Sing with me…”Do you see what I see?”

On a recent walk over to the ice cream shop (better known as 31 Flavors) this caught the eye of the Mrs. – I must say good eye.  However, lucky as we may have been there was no other sign of evidence…it vanished through the window pane portal…

Welcome to Life on the Grid!

Peas Out!

~Cameron

This is the first of many to be posts for #fnr (Friday Night Ritual) where we pair up some of the finest cigars with divine cocktails.  In other words, it’s Friday the kids are in bed and the adults are chilling out – Life on the Grid!

This weeks pairing is from a local friend here in the Valley, Pablo Enchinton of Pana Cigars.  I first stumbled across Pana Cigars at Maduros Fine Cigars and then with a bit of further research connected with him on Twitter and Facebook.

I must say, I am a fan of the Connecticut Especial and particularly enjoy it with a fine brown ale.  If you really want to top it off, light up the grill, toss on a few steaks and share the ‘Moment’.  That is in fact how Pablo would like you to enjoy his cigars; ‘For the Moment’.

Pana is definitely one of the up and coming cigar boutique makers here in the desert southwest!  If you are in search of a nice Dominican blend you will not be disappointed with his selection as he maintains full control of the blending process.

Welcome to Life on the Grid!

Peas Out!

~Cameron

]]> http://peasandbananas.com/22/pana-cigars-and-newcastle-brown-ale-fnr/feed/ 0 http://peasandbananas.com/18/booism-4/ http://peasandbananas.com/18/booism-4/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 04:16:05 +0000 cameron http://peasandbananas.com/?p=212  

“That my friend is awesome!” #lilboo

This was repeated back to me this evening as apparently I say this every time #lilboo scores perfect on his spelling tests – even when I give him a practice exam.  I can’t help being positive with him, he’s my boy!

Peas Out!

~Cameron

Oh, how I am just speechless right now…

Please leave your thoughts as I am not a sports fan by any means…

Why on earth would you put a gigantic blow up doll on your front lawn?

Welcome to Life on the Grid!

Peas Out!

~Cameron

I might as well own up to it…this is the closest I’ll get to camping.  Seriously, I look forward to my first colonoscopy more than a camping trip.  At least my hemorrhoids will benefit by finally being itched…ahhh such a lovely visual…

Really, I am not a fan of camping.  I prefer the comforts of home, or a nice resort – you know with amenities like a hot shower, sinks, toilet, pool side umbrella drinks, golf the list could go on and on…I’ve been urbanized beyond belief…it’s this thing called, ‘Life on the Grid‘.  I’m ruined!

What’s the point you might ask?  Lil Boo loves the outdoors – there’s so much that he is able to learn by trekking out and about – an inquisitive mind he has.  From bees to digging up treasure rocks – there is an adventure around every corner.  Quite frankly, I love the outdoors as well – in a controlled environment aka the backyard.  Our backyard is a life long work in progress, ultimately to become our own little oasis – one of these days years.  The wife has her Provence garden with fountain, I have the citrus trees (though only the orange produces any fruit), Italian Cypress (I’m obsessed over these), nice patio to enjoy our #fnr, bonfire pit along with a whole lot of ‘still to do‘ mixed in there.  Damn I sound like some urbanized freak.

Anyhow I spent the afternoon with Lil Boo in the Backyard Safari Base Camp.  Entirely protected of course by our block walls – we wouldn’t want to be ambushed by a bear now would we?!  He was having such a blast!  Scavenging for treasure rocks, spying on bees through binoculars collecting pollen from the french lavender bushes to using the base camp as a new goal to play soccer…ah good times!  All of this of course until the breeze kicked up and put a chill in the air (you know…brought the temps down to 70 degrees) and then we vanished inside our casa de la abode of stucco and cranked the heat up while enjoying lunch…

Yes, life on the grid…isn’t it grand?!

Peas Out!

~Cameron

Stumbling through past photos, I just happened to come across an old one.  Well not really that old….but hey it seems long enough in my humble opinion.  Not only that, it identifies with the point of the series – ‘Walks with Dad – A Photo Journal.’

The photo you see above (modified of course) is one of my all time favorites.  It makes me cherish the time I have with him.  They grow up fast!  Lil Boo is older and taller now, however he still enjoys going on walks with his dad – and that is all that matters to me!

Even if you do not have an online education in photography, you can appreciate this.

Welcome to Life on the Grid!

Peas Out!

~Cameron

“Dang Cameron I can’t believe you are acting like a two year old!” #lilboo

*A response after seeing my reaction towards the garbage disposal seizing. – #busted

Peas Out!

~Cameron

Carrying on this new weekend trend.  Lil Boo and I tackled the kitchen to make some amazing Lemon Bars.  I might just have to get him enrolled in culinary arts classes from universities online.  In fact, we think they are so amazing we named them the Lemony Lemon Lemon Bars (with a raised eye-brow of course).  We then decided to make them even more amazing by adding a twist (or two) of Limoncello.  We hope you enjoy!  Happy New Year Friends!

Ingredients:

Crust

• 6 tbsp. butter
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 tbsp. baker’s sugar
• dash of sea salt

Filling

• 2/3 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
• 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
• 2 large eggs
• dash of sea salt
• 2-3 shots Limoncello
• powdered sugar (for dusting the top after its cooled)

Directions

Crust

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
2. Line an 8-inch square pan with heavy foil – extending over the sides.
3. Melt butter.
4. In a medium bowl – stir flour, sugar and salt in with melted butter until crumbly.
5. Press mixture firmly into bottom of pan (we used the bottom of the measuring cup – hey it’s ad-lib we’re boys).
6. Bake for 15-20 minutes – or until golden brown and smells yummy!
7. Let cool for 5 minutes (leave the oven on).

Filling

1. In a large bowl – whisk until blended and bubbly – fresh squeezed lemon juice, sweetened condensed milk, eggs and limoncello if desired.
2. Pour over crust.
3. Bake for 20-25 minutes – looking for the center to set up.
4. Let cool completely (refrigeration is a must!).
5. Once cooled, lift foil with lemon bars intact and put on a flat surface.
6. Dust with powdered sugar.
7. Cut into squares and serve – preferable cold (suggestion: 30 minute blast in the freezer before serving).

Just like that, you will have an amazing tart and tangy batch of lemony lemon lemon bars with a limoncello twist!

Welcome to Life on the Grid!

Peas Out!

~Cameron

Apparently the pain must have become worse!  If you recall in last weeks, Walks with Dad post it wasn’t funny anymore.  Now they have gone all out with technology!  I am half tempted to ask if they are live streaming somewhere, now that would be interesting!

The funny or not so funny part (depending on how you look at it)  is listening to an almost six year old riding his bike saying “shit, shit, shit” over and over again (the politeness of  saying “crap” has left the building)…I could only imagine the conversations at school once winter break is over…ahh the phone call to be…

Welcome to Life on the Grid!

Peas Out!

~Cameron

“I’m not going to get married, but I will have a girlfriend. Actually, I already have one, her name is Veronica she’s in my class and she’s from England… we are going to move to South America.” #lilboo

Peas Out!

~Cameron