It's the Little Big Things

I'm not sure what is put into the laying feed I buy here on Culebra, because it comes in unmarked bags from...somewhere. All I know is, the stuff is magic. And it's hard to find. But, after many trips I finally found it at the woefully understocked ag store here, and I am thankful. The hens love it and went from one or two eggs to 4 a day now and I'm hoping for more.

Why my chickens have dirty water

It's not like they don't have lots of places to play but Queen of the Waterer is a fine, fine game. I think if this happened in offices around the water coolers, life might be more interesting.

The man who has taken over the place next door to me, a place that was rampant with wild things, cleared it off almost completely while I was away. Yes, the view is better. Yes, I get it. No, I don't like it, that naked earth. But he did save a few trees that were really trees; right now they are in fall mode, which is really more like, there's not been any real rain mode. When the rain finally comes (when, not if), I'm hoping for more green, but in the meantime? I'm grateful for the trees.

I saw a pretty funny thing online the other day. JetBlue is having a contest in which the winner can choose to leave the country free if his or her presidential candidate loses in November. Of course, you can come back if you like. I'd love to have statistics of how many people of either party will actually follow through on their promise to leave the country if the 'other' guy wins. But there you go, an unbiased chance to hit another island and/or another life if at the end of the day, you are rending your clothing due to the election. Plus, I really, really, really like JetBlue. You can tell them I said so.

Have a weighty Wednesday! Do something without whispering.

Free Range Friday...sort of

One of the beautiful flowering weeds in my yard

The other day I mentioned I'd been given two chickens. Hopes and dreams rested on their beautiful feathery backs. When would the day come that I'd find a big, brown, gorgeous egg, the beginning of many? When could I post, in all its glory, that same egg, first in the shell and then on the plate? Shockingly, it was the next day. There it was. Oops. Not big, barely tan. In fact, tiny, miniature, petite -  any adjective for really little egg - and this one was it. It's so small...well, ok, you have the idea. So from owner of said chickens, I am now the foster mom. They will, when their new home is ready, go back to the giver, who doesn't care how big or how brown the eggs are, she's just in love with these two. So goes my second venture in the chicken and egg world. I don't know which came first, but I know which is going first! I know, I should cook it and let it be a Free Range Friday recipe, but, I just can't yet. Yet.

If I DID have a few big, brown organic eggs (which I will, if I want them badly enough, those chickens are going to show up!), I'd make this, because I've been craving it madly since the calendar flipped to December. Around here, the equivalent holiday drink is coquito, which I enjoy a lot, but I'd still really like some eggnog!

Eggnog 

6 eggs
3 cups whole milk
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon grated nutmeg (a microplane or zester works for grating fresh nutmeg)
1 cup (more or less, to your taste) bourbon or brandy or rum or mix 'em up, it's your eggnog!

Whisk (or use a mixer on a low speed) the eggs, egg yolks, sugar, and salt in a large pan until well-blended. Keep on whisking while you slowly pour in the milk until it is completely mixed-in. Next, set the pan on your stove's burner on the lowest setting. Continue to whisk ingredients until they coat the underside of a spoon and all the sugar is dissolved.

Remove the mixture from heat and, if needed, strain it into a large-sized bowl, making sure to get out any pieces of cooked egg. Now stir in the bourbon, vanilla, and nutmeg. Refrigerate the mix for at least 4 hours. Whip the cream and add it to the chilled mix. Buen provecho!

Makes  about 14 servings, depending on your glass size.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I've mentioned that the weather here has been spectacular, and that is continuing. I can't say how many times I'm working with friends and we look up and out at the sea and just stop to gape at what is in front of our eyes. The colors, the breezes (even the breezes that spatter paint all over me), the temperature. Oh my!

These are dawnings from the past couple of mornings, which probably put the following song in my head.

I don't have a single human partner to sing this to, but I do have a whole island that makes me feel this way pretty much every day. I'm so lucky!

Have a faithful Friday. Do something flagrantly fabulous.

Some more before

I wrote the other day about being in New Zealand for Kylie Kwong's restaurant for her combo Valentine's / Chinese New Year dinner. In case you couldn't get reservations in time but still wanted to celebrate in such a fashion, Jaden of Steamy Kitchen has offered a menu solution. And from Carroll Pellegrinelli at about.com comes a simple, sexy and elegant dessert, just light enough to follow those several courses earilier. Or you could make a pb & j picnic and have it on the beach, with chocolate milk chasers.

