Here Comes the Rain Again

It's springtime!! Trees are budding, crocuses are blooming, and daffodils too! And it's raining. But hey, it's not snowing! The trees and hedges have tiny bright green leaves that from a distance make the trees and hedges look as if they have a haze sitting in their branches.
So, I've been reading a lot lately. Still recovering from the cough from hell, sorta. Have you ever read a book, an essay, an article- anything really where every so often you have to put it down and contemplate the sentence or passage you just read? Not just because there were about ten commas and you have to try to figure out what the writer just said. But rather because that sentence or passage was so well crafted that you need to stop and take moment to marvel at it in wonder. The book I just finished reading is "Housekeeping" and some years ago was adapted into a movie. The movie was really very good, but like most movies doesn't hold a candle to the book. The entire book is written so well, in that "I must stop and think about what I just read" sort of way. The author's name is something like Maryieleen Robertson, or Robinson (the book is at my place and I am currently sitting in my mother's living room). I highly recommend the book. It's about two young girls and is written from the perspective of one of them.
Last night my mother and I watched the ultimate in mother-daughter movies. "Grey Gardens". We're both still a little bit in shock I think. Sometimes a movie can hit a little too close to home. Not that she and I are like to end up living in a ramshackle house feeding raccoons and wearing skirts on our heads. But the way they sort of depended on each other, and the manner in which they spoke to each other is very much like Mama Bird and myself. Although, if I start calling her "Mother Darling" she may have me committed. Not that I could blame her.
To go with this movie Mama Bird and I attempted to have a "meal" that was fitting with the movie (It was on cable). We got truffle mouse (we couldn't find pate or foie gras), capers, and white bread. We also got cream cheese and put caviar over it along with some red onions. The type of caviar used was red lumpfish, found on the shelf next to the canned tuna. This is the type that you're SUPPOSED to use. Now I had had this before and liked it. Apparently my tastes have changed somewhat, because it was awful. All of it. We got a bag of ruffles and called it even.
Speaking of food, today being Sunday, it is a cooking day for me. And spring having sprung, we're having morel mushrooms. This will be the only meal where we buy morels. Because morels are insanely expensive. So for dinner tonight we are having pasta (hand made earlier this afternoon) in a light cream sauce with sauteed morels.
To make the pasta one needs a pasta roller. And cutter. Then it's just a pound of flour (about 4ish cups) and 5 eggs.
Mix, roll, cut, and allow to dry for a few hours. Then just cook the same way you would any pasta.
The morels and the sauce are likewise easy. Sauté the morels in butter. You might want to do that last, because it doesn't take long at all. For the sauce you take a small amount of butter, melt it in a sauce pan, add grated parmesan and heavy cream. Not very much of either, you don't want to overpower the mushrooms, but enough to sort of lightly coat you pasta when you serve it. I add a little (tiny) bit of garlic to the sauce and this time will be adding the barest of pinches of white truffle salt. For those of you who really like cooking, and who like really fancy food, white truffle salt will be your new best friend. It's about $15 for a 2 oz jar, but you literally only need to use a teeny tiny pinch to give whatever dish you're making a very rich flavor. That 2 oz jar should last me about 2 or 3 YEARS. Even if I used it more often, I don't think I could use it all by then! Check with your local specialty spice shop to see if you can find it, otherwise google it. I got mine from The Spice House in Chicago (a place that smells like I imagine heaven does).


--Little Bird is contemplative

Strong Silent Type? Pfffffft!

