ROW - the Avocado Soup Edition

I just would like to point out that ROW is also Rob's initials...and that makes me happy.

This Avocado soup came via Better Homes and Gardens via my girlfriend Marley - thanks, Marles! 

I used fat free half and half instead of the full fat and instead of Sherry (which I didn't have), I used Brandy - and it was fine. I also added more onions than were called for.  I took Marley's suggestion to serve it cold which was perfect on a warm day.  The soup was creamy avocado deliciousness and we did dress it up with cholula otherwise there's not much of a taste to it, frankly.  I didn't add any crema since it was creamy enough with the half and half. 

 I served it with grilled cheese - sourdough with brie, cheddar, heirloom tomatoes and homemade pesto with basil from our backyard - slurp!  My food critic gave it two happy noises up - nom nom.

This recipe is a keeper, for sure.

ROW - Noodles in Black Bean Sauce Edition

Another goody from the Essential Vegetarian Cookbook - love that cookbook so much!  This recipe was super easy and I've made it twice.  This time I used rice noodles instead of thicker egg noodles (delicious!) and added some crispy tofu I cooked in some sesame oil in order to make the meal a more complete protein.  I doubled the noodles last time and made the mistake of doubling the sauce as a result - ended up being too saucy, Bernaise, so thus my little notes not to make that mistake twice.  Yum, and super good leftover too!  My non-vegetarian food critic gave it 2 chopsticks up.

Recipe O' The Week - Spicy Thai Coconut Soup Edition

I know it's been hot as blazes, but nothing says summer fare like soup.  Ok, not really, but this really was a super delicious and easy recipe I just had to share.  It'll be worth it to sweat it out and eat in your undies if you have to.  Spicy Thai coconut soup - you had me at coconut.  I used light coconut milk and cheated and bought a rotisserie chicken from Ralphs and just shredded it (rather than cooking my own) - seriously, this sucker took only about 15 minutes to make and it was sooooo delicious!  Topped with cilantro from our backyard and it was brilliant!  My soup critic next to me on the couch gave it two slurps up.  Enjoy.

Quickie update....

....in that there isn't one, really.  Home treatment (flipping body back and forth like Linda Blair on crack, hanging head over couch for 30 minutes with massager vibrating my skull as if THAT's fun, etc) actually seemed to make a difference for a few days, then I progressively got worse over the last 8-10 days, so it was back on the chair again yesterday.  Sigh.

When I was there 2 weeks ago, my doc thought my left anterior canal was showing more eye movement so home treatment has been to target left anterior, but now we're back to right anterior again...so, we've got that going for us, I suppose.  I'm supposed to see if the chair worked and do nothing for a few days, then will go back to home treatment again if not, this time targeting the right anterior canal.  I did sleep completely upright last night just as a precaution, and that was so weird!  It started out fine, but somehow in the middle of the night I slumped down and was in the weirdest position ever - I mean really, other than Gumby and dead people, nobody should be able to bend their necks that way....so then I had to reposition.  We'll see if it helped - in theory, it couldn't hurt.  And on that note, thank God I found a massage therapist who has a chair and can come to the house!!!  He came once last week - I've never had such a sore and tight neck and back so I'm sure it'll take a few times, but I could have cried I was so grateful to finally get some relief from my neck tension after sleeping on so many pillows.

On a happy note, had a LOVELY visit from my bosses last week - I'm so incredibly grateful to work for 2 such wonderful ladies, and I was so touched they would come see me.  It was so nice!

Onward and upward.  Crystals - go back to your home!!!!!

POW - my favorite mini ginger edition

 Rob's cousin Kathy just unearthed a bunch of his baby photos and I'm just mooning!!!  He was absolutely the cutest little baby on the planet - love that little redhead!  Please to enjoy:

Rob and his brother Steve:

 I LOVE this happy mug!!!!!

 Is Rob a pirate or a Shriner?  Discuss amongst yourselves...

Rob and Kathy - Rob looks like he's completely shocked to see how this whole new-fangled rocking chair works.

Holy 70's rug!  (and cousin Eddie shoes in the background)

Physical therapy assistant

Bichons have healing qualities.  It's a scientific fact. 

They also make excellent feet rests (especially when they're snoring, it's like a build in massage)

And speaking of massage, here's G doing his best shiatsu deep tissue on my legs.  He's got mad skillz.

My favorite's birthday

It was Rob's birthday on Friday and we had a lovely mellow celebration just the two of us over sushi.  The sushi was just meh but the company and view MORE than made up for that.  Love me my birthday Robbio!

On Saturday Karen and Alex asked us over and surprised Rob with a bunch of our friends, it was such a nice surprise!  Nothing like being surrounded by your close friends and stuffing your face with ice cream cake to ring in your 37th year on this planet - I'd say it's a great beginning :)