Brussel sprouts.

I have had a weird craving for brussel sprouts lately. I picked some up on Sunday at the farmer’s market and cooked them for dinner tonight.

Sauteed with garlic, shallots and bacon, they were amazing. I could have skipped the grilled chicken I made with them and ate just the brussel sprouts.

I made fried green tomatoes tonight. Healthy no, delicious yes!

My mom, my aunt and I went to the farmer’s market today. Even though it was raining, I love walking around and tasting the fresh fruits and veggies. I need to make it a point to go there more often, something I should have done over the summer, but something I can do as we go into fall - pumpkins, squash, spinach…yum.

Perspective from my elders.

(Who would kill me if they knew I called them that.)

Just got home from a few too many drinks and dinner with my aunt (yes, the one who is always trying to set me up) and her friend Kathy.

I rarely go out during the week. Occasionally, I will grab drinks on a Thursday or a random day when I am meeting a friend from. The Chicago/Celtics game was on and now the Mavs/Spurs game is on, so the bars were packed and crazy.

Even though we were shouting over the fans and drunk people, sometimes it’s a good time going out with my family, our family friends, etc. People who are older than me. People who have experienced different things. People who can look at my life and say “I wish I was 26/27 again” or “You are so young” or “The right guy, a good guy, is out there.” It helps put things into perspective. I might get annoyed with my family for talking about my fun, exciting, glamorous job (which they don’t understand), the dating scene and my non-existent love life, but it’s nice to talk to people who have experienced life and hear what they have to say.

I still take their comments with a grain of salt, I have to, but there are always bits and pieces that sink in and have some meaning.

Week in review.

I spent the last week at CTIA in Las Vegas and today at the Samsung 500 at Texas Motor Speedway. Here are some highlights.

In Las Vegas:

• Executed a successful press conference. Even the media agree.
• Ate steak, Italian, Asian and some bad, greasy American, including fries with gooey cheese.
• Gained about 10 lbs.
• Won $200 bucks playing Blackjack. Thanks, Larry (the dealer).
• Got kicked out of a club and mouthed off to some big bouncers, which I don’t remember. I do know that I will never go back there again.
• Hung my head in embarrassment the next morning when I saw all the people who were with me when I got kicked out of the club.
• Saw my first show in Las Vegas - KA by Cirque du Soleil - which was amazing.

At Texas Motor Speedway:

• Watched some rednecks (sorry, it is true) in their race jackets drink Coors Light and drive around in the pick-up trucks.
• Froze my ass off in the grandstand.
• Wore some stylish orange earplugs, but only stayed for the first 100 miles.
• Watched the rest of the race on TV when I got home.

Weekend recap.

It was a pretty wild weekend in the Big D with JRL.

• Friday - Dinner at Fireside Pies and too many drinks at Vickery Park. Insulted JRL by calling him a cock block. Signed up for Twitter at 3am. Follow me: tracycalabrese.
• Saturday - Went to the St. Patty’s Day parade a bit hungover and then hit up Idlerich for some bloody mary’s and fish & chips. Went back home at 2pm for a nice 2 hour nap and then met up with the whole crew for a night of too many beers. Feel leaving the bar and busted up my knee big time.
• Sunday - Brunch at Breadwinners. Driving tour of Dallas. Headed out to Ft. Worth, AKA Cowtown, and hit up the Kimball Art Museum. Scared the crap out of JRL as we walked through the Stockyards. Dinner at Joe T. Garcia’s. Called it an early night and passed out by 11pm.
• Monday - Bunch at Dream Cafe. Got my car washed. Walked around the West Village. Shipped JRL off to the Garden State at 1pm.

My liver and stomach need a rest and I am looking forward to the rest of the day off so I can sit outside, read a book and plant the basil and cilantro I bought this morning.

Ready.

For a night out with good friends.

There will be good food and probably one too many good drinks too.

I am making a twist on this dish for dinner tonight. Escarole is impossible to find in Dallas (most people don’t even know what it is), so I am using Brocolli Rabe or Rapini, another vegetable that no one in Dallas knows about. It’s kind of bitter, looks like leafy broccoli. It’s a Italian thing.

Is there really anything better…

…Than comfort food (lasagna made by me), cake (made by Ash) and a few bottles of wine with your best girl friends (Ash and Mak)?

I don’t think so.