Jon and Amber

We sold the Durango today. We only had it as a utility vehicle, and we weren’t getting much use out of it anymore. And besides, the new W8 Passat wagon is capable of towing and hauling just about as well as the truck, although it does lack the 4×4. But that’s OK. For as much as we were using it, we really didn’t need to keep it around.

So now we’re down to “only” the Passat, the Scion xB, the R32/Jetta wagon, the Scirocco, and the junky parts car sitting out behind the garage. I think it’s a Golf. Long Live the Balch Armada.

I’ve been interested in roasting vegetables this week, because last week I roasted some kale and made crispy, delicious chips. I had heard people talk about making kale chips, and I’d seen the recipes, and they all said the chips were crispy, which I doubted heartily. I thought they’d be fibrous or weird, but I was so wrong – they really were crispy! (And rather addictive… the salt and olive oil certainly didn’t hurt!)

So on Sunday, I diced up half a dozen beets, tossed them with olive oil, sprinkled a little of our unrefined (gray) sea salt on them, and roasted them up. They were tasty, and everyone had a big helping at supper. This was the first time Jon had ever tried beets, and Jeremy called them candy! Monday, I tossed asparagus with olive oil and lemon juice and roasted them. I also made some mock-hollandaise sauce for myself, but Jon just ate them plain with a little salt.  This was the first time he’d ever tasted asparagus, too! (Jeremy tried a bite or two but then said, “I don’t like that one.” It’s ok, I don’t expect him to like anything until he’s tried it 10 times.) Yesterday I roasted broccoli! This time I sprinkled garlic salt on it (after the olive oil of course), and then after it was done in the oven, I put a bunch of Parmesan cheese on top. And then I ate way too much of it because it was the tastiest way I have ever had broccoli, I’m not even kidding.

I’m not sure what to try next… I think Brussels sprouts might be good!