Miami - The Long Goodbye

October 27, 2024

As I sat on the balcony of our beloved Miami condo for the very last time, I couldn’t help but think about fate, about destiny, about a convergence of life happenings that brought me there. Decades ago I moved to Miami to advance my career in television production. Ironically, I only stayed at that job position for 1 year but ended up staying 9 more, partnering with Brian and Kevin of Forti/Layne Entertainment producing, editing and co-directing so many wonderful projects.

Our most spectacular view from the balcony.

Obviously, I racked up hundreds of experiences during that decade. However, for this story to come full circle I want to focus on the night I went to a party at a building that jutted out into Biscayne Bay. I have crystal clear images of that night;

meeting at my best friend, Emilce’s house, downing some pre-party cocktails
packing into a car with a group of friends singing to Santana’s “Maria, Maria”
pulling up to the grand building tucked back off the busy, kinda seedy main street of Biscayne Blvd.
the warm wind that gusted off the bay as we entered that forced us to walk with leaned intention
the spectacular water view from the apartment
and finally the seed planted in my brain that I would live there one day

Biscayne 21 as it was known. Located at 21st Street and North Bayshore Drive off Biscayne Blvd and jutting out into Biscayne Bay.

Fast forward a decade, I moved back to NY having never lived in that building of my dreams while actually living in Miami. I settled back into New York living by buying my first co-op and moving in with my now husband, Juancarlos. Then 2 years later by absolute luck…AKA fate, an apartment in that very building came available. So, I bought it sight unseen. That is how much I wanted to be there.

Our beloved southern home, at just the right height, just the right location, just the perfect view. Just perfect.

After the closing, keys in hand, I pushed open the door that turned my purchase from wishful dream to glorious reality.

Not a lick of substantial furniture, armed only with an air mattress and some linens. It was all I needed to feel at home.

At first, we rented the apartment full time thinking it would be an investment property, and then eventually turn into a retirement pied a terre. But after awhile Juancarlos and I realized we wanted this place all to ourselves. Now after 20 years, we were forced out. The greedy glut of overbuilding and erecting enormous monstrosities has bought us out. A developer will tear down the quaint 15 story building to replace it with not 1 but 3 towers of 53 floors each! Yet another part of Miami history turned to rubble. If you have ever seen the movie “Something About Mary” then you have seen our building. It was the one to the left of the singers on the final scene. And oh yeah, they tore down the historic beautiful house that Mary lived in to construct an obnoxiously tall building that used to block the sun on our pool. But what can you do, fight city hall? So, we sold off most of the furnishings, gave away some, packed up the rest and drove back to NY with our memories in tow.

Even with clouds the days were beautiful.

Miami represents a million things to me. My first venture out of my native NY to pursue a career in live television. Being away from my beloved family and all our gatherings. Buying my first car, having 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms all to myself. No more elevator to the basement to wash my clothes, I had a washer/dryer all to myself and only having to deal with my lint, and no one else’s. Meeting new friends that would last a lifetime, Winning awards for my production work. Meeting my husband, being proposed by him in Miami. Having a second wedding celebration there for our friends who couldn’t/didn’t want to fly after 9/11, honeymooning in Miami and the Keyes and so much more. We have hundreds upon hundreds of photos, and I will do my best to inundate you with images so you too can be wrapped in the warm glow that tugged at my heart.

Engagement Party smiles. Juancarlos proposed to me in Miami two weeks before September 11.

It was a second home, and as such we welcomed our family and friends. For many years, my parents would spend the entire month of February there. Sometimes we would join them and spend precious moments together, by the pool, at the beach, but mostly eating. Who doesn’t enjoy a good meal with the people who bring you joy?

Since Miami had such meaning to us from a marriage point of view, we used to go down in October to celebrate our anniversary. And of course, we would meet up with friends or invite them over for nibbles and drinks, laughter and good cheer. We celebrated not just anniversaries but many a birthday as well, with our dearest fra-mily. Our home was small but mighty in the joy it provided.

