Under a Red Roof

The Campaign Begins

October 11, 2010 in Admiring, Cooking + Baking, Exploring, Watching by Colleen | 8 comments

Good Morning Gentle Readers! Good Morning Jimmy Fallon (I hope)!

This post started out as something completely different. A dear friend of mine lost her father recently (big hug to you, sweetheart) and wrote how she would love to hear about more normal activities, as she is knee deep in all of the tasks inherent with the loss of a loved one: cleaning house, dealing with banks, bills, a will, etc. When I first read the message, I could comply. I was up to my usual.

Then, yadda, yadda, yadda, I quit my job and our car got stolen (though, thankfully, not on the same day). Not fun or normal. Yet, in the midst of it all, I found myself smiling and laughing, in part because of Jimmy Fallon. In case you don’t know who I’m talking about, I mentioned his awesome work hosting the Emmy Awards a while back. Then I saw him, along with Justin Timberlake and the best house band in late night television, The Roots, do an equally awesome history of rap on his show. I watched it on a loop for about half an hour, and then dashed off to the computer whenever I needed a pick-me-up. It made my heart fill with glee, people! I was dazzled and singing at the top of my voice (that is, where I could keep up).

Then I got to thinking about how that seems to happen every time I watch Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. It’s just a terrific show. I love his style (check out the suit and shoes in the video with Justin – tip top!), his sense of humor and easy laughter, the way his smile lights up his face, his sincere interest in his guests, and most of all, I think, the sheer fun factor of the show. He’s fearless and up for anything. Let’s rap! Let’s play football poker! Let’s get bothered in a tree! LATE!

It made me want to be there, as a guest, sharing a laugh and a smile. But I’m not famous. I’ve written a novel that has yet to have representation and write a little blog all the way across the country. What to do? It being election season and all, I decided to launch my own campaign to be a guest on the show. This week begins with my credentials in the everyday, and the two following Mondays will be, let’s say, more nuanced.

I guess I’ve really taken the Mark Twain quotation from my last post to heart. I may succeed, or I may crash and burn, but hot damn, I’m out of the harbor! As well, I know the video isn’t the best quality (sorry Brian Williams), and our cat Milo speaks before I do, but I had a grand time making it – a blast of silliness and sheer Colleen style goofiness. It took the sting out of a craptastic week and put a smile on my face (and that of my hubster/camera man). Jimmy, I hope you like it, too!

Happy Birthday to my brother Aaron!

Tags: Jimmy Fallon

Emmy Fare

August 30, 2010 in Cooking + Baking, Watching by Colleen | 3 comments

Good Morning!

Jimmy Fallon, cutie patootie of my television set, you did a terrific job as host of the Emmy Awards last night (I like your show, too). I’d go so far as to say that Billy Crystal probably thought you looked mahvelous, and that’s saying a lot. What a hoot that was, especially seeing Jimmy’s imitations – he’s good! Not to mention the belly tickling humor, all the touching speeches, and the great opening number. Jon Hamm, let’s be square dance partners some time. You can toss me up in the air. Yes? Okay!

Of course, the handsomeness of the tuxedos and the gorgeous gowns made me swoon. And they were mostly good too, pretty and sparkly and fine. Save a few, of course. I don’t think ladies should look like they are draped in blue plastic or are in the process of imitating a Victorian lamp, no, no, no. But who am I to judge, really? If you feel pretty and your boat is afloat, I should keep my lip buttoned. It’s not like I’ve ever had to choose a dress for the world to see.

As I am well aware that I become rather like a child once an award show comes on (as in, do not talk or distract me in any way unless there is a commercial), I thought ahead and made a simple supper that could easily be eaten directly in front of the television – Cauliflower cheese soup and our go-to green snack, crispy kale (recipe here). This soup is good, my friends, and for it’s mind boggling simplicity, it’s truly hard to beat. How about that crazy cauliflower color, too? Orange like cheetos, but totally natural, certified organic even. Mmm hmm. Here’s the recipe –

Cauliflower Cheese Soup

1 head cauliflower florets

1 quart vegetable stock

4 ounces cheese, grated fine – I used colby jack, but cheddar or gruyere would work nicely, too

1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

dash cayenne pepper

salt, to taste

Place the florets in a soup pot (mine is 3 1/2 quarts) and add the stock. Unless your florets come from a very small head of cabbage, the stock won’t cover them all, so don’t fret. Turn the heat to medium-high, and cook, covered, for about 30 minutes, until very soft. Puree with an immersion blender until smooth – or you could leave some of the floret pieces whole if you like it chunky. Taste and add salt as necessary. Add the cheese, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Stir until cheese is melted and well incorporated, about one minute. Serve. We had ours with the kale, rye crisp and a little butter, but crusty bread would be nice, too.

Enjoy!

Tags: Cooking and Baking, Recipes

Pie!

August 23, 2010 in Admiring, Cooking + Baking, Eating by Colleen | 1 comment

Good Monday to you all!

I hope the weekend treated you well. Ours was a slice of pie – heavenly and ever so good. The fact that I actually made a pie being the veritable cherry on top of it all, indeed.

Our weekend began in earnest on Thursday evening, as my former students and their friends came for dinner, an ever so brief game of gnome bowling (much more boring than anticipated), and lots and lots of top notch conversation. Broken record alert – I am so very proud of these young men! They are unremittingly kind, smart, thoughtful, and funny. I feel ever so lucky to have them in my life. Oh, and Matt, if you’re reading, you were the inspiration for the pie. After talking about it, I just had to have some, though mine is nectarine, not peach.

