HALLOWEEN WINDS

Yes there is a fresh northeast breeze and some pretty good gusts this Wednesday, strong enough to have the guards close the waters for swimming and the sand comes in gusts across the beach to sting the eyes, so why fight it? It is only wind, and the clouds are starting to fill in but the rains of Noel are still down south and headed out for the Bahamas. The life guards don’t need any extra worries when they are only there to help. Better to go inside under the aqua cover of the restaurant Ocean Alley. Inside there is a fine view of the waves and chilled brews with easy conversation to spend a lunch hour.

Here is a very tasty dinner, simple and quick, from sunny Lahaina, Maui.

PEPPER STEAK ala Chien-Homme

Classic Steak au Poive recipe from
Lahaina Yacht Club – Lahaina, Hawaii

Steak – about 10 oz. (only ¾” thick, thicker doesn’t work)
Black peppercorns – about 20 – freshly cracked
Beef stock – 1 cup
Sour cream - 1cup
Dijon mustard – 1 TBL
Cognac – 2 shots
Lemon Juice – ¼ lemon

Press peppercorns into one side of steak. Pan fry steak to rare than remove from pan and hold in a hot oven on a plate

Now add to pan drippings – beef stock, sour cream, Dijon mustard, then cognac. Whisk and reduce until semi thick. Blend in the lemon juice.

Pour over steak on heated plate and serve immediately.

WAITING FOR RAINS OF NOEL

Monday and today are about the same. Red flags everywhere. east winds are blowing the waves. and clear skies. Had to check with the lifeguard because there were so many flags up and some beach areas were closed. He said if you are a good swimmer, go for it. After diving in I got a quick ride south for about a 1/2 mile or so, a lot of fun and no problems. Noel is still way south.
We may get some rain eventually but right now it is just warm breezes and sunshine

All those Red flags reminded me of a of a good chili recipe sent in by the Cincinati Fire Department

Donovan’s Code “3” Chili

Submitted by
Engine 7 , Unit 1 - CFD
for 10 Hungry Firefighters

Ground Chuck or Turkey 7 lbs.
Onions, chopped – ½ cup
Green Bell Pepper - ½ cup
Fresh Garlic, diced - 3 Tblspn
Chili Powder – 5 oz.
Garlic salt – 1 Tblspn.
Tomato Sauce – 29 oz can
Kidney beans – 21 oz can
Catsup – 1 cup
Jalapenos, seeded & chopped
Red pepper, crushed - 2 Tblspn
Allspice, ground - 2 Tblspn.
Cumin, ground – 3 Tblspn.
White pepper - 1 Tblspn.
Water - 5/6 cups, added accordingly to your desired consistency
3Bay leaves, whole – 3

Brown meat for 15 mins. Add Onions, Green Pepper & fresh garlic.
Cook for another 20 mins. or until vegetables are transparent.
Remove and strain the grease in a colander.
Put meat back in pan. Add remaining ingredients & let simmer
for 1 ½ - 2 hrs. or until chili has reduced to a thicker consistency.
Add additional water if necessary.
Remove the bay leaves and start salivating and start bloating.

SUNDAY GOOD SWIM - BAD FLAGS

It was a fine warm sunny day with a nice breeze from the north east. This all made the swim along the coast in a southerly direction very fast and easy. After about a half mile I checked with the lifeguard to ask why the red danger flag and purple jelly fish flag were flying. It seems to be political one upsmanship and not tied to reality. For sure the flags that are flown are not decreed by anyone who watches the water conditions. This is too bad , especially now that the busy season is approaching and many people who are not familiar with the ocean depend on good guidance.

Chicken Breasts with Mango Salsa

Chicken breasts –4 - boneless, skinless – pounded

Marinade

Vidalia Onion 1 – diced ( about ½ cup)
Garlic – 2 cloves – diced
Olive oil – 2 TBL
Limes - 2 squeezed
Black Pepper – fresh ground


Mango Salsa

Mango 1 large – peeled and chopped into ¼” pieces (about 2 cups)
Red Bell Pepper – chopped ( about 1 cup)
Jalapeno Pepper 1– remove seeds and dice
Vidalia Onion – diced ¼ cup
Lime Juice – 2 limes
Lime zest - ½ tspn
Olive oil – 2 TBL
Flat parsley – chopped - ¼ cup
Fresh Mint leaves – chopped – ¼ cup

Combine the ingredients for marinade in a ceramic or glass bowl. Add the chicken breast and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Mix together the salsa ingredients into a ceramic or glass bowl and refrigerate.

Grill the chicken breasts at medium heat for about 3 or 4 minutes on each side
Serve on a plate with the chilled mango salsa over the top.

Georgia Rains Land in Florida

The rains they want in Georgia came to Florida on Friday. It rained hard. it rained light, but it rained steadily for about 20 hours. This made for a poor beach day. But today Saturday the sun is back and the ocean is excellent as usual. Red #3 flags are f;ying today and the breeze is from the south east. It is a good pull if you swim south but nothing can bother your progress.

