Tucson - the nesting process

My last posts have been about setting up our new outdoor kitchen and settling in to Tucson.  There has been a steady stream of cooking which I’m thoroughly enjoying.  I’ve pulled out the cookbooks and my ‘recipe’ folder looking for new, fun things to try – especially those that have ingredients that are already in my pantry! We’ve enjoyed most of them.  I even pulled out some cookie recipes that I haven’t made since Tom and I have been together! Remembrances of the past for sure!

Pam and I  peeling the chilis.

We had friends from Vashon Island, Pam and Tim, come by for a few days.  For the past seven years, they’ve traveled the south, in their Westfalia, to avoid the rain and gloom of the Pacific Northwest.  Pam and I have enjoyed cooking together and jumped right back into it.  Side by side grilling and then whipping up a batch of her Shrimp chili rellenos with homemade tomatillo sauce. The guys were very happy and readily agreed to make the run to the store for margarita mixings!

 

At the top of Brown Mountain, my 'kick my butt' hike. 

We’ve also settled in to Tucson a bit more.  I’ve been joining the Thursday hiking group here at the park.  I’ve been on 4 or 5 hikes all around the area.  A couple of easy ones and a kick my butt one last week!  All good, all fun, and all through varying, pretty, desert country.  I’ve met a few more people from the park, and am starting to be able to put names to the faces I see.  

 

Pam resting on a hike

Unlike with boats that have a name, it’s hard to connect people to their trailer or rig, especially when you might meet them out on their own walk, far from their RV.  Even though we call our rig “Eagles Nest”, it’s not written anywhere on it, so people don’t know.  Suffice it to say, it’s very hard to remember people’s names without a boat!

We have made a couple of short trips around the area, and Tom is still seeking out birds.  He’s decided that he’s doing an Arizona and Pima county birding list this year.  It’s definitely more mellow than last years. 

1/3 of 25 pounds!

1/3 in the bath....

Last week we met a couple from our park, also birders, at the Audubon Paton Center for Hummingbirds in Patagonia, about an hour and half drive from here.  Yes, it was a 5 am wake up, to be out the door by 5:30!  We had fun visiting with them, the three of them eagerly watched, counted and tracked the little feathered guys.   As they were leaving they mentioned they were heading to Nogales, AZ, close to the border, to take advantage of a program allowing a person to purchase 80 pounds of produce for $5.00.  Yes, FIVE dollars.  It’s a mystery as to what will be available.  I offered to share the 80 pounds with her, and we headed off to our next destination.

When we got home later that evening a box with 25 pounds of Roma tomatoes was sitting on our outside table! Tomatoes were the only thing available! As Tom is allergic to raw tomatoes, we weren’t going to be eating them on sandwiches and salads!    

 

the rest of them on the grill!

I ended up grilling all of them, along with a few onions and some red peppers.  I then peeled and seeded them, saving the juice that dripped out. I put them all in a pan, cooked them for a while and finally, after some seasoning, canned 6 pints of fire roasted diced tomatoes, and 3 pints of tomato sauce. My sauce is pretty thin, but will be perfect to add to a lasagna made with the no bake noodles.  

Today is Monday, a clean slate and menu…. What to do next?