Birthday celebration with framily, during a February visit when my parents were down. See my dad in the background? On this occasion our friends, John & George, hosted at that fabulous house.

From an uncomplicated lifestyle, to enough room to entertain, to a view that never got old, only got better. It fulfilled my every dream from decades prior.

The sunrise that warms our souls and inspired us to get up and get out.

Midday beauty. Nature’s artistry at work.

Reflections. Even the tall buildings provided interesting views.

At night the glow provided a different kind of warm.

A glow that filled not just the sky, but my heart.

One sure way of knowing when I’m comfortable and completely at home is preparing and enjoying meals. And boy, did we do that. If I have a kitchen, I will be stirring up some food of love. Every morning we would take our coffee & breakfast to watch the sun rise. Every late afternoon after a day at the beach we would make a healthy meal and eat on the balcony. In the evening, a cocktail or wine and watch the lights brighten the skyline. It was endless joy.

Sun rays reaching towards us to welcome us to another picture perfect day.

Here is a smorgasbord of food offerings over the years.

I’ve even had the great fortune of selling my children’s book at the famous Books & Books stores in Coral Gables and Miami Beach, as well as school author visits.

Signing books at the Coral Gables Books & Books store.

Proudly showing off my title at the Miami Beach Books & Books location. (Unfortunately, that store closed after the pandemic.)

A school assembly, getting the kids energized and excited. There is nothing better than a child’s enthusiasm, and to encourage creativity, imagination and curiosity. I have been blessed.

Many a time this place has grounded me. I used the beach and the water to find my way, to answer my questions, to assuage my doubts, to remind me of my talents and all the opportunities that the universe has locked and loaded for me.

The ocean vastness was never overwhelming. It showed me the greatness that was far reaching and touched us all.

Long walks along the golden sands providing quiet time to reflect.

We frequented a beach that rarely had crowds of people. Most of the time we had yards of beach to ourselves.

Shining sparkles that bounce off the water as if you say, look at all the possibilities life has to offer.

Each sparkle an opportunity, all rushing towards me.

The quiet expanse that calmed and soothed me.

Sun that would warm my skin and my soul.

Quality time with my husband, where we walked for miles, talked for days and dreamed up our future.

Together in the place where we met, fell in love, got engaged, celebrated our wedding and honeymooned. How could this place not have meaning to us.

Change is hard. And this change is not just hard but ironic. Since over two decades ago I made the hard choice to leave Miami to return to New York. To once again further my career, to be closer to family, and be near my beloved city. When the thought of leaving Miami became hard, I enlisted the advice from the popular book, Who Moved My Cheese? Back then, I was so afraid of making the move, of making a mistake. Would I find work? Could I survive freelancing? Would I miss the diversity of work, my friends, the sun and warm weather? But as the book professes, there is Cheese everywhere, and enough to go around for everyone. My cheese may have been moved again, but I know I will find an abundance and variety no matter where I turn.

And so here is the long goodbye, as we drove away from a view that will forever be etched in my mind. With gratitude and love for how much the universe has provided me, I give thanks for all the blessings in my life. And am reminded that the sun shines in the sky, no matter what longitude or latitude in which you are standing.

Entertaining - How I Miss It | Make Ahead Appetizers

March 10, 2021

Our Miami crew. How we love sharing time with them.

This has been a difficult year. And it’s certainly not over. Although statistics are improving, we are still grappling with the pandemic and its multitude of ripple effects on our lives. From the obvious life and death fears to struggling to stay employed to figuring out how to juggle Zoom calls with toddlers, it has been challenging. (Newsflash: I don’t have toddlers but can only imagine.)