Meanwhile, our president has condoned the use of torture, while stating that he can not break the law because he is a wartime president, even though it is the war he personally started, and the decider. His decisions have hurt us in the efforts to defeat Al Qaeda, in our ability to improve our own country’s infrastructure, in protecting the health of our citizens. Now he asks us again to trust him when he makes plans to invade yet another country. Really? Crying wolf has never been a good choice. Things are fishy in Washington so you might want to try some fish of your own,. It is better.

Salmon – asparagus – mushrooms – red potatoes

Salmon fillets – 4 , ½ pound each
Red potatoes - 1 ½ lbs. Chopped - 1 “ pieces
Asparagus – 1 lb. - remove tough dry ends
Mushrooms – 4 oz. - sliced
Garlic - ground
Rosemary - ground
Lime Juice
Vermouth
Chili Stuff - Bonanza Fish Mix
Olive Oil
Black Pepper

Pour a couple of glugs of olive oil into a shallow baking pan. Place potato chunks
In the pan and sprinkle liberally with ground rosemary and garlic and black pepper.
Cook in a preheated oven at 375 for about 35 minutes. The dry rosemary and garlic work much better than fresh herbs in a roasting situation.

Place the young asparagus in a pan with olive oil at medium heat. Cover in a couple of minutes the aspargus will turn bright green. Now add the mushrooms. After a minute or so. Squeeze the lime juice on everything and pour in a half cup of vermouth. And cover.

Spead out the Salmon fillets skin side down. Cover liberally with Chili Stuff Bonanza fish mix. let sit for 20 minutes while potatoes cook. Dust the skin with flour and place in a olive oiled pan at medium heat, floured skin-side down. As soon as the edges turn light flour the tops sides and flip over. Put more Bonanza Fish Mix on the crispy skin and cook covered for a couple of minutes.

At the same time place the potato servings on heated plates with the asparagus.
And serve the fish fillets with a wedge of lime.

YELLOW FLAG DAY - MEANS SUNSHINE

The "waves" in the picture are breaking in about 4 inches of water. After a long easy swim I checked with the lifeguard. We both believe the yellow flag means sun and has nothing to do with beach conditions.

Once again the administration has moved the goal posts. Now they say the war in Iraq will cost 2 TRILLION + 400 BILLION dollars. This is 40 times more than these wonder kids first estimated. That amounts to $8,000 per person for every man, woman and child and even the unborn children who occupy this country. The whole bunch of them are doing as good as Brownie. Also Vice President Cheney slept through the cabinet meeting which had been specifically called to brief everyone on the fire disaster in California. What a guy.

Rudy Giuliani has sided with the Red Sox. Despite his taste, here is a good chili recipe submitted by the Aurora Colorado Fire Department.

Chili con Sausage – Aurora , CO

Submitted by Dan Willcox , Fire Academy Training Dept. – AFD

Sausage, Polish, Spanish, or other spicy sausage
Ground chuck - 1 ½ lbs.
Kidney beans – 4 ½ cans (15 oz)
Onions, medium - 3 – chopped
Tomatoes, canned – 2 cups
Olive oil – 3 Tblspns
Garlic, 2/3 cloves, minced
Cumin , ground – 1 Tblspn.
Chili Powder - 2 ¼ tspns
Paprika – 1 ½ tspns
Black pepper, freshly ground – ¾ tspn

Saute meat in olive oil until it browns.
Add the spices and well blended add the tomatoes.

Meanwhile, in water, covered.
Simmer the sausage for five minutes.

Remove sausage casings and break meat into small pieces.
Add the beans to the beef-tomato mixture
and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until the liquid reduces.
Adjust seasonings, if necessary.

City of Aurora Fire Department says
that the one most important ingredient in any meal,
and readily available,
is camaraderie and conversations with friends.

TRILLION DOLLAR FIASCO

Yes the water was easy and warm today

If you think it is tough here on the beach, with misinformation

running freely, you haven't heard or paid attention to the decider,

His war budget, that is "off-budget", is now running over ONE TRILLION DAOLLARS.

No matter how devalued the U.S. dollar is, that is an obscene amount of money.

It isn't that we lost so many battles and a real fighting war, using our most advanced weaponry, against a few illiterate fellows who love goats.

This administration is running up this unconscionable debt so that when the truth comes out that they have stolen a few billion they can say, "Gee whiz it wasn't that much, considering". Where is the accounting?

There are so many liars that the lies become truths.

Meanwhile, our leaders are screwing us big time.

MONDAY - Double Flag Day

It has been a beautiful beach & swimming day, even though someone decided to fly the Red 3 and Purple 4 flags. Kinda like crying wolf. Anyway, it was a fine swim south toward Miami: calm water with gentle waves and I never saw any dangerous marine life.

At least somebody attempts to warn the public. Too bad no warning flags for a stock market in free fall. And then what happened to the 12 BILLION in cold U.S. cash missing in Iraq. That’s more money than will fit on a flat car. Or to put it in more understandable numbers: That is 264,000 pounds of $100 bills. No warning flags there. With so many stealing, who is left to raise a flag? and there are no answers. Where is the dough?

The invasion has always been about money and oil, with background chatter about protecting America.

If we still had that cash we wouldn’t need protection, and now there is little left to protect.
Oh yeah, the word has always been tossed around that China will bail our sorry asses out of trouble. Now her stock market headed south in a death spiral, right fat chance.

