Buffalo, NY....home of the Buffalo Bills, Anchor Bar (first hot wings), and Wegman's (if you don't know about this outrageous store, look it up on the web--a foodie's fantasia!!). Also home to Gary & Barbara Carlson, and family home to Roy, Gary's brother and my hubby. So, last week we headed to Buffalo for the Carlson Family Reunion.
I can't tell you how much I enjoyed the flight. After losing 100+ pounds, my butt and thighs did not have indentations from the chair arms, there was actually inches between me and them affording me a most comfortable ride. I also could put the tray table down and extend it all the way toward me without it resting helter skelter on my belly and thighs facilitating actually being able to sit my drink there without it sliding down and spilling on my crotch and clothing. And last, but certainly not least, there was no seatbelt extension to be seen. Not only did I not need it, there was at least a foot and possibly more of a tail on it when I cinched it up to "fit snuggly over the lower part of your hips" as instructed in the pre-flight safety directions. I could actually bend over and put my head between my knees in case the flight needed to ditch itself, and I could get up and cruise the aisles, thus minimizing the possiblity of blood clots--or even better wet pants from not being able to get to the bathroom on time. Whoo hooooo....I'm all ready and willing to fly again. Not that I enjoy flight risks--take offs and landings are always tense for me, but being able to snooze on a red-eye to Detroit from Phoenix was fantastic. So bring on those flights!!
We were met at the airport by Gary & Barbara and taken to their beautiful home. They have been working like troopers since February on the house. They have painted all the rooms, shampooed carpets, redecorated, and beautified both the house and the yards, working long hours and doing the work themselves. Their home was always beautiful, but is like something out of HGTV's best of the best programs now. The colors are classy and the paint jobs professional. There are still things they want to do, but as we all know who own or have ever owned homes, that's an on-going process. But in the future they are looking at a sale and a new adventure probably living in Seattle near their son Gregory part of the year. And with what they have done, they are sure to get top price and loving new residents. Of course their knowledge of real estate, being agents themselves, serve them well.
So after dropping our luggage and pulling things out of the bags, Barbara and I take a trip to Wegman's. Okay, this is my idea of heaven folks. A HUGE market, a place where you purchase fresh organically grown produce not only that purchased from local farmers to sustain the local economy and avoid long haul shipping, but also those grown by Wegman's on their own local farms using organic and sustainable principals. It was like a beautiful painting with the fantastic colors and types of fresh fruits and vegetables displayed so artistically. Then you continue through the store and find fresh breads and pastries baked on the premises; a sushi bar with sushi chefs preparing their masterpieces using the freshest and fresh caught fish from local fishermen; the cheese counters with cheeses from around the world; the meat and fish counters with organic beef, chicken, and fresh fresh fish of the best value and choices; along with vendors where you can sample their products and they show you how to prepare all kinds of dishes with sauces, spices and herbs they carry right there in the store. It was a destination to itself. I understand there are other Wegman's in the Eastern U.S., so if you ever get to experience them, do it!! You can judge for yourself if I have been over enthusiastic about this place, but I don't think you'll find that to be true. By all means, if you go, let me know what you think.
While there, purchased a couple of loaves of an exceptional Batard Italian bread with sun dried tomatoes and roasted garlic. This was to be cut up and served with olive oil & balsamic vinegar dipping sauce. I put the oil and vinegar into a low shallow dish and used dried sweet basil flakes and a bit of Italian seasoning stirred into the mixture. It was phenomenal on the bread! Also bought some other items, but at this point can't remember what. We sampled their organic beef burger, grilled wild caught salmon, and a couple of salads--all were so fresh and so flavorful I was sorry I was going to have to go back to Prescott and eat the food available at local markets.
There's one thing about older cities in the East like Buffalo that would be my mainstay in life if we lived there--ethnic grocery stores abound. We went to a local Lebanese store & bakery where Barbara purchased fresh pita bread--white and whole wheat--and Tahini. The pita was sliced into wedges and served with the most fantastic flavored hummus I've ever tasted. The Tahini was used in the hummus and gave it a rich nutty flavor that I've never achieved when I made it using olive oil. I WILL be sharing this recipe with you coming up, and I will be searching for this wonderful tahini to use in future batches of hummus being made by yours truly. Thanks Barb for sharing this with me and my blog friends!
