Susan made a lemon tea cake.
It was very pretty to see.
It was impossible not to eat.
Food Photography
Dry January
The final days of January 2021 are upon us.
The final days of Dry January 2021 are upon us.
Pictured here a “Virgin Bloody Mary.” It tastes pretty much like a Bloody Mary, less the vodka, of course.
I bought the Bloody Mary mix (Agalima Organic, The Authentic Bloody Mary Mix) back in October thinking we might have one or two on Thanksgiving and on Christmas. In years past, family traditions included a large pitcher of Bloody Mary mix next to a bottle of vodka on a counter.
Because of Covid there were no family get-togethers and no Bloody Mary mix on a counter next to bottle of vodka.
We never did have a Bloody Mary or two but come Dry January, I enjoyed a Virgin Bloody Mary or two.
The month, Dry January, is really about wellness and it feels fine and healthy to enjoy the month without wine at dinner—or a Bloody Mary! I think we will keep it up. Within reason.
Of course, Dry January is all about living an alcohol free month—not dessert-free.
And we have enjoyed a few spectacular desserts.
Susan made this delicious Berry Cake!
Susan also made Fika, a Swedish chocolate treat!
I made a Banana, Blueberry, Chocolate, Coconut, Walnut Bread which was so good!
And a few days ago, Susan made an outstanding Orange and Chocolate cake!
I haven’t lost much weight but once it warms up outside (It was 2 degrees this morning with a wind-chill of -12!) and I start walking again I am sure the weight will start to disappear and I will get back to my college wrestling weight class.
Cheers!
Susan’s Birthday
Yesterday, Friday, January 8th, was Susan’s birthday. When I woke up on the day before, the 7th, I thought the 7th was the 8th.
Before she woke (on the 7th), I scrambled to wrap her present and make her card. (See Freddy above sniffing at her card and present.) Soon she came out of the bedroom and I said “Happy Birthday!” She said, “Today’s not my birthday. It’s the 8th.” I said, “Today is the 8th. Come. Let’s look at the calendar.” Sure enough it was the 7th. This confusion a sign of the times. To misquote a song by Chicago, “Does anybody really know what day it is?”
I know tomorrow is Sunday because the Sunday New York Times is delivered. And Wednesday is garbage day because I see that our street is lined with barrels filled with garbage. And Friday is Brooks and Shields (Now Washington Post columnist Jonathan Capehart since Shields recently retired). But other than that I am never sure of the day or date. Or time! This a sign of the pandemic and being in quarantine. I need a calendar!
Susan opened her card first upon waking on the 8th, a picture of our kitchen table which I think says much about who we are, our interests, our love of books and beauty. And it reminds me of a painting by French Impressionists. I enjoy still lifes of our home.
Years ago, I wrote:
This is
A Place
A Table
Round, of grace
A flowered tablecloth
A bowl of lemons and limes
Apples and oranges
We hold hands
Thank You God
For these gifts
We are about to receive
From your bounty
Through Christ our Lord
Amen.
A table of grace.
We then enjoyed a cup of coffee and soon I made us bacon and blueberry pancakes.
I spent much time organizing my photos of Times Square @ 1980s for my book, “Famous People Famous Places“. I am happy that I have made great progress on the project since reading about myself in the NYTimes Sunday Book Review section a few weeks ago (See previous post).
This is how the organization comes along. First I printed contact sheets of all the photos, cut them into “negs” and placed them on a large paper board.
Then I spent many hours looking at the images, determining an order, a sequence that made sense to me.
I then took these negatives and taped them into my journal so that I can reference them as I upload to Blurb.
During lunch, Susan suggested we order out for dinner. We often do order out for pizza on Friday nights. But after I walked Freddy in the afternoon, I returned home cold and thought there’s no way I want to go out later for a pizza. So while Susan napped in the late afternoon, I made a birthday dinner for her (It was her birthday!): Roasted Chicken Thighs with Pears and Dried Cranberries; Wild Rice; Carrots.
The recipe is based on one from Taste of Home:
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (6 ounces each) (I used 2 skinless boneless chicken thighs)
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
- 3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar (I used 2 teaspoons)
- 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary (I didn’t use.)
