Try,Try Again

I keep trying to capture the vibrancy of the sea color here on camera and failing.  I guess my little palm-sized, 10-year-old camera just isn't capable.

Today at lunch, sitting by the window, I caught this close-up and thought it was cute (click photos to enlarge.)

My shot of the sea color:

Online shot of the sea color:

See where the "P" is in "Property?"  That's where "my" beach is this winter.  The photo shows most of the beach side of Sandestin Resort, bordered by the Gulf on the south and the bay on the north.  Bayside is even larger, but from this angle doesn't look it.  If you draw a straight line from that "P" up to between the road and the bay, that's where my rental is this winter.

Mediterranean Menus

A new venture is about to begin. 

I'm still using some vegetarian dishes from my last cooking foray, and have even added more healthy stuff.  For instance, I've taken to making my own version of guacamole (one ripe avocado, tons of chopped tomatoes for volume, tons of fresh cilantro, chopped onions, some fresh lime juice, cumin and a pinch of sea salt) and eating it on toasted pumpernickle bread slices as breakfast.  Yes, I know it has fat, but it's the good (monosaturated) kind.  And pumpernickle is one of the good breads.  I eat this nearly three of the seven days of the week.

But lately, I've been rereading Mediterranean recipes and am anxious to make my own Allioli Sauce, Pesto Sauce and pasta/veggie dishes.  All the foods comprising the Mediterranean way of eating I love and in proportions I think would suit me:  50% carbs from veggies, legumes, whole grains (and fruits, but I'm not a big fruit eater);  35% from healthy fats, oils, nuts;  15% from protein sources such as chicken, fish, turkey, eggs (and I've lately discovered tempeh, which I love marinated.)  Those healthy fats really make you feel satisfied and less prone to grab junk.

So this shouldn't be too hard to stomach (pun intended :))  Having left my Mediterranean cookbooks at home (so many cookbooks, so little cooking...) I will be gathering recipes from the internet.

I'll be posting the dishes I make, as I did with the tofu recipes.  Stay tuned! 

Morning Moon

Woke up at 5:30AM to see the moon hanging low outside my window.  Just wanted to share.

(Click to enlarge)

Happy March First! (a couple of hours early)

Four of the six months I'm spending in the Panhandle have passed now.  Two to go.  And as we enter March, month of my only child's birthday, my mother's 85th, St. Patrick's Day and the coming of Spring (HA!  Not in Chicago....) I have some interesting tidbits to share with you:

POPULAR BELIEFS in MARCH

There are many superstitions about March. We often hear that "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb." This means that the first day of March is often stormy, and the last day is mild and warm. Another saying is, "April borrowed from March three days, and they were ill." This refers to the first three days of April, which are generally rough and blustery like March. A third saying calls the first three days of March "blind days" because they are "unlucky." If rain falls on these days, farmers supposedly will have poor harvests.

Source - World Book Millenium 2000

(Click to enlarge)

Cold Be Damned

I don't care if it is only high 50's; I am determined to walk the beach today.  It's sunny.  I'll survive.  (And I lament how wimpy I've become against the temperatures after having wintered away from Chicago these past years....whereas I used to only feel cold if it dipped below the 30's, now I shake and shiver in the 50's.  I admit it;  I've acclimated.)

Want to come along?

(Click to enlarge)

We'll cross onto the beach by Beachside II and Finz restaurant...

But we won't see anyone in this weather at the concession stands....

And only a few brave souls sheltered from the wind on the beach...

But the sea is as blue/green as ever....

And glistens....

(Ooooo, enlarge this one...it's stunning!)

Just a very narrow sand path to walk, the remainder of the beach being too soft to negotiate any traction...

But we could wave-watch all day....

Mesmerizing...

Let's walk down the other way, because what's that I see....

(I feel like I'm writing a children's book...)

Little kite-flyers.

And a few more brave souls (although I've used one of those beach cabanas and they are toasty!)

And my little momento....the sole shell I saw on the beach amid fowlprints....quite a rarity, as the sand here is known for it's white purity and shell-less softness.

And by the way, I posted this while getting a headache and an ulcer watching Canada versus USA in the Olympic Gold hockey game....overtime and all....and now my headache is even bigger.  After an incredible USA tie, Canada wins in overtime.  :(

I need aspirin.

But I'm a good sport:  Congratulations, Canada! 

Whattaburger!

Ok, sometimes ya just have to eat junk.  And Whattaburger (unknown to us in Illinois...or at least to me....does IL have any?) sure can supply the junk.  A heart-attack patty melt on Texas toast........mmmmmmm!  Worth the 20 minute drive!

Election Night 2008 - Part Two

What a "high" to walk home amongst thousands of Chicagoans (and others) after the election!  Such a strange and incredible feeling to take over the city by foot.  You'll see that in some of these photos, scenes resemble some sort of revolution (i.e. crowd by the Art Institute lions).  So here is the journey from Grant Park to home:

(Click especially the last photo to enlarge)

Crowd from the Art Institute steps