MS 150, TEXAS WILDFLOWERS, AND SAUTEED NOPALITOS SALAD

This past weekend my husband — an avid cyclist — rode in the MS 150, an annual 2-day bike ride from Houston to Austin, the goal of which is to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.  It’s the largest event of its kind in the U.S., with approximately 13,000 riders this year, raising almost $14 million to date.  It’s quite a sight to see the rainbow of spandex-clad riders, in all shapes and sizes, heading out for the two-day ride.

Why don’t I ride too, you ask?  My cycling career was short-lived, and ended when I fell on my bike, pedals still clipped in to my clip-in shoes that my husband, well-meaning and hopelessly optimistic, bought for me.  As I lay there crumpled on the pavement, bike still attached to me, a police officer (who I blame for causing the accident), leaned over and said, “Are you OK?”  In order to answer his stupid question I attempted to stand up, only to crumple back to the ground after realizing I couldn’t bear weight on my right ankle.  2 surgeries, 2 pins, a plate, and 7 screws later, I decided that cycling wasn’t for me.  (That, and the fact that I refuse to wear spandex.)

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Who says I can’t get a break?

Having a broken ankle wasn’t all bad.  I got to work from home for over a month during lucid moments between painkillers, friends and neighbors drove my children to and from school, and prepared meals magically showed up at my house.  I learned a lot about what it’s like to be dependent on the kindness and generosity of others, and definitely try to pay it forward.

But back to last weekend.  The kids and I are my husband’s MS 150 “support team,” which means we pick him up at Buescher State Park in Bastrop, check us in to the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort, enjoy a relaxing afternoon, a nice meal, and hopefully a good night’s sleep.  In the morning, I drive him back to Buescher State Park so that he can complete the last leg of the ride.  We pick him up in Austin a few hours later and head home.

It is always a treat to be able to spend a night or two at the Lost PInes, and it’s a popular getaway for Houstonians:

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Hard to miss the entrance

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Enormous pecan trees grace the property

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An impressive arrangement greets guests

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Lush landscaping adds to the beauty of the resort

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There’s a butterfly meadow 

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And a hummingbird garden to wander around in

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A longhorn on the property reminds you that you are in Texas

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A fire pit to gather around, and complimentary s’mores

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The lobby glows in the evening light

As you can see, there are perks to being my husband’s support team.  But the best part about this year’s ride, for me, was that the Texas wildflowers were still in full bloom.  Once we got outside of La Grange, the roadsides were a mosaic of glorious Texas spring color.  There were big splotches of pink Texas Buttercups:

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Colorful Mexican Blanket Flowers:

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Beautiful deep pink Wine Cups (also known as Poppy Mallows and Cowboy Roses):

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Delicate White Prickly Poppies:

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Prickly pear cactus were just getting ready to bloom:

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But as every Texan knows, the real star of the Texas wildflower show is the Texas Bluebonnet:

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All in all, it was a wonderful Texas spring weekend, with perfect weather for the riders.

Back at home, I had those prickly pear cactus paddles on my mind.  I tried to find fresh cactus paddles at the grocery store to make a nopalitos salad, thinking it would at least be interesting to try to remove the spines and prepare them for cooking, but all they had was a bag of chopped, cleaned ones:

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I sauteed them, which worked well.  The salad was easy to make, and something a little out of the ordinary to serve with grilled meats.  The nopalitos have an unexpected tangy note.  I highly recommend buying the nopalitos already prepared!

SAUTEED NOPALITOS SALAD
 
Recipe Type: Salad
Author: Tag Sale Tastes
Ingredients
  • 1/2 teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 cup prepared nopalitos (spines removed, cut into strips)
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 4 grape tomatoes, quartered
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro
  • 2 teaspoons crumbled cotija or feta cheese
  • 1 small radish, grated.
Instructions
  1. Heat oil in a small nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add nopalitos and saute until soft and beginning to brown in spots. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer nopalitos to a small bowl and toss with tomatoes and cilantro. Transfer to serving dish and sprinkle cheese and radish over the top. Serve at room temperature.

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 Sauteeing the nopalitos

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GARBANZO AND FENNEL SALAD

Spring has sprung here on the Gulf Coast, and what a show it’s been!  The redbuds, with their pink-flocked branches, were among the first to awaken:

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They were soon followed by Japanese magnolias:

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and azaleas:

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and loropetalum, also known as Chinese fringe flowers:

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The fragrant blossoms popping into bloom on the citrus trees bring the promise of an abundant fruit crop (well, hopefully more than the 3 lemons I was rewarded with this year):

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This time of year is great at the farmer’s market, too.  There’s been loads of gorgeous produce, including cabbages big and small:

010007 (2)A crazy riot of carrots:

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Easter egg radishes:

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I used the fennel to make Garbanzo and Fennel Salad.  This salad has a lot going on, with a strong bite from the garlic, red pepper, and blue cheese.  It’ll awaken any hibernating taste buds!  Happy Spring!

GARBANZO AND FENNEL SALAD
Author: 
 
Ingredients
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1-1/2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 1 15.5-ounce cans garbanzos, rinsed and drained
  • 2 medium fennel bulbs, thinly sliced
  • 1 large garlic clove, minced
  • ¼ cup crumbled gorgonzola or blue cheese
  • ¼ cup minced fresh flat-leafed parsley
Instructions
  1. In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, vinegar, pepper, salt, thyme, and red pepper. Place garbanzos, fennel, and garlic in a medium bowl, pour dressing over, and toss to combine. Sprinkle with cheese an parsley. Cover and chill at least 1 hour.

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