out of the Aguas Frescas mocktail for our pregnant Birthday girl. My Jalapeno Margarita ($17) was very good. 

The emphasis at Mais y Agave is on the Oaxacan food and culture and every detail- from the artwork, uniforms, napkins, fresh flowers, glassware and silverware- are meticulously thought out and beautiful. The waiter made salsa tableside, carefully explaining every ingredient. The red salsa was served with homemade fried tortilla chips. The salsa was smooth, but could have used more heat (we asked for medium spicy) and the chips needed more salt.  

We ordered two appetizers- Guacamole ($14) and Ceviche ($28) with passionfruit. The guacamole, served in a traditional molcajete, was a little smooth for my taste and lacked heat. The ceviche came out beautifully plated, with red serrano slices and a flower on top. It had a good flavor; the delicate sea bass was finely minced, not in chunks.

I ordered one of the recommended dishes- the octopus (Pulpo Larandeado $28). It arrived with two huge tentacles and was smoky and crispy on the outside and tender in the middle. The Mexican rice that came with it was unremarkable, with big potato chunks and the small side salad seemed an afterthought. 

Two diners got the Short Rib with Black Mole ($40), which they enjoyed and two others got tacos- Lobster (de Langosta Al Pastor $28) and Steak (Beef Filet de res Prime $28). They came out on pretty ceramic dishes and were three to an order. Good, but not amazing. 

There were also Insectos on the menu! Maguey worms and Grasshoppers were at Market Price, but none of us dared to try them. Market Price is always an iffy proposition, at any rate. 

Too full for dessert, we retreated to the Rooftop to check it out. It was hopping! Almost sunset, with a beautiful view of downtown Coral Gables, it was the place to be (and be seen). The mariachis, who had been missing in action at Los Balcones, were up there finishing a set and accompanied us downstairs in the elevator. 

Verdict: The bill was over $500 for six of us and while I was blown away by the building and the atmosphere, I wasn’t blown away by the food. It’s definitely worth seeing and I would return to try the first floor food and get a drink on the rooftop. There’s always a buzz in Miami when a new restaurant opens and Maiz y Agave is filled with diners wanting to see what it’s all about. Time will tell if they will be able to sustain the demand, once the buzz is gone.

Maiz y Agave 375 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL 33134 Open 11 am to various hours (10 p.m.- 1 a.m.)

After the Engagement Party, Wedding, Baby Shower planning, there is now nothing left to plan. I was supposed to pick up Wyatt for a short Gigi Camp, but since we both had to be home in less than a week, it didn’t make sense to drive the 4 1/2 hours to Saint Augustine and back.

According to the Astro Twins, last week was a “mini” Mercury Retrograde, where everything technology and communications related goes wacky and boy, did I feel it! My biggest issue was with my computer, which got ruined with water damage and I had to replace. Then, I had to get my old information back (still ongoing) and upload programs I had.

On top of that, our dishwasher in the Keys is on the fritz; we’ve already fixed it twice and it’s brand new. My Mother’s Day gift, an Ember mug that keeps coffee hot, seems to take a computer programming degree to set up. And things I’ve ordered on Amazon have come late, or in the wrong size. The ankle brace for Zeke was too small (a large) so I ordered an extra large and it came again as a large. I finally got an extra large, but more ankle braces kept coming!!!

We did celebrate Emma’s 26th Birthday at the new Mexican behemoth Mais y Agave, (located on the corner of Miracle Mile, across from City Hall) on Friday night. My restaurant review (Quick Bite) will be in another post. The rooftop was pretty.

We left for the Keys Saturday morning for the long Memorial Day weekend and went out on Kelley’s Boat (Playin’ Too) on Saturday. It was a calm day on the bay, luckily, and we stopped at Bayside Grill for a snack and a drink. I had a Tequila Sunrise and it was delicious. I’d forgotten how good they were.

We went to the Chickee Hut for sunset on the dock for the first time since Zeke has had his accident. It was a lovely sunset! We were alone, as all the snowbirds at the Sanctuary have fled for the Summer. Although not summer yet, it sure feels like it. We are anxious to get back on the boat, but Doctor’s orders say not for about four more months.

