Bump

Okay, so here is the latest, my 30 week bump picture. Let the countdown begin. 10 weeks seems awfully close, doesn't it?? All these side profile pics keep reminding me I need new glasses!

Cuatro's

I was in Austin this weekend, and it was fabulous. Including the fact that I have a new place to miss, even though it wasn't part of my repertoire, it is a place that I will visit whenever I am back in Austin.

Cuatro's is on 24th & San Gabriel, in the heart of West Campus, but without the Cain & Abel's frat boy feel or the Pluckers super collegey feel. Sure, lots of students, but a mixed crowd. Most important delicious food!! And drinks. I cannot wait to get back and drink the drinks with alcohol.

We had fried pickle starters. I LOVE fried pickles, and not just because I am pregnant. I have always loved fried pickles and the only place I ever really liked was Razoo's because they fry the chips, not the spear. I've tried fried spears, and find them totally disappointing. Cuatro's were rigid, crispy, salty and served with jalapeno ranch. I'm not usually a ranch fan, unless it is with fries or fried something (to make it healthier) and it has to be real ranch. Not that gluey, sugary plastic jar crap. Must be made with buttermilk, mayo and spices (usually shitload of salt). Add jalapenos, and YUM! A Texan girl's dream come true.

I followed with the Kona Tacos (I got the mini tacos on corn torts instead of two tacos on flour) that are filled with pork, onions, pineapple cilantro and green chile sauce. They are so good, and don't be afraid if you typically don't like fruit. The sweet tartness of the pineapple gave just enough bite to offset the crispy yet chewy perfectly smoky seasoned pork. Plus, I got to snag my friend's tuna taco which is seared ahi tuna (don't tell the pregnancy police) with avocado, pico and greens and a side of the jalapeno ranch. I loved those too, but was happy with my Kona tacos.

I had the watermelon agua fresca to drink, sans alcohol. To die for. After the first sip all I could think about was sitting by the lake in the summer, even though it was a breezy 55, freezing by Texas standards. I could taste the freshness of the watermelon juice, it was even a little pulpy as watermelon juice should be, mixed with lime and a mint sprig. There was some carbonation, I'm thinking club soda, which may have existed in place of the alcoholic version with Bacardi Limon. I am not a big rum drinker, but this would be a rum drink that I could enjoy on their patio.

The whole place is practically a patio, and definitely had that chill all day feel to it. The service was good, the crowd was good, the bar was cool. The light wooden floors and silver chairs gave it a chilled out vibe, and I felt like I should be at the beach. Plus, there were lots of TV's, so any sporting event you could want was available. Though, of course, UT sports take precedence. A great spot. I can't wait to head back!!

Channeling my grandfather...

About 4 years ago, when I was training for the Austin marathon, my eating habits and the way I looked at food changed dramatically. It started off with my brother and I making a deal to eat no fried food/fast food and no Cokes (i.e. soda or pop) for a month. As I trained, I began to see food more as fuel than something to purely enjoy and really started reading labels and paying attention to what I was eating. Well, you can guess where that goes. I began eating more whole foods and vegetarian, steering clear of partially hydrogenated oils and high fructose corn syrup whenever I could. There was a difference! I was the healthiest I have ever been, I dropped about 25 lbs (mind you, this was in conjunction with marathon training, but most of the weight came off about 2 months following the marathon), and I was sleeping better and feeling better. Now, I'm not a purist or holy roller. I love coffee, and never gave up caffeine, nor did I have any desire to do so. I love food. As most people who love food, I love cheese, love a rich creamy gratin, love pasta, love bread, love a good steak, love cheeseburgers and milkshakes. Still, I paid attention to what was going in, and only ate that stuff sometimes.

Moving to Minneapolis I was kind of in hog heaven. I lived right down the street from The Wedge and became a member the day I moved to Uptown. The weekly newsletters got me even more in touch with holistic approaches to everything from high cholesterol to aching joints. The Wedge also got me more turned on to local, that and the St. Paul farmer's market. The freshness and difference in taste and quality made me appreciate local bounty, and start to pay more attention to where food was coming from and the idea that you could actually talk to the farmer that grew those tomatoes, or buy your Thanksgiving turkey from the guy who slaughtered it on Tuesday (and it was roaming his farm before that). When I moved back to Texas, to Houston, I was sure that I would never be able to find what I had in Minneapolis, or what is available in Austin. I was wrong.

