So I'll Close My Eyes and Just See Pretty Colors

                                                  

Creamy Polenta with Peas and Broccoli

The first hints of spring are so exciting.  It seems like there is no way in hell that the trees will fill up with leaves and that the flowers will ever bloom again.  No chance we'll all be walking around without all these extra hats, gloves, scarves, neck gators, thermals.  

But the chill is still in the air, so creamy polenta with green peas, broccoli and chicken sausage was a nice warm food hug.

Every day for years I pass this tree on the way to work and for just one and a half weeks tops it blooms these delicate little pale pink flowers.  When the sun hits it, it looks like a weeping willow but if the angels poured champagne on it.  For the last couple of years it just took my breathe away. I actually stopped on my bike just to look at it.  Admire it.  I don't know the reasons why some years the trees go full bloom, and others they just quietly change over a little half-assed, if you ask me.  The leaves take over quickly.  That's what happened this year.  It's still the best season and a lifesaver in a way.  Gobs better then the end of winter anyway.

These yellow blooming bushes are always the first that you see.

Looking at the pictures after everything fully turns I think gosh, I got excited over that little scrappy tree?  But that's shows you just how winter rings every ounce of color out of this town.

this was the tree the year before a couple weeks earlier 

Ain't That Peculiar Baby? A Peculiar-arity

Summer Squash Taco Boats with cumin pinto beans.  I'm officially making corny Woman's Day recipes on the reg now.  I've always been a closet WD food advocate actually.  The writers get creative with the same cheap ingredients that most folks can afford.  So it's not pathetic or uncool.  I never set out to be a high end cook.  I was always more interested in everyday recipes.  It suits me better I guess.  I'm not a big fan of upscale anything because of all my built in action Catholic guilt and Mexican shame.  I could never justify enjoying the finer things with any consistency.  Right now the world is way too unbalanced.  Unless it's a very special occasion, I can't see being frivolous really.  That seems very out of touch.  Time to get woke. I'm not interested in money, I just don't want to worry about it.  I would love to go to nice restaurants and eat exotic foods don't get me wrong.  I appreciate specific skillfully made things like shoes or bags, a great steak or the best chocolate.  I like to want stuff but not real caught up on the actual getting.  If it comes, it comes.  It has come, but not lately.

However, I do feel it's a the perfect time to celebrate freely.  Things like friendship, love, family, creativity, art, and humor for example are all reason to get happy,  What I enjoy right now about cooking is making the small typical meals unexpectedly spectacular.  Turning dinner or breakfast into a highlight on a normal day.  Going to the fridge and thinking there is no way in hell there is a meal in there and then creating a surprisingly good plate.  In between all the memorable important stuff in our lives is a huge vat of non eventful days.    More and more, its in these moments that I find the luxury and appreciate most.

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Chicken with Sun-dried Tomato 'Cream' Sauce

Chicken with Sun-dried Tomatoes in a Cream Sauce - Not

I just replaced the cream with yogurt and stock, then the butter with olive oil.  It's not as milky white looking but you could also use cashew cream too, that would be nice. All the fresh herbs and those tomatoes are what makes this taste special.

http://damndelicious.net/2014/11/22/chicken-sun-dried-tomato-cream-sauce/