Alright. I am hereby paid back for cruelly boasting about the mellow, mild weather we've had out here in SoCal all summer. This last week has been HOT. I mean REALLY hot! Proof...
That is hot, y'all! Last night it finally cooled down some, and reached a lovely low of 65 degrees, but today it's back into the 80s. So consider me chastised!
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As a testament to the quality of humor shared with me by my peculiar mix of Facebook friends, I offer you...
I seem to be a friend to all the geeks.
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The other day, I was talking to my dear, chocoholic mother-in-law, Mommy, and she told me how excited she was that it was Mallomar Season. She said that three people had bought her boxes because they know how much she loves them. "I ate FIVE right away!!! One, two, three, four, five. FIVE Mallomars!" When she was telling me this, I naturally assumed this "Mallomar Season" thing was just one of Mommy's usual peculiar Mommyisms, but I looked it up and sure enough she's right! Turns out that Mommy's favorite chocolaty cookies are seasonal! They are only available in the fall/winter. I guess they reason that they would melt during summer months. Hmmm...I think I might have to go buy a box!
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Sunday was Jimmy's birthday, and we had our usual family celebration - we all gathered around the coffee table in the living room, watched a DVD of Jimmy's choice (this year he wanted the making of the Beatles "Love") and ate a decadent four course meal, which I made. This year's menu was a bit of a mish-mash of Jimmy's favorite foods...
- Cold Avocado Cucumber Soup
- Steamed Mussels
- Southwestern Shrimp Salad
- Mama's Chocolate Cream Pie
I did something a little different with the mussels this time, and Jimmy flipped out! Even Jude sucked down about a dozen of them. Here's Jimmy drinking the juice right out of the bowl...
And here's the recipe, though I must admit that I was a little fast and loose with it...
Steamed Mussels This Year
1 1/2 lb. fresh mussels
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, crushed
2 bottles clam juice
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 tbsp. minced basil
3/4 cup chopped tomatoes (I actually used halved cherry tomatoes)
salt and pepper
Heat the oil in a deep saucepan. Add garlic and heat for only about a minute. Add in the clam juice and wine. Simmer for about 15 minutes. Add basil and stir through. Throw in the mussels and tomatoes, cover with a tight lid. Simmer until the mussels pop open. Pour in a big bowl and serve with lots of crusty bread to sop up the broth. (Or just drink it out of the bowl like Jimmy.)
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I totally love this...
...a Facebook page hosted by the lovely George Takei. My favorite new word...
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That's all the random thoughts for today. I hope you're all enjoying your nice autumnal weather. We are NOT. Go see Stacy!
I didn't know Mallomars had a season either; I seem to recall having them all year 'round. But then again, I live in the Deep South where we have things like Moon Pies.
Posted by: allstarme | 09/18/2012 at 05:55 AM
I have not seen a Mallomar box since the '80s! Me no like, so knowing they still exist somewhere doesn't do anything for me. It cooled down here to having a low 60 at night, mid-80 during the day. If Mother Nature had a Facebook page I would hit dislike on all of the days!
Macturbating. Heh. (You know I have to find that page immediately now. Kinda like I did with 100 Floors and now I CANNOT STOP (although I've been stuck on 19 since yesterday).
Posted by: Arnebya | 09/18/2012 at 06:44 AM
That macturbating is hilarious.
We have been in the 70s and 80s this week and last. I think it's Mother Nature making up for the constant stream of over 100s all summer long.
Posted by: Kendra | 09/18/2012 at 07:13 AM
No Mallomars in our part of the country. At least I don't remember seeing them in the stores.
If I had a reliable source of live mussels, I'd try that recipe--it sounds divine.
Our temps have cooled--upper 60s/low 70s during the day, 30s/low 40s at night. We had frost last night for the third time this month. Wild temp swings commence.
Posted by: VandyJ | 09/18/2012 at 07:13 AM
Okay, now I know how everyone feels when they visit my site and are hungry.
I want mussels.
Now.
(I deny wanting a Mallomar. Yup, deny deny deny...)
Posted by: Jan's Sushi Bar | 09/18/2012 at 08:15 AM
As someone who's never had mussels, I'm a but perplexed. Are you supposed to drink the juice it's served in?
Posted by: Sprite's Keeper | 09/18/2012 at 08:34 AM
happy birthday Jimmy!! I have not tried mussels. I do not care for oysters and I figure they are close to the same taste. Am I wrong?
I don't think I've ever seen mallomars and they are boasting 90 years? I've heard of them. I'm much more apted to try a mallormar than a mussel.
Posted by: Nadine | 09/18/2012 at 10:54 AM
Is it bad that I'm kinda giggling because you ended up getting hellacious heat after taunting me with your awesome weather all summer? ;) Hope you hotness dissipates...I mean the heat, not your personal hotness...wait, that still doesn't sound right - I better stop while I'm behind. ;)
Being friends to geeks is fun. :)
Happy (belated) Birthday to Jimmy! That recipe sounds delish!
I'm going to be spending time on that new word page... ;)
Power Company Power Play, Crazy Tattoo Idea, Wine Opener Fail, Cool Egg Yolk Tip and Hysterical Autocorrect: RTT Rebel
Posted by: Stacy Uncorked | 09/18/2012 at 01:41 PM
You know? I hate marshmallows, but this post has literally made my mouth water. I want a mallomar.
Posted by: Elizabeth | 09/19/2012 at 01:00 PM
Darn you, and the Mallowmars picture! Screw this diet, I totally could go for one now!
Posted by: Alaina | 09/19/2012 at 01:31 PM
I did know about the elusive Mallomar, but it doesn't really seem cool enough yet this year! I will absolutely get a box for Mommy, but am not mailing them yet!!
Posted by: Andrea | 09/19/2012 at 06:05 PM