There are so many issues relating to how our lives have been affected, but the one that seems to really hit most people at their emotional core is the isolation. The inability to freely move about and spend time with the ones we love. I know this has rocked me at my center. I miss hugging people. For those you know me, to say that I am a touchy, feely person is an understatement. Hey, not in a groping way, in a caring way. ( Alright, maybe I do want to see how big your biceps are.) It’s a known fact that human touch has healing qualities. Which highlights how counterintuitive it is to try to heal people through a pandemic without that essential restorative, mentally medicinal element. Ironic and heartbreaking, really. But I digress, or should I say wandered off the road a bit.

I miss people. I miss my family and friends, (or as we like to call them, framily) and the joy of sharing a meal and good time with them. JuanCarlos has joked about how much free time we now have during the weekends, since in his mind we used to spend every one of them hosting parties. Not true, and an over exaggeration . But true, entertaining is in my DNA. From as early as junior high and high school I can remember wanting to invite my friends over for a meal or to play games and enjoy snacks. I preferred it over going to a stale beer smelling bar, filled with billows of smoke, raucous noise and tons of other people with whom I didn’t care to share my time. What a nerd. That that nerd would grow up to enjoy entertaining as a later career shouldn’t come as such a surprise. But here we are, without the ability to do just that. Yet, as we learned from last post, I still found a way.

In all honesty, I’ve been struggling about which posts to launch since so many of them feature groups sharing food. To post them feels either disingenuous or taunting. I don’t want to be either. But as I rummaged through photos, rather than feeling sad and longing, I instead felt hope and anticipation. So, I’m posting this to put out the positive energy that this kind of gathering can resume soon. With that wish at hand, it seemed appropriate to provide some options for make ahead appetizer ideas for your future event. And so, lifting myself up by my house slippers, I’m sharing a moment when we gathered for a few nibbles with our dear friends in our Miami apartment. These handful of simple appetizers might be the perfect strategy to ease our way back into entertaining after a long reprieve.

Sometimes the best way to enjoy one another’s company is to make the food portion as easy and carefree as possible. Serving appetizers that can be enjoyed cold or room temperature allows the host(s) to remain with the party and not in the kitchen. Pre-made and/or ready to assembly right before guests arrive is the ideal way to have everything finished, and allow the fun and conversation from being interrupted. You know I love putting out a big spread. Whether it be a multi-course meal or tapas style, I’m known for my abundance. But there is a beauty to simplicity.
And that was the focus of this gathering several years back.

And don’t forget the drink. It’s also important to have a partner that does their part in hosting. JuanCarlos is always at the ready serving up beverages. P.S. also one of my favorite shirts. It’s a party wrapped around a party!

Just because these were nibbles didn’t mean that it wasn’t substantial. On the contrary, it was filling and satisfying. Every one of these dishes were made ahead of time.

Cucumbers provide the cool and refreshing, grape tomatoes the sweet and the sardines bring the salt. An all in one bite.

Sardine Lettuce Wrap Skewers

Food that you can pick up and eat are perfect appetizers. Wraps fit that bill, so do skewers And this appetizer combines both.

Using a good quality Spanish sardine and some fresh, crisp veggies made this no cook appetizer fast to prepare and easy to enjoy. Spain is famous for its high quality conservas; fish in tins. One of my favorite brands is Cabo de Peñas. Simply skewer Persian cucumber* rounds, grape tomatoes. Then using romaine lettuce cut into 3” pieces, tuck a piece of the sardine in each creating a taco-like envelope to hold the sardine.

*Persian cucumbers are smaller and have less seeds and better for skewering. If you can’t find those, use English cucumbers and cut them smaller. If you can only find regular cucumbers, then scoop out the seeds, and cut them into small chunks.

Pulpo - Potato Skewers
Pulpo, Spanish for octopus, is one of those items that I always buy pre-cooked either in a tin or vacuumed sealed. Trust me, it’s delicious and SO much easier than cooking octopus. The Mediterranean countries are known for serving the most delicious octopus, so you can’t go wrong with any from Italy, Spain or Greece. I have two favorites: again , Cabo de Peñas in a tin and the vacuum sealed package from Don Bocarte*. (Even the famous NY Times writer Florence Fabricant agrees.)

