Did You Get the Number of the Truck?

"What truck?"
"The one that ran over me"

This was the exchange in our family when someone had a particularly difficult day, task, etc.

It is appropriate for the past week for Gourmet Gallery and me personally. Now, this is not a BAD thing. There are many good things!

Fifth anniversary celebration with 109 friends--GOOD

Number One grandson graduating with a Master of Information Systems Degree--GOOD

A three-day holiday to West Texas to be with family to celebrate a ninetieth birthday--GOOD
(We missed the planned party, but made it for the after-party parties. Such great family time for us.)

There were a few small towns on our itinerary. What fun we had exploring in Clifton on the way there, and Roby, Anson, Abilene (not so small, but one of our former hometowns), Buffalo Gap, Cisco, Eastland, and Cranfills Gap and St. Olaf's Lutheran Church on the way back.

Perini's Steakhouse is in Buffalo Gap. We didn't get to have any of their famous steaks, but enjoyed some of the other foods--a one/half pound hamburger, fried quail legs, and some of the best hominy I've tasted.

This recipe from "Texas Cowboy Cooking", p.148:

Jessica's Favorite Green Chile Hominy

1 cup chopped onion, sautéed
4 15-ounce cans white hominy (drain and reserve)
1/2 cup hominy liquid
1 tablespoon juice from pickled jalapeños
1/2 pound cheddar cheese, grated
10 slices bacon, fried crisp and chopped (reserve drippings)
1 cup chopped green chiles
1-2 pickled jalapeños, seeded and chopped (optional)

Sauté the onions in a little of the bacon drippings and put aside. Heat hominy in a separate sauté pan, stirring often. When heated thoroughly, add the hominy liquid and jalapeño juice, bring back to a high temperature and add 3/4 of the cheese. When the cheese melts, add half the peppers and bacon and all the onion. Pour into a 9 x 13-inch baking pan and sprinkle with the remaining cheese, bacon and peppers. (At this point it can be refrigerated or even frozen, if you want to make it in advance.) Bake at 325 degrees F. Until cheese on top melts, about. 15 minutes ( or 40 minutes, if refrigerated.)
Serves 10 to 12.













And what truck was th

Why Am I in Texas When There Are Cooler Places?

This is the time of the year-- EVERY YEAR--that I ask myself that question. I suppose the answer is that I haven't gone some other place. The secret to being as comfortable as possible for me is to stay as cool as possible and drink as much liquid as possible. Water , of course, is the logical choice, and it is a good choice. However, our gourmet world offers many options. Below find a couple of drinks that can be made at home--with a little help from Gourmet Gallery.

PEACH BELLINI

1) In a blender, combine 1/2 package of Wine-a-Rita mix (3/4 cup) with12 fluid ounces of wine or champagne and blend until mixed.

2) Fill blender with ice and mix until smooth.

Makes 12-6 ounce servings.

Or

LAVENDER LEMONADE

Brew 1quart of Sterling Earl Grey Lavender Tea. (2tablespoons loose tea in 1qt. hot water [185-205F] . Let steep for 5 minutes. Remove tea leaves and chill.

2 cups simple syrup. (Bring 2 cups sugar and one cup water to a boil stirring until sugar is completely dissolved. Chill.)

Combine tea and simple syrup in a pitcher and add 1-1/2 cups of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Stir. Add ice and one or two sliced lemons.

ENJOY.