Evolving Sweetie

Recipe Monday - Aug 31st

Watched Cat Cora on Iron Chef America this week. I love her style - fun, with unexpected twists on the classics. Although this tends to often favor her competition, it's great to see what she comes up with. After watching her during Battle Maple I decided to look through her cookbook Cooking from the Hip for inspiration. 

The cook book is broken into 4 sections depending on the recipe level of intensity: Fast, Easy, Fun and Phenomenal. My choices came from the Fast section - for Sweet Potato & Scallion Latkes and Saffron Honey-Roasted Chicken.  Both dishes have minimal ingredients. I really enjoyed the latkes - the sweetness mixed with the scallion gives the pancake a lovely complexity. They would also be a great base for an appetizer with our smoked salmon. I'm planning on mixing some of the leftover cakes into a frittata for breakfast this week. 

The Saffron Honey-Roasted Chicken had a wonderful saffron taste. I was disappointed following her cooking instructions to the T that my chicken skin didn't all brown up. Next time all fall back on doing some pre-browning as is my usual method. I'd also have liked the honey mixture to be a bit thicker. Her instructions indicated the amounts were approximate, so I'll err on the side of a thicker base next time. 

While reading through the Fast section I solved the mystery to why my Tzatziki never is a thick and lush as my restaurant favorite at Vios Cafe. Her suggestion is to strain out the extra water from the cucumber by letting it drain through a thin mesh strain or cheese cloth for 30 minutes. I'm stoked to try that next time. 

Saffron Honey-Roasted Chicken:

Dinner - Saffron Honey-Roasted Chicken, Sweet Potato Latkes & Green beans:

Photo log - Dungeness Spit

Worked up a small photo book on the gang's camping trip to Dungeness Spit. Yes - it was that great a weekend! A while ago I posted the best people pics from our trip. Here's a few favs that weren't in the typical people shot category.

POSTCARDS from Sequim, WA.

Here's looking at you - 1

Here's looking at you - 2

Objects closer than they appear

Beach

Adrift

Missing you

Inspiration

A dear friend said to me at dinner the other day, where is the fun in your life? Unfortunately, I need to think long and hard about that. With her question still ringing in my ear on thursday evening after work, I made the last minute decision to forgo dinner and take in a movie instead. After giving it the old college try to drum up a companion, I headed out myself. Every once in a while movie popcorn makes the perfect dinner. 

Julie & Julia was my choice. It was absolutely delightful. This was a rare occasion when I enjoyed the film version much more than the book. I laughed, was touched and inspired. By the late 20s writer finding an outlet for her passion everyday, rising to the challenges and relearning the value of her marriage...maybe. But most of my admiration went to Julia Child so beautifully and sparklingly portrayed by Meryl Streep. The joy of life that her Julia embodied was awe-inspiring, especially in the face of adversary. It definitely has that feel good vibe to it.

Julie says at one point that Julia is the voice in her head guiding her along as she cooked. It got me thinking of my own mind. I realized for me that as I cook that voice is Chuck. I feel closer to him when I am cooking. Being a chef himself, he instilled a ton of confidence in my own ability and infused me with his love of cooking. While I'll never be able to reach the levels of complexity his food beautifully contained, I'm happy to be pretty-damn-good. When I am learning something new, I envision Chuck smiling away and whispering in my ear. It's a sweet little homage. 

While baking, I am in my own world. I've always loved to bake. Which is funny because the exact science of baking is so out of sync with my personality. Love is always an ingredient when I bake for it is here as I'm whipping up sweet concoctions that I've always daydreamed about family and loves. Making favorites, creating magic. It's wistful and beautiful. 

At the very least the movie helped me define what makes my kitchen time --- FUN.

Recipe Mondays Aug 24

Happy Monday morning Everyone. Jump starting a few goals of mine to kick off the back-to-school season with a fresh start mentality and physically. As with all my journeys, this blog will act as a sounding board/record-keeper/dialog.

