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
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
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
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
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
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
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
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
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
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
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Lesson Learned
So today marks six years of living in the windy city. I told you that I was planning a special dinner. Well, Mamma Bird and I made that meal. The duck was AMAZING!!!! The recipe is at Epicurious.com under "crispy roast duck" and was in the 2006 June issue of Gourmet magazine. The green beans with the walnuts and walnut oil were FANTASTIC. And I'm sure the potatoes were good too, but I was too afraid to really try them.
You know how occasionally a recipe calls for a very specific type of utensil or pan? There is a reason for this. As it turns out a very good reason for this. Our potato recipe called for a certain type of baking pan. One that I do not own. I used my pyrex baking pan that was the correct size. Yeah. About 10 minutes before the dish was supposed to be done the pyrex dish exploded. Yup, you read that right. It exploded. We took the top layer of potatoes (they appeared fine, no glass bits) and put them in a different dish and served them anyway. What little bit I did eat tasted great, that recipe is also at Epicurious.com, under "potatoes gratin". To the recipe we added a touch of white truffle salt and fresh thyme. We also used 1 and 1/2 cups milk and 1/2 cup heavy cream instead of the half & half they call for. Oh, and we added mozzarella between the layers too. If you decide to make that recipe, USE THE TYPE OF PAN THEY RECOMMEND. If you don't have it, go buy it or make something else.
I now have a few bits of my former pyrex pan sitting on a shelf. A reminder that I should follow instructions.
But the duck. The duck was divine! I had never had duck before and therefor had no idea what to expect. As it turns out, duck is right up my alley. I prefer dark meat when having chicken or turkey, and duck is like an entire bird of dark meat. Mmmmm! And the skin! Oh my god the skin was crispy, crispy heaven!
But the beans. Let me first say I don't really care much for cooked veggies. Never have. But these were so good I had three helpings! The walnuts and walnut oil add an almost buttery flavor to the green beans. Of course you need to use french green beans. Not the regular kind cut skinny, but the really skinny type.
There is a bit of leftover duck, and I will be making stir-fry with that. The duck fat is currently cooling and awaiting separation. And duck fat fries are in my future!
--Little Bird is stuffed
You know how occasionally a recipe calls for a very specific type of utensil or pan? There is a reason for this. As it turns out a very good reason for this. Our potato recipe called for a certain type of baking pan. One that I do not own. I used my pyrex baking pan that was the correct size. Yeah. About 10 minutes before the dish was supposed to be done the pyrex dish exploded. Yup, you read that right. It exploded. We took the top layer of potatoes (they appeared fine, no glass bits) and put them in a different dish and served them anyway. What little bit I did eat tasted great, that recipe is also at Epicurious.com, under "potatoes gratin". To the recipe we added a touch of white truffle salt and fresh thyme. We also used 1 and 1/2 cups milk and 1/2 cup heavy cream instead of the half & half they call for. Oh, and we added mozzarella between the layers too. If you decide to make that recipe, USE THE TYPE OF PAN THEY RECOMMEND. If you don't have it, go buy it or make something else.
I now have a few bits of my former pyrex pan sitting on a shelf. A reminder that I should follow instructions.
But the duck. The duck was divine! I had never had duck before and therefor had no idea what to expect. As it turns out, duck is right up my alley. I prefer dark meat when having chicken or turkey, and duck is like an entire bird of dark meat. Mmmmm! And the skin! Oh my god the skin was crispy, crispy heaven!
But the beans. Let me first say I don't really care much for cooked veggies. Never have. But these were so good I had three helpings! The walnuts and walnut oil add an almost buttery flavor to the green beans. Of course you need to use french green beans. Not the regular kind cut skinny, but the really skinny type.
There is a bit of leftover duck, and I will be making stir-fry with that. The duck fat is currently cooling and awaiting separation. And duck fat fries are in my future!
--Little Bird is stuffed
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Weathering the Weather
Take a good look at today's date. Now keep that in mind when I tell you this. Chicago is in the grip of a rather lengthy thunderstorm. And it's not the first one of the year. Last year we had one in January that spawned a few tornados in the outlying areas and nearby small towns. This is the weather we should be getting in say April. Or MAYBE late March. Not the tail end of February.
That being said, I have a love-hate thing going with thunderstorms. I love the drama of it. The energy. I hate the possibility that it could be hiding a tornado. I hate, hate, hatehatehate tornados. They scare the bejeezus out of me. It is currently 2:30 in the afternoon and so dark that even with floor to ceiling windows that stretch the length of an entire wall, I have to have a light on. The street lights are on! It's been staying light longer lately and we've been spoiled by that I think. Because this just plain sucks!
So last Sunday it was pretty chilly out. So much so that I didn't get a walk in. I didn't really get much of one Saturday for the same reason. So last Sunday we made chili. TWO FREAKING BATCHES. We're gonna be eating chili for WEEKS! I like chili, I do. Just not quite that much. There are currently about 6 containers that each hold two servings or more in my mother's freezer. And two in mine. This is not counting the half a stock pot that is sitting in her fridge. Or the 10 helpings that have already been consumed since we made it. If any one has ideas or suggestions on how to doctor chili or turn it into something else, please, let me know!
