February 17, 2023 Breakfast - Lax and Bagel. Lunch - A Salami and a Cured ham charcuterie and onion and cheese sandwich, Dinner - Leftover Indian food from Naan and

February 17, 2023 Breakfast - Lax and Bagel. Lunch - A Salami and a Cured ham charcuterie and onion and cheese sandwich, Dinner - Leftover Indian food from Naan and Dossa

Lately, each succeeding day seems busier than the last.  Today was incredibly busy in a good way.

I worked at my desk most of the day, mostly on the new litigation matter.

Thank god I was able to start my cycle of amoxicillin yesterday evening after my visit with my doctor and Suzette picked up my prescription.  I realize more fully every day what a wonderful support team is around me.

I am still using the walker 100% of the time, so am restricted in the scope of my daily activities outside the house, but gaining strength every day.

My head was much clearer and I had a lot more stamina today.

I literally sat at my desk from 9:00 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. except for lunch and dinner breaks

I slept until almost 8:00 and then toasted a bagel and spread it with cream cheese, and garnished it with slices of brown onion and the newly made Gravad lax. The process and ingredients for making each batch of Gravad lax varies a little.  Production of this batch varied dramatically from the standard Swedish method in three ways. First we did not have dill weed or fennel to lay on top of and below and between the filets, so we decided to add the zest of two oranges to the salt and sugar and black pepper fry curing medium. Second, the filets were skinless.  And third, we did not flip the fillets, but instead left them in the curing medium for two days weighed down with a brick. 

Based on the first serious taste test today at breakfast, I am of the opinion that there is very little difference in flavor between any of the methods. In other words, neither the use of dill weed or orange zest seems to alter the basic flavor of the cure.

I drank two cups of Earl Grey tea with cream with the lax and bagel and then worked at my desk from 9:00 until 12:30 when I took my lunch break.

During that time Henry came to finish the installation of the new tile in the front bathroom, but I was so busy on the phone I did not have even a minute to thank him for a job well done.  Here is a picture of the new bathroom tile floor.

Then around 11:30 Nancy came by to loan Suzette her Jerusalem Cookbook we had discussed when she and Cliff brought Indian food for dinner Wednesday evening in response to Suzette’s description of the monthly food journey table d’hote menus offered at a fixed price planned for the greenhouse Bistro Thursday and Friday nights.  For example this month’s menu features Scandinavian dishes, a Gravad lax on rye bread appetizer, an entree of three lamb riblets leaning on a cake of Norwegian Green Rice (flavored and colored with bits of green bell pepper)  with a puddle of raspberry coulis., and a Swedish lingonberry and whipped cream dessert. 

Here is a picture of the entree.

Suzette explained that March’s food journey will feature Irish cuisine, April will feature Israeli Cuisine, and May will feature Mexican Cuisine.  When Suzette mentioned Israeli Cuisine and the name of the famous Israeli chef, I recall Nancy mentioned that she had his Jerusalem Cookbook.

Today Nancy came by and dropped off her copy of the Jerusalem Cookbook to help Suzette plan the Israeli meal.  We talked for several minutes, as I was busy and she was on her way to a luncheon.

Also this morning, as if I did not enough to do to catch up with my full bore litigation cases, I received two calls from clients needing services that I agreed to help. 

Then at 12:30 I finally took a break.  I first thought to eat some of the Indian food left from Wednesday and tried to cook rice, but soon tired of that idea and decided to make two open faced sandwiches on toasted slices of baguette. I spread Mayo on each slice of toast and then slices of brown onion, then slices of Iberico cheese and a slice of butter lettuce on each and finally thin slices of salami one one and cured ham charcuterie on the other.

I drank water and and watched the market close until 2:00.

While I was sitting in my new chair (here is a picture), 

Rahim arrived unexpectedly to deliver the fee we had agreed upon for my helping him with his first securities offering and a gift of a new I Pad to thank me (here is a picture of the I Pad).  I love helping Rahim because he is intelligent, energetic, and generous.