Zeke has transitioned from the boot to an ankle brace and is doing well. There is still swelling, but it should go down eventually. We went to Riviera for our “free” hot dog and spent a quiet Memorial Day at home.

Since I needed something to cheer me up, I invited Emma over to learn how to make my Aunt Josie’s Eggplant Parmesan. Cooking lessons was Christmas present to her, along with an Eggplant pan and Mandoline. I use a Mandoline to cut my eggplant, because it’s easier but my Aunt Josie always used a big Chef’s knife.

We baked the assembled eggplant and I made Lemon Chicken Breasts and a big salad to go with it, since Emma’s on a low sugar/low carb diet. Guillermo and Lucy came over for dinner and we had Mango Sorbet for dessert. Store bought- which Ina says “Is fine”, but I can’t wait for my Mallika mangoes to ripen so I can make some homemade mango sorbet.

House hunting has been depressing. We went to see a lovely old Spanish in the Gables, but when we walked in there were wires hanging and walls that had been knocked down. It had been a re-do, but the owner lost interest half-way through. I asked the realtor how long it would take and how much. She said a year and a million dollars.

I think we’d kill each other.

I told her.

Another place in the Gables seemed promising. It was in our budget, new construction and in a great neighborhood. It seemed too good to be true. It was. We found out the price was for the empty lot, without the house. The price did come with the plans for the house, however. We looked at a couple in Palmetto Bay- outside only. They were all meh. Nothing thrilled me. I don’t want to move out of our house, even though it’s too big for us, to a house I don’t like. So the search continues and I continue cleaning up and clearing out this house, room by room.

My Foodie in Miami redo is more complicated than I anticipated, but I’m working on it. Little by little, bird by bird, baby steps. And, of course, I do have Emma’s big project – a baby girl- to look forward to in July.

It’s another tequila sunrise starin’ slowly ‘cross the sky I said goodbye He was just a hired hand Workin’ on the the dreams he planned to try The days go by

Tequila Sunrise, The Eagles

Up Next: Mais y Agave review

Near my compost heap, I found a huge dead rat with a long tail. I also recently observed the remnants of a smushed rat in our driveway. Coincidence? I think not. It made me wonder about the incredible timing of the rat crossing my driveway at the exact moment a car pulled up and ran it over. And if I’m finding dead rats around town, I fear there must be a huge population of live ones congregating around my house.

The last time I saw a rat in the compost heap, Zeke and I had gone to rake it and as Zeke put the rake in, a rat leaped out. I was behind Zeke and he practically mowed me down in order to escape, leaving me slack-jawed and stunned at his desertion. So much for my knight in shining armor! That incident was around seven years ago and, since then, nary a rat sighting. Until now.

Elsewhere in the garden, my lychees are going crazy! I got this free tree from a Miami-Dade giveaway ten years ago and I’ve never had any lychees at all. I tried pruning it, watering it, fertilizing it and nada, until this year; I have scads of them. The problem is the tree has grown very tall and the lychees are WAY up there, so I have to get a huge ladder and risk life and limb to harvest them. But I will because I love lychees!

Most of the ones that have fallen onto the driveway have little bite marks on them. I tasted a few red beauties the squirrels haven’t gotten to and they are delicious. Although the thought did occur to me that it might be the rats (not squirrels) that are eating them. Yuk!

My Malika mangoes are prolific this year as well. A ton of teardrop-shaped green beauties, with multiple fruit on each branch, await ripening. I cannot wait to taste them, as they are the best mango I’ve ever tasted. Sweet, fragrant and creamy, the Malika is a dessert mango that doesn’t have any of that fibrous stringiness or turpentine taste some mangos have.

My little herb garden, sadly, has been a victim of the Miami heat! It’s been so hot this May, starting with last week, the temperature, with the heat index, was 112 degrees! It’s been the hottest May on record in Miami. After harvesting a few cherry tomatoes, the rest have fallen off and the plant is basically dried up. My basil however, which usually struggles, is doing great, as is the oregano and mint.

They are all in the Lamiaceae family. The Mexican oregano is going gangbusters- it’s pretty much an indestructible plant and my parsley (Italian and curled) is doing ok but it looks like something is eating it. Rats, perhaps?

