Monday, June 29, 2015

Jerk Seasoning Two Ways - Recipe #92



Several years ago, my friend Kim made a New Year's Resolution to make a new recipe each month. This is particularly a big deal because her husband Phil loves to cook so he is the primary meal-maker in the house. I believe this is one of the recipes from those days (based on the handwriting, which I believe is hers, as well as my recollection that jerk chicken was one of her ¨challenge¨ recipes).

As the temperature remains high for native Seattleites like myself, I continue to seek out stove-top recipes. This fit the bill perfectly with enough seasoning to still have some leftover after using it both with chicken, served with black beans, and tofu and vegetables over rice. Both were delicious. While Trent had a slight preference for the chicken (as in general he likes it better than tofu), he was a fan of the addition of my CSA vegetables: carrots, onions and mushrooms.


Jerk chicken

Jerk Seasoning
  • 2 T dried minced onion
  • 2 1/2 t thyme
  • 1/2 t cinnamon
  • 2 t allspice
  • 2 t ground black pepper
  • 1/2 t salt
  • 1/2 t cayenne pepper
Mix spices and herbs. Put olive oil on meat. Coat with mixture.

Jerk tofu with vegetables





Friday, June 26, 2015

Hot Fun in the Summertime

With all of the sun we've had lately in Seattle, it's hard to believe that summer only started last week. On Saturday, we hopped on our folding bikes and cruised down Stone Way to the Fremont Solstice Fair. Every year there seem to be more naked bicyclists and fewer floats.

While I did take pictures of the parade, I did not take any photos of the naked or scantily clad superheroes, santas, fairies or Care Bears - I figure that if I am not willing to go out there and do it myself, it doesn't really seem fair to document someone else's experience. But it is quite the experience. Next year, we'll probably watch the parade from the other side of the street, since many of the participants rode one way only.

There ended up being a 30-45 minute break between the bicycles and the official parade, leading to a mass exodus, which allowed us standing space in the shade under a tree, rather than the beating sun. Of course, since I've got a new camera, I had to take a few test shots - I will spare you all the full run. Funny how with just 10 minutes at the camera, I started viewing the screen instead of the live action, so it wasn't too much of a tragedy when the battery depleted.
I'll have to work on my hula hooping technique so that I can participate next year


At the end of the parade, we unlocked the Bromptons and headed back up the hill. We caught up to another bicyclist and passed him. When he caught up to us at the light, he called out ¨passed - by someone with heels and a folding bike. Oh the shame!¨

¨There's no shame,¨ I replied (though I have to admit that I had gloated a bit calling out ¨on your left¨).

¨Well, a little bit of shame.¨ And then the light changed.

Sunday was Father's Day, so I went home to West Seattle to visit my parents. My mom had been feeling a little under the weather, so we ended up bringing lunch to their house (sub sandwiches for them, QFC sushi for me).

Trent and I enjoy taking the boat out on the longest day of the year - and this time we had company. Our friends on S/V Raven left for Hidden Cove on Bainbridge Island a bit before we did. We intercepted them (only by motoring) and then let them surge ahead as we did some slow lazy sailing. So peaceful in the cove...

We rafted to Raven and then had a delicious dinner onboard. Trent tried stand-up paddle-boarding, while I stayed behind, skipping the shore party to visit with my friend.


The sunset was indescribably lovely. All in all, a wonderful way to start the summer. Now if I can just stay cool in this darned heat...

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Thursday Thought

¨Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.¨
Cecil Beaton

I came across this quote when reading The Art of Non-conformity by Chris Guillebeau on the Victoria Clipper return trip last weekend. While I am compelled by the exhortation to be daring and different, I wonder if this gives the ordinary and commonplace short shrift. After all, there is power in the day-to-day moments that make up a life. But perhaps this has more to do with art and changing the world, in which case I agree wholeheartedly. Thoughts?

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Thursday Thought

¨What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.” 
Kurt Vonnegut, Palm Sunday: an Autobiographical Collage

So I feel like I'm cheating a little bit in today's ¨thought¨. I knew that I wanted to write about the power of community and found a quote to go with my theme, rather than my normal practice of finding a quote that speaks to me and writing about it.

I value a sense of community enormously, but I often think of community in terms of the city where I work or the neighborhood I live or the church I attend. This week I was reminded again of the unintentional communities that I am a part of.

I've been biking to work more often than usual, which means a bit less time on the bus (22 one-way bike trips in May!) - but yesterday my shift started half an hour earlier than usual. I just couldn't bring myself to leave the house at 6:40, so I decided to take the bus. As I arrived at the bus stop, one of the other regulars greeted me with a ¨hello, fellow folding bike owner¨ and we started to chat. Another woman, who I used to see regularly on my way to Marysville walked up and I asked how she was doing - unfortunately, she had just suffered a family tragedy.

¨I don't know what I'm going to do,¨ she whispered.

¨There are no good words for me to say, but I wish that there were. I know that we don't know each other that well, but could you use a hug?¨

¨Yes,¨ she responded, tears in her eyes. I tried to infuse every ounce of warmth that I could to support a woman who is now nearly totally alone in the world.

Her bus arrived and she left saying, ¨thank you, thank you¨. And as she left, I wished that there were more that I could do for her, but I also felt good to live in a world where near strangers can offer each other comfort at a busy bus stop by the freeway.