                                                   Rahim’s gift of a new I Pad

After Rahim left I went back to my desk and consulted with Robert and then drafted a pleading for the new litigation case, called the court to confirm the procedure for filing pleadings, and filed my Entry of Appearance in the case. I worked on the pleading until 6:30 and then took a break until 8:30 and resumed drafting until 9:30, when I finished the pleading. So it was a busy work day.

Suzette came home around 6:00 after a visit to her doctor and at 6:30 heated the leftover Indian food.  I made a cup of chai to drink and added a bit of Greek yogurt to the thin Riata sauce from the restaurant and fetched the Mango chutney and we enjoyed a lovely meal of Chicken Tikka Masala and Saag and rice.

We watched news until 8:30, when Suzette went to bed and I went back to work.

Suzette is a wonderful program planner and during dinner she described the employee appreciation luncheon she held today at work.

The big gift was a trip to Disneyland that was somewhat intentional, because the person who the senior staff decided should be selected as the recipient of best employee of the year was Nicole and Nicole had mentioned her desire to take her child to Disneyland.  Suzette found out that Nicole had relatives in L.A., who could provide housing, so Suzette provided airfare for three and paid leave and some cash, so the trip was virtually free.

That creative project and programming is a hallmark of how Suzette creates both her business and our home and leisure activities.

We had talked when she was on her way back from Los Lunas and I mentioned that we needed milk.  The senior staff selected hot red chili for the Employee Appreciation Lunch, which Suzette could not eat, so when she went Lowe’s to buy milk on her way home from her doctor’s appointment, Suzette bought a sushi roll from Lowe’s in-store sushi stand to slake her hunger. She offered me some of the approximately 12 thick slices of the salmon and cucumber roll.  I found it quite fresh and delicious with lots of soft fluffy sushi rice.

I went to bed at 10:00 and slept until 1:30 when I penned this blog until 3:00.

I have noticed that my appetite and my normal craving for sweets has decreased. For example, Suzette offered to share the slice of Chocolate cheesecake drizzled with Melba sauce she made for the Valentine’s Day Surf and Turf dinner at the Bistro and I declined because I had eaten enough Indian food to satisfy my hunger or still lack the strong craving for sweets I used to have.

Also I am sleeping better and am more clear headed now that my sinuses and nose are clearing of the infection and I can breath through my nose.

Bon Appetit 

February 16, 2023 Lunch - Menudo at Garcia’s. Dinner - Hamburger steak with Asparagus and Country fried Potato fingers.

February 16, 2023 Lunch - Menudo at Garcia’s. Dinner - Hamburger steak with Asparagus and Country fried Potato fingers.

I started the day trying to get my Microsoft and AOL turned on and then at 10:30 I ate a bowl of granola, with blueberries, milk, and Greek yogurt.

Then at 12:00 Peter arrived to take me to lunch and my doctor’s appointment at 2:00.

I asked Peter where he wanted to eat and he said, “Garcia’s.”

That seemed fine to me since I had been craving Mexican food and it is just around the corner.

Peter soon explained that he has gained a new passion for menudo and Posole.  When he ordered his bowl of menudo and Posole, so did I since it is a favorite of mine and I think aligns perfectly with my diet of 70% carbs and 30% protein.

We both loved our lunch and I can tell that this mutual love of Posole could be the basis for deepening our friendship.

After lunch a 1:15 we drove to the Pres clinic at 8800 Montgomery.  I checked in at 1:45 and was almost immediately taken back to the examination room.

I had a brief interview with a medical student who did a summary of the issues and then a wonderful meeting with my primary doctor, who immediately responded to my concerns about a sinus infection by prescribing an antibiotic.

She said I was doing well, which buoyed my spirits.

Peter then drove me home in his luxurious Mercedes sedan, arriving home at 3:30.

I lay down for a nap until 5:00 when Matt came by for my signature on a legal opinion and we talked for a while, since I was interested to know how he became a part owner in Biddle Farms Winery in San Luis Obispo.

After Matt left I called HP and became involved in a multi-hour tech support session to reinstall my HP drivers and support services.

