Joy to the Fishes is the Deep Blue Sea

When you see frozen peas and carrots and seized up polenta on the plate, you might assume it was one of those days.  Those days when admittedly, you're not feeling life, but you go on, you keep moving, you plow ahead as it were.  Life doesn't stop just because you don't want to participate.  Wouldn't it be cool if we could, put the world around us on pause?  Stopping to breathe and regain composure, maybe take a long nap before rejoining the day.  I made the most vibrant gorgeous chimichurri but instead of slathering it on the meat after grilling, I decided to marinate a thin pork steak beforehand.  It was very flavorful but visually, it would be much better to salt and pepper, get good grill marks, and then put the bright green sauce on top.  You don't want to rob yourself of that vitality on a plate.  One must savor each green moment of summer.  And yes, I know how to make a very creamy Polenta but I find corn meal to be very versatile. Calorie wise, if you leave off 3/4's of that fat, you still get amazing corny taste while making a mush.  It becomes a different rustic side, especially if you replace the butter, cream and extra cheese with garlic, cayenne and chicken stock.  You can also still drizzle with olive oil.  

The day turned out to be thoughtful and filled with fun visuals.  I saw my buddies the fish, swimming together in clusters and jumping out of the water.  They are small right now and tend to stay around the docks to feed around the Red Hook Basin.  I like to ride around the docks before work to feed my mental health, breathe deep and pause at least my thoughts for as long as possible. 

Someday We'll Find It, The Rainbow Connection

Stuffed peppers are one of those things that never sound that exciting but when you eat them you are filled with all kinds of huggy feels. Baked things with cheese melted on top induce happiness and then you add crunchy bread crumbs.  Well you got yourself a warm little bundle that you cut into and unwrap even more surprises and flavors with the ground turkey, tomatoes, rice, parsley.  It all comes back to you. 

We are seeing more and more rainbows these days, full spectrum and doubles.  This is one from my sis in Colorado.  Gorgeous!  Look how it's in front of that tree.  She sent this and it wasn't until weeks later that I noticed that more and more people were sharing pics of these brilliant sites.  Many folks reminded us that we never saw them as a child.  You would be so happy to see 1/2 of one and would never see the bottom because that's where the pot of gold should be.  Also folks are seeing regular clouds with rainbow colors and sun rays. 

I had been obsessing on these Paulownia trees.  My friend tried to tell me about them last year.  She gave me a small branch with their unique seed pods as she was explaining all about them but because I'm an ass I'm halfway listening thinking yeah, yeah, whatever old lady, which is weird because I do love trees and I like my friend.  See, these are the reflections that show my bad side. 

Then this year I kept seeing them growing all over and tried to find the name. They have a beautiful scent and that was what stopped me on my bike after smelling in the air so strong.  Turns out they are invasive and grow rapidly along waterfronts.  Case in point, the Gowanus Canal, another favorite place of mine.  I opened my eyes and saw them growing all along the water.  In fact, there is even a sign I never noticed right by the bridge.  Funny how things open up to you when you're ready to see them.

Down By the Seaside, See the Boats Go Sailin'

Green Giant Steak Salad 

Beefed up take out.  I took the salad mix and meat from Habana To Go Steak Salad and added in all my fresh greens and re-seasoned the meat with pinto beans to make a Green Giant Steak Salad. Too good.  

The day was so gorgeous, I rode an hour before going into work and I wasn't even crying. A touch of old lady humor for ya.  Where my seniors at?!

A house or an art installation?  Hard to tell.  Red Hook and the Gowanus area is mostly nothing.  Lots of sadness, huge housing projects smack down in the middle, dusty parks, shut down baseball fields. But then it's art and inspiration, stillness and empty piers.  The best and worst of one world.

One of the last nearby places you can go and spend time completely alone with urban decay but always with a bit of dreamy manipulation.

Words can't compete with the sound of a breeze or the soft waves hitting the rocks on the pier.

Sheet Pan Dinner

Sheet Pan Roasted dinner with Sauteed Swiss Chard