I’m grouchy today. Before I explain, I will report that Greg’s birthday (yesterday was my hubby’s 26th) was a pleasant time. The skirt steak was delicious and the tiramisu affogato dessert was pretty tasty but I have some suggestions to make it better. We did watch a few episodes of the show Weeds and he received several messages and calls that made it a special occasion.
I wrote him a small note filled with my affections but the best part of the note was my depiction of our future in Oregon. I’m not an artist, which made it more genuine (genuinely hilarious)….I tried to showcase our modern country home on the side of a forested hill with a valley, creek and a grassy field below. We had a few horses, dogs, children and a business (or two). There is an outdoor brick oven and large garden doodled in the background. The bottom portion of our house and one of the buildings in the valley is workspace for Greg’s future furniture company that we will direct with a few choice, talented, like-minded persons, as well as, where I will take the helm of my business in the local food scene with a restaurant/ produce stand/microbrewery. Not all of that was depicted but we both know that’s what it represented.
I’m grouchy because my comments still are not working and our neighbors (and their friends) remain disrespectful morons. You dedicated readers know our history with them. For new readers, we have a 3 month (feels like 3 years) history of listening to their “good times” with their pals on the sidewalk in front of our apartment often during the early hours of the week days. They’ve been warned several times-law enforcement has been involved and was called for the third or fourth time last night. The neighbors don’t get it.
Today, I’m exhausted. I just want to sleep but I won’t. Greg is split between his company’s two plants and will be having lunch with me for the second time this week. That makes it better but I won’t share my visions of what it will take to make it awesome…think along the lines of neighbors and redemption.
Speaking of rescue, Greg and I were recently called into action to help take an excessive amount of green beans from a friend’s garden. We spread the bean wealth by passing half over to another friend. With my supply, I made this recipe from Martha Stewart (adapted to feed less people) – stewed green beans and poblanos. It’s a nice, caramelized side dish for those times you feel like green beans and this one also helps deplete your inventory of poblano chiles.
I promise to try not to be grumpy tomorrow. Thinking happy thoughts….visit home, vacation, new nephew, and family time.
Stewed Green Beans with Poblano Chiles adapted from Martha Stewart’s recipe
Serves 6
Ingredients:
1 ½ tbsp olive oil
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 ½ lbs. green beans, trimmed
2 poblano chiles, seeds and ribs removed, cut into think strips
½ cup water
coarse salt/freshly ground pepper
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onions, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium to begin onion caramelization, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until soft, about 2 minutes. Add the beans, chiles, water and salt/pepper. Bring to a boil and cover, reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until beans and chiles are tender and the liquid has evaporated, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve immediately.