During this period Suzette came home with my meds and started cooking dinner.

Dinner was fabulous, a sautéed hamburger topped with fried onions and a slice of Racalette cheese plus steamed baby asparagus, slices of avocado, and country fried baked potato wedges. We doused the hamburger and potato wedges into catsup and drank glasses of Flor di Vino Chianti Classico Riserva, which is now our favorite everyday drinking Chianti ($6.99 at Trader Joe’s).

Suzette muted the phone but left it on speaker so we could hear requests from the HP technician for prompt assistance but the HP technician could not hear our conversation.

After the meal and completion of the installation of the HP drivers we moved to the new chairs in front of the TV and watched Midsomer Mystery. Suzette heated the last piece brownie, which we shared.

When it ended at 9:30 we went to bed, although I fell asleep before the show ended.

Thankfully I started my cycle of antibiotics and began to feel some relief from the med.

Bon Appetit

February 15, 2023 Breakfast - Oatmeal with Raisins and Apple. Lunch - Ramen. Dinner. - Indian food from Naan and Dossa with the Blaugrunds

February 15, 2023 Breakfast - Oatmeal with Raisins and Apple. Lunch - Ramen. Dinner. - Indian food from Naan and Dossa with the Blaugrunds

I was weaker today but woke up at 6:15 and watched the news until 8:30. I made oatmeal with raisins and apple chunks and brown sugar for breakfast.

I was busy all day.  I worked on cases in the morning talking to Robert and tried to do research in bed while Chuck worked on my computer that is malfunctioning.  Chuck actually worked on my computer all day, which prevented me typing.

Willy and Wendy the nurse came at 1:30. Willy brought us bowls of ramen from the ramen shop at 6th and Central.  I enjoyed the warm soupy ramen but thought the broth was over seasoned.  After the nurse left Willy and I ate ramen and watched Chelsea play Dortmund in the EUFA competition.

The NASDAQ took off with ABNB leading with a $16.00 gain today. Because Chuck was in the computer until almost 5:00, I was not able to check my stocks until later and discovered with access to only two of my four accounts a gain of 1.36%.

I meditated at 5:00 and then at 6:45 Cliff and Nancy brought Indian food from Naan and Dossa for dinner.  There were four dishes, butter chicken with chicken dark meat, chicken Tikka Masala with chicken white meat, Lamb Korma, and Saag Paneer plus rice and a naan and a garlic naan and riata. I fetched the mixed pickle and mango chutney to add to the dishes.

Suzette fetched a bottle of Hermann Weimer Dry Riesling from the garage. It’s mild sweetness complemented the spicy Indian food perfectly.

Everything was delicious but I could only eat a small amount.

We talked and looked at the new tile in the bathroom and tested sitting in the new chairs until 8:15 when we said goodnight and we went to bed.

Bon Appetit,

February 14, 2023 Lunch -Texas Chili with Salad, Valentine’s Day Dinner - Grilled Tenderloin, grilled Lobster Tail, and Pommels de Terre

February 14, 2023 Lunch -Texas Chili with Salad, Valentine’s Day Dinner - Grilled Tenderloin, grilled Lobster Tail, and Pommels de Terre 

I was busy today and it was a weird day of food that ended incredibly well.

I ate a blueberry Newton at 10:30.

Then Rahim came over at 11:00 and we started working on his offering documents.

When Peter came for lunch, I left Rahim in my office and Peter and I heated bowls of Texas Chili and I split the salad from Sunday between us. Peter also took a scoop of guacamole and I toasted a flour tortilla.

After lunch we each ate a brownie.

After Peter left I went back to working with Rahim but soon had an eruption of diarrhea and had to lie down in the bed to finish Rahim’s project, which we did by 3:30. I also prepared an agreement and filed a witness list in another case, as well as a pleading in my probate litigation case.  Since leaving the hospital I have been busy.