A BIG challenge of mine is holding myself accountable for my diet. I love to cook and bake. It brings me great joy. But here is the rub, it's incredibly challenging for me to mustering the enthusiasm and nurturing to cook for only myself. Continuing to not cook is wrecking havoc on my life on so many levels, with the wallet and the waistline slugging it out for first place. In the meantime I've gorgeous cookbooks that I spend time drooling over, recipes I daydream about making and skills that are aching to be stretched. 

While I'm not planning a knock off the Julie & Julia scenario, it's time to log in some serious K.P. duty. My goal is to try one new recipe a week and write about it for Monday's posts. Maybe some weeks will include both a savory and a sweet entry. I'm needing the subtle push to try new things, to stop dreaming about what I could make someday and realize the someday is now. 

As for the recipes - if it is one I've found online I'll post the link directly to the recipe I've found. If it's a recipe from a cookbook, I'll post a link to the cookbook with any notes I took to adapt the recipe. Since my readership is largely family and friends it will not be an issue for me to electronically send an email with a recipe that someone found intriguing. Since I am relatively new at this, I'm erring on the side of overly cautious. 

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This week's recipe I was chomping at the bit to try as soon as it arrived in my in-box from a Martha Stewart newsletter. Nothing sounds more like summer to me than Peach Cobbler. Instead of individual mini desserts, I adapted it to a 2 qt baking dish to bring to Sunday night dinner at my sisters. And added cinnamon to the sugar to top the biscuit for spice. My version ended up with a heavier, more dumpling like topping - probably from over-mixing. While it tasted lovely, I was disappointed in the overall appearance. I'd give it a B rating. 

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy Birthday Dad! 

Hope the year brings you an abundance of health, happiness and love.

First Annual Clam Bake

One of my favorite things about my friend family - affectionately "The Gang" - is we are big on celebrations. We'll try something once and if it was fun a new tradition is born. For a while B & I have been bandying about the idea of doing a good old fashion Clam Bake. You know the ones with lots of seafood, corn and potatoes that is dumped into the center to the table and its a free for all. We all live in close proximity to the beach at Magneson Park on Lake Washington. And decided it would be a great way to spend a late August friday night.  

Kismet lent a hand when I found the perfect clam bake pot at a random garage sale in June for $10. Sweet!  Today was great fun running to get ingredients. B & I took the kids to QFC to pick out the lobsters and crab. They had a blast picking out dinner. Then I baked up a batch of gooey chocolate chip cookies, prepped the corn, whipped up a pitcher of mojitos and headed over to the beach. A whole 4 minute drive. 

This was a new experiment for us all. And we learned a few things along the way. 

1. We needed a WAY hotter fire. Charcoal briquettes didn't cut it. 

2. Our pot was too full.  We placed the lobsters on top originally and it didn't give the clams much room to open up. Think we ended up crushing some of them. 

3. One can never have too many paper towels. And we quickly figured out why the picnic tables are supposed to be lined with newspaper. We omitted this detail.

4. A pitcher of mojitos is a great primer. Comfortably numb!

5. More fire!!!

6. Look into alternate methods of cooking the potatoes. Although Parker's dinner packet in foil was perfectly cooked.

7. Table clothes are disposable when newspaper is missing. 

8. Chocolate cookie sandwiches with toasted marshmellow centers ROCK.

9. Version 1.0 always has bugs. Next year we will work out the kinks.

10. And to quote Eric " You can take Jeannette out of the kitchen, but you can't take the kitchen out of Jeannette"". This was in reference to my bringing saffron, old bay seasoning, kosher salt, a pepper grinder and smoked paprika to add to our spice offerings. Love it!

POSTCARDS from the Inaugural Clam Bake.

Waiting for dinner

Our view

Kids taking a summer evening dip

Harry

Katie

Parker adding the vino - which made a killer broth

Say hi to dinner

Jack & Catherine's Dungeness Crab

B & Eric manning the pot

Starting to fill up

Filled to the rim

Self Portrait 

Katie found a fish - it was not pot worthy!