It is so refreshing to know our administration in DC has been doing as good a job as Brownie.
The Iraq war is a fiasco.
The world that doesn’t hate us is deeply nervous.
Our national economy stinks a little more than old fish.

It is time to try some good old down home easy cooking

Texas Black-eyed Peas and Rice

Submitted by Chief Curry
Tuskegee Fire Department, Tuskegee, AL

Black-eyed peas – 2 packages, 10 oz., frozen – thawed
Onion, 1 cup – chopped
Water – 1 quart
Rice – 2/3 cup
Bacon – 10 slices – diced
Bacon drippings – 2 TBL
2/3 cup – bar-b-q sauce
salt – 1 TBL
pepper, fresh ground - ¼ tsp.


Use a large sauce pan
Add peas onion, water and salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 30 minutes
Add rice and simmer for another 25 minutes. Stir every once in a while.

Cook bacon and remove to the side.

Combine the pea mixture with half the bacon, pepper and bacon drippings. After mixing, place into a greased casserole. Spread the rest of the bacon across the top.
Bake 30 minutes in a preheated oven at 350 degrees.

Makes about 8 bowls and it is great to serve with collard or mustard greens you have cooked in chicken broth.

SUNDAY - ONION SOUP DAY

Saturday was a great day at the beach, after a shaky start. The ocean was flat calm and made for very comfortable swimming, but for some reason the lifeguard towers were flying yellow caution flags. So it looks like Sunday will be a repeat of this. It must be something that government agencies, big or small, like to do to keep the people confused.

They are taking a page from the playbook used by this present federal administration that publicly denounces the use of torture, yet in secret memos they champion and encourage its use. They obviously like to continue the tradition of speaking with a forked tongue. That is the same tongue used when the treaties were made with the American Indians than the word went out to murder all of them.


Onion Soup with Cheese

From Acajou Restaurant – Papeete, Tahiti
Serves 4

Chicken broth 2 14 oz cans
Onion – medium 2 thin slices
Garlic – 2 cloves – crshed
Butter 2 TBL
Flour 2 TBL
Toast – 12 small pieces
Gruyere cheese – 2 oz. grated
Salt
Fresh black pepper

Bring the broth to a boil with an equal amount of water and salt & pepper and garlic

Reduce heat.
Sautee onion slices in butter until golden brown. Add flour and stir until mixture begins to thicken. Blend in broth. Simmer for about ½ hour.

Pou soup into four bowls. Plaace 3 pieces of toast on top of each and sprinkle with the gruyere cheese. Place in a hot oven (450 degrees) until cheese brpwns.

Serve while hot.

DARK SKIES TODAY

The dark gray skies here are a fair reflection of the evil that comes out of Washington DC. Our mean-spirited saber-rattling dictator has done it again. He says no hospital care for children. This, at the same time proves he can’t extricate that size 11 from his mouth as he threatens the world with nuclear holocaust. This administration only has about 450 days left and it is trying it’s very best to prove it is the very worst. It is literally trying to blow us away with evil antics.

Yes, it is grim news today, but the fearless can still swim and afterwards maybe a cool one while huddling inside Ocean Alley, an open-air beach grill, with aqua painted walls covered with swimming sea cratures. The food is excellent.

While on the subject of lunch here is a chili recipe submitted to us by Dan Deneen of the Chicago Fire Department.

Recipe for 2 Fireguys Chili – CFD


Beef Chuck- ¼ - ½” pcs. - 1 ½ lbs.
Pork Shoulder ¼ - ½” pcs. – 1 ½ lbs.
Pork smoked butt ¼ -1/2” -- 1 lb.
Olive oil - 3 Tblspn.
Spanish Onions 2 lrg. – diced
Celery- 1 stalk, - chopped
Garlic – 1 clove – minced
Beer – 1 can, 12 oz .
Mushrooms 1 lb. – chopped
Plum Tomatoes – 9 lbs. – peeled and seeded
Dried Pinto Beans – 2/3 cup (soak 1 hr.)
Dried Kidney beans – 2.3 cup (soak1 hr.)
Chili Powder 7-8 Tbspn.
Cumin – 1 ½ Tblspn
Mexican Oregano – 1 Tblspn
Basil – 1 Tblspn.
Parsley – 1 Tblsn
Brown Sugar – 1–2 Tblspn.
Hot pepper optional

Brown Beef and Pork shoulder in oil. Separately,
cook excess water out of tomatoes until thick.
Cook beans for about 2 hours, until tender.
Add beer and meat and simmer for 1 ½ hours.
Add liquid if necessary. Add smoked butt, celery,
Onion, garlic, herbs and spices. Add brown sugar to tomatoes.
When tomatoes are thick enough, add them to meat and veggies.
Add cooked beans and mushrooms.
Simmer on low in an open pot a few hours.
Allow mixture to sit overnight in refrigerator to allow flavors to develop.
Reheat chili next day and adjust seasoning to taste.
Serve with choice of garnish.

Miscellaneous Tips

Use a good steel pot. Aluminum and tomatoes don’t mix.
Simmer uncovered , low heat.
Use best and freshest ingredients possible.
Remember it is your pot of chili. Don’t let anyone else tamper with it.
If they do, rip their arm off and beat them with it.