The local food/whole foods movement is big here in Houston, which is great considering there are so many restaurants. It's kind of a foodie (hot) paradise, if you know where to look. While I thought I'd have to start my own co-op, I found Central City Coop, already 7 years into it and growing quickly. Now I'm on the board of directors, which is offering all types of opportunities to meet other like minded folk, from foodies to farmers. As the outreach committee head, I attended a meeting this week for a collaborative project called Urban Farm Belt. It was at Emile Farm/Last Organic Outpost in the 5th Ward and everyone was trying to figure out the best ways to bring and encourage urban farming in Houston, much like the Emile street farm. Right up my alley, since the goal is to increase access to healthy foods, while beautifying lower income neighborhoods. Of course, there is a long way to go. And, as all my old HHH profs would be glad to know, all I could think about was community buy-in, community buy-in, community buy-in. For the first time in my life, I was walking around that farm thinking, man, I can't wait til the day when I have my own garden and I can farm. Huh?? I hate tending to stuff, hate being out in the heat, am an urban woman through and through. Last Sunday I bought lettuce from an organic farmer who had pulled it out of the ground that morning. All of a sudden I'm so intrigued by the idea of being able to grow my own food and eat it that day. I just wish my Grandad was around when I had this epiphany. He would be so proud.

This is a picture of Emile street farm, go to this article published in the Chronicle on Thursday to learn more about Joe (in the picture) and the farm!

Bump

So, here's the most recent bump picture. It is three weeks old, so I'm even bigger now. I'll try to do better.

I miss Austin

I've been having the what the hell am I doing in Houston moments. Plus, this poor kid is going to be born in Houston moments. Trust me, I've thought about it. But yesterday while driving home in godforsaken inexplicable traffic at 4:30, NPR was interviewing Bill Clinton about his Global Initiative University Meeting being held at, of course, The University of Texas.
It's always hard when people ask where I'm 'from' because, of course, I feel like I'm from Austin, despite the fact that I went to junior high and high school in Dallas. I was born there, lived there as a little kid and a little adult, it's where I grew up, where I met Joab, where we got married. I always have that safe feeling like, ahhhh, I'm home, when I'm there. Anytime I meet someone from Austin I feel like we have something in common (it doesn't help that I was at a training this week being held by someone who worked for City of Austin for 26 years and I thought, why don't I work for City of Austin??) and that really, I'm supposed to be there. It actually is where I've spent most of my life. I've lived in 10 cities, 4 states and 4 countries over 28 years and Austin has the most of all those years. Yet, when I left in 2005 to move to Minneapolis, I couldn't wait to get out of there. Now, I'm dying to go back.
Houston isn't too bad. My parents are here, a lot of my family is here, most of Joab's family is here. I have some good friends here. I have a good job. Now that we're having this bambino, being close to family is the most important thing. That and having a good job. Two things that will remain while I am here. Which will probably be a while. But the best thing about Houston? It's only 2.5 hour drive from Austin...
Here is a short list of things I really miss...
Barton Springs
Town Lake and the running trails
Lake Travis
Russell's Bakery
Shady Grove
Hula Hut
Amy's Ice Cream
Austin Java Co
Maudie's
Guerro's
Taco Shack
a million other Tex Mex places
Austin Pizza
Rudy's BBQ
Veggie Heaven (though I must admit only frequented it in college)
Mangia
Triumph Cafe
Whole Foods
Central Market
University of Texas
Texas Sports
Downtown
Too many cool bars around town to count
Patios at every restaurant
Driving on 360
Keeping it weird
I could go on and on...
Some of the restaurants have locations here in Houston, but it's just not the same. Until then, I will work on my 5 year plan to get back there. Now, if only I can convince my sweet husband to get on the same plan.

Chicken Enchiladas

Okay, so I don't have a picture of my latest culinary success. Actually, I took a picture of breakfast tacos I made the other day, with every intention to post it, but can't find the cord to upload from my camera. Totally lame excuse. That and my computer is, for all intents and purposes, dead, so I don't have anywhere to store them buy my work computer which is really not looked highly upon here at the County. I made the enchilada recipe from my America's Test Kitchen cookbook. Hye's wedding present to me, and probably the most useful gift of all. Not to downplay all of you who donated to my honeymoon, because that was awesome, but I probably look at this cookbook for inspiration at least once a week. And make something at least once a week (pancake Sundays are much better with homemade than Bisquick!). There are so many reasons this cookbook is so great, from the laminated pages to the explanations of chemical reactions, but the recipes turn out absolutely perfect almost every time. I say almost because the Chicken Picatta was not successful, even though I followed the recipe perfectly. I'm sure I made a mistake somewhere. These people are professionals.
I was a good wife this week, roasted a whole chicken on Sunday (damn, why didn't I take a picture!) even though I was in SO MUCH PAIN standing in the kitchen. We had roasted chicken breast and roasted veggies on Monday, but I used the dark meat to make enchiladas last night and they were delish. Of course the recipe isn't public, I probably shouldn't post it. Maybe a bad idea with my first recipe posting. At least I found a picture of the ones America's Test Kitchen made, and mine looked strikingly similar. I'm already failing as a food blogger...

