Ariba! OMG Chipotle Soup

When ripe jalapeno peppers have been dried and smoked for cooking, you get Chipotle!  It is a complex chili powder with a lot of depth in aroma and flavor, so a little goes a long way.  I used a quarter of a teaspoon in this soup, and it made all of the other ingredients come to life, as if I had never enjoyed them this much before.  So far, everyone that has tasted this soup has said some version of "Oh My God!"   One of my favorite tasters, Magnolia, tried not to rush because she wanted her taste buds to keep their orgasm going as long as possible. This soup is worth the pleasurable time it takes to make it.   It's not hard, and for Ruby, food magic will not be rushed. And, you'll feel like dancing! We did!

(please bear with me, haven't quite figured out how to get the margins and spacing into their perfect alignment yet!)

Music to cook, eat and dance by:
      Santana, Supernatural
      Soundtrack from The Full Monty, cuz "You can leave your hat on."
      Buena Vista Social Club

The Ingredients:

       ~ 1 T (tablespoon) Coconut or olive oil
       ~ A pound of turkey sausage, casings removed and torn into bite size pieces
       A dried shredded cheese such as parmesan, romano, asiago or pecorino, for garnish
       1 Can whole, plum tomatoes, with juice, cut into bite size pieces
       1 c (cup) Red Wine (optional)
       2 c Vegetable Broth, 1st choice is "Bettter than Bouillon" vegetable base by Superior Touch  2nd choice is chicken or turkey broth
       1 T Worcestershire Sauce
       ~1 T Braggs Aminos, or soy sauce
     
The Fresh Stuff:

       1 Bulb of garlic, half sliced and half chopped
       1 Onion, diced
       3 Potatoes, diced
       3 Carrots, diced
       1 Red bell pepper, diced
       6-7 Large white mushrooms, large slices, cut in half
       1 Lime, c ~1 T zest, and the juice from the rest
       ~1 T Ginger, grated
       1 Avocado, sliced at the end for garnish

Seasonings: These are dried; if using fresh, add twice as much

      1/4 t (teaspoon) Chipotle
      ~ 1/4 t Cumin
      ~ 1/4 t Chili powder
      ~ 1 t of the following: Basil, Tarragon, Thyme, Marjoram, Dill weed, Oregano, or Italian
             (use your favorites, at least a couple T all together)
      Salt and Black Pepper to taste, I used some Hawaiian Sea Salt, but any sea salt will do. Sea Salt does not have as much sodium, and tastes like it has more flavor!

Method:

      Heat up your soup or stock pot to slightly higher than medium
      Add coconut oil.
     When hot enough, add onion, and saute until about half way done
     Add Carrots, potatoes and start adding the seasoning and saute for ~ 5 minutes
     Add sausage, half of the chopped garlic, grated ginger, more seasonings, and stir for ~ 5 minutes
     Add tomatoes, all liquids, rest of chopped garlic, bell peppers and mushrooms, lime zest and juice,
                the rest of the seasonings and simmer for at least 30 minutes, no more than 60.
     While waiting, stir every few minutes to keep the ingredients folding together, add more water as                 needed to make the soup the consistency you like best
      Saute sliced garlic in a half teaspoon of oil c a little salt and basil, until cooked through but not too brown,
          set aside for garnish

When the soup is finished, cover, remove from heat and allow to rest for at least 30 minutes. Rest or dance as needed.

When soup is ready to serve, it's time to garnish c ~ a T of cheese first, sliced avocado and sauteed garlic on top.
Or, cheese, garlic and a t of pesto (this time I used an herbal pesto you'll find in a separate recipe.)
Or, 1 T sour cream or greek plain yogurt
Or, any or none of the above.  This soup can sit on its own, but it's fun to add more layers of flavors!

Then sit back, and enjoy a soup that any gourmet would be proud of, your friends will be grateful for, and another masterpiece that you can call your own.

Stay warm and well,
Love,
Ruby

      
      
      
      
      
    
    

Quickie Sausage and Veggies

AUTUMN

Quickie Sausage and Veggies: Faster than it takes to read this recipe. Even Ruby is in a hurry sometimes!

(Actually good any time of the year.)

The Stuff:

1 Package flavored sausages like al Fresco, such as pesto, or herb and garlic

If you have access to a Trader Joe's, don't tell me cuz we dun't have one up here in the Upper Valley, just get them there, or get them on sale. You wanna pay less than four dollars a package, five max.

Your favorite vegetable(s) (one is faster than two) like zucchini, or broccoli; my personal favorite is the zucchini, it's cheap, cooks quickly and really does well with this recipe

1 or 2 Tomato, cut into eighths

Garlic and Onion Powders

Cooking liquid, combine enough white 

wine (optional), broth, water, coffee or tea to make about a 1/4 c

1-2 T Olive Oil, or Coconut oil 

Salt and pepper to taste (I use more pepper than salt, it's good for the digestion)

1 T (or more) of Your favorite herbs such as basil, marjoram, tarragon, dill, or if you use Italian, that's enough

When applying, bruise them, rub them through your hands, or use a mortar and pestle, to bring out their flavor. Don't forget to put some on yourself to keep you in the mood.

