Day 6 - An Italian Meal

 

Song:  Che Vuole Questa Musica Stasera

Artist:  Peppino Gagliardi

My sister had been with the realtor for most of the day.

Her number one home pick is still under contract...

but my sister is hoping to be a backup buyer...

if once she actually tours the home...

she still loves it.

Once she had returned...

we drove into Colorado Springs to eat.

There was an Italian restaurant I've always wanted to try...

as they had great reviews.

It is in old town Colorado Springs...

and so...

 is nearest to where I live

(out of the Colorado Springs restaurants).

Their bread and salad was very good.

I especially loved dipping the bread into olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

I had ordered the shrimp and scallop fettuccini.

It was the best I've ever had.

The white sauce was creamy and cheesy...

just so perfect.

My sister had shrimp scampi risotto.

My sister loved her dish as well.

 I had chosen this place because the reviews were very good.

It had earned every one of their great reviews.

The food was the best Italian I have ever had.

I now have a known excellent Italian restaurant I can depend on for delicious food.

As my sister and I drove back home...

it began to lightly snow.

At times...

it got heavier...

and I had to slow down quite a bit in the mountains because 

the reflection of the headlights off the snow almost became blinding.

But...

we arrived home safely.

Besides...

there were very few cars on the road...

and for the last ten or so miles...

I was the only one on the road.

As it is now after 10 PM...

I will head off to bed early.

Salt And Pepper Shrimp / Beef Tataki / Beef Stew

 

Song:  What is Life

Artist:  George Harrison

Last night...

I made Salt and Pepper Shrimp for my sister and myself.

I use a 50/50 sesame oil and chili oil blend to sear the shrimp.

We ate our fill...

but I left enough room for dessert (Blueberry Pie)...

while my sister saved her Peach Pie for the following morning.

I stopped by the kind lady's pie and pastry truck

(the one who thought I was homeless and had given me 3 cookies).

Although she had someone filling in for her as she was catering an event...

I had told the young man who was tending her shop about her kindness...

and I had asked him to tip her the cost of a bag of cookies and to thank her for me.

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On the following morning...

I got started on making beef tataki...

the most laborious portion of which is the grating of the daikon.

I then sliced up a couple of white onions.

After adding in the onions...

...I added in rice vinegar and memmi.

I then sliced up the rest of a previously made roast beef from a few days prior...

and then added it into the mixture to marinate for a couple of days in the fridge.

After I had finished with the beef tataki...

my sister started on making beef stew.

She had cubed the beef...

...and began searing the meat in batches.

After each batch of seared meat was finished...

she placed them into a 24 quart stock pot.

After finishing the meat...

my sister then began searing the veggies.

As the veggies were searing...

she filled up the stock pot with the requisite amount of water.

After adding the veggies...

she added the spices and beef stock and brought it to a gentle boil.

After about 45 minutes at a low boil...

...my sister then added quartered red potatoes for another 45 minutes of a low boil.

We then had a delicious meal of beef stew and buttered bread.

After allowing the stew to cool enough...

I then put the rest of the stew into 8 freezer containers for quick and easy 

meals in the future.

My sister's beef stew recipe (per pound of beef).

In this batch...she had used approximately 5 lbs of beef.

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Tomorrow...

my sister will be meeting with a realtor to look at some properties.

Even though her number one pick is in contract...

she will try to see it anyway...

and if she really does like it still...

she can put in as a backup buyer.