Turmeric Braised Chicken with Beets and Leeks

Really great new recipe - love beets and the combination of flavors was great..









TURMERIC BRAISED CHICKEN WITH BEETS AND LEEKS

• 2 leeks, white and light green parts only
• 1 bunch (4) beets with their greens, scrubbed
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 teaspoons ground turmeric, divided
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1-1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 skinless chicken drumsticks, on the bone
• 4 skinless chicken thighs, on the bone
• 1/2 cup white wine

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
2.  Slice the leeks in half lengthwise. Rinse them, fanning out the outer layers to wash away any grit. Slice the cleaned leeks into thin half-moons.
3. Remove the greens from the beets. Rinse them and coarsely chop. Halve the beets and cut each section into four wedges.
4. In a large mixing bowl, toss the leeks, beets, and beet greens together with the garlic, 1 teaspoon of turmeric, ginger, salt, lemon juice, and olive oil until thoroughly combined. Spoon the mixture into a 9 x 13-inch baking dish or casserole pan and arrange in an even layer.
5. Add the chicken and the other teaspoon of turmeric to the mixing bowl and toss to coat in the remaining turmeric mixture. Transfer the chicken legs to the baking dish and nestle in the beet mixture.
6. Drizzle any of the remaining marinade over the top of the chicken and pour the wine around the sides of the dish.
7. Roast, uncovered, until the chicken is fork-tender and the beets are soft, about 1 hour.

Lunch With Mom - 6/20/2017

It was a beautiful morning after so many days of rain.  I picked up an Italian combo on a soft roll for Mom and grilled turkey and swiss cheese for me from Crazy River Cafe.  Mom only eats a quarter of her sandwiches and I am just gaining weight from eating all her other sandwich halves that I take home.  I ran over to Wadler Bros. to pick up some 1x4x12s for the backyard pergola and then went to Mom’s place.  They moved her from the recliner near the window to the recliner near the hallway.  However, I think she gets more sleep by the window.  I dropped off the tote and groceries in her room and then picked her up in her wheelchair and brought her back to her room so the two of us could eat.  

News on the TV was all about the House election in Georgia and the young guy who died after his return from North Korea - just incredibly sad.  We ate and I talked about her upcoming 80th birthday and told her that her sister, Roseanne, and her husband, Jack, will be coming to visit for that weekend.  That really seemed to perk her up.   Her eyes which she tends to keep closed opened up and we talked about what kind of lunch she would like and birthday cake choices.  When I asked her if she would like lasagna, she said that that sounded good.  I told her that she liked my lasagna and she commented - “I like mine better.”  That made me laugh.  She is such a fussy eater and takes pride in her cooking.  She was always very territorial in the kitchen.  I told her that I didn’t know if making Italian food would be a good choice around so many Italian sisters and she smiled and laughed.  She was in a good mood. 

I mentioned that I had to leave early to do some work and she asked me if I had found a job and I told her that I was still looking.  I was laid off in February.  I talked about upcoming interviews and she suddenly asked, “does that mean we wouldn’t be able to have lunch together anymore?”  I crumbled inside.  I know how lonely she is at this place. I told her that we would go back to just weekends.  She made a face.  Part of me feels that this has really had an effect on my work life.  Part of me feels that she should be my priority and that I could put off working for a little bit longer.  I don’t know what to do?  I head home and take advantage of the sunny couple hours to put on the siding on the pergola and then head inside to go online and job search.  All I can think about is her comment.  What should I do?

Happy Father's Day

Dad,

It’s been 4 years and I think of you every day.  I have this recurring dream about you.  I am 9 years old and you have just returned from one of your flights overseas.  I see you walking across the street towards our house and I run to greet you.  You are wearing your olive-colored flight suit and I jump into your arms and hug you tight.  I smell your aftershave and cigarettes.  I feel the scruff of your beard on my face. I am just so happy to see you.  

I miss your daily calls to tell me what the weather is like in Bovina and NYC.  I miss our FaceTime chats where I show you what I did over the weekend and hearing your comments.  I miss fighting with you trying to change your Netflix movie list.  As fast as I can add any Obama documentary to the list, you delete and add something with George W Bush in it.   I miss watching James Bond movies with you. I just miss you.  I love you. 

Funeral Pre-Arranging Step One

I have been in the process of making pre-arrangements for funeral plans at a local funeral home.  There is no way I can get around doing it.  I feel that if I do a little bit at a time, I can make it less depressing and less impactful.  So, I have been biting off a little bit at a time.  Buying plots at the cemetery. Prepaying the funeral arrangements.  Now, I have to arrange for the headstone.  Each step seems manageable but it ends up being enormously painful despite the baby steps.

