but how are the mainland mai tais?

Enh, I've had better.  Too sweet, tasting of pineapple, pre-made and poured from a batch.  Oh, it was fine for a late Saturday lunch, but oh, it made me want to head back to Hawaii.

Can I?  Please?

Conrad is here!

Much to the delight of the fluffy girl, Conrad (aka Plan C) is with us in the desert.  That means the guy who reliably walks her and pets her is at her beck and call.  Oh yes, she has that husband of mine wrapped around her dainty little paw.

But I, too, am happy that Conrad arrived in the desert, flying in from San Francisco yesterday afternoon.  Hooray for all three of us being down here together!

Whitewater Preserve

On Wednesday we hit some prime weather here in the desert.  The winds from Monday had died out, the desert was warming up.  At midweek, it was not yet super warm, though.  Sunny and mild.  It felt like spring.

I had done a morning of work at home, and we decided to get out not just for sandwiches in Palm Springs, but for a hike, or at least a walk in nature.  One place that we'd been wanting to get to was up along the Whitewater River.  Hopping in the car after lunch, we headed out to the 10 and then west, toward the one end of the Coachella Valley.  Near the pass, we turned off and drove up toward San Gorgonio Mountain and its wilderness area. 

A few twists and turns in the road, and we were out of sight of windmills and much other signs of modern life (save for the telephone poles lining the road).

We parked near the ranger's station

in the Whitewater Preserve and wandered from there.  Not too many people around, happily - I can only imagine a weekend up that way!  We didn't go too far afield - the trail usually involves crossing the river, and right now, it's running too fast and high.

I cannot overstate how cool it is to find this river actually running in the desert.  I admit, living in California, I have become a bit obsessed with water.  Rivers are a rarity, or rather, running rivers are.  Plenty of river beds and arroyos, and they come alive with some good rain, but much of the year they are dry beds at the surface.  As I understand it, the Whitewater River actually can reach all the way to the Salton Sea, but the flow usually sinks below ground as it flows into and through the Coachella Valley.  Indeed, if I understand correctly, the nearby arroyo that the Rancho Mirage Public Library overlooks is the river channel.  I'm always checking when we drive the 10 in and out of the Valley whether there is water in the river.  I'm always excited when there is.

Our cool and wet winter has meant not just rain, but lots and lots of snow to feed the river.  As such, it's flowing healthily these days. 

Van and I walked down along it fording some slight channels, heading to the main stream.  What a great feeling, just being there.  And so welcome, sharing it with Van.

A river in the desert wasn't the only compelling part of the adventure, though.  The weather we've had has meant a desert that is far far greener than ever I can recall.  Wild flowers are in abundance, and we stopped along the drive in to the Preserve to take some photos,

then took more photos of the flowers while there. 

How glorious.  Not all the flowers are all that showy, but cumulatively, they are a beautiful sight spread over the ground.

I am sorry Conrad wasn't with us.  I know he would have loved seeing spring just as we did.  I hope that when we are back in the desert in a few weeks, we might be able to see it again.  I fear, however, that this was a rare treat, a happy coincidence of schedule and weather that won't happen again, not for a long while.  I'm grateful I got to enjoy it.

tasty sammich!

Van got us to a sandwich shop in the middle of Palm Springs yesterday, a pre-hike lunch for us at a place we hadn't been before.  I loved that many of the sandwiches had tennis themes.  And I enjoyed my non-tennis sandwich terrifically:  The Dinah (as in, shore). 

Sort of a club sandwich, with pieces of warm chicken breast, bacon, avocado, and provolone.  We hadn't had breakfast, so yes, I ate it all.

But what say you, Van?😉

desert flowers

It's been a remarkable winter in California.  No genuinely hot days to speak of until, oh, this weekend ahead, and plenty of snow on the mountains and rain down below.  It's caused deaths plus a whole lot of problems for thousands of others, I know.  And yet, it's so badly needed in this era of drought.

The big evidence of the winter still sits on the mountain tops.  Yes, even in SoCal.  We have some pretty high peaks here, but the snow has come down below 5000 feet on multiple occasions.  The small evidence?  The flowers blooming all over.  People get excited about the explosion of poppies, but I am rather smitten by the beauties of the desert.  A lot of yellows all about, in among the surprising stretches of greenery, but some other colours peeking through.

Van and I took Olive for a walk late morning,

and even in the Rancho Mirage neighbourhood, there were delights.  I'd have to look up the names of the flowers other than the prickly pear,

but these were just a few of the ones I noted nearby.  I believe that they are all native desert plants as well, which is all the more delightful for seeing them.