Off the wagon??

So, I've been pretty good about eating healthy, staying active and trying not to over indulge. Of course, at the beginning of the pregnancy one day I ate chili cheese fries and a chocolate shake for lunch, but I've generally been eating like my normal self. Well, last week not only did I not eat that great, I hardly worked out at all. Plus, the one day I did work out, I ate a breakfast burrito from Chik-Fil-A (b/c they were doing a promotion, I mean, c'mon free food in this economy??) and then ended up in so much pain later in the day I questioned my desire to keep working out at all anymore. Now my tailbone hurts, almost all the time. Plus the baby has decided to be super active the past few days, which I'm glad about, but it makes relaxation difficult. Worst of all, I've been having these foot cramps and soreness that remind me of being in college the day after wearing too high heels while slopping around 6th Street with Caroline. Touche. I topped off the week of eating with a delicious, nutritious breakfast at Breakfast Klub on Sunday. Apparently it's one of Beyonce's faves and she eats here every time she's back in Htown. Aside from the chance celebrity encounter, if you've eaten there, it would be your fave too. The wings are the bomb (trust me, even if you 'don't like wings' these are good) and worth eating with a waffle or pancakes. I can't resist the grits. I love me some grits, and these creamy, chewy nuggets of goodness complete with a pool of melted butter are the best I've ever had. Seriously. Nothing mushy or plain about their grits. Try them and see if you don't agree. I dare you....

If you live in Minneapolis

There are a lot of things I don't miss about Minneapolis, especially in February, but there are a lot of things I do miss about Minneapolis. I'm not going to take this time to list them, but am reminded about something in particular as I try to 'fix' my car that has been dying randomly on and off for about 3 years now, and nobody can ever figure out. I first took it to Autopia, who I picked because they were ranked high in MN Woman magazine, a pro woman business all this. Found that maybe they are honest, but they're waaaay overpriced. Including they couldn't figure out what was wrong, but told me to tow my car to them again next time it happened so they could figure it out after they overcharged me to replace the battery only a few months earlier. No way Jose. Until my friend peeped me to Steve at Lyndale Auto. I told Steve, who serviced the car one last time before we left, that leaving him was one of the worst things about leaving Minneapolis. He's like having your own personal Click and Clack the Tap it brothers. This man took apart my car one day, to try to find a leak and didn't charge me anything because he couldn't find the leak. I left it over the weekend mostly because I was being lazy but I think it was the winter and I didn't want to walk the 6 blocks to the shop, it left a teeny puddle and he figured out the leak and fixed it. He always explained everything to me (even if it made my brain hurt to listen), always gave me options of good better best and what immediatly needed fixing and what I could wait on.
Joab found a guy he likes here, and I trust him well enough. Except that when he explained what is going on with the car, the guy said it sounds like we need a tune up. It's not a tune up, it's an electrical issue, probably wiring (which is what Steve told me the last time I called him about it but regretably never took it in for him to figure out) that needs to be replaced. He would even spend time on the phone with my dad, who often would be helping me with the bill since when I was in Grad School. I miss Steve. If you are in Minneapolis, and you need anything on your car, go see Steve at Lyndale Auto (it's in the back of the Bridgeman's gas station on 28th & Lyndale). He is the best mechanic in the history of the world.

Don't ever do this...

I went to my cousin's (technically my cousin's wife) baby shower this weekend and it of course made me think my own will be coming soon. It was at my Aunt's house, and all of the food was fabulous, as expected, including petite fours from Moeller's Bakery (I think...) I'm usually not a fan of petite fours b/c they're all sugar icing and no buttery good stuff, but these were yum yum. Sorry I didn't take a picture! Because there was also a delicious cake to go along.

Anyway, all of that stuff was great. Not to mention I won a game (i.e. won a prize), which I get really excited about. When she was opening presents, she got this, which is great. Of course the downside of not knowing what I'm going to have means I may not get cute UT cheerleader outfits, but her husband actually went to A&M, as did his brother. I immediatly turned to my other cousin's wife and told her, don't you even think about doing that to me. See, if I get a disgusting maroon A&M onesie, I will throw it in the trash. I won't even donate it, because I think it's gross when I see little babies wearing A&M crap, and I just feel sorry for the kid because they don't have a chance to realize how stupid and ugly they look. I want the world to be a beautiful place. So, if you would like to spread beauty, charm, intelligence and general good nature, you can buy me a onesie that looks like this.

Otherwise, beware. Also note, for those who gripe about not being able to buy gender specific onesies, burnt orange looks good on EVERYONE!!!