When I get sick, boy do I get sick. This used to happen to me 4 or 5 times a year. Back when I was in school and in contact with germy kids. This isn't to say I wasn't a germy kid, but when you throw a bunch of germy kids together, someone's (me usually) gonna get sick. As I've gotten older the colds, flus, what have yous are much less frequent. You would think that because I was sick so often then, I would now be the strong, silent stoic type when it comes to being sick. This is sooooo not the case. I whine. I complain. I mope. I ask my mother if she would please please bring soup, cough medicine, Halls, orange juice, soda, tissues and toilet paper over to my place. That being said I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mama Bird for bringing over soup, cough medicine, Halls, soda, orange juice, tissues and toilet paper. Thank you Mama Bird, thank you.
I have not stepped out of my apartment since I got home Monday night. I have no idea what the weather is like right now. The most walking I have done has been from the bed to the bathroom, or from the bed to the kitchen. Since Monday night I have eaten part of a can of SpagettiO's and about ten spoons full of chicken noodle soup. I haven't eaten anything at all today. AND I'M NOT HUNGRY. I'm pretty sure I spend more time asleep than I do awake, though I'm not really sure. Today has been the first day that I really played around online for more than half an hour at a time.
After the forum this weekend every little pain I get has me worried. I can't seem to help it. My mind immediately goes to the worst possible scenario. But, in my defense, I haven't been sick like this in a looooong time. And I have NEVER had a cough this bad. EVER.
The good news is the coughing has subsided. However, my nose is still congested, and the headaches have gotten worse. I finally started taking my migraine meds to ease the pain. Mama Bird suggested it, and also suggested I call the pharmacy to see if it was safe to mix with my cough medicine. It's safe, but the pharmacist told me if it doesn't help or if it gets worse to call my doctor. She didn't think my description of the headaches was something to fool around with.
About cold and cough medicine. When did they all go non-drowsy? Why did they all go non-drowsy? Drowsy is good! Drowsy lets you sleep. Sleep lets your body concentrate on fixing the stuff that needs fixing. Besides, when you're sick don't you WANT to sleep? Half of the meds over the counter today actually cause restlessness. Because that's exactly how I want to feel when I'm sick, miserable and acutely AWARE of it. By the way, if this post seems to swoop from topic to topic, I have taken said migraine meds, and they are basically a heavy duty prescription painkiller (i.e. NOT imitrex). So I might get a wee bit loopy. Which really is how I want to feel when I'm sick. I want the pain to go away, I want to not care that I haven't eaten in over 24 hours, I want to sleep for more than three and a half hours at a time. Most of all, I want to FEEL BETTER.

--Little Bird is cooped up

Tearjerker

Well, I'm home. And I'm sick. This is nothing new for me. In fact it's right on schedule, have an extremely emotional weekend, get sick with a nasty cough.
This past weekend in DC was one of the most important weekends of my life. I got to meet other people with Neurofibromatosis. I didn't expect I would cry when I spoke to the first person there. The organizer of the weekend. I spoke to lots of parents who's small children have NF. I got to speak to other people who were (relatively) close to my age who have NF. Luckily I didn't cry when I met them. Saturdays itinerary was filled to the brim, doctors spoke at length about what IS know about NF. Fundraisers told us what they're doing to help raise money so that research can be funded. After each doctor spoke there was a brief Q & A where we had the chance to ask about the things that might have been confusing. And during every one of those Q & A's I cried. They showed us videos they produced to help raise awareness, I cried. Those videos are REALLY well made. There was a man there, a police chief. A big, burly, strong man. HE cried.
The two most important things that I got out of this experience are the information about the disease and where I can go to get help, and I no longer feel so isolated. I met others who know what it's like. They went through it too. Some of them had cases that were more severe than mine, but that didn't stop us from finding common ground.
If you are interested in learning more about NF, go to www.ctf.org find the video I talked about. Have a box of tissue handy. You'll need it.

--Little Bird found birds of a feather

p.s. That's www.ctf.org

Trains again

So not this weekend but next weekend I go to Washington DC. I'm to a forum for those with NF. Neurofibromatosis. Those of you who know me, know that I have this. Those of you who REALLY know me, know that I have never met another person who has it also. I am, in a word, terrified. I have no idea what to expect. My case is not all that apparent to the eye. Ok, to the untrained eye anyway. I'm a little worried that the folks there will think I'm something of an impostor. Mama Bird thinks that I might be something of a ray of hope for some of the parents there. I think that Mama Bird might be a bit off her rocker when it comes to this one. I don't have a lot of the physical characteristics of nf, at least not where they are easily seen. I have all sorts of other issues. If I were a new parent of a child with nf, I would be horribly frightened of me.
Mama Bird and I are taking the train out. This ought to be interesting. This will be the first time she and I have taken a train ride that lasts longer than 5 hours. It will also be the first time that I will have boarded a train so late in the evening. At least in the states.
I'm a little at a loss here. I don't know what to expect. I know that I may find out all sorts of information about clinical trials, and that may be a fantastic boon. Yes, I am trying to talk myself in to this. Up to this, whatever.
No, I don't have a recipe today. I'm a bit too scattered for that right now.

