The first trip was to Ecuador and Galapagos for a dive trip and I returned with dysentery. The food on the live-aboard dive boat was good as always. I tend to use dive trips as a type of "fat camp", since we are eating "out" and diving and even though one burns a lot of calories diving, there's no exercising in between dives, so I feel like a slug. So, I make smart choices, don't pig out and take advantage of the extra calorie burn. This trip was full of diving that required much more exertion since we were fighting strong currents (2-3 knots), raging surge and chasing whale sharks. Unfortunately, the chef prepares yummy snacks in between meals and dives like fresh cinnamon rolls, empanadas, brownies and rich hot chocolate. I'm not one to turn down a cinnamon roll. His desserts were also great, but I avoided those mostly and tried to eat veggies, fruits and drink lots of herbal tea. I couldn't have anticipated the dysentery, though (who can?) or the raging fever and body aches. Armed with antibiotics and not sure what exactly was going on, I chose from my antibiotic medley, the amoxicillin, carried in case of ear infection. I loaded up on tylenol and started the antibiotic immediately. That night (the last night on the boat, thankfully, so I didn't miss any dives or land tours), the boat was traveling and the seas were pretty rough. After a terrible night's sleep, by fever finally broke, but I was still having "issues". The next two days were pure hell, sitting in the airport and then having to spend a day and a half in a hotel in Guayaquil as we awaited our flight home. The flight was a red eye and just as torturous. I finally felt better enough to eat some breakfast, but after two bites, realized there was no way I could eat airport food. The dysentery got worse and I finally gave in and called a doctor who sent me to the hospital. Incidentally, if you get a "bug" like that in the Southern hemisphere, your better bet for an antibiotic is Cipro. If you're not better after two- three days, the antibiotic won't help and can irritate your stomach.
Don't get me wrong, the trip was great, the diving magical, the food was really good, the company was entertaining (hubby, brother and our videographer friend), and the weather cooperative. Food poisoning can happen anywhere. TGIF, Mc D's, Pizza Hut, a four star restaurant. Don't let my story prevent you from traveling to far-flung places.
The good thing about that episode? A twelve pound weight loss!!! So, two days after I started feeling normal again, but still on a bland diet, we headed to Philly for work for hubby. A little dining extravaganza and some clothes shopping and I was better. Then less than a week later we were off to the capital of all culinary adventuring: Italy. Hubby had a meeting outside Milan, so I was left to my wanderings solo and then we took a few days at Lake Como for a belated anniversary trip. Heaven, pure heaven and highly recommended!
Let's just say it's a good thing I arrived with a 12 pound weight deficit, because I made up for it!! How do the Italians get anything done? The food! The wine!! The cheese!! The gelato!! The fresh pasta!! The wine! Oh, already mentioned that one, didn't I?
We ate and ate, and I drank a lot of coffee, wine and aberol spriz's, prosecco and limoncello. So I think the 12 pounds is back! Needless to say, I also came back with a sinus infection or bad cold or something. Heck, it might even be allergies.
So, today, feeling better and inspired, I'm going to try my hand at some of that wonderful homemade pasta.
Also, want to make some risotto milanese and husband is asking for osso bucco, which I've made before and love. I might just pick one thing to make today.
Oh and update on the garden: the cole crops I put in were not happy with the spate of dry, hot weather and were wilting a bit, also under siege by harlequin beetles. The scarlet okra is coming in, I still have some dainty eggplants and managed two teensy yellow squash before they caved to the torrential amounts of squash bugs. My second planting of beans that were fruiting when I left were decimated by bean beetles and obliterated when I returned. The cucumbers, cantaloupe and watermelon were already on the way out, thanks to the heavy rain that came while we were gone to SA (late August) and the vine borers and squash bugs. I managed to salvage two watermelons and three cantaloupes.
What I do have lots of to use and give away? Peppers!!! Still, tons and tons of peppers coming in, mostly hot peppers: super chilis, jalapenos and anaheim.
In a week, I am going to try to start digging sweet potatoes. I dug one and roasted it with some regular potatoes and pesto and it was really good! They have to cure once you dig them up so that they become sweet and also hardy for storage.
I'll keep everyone posted as things come in and post pictures of any creative dishes to come. Last week I managed to squeak out one dish, Chicken Scarpariello, which was excellent!
Happy cooking and happy gardening and here are some pictures of food from our recent travels!
Three pastas at Osteria in Philly: clockwise, from bottom right: beet and goat cheese plins, postage stamp ravioli with trumpet mushrooms and thyme, lamb sausage with gamelli
Fish (don't remember what kind. rockfish?) with Israeli couscous and green beans also at Osteria
Pineapple mojito at Cuba Libre
Cappuccino at Vanini cafe in Lugano, Switzerland
