THE CAVENDER DIARY

Paletas – Mexican Ice Pops

Posted by James on September 1, 2014

Posted in: New Home, Recipes. Tagged: Homemade Paletas, Mexican Icecream, Paletas, Paletas by Fany Gerson. 5 Comments

I’ve never seen a traditional ice cream man in our neighborhood.

What we have are little men on bikes with built in coolers attached to the front. They are filled with Mexican ice pops. Sure, sometimes they have bomb-pops, or push-ups, and even ice cream sandwiches – just like we remember from the ice cream trucks of our childhoods – but what I go for………are the paletas.

“What are paletas?” You may ask.

Mexican ice pops.

“You mean like popsicles?”

No, not even close. Popsicles are just frozen sugar-water. Paletas are so much more; usually fruit, sometimes sour cream, or cream….

“Like ice cream?”

No, not like ice cream at all. Paletas have fresh fruit like mangos, or plantains, or tamarind, or guava……or even avocado.

Somewhere between ice cream and popsicles – are paletas.

I grabbed this recipe book at William’s Sonoma a few weeks ago, but y’all can find it here.

There are so many delicious sounding paleta recipes in this book: Roasted Banana, Grapefruit, Mezcal-Orange, Rice Pudding, Coconut, and Sour Cream-Cherry-Tequila

We started with Yogurt and Berries.

First I need to make a simple syrup, with a little bit of lemon zest. Simple syrup keeps the paletas soft enough to bite into.

In a small sauce pan, I mix…..

1/2 Cup Water
1/2 Cup Sugar

…….on medium heat ’till the sugar has completely melted. Then I add the lemon peel and stir for about 5 minutes untill the liquid has reduced by half.

After the lemon syrup has completely cooled, and the lemon peel has been removed, I mix it with….

1 3/4 cups of Greek Yogurt
2 Tablespoons of Honey

Any berries will work for these, but I’m using blackberries.

About 2 cups.

The riper, and softer, the better.

I squish about 12 berries and gently mix them into the yogurt mixture….not completely. I just want a slight marbling effect.

Bought the popsicle mold off of Ebay, but I see the same one on Amazon.

To each mold I add a spoonful of yougurt….followed by a few berries, then more yogurt, followed by berries, then more yogurt………ahhh, you get the idea.

The mold should be full, but not over the top of the molds.

Put the top on, insert the sticks, and freeze until they are solid……..Overnight is best.

If the paletas don’t want to come out of the mold, run it under warm water for a few seconds.

Then share them……

Possibly with a niece, or 2, or all 3……

Ahhhh, yeah,

They were kind of a big hit.

Hope everyone had a good Labor day.

Watermelon/Feta/Mint Salad

Posted by James on August 31, 2014

Posted in: New Home, Recipes. Tagged: watermelon, Watermelon Feta Salad Recipe, Watermelon Salad. 5 Comments

Yeah, I know watermelon is “summer”.

and summer is fading fast,

But we are headed over to the Peck’s today to lounge by the pool (the temps are still in the hundreds in Dallas) and this seems like the perfect refresher for the holiday weekend.

Start with a medium-sized, seedless, well-chilled watermelon.

Leave it in the fridge overnight, if you can.

Make sure it has a flat side to rest on, no rolling. Because we’re gunna use the melon as the serving bowl. (Mind-Blowing, Am I right?)

Start by cutting the top third of the melon off….like so……

Use a serrated knife to cut around the inside edge of the watermelon rind……

And a slotted metal spoon to remove the fruit.

Keep scraping the inside of the rind until all the melon is removed….and you’re left with a perfect “bowl”.

Chop the melon pieces kinda large……..so it’s easy to eat with your fingers.

Think of it more as a fingers salad……..than a fork salad

Drizzle on about 1/4 cup of olive oil……

Add several good grinds of black pepper……

One whole package of crumbled feta cheese……

And 1 bunch of finely chopped mint…..About half an ounce.

I know, it sounds like an odd combo, but trust me…..it’s delish.

Gently fold everything into your chopped watermelon….Careful not to break the pieces.

….and transfer everything back to the hollowed-out watermelon shell.