We spent our Saturday with new friends who feel quite old (but not at all elderly). We have so very much in common (crafting, gardening, a love of nature and more) and the conversation was just so easy, the best combination, really. They have a gorgeous place in the country, full of flowers, wildlife, and beautiful vistas, the very place I’ve imagined when I fancy a Cooper-Sohn retreat in the woods. Add to that the fact that we had delicious food, the company of adorable and sweet children, and a fire under the stars, well, you know. It doesn’t get much better. Thank you Twists! Oh, and p.s., if you’d like to see their lovely home and the beautiful things Beth makes, I’ve added the link to their blog – My Heartstring under friends.

Yesterday, oh yesterday I spent harvesting lavender. Which sounds much more pedestrian than it was, I assure you. Maybe harvesting isn’t the word I want. Picking? I don’t know. In any case, I spent ten hours (no exaggeration) removing the fragrant spent buds from the stems clipped in our back garden so that I might make some sachets. I never imagined it would be such an undertaking. I watched bad television, four movies, wore holes in the thumbs of a pair of rubber gloves, and felt as sweet and sleepy as Dorothy and the gang in that field full of poppies. Cross your fingers that the end product will be worth all the labor. I will most definitely post pictures if it is.

For now, it is a picture of pie, another blissful weekend gone by, and a happy week to come. Let’s enjoy it!

Another p.s. – this is post 401! How about them apples?

Chipotle Cream Sauce

August 18, 2010 in Cooking + Baking, Remembering by Colleen | 3 comments

Hello Peeps!

I don’t suppose that expression is in vogue any longer, or that last one for that matter, but I am terribly inept at keeping up with such things, and I suppose, rather tragically unhip. It’s okay. I am also feeling summer slip through my fingers, along with keeping up with the blog. We’ve had so many activities in our normally quiet life that I am having a hard time balancing anything. Today, however, I am making a little extra effort, one that you can capitalize on, too. Believe me when I tell you that this recipe can change lives and elevate dinner parties to great heights. I can’t tell you how many people swoon over this. The best part? Two ingredients! Three if you need salt. No kidding!

Greg and I first had this mighty fine sauce at Juanita’s Uptown (sadly it disappeared years ago) in Denver with our super fun and rather cosmopolitan friends the Dews. They lived in an apartment straight out of Dynasty, complete with an elevator. The fun part (aside from their ebullient personalities and crazy personal histories) was the consternation on the part of the elevator operator when Susie hollered, “Beam them up Scotty!”

Anyway, the sauce came as an accompaniment to steamed mussels, which I love. But it tasted so totally yummy that had I not been on good behavior (despite one of Bill’s stellar and killer margaritas in my belly) in the company of friends and strangers, I could have forgone the mussels and warm tortillas, eaten the sauce with a spoon, and licked the bowl. I kid you not.

I tried for ages to replicate the magic concoction with dried chipotles, cheese, flour, and just about everything else I could think of. Then I was lucky enough to have one of the waitresses in a Geography class (hello college days) and she divulged the not so secret ingredients. Chipotles in adobo sauce and whipping cream. Seriously? After all my hard work? That was it? Yup.

Whipping Cream

Chipotle Chiles in Adobo Sauce (available in the Latin section of the market)

In a small saucepan, add some cream. You decide how much – I use anywhere from 1/2 cup to 1 1/2 cups, depending on how many people will be eating it. Add a little bit of the chipotles (I blend the entire contents of a can, as it is usually whole chiles, in a food processor until fairly smooth and store in a jar in the refrigerator), stir, and taste. Add more if the flavor seems too creamy or you want more spice. It’s really up to you. Heat the sauce over medium until bubbly. Allow it to reduce until thick. Pour it over whatever strikes your fancy – chicken, pork, beef, mussels, enchiladas, a firm white fish, or a bowl full of beans. You could also stand next to the stove, grab a stack of tortillas, dip them in the pan, and go to town. It’s all good.

Enjoy!

Tags: Cooking and Baking, Recipes

First Quilt and a Pretty Breakfast

July 12, 2010 in Cooking + Baking, Making by Colleen | 4 comments

Last week was pretty hot here. Super, retreat to the basement kind of hot. And what does one do in the basement besides row on the machine or watch the old television, the one with the screen that occasionally turns bright red? Why make a quilt, of course!

I had never made one before, and I, like many other people I know, have what seems to be a giant stash of fabric begging for just such a project to be made with it. In particular, this beautiful Japanese cotton (running down the center of the quilt) that Sarah bought me on one of her trips there. I’d been contemplating what to do with it for ages. A dress? A blouse? A bag? When I started putting pieces of fabric together to decide what to quilt, I knew this was just the right use for it.

It was pretty simple, a total of ten pieces, including the batting, as I had no intention of drawing it out or starting something I would not finish because I bit off more than I could chew. I am very pleased with the looks of it (the hubster likes it, too). Not to mention, it’s just the right size for cozying up on the living room sofa on cooler days.

Now that I have the confidence, along with much more fabric in my stash and a piece of batting, don’t be surprised if you see another quilt here soon. It is summer, after all, and there are bound to be more hot days requiring time in the cool basement.

Oh, and the beautiful baked good up there? That’s a clafoutis, made from the recipe I posted here. I used the Raven’s Heart plums that are in season now. Aren’t they gorgeous? They taste delicious, too. I might add.

Have a lovely week!

Tags: Cooking and Baking