“Watch your step!” Wendy shouted, jerking him to the side.
“What the hell?” Ben shook his arm free from Wendy’s grasp. “Do you really think that stepping on a piece of broken cement will hurt mama?”
“I’m not taking any chances. We need all the luck we can get. And we’re already late, so get a move on.” Wendy strode ahead, eyes down to watch for sidewalk cracks, leaving Ben shaking his head and staring after her.
In past years, I’ve cooked a whole turkey for just hubby and I for Thanksgiving. The leftovers resulted in turkey sliders, turkey casserole and turkey soup. All good, but a bit boring three or four days in a row! So this year I decided to try turkey thighs, mainly because hubby and I prefer dark meat and it seemed like a great one-meal option.
These babies looked smaller in the packaging! At just over a pound each, they were more than enough for a meal for the two of us and presented beautifully with all the traditional side dishes. I chose green beans sauteed in balsamic vinegar, an oyster-pancetta stuffing and gravy (made a day earlier with chicken wings for the stock) and buttered rolls.
Tips: Take the thighs out of the fridge about 30 minutes before putting in the oven so they aren’t ice cold and will cook more evenly. If you don’t have, or aren’t a fan of, poultry seasoning, simple salt and pepper works fine.
Result: Amazingness! Consensus around the table was that it was the most moist and flavorful bird any of us have ever had.
I believe the secret to the deliciousness is to use similar spices in the brining and cooking to layer the flavor profile. You can use this recipe whether you are smoking as we did or cooking your bird in the oven.
Living in California, we have access to avocados year-round and it’s one of my favorite ingredients in meals and snacks. I found a recipe that called for cracking an egg into each hole, and it was a total failure … it didn’t note that the avocados needed to be extra large or the eggs needed to be extra small or the whole white would run out in a blob. So I tweaked it a bit by scrambling the eggs and making guacamole from the scooped out flesh. Delish and healthy!
All of these ingredients are always in stock at our local Grocery Outlet. Click here for their Facebook Page. I highly encourage everyone to check out this store for two reasons: 1) The variety of products at great prices is amazing! (You won’t find a better deal on avocados outside of Mexico!) and 2) The owners, Ellie & Rita Zgheib, are huge supporters of our community. They have donated thousands of dollars of products to those in need and have sponsored donation drives for our Food Bank. Good people!!!
Variations: If you like a bit of spice, add hot sauce to the guac mixture. You can also use other varieties of cheese and top with fresh herbs. Instead of pork bacon you could use turkey bacon for a healthy twist.
It had been a week of “lasts.” Her last term paper, her last shift at the coffee shop, her last Taco Tuesday at Don Jose’s. She heard the toilet flush and realized that this would be the last time Zoe would slip under the covers next to her in their bed.
Eve stared at the crack in the ceiling. It was barely visible when they’d moved in three years ago and she’d emailed the property management company. She didn’t want to be responsible for the repair when they moved out tomorrow.
“We better get our deposit back,” Eve stated as Zoe entered the room.
“Let it go, Elsa,” Zoe quipped back. “I think they’ll care less about the crack then the chalkboard paint in the kitchen.”
“They should consider that an upgrade! They also got a veggie garden out of us. It took us weeks to till that soil.”
Creamy polenta topped with a rustic tomato based veggie ragout is not only comfort food, but an easy option for feeding a picky crowd. I was cooking for a group of writers that included vegetarians and many with food allergies and aversions and this hearty lunch fit the bill.
The ragout can be made in advance and reheated or made earlier in the day and allowed to simmer while making the polenta. The longer it sits, the deeper the flavors … and the kitchen will smell divine! Polenta is best served right away, so don’t start it until the ragout has been simmering for at least 15 minutes.
“Nana, why doesn’t daddy like mommy anymore?”
I was stirring the pot of chili that we’d made at home that morning. It was a simple recipe using mainly canned ingredients so that it was easy and engaging for my seven-year-old grandson to help create.
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and swallowed my tears as I fixed a smile on my face before turning to the kitchen table. Cody was working on homework and didn’t look up.
“Well, Coco, sometimes mommies and daddies don’t get along and can’t live together anymore. It doesn’t mean that they don’t love you, though.”
I wanted to make a dessert for a party celebrating a dear friend’s advancement to the rank of United States Coast Guard Chief. She is a native of Guam, so I scoured blogs for traditional Chamorro fare and took parts from several recipes to create this sweet treat.
Apparently, Latiya (pronounced “Lat-tee-zah”) is the dessert of choice served at all Chamorro gatherings. It has just a few ingredients, is fairly easy to make, and requires no baking. The secret is in getting the custard-like filling to the right consistency but not overcooking.
To my utmost delight, it was deemed perfect by not only the Chamorro father, aunt, uncles, cousin and friends, but most importantly by the honoree, as well as delicious by those of us Americans having it for the first time. I shared my extensive research and we had a fun banter about the use of eggs (I didn’t), amount of vanilla (I used 1/2 teaspoon instead a full teaspoon), layering of the pound cake versus leaving space for the custard between slices, and the appropriate amount of cinnamon sprinkled on top. What it all comes down to is the cook’s preference … and in a Chamorro kitchen, the cook is always right!
And the absolute most important ingredient in food at a Chamorro gathering? Love in heaping portions. I put plenty of that in this recipe for Chief Isa Mariano!
Note: “Chamorro” is the term for the indigenous natives of the Mariana Islands, including Guam. “Guamanian” is the term used for those strictly from the island of Guam, not the neighboring islands.
Merry awoke just as the first red bursts of dawn streaked through the shutters and across her white bedspread. It reminded her of blood splatter and she watched the gory hue turn to a bruise of blue and purple and finally the pure, clean brightness of a new day, disappearing into the covers. She felt a shift in the universe and tears pricked her eyes.
After dressing in her work attire of a flowing teal-blue caftan and matching head scarf, Merry exhaled deeply on the threshold of her sunroom. The crystals sparkled in the early morning sun rays and the scent of sage from last nights smudging ritual still lingered. There was no need to consult fate. The Ouija Board, Tarot cards and tea leaves would all revel the same truth: her mother was dead.
This has become my go-to picnic recipe, stolen from a marina friend who brought them to a dock party! Incredibly easy and a definite crowd pleaser, they are a mini-meal unto themselves. They can be made a day in advance and require no utensils. I put the skewers in a plastic container with a lid and it’s ready to grab from the fridge and go.
I’ve served them with watermelon/feta/mint skewers drizzled with honey balsamic vinegar and a cold rose wine. Yum!
Variations: You can change up the ingredients for different flavor profiles and easily make them vegan by eliminating the salami. Try marinated artichoke hearts or mushrooms, bell peppers, green or stuffed olives, cucumber chunks, fresh basil leaves, feta or other cheeses, etc. You can also substitute any vinaigrette salad dressing (or make your own) and a variety of tortellini types. Use your imagination! You’ll find all the ingredients regularly stocked at our local Grocery Outlet.
Vivo O Sonho 