An Easter Quiche

 Yesterday being Easter Sunday, it was Tom's turn to drive north. We suggested a few things we might do - eating out was one of them - but Tom insisted that he'd rather stay in and enjoy each other's company and make our own meal.

 "I'll do everything," Tom said. "I'll have everything prepared and ready to go when I arrive." And so he did. He decided he was going to make quiche. That sounds good to both Mom and I. Initially he thought it would be nice if I made the crust. Both Mom and I told him we've been buying ready-made crusts in recent years (usually Kroger brand deep dish frozen pie crusts) but sometimes Pet Ritz. We found we couldn't do better.

 Tom even picked up a couple of crusts. These were Marie Callendar brand and they are excellent, even better than what we're used to.

 Tom arrived early ... about 10:15 am.

 Tom was laden with bags of foodstuffs.

 First step was to take the pie crusts and bake them for a while. It took about 15 minutes for both (which we placed on a cookie sheet) to begin to brown. These Marie Callendar crusts appear to be fresh dough. Tom let them thaw out on the way to Pinehaven.

 Tom's making a "Mushroom and Onion Quiche" from The No-Salt Cookbook (page 250). For the onions he substituted fresh asparagus and spinach. The spinach was a bag of frozen chopped spinach from Krogers. Tom sauteed the mushrooms and asparagus before leaving home. Meanwhile I heated the frozen spinach in a pan.

 After the crusts were baked, Tom added the mushrooms first, then spooned in the tender bright green asparagus tips.

 Now a layer of shredded gouda.

 And finally the spinach which has been heated and drained.

 There's never too much cheese, right?

 Finally it's time for the mixture that will become the central custard-like consistency of the quiche. This large bottle holds the eggs, milk and heavy cream along with a pinch of pepper. Tom didn't have nutmeg so we added that here. Tom beat the entire mixture before adding it to the quiche.

 He pours the rich creamy mixture on both  quiches. They'll now go to the oven: 350° for 40 minutes.

 While they're baking we improve on the time by washing the dishes. I wash and rinse; Tom dries.

 Time to check how well done the quiches are. Tom sticks a knife into the custard and it comes up almost clean. "Let's give it a few more minutes," he said. Tom has done this before.

 Then, just shy of 45 minutes, they're done. We've baked them on a cookie sheet to guard against any spill-over but there is none. They look perfect.

 Now it's time for more cheese. It quickly melts across the top.

 Viola! The completed quiche.

 Tom cuts it carefully ...

 ... and scoops out the first slice. Perfect! Tom cut the pie into eight pieces: Tom and I each had three. Mom had two (she ate a bowl of soup about 9:30 am).

 Though I offered to buy dessert (Mom and I ended up supplying slaw, drinks and a homemade cheese ball and various crackers), Tom insisted he had something in mind and would be taking care of it. He came in with a gorgeous Strawberry Crunch Cake from Kroger's. The "crunch" is provided by a layer of something (toasted coconut would be my guess) along the outside edge of the cake. Though Tom isn't a fan of strawberries, the thick layer of whipped cream on top commands his attention.

 Tom, in fact, said he once walked into a Kroger's where they had made too many of these and had them on a table with a price of $3.99 each. He took one home and ate the whole thing himself.

 Thus our delicious Easter meal and was made and consumed. What a special day. We played a game of Michigan Rummy (I won; sorry, Tom), scanned some childhood pictures of Tom and watched two TV programs I had recorded. We also carried a fence section out of the barn and placed it on the porch near where it will be installed. It's far too heavy for me to move alone.

 All told, a great day and, like every other one, it went too fast. Easter 2015 left us with full bellies and warm memories. That's a particularly delicious combination.

Daffodila

 Every year, we anticipate the arrival of spring with our daffodils. I've recounted the story many times. I placed clumps of bulbs in the meadow just north of the house and I've watched them expand over the years. I remember those early years when there were only a few blooms. This year there are literally dozens.

The end result - this beautiful bouquet

 It all started back on March 11 when we had our first warm day (61°) and I was itching to see whether the daffodils had yet punched above the ground. When I found a few clumps of weeds and leaves lifted above the level, I knew what it meant. I brushed them aside with my hand and this is what I saw ...

March 11

 Now, follow along as the stalks grow, produce buds and finally erupt into full bloom:

March 16 

March 25 

March 31 

April 1 

April 1 - The first bud opens later in the day

April 4 - an explosion of color!

