rubistudios.com

Things about Toronto:

• It is very cold in June
• and over cast
• our friends live there
• hot dog vendors sell veggie dogs
• lots of vintage shops
• and Lush
• always free gravy

     
The control group: In the south, we have palmetto bugs, which is a very cute name for a very large version of a cockroach. I have been told they are not near as insidious as their German cousins, who are tiny and colonize a house. Palmetto bugs have a body that is no smaller than one inch, not including their massive, copious and hairy legs, and mostly live outside. They will try their darnedest to get inside, especially when it is raining a tropical storm outside.

The Scientists: Johnny, my Rock Star consuming exterminator, is doing the lords work in ridding the greater Savannah area of such unholy creatures, but even he admits that summer is the busy season for Palmetto Bugs. Johnny stops by every month or two and via the wonder of chemicals, attempts to rid my premises of the demon bugs. He is mostly very successful, the only ones I see are dead ones.
The Laboratory: Somehow, in all of the rain we have had, the pride of the cockroach litter found his way into my bathtub. It is important to note that my bathtub, circa 1970, is a very compelling shade of electric avocado green, so how could he resist? It is also important to note that I was not occupying the bathtub at the time.

The Situation: Palmetto bugs have wings and can fly. Upon hearing a sound behind me, I investigated said electric avocado green bathtub and confirmed my suspicions that there was a large Palmetto bug in there. He was not even close to being dead, which surprised me. I had no bug spray to hand, and did not want to risk leaving the room, thus giving him the opportunity to escape and lurk not far from where I plan to sleep, very soon.

The solution: Whilst still carrying on a conversation with my sister, I glanced around the room for a suitable instrument of death. I ruled out blunt force or squashing, as I was afraid a motivated journey around the bathtub would give my little friend the impetus to make it over the walls of the tub. I looked around at shelves full of product, and immediately discounted almost all of them . Listerine? could work, but with no means of propulsion, I would have to pour it on him. Perfume? I am not sure if there is enough man power between Paul Smith, Issey Miyake and Marc Jacobs to kill a cockroach the size of a turkey. Mousse? Hairspray? I suspected this cockroach was strictly a gel and wax kind of creature. Hairspray might piss him off, make him feisty. On the bottom shelf, next to seasons 4,5,&6 of Gilmore Girls stood a spray bottle of Mountain Berry Windex. I picked it up and had at him. I sprayed like there is no tomorrow and Palmy, the Palmetto bug, kept running in circles and trying to get up the sides of the tub. It didn’t slow him down at all, just chased him. Clearly I needed another solution.

Enter X-14. I hate cleaning the tub, hence, do it rather infrequently, hence, require a cleaning product with muscle. Little did I know that muscle in X-14 is a death grip. Now I have a very clean bathtub, albeit one containing a dead yet streak free Palmy.

Fast and easy, a great picnic companion to Thai Shrimp Salad

In a small saucepan, simmer for five minutes and remove from heat to cool:

• 1/4 cup vinegar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1/4 cup sugar
• pinch of salt

Meanwhile combine in a bowl:

• 3-5 cucumbers, peeled, halved, sliced 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick
• 1/2 cup red onion, chopped
• 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped

Combine with dressing. refridgerate if desired. Just before serving, mix in:

• 1 cup chopped dry roasted peanuts

For extra zing, add red pepper flakes to dressing.

For a relish version, great on grilled chicken or fish (salmon) chop cucumber (maybe add chopped mango) spoon on desired protein and sprinkle with chopped peanuts.

yummy and easy, goes great alongside cool as a cucumber salad.
combine and let marinate overnight or a few hours in the fridge:

• 2 pounds cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined (tail on ok)
• 1/4 cup lemongrass, thinly sliced
• 3 shallots, thinly sliced
• 1 Tablespoon Kaffir lime leaves thinly sliced*
• 1/2 cup fresh mint, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup green onion, thinly sliced
• 1-2 fresh red chilis, deseeded and chopped (based on heat preference
• 3 Tablespoon fish sauce (asian section of grocery store)
• 3 Tablespoon fresh lime juice

Serve individually on a bed of lettuce, or in a bowl/platter with lettuce.

*This are pretty hard to find, but have an amazing distinct flavor. They woudl be in the fresh herb section of your local gourmet market. In a bind, use the same amount of lime zest.

Okay, not really a frittata, per se, but really easy and tastes good. For elegant presentation, make them in mini muffin pans.

350 degrees, oil 8×11 or 9×12 pan

Combine:

• 3 cups shredded zucchini
• 4 eggs
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 grated cheese ( parmesan, sharp cheddar or feta)
• 1/2 cup veggie oil
• 1 cup biscuit mix
• 1/2 teaspoon marjoram or thyme or oregano (or all three)
• 1 teaspoon parsley
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Pour into lightly oiled pan. Bake 25 mins, less for mini muffin cups