Keep it cold until everyone’s ready to eat.

Then blow them all away with the presentation.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

Guaranteed to steal the thunder away from any other watermelon salad at the BBQ.

You’re welcome. (as always)

Frosted Glass Hurricanes

Posted by James on August 24, 2014

Posted in: New Home, Projects. Tagged: cylinder vase, Frosted Glass Spray, masking tape, Upcycled Vases. 25 Comments

Being a hoarder has it’s advantages.

Example: collections sometimes make themselves.

Take these cylinder vases.

They just keep appearing.

No worries, because we have a plan for them…..and the more, the better.

Don’t have any of your own? I found this selection at our local grocery store. Pretty cheap.

And I see them in thrift stores ALL the time.

Grab a couple, in a few different sizes. You’ll want them staggered.

Ever used frog tape?

It’s a little more expensive than regular masking tape, and it has to be kept in a small Tupperware to keep the edges clean. But it does a bang-up job of keeping straight lines straight.

I ran a line of it around the top and bottom of my cylinder vase. (just make sure your vase is VERY clean and dry)

Now they just need a spritz of Rust-Oleum Frosted Glass Spray.

I think this stuff is for making privacy windows in bathrooms. It lets just enough light get through.

I did 2 coats because I want it kinda thick. (Each coat dries in about 15 minutes)

Gently peeled off the frog tape and added a candle to each one.

And here’s what we were left with…………

If you like them now….just wait ’till you see them at night.

Seriously, one of our most favoritest projects ever.

…….and unbelievable easy.

Give ’em a shot.

We’re International, ………Almost

Posted by James on August 21, 2014

Posted in: New Home. Tagged: Garage, Good Housekeeping magazine, Good Housekeeping Magazine Garage. 11 Comments

Hola,

Bienvinedo a Cavender Diary.

That’s right, folks. We’ve been published in Spanish.

In the August issue of Latin American Good Housekeeping.

Same picture of our garage that’s in the American Version of Good Housekeeping from a few months ago.

(I’m assuming the same verbage too, my 3 years of conversational Spanish only works for me when reading menus and ordering beer)

Now we’re just sitting back and waiting for the flood of Spanish-speaking viewers we’ll have ……

Hey, wait a minute……Let me get my magnifying glass, …….. again

What the H-E-Double Hockey Sticks is the caNvender diary??????

……and why are they getting the credit for my picture?

Ay Caramba!

Frida Kahlo – Artist Style Profile

Posted by James on August 16, 2014

Posted in: Did Ya Know?, New Home. Tagged: Diego Rivera, Diego Rivera's Wife, Frida Kahlo. 2 Comments

Very few 20th century artists have influenced both art and fashion the way that Frida Kahlo has.

The daughter of a Mexican mother and a German father, Frida was terribly disfigured in her late teens in a bus accident. The accident all but shattered her spine, followed by years of corrective surgery and bed-rest, and prevented her from ever having children. Eventually, she lost a leg. Frida’s long, traditional Mexican peasant skirts concealed the prosthetic leg underneath and those years of just laying in bed only helped Frida to craft her art.

This past summer, the Frida Kahlo Museum in Mexico City premiered the exhibit Appearances Can Be Deceiving. This exhibit showcases over 300 personal style items that belonged to the late artist. For having such a tragic, painful life she had such a joyful and flamboyant style of dressing. Most of these pieces have never been seen by the public before……at least, not seen in person. Of the 140 painting she created, 55 were self portraits. Frida’s wearing the lavender and lace dress on the far right in her painting Diego on My Mind.

Here’s that lavender dress in action.

And just a few more works from this amazing talent.

Frida’s tumultuous marriage to famed muralist Diego Rivera was both a blessing and a curse. On her first trip to America with him, a reporter asked her, “Are you a painter too, Mrs. Rivera?”

“I am the greatest painter in the world,” was her response.

But other than the Louvre purchasing one of her works, a first for a Mexican artist, she still remained relatively unknown until about 30 years after her death when the artistic style of Mexico gained popularity. Until then, she was widely remembered simply as Diego Rivera’s wife.