The sage is doing well, and I have two pepper plants- jalapeño and banana that are producing peppers. My banana trees are alive and well (no bananas today though) and I have a solitary pineapple, which needs to grow a bit more before I cut it off its stalk to eat. Also, some milkweed plants sprouted up in my garden from flying seeds and I’ve spotted some caterpillars on them. Hurray! I love to see the swallowtail butterflies flitting around the garden, with their yellow and black wings and blue skirt.

I’ve been working hard this week on revamping Foodie in Miami. I want to improve the look, make it easier to opt in to subscribe, but most of all, organize the recipes into categories so they are easy to find and use. Unfortunately, I ruined my computer last week during Emma’s baby shower. I was trying to transport my laptop to show a slideshow of Emma as a baby. I put it in the same bag as a tiny vase with water in it. The vase tipped, the water spilled and my laptop was history. I hate when that happens.

It’s not just the expense, but the aggravation and time involved. I’m not techy at all so having to reinstall things, retrieve things, trying to figure out the iCloud and what it actually holds, has been torture this week. When things like this happen, I try to discover what lesson I can learn from my mistakes.

My conclusion? Don’t rush.

Don’t try to transport a laptop in the same bag as a vase with water to save two minutes of time. That two minutes of time has cost me over $1000 and days of my life. Kind of like Zeke taking the short cut in Costa Rica where he shattered his ankle going down the rocky embankment, instead of taking the paved road. Not worth it! Don’t multi-task. I just read an article that says multi-tasking isn’t really possible anyway, so I’m giving up on that fantasy and I’m going to focus on one thing at a time.

Which is what Eckhart Tolle talks about in his book The Power of Now as the way to true happiness. To be in the moment, to concentrate fully on the one thing you are doing and be completely present. So, if you’re brushing your teeth, brush your teeth, if you’re cooking dinner, cook dinner and if you’re walking across the floor, walk across the floor thinking about putting one step in front of the other; not of the past, the future or what may be.

What I will be concentrating on in the near future single-handedly is updating Foodie in Miami. Oh, and getting rid of those darn rats!

Up Next: Hopefully, a new and improved Foodie in Miami.

First, I was busy planning Emma and Guillermo’s wedding, then flying to Costa Rica, then disaster struck. My husband Zeke broke his ankle the day before the wedding on a Monkey Excursion. Ironically, we picked it because it seemed the safest of the excursion options and, with the bride being pregnant, ziplining, horseback riding and surfing were out.

But the Monkey Excursion, where we were told we’d stay in the van searching for Howler monkeys, seemed quite safe. After an hour with no monkey sightings, we stopped the van and got out when we heard some monkeys howling. We climbed up a rocky embankment, saw some Scarlet Macaws in a tree and, while walking back to the van, Zeke (wearing flip flops), slipped down, fell on his ankle and shattered it. The ensuing chaos that follows, I don’t want to get into, but luckily he made it to the wedding.

He wasn’t able to walk Emma down the aisle, but was standing there waiting to “give her away” and, while he couldn’t dance with her either, he did stand on the dance floor and sway with her to Butterfly Kisses. I told Emma before the wedding that something always goes wrong at a wedding, but normally it’s fine because no one will know what happened but you.

At my wedding they served green beans with dill instead of green beans almondine. Looking back at it, who cares? But Zeke breaking his ankle? Everyone at the wedding knew, all the staff at the hotel (which was lovely) knew and even some hotel guests had heard about it. Zeke, and his unlucky mishap, were the talk of Punta Islita.

There were things to be thankful for. While we got extreme pressure to have surgery in Costa Rica, he did not (thank God), thanks to Emma sending a photo to a doctor friend in Miami. The doctor in San Jose (a friend of the groom’s uncle) just reset and cast his ankle. We arrived in Miami without incident, he got surgery a week later and is now on the road to recovery.

I have learned some hard truths from this experience. It’s funny how you can be married to someone for almost 20 years and still not really know them. I didn’t realize that Zeke is fanatical about his showers. I mean, like a fiend. He insisted, in our hotel room in Costa Rica to take a shower with his broken ankle. He had to haul the cast over a tall ledge into the shower in order to accomplish this task and his crutches almost slipped on the wet tile upon exiting. I almost had a heart attack.