1. Buying the Cemetery Plots.  Originally, because my Dad was in the service, I thought my parents got plots and burial costs taken care of by the military but that turned out not to be true.  Also, the thought of ever having to go back to Texas even to have a service or pay my respects was just not going to happen.  Tim and I will more than likely retire here in this town and this house. I guess it makes sense to be buried here - unless it was on a cliff overlooking Positano or Barcelona or something but that will never happen either.

I arranged to meet the woman who sells the plots at the cemetery and drove down to take a look and discuss.  One of my pet peeves about cemeteries is graves that are too close to the road.  I don't want to think of myself as roadkill.  Susan, the cemetery manager, was very nice and pleasant.  The cemetery is in a very pretty location, centered in the valley with views of the ridge lines along Coulter Brook Rd.  I had been hoping to find a couple plots at the top of the hill but that is the oldest part of the cemetery and there was nothing available.  Susan showed me the next row of empty lots which were a little close to the drive but not the road.  I stood there and took 360-degree photos from the spot.  In my mind, I guess I thought - this is what you will be looking at for eternity - it better be a pretty view?

Dealing with your parent's deaths is also learning to deal with your own mortality.   Thinking about how or where you want to spend eternity is overwhelming.  I have researched different burial options.  Cremation with having my ashes tossed in the garden, buried in expensive Le Creuset cookware, your ashes mixed with bird seed and eaten by birds and then they fly away, biodegradable pods at the base roots of trees and assorted other ideas.  It is all too complicated and depressing.  I was feeling very overwhelmed and agreed to buy two sets of cremation plots - a set for my parents and a set for Tim and myself.  I mailed the check and drove Tim over to take a look at our future resting place.  All he could say was "nice views."  He takes these things less seriously than I do or maybe he just doesn't have his mind wrapped around it at the moment?  I get the deeds in the mail and take a deep breath.  Check that one off my list.

Brackenwood

Our woods are filled with ferns.  However, the Bracken ferns which are taller and denser have been really expanding.  They were the first ferns that I remember noticing when we moved up here. I just think they are so beautiful.

The remodel of our lobby in our co-op in the city was finally finished.  Although the building is not art deco - the lobby turned out beautiful.  The building was built in the 1920s but has a Moorish edifice. It looks a hundred times better than the old lobby which always looked a little dirty.  Glad that it is finally done.  With this and the new rooftop - the value of the co-ops should increase significantly.  

Lunch with Mom 6-11-2017

I picked up Mom to bring her over to the house for lunch today.  It was so pretty and thought she might enjoy the day.  However, she wasn't feeling so well.  We sat under the new pergola and had a nice visit, a little lunch and then I took her home.  Her gardenia plants which I have been nursing for a few months bloomed this weekend just for her.  I was very excited and they smell beautiful.  Hopefully, she can come back and see them soon.

More Gorgeous June Weekend

Nice close to great day.  Grilled London Broil and corn.  Tim made a Mexican butter for the corn which was really good. We lit the tea lights in the cinder blocks around the pond which looked very pretty .  There was a gorgeous full moon that came over the mountains and we sat out to watch it.  Beautiful weekend.

Gorgeous June Weekend

It was just a perfect weekend. The weather was gorgeous and we got a lot accomplished.  The big project was to get the pergola built in the back yard.  We have been planning this awhile but a little nervous to do it ourselves but it went up without a hitch.  We just planned a small sitting area in the back that will eventually have sides and be waterproof.  Big step and very happy with the results.  Lots of gardening work - the front yard has never looked this good in June so we are very happy.  The vegetable garden is coming along - lots of work to do and it will be a great to see if the bale gardening actually works.

Quote

"When you can tell your story and it doesn't make you cry, you know you have healed."

Lunch with Mom 6-4-2017

All my bags are packed,

I'm ready to go

I'm standing here outside your door

I hate to wake you up to say goodbye

But the dawn is breakin'

It's early morn

The taxi's waitin'