To make, cut small new potatoes in half, boil until tender but not overdone or they will fall apart when trying to skewer them. Season with salt and pepper, then skewer them alternating between potato and octopus. Drizzle with good olive oil. It’s that simple.

*Please note that the Don Bocarte vacuum pack is only available at Despaña Soho store.

Light and crisp, the sweet shrimp and the creamy avocado complement one another against the slightly bitter endive.

Shrimp & Avocado Endive Boats

Grill or sauté shrimp that have been seasoned with salt and pepper. Let cool, then cut them into small pieces. Cut avocado into small cubes, toss with shrimp and then spoon both into endive leaves. Make a quick creamy topping by combining either greek yogurt, sour cream or creme fraiche with finely chopped red onion and cucumber and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Although this salad has cooked veggies, it is served at room temp.

Room Temp Bean & Veg Salad

Sauté small cubed red/orange peppers, zucchini and summer squash with red onion in oil, salt and pepper. Make a quick vinaigrette of crushed garlic, lemon zest and juice, dried oregano and olive oil. Mix the sautéed vegetables together with chick peas, cannelini beans, and pour dressing over the entire mixture. Serve at room temperature. (Of course, this can also be served warm, but the point is to not have to be in the kitchen.)

3 Bean Salad with raw veggies. A slightly difference version offering a completely no cook option. — **3 Bean Salad with raw veggies.** A slightly difference version offering a completely no cook option.

For a completely no cook version: use raw red/yellow peppers, grape tomatoes and cucumbers plus black beans and toss with an herb dressing. Replace the dried oregano with fresh parsley, cilantro and mint.

Grilled Salmon

Cut salmon into 2” squares. Season with salt and pepper and using olive oil, sear in a cast iron pan. That’s all this needs, or maybe a squeeze of lemon right before serving. This can be made ahead, refrigerated and served either cold or room temp. The small cubes makes these much easier to eat and requires no utensils. Pick it and pop it in your mouth.

Is there anything better to please your guests than a platter full of dairy rich bites? I think not.

Cheese Platter
The ubiquitous cheese platter. It never gets old and it’s everyone’s favorite.

You know what to do here. Place a variety of cheeses on a platter and fill up and around with crackers, nuts, fruits and jams. Remember color blocking and keeping each element together to create focus and visual appeal. Too much scattering just creates visual clutter.

And just like that you have a hearty table of nibbles perfect for no kitchen distractions. I miss all my peeps and this post gave me hope and inspiration for the next time, hopefully soon, when we will all meet again, and be able to safely blow out candles on a cake.

Although this may seem like a similar shot, it’s important to include because we can see John’s face and it includes JuanCarlos.

WAY before the pandemic when no one thought twice about blowing onto to the top of a cake!

We miss our friends and we miss Miami. And we are counting the days until we can all do this again, safely and with tons of love and laughter.

To wrap up, here are a few visual reminders of the sunshine, sunsets and the pure glory of our second home, Miami, and a couple of other reasons why we miss it so much.

Our favorite spot on Miami Beach where we place our chairs and towels and hang for hours.

The view as we walk along the miles of Miami Beach boardwalk.

The stunning sunset from our apartment. You can see why we love to sit on our terrace and enjoy a cocktail.

Another one just because it’s so calming.

Prohibition - Restaurant & Speakeasy

March 16, 2017

Miami is like a second home to us. As many of you know, JuanCarlos and I met there, got engaged there, honeymooned there and have an apartment there. So, naturally we like to visit there. Of late, instead of cooking at home as much we have been testing out Miami's restaurant scene, which is really upping its game.

On our last visit to the sunny city while my parents were visiting at the same time, one of our intentions was to show them a few new restaurants to try. I immediately thought of Prohibition, a vibe-y hot spot in the Midtown district of Miami. Don't let the name fool you. The only thing prohibited here is to not have a good time. I thought they might enjoy it too. It's a throw back to the Speakeasy lounges of the Prohibition days, hence the name and offering all the energy of that era. It's interior decor is moody yet inviting. It's a mix of Hollywood glam and Miami chic. The crowd is a cool combo of both young and old alike, where everyone feels right at home.