I had not gotten any Valentine’s Day gift for Suzette, but Rahim brought me a lovely cookie wrapped in cellophane and I received four drink coupons from Southwest Airlines in the mail, which I put on Suzette’s desk as gifts.

Then, after I finished working at around 5:30 Suzette arrived with another big surprise, two full Valentine’s Day Surf and Turf dinners from the Greenhouse Bistro.  The dinner was priced at $45.00 for an Oyster Rockefeller appetizer, an entree of a 1 inch thick slab of grilled tenderloin with a Grilled Atlantic lobster tail and two butter tossed boiled fingerling potatoes, five or six stalks of oven roasted asparagus, and a slice of chocolate cheese cake drizzled with Melba sauce for dessert  The steak was served with a coffee/chocolate sauce that was interesting because its flavor included both bitter and sweet.

I was not hungry after my blow out experience from the salad I ate for lunch so Suzette put the dinners in a warm oven and we agreed to eat at 6:30.

Suzette then fetched a bottle of Gruet Rose Sauvage from the garage and we began drinking Sauvage and watching the news.  Miraculously my stomach and appetite began to recover and by 6:30 I was ready for dinner.

Dinner was wonderful.  The steak was warm and had retained its medium rare texture.  We drizzled the coffee/chocolate sauce over it.  The lobster tail purchased at Costco was even better, grilled to the perfection of tenderness.  Suzette heated some butter so we could dip the warm lobster in butter.  It was divine.  The fingerling potatoes were also wonderful and reminded me of boiled pomme de Terre tossed in butter I had eaten in France and Sweden and the asparagus were tender and

flavorful.

Each dinner also came with an Oyster Rockefeller. Suzette ate mine and hers and declared them excellent.

This was the best and most adventurous meal I have eaten prepared by the Bistro. It demonstrates that the current staff have the ability to source and prepare wonderful meals.

After we finished the meal we rested and watched Finding your Roots and We shared a slice of the chocolate cheese cake she had made for the Bistro for this meal with a sip  of cognac.  Again, the cheese cake dessert with the drizzle of Melba sauce and its dark sweet, crunchy graham cracker crust exceeded expectations.  Suzette has developed her cheese cake making skills to an art form.

We were both tired and were in bed by 9:00 again.

We slept lightly and I got up from 12:30 to 3:00 to pay this month’s Credit card balance and review some of my mail.

I then slept until 6:15 when I blogged this entry.

Bon Appetit

February 13, 2033 Breakfast - Two Fried Eggs, a sausage patty, and three toasted slices of baguette. Lunch - 2000 Vietnam No. 31, Bun Cha Gio. Dinner - Cedar Board Grilled Teriyaki Salmon with Rice and Broccoli

February 13, 2033 Breakfast - Two Fried Eggs, a sausage patty, and three toasted slices of baguette. Lunch - 2000 Vietnam No. 31, Bun Cha Gio. Dinner - Cedar Board Grilled Teriyaki Salmon with Rice and Broccoli 

We woke up at 6:00 this morning.  Suzette needed to attend a meeting at 8:30 so we went to the kitchen and heated 1/4 cup each of soy, mirin, and sake plus 1 T. of sugar to make the teriyaki sauce.

We then turned our attention to the filet of salmon.  We cut two slices of belly meat to fit into a Pyrex loaf baking dish and then made 1 recipe of Gravad lax curing seasoning plus added the zest of two oranges to the mix because we did not have any fresh dill.  We quickly sprinkled the mixture on the four sides of the two filets and lay them in the baking dish.  Suzette then covered the baking dish and pressed the filets down with a brick and took the dish to the garage fridge to start its curing process.

By the time the Gravad lax was placed in the garage the teriyaki sauce had cooled enough to pour into the gallon freezer bag in which we had placed the remaining salmon filet.

Then the freezer bag was sealed and placed in the fridge to marinate the salmon with teriyaki sauce.

Suzette then fried two eggs and a slice of pork sausage and toasted three slices of baguette with a cup of tea for my breakfast before she left for work.

After breakfast I had a long talk with Robert about the two litigation cases I am involved in and then drafted a letter to the attorney in one of the cases.

