My Irish mother never let me wallow in self-pity. If I
complained about my ugly tennies, she’d say,
”
Thank God you have shoes!
”
My Irish mother never let me wallow in self-pity. If I complained about my ugly tennies, she’d say, “Thank God you have shoes!” If I whined about my chores, she’d remind me that she and Aunt Mary had to clean the whole house and iron their four brothers’ uniform shirts. And if I called to tell her how tough my college classes were and I had no time and I just couldn’t get any kind of good grade in this class, she’d say, “Fine, then. Come home and get a job.” And there’s no way to say that kindly.
When the Mary Engelbreit poster came out with the motto, “Snap out of it!” my sisters and I bought it for our mother. It sounded just like her.
And, though we sometimes wished she would coddle us, we’re probably better off that she didn’t. Really, I think she wanted us to appreciate what we had, and to never forget that there’s always someone in worse shape than we are. In fact, she said it often: “There, but for the grace of God, go I.”
I heard a favorite song from “The Sound of Music” yesterday, and it made me want to count “My Favorite Things:”
Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens: My husband’s careful tending of our roses; my two fat cats, O’Cyrus and Kiki, and our old dog, Stubby.
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens: The smell of dinner on the stove and a house to keep us warm.
Brown paper packages tied up with strings: Blessings when you least expect them.
These are a few of my favorite things.
Cream-colored ponies and crisp apple strudels: A horse called Mendocino Mac, who put the wind in my hair, and warm apple turnovers at the San Juan Bakery.
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles: Friends dropping by, the hope of Santa and a little girl coming home to tuna casserole.
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings: Climbing a too-high hill with my dad.
These are a few of my favorite things.
Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes: last-minute outfits for a rushed Christmas picture.
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes: Feather-light white on a hushed Yosemite meadow.
Silver-white winters that melt into springs: Challenges to overcome, new beginnings to follow.
These are a few of my favorite things.
When the dog bites: Denmark, 1977, one tetanus shot.
When the bee stings: My sister swallowed one, Coke can to tongue.
When I’m feeling sad: Death and sickness take a toll.
I simply remember my favorite things: Too many to count.
And then I don’t feel … so bad.
• Blue soup: If you’re feeling blue, or tired, or sorry for yourself, have this soup. I recently received several requests for this long-time favorite from the Tropicana Hotel in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico. Stand around the kitchen counter, recount your blessings, and then revel in this spicy bowl.
Tropicana Tortilla Soup
Vegetable oil
8-10 corn tortillas, cut into strips
28-oz. can stewed tomatoes
3 cloves garlic
1 chopped onion
6 chopped dried peppers
3-4 small cans chicken stock
2 T. chopped cilantro
Half & half
Shredded mozzarella
Avocado, chopped
Heat vegetable oil in skillet or fryer. Fry tortilla strips until crisp.
Drain on paper towels and salt to taste. In blender, puree tomatoes, garlic and onion.
In soup pot over medium heat, heat 3 T. oil and add dried peppers; cook until peppers are toasted dark brown. Set peppers aside, leaving oil in pot.
Pour tomato mixture into soup pot, cover and cook for 5 minutes over medium heat. Add 3 cans of stock and half of cilantro. Bring to a boil, then lower heat, cover and cook over medium heat for 20 minutes. (Add fourth can of stock if soup is too thick.)
Add rest of cilantro and half of chips to soup, stir and serve. Serves 2.
Serving directions: Put a little cheese, cream, and a handful of crunchy chips in bottom of bowl. Ladle soup on top. Top with avocado and toasted peppers.
• Sage-laced potatoes: Do not scrimp on ingredients for these potatoes. The fresh sage, especially, is vital. You will be amply rewarded with delicious, crispy-on-the-outside potatoes that have the most heavenly fragrance. These were an experiment for some of my nicest “taste-testers,” my parents and my husband. We all loved them! It’s adapted from Williams-Sonoma’s “Savoring Italy,” by Michele Scicolone, a beautiful, smart and entertaining cookbook.
Patate Fritte alla Salvia
2 lb. new potatoes, unpeeled, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 cup olive oil
4 large cloves garlic, chopped
12 fresh sage leaves, shredded
1 T. chopped fresh thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
Dry the potatoes with paper towels to remove any natural moisture.
In a large frying pan over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the potatoes and cook, stirring frequently, until they begin to brown, about 10 minutes. Add garlic, sage, thyme, salt and pepper. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown and tender when pierced with a fork, about 15 minutes.
Using a slotted spoon, transfer potatoes to a warmed serving dish. Serve hot.
• RSVP: Mitch Romney asked for a recipe for something his mother used to make called “sherry cake.” I have the following recipe, which always comes out perfect, but I’d welcome your ideas if you have a different version.
Sherry Cake
1 box instant vanilla pudding
1 box yellow cake mix
4 eggs
1 cup sherry
A pinch of nutmeg
Powdered sugar (optional)
Mix all together. Follow baking instructions on the box. When cool, sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Cookies for the homeless
Many readers have asked if Maria Skoczylas and I will be collecting Christmas cookies for the homeless shelter. Yes, we will. There are more people than ever sleeping at the armory each night, including several families with children. On Christmas morning and New Year’s morning, we like to send them off with a packet of homemade cookies.
Last year, we collected more than 100 dozen cookies, which were much appreciated by the recipients. Please feel free to drop off your cookies in the blue bin that will be on my doorstep, 775 West Ninth, on Friday, Dec. 20, and Saturday, Dec. 21. The cookies do not need to be individually wrapped but please make sure they are cool so they don’t stick together.
Thank you for your generosity and for the cookie offers I’ve already received!
Tip of the Week:
If you’re greasing a lot of pans, use a pastry brush dipped in oil or melted
butter. It’s much faster than a paper towel.
• End notes: “When I hear somebody say ‘Life is hard,’ I am always tempted to ask ‘Compared to what?’ ” ~ Sydney J. Harris