“No!”, I said. “You can’t fall again.”

Also, he drinks a lot of iced tea. I never realized how much, but in the first week we were home, it seemed all I did was make iced tea and slice lemons. Also, breakfast, lunch and dinner. And cleaned up.

Normally, I cook, he cleans (or as he says, he cooks and cleans) but now, all the responsibility and work has fallen on me. It is really exhausting, on top of driving to doctor’s appointments, picking up medicine, sorting out medicine, etc… It gives me a great deal of respect for caregivers, and this is only a broken ankle- a temporary situation. And, although being in a wheelchair did help us speed through customs upon our arrival in Miami, I’ve also become keenly aware of how handicap-accessible places are (or are not).

We went to the Keys the weekend before last and most of the restaurants are not at all handicap accessible. Most have gravel driveways which make it hard to navigate on crutches and impossible to travel with a knee scooter.

The knee scooter, which has been a life-saver, was delivered the day before the surgery. The delivery came late and the man delivering it, knew Costa Rica very well. We told him the whole story about the Monkey Excursion, the embankment, the deadly flip flops, and he shook his head and said none of that mattered. That it was fate that it happened and that nothing we could have done would have prevented it. He was quite a chatty (probably why he was late) and philosophical scooter delivery man, with an upbeat personality.

And since I would like to find the silver lining in this disaster I’m inclined to agree with him. This accident has made me appreciate all the things my husband normally does around the house. It really hit home last weekend when I had 30 people over for my 3 year old grandson Phoenix’s birthday party. Zeke usually helps a lot- cutting the grass, cooking, cleaning, getting ice- but this year, he couldn’t and it make me appreciate what a partnership our marriage really is. The first one was not like that.

I think Zeke also has a new appreciation for me. He used to call me Nurse Ratchet (from One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest); now he calls me Florence Nightingale. I wouldn’t go that far, but I have tried to rise to the occasion. And so this disaster that happened at Emma and Guilllermo’s wedding has actually turned out to be a blessing, of sorts, for our marriage.

My Wish

I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow And each road leads you where you want to go And if you’re faced with a choice, and you have to choose. I hope you choose the one that means the most to you. And if one door opens to another door closed I hope you keep on walkin’ till you find the window. If it’s cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile.

But more than anything, more than anything. My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that want it to Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small You never need to carry more than you can hold. And while you’re out there getting where you’re getting to. I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too

Yeah, this is my wish.

Rascal Flats

This was a song I had requested they play at the wedding for Emma. They never did play it and, after everything else, I let it go. But it still holds true. And my wish, after all this is over, is to go on a really nice trip for our 20th year wedding anniversary. But not Costa Rica. Never Costa Rica again for me.

Up Next: Redoing my Foodie in Miami website!

So my husband, with this limited information, decided to do the same. Not the fasting part, mind you, just the no white part so- no white bread, pasta or white rice. This is how, for the next week or so, I found him in the kitchen toasting a slice of whole wheat bread periodically throughout the day. I think butter was also involved.

“What?” he said, when I looked at him. “It’s whole wheat.”

And the one white thing he never gave up during this short experiment was white wine. He’s off that kick now, but before that, he was eating handful after handful of the pistachios I keep on the kitchen counter for snacks.

“What?” he said to me, when I looked at him after the third handful. “They’re pistachios- they’re good for you, they’re healthy, they’re low-cal.”

I told him they were healthy and good for you, but definitely not low-cal. No nuts are low-cal. Do people even use that expression any more? It hearkens to Weight Watchers, 1960’s days, with a scoop of cottage cheese and a pineapple slice, plopped on a sad plate lined with lettuce.

As we were having a glass of wine that night, he looked at his phone and said “Uh oh.”

“What?”

He had discovered that pistachios were 800 calories per cup, which, for me, is about half of what my daily calorie intake is supposed to be. Not that I count, but I used to.

My sister Kelley doesn’t like the idea of the whole fasting thing, or diets in general. She’s on an anti-diet crusade these days. She’s the Molly Hatchett, make that the Carrie Nation of dieting, crushing Keto, Paleo and Intermittent Fasting Diets with a withering glance.

