The family just got back from a one week trek to our hometown, Phoenix/Gilbert. My week was relaxing, mostly consisting of grapefruit from the backyard for breakfast, acai smoothies with mom for lunch, and Green or some local joint for dinner. Plus, I got to run almost everyday, sleep in, watch 3o Rock on Netflix, and not deal with the break-out causing, hair-pulling out stress of working in the coffee shop.
The Snackimals loved their grandparents, especially the grassy field in the backyard and the toys doted upon them (although Zdzislaw had a weird obsession with killing the giant Siberian stuffed tiger, don't ask).
Josef, however, worked like crazy everyday at Electric Haven, a Tempe-based traditional tattoo/barber shop. EH does 13 dollar, 13 related tattoos on Friday the 13th.
To say it was crazy would be an understatement; Josef worked from 11 am to 4 am the next day! I can testify to that because Sara and me were smacking ourselves to stay awake towards the end.
Some of the highlights were the Birds of Prey/Native American dance Sara and I went to on friday. The was a show put on by Liberty Wildlife, where Sara teaches at, and it included vultures, falcons, hawks, barn owls, a bald eagle and a cute one-eyed owl named Ivan.
It was awesome to see all the birds up close and personal. Sara has the coolest job ever! (except for astronaut/cake tester)
Whenever I am staying at my parents, I like to cook a huge, elaborate meal, because: 1) There is never a shortage of willing eaters 2) They have a huge kitchen with every pot and pan I desire 3) I have access to Salerno's, the Italian restaurant I used to work at and makers of the best tomato sauce known to man. This time around I did a triple-pasta-punch of Pumpkin Baked Ziti with Sage Bread Crumb Topping (from Veganomicon), Eggplant non-Parmagian (taught to me by Ida from Salerno's), and Spinach Lasagna with Cashew Ricotta (from my brain). Oh yeah, and Coconut Heaven Cupcakes and Cookies and Cream Cupcakes from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World.
I may have bitten off more than I could chew. Lately my meals have been consisting of almonds and smoothies scarfed down at work and dinner by Josef when I get home, so I'm a little out of cooking shape. I started chopping the minute I got back from the gym (4:30) and finished the cupcakes hectically by not even measuring at 7. Dinner guests were my mom, her spinning class friends Manami and Nicole, Josef, Sara, and yours truly. It was an even split of vegans and non vegans and everybody came back for seconds. Success!
The week went by too quickly. My parents sent us off with hugs and three bulging bags of grapefruit. Somehow I ended up with a long weekend, so I seized the opportunity to turn the grapefruits into liquid gold (aka grapefruit juice). Let the citrus alchemy begin!
By the way, I cannot emphasize how useful my citrus juicer has been. I bought it for five bucks at Queen Sooper's (the King Sooper's that gay people go to) for my second Master Cleanse. It's nothing fancy, non-mechanized, just a old-school juice with a screw-on bottom.
I juiced enough grapefruit for me and Josef the next morning, then used the rest to fill up ice cubes for on the fly smoothies and iced tea. Yums!
