I'll Have My Way with You, Chicken: Mexicana Chicken Soup

MEXICAN CHICKEN SOUP

- Whack to pieces a whole chicken and dredge it in cumin, coriander and a good quality chile powder, salt and pepper

- Pan fry it and set aside. Don't throw juices out.

- Saute sliced onion and smashed garlic in pan the chicken was fried in. As much as you like. I add one medium onion and several cloves of garlic. Add olive oil if needed. Add one can of diced tomato and cook until that raw taste is gone. Add mild pepper like the canned chiles in the 'imported' section at Publix and add to pot.

- Add chicken back to pot with juices.

- Add a very good broth- I like Imagine Chicken Broth  that's organic or I will use what I made at another time. Like 4 cups. Then add another 3 cups or so of water...

Bring to slow simmer. DO NOT LET IT BOIL ON HIGH! It's very important that you don't break the proteins apart in a broth or it becomes cloudy. You want this on a verrrry gentle simmer....

I roast either butternut, sweet potato or acorn squash just to the firm stage. Cut into chunks and set aside while chicken cooks.

**When the chicken is done (it will start to fall off the bone. Don't over cook it!) add the vegetable of choice plus plenty of fresh lime juice and cilantro, salt (try using a nicer salt than the fine grained crap: kosher or thicker sea salt better) and fresh ground pepper to taste.**

As an accoutrement:
- chunks of avocado
- toasted pumpkin seeds
- cilantro
- dollop light sour cream or greek yogurt
- fresh tortilla strips: I used  the corn/flour blend that I fried quickly.

Yum.

SALMON: I Can't Believe I Made Croquettes..

So, I like salmon okay. That gray layer on the bottom kinda grosses me out but when Harold bought a beautiful piece of wild-cat salmon from New Leaf I cooked it and we had it with some fresh garden greens. With a good bottle of wine I was like, okay-not bad, I'll eat this again...

Getting tipsy on another night a couple days later we discussed salmon croquettes which my mother would NEVER have made. She knew all 9 of her brood would have revolted so kept it from the menu. I decided on a whim that I would make the patties with the left over Harold had so he showed up today to the shop, fish in hand, and I came up with this recipe.

They were to die for. I can't wait for more left over salmon!

CAT LOVERS SALMON CROQUES:

You'll have to figure out the proportions yourself. Use your intuition. You can do it.

PATTIES:
- Leftover salmon, preferably good wild stuff.
- dollop of mayo
- some light cream cheese
- one egg
- finely diced sweet onion
- chopped parsley/cilantro ( I had both in the garden..)
- small amount of minced capers
- nice squeeze of Meyer lemon
- pepper
- Panko crumbs to bind

Once the consistency is moist enough to bind patty them up and dredge in more Panko. I sauted in olive oil/butter blend- fairly high heat. You're just going to brown them because the fish is already cooked.

DRESSING FOR SALAD:
- mayo
- olive oil
- Meyer lemon
- seasoned rice wine vinegar
- fresh ground pepper
- chopped parsley/cilantro

I pulled butter crunch lettuce and Asian greens from the garden minutes before serving and added only thinly sliced sweet onion. I dressed the salad before I started cooking the croques. And, I had extra to drizzle to taste.

We ate them ALL and Tracy said she has new respect for Salmon Croquettes. that made me happy!

Choosing to Play Dirty: Floyd Fest 9 (...it's all about the people)

What's your limit when it comes to close quarters in the woods? Tents pitched back to back, barely a path between the thin nylon bubble that is your abode for days. You open a window flap and there's the neighbor. You step out your door in pajamas, there's the neighbor. Coolers emptied of their water in dusty, bustling walkways that serve as the inroads to this Tent City at music festivals all over the country. Up and down the alleys there are people brushing their teeth, discreetly spitting in the nooks and crannies around their temporary homes. Peeing goes on too, sometimes not so discreetly, late at night outside your window. Outside the City the Port-o-Lets are lined up, ready and waiting for the thousands of people that would NEVER use these odoriferous pods otherwise. Thye'll walk a mile for a spit of water to bathe with. More likely you walk around with dirty feet for several days or take a bird bath in that dusty pathway in front of your tent.

We manage to accept these short term, no luxury lifestyles with gusto and a sense of verve because we get to be with our pals. We've all had the Festival Koolaid and will turn a blind eye to those Port-o-Lets and dirty feet for a long weekend just so we can spend time with friends we adore to listen to often great, sometimes lousy music and dance our asses off in either case.

