Holiday Surprise

A spot of color caught my eye this morning. Apparently the climbing Camellias I planted along the north fence are going to show off a little winter beauty.
Looking closer I see there's a slight blush at the edges of the flowers. This is the first bloom I've spotted and I hope more will follow.

Dinner is served

The last of our squash paired nicely with some beef ribs my husband cheffed up. Since the boy is also eating real food now I played up the squash Thanksgiving style.
I cubed and cooked them like you would mashed potatoes. Then spooned them into individual ramicans and added mini marshmallows. I broiled them for all of a minute for the toasted effect. It was a hit with the family, and it satisfied my sweet tooth.
On another garden note. Remember those green tomatoes? Well, those still on a bit of vine I left in tact are ripening nicely. The Chianti Reds have been delicious additions to our salads. And the sweet little cherry tomatoes are just as tasty as a little snack.

A great movie ...

Fried Green Tomatoes was a lovely flick. I'm still on the fence about the food though.

I decided to try making them since I have so many of the little buggers left from our lackluster crop. I found this version online at Simply Recipes:

3 medium, firm green tomatoes
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup milk
2 beaten eggs
2/3 cup fine dry bread crumbs or cornmeal
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 Cut unpeeled tomatoes into 1/2 inch slices. Sprinkle slices with salt and pepper. Let tomato slices stand for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, place flour, milk, eggs, and bread crumbs in separate shallow dishes.

2 Heat 2 Tbsp of olive oil in a skillet on medium heat. Dip tomato slices in milk, then flour, then eggs, then bread crumbs. In the skillet, fry half of the coated tomato slices at a time, for 4-6 minutes on each side or until brown. As you cook the rest of the tomatoes, add olive oil as needed. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

I opted for cornmeal since that was in our pantry. I think bread crumbs are the way to go, however, as the cornmeal was too crunchy for my palette. In the end, not a bad meal when combined with barbeque chicken breasts on a bed of couscous.

Out with the old

There's a steady drizzle coming down today and flood warnings have been issued around the area. Despite the gloom, I continue to maneuver in a bright, happy state of glee following Tuesday's election.
As cliche as it sounds, Obama's victory was never a doubt in my mind. I couldn't stop grinning the entire night after the contest was called. It wasn't until the next morning, however, standing in our kitchen preparing a snack for our young son, that I shed quiet tears of joy.

My father was black, my mother white. I grew up in a small Montana town where you couldn't escape the weight that race can place on people. It wasn't constant, but the few instances where racism slapped me in the face left emotional scars that really never heal.

The color of a person's skin is a visual reminder of our differences, and unfortunately one that too many use as an excuse to remain ignorant. I worry how through the years racism will treat my son. I can hold him close for only so long before he, too, will experience the unfair burden of color.

Obama's win gives me hope that we have finally turned a page in our country's tattered story. This does not mean the road ahead will be easy, but for me the future now holds so much more promise and potential.

Election 2008

Waking this morning I felt a giddiness reminiscent of my childhood when I'd charge out of bed on Christmas day. Never before have I been so excited to vote and so anxious for our country's future.
What an incredible privilege to exact change that has been sought for eight long years. As a writer, I understand the power of the pen. But today I truly hope that my one little dark circle leads to tremendous change for the better, for my family, my nation and this precious planet that for too long has been spinning out of control.