And then, later in the day, we went for a drive and walk and saw so much more.  But that will be a post to write on Thursday or Friday, not late at night Wednesday (or rather, Thursday given that it has gone midnight) when I can't sleep.

Fred Flintstonian

Another dinner at home (yes, home being Rancho Mirage again this week), and we had the lamb shanks I had braised the night before.  I gently reheated the shanks with a bit of braising liquid, and de-fatted, strained, and reduced the rest.  A swipe of a carrot puree, a little red chard, and that was our wee little dinner.

Oh, who am I kidding.  Just go back and look at those shanks.  Neither of us could finish a whole one.  These were massive - I think that most places cut the shank at the socket or below the socket.  Fred Flintstone would be proud of us for that meal last night.  Wow!

dinner at home last night

To be clear, when I say at home, I mean the house in Rancho Mirage.  Which, yes, technically belongs to Van.  But we are utterly at home here, and really, it's me doing the cooking, so....

We went out later in the afternoon to pick up some groceries, so I got a late-ish start on dinner.  That's fine.  That meant we got to enjoy the night sky over the mountains as we sat outside. 

It got darker by the end of dinner, and we picked out stars before heading inside.

I had put some lamb shanks in the over to braise, but I was concerned that by the time they were done and then I had reduced the braising liquid, it would be a very very late dinner.  I let them finish cooking and cooled them, putting them in the fridge for tonight.  They'll absorb some of the braising liquid, which will prevent them from drying out, and I can readily de-grease the liquid before reducing it, just lifting the fat off.

While the lamb cooked, I popped another meal into the oven to cook.  It's a simple effort I've done multiple times (and sometimes with lamb shoulder chops).  I laid some sliced onion down in a casserole dish, then some sprigs of fresh thyme.  Over that I placed two thick-cut pork chops on the bone, each seasoned with salt and pepper.  A little more thyme, then more onions.  Cover, and bake for a good long while (a couple of hours or more) at 325, the same temperature that I had the lamb cooking at.  A few Brussels sprouts to cook and put on the side, and that was that.  The salt helps draw moisture out of the onions, and it all cooks down into a self-saucing dish that tastes like a really delicious onion soup.  Some crusty bread with it would have been ideal, but the chops were sizeable, so I didn't worry about having too much else on the plate.

Van made us Vieux Carré cocktails,

and we toasted the evening. 

He made us a second cocktail each for later as we sat outside on the patio furniture, gabbing and keeping Olive company.  A fine evening.

Oh, and what's really lovely?  A man who does dishes.😉

if only the blog were scratch and sniff

I'm spending this week working remotely during spring break down in the desert.  When we venture outside, we can't help but drink in the fragrance of citrus blooms all about the neighbourhood.  It's wonderful.  I wish I could share it.  I wish I could capture it for those little moments in life where it would be a welcome pick-me-up.  Heaven.

Ah well.  I am sorry this isn't a scratch and sniff blog.  But here:  a lime flower for you to admire.

morning walkies

It's spring break!  Van and I came down to Rancho Mirage on Saturday evening, and got the week here underway late Sunday morning.  Oh, I'll be working from down here - I have a chapter to write, I have meetings to attend, I have emails to respond to.  But hey, it's nice to be here, starting the mornings by walking the little girl.  Hooray for an escape that may be work related but hasn't involved flying to Chicago or elsewhere in the US or even overseas!  Walkies, decaf, and the days will begin.  Ahhhhh.

three recent meals

It's been a few nights of dining out in a row, and I will enjoy getting in the kitchen tonight.  But let me check in on three recent meals.

Thursday evening we reunited with Natasha.  Conrad was a little late coming in from LAX, but he made it just after we had ordered, and so he was able to complete our foursome nicely.  Van doesn't eat sushi (I know, I know, but we still love him), but he does enjoy a bento box, so he contented himself with that.  Conrad, Natasha, and I shared sashimi and rolls and nigiri, relishing what we ate and not remembering to photograph it.  Sometimes we just want to eat and catch up.  But I did get one photo of a plate at Mama M that evening:  the Ocean Wrap. 

As always, it was a pleasure to enjoy our dinner from our friends there.

The next evening, Conrad, Van, and I were parked at the bar at Maestro shortly after opening.  It felt a little like old times before too long - the bar was packed with early diners, and people were talking across at each other quite cheerily.  We ordered cocktails and guacamole with plantain chips,

and then got some birria tacos,

the tamal poblano,

and the arrachera (not pictured) to share for our dinner.  And then on home for me to bore the two poor guys to tears with my Micronesia photos.