But, just a thought, what if we ended up in these very same circumstances- a Tent City with limited amenities-because suddenly our homes got blown away by a dastardly hurricane or similar catastrophe? Would our attitudes be the same? Full of fun and frivolity, patting ourselves on the back for being able to give up our cushy cyber lives for a few days because we know that Sunday evening we'll be back in the sanctuaries of our homes: clean sheets, clean feet, clean toilets. Just a thought...

( Special thanks to my Tent City friends for once again thinking, foolishly I'm sure, that I might be an okay companion for Floyd Fest 2010. We did, actually, have a helluva good time. Living the Good Life no matter what the conditions are is all about the people...)

Social Tickets Redeemed

SATURDAY by the SEA

For ever so long I have not spared any of my social tickets on anything other than my own pomp and circumstance of Life on The Party Patio, conjuring up one gala soiree or another, gathering around me all the # 1's that make each evening "the best one ever". And we would say that after each party: the Casino Party, the Cowgirl Party, the Italian Red Party..."Wow! That was the best party ever!!" And then after that, I would be pooped and had no more social tickets to spend: festivals, late night music, other people's parties....I turned them all down. Of course, the Mutant Teenager who is still with the Aliens held me captive as well for years.

But now I am emerging from my tiny life, redeeming some of those tickets and saying yes yes yes to all sorts of things and having a big time doing it. Hangout festival? "Really- you guys are inviting me?"... Canoe ride for Ed's Non Birthday? Hell yea!....Crowding up to watch World Cup soccer at Finnegan's, sweating profusely, with Jack? I'll be there...

Then I issued my own invite for a Saturday by the Sea weekend to the clan that allowed me the privilege of hanging at the Hangout Fest. Alligator Point, Asian wonder of a house, all night cards, tequila, summer storms, incredible eats: we had it all...

Looking into the Mirror of Men

Have you ever run into someone and after spending some time hitting the highlights of life with them look at them and say, "Gee, you're just like me but you're a dude!" There's a lot of good, bad and potentially ugly stuff that can come from observing this quirk of nature. Sometimes you burst forth with happiness at getting to laugh your ass of with this mirror image of yourself who thinks some stupid thing is just as hilarious as you do. Or when you both notice some minor detail that is invisible to everyone else. But then there's a tantrum thrown and you have to hide your head and secretly admit that you'd have done the same thing and vow to work on that temper of yours...The facets of your personality reflected back at you are endless.

Watching it through the mirror of the man can be enlightening and touching and cringe worthy all at the same time. Do I really do that? It looks like me, sounds like me but with my feline way I am not able to pull off the bigness of the male emotion. I'd like to mimic these at times- like the huge, joyful affection that my Man Twin can properly pull off with people but makes me look like a squeaky mouse. Or the bull that charges through the garden ripping and tearing out everything in his path like a Paul Bunyan but has me trailing quietly behind picking up the pieces. It's exciting! It's fun! And what's more- I don't have to make all the decisions! Someone else can actually match my energy and leave me in the dust....

Here's my top pick in my Men by Numbers game this week:

Running the Gauntlet of Madonia

In our family of animals we speak of "running the gauntlet" when one of our womenfolk is forced to introduce a male friend into the pack of females. The gal invariably resists, makes excuses and then tries to run for the hills until the guy punches through the resistance and ends up in the hornets nest of the Madonia Matriarchs. All hell breaks loose but after plying the males with food and drink the deer-in-the-headlight look subsides and they get into the groove of what it takes to hang in this feline family. As Soren said after an entire weekend ensnared in the Madonia web, "It's smooth sailing now..."

A younger female in the clan has finally graduated out of the total mess of what we still call a "high school education" without too many scars and to celebrate we tried to wrangle as many kinfolk as we could to hang out at mama bird's house without coming to fist-a-cuffs or experiencing a full blown Italian shouting match over some inadvertent petty insult. In fact, it all came together- a surprise visitor from the west coast appeared and a variety of siblings and odd friends all collided for a pretty damn good weekend...in my opinion. And I have a LOT of opinions.

(We whiled away the weekend in harmony by driving to St. George Island and Wakulla Springs, catching some local music, and sharing meals...Slideshow not loading today but I will figure it out somehow soon...))