Since my home is too little to be able to re-arrange the furniture much, I take my urge to change things out in the gardens. Yesterday, one of the most beautiful days in the year (again), I spent a fair amount of time, on and off, doing just that. Container pots got moved around, old plants pulled, soil readied for new seeds that have yet to arrive. A tidying up, if you will. I had bigger plans for the day but the pleaure of playing with dirt overcame most of them. Plus, I went to meet Susie's sister, who is on island for a couple of days. Similar and of course, not, it was great to meet her. We are surrounded by a culture that holds family dear, but for many of us, family is far away and rarely met, so it's always good to meet a friend's family from 'out there'; and Carol is no exception. I think she'll be back sooner than later. All in all, a good and satisfying day off.

 Cheep and Chirp, growing up

This is the time of year that so much in the garden looks rusty to me. What a good surprise to find that the orchid I thought would bloom last month was saving up for a triple now

Another one of the 'lost' photos that reminds me of why I love Culebra...

Have a wickedly fine Wednesday. Do something wistly.

Free Range Friday

The universe seems to be conspiring (it had all night to plan) to lure my mind onto food strewn paths. First it was my brother, sending me a link to an online Asian food grocer. Then I got my daily Food Porn email with Pacific oysters on the half shell in all too glorious living color, then an update from Closet Cooking about a kimchee and egg salad sandwich.

Something you won't find in any Culebra market

Luckily, it's way too early for me to start drooling over any kind of food. Later in the day I'd have to make something to eat right NOW and of course, it wouldn't come close to any of these things. Since I don't truly believe in coincidences (way too easy, these things must have some deeper meaning if I just worry it like that last bit of meat on the bone), I'm looking at making something from the Farther East today. Let's see if the veggie guy can help me out as the larder, though not close to bare, leaves out a few simple things that would work for a meal. How can I not have chicken around? Even though yesterday in Milka's the butcher looked at me and held up two lovely chicken breasts (I thought we were flirting).

Yesterday was a big adventure in Chicken Land, speaking of same. These with the feathers though. I realized something was wrong with all the cheep cheeping and found that Mama had dug a hole on the side of the coop and one chick had hit the road, to his regret. I understood the feeling oh so well...we chased each other around the coop awhile, the back full of snaggy thorny sharp things so don't ask about the scratches.

La MJ gets the next round

 I made the hole bigger and tried to trick him into using it. No dice. Even CWIM got in on the act, though her intentions were not quite honorable, I'm afraid. Finally I remembered the bird netting some chicks got caught in a while back and ripped off a piece. In seconds I had a frantic chick looking like a pelican caught in an abandoned fish net, except the chick was being rescued, not doomed. I got the hole covered back up and the chick out of the netting. It raced up the limb to where Mama and its sibling were tucked into a nest (by now it was dusk). He hopped in and ran under her wing, his head poking out through the feathers, a masterpiece of cuteness that made it all worth doing. Sort of.

Stay tuned for whatever the day brings, life and food wise. It's Culebra, where anything can happen and occasionally does.

Day Off

Well, the actual day isn't off, but I am. I guess that's not a true surprise...

I'm going to spend the day with the garden and chickens, both of whom need a bit of attention. This might be the day Mama and chicks get separated...there sure is a lot of curiousity going on with the chickens who have been hanging out here for almost a year. These are the ones who played in the coop when they were babies. Well, except for the rooster, who looks like a player to me.

No...not interested, just strolling by

Yes, I'm pretty sure he's looking at her butt

 

Ok, I'm interested....what's going ON in there??

 

 I figure I should take care of these things before they blow away. Laurie *weather eyes* sent me this early, from the San Juan weather report:

SYNOPSIS...AT UPPER LEVELS...RIDGING OUT OF NORTHERN SOUTH
AMERICA WILL DOMINATE THE EASTERN AND CENTRAL CARIBBEAN THROUGH
NEXT WEEK. WINDS IN EXCESS OF 50 KNOTS ARE EXPECTED MONDAY AND
TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK.

(stock photo)

 Now make sure you note it says NEXT WEEK. I'll believe it when the walls shake. 

