Braised Short Ribs, BLTs, and Weekend Culture

We made Braised Short Ribs from Mark Bittman's recipe this weekend. So rich! So rich! As he said in the video - Chocolate is for Wussies.

We also had some Barley Pilaf with it. Nice, very nutty. Barley is an underappreciated grain.

See photos here.

After eating these delicious ribs, we went to see Ladysmith Black Mambazo. It was a fun concert, but it does get a little repetitive. Interestingly enough, it made me think of the movie Zulu, Michael Caine's first big role. I don't think that Doreen will like the movie, but I ordered it (for $2.90) from Amazon so I could watch it when she was out of town.

Sunday we had an amazingly productive day. We read the paper, roasted coffee and baked bread (our standard Sunday chores) and then took off on our bicycles. We had breakfast at Cafe Artiste and sat outside (the weather was perfect - high 60s and sunny, with a nice breeze). I had pancakes, Doreen had an omelet like creation, but with the best biscuits and gravy this side of the Mississippi. And parts of the other side of the Mississippi as well. It was all delicious.

Then we rode through her park and wound our way home.

When we arrived home we realized that the Monarch Caterpillars had eaten all of our milk weed (AKA Butterfly weed) so we had to go and get some more. We drove to The Heights and stopped at Buchanan's. We used the opportunity to get some parsley, thyme, and dill as well. (we have Rosemary, and don't use too much sage). We got home and planted them.

After a short nap (it was Sunday, after all!) we made supper – BLTs on our freshly homemade (no bread machine!) bread. With it, we had a nice glass of a 2005 Olson Ogden Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley. Great combination! Doreen was lucky enough to get a really fresh tomato from the market. (Handed to her by a nice young man who didn’t plan on eating his tomatoes immediately. People in The Montrose are so friendly!)

Then we were off again, this time to an Inprint Houston reading event. Dave Eggers and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie were reading from their latest books: What is the What and Half a Yellow Sun. I think we enjoyed Chimamanda’s talk better.

It was a full weekend.