Texas Style Chili
serves about 6 (really hungry people)
3 lb. ground chuck
1 lb ground pork
2 medium yellow onions, chopped
4 garlic cloves minced
1 minced serrano pepper de-seeded
1/4 cup chili powder
1/4 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp chili caribe
1 Tsp dried oregano
1 tsp salt
1 28 oz cans whole tomatoes, chopped, with their juice
Four 16 oz cans kidney beans, drained
1 can black beans
Combine the ground chuck, pork, onions, and garlic in a stockpot. Cook over medium heat until the meat is browed; stir the meat to break it up as it cooks. Stir in the spices and stir well to mix. Cover, and simmer for one hour, stirring occasionally. Add tomatoes, beans and and serrano pepper simmer for 20 minutes longer.
Note: you can add fresh cilantro when adding beans. You will probably want all the chili fixin's to go on top of this, sour cream, shredded cheddar, chopped green onions, cilantro, and for a nice touch chopped avocado. You can also add a bit of beer to the chili when adding the tomatoes if your chili looks too dry.
My chili actually has WAY more spices and peppers but I'm not gonna tell you which ones! But this is the bascic recipe to start with. Play with the recipe, make it your own.
--Little Bird has a stocked freezer
That being said, I have a love-hate thing going with thunderstorms. I love the drama of it. The energy. I hate the possibility that it could be hiding a tornado. I hate, hate, hatehatehate tornados. They scare the bejeezus out of me. It is currently 2:30 in the afternoon and so dark that even with floor to ceiling windows that stretch the length of an entire wall, I have to have a light on. The street lights are on! It's been staying light longer lately and we've been spoiled by that I think. Because this just plain sucks!
So last Sunday it was pretty chilly out. So much so that I didn't get a walk in. I didn't really get much of one Saturday for the same reason. So last Sunday we made chili. TWO FREAKING BATCHES. We're gonna be eating chili for WEEKS! I like chili, I do. Just not quite that much. There are currently about 6 containers that each hold two servings or more in my mother's freezer. And two in mine. This is not counting the half a stock pot that is sitting in her fridge. Or the 10 helpings that have already been consumed since we made it. If any one has ideas or suggestions on how to doctor chili or turn it into something else, please, let me know!
Texas Style Chili
serves about 6 (really hungry people)
3 lb. ground chuck
1 lb ground pork
2 medium yellow onions, chopped
4 garlic cloves minced
1 minced serrano pepper de-seeded
1/4 cup chili powder
1/4 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp chili caribe
1 Tsp dried oregano
1 tsp salt
1 28 oz cans whole tomatoes, chopped, with their juice
Four 16 oz cans kidney beans, drained
1 can black beans
Combine the ground chuck, pork, onions, and garlic in a stockpot. Cook over medium heat until the meat is browed; stir the meat to break it up as it cooks. Stir in the spices and stir well to mix. Cover, and simmer for one hour, stirring occasionally. Add tomatoes, beans and and serrano pepper simmer for 20 minutes longer.
Note: you can add fresh cilantro when adding beans. You will probably want all the chili fixin's to go on top of this, sour cream, shredded cheddar, chopped green onions, cilantro, and for a nice touch chopped avocado. You can also add a bit of beer to the chili when adding the tomatoes if your chili looks too dry.
My chili actually has WAY more spices and peppers but I'm not gonna tell you which ones! But this is the bascic recipe to start with. Play with the recipe, make it your own.
--Little Bird has a stocked freezer
Monday, February 16, 2009
It's Not Just For Soap
Now that the worst of winter seems to be behind us, weekends are for walking. Eight miles this Saturday, and a bit less Sunday. Given that Mama Bird did not have to go to work today, we walked. Only about 3 miles, but we walked. Walking seems to have helped my recent moods, getting out in the fresh air and sun is always a good thing.
As I said, the organization continues, next up is my clothes closet. After that, I'm not sure. There are many other areas that could use the help, but without bookshelves it will be difficult. Perhaps I'll turn to thinning out the stuff I don't really need.
This afternoon Mama Bird and I baked cupcakes. Dark chocolate with lavender icing. We totally cheated and used a box mix for the cake part. We also cheated on the icing. It was from a can and was plain white icing. To this we added minced lavender, about 1/2 a teaspoon. Also added was food coloring to make it a pale, pale purple. 3 drops red to 2 drops blue for one can of icing. After they were iced we sprinkled lavender over them. Not only were they pretty to look at they taste divine!