Day of the Ed

Forced into a birthday celebration, Ed is dragged to the Wacissa and made to ferry around the Little General while patiently listening to 3 Chatty Cathys. Running the gauntlet of the local color and their kin was swiftly done and a dip in that cool, sweet spring water was key to Ed's day of fun.

Drinking beer helped....

(and he got to go to Cabo's where everyone licked their plates, drank margaritas and Ed got carrot cake. Happy Birthday Ed...)

Hugh Moves On...Sopchoppy Bound

Hugh had such a good time hanging out with the Usual Suspects at Truett Place that he may secretly just ride the entire 2200 miles around Tallahassee just so he could get the good meals, drink Cortaditas at the Red Eye and hang out on the porch writing all day....

Here he is pretending to leave for Sopchoppy and points west...

Blogging to Follow a Blog: Hughie Does America...Slowly

My disappearing act from all electronic transmissions has been a relief and an inspiration at the same time. I scatter my thoughts too freely and end up divided in my efforts but falling all by myself. And then, more importantly, I feel that most people really don't give a damn where you are or what's going on because they're too busy checking in with the whole world in sound bites that are so brief that they are long forgotten before the end of the day. On to the next best thing.

I'm compelled to post a word about my amazing technicolor friend Hugh the Magnificent as he journeys across America, on the Slow Ride, and gathers and sorts his thoughts concerning the next chapter in his life. The talented Mr. Holborn has left St Augustine and the shrapnel of his overly busy life, reducing his personal footprint to a bicycle and small pull behind trailer, and heads for New Mexico. A slow, controlled journey indeed.

Hugh enriched my weekend by showing up here in Tallahassee after his successful first week on the road and is letting me do what I do best: entertain, feed and support. Of course, a quick All Call to my Number One's for a Friday Night Stone(r) Patio dinner party helped kick off a productive weekend for Hughie as he maps and organizes his next week.

Damn, I love Tallahassee...

Hugh's travelogue can be found at: slowlifeonabike.com

Chicago Was Good to Me

Chicago forgot that it was November this past weekend and threw it's charms at me in showers of sparkles and hospitality...perfect 75 degree weather, light balmy breeze blowing, perfect companion. Just long enough for me to get a lay of the land: no long hours in a museum, waiting in line to get the tip-top view from the Sears building, no trip to the zoo. Just a nice leisurely walkabout along the Chicago River and the Magnificent Mile, a stunning river cruise, jazz at the Drake Hotel, a wander through the eclectic Andersonville neighborhood at night and food, food, food (not nearly enough for my liking!) I'll take 48 hours anytime and soak up that city.

The Young and the Restless

What can I say about lovely young girls who have no qualms about posing for photos in fun outfits just for the hell of it? My adorable niece answered my desperate call for help this weekend when I wanted live models to pose in some of my vintage items for my Etsy shop. She arrived with her fun friend for a two hour photo session on my patio and a fantastic time was had by all. The Niece is a bull in a china shop so clothes were strewn around, dancing to the Black Eyed Peas ensued- all during a great lashing of rain which we all ignored- and I got what I needed- incredible shots of the Young and Restless in outfits from long ago.....and they wore them so well. Can't wait to wrangle these wildcats again.

Blue Moon at Dean's

The turtle man had the Blue Moon Beer Group down last month for dinner at the coast. What is it about our little piece of heaven down at Alligator Point? No crashing waves, pristine white sands, goofy rows of colorful row houses....just a wild bit of Florida beach that you can still walk your dog on, watch the subtle but awesome sunset without a high rise in the way and hang out with people you like eating fried grouper and cornbread. If you're lucky you get to listen to live music, too.

Thanks, Dean...

The breeze has finally picked up again on the river, a warm one indeed- but a breeze no less. I've arrived back to the River House to be greeted by Lili Doodle, the new dog on the scene, and an empty house but the pleasant calm that I feel whenever returning here has decended upon me. A quick jaunt to the north end of Brevard county to visit my father and then a sprint down to the south end to the beaches of Melbourne to have some time with my dear friend Jenny have brought me to this satisfied state of mind where I can think clearly again.

My Dad and His Warbirds

Valiant Air Command Warbird Museum was formed in 1977 and has been dedicated to finding and preserving historic aircraft that are such a part of our aviation history. The museum is located on 10 lush, tropical acres belonging to the Space Center Executive Airport in Titusville, Florida. The museum displays , maintains and restores an incredible array of aircraft that were indigenous to the world's military Air Forces starting before WWI to the present. Tomcat, Voodoo, Corsair, Buckeye, Wildcat, Messerschmitt, Mohawk- all the cool stuff you guys like to see- here they are. Over 35 of them....get your rocks off here.

