Cinco de Mayo | Volunteering

Cinco de Mayo was last week and I'm just now getting around to mentioning it? It's not like I didn't indulge in any fiestas. We had two at "work" and I made shredded chicken tacos at home. I haven't posted anything for awhile because I've been swimming in a volunteer project for the high school band and we held the event yesterday. Finally! So a quick bit about how much I love Mexican food and then on to a little something more.

So, have you ever made corn tortillas from scratch? Its actually easier than you think. Look for Masa (or instant corn masa flour) at the grocery store. To make corn tortillas, you just add water, make little globes of masa and flatten them. If you expect your tortillas be as thin or perfectly round as the ones in the store, sure, that's going to be difficult. Your tortillas may not be perfectly round, but they will be perfectly delicious. I use two dinner plates, place a blob of masa between two sheets of plastic wrap or wax paper and smash. My tortillas are not as thin as the store-bought kind, but I like them better. They have a creamy corn texture on the inside and after you fry them, they are crispy on the outside. Add some shredded chicken, a bit of salsa and some grated dry Monterey Jack cheese. Heaven!

Where do you get the shredded chicken? You make it because its so easy and fabulous. Chop boneless skinless chicken (breasts or thighs or both) and brown it in olive oil in a frying pan along with some onion. When its brown, spoon it all into a crock pot with a can or two of Ortega diced green chiles, a bit of oregano, salsa, salt and pepper to taste. Let it cook for at least four hours on low. Its best if it cooks for 8 hours in the crock pot so if you are going to leave and go to work or shopping, cover it with a half an inch of water or chicken broth so it won't dry out. If your chicken is too moist when you come home take the lid off and let some of the moisture evaporate. Serve on home made corn tortillas. Yum. If it wasn't Mother's Day and I didn't plan on putting my feet up for a while, I would make some right now!

Today is Mother's Day and I'm recovering from several months of working on a fund raiser. To raise money for the high school band, we organized a kitchen tour with six beautiful kitchens and food at each home. It was an all-consuming project, but the weather was gorgeous and our guests had a lovely Day-Before-Mother's-Day. Its an all-volunteer project and I just want to add a note about volunteering. My boss has a little stack of cards with quotes on them on her desk. The other day I found this one from Sidney Smith. "The greatest of all mistakes is to do nothing because you can only do a little. Do what you can." Really, do what you can. If you can't donate money, donate your time, even if it's only to make a phone call or a run to the post office. Sometimes you might hesitate to help because you think that "other people are taking care of it." Trust me, they will appreciate the help and you will be glad you became part of something positive.

Do what you can. It will make your life richer.

60's Theme Potluck

At my real work place yesterday we had a 1960s themed potluck. I got into the theme and wore a peasant blouse and several beaded necklaces that Allegra has made for me. Some of us used recipes that our moms made and some had to look on the internet for ideas because they weren't born till much later! Here are some ideas if you would like to try (granted a few are on the cusp of the 50s or 70s, but they still work):

• Ambrosia (Dee Dee served toasted pecans and coconut on the side) Beautiful!
• Waldorf Salad (Try grapes instead of raisins)
• Wedge Salad
• Tuna Casserole (Your mom may have a recipe)
• Chicken Divan (I haven't had this in years, but I will now. Love it)
• Beef Stroganoff
• and for dessert, any molded gelatin dessert.

I'm getting hungry.

Where did Valentine's Day Go?

 

This year my husband and I spent Valentine's Day knocking a hole in our entryway. Romantic, huh? Honestly, it was the best Valentine's gift we could have given one another. We opened up a wall so that our guests can see into the living room with the cozy fireplace and our collection of nautical maps and pictures of ships. I got to design and paint it and Larry did all of the woodwork. We paneled the lower part of the wall in a creamy colored beadboard and trimmed the whole thing bright white enamel. It was hard work and lots of fun. My advice to anyone thinking about tying the knot . . . build something together. Larry and I work together very well and we have been married for more than 20 years. Start out with something smallish, like putting together one of those do-it-yourself tables that come in a box. Really, how many times have you heard about couples whose marriage didn't survive the remodel?

So, better late than never, Happy Valentine's Day and good luck with that table!

Fabulous 50 and the Perfect Old Fashioned Cocktail

We are going to a cocktail party tonight to welcome four friends to the 50s Club. Happy Birthday Ladies!  My gift to you is my recipe for the the perfect Old Fashioned cocktail.

My grandpa made me my first Old Fashioned many years ago. I've put my own twist on the original by adding some orange juice, cherry syrup and more bitters. I recently found some Blood Orange Bitters at Bevmo and its fantastic.

Here you go . . .
Place the sugar and bitters in a tumbler and muddle (its especially helpful if you have an actual muddler, but if you done you can use a spoon and stir) to dissolve the sugar. Fill the glass with ice, add the bourbon (my favorite is Maker's Mark), orange wedge and cherry syrup (from the jar of maraschino cherries). Stir. Float the orange juice on top and garnish with two maraschino cherries. Makes one cocktail. A sante'!

Dreaming of the Sierra Nevadas

I spent some time living in the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas. This time of year the deep coral pink flowering quince blossoms appear in the old fashioned gardens of the gold country towns. Now, whenever I see flowering quince I daydream about those tiny mountain towns and the time I spent there.

Cheap Comfort on a Rainy Day | Homemade Potato Soup

Today is the first day of what the forecasters are saying will be a "Noahesque" five-day rain storm. Since the current economy has cause many of us to tighten our purse strings, I thought I would share this inexpensive and oh-so-tasty soup. When I was in college I was often broke and my roommates and I would often fall back on old family recipes. One of my roommates was from Alabama and the other from Texas. They taught me to make Black-Eyed Peas with smoked Ham Hocks and Red Beans and Rice. I taught them how to make this Potato Soup. A few inexpensive ingredients make an incredibly satisfying meal that stays with you and warms you up even on nights during the winter quarter when its raining cats and dogs and you have a paper on the Odyssey due the next day.

The great thing about Potato Soup is that it can be made with just a few ingredients and, if you have a bit of extra cash on hand, you can make it at lavish as you like. So here is the basic recipe to which you can add any of the ingredients listed under "More . . ." further below.

3 large Russet potatoes, scrubbed and cut into eight pieces (you can peel the potatoes if you prefer, but they are healthier and easier if you don't)
5 Cups Water (or Milk or Chicken Broth if you have it)
3/4 Cup Chopped Onion
2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil (or Olive Oil or Butter, which makes a wonderfully rich soup)
Salt and Pepper to taste

In a saucepan, sautee the onion in the oil or butter over moderate heat until it is softened and translucent. Add the peeled and chopped potatoes and the water (or milk or chicken broth). Simmer mixture covered for 15 to 20 minutes or until the potatoes are very tender. Season the soup with salt and pepper.

More . . .

Carrots - 3 sliced thinly, add in while cooking the onion.
Celery - 2 stalks sliced thinly, add in while cooking the onion.
Garlic - Sautee briefly after the onion has cooked. Burned garlic gets bitter.
Bacon (or ham) - Fry, remove from the pan and drain on several paper towels. Chop and add to the soup with the potatoes.

Toppings to try . . .
Bacon -  Crumble cooked and drained bacon on top of each serving of soup.
Croutons - Dice day-old bread in to cubes and then let it sit out for several hours to dry (or put in the oven on the lowest setting). Sautee dried cube in melted butter and/or olive oil with herbs.
Cheese - Try Monterey Jack, Gouda, Cheddar, or Asiago

Enjoy and stay warm and dry!