 

The Method:

Remove the skins off of the sausages by lightly slicing into the skin enough lengthwise with a sharp knife so you can pull them off, like a condom. Put them into a pile and take a good look at them. Express your gratitude to yourself for taking this step, and not allowing your body to have to figure out how to digest them. By now, you've probably eaten enough hot dogs that you have fulfilled your body's quota for chemically produced plastic, stick to dirt.

Cut the sausage and zucchini, into diagonal pieces about 1/4” wide, the tomato may be quartered into eighths.

Turn your saute pan on to a slightly higher than medium heat. When the pan is hot enough, add 1 – 2 T oil. When it starts to ripple or smoke, add the sausages and zucchini and start cooking; turning them over enough so that they get brown, but not black. As you're cooking the food, add the herbs and powders. Let your senses do the walking.

When the food is nearly done to your liking, like Al Dente (rides again), add the liquid, tomato and stir one mo time; cover for one minute, than turn it off and eat it as soon as possible. If you require additional carbs, you can put this over rice or noodles.

 

Like me, this dish travels well, and is good hot or cold. Enjoy your quickie!

From "The San Francisco Stories"...Grateful for The Dead

Grateful and The Grateful Dead, Part I

One of my favorite Ruby stories doesn't take place in San Francisco, although her love of a great band certainly started there; well, it almost did. Shortly after Ruby turned fifteen, she saw The Dead before they were The Dead on a stage up at Rio Nido, on the Russian River. At that time they were called The Warlocks, and before that, they were called Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions, but that was before Ruby's time. Anyway, Ruby's family often spent time on “The River” because a lot of young people hung out there, and it was cheap and only an hour and a half from The City. They spent most of their time swimming, canoeing, hiking and so on. But Ruby swears the only thing she can remember about that 1964 summer, was sneaking out of their cabin to see The Warlocks.      

     Everyone had been talking about them to the point, that seeing The Warlocks felt just as important as the recent arrival of The Beatles, and these boys had the added attraction of being from the Bay Area. And, they were playing right there, in Ruby's vacation backyard. Ruby had been spending as much time with her friends as her parents could tolerate, but she wasn't allowed to date until she was sixteen, so whenever she went out, it had to be in a group. And it had to be “the right group.” Ruby and her friends were pretty good at disguising themselves as the right group, since most of them had met in one parochial school or another, either Lutheran or Catholic, and had become experts at telling their parents whatever it was that they wanted to hear. But in this case, Ruby's parents were adamant that she did not go to this “shindig,” because it started at sundown and they had heard, from other parents, that it would be overrun with a crowd of wild teenagers with long hair. Ruby's mother, who had been trying to get Ruby to cut her hair, suggested that if she did cut it, she could go to the concert! Ruby's mother was joking, but it didn't matter to Ruby, she had other plans. 

      First of all, their cabin wasn't too far from the bandstand, so she would still be able to hear the band. The other thing is that it had been a very hot day, her parents were cooling off with Manhattans, and Ruby felt confident that they would pass out in time for her to sneak out the back door, and slide down the generous banister that led to the carport. But it still took them a long time before they retired, and Ruby's friends had given up waiting for her. She had to listen to The Warlocks from her room that opened up to the balcony of the cabin. She had to put her nightgown on over her Bermuda shorts and camp shirt, which made her sweat and swear, while listening to music that she fell in love with instantly. Her thongs (they're called flip-flops now), were easy to slip on, so she just waited it out until the light in her parents room went out. By the time it did, the band had finished their first set and were taking a break. Ruby slipped her nightgown off, arranged the pillows in the bed to look like she was still there, slipped her thongs on, and slid down the bannister. It was dark back there and one of the thongs fell off, but Ruby waited until her eyes adjusted to the moonlight, recovered the sandal and made her way towards the bandstand.

      At first Ruby could not believe that such a crowd had gathered right there at Rio Nido. It was one of the first times in her life that she realized how blessed she really was, to be in the right place at the right time. She quickly found her friends and they began immediately to share the excitement and celebration of having escaped from their parents, in one way or another, and had the good fortune to be out at night, with everyone else. It was well worth the escape. The music was even more exciting than anything the Beatles had come up with. It was a rock n' roll that was full of variety, sometimes rock, sometimes a little bluegrass, and even some jazz! It was new, it had character that made Ruby and her buds start dancing as soon as they got there, without partners, but as a group, the right group. The second set lasted longer than the first, with songs that seemed to have no end, or were played again because the audience couldn't let go. Somehow everybody with long hair looked like they were in the vanguard, ahead of everybody else with short hair! Long hair had become a symbol of freedom, and revolution. It mirrored the change that was happening everywhere and was absorbed quickly by a lot of the baby-boomers, who no longer felt afraid of the establishment, which often just meant everybody else. Ruby got high on the music, the energy and the cokes that they put aspirin in for an additional buzz. She felt the energy going up her spine, and coming through her fingertips whenever she raised her hands above her head, just “reaching for the stars and bringing down the moon.” She felt the bliss of discovery, and connection to a whole new world of music, that she knew belonged to her and her friends. It was personal. She had seen some of these guys before, and the ones that she hadn't, well, she felt that she just knew them anyway. They were familiar, with lyrics that were real, authentic and often a mirror of her own thoughts and feelings, making The Beatles appear more like Sunday morning than Friday night. 