This was not my first visit. The first two times I frequented this cool hangout was for drinks and snacks at the bar. Both times I thoroughly enjoyed the food, drink and atmosphere. This time we were there to check out the joint for a sit down, relaxed dinner. We were hoping for a good meal and good vibe. And it didn't disappoint.

The menu seems to follow a new style of offerings. Small and large plates for sharing. What I do love about this concept is that with so many interesting items on the menu you don't have to just choose just one entree and hope you chose wisely. You can choose several, share them and enjoy the tastes of all.

We started off with the fresh Sea Bass Ceviche and Shrimp Cocktail. The ceviche was fresh indeed, beautiful balance of Sriracha sauce and citrus, served with a generous portion of plantain chips. The shrimp cocktail was classic and good.

Sea Bass Ceviche with the right amount of heat and citrus. And a generous amount of crunchy plantains.

Then came the homemade Spicy Meatballs with parmesan crostini. The meatballs, made of beef and veal, were tender and flavorful. The sauce had a sweet note provided by the caramelized onions followed by a spicy hit. Both team Perri and Casas enjoyed them, however given the traditional Italian roots of the former, felt that the sauce was a bit too spicy, yet ate them up just the same.

On to the larger plates. We ordered two from this category to share. Out came two stunning dishes.

Lamb Chops, which my mom loves, were tasty and tender. A smooth red wine reduction pooled around a heaping helping of chunky mashed potatoes scented with a bouquet of rosemary. Just the bones were left.

Pan Roasted Salmon was cooked perfectly and set atop a bed of warm potato and crab salad. The salmon had a gorgeous crust of spice rub. The salad was flavor power-packed with a well balanced combo of potatoes, crab, grape tomatoes, scallions and herbs. I really enjoyed this unique salad mix.

As we settled in and were enjoying all our selections, we chatted it up with the manager Amin, who is Iranian. JuanCarlos immediately perked up to tell him how much he loves making Iranian rice dishes. To which Amin then informed us that the chef is also Iranian and one of his specialities is the Cilantro Rice dish. He graciously offered us a plate to try. As we each took forkfuls of the fluffy herb scented rice, we tried to figure out all the flavors but were told that the chef is secretive about the ingredients. That said, I am pretty sure there was dill, and of course, as the name aptly states, cilantro.

Although we were all stuffed and completely content, Amin said we couldn't leave without a dessert. Bring on the Tres Leches Cake that was lovingly soaked in 3 milks. Some versions of this cake can be very sweet due to the condensed milk addition but this one was not. It was just the right amount of sweet topped with bananas and toasted marshmallow for an extra special touch. Even though we thought we couldn't eat another bite after our magnificent meal, we polished off the entire thing.

As our meal came to a close, we sat back to enjoy the some soulful sax tunes while sipping on Port 20, a fortified wine of tawny, nutty flavors. I noticed the table next to us had a large group that seemed to be equally enjoying themselves. I asked the woman what she thought of her meal. As expected, her group thoroughly savored all their choices. And although she doesn't normally eat octopus she ordered it. Much to her pleasant surprise, she absolutely loved it. Now that says a lot.

The days of prohibition may be a thing of the past, but visiting Prohibition Restaurant & Speakeasy should be high on your list to enjoy the great, food, drink and cool atmosphere of this happening addition to the Miami restaurant scene.

For more info on all that Prohibition has to offer visit them at:

3404 N Miami Ave
Midtown Miami 33127
(305) 438-9199
info@prohibitionmiami.com

Copper 29 - Bar Bites & More

January 5, 2017

As is our tradition for our anniversary, we head to Miami at the end of October each year to celebrate. This past October was no different. In years past, we have hosted little gatherings at our apartment there, but with so many dear friends to visit, it’s sometimes easier to gather at a bar or restaurant to catch up. With the proliferation of so many cool, happening hangouts cropping up all over Miami the question was where do we go.