It was my dear friend Norberto who educated me on the iconic beauty of Frida Kahlo many, many years ago. I still think of him every time I see a woman with ribbons/flowers in her hair……or a unibrow.

Recently, Norberto won a Frida look-a-like contest.

Here he is with his prize…..

Uncanny resemblance, isn’t it?

Thanks Norberto.

And thank you, Frida.

Lavender Bath Soak

Posted by James on August 13, 2014

Posted in: New Home, Projects. Tagged: dried lavender, Dried Lavender Projects, Epsom Salt Dried Lavender Essential Oil of Lavender, Homemade Lavender Bath Soak, Lavender, Lavender Bath Salts. 15 Comments

This one’s for the ladies.

OK. Well maybe we happen to like lavender too.

And why shouldn’t we?

Lavender is a natural relaxant. Don’t believe me? Light a lavender-scented candle at the end of a long day. (Ahhh)

Or better yet, soak in a tub full of lavender and epsom salts. (Ahhhhhhhh times 100)

You’ll thank us…..and so will everyone you share this with.

Here’s all it takes:

Epsom Salt
Dried Lavender
Essential Oil of Lavender
Wooden Spoon
4 16-Ounce Mason Jars

To 5 cups of epsom salts, mix in 3 cups of dried lavender.

Use a wooden spoon that you don’t plan to use for food ever again.

Here’s why:

Essential oil of lavender. It comes in a brown bottle so sunlight doesn’t dilute the fragrance.

Add about 50 drops of oil….more if you really like lavender….and stir well.

That’s it.

Spoon the lavender/salt mixture into 16 ounce Mason jars.

For the lids I wove together 6 strips of lavender colored grosgrain ribbon….like so…..

Then hot-glued the detachable part of the Mason jar lid to them…

I trimmed the excess ribbon from the edges and screwed the lids together.

That’s all there is to this project……

……..except to draw a hot bath and add a cup or two of our lavender bath soak.

Told you,

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh times 100

Look What I Found

Posted by James on August 10, 2014

Posted in: New Home. Tagged: Big Catholic Jessica, Big Catholic Jessica from Immaculate Conception, Thrift store, Varsity jacket, Vintage Varsity Jacket. 18 Comments

Technically………Jamie found this one.

On a trip to Chicago a few weeks ago, Jamie scored this maybe-not-quite-vintage Varsity jacket in a thrift store.

Fits him pretty well, doesn’t it?

It should, he’s dropped about 20 pounds this summer.

Still, that Jessica was/is a BIG girl.

I know what y’all are thinking……..”He should wear it”.

No go folks. I’ve already tried. He doesn’t want to be known as Big Catholic Jessica from the Immaculate Conception.

I don’t blame him.

He bought it for the patches anyway……..Have no fear, that Indian head is going on a pillow

Like these…..

Not sure about “IMMACULATE CONCEPTION”…….

What do y’all think we should spell with those letters?

Anybody?

When Life Gives You Basil…….

Posted by James on August 7, 2014

Posted in: New Home, Recipes. Tagged: Basil Pesto, basil plant, fragrant basil leaves, Grapefruit Summer Refresher, olive oil, pine nuts. 5 Comments

A few months ago I grabbed a 6-inch, 3 dollar basil plant from the cart outside Trader Joe’s.

I need a few leaves every now and then to make our favorite summer drink, the Basil & Grapefruit Summer Refresher.

I nonchalantly planted it in the front flower beds, and forgot about it.

I guess it’s happy there,……… because now it’s a bush.

Actually, it WAS a bush.

After chopping down most of it, and giving it a good wash, I was left with a colander full of fragrant basil leaves.

I’d say, about 6 cups of it. Oy vey

This little processor was a gift many years ago. It’s just the right size to turn a can of chickpeas into creamy hummus.

I filled it with roughly chopped basil, drizzled on olive oil, and Pulse/Choped until it became a fine paste.

Something like this.

I continued working in small batches until all my basil was ground into about 2 pounds of mash.

I could stop here and freeze it in small batches……..but no, I kept going.

Let’s turn it into pesto.