In two weeks I will have lived here in Chicago for six years. March first. Sometimes it feels like I've been here forever, that this is where I belong. Other times it feels like I just moved here yesterday and it is like a revelation. When I was new here it felt that way. That weird duality. I felt like I had come home, but was also struck with the amazing wonder that is this city. There are things to do and places to go here. And not all of them cost an arm and a leg. Yes, winter here can be a pain (literally) and summer is fleeting. But it's a great city to live in. For one thing this city is pedestrian friendly. You can walk ANYWHERE. And I usually walk everywhere. If the weather is bad, or it's late in the evening I take a bus or a cab. If I'm going to an event with friends who drive, I catch a ride with them. I can't wait for summer when walking is easier (warmer) and the days are light for longer. For Millennium Park to start it's season of concerts again, so I can picnic while enjoying the music and the city together.
In honor of that six year anniversary I am planning a special meal. Roasted Duck, Haricot Verts with Walnut Oil, and Gratin Potatoes. The plan is to reserve the left over duck fat and make fries later. Thus the Frydaddy will be christened. I have never cooked duck before so this will be interesting. But we don't plan on using fancy sauces, and the rest of the menu should balance that out.
Haricot Verts with Walnuts and Walnut Oil
1/3 cup walnuts
sea salt
3/4 pound haricots verts, stems trimmed
3 tbsp walnut oil
coarsely ground black pepper or grains of paradise
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the walnuts in a small baking dish. Bake until you can hear the walnuts sizzling or smell them when you open the oven door, about 5 minutes. (Set your timer!!) Remove from oven and chop coarsely.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water, seasoned with sea salt so that it tastes like ocean water (not quite, but salty), to a boil. Add the haricots verts and cook until just tender but still firm, about 4 minutes. (Don't over cook: they will continue to cook out of the water) Drain, then spread out on a kitchen towel to soak up excess water.
Gather the beans while still hot and toss in a bowl with the warm walnuts and the walnut oil. Season generously with pepper (or grains of paradise) and perhaps a bit more salt.
serves 2 ( double or triple as needed)
The green beans in this are supposed to be the really skinny kind, not cut skinny, naturally skinny. This recipe is adapted from a book my bestest friend gave me. And Grains of Paradise can be found at most specialty spice stores.
--Little Bird will fall into a sugar coma tonight.
As I said, the organization continues, next up is my clothes closet. After that, I'm not sure. There are many other areas that could use the help, but without bookshelves it will be difficult. Perhaps I'll turn to thinning out the stuff I don't really need.
This afternoon Mama Bird and I baked cupcakes. Dark chocolate with lavender icing. We totally cheated and used a box mix for the cake part. We also cheated on the icing. It was from a can and was plain white icing. To this we added minced lavender, about 1/2 a teaspoon. Also added was food coloring to make it a pale, pale purple. 3 drops red to 2 drops blue for one can of icing. After they were iced we sprinkled lavender over them. Not only were they pretty to look at they taste divine!
In two weeks I will have lived here in Chicago for six years. March first. Sometimes it feels like I've been here forever, that this is where I belong. Other times it feels like I just moved here yesterday and it is like a revelation. When I was new here it felt that way. That weird duality. I felt like I had come home, but was also struck with the amazing wonder that is this city. There are things to do and places to go here. And not all of them cost an arm and a leg. Yes, winter here can be a pain (literally) and summer is fleeting. But it's a great city to live in. For one thing this city is pedestrian friendly. You can walk ANYWHERE. And I usually walk everywhere. If the weather is bad, or it's late in the evening I take a bus or a cab. If I'm going to an event with friends who drive, I catch a ride with them. I can't wait for summer when walking is easier (warmer) and the days are light for longer. For Millennium Park to start it's season of concerts again, so I can picnic while enjoying the music and the city together.
In honor of that six year anniversary I am planning a special meal. Roasted Duck, Haricot Verts with Walnut Oil, and Gratin Potatoes. The plan is to reserve the left over duck fat and make fries later. Thus the Frydaddy will be christened. I have never cooked duck before so this will be interesting. But we don't plan on using fancy sauces, and the rest of the menu should balance that out.
Haricot Verts with Walnuts and Walnut Oil
1/3 cup walnuts
sea salt
3/4 pound haricots verts, stems trimmed
3 tbsp walnut oil
coarsely ground black pepper or grains of paradise
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the walnuts in a small baking dish. Bake until you can hear the walnuts sizzling or smell them when you open the oven door, about 5 minutes. (Set your timer!!) Remove from oven and chop coarsely.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water, seasoned with sea salt so that it tastes like ocean water (not quite, but salty), to a boil. Add the haricots verts and cook until just tender but still firm, about 4 minutes. (Don't over cook: they will continue to cook out of the water) Drain, then spread out on a kitchen towel to soak up excess water.
Gather the beans while still hot and toss in a bowl with the warm walnuts and the walnut oil. Season generously with pepper (or grains of paradise) and perhaps a bit more salt.
serves 2 ( double or triple as needed)
The green beans in this are supposed to be the really skinny kind, not cut skinny, naturally skinny. This recipe is adapted from a book my bestest friend gave me. And Grains of Paradise can be found at most specialty spice stores.
--Little Bird will fall into a sugar coma tonight.
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