Spicy Winter Comfort

Dreary damp February Saturday, splashing around in the drizzle doing errands, antiquing, shopping for fresh produce in spite of the winter. Nestled by the evening fire, I peered into my latest 'Bon Appetit' to the Hot Soup section and tried the concoction of Chicken Khao Soi, a curry chicken soup to stick to our ribs. What a perfect choice for this evening meal. With this we also enjoyed marinated tomato salad and a Korean style cucumber salad.

 Korean Cucumber Salad

1 lb. cucumbers peeled and thinly sliced
Salt
1 ¼ tsp. cayenne
1 ¼ tsp. paprika
1 clove garlic crushed and minced
1 1” piece fresh ginger minced
2 scallions, diced
1 TBS sesame oil
Place sliced cucumbers on a plate and sprinkle with salt. Set aside for 3 hours. Drain.
Mix all other ingredients in a bowl, add cucumbers and let sit for a few hours for flavors to mix well.


 Tomato Salad

 2 – 3 tomatoes, sliced
1 scallion, finely chopped
1 TBS lime juice
½ tsp finely chopped ginger
Salt    Pepper
 Arrange sliced tomatoes on a plate or platter. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and other diced ingredients. Allow to sit for flavors to mingle. Enjoy

 *You could substitute chives, parsley, cilantro or any other fresh herbs for the scallions. Also, you could use grape tomatoes rather than large ones.

http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2013/03/chicken-khao-soi

Summer Camp

On a late June Monday afternoon we pulled in at the lake to set up camp. Water level down, way down. A long beach, scattered with rocks surrounded the camp, rather than the usual water lapping the edging embankments. Happy hour chats, fire building, grilling steaks over the fire, foil wrapped veggies in the coals and sipping fine red wine, we drifted into a cool summer evening to slumber time. Dawn awake, alarm crows cawed to each other to wake the day. Sunrise glimmered over the crystal blue water. Gentle breezes brushed over us while we slowly wakened sipping strong French Roast coffee over morning chatter.

Leggy teen fishing girls strolled up the beach to sport on the shores of Jocassee and cast away. Kids played in and out the tents. A curly-tail chihuahua smiled and greeted us. The day began as an unfolding picnic of melon, crunchy pretzels, bean pate' and hard boiled eggs.

A stroll on the beach around the rock point took us to a pristine beach of sand and rock formations and caves juxtaposed in the crevices. Families boating and paddling and splashing. Two stately yellow labs romped and barked and smiled happy dog smiles to be in their element. Swimming, floating, chilling waters refreshed all ailments. A baptism of cares and woes washed away. A dragonfly befriends and flutters. A woman strolled by in a magenta turban. Babes bobbed in iridescent donut tubes, kicking and splashing and loving each moment of a summer day. The picnic continued, ham biscuits, fried chicken tidbits with Dijon mustard, grape tomatoes, sea salty chips, pomegranate tea, ginger man cookies. Flipping through pretty pages, dreaming of summer projects. Filtered sunlight and warmth cast a spell to slip into the hammock and drift off to dreamland. Gentle breezes fluttered leafy foliage. Boats traveled in and out for scenic voyages. Long nap afternoon.

Evening settled, chopping vegetables to kabob on the grill. Fresh garden fare from local gardens. Tortellini and fresh herbs in olive oil, sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and sweet onion... day three... Slowly wake to another beautiful summer morning, sipping coffee. Children squealed and giggled and played drama games while kicking and splashing in the waters. My camp partner served up a kicking breakfast of red raspberry hot cakes and a melange of fresh fruits, strawberries, blackberries, white grapes and pineapple. Oh, it was SO good.

Relaxing, reading, drawing, swimming, floating at the beach. People watching, photographing, exploring. Boats floating, families played and chatted, dogs romped, waves lapping at the shore. What a beautiful day. Afternoon painting, brushes and paint dot and design surfaces brought along for contemplation. Creating flowy lines and imagery, very therapeutic movement and expression...must do more often. Neighboring campers packed up and moved out leaving us quietly to ourselves on the mid-week even of the summer solstice. Relishing in a rewarding week of R&R at the lakeside. we mused about future adventures and where they might take us.

Hunting and gathering

If you know me, you know one of my most favorite pastimes is scavenging for treasures, junkin, antiquing, whatever you want to call it. Be it an obsession, or a passion, it is a joy that I share with other friends and the prizes are sometimes priceless.

Most recently I scored these precious little Redwing dishes at my favorite Antiques collective, Country Antiques in Travelers Rest SC for my friend Marybeth's birthday. I believe her penchant for lovely dishes is in the running with mine.

