After a swim and a light workout in the gym I told my wife that I was going to look up an old friend and that I would be back in a couple of hours. I kissed my wife and said goodby to her and my grand daughter who's nine months pregnant. She's staying with us until my 5th great grandchild is ready to pop out of the hopper.
Well my friend wasn't home, I think. Maybe he was,but wasn't answering the door. He just went through a rough divorce. There was a sign on the door that read "Do Not Disturb !!!". It might have been that he didn't want to see anyone right now. OK with me. I didn't want to hear the gory details anyway.
So I drove back home. I noticed that no one was around and figured my wife and grand daughter went for a walk to the store. I went out to the back balcony where I do my painting to check if my painting of Sugar Ray Robinson was drying .
Our balcony over looks a huge canyon. It's a State Park. The name of the reserve is Tecolote Canyon. Well I hear this noise going on below the balcony coming from the canyon.I can't see who's talking ,but they're speaking Spanish and the voices are female. Had to be my wife and grand daughter.
Now you might be wonderin' what I was thinking when I heard this commotion. No. I knew what was going on. This ritual has occured before. It's the cactus gathering to make "nopales'. Nopales with eggs. Nopales tacos. Nopales juice.
I've told my wife a hundred times that you can't go down there and do that. It's a State Park and it's against the law to take anything out of there. Even a rock.
I wait for Pocahantas and her 9 month pregnant assisstant to emerge from behind the bushes. They are both carrying a bucket full of cactus leaves and inside the buckets are their Bowie knives.They're stompin' up the hill like they just scalped Custer's 7th Cavalry.
"I told you not to do that ,"I yelled at my wife.
"Porque? No bother no body. Only nopales."
"You know why. That's a California State park. You can't take nothin' out of a State Park."
My pregnant grand daughter was standing behind my wife mouth shut.
"If the Ranger catches you,he'll fine you."
Then to scare her.
"And who knows maybe they'll deport you too."
My wife scattered the cactus on the dining room table and handed a knife to my grand daughter. I shook my head. They sat down and started to peel the skin off the cactus leaves.
"You know what,"said my wife. "You crazy. Estas loco!"
Rog, I'm laughing out loud right now. I understand how the Mexican mind works. Sometimes rules and logic don't come into play, but I know you already know that. Besides, if they don't fear the INS, they certainly aren't going to be concerned about a lowly Park Ranger.
I should also tell you that I love Nopales (Cactus Paddles). They go great with scrambled eggs. Does Maria cook them with pork and Chilies?
It might sound strange to someone reading this that has never had cactus. Think Okra, it's similar, but firmer and much better tasting. Never had Okra? well, then there's nothing I can do for you.
Randy
Think Okra? I can't!, cause, I never even heard of such a thing, what is it?, btw Connie makes the Nopales with pork and chile...Good!!!!
Frank,Okra is pod that is shape something like a green chile. It's used in Gumbos. The Creoles in Louisiana use it to thicken and flavor the Gumbos. The Cajuns use File powder to thicken their Gumbos. Nowadays, with everything becoming homogenized the way it is, everything is becoming interchangeable. it has pretty much become a staple of the south. Like getting a Guatamalen Pupusa at a Mexican restaurant.
Frank,Randy
You guys are surely familiar with this. The Mexican family picture. Not the one with all the kids and great grand kids . The one of just the family starting out. Who's sitting in the chair? The husband .The wife standing in back of him with her hand on his shoulder and the kids on each side.
Randyman wrote:
Guys, I have been cooking since I was knee high to a grasshopper. It's second nature to me. My mother worked at GE when I was a kid, she was the receptionist and PBX operator so she always had access to the phone. Every so often she would call home and ask me to get started. In the sixth grade I was making Cocido, Chicken Soup, Menudo, grilled meats, mashed potatoes, you name it. I was no chef by any means, but I could cook. They were my mother's recipes but she taught them to me and they stuck. I am the only one in the family that learned how to cook my mother's food.
Later my father taught me how to make Chile Verde (Green Chile) and Chile Colorado con Carne (Red Chile with meat), and just regular chili.
