jess mebane
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Posts posted by jess mebane
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Dunlavy and Fairview
hubbahubba! Jeez, there was this great diner in that nabe years ago; made the best big salads.....
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this is what I remember:
dutch oven
trinity
ssg-one link your taste (kielbasa, hot, etc.), one link boudin; sliced
lemon zest
one tomato, chopped
2 c. shrimp stock
1 c. white rice
fresh sage, rolled up and julienned (I have no recollection of the technical term here.)
1 T. tomato paste
1 lb. shrimp
4-6 oz. crabmeat
cayenne
black pepp
shrimp boil
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Boil the shrimp with your fave spices then cool, peel and set aside, reserving 2 c. stock, strained through a flour sack towel-lined colander. Sweat your trinity in a dutch oven that's been oiled and buttered. Add sausage, tomatoes, lemon zest, peppers and sage, saute another 5-10 mins. Stir in tomato paste. Add stock and rice, bring to a boil, then covered lo-lo heat for 25 mins. Turn off the heat, add shrimp and crab and let stand another five. Stir and serve with crackers and plenty of beer. Must have at least 2-3 bottles of Louisiana hot sauce for guests to hold in their grubby fists.
Remember to use your newfound Jambalaya powers only for good, not evil.
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Start seeds six weeks before the last frost, which in Austin is about the 3rd or 4th week in March. If you're in Houston, I'd start some seeds tomorrow. I planted my best seedling crop two years ago in Lockhart (same zone as Austin) on the Ides of March, then had to scramble to get some row cover one night of a late frost just before Easter. You can keep milk jugs filled with water on the north side of your tender shoots on such nights, and it will keep them warm.
By tender shoots, I should perhaps clarify that I'm still talking about plants; the dear spouse reading over my shoulder has a filthy mind...
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you'll miss out on one of the best Houston experiences if you skip Columbe d'Or. It's exquisitely appointed, and so securely in the center of town, you can't be more than 20 mins from some fine dining and cultural events. It is also close to the Montrose, but you've probably already missed "Living in Leather" weekend, so some cultural events could be supplanted by a trip to Churrasco's or Adkin's Architectural antiques. One is a restaurant, the other is as the name suggests, and located downtown, I think on Fannin.
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I should perhaps clarify that by beer coolers I meant the styrofoam sort--don't go drilling holes in the beer/bait/ammo repository. With all due respect conferred to Kevin Fowler, of course.
Oh yes, peppers. what sort?
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Speaking of tomatoes . . . what varieties are everyone's favorites for your area? We grew some beefsteaks as big as my head three years ago, never got them that big again.
Beefsteaks are excellente in this zone! Also early and prolific are Celebrity and Early Girl. Jaymes and I began lecturing the neighbors over on the General/Garden thread a couple of years ago, and she had the best patio gardener tip ever: Beer coolers. Keeps even the lightbulbs/yellow pears from fryin' up in the dog days of July and August. Dear Spouse liked referring to last year's crop as the "Budweiser Co-Op".
This year I'm seeding some San Marzanos that I picked up at Central Groc. in New Orleans. The packets say they are the original Italian paste Roma; odds are I've been sold some magic beans, but it is the prettiest little seed package I've ever seen.....
And a body should try okra of any variety, because they lovelovelove the heat, and will withstand a little neglect.
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4 Advil, Large fountain drink, preferably with Sonic ice, until my wrists stop hurting, then off to find a plate of migas, extra jalepenos.
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I'm with Foodie52 - my landscape consists of Xeric plants that
I quit veggie gardening when I got tired of spending my time picking bugs off and watering the heck out of them come July and August. I'd rather spend my time and money at Boggy Creek and Central Market....
I'm thinking of trying lemon verbena again.
Ahh, mademoiselles, it pains me to hear you give up on the vegetables. Buy a rain barrel or two--you'd get your money's worth right now, and if you get them at the time which the utility office sells them, you get a rebate. With vegetables, teach them the way to grow, and water once weekly, ever so slow. plant a brigade of cheerful marigolds around the toms, sink them up to their necks in coffee cans, and I guarantee you'll eliminate everything except the grasshoppers. That's where netting comes into play. Yes, it's work, but I think y'all are more than up to it.
Playing at the fields of veggies--can't imagine anything more heavenly on a sticky Texas afternoon. That must be why I'm still an Austonian after so many beastly summers; that and the payoff of a warm tomato in the hand, come first of June.
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There was a recent article about this particular subject in the Austin Daily Planet--they cited ranches in the foothills of the Ft. Davis Mountains, and there are slabs to be had at People's Pharmacy on Westbank. There was also a local chef who served it and had a testimonial on their website. Wish I could recall the finer details, so sorry.
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bought artichokes, potatoes and spinach, and plenty of heirloom tomato seeds. Ok, and like a madwoman, I had to get a six-pack of celebrity toms that will doubtless suffer an early death, but I had to do it. It's a sickness with me and tomato plants. Anyone have suggestions as to how to raise a healthy 'choke in these parts?
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Today, I loaded the youngest Mebane into the obligatory Red Rider wagon and bought spinach, potatoes, heirloom tomato seeds and two artichoke plants from a local vendor. I can sort of muddle my way through everything but the chokes; any suggestions, pointers?