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch (I didn’t use)
- 1-1/2 teaspoons sugar (I didn’t use)
- 2 medium unpeeled pears, each cut into 8 wedges (I used 6 canned and drained pear halves)
- 1/3 cup dried cherries or dried cranberries
- Sprinkle chicken breasts with salt and pepper. In a large nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook until a thermometer reads 165°, 8-10 minutes. Remove. (I roasted the chicken thighs in oven at 375 for 45 minutes)
- Meanwhile, stir together next 5 ingredients until blended. Pour into skillet; add pears and dried cherries. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; reduce heat and simmer, covered, until pears are tender, about 5 minutes. Return chicken to skillet; simmer, uncovered, until heated through, 3-5 minutes. If desired, sprinkle with additional minced rosemary (I warmed pears, stock, vinegar, cranberries on stove top)
After dinner, we watched Brooks and Capehart and then a fascinating documentary of James Beard. I had forgotten he had a great gift for writing. I once had two Beard books (He wrote 18.): “Beard on Bread” and “The James Beard Cookbook.” I lost them in one of my moves. I will have to see if I can find a few in a used book store.
The show brought home to me the fact that I need, I am called, to again write. To write about food. To write about art. To write about life.
To tell stories. Which reminds me; did I ever tell you the story about the times I had lunch at the Four Seasons bar?
Roasted Cauliflower with Pancetta, Olives and Crisp Parmesan over Fettucine
This might be the best pasta recipe I have ever made. It’s based on one from Melissa Clark. I made a few changes which I note below.
Melissa writes: “Studded with salty olives, pancetta and Parmesan that gets golden and crisp at the edges, this is roasted cauliflower at its brightest and most full-flavored. You can serve the caramelized florets either as a vegetable-based main dish or a hearty side to roasted meats or fish, or big bowls of pasta. The recipe calls for using a package of finely diced pancetta that practically melts into the sauce. But if you prefer a chunkier texture, you can dice it yourself into 1/2-inch cubes, and add them with the cauliflower. Or, to make this vegetarian, just leave the pancetta out.”
Ingredients
- 1 large head cauliflower (about 1 3/4 pounds), trimmed and cut into bite-size florets (about 8 cups)
- ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
- ⅓ cup olives, crushed, pitted and chopped (I used Castelvetrano olives.)
- 1 fat garlic clove, finely grated or minced
- 1 ½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice, plus more to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon red-pepper flakes, plus more as needed
- 4 ounces pancetta or bacon, cut into 1/8-inch cubes
- ¾ teaspoon cumin or caraway seeds (I used cumin seeds.)
- ½ cup shredded (not ground) Parmesan
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley or mint leaves and tender stems, for serving (I didn’t have so I used fresh chives.)
Preparation
- Heat oven to 425 degrees. Place cauliflower on a rimmed baking sheet (I used a cast iron pan) and toss with 1/4 cup olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt until well coated. Roast for 15 minutes.
- In a small bowl, whisk together olives, garlic, lemon juice, 1/8 teaspoon red-pepper flakes and a large pinch of salt. Drizzle in the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil, whisking well.
- After the cauliflower has roasted for 15 minutes, add pancetta and cumin seeds to pan and gently mix to combine. Sprinkle Parmesan on top and roast for another 15 to 20 minutes, until cauliflower is tender, the pancetta rendered, and cheese is golden brown and crunchy. (I added #4 to the cast iron pan for a few minutes.)
- Spoon olive dressing all over roasted cauliflower while still hot and toss to combine. Taste, and add more salt, red-pepper flakes or lemon juice, if needed. Scatter parsley over the top before serving. (I used fresh chivies.)
Summer Is Over
Tonight is the last night of summer. You can see autumn coming today in the color of the lace hydrangea leaves.
Where did summer go?
I have a record of sorts; a list of the everyday routines.
I wake up when Freddy jumps out of bed. This happens between 5:00 and 5:30. Sometimes, but rarely 6:00 or 4:30. I give him a snack and then we wait for a glimmer of sunlight to appear in the eastern sky so we can safely go for a walk. This morning it was cold. Thirty one degrees. It was still dark and I carried a flashlight.
I had intentions to write every day but my will to write has withered and all I am left with are these lists. However, I do find solace in what G.K. Chesterton said: “The greatest poem is an inventory.”
Thus, I have written the greatest poem. An inventory of my everyday routines.
