New Orleans 2010

ALL ABOARD!?

Amtrak Station New Orleans, LA
Boarded Amtrak’s Crescent along with my traveling companions for a visit to The Big Easy, New Orleans, Louisiana. I hadn’t been on a passenger train since I was a child. I was surprised at the roomy leg space and the ability to recline without my head ending up in some stranger’s lap.

I have to admit some things about it have changed. But, that’s to be expected after so many years. I really enjoyed it. Box lunches from Honeybaked Ham were distributed by our travel agent before boarding and they were delicious.

The following day we had a guided windshield tour of the “Paris of the Americas”. Since we didn’t leave the coach (bus) these pictures may have a bit of a reflection. Parade route taken during Mardi Gras. Numerous strands of beads still hang in the trees.

Our guide was very knowledgeable and a native New Orleanian giving us the history and the trivia of the sites seen. I won’t list all of the places we saw but here are some: This FEMA trailer was home for so many after the hurricane.
Though Fats Domino no longer lives here, this is his home and the production studio he had next to it. Our guide states that he lives elsewhere.


We saw the homes that Brad Pitt has been building through his Make It Right program After visiting the 9th Ward talking with its residents following Katrina, Pitt vowed to rebuild 150, green, storm resistant ,houses.


This home is designed to float if flood waters get too high. A new kind of ark.
The homes aren't free. Residents must pay for them but at a cost they can afford. Though stylishly built, they don't appear to be built for the handicapped. How is a person in a wheelchair supposed to mount those steps?

The cemeteries of New Orleans are a tour within themselves. There is magnanimous history and tradition behind New Orleans funerals.
One thing I do remember the guide saying is that a tomb can be rented. Families also reuse tombs. How’s that for recycling?

World War II MuseumVisiting a huge museum for real enthusiasts takes more than just an hour. Because of schedule and time restraints I couldn’t really drink it all in the way I like to when visiting a museum.
The Solomon Victory Theatre across from the museum presents an IMAX, 4D, surround sound interactive presentation of Beyond All Boundaries.The seats vibrate during tank and bomb simulations. Snow falls from the ceiling while a lonely soldier huddles next to a crackling fire in a snow drenched field. And you can hear the crackles and smell the smoke. There’s more but I won’t spoil it for you. This is the best interactive presentation I have ever seen.
From our lunch cruise on the Steamboat Natchez the captain pointed out several spots of interest. Among them:
Domino Sugar is manufactured in New Orleans.

Hopper barges

are non mechanical storage containers on water. They can't be moved without the assistance of a ship's tow.
Ms. Harriett at the New Orleans School of Cooking dazzled us with cooking and conversation. She prepared a corn and crab bisque, Jambalaya, Bananas Foster(she even made it flame), and Pralines. Her presentation was similar to that of a cooking show on the Food Channel. The food was delicious.

Street Performers Human Statue. Uncle Louie
Street Musician

This Human Statue is similar to Robo-Tron.

THAT'S IT***

I hate exercise !



Getting in and out of the back seat of a car involves me unfolding myself slowly allowing each body part to get adjusted to the new position . A friend was saying that she now exercises in the morning after arising. She says that it has tremendously helped the hip pain she'd been having. In an attempt to keep the joints lubricated I've been doing a few rotations of the body parts before getting out of bed.

The Movie Stop Game Stop store sells pre-owned DVDs and games. I purchased two DVDs. One was Leslie Sansone Walk ???( She has several walking DVDs)and the other was Weight Loss Pilates. How can I go wrong at $3 each?

The Pilates DVD allows the person to pick their own level. There's Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced.

The first thing I did after removing the DVD from the shrink wrap was to sit in my recliner and watch the DVD.


I decided to do the Beginner's level since that's what I am. I'd thought Pilates would be easy. After about 10 minutes I was getting tired and feeling all of the muscle groups I haven't used. This is some serious stuff. It was kicking my butt. After 20 minutes I had to give it up. What's even more aggravating is the way the women on the DVD are not sweating as if they're actually having fun.

I didn't beat myself up. I did learn that breathing is important. The instructor constantly reminded the viewer about correct breathing patterns. I believe that incorrect breathing can cause a person to tire out pretty fast. I know that I'm guilty of holding my breath while I'm exercising. I didn't realize this until I began concentrating on the correct way.

I was also proud of myself for holding out for 20 minutes because the disk is only 30 minutes long. I plan to try it again because I did seem to gain some energy and endorphins.

THAT'S IT***

BAKED "FRIED" GREEN TOMATOES

If you will recall, I signed up for Grow Alabama. In one of my veg boxes, I had green tomatoes. I wasn't sure what to do with them. Fried green tomatoes are good but I've never been successful with trying to make them. I've been trying to eat more healthy and so I searched for an alternative and found Baked "Fried" Green Tomatoes.

This isn't the recipe I used and I don't remember the website I got mine from.


RECIPE for (UN) FRIED GREEN TOMATOES aka BAKED GREEN TOMATOESHands-on time: 15 minutes

Time to table: 50 minutes

Serves 4 (assumed 1/2 a tomato a serving)



BREADING

1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup yellow cornmeal

1 teaspoon kosher salt (don't skimp on the salt)

1/4 teaspoon black pepper (or the pepper!)

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon pimento or sweet paprika (or cumin or maybe garam masala)



TOMATOES

Buttermilk

2 large green tomatoes, core removed in a V shape, sliced crosswise about 1/3 inch thick



Preheat oven to 400F.

Place a baking sheet in the oven for 5 minutes to get it plenty hot.

Spray it with cooking spray.



Meanwhile, stir together the breading. Place the breading in a large shallow container,

the buttermilk in another. Slice the tomatoes. Once the baking sheet has been preheated, work quickly. Dip each tomato slice into the buttermilk, then into the breading. Arrange on the baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, then turn the slices over. Bake another 10 minutes or until cooked clear through.



Serve hot, they don't improve! A'int that the truth I'd read someplace that buttermilk could be frozen but it would only be good for cooking when unthawed.

I used buttermilk that I'd frozen some time back when I'd needed buttermilk for another project. After unthawing, it didn't have the same consistency as originally. I put about a TBS of white vinegar and waited 5 minutes for the two to react.

I dipped the slices in the buttermilk one at a time.
I didn't have any cornmeal so I used bread crumbs. I placed in all of the seasonings except kosher salt. I used regular salt.

The next step was to spray a cookie sheet with nonstick spray.

Place the breaded tomatoes in a single layer and brush with butter.
BTW- That's Reynolds nonstick foil I'm using. It lives up to its claim. I sprayed the foil anyway.

NOTE: If I brush with butter the coating will come off. Instead I put Parkay no calorie spray on each one. AS you can see, I poured and drizzled instead of sprayed.





Here is the final product.

Edible but not so great. Too tart.
My recipe didn't suggest using any sugar. The next time I'll try the above recipe.






Baked "Fried" Green Tomatoes
THAT'S IT***