I don’t want to sound like the Houston Chamber of Commerce but we did have a great time this past weekend. Being a native Californian, a San Franciscan at that, does not lend itself well to being a fan of the Lone Star State. Politics aside (I just can’t wrap my head around how Molly Ivins and Ann Richards come from the same state much less the same planet as Ted Cruz) I have been pleasantly surprised by how much I have enjoyed my visits. Of course it does help that I get to see my girl.
This quick jaunt did have a purpose. This past summer Jamie came home and announced “I think I am going to try out for the cross country team at Rice this fall”. To which we all did a double take and exclaimed “What!? Have you ever seen a cross country meet? Nope.” She has always played a sport-soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, baseball, softball but run? Hmm, did not see that one coming. She spoke to the coach and they came up with a plan. A simple plan really. RUN. RUN a lot. RUN some more. It paid off. She excitedly called home to tell us “I made the team!” So we packed our bags and headed to Houston to watch Jamie run her very first cross country meet.
Let’s play “Where’s Jamie?”
The day before Jamie’s meet, we headed to the Museum of Fine Arts for the Kusama Exhibit, “At the End of the Universe”.
While Jamie was in class, we wandered around Houston’s Museum District starting with The Menil Collection. The museum is comprised of a main gallery, the Rothko Chapel and the Byzantine Fresco Chapel, it is an eclectic, amazing collection of art. One of my favorite pieces is the Broken Obelisk, dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr, it sits in front of the Rothko Chapel.
She did great at her first meet so “we” cooled down by walking around campus enjoying a gorgeous Houston evening.
Go Rice Owls and James Turrell’s “Twilight Epiphany Skyspace” on campus. The canopy’s light changes morphing into an array of beautiful peaceful colors. We sat under the canopy mesmerized by the colors, definitely a nice spot to sit, relax and reflect.
Hi again! It’s me, Jamie, the favorite child. Because my last blog post was such a hit, I assume, and because work is winding down, I’ve decided to write another guest blog. I know, you’re welcome. In case you forgot, which I highly doubt because my last post rocked, I am the second child of the family, currently living by myself in Houston for the summer, and about to start my second year at Rice University.
So, as you guys have seen from the last couple of blog posts, my mom loves to bike. Incidentally, she also does not take shit from anyone, which speaking as her daughter, has good and bad points. The good is the strong female role model I get to learn from–seriously guys, my mom is the coolest. Not only is she crazy smart, athletic, and awesome at cooking but she is also just an all around superstar who coached me in baseball and soccer, went to all my school and athletic events, and is always there whenever I need advice. The bad is that, unfortunately, she never took shit from me either/she gets scary when she’s angry. Okay, to get back to my story, my mom loves to bike. I do too, but not as much as her. She bikes a lot, and so did I when I was younger. Nowadays, I run. And no, I don’t love running. I actually dislike it. Sure, there are some days when a nice easy jog in the shade feels great and, yes, on those days I totally get why people love to run, but most days I don’t get it. It is painful. No, it doesn’t “clear my mind” and it isn’t “calming and relaxing.” I mean, you are literally firing off every muscle in your body at once, how does that relax someone? Aside from the fact that I look like death while running, I am also highly competitive, so I think that everything is a race. This makes every run for me a combination of a steady even pace with a bunch of spurts of speed sprinkled in. Sorry five year old girl on a pink tricycle, you’re going down. I will beat you to that crunchy leaf up there. Probably not the best running habit, but I can’t help it.
But running is awesome for your body, so I’ve tried to make it a routine this summer. I run about 6 days a week here in Houston, and I try to run between 2.5-4 miles each run. I run just before it gets dark, but it’s still anywhere between 80-95 degrees. I get so hot by the end of the run, that the shower can’t even get cold enough to cool me down. On top of that, I’ve started eating healthier, partly because I am too cheap to buy junk food but also because I’m honestly too lazy to go to the store and buy all the ingredients I need for cookies when I start to crave it. I like to make a huge meal at the beginning of the week that will last me to the end. Honestly, not sure if this is the most safe practice in terms of food going bad, but hey its worked so far. My favorite is just roasting a bunch of veggies and chicken and eating them with an egg and a piece of toast. It’s pretty fool proof, and it’s pretty damn simple. Currently feeling great, yet I am a little worried about when I move back into school and go back to the salty, fried meal plan. Fingers crossed the sophomore 15 isn’t a thing, I’ll keep you posted though.
Jamie’s Basic List to a Better, Less Terrible Feeling Run
1) Wearing cool athletic clothes and shoes actually does help. Look good, feel good. If you are like me and love Lululemon but realize it’s insanely expensive, try Gap fit.
2) Don’t run the same route three times in a row. It is a lot safer, plus it keeps things a little interesting. Even so much as running a route backwards helps.
3) Make sure to time yourself. If you don’t have a running tracker/fit bit like me, time your runs so you know about how far you’re going.
4) Push yourself. By pushing yourself throughout the entire run, you get faster, which makes for less time where your body feels like it’s about to collapse.
5) Try not to match the pace of a tall guy in short shorts who has like 3% body fat. Unless you are a tall guy in short shorts with 3% body fat, you will lose, and subsequently feel like your body is on fire.