 And last but far from least, here is a little guessing game for you to ponder. 

 This photo was taken in 1976. Can you guess who it is?

 Have a tromping Tuesday. Do something triumphant!

What I really cooked

Thinking that I might never see leeks on Culebra again, it was hard to decide what to do with them, so many recipes looked excellent and delicious. But this one seemed to be exactly what I wanted, with a few additions of my own.



Pan Roasted Leeks & Chicken (basic recipe is taken from foodandwine.com - recipe by Nancy Harmon Jenkins)

Ingredients

1. 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2. 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3. 10 medium leeks (3 pounds)—trimmed, slit and rinsed (I used two leeks)
   
4. Salt and freshly ground pepper
5. One 4-pound chicken, cut into 8 pieces (I used leftover chicken, maybe 1 pound worth)
   
6. 3 rosemary sprigs, halved
7. *
   

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 450°. Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in 1 tablespoon of the oil in a skillet. Add the leeks; cook over moderately high heat, turning, until browned in spots, 6 minutes. Transfer to a 9-by-13-inch baking dish, season with salt and pepper and roast for 10 minutes, or until beginning to soften.
2. Wipe out the skillet. Melt the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter in the remaining 1 tablespoon of oil. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Add the chicken and rosemary to the skillet; cook over moderate heat until browned, about 10 minutes. Set the chicken on the leeks, skin side up, add the rosemary and roast for about 20 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and the leeks are very tender. Serve hot.

* I added sauteed crimini mushrooms & diced red and green hot peppers as well as cherry tomatoes. I used 1 tablespoon less butter and olive oil and added marsala wine, along with leftover rotisseried chicken with the most of the skin removed.



And wa la...a dinner that will be way too much food for one meal, (with the altered amounts I used), so it will be dinner, lunch and munch. It would work overly well for two, and if rice was added - I'd go with yellow rice, for the color as well as the taste - you could serve 3 or 4. Really.

Buen provecho!

I love this day

Today started early, after the waking up/watering garden bits. I went to town to check on the progress of the road crew and it was as I'd thought, they rounded the corner and I would not be opening. But there were plenty of errands to run. Unfortunately, I was at least 30 minutes away from any of them happening. So I had a coffee at Dinghy Dock and turned in my tee shirt request. When that was done, I headed to the gas station to ask if any of the local honey was in, because that is where one used to pick up local honey...don't ask me why, ok? But I was directed to a house up the road instead, which I put on my list for 'heading back home'.

I wanted to laminate my Last Virgin Baked Goods sign that Bets convinced me I needed to make (and gave me her nod of approval, so I know it's okay), but Nadine wasn't in yet. Excetera has a couple of chairs on the porch so I sat down and did what anyone does without a book...decided to clean out my wallet. Soon Nadine was laminating away. One errand DONE. I got a few others done and headed out, intent on finding the honey guy. A friend of mine stopped and asked if I wanted a ride and I said, thanks no, I need to find the honey guy, and she said (this is SOOOOOO Culebra), I'm looking for the honey guy too, do you know where he is? Well, yes I did! And, she's fluent in Spanish, so it was serendipity. Except, there was no honey (meil) yet. The woman took our phone numbers and asked if I spoke Spanish. I said, just say Meil, I 'll knowl

I got home and got busy in the gardens, spaced out on blooms, transplanting, joy. The phone rings and a woman says, Meil...and I think, Christ, another wrong number, who the hell is Meil? and then the penny dropped. I asked how much and headed out. By the time I got there, two people had stopped me and asked if I'd pick up some for them too, but she only had two bottles. She'll call me tomorrow about more. Maybe this time I'll catch it the first listening.

After a walk to Genesis for oatmeal (it's supposed to be rolled oats but...this is Culebra, so it was quick oats, and yes, I tried all three stores, so hush) I decided it was cool enough to start making the guava cream cheese bars. They are kind of fun to make, using guava paste. My father, living for years in Havana with his family, used to make us a simple Cuban dessert using guava paste, cream cheese and a cracker whose name is eluding me right now (you can tell me, I know someone knows), but its sort of bowl shaped and rather bland, but perfect for guava paste and cream cheese. I'd not used guava paste for anything else. As soon as they cool, I'll taste and see if they are something I want to sell. Since I doubt the cart will be open tomorrow and I don't like selling something not seriously fresh, if they are any good I'll take them to some friends and let them give me opinions. Everybody's happy.

