Dia part 3

I pulled myself out of holiday mode because today is full, of the fun variety and the mundane...watering/chicks/cat done! Gathering laundry, check! Veggie stand, mission accomplished!

There is still something to do though, because for some reason, Chick Chick has gone broody on me, which makes no sense because Mr. Rooster has never, to my knowledge, been inside the coop to fertilize any of her eggs. I hope. So later I'll put on some leather gloves to avoid her displeasure and try moving her off the nest...


Now it is on to the rest of the day. But first, some loose end tidying up. Remember that boom and shake on Monday? Seems they are working on the East end of Vieques, detonating bombs and due to some weird acoustics, we heard and felt it over here, even though on Vieques, no one I could find heard or felt a thing. So, that question is answered.

And remember that really nice rain we had the other day? Everything in my yard has responded with growth spurts, which of course just makes me long for more rain.



I was listening to this woman on the radio out of St. Thomas this morning - she was wondering what is this haze?? She heard it was a 'wet mass' stuck over the islands...others are saying it's Sahara dust coming over early. Here's what the National Weather Service out of San Juan says...

COASTAL WATERS FORECAST...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JUAN PR
416 AM AST FRI APR 30 2010

PUERTO RICO AND U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS WATERS

AMZ700-302130-
416 AM AST FRI APR 30 2010

.SYNOPSIS FOR PUERTO RICO AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS WATERS...
SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE NORTH OF PUERTO RICO WILL BUILD UNTIL
MONDAY. A COLD FRONT WILL SAG SOUTH INTO THE ATLANTIC WATERS AND
THE LOCAL PASSAGES SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. SKIES WILL REMAIN HAZY
AT LEAST THROUGH TONIGHT.

I think we're all ready for some blue skies and a lifting of this humid heat. C'mon, cold front!


Speaking of cold fronts...today's Free Range Friday is going to
range very far...in a nod to some wonderful photographs Laurie
has posted on the fiddleheads of Spring in Maine. We don't get
fiddleheads here but I've had them before and they are a
wonderful seasonal treat.
So this recipe, taken from Closet Cooking, is for you, Laurie! And
the rest of you fiddleheads (which is sort of like being a chilihead,
but with a lot shorter playing time). If you can't get fiddleheads,
use your imagination! It's still a great recipe.

photo credit: Laurie Knowlton




Fiddlehead Shrimp Scampi from Closet Cooking (check out the whole post, it's good!)

(makes 2 servings)

Ingredients:
1/2 pound fiddleheads (trimmed and well cleaned)
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoon butter
1 pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
2 wild leeks/ramps (chopped, or garlic)
1/4 preserved lemon peel (chopped)
1/2 pound shrimp (shelled and deveined)
1/4 cup white wine (optional)
1 lemon (juice and zest)
1/2 pound linguine (cooked)
1 tablespoon parsley (chopped, optional)
parmigiano reggiano to taste (grated, optional)

Directions:
1. Cook the fiddleheads in boiling water for 3 minutes, drain and set aside.
2. Heat the oil and melt the butter in a pan.
3. Add the chili flakes, wild leeks and preserved lemons and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute.
4. Add the fiddleheads and shrimp and saute until the fiddle heads are bright green and the shrimp is cooked, about 1-3 minutes per side and set aside.
5. Add the wine and lemon juice and deglaze the pan.
6. Simmer until the liquid is reduced by half, about 3-5 minutes.
7. Add the fiddleheads, shrimp, pasta and parsley and toss to coat.

Enjoy!

Last but not least, here is a photo I didn't post yesterday for a faithful reader, someone
who encourages me with the blog all the time. Thanks!!

 Surprise!!

Have the fairest of Fridays! Do something far-reaching!