“At least it’s better than Ozempic,” I countered, about our friend who was fasting.

“True.”

I was talking to my other sister Elise about Lent and what she was giving up. She’s kind of a sweet fanatic, so she’s giving up cookies and candy and is fasting one day a week. She was saying a lot of the Bible is rooted in practical advice. Like Jesus being in the desert for forty days (which is now Lent for some) was a way to detox and get closer to God.

“Also to starve and hallucinate,” I said.

I’m not Catholic anymore but I used to give up French Fries for Lent, but I would always forget about it and eat them anyway. I think I ate more French Fries at Lent than anytime time during the year! A priest who advised a Woman’s Church Circle I used to belong to in Tallahassee once told us that Sundays were a mini-break from Lent, so you could eat, drink or do whatever you had given up. Alleluia!

Elise is also giving up Instagram at night, which I think is an excellent idea. My sister Kelley, who is now Jewish, does this every week by turning off her phone from Friday night to Saturday night. Shalom shabbat. Now a diet from Social Media is one diet I can get behind!

Whatever you celebrate- Lent, Passover, Spring Equinox, Spring Break, Festivus- enjoy it and remember- Life is short, eat dessert first!

But that’s not the subject of this blog. Grocery store prices are crazy, but what can you do about it? That’s what this blog is about.

Let’s start at Publix– “Where shopping is a pleasure”- but not so much when you feel you’re getting price-gouged. I really feel the prices at Publix have become more inflated than at other grocery stores; even prices between Publix stores can vary. While I expect Whole Foods and Fresh Market to have crazy prices, that didn’t used to be the case at Publix, yet here we are.

Publix

The best deals at Publix are their BOGO’s (buy one get one free). A flyer in the mail will tell you what these are, but if not, the flyers are in the grocery store, when you walk in and BOGO’s are also on the Publix app. I have the Publix app and with it you get perks, like a free bouquet of flowers and dessert from the Bakery on your Birthday.

A look at the BOGOs this week indicates they are celebrating Italian Food so: Sargento Grated Cheese, Fresh Express Salad Kit, Rana Pasta, Progresso Broth, Barilla Pasta and Vandori Prosecco, are all buy one get one free. These are all items I would stock up on. In addition to BOGOs, the flyer also lists items at a “surprisingly low price.” Recent ones included brussels sprouts for $2.99 and yellow onions for $1.69 a pound. It seems most surprisingly low prices at Publix are on basic vegetables.

The other way to save money at Publix is to buy the store brand, instead of name brand items. Sometimes the quality is the same, but not always, so this is a trial and error option, but there is usually a significant difference in price. I usually get the store brand for baking goods and butter.

Trader Joe’s

I am a Trader Joe’s fanatic, but unfortunately, you can’t do ALL your shopping there. What I always get there are: vegetables, wine and cheese, because they have a good variety and low prices for these items. Their bananas, eggs, olive oil, spices, nuts and breads also have great prices. And I rarely leave TJ’s without picking up some kind of frozen item, such as dumplings, tamales, shrimp, Orange Chicken, Hold the Cone mini ice cream cones or frozen fruits and vegetables. Their canned vegetables- like corn, beans and artichoke hearts- are also priced well, although their selection is limited. And, just for fun, they have a great selection of flowers, cute greeting cards and yummy chocolates. Shopping at Trader Joe’s, even if their prices have increased slightly, always makes me happy.

Whole Foods

Whole Foods isn’t a bargain by any means. I once had a tour guide of a winery in Napa say:

It’s called Whole Foods because they take your whole paycheck.

Far Niente Tour Guide

However, I do find items here that I can’t find at other grocery stores. I also think their seafood is very good and have found the prices on bulk items- like nuts and grains- to be better than pre-packaged varieties at other grocery stores. My daughter-in-law Courtney is into everything organic so shops here a lot and says their fruits, vegetables and eggs are cheaper than Publix. Also, organic boxed grains like Rice Pilaf and Couscous are reasonably priced, as are bagged organic snack items, like popcorn.