My father has been volunteering at the War Bird Museum in Titusville for over 16 years. The place is stuffed full of military paraphenalia, small model airplanes, old uniforms, maps and over 30 restored war birds on display in two hangars. Even if you don't think you're into old aircraft I promise that just being close to these old machines is pretty awesome. ... Being with my father while he's in his element is pretty awesome as well. Taking these photos was a blast......

Storms A Brewin'

It's been a long hot summer waiting for the conditions to warrant the naming of this year's storms. The coast has been surprisingly pleasant this summer with the Blue Moon Group enjoying quick trips down to the coast at Alligator Point. Linda and I tag along with Brad to eat and drink and wander the shore for detritus. One afternoon after lunch and naps these two talented friends effortlessly produced a mozaic destined to be a table top for Miss Hall's studio. My loot of all black shells is awaiting my return...a mirrored mozaic in the bottom of a bird bath- I've finally decided.

Indubitably My Dear Mr Fowler

It's been years since we'd worked together but it all came comfortably together again as I entered the studio of Mr Fowler this very hot day in August. In the past we would come together with a vague notion or two of what we wanted to work on and the sessions flowed easily...the same today. A little rope, some gifts from the sea, a set of antlers and we were happy. The distractions in my life are many at the moment and I tried so very hard to wrap my mind about what we were about to do. I had the Breakfast of Champions, though, to get me started: cheap red wine .... and that was that...

I like to document the set-up because there's so much effort that goes in to these sessions. The reality is apparent and you don't look perfect...

A Girl and Her Dog

Just a word about those stray dogs that are out there awaiting their rightful owners who will whisk them away from the dull lives they led onto new adventures....Miss LilyLonglegs here is a very recent addition to the River House that I visit. There hasn't been a resident pooch for several years since the last wanderer, Andy, showed up during Hurricane (what else?) Andrew many seasons ago and lived to tell. He passed on to DogVille in the Sky awhile back and now Lily the LabraDoodle has landed! She's made herself right at home with the lady of the house...Can't wait to bring the Judith down for a tete a tete...

Having Dreams of the RedEye

I know it's time for me to go to bed but I can't bring myself to do it...it's really late, I have a momentous court date for the Boy in the morning and I have no idea what I want the Man to do out in the gardens. So I just ignore all the signals- gritty eyes, restless leg, hungry stomach- and keep running around the internet looking at useful and very useless stuff, both areas of interest.

Maybe if I conjure up the vision of my morning coffee and imagine that I can smell that perfect cup: when the cream hits the liquid the cloud that forms is like a dark storm brewing..I'm talking Tar Baby java, the ultimate RedEye. I can smell it, my gut is grumbling...now what should I have with it? Sweet or savory- the eternal question?

The Rain Comes Down

Sunday, 26 July 2009

It's raining, it's pouring on the river in Rockledge and I can't think of a more divine place to be at the moment...Tini and I decided to fore go showers after the beach- there's something about that salty feel on the skin I like to hang on to for awhile. The warmth in the house was a little unbearable so we ran outside and stripped under the waterfall that comes off the back eave and took a cold rainwater shower. Years ago when I was pregnant with Dylan I grew fresh patchouli so I could harvest, throw into a bucket before a rainstorm and let that nitrogen charged water pound over it. I loved using the water to rinse my hair with and then wrap the patchouli leaves in the towel on my head...

Fireworks on the St. John's River

i'm not a gal that normally goes running off to watch fireworks- the crowds, the traffic...all rather annoying to me. but last week on July 4th i stopped briefly to see baby sister Denise in Jacksonville on my way to St. Augustine. I scooped her up and off we went, straight into the downtown area where we quickly found parking. a short through the glamorous redneck business district of this city on the river and with our sparklers we settled down in a little park catching a great summer breeze and watching all the families gather to view the spectacular spectacular...we were graced with not one show but two fantastic displays: one barge was anchored so that the almost full moon was part and parcel of the fireworks as they blasted into the sky; the other, identical display, could be seen with the fantastic neon blue bridge in the foreground.

an incredible treat for the eyes and what a way to take one's mind away to a magical fantasy world of lights...