Dragon Fruit and Tomato “Caviar” Appetizer, Steakhouse Butter,Chocolate Mousse Brownies

A committee is a group that keeps minutes and loses hours.

Milton Berle

So the other ~~day~~ week was… not one of my better weeks.

First of all I was called into the Principal’s office.

True story.

It wasn’t just me it was the whole PAC executive. I, of course, am not going to get into it but all I can say is, I was on student council from grade 5 to grade 10 and never had the problems that I am having as an adult on a council LOL.

So, after a two hour meeting I went home to nurse my headache. Of course, Ninja had his one cold of the year last week so I did all the pick up/drop off and hooey that a Thursday is… Swimming lessons, Broadway classes, Sparks… Thursday is just a long day.

After school one of the executives came up to talk to me just as HBear was getting let out of class. So we were talking and HBear was beside me pulling on my arm saying “Mommy can we go now? Mommy can we go now? Mommy can we go now? Mommy can we go now?”

I did something that I’ve never done before let alone in front of another parent.

OMG I bent down and grabbed HBear’s face and look directly at her eyes and said “I dare you. Say it again.”

I looked at her, I mean really looked at her and I could see her questioning… should I?

“Mommy can we go now?”

Picture Bugs Bunny cartoons with the steam coming out of the ears and that whistle noise that happens right before the top of the cartoons head flies off and flames start leaping out.

I really don’t even remember how my important conversation ended. I finished up very quickly grabbed HBear’s hand and we started walking. Fast.

The whole way to the van and on the way home I did a typical mom lecture. I had no brain cells even left to think of something remotely “lessony”.

“I am so disappointed in you. That behavior is completely unacceptable. I’m always so proud of the considerate girl you have become and you totally ruined that today. It is going to take you a very long time to build yourself up to that little girl in my eyes again. There is no need to interrupt, every single thing I do in this whole entire life is for you! If Mommy needs five minutes to discuss whether or not you’re going to get a field trip this year I suggest you have some patience and let Mommy finish her conversation. Do you understand me?”

“Yes Mommy and I accept your apology.”

In retrospect I am so happy that we were at a red light because I would’ve been rear ended.

“Are you freaking kidding me? You better unbuckle and get ready to run kid. You came from my body so I will give you a 5 minute head start but seriously…run.”

“But Mommy I just said I’m sorry. Isn’t that what accept your apology means? It means that I am so sorry for being rude and unrespectful. I won’t do it again…

Should I still run?”

And THAT’S why I blog.

Did I happen to mention that I’m a complete idiot and I put my favorite hoodie through the wash with probably 8 Kleenexs in each pocket.

Yeah, so right before I left to get go to my meeting I went to change over the laundry.

I left a note for Ninja, for when he got back from swimming lessons with SBean, to leave it and I would clean it up. Of course even sick he is still Ninja and when I got home it was all cleaned up and the next load laundry was in.

Small things baby. Small things make it all worth while 🙂

And you know what? The whole week wasn’t as crazy or I hate to use this word but, stressful.

I HATE that word. It’s such an overused excuse.

We all do it, look, I’m doing it right now last week was stressful.

On a side note at the last PAC meeting one of the parents brought up the voluntary standardized testing for grade 4’s. When I was a kid it wasn’t voluntary, you did them so the division could see how to improve their class curriculum. Anyways, now it is up to the parents if they allow the kids to be tested because of the STRESS it will put upon them.

Eff off, seriously? For reals?

Yes.

I blinked a few times and said half under my breath, half loud enough for those around me to hear, “you think that is stressful, wait till she does her first pregnancy test!”

The Principal was talking and she stopped, looked at me and she said “What did you just say?”

And I looked right at her and said “Yeah. I just said that.”

And we both cracked up!

Anywho, you know what? Last week when I need it most, I didn’t do daily yoga. Every second day but not every day and I wonder how much better I would’ve handled all these situations if I had a clear mind and had done my practice every day?

Well we have 2 meetings this week so I will definitely try it out LOL.

