Love Letter To California

I woke up this morning thinking about my Orange County bucket list.  When my fiancé found out he was hired, I started thinking of all the things I wanted to do in California, more specifically Orange County, before we jetted off to start our new lives as New Yorkers.  I was thinking how I wanted to have these experiences, these OC notches on my belt as it were.  Then I started thinking that I was going to learn all about New York.  Do research of not just what it has to offer, but the weather, the street names, the culture, the history behind what makes New York, New York… Light bulb over my head!!  I’ve lived in California for almost 30 years!  What’s wrong with me that I’ve insulted my home state, not caring to learn even 10% of what I had in mind for New York.  New York has yet to offer me anything and California has given me everything.  So!! California!  I love you and I don’t just want to use you for my entertainment before I leave you behind!  (Graduation Goggles are at full play here.  Don’t be alarmed.)  I make this loving commitment to you, California, that whenever I learn something new about New York, I will learn a new thing about you.  Whenever I start to day dream about skyscrapers and subways, I will not just make plans to fulfill an experience on my bucket list…I will go out and do it (at the very first opportunity)!!!  You have my heartfelt promise to not just love you and leave you, California!

If you are now a little nauseaus, I apologize. 

Today I thought I would give a little nod to Stater Bros. Supermarket.  I worked there for 7 years, started when I was 16 and it gave me my first education in the workforce.  Stater’s is only in California and is really concentrated in Orange County.  I only shop at Stater’s (97% of the time) for groceries not just because I worked there for sooooo long, but because the prices are VERY MUCH lower than any other grocery store around and they stand apart with a butcher counter!  Most grocery stores around here (not including the “ethnic” ones I do love to shop at also like the Vietnamese Ranch market or the Persian Jordan halal market) just have a prepackaged counter to choose a limited amount of cuts.  At Staters, they will give you any kind of cut you want, let you pick whatever chop or filet you want, will prepare and tie up a ribroast for you and even give you cooking tips and recipes!!  They really do have the best employees there (not just because I worked there, tee-hee)!  

So, this homage to Stater Bros was my way of honoring an Orange County institution and something very California about me.  I am also going there today to do all of my shopping for tonight.  Tonight I am making food for my mother-in-law and sister-in-law (I LOVE to cook!!) and I will post tomorrow on what I made and maybe take some pictures ;)  This blog, at times, will post recipes and resemble a food blog but that’s just because I secretly consider myself a chef!  Until tomorrow my darlings!