Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends

This is a story of shrimp, sausage and potatoes who were always best friends but one day decided to invite Kale to a shrimp and grits-like after work party.  Garlic and butter were there of course.  They are at all of the best parties. 

The End

Opposite to my sister's amazing long range view of the mountains from her back yard in Colorado, I see a long thin vertical scene from my kitchen window that includes a tree that goes up so high, I have to take 3 pics to get the whole thing in.  The leaves have fallen, something I love to look upon as part of the whole tree experience.  But someone comes and sweeps them up for the neighbors, puts them in bags and throws them out like the trash on garbage day.  What's the fun in that? 

I Smoked My Brains the Night Before

P's Birthday Beef Enchiladas

P had a festive outing with friends the night before and was feeling less rambunctious on his birthday, so we chose a mellow afternoon with a matinee of The Outfit, in a dark, quiet theater.  We had Fried Chicken sandwiches, chips with queso, and this time a few more patrons were in the local venue but not many.  I should get paid for how much I promote the value of the Alamo Drafthouse theaters.  For folks without a ton of money, it's an incredibly satisfying way to spend a little extra and get the pampering movie experience of my dreams.  P wants a cup of hot coffee or I want an ice cream sundae, the silent ninjas are there for it, quickly and quietly.  The funny reels they play before the main feature feels old timey and gets you revved up like you're going up a roller coaster.  It's super clean and people are well behaved or they'll get 'removed' as the pre-feature ad warns.  This allows you to get completely immersed in the surround sound without any unpleasant noises or cellphone lights.  I love everything about it and most of all, we can walk to one of the locations. 

Later I made homemade beef enchiladas with my mom's famous secret sauce and a spicy shrimp cocktail as an appetizer.  

Coctel de Camarones - Mexican Shrimp Cocktail

We walked home from the theater noticing more small changes to downtown Brooklyn and had a nice chat about how strange life has become when we came across a sign on a shop window that coined the moment brilliantly.  Whatever, Forever.

A gorgeous new mural of Greg Tate, the music journalist who recently passed, and a fellow Ohio born compadre.

Delicious Carrot Cake Slice from Mr Mango Market

The birthday boy in his new sweater.  It's good to be alive, to quote lyrics from his upcoming album. 

The Loving was Easy, It's the Living that's Hard

Nothing says lazy then some kind of burger with an egg on top.  That is to say, I make burgers when I'm out of ideas.  Using ground turkey, chicken or beef, at least I usually mix in beans or grains, along with vegetables to stretch the meat and also to get in more fiber.  

I served this on a bed or spicy, spinach and cherry tomatoes.   This will not change the world, but what I will tell you is that the creamy egg yolk dripping down onto that baked patty is better than you'd expect.

As is spinach cooked with garlic, olive oil, hot pepper flakes and tomatoes along with a squirt of lemon.  Eating during what I'm calling pre-Apocalyptic times needs to change a bit.  Gone are the days of Willy-Nilly cooking.  We aren't here to feed our faces with extravagant meals, everyday.  The game has become slightly more serious and mindful.  Less meat, more vegetables, hardly any processed anything, unless you're celebrating or too sick to function.  

Finding organic produce in good shape for a reasonable price at the peak of freshness is a little more challenging as well.  I shop first at the corner produce market and then figure on what to make.  The hard part for me is to deny my desires and cravings and opt for the practical, cheaper choices.  And isn't that how it feels to get a bit older?  Constantly denying your old, aging self bits of the fun stuff that was plentiful during your youth and replacing it with more sensical but sometimes spiritually disappointing choices?

Just the Other Side of Nowhere

Leftover chicken tortilla soup.  Even better the following days.

I did a self hair cut where I made these big 70's style chunky sides.  What I really want is girly side burns and I hope to figure out how to make them someday without looking like a mo-ron.   Not sure it worked as well as I thought but it did give a little extra flair to my clipped up work do.  My thought process was if I screwed it up bad enough I would have enough nerve to go to a real stylist.  And I eventually did weeks later.

The great and the sad thing about being a woman of a particular age is that almost no one gives a flying hoot what the hell you do with your hair or your body.  It's like the population drops their expectations by about 100 percent.  So much that most don't even bother peeping your way for any reason at all.  The curiosity directed towards us gals over 55 just goes dark.  Its an adjustment but also a mixed blessing.  I'm definitely less self conscious now, freed up to do things that I like rather than what I believe people want to see.  Not that I had success in that area either.  Come to think of it, I've always been able to live just under the radar, in my own little world. 

