Who will mind the store?

Murray's nephew Dan and his girlfriend Kinsey will be staying at our place while we are away.  They are doing the relationship trial by fire that Murray and I did a few years ago.  Two people staying for an extended time in the 200 sq ft. of our studio in the back is tough.  Murray has a nice long list of rules to ensure a safe transition into the "big house".

We tried to find a renter, but insecurity with having non-family in the house seemed to ooze from Murray's pores whenever people would come to look at the place.  I would say it is generally say it is tough for Murray to frighten or intimidate people, but if you are visualizing her as your landlord while living in not a "house she owns" but her "home" full of her prized possessions...

Of course the healer who needed a quiet place to write up his bio-luminescent healing manual said it was the electromagnetic field strength around the house he was sensitive to, but, I think he was afraid of the MurMonster.

I used everyone as guinea pigs to test out my ideas about how to make black beans and rice with fresh cilantro, cheese, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper.  I used the microwave pressure cooker to get the beans soft enough in 25 minutes after soaking overnight.  I had leftover paella rice which is extra squishy and worked well.  I served it with lemon-cilantro pork medalions.  I thought it was awesome.  Pam made pears with nuts in a red wine/honey/cinnamon reduction, Dan made salad, and Kinsey had baked sour dough bread.

Murray thought the beans and rice were too mushy with the cook time and cheese, but what does she know?  Some of us find soft, warm foods comforting.  OK I promise not to turn this into a food blog. Just trying to explain why everyone was so happy in the picture.