Years back, I was a short order cook at the old JoJo's Restaurant chain. It was a tough job. But I learned a lot about cooking there.
Mel Epstein was a cook in the Merchant Marines and taught me much of what I know about cooking. Anther man that I worked with for years, Leon Mazza, an orthodox Greek Jew from Hell's Kitchen, N.Y. was a restaurant owner and one hell of a chef. he was the real deal. I also learned a lot from him. I have enough confidence in my cooking that I believe i can cook anything, from any culture or any region. I may not now but I know that I can learn it.
I am a firm believer that a man should know how to cook. My wife and I taught all our kids the basics. A man that can cook will never go hungry.
Randy
Randy, would you say cooking is one of your hobbys?
Frank, one look at my ever increasing waistline should answer that!
dagosd2000 wrote:Frank,Randy
You guys are surely familiar with this. The Mexican family picture. Not the one with all the kids and great grand kids . The one of just the family starting out. Who's sitting in the chair? The husband .The wife standing in back of him with her hand on his shoulder and the kids on each side.
Hey, dude, that don't happen in my house, can I move in with you?.....
Randyman wrote:
Guys, I have been cooking since I was knee high to a grasshopper. It's second nature to me. My mother worked at GE when I was a kid, she was the receptionist and PBX operator so she always had access to the phone. Every so often she would call home and ask me to get started. In the sixth grade I was making Cocido, Chicken Soup, Menudo, grilled meats, mashed potatoes, you name it. I was no chef by any means, but I could cook. They were my mother's recipes but she taught them to me and they stuck. I am the only one in the family that learned how to cook my mother's food.
Later my father taught me how to make Chile Verde (Green Chile) and Chile Colorado con Carne (Red Chile with meat), and just regular chili.
Years back, I was a short order cook at the old JoJo's Restaurant chain. It was a tough job. But I learned a lot about cooking there.
Mel Epstein was a cook in the Merchant Marines and taught me much of what I know about cooking. Anther man that I worked with for years, Leon Mazza, an orthodox Greek Jew from Hell's Kitchen, N.Y. was a restaurant owner and one hell of a chef. he was the real deal. I also learned a lot from him. I have enough confidence in my cooking that I believe i can cook anything, from any culture or any region. I may not now but I know that I can learn it.
I am a firm believer that a man should know how to cook. My wife and I taught all our kids the basics. A man that can cook will never go hungry.
Randy
Randy, would you say cooking is one of your hobbys?
Frank, one look at my ever increasing waistline should answer that!
kikibalt wrote:Randy, does your son wants to make a career of singing. He is good...
Thanks Frank. I'll let him know what you said.
Yes, he plans on making a career at music. His main interest is the guitar. He's not a crooner but he will sing. That's why he's staying up in Seattle. It's supposed to be the place for rock. I hope it works out for him. I don't want him punching a clock like me.
dagosd2000 wrote:Frank,Randy
You guys are surely familiar with this. The Mexican family picture. Not the one with all the kids and great grand kids . The one of just the family starting out. Who's sitting in the chair? The husband .The wife standing in back of him with her hand on his shoulder and the kids on each side.
Hey, dude, that don't happen in my house, can I move in with you?.....
Frank
I'll tell you what. I got a sister in law in Michoacan who's not married and missin' her front teeth. I think she'd be glad to stand in back of you.
dagosd2000 wrote:Frank,Randy
You guys are surely familiar with this. The Mexican family picture. Not the one with all the kids and great grand kids . The one of just the family starting out. Who's sitting in the chair? The husband .The wife standing in back of him with her hand on his shoulder and the kids on each side.
Hey, dude, that don't happen in my house, can I move in with you?.....
Frank
I'll tell you what. I got a sister in law in Michoacan who's not married and missin' her front teeth. I think she'd be glad to stand in back of you.
dagosd2000 wrote:Randy,Frank
Have you guys ever tasted escarole? With Italian sausage. Out of this world
You bet I have. Rog, I'm a sucker for Italian food,....the women ain't too bad either.
