I'se expectin' a big blow today.
Hurricane Fay is jes' a tropical storm, but ya know--the weather-folks need somethin' to make they jobs excitin'. I wis't they'd save it up fer the Real Thang. Reckon we'll git one of them soon enough.
When them weather hysterics go to hand-wrinngin' over silly squall, why folks dash out to stand in line to fill they cars, play bumper cars wif' they grocery carts, careenin' around snatchin' up ice and water and flashlight batteries.
Oh bother. Get a bottle of wine and some chocolate. Light yore fragrant candle of the day and read a good book. Or make soup. I got a new recipe fer calabaza soup. (Thas a big old squash near to pumpkin but different taste...ya make this soup wif ham and garbanzo beans.)
Taxpayers, ya need to know that public schools panicked. Them folks closed down the schools!! Yep. Disney World and shoppin' malls and movie emporiums is all open and doin big bidness (wif' all the kiddies out of school ,what's a poor parent to do but to Go To The Mall), but the schools *had* to close down? Had to. Matter of public safety. Aw, heck, I reckon teachers wanna make soup too.
Mah trouble of the day is worse than Fay. Mah computer is old and cantankerous. Screechin' about havin' no more memory. (wait--is that the computer or Aunty I'se describin'???) I done deleted all I could, but Bessie ain't happy. Natcherly, I got deadlines and am in a real panic--this ain't no time to figger out what kind of computer I want next.
Sigh....leave me a nice word or two ya'll, mebbe yore favorite soup recipe. I'se not sure when I'll git back. If I poke mah haid in to see ya, it means the confounded machine finally let me kick its beauty-tocks.
18 comments:
For soup
1 fresh ear of FLORIDA corn, shucked
4 cups plus 2 tablespoons water
1 FLORIDA garlic clove, smashed
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/4 cups chopped FLORIDA onion
1 fresh serrano chile, stemmed and coarsely chopped (including seeds)
2 firm-ripe FLORIDA avocados (1 to 1 1/4 lb total)
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 cup crema or sour cream
For cilantro oil
1 cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
Special equipment: a 3/4-inch melon-ball cutter
PreparationMake soup:
Roast corn on rack of gas burner over high heat, turning occasionally with tongs, until kernels are charred in spots, 4 to 5 minutes. (Alternatively, heat a dry well-seasoned cast-iron skillet and roast corn over moderately high heat, turning occasionally, about 10 minutes.) Transfer corn to a cutting board and, when cool enough to handle, cut kernels from cob with a sharp knife, then cut cob into thirds.
Bring kernels, cob pieces, 4 cups water, garlic, salt, and 1/2 cup onion to a boil in a 3-quart saucepan and boil until liquid is reduced to about 3 cups, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and cool, uncovered. Discard cob pieces.
Purée corn mixture along with chile and remaining 3/4 cup onion in a blender, then pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing hard on and then discarding solids. Return broth to cleaned blender.
Quarter, pit, and peel 1 avocado, then add to blender with 2 tablespoons lime juice and purée until smooth. Transfer soup to a bowl and cover surface with plastic wrap. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and chill soup at least 1 hour.
Prepare cilantro oil while soup chills:
Purée cilantro, oil, and salt in cleaned blender, scraping down sides of blender several times. Pour oil into cleaned fine-mesh sieve set over a bowl and let drain 15 minutes (do not press on solids). Discard solids.
Assemble soup:
Halve and pit remaining avocado and scoop small balls from flesh with melon-ball cutter, then toss gently with remaining tablespoon lime juice in a bowl.
Whisk together crema and remaining 2 tablespoons water in a small bowl until smooth.
Season soup with salt and ladle into 6 shallow soup bowls. Divide avocado balls among bowls, then drizzle with crema and cilantro oil.
Cooks' notes:
• Soup can be chilled up to 1 day.
• Cilantro oil can be made 3 hours ahead and chilled, covered.
God Speed Auntie! While I'd love a day off, this isn't the way to get it. I hope you're tucked away safe with a good book and that bottle of wine.
Oh, look Troll has left a tastee recipe.
Black Bean Soup
Sautee chopped bellpepper, onion, and bay leaves in olive oil. When almost done toss in minced garlic, and goodly dose of oregano.
Meanwhile your beans have been rinsed and are boiling away in a big pot.
Pour a nice splash of wine in over the sauteed bp, onion, mix. Let it reduce a little and then slip it into the black bean pot.
Toss in two datil peppers, salt to taste.
Simmer until beans are tender.
Enjoy the squall.
the last time i was in florida we went to disney during a tropical storm..
our schools close at the drop of a hat at just the mere hint of snow..
but most of us teachers have to show up for work anyway unless the roads are extremely hazardous.
I can certainly commiserate with you on the weather bunnies. There's one overly panicky blond who will rant for hours on end about any storm with lightening that might, I said MIGHT whip itself up into a tornado. Luckily I have a little more sense than God gave a lemon and know what to do IF the conditions warrant. I'm afraid after Katrina, over reacting is considered the lesser of two evils.