I continued my conversation with the other folding bike guy, making small talk about the Farmer's Market - whether he or his wife would see me later that night there, until my bus pulled in to the stop. Who should I see in the front but another regular that I first started riding with 7 years ago. ¨I'm so glad to see you. It's been ages. I heard from that guy with the mustache that you'd changed jobs.¨

¨You mean Gerald?¨

¨Yeah, I've wondered what you've been up to.¨ And we continued talking about his new laptop until the bus reached my final destination.

Sometimes I have to remind myself to turn off my city facade, with the stern ¨don't bother me¨ face - to accept smiles and exchange conversation with near strangers, even if I think I'd rather be reading or writing, in order to combat the loneliness in the world.

Monday, June 8, 2015

Madhur Jaffrey Side Challenge - Shrimp Pullao

Our Seattle ¨heat wave¨ continues and with it my motivation to cook lessens every day. Over the last few days, I've stopped at Rancho Bravo, my local taco stand (which recently graduated from being a truck); had truffle popcorn from Oliver's Twist, followed up by yogurt; and nibbled on rosemary bread with salmon spread, both from the Wallingford Farmer's Market. A shameful track record, partly based on the fact that Trent and I have been ships in the night with separate social engagements (or work obligations) in the evening.

So for this next week, as the sunny weather continues, I'll make a grand attempt to find some more stovetop recipes like this one.

Shrimp Pullao (Jhinga Pullao)
  • 12 oz. medium shrimp
  • 3 T finely chopped fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1 t ground turmeric
  • 1 t garam masala
  • 1 to 1 1/2 t salt
  • 1 T lime or lemon juice
  • 1/2 to 1 fresh hot green chili (optional)
  • 4 T vegetable oil
  • 1 medium onion
  • 1 3/4 c long grain rice
Peel and devein the shrimp. Rinse well, then pat them dry.

In a small bowl, mix the cilantro, turmeric, garam masala, 1/2 t salt, and the lime or lemon juice, together with 1 T warm water. Finely slice the chili if using and add to the mixture.

Heat 2 T oil in a large frying pan over medium-low heat. Pour in the cilantro mixture and fry, stirring, for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the shrimp and fry, stirring for another 2 to 3 minutes.

With a slotted spoon, transfer the shrimp to a dish, leaving the sauce in the pan. Cover and set aside.

Pour 1 c warm water into the frying pan and scrape up all the spices stuck to the bottom and sides, increasing heat if necessary. Remove from the heat.

Peel, halve, and finely slice the onion. Heat the remaining 2 T oil in a large heavy-based cooking pot or flameproof casserole over a medium heat. Add the sliced onions and fry for 3 to 4 minutes until the edges are tinged brown. Add the rice, 2 c water, 1/2 to 1 t salt, and the liquid from the frying pan. Stir and bring to a boil, then cover and turn the heat to very low. Cook for 25 minutes.

Add the shrimp and fork them through the pullao. Recover and cook for another 5 minutes. Serve with another vegetable side dish (I made Gujarati-style green beans).

What is your favorite hot weather dinner?

Thursday, June 4, 2015

Thursday Thought

¨Having it all never meant doing it all at the same time.¨
Nicolle Wallace quoted in Grow Your Value by Mika Brzezinski

Several years ago, Trent participated in a two-week sailing race around Vancouver Island. Before he left, I'd become increasingly stressed about not having enough time to do everything I felt I needed to do to be a good partner, friend, and employee while exercising, cooking healthy meals and keeping a clean(ish) house. When he was gone, I spent more time with friends and family than usual. The house was less cluttered, because I was spending less time there. I eventually came to the realization that I could choose one or two areas to excel in, even rotating between them, but doing everything at once was a fool's errand. I still struggle with this sometimes - so I love the idea that maybe I can have it all, as long as I don't expect to have it all at once.


Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Side Challenge - Stir-Fried Green Beans with Pork and Chilies

Last weekend, the house reached 80 degrees or more, which made shopping for food increasingly difficult. Nothing sounds good when you're hot. I perused my cookbooks for a main-course salad, but nothing appealed to me. Then I turned to stovetop meals. Bingo. Madhur Jaffrey's stir fry seemed just the thing and the Thai recipe fortunately wasn't too similar to our recent Indian feast. Normally, I'd wait until local green beans were available at the Farmer's Market, but my impatience landed me with grown-in-Mexico produce instead. Fortunately, the Northwest bounty seems to be ripening early this year, so I may not have to wait much longer.


  • 1 1/4 lbs. green beans
  • 12 to 16 garlic cloves (I only used 8-9, since mine were fairly large)
  • 6-9 fresh hot green or red chilies
  • 5 T vegetable oil
  • 10 oz. lean pork, ground
  • 1/2 t paprika
  • 1 t dark brown sugar
  • 3 T fish sauce
Wash and trim the beans, then cut into 1/3- to 1/2-inch pieces. Peel the garlic and chop it finely. Cut the chilies into very thin slices.

Heat the oil in a wok set over medium-high heat. When it is hot, add the garlic and chilies. Stir-fry until the garlic turns golden, then add the pork. Stir and fry, breaking up any lumps until the pork no longer looks raw.

Put in the green beans, paprika, sugar, fish sauce, and 1 1/4 c. water. Stir and cook on medium-high heat for 8 to 10 minutes or until the beans are tender and most of the water has been absorbed.

I served this with rice, though I suspect quinoa or couscous would also work well.