When Not Too Many People, Can See We're All the Same

Outside rain and menacing winds but inside Crispy Asian Lettuce Cups

It's so symbolic of life lately.  We awaken to horrific stories, hatred spewed across our screens, the grey of life.  But on the other hand, we have the opportunity to eat green things and make them spicy and crunchy, and even meaty.  

Quick Asian Lettuce Wraps

Snow peas, red pepper, carrots, mushrooms, tomatoes, onion, cashews, along with Hoisin, soy sauce, ginger and garlic, make this is moist little flavor bomb.

  This is joyful food sunshine.  You gotta get it where you can. 

You're Dirty and Sweet, Oh Yeah!

Went to see Longlegs, a refreshing American horror film by Oz Perkins, starring Nicolas Cage (at his absolute finest btw).  When he was on the screen, I felt my whole body arch like a cats back.  Giddy with frightened excitement, I would say.  Absolutely taken aback for sure.  His character teetered right at that cliff edge of sanity that you felt yourself being pushed over and I for one didn't fight it.   This movie will become a cult classic, most definitely.  I loved it!

I ordered the Make it Beefy Queso and chips, which was out of this world.  I don't know what they do to make it so smashing, possibly wine I suspect.   And we split a chicken tenders dinner and the cutlets were the size of breasts but delicious and as tender as the name implies.  There is something sensual about eating in the dark that I've come to love.  A restraint of sort, not able to see your food forces you to use your other senses in a way that feels playful.

Later we split some pizza slices and salad at home and gushed on Cage's performance. 

The Gothic tower that lost funding and now stands unfinished and at night looks ghostly.

The CityPoint Marketplace downstairs in the basement from the theater, was filled with foodies, cooler air, music and afternoon drinkers.  Jerk, Sushi, Mexican, BBQ, pizza, burgers and desserts to choose from along with some other delights that I feel its my duty to check out soon. 

 

And It Shouldn't Surprise You at All

Last Minute Beef Stew

Do you ever wonder what people think of you?  It's not a good idea to spend time wondering.  We often have meetings with those silly icebreakers at work that force us to share one thing about ourselves that people might be surprised to hear.  I don't imagine anything would surprise them because I can't imagine they've considered me for more than 2 seconds in their lives.  

One thing I'm known for that only I know, and surprises me, is my habit of bringing frozen meat out of the freezer to thaw without having a clear idea of how it will be used.  Something I never do is buy pre-cut meat for stew, but this time I did and it seemed that my dinner decisions had been made easy for me already but I needed to make it happen that night.  After work I quickly cut the chunks into a smaller dice in order to speed up the cooking process.  I browned them in flour and salt and tons of black pepper and then added broth, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves covered and simmered for an hour before adding potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, and when it was almost done, frozen peas.  And no surprise, this was much better the next day for lunch. 

One Way or Another

Occasionally, one goes to make a dish but we're not settled on one thought and it becomes another thing entirely.  Originally, I had wanted basic, pure Chicken & Noodles.  But no, I needed lots of vegetables to offset the amount of carb intake and a rich, spicy broth suddenly felt right.  It's very difficult not to lean towards Mexican flavors, especially when a traditional dish can be transformed slightly to accommodate.  

This was that recipe.  The chicken broth was enriched with hot sauce and cilantro, jalapeno peppers and lime, which made avocado on top make sense. 

I added a boatload of chopped vegetables and slow simmered them in the spicy, chickeny broth before adding the noodles.

This was highly satisfying and my giant portion proved to be enough to call dinner when paired with a half dozen Saltine Crackers.  

Half of a NY everything bagel with cream cheese onion and tomato freshly made for breakfast.  

Glowing, Flowing, All Around You

Pork Pozole Verde

Any posole is going to be more time consuming than most one pot dishes but this quickened version is a sure-fire way to get your fix in less time.  I added one step and that was to roast the chiles first.

I threw in a pound of ground turkey to my browned pork. I don't care because it was good, especially when you get a little brown on that turkey.

I also added roasted poblanos because I like chunky soups chocked full of all the stuuuuuff.

(clip owned by The Quiet One)

I've said this before but Posole is Menudo's cuter, younger brother and even though I love them both, the former is easier and the satisfaction level is very close.

It's Over But I Can't Let Go

Roasted Tomato Soup with Cheese Toast Dippers

If you're going to turn the oven on in summer, you might as well roast what you could use in future dishes.  Tomatoes are cheaper than water right now so P fetched different varieties and I roasted them up with garlic and onions, red peppers and I couldn't resist some little spicy beef toppers.

Upon inspection, recipes seemed fairly simple.  Roast, blend, spice and heat.  Plenty of fresh basil is completely necessary and welcomed by the sweet and acidic brew.  Roasted garlic makes it rich and dreamy.  I don't think you need cream, although many like to add it and of course it's delicious but ask your 60-something body if it needs cream and I just bet it'll back off the asking.  As a matter of fact, gone are the times in which adding cream is even an option. 

Keep that oven on to toast up some thick bread slices before topping with your favorite melting cheese.