October - Blissful Days

Yesterday and today are about the same. Clear skies in the morning with a flat ocean and green flags flying. The water and air are aboiut the same, low 80's. In the afternoon the easy eastern breezes bring in clouds to fill the sky with non- threatening clouds that merely create a cloud cover to keep things from overheating. This is an especially good time of year because the heat of summer has dissipated and the winter quests are still just trickling down to south Florida so traffic on the intercostal waterway or on the streets is light.

It is better here than in Washington, and what a place that is. Check the behavior of the people attached to these names. Craig, Foley, Haggard.
It is not their life styles that rub nor their neo-conservative politics but the hipocracy involved
is frightful. Meanwhile the Pentagon announces they have no problem filling the ranks of their depleated armed forces for new gun fodder. Now they are accepting thieves, robbers, deviates and dummies to let the military allow them to be all they can be. At the same time these homophobes assure the public they will never accept anyone with questionable sexual orientation into their ranks. These people believe in the right to life unless a person is old enough to enjoy life.

While you riddle these positions take the time to enjoy a light tasty island style soup.

SHRIMP SOUP – ISLAND STYLE.

Shrimp ¾ lb. - 41/50 count , uncooked
Mushrooms ½ cup , diced
Cubanella Chili, ½ cup chopped (mild chilis)
Onion – 1 medium – diced
Fresh coconut milk. ½ to ¾ cup
Clam broth - 2 cups
Chili Stuff, fish mix 1 TBl. www.chilistuff.com
Lime juice – 1 fresh squeezed
Olive oil
Salt & Black Pepper

Heat a pot with couple Tbl of olive oil to medium then add the diced onions and Cubanella peppers., chopped with seed pod removed. When the onion and pepper get shiny, add the diced mushrooms.

Peel the shrimp. When the mushrooms look cooked add the clam broth and the fresh coconut milk. As soon as these have reached temperature add the shrimp. The shrimp will cook quickly at a simmering heat. As soon as they change color add a Tbl of Fish Mix and the lime juice, and salt & pepper to taste.

Cook for a couple of minutes and serve with a chunk of fresh crusty French bread.

The soup is also delicious after it has been chilled.

IDES OF OCTOBER

The last day to file your 2006 tax returns passed yesterday and so did the gray weather. today it will get to about 85 and the breezes are out of the east. They will probably bring in a few scattered squalls but it is a fine beach day, and the ocean is perfect for swimming.

Here is a scallops and pasta dish that takes no time to make.

Bay Scallops with Bowties (Farfalle) and fresh green beans

Bay Scallops - ½ lb. 100/150 count
Bowtie pasta – ½ lb. ( bowties hold onto a lot of sauce) Fresh green beans – big handful, trimmed and slant cut into 2 pieces.
Lobster Sauce base - 1 tspn.
Vermouth – ½ cup
White wine – ½ cup
Parsley, dry flakes - 2 Tbl
Butter – ¼ lb.
Flour - 2 Tbl.
Soy milk – ½ cup

Melt the butter in a 2 qt. sauce pan at low temp. whisk in the flour, stirring constantly. As it thickens add the vermouth, lobster sauce, and soy milk.

Add the parsley and cook at a very low temp, covered and stir occasionally so nothing burns.

Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water for about 9 minutes or until aldente.

At the same time steam the green beans until they are done but still shiny green.

When the pasta and beans are just about done, poach the bay scallops in a pan of white wine, just until they are translucent but still very tender. This only takes about a minute.

Drain the pasta and fold in the scallops and sauce. Serve in a big shallow bowl with the beans to the side.

DARK & BLUSTERY MONDAY

No Lifeguard needed on a dark day like today. At least the temperature is still in the 80's.

Well the color of the sky matches the mood in D.C. now that the chief Scrooge has decidedto veto health insurance for children. You might have foretold this negative action when he vetoed stem cell research funds, after even Nancy R. begged him to help.

You can't think this bothers the same fellow who buggered Baghdad now that oil has reached

$85.00 a barrel. What the hell, if it gets too cold for people in our northern states this winter they can just hitchhike to sunny florida.

3 gray days in a row is a bit much for south Florida, but it makes time to stay in and fix a delicious Mediterranean Stew.

RECIPE –Mediterranean Seafood Stew

A delicious medley of fish fillets and shellfish in a vegetable stew
A lot of ingredients and very easy to prepare

Ingredients

Fresh Clams – 8
Fresh Mussels – 8
Shrimp – peeled – 1pound
Tuna fillet – ¾” thick
Salmon filet – ½ “ thick
Halibut fillet – ½” thick

Idaho potato – cut into ½” pieces
Fresh corn on cob – sliced off in 2 “ pieces
Shallots – chopped – ½ cup
Celery – chopped – 1 cup
Fennel bulb – chopped – 1 cup
Tomatoes 1 28 oz. can – diced
White wine – 1 ½ cup (or 1 cup of Vermouth)
Clam juice – 3 cups
Tomato paste – 2 oz or 3 oz

Chili Stuff Mumbo Gumbo Mix – 2 tspn - link www.chilistuff.com
Rosemary, ground – 1 tspn
Bay, ground - 1 tspn
Fennel, ground – 1 Tblspn

The ground herbs are more potent and hold up better under cooking, They become part of the stew and don’t need to be removed like a bouquet.

