When No One Cares But You

First ever received care package from a friend!

I had heard of care packages from thoughtful mothers and concerned friends and always secretly wished to get one, and this day, I did!  Tea and assorted cookies, the kind I crave but would never buy for myself.  So unexpected and appreciated.  We've had a history of thinking of each other and then one of us will text like clockwork.  It's most impressive when lots of time has passed.  At the moment I received this package, I was watching current-day Marisa Tomei, someone we discuss often and love, and I was just about to contact him.  

Another old friend, Spaghetti and meat sauce

Both provide such comfort and proof that life ain't so bad at all.  I've gone on about different types of pasta and sauces but this is a mash up of two favorites, a puttanesca and a meat & mushroom sauce.  I love anchovies, olives, capers, garlic and whole tomatoes.  Ground turkey absorbs just about any flavor, so the ground meat here is for texture and the mushrooms were already in the car, so they went together.  Also, the more things I add to the noodles, keep me from eating a vat. 

I had taken a long morning walk to get the injuries moving and strengthened.  It was gray and not the sunshiny hopeful day that helps to get out in.  It was windy and bleak.  The park was full of annoying tents of crafts and farm fresh produce.  It was Saturday, of course crowds of people were out with kids and dogs. It's their time, I said, as I smirked and rerouted to the desolate, grim areas where I could walk freely without interruption. 

If Not for You, My Sky Would Fall

Leftover ham and beans with homemade flour tortillas and side salad. Too much food admittedly.  I recognize my tendency to fill psychological holes with abundant eats.  This day I was scared to go to physical therapy.  I get the fear.  Are you familiar with, the fear? I had already been to the tiny facility a bunch of times but still it is where I need to be slightly vulnerable.  Small space, a lot of people doing activities that I must get in the middle of and that spells dread for me, although it's always just fine, afterwards that is.  It's also a reminder of mortality and focus on all things flesh.  Old women with broken parts, young athletes with uncomfortable down time, hard-working mothers that had terrible accidents.  It's so much to observe while desperately trying to fade into the woodwork.  

Walking there, through the grey, dreary back route, avoiding the bustling popular streets, I was met with every color of tulip all in peak bloom. I figured if they could be kept after amidst the winos and falling druggies, surely I should be okay.

Take a Bottle, Shake it Up

When using store bought dressing, I usually only allow myself a tablespoon at most because of all the crap in them.  Or I'll opt for oil and vinegar instead, which is much more satisfying than one would think.  When I want something decadent and creamy, then my desire is to go all-in and slather that luxuriousness on every tomato, onion and green.  So making yesterday's Mexican Green Goddess dressing allowed me that luxury.  Controlling your ingredients makes that possible.  Yogurt instead of mayo, avocado instead of oil, lots of herbs, garlic.   

Traditionally, homemade dressing has been an afterthought.  Even so, the addition of mustard, or honey or going Asian along the way has been a courting of flavors.  Creating the ideal dress for particular salad medleys is romancing the greens, what I now consider an honor. 

It's a Love That Has No Past

Mexican Green Goddess Dressing

Since the dawn of time I have been fascinated with Green Goddess Dressing.  What was this magical concoction!?  I don't remember ever having tasted it, yet I knew that I loved it. I didn't want to taint my wonderment of this Diosa Verde so without looking at recipes beforehand I made a Mexican version.  Stick with what you know, right?  

Mexican Green Goddess Dressing

• Greek Yogurt (replaced Mayo)
• Lime (replaced the lemon)
• Avocado (replaced the oil)
• cilantro (replaced the tarragon)
• garlic
• pickled jalapenos (replaced vinegar) 
• green onions (replaced chives)
• S&P
• a pinch of Knorr Chicken Flavor Bouillon *

Blend all together to your desired consistency.  I had to add a little water to get it to blend and due to the little chunks of onion and herbs, it doesn't pour well out of a squirt bottle but other than that, I loved it! 

Refreshing, Tangy and Addictive!