Eric - laughing

Jack & Catherine

Cory

B & I coordinated in reverse

Cool reflection in Parker's shades

Bill & Judy

Let the feasting begin! What you don't see is the big pot of clams & broth, 4 lobsters in various states of disarray, a steadily worked on crab and a grocery bag filled with bread. All of us lined the table and munched away. It was delicious, messy and a ton of fun.

In Between Days

Aside from being uber busy at work the last handful of weeks, I've been going through another down cycle in grief over Chuck. Sometimes, its just harder than others. I miss my soul-mate and confident. His hugs and laughter. My Chuck.

Deciphering the grief from loneliness and longing for partnership can be difficult. As time passes they are often intertwined with their borders morphing into one another. And the urging from my own soul to take bolder steps forward grows. As a widower friend of mine simply, beautifully put it..."Eventually, Life Wins." 

As much as I hope for those future days when I once again live in the couple dance, life with Chuck will be even further out of reach. Confined to the depths of memory. And the spells of missing will become purely about Chuck once again. 

It's an unsolvable paradox. And thus, I will leave you today with a stanza from the Cure often twirls in my thoughts at times like these.

"And I know I was wrong, when I said it was true.

That it couldn't be me and be caught in between

Without you...  without you."

In Between Days by the Cure.

When is Enough, Enough?

A valuable lesson was spotlighted in my life approach this week. Wish I knew where this attitude developed. And I'll be devoting some significant attention to reprogramming my thinking. My WANTS vs SATISFACTION is so out of whack. It all started when a good friend bought a brand spanking new car this week. Aside from being very happy for her, the green-eyed monster raged inside. "I want a new car, I want to buy a BRAND NEW car! I want, I want, I want!" And I know I'm not alone in battling these irrational desires. And the destructive path it erodes in my happiness. 

Yes - my car is actually a truck disguised as an SUV. And yes, it rides rough and gets crappy gas mileage. And yes, there are some emotional decisions that went into purchasing this car that no longer exist. But here comes the hard truths:

A. It's paid off. Owned free and clear.

B. It's only a 2004. Do you realize that all the other cars you've owned have been from the decade you graduated high school! Please say that again 3 more times until it sinks in.

C. The car has air-conditioning, power locks, 4 wheel drive, airbags and is an automatic. All of which were upgrades from any other car you have owned. Ok - save Chuck's Subaru, but that was Chuck's.

D. It fits all the vehicle needs I have. Commuting, room for guests, hauling camping gear, getting to trail heads, safety in the bad weather...

E. It's been very reliable with me through very trying times. 

My car is just an example. And while I can rationally work my way through all the reasons I should be grateful for my vehicle, how does the "I should" become "I am."  Never have I bought into the keeping up with "the Jones", so where does this want and lack of satisfaction come from? It's easy to blame the media and our culture. But without finding the root lack within that they are preying on, how do you counter act it? 

My first thought is to apply liberal doses of gratitude. Tell the wants to take a hike. And delight that all your needs are being provided for. Coming from a more centered space should illuminate which wants, if any, I want to strive and save to achieve. This will be a work in progress.

 

@ the Beach - best of the people pics

POSTCARDS at Dungeness Spit during our annual camping trek. 

Alex, Parker & Harry @ overlook

Moi!

Micaela & Thom

Isabel & Katie playing

Bridget & Eric

Catherine & Jack

Isabel

Harry

Jnet, Parker & B

Alex

Katie

Alex & Micaela

The gang 

Weekend In Sight

 As you might be able to tell from my lack of posting recently life is out of balance right now. Home time has been very limited and normally involves a kitty or two on my lap. Work days have been longer, social times more frequent and jammed packed weekends. A typical summer.

This weekend I'm working on logging home time. Looking forward to some quality sister time on Sat and the M's /Yankee game on Sun. And I'll happily spend the rest of the time puttering around the condo.

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Finished downloading photos from last weekend's camping trip and Emily's piggie party. Lots of work to sort, delete and edit there. 900+ photos - YIKES! Plenty to share in future posts.

Here's my most artistic shot based on a quick overview. Transports me right back to sitting around the campfire, relaxing and enjoying my friends...