Prep everything ahead and the cooking is simple.
Use a big deep pot ( 2 gallon at least) at medium heat.
Pour in some olive oil and start with the shallots, fennel & celery. They should get shiny and soften in about 5 minutes.
Add the Tomatoes, white wine, clam juice and tomatoe paste and blend. Now add the Mumbo Gumbo and other seasonings.
Add the potatoes and after about 10 minutes add the corn.

Now put the clams into this vegetable base.
As soon as they open up remove them to a side bowl,
Repeat this step with the mussels.

While these are cooking you can slice your fish fillets into 1 ½ “ pieces.

As soon as the mussels are out of the stew, put in all your fish and cook for about 5 minutes.
Return shell fish to pot and add the shrimp and cook until the shrimp start to turn pink (about 2 minutes),

Turn down the heat and ladle it out into bowls.

WINDY SUNDAY

Sunday follows Saturday with the same dismal weather.
The winds are blowing out of the east and the surf is pretty bumpy for a good swim unless you like to drink a lot of salt water.

The only news of the day is in comments made by the former commanding general of US forces in Iraq. He says that, while he followed the direct orders of the Commander In Chief, he found that our entire military stratedgy was lacking in planning and men and materials. So, if that is the case, what happened to all the money? It is really depressing but you can't dwell on the past six years of failed stategy, but something has to happen and it may not be a pretty picture. There are plenty of new problems that are being revealed each day that are getting worse at an exponential rate. What will our deciders do to get our asses out of this mess and save all the victims of Iraq?

While you are thinking here is something from Sunny south Florida to lift your spirits.

Lynn’s South Beach Chili

Submitted by Lynn Stern of Miami Beach, FL

1 ½ lbs – brisket – chopped to ½ “
1 lb – mild turkey Italian sausage – sliced to match brisket pieces
6 oz – beef broth
2 - green bell peppers – diced
1 – 10oz. package of frozen corn – defrosted
3 – garlic cloves – diced.
3 – 15 oz. cans – Red kidney beans
2 – 29 oz. Cans – Diced tomatoes
Chili Stuff Chili Mix – 2 big Tblspns. http://www.chilistuff.com/
Olive oil
Marsala wine


Heat a large pan to medium,
Brown the chopped brisket & sausage in olive oil.
Season as if it is the only thing you making.
Lower heat add the diced garlic,
after a minute, add the beef broth, cover and cook for
about an hour or so at slow heat.
so the brisket begins to fall apart.
Stir occasionally. When the meat is very tender,
add some Marsala wine to deglaze the pan

After the meat has been cooking for at least ½ hour
Now use a large pot with a lid and heat to low medium.
.
Pour some olive oil in the pot and add the tomatoes
and beans.
Add bell peppers and fresh frozen corn
Add the Chili Stuff Chili Mix.

When these vegetables start to simmer
Pour in all the meat mixture along with the pan juices.
Stir, cover and cook slow for a half hour.

Water Spouts in Ft Lauderdale

The Northeast breezes have dropped the local humidity, not to the level of Arizona or Utah, but very comfortable. Today, up north towards Ft. Lauderdale, the clouds are thick and dark and there was even one water spout swirling around. Here in Hollywood and south to Miami the sky is blue and the green flags are flying. The ocean is extra nice for a long swim.

Such great news that Al Gore was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and he promptly gave half the purse to the others involved in global warming research. He has been right about a lot of things for a very long time.

For all this good news I have to give you two excellent recipes, One is for the fish and the other is for the sauce.

Grilled Swordfish with salsa crudo and green beans

Swordfish Steaks two 8 oz. ¾ to 1” thick
Green beans – a good handful – steamed tender
Romaine - handful
Arugula - handful
Watercress - handful
Radicchio – handful
Lemon juice
Black pepper

Salsa Crudo de Mazatlań

Rub steaks with olive oil, fresh ground and a little salt. Grill for a couple of minutes on each side. Set aside away from heat.

Remove the steamed beans for heat and mix with olive oil and lemon juice.
Add beans to salad mix. Break sword fish into 2 or 3 inch pieces and add to the mix. Spoon on the spicy salsa and serve.
-------------------------------------------------

SALSA MAZATLAN’- CRUDO

jalapeno peppers 2 – diced small
medium onion 1 – diced
medium tomatoes 2 - diced
limes – 5
Chili Stuff chili mix – 1 tspn. Here is a link: www.chilistuff.com

Mix the diced vegetables together. You should have an even amount of each so
It looks a definite red, white & green. Squeeze in the juice of five limes. The limes will cook everything. Sprinkle on a tspn. of chili mix and stir the bowl.

You can eat this right away but it is better if it sits in the refrigerator for a few hours or over night. Serve it with anything, on scramble eggs with refried beans or in a burrito. The lime gives an amazingly fresh zip to the salsa and it will make hot or cold food taste cool and refreshing even on a 100 degree day.

Put it on a baked potato then spoon some sour cream on top of it, or spoon some salsa onto the top of a bowl of chili.