For savings, try the 365 Brand, which is Whole Foods store brand. Also, if you’re an Amazon Prime member you get 10% off storewide sales, exclusive Prime member deals (on Tuesday and Friday) and free pick-up. Deals on Tuesdays include $2 off Rotisserie Chicken and buy one brick of Whole Foods Lean Ground Beef, get one 50% off. On Fridays, they have a dozen wild caught oysters and any large 1-topping pizza, both for $12. And if you bring your own grocery bag, you’ll saving a whopping 10 cents. Every penny counts these days!

Fresh Market

I don’t shop here often, as there’s not one near me, but Fresh Market does have Saturday and Weekend Deals, as well as a limited amount of BOGO’s. Also, their yogurt-covered pretzels are addictive.

Walmart

I don’t normally shop at Walmart but when I was in Tallahassee recently, I stopped by there to pick up ingredients for a Chicken Cacciatore dinner I made for my son and his wife. I was pleasantly surprised at the prices- $1.97 for a Baguette, $5.58 for Chicken Thighs, $2.38 for Organic Salad and $2.77 for Blackberries. My son Christopher shops there a lot because of the low prices.

B.J.’s or Cotsco

If you have memberships at either of these Warehouse Clubs, the prices on many things are usually pretty good, especially for their brand name items, under the names of Wellsley Farms, Berkley Jensen (BJ’s) and Kirkland (Cotsco). Of course, some of the items at these places are sold in bulk, so you need room to store them and people to consume them in a reasonable amount of time. Since we are only two at home now, I rarely shop at Cotsco and, when I do, I use Instacart– my shopping savior during the Pandemic.

Hopefully, I’ve offered a little ray of sunshine in your grocery shopping days. The days of clipping coupons and traveling to different stores to get the best deal are long gone for this shopper. But with a little useful information and some grocery apps, I feel more in control of getting some good deals. Happy shopping!

Up Next: Tiny Sacrifices

Not just with Valentine’s Day this week, but we are busy planning our youngest daughter Emma’s wedding to her fiancee Guillermo. It is happening next month in Costa Rica, a very small wedding with just family, which is what Emma wanted.

Although we got an event planner, I’ve been helping Emma with the wedding. The dress, invites, welcome boxes, decor, flowers, food. Who knew there were so many choices when planning a wedding? Just the amount of chairs to choose from for the ceremony/cocktail/reception is overwhelming.

Emma was so overwhelmed by the choices to be made for the ceremony, that she came over on Valentine’s Day, so we could go over the 96 pages of options. Where she is getting married in Costa Rica is a very small town, so there was basically one officiant performing ceremonies and she had every collection of prayers known to man to choose from. Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Christian, Catholic, Apache, Cherokee, African, Celtic, New Age and more were available.

I started reading them out loud so Emma could choose. Which is how I found myself reading “Love is patient, love is kind,” on Valentine’s Day, which I found quite poetic. After a while, all the readings kind of ran together, so by the end we were both tired and my vocal chords strained, but we got it done and sent it to the officiant. It was due the next day!

Zeke and I decided to cook for each other on Valentines Day, since it’s so expensive to go out. He picked up a New York Strip steak from Josh’s Meats and I went to Trader Joe’s to get Lobster Ravioli. Warning: NEVER go to Trader Joe’s on Valentines Day! The flower section, in particular, was nuts and they didn’t even have the lobster ravioli I made a special trip for, so I got Truffle Mushroom Ravioli instead.

I sauteed mushrooms to give the Mushroom Ravioli a little pizazz and tossed it in truffle oil and butter, with chopped parsley and grated Parmesan on top. I chopped the romaine; Zeke made Caesar dressing and grated the Parmesan cheese. He also made a quick steak sauce with butter, garlic, worcestershire sauce and sherry and I made a little garlic bread toast, from a thin slice of leftover bread.

Everything turned out delicious and we read our Valentines cards from each other. Zeke’s to me was about thanks and appreciation for all I have done. He’d actually given me a beautiful pair of earrings for the wedding the day before. I was happy to see no funny cats or dogs on this card, because if you get those cards, romance has left the building, in my opinion. My card was equally mushy- “The man I fell in love with won my trust, my respect, and every bit of my heart”- so we were on the same page this year.

