Tapas Review

My best friend, Linda, and I went to a brand new restaurant for a girls night.  Now, I say brand new, I am sure it has been there for a while, but it was brand new to us.
Bolero Tapas Bar in Bricktown.
I had looked at their online menu, and while it sounded interesting, I could not tell that much about it.  Linda had heard of it but  the clincher was that I had a wonderful coupon. 
We knew Friday night in Bricktown was going to be busy, so we opted to go early.  While that is a good plan for the restaurant, that is a bad plan for the traffic.  We both got stuck in traffic and arrived late.
Bolero's is located on the canal in the Harkins theater area.  They have outside tables where you can enjoy their food, drinks and the view.  Be forewarned that if you sit outside, you will become part of the canal boat captains show.  While I was standing there waiting for Linda, I was able to watch the show with a couple that were walking along the canal.  The weather was a little windy and cool for us to sit outside, so we went inside where we were seated in the bar area.
We had a wonderful waitress.  We explained that we had never been here and could she enlighten us a bit about the menu and make some suggestions for us.
So, you might inquire...What in the heck is "Tapas".
Tapas is the name of a wide variety of appetizers or snacks in Spanish cuisine.
Wow, don't I sound super smart there?
The whole concept it so simple and is a great way for a group of friends to have a fun evening while trying out new foods. 
The menu is filled with a wide variety of Tapas.  The hard part was trying to choose which ones to order.
Here is what we ordered and my thoughts on each item. 

*Golden Fried Goat Cheese drizzled with Tupelo honey.  I have become a fan of goat cheese.  The plate arrived with 5 little golden cheese balls.  When cut into, the cheese oozes out, all over the plate.  They are sweet and wonderful.  A definite must have.

*Three Olive Combination with Pickled Garlic.  A small bowl filled with chopped olives and garnished with the pickled garlic cloves. Wonderfully fresh tortilla chips accompany this as well.  The olive combo was not too tart and  the chips set the flavors off perfectly.

*Andalusian Meatballs.  Great big meatballs smothered in a slightly spicy tomato sauce.  While these were good, after sampling some of the other items, I doubt if I would order again.

*Scallop and Shrimp Ceviche with Avocado Salsa.  In a word...OHMYGOSH.  (that is one word, right?)  Finely chopped scallops and shrimp topped with the avocado salsa.  I wanted to lick the bowl and had to restrain myself.

*Empanadas stuffed with Polo Rojo.  Two empanadas stuffed with chicken.  Very tasty.

*Sweet Dates wrapped in Tocino.  Teeny Tiny dates wrapped with teeny tiny slices of bacon and then fried.  Sounds gross, but they are so good.

And for dessert, our sweet waitress treated us to the Caramel Flan.  Words cannot describe this sweet finale to our dinner.  The first bite just melted in my mouth.  It is worth the trip all by itself. 

We also got a look at the Flourless Chocolate Genoise Cake covered with Chocolate Ganache.  Next time we go, we may start with that  and the flan and work backwards!

I suggest you go to Bolero's with people you are friends with as you will be sharing everything, but your drinks, with them.  It might get dicey if an arguments breaks out over the last tapas.  Linda, I hope the fork tine marks in your hand are better this morning.  Sorry about that.  I simply had to have that last one.
By the way, remember the coupon?  I forgot all about having it.  We decided that was all right.  It gives us an excuse to make a return trip.  Isn't it against the law to not use a coupon?

While I wish that I were being paid for this review, I am not.  Just wanted to share a new find with my friends.  What the heck...tell them Cindy sent you.  It won't help you a bit, but it will make the wait staff think you are a bit weird.

P.S. Ladies, be sure to visit the ladies room to wash your hands.  I really have to get out more.

Enjoy.

I'm a Royal Watcher

I am a Royal Watcher.
Yes...I freely admit it and am proud of it.
In 1981, I watched as Diana married Prince Charles.  I was naive enough to believe that true love would win out over whatever problems these two might have.  I really didn't spend much time thinking about them having problems though.  Really, they were young, rich and rich.  I did  mention rich, didn't I? What problems could they possibly have?  In a word..Camilla.
I kept up with the Royal Family through the birth of the heir, (William), and the birth of the spare, (Harry).
I watched as Princess Di took her boys to McDonald's, Amusement Parks and skiing.
I watched Princess Di dance with John Travolta.
I watched Princess Diana dodge land mines.
In a nutshell,  I am a royal watcher.
In 1997, I watched in horror, sadness and anger as the news filtered out of Paris that Princess Diana was dead.  Killed in a senseless, stupid car accident. I was glued to the television in the days that followed.  I watched as her body was brought back to England.  I watched as the flowers grew by leaps and bounds outside Kensington Palace.  I watched the funeral procession, wth her beloved boys following her casket to Westminster Abbey.  I watched her body being driven to her final resting place.  I watched in awe, as on the long drive, flowers were thrown onto the hearse as  a sign of love and respect.
In 2009, I was fortunate to take a trip to Paris and London. I was able to "watch" the royals from a different angle.  In Paris, I saw the hospital where Princess Diana was pronounced dead and where Prince Charles came to take her home.  In London, I saw the gates of Kensington Palace, I toured Westminster Abbey.  I saw Buckingham Palace and even marched wth the guard during their famous changing of the guard.
So, after reading this, is is a surprise that I got up at 3:00 a.m. on April 29, 2011, to watch Prince William marry Kate?  Is it a surprise that I had the VCR set to record the coverage, on two different channels, so I would not miss any of the festivites?
I am older and not as naive as I was in 1981 when I watched my first royal wedding.  But being older, it is easier for me to read the faces and body language of those involved.  There is NOT a doubt in my mind that these two young people, not only love one another, but like each other.  How can you doubt it when watching as William looked at Kate for the first time at the alter and she beamed her wonderful smile at him?
Yes, Fairy Tales do come true.
Let me steal a quote from some books that all of you are familiar with...
"And they lived happily ever after."