As for your new computer I say GO MAC!
I sent you an email to check in but it got bounced back – I think it's my end with Earthlink. At any rate, I'm glad you are safe and sound. Keep in touch so we know you continue to be.
Oh man, deadlines AND a messed up computer? A writer's ultimate nightmare. I'll echo Shamu: A-P-P-L-E.
Hang tight!
Troll-Man, Darlin' ya okay down theah?
Mercy! That soup sounds so elegant--I gotta try this soup. I'se right partial to avacado, yum! Reckon I will git to use that melon ball scooper thang thas' been in the drawer neglected...hee hhe. Thanky fer sharin' it--nothin' like a new arrow in the culinary quiver.Heh.
(An' ya can be real sure it will be FLORIDA ingredients.)
FloridaCracker,
Ya' got Unlce's vote wif this one--he ain't never met a black soup he din't wolf down. But the wine is a twist fer me--never tried that and know in mah bones it is right. (red I assume?)
Boxer Baby!!
What book does ya sugggest? I 'se buried in non-fiction and research--name me a good mystery or somethin' fun please.
Foamy Lady,
I cain't hep but think what fortunate kiddies they is who have The Foam fer a teacher---two of our clan is teachers too. Come see us in spring and early to mid-summer to avoid the TS.
Big Shamu, Sugar, hey!
Mac? Well...reckon Uncle heered ya, cause he went out in the storm and came back in carryin' an I-Phone. This man doan know nuthin' 'bout computers and text messages, nor how to set his ring tone...so all night we had stormy winds lashin' the house but he was happy as a pig in sunshine wif' his new toy. In year he might be able to send me a text--computer challenged, this man is (funny story on that in archives)
As fer me, Puddin', I'se always had PCs, would consider a Mac...but the REAL trouble is I'se rippin' hair out at roots to meet current deadlines an' doan have no learnin' curve time. Like needin' to git to the hospital, ya know: The old horse knows the way, a new Alfa Romeo would take me ten minutes to find the ignition.
Hey Moi!!
Thanky fer checkin'...me and Uncle is still dry.
But, Groan.....yep, thas' mah troubles--one edit, article deadlines (two down, two to go. PLUS, I gotta give a speech on Monday what I ain't even written.) and a cranky computer--now a storm thrown in the mix.
Apple? Well, if you bite it fer me first...heh heh.
Easy soup
Cook pot roast with vegetables.
Serve. Put a quart and half of beef broth in large pot with one cup pearl barley, bring to slow simmer. When the barely is tender, add in leftovers (chop veggies + meat) from pot roast dinner. Throw in handful of chopped parsley, simmer 10 minutes. serve.
Aunty hang in there...go away Fay!
Tomato Soup with Pancetta
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 ounces pancetta, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
3 (3/4-inch-thick) slices rustic rye bread (each about 5 3/4 by 3 3/4 inches), cubed
6 cups canned low-salt chicken broth
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juices
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper flakes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup mascarpone cheese
1/4 cup sour cream
Heat the oil in a heavy large pot over medium heat. Add the pancetta and saute until crisp and golden, about 5 minutes. Add the onion and saute until tender, about 3 minutes. Add the bread and toss to coat with the pan drippings. Saute until the bread is crisp and golden, about 5 minutes. Add the broth, tomatoes, basil, oregano, and crushed red pepper. Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer until the flavors blend, about 10 minutes. Season soup with salt and pepper.
Stir the mascarpone and sour cream in a small bowl to blend. Ladle the soup into bowls. Spoon a dollop of the mascarpone mixture atop the soup and serve.
Glug, glug , glug......
how 'bout taking a bag o'chips and a cup of friendly soup over to Infinitesmal's?
Aunty you OK down there? Terrible pictures on the news.
AB, Sugar, thanky fer checkin'. I'se busy growin' gills...
otherwise, trees still standin', roof ain't leakin' and I got a big ole pot of soup to dip into. But it is waerin' thin--very rainy, windy, dark. On t'other hand, I is workin' through these deadlines!
Boney, I'se on may way. Thanky fer the hint.
Aunty
you backstrokin' yet? doan try no butteryfly. cept iffin it shrimps. grrrherhahaha aunty good storm weatherin material....trolls soup looks like it will take the entire 3 day storm to prepare. grrheraha
Looks like Fay enjoys Florida and decided to extend her stay. It's pretty bad when suddenly you have a gator only lane on the streets.
Be safe!!! We will be thinking about all of you!
Ya'll be careful with all that water...I heard about gators swimming in the flooded roadways too.
Gators/Crocodiles taste like chicken...so maybe there's a good recipe for them, although u hafta catch em first. Potentially problematic that bit. ;)
Thinking bout ya'll, take care, stay dry, avoid the gators!!
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