Here from a few days ago:
September 16
Up at 6:00
A walk with Freddy
Coffee with Susan
Bacon and Eggs for Breakfast
Vacuuming house
Food Shopping at Big Y
Susan working on shutters in garage
Susan picking up things in living room
Susan cleaning the bathroom
Ham Salad Sandwich for me, Salmon salad for Susan
Susan cutting my hair
Hummingbird at zinnias
Wine outside with Susan before dinner
Grilled Petite Sirloin and Broccoli Ramen Salad for Dinner
A walk with Freddy
Seeing a Pileated Woodpecker
Early to bed
These lists of my everyday life are, in fact, my gratitude journal, my 1000 gifts. I am grateful. I am very grateful. I have a smart and loving wife in Susan. Two smart and happy children. Two happy grandchildren. A beautiful home. My gifts, from photography to cooking to finding and sharing beauty.
Susan and I have seen our grandchildren once since early March when we celebrated my birthday. The quarantine has kept us all apart (and I have gained The Quarantine Fifteen. If not, 20!). But we did see them to drop off a present for Matthew’s birthday a few weeks ago, keeping somewhat socially distant and no hugging.
Susan and I have always spent a lot of time together and more so now than ever. We miss our volunteer work at a local elementary school and going out for dinner every so often. But I believe, if it is even possible, we grow even closer every day. God has certainly blessed us.
Now we are working together to paint our kitchen and re-wallpaper two walls.
(to be continued)
I believe I am making the world a better place with beautiful photography. If you are looking for beautiful portrait, nature, or documentary photography, or someone you know is looking for photography that helps to create a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.
Chicken Thighs with Fennel, Plums and Red Onion
Susan found this recipe for me.
Based on the following recipe from Melissa Clark of The New York Times. According to the newspaper:
“Beautiful to behold and easy to make, this sheet-pan dinner combines sweet plums and soft red onions with crisp-skinned pieces of roasted chicken. Toasted fennel seeds, red-pepper flakes and a touch of allspice add complexity while a mound of fresh torn herbs crowns the top. If good ripe plums aren’t available, you can substitute another stone fruit including peaches, nectarines or pluots, though if your fruit is very sweet, you might want to add a squeeze of lemon at the end. Serve this with rice pilaf, polenta or warm flatbread for a festive meal.”
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons fennel seeds
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon or orange zest
- 4 garlic cloves, finely grated
- 2 teaspoons honey
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- Large pinch red-pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1 chicken (about 3 1/2 pounds), cut into parts (I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs.)
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- 2 cups ripe, soft plums, pitted and cut into 3/4-inch thick slices
- 6 fresh thyme sprigs
- 1 medium red onion, peeled and sliced from root to stem in 1/2-inch wedges
- Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling
- ⅔ cup torn mint, basil or cilantro leaves (or a combination)
- Flaky sea salt, for serving
Preparation
- Toast the fennel seeds in a small skillet over medium heat, stirring, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Pour seeds into a mortar and pound with a pestle until coarsely crushed (or lay seeds on a cutting board and pound them with a can or jar).
- Put the seeds into a large bowl and stir in lemon juice, zest, garlic, honey, allspice and red-pepper flakes.
- Season chicken generously all over with salt and pepper and add to the bowl, turning the pieces to coat them with marinade. Mix in plums and thyme sprigs. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.
- When ready to cook, heat the oven to 425 degrees. Put the chicken pieces, plums, and thyme sprigs on a rimmed baking pan. Add onions, spreading them out around the chicken and plums. Season plums and onions lightly with salt. Drizzle everything with olive oil.
- Roast until chicken is golden and cooked through, 30 to 45 minutes, removing the white meat if it’s done before the dark meat.
- Transfer chicken pieces as they are done to a platter. Spoon the plums and onions around the chicken. Drizzle a little of the pan drippings over the chicken and serve, garnished with the herbs and flaky salt.
I served this with Israeli Couscous with parsley and mint.
I believe I am making the world a better place with beautiful photography. If you are looking for beautiful portrait, nature, or documentary photography, or someone you know is looking for photography that helps to create a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.
Honey Mustard Cilantro Baked Chicken Thighs with Veggies
This is based on a recipe from Joyful Healthy Eats. She called for using thyme which I have growing in my garden but it was raining cats and dogs and I had a bunch of cilantro in the fridge so I used that instead. A big plus; this is a one pan dish!
Ingredients
- 4 bone boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 1 1/2 cups cut green beans
- 1 medium sweet potato, diced
- 1/2 red onion, cut into quarters
- 1 red pepper, cut into cubes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- salt & pepper to season
Honey Mustard Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon course stone ground mustard
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/4 cup of fresh cilantro, chopped
- salt & pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- To a large bowl roasting pan add green beans, sweet potato, red onion, red pepper, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, salt and pepper. Toss to coat everything with seasoning.