All it needs is toasted pine nuts, garlic and parmesan cheese.

I’ve had this small, about 10 inches across, Caphalon pan forever. It’s the perfect size for toasting pine nuts……and not really much else.

I heat the pan on a high flame, add a 1/2 ounce bag of pine nuts and immediately turn the flame down to low. I keep shaking the pan over low heat for about a minute until every last pine nut is golden brown. Careful not to burn any.

Then chop the toasted pine nuts, a few cloves of minced garlic, and a scoop of the basil mixture in the processor.

Mix the pine nut/garlic mixture into the my already masserated basil.

Then fold in a 6 ounce tub of grated parmesan cheese

After a few tastes, I balance out the flavor by adding salt and cracked pepper.

Now I transfer my pesto to jars and add a 1/4 inch layer of olive oil on top.

Found these great little jars on sale at Sur La Table.

I think they are for hanging votives, but I had caning lids that fit perfectly

…….so, pesto jars they are now.

Without preservatives, this will keep in the refrigerator for about a week, but it freezes beautifully. The olive oil keeps it from freezing completely.

Now I have fresh basil pesto whenever we want it.

We just scoop out what we need to toss with pasta, add to soup, marinate chicken, or smear on sandwiches.

Or better yet, give to a friend……

They Still Have Chimney Sweeps?

Posted by James on August 3, 2014

Posted in: New Home. Tagged: Chimney and Wildlife Specialists, New Chimney Cap. 8 Comments

Did y’all know that they still have chimney sweeps?

(The Wildlife Removal is my favorite part.)

We knew this was something we didn’t really want to tackle on our own. For obvious reasons. So Jamie called The Chimney and Wildlife Specialists.

I always imagined this little Dickensian moppet climbing up into our flue……..

“Ello, Govna, es all Barney Rubble up thair. It ez”

What we got was 20-something Josh, who didn’t have a cockney accent in the slightest………it was more like a Duncanville accent.

Josh certainly gave ‘er a good cleanin’, ‘e did.

He was unbelievably neat and polite. I was seriously a little panicked about the possible mess…but look how clean he was.

But that’s not all he did while he was here.

Notice how chimney cap-less our chimney is.

We’re reminded of this fact every time it rains.

Yepp, it rains straight down our fireplace.

But look at what Josh brought us…….

A chimney cap……(Just like rich people have)

And what color is that? Why, it looks just like Bear Rug to us.

At least, close enough to Bear Rug for our tastes.

In about 10 minutes he had this going on……..

Way, More, Much Better……

But still not enough…

That satellite dish mount has GOT to go….(Jamie ripped down the dish the first week we had the Cavender house keys)

AND, When the previous owner had the outside of the house painted, he neglected to have the chimney painted too. I’m sure you can’t even tell, but it’s been a thorn in my side for 4.5 years.

Just one more hurdle in his “lack of attention to detail”. Like: Why there were 8 different floors in a 1400 square foot house?

Lack – Of – Attention – To – Detail.

That’s why.

Unfortunately, someone – OK it was me – accidentally threw away the touch-up house paint that he left in the garage.

The good people at Home Depot came to the rescue and color matched a quart to a piece of trim I pried off the side of the house.

What a relief. (BTW, I’m posting this picture of the color formula in case I throw this can away too)

Now all’s I had to do was climb up there with the paint and a brush.

That’s right…….Had to do it myself.

So glad that I did too,

Because now we’ve gone from this….

To this……

That’s right,

It’s all about Attention to Detail.

Way, More, Much Better.

Keep Moving Forward

Posted by James on July 30, 2014

Posted in: New Home. Tagged: Walt Disney Keep Moving Forward. Leave a comment

THE CAVENDER DIARY

2 GROWN MEN vs a 40 YEAR OLD HOUSE

Paletas – Mexican Ice Pops

Watermelon/Feta/Mint Salad

Frosted Glass Hurricanes

We’re International, ………Almost

Frida Kahlo – Artist Style Profile

Lavender Bath Soak

Look What I Found

When Life Gives You Basil…….

They Still Have Chimney Sweeps?

Keep Moving Forward

The Cavender Boys

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