Eden's Wanderings and Wonderings

I wrote this post a few minutes ago and I previewed it and promptly lost it before I could save it. Arggg, technology challenges! So here I go again.

I posted on the ST forums that my email address has been hacked recently and an email using my AOL address was sent to everyone on my address book. This happened a couple of days ago, maybe the 1st of the month.

I tried to get online then and found out that I couldn't. I called AOL and was told or rather I gathered that my subscription to AOL was suspended. I was talking to an AOL "customer service representative" at that time. I could hardly understand him. He was rude too... some customer rep!

I gathered that the suspension was due to too many unsolicited email sent from my address. I told them that I did not send those emails. (I am not selling any technology devices and not taking British pounds for payments.) The rep asked me if I wanted to discontinue my subscription to AOL. After his attitude and this email address hacking (twice in 6 months), I was really tempted.

But I must confess - I am AOL dependent! I need to attend some AOL anonymous meeting and get rid of this dependence.

Anyway, I am back online, changed my password and the dependence continues. Some friends are calling and emailing to ask what made me go into a business competing with Best Buys and Frys Electronics. And what is up with the payments in British pounds???????

Ah, technology... I guess some challenges comes with wonders.

I follow David Lebovitz's blog... read his website deligently ... own his cookbooks... not that I really cook... but did you know that cookbooks are good reads?

So David is in town. I decided I have to see / hear him. His first appearance (that I know of) was in Emeryville. I ordered tickets. I talked my daughter, Tracey, into going to one of his appearances. Since Tracey now lives in Emeryville - the venue, Charles Chocolates, was in her hood, I thought it would be a great idea if she went to meet David too. :)

So I went to Tracey's apartment on Wednesday night, hurried her along as I did not want to be late for David's apparition. :) David's talk was scheduled from 6-8PM. So we get to Charles Chocolates around 6:15 PM... 15 minutes late ... to find the parking lot to ourselves. We went to the front of the building to check things out... What? Did they shut the door for late arrivals? Now, I am going to be p&@$ed.... Afterall, I drove up the busy freeway and fought rush hour traffic to get here!

So I shook the door which turned out to be locked... chained ... locked... Shook it again... Shhh, do not tell anyone what happened after...

Anyway, I was a day early...DARN! So we went to dinner... will blog about that restaurant one day...

I was determined to see him, so I went back the next day - yesterday, Thursday. Success!

Upon arriving at Charles Chocolates on the RIGHT DAY, I spotted David eating Charles' SMORES...a $5+ block of graham cracker, chocolate bar and marshmallow square. David says one can make a dinner of it!

David talking about his "The Sweet Life in Paris"...So casual and cool.

After his talk, he signed books... including my ... Sweet Life.. and Perfect Scoop.

This is part of the crowd lined up to meet the man.

Would he think I am a stalker if I go see him in San Francisco on Monday? hmmm. I need a copy of The Sweet Life in Paris for Tracey... who incidentally want to temporarily relocate to Paris...

Our ingredient of the week is avocado. My daughter, Tracey, suggested that I make some avocado sushi - that she has had (many times) for lunch at a Japanese restaurant that she frequents in San Mateo. It is close to her work.

I researched online to find out some Avocado Sushi recipes but I have not seen any that is close to what Tracey has been describing to me. She said there is no rice in this avocado sushi. So we decided to make our version of this avocado sushi.

Eden's Steak and Avocado Rolls (Fake Sushi )

Ingredients:

Thin Strips of steak (I cut thin strips from a steak package I got at Costco)

Avocado, thinly sliced

Green onions, thinly sliced into strips

Teriyake Sauce

Options:

Olive oil to cook thin strips of beef in. I think you can grill these strips, if you wish

Garlic Salt and Pepper to season beef

Procedure:

1. Cut strips of beef (as thin as possible)

2. Season the beef strips in garlic salt and dash of pepper
3. Cook the beef in olive oil until it was slightly brown (pretty quick)

4. When all the beef strips are done, put a strip of avocado and a strip of green onion in the middle of the beef strip.
5. Roll the beef and drizzle teriyake sauce on top of the " Steak and Avocado Sushi Roll".

It was so good, we made more and had some with Raspberry Margaritas.

A reflection piece is good way to evaluate the success of any project. Judging from my calendar, I was not too successful with this one. :)

I joined the madness in the hopes that I would be able to blog daily. After getting back from San Diego, I had problems logging on to my own blog. Then I had trouble uploading photos... I did try to blog daily... But I did miss a few days!

I hope I'd be able to do better in the future... or rather - that I have interesting happenings daily so I may be able to do daily entries.