2012. Another year come and gone. So strange how sometimes life goes by in a flash, and other times it just ticks on, like watching the second hand of a clock. But there is something about New Year’s Eve that makes me all giddy. I’m not one for lavish and indulgent parties. That’s not what gets me excited. It’s all the hope a new year can bring, all the possibilities. Truly, they are endless. I love that.
My New Year’s Eve was pretty amazing. It started with an unexpected free meal at Urban in the Westin Hotel here in Austin. Thank you Brent and Chris for the hook up!! You guys, their Chicken and Waffles dish is to die for – they put bacon (BACON!) in the waffle batter. It was the perfect equilibrium between salty and sweet. The Newton unfiltered chard was amazing as well. After dinner we headed to Austin Cake Ball where we, rather conservatively, had dessert consisting of three tiny cake balls: vanilla bean, pumpkin spice, and salted caramel. Ugh, so damn good. When we got home I cracked open the 07 Flora Springs Trilogy bottle I purchased and we just hung out, full of delicious food and drink, and let the new year come to us. After a (maybe too much?) good amount of wine and champagne later we decide to take our dog on a walk. In my slightly foggy mind, I decide that it’s a good idea to run instead of walk, to the delight of my bulldog, and shortly after we begin the impromptu run he totally crosses over and takes me out. It was an epic fall, dear friends, I have the scrapes and bruises to show for it. Derek, with nothing but worry on his face that I may have hit my head, had the grace to not even laugh… something I doubt I could have managed. I, however, thought it was hysterical, and the whole rest of the walk I periodically started giggling at the memory. Many hours later, many words written in my journal, many songs by Florence and the Machine listened to – I finally went to bed, officially saying goodbye to a wonderful year past and hello to an even better year to come.
I’m not doing resolutions this year. Fuck resolutions. All I want is to be a better and wiser me, whatever that entails. So this recipe isn’t some resolution ploy to lose weight. I’m over that. Not that I do not want to be fit, it’s just that diets and resolutions and pressuring myself doesn’t do anything but make me crazy. So, I am not looking at the scale, and not giving myself a timeline. I’ll get there when I get there, and will try to make some good decisions on the way. So whether you’re on a diet or not, this is an amazingly complex salad, full of yummy goodness!
Grilled Tuna Nicoise Salad
- 1 large Ahi Tuna steak
- mixed greens
- green beans, blanched
- 2 eggs, hard boiled
- tomatoes, cherry or small
- 2 red potatoes, boiled in salted water
- 1/2 clove of garlic, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoons good olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon anchovy paste (if you don’t like anchovies use dijon mustard)
- s&p
To make the dressing- whisk the garlic, vinegar, oil, paste, and s&p until emulsified. Add to the mixed greens and toss.
To make the green beans- boil water, generously salt after boiling, add the green beans and cook for about 3-4 minutes, drain. You can then put them in an ice bath if you’re feeling especially motivated – this stops the green beans from cooking any longer and keeps them a vibrant green.
To make the tuna: Heat your grill or a skillet over medium high heat and add a little olive oil to the pan. Generously salt and pepper the tuna. Once slightly smoking add the tuna and sear for about 2 minutes per side, depending on how thick your steaks are, to keep them rare. If you cook Ahi tuna all the way it might be dry, just saying. Cut the tuna, against the grain, into strips.
Assembly- Lay a handful of mixed greens in a salad bowl. Top with green beans. To green beans with tuna slices. Distribute the egg, tomatoes, and potatoes around the bowl.
Serves 2
Month-long break from school. I successfully channeled my inner Hermione Granger and kicked some serious butt this past semester. I may have even secured myself the Head Girl title, if such were the case. Hard work pays off sometimes. Granted, I still have a lot to learn when it comes to time management; they should teach Procrastination 101 to all students. But, all in all, it was a great 3 months and I learned so much… especially when to just-say-no and not respond to snarky, condescending emails sent by pompous professors. Actually, I did not learn that lesson. I responded to all his snarky emails with equally snarky responses. This, however, never really accomplished anything but make my blood pressure go through the roof. Next time – just say NO, Michelle!
