jojo's dinner

Happy B-Day to me

This was a big one. I will NOT discuss the number. But I will divulge the fact that I was born on the 29th of February and so every birthday is big in its own way. Either because it really doesn't exist (that moment of time between midnight February 28th and March 1st) or because we actually have a 29th on that year...or just because it is some sort of milestone...some sort of award ceremony for making this far...

On an occasion like this I recommend starting your day by cutting up a bunch of fruit. Lots of citrus, and an apple or two. Mix the fruit with brandy, triple sec, simple syrup and gently mash. Let the fruit marinate, seep, soak...get liquored-up (what ever you want to call it) in the fridge for the remainder of the day.

Then....go to lunch with your best girl friends at a very fancy hotel and drink champagne.

                          

 
I recommend NOT letting the bartender take your photo unless you are super sure he knows how to use a crackberry.

Now--go home (maybe have a taxi drive you ...just a thought) and add some chilled CAVA to the fruit mixture and start pouring it into pretty glasses, add a little piece of fruit to each glass. It will go fast so make sure everyone gets at least one glass. You will then need to make a very sappy toast. Something along the lines of remembering all the good times and how much you love everyone...don't forget to cry....oh and be loud--loud and slur your words!

 

Mom made my favorite cake with grammie's icing. This photo is the cake before the icing. Isn't it pretty? Can't go wrong with Marble cake. Grammie's icing is very simple**: sugar, bakers chocolate, sweetened condensed milk, butter...stir  on the stove top...pour it over the cake while it's warm! lick the pan. The icing forms a hard chocolate glaze over the cake....nuthin' better (**I'm guessing on these ingredients...)

Don't for get to rehydrate...after the partying   

the shredder

This will be a good dinner after you do your taxes. Or maybe prepare this meal the day you clean out your home-office files when the shredder is all warmed-up but before it gets too dull!

First shred this stuff: red cabbage, carrots, pear (no skin), and cheese (we used a yogurt cheese--tasted like a mild cheddar)

toasted walnuts (remember: always toast your nuts)

oil, lemon juice, mustard, salt, country french herb mix from penzeys whisked together--drizzle and toss with baby arugula ( by the way, arugula is one of my favorite words. go ahead say it...it just rolls around in your mouth. it's funny)

romaine (not nearly as fun to say but it has a nice crunch)

grape tomatoes

seeing red

I'm rating this salad a 10-yes T-E-N! It's sweet, tangy, crunchy and almost too healthy. Eating this salad will  increase your vocabulary and maybe your IQ. I'm sure it will lower your blood pressure.  Just a plateful and you will start oxidizing all kinds of free radicals. whoa that's a powerful salad

All the good stuff is included here:

• Beets (boiled but don't worry the flavor is still there...especially combined with the other ingredients)
• Carrots-shredded
• red cabbage-shredded
• golden raisins
• grape tomatoes
• pear!
• Almonds-toasted (Toasting nuts is just as important as Roasting veggies-always-always toast your nuts)
• tossed in a combo of honey, lemon and orange juice 

And there is enough left over for my lunch tomorrow...

I'll probably get a raise!

heat up the sushi

Why do I load my sushi with hot wasabi and soy sauce causing my skull to explode and then...eat some more with just as much wasabi and soy sauce? How many times can I do this before I have to stop?

Apparently I do it until the sushi is gone!

There's a whole bunch of tuna on the plate there...and some other stuff.

A take-out meal usually includes something from our kitchen as well. This salad is wonderful: shredded carrots, grape tomatoes, toasted pecans, toasted sesame seeds, a little lemon juice and rice wine vinegar with just a touch of garlic sauce (oooh careful...not too much), oh yes and a touch of honey.

 I rate this salad a 9, but I give the entire meal a rating of 8. Steve is rating this meal a 7..he just isn't into the sushi the way I'm into the sushi.

*oh--btw vanilla ice cream for dessert...needed to cool the skull