**We had our first meeting this morning. It went awesome! See how much can change in a few days? Even though I had awful cramps and Rod Stewart made me cry this morning on the way to school, it all turned out fine 🙂 Still going to do my yoga but I feel more confident now that going forward our team will be ready for anything!**

Anyways, last week wasn’t all stressful. My MBesty, her parents and daughter (HBear’s Besty) came over for dinner on Wednesday.

It was really nice. Her Mom and Dad only live here in the winter so it was nice taking advantage of this time to get to know them even better.

So my MBesty is very picky.

VERY picky.

Lol

So I picked her favorite… steak! I also made my favorite Bacon Wrapped Potatoes tossed in Honey Sauce, homemade Caesar salad, I did some yummy steakhouse mushrooms, I “fancied” the steak up by adding some steakhouse butter to them as they rested, and I attempted dessert with Chocolate Mousse Brownies.

BTW… this would be an EXCELLENT Valentine dinner to make for your Sweetie 🙂 It all looks quite impressive but is actually sooooo easy to make and it is all easily prepped beforehand so you can enjoy your time together and still eat an amazing gourmet meal 🙂

To start I made a little appy that I had made a few times before. I saw it in an issue of Gwenyth Paltrow’s GOOP. I made this for my sister’s wedding shower and they were a big hit. I have since made them with a simple Caprese salad vinaigrette and they turned out awesome too! Try it anyway you like, I add fresh Mozza in the summer, you could use mint instead of basil, heck you could try cilantro for a refreshing taste too! I was really hoping to get this delicious bite on the blog so here it is 🙂

Dragon Fruit and Tomato “Caviar” Appetizer

Adapted from Jose Andre

1 dragon fruit, skin removed and cut into 2-inch cubes

4 plum tomatoes

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice (from about ½ lemon)

1 teaspoon lemon zest

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon sherry vinegar

Sea salt to taste

Fresh basil

Cut the Dragon fruit in half.

Scoop out the flesh and cut into cubes.

Using a sharp knife, slice off the top and bottom of each tomato.

Remove the seeds and their pulp by slicing around the core of the tomato. Set the seed sacs aside. Your aim is to keep the seeds and their surrounding gel intact to create tomato seed “caviar” that are separate from the firmer tomato flesh.

Place one set of tomato-seed fillets on top of each cube of dragon fruit.

In a small bowl, mix the lemon juice, half the lemon zest, the oil, and vinegar to make the dressing.

Drizzle on top of the tomato “caviar”. Sprinkle with sea salt, the remaining lemon zest, and the basil.

Steakhouse Butter

Adapted from Chef Michael Smith

½ cup butter, softened
2 tablespoons red onion, finely minced
1 clove garlic, pressed
1 tablespoon parsley, finely minced
1 tablespoon thyme, finely minced
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
a sprinkle or two sea salt and freshly ground pepper

For the steakhouse butter, stir all the ingredients together until thoroughly combined.

Place a piece of plastic wrap on your work surface. Scoop the butter along the edge, forming a log shape.

Tightly roll up the plastic wrap, grasp the ends of the plastic and twirl the works a few times, tightening the butter into a perfect round log.

Refrigerate or freeze for several hours or overnight until the butter is firm enough to slice.

Cut your butter log into good size pieces, enough for 1-2 per steak (depending on your steak size).

As soon as your steaks come off the grill, add a pat or two of the butter on top of the steaks and let the steaks rest, the butter will melt all over your juicy restaurant quality streak!

Chocolate Mousse Brownies

Adapted from Let’s Dish Recipes

For the brownies:

3/4 cup flour

1/2 cup cocoa

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

For the mousse:

3/4 cups miniature marshmallows

4 ounces chocolate chips

1/4 cup milk

1 cup heavy whipping cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease a 9-inch square baking pan.

In a large bowl, combine flour, cocoa, and salt.

Melt butter in a large saucepan and remove from heat.

Stir in sugar and vanilla. Quickly whisk in eggs, one at a time.

Add butter mixture to flour mixture and stir until well blended.

Spread brownie batter into prepared pan and bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool completely.

Meanwhile, make the mousse by heating marshmallows, chocolate and milk in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring often until completely smooth. Cool completely.