Chicken Tetrazzini

A horrid event occurred in my life seven days after my last post here. Explosions of pain, suffering, grief. Waves of soul-wounding darkness, followed by a completely unrelated storm that crashed soon after. A person hunkers down into survival mode. Hunkered and surviving is where I've been since July of 2010, slowly finding the courage to come out of the fox hole, to capture life again, and then, to live.

Much has happened to me because of events over which I had no control. Strength has been discovered, and fear. Jolts of reality, disillusionment, discouragement, and mistrust have forced self-evaluation, decisions, forgiveness, priority. During the recovery and healing process I wondered if I'd ever feel like 'me' again? Would my smile return, my laugh, my love of writing, my joy of foods and cooking?

Slowly all have returned, better and brighter than before. Like a beautiful gem I've found that the fierce rubbing of my heart has brought out the shine.

Family meals, once taken for granted, are now joyous celebrations, each and every one. Flowers, candles, laughter, lovely dishes, and perfect food. It's true that appreciation grows deeper once a thing is nearly lost.

I'm back. Heart and soul healed. Any moment a threatening crisis can intrude, crashing, crumbling beauty, washing it away. But only for a time. Beauty remains in the heart. It burns always, triumphantly, though sometimes imperceptively. Survivors fight for beauty, for life, for peace, for restoration, for love.

And sometimes seven months after a storm they make a Chicken Tetrazzini for their family, with love. And in the serving, savoring, and lingering there is a moment, a magical, special correcting moment, recognized. The last remnants of pain completely dissipate. Months-long heartache is set free. It floats away on the laughter, the moans of ecstasy over the experience of deliciousness. In that space there is the realization that the long dark trek is over; the light has been reached. Time heals wounds. Love conquers all. And beautiful food exploding with flavor, texture, and color comforts, confirms, assures. Releases. Restores a hurting family into a happy family once again.

The desire to tackle a new recipe for my family's joy has proven to me that my heart has mended. It is able to express its cherishing, is brave enough to expose vulnerability again, to risk failure. Deep, deep relief and appreciation to the One who never lets me go.

'The storm has passed, family. We are strong. We made it. Eat, drink, be merry. Where there is love there is a Way through and out and into the arms of the One who reconciles masterfully. We are here. We are here...together. L'Chaim! To Life!'

Click here for Giada De Laurentiis' Chicken Tetrazzini recipe.

Divine Aroma

On Sunday, the house smelled divine for almost three hours over this....

I didn't take any pictures of the finished product. This is London Broil, cooked with my fresh rosemary, sage, and oregano, plus onions, garlic, beef stock, and red wine. After snapping this picture, I simmered this lovely food for almost three hours.

Served with roasted Gold Yukon potatoes herbed with parsley, plus cantaloupe and blueberries, fresh-picked garden greens, and a lovely sauce made from pan drippings this meal served to family and a friend was savored unphotographed.

And thoroughly enjoyed with happy conversation, smiles, and satisfaction.

I LOVE to cook.

Bouef or Beef

Today I discovered the downside to progressing as an amateur chef.

For 30 years Tom has loved my beef stew. When the beef and onions browned he'd get a whiff and enter the kitchen. Garlic hitting the oil in the pan would set him to kissing and hugging me. Fresh herb perfume made waiting for the meal torture. It's been one of his favorite dishes for three decades.

Then, a few months ago, I made Julia Child's Bouef Bourguinon. Bouef Bourguinon is the stew that is served by angels in Heaven, I'm pretty sure of that. It's divine. Yes, yes it is.....

...long pause while I stop to recall the aroma, the flavor, the texture.....sigh....

Okay, back to today. As I prepared my good ol' stew the usual wonderful fragrance wafted as the meat browned and gave off its flavor. From outside where he and Joe were working on a car, Tom entered the kitchen gleefully looking into the steaming pot. "Oh boy! This smells great!" Kiss. Hug around the waist. Back to the pot.