Randy
Randy
If you and Jeri ever come down to San Diego, I got to invite you over to my sister's house. In fact this is what I'll do. Every year they have what they call a "Festa Bella" party. Everything from lasagna to egg plant parmesian. Wine from Italy,spumome,espresso from the machine,and anisette. You're all invited.
Frank
I'll tell you what. I got a sister in law in Michoacan who's not married and missin' her front teeth. I think she'd be glad to stand in back of you. [/quote]
Sh-t, she'll gum me to death.... [/quote]
OK.I've got another sister in law who's not married and she weighs 300 pounds . She'd be glad to stand behind you if she could fit in the picture.
Rog, a few years after my father died, my mother met a man that I would eventually become very close to. His name was Ernie Scarlatta from Philly. He had his own business. He was a produce supplier to restaurants but like most Italians, he always had a lot on the ball, and delivered whatever was needed. He was a hustler. He was always getting food from restaurants. I'm not talking about a small plate. I'm talking huge amounts of Italian food. You can see why I liked him so much. He was the one that introduced me to Escarole with sausage.
Like most of the Italians that I knew, Ernie was at his happiest when he was making everyone else happy. We would go to so many Italian restaurants. He never once let me pick up the tab. He loved my mother so much he bought her a brand spanking new 1986 Lincoln. Food and making sure everyone had more than enough to eat was his passion. He died years ago but he is always remembered by our family.
Jeri and I are always seeking good Italian food. We find that the small mom and pop places beat the commercial chains every time.
Randy
Last edited by Randyman on 15 Mar 2009, 22:36, edited 1 time in total.
dagosd2000 wrote:Randy,Frank
Have you guys ever tasted escarole? With Italian sausage. Out of this world
You bet I have. Rog, I'm a sucker for Italian food,....the women ain't too bad either.
Randy
Randy
If you and Jeri ever come down to San Diego, I got to invite you over to my sister's house. In fact this is what I'll do. Every year they have what they call a "Festa Bella" party. Everything from lasagna to egg plant parmesian. Wine from Italy,spumome,espresso from the machine,and anisette. You're all invited.
Last years "Festa Bella" party
You guys can have the food, I'll have the wine... ..A glass of Cabernet Sauvignon please!...
dagosd2000 wrote:Randy,Frank
Have you guys ever tasted escarole? With Italian sausage. Out of this world
You bet I have. Rog, I'm a sucker for Italian food,....the women ain't too bad either.
Randy
Randy
If you and Jeri ever come down to San Diego, I got to invite you over to my sister's house. In fact this is what I'll do. Every year they have what they call a "Festa Bella" party. Everything from lasagna to egg plant parmesian. Wine from Italy,spumome,espresso from the machine,and anisette. You're all invited.
Last years "Festa Bella" party
Are you making me an offer that I can't refuse?
Excuse me but I am salivating right now!!
Yes, let me be perfectly clear about this. yes!
dagosd2000 wrote:Frank
I'll tell you what. I got a sister in law in Michoacan who's not married and missin' her front teeth. I think she'd be glad to stand in back of you.
Sh-t, she'll gum me to death....
OK.I've got another sister in law who's not married and she weighs 300 pounds . She'd be glad to stand behind you if she could fit in the picture.
Maybe I can get her a fight with Butterbean ...that will work for me....
Last edited by kikibalt on 15 Mar 2009, 22:47, edited 1 time in total.
Randyman wrote:Randy,Frank
Have you guys ever tasted escarole? With Italian sausage. Out of this world
You bet I have. Rog, I'm a sucker for Italian food,....the women ain't too bad either.
Randy
Randy
If you and Jeri ever come down to San Diego, I got to invite you over to my sister's house. In fact this is what I'll do. Every year they have what they call a "Festa Bella" party. Everything from lasagna to egg plant parmesian. Wine from Italy,spumome,espresso from the machine,and anisette. You're all invited.
Last years "Festa Bella" party
Are you making me an offer that I can't refuse?
Excuse me but I am salivating right now!!
Yes, let me be perfectly clear about this. yes!