For this night out we wanted to keep it centrally located for all parties by staying in Coral Gables. The Gables is an old historic area of Miami known for its Mediterranean Revival style architecture with streets lined by the famous banyan trees. It's home to such landmarks as the Venetian Pool and the Biltmore Hotel, along with the popular and most noted street; Miracle Mile. And that was exactly where we were headed to try out Copper 29 Bar recommended my our friend, Stephanie. This Coral Gables bar is reviving the idea of the perfect cocktail. Using the art of mixology paired with bar bites to create a relaxed atmosphere of food and drink, which was what we were looking for.

Stephanie ready to eat, drink and be merry.

Especially, given that we hadn’t seen each other in awhile, and our goal was to chat and catch up with each other’s lives. However, that was not quite what we got. Well, at least not on a Friday night. Don't get me wrong, it's not because the place wasn't cool. It was cool with an interesting mix of decor including an entire wall of plant life.

But when we opened the door, the music was pumping and the place was jamming and we thought we might not hear each other breathe.

Silly of us to think that a relatively new hangout on a Friday night would be a quiet place to chill. We were told that the owner recently decided to make Friday nights a Happy Hour with DJ music pumping. That said, the music mix was a fantastic groove, prefect for dancing and keeping it interesting for a proper happy hour. If we hadn’t wanted to talk this would have been an ideal spot. And on any other night there, we could have done that. However, Friday’s are made for letting go after a long week of work. So we stuck it out because the vibe was happening, the atmosphere interesting and the menu looked promising. (Spoiler Alert: We were all glad we did!)

Some of us started off with Moscow Mules served in cool copper mugs which keep the drinks nice and chilled. If you enjoy a spicy drink, this one delivers. The ginger beer brings that bite while the mint is refreshing and surprisingly light.

The rest of our group ordered Martinis and Old Fashioned and they were like a good ole fashion should be…good.

From there, we began ordering a dish at a time, each as good as the last.

Jalapeño Corn & Cheese Biscuits

These are decadent balls for yum. Crispy exterior, doughy middle with whole pieces of corn throughout served with a Bourbon Honey Syrup that has even your biscuit begging you to dip for more. I loved watching everyone's expression as they popped these in their mouths.

Eyes wide and then the expressive smile that gleamed; 'what did I just eat and is there enough for everyone else?'. Only wish there was a bit more jalapeño in these biscuits. The Bourbon Honey Syrup provided enough sweet that they could have used a bit more heat… at least for my, and everyone at the table’s taste. Even with that slight spice suggestion, we would order this again in a heartbeat.

Tuna Tartare

Classical and good balance. Slight hint of heat that was a nice play off the creaminess of the avocado. Served with chips for scooping and enjoying each bite. Well done.

Kale Salad

We’ve all eaten tons of kale salad. The key is the cut of the kale. The chop on this one rendered the kale tender, and manageable to eat. The Caesar dressing was creamy but not overbearing and softened the salad just the right amount. The Parmesan cheese in nice big shards added the salty sharpness we all want. Then there was the addition of radicchio and sunflower seeds that were subtle while still imparting an effective crunch and earthiness. And last but seriously not least; the croutons, which were more like lightly grilled garlic toasts. Much better than the average crouton who would be ashamed to show up in a salad against this king of crouton. Would you guess that everyone thoroughly enjoyed this salad? Good guess.

Mac n Cheese

Creamy with lovely Fontina and a deep truffle flavor that perfumed the entire dish. Sprinkled with bread crumbs and pancetta, this is a dish worth the calories on a Friday night. And with the music playing, there is no need for guilt since you can get up and dance some of those calories away.

Short Rib Sliders

Oh the juxtaposition of these pretty, almost dainty little sandwiches that deliver a fun rollercoaster ride of flavor. The short ribs were tender and juicy, layered on top of the surprising and interesting addition of polenta. Caramelized onions sweetened the pot while the alioli had a horseradish note that provided the right kick. Needless to say, these were devoured by our group.