Afterthoughts:   Now that I see the official list of ingredients (although recipes vary drastically on-line), I will add anchovies and dill next time.  I had no idea the ingredients and had always suspected buttermilk.  

* I've noticed more online cooks adding chicken bouillon powder to tons of recipes and I think it's to add that bit of msg (and umami) that makes everything taste better but no one wants to buy a jar of msg because we think it's bad news. 

Looking for an Answer, Trying to Find a Sign

The day of the famous eclipse - pictures shared with me from other states

This is about what I saw (above) when a kind stranger allowed us to look through her glasses on the street here in Brooklyn.  

Another shared photo from another state

You can see an eerie glow on these burgers from Black Forest. The light in Brooklyn wasn't life changing but it DID get us to focus (for about 45 long moments), while waiting for the magic to begin.  We sat outside at a booth facing the sun to reel in this spiritual awakening or whatever was supposed to happen.  Of course, when you talk about something for weeks, about how amazing it will be to 'see', it was impossible not to look up at least once.   We're sort of idiots when you break it down and did not come prepared with glasses.  

Like ordering these amazing grass fed burgers on Brioche buns from the German place that hand makes their own sausages. spaetzle and kraut.  Such a Hoosier move.  I make no excuses for my lameness, other than a burger sounded perfect.  

Yes, we'd love the booth next to the compost bins please

Keep on the Sunny Side of Life

A bed stay day.  Depression, whatever that little demon entity really is, was looming today.  Buzzing around the room, wanting to land on me like a hornet but I successfully avoided that sting.  This comforting leftover soup with melted cheese and avocado acted like a protective remedy to fight the dark side of life. 

In a Big Country, Dreams Stay With You

Great Northern Beans and Ham (sans hock)

Leftover holiday ham but no bone or hock.  Could a bean soup be made without that lusciousness that the slowly melting hock brings?  I took my cue from Carla Lalli Music, a TV and internet chef that I gravitate towards in cooking philosophy.  She could be fussy, as she has all the credentials of a culinary icon, yet she chooses to show you cooking her way, that is sensible and relatable.  And, I just read that she lives in my neighborhood!!!  I will undoubtedly gasp if I ever run into her.  I'm late to discovering all of these exceptional chefs that choose to share their skills online but have recently found them on my late night searches, browsing recipes like used record store bins.  I hope to one day be a great cook. 

Carla is a big advocate of using amped up sofrito to start soups. ( a great example video here) Low cooking this concoction for the right amount of time concentrates the flavors to new heights. This was the perfect time to practice this correctly because I would need a power boost for this soup, sans bone.  

These beans were chocked full of deep flavors. Thank you Carla!  I added chopped carrots and for finishing greens I added the carrot tops and cilantro. 

A biggie girl breakfast including my homemade flour tortilla!
I wanted bacon so I cooked the ham on the griddle until it became almost like crispy bacon.  I had one potato that I diced extra small and got super crispy.  I like to imagine I'm a cowgirl on the range making breakfast over a fire and these tin plates assist in that fantasy. 

I Feel the Earth Move Under My Feet

Brownstone Beauty

Fort Greene Park Steps

Turkey Carcass Soup

I took the roasted turkey breast carcass and made a rich broth. This time, I made a sofrito and allowed it to develop flavor before adding the vegetables and stock. 

I think turkey soup in particular, can be so celebratory, almost as if it's part of a holiday meal which the bird was but now with a lovely transformation.   

That afternoon I was on my bed lamenting and suddenly it began to shake.  Just before, there was a sort of rumbling sound that rose up from the ground.  We live above the subway, so at first I thought it was just that but it became stronger and the little bottles of assorted beauty products on my vanity began wiggling.  I got up and screamed, 'What is happening??!'.  My mate was running towards me and we both said, It's an Earthquake! and met in the doorway.  After that it was over in seconds and I had to run out to go to therapy but it was interesting seeing the city react in real time.  It's hard to call it a celebration, but since it was not a tragedy and it was a shared city-wide event, there was something cool about it.