And here is the killer line: "Is this Bouef Bourguinon?" Long pause as he sniffs and smiles. "Or just stew?"

Or. Just. Stew.


Hmmmm.

I answered, "It's just stew," but my tone let him know a major faux pas had occurred in Tommy Land.

Still I laughed. It's good to know my improving skills create exuberant responses. I wouldn't want to be boring nor would I want my cooking to be same-old, same-old for Tom's and my entire Marriage Journey.

Tonight, it's just beef stew.

With wine added as a tribute to Julia.

I'll call it Bouef Stew.

Why not?

Kindred

From his heart he said to me, "Food is art, I am inspired by it. In it I find expression."

"Yes. YES!" I said, nearly dropping my little cup of water there in the crowded, noisy reception area.

I wanted to kiss him on his smooth cheek. That would have been awkward.

Instead I smiled and enthusiastically shared my understanding of his sentiments.

It was enough.

Hope in the next generation.

Thrilled by the discovery of another person who understands food and its preparation to be more than mere fuel but life and beauty.

Heartening indeed.

Still smiling this afternoon as I realize that neither of us sipped the foamy, pink 'punch' nor stabbed at paper-plated, sickly-sweet, store-bought cake.

Roasted Chicken and Salad

This chicken had its backbone and thigh bones cut out. Garlic, rosemary, thyme, and sage were stuffed into the cavity and placed here and there. An oil massage came next. Lime was squirted over all. Salt, smokey paprika, and pepper cracked on top. Red potatoes boiled for eight minutes and fluffed in the pan nestled beside the bird. All was cooked tented in foil at 450º for 20 minutes, then 450º untented for 25 min. more. The meat was juicy and perfectly cooked. The potatoes crispy with caramelization on the outside, fluffy within.


Nothing like a fresh salad to balance out seasoned poultry and red potatoes. The dressing is simply extra virgin olive oil with a bit of honey-balsamic vinegar and a little kosher salt. Poured over the salad it lightly coated the crispy veggies and offered exciting flavor.

An easy family meal that satisfies and carries leftovers for tomorrow's lunch box.

Mangi!

200 Flavors of Old Fashioned Soda Pop

We didn't try 200 hundred flavors of Old Fashioned Soda Pop in the Seaside ice cream parlour but we sampled three. Mmmmm. Normally my family and I avoid soda of any kind but we were on vacation, we were curious, and the beverages were top quality.

Sometimes you just roll with life and don't ask questions.

Girl Getaway

Daughters and I relaxed a long way from home over Memorial Day weekend. Loving Tom blessed our leave-taking knowing we were about to collapse from a too-hectic triple of months. Not wanting to eat out as we desired good food whose ingredients were known we cooked our meals inside our suite. On our last night we gathered together what we had on hand and made this meal.


Salad with Tomato/Cucumber/Orange/Scallion Vinaigrette. Lemon Garlic Chicken with Asparagus and a Blueberry Reduction. We'd been eating blueberries and cream for breakfast and had a large amount leftover, thus the reduction which added a remarkably wonderful flavor to the chicken. The asparagus was locally grown brought from home and also in abundance in our hotel suite. For lemon flavoring we used Newman's Own Lemonade that was needing to be consumed. The chicken we bought at the beach along with the garlic bulb and chocolate. What fun to put it all together!


Sparkling cider for our beverage and Green and Black's chocolate eaten for dessert later on while we watched surfers from our balcony.

We barely talked on the trip from valley to shore. Even our first day was surprisingly quiet for us. Our minds were just over-full. It happens, especially this time of year. Graduation, testing, guests guests and more guests, redecorating, parties, school, work, aging parents, flat tires, rain that will not quit.

But after four days of beautiful food, fresh sea air, walks on the sand, and playing along the Boardwalk we found our Vitality Restored.

Perfect Girl Getaway!