The New York Times had a cute section on Valentine’s Day where readers sent in what their partners do for them that made them feel loved. They were mostly little things like putting toothpaste on each other’s toothbrushes, turning on seat warmers in the car when it was cold, or holding hands when they went to sleep. I know a couple where the husband always brings the wife tea and breakfast to her in bed. Very romantic!

I was driving to class and trying to think what we do for each other, when Zeke called and told me he picked up the New York Times for me. He usually picks up the Food Section on Wednesdays because I get the NYT on my phone, but not the Food Section (that’s extra $). He knows I love to read this section for the recipes, food news and restaurant reviews, so he makes a special point to get it for me. “That’s what you do for me that’s sweet!” I said. “What?” he asked. “Get me the Food Section from the New York Times.”

As for me? I used to cut a lemon into wedges for him for his Ice Tea. He told me that’s how he knew I cared and that he appreciated this chore I do. When I looked into the fridge this Valentines Day there was one half of a lemon, half squeezed out, as this is what my husband has resorted to without lemon wedges at the ready. So, I sliced up a lemon and put the wedges in a little bowl in the fridge. I also made him Iced Tea, which I do a lot because he drinks a lot of Iced Tea.

As we get older, we realize that Valentine’s Day is just a day. Some cynics even say it was a day invented by the card companies and florists to make money. But, the point is, when you love somebody, it’s the little things you do for each other every day that are important, even more than the grand gestures. Roses, chocolates and jewelry are nice of course, but for me, the Food Section of the New York Times every Wednesday is even nicer.

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Protein.                                    If there’s one trend that’s flaming Cheeto hot right now, it’s protein. Every day in my inbox are new articles about protein- How to get more, High Protein Snacks, Signs of Protein Deficiency, etc… Protein supports muscles, fuels the brain and keeps the immune system strong. It also tends to keep you feeling satisfied longer than carbs.

Cottage Cheese.                               This trend was brought out of the 70’s mothballs, where it lived with a slice of canned pineapple and a maraschino cherry on a “Diet Plate”. Cottage Cheese is all over these days, but maybe most of all served over a baked potato with a dollop of caviar- a meal touted by Skinnygirl founder Bethanny Frankel. Cottage Cheese is Ricotta’s Country Mouse relative, clunkier and less sexy, with bigger curds, filled with tang and creaminess. Yee haw!

Caesar Salad.                                 But it’s not just for salad anymore. The ubiquitous salad now is seen in wraps, pastas and chicken wings. I recently made a New York Times recipe for Crispy Chicken on Caesar Slaw which got two thumbs up from my son Christopher and DIL Courtney.

French Onion Everything.                            Along the same lines, French Onion is not just for soup anymore. I’ve had a delicious French Onion Burger (Eating House) and there are also French Onion Chicken and Pasta dishes trending. I’m all for more of French Onion Everything!

Mushrooms.                                These were on last year’s list, but still trending. I will say, people are now more open to a variety of mushrooms, beyond the pedestrian white button and Baby Bella, such as Oyster and Lion’s Mane. Great for your brain and gut, mushrooms are now found in beverages, such as coffee; they’re also a great meat alternative.  

Healthy.                                   Ever since the Pandemic, there’s no escaping the Wellness Wagon. Now, we’re also seeing new farming methods (such a vertical gardening) which are more resistant to climate change, while the trend toward local and sustainable products continues.

Comfort Food.                                The yin yang of this equation is balancing the virtuously healthy with the absolutely craveable. So food items which offer comfort like: Noodles, Parker House Rolls and S’More– flavored items are popular in 2024.

Buckwheat.                                  Is supposed to be big in 2024. Apparently, it’s a great cover crop for the soil and is rich in protein and fiber. I’ve mostly known about buckwheat through Soba Noodles and Blini pancakes, but apparently it’s branching out into other territory.

Pro and Prebiotics                               Taking care of our guts has turned into a “thing” and most people treat this condition by drinking water with these supplements.

Flowers.                                 They’re not just for table decorations anymore. Edible flowers, such as rose petals, lavender, butterfly pea and orange blossom are being used in baking, drinks and snacks. I’ve also seen an uptick in use of orange blossom and rose water, along the floral lines.