--Little Bird is a nervous wreck

Watercolor Turkey

We have had a taste of spring here, and just in time. It was 74 degrees yesterday! I got to take a nice walk, in the sun and the warmth. It was so nice! I was beginning to go stir crazy, cooped up in the apartment all winter.
Mama bird and her husband are out of town, leaving me alone this past Sunday, so no big blow-out meal to report about. I think I'll be eating kind of lightly this week, cooking for yourself can sometimes feel silly. Like a hassle really. You get the same amount of dishes and pots dirty, but only one person to feed. Seems like a waste of energy. That and I really really hate washing dishes.
I started painting again. Watercolors. I'm not very good, but it's fun. I seem to paint lakescapes mostly. The lake is right outside my window, so I suppose that makes sense. It would make more sense if the paintings looked anything like the lake.
But it's something to do, and more fun than watching TV.
Since I'm not cooking a big meal, I will give you a big recipe. Thank the good commenters at FailBlog for inspiring me to post this.

Herb Roasted Turkey with Apple Cider Gravy
10 servings
Brining
8 quarts cold water
2 cups coarse kosher salt
8 large fresh or dried bay leaves
2 Tablespoons black peppercorns
2 Tablespoons whole allspice
1 16-17 lb turkey, giblets removed, neck reserved

Herb Butter And Gravy
3 tablespoons minced fresh Italian parsley
3 tablespoons minced fresh thyme
3 tablespoons minced fresh marjoram
1 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 cup unsalted butter (1 and 1/2 sticks)

4 cups chicken broth
2 cups apple cider
3 Tablespoons all purpose flour
1/2 cup whipping cream
2 tablespoons Calvados (or other apple brandy)

Roasting

2 large granny smith apples, quartered and cored
2 large onions, quartered
1 cup apple cider


TO BRINE THE TURKEY: Line extra-large pot or bowl with two 13-gallon or larger plastic bags, one inside the other. (You may want to get a brand new kitchen waste basket or maybe a 5 gallon bucket to use for this.) Combine 1 quart water, salt, bay leaves, peppercorns, and allspice in large saucepan. Stir over medium heat until salt dissolves. Remove from heat. Add one quart cold water and cool to lukewarm. Pour into plastic bags; mix in remaining 6 quarts water. Wrap turkey neck and refrigerate. Submerge turkey in brine to cover completely, gathering bags tightly to eliminate any air; tie bags closed. Refrigerate turkey in brine in pot (bowl, container, whatever) for at least 18 hours and up to 20 hours.
Line a large roasting pan with 4 layers of paper towels. Remove turkey from brine and drain well; discard brine. Place turkey in prepared pan. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

FOR HERB BUTTER AND GRAVY: Mix the parsley, thyme, sage, marjoram, rosemary, and nutmeg in a small bowl. Transfer 1/4 cup of the herb mixture to another small bowl and mix in 1/2 cup butter.
Combine broth and apple cider in a heavy large saucepan. Boil until reduced to 3 cups, about 20 minutes. Pour broth reduction into a bowl. Melt remaining 1/4 cup butter insame saucepan over medium-high heat. Add flour; stir one minute. Whisk in broth reduction, then cream, Calvados, and remaining herb mixture. Bring to boil; reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until gravy base is thickened and reduced to 2 &3/4 cups, whisking often, about 20 minutes. Cool gravy base slightly.

