Monday, October 24, 2016

Take a Sad Song and Make it Better

I am happy to report that such a simple vegetable has brought me so much pleasure.  A head of cabbage in the past would bring thoughts of a smelly big pot and long cooking times.  But cut and mixed with apple or onion, garlic and braised with a dash of balsamic vinegar is such a delightful side.  Easy and satisfying.

Sunday, October 23, 2016

These Things Are Clear to All From Time to Time

Made a quick before-work skillet breakfast.  Swiss cheesy soft scrambled eggs with fried potatoes and turkey pepperoni.  But man, I was grouchy.  I had to go to work on a lazy Sunday, which is often the case and you'd think I'd get used to it but instead grow more resentful because that's the kind of idiot I am.   We had a windy storm the previous night and apparently strong enough to knock down an old tree.  An obstruction on the road on my ride in to work about halfway through.  But it blocked more than just my path.  The coming upon it and having to divert my route as well as my focus of attention was enough to break me out of my regularly programmed gloom.

I got off my bike and walked around the scene and listened to the morning conversations.  Some were single folks like me, just checking it out silently, trying to make eye contact to share the head shakes and 'what a bummer' remarks for the car owner that suffered the most damage.  We all agreed, this was unfortunate, yet amazing to see on this sunny morning.  It wasn't our problem to clean up or deal with, it was just something that was dropped on our world to contemplate.  Cell phone pics were captured and people moved on fairly quickly.  
That night as I was riding home from work I felt grateful to have my bike, my health and the fresh crisp Fall air.  I glided safely home while scoping all the sweet Halloween decorations of the more fortunate folks all tucked in their gorgeous warm brownstones.  Most likely not working on a Sunday I assumed but also not privy to my quiet scenic nighttime vistas.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Mediterranean Bake with Red Quinoa


Mediterranean Bake with Red Quinoa 
Damn I eat a lot of chicken. Chicken thighs, red quinoa, olives, artichoke hearts, red peppers and chick peas, lemon and the time to bake it.  This is a soother.

Monday, October 17, 2016

It's Tricky

Taco Bowl

Trying to eat lighter?  Really want those nachos but can't trust yourself to eat a reasonable portion?  Two words, taco bowl.  Lots of lettuce on the bottom, meat and beans in center, corn, loads of pico.  Go on, have a few chips, this isn't prison! Just don't leave the bag out.  Then a small trick for the eyes is to shred carrots and cheese together on top so that it looks like much more than you're actually eating. Sssshh, don't tell my stomach.

The Sun is Up, The Sky is Blue

Did you ever notice that while walking with friends, some seem to take no notice of their surroundings and completely live and move in the conscious mind?  I love to walk in the city and part of that thrill is to take in everything.  One would assume if you're walking in tandem, you'll both have similar views. But I have noticed throughout the years that several friends and family have the ability to shut it all out and focus on conversation and words only. They pull you into the images they are creating with speech.  I look over and it's clear they are seeing nothing but in their own minds eye. Pretty cool actually that humans have this ability.
I think I'm more like a dog whereas I tend to concentrate on many small things along the way. I like to piss on and sniff everything.
I picked up my bud at the subway station because even though she's been here several times she can't recall how to maneuver to my apartment. It was a beautiful sunny day and I thought to take a scenic walk up to  Prospect Park and along the way we'd surely find a suitable spot along 5th Avenue for lunch.  I think we were almost up to 9th Street when I realized nothing was taken into consideration and no scenes were viewed.  I feel it's not polite to interrupt sometimes to a fault, so even though I noticed some spots, for some reason I couldn't take control of the wheel and drive our two person herd into the stable.  I'm never confident in my dining choices, always sure there is the perfect spot right ahead.  I figured it would happen organically.  Instead it's like we popped our heads up out of a beaver hole and realized we were cranky and needed food. We were yakking like two hens the entire time.  We crossed the street and combed the dining choices on the sunny side now feeling cold and the conversation suddenly more awkward with less flow. I now realize it's because I had pulled the girl to the surface where she is less comfortable.  I had to pause and reconnoiter as I am actually terrible at walking and thinking.  I can barely listen what with all the sniffing and images my mind was grabbing.
This is not a complicated notion. Just walk and you will find a place, I thought.  But we were almost back to my street before I realized that one of the things we do have in common is we like familiar.  We both feel at ease in known settings.  If it worked once, it can work again.
So after a bit of fuss and reassurance that her portion would be sufficient, the place was warm enough, not too crowded and we'd have some privacy, we were seated at National Thai in Fort Greene.  Miss H is an incredible person and a true adult but my experience with friends is always a little skewed. Mainly because I'm such a nutcase.  After she put that straw in her signature Coke I felt a bit like a mother who finally got the baby down.  We could relax and commence to chatting away again.   The world folded up on queue and we stayed stationary as the lunch crowd came and went around us.
Fresh Thai Summer Rolls, Vegetable Fried Rice, and Spicy Beef Noodles.


Saturday, October 15, 2016

Never You MInd, So Go On and Have a Good Time

Saturday Brunch with visiting brother in law.  Discussing movie making, Trump lawns across the Midwest, current music obsessions, family and the life of a traveling salesman slash mushroom farmer.
Chilaquiles Verdes and what I call extreme pleasure and satisfaction at Pequena Fort Greene.  Even though it included a live action scene of a neighbor off his meds being escorted by fireman to safety after he finished his breakfast burrito mind you and ranted for way too long and loudly in earshot to be ignored.  We all agreed that it was 'so sad' when the waitress said he was usually fine..... except when he drank.  Each taking a moment to realize that was all of us at that table. haa haa.
P had the Desayuno Mexicano with chorizo.