Mindful Drinking.                              Since we’re just coming off Dry January (for some of us, not moi) people are rethinking their relationship with alcohol. Instead of immediately grabbing a glass of wine at the end of the day (guilty as charged), mindful drinkers are asking themselves why they feel the need to drink. They may not give up booze, but are just more conscious of the why and willing to mix lower or no alcoholic drinks into their routine. This trend has been around for a while and continues to develop. 

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There was an Engagement Party, Christmas, Holidays and life has been crazy. But I did want to write about these Biscotti cookies, my hands-down Best Selling cookies (if I was selling them, which I am not). I always try to make a batch for special occasions and for Christmas gifts, as I did this year.

My husband Zeke, who doesn’t particularly like Biscotti, does love mine. Perhaps because they are a more American version than the traditional Italian Biscotti, which can be so crunchy, you could crack a tooth on them. These Biscotti contain butter, toasted almonds and lemon and orange peel, making them quite delicious and perfect with your morning coffee, to dunk in a dessert wine, or with a glass of ice cold milk.

They are, however, a labor of love.

I’m not saying they are technically challenging, but there are a lot of steps involved and they take quite a while to make. First, you need to toast the almonds, zest a lemon and orange, cream the butter and sugar and make the cookie dough. Biscotti, which means “twice cooked”, are actually cooked three times. First, two big cookies loaves are baked, then cooled and sliced. Then the slices are baked, for ten minutes on one side, ten minutes on another and then cooled. Finally, they are done!

So, I made a batch last year and judiciously gifted them for Christmas to people who I know would appreciate them. I saved a precious few to take a photo for this blog, but one by one, they disappeared. I found I couldn’t resist the siren call of them in the freezer and ate them. I had only one small one left, which I put on a plate in the kitchen to take a photo of to accompany the recipe. Alas, when I came down for lunch, half of the biscotti was missing- a victim on my husband’s hunger and love of my irresistible biscotti.

Of course I had a fit. I screamed and shouted, moaned and groaned. I may have thrown some hamburger buns in his direction. Not my finest hour.

Do you know how long it takes to make biscotti?

I interrogated him.

“No,” he backtracked sheepishly. “But whenever you make them, it seems like a while.”

You’re darn tooting it’s a while! And, without further ado, my recipe for my obviously irresistible Biscotti.

Irresistible Almond Biscotti

Recipe by Miami HeraldCourse: DessertCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Difficult

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

Total time

1

hour 

10

minutes

These are delicious, orange and lemon flavored almond biscotti.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cup whole almonds

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1/4 teaspoon salt

• 2/3 cup butter, softened

• 1 cup sugar

• 3 large eggs, room temp

• grated peel of one large orange

• grated peel of one lemon

• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

Directions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Spread almonds in a sheet pan and bake until lightly toasted, about 10 minutes. They should smell fragrant and start to pop.
• After cooled, chop into coarse chunks and set aside.
• Combine dry ingredients of flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl and set aside.
• Place butter and sugar in large bowl of electric mixture. Beat on medium high speed until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs, one at a time and beat well after each addition.
• Mix in orange and lemon zest and almond extract.
• Add flour mixture and mix at low speed until ingredients are well incorporated. Mix in almonds.
• Form into 2 logs, approximately 12 inches long. (I use a ruler to measure) Flatten tops gently with palm of hand.
• Place on lightly greased cookie sheet as far apart as possible.
• Bake 25 minutes, or until tops are firm. Do not under or over cook, otherwise they will not slice smoothly.
• Remove from oven and place of rack. Cool 10 minutes.
• With a large sharp knife (I use serrated), cut logs into diagonal slices, about 1/2 inch wide.
• Line them, cut side down on the cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes on one side, turn and bake another 10 minutes on the other, or until they are lightly golden.
• Enjoy and keep out of reach of hungry husbands.

Notes

• These freeze great and are also an easy cookie to ship.
• You may substitute 1/2 cup of cornmeal for 1/2 cup of the flour.

P.S. Sorry Tami! I ate your biscotti! Alas, I could not upload the photo of the half-eaten cookie! Drats on technology, or my inability to master it.

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