April 4 - we also have a clump or two of whites

 This is the same day as last year when we found the daffodils in luxurious bloom. The bouquet I picked and which Mom placed in a blue vase is the first picture posted today. We'll have a few days - maybe a week if the weather is kind - to enjoy these and then the flowers will die back and the meadow's weeds will again take over. Daffodils, it seems, have no more than a month when they are even visible to us, but a glorious time it is.

Italian Food, Contemporary Art

 It's Sunday, March 29, and I'm in Cincinnati for an afternoon with Tom. Originally we thought we'd eat at Chipotle's. I'm always a fan of Mexican food and I love their bean burrito. But Tom's been having some digestive issues and I thought it'd be better if we chose something a little closer to Italy. So we chose LaRosa's Pizza in Clifton.

 The area seems nice enough, though Tom said it was once a high-crime area. Storefronts are clean and new and security cameras monitor the streets (more on that later).

 We arrived early enough - before noon - and there was only one other customer that I noticed. The waitress seated us at a table near the window and we enjoyed the blue-sky view while we looked at the menu.

 The calzones caught my eye. They offer one where you pick three veggies. Cheese is already included. I chose mushrooms, green olives and artichokes. Tom decided spaghetti with plain tomato sauce fit the bill. We both ordered beautiful salads.

 The good window lighting seemed to highlight my whitening hair (the gray days are over apparently). What about that ghostly cowlick at the right rear of my head? My teeth now remind me of how my Dad's mouth looked (though he wore dentures).

 While waiting for our meals we sipped water from light green CocaCola glasses.

 Here's a good close-up of Tom, I think.

 The salads were gorgeous ... fresh lettuce of at least two kinds, olives (green and black), red onions, cherry tomatoes and shredded cheese. I chose an Italian dressing to compliment the meal. Tom picked a mustard-based dressing that looked equally delicious.

 The calzone was plate-sized and perfectly browned. I never located an artichoke, though. Maybe I didn't look close enough? And I'd have preferred the tomato sauce be provided hot. But actually the meal was wonderful and I'd head back there in a moment.

  Here's Tom's spaghetti with marinara and slices of bread with melted cheese atop. Very nice.

 How did my calzone look inside? Full of melted provolone (I had a choice) with liberal amounts of olives and mushrooms. I was still looking for an artichoke, though.

 After the meal we were each given a peppermint.

 As we left, I look a picture of the camera attached to a metal arch that spans Vine Street (see the next shot for a wide view). The camera is placed midway on that span. Big Brother is watching!

 A look back up Vine Street as we walked to the car. LaRosa's is at the left side of this shot, just past the red, white and green sign.

 From there we headed towards downtown Cincinnati. This is still Vine Street. The Kroger building is on the left; on the right is Macy's.  In the far distance the highest building is the Carew Tower. It's 49 stories tall. We're on the way to the Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center which Tom understands offers free admission on Sunday's in March.
 Unfortunately they don't. At least not this Sunday. Neither one of us wanted to pay the $7.50 admission charge so I sat down on one of their sofas while Tom made a trip to the basement restroom.

 That sofa mid-shot is my destination for the short wait.

 Once seated I turn back around and photograph the entrance and the registration desk (right). One very nice note is that a young woman (Laura) walks over to me and says that the hotel next door and a shop offer free admission and some of Cincinnati's contemporary art is displayed there. Thanks, Laura! That was a friendly and welcome bit of advice.

 This is the main door to the CAC. A bright neon sign marks the entrance.

 These steps head downstairs. That's where Tom is at the moment. He said the restroom was as modern as the rest of the building: automatic toilets with plenty of chrome. I wish I had checked them out (and even taken pictures).

 This artwork hung above me. It appears to be bent copper tubing on the outside and bright white LED lighting in the center piece.

 The building across the street is equally contemporary and shouts color. This window view was free, too.

 After walking through the nearby shop and hotel, we walked to the next corner and entered the Weston Art Gallery. Again, it's contemporary art.

 Many of today's artists are using LCD panels to display colorful images that change constantly. This artwork makes use of lenses, too.

 How about this one? A video is displayed on the wall and toilets are lined up as "seats".

 And driftwood on a wall ...

 This artwork was on  the floor of a darkened room and a spotlight shone down from above. The image and color constantly changed. The effect was one of sticks floating on water. Sometimes the display was quite bright; other times it faded away to nothingness.

 I'd love to show this collage to our electrician.

 This display was  made of bottle caps in various colors.
 We followed up with a tour of Findlay Market, a favorite stop.