- To a small bowl add course stone ground mustard, Dijon mustard, honey, apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, garlic clove, fresh cilantro, salt and pepper. Whisk to mix everything together.
- Pat chicken dry. Then season with salt and pepper on both sides. Using a pastry brush, evenly brush the the honey mustard mixture across all 4 chicken thighs.
- Place seasoned chicken thighs in roasting pan and spread veggies out around the chicken breasts. Be sure to put them in a single layer and not to crowd the pan.
- Place the roasting pan bake for 45 minutes. Stir veggies at 25 minutes.
- Serve.
Delicious!
I believe I am making the world a better place with beautiful photography. If you are looking for beautiful portrait, nature, or documentary photography, or someone you know is looking for photography that helps to create a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.
Asparagus And Potato Salad
As Susan was heading out the door on her way to buy Shetland Salmon and Shrimp, she called out to me and said “Bruce, while I am gone why don’t you make a potato salad to have with our salmon?”
I found a recipe online and adapted it to my liking.
Ingredients
- 7-10 small potatoes (We buy these at our local grocery store; brand name is The Little Potato Company.)
- 1 bunch of asparagus
- 2 Tbs minced red onion
- 2 Tbs minced parsley
- 1 large handful of walnuts, chopped
- 3-4 Tbs olive oil
- 2 Tbs red wine vinegar
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 1 large clove of garlic, minced
- 6-8 cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
- 1/2 cup roasted sweet red peppers, chopped
- Salt and Pepper
Instructions
- Cut off tough ends of asparagus and then slice asparagus into one inch pieces.
- Slice potatoes in quarters and place in a large pot. Cover with cold water and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat to a slow boil and cook for 12 to 15 minutes – until almost fork tender. Add asparagus and cook for 1-2 minutes more.
- Prepare vinaigrette by whisking together olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic and black pepper. Add onion, parsley, walnuts, tomatoes, and peppers.
- Drain the potatoes and asparagus when ready, add to a bowl, add the vinaigrette to the warm potatoes and asparagus. Toss to coat the potatoes.
We served this with Grilled Shetland Salmon. The Shrimp Cocktail we had while watching The Belmont Stakes.
I believe I am making the world a better place with beautiful photography. If you are looking for beautiful portrait, nature, or documentary photography, or someone you know is looking for photography that helps to create a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.
The Silent Joys Of Everyday Life
Sunday morning I photographed the weeping cheery tree. In the afternoon I travelled to Vienna, Austria. Budapest, Hungary. Top of South Island, New Zealand. The British Virgin Islands. I loved visiting Virgin Gorda and Anegada-Davida, also known as “Drowned Island” (It’s highest elevation is only 28 feet above sea level.) and “Conch Island.”
Last week I was in Qatar. The week before I was in Japan.
I love Japanese food and often make it for Susan. My children (And grandchildren!) love Tamago-Yaki.
I have also made Shrimp Sushi.
And Miso Haddock.
But when I was in Qatar (All these trips, by the way, on my couch watching documentaries on Create TV! My new way of life: I wake up at 5:30. Get dressed. Walk Freddy. Sit on the couch. Watch TV. Sometimes read. But not often enough. I have been fairly unmotivated during the Covid-19 Quarantine.) visiting a few Persian restaurants I said to myself “Bruce, I think you have never made Persian food.” So that night I made Kotlet which is a Persian Meat Pattie (ground beef, lamb or turkey with grated potato, grated onion and turmeric). I served this with Persian rice and Baked Spring Rolls (Not Persian) stuffed with ground turkey, veggies, and chopped peanuts. Both the spring rolls and Kotlet I served with a spicy peanut soy sauce. Delicious!
I am sitting at my desk now–not on the couch watching TV. I look out the window at my garden and see a large root that needs to be cut and removed.
And I dream of the garden in bloom later this summer. I am working on having eyes to the future. My garden planted and thriving. Tomatoes. Peppers. Basil. Lettuce. Zinnias. Thriving in the same way I pray our world comes back to life.
Recently a Cardinal was at the feeder in the garden.
I am occasionally working on my cookbook.
Someone asked me for my Chicken Parm recipe when she saw the photo on Facebook. I said buy the cookbook when it is published.
Susan and I busy ourselves working on jigsaw puzzles, a new-found hobby as it has become for many people around the world. We have completed two puzzles, each taking three to four weeks.
We celebrate the silent joys of everyday life.
