Afternoon Light

I found a little inspiration and this lil gem while helping Tiffany get organized. Beautiful light and a beautiful day.

Like Newton

but more like a pine cone and no revelation about laws of gravity or anything. Found on a walk. This little part of the pinecone broke off and really intrigued me. I wrapped a ribbon around it and called it a bracelete. Meh, works for me.

Early Day, Late Night

Today is ging to be a long day. Last night, too much love and fun. No regrets. Just a morning of quick decisions. Running out but not before I get to "make" a quick ring, leftover from the cigar from Honduras we enjoyed on the porch.

Foreign Family Time

I love LOVE LOVE! My god children and their parents Elizabeth and JB. Unfortunately, I never get to see them since they live all over, most recently in Honduras. This is cool because I get to go visit, but not nearly often enough. Tonight I got to have them over for dinner and it was lovely. I thought that they would be homesick after a week of traveling so I made the most latina thing I could and it's mostly what Elizabeth taught me how to cook.

frijoles negros:
starting with dry beans, rinse and soak overnight. This step is key since it will lead to softer beans in the end.
The next morning, drain, add just enough water to the crock pot to cover 1/4 in over top of the beans. Add
1 bay leaf
1 slice bacon
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp coriander
1 tbs salt
2-3 cloves garlic crushed
1 tbs olive oil
let cook on low heat for minimum of 8 hours.

cebollas y pimientos:
I used poblano peppers which are a bit warmer and have a more smoky flavor to them you can use garden / bell peppers but know your audience. Ellie I am sure could eat a ghost pepper if she wanted to. Me, poblanos were pushing it on the Scoville.
Sliced widthwise and sauteed in olive oil with yellow onions until caramelized.

carnes a la brasa:
I used chicken and beef from the farmers market. Not sure what cut, but oil in the pan, hot hot heat, lil salt and char until medium. 3-4 min tops. Slice on the bias and serve with warmed corn tortillas.

Guac:
mine is really really awesome.
2 avocados
1 tsp ( 2 cloves) minced garlic
1/2 lime juice
1 jalapeno fine dice
1 tbs olive oil
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 tbs red onion fine dice
smash all together but not until a paste, you want to know where the food came from.

Pico:
Tomatoes diced
1 jalapeno fine dice
1 tsp ( 2 cloves) minced garlic
1/4 red onion fine dice
1/2 lime juice

Serve with shredded cheese and lettuce and a giant pile of love.

Nothing too Crazy

This is a simple dish that took little to no effort. Why?  Today is a time for reflection for many and my biggest beef with myself, is not taking / having enough time for my loved ones. So I made a quick dinner so Spencer and I could spend some quality time together and share in each others company, not the perfection level of the dish, cleanliness of the house, or one of the other umpteen things that would normally keep me busy and away from my kissy face.

Steamed Rice & Broccoli :

Rice cooker with 2 c rice & 1 large cluster of broccoli large thick stems submerged in the water and the floret's above. Perfect way to cook both!

Sliced omelet:
4 eggs whisked with sesame oil and fried in a pan omelet style, no stirring while cooking. Cook like a pancake. Add scallions if you would like.

Fried Shiitake Mushrooms: sliced thin with a little oil and garlic. Brown and serve on top of the rice, broccoli and omelet.

Douse all with soy sauce and perhaps chili paste.


Enjoy with someone who's had a long day. They need your company more than they would need the food. But, you know, food is love.

roadside inspiration

I love, love, love walking through RVA on beautiful afternoons. If you are looking up, big blue beautiful sky, down, lost treasure that no one else seems to notice or care. I may be sharing this city with a million other people, but I will never feel like it in my own little world of street & sky. Found this crusty looking cap on the pavement and he just had to be made into a pendant. Accompanied by some castoffs from a new friend and blam!!! Instant neck art. Repulsed by the thought of donning something that was found in the city street? Good, I don't have to share. ;-)

Blueberry Morning

I freaking love Sundays. It's a time for slow food, fun,  family & friends. This lazy Sunday morning, full of lounging in the sun and not really getting dressed til well after the sun is up, is brought to you by blueberries! Summer is coming to an end and I am getting all the fresh picked lovin' & sun I can while supplies still last.

Blueberry Corn Cakes:
3/4 c corn masa
2 c bisquick (cheater, perhaps. efficient & effective, always.)
1/4 c vanilla sugar ( sugar with a vanilla bean in it for flavor)
1/4 tsp cardamom
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
2 c milk
2 tbs butter for the pan
1 1/2 c rinsed blueberries

melt butter in the pan. Let it get a lil brown, that's were the goodness is.
Combine your wet ingredients and your dry, mix well. Let stand for 3 min before spooning out, it helps with the finished texture of the pancakes. ( I am learning, rubber pancakes be damned!)

Spoon out about 1/4 c worth of batter into your large skillet of brown butter goodness as many times as will fit. Top with 2 tbs of berries, or as many as will comfortably fit. You want a good surface batter to blueberry ratio. Too many berries and it will be a gooey, sticky mess. Too little and it's not really a blueberry pancake. You want the batter to be able to cover the berries when flipped.

Cook until bubbles form on the top and flip. Cook about the same amount on the opposite side.
Serve with fresh maple syrup and fresh blueberries, and steak like bacon if you happen to have some.

Enjoy lazily whilst snot fully dressed and on your own damn time.