Ciopinno Supreme & Vellum Days -with & for (sexy! & tops!) #VellumDays
Ciopinno Supreme -Cooking Lesson
Student: Sebastian Inspiration: Desire to make a delicious dish for his wife, Valerie
T.O. (that's deputy speak for training officer): Robert AKA "Mick" (my sexy)
and this lesson, which started at 9:30am, included the grocery shopping..
and concluded with dinner around 4:30pm
and while the men created their masterpiece in the kitchen,
valerie and i got to catch up with each other on life's current adventures, challenges & rewards
but, i do want to point out, i have included 'supreme' in the name of this ciopinno recipe
exactly because.. well, it sounds better than 'eater-friendly' or 'ready-to-eat'
but that is one of the distinctions
-with traditional ciopinno, the shells remain on the muscles, and clams and crab legs
-and it does look very pretty
but, also 'de-assembly', some gloves, a bib might be required
with Robert's tweaks and modifications to this recipe, which he originally cut from the mercury news newspaper many years ago
from tadich grill in san francisco
no regular fish is used; only shell fish, and!
all shells are removed, so you can 'dive write in' -to this amazing italian (un)shelled~fish stew
"Encore Sebastian!" -turned out perfect..
and a blessing to spend the day with the two of you!
***
now, i have no pix, but -speaking of supreme dining experiences, and friends who are a great blessing:
we just the other night, responded to an earlier invitation, with a spontaneous event, i will here call,
"the dynamic gumbo duo"
recipe experience.
"thank you!" to karl & valerie.. we were invited to their home for dinner, and when we learned the meal would be gumbo..
"we have some of robert's gumbo in the refrigerator at home write now!"
and we had talked about it during more than one prior conversation; -how valerie had taken a cooking class during a stay in new orleans.. with a renowned chef.. and this 45minute investment of time and energy stirring the roux until it yields a specific color.. how pleased with the result! what a wonderful gumbo..
and how one of Robert's best dishes ever, is his 5 star gumbo!
and so, "let's have a gumbo taste-off!" -some day..
and we hadn't planned it for this evening.. but, since the planets did align, we went for it
and,
no niceties, or flattery, or cajoling here
they really were BOTH utterly delicious; and yet, entirely distinguishable from each other in overall flavor.
talk about a win/win situation...
"Thank You!" for spoiling us again Karl & Valerie, with wonderful wines,
your spontaneous, playful spirits, a very fun and delicious gumbo duo experience,
fresh brownie dessert, and smooth diamond rum finish. -our conversations
are always engaging, enlightening, inspiring..
-we look so forward to having you over for our inaugural beef wellington surprise..
and we get to speak again! about awesome friends.. wonderful meals.. exciting celebrations...
"Happy Birthday Beautiful Maria!" -and give here lots of husband points to San Bruno for how he spoiled his Santa Maria.. -and it is the highest blessing i believe.. to have the bonds of friendship that these current and retired deputies have. -honored to be in your company.. always fun.. enormously grateful you have enfolded me in your circle -and bonus birthday gift
le perez and her husband bob joined the celebration.. and maria said with a big smile, "that made me feel very special!" i repeat it so often "these are the highest gifts! trustworthy, wonderful, loving true friends
and i could, but wont.. spend several pages here, writing about how for the almost, and 50+ years old community of people.. WOW! to how time, life experiences, season you.. help you to better appreciate, prioritize, value
****
and speaking of san bruno and santa maria... week prior, they invited us on what has been one of the more challenging (and therefore rewarding) hikes we've ever been on. -save only, mission peak in fremont.. this one was.. -but we made it! we did it! and the day's sky was cloudless and blue, the sun was shining.. the mountains (not hills people.. mountains) were such a gorgeous green. and we eventually rested for a bit at ed levin park.. there was a lake, and lots of fun shore birds.. and just pretty views in every direction. and they, john and maria, along with rito had recommended these hiking boots: merrells -which we, robert & i, both agree are the best shoes weve ever worn for anything.. and we have tested them! with 9+ hours at disneyland.. and 5 day or more morning walks around the neighborhood.. and on these more challenging and rewarding hikes, on sidewalks and dirt paths.. -and we are really looking foward to more and lots of hikes in 2022! "Thank You!"
and, my sexy and i.. during our morning prayers.. we say often, 'due season' continues. and we are referencing how rewarding our lives feel, now.. in our late 50's.. after some pretty traumatic and challenging times in life earlier on.. /even concurrently.. and we are referecing the Bible passage
Galations 6:9
but we have another thing we say, we say, "Thank You Jesus for our vellum days!"
and in order to understand and appreciate what we mean by that, you have to first know what vellum is.. and vellum is a type of paper i use a lot in crafting. it is see-through, and you mainly use it as an overlay, so.. text maybe over a picture in the background.. or vice versa..
and one day i was describing to my sexy.. i was like, "you know..
if i created and cut out 3 calendar squares on vellum
left: wonderful memory thanks & amen
center: this is the day the Lord has made Rejoice!
write: we are looking forward to...
we could pretty much just lift it up and place it one day over on the monthly calendar
like, all year long!"
because our lives have become so dense with back to back blessings! Praise God!
back to back, day after day, creativity and fun
day after day, great family, great friends, great meals, great times
in just the month of December, for example, we've had Vegas.. my mom's cookie party.. we have a family Christmas Dinner, we've had dinner here, and dinner there with friends, we've decorated.. created Christmas cards, invitations, our yard art.. we've had multiple celebrations..
and on this very morning.. should i place the vellum down
Yesterday, December 12th, My mom's cookie party & maria's birthday party
now, wonderful memories thanks & amen
Today: December 13th, Cleaning, cooking, writing, creating, preparing for family to arrive
this is the day the Lord has made, Rejoice!
and tomorrow, gifts of time, health, energy for final Christmas touches
and, retirement really has been the greatest gift of all time, for me.. the gift that keeps on giving! "Thank You Sexy!" Just getting to stretch out and do at my own pace, what I always had to squeeze in and do in a hurry before..
The joy is back in everything Praise God, Hallelujah & Amen!
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home