On the Sunday Mornin' Sidewalk

Had brunch at Putnam's Pub & Cooker in Clinton Hill.  Tried to eat at Chez Lola or Maggie Brown's but the line was too long.  We had four hung visiting relatives in town and needed to get them sitting down with a hair of the dog drink in hand quickly.

 It's a scary time to try a new place but after we got in so quickly with 6 people, sat down at a great table I decided I love this place!  The décor, the waitresses and staff, the menu and the food itself.  The food was soooo good and the presentation was fun and down to the table and chairs, I just loved everything about this place.  Someone was very thoughtful about all aspects including the seating. I hope to go again soon and sit in one of the big pub-style looking booths. 

I had the Putnam's Brunch Burger, grassfed sirloin, applewood smoked bacon, American cheese, a sunny egg and the bun was toasty.  Even though I had a hard time getting this thing in my mouth (shut up!) it was such a nice surprise and well worth the dissection to get every bite.  And they served it on a butcher board so that was easy too.

By the way, pricing is super reasonable.

I want to go there right now!

Cos' There's Something in a Sunday, Makes a Body Feel Alone

Sunday. I used to not love Sundays, earlier on because of school the next day. Was not a fan. Later, the sundown feel of it used to depress me. I woulda swore it was a third shorter than a Saturday too which I didn't like, always felt shortchanged.

But I grew to appreciate and celebrate the Sunday. The end of the week. A time to reflect and try to make sense of the stuff you've gathered in your head all week. It's mellow and easy. It's calm and its slow. It should always be a day off. That should be a law. Unfortunately its not and now I think as with many things, I only really learned to appreciate Sundays after I no longer get them off at work. Retail is hell.

The Loving Was Easy, It's The Livin' That's Hard

Again, I'm behind on posts but I believe this was a tough week food and otherwise. But I was trying. A year ago I had made a super tasty chicken liver dinner over gnocchi and I wanted to see if I could improve on it. Another personal favorite of mine are chicken livers and P doesn't care for anything soft and mushy, so it was my chance to experiment while he was away.

I did an Italian recipe of gently sauteed livers in butter, garlic, tomatoes, kalamata olives & parsley. Very tender and almost there but I'll be honest....a bit of a liver failure. I just put them over toast and ate a few bites. Next time, I still don't think you need to batter and deep fry them but I'll get a harder crust of sorts on them because maybe when they're too tender, its a little creepy. After spending all that time, trying to get it right and looooosing, I had to just do a quick batch of cheese nachos and eat them quickly in a haze.

Chicken livers are the one delicacy that has stayed super duper cheap in the markets unlike a lot of the old discarded meat parts they've managed to hike up in price. I still love chicken livers, I just need to find that perfect recipe.

Why Me Lord?

I say this now to you and the world. I am not worthy to have been blessed with all the good food that I've eaten here on this earth. I know this to be true. I never would have dreamed I could someday phone in this meal I'm eating today for a very small amount of money and feel the tremendous satisfaction and joy, the excitement and wonderment.

Foods here in New York can be like the great paintings from Da Vinci, Michelangelo, El Greco. And I'm just talking the neighborhood spots, not even the high end Chef restaurants. These cooks are cranking out treasures, classics, gems... daily and for cheap! They are masterpieces and yet a dumb shlep like me can just call up and within minutes be enjoying it in my dirty sweats and Target bunny socks.

I don't have money or material things, just enough to barely get by usually. But I've been rich in flavor opportunities and variety of foods. I've done nothing to deserve any of this pleasure. I've only wished for it and it came. For that I'll be forever grateful.

Freedom's Just Another Word for Nothing Left to Lose

This 4th of July I celebrated my independence by waking up and riding directly to work. I customer serviced some nice, some ridiculously bitter 'old trolls and then rode back home.

I had worked a major busy Sunday the day before while it felt like the whole city was at the beach. Seemed like the big Fourth of July weekend was turning out to be a dud firecracker for me.

Determined to have me a celebration I came home and made a simple but festive meal. Started off with my version of jalapeno poppers as an appetizer. Par boiled halved jalapenos stuffed with jack cheese, chorizo and garlic, baked until soft and melty. A green apple, arugula, cucumber salad with lime vinaigrette. A keeper! Best thing ever. I found that idea on some medical website. Thin steak sandwiches on toasted Italian bread with avocado and grilled onions.

It wasn't fireworks, barbecue, the beach, cold beers, fun in the sun 4th of July. I wasn't up for any of that nonsense anyway really. I just wanted some peace. Nothin' ain't worth nothing but its free.