As a bonus, we not only are getting to visit Gary & Barbara, but we get to share their son Gary, his wife Becky, and two adorable children, John (4) and Alissa (2). Plus, since Jason has taken a job in Pittsburg and is in a hotel for a few weeks until he can obtain occupancy in their new home there and get his family back with him (probably looking at mid-August), he came up Friday night and joined the festivities, meeting his Carlson uncles and aunts and cousins. Plus having time with me and Roy. He arrived Friday night around 8:30pm and joined all of us in getting together that first night. John John and Alissa took to the big guy and his fun ways with children immediately and the rest of the weekend attached themselves to him repeatedly. With Jason's boys being in AZ and missing his family, I'm sure they helped curb some of the loneliness he's feeling being so far from them, and they adored his playfulness and bigger than life personality. What a great beginning to a monumental weekend.
The reunion was a gas. Although it was set to be outside on the patio, and Gary worked all morning to clean up, set up and ready the patio and breezeway for the food and people, at 2:55pm, the rains came. So, all was moved inside, with the exception of the grill. It was put outside in the front of the garage. This is where the chicken--fresh, plump, juicy, organic chicken from a local butcher--was cooked. After Barbara marinated it in Italian dressing, Jason proceeded to grill it to perfection. Brown and grill marked on the outside, even the chicken breasts were moist and done to perfection...not under done, not over done. Everyone loved it.
Besides chicken, hummus & pita, nuts, and salad, others brought their dishes also. I made steamed cauliflower with nacho sauce...quick, easy, and even kids love it. There was a wonderful brocolli salad, potatoes, potato salad, cookies, and other dishes all came together for a stupendous gastronomic delight. Visiting with cousins and Roy's aunts...Lucille, Harriet and Daisy who are 90, 86 and 89 respectively...was the best part of the day. Seeing everyone I had not seen in 12 years, since Roy's 40th class reunion, was wonderful. And Roy's girlfriend from elementary school, Paul Welch Jack, even came over and joined the fun. There was singing, laughter, conversations, photos taken, and good times by all. It was especially wonderful to have Jason there fitting right in with everyone, and being loved by the aunties.
The next day a trip to the marina for the Garden Walk, joined by Jason, Gary II, Becky, Alissa, and John John, with lots of picture taking, lots of beautiful weather, more pictures, ice cream, and lunch together, came to an end with Jason leaving to go back to Pittsburgh, and the rest of us going to Gary II's house, where we went to the Canal Days on the Erie Canal's beginning at the Niagara River. There were carnival rides, carnival food, and amazing fireworks. They were non stop...it was like the entire show was the finale. Not only did the kids enjoy it, but so did all the adults.
At the end of the evening, we all retired knowing it would be a very early morning, as our plane was scheduled to leave at 8:00 a.m. We were there in plenty of time..it was delayed for over an hour and a half! But we didn't miss our connection...even though it was close and they were holding it for us....and we arrived in hot hot hot Phoenix on time. 115 degrees and miserable. It is such a hell hole. In a way, I'm glad Jason & his family won't be living there any more. It's a horrible shit pit...hot, crime, gangs, traffic, smog--just the armpit of the world as far as I'm concerned. But we got our car, the people gave us bottles of nice cold water, and we escaped back up to mountains in Prescott and cooler climes. So many memories, so many photos to put through Adobe Photoshop, and just a few days of rest before going back to work. But with me I have brought you the recipe for the best tasting Hummus I've ever had in my life. Thanks Barbara!
BARBARA CARLSON'S HUMMUS
4 cans garbanzo beans (chick peas)
Drain 3 cans, but keep the juice from 1 can
1 Level T. salt
Add juice from 1/2 lemon
3 lg cloves garlic
dash of black pepper
Puree all in large food processor until smooth, then add 4 T. Tahani.
Becky drizzles EVO on the top & tad cayenne or paprika to make it look nice in a bowl. Also can sprinkle freshly chopped parsley on top for color.
Serve with pitas cut into wedges. They can be soft, or baked until golden brown and cripsy. Your choice!