Dinner. This was a plate of Roasted Miso Chicken (Japanese, again), Mashed Potatoes, Brussels Sprouts, Cranberry Sauce.
A Robin’s nest and eggs in a wreath on our front door.
New wine glasses.
And what good are new wine glasses without bottles of wine!
We bake bread.
We give thanks every morning we are alive and together to see another sunrise, another day.
We laugh at the sign-of-the-times at a nearby restaurant.
We have a tree removed from our yard.
Seems like ages ago we sat outside and enjoyed a glass of wine on one of the few plesant days during the past six weeks of quarantine. We grilled a steak for dinner, too–the first of the year.
It was around this time (March 11) schools were closed and our volunteering in the 4th grade here in town came to an end. We miss these children.
And no one came over for Easter. Baseball season never started. The greenhouse didn’t open. No markers of time. It is difficult to remember what day of the week it is. Today is Monday. Yesterday was Sunday. I know this to be true. The Sunday New York Times arrived early in the morning. We work on the crossword together. What is 119 across; “Like the entire 290-page Georges Perec novel “A Void,” curiously enough?” Rituals get us through the day. Coffee and toast. Cleaning the house. Walking Freddy. If someone comes down the street we keep a wise social distance. When we go out to the grocery store we wear our masks. We try not to touch our faces. We wash our hands. Again and again.
Who knows. We might become vegetarians. We might. I don’t know. I don’t mind. We have a few wonderful vegetarian cookbooks. I have always wanted to make a Black Bean Burger. A few weeks ago I made a Beet Burger. Yum! And the Lentil Caciatore I made a few weeks ago was delicious.
But just a few days ago Susan asked me to make Italian Wedding Soup with tiny turkey meatballs. And I did. And it, too, was delicious.
Do you know that the tiniest birds make the most beautiful songs?
I believe I am making the world a better place with beautiful photography. If you are looking for beautiful portrait, nature, or documentary photography, or someone you know is looking for photography that helps to create a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.
Spicy Moroccan Chickpea, Sweet Potato Stew
Not too long ago, Susan returned from the grocery store with what seemed like dozens of cans of Chick Peas. What, I thought, am I going to do with all these cans of chick peas? I often make Hummus but what else could I create. Salads? Soups?
I found many soup recipes online and was inspired by this one, “20-Minute Moroccan Chickpea Soup.” I note my changes and additions below.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small white onion, peeled and diced (I used a Vidalia Onion.)
- 1 stalk celery, chopped (My addition.)
- 1 large carrot, peeled and diced
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced (I used 2.)
- 4 cups vegetable stock (I used 8 cups Homemade Chicken Stock. 4 didn’t seems like enough.)
- 2 (15-ounce) cans chickpeas (a.k.a. garbanzo beans), rinsed and drained (I used 1 can.)
- 1 (15-ounce) can fire-roasted diced tomatoes (I don’t like fire-roasted. I used regular diced tomatoes.)
- 1 sweet potato, chopped into bit-size pieces (My addition.)
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste (I used paste from a tube.)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin (I used 1 tablespoon. We love cumin!)
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- pinch of crushed red pepper flakes, to taste (I used at least 1/4+ teaspoon!)
- Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
- 3 cups roughly-chopped kale leaves or baby spinach (I used 7+ ounces Collard Greens—we love them!)
- 2 cups cooked chicken (My addition. I had this in fridge as I roasted a chicken the night before–and then made the stock.)
- chopped fresh cilantro and fresh lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add onioncelery and carrot and sauté for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and translucent. (To save time, mince the garlic while the onion is cooking.) Then add garlic and saute for 1 more minute, stirring occasionally, until fragrant. Add in the stock, chickpeas, tomatoes, tomato paste, sweet potato, cumin, cinnamon, and red pepper flakes, and bring to a simmer. (While the soup is coming to a simmer, chop the kale/collard greens and cilantro, and slice the lemon wedges.)
- Reduce heat to medium-low, and stir in the chopped kale/collard greens. Continue simmering for 3 minutes until the kale has slightly softened. Note: The collard green take 20-30 minutes to cook!
- Taste and season with your desired amount of salt and pepper. (I used a generous pinch of each.)
- Serve warm, garnished with fresh cilantro and served with a fresh lemon wedge.
~~~
I believe I am making the world a better place with beautiful photography. If you are looking for beautiful portrait, nature, or documentary photography, or someone you know is looking for photography that helps to create a more artful and beautiful life, please contact me.