TO ROAST THE TURKEY: Position rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 350 degrees Remove turkey from roasting pan and drain any accumulated juices from main cavity. Discard paper towels from roasting pan. Melt herb butter in small saucepan over medium heat. Brush bottom of roasting pan with some herb butter. Return turkey to prepared pan. Tuck wing tips under, tie legs together loosely to hold shape. Place some apple quarters and onion quarters in main cavity. Brush remaining herb butter over turkey; sprinkle with pepper. Scatter remaining apple and onion quarters in pan. Add turkey neck to pan. I told you this was a big recipe.
Roast turkey one hour. Baste with 1/2 cup apple cider. Roast turkey 30 minutes. Baste with remaining 1/2 cup cider. Roast turkey until thermometer inserted into thickest part of turkey registers 175 degrees, basting every 30 minutes with pan juices and covering breast loosely with foil if browning too quickly, about 2 hours longer (3 &1/2 total). Transfer turkey to platter and let stand for at least 30 minutes (internal temperature will rise 5 to 10 degrees).
Discard apples, onions, and turkey neck from pan. Pour pan juices into large glass measuring cup; spoon off fat from surface. Pour degreased juices into gravy base and bring to boil over medium-high heat, whisking occasionally. Boil until gravy thickens enough to coat spoon and is reduced to 3 &1/2 cups, about 15 minutes. Season gravy to taste with pepper.
Serve turkey with gravy.
Note: If you have followed all these instructions, your kitchen should be a disaster zone and every pot, pan, and bowl in the house should have been used at least once. And your family damned well better do the dishes for you!

-Little Bird is STILL organizing

Of Blood Oranges and Singing the Blues

Wow. So the input has been helpful and I may have planted a seed with my folks as to them purchasing an air purifier. We will have to see. Thank you to everybody who commented with advice.
This past weekend Mama Bird was sick. So this past Sunday dinner was up to me. The chicken was a both a combination of past recipes and a slight departure from them. I had to get a fryer instead of a roaster (smaller bird), and I rubbed it with butter and then sprinkled it with herbes de provence and grains of paradise, and orange pepper. I put onions in and around the bird... and I added a blood orange. Instead of lemon. I turned out great! I also made roasted potatoes sprinkled with the same herbes and the rest. The same green beans as the week before made the menu (because I LOVE them) and that was the meal. Mama Bird particularly liked the potatoes. I know this because she finished mine. My stepfather and I demolished the green beans. The chicken was just tiny. It was good, it was really good! But small.
While I was cooking Mama Bird watched this really cool animated feature on the internet called "Sita Sings The Blues". It's by a woman named Nina Paley (apologies if I've misspelled that). It is amazing! Funny, and sad, and really really well done. Look it up if you get the chance, and make sure you have the time to watch it. It is 82 minutes long, and totally worth the time.
In other news it continues to rain. But it must be at least 50 out there! It's not COLD and wet, it's just ... wet. The bad thing about this is my knee is KILLING me. It feels like there is a spike that is being jammed into the side of my knee. BUT! It's not snowing!! Spring is on it's way! I'm just gonna continue to tell myself this, ignoring the fact that we have at least two more snowfalls due to come. I just pretend that this is not really gonna happen.

--Little Bird is good at pretending

Memories.....Achoo!

All of my life I have loved cats. Loved them! I've had a few in my day, too. The old fat furball named Maggie that we got when I was about 8ish. She must have weighed 20 lbs, and was a longhaired somethingorother. Cat fur EVERYWHERE. I loved her. There were others along the way and now my mother has two cats (my lease stipulates no cats). Mama Birds cats are named after sisters in a D.H. Lawrence book "Women in Love". For the life of me I cannot spell their names. One is very sweet and allows me to carry her all over the apartment, but no further. The other looks kinda like Yoda and is a pill. If you don't pet her EXACTLY the way she wishes to be pet, she'll bite you. She has seriously mellowed out over the years and now realizes that I am a reliable source of attention (This is the same cat that once walked into the room I was sitting in. Walked up to me. Hissed at me. And walked away).
So yeah, I like cats. But something odd has happened. I seem to have developed an allergy to them. If I spend too long over at Mama Bird's place, or let the cats climb over me too much, my eyes get all itchy and my nose gets twitchy. It's not the end of the world. And it takes awhile for it to affect me, but still. I sorta feel like I've been told that I can never have chocolate again. I don't know how my stepfather handles it, he is WAY allergic to cats. I know he opens windows to clear the dander out (I'm not entirely sure how this works but that's his excuse for opening the windows in FEBRUARY), but that seems to have given of the cats a cold so now I don't know what he does.
Any suggestions for making visits to Mama Bird's a less sneeze inducing experience?

--Little Bird is sniffling