     And her bliss would have continued too, except that the music eventually came to an end and after a lot of the crowd had left, she realized that the old man with the Hawaiian shirt on at the edge of the bandstand, was her father. He didn't have to come and get Ruby, because he had made eye contact with her, enough for her to know that the gig was up. Ruby quickly said goodbye to her friends and to her freedom, for a while. Her dad didn't say a word, not a good sign; but as soon as they were back at the cabin, she had to listen to the how disappointed he was speech, one that she knew so well, that she could have delivered it to him. She sympathized with both of her parents, because to her, being a teenager was no longer about being agreeable, or even compromising. It was a game, a contest, to see how well she could outwit them. Her logic being that in a few years, she would have to be making all of her own decisions anyway, so why not start now and get some practice? The City was alive with all things new and innovative, and The Warlocks were proof that San Francisco could hold its own, against any import, from any other country. And for that she was very grateful. After all, like Ruby often said, “Who doesn't like the home team, especially when they're winning?” As far as Ruby was concerned, The Dead never lost, even when they had an off night, because the spirit of that first encounter never left her for very long and in fact, still exists.

Part II - Motherhood, Pending

Ruby always remembered Jerry in the Summertime. That's when she had first seen him with the band, and like a lot of people, she felt that he was the heart and soul, the identity of The Dead, even though they all had individual personalities and most of them were real characters. She had been in Golden Gate park, on the Sunday before her son was born, watching the Dead at Speedway Meadows. The fog was just melting away from the Park. The grass was still a little damp, but as the sun got stronger, the smell of the recently mowed lawn was like incense, filling the air with memory. The kind that made your nose itch and the rest of your face smile, because it was clean, fresh, pleasing and full of pollen. It was one of many free concerts that year when everyone felt it was important to keep each others spirits up from collapsing under the weight of recent events. 

     It had been a strange year, and even though it wasn't over yet, it was completely opposite in every way to its predecessor, 1967, when there had been a Summer of Love. The feeling of that Summer was still there, but it was changing quickly. The previous year, it seemed as if the sky had suddenly opened to the love of the Universe, and the Age of Aquarius had shone through the clouds and burned them off. Then, just as quickly, the clouds returned and the backlash of cruelty had no limits, and a lot of people let the love go when they became disappointed with the reality of war and assassinations. Of the many things that happened, besides Dr. Spock getting arrested for protesting the war in Vietnam, there was the Tet Offensive with the most casualties so far in the war, then Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered, and then more recently, Bobby Kennedy. Dr. King had done so much to bring us out of the dark ages, and Bobby had renewed our hope in the future. But that Sunday, the sun was actually out, holding back the fog, a blessing in itself, if you know the fog in the summertime in The City.

      Ruby and her friend Sandi, were some of the first to arrive. The band was just setting up and the center microphone sirened and popped. Ruby's husband was a good guy, a quiet man, but not too interested in The Dead. So Ruby and Sandy went, just as they always had, bringing a little picnic with them. They shared a blanket and some finger food, carrot sticks, grapes and cherry tomatoes, what Sandi called Mama Food.

      Ruby and Sandi had been best friends since the beginning of high school. They had graduated at the beginning of the Summer of Love, after they had both turned eighteen. Ruby was grateful that they had turned nineteen, a few weeks before her due-date, just so she could feel a little older than she had after graduation. Feeling tired and sluggish, she almost didn't go, but Sandi had said, “C'mon, you need this, you'll feel better.” And Sandi was right, she usually was. It was Sandi who brought the special doobie on Ruby's wedding day, when Ruby had decided she didn't want to get married, and kept throwing up in a combination of nerves and morning sickness. And tried to sing “There must be some kind of way out of here...” Back in 1964, it was Sandi who knew that they should start growing their hair long, long before it became a national trend. Sandi had blond hair and Ruby was a brunette, and even though their body types were different from one another, Ruby was taller and thin, and Sandi was shorter and slightly rotund. But people still thought they were sisters, because of their hair always being about the same length! They were like cousins though, since their parents had more in common than the girls friendship. Both sets of parents were alcoholics with one slight difference. Ruby's parents kept it a secret outside of their household, but Sandi's had long given up trying to keep anything a secret. That meant that Sandi's parents could be counted on to pass out more often then Ruby's parents. Ruby could always say she was spending the night at Sandi's, when the girls were usually at The Carousel, The Avalon, or Winterland, and Sandi could always say she was spending the night with Ruby, because her parents would never have called. That way, there was no curfew for either of them. Sandi had a little Corvair, and gas was only twenty-five cents a gallon. At the beginning of the great dancehalls, in 1966, it only cost two dollars to get in. So the girls could have a night out for five bucks, see three bands, and dance until they were exhausted. They usually didn't drink much at these concerts, except for the water in the girls bathroom, since everybody knew that anything could be put into the beverages. Jerry and The Merry Pranksters were notorious for putting large amounts of LSD into the punch. Neither one of them could tolerate much alcohol, let alone try any drugs that might put them into next week.