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See, that's why the Louisiana thread is like, required reading. Where else you gonna find out current market value on a bag fulla plastic babies?! Get your yayas out, cher! And bonus points for the most outlandish yaya fufillment story during this time period, because I'm going to need some seriously funny s*it to laugh at when I give up my lenten goodie this year.
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Les Amis - one of the fireplace-endowed restaurants that I miss, like Senor O'Brien's for stone soup
Holy crap, Les Amis is dead and I never got up the nerve to go in! Damn, but that place had the gallic 'tude to spare, and since I flunked five hours of French my freshman year, I half-expected the anorexic waitstaff to spit upon, rather than serve me. . . Damn, I say, damn! I'm old.
See, you just can't expect progressive state initiatives in a capitol city where a little subversive coffee joint cannot coexist with the SYSCO mafia. Where have you gone, yella dog politicos, a city turns its myopic eyes to you, woo, woo, woo.
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In SA, La Palapa has the best quick bkfst, and Chacho's has the very best fresh salsa bar ever--they style themselves after Taco Cabana, but much, much fresher.
In Houston, try the taco shack across from the courthouse for a great, quick bite during the day--I think it's La Palapa, too, but not the same owners.
In Austin, it's Taco Shack on Spicewood for bkfst tacos and a manager with the largest face/name recognition in the known uni. For lunch, I like Dirty's DH special with a chocolate shake--the ol' gal that works the counter is mighty nice, but damn near deaf, so yell politely. Or perhaps Fran's on Congress-- try the grilled chicken sandwich with bacon and cheese to pretend you're making a healthy fast food choice. Or go to Tom's Tabouley on Guadalupe and get a truly great-tasting thai turbo wrap that truly is beneficial to your health, and clears up the cedar fever, too. Does anyone remember Mad Dog's, just off the Drag? used to be a walk-up hamburger stand in the '80s behind the old Varsity theater that made the bestest choc. malts and shakes. It would have been where the Starbucks is now, natch.
And you can call yourself a native if you have ever once gotten in Whataburger's drive-thru line at 2:30am with a half-dozen of your friendly, drunken neighbors to wait 45 mins. for food with onions.
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but who am I to tell people to stop anthropomorphising their pets?
On the whole, I think it is less harmful to treat one's pets as human than to treat one's infant offspring as adults.
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after being gestational for nigh on four years, this PMS stuff was a distant memory, as was the price of femmy products-YIKES! But I must say that if you have to beat back the symptoms with chocolate or salty snacks during holiday season, at least everyone else is doing the same thing with a drink in their hands, too.
Me, I'm a sucker for chicharrones 'n eggs with fresh salsa and Kettle cracked pepper chips with crab dip. And chocolate cookies with bits of green pistachios in the swirly part--better than special brownies.....
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Girl, I believe my policy is known about a good night's sleep or otherwise on HTCs.
Lemme know how the prime rib turns out for sure--way too time-intensive for my home game. -
recently celebrated my own bday at SFA hotel, and we had burgers at the bar, which were rilly, rilly good. So good we were crestfallen to learn they do not participate with the room service menu. Best wishes, by ze whey!
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As far as BBQ goes, she needs to rent a car (if she doesn't have access to one already) and drive over to Luling and Lockhart on a "BBQ Day."
At Luling, go to City Market. At Lockhart, go to Smitty's, Blacks, Kreuz's.
Luling is a short drive east from San Antonio (not even an hour), interstate highway all the way, and Lockhart is just up the road from there. She can snack her way through the heart of Texas BBQ country, and pack up some to take back with her for you to sample.
Jaymes and I tend to second one another on this emotion, but Lockhart is worth the drive. Kreuz is raht on the highway, S183 past the RR tracks, and packs 'em in on weekends. Smitty's is just off town square in the shadow of the newly renovated courthouse and down a block from the newly renovated library. Smitty's has better pork chops and prime rib, while Kreuz' sausage seems to be more flavorful this year. Smitty's will also have pork ribs on weekends that are mighty fine. Chisolm Trail is further S. on 183, like the last BBQ joint before city limits, and has the convenience of a drive-thru if she's in a hurry. Chisolm is one of only two joints in town that serves good chicken and ribs every day, and has a larger, if dubious array of sides. Black's is the other chicken, ribs and sides place, but somehow it's never seemed as outstanding as the bickering big two houses of smoke in Caldwell county, even if it does have a picture of one of our Mebane forbears on the wall--throw a cottonseed at him for luck......
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Tremor: you ROCK!
hear, hear!
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mais non, cher. you're a one-off spectacular spectacular, & I'll take umbrage at any poseurs.
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So you don't think there's sweet potato in the dough? I can't remember where I heard that.....
I don't think so. But, I'll see if I can find out for sure...
I have a mental image of the Tremors careening down 620 eastside in a tricked out '70 chevelle SS 454 while the Mission Impossible theme plays louder than the hangover humming 'round Sheriff Maspero's head......
edited for auto specs by dear spouse.....
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Girl, I'm down with the P.diddy tacos and intend to do some damage asap. Thanks for the recky, and All hail the queen!
Y'all Are Shamelessly Remiss!
in Louisiana: Dining
Posted
careful there, feef; you don't wanna go taking the Lod's AND Texas' name in vain.