gulfporter

We had 6 large established hosta beds (courtesy of former homeowner). We also had a huge deer population as we lived in one of the last 5 acre subdivisions in urbanized Fairfax County VA, and our home was lakefront. Our winter herds were 20+ and they slept just off our deck! Every spring we'd had at least 3 or 4 fawns. We loved watching the deer. Our solution was to use dried blood as a deterrent, we had to reapply often. We'd do it all summer, then we'd stop in late September and let the deer have at the hosta.

When we lived on 5 acres in Northern Virginia we called our hosta, "deer caviar." How did you manage to beat Bambi to them 🦌

Seared duck breast over pearl couscous salad. I am cooking duck to medium these days as I get more tender meat than when rare. Maybe it has to do with the duck I buy here in AZ.

Maracuya is MXN name for Passion Fruit. Size of oranges, skin is dry and leathery when ripe. More intense than what I've bought in US.

@liuzhou Same in Guadalajara. It's 2nd largest city in MEX, 6+ million population. Literally blocks long for things like sewing machines and repairs; used car parts (at least 3 long blocks); fabric stores, etc. I live in a village of about 6K. There are tiendas in every block many in the front room of a home. While they carry the same snacks and beverages, they all have some sort of 'specialty' such as one sells eggs, another sells fresh baked bread, another sells fruits, another sells cheeses, another sells brooms and mops. It's word of mouth or visual inspections to find out their specialties that the other tiendas don't stock. Over time since our arrival in 2008 these tiendas are fewer due to the expansion of larger groceries and OXXO's (think 7-11 type).

Too true in MEX re: one time finds. Our motto-- See it, like it, buy it. NOW. Another local shopping oddity that at least 3 small business owners here have confirmed to me. When a new item becomes so popular that it flies off the shelves, the business will stop stocking it. Their rationale (?) is they don't like disappointing their customers. Go figure 🤔

First dinner back in MEX after a month's absence. Arrachera. It's marinated skirt steak and this was most tender I've had in years. From a meat provider outside of Guadalajara. Exactly 3.5 minutes per side on a hot gas grill. Perfecto! We ate half of it with puré de papas and some zucchini. The rest will give us a few fajitas or quesadillas. Or steak sandwiches on a local fresh bolillo (yeast roll).

I brought a bunch of these back from Portugal. Maybe you can find in US? Or search for recipe to make your own spice mix??

EZPZ dinner. Frozen mini-meatballs in a spicy sauce over pasta.

You don't need much Spanish to figure this one out.

This one caught my eye today. But have always been fascinated by food crimes and trials. Mushroom Murder Trial in Australia. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/05/23/mushroom-murder-trial-australia/

@rotuts Here's a link to recipe. It's a really stiff dough but I do it all by hand and I have 3 non-working fingers. It's coffee-cake in texture. I like that its density allows it to be cut into little pieces for a snack. https://amandascookin.com/blueberry-breakfast-cake/

Blueberry Breakfast Cake

Picnic dinner. Grilled salmon on toasted croissant with checkerboard corn.

Duck breast and Udon noodles with Asian spices. The duck went past optimum temperature, but was still tender and tasty. PS. You know how on cooking shows like ATK they tell you to cover the handle of a pan that's come out of the oven so you don't forget and pick it up barehanded? Well I finished the duck in a 400 degree convection oven and 3 minutes after taking it out I grabbed the uncovered handle. Owwwwww!! I normally sear and cook breast in pan and don't put in oven, so I guess my brain didn't register that I shouldn't grab it.

Made recipe for Rhubarb Upside Down Cake. Followed recipe....toothpick was clean at suggested bake time. As it cooled it collapsed in middle. I cut into it when still a bit warm and it isn't unbaked, in fact the outer 3/4 of it has a nice crunch (there's polenta in the batter). The middle while not raw or uncooked, is too moist. Tastes good, though!

I buy Italian imported pastas in Mexico including De Cecco and since MEX is not in trade war with Italy I am curious to compare prices between US price and MX price once the tariff dust settles.

Blackened Salmon. Side leftover Med white beans over arugula.

Grilled Australian lamb rack (thank you! Costco). With cold white beans Med-style.

30 minute Coq au Vin. Tales me 45 minutes but worth it and IMO as good as 2 day recipes, well good enough for us anyway 🙂

Yes, Barrio is terrific....but oh the lines!

No. This pie recipe goes back to Goumet or Bon Appetit to 1980s. It's been copied at lots sites over the years. I remember the first time I made it my late FIL declared it the Perfect Pie. He gifted me both mag subscriptions every Xmas. I made him this pie a few times every year.

This recipe is identical to the one I use with the exception that I substitute VANILLA extract for the ALMOND extract (family preference). I also add juice of 1/2 a lemon into the blueberry mixture. I use a pre-rolled store-bought pie crust because I am lazy. https://pieofthebeholder.com/2011/02/14/pie-12-blueberry-sour-cream-pie/

Blueberry sour cream pie with pecan crumble topping.

Pasta with shiitakes in simple tomato, red wine gravy.