     Finally, The Dead came to life and started playing, getting warmed up with something without lyrics. Sandi got up and danced for both of them since Ruby couldn't. It just wasn't that easy anymore, for her to get up and down from the lawn. Some friends of theirs caught up with them, and ate most of their food. But it didn't matter, because Ruby enjoyed watching them and everybody else, trying to get the energy up to the level that it had been at the previous summer. It didn't matter until the baby started doing somersaults and then suddenly stopped. It moved down, closer to the birth canal, and Ruby felt like she was sitting on the baby's head. Her little dog was with her, Muffin Dog, the little beagle mixed with something else, the one that she squeezed so hard the night that Bobby was shot, that she was afraid she might have hurt her. Ruby turned red and started to sweat. She couldn't get comfortable. Sandi had been keeping an eye on her, and moved in on her with the whole group she was dancing with. They circled Ruby, dancing around her in a circle and made her laugh and she had to tell them that she was not in labor yet, but that it would be soon. Since they weren't too far from the stage, Jerry didn't miss a beat, he was looking in Ruby's direction, and as soon as their song was over he said, “Hey, would somebody please get this mama a pillow?” Ruby waved to let him know she was alright, but the folks around her brought her pillows, blankets and some more food. That's how it was back then, loving and sharing, being together for the love of music and freedom. They stayed for the whole show because with all the help she got, Ruby just propped herself up with the pillows until she got comfortable, and went to sleep. People stopped by and dropped flowers around her so that when Ruby woke up, she was surrounded by daisies and hydrangeas, that had probably been picked right out of the gardens in the park. Sandi had made some daisy chains out of the lawn flowers, turning them into garlands for both of them. Then she went and brought the Corvair in closer so Ruby wouldn't have to walk so far. But it was still a long way back to the car, and took them a lot longer than they expected it to, especially with having to find a bathroom more often than they ever had had to before.

      It was a long time before Ruby ever got comfortable again. But she had a Friday child, who turned out to be loving and giving, just like the saying goes. A child who enjoyed being a little warrior whenever Ruby had some kind of anti-war meeting at their home, and grew up to be a drummer in his own band.

Part III - Serendipity

By the time Ruby was forty, she was divorced for the second time, with her second child, a daughter that she named Opal, because it was known as a delicate stone with a fine vibration. Her first child, a boy, had already moved out and had a band of his own. So it was just the two of them and Ruby was a single parent, again, trying to survive the joint custody she had foolishly agreed to share with Opal's father. He was one of those bitter alcoholics, that was as trying as a heat wave, whether he was drinking or not, and never missed an opportunity to punish Ruby for her capital crime of ending the struggle that she knew they could never resolve. Eventually, she regained full custody of Opal, but those were tough years, when she kept her lawyer on retainer, just to have his protection. 

      Well, anybody whose ever been a single parent can tell you how much fun it is, trying to do everything all the time, and never feeling like you can catch your breath long enough to take a deep one. But Ruby and Opal were close and that made it all worth while; Ruby setting about to have a better relationship with her daughter, than her mother had had with her. Vacations for a family that's slicing pennies on a regular basis, are few and far between, so Ruby took advantage of friends that lived elsewhere besides the Bay Area. There had been a co-worker that had moved up to Sonora, not too far from a water-slide park, and then there was Carola, who lived near San Diego, Opal's favorite because of its proximity to Disneyland and the San Diego Zoo. Ruby and Opal, who was about ten by then, had spent the better part of the last three months planning this trip to FantasyLand, which is what Ruby called Southern California.

      It had been a mild winter, with a lot of sunny days all through the late fall and into December. And because Ruby got the week off between Christmas and New Year's, they decided to head south, where it would be even warmer, and less likely to rain. They were living in Oakland at the time, where Ruby thought the weather was the best in all of Northern California, even though it could still rain enough to make you think it was time to build an ark. Their apartment was in a small building on “Pimp Hill,” where a red light district had resided after the 1906 earthquake. It became a respectable district, after the Grand Lake Theater was built during the thirties, and for a while housed both vaudeville and film. By the time the two gems as they often called themselves, moved in, the neighborhood had everything you needed from a service station to a four-star restaurant. Ruby and Opal ran most of their errands on foot, and delighted in being able to take long walks over to Lake Merritt and up towards Piedmont.

      One of their favorite stores was the produce market, that ran all the way from Lakeshore, one of the two main streets, out to the parking lot in back that served the supermarket and neighboring stores. They would start filling up their baskets as soon as they got inside the door, and didn't stop until they were almost out the back door, where the smell of the refuse containers would encourage them back in. 