Conrad left for San Francisco yesterday late in the afternoon, and Van and I got on the road with Olive to Rancho Mirage.  After getting to the house and settling in, he and I changed and headed to The Penney and Parlour for dinner at the bar.  The place was busy, and the bartenders were hopping, and so the service had some lags.  Worse, there were two men sitting to Van's right who had very loud, clear voices.  We were treated to far too much of their progressively drunker conversation throughout our evening.  Worse than that, they were clearly regulars, and the staff, especially the bar manager, indulged them greatly.  On the plus side, the bartender, Eric, taking care of us did the best he could considering how busy he was.  We liked and appreciated him, and when things slowed down, we got to ask him some questions about things at the bar that looked interesting.  I also liked the food - Van's wedge salad made with grilled escarole was my favourite thing of the night.  My pork belly

wasn't my first choice - they sold out of the ragu before my order could be placed - but it was fine, and I like the charred dandelion greens.  I would go back, but wow, would I hope that those two men were not there.  And I will watch myself at Maestro and Mama M to make sure that I am never an obnoxious customer like that myself!

Still adorable

Gratuitous Olive posting to hold things down until I write bigger posts.  I have no shame, and to judge by these photos, neither does she.

maple cocktails

Our March cocktail theme for our little cocktails Zoom group yesterday was maple, premised on the idea that in March, the sap is running in the trees, and it's maple syrup time.  Honestly?  I never need an excuse to enjoy maple.  Good Canadian that I am, I adore the stuff.  My sister?  Would rather have Aunt Jemima.  I shake my head at her.

Because of my work schedule this semester, I end up missing the first half of the drinks session.  So by the time I made it to Van's, he had almost finished making the Buttermilk Maple Gin Flip that had kind of fascinated us when we saw the recipe.  I got to taste some, and I have to say, I liked it.  It's a rich drink, what with the whole egg in it.  Rather like an eggnog with just a bit of tang to it.  Once I arrived, we moved on to a different cocktail:  the Nor'easter Rum Cocktail.

I liked this one even more.  It's a rum-based spin on a Moscow Mule, and it was refreshing.  We munched on the contents of a cheese tray and sipped. 

Had we more maple syrup on hand (we used up all that Van had in the fridge), I would have wanted a second one.  Ah well.  A successful evening nonetheless!

April's theme:  brothers!

you know what I love?

Liver.

Unapologetically.

Liver. 

Honestly?  I don't need the bacon, but some good onions really enhance the experience.

I credit Annalee, who, years ago at Don Diego's incited me to try some duck livers from some birds that she had broken down for dinner.  Sauteed quickly, a light vinaigrette and a sprinkling of crumbled blue cheese.  Holy gosh, they were good.  A revelation to me, which is odd.  I had loved braunschweiger as a child (really loved it to the point of taking sandwiches with it for school lunch).  On the other hand, I love my late Mum, but she cooked meat to within an inch of leather, and her approach to the calves liver that she made for her and Roy was very much that.  I hated liver as a child.

But oh, I love it now!

This past Friday, while we were in the desert, we wandered over to Wally's for a nice evening out.  Some oysters to start with,

and a raspberry souffle to share for desert,

but as with, oh, every time that I go there, I had the liver for dinner. 

Bring on the old school restaurants that still make it.  And they make it very nicely indeed.  Van opted for the same, and Conrad politely declined a taste because he DOES NOT APPRECIATE LIVER.

Oh, and as a reminder (and thank you Liliha Bakery Waikiki), I love Spam as well.

Me?  A food snob?  Kiss my grits!

more snow!

Driving back to the condo this morning, I saw that the clouds from the past two days had lifted above the mountains and that - wow!  yes! - there was snow up there. 

Mount Wilson, which looms over Pasadena, is high but not super high (about 5700 feet above sea level at its summit), so that snow is coming down to a relatively low elevation.  It makes me wonder what the views of the mountains from south of downtown LA must look like, what with the city skyline against them.

It's been a cold and wet winter here.  In past years, we've made it into the 80s (and, I think, even the 90s) in February, and definitely by this point in early spring.  Not this year, no.  Rainfall for the season will double the average, or pretty close to it, and most of LA County is out of drought.  Everywhere is so green right now, and lots of flowers are blooming on the hills and roadsides.  It's so lovely, so welcome.

And that early morning sun beyond city hall looked glorious as well today. 

Happy Thursday, everyone.