Key Lime Pie in a Jar

Tart and Tangy and Luscious. Topped with grapefruit that was a surprising, refreshing touch, this dessert was right on point. Team vote: Approved. Team goal: Polish this off. Goal: Accomplished.

Oreo Cookie pie in a jar

This dessert was decidedly too sweet for my palette and everyone in our group but for those with a true sweet tooth it might just hit the mark.

Music getting our table moving in our seats.

A very cool vibe, as if you were hanging out in your own cozy, stylish lounge.

Overall, the joint was jamming. A great spot for a Friday night Happy Hour if you want to move to the groove of hip swaying music, enjoy good drinks and upscale bar eats. If you want to chat and have a quieter evening, I would highly recommend coming on a weeknight to work your way through the menu and have the mixologist blend you up some cocktails.

The food, good service and overall vibe are definitely worth the trip. So with winter still brewing here in the Northeast, this might just be the right time to head south for more reasons than just the sun.

Cooper29 is located at 206 Miracle Mile, Miami FL / 786.580.4689

Green... Breakfast Tortillas

July 10, 2016

Verde Que Te Quiero Verde. The translation of this line so famously written by Federico Garcia Lorca:
Green How I Desire You, Green. For whatever reason this phrase has stuck with me from my college days of being a Spanish Lit major. Every time I see an abundance of green I recite those words with gusto. So it seemed appropriate that when I created these very green breakfast tortillas during a Miami trip last year that they be announced with the same zeal.

A little back story on Miami. Since my husband and I met in Miami, got engaged in Miami and then had part of our honeymoon in Miami, it was only fitting that after we got married we should buy a little apartment there so we could continue our to nurture our beginnings.

The morning sunrise view from our balcony.  Who wouldn't be inspired to create, get up and take a long walk. — The morning sunrise view from our balcony. Who wouldn't be inspired to create, get up and take a long walk.

We try to go once or twice a year, but Juan Carlos usually has more opportunities to visit then I have in the past. I think that trend might flip in the near future. Hurray for me!

When we are down there we tend to eat a bit differently. We definitely eat lighter, making BIG salads for lunch and big fruit salads throughout the day. But since we always head to the beach in the mornings for long walks, we need a bit more energy provided by breakfast. So I found myself looking through the ingredients I bought and to see what might give us that extra ummph. Fortunately, our supply didn't disappoint.

The main GREENS to build our breakfast tortillas.

On that day, I grilled up corn tortillas, cut up baby spinach, thinly sliced cucumbers, scallions and avocado squeezed and layered them with smoked trout and some lime for JC. (He is allergic to dairy.)

Corn tortillas grilled in a cast iron pan for maximum crispiness.

You can keep the spinach fresh or sauté it.

Both versions, raw spinach on the left, sautéed on the right.

For me, I use all the same but replaced the smoked trout with feta cheese. I love smoked trout but was in the mood to have a warm, slightly melted element to contrast with all the crisp fresh greens. It was delightful and we were ready with energy as we headed off to the beach for our 4 mile walk.

The best part about these opened faced tortillas is that you can fill them with whatever you have in the fridge. Hummus, red onion, cucumber. Or scrambled egg, bacon, tomato. Or Ham, cheese. Or leftover pulled pork.

Of course those might not qualify for the original chant, Verde Que Te Quiero Verde but they certainly qualify for a Something from Nothing creation. Start your morning with something green and enjoy the sunshine whatever state you are in.

From recipes to table settings, lifestyle ideas and food travels, Dana finds simple and easy ways to entertain with her "something from nothing" approach. Whether it’s a holiday feast, a garden party, cocktail event, or Tuesday's dinner, her mantra is always the same; keep it simple, make it delicious, stir it with love.

Dana has also written a children's book series that encourages thoughtfulness, Think...then Jump™

Contact Dana