4/20, Heh heh

I giggled when I realized today's date. Because I have the sense of humor of a 7th-grader. So, do all the pot heads meet up in the Haight for an all-day celebration?

I spent a luxurious day on the couch watching movies and didn't drive anywhere or attend any baby showers in bars or sit in traffic or do anything I didn't want/have to do. I guess that's an appropriate way to celebrate 4/20.

A Million Miles...

Away, away, away...

This week, while it's gone by too quickly, has felt like a million miles away from work. That's the best present I could have asked for (besides the FANTASTIC box of McPhee goodies I'm still sorting through! Thank you Rooty!).

I finally, after a year, maybe two, reorganized my office so it's a space I can actually work in. I've had time to work on my submissions for the Oregon photo show, do some laundry, clean the house, go to the grocery store, the hardware store, repair a few things around the house, visit family, and cook.

Here's a quick, tasty dinner to go with your margaritas - throw some rice in a pot to cook (I used basmati, but whatever you like). While that's doing its thing, make yourself a margarita (or another) and thinly slice a small yellow onion and cut up a chicken breast or two into evenly-sized chunks (1" cubes or about that). Season the chicken with salt & Mexican spices (whatever's handy) and set it aside.

Throw the onion into a hot pan with a little high-smoke oil (canola or similar). Don't use a non stick pan - they're for sissies and don't allow for caramelization. Caramelization = flavor.

When the onion is translucent (5 min or so), throw in the chicken. Cook that for 5 min or so on high heat - let the chicken get some color, but keep it moving in the pan so it doesn't burn or dry out.

Before the chicken is totally done, once the pan has some nice caramel color in it, deglaze it with whatever tequila you have on hand. Last night I grabbed the Don Edwardo reposado. A half cup or so, and let it simmer for a few.

Take the pan off heat and add a little cream or half & half - all I had was half & half, so to thicken it up a bit, I made a little half & half and cornstarch slurry and added that after the first dose of dairy - blend it well with the rest of the sauce. Check the seasoning & adjust as needed. The chicken should be done after the rice has finished, allowing the rice to further steam once it's off heat.

If I'd had some fresh or frozen veggies, I'd have thrown them in after the chicken, but sadly, haven't been back to the grocery store yet. Instead, we had a salad.

Serve over the rice and wash it down with another margarita. Ole!
Happy New Year's Eve!

Travelogue - Monday (8/7)

I think vacation is working. I think I'm unwound. I'm cleaning my room, the kitchen, the house, doing laundry, reading books I've meant to read for months - things I didn't have time/energy for before this trip north.

Either I'm relaxed enough to be able to focus on stuff like that, or I'm kidding myself and feeling twitchy about having so little to do. Being away from home, I don't have much else TO do.

I'm ready to get home to my giant man boy and my fuzzy children. A little more northwest unwinding to go, and then I'll be in the car going very fast towards California.

Something the deer haven't eaten yet.

Amazing thunder/lightning storms came through Monday night - tried like hell to get a bolt, but no tripod, lots of clouds and too much ambient outdoor light to work around. The storm went on for hours - giant bolts covering half the sky at times.



Playing with zoom.

Smoke makes dramatic sunsets.