We're rich! Plus a contest

In our seemingly unending moving, I have found the following in foreign currency:

- 57 Brazilian Reais
- 5 British Pounds
- 220 Mexican Pesos
- 25 Canadian Dollars
- 100 Costa Rican Colones
- 10 Turkish Lira
- 5 New Zealand Dollars
- 50 Euros

... and that's not even counting the coins or the Australian money we have.

Any one want to guess (not using a currency converter) truly guess how much it's worth in US Dollars?? I'll send a prize to the closest person who I don't think cheated.

Loyalty

I don't know what it is, but I have some unnatural attachment to whatever grocery store I patronize. It could be that we move so often the grocery store is one place I can kind of get attached to - I end up going there at least 2-3 times per week, sometimes more. After all, that is even more frequently than we go to church...

Anyway, we have a few different options for grocery stores here in the South. We have Harris Teeter (expensive but good produce), Kroger (good price, very close, valet valet?!? parking), and Publix (expensive, but what CO grew up with, and a thirty minute drive). All three are chain stores, and Kroger is pretty good, so we've been going there. There are actually two Krogers that are probably the same distance away from each other and we refer to them as "our Kroger" and "the ghetto Kroger." The ghetto Kroger is in the worse part of town and has a completely different aura about it. It attracts a different social strata. The produce isn't quite as nice. The store is dirtier. We don't go to that one very often, elitists that we are... ;)

This week, we're getting a new Publix which is about a block closer than the Kroger. Publix is sometimes a little more expensive than Kroger most of the time, but has good sales. CO LOVES Publix. Loves them. But strangely enough, I feel some loyalty to Kroger, who has been there for me. How can I switch from the grocery store I know and love to another? Perhaps I'll go there to visit, but I still want my Kroger to be my grocer.

Thai anyone??

Now that we're in our new house and (kind of) settled in, I'm anxious to try making some Thai food. Anyone have any easy Thai recipes? Pad Thai or Pad See Eew? Lemongrass chicken?

My new favorite...

Buttered Linguine with Romano, Tomatoes, and Basil - from Confections of a FoodieBride

1/2 lb Linguine
2 Tbsp butter, melted
1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper
2 Roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
2 Tbsp basil, chopped/chiffonade
3/4 cup Pecorino Romano, finely grated
Salt, to taste

Cook pasta 6-8 minutes, or until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining.

Toss hot pasta in a large bowl with butter, pepper, tomatoes, basil, and cheese. Add 1/4 cup pasta water and toss to moisten. Add additional water if necessary. Salt to taste and serve immediately.

Yields: 3 servings (entree)
Source: Heavily revised from Everyday Pasta, 2007


Julie's notes:

• I used pre-grated Parmesan (the kind in a green "can") once in a pinch, and it worked ok, not great.
• I like to let the pasta cool just a little before adding the cheese. I found I got lumpy, stringy, melted cheese otherwise. I like sprinkling it on just before serving.
  

Return to Wordless Wednesday (WW)

CO surfing.

We will now return to the regularly scheduled broadcast

The travels are over. We're... I'm unpacking. We're back in the city in the South, and CO started school last Monday. Thank heaven, internet was installed this afternoon.

Hopefully I will return to blogging normally.

Anyone still read this? Dad?

Things we'll miss about OZ

CO and I made some lists to help process our return to the US.

Here's our "things we'll miss about OZ" list

• People - another list to come
  
• Bells sessions
• AFL (Aussie Football League) - especially the Western Bulldogs
• Taking trams - in particular #16 and #96
• The Esplanade and our apartment there
• The Prahran Market and the Pasta shop there (yummy gnocchi!)
• Great wine easily accessible
• Docklands church
• Bunnings, Woolworths/Safeway, and Qantas commercials
• The train to Werribee
• Visiting our aunt and uncle's farm in Murgheboluc
• Excellent Thai food
• Coopers beer
• Kath & Kim (the Aussie version)
• Currency exchange rate! (instant 30% discount!)
• Sales tax & tip included in prices
• Glen from the morning show and his "infomercials" every 10 minutes
• Albert Park & Albert Park Lake
• Today Tonight with Anna Coren, Matt White, and that new girl
• Rove!!
• Living "simply" - only 2 bags each!
• St. Kilda sunsets
• Little penguins on the St. Kilda pier
• Great fish - yummy!
• Traveling, exploring a new place
• Shortening words in the Aussie way (ie breakfast = brekky, biscuit = bikkie)
• The mx (the free paper on the public transport) & "easy" Sudoku there that we can't finish
• The people at the internet cafes
• The buskers outside Safeway (Reub's in particular - "the first cut is the deepest")
• Kettles in every apartment or hotel room