A bromance unfolding.  The bad jokes, the dirty Catholic humor that only two rotten souls could produce.  It's all so heartwarming.
Not as cute later in the evening when you feel like you're turning into Michelle Williams in Manchester by the Sea


Dinner at Black Forest Brooklyn Schnitzel and the Wurst Special.

Sunday, October 9, 2016

Dump Hot Sauce Chicken

Dump Hot Sauce Chicken
Another dump casserole with all the ingredients of a great blended hot sauce put in with chicken and brown rice to braise in oven until it falls off the bone.




Saturday, October 8, 2016

Something in the Way, Yeah, Mmmmm


There's this creepy kid that has his locker above mine at work. One of the overnight crew.  He always looks like he's up to something with those shifty eyes and says way inappropriate things when I see him.  I'm not someone who is easily offended and tend to like off color people so I've never thought to report him.  If he crosses my line, then you can be sure it's pretty bad.  But he's shown enough of himself to put me on guard at this point.  I'm not scared of him but I wouldn't at all be surprised if they found him guilty of some heinous crime. Lately I get all Allison Dubois feeling around him.

Today I walked up as he was telling this young Asian girl that she looks like she 'really knows some kung-fu'.  The way he said it all sexual and got all up in her personal space. Didn't even make sense yet I felt the slime from a yard away.  Not to mention it was that stupid racist crap. She quickly told him that was really offensive to her and wasn't sure what he meant by it.  He began jumping around and singing the word bite over and over, really loud, like as if he was getting bit.  I could tell he felt shamed. This lasted so long that I had to shoot him my mom's death stare that usually works to shut nonsense down quickly.  Instead he took it as an invite to tell me the story.  He didn't understand how she could be so offended.  That's what's scary about this kid. It's like he has no filter but yet he's capable of getting pissed at you for reacting to his bullshit.  A bad cocktail.  These are the kind of guys that do bad things to women. As I write I guess I do fear him a bit.  I've suspected he was the one ripping off lockers in the area.  Security told us to be on guard, probably someone near us.  

I don't have an end to this story, I'm just sharing in the case I'm found face down in the Gowanus. And although this bleu cheese turkey burger was good with these thin sliced roasted potatoes and waffle fries, it is void of an accompanying tale.  

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Butternut Squash Soup

Butternut Squash Soup
Boiled cubed butternut squash in chicken stock, onion and garlic thyme, salt and black pepper.  Basically that's it. If you like it super creamy, you can blend it and add some sour cream or yogurt.  If you like it chunky, leave it. This should not be as good as it is if you use logic. Vegetables shine when you let them headline.






Monday, October 3, 2016

Don't Let it Bring You Down, It's Only Castle's Burning

 Chicken Enchilada Soup.  At first sight of this recipe on a Delish.com grouping of Fall soups, I crinkled my forehead.  Enchilada soup?  No.  But you know what?... Delicious! Use your own homemade enchilada sauce and the flavors go way deep.
http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/cheesy-chicken-enchilada-soup-recipe/  Instead of adding 8 whole ounces of cheese to the pot, I just put a small handful in the bowl upon serving.  Much better.  We don't need to start eating cheese soups at this stage of the game, you know what I'm sayin'?  In place I added a huge pile of fresh cold iceberg lettuce, avocado, green onions and tomatoes.
I'm also trying not to put lots of cheese into my brain.  But you have to live in the world.  That's part of being human.  I'm knee deep in Donald Trump-isms this week.  I have such a hard time believing thinking people could consider him anything but an evil raving lunatic.  Yet, some folks I like and admire will vote for him come November.  You watch videos of his supporters being interviewed and they sound like irrational, uneducated, hatemongers.  And come on, are these people really the correct representation of his group?  Because that's a lot of people.  I know that is not what lives solely in between our coasts.  I really try to understand but I'm sorry I simply can't get past what comes out of his mouth almost every time he opens it.  I don't want to believe that smart, loving folks could see that debate and with a straight face say, 'yes, this is the man I want to lead this country'.  The man who is basically saying, I've screwed my own country by using it's own laws against the little people all my life and now I want to run it.  This country, the one that we all see as looking a little unhinged and volcanic right now. That leaves us vulnerable and weak.  So an admittedly shiesty New York millionaire is truly what you're hankering for Midwest?

Honestly it's weighed heavy on my mind, not how half the country could perceive reality so drastically different but how angry we all are becoming.  Truth be told, I actually wanted a strong Republican candidate to come around this time.  It's like when you win a lot and you sort of give your opponent a freebie.  Democrats had a long run, accomplished a lot.  I wanted this for a large group of the population that feel they have not had a voice. But not like this.  Not him.  And unfortunately now I see what it means that a strong leader can unite because a very weak man is dividing up our country in the worst way.
I don't relish in negative articles that support my own views.  I don't feel superior to this mess.  I am absolutely terrified right now of things I read and see.  This is a reflection on all of us. We've all failed when a large portion of the country feels this way.  I don't fear differences but I do fear violence, hatred and its power to build quickly.   I thank my lucky stars for music and good vibes that transports me from all of this virtual insanity.   I think its important to refuel, breathe and take in as much positive thought as possible.  Less cheese.  More truth.