     Well one day, after they had bought enough produce for a rabbit farm, they were headed past the refuse container and on to the supermarket for some paper goods. They noticed some kids going through the refuse containers, who were delighted with all of the produce they were finding to eat. Ruby stopped and spoke with them, since they looked like a lot of the Deadheads that were in town for The Dead concerts over at The Coliseum. Sure enough, they had spent their last dollars on concert tickets, and had to scrounge around for food. So Ruby gave them a five dollar bill, and suggested they get some protein, to go with their fruits and veggies. The youngsters, two young men and a young woman, were so pleased that they offered to carry Ruby's groceries for her, so she let them. After they got to the supermarket, Opal asked her mother why she did that, with money being so hard to hold on to as it was. Ruby told her that The Deadheads were good people, and if she hadn't had a son so young, she would have been more of a Deadhead herself. And even though life had taken her in other directions, she was still a Deadhead at heart, and had simply felt compelled to be helpful and that it was the right thing to do. The gems didn't go to church regularly, so Ruby made it a point to make some kind of contribution every week, usually to someone who was homeless. Well, these Deadheads didn't consider themselves homeless, but they were still out on the street. And after they showed their gratitude, Ruby was grateful herself that she had made the contribution to their evening meal, explaining to Opal that they never went hungry, or without a roof and warmth, and that sometimes you have to remember to tell The Universe thankyou. After that, it was easier for Opal to be generous whenever she could.

     So Ruby and Opal went to visit Carola down in SoCal. Carola had a big house, and explained when they got there, that her nephew and his friends were staying there too. The nephew was busy putting his music into the tape-player, and asked for everyone to give him a minute, which was fine with Ruby, as she and Opal had just gotten off a very turbulent flight.  It had just started to rain, so everyone convened in the kitchen where Carola was making hot chocolate, and jokes about rain in Southern California. And just as everyone was getting introduced, Ruby and nephew Paul recognized each other from the parking lot at the produce store.  It was Paul that Ruby had given the five bucks to.  And, before Ruby and Opal had arrived, he had enjoyed telling everyone how friendly people in Oakland were.  

     Yes, it's one of those "It's a small world" stories, but it's even more fun when you realize how far a simple gift can go. This story still gets a lot of mileage, and reminds Ruby to maintain her generous heart, and the love and freedom that she began to know, when she was fifteen, on the river.

A Perfect Cocktail - The Cosmopolitan

Alright, so The Cosmopolitan gained tremendous popularity because of the tv show, Sex in the City!  And I shall always be grateful.  But not every Cosmo is equal.  Whether you're in San Francisco, or West Lebanon, New Hampshire, sometimes you get a fabulous version and sometimes you don't.  Since my daughter is an excellent bartender, I consulted her for the perfect Cosmo recipe, and then adapted it to my own taste.  The Cosmo is a type of Martini, and should be respected and treated as such.  They're easy to drink, but their affect can be powerful, so drink them sip by sip, and pay attention to how you're feeling. Like the saying goes, "Candy's dandy, but liquor's quicker!"  If you're going to drive home, make sure that you can!  As Gilbert said, "Attention must be paid!"
    I prefer limes to lemons, but it's your choice.  Either way, you get an extra boost of Vitamin C with every drink, an extra benefit if you're feeling run down! Cointreau is as excellent for this cocktail as it is for a Marguarita, but it's also pricey.  Grand Gala is from Italy and about half the cost of Cointreau, and just as wonderful.  Get creative, you may find something else that you like, just as well!
   It's worth it to invest in a shaker that you like, because it's the right tool for the job, and makes it all the more fun.  I found an excellent plastic one, at my local kitchen supply store, which is perfect for picnics, and the like.

The Recipe, per drink:
  
            ~ 2/3 ounce of lime juice, pulp is optional but we like it!
            1 and 1/2 ounces of vodka, preferably a citron type
            1 and 1/2 ounces of cranberry juice
            1/2 ounce of Cointreau or Grand Gala
            (A twist of lime or lemon is often used for the subtle flavor it can offer, but I'd rather have the lime juice. This is not a subtle drink.)

Method:

             I like to pour enough of the ingredients into a 2 cup measuring cup, because that makes about four cocktails, or so.  Then I pour them into the shaker with crushed ice, although I have used regular ice cubes when I had to.  Shake gently and pour immediately into chilled martini glasses, or whatever you like.  And yes, they should be "Shaken, not stirred."  Ian Fleming, among others, was and is correct.
             If you're making them for later, or to go, try and put the ice in a separate container. The ice can be added when you're ready to drink, and will not dilute the Cosmo, as long as it stays in the shaker, unless you would rather have it watered down a bit.
             It's fun when you find your own perfect Cosmo, this is just to help you get started.
            
             Bottoms Up!
       

"Go Ahead, Make My Day" Pesto

Now that we've begun to explore Basil, our knowledge would never be complete without a basic recipe for Pesto, as the Italians call it, or Pistou as the French do. I learned to make Pesto in San Francisco, where I grew up with a lot of Italians and Irish, and particularly enjoyed pairing it with the “Dirty Harry” movies of Clint Eastwood. Remember, we can put together whatever themes appeal to us, since we make up our own rules. I once paired some Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies with Garlic Night, and it was a huge success. 

Speaking of Garlic, you haven't had the full treatment until you've eaten at The Stinking Rose, in San Francisco.  They've elevated garlic to its proper heights, making this a feast you'll always remember.

Pesto can be used as a sauce on top of pasta or rice, as a spread on crackers or bread, as an ingredient in another sauce, soup or dish, or eaten with a spoon. However you use it, you'll be glad that you did. Because of its beautiful green color, it is a lovely addition for the Winter Holidays.

