This weather has been so crazy ... one day it's 75 degrees and everyone is outside planting flowers and the next it's 30 degrees, windy and down right freezing. I don't know about you, but I'm ready for some beautiful Spring weather.
It's been a long month of physical therapy, exercises and daily struggles with muscle spasm pain, so I haven't been doing much cooking. These spasms have a mind of their own, but I am determined to get my life back to what it was before my accident. Determination is half the battle ~ and my wonderful physical therapist is the icing on the cake. Thank you Lindsay for always reminding me to breathe thru the pain.
Last night I decided to have a few friends over for dinner and Dancing with the Stars. Everything is more enjoyable when shared with good friends and loveable pooches. I find cooking to be therapeutic and decided to push myself. The menu was simple and I gave myself all day to get things ready so I could rest in between. Guacamole, salsa and chips with cocktails, salad, chicken francese, rice, slow roasted tomatoes and sauteed baby spinach with shallots. You can't beat easy and delicious!
My mother was a professional ballroom dancer and would have loved this show!
After dinner we headed to the den to watch the show.
And to finish the evening we had some delicious strawberries and ice cream.
The big question is ... who will be sent home tonight. We'll find out soon.
Friends find the sweetest sense of happiness comes from simply being together.
** the secret ingredient is lots of
love ღ
Today was my first day back to physical therapy after three months. Whew! With my muscle spasms in full force I decided the best way to get thru the pain was with laughter and smiles. All my life I've been told "laughter is the best medicine" so why not give it a shot. A big thanks to my wonderful physical therapist, Lindsay. Love you.
The weather has been miserable all week. Today was no different. It's been raining and misting all day. After giving the dogs their dinner, I decided now was the time to grill dinner before the rain started again and also not knowing how my spasms would be later on. I had a beautiful bone in rib eye in the refrigerator that I took out to let stand at room temperature. Started up the grill and away we go. Took some grape tomatoes and cut them lengthwise. A quick chiffonade of fresh basil, a dash of kosher salt and pepper, tossed in a bowl and let sit for the flavors to marry.
Grilled Rib Eye & Tomato Basil Salad
Always make sure you pat your meat dry for starters. Sprinkle a nice amount of kosher salt and pepper with some good olive oil on each side and you are good to go. I promise you your steak will taste exactly like it came from the best steakhouse.
Grill for two minutes and turn 1/4 for some nice grill marks. Grill another two minutes and turn the meat over.
Repeat the process. Grill two minutes and turn 1/4 and you are done ~ if you like your meat medium. I use the finger test to test for doneness. Press the tip of your finger and your thumb together. The flesh beneath the thumb should give a little. That is what medium doneness feels like.
Remove from grill and let sit for 10 minutes so you don't lose any of those delicious juices. Slice and enjoy!
Follow your heart regardless of what others tell you to do. It is how you feel at the end of the day that matters. Life smiles upon those who smile upon life.
Enjoy and Bon Appetit!
** the secret ingredient is lots of love
ღ
