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Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Feast on the Beach

Even after a massive Tsunami warning, the girls and I made our second annual trip to the beach to drink, eat, and sit in the hot tub for hours on end. It has become tradition that we go into the nearest town, buy enough seafood to make ourselves sick for days, eat corn dogs and clam chowder, and buy sweat pants. Yep. Sweat pants.

We stayed in a beautiful house right on the beach in Waldport, OR. The house had a nice big kitchen, which I took full advantage of. Saturday morning I woke up quite a bit earlier than the other girls, which may have been a result of my notorious first-in-bed syndrome, but whatever... I made coffee, grabbed my book, and sat in the sunroom and listened to the rain pelt the skylight. After a while, I got bored. So much food, so little time. First I made some eggs. Scrambled eggs just like my mom did with milk, salt and pepper. The key to good scrambled eggs? Use a spatula, and stir frequently. While I was waiting on my eggs I started some Turkey Bacon; better for your health, not too shabby on taste. Turkey sausage was next, which I glazed with BLiS Vanilla Maple Syrup from Foods In Season, and blueberry pancakes, which of course, required syrup as well.... as the girls savored their delicious breakfast, I took my time savoring mine... all of it. I tasted everything I made, and then some! Like I said, these trips are about eating, drinking, and the occasional dance party.

Dinner that night was a barrage of homemade deliciousness:
Whole Wheat Penne Alfredo with Prawns sauteed in fresh garlic and butter, homemade salmon, crab, and shrimp sushi, steamed razor clams in a garlic, white wine, butter and cream reduction, and mmm garlic bread. My pores were leaking garlic for two days. On top of the most artery clogging and rich dinner, our friends boyfriend had kindly made us a double chocolate flour-less cake that was to-die-for. Since I had been cooking all evening, I rewarded myself with a nice bottle of Pheasant Valley Winery's Primativo... and ultimately dropped the cake on the floor. Yay me! Thankfully the saran wrap had stayed in place and we were able to enjoy the cake floor free.

Our trips are always for three days, but this time I had far too much to get accomplished on my only day off for quite some time, so one of the girls and I left a day early. On the way home, hangover in tow, we stopped a drive through Mexican restaurant that promised indigestion for days, and a great deal of food for the price. Tiga Chicken Tostadas, Nachos with Guacamole, and rice and beans... have you ever tried to eat that while you drive? I wouldn't recommend it. However, I do credit this meal to my winnings at the Casino on our way home.



Seasons Change, I rearrange

2011 had started off with a bang. If you hadn't noticed previously, tragedy after tragedy was making me a little down in the dumps, but I was trying to maintain and know that soon enough something good would come out of all the bad... Little did I know, it was coming sooner than I expected. A serious bout of writer's block has bashed me in the brain, so please forgive my inability to entice you with my verbage. 

Fresh Walleye
After a birthday wish to a little birdie I like to call Joy, I was dropped hint that was hard to believe. She mentioned a position as a Sales Representative had opened at a company I have always been in awe over, and encouraged me to apply. I honestly thought I had no chance, being as I had no "real" sales experience previously, and there were thousands of people that would probably apply... but I figured it was a great opportunity I could not pass up. I loved the job I had, but I knew it wasn't going to take me anywhere anytime soon, so I took a leap. The leap ended up to be a skip and a hop in the right direction for me. Is the vagueness getting to you yet? Alright, I was offered a position as a Sales Representative at an amazing company called Foods In Season. Don't know who they are? Check out the link. 

Foods In Season is a company that thrives around the freshest wild, foraged, and sustainably harvested foods. Specializing in mushrooms, fresh local fish and the most amazing cuts of pork, beef, bison and and and....!! They offer so many sustainable, delicious products it's hard for me to even wrap my head around, and I work there! I work at a company where I get to talk about food all day. I get to drool over the Truffles, wild greens, and the most incredible maple syrup I have ever tasted in my entire life. How much better does it really get? I am so excited to work somewhere that cares so much about the environment where things come from, and that supports our local economy. SO EXCITED. I was trying to be modest, but I really cannot contain the glow inside of me. I have found a job that will challenge me, and force me to learn about foods that I haven't even heard of. Black Truffle Oil anyone? Foie Gras? ... You want it, I got it. 

Today the other sales girls and I split a fresh Walleye fish. A coworker had mentioned her love for fish tacos, and I couldn't resist copying her idea.  Since I have only ever really had Tilapia fish tacos, I was in for a real treat. I got home and went straight to work making the easiest and most delicious white fish ever. Just a little onion, lemon, and "Black Fish Magic" seasoning (sister in-law turned me on it, fish tacos haven't been the same without it) and it was gold. This fish was awesomely flaky, moist, and meaty... Once again my writer's block has been pretty ridiculous lately, but I am telling you, this fish was the shit (con permiso). Don't believe me? Call me and try it yourself! 
Walleye Fish Taco with Greek Yogurt