At 12:30 Fernando arrived to inspect the windows that Vince had repaired and soon thereafter Henry arrived with the tile to lay in the front bathroom. Fernando and Henry knew each other and I was privy to their amazing conversation about all the people they knew for 1 1/2 hours while. Listened and watched the Liverpool v. Everton Darby.1:30.when Angelo , my newly designated PT instructor arrived. 

We did physical therapy for 1/2 hour with three new exercises, which tired me.

Angelo left around. 2:15 and shortly thereafter at 2:30 Willy arrived with two No. 31’s he had fetched from 2000 Vietnam. I  remembered the No. wrongly and instead of fried egg rolls and grilled marinated pork there were only three Vietnamese fried egg rolls instead of two egg rolls plus grilled pork.  Willy mentioned that this error may have occurred because the management had changed and did not know that we usually order what is now numbered 32.

Alas, the egg rolls, steamed rice noodles, and lettuce and mung bean sprouts were fabulous, so no regrets.

When Willy left at 4:00 I mentioned we were having teriyaki salmon for dinner and invited him to join us.

I crawled into bed to rest and Suzette arrived around 4:30 and Virginia, my new Occupational Therapist arrived a bit after. 5:00. She checked all the areas I did things and tested my strength and recommended installing a grab bar at the entrance to the shower to stabilize my entry and exit. For a bit longer than 1/2 hour.  I am thankful Dr. Mulkey ordered in home PT, OT, and nursing care, to relieve us the burden of driving to a central facility.

At 6:00 we started cooking dinner.  Suzette first made 1 cup of rice by boiling it in 2 cups of water seasoned with 1 tsp. of Knorr dehydrated chicken broth for 30 minutes on the lowest heat.

Suzette then did major surgery on a head of broccoli to salvage a handful of chopped flowerets that she added to the boiling rice when there was ten minutes left to cook.

Suzette then laid the marinated salmon on  two 1 by six inch cedar planks she had soaked in water for an hour and placed it on the grill when 15 minutes remained to cook the rice.

Willy arrived a few minutes before 7:00 as Suzette was removing the grilled salmon from the propane grill located on our back patio. One thing I noticed tonight is that the marinade creates a glaze on the salmon filet as it is grilled.

Willy made us cups of tea and Suzette laid a slice of grilled salmon on a pile of rice mixed with broccoli for a lovely dinner.

We watched the Antiques Roadshow until 8:00 when Willy left and then we went to bed to watch the second hour but I fell asleep until 9:30.

I got up and took my pills and waited for Rachel Maddow at. 10:00 but she was pre-empted by reports of the active shooter on the Michigan State campus.

Also, I finally had a good day in the market with an approximately 1.5% increase in my portfolio putting me a bit more than halfway from my low earlier this year to the starting point level at the beginning of 2021.

We will do a two day cure on the Gravad lax by flipping the filets tomorrow morning and curing for one more day.

Bon Appetit

February 12, 2023 Brunch - Beef Enchilada, Rice, and Bean Mash with two eggs Lunch - Texas Chili con Carne. Super Bowl Dinner - Texas Chili con Carne, Greek Salad, Guacamole, chips, and Brownies

February 12, 2023 Brunch - Beef Enchilada, Rice, and Bean Mash with two eggs   Lunch - Texas Chili con Carne. Super Bowl Dinner - Texas Chili con Carne, Greek Salad, Guacamole, chips, and Brownies

It is my tradition to fix a pot of Texas Chili con Carne for Super Bowl.  We made the chili last night, so all we needed to do was heat it today.

Traditionally, I use equal parts of hamburger meat, diced tomatoes, and Ranch Style Beans, plus for this batch we sautéed 1 onion and four cloves of garlic and added a T. of Chimayo mild chili, some cumin, and a handful of Mexican oregano.

For breakfast Suzette sautéed leftover beef enchiladas with rice and beans into a mash and then laid two fried eggs on top and a fried sausage patty on the side.

For lunch we ate a bowl of chili.