EAST WINDS AND BRIGHT SUN

Today is a florida day that everyone hopes for. Easy easterly breezes, flat turquoise water, low humidity. and temp in the mid 80's. Perfect for a long ocean swim.

The lawn and landscaping are done and my motorcycle is humming. If you stay to the east of Hwy 1 it hardly seems busy.

I promised my beautiful wife a sushi dinner tonight but here is a great chili variation that is good anytime.

Recipe - Chili Moroccan

Lamb - 1 lb. Cut into ½”’ pieces

Black beans – 15 oz. can
White beans 15 oz can
Tomatoes, diced 15 oz can
Couscous dry - ¼ cup

Cubanella pepper chopped
Chicken Broth - 16 oz
Cilantro - handful
Mint - handful
Chili Stuff chili mix
Sour cream
Olive oil

In a large deep skillet at medium heat, brown lamb pieces in olive oil.
Season as if your were cooking this by itself.

Add chopped cubanella pepper, stir .

Add beans and tomatoes and a good Tblspn. of Chili Stuff chili mix

Add the chicken broth and the cilantro and mint leaves, stir.

Let simmer for 5 minutes

Add the couscous and let simmer for another five minutes.

Serve a big s in a bowl and add a Tblspn of sour cream on top.

Use any chili powder you have, but we recommend this all natural mix without fillers.

http://www.chilistuff.com/

BEACH IS BACK TO SUNNY NORMAL

The ocean tides are back to normal with a slight eastern push from the wind.
This makes all the swimming easy. In the meantime, workers go on strike
a Chrysler and the white house says , don't worry.

The Patriot Act circumvents the 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The present administration espouses that it is not conducting domestic surveillance but just collecting information. This is a story preached to us by the same group who said, “You are doin’ a great job, Brownie”. Now they say, “Trust us, we only do things in secret because it is better for you”. We are the deciders and know what is best.

They say that the FISA courts are outmoded and slow moving, even though the FISA court gives free reign and only asks that it be included after the fact.

Our country has been given over to brigands who are looting every thing they can, as fast as they can, while they are in power. They subvert the constitution and the laws it creates. The same constitution, they swore to protect.

Now they have the Protect America Act. If you don’t throw up with the pretentious name you believe the liars. What is going on? We are losing inalienable rights faster than we even realize we have them. They are snoopers and fisherman. They are not our friends. All the while, they smirk and say trust them.

Believing this story might make one a turkey, but i have a better turkey recipe.

Turkey Sausage and Broccoli Rabe – for two

Broccoli Rabe (Rappini) – 1 bunch – chop off stems

Turkey Sausage – Sweet Italian - 3
Garlic 2 cloves – smash and mince
Pasta – small shells (conchiglie) -½ lb.
Chili Stuff Chili Mix – 1 tspn

Use big pot of boiling water. Blanch broccoli rabe for a minute
and plunge into bowl of ice water. Save hot water to cook pasta.
Bring the water back up to boil.

In a large deep pan, heat to medium.
Squeeze sausage from skins into pan,
Break it up as it cooks so all of it browns evenly.
After about ten minutes add the chopped garlic
and the Chili Stuff Chili Mix .
Stir so nothing sticks and after another
10 minutes. Then add in the broccoli rabe to reheat it.

At the same time you added your garlic to the sausage,
the pasta should go into the boiling water for 8 or 9 minutes
to reach al dente.

Drain pasta and add to sausage and stir to mix.
Grate a nice amount of parmesano cheese and mix that in and serve.

POLICIES TWISTED AS SPAGHETTI

The sun has returned to South Florida, but the wind is still blowing so the waves are more interesting when you swim.
In the last few days the water temp has really dropped and now feels below 80 degrees. The good news now is that it can't feed any hurricanes.

Okay this is the deal. We, the U.S.A., preemptively invade and blow the shit out of a country. We effectively destroy their infrastructure so the citizens have no power, water or sanitation for 5 years. Then, we blame other countries for destabilizing the country we are occupying. Excuse me, but this is bull-shit logic.

We have destroyed the lives and futures of thousands of families and used lies about protecting our own security just to appease the greed of a few thieves we call our leaders.

Now the next phase: If you start two wars that don’t work for you because you broke the rules in the beginning, no problem, just start a 3rd one, and this time you will be smarter.

The definition of insanity says that if you repeat the same actions and expect different results, you are, in fact, nuts.

It is a more tangled mess than the linguini with the shrimp.

Recipe – Shimp and linguini for 2


1/2 lb. 50/60 count shrimp peeled
½ cup peas
½ cup sliced mushrooms
½ cup clam juice
1 tsp chili stuff chili mix
½ lime squeezed
0live oil
1/3 lb linguini

This is easy. Do the chopping ahead and prep work ahead.

Boil the salted water and put in about a 1/3 pound of linguini.
Stir it around for a minute so it doesn’t clump. Cook for about 8 minutes.

Heat a big pan to medium add a couple glugs of olive oil. Start with the mushrooms and sauté them. When they change color add the peas.
After a minute add the peeled shrmp. Stir everything and sprinkle on a tsp of chili mix. Add the clam juice and stir again and squeeze in the lime juice.

Drain the linguini and add it to the shrimp pan. Mix it around and split the order into two bowls. Spoon some of the juice over the pasta and serve.