Most recipes call for pinolas, or pine nuts. But you can use whatever nuts you like, or not at all, if your body doesn't like them, or you feel nutty enough already. My favorite substitute is walnuts, but I've even used peanuts, which changes the whole taste into another very interesting direction. If you use nuts, roast them long enough to bring out their richer flavor. Just a few minutes on medium heat in a saute pan will do the trick, and you'll enjoy the smell. Just don't let them burn, and make sure they are completely cooled off before you add them.

I like to vary this recipe by using part basil and part parsley (curly or Italian), or cilantro,

just to jazz it up, and because I happen to love the different combinations. And, parsleys are good for your digestion and bloodstream. An added bonus to the orgasmic affects of Pesto. My preferred method is to make this in a food processor, but I've used a large mortar and pestle when I didn't have a processor, so be creative. Your imagination is far more powerful than any recipe, as long as you're lovin' it!

The Stuff:

Several cups of loose Basil leaves, Cilantro or Italian Parsley (foliage)

1-2 Garlic Cloves, to taste

¼ C Parmesan, or Romano, or Pecorino cheese, grated

1 T Zest, and 1-2 T Juice of 1 Lemon, or Lime

¼ C Pine Nuts, or your fav.

¼ C Olive Oil

1 t Salt, Pepper to taste, if the cheese is very salty, use less salt

The Method:

If using a food processor, you get to enjoy the convenience, and save some time here. Process (pine) nuts; add garlic, process; then the foliage, process; add the olive oil, lemon, cheese and S and P and process until your desired consistency. Before placing in an airtight container, pour a little olive oil on top to help preserve it. It can keep this way for about two weeks, or in the freezer for a coupla months.

If not using a food processor, you get to enjoy more direct contact with the ingredients.

Finely mince the garlic, basil and pine nuts individually, then add together. Add the rest of the stuff, and grind them with a mortar and pestle, or mix them thoroughly with beaters, or by hand, before placing them in an airtight container and so on...

Music:  Just get your sexy on, you know what it is better than I do, 
But Grace Potter comes to mind....for a start! And then Keb'Mo' and Bob Marley, and so on...

BASIL LOVE SOUP

Just before the first frost - Basil Love Soup

(a healing recipe)

FIRST, A NOTE FROM RUBY:  Just transferred this recipe over from another location and still learning how to do that so ... be patient and forge ahead, I'll always make it worth your while!

Your first choice is to grow Basil yourself. Second choice is having good friends that grow it for you. Third choice is buying it fresh at your local co-op or supermarket. The major

co-ops in my neck of the woods sell a lot of their herbs by the stem, so you don't always have to buy a whole bunch if you don't want to, but with Basil, you want to. If you have to, you can use it dried, but it's not the same, because it changes when its dried. You lose a lot of its intensity, and the pleasure of handling it with the bunch in your hands, like a bouquet of flowers. Don't get me wrong here, I use plenty of dried basil, but only when I have to.

I didn't even have to plant it, weed it, or do anything but just be there. My New Hampshire family up at Stonehill Farm, had the largest crop of Basil I had ever seen. We'd been enjoying it for weeks, but had our first frost on the 9^th of October and had to bring it in before it froze. So I had plenty to work with. And Basil is my favorite herb; not just because it is seasonal, but because of its large, produce like growth, making it fragile and not as easy to dry out as other herbs. Yet, it is magical, creative, the King of herbs and the herb of Kings. It inspires me to greatness, and so I offer this fabulous, love filled Basil Soup as proof of its properties and flexibility.

The Stuff:

½ Bunch o Basil, leaves only, finely sliced, then finely chopped

¼ Cup of Fresh Parsley, minced and/or ¼ Cup of Fresh Cilantro, minced

or, 1-2 T Dried

Zest of 1 Lime, or Lemon, and their juice

~ 2T Olive or Coconut oil

2 Onions, chopped (a medium dice), or 1 leek, or shallots, or combination (~2 cups)

½ Head o Garlic, very finely sliced

2-3 Carrots, chopped

½ Head o Fennel, or several stocks of celery, sliced

Assorted other vegetables you might have around like:

potatoes, green beans, bell peppers, cut as you see fit

For vegan, used vegetable stock, for carnivores, add chicken or turkey stock, 1 qt.

I usually add some tofu or meat ends* for protein and more flavor

Salt and pepper to taste

Water, as needed to make the desired consistency, ~ 1-2 qts.

White wine, very optional

Nasturtiums and pansies for garnish, color, and a little added pepper, very optional but very pretty, especially by candlelight.

The Method:

After you've enjoyed gathering all of your ingredients, and getting them ready, put some music on. I like music I can sing along with, as I believe that this adds even more lovin' energy to the source. Then start browning the onions in the olive oil for at least five minutes until they start to get opaque but not brown; then add carrots, fennel or celery, and the first layer of Basil. Allow these to get friendly with one another, and add stock as needed to keep ingredients from sticking. Add more Basil every time you add another ingredient. Add the rest of the veggies and meat, wine, garlic, rest of the Basil, stock, and salt and pepper. Add water as needed. Continue stirring when needed, by you or the pot! Let the smell of the Basil and garlic, and everything else, fill your home until you're ravenous. I like to stir the pot a lot, and let the release of the fragrant steam fill my senses. I also like to put a piece of basil in my cleavage, so that I too can smell like basil, as it warms up.

