First observation: it is amazing how creative you can get when you are 9 mountains "up in the air" and away from civilization and the time comes to think about dinner ... cue the music "do I stay or do I go now..." Having lived in NYC - the epi-center of delivery of ALL THINGS ... or in 22207 or Buenos Aires... the ease of which grocery stores, specialty stores and going and "grabbing" such items is a luxury. On the flip side - I just cannot bring myself to be like my Mum (in many ways I strive to be) and be a "master of the freezer."
2nd observation: it is AMAZING what you find in your freezer - things that you have not put there. I'm not sure if Jules (aka Mum) was having a clean out her freezer day or not, but at times I just shake my head and go WTF is some of this.
3rd observation: I need another trash can after such findings. Dumpster run tomorrow - it will be the highlight of my day.
4th observation: ohhhh - look... some frozen shrimp. Now - this shrimp I know I bought so whatever else is in my house that I can use to complement. It's allllll about the shrimp.
5th observation: about this time - I'll take about anything. Note to self: do not get that hungry before cooking as it is bound to test the last nerve you might have - particularly after lacking serious sleep this week. Damn you markets and clients... oh wait - you are one of the reasons I am able to be in the mountains blogging to my hearts content. Never mind - THANK YOU.
6th observation: the internet is AMAZE-BALLS when it comes to throwing in names of things you do have and presto-magic.. various renditions and recipes. And yes - I still type www. I'm so "old school" ... but also, because of that - I did graduate from college "pre-internet" days. A beautiful thing of knowing the Dewey Decimal system and plagarism. Kidding, yet.....
7th observation: one should always have: garlic, various fresh herbs (it's summer so have the staples: cilantro, thyme, rosemary and tarragon), lemon juice, lime juice, salt, pepper, hot sauce, vegetables - avocados, tomatoes (did I just type that), cucumbers, red peppers, shallots, red onion, white onion and the list goes on. Forget flour and sugar ... this is not the Betty Crocker show.
8th observation: it is time to go stock up on some wine. Good thing the Pend Orielle Winery festival starts tomorrow.
So with all that (and the 9th observation being I really, really do not like rain - it's like a special kind of dislike ..) -- tonight's supper creation out of desperation:
Frozen shrimp - unless you are tres cool (and thus, I am envious) and there is a little fish market just right outside your home (sigh... oh Buenos Aires).
Run under cold water - take off "coat and tails"
Boil in water for 2.2 - or in this case 1-2 minutes. Drain.
Equal parts lime juice, lemon juice - mixed together.
Put all together in ziplock bag and throw 'er in the fridge for 30 minutes. Have a glass of wine and repeatedly question why Mother Nature is acting like a woman scorned. Get over it already.
Take red onion (suit your taste on this one - I used 1/2) - chop, chop, chop. Add to ziploc bag. Throw bag in the fridge (sealed of course... unless, you need something else to clean as a distraction or to feel like you are accomplishing something for the day). 30 more minutes ... try to rationalize with Mother Nature... maybe it's menopause... hot-cold.... hot-cold ....
Take a bowl (can use the one you mixed the lemon / lime juice in) - cut up 1 cucumber (I peel mine and then go with big chunks), 1 avocado, and chop handful of cilantro (this is when I was asking myself why I did not have Patron and subsequently, a nice margarita in my hand... put that on the list). Mix all together.
Take out the magic Ziplock bag and pour into the bowl ... add salt and pepper to taste. I threw in a bit of hot sauce to give it a little kick. Let it sort of soak it all in / mix / re-fridge ... and go contemplate the stupidity of people (like .... the now former Congressman idiot from NYC - I just cannot bring myself to type the name) ... or check out the latest celebrity gossip on Perez Hilton.
And "viola ... breakfast is served" (okay - classic quote from 16 Candles... but it's a bit more than a box of donuts).
The result? Not too shabby... but I am still going with the motto of "go fresh, or go home...."
Observation 10: I really need to step up my food shopping game for mountain sustenance.
Finally - I did not chew off my hand in hunger and this missive comes to you from a two-handed typist. Thrilling isn't it gentle reader?
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