Benny didn't make it by to finish the chicken coop, which I wasn't really expecting anyway...so here it sits, with the new wire waiting. I was chasing chickens out of my garden this afternoon when I heard my landlord, who'd come in the yard to fool with his boat, call out, 'Put them in a cage!' It was a mama and babies and he was right, it would have been perfect...alas.

New orchid blooms

Herbs going into flower power

First hot pepper off of my friend (from Florida) Chris's seeds...yippee!!!! It's about a baby fingernail long.

Life is weird here, and I like it.

How 'bout that Bruce?

Following a long held tradition, my friend Linda and I went to Dinghy Dock for Super Bowl this past Sunday. We don't really care at all about football, but we do love the commercials and usually whoever is doing half-time (usually). Plus, Neil just makes it a very fun party, with raffles and good food and his own pretty spectacular personality. In six years, I've never had less than a great time and this year was the same. AND, I won a Dinghy Dock tee shirt!
I didn't bring my camera, on purpose, which of course I now semi-regret. But as I am usually taking photos, it is easy to become a bit more of an observer than I want to be. So next year I'll bring you all with me to Super Bowl at Dinghy Dock visually.

Today is/will be about my yard, which I never get tired of playing in (though I could use a swing set). Hint photo above. Right now there is a horse tied in my yard. I have no idea who it belongs to, but I re-filled its knocked over bucket of water and he seemed glad, slurping away as the hose blasted in water. I wonder if he'll still be here when I get home?

But, because my brother is my best friend and he keeps on about me doing something on my tiny spaces, I'll start with this and finish up later today with the yard. This is what a tiny kitchen looks like after bottling hot sauce, waxing bottle tops and baking muffins, all at the same time, which I usually don't do but this just sort of happened...as things do around here. Is this what you had in mind, bro?



Part Dos

I'm so excited!!! Our resident computer guru came by and figured out how to make me wireless. I had the fast bit but not wireless (or I didn't know I had it) and so now I'm typing this from out in the gazebo, my real living room. Very thrilling. I could actually watch a movie laying in the hammock...(oh, it's the little things).

So it seems quite appropriate that the finish of today's post would be about the yard. The yard, as mentioned, is usually my living room. It can also be my dining room and occasionally my sleeping porch. All of this takes place under the rather more grandly named than it looks gazebo. It's yet another of the projects not quite into the complete gel stage, but it works fine for all of that.



Of course, it will also soon be my barnyard, as sort of kind of maybe promised today. Finishing things on Culebra is sort of like chasing after the Golden Fleece. Lots of interesting events happen along the way, but to actually get to the end of the course is quite another thing. Rather like the other gazebo structure that I decided today would become a greenhouse and outdoor kitchen in due time, rather than the living area/guest space I was originally going for. After checking out a friend's plants I'm anxious to spread out and why not do it there where the sun is brightly shining? There is nothing like seeing your own and others gardens producing crops to make a gardener's fingers itch for more. Like gambling, raising children or farming, it's all a risk, but oh when it turns out well, what good fun! And if it doesn't you can just try again...well, not especially advised with children, though I've wished for a possible re-do more than once or twice.

I think tomorrow the cart will be closed while very noisy big machines work too close by for my aural sanity. I can be home making hot sauce, which I need to do desperately (along with an experimental baking session trying out a recipe for guava bars), so everything works out. I can also be playing in the yard...and blogging at the same time...or not. If there is a man in my yard with semi-noisy machines finishing the chicken coop, I'll be inside. Oh please!!! Come make a joyful noise!

A hummingbird quivers a foot away from me while water sounds slip and slap gently against dock and boats. No doubt if I left this computer on the table for long, a lizard would come and baptize it, as the horse, who is still tied in the front yard, so helpfully did. While the front yard (which is really, to me, the back yard) isn't a place I spend much time, the horse seems happy. Now, if I could just get him to move the fertilizer...


Last minute addition, because I never know what I'm going to find in my yard (these two showed up with the daughter of the guy who owns the horse) ...but I think you ought to know some of my fertilizer options...aren't they pretty? I want some!