juice

"How does one cook razor clams?" she asks. All of a sudden I feel an elevated status of cooking and a recognized responsibility of nature to plate. My brain goes to the skilled chef, drizzling a dash of wine cream butter over a lightly crispy coated tender whole clam in a strong focused twist of the wrist, finishing with a whimsical wave of the arm -- an upside down wave following with finely chopped parsley falling like snow.... "Well, I usually put them in clam chowder," I mumble. Begin by pouring two glasses of your choice white wine- Manhattan Clam Chowder 1/2 medium onion 1 large carrot 2 stalks celery 1/2 large green pepper 3 medium golden potatoes salt and pepper 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes 1 T dried parsley 1-2 bay leaves 1/4 c. (or more) diced bacon (Stewart's Meats ends and pieces- Peppered) 24-30 razor clams 1 c. fresh clam juice 15-20 oz diced tomatoes 6 c. broth/water vegetable broth base ("Better than Bullion" pas...

When those you love show you the things of their lives it is a lovely thing. Fruit bearing trees have followed me - I remember sneaking off to sit under a willow tree just across our lot line behind a tall, gray planked wooden fence in the backyard. I don't know if my parents watched me climb over the old rail fence and disappear into the neighbors backyard. The stories my teacher read of Johnny Appleseed somehow inspired me and I usually brought an apple with. Thinking about it now, does one memory have the power to be a fabricated reoccurrence? The beautiful sweet smell of walnuts laying like defeated soldiers in our own yard was a reoccurrence. If I knew back then, I would have brought back buckets from the neighbor's tree for banana bread and salads. Figs followed me from Australia to Washington - I wonder if continuing drought conditions in WA will be good for fig trees... How will that look in the future? How will I look in the future? My husband's daughter...

Ingredients: 1/4 c. red onion, finely chopped juice from 1 lime (~ 2 T) 1 cucumber, chopped small 1 can diced organic tomatoes 1 roma tomato, chopped small 12-15 medium shrimp, thawed and peeled 1 c. (razor) clam juice hot sauce (few dashes) 1/2-1 tsp. minced garlic salt & pepper Method: 1. Chop the onion and soak it in lime juice while chopping the other ingredients. Then mix it with the first five ingredients in a bowl adding some salt and pepper. 2. Put the mixture into a blender. Add cilantro, reserving 1/2 cup in a bowl. Blend the mixture until smooth then stir in reserved cup of cilantro. Stir in the hot sauce, remove the blender container and put it in the fridge (or pour into a bowl first). 3. Put the shrimp in a small (sauté) pan with the clam juice on medium/low. Allow the shrimp to cook, stirring occasionally. Add a bit of salt. 4. Once the shrimp is cooked, remove it from the stove and allow it to cool a bit. Then mix it with the other ingredients ...

I look back at my previous entries and see a voice I'm almost embarrassed to expose again! My life has changed and somehow I feel the outward has forced itself inward, drawing on different, yet familiar impromptu movements and bunny-hop thoughts. Can one really conceive the lifelong commitment to another individual? I do not doubt the strength of transparency, vulnerability and forgiveness. And here I am, again, but for the first time - The only one who will get to live this life: Wandering with Home in my heart - Finessing the resources within and throwing them to the wind... This kite has a long string that often tangles in trees. The beauty is still all around and I find taking it in to be a daily responsibility. I will always be a steward of the earth, blessed with the rising sun, spring songs, flowing waters, and green canopies - yearning to give back.

A flock of crows and stack of model airplane kits made me smile today.

There is a lot to say with two years gone by, but how am I doing?  How is my soul?  God gave me a perfect description through David's words last night: Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for mercy! In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteouness! Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you. For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed y life to the ground; he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead. Therefore my spirit faints within me; my heart within e is appalled. I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands. I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Answer me quickly, O Lord! My spirit fails! Hide not your face from me, lest I be like those who go down to the pit. Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up m...

After five days of gray, Olympia welcomed the sun like an optimistic old friend offering freshly baked oatmeal cookies... I discovered one of my favorite parables while sitting in Trinity Lutheran Church this morning, listening to Pastor Mike's sermon. "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for is vineyard.  He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. "About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.  He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went. "He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing.  About fie in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around.  He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?' "Because no one has hired us,' they answered. ...

I can't say much about Thursdays, but today was one for the books... er, blog ;) Work was going as usual, but then around lunch time, a couple men popped into the room.  One to chat with Natasha, and one to drop off a stick of valuable data for Sabre, who was gone today.  As I heard man #2 talk briefly with Natasha and then approach my desk, I had the giddy feeling that I was in the presence of a man with a decent amount of "whale watching" under his belt.  He had glasses (check) and a worn white t-shirt with hummingbirds on it (check) and the friendly demeanor of a Canadian (check).... "Hi, I'm Robin".  Of course you are.  I immediately rose from my chair with an open right hand and a little bit of enthusiasm leaking out my eyes and the upturned corners of my mouth.  After our brief encounter, I felt I could cast a line and share my life story with the man.  Given the opportunity, I probably would have just found myself staring and nodding, releasin...

I tried my second Olympian restaurant tonight with work buddies, Natasha, Sabre, and Sabre's significant other (oh, I forget his name!).  Coincidentally, it's called Fish Tale and has a delicious turkey, basil pesto, tomato sandwich with a side of spicy, chicken, lentil soup... http://www.fishbrewing.com/brewpub/ If you are unaware, or don't recall, Fish Tales in Warrnambool, Australia was one of my favorite places to eat.  Even though the menu was a few pages short this time, the food and company was terrific... even in the midst of a bit of rain drops and gray skies.  The atmosphere just enhanced the beautiful mural across the street, on the brewery building, of salmon swimming through a wheat field.  A huge, red octopus overlooked our outdoor table from the restaurant wall.  I thoroughly enjoy the bright paintings around town that seem to make a gloomy day a bit cheerier.