6) Listen to your body. I know everyone says this, but it really is true, if you feel like a slug the entire day, it makes no sense to plan a run that’s 4 miles long. Start off with a mile, and go from there.
Ok, like I said before, this is the simplest thing ever. Just pick out whatever veggies you want--my favorites are cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes, carrots, and onions--and cut them into a little bigger than bite sized pieces. Toss them in some olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and whatever other spices you want, and throw them in the oven on 400 for 30-40 minutes. You can also add chicken breasts on top of the veggies.
Hello! Before you get all excited to read what cool new post this blog has to offer, let me stop you right there. It’s time to get really excited because, yes, this is not Debbie writing. Fortunately, good ‘ol Deb here decided to let her daughter, Jamie, (that’s me!) take a whack at blogging. So buckle up readers and followers (all 3 of you?) for an exciting glimpse of what it’s like to be a 19 year old girl living all alone for the first time, a good 2,000 miles away from her family in the—rather stormy—city of Houston, Texas.
Whenever I tell people that I’m living in Houston for the summer, they always ask…..why..? Why would you ever leave the great state that is California, equipped with superb weather surrounded by mountains and beaches and awesome food? And for a second, I nod and smile, and in my head wonder if I am, in fact, a crazy person for doing such a thing. Houston definitely is different from Los Gatos. It rains here, a lot. And I’m not talking just a light drizzle every now and then. I’m talking hurricanes and tropical storms(whaddup trop storm Bill?) that DUMP rain and wind onto Houston and cause flash floods and rattle the windows in my room.
Did I mention that it’s a constant 90-plus degrees, too?
I also am not in possession of a car, which is quite inconvenient to get around Houston, and if it weren’t for my 8-5 job, I would probably stay holed up in my room watching Netflix all day—which is what I do after I get home from work. But after that second is over, I realize that I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Houston is an awesome city, once you get out and about. It’s diverse and fast-paced and always fun to explore. For once in my life I’m earning a steady paycheck, paying rent, buying my own food, navigating through a completely new city, and making my own decisions. I feel like a grown-up, and I’m pretty darn proud of myself.
Have You Eaten Yet?
But what you never realize before you start living on your own is how much you’ll miss your mom. I never notice until I go home and follow her around like a puppy dog. So, on days when I especially miss her, I like to cook recipes that she always makes me. The other day, I decided to make her chicken tortilla soup—a slightly spicy, warm, and cheesy bowl of goodness that reminds me of home.
Note: Skip the tortillas and serve tortilla chips on the side for folks to add with other garnishes, Or fry tortilla strips and serve them on the side instead of adding to the soup. Yes, they thicken the soup but sometimes I’m going for a lighter soup.
Sometimes my mom will add corn or black beans to the soup transforming the soup into a hearty meal in a bowl! It is a super flexible soup, add any veggies you like, chayote, and squash would go well. Think of this as a yummy version of Stone Soup.
1/2-1cupchopped yellow onionOh for goodness sakes, 1 medium onion, use the whole thing
3clovesgarlicpeeled and finely chopped
3/4teaspoonground cuminlike cumin? Add more
3/4teaspoondried oregano
1/4teaspoonchili powderspicier? Add more
1/4teaspoonpepper
8cupsfat-skimmed chicken broth
14ouncesfire-roasted tomatoes (canned)diced canned tomatoes can be substituted
4ouncecan of Dice Green Chilisor use any fresh pepper, green bell pepper, Anaheim pepper, saute' with onions. Or you can char-grill them and peel and dice and add to soup.
1 1/2poundsboned, skinned chicken breastsor start with bone-in chicken breasts, bones add flavor. Allow to simmer a little longer,~ 15-20 minutes.
Salt
6corn tortillas6 in. wide See notes for substitute
The Garnishes
1firm-ripe avocadocubed or thinly sliced
2tablespoonsfresh cilantrochopped
8ouncesAny cheese that melts would workCheddar, Monterey Jack, Mozarella, Cotija
Diced green onions or white onions
Tortilla strips or chips
1lime cut into wedges
Adds-feel free to add more veggies or beans to this soup!
1cupCorn, canned or frozen
115 ouncecan Black Beans, drained
1chayote, zuchinni-diced and added to soup during simmer
Instructions
In a 5- to 6-quart nonstick pan over medium heat, stir onion, garlic, cumin, oregano, chili powder, and pepper until spices are fragrant, about 1 minute. Add broth, tomatoes (including juice), and green chilies. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat.
Add chicken breasts to the broth and return it to a boil over high heat then reduce heat immediately and simmer until chicken is cooked through (cut to test), about 10 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside to cool.
Meanwhile, stack tortillas and cut into 1/8-inch-wide strips. Add to boiling broth. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. This is the traditional way of making tortilla soup. Add optional vegetables, corn or beans at this point also. See notes for blasphemous shortcuts, lol...
Shred chicken. Cut the avocado in half, remove the pit and peel it. Thinly slice or cube and place in a shallow bowl. Shred cheese and place in a bowl.
Before serving, season soup to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle into soup bowls, garnish with cilantro, avocado, green onions and cheese. I usually leave all these fixings in bowls for folks to help themselves!
