Last week,  I was living it up in California. This week, I’m killing ants off the kitchen table.  Stark comparison.

Last week, I had already watched Eclipse, twice in one day.  I’m so proud of that accomplishment. Once during the trilogy showing (after waiting in line for 3 hours with my lovely husband, my best friend, and her lovely husband) and then again 19 hours later (sans husband, I’m good, but even Rocky lost a fight to Apollo Creed).

Aaaaaahhhhhh, that was the life of carefree uselessness.

Now as I reflect, I really thought I’d be whining about how much it sucks to return to the doldrums of everyday life. The laundry (my mom already did), the cleaning (my mom already did), the ever present feeling that I’m not doing everything I supposed to be doing (still here). Along with the task of combing hair for 4 hours a day, feeding kids for 10 hours a day, and yelling at raving lunatics for 12 hours a day. I think that’s more like 26 hours. Never mind, you get my point.

But, as I sat down to reminisce about our trip to San Francisco to visit my most wonderful and cutest of cousins. . . .

and the fun times we spent in China town and tourist hopping all over the city,

Streets of China Town

View of Alcatraz

Fisherman’s Wharf

Lunch at the Wharf of Clam Chowder and Calamari and Chips

The Eiffel Tower. . .or ummm. . . .I mean the Golden State Bridge.

Lombard Street – Said to be the most winding road in the world.

Breakfast of Almond Croissants and Goat Cheese and Chorizo Quiche.

and about the great fun we had in Napa with our friends. Drinking it up, and errrrr, drinking it up, while slurping up the residual slurpage. *burp*

Castello di Amorosa – A Castle Winery

Gargoyles at a Castle. My wacky Harry Potter, Twilight Fanatic self is in heaven.

I think,  what was I doing at this precise moment last week?

Sipping on some sizurp? No.

Frolicking in a meadow? No.

Exactly 1 week ago, at this precise moment, our rental car broke down.  And we were stranded in the middle of who knows where for a little over an hour while the car was worked on.  It could have been worse, but it still sucked.  And then I remember, as we hopped into our newly fixed car and drove to Santa Cruz, we stopped at a local Taco Bar to get something to eat.  And it sucked.  And I really missed Texas Tex Mex.  And I threw up, literally.  And then Warwick gagged as a reflex to my puke, and almost did the same.  And I missed my kids, and their hair, and their voracious appetites, and their ever inquisitive nature, and their kisses, and their hugs.  And I remember not wanting to be on my vacation one second longer. Cause I missed those jokers.

Holidays are great, Warwick and I really needed it. And we had soooooooo much fun with our friends and being completely free to do what we pleased. . . . . .  but, our kids are even better, and I’m glad to be back home with them.

 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

During our stay in Napa, we ate at this crazy-good restaurant called The Rutherford Grill.  We had a grilled artichoke that made me want to turn into hollandaise sauce just so I could be lapped up by the dreamy petals of this delightful dish. I don’t even remember what Warwick had for dinner, because I was totally entranced by mine.

I had a Sinful Chicken and Spinach Enchilada dinner with steamed broccoli and Coconut Basmati Rice that I quite literally would have killed for.

So good, that the minute I got home (and kissed my children) I ran straight for the kitchen to try and recreate this buttery heaven sent dish.  This is my humble attempt, which I am not so humbly saying is Damn Good!  Try it with enchiladas, barbecue, steak, or whatever, but just make sure you try it. 

 Basmati Coconut Rice with Cilantro

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups of Basmati Rice
1 can (14 oz.) Coconut Milk – this should be creamy, and not sweet. Do not buy Creme of Coco or Coconut Water.
1/2 cup plus 6 TB water
3 TB freshly chopped cilantro
Salt to taste

1. In a rice cooker, or a pot with a lid, add rice. Cover with coconut milk and water. Cook according to package instructions.

2. When rice is done, add cilantro and salt and mix well. Serve.