9.16.2014 I began my job at Cascadia today, assisting a masters student from Scotland (Natasha) organize her data on very well structured excel sheets.  The best part of my day had to be chatting with her on our walk home.  Of course, it was no hard task looking at photos of pilot whales all day...  And a free Asian lunch wasn't much to complain about.  Half of the department is gone, conducting research in wonderful places like Hawaii and Southern California, and a couple more interns have yet to start, so it was a pretty cozy work day. A huge map of Hawaii caught my glances above my computer as I told Sabre, who I'm working under, briefly about my time there.  Perhaps I'll get the chance to return with a purpose.  Of course, it's not my computer... I'm borrowing a researcher's space while she's away. You may be wondering exactly what I'm doing at Cascadia.  It goes something like this:  I have an excel sheet on one computer screen that is ...

Dear Friends and Family, It's been awhile!  I'm sad to say I discontinued writing while in Australia.  Things just got too fun and exciting to sit down and reflect.  My reflections usually occurred at the most opportune times; in action and without a laptop.  I miss Australia, but am quite certain I'll return. After a bit of time catching up with home, I've ventured to Olympia, Washington to donate a few months of my time to my love. http://www.cascadiaresearch.org/ Of course, this wouldn't be possible without the support of my parents.  I thank God they are willing to follow me down this unpredictable road. So, Dad and I embarked west, with a mission, on Saturday, September 6th.  Three and a half days of rugged bluffs, golden prairies, land for miles, dense forest, navigable and un-navigable mountains graced our vision and busied our minds.  Dad really got a kick out of the antelope in South Dakota, reminiscing about the times it was a real ...

(written last week; edited 1/20) The Man has finally decided to turn up the heat a bit this week in Warrnambool... to sweltering temps in the 30s, and even 40s, degrees Celsius (over 100 degrees Fahrenheit).  Sonia couldn't remember the last time she had seen so many people on the beach!  I finally was able to brave the waves without a wet suit; savoring the brilliant refreshment in each oceanic nudge.  Fully reintroduced, I returned the past couple days to become reacquainted with the briny blue.  I completely respect the power of the ocean, often being reminded of being thrown around like a rag doll before struggling to crawl unto the sands of Big Beach in Maui.  I was reminded which way was up and which was down only when I slammed and scrapped along the sandy substrate.  Of course, I couldn't stop giggling, staggering like a drunk mermaid, finding her feet for the first time while nearby surfers questioned my well being... and probably sanity, too. ...

I've never had or made mulled wine, but coming across this recipe a few weeks ago, I couldn't resist not trying.  Ben was keen as well, so we "borrowed" one of his Dad's old handkerchiefs, for cheesecloth, and brewed this wonderful recipe.  The ingredients are a bit obscure, but it was well worth it.  I might just make this a winter tradition.  Warming, indeed. Ingredients 8 cardamom pods 8 black peppercorns 6 whole cloves 1 small nutmeg pod 2 cinnamon sticks 1 teaspoon anise seeds (we used 1 anise star) 1 teaspoon fennel seeds (couldn't find these!) 2 bay leaves 1 bottle red wine 6 cups apple cider (we used pear) 1 cup brandy 1 cup honey 1 orange Cider here is always alcoholic, where in WI, and probably other areas in the US, it's first thought of as the stuff sold seasonally, at apple orchards.  We used the alcoholic type, but I'm sure it would be just as good, and decently strong, with regular apple cider/juice. * Cut a square of...

This is a warming and filling vegetarian soup with a little "spice". The measurements are relative since I just threw things in as I thought of them.  Play around with the measurements to see what you like :) Ingredients olive oil 3-4 gloves garlic, minced 1 brown onion 2 leeks 1 teaspoon turmeric 1 teaspoon coriander 1 teaspoon dried thyme a pinch of dried chilies vegetable broth 1, 8 ounce can diced tomatoes 1 cup quinoa 1, 8 ounce can lentils, rinsed and drained  - (I usually use dried, but couldn't find them at the moment) Saute garlic, onion, and leeks in olive oil on low heat for about 5 minutes.  Stir in spices for another minute or two.  Add vegetable broth (I just added water and threw in 4-5 teaspoons of broth powder) and turn up heat a bit.  Stir.  Stir in quinoa.  Add diced tomatoes and stir.  Bring to a boil.  Turn down heat and add lentils.  Simmer for another 15 or 20 minutes (until quinoa is done). ...

12/27/13 First, I want to apologize for the absence of posts in the last month.  Who would have thought December could be such a busy time!  ;) A few weeks ago, my two lessons of rock n' roll dancing paid off at a rock n' roll dance put on by the instructors.  A skirt was the suggested attire and that made it easy, having two of them in my wardrobe to pick from.  Sonia looked right out of American Bandstand in polka dots and folded lacy socks.  Anna (Sonia's cousin) rocked a homemade 50s dress that sat perfectly around her tiny waist. In the past couple months I've learned the Aussie terms for a bachelor and bachelorette party: a bucks' or hens' party, respectively.  A bit cuter, and a bit easier to say... We found a common place on the dance floor with the company of a 50-year-old and above crowd.  The main difference separating, namely Anna and I, from them, was their ability to rock and twirl as if on the set of Happy Days.  With just ...