Reflections

Yep,  it's true.  Today is my birthday.  I am now "officially" older than dirt.  59.  Wow.  Sounds ancient.  Gee, I remember when I heard someone was 30, I thought they were elderly and should be put in a home.  Now I am 59. 
I have been playing around on the computer and have come up with some interesting facts concerning the year of our lord, 1952.  After you read this, you will understand this next statement.
This is my last old person birthday.  Beginning tomorrow, I am going backwards.  Next year, on April 23, 2012...I will be turning 21.  Yes, you read that right...21. 
I thought of going all the way back to the age of  16, but did not want to push my luck.  (Shame on you for thinking that I should go back further as I  don't act like a normal adult anyway.)
Now, let me assure you that I am not saying that my 59 years have been bad.  They haven't been.  I am just saying that 59 sounds old.  I don't feel like I am 59.  I don't think I act like I am 59 (be nice!) I sure hope I don't look like I am 59.  So why be 59?  21 is a good year.
Here are some highlights of what 1952 produced.  I have not put them in any particular order, but let's not forget that the most wonderful thing happened in 1952.   Mr. Potato Head was born!  Yes..It is true...I am the same age as Mr. Potato Head.

• Mad Magazine was first published
• Mrs. Paul's introduced frozen Fish Sticks (used to love those things with lemon juice and miracle whip)
• Kentucky Fried Chicken opened it's first restaurant. (please bear with me as I dream of a box of extra crispy wings.  sigh)
• Birdseye introduced the very first package of frozen peas
• Holiday Inn opened and thus began Americans obsession with taking home hotel towels
• Sugar Frosted Flake cereal was put on Americans tables for the first time.  And why not...after all...they are GREAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!
• Sony introduced the first pocket-size transistor radio
• Ban Roll on deodorant was put on the drug store shelves
• "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway was published

Movies were a HUGE thing in 1952.  After all, TV was in its infancy.  However, 1952 saw the beginning of movie attendance declining as TV;s began popping up in peoples homes.

• "The Greatest Show on Earth" was produced by Cecil B. DeMille
• "African Queen" starring Katherine Hepburn and Bogie
• "Son of Pale Face" starring the movie idol...Bob Hope
• "Singing in the Rain"
• Abbot and Costello starring in Jack and the Beanstalk
• And Last, but certainly not least.  That Christmas Classic (drum roll please)  Pluto's Christmas Tree

Radio shows were still going strong.  One of the most popular was "Gunsmoke".  You know...Matt Dillon and Miss Kitty.  There is a little twist though.  Sheriff Matt Dillon was played by William Conrad. Better know as Cannon

Television was still the new kid on the block. Heck, most folks didn't own a TV in 1952.  If you were lucky enough to have a TV, it was Black and White with NO remote control.  There were only 3 channels (if the clouds weren't too thick and messed with the reception)

• The Today Show premiered
• Death Valley Days  was first seen
• American Bandstand starring Dick Clark began it's long run

How much did things cost in 1952?

• A gallon of gas was $0.20
• A new car was $1700.00
• A new home cost $9050.0
• Average monthly rent was $80.00
• A pound of hamburger cost $0.53
• The average American earned $ 3850.00 yearly

Yup...1952 was a banner year.  I am glad I was born in 1952.  I am thrilled  to be alive in 2011.
I am so happy to have been a witness to so many wonderful things during my 59 years, but I am sticking to my guns...next year I will turn 21!!

Blizzard 2011

Today is Day 4 of the Oklahoma Blizzard.

Today is also Day 4 of being snowbound in my house.

Today is the day that I am going to leave my house, if only for a drive to Sonic for a Diet Dr. Pepper.

Bob has been out for short periods of times the past couple of days. Can you imagine that someone would call and want their heat fixed? Strange concept for such cold weather.

Yesterday, he got stuck in the drive and he had to chip snow from under the back tires to get traction. We were able to provide some excitement for the neighbors.  I am certain that everyone was glued to the window's taking bets as to which one of us would fall first.  We fooled them, we both stayed upright.

So, what do you do on snow days?  I don't know about you, but I have been totally productive.

I have worked on the income tax (a little bit.)   I have washed 2 whole loads of clothes.   I have made the bed daily (I do hate a wrinkled bed).   I have been on FaceBook.   I have read books on my Kindle. I have played Solitaire and Word Jumble ( a lot).  I have sorta cooked and have cleaned the kitchen.

My little feathery friends outside (the birds) have been flocking to the bird feeders.  I  bundled myself up and trudged over the snow drifts to the feeders.  No easy feat for an old lady.

My most noteworthy accomplishment has been to clean up the DVR.  To accomplish this, you have to sit on the sofa and watch all of the recordings and then delete them.  This job has completely worn me out. Trust me, this has required hours and hours of hard work.

Our puppies have resisted going out in the back yard much past the porch.  Bandit was being taunted by a squirrel yesterday and finally jumped the drift and chased that squirrel.  He then came into the house, laid down in front of the fireplace and slept the afternoon away.

While I have enjoyed my hectic and jam packed activities, I do have one question...as it is snowing...WHEN WILL THE SCHOOLS OPEN????????????