Aaron arrived at 4:15 and Willy shortly thereafter.  Aaron brought a large bowl of guacamole and a fresh salad of gourmet salad greens studded with bits of fresh red bell pepper, cucumber, crumbled feta, and chunks of tomato.

Aaron’s guacamole and salad were real treats and lovely to behold.

Aaron and I drank Bohemia and Willy drank German Oktoberfest beer.

After we ate dinner before half time, Suzette and Alexi made brownies using Ghirardelli Brownie mix plus extra chocolate chips to create really delicious gooey brownies.

They cut out a heart shape on a piece of paper and dusted the tops of the brownies with powdered sugar to create a heart against a white snowy background.

We said goodnight after the game with Aaron and Willy taking home containers of chili.

At 9:00 we watched Vienna Blood and then went to sleep.

I finished reading The Return around midnight after not being able to sleep and then slept.

Bon Appetit

February 11, 2023 Breakfast - Onion, potato, and sausage burrito with avocado. Lunch - Beef and Lentil Soup with salami and melted Racalet cheese, Dinner- Steam oven baked Chicken Thighs with Garofalo No. 22 pasta and Catalan Spinach.

February 11, 2023 Breakfast - Onion, potato, and sausage burrito with avocado. Lunch - Beef and Lentil Soup with salami and melted Racalet cheese, Dinner- Steam oven baked Chicken Thighs with Garofalo No. 22 pasta and Catalan Spinach.

I got up from 12:30 to 3:00 and then slept until 6:15.

I then watched three PL matches.  The best was Leicester City v. Tottenham, which Leicester won handily 4 to 1.

Then at 9:00 Suzette made onion, potato, sausage burritos and then a5 10:00 she left to go to work.

Soon after Suzette left at 10:00 Mary and Ken came and we discussed their case.

After they left I lay down and napped.

When Suzette returned returned at 1:30 I got up and she heated the remaining Beef and lentil soup and melted Raccalette cheese on slices of fresh baguette slices garnished with slices of salami.

After we ate our soup we made the Texas Chili for tomorrow’s Super Bowl party.

I opened the large can of Ranch Style Beans and diced an onion and minced three or four cloves of garlic.

Suzette sautéed hamburger meat and the onion and garlic and then added canned diced tomatoes, some of the ranch style beans and Chimayo mild chili powder, ground cumin and a handful of Mexican oregano.

Pretty soon I was able to taste the Texas Chile con carne and it tasted fine.

I then lay down for another nap and rested until 5:00 when we started cooking dinner of steam cooked chicken thighs, Spinach Catalan, and Italian Garofalo noodles.  Garofalo noodles are about 3/4 inch wide and thin, like thin strips of thin lasagna.

Suzette seasoned the chicken thighs pushed Herbs de Provence and slices of garlic under the skin and cooked them in the steaming oven.  The result was tender meat and a crisped skin.

Catalan Spinach - I de-stemmed about 1/4 of a container of baby spinach leaves and diced 1/2 of a Fuji apple that Suzette then sautéed in olive oil with raisins and pinon nuts.

She then tossed the boiled Garofalo pasta with the Catalan Spinach and plated a pile of the Spinach mixture with a steamed chicken thigh for a fabulous dinner.

we ate with the beautiful bouquet of flowers Amy sent sitting on the dinner table in front of us.

We drank more of the Italian Falerio white wine with dinner and I even washed down the meal with a little extra wine. See yesterday’s blog for a description of the wine.

Willy came at 7:30 and Suzette heated a slice of fruit cake and made us camomile tea and we sat and talked and watched the dreadful remake of The Magnificent Seven starring Denzel Washington until 8:30.

After Willy left we watched the end of the movie and went to bed.

I awakened at 11:00 and finished this blog entry.

I am feeling much more normal and my blood pressure seems to have stabilized, so I am on the mend and more importantly, now that we are together again and I have assumed my normal function of prep cook and Suzette left to her normal function of line cook, we can return to cooking our usual fabulous meals.

Bon Appetit