With a soup like this, you can eat it with bread, or add rice or noodles, if you need some carbs, or just feel like it. Remember to add salt and olive oil to the cooking water for the rice or noodles. One of my favorite chefs, Mario Batali, says that your boiling water should be like sea water! So I like to add a handful of sea salt, but you need to know how salty you like it.

I've made it simple and not so simple. The main ingredients are the basil, and the garlic and onions, after that use what you like. Feel free to add any other favorite herbs. I often add a bit of Tarragon and Dill, just because I love them. Tarragon is an acquired taste, like Cilantro, that not everyone appreciates, so it's important to know what you like.

This is an excellent recipe for helping you clean out your refrigerator towards the end of the week. Savor and Enjoy! This is one of my favorite dishes, that gives me back everything that I put into it and more, which makes it a healing soup. Now I can't guarantee that it will cure what ails ya, but if ya don't feel better after having some, have some more. And don't forget some powerfully moving music, and candlelight.

* Many markets, in their deli departments, will sell their meat ends at a substantially reduced price. That's the end of the chunk o meat or cheese that the slicer just can't handle. Meat ends are great for soups and salads, like the Chicken Salad recipe in the salad, or rabbit food section of this book.(will transfer over soon!)

Musical Suggestions:

Opera: La Boheme, by Puccini

Classical: Daphnis and Chloe, by Ravel

Jazz: Cast Your Fate To The Wind, The Vince Guaraldi Trio

From: "How to Survive New England"

Higher Grounds

Just try and go for a quiet cup of coffee when you run out of your own, I dare ya. Now this coffee shop may be too large, because the sister with her loud cell phone conversation, encourages me to respond to some of the questions we don't get to hear her gynecologist give her the answers to. I will her to look my way, so that she may know I'm not the only one that's listening. She finally turns around and I flash a knowing smile, as if we are old friends. She is indignant so I flash her again, this time with my hand in phone formation, going beu, beu, beu. She gets it, and ends her conversation as she explains to the listener that she has no privacy!

Then there's the retired gentlemen in their own coffee clutch, pointing their fingers at one another and laughing at each others jokes, loudly. At least it's laughter, but it's still too loud. The acoustics in here are terrific, I should stand up and sing an aria from Macbeth.

The Alan Rickman lookalike in the corner, is also on his cell phone (cell phones shouldn't be allowed in public like this since the public has no sense of propriety, privacy or introspection), pleading for one more chance. I'm thinkin', C'mon! Take it outside, get a room! Or, is he trying to gather sympathy from the listeners around him? He won't get any from me. Since he lacks any grace available to keep his voice down, I can't blame the woman, or man, on the other end, for ending whatever they may have had. He's a whiner, he needs a piece of cheese to go with this whine, it hasn't aged yet, so perhaps something young, made from yogurt.

The ginormously rotund man buying bagels and butter, while I was getting a refill, tells the young woman behind the counter that he's leaning on, that “she was cute as a button.” I had to give it to him for balls, since he turned to me and asked if I agreed! Naturally, I said “No! That I would never speak to an adult that way, especially in public.” Then he said, “Then you're not like me!” Duh! I said, “True, I try not to talk down to people that are serving me my breakfast, lest I find shards of glass in my food!” He didn't seem to be able to close his mouth after that, shook his head and left without any further need to be congratulated, for being so uselessly jovial to the woman who had no choice but to be kind to him. He obviously mistook her polite and well practiced smile, as if she were in agreement with him.

Am I sounding cynical yet? If not, do read on! The only thing quiet about the coffee shop, is the coffee itself.

Then there's the couple from Hanover, or Lyme, sitting not too far to my left in their own booth, with their traditional colors and finery, and some kind of class (Dartmouth class of 46?) that distinguishes them from the rest of the crowd. He is hearty, friendly, offering me a warm smile since I'm staring at them. She, slim, with a cold stare, tries to share the good natured look he gives me, but can not. Instinctively, she considers me a threat, and bullies him until he agrees to leave; which was what brought me into this story in the first place, but not annoying enough to be at the beginning.

The woman sitting in a large booth by the window, close to my age, clutching her paper coffee cup, is dabbing at her lips and forehead with a napkin. Hot Flash! Yes, the ceramic coffee cups hold more heat, but they won't fall apart when your hands gets sweaty. Just watching her makes me start to sweat in agreement, so I get out my cloth fan and cool off. She sees this and starts fanning herself with her newspaper. We acknowledge our cooling techniques and laugh. Ya gotta laugh, this keeps ya from crying, or killing.

So here we all are: talking, chewing, laughing, and listening while my pen starts to run out of ink. My ever reliable pilot, with the superfine tip that served me well, until today. But that's alright, because I've entered the land of the dazed and ungrounded, while we wait for enough caffeine to hit our arteries, kidneys and adrenal glands.  And me? I'm waiting for the Co-op to open so I can get some organic coffee, that won't make me sweat as much as this stuff, the more chemically produced product that most Americans are addicted to, loudly.

