Sunday, November 9, 2008

The show must go on.

We have, for years now, been enjoying the construction show out our back windows. There is a new building behind us now that we've watched go up from a bare shell. It seems they're now in the interior and while we can tell that there is still work going on, it is no longer as interesting to watch as it used to be.

However, looks like there's a new show in town. Just recently, the old decrepit abandoned building directly behind us was dressed up in fancy tarps.

Then the banging started. Yes, this guy in flip flops did walk out on this 3rd floor ledge and wrestle this pipe off the wall with what looked like a hammer and his bare hands.
Then the big hammers started in. The guys were out there all day. Mostly being safe...
but sometimes, I'd catch one of them doing something scary. Like this guy on the edge of the roof, smacking the wall beneath his feet... I can't stop watching though. I have to see what's going to happen next.
I wonder how long it will take to remove a 3-story building? Wonder what they will place there next?

Friday, November 7, 2008

Four Foods on Friday #54 - Election theme

#1. Name a food you like that uses a red sauce or anything red in it.

Inspired by Wandering the World's strawberry jam answer, I'll say fresh strawberry smoothies. My mom used to take us out strawberry picking so we could fill the freezer and have berries year round. It was HOT in the fields in Florida! After picking though, the sales office had vanilla ice cream and a blender... add in sun soaked, perfectly ripe, right off the bush strawberries... oh my...

#2. Name a food you like with whipped cream in it or on it.

One cup leftover strong coffee (good coffee), couple scoops vanilla ice cream, few tablespoons of kahluha, blend. Add whipped cream.

#3. Name a food you like with blueberry in it.

Muffins!

#4. Share a recipe for pasta or dessert or a beverage.

Ok, here's red white and blue...

Berry Cobbler with coconut walnut topping
(use strawberries for red, blueberries - add whipped cream - there ya go. And this is an easy recipe - go for kids to help with.)

Filling
4 cups mixed berries (i.e. blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, boysenberries, strawberries), fresh or frozen
1/4 cup plus 1 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp instant tapioca
1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
Topping
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
4 Tbsp (1/4 cup) cold, unsalted butter, cut into cubes
1 Preheat oven to 375°F. Butter a 9x9 inch baking dish.
2 In a large bowl, mix together the filling ingredients - berries, sugar, tapioca, and lemon juice. Pour into the baking dish.
3 In a medium sized bowl, stir together the flour, coconut, sugar, walnuts, baking powder and salt from the topping ingredients. Use your fingers to mix in the cubes of butter. Rub the butter into the other ingredients until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
4 Sprinkle the topping over the filling. Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the topping is golden brown and crispy, and the filling is bubbling.
5 Let cool for at least an hour. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
Makes 6 servings.
From Simply Recipes