Girl Friends Getaway

Chef Diana Temple, owner & founder of Diana's Creative Catering of Malibu, visited Charlie Collins Cooking School December 2009. Her photographer husband Brian, took all these great photos. Here's her report:

Angostino Cervice with Aji Amarillo and cilantro

Sweet Corn Seren with organic chicken Ropa Vieja

Grilled diver Scallops, Onion Carbonara with Berare's Guava Smoked Bacon

Pam turned us on to Key West. This is our 3rd trip there to coincide with the Key West Holiday parade. We assume our position on the sidewalk in front of our favorite B&B, The Mermaid & The Alligator, and watch the holiday revelers pass by. Candy and beads are thrown from the floats bedecked with colored lights, church groups parade side by side with drag queens, cool cars, pirates and santas.

Girls Weekends rock!

Cindy Lou and I spent 4 fab nights in San Miguel de Allende this October. We helped stimulate the local economy by eating our way through the town!  First was the market, where I bought fresh huitlicoche (corn fungus) and blue corn gorditas.

Huitlicoche is difficult to find in the states; I have bought it in a can at HEB and ordered it off the menu at Fonda San Miguel in Austin. It looks not so good - black and slimy when cooked - but it has an earthy wonderful taste that appeals to me.

Cindy bought a plastic cup filled with pomegranate seeds splashed with lime, and I chowed down on roasted corn.

Often people request mayonaise spread on it, but I draw the line there when eating market food in Mexico. I had mine salted with chile pepper.  

Last weekend was the annual Goddess Weekend in the Texas Hill Country. We've been getting together for many years now and it is usually one of the highlights of the year, for a number of reasons:

1. Did I say the Texas Hill Country? Our buddy Melany has a family 'ranch' that is so peaceful and beautiful and we feel fortunate to share it with her. It's been in her family for over 100 years and the original farm house is still there. The Guadalupe River runs through the property and natural springs keep the water cool. The family built a few small cabins in the 70's and operated it as a kids camp for a few years. Since then it has just been for the enjoyment of the friends and family. We are foutunate to be part of that group!

2. The Goddesses - it's a gang of gals who all worked together in a travel agency years ago and we have stayed in touch. One moved to California, another lives in Hawaii. But we make it a priority to gather once per year.