On another day of thrifting (I never leave without checking the toy bin) I found this pretty in pink hello kitty bag to add to my collection. She'd make a nice little picnic tote, don't you think?

Growing

Clara's Garden

It's that time of year when everything green and flowering explodes before our eyes with such abundance, it seems that every day brings a new vision of something lovely. It is nearly impossible to keep up with trimming, planting and grooming the outdoor spaces. So we must just stop now and then to enjoy the beauty, the nature around us, the bird songs and the warmth of the sun. The still cool evenings to enjoy the night sounds. Spring is such a blessing to save the soul from the dark days of winter.

Plant some seeds or seedlings, water the soil and watch miracles happen.

Awakening

morning horizons blaze
mists mist
amber orb rises
piercing the morning sky
bold stripe shadows slash through silhouettes
standing in the balance
rains drizzle
muddying waters
dramas unfold
truth crashes
silence falls

eager awaiting
Rebirth
Spring
Sanctuary
Peace

Winter blues

Not Really..in spite of the balmy days and sunshine and non-chilliness of this "winter" season,we still feel that February blues longing for longer days head set.The days only getting longer minute by minute, still not fast enough. The daffodils blooming out weeks ahead of their normal due date, the rains beating down and making things grow.It's been a kindly break from the past couple of icy and stormy winters and people are smiling in between the clouds and finding time to sit in sidewalk cafes and laugh in the sunshine. Life is good. Some days pass in melancholy, but doesn't that just go along with winter and gray days?

We, all of us, are keeping our chins up and looking toward spring cleaning, polishing and dusting off the collections and getting out on those sunny days and antiquing, cleaning off the gardening beds, collecting seeds and dreaming of growing gardens, letting the sun beat down on our face and breathing in the fresh cool air as we muse over what lies ahead.

Giving Thanks

This Moment we have everything to be thankful for, home, jobs, family and friends. We have weathered stormy times and survived. now we give thanks for all the people who got us through.

Turkey number one. Guided by the "Real Simple get ahead on the holidays feature, I put together our first turkey dinner of the season. While my sweet man still spends his Saturdays at Trader Joe's, we decided early that we needed to get one of the TJs brined turkeys, as we waited too late and missed out last year. Mid-month, I pulled out the roasting pan, simmered a saucepan of Cider Glaze and Roasted a beautiful bird to Bronze perfection. The other beauty of starting early is the opportunity to enjoy more sides than can be consumed in one sitting.
(Cider Glazed Turkey, buttered turnips, cornbread stuffing with apples and giblets, cranberry sauce)

Thanksgiving Day the family gathered at the newly refurbished home of my brother and sister in law in the woods at Claude's Cove. All of our family traveled in from distant miles, as well as my sister in law's brothers and sister in law. My Thanksgiving morning was spent in my tradition of watching the Macy's parade and making a selection of side dishes from recipes I'd been gathering over the past weeks. Sweet Potatoes with Apples and Bacon (Trader Joe's recipe), Smothered Country Green Beans (Garden & Gun) and a Traditional Cornbread and biscuit dressing , a Southern Living Recipe, but a dead ringer of what Mom and Grandma made in past years. Last but not least, a homemade Cranberry Sauce made of a blend of fruits, juices and spices, not too sweet and a mellow accompaniment to the main dishes.

Cranberry Sauce

1 cup cranberry juice
1 bag of fresh whole cranberries
1/4 cup dried cranberries
2 TBS Fig Preserves
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 tsp. lemon zest
1/4 tsp. lemon zest
1/4 tsp. Allspice
1/4 tsp.ground Ginger
Place all ingredients in a medium saucepan, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 7 minutes until cranberries burst. Cool and chill before serving.

The family gathered and feasted and talked and wined and dined together on a gorgeous Autumn Day, where the sun filtered through the trees and jewel toned color glimmered still.

A welcomed day after was for resting, relaxing, and gathering a collection of antiquities for vending. Off to the Antique Mall, then a stop off to visit my old buddy Jimmy at his Antiques Shop. It was so great to see him and, as a bonus, from his treasures,, I found a perfect "McCoy" Turkey Platter for a steal!


Turkey platter McCoy as we'll call him, came home for the roasting of Turkey part deux. Another TJ bird, rubbed with varietal salts and spices, we served it up with a broccoli casserole, more dressing and leftover sweet potatoes from the day before. All leaving plenty for the turkey salads, turkey soups and sliced turkey sandwiches for days and weeks to come. yum yum. And Amen.