SUNDAY AND COLUMBUS DAY

The clouds rolled in on a 20 MPH north east wind but the predicted rain squalls never arrived. and it it looks like today will be about the same. The red flags were flying. those are the ones that no longer mean lightning. The red color is now supposed to mean dangerous water, but it was an easy swim for the 1/2 mile i swam south.

They need a flag warning in Washington D.C. because the people in the administration obviously don't study history and learn from its lessons. Fact: 'Wars are easier to start than end'. They ignored this.
Also, every country that relied on mercenaries to fight their wars found itself on a slippery downward slope.

Here is something better to think about:

Fisherman Recipe - Fish over Rice Serves 4-6
Sayyadieh in Lebanese cookery. This is a very good one.

olive oil - 4 Tbs.
onions, 3 medium - finely chopped
water, 1-1/2 pints – 12 oz.
salt - 1 tsp.
ground cumin - 1 tsp.
fish fillets 2 lbs cod, haddock, other non-oily firm fish
long-grain rice - 1 lb
pine nuts 2 oz.
lemon juice – 1 lemon

Heat 3 Tbl of the oil in a large saucepan at medium heat and sautee the onions until brown.
Add the water, salt and cumin. Simmer until the onions have almost caramelized.

Add the fish and cook gently for 10 minutes. Remove fish and keep warm.

Use enough from the stock in which the fish has been cooked to cook the rice in a separate pan until it is tender and the stock absorbed. (about 20 minutes)

Spoon the rice into a shallow dish and lay the fish pieces on top.

Gently fry the pine nuts in the remaining tablespoon of oil until tender. use medium heat and stir. Then scatter them over the fish.

Meanwhile simmer and reduce the remaining stock, adding the juice of a lemon. Pour this over the fish and rice.

BEACH WARNING FLAGS

For years and years we have had a set of beach warning flags that worked very efficiently. Now all the colors have changed and the meanings are silly at best and could have only been designed by county officials who never venture near the water. You can be sure that because this involves public safety, a large committee of demagogues was formed so they could all ask to be paid for their useless interference.

Eliminated was the most useful designation in Florida. ‘#3 Red Flag’ warning of “Possibility of Lightning Strikes” AMAZING, There must be no more lightning in Florida!

Then these politically correct people changed the #4 Blue Flag that warned of Man-a-War Jelly Fish to Dangerous Marine Life.

This is an expensive bad joke, designed by dopes.

While you chew on this goofy news here is something better to taste.

Greek Salad with Chicken

Romaine – chopped to bite sized pieces – 2 handfuls
Green Bell Pepper, small – chopped
Cucumber, ½ peeled and chopped
Sweet Onion, ½ - chopped
Cherry Tomatoes – sliced in half – 1 cup
Kalamata olives- seeded and chopped – ½ cup
Feta Cheese – 4 oz. diced
Garbanzo beans – 7 oz.
Chicken, freshly roasted, 8 oz, shredded and chopped
Parsley, flat leaf a handful – chopped
Oregano fresh leaves – chopped 2 TBL

Garlic – 2 cloves – minced
Lemon juice 1 squeezed
Olive oil – 2 TBL
Kosher salt
Black pepper freshly ground

Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl with the chicken pieces.

Whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice & garlic. Drizzle over salad and toss easily to cover everything. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve with fresh crusty bread.

GRUMPY BEACH CONDITIONS

The weather is on a downward spiral this weekend but even though the rains are coming there is still time to swim. The ocean is still in the 80's. Then there will be time to cook a really tasty pork roast, and oh so simple. But first riddle me this.

Certainly it has been known general knowledge that some members of the US Congress are light in their loafers, not that there is anything wrong with that. Now it brings new meaning to the old phrase ‘those in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones’. Still, one could wonder what song are they humming when they tap their feet in public bathrooms. Maybe it is the theme from Queen for a Day.


Recipe Pork Roast with mustard paste

Pork roast 2 ½ lbs.
Garlic 3 cloves - julienne into 4 slivers per clove
Olive oil
Red rose potatoes
Fresh carrots

Mustard paste prepared from:
Dijon 1 tblspn
Deli style 1tblspn
Chili Stuff Chili Mix 2 tspn
Rosemary ground - 1 tspn

Whisk together and set aside.

With a knife punch deep slits all around roast and insert one garlic sliver into each. - at least 12 times.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Brush onto all sides of roast the mustard paste.

Use a shallow baking pan with a couple of glugs of olive oil.
Place pork in pan fat side up and roast uncovered for about 25 minutes per pound or to 170 degrees internal temp.

Let stand for 5 or 10 minutes.

If you remove the roast from the heat when it is at 160 the temp will continue to climb to 170 while the roast is standing


Use a few red potatoes and carrots. Quarter the potatoes and salt and pepper.
Chop the carrots into two inch pieces and julienne. Place them in the pan around the pork roast.

The Sphynx Never Speaks

So the Liar-In-Chief says we don’t torture to get information. Yet a secret document issued by the FBI says we do and it is good.

Years ago, in the middle of the Cold War, I was in the US Army and attached to an intelligence unit consisting of mainly officers with field rank. At the time, the army policy stated that nothing useful was gained from extreme methods of interrogation. The most useful and strongest method to be used was simple sleep deprivation.

