San Diego Recap: Flying Flour & $520 for the Humane Society

San Diego Recap: Flying Flour & $520 for the Humane Society.

Killer Deal: ‘Pizza for Good’ is Free This Week!

Killer Deal: ‘Pizza for Good’ is Free This Week!.

Cooking in Ireland: The Improvised Salmon Scramble

I had the pleasure of whipping up an improvised breakfast for our Ireland Study Abroad group, and a few people asked for the recipe. The wait is over!

I always look for unique ways to enjoy Boursin cheese, and since we had smoked salmon in the fridge while staying in Cashel, I decided to integrate the two into an improvised scramble. My version calls for more egg whites just because I prefer the taste and it’s a bit healthier (more protein) than using all the yolks.

Here goes:

The Smoked Salmon Scramble (to serve two)

Ingredients:

• 6 cage-free eggs (2 full eggs and four egg whites)
• 3 oz. of smoked salmon (sold in flat, sealed containers)
• 3 tbsp of Boursin cheese
• 1 tsp of Olive Oil or salted butter
• Mixed herb blend
• Salt & Pepper

Directions:

• Add eggs to a stainless-steel bowl, using two full eggs and whites from the other four
• Add salt, pepper and herbs to the eggs, beat mixture together
• Add olive oil or butter to pan, heat on medium
• Add egg mixture to heated pan and begin the fold eggs
• Add in salmon and break apart to ensure mixing with eggs
• Add in Boursin cheese and continue to cook
• Finish until partially firm – do not overcook!
• Serve with a basil garnish over a toast square

This is a quick and easy way to have a healthy breakfast – complete with a high protein count and the smooth taste of Boursin cheese. let me know if you make it at home and how you embellish. Enjoy!

(photo courtesy of Aroma Cookery)

The Power of Pillow Talk

As promised to some of ASU’s Ireland Study Abroad trip, here is my post on The Power of Pillow Talk, via EquallyWed. Money quote from Dr. Scott Conkright:

“How do you find time for each other that’s dedicated to the task of intimacy? Pillow talk is a great way to do that,” says Conkright. “It’s about saying to each other, ‘The time now is not about watching TV, not about whether we should get the roof redone, or any of those sorts of things. I want to know what’s going on with you, what you’re feeling, what your week’s been like.’ You want to let each other know what you’ve been thinking about.”

Take the time to end the day with a connection – not with your iPhone, with your significant other. You’ll thank me later. 😉

Enjoy!

An End to the Internet Desert

We’re back home on terra firma, and out of unpredictable Internet-connectivity land. We had occasional fits of wi-fi signals, but it was largely very difficult to post while in Ireland. I’ll follow up soon with some posts of picture greatest hits, more stuff about food and cheese, and some reviews of the places we visited.

Meantime, go to my Facebook profile for “Ireland from the iPhone” – a series of images I posted when I was able to connect. More soon!

“Looking Up in Cabra”

Looking upward on Cabra Castle‘s main staircase, this chandalier hangs from a gorgeous ceiling full of intricate painting and carving.

Our visit to Cashel Blue

This is the company’s younger version of its classic line of Irish blue cheese. For folks like me who shy away from the stinkier versions of this variety, Cashel Blue‘s less-aged line was delicious, creamy and only mild to the taste.

Some sad and strange happenings while on the trip

Robin Gibb has died at age 62. (image courtesy of The Sun)

I like to keep tabs on what happens in the rest of the world while on a trip – just to keep tethered to the “real world” as we explore new territory. Here are a few items so far:

– Rod Stewart flew with us on Delta to Shannon, Ireland, in “coach plus.” go figure. I walked past him in the airport and had no idea he was on the flight (my other co-flyers confirmed).

– Donna Summer passed away at a much-too-young 63. A very sad day for Disco-heads. She lost a battle with cancer.

– A Florida mom went on a lunatic rampage and killed her children and herself, sending a text message right before she did it. This type of crime is a scourge on our society.

More to follow I’m sure. Rod Stewart looked as good as he ever has – spiked white hair and a nice looking gal on his arm.

UPDATE: Robin Gibb, another in the iconic disco era as a member of the Bee Gees, has died. he was 62. he lost a brave fight with colon cancer yesterday.

Ireland 2012 Photostream

Follow this page for photo updates throughout our 2.5 week trip through the Irish countryside.

Three Simple Rules for B&B-going in Ireland (and anywhere)

Sign for a B&B (courtesy of gaelick.com)

1. Fornication. Don’t get so sexy that you wake up the entire house at 2 a.m. It sounded like they were “filming a porno” right in our hotel, as one of our group members put it. Great for them to have such passion, but know the limits of these paper-thin walls (and ceilings and floors). It’s beyond-all-reason inconsiderate. We lost an entire night’s sleep – and Jason had to march upstairs and pound on their door. I slept in the main-floor lounge for about an hour and that’s about it.

2. Proprietor hospitality. If you aren’t an accommodating person, don’t run a place of accommodation. It’s that simple. (Identical to the axiom of politics: if you hate government, stay out of policymaking.) They tried to pawn us off in the attic area where four bedrooms used one nasty bathroom. We were moved to a room with an en-suite bathroom, but the carpet is filthy and the windows don’t open. I write this after having learned about Irish immigrants being banished to steerage while trying to make it out of the country – by those standards, to be sure, we’re getting fanned by the pool at the Taj Mahal.

3. Internet. While 10 years ago wi-fi was a luxury, it is now a necessity. Our Cashel Town Hostel B&B has piss-poor connectivity – and, as a writer, I need that to do research and stay in communication with the outside world. Remember, travelers have a life at home that they are trying to manage while traveling abroad. The technology is there, it’s just the willingness of the host to make it work well.

Complaining is tricky business, and I don’t want to sound like a curmudgeon-grump. But these simple rules followed by all involved in the B&B business could make traveling much more enjoyable.

UPDATE: The visit to the Hostel/B&B improved considerably after the “porno-gate” fiasco, with a visit coordinated by the B&B owner to the local Cashel Blue plant outside of the city – as well as a general improvement in proprietor demeanor. All of the above still applies, though, but I thought I’d mention that sticking something out can actually pay off in the end, depending on the situation.