Ruby Red Sub-Zero Super Soup - For me and Chris.

This soup deserves to be cooked, not just for the pleasures of making it, smelling it, and eating it; but because of its vibrant colors that permeate every aspect that we are capable of appreciating.  It's so good that you can eat it hot in Winter, and cold in Summer, or room temperature, if you need to take it with you.  I made it yesterday, because I was in need of some warmer encouragement than the -17 degrees that was painted in ice on every window of my apartment, and, because my friend Chris was just home from the hospital and in need of some home cooking. And, just because my car wouldn't start when I was finished making it, and couldn't deliver it until later in the day, making this soup made me feel transported to that happy place that we all enjoy, when we feel satisfied with the blessings of complete, and pleasurable nutrition.

Music to cook by:  Celtic Music was a worthy companion, ranging from Cherish the Ladies (The Girls Won't Leave the Boys Alone), to The Chieftains (The Celtic Harp), and Celtic Women of the World (Putumayo, Parts I and II).
Dessert was chocolate yogurt and the soundtrack to What Women Want, (besides good soup.)

Ingredients:  First the Roots, diced on the small side for easier handling and faster cooking, if time is important. Most measurements are approximate. Sizes vary and it's helpful to know how you like it.

    1 Large Yellow Onion,
    2-3 Large Russet Potatoes, or 4-5 Red Potatoes
    6 Garlic Cloves, at least, more if you love it, less if you don't.
    4 Large Celery stalks, with leaves
    3 Large Carrots
    1 Fennel Bulb (optional, in case you can't find it, or don't like it.)

Then the Seasonings:  (This is rather arbitrary, since I use a lot of them.  In other words, you have to decide what a lot is for yourself.  This is what I use. Feel free to use your favorites from the suggestions below.)

    2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning, if you love it, and/or
    1 t of each herb: Tarragon, Dill, Basil, Oregano, Thyme, Marjoram, Rosemary, etc.
    2 Bay Leaves
    1 t of each spice, optional:  Cumin, chili powder, curry (mild)
    1 t Red Pepper Flakes, if you want more heat
    Grated nutmeg, some
    1 Tablespoon Fresh parsley and/or cilantro, finely chopped
    1 T Lime zest
    1 T grated Ginger, more if you're fighting off a cold.
    Salt and pepper to taste, be careful here since limes taste salty on the tongue
    (I also use a few shakes of Bragg's Liquid Aminos, from soy protein, an all purpose seasoning and soy sauce alternative, which helps provide the salty taste and some protein, which helps if you're making a vegetarian version of this. And like anything else made with soy, it's good for hormonal balance.)

The Rest:

    1-2 T Coconut or Olive Oil
    4-5 large, high quality, lean sausages such as turkey, chicken, your call.
           For this batch, I used 2 rosemary chicken and 3 lean and sweet turkey sausages
    For a Vegetarian version, use black beans and corn instead of meat, or, your favorite tofu, etc.
    1 Large Red Bell Pepper, diced
    6 Large White Mushrooms, cut in half and then into large slices
    1 Small Head of Broccoli, chopped
    1-2 cans whole Tomatoes, c juice
    2 c Vegetable or Chicken stock, preferably low-sodium, so that you stay in control of the sodium content
    2-4 c hot water, as needed
    1 c Red or White wine, optional

The Method:

    In a 5-6 qt. stock or soup pot, or larger, heat to just above medium and add the oil.
    Add the onion and cook it until it starts to turn translucent, but not brown.
    Add the rest o roots, and cook until they start getting over themselves, like the onions. While they're doing this, start adding your seasonings by placing ~ a Tablespoon or so of  the herbs into your hands, and rubbing the palms of your hands together, bruising the herbs until they smell like you expect them to. Sprinkle them as evenly as possible over the roots with your fingertips.  The spices get poured on directly, no rubbing is necessary. Add the Bay leave(s). I usually add the seasonings every time I add something to the pot, this helps to create the layers of flavors that will turn this soup into something worth sharing.
    Now start adding enough liquid to keep everybody happy.
    As the liquid starts to dance, add the meat, and the rest, except for the broccoli, a hand full at a time.
    Pour in enough liquid so that you achieve the consistency that you want, more for a soup, less for a chowder, etc.
    Turn the soup down to simmer and cook for ~ a half an hour, then add the broccoli, turn it off, cover and let it rest for ~ half an hour.
    Serve the soup with or without a garnish of Parmesan cheese, sour cream or plain yogurt, or some cilantro leaves.  A hard, French style baguette torn into pieces, is wonderful for dipping.  However you dress it, there is nothing plain about this soup, and it will carry you through Winter's coldest days, even if the high is only one degree, like it was yesterday.

   
    
    
   
    
    
   

    

   

Garlic

We have a lot to say about garlic, and will start saying it now.  The benefits of garlic are so vast, that Ruby will encourage you to do your own research, in time, but in the meantime... The Benefits include fantastic taste, enhancement of other ingredients and the ability to help ward off the plague and other diseases.

What are some of the things you like about garlic?