Strange how this gang, who avoided military service whenever possible, now okays brutal methods that don’t work in the first place.

Might as well go for a swim. The flags are now Yellow, and the skies are gray, so some weather must be on the way but the ocean still makes for a good swim today and after i can fix a great lamb dish which will last for a couple days.

Moarraq

From Saudi Arabia Serves 6 - very simple

1 lb. lamb, diced (about ½ inch)
1 clove crushed garlic
3 tablespoons parsley, chopped
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
7 oz. Patna rice (long grain rice from India)
3/4 pint boiling water
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 red pepper, finely chopped
1 teaspoon salt
3 shallots, finely chopped
6 black olives, sliced

Heat the oil with medium heat and cook the shallots for 3 minutes, stirring.
Add the garlic, meat, red pepper and seasoning and cook for a further 5 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent sticking.

Add boiling water, cover and cook for 2 hours over very moderate heat.
Add washed rice and olives and cook for another 15 to 20 minutes more until liquid is absorbed.

Stir in the parsley at last minute and serve hot.

BLUE NILE AND SUNNY FLORIDA

We headed North down the Nile and to the east the shore was green and pristine. The river runs at about 4 knots and is clean and blue. The last time it rained was 1996. All the crocs are up river above the High Damn at Aswan, and they are big.

South Florida has the Gulf Stream that travels north about the same speed. The water is blue and clean, as well. Most of the shore line is filled with condos and the last time it rained was yesterday. Our gators are to the west in the glades.

Today is clear and a good time to riddle about differences and similarities. How come this government has unlimited money for bullets and bombs, but always cries poor boy for pills and school books? It seems there is a vast imbalance there that will injure us deeply.

If we are down to eating beans here is a good easy recipe.

Recipe – Salad: Canellini beans, preciuto, arugula

Canellini beans (Great Northern) 1 15 oz. can (rinsed)
Tomatoes, Roma - 1 can 32 oz.
Preciuto – ½ lb. Sliced thin and chop
Arugula – fresh young 2 big handfuls
Garlic - 3 cloves smashed and chopped
Olive oil
Thyme
Sage


Olive oil in deep pan .
sauté chopped garlic at moderate temp. – just heat, don’t cook.
Add herbs, stir. Add tomatoes. Mix around. Add cannellini beans (rinsed) salt and blk pepper.

At the same time, put the arugula into a good sized bowl.

Add the preciuto into the beans and tomatoes. Mix everything together. Then pour over arugala. The heat from the bean tomato mix will wilt the arugula.

Serve immediately.

EARLY MORNING SQUALLS & SUNNY DAY

Sure, there were some pretty good squalls early Tuesday morning, but by 11am it was beautiful and i rode my '72 Triumph Bonneville to the beach. Florida is great because you don't have to wear a helmet and you can just ride in trunks and a t-shirt. The life guard towers were all flying yellow caution flags that blew from the south east. The ocean is getting cooler ( low 80's) but the waves were fun to swim through, as I pointed south toward Miami.

Why talk about the ocean and and food? Well, with the hubris of our washington leaders that borders on megalomania, why not? Something is goofy in the top floor of our castle and the rest of the world wonders and worries. In the meantime our national treasure is squandered. It is bad joss. It is never nice when the elected leaders speak with dismissive & patronizing condesension.

So here is a simple-to-fix tasty treat to give your body and soul a lift.

Recipe – Crab Cakes

Butter – 3 tblspns
Onion – minced - 3 tblspns
Soft bread crumbs – 2/3 cup

Mix together and cook on low temp for about 3 minutes , or until onions get translucent - then set aside.

3 eggs - beaten with
2 Tblspns olive oil
Crab meat - 3 cups
Parsley – chopped -3 Tblspns
Chili Stuff Bonanza Fish Mix – 2 tspns. (or a mix ox of paprika, garlic powder& dill )

Combine these ingredients with the onion & bread crumbs and mix everything together and chill for a couple of hours.

Shape into 9 cakes and dust with flour.

Heat a grill or large pan to medium and brown cakes on both sides. Then lower heat and cook for about 5 minutes.

RAINY MONDAY - THINK SUN

On dark and squally days like today beach activities are pretty well out.
Thank the weather gods there is no wind, but the clouds are filled with lighting bolts.
This is a good day to stay inside and think of the blue skies of egypt. It hasn't rained there since '96.

Thoughts of warm days will invade your sences when you smell this easy chicken dish cooking.

Bukhari Chicken

About 4 servings

1 chicken, cut in serving pieces
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups chicken bouillon
1/4 cup butter
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup diced celery (about 3 stocks)
1 medium onion, sliced
1 green pepper, cut in thin strips
¼ pound sliced mushrooms
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup shredded cabbage

SPRINKLE chicken inside and out with salt.
BROWN pieces in melted butter in skillet brown on all sides.
ADD bouillon, soy sauce, ginger and celery. Cover. Simmer for about 25 minutes.
ADD onion, green pepper and mushrooms with liquid. Cover. Simmer for 10 minutes.
ADD blended cornstarch with water. Cook, stirring, until thickened.
ADD cabbage. Cover. Cook for 3 minutes.