He's blowin' his horn

Already I'm so lonesome

I could cry

So kiss me and smile for me

Tell me that you'll wait for me

Hold me like you'll never let me go

I'm leavin' on a jet plane

I Don't know when I'll be back again

Oh, babe, I hate to go

There's so many times I've let you down

So many times I've played around

I tell you now, they don't mean a thing

Every place I go, I'll think of you

Every song I sing, I'll sing for you

When I come back, I'll wear your wedding ring

So kiss me and smile for me

Tell me that you'll wait for me

Hold me like you'll never let me go

I'm leavin' on a jet plane

I Don't know when I'll be back again

Oh, babe, I hate to go

Now the time has come to leave you

One more time

Let me kiss you

Then close your eyes

I'll be on my way

Dream about the days to come

When I won't have to leave alone

About the times, I won't have to say

Kiss me and smile for me

Tell me that you'll wait for me

Hold me like you'll never let me go

I'm leavin' on a jet plane

I don't know when I'll be back again

Leavin' on a jet plane

I don't know when I'll be back again

Leavin' on a jet plane

I don't know when I'll be back again

Oh babe I hate to go

Leaving on a Jet Plane - Peter, Paul and Mary

Another rainy day.  I love NY State but 6 months into the year and we are still waiting for t-shirt and shorts weather. It is a long time to wait.  Rain is good for the garden, I keep having to say to myself.  Today’s lunch: individual Di Giorno Pizza for Mom and grilled cheese, bacon, tomato and onion for me.  Mom loves her pizza and she ate quietly while I sorted through plastic grocery bags, my computer, and my lunch. There was absolutely nothing on television to watch.  I prefer mid-day news during the week and kind of missing the Drew show right about now.   I put on Mom’s playlists and we sat and listened and ate and didn’t talk too much.  Jeanette came in and we talked for awhile about the weather and she gave me her son’s phone number who owns his own landscaping business.  I will call tomorrow cause I need some work done at the house. Another nurse popped in that I am friendly with and told me about some new Indian store that opened in Aarkville that had great samosas and curried chicken.  I told her I would have to venture over and try it.  The staff at Mom’s place couldn’t be nicer and more competent.  I am there so often that they all know me by name.  

We finished lunch and I pulled out my laptop and tried to finish the project I started the day before.  Mom sat with her eyes closed in her chair. I sat on her bed with my laptop on my lap working and my other laptop on the bed playing music.  It was raining out her window.  I listened to her music playlists realizing that so much of her favorite music is also mine.  Music from the 60’s - Dusty Springfield, Peter, Paul and Mary,  Doris Day,  Dione Warwick, Simon and Garfunkel, and so many soundtracks from that era that we both like to listen to.  Growing up, my Dad was in the Air Force and he served in Vietnam and was overseas a lot.  My Mom and I were each other’s company most of the time. My brother, Chris, was 3 years younger and still so young.  When we lived overseas in Japan and the Philippines - we were alone together a lot of the time. We watched TV and listened to music on the radio together so we still talk about our favorite shows and musicians.   We used to go see a lot of movies together as well.  The Way We Were, Sound of Music, Love Story and so much more.  One song that touches me deeply is Peter, Paul and Mary’s “Leaving on a Jet Plane.”  My mother played this song over and over when we lived in the Philippines. My Dad was always gone and she was scared to be by herself with two little boys in a foreign country.  She missed my Dad and missed her friends and family in New York and California and the U.S. seemed so far away.  When this song came on the radio, she cried a lot and I would cry watching her.  

As I sat there, the song started to play.  By then, I had moved Mom to bed for a nap and I was sitting in her armchair just quietly working on my computer.  I stopped what I was doing and looked at the rain outside the window.  I have this memory of my Dad coming home from overseas one afternoon when I was 10 years old.  He and a neighbor of ours shared a car back from their flight from Vietnam.  He was wearing his olive flight fatigues and yelled hello as he was crossing the street.  I ran across the yard and jumped into his arms and gave him this huge hug. He hugged back hard and all I could do is bury my face in his neck and inhale. I can remember the smell of his aftershave and feel how course his beard was but was so happy to see him.  “Leaving on a Jet Plane” always reminds me of that moment and how much my Mom missed him when he was away.  I sat there and just let the tears fall.  I miss my Dad so much. He died in 2013 from a blood clot in his lungs.  I took  over my Mom’s care shortly after that.  I never felt I got to grieve for my Dad because my Mom’s grief was so bad and I had to be strong for her.  I am forced to think quietly about him and don’t talk about it with my Mother.  Being the oldest son has a lot of responsibility.  Being the only son now is worse.  My brother, Chris, died in 2005 from an accidental  prescription medicine overdose. My Mother is all I have left of my family.  If my brother were still alive, it would make this more manageable. I think.  I sit there and remember how much I miss my Dad, my brother and watch my Mother sleeping.  Not a good day. 

Porch Arbor

I bought these old wooden brackets several years ago and have been trying to figure out where to use them.  I picked them up at the great architectural salvage place nearby. I decided that I would make a front porch arbor over the front door.  The brackets were in bad shape but made well but I had to do a lot of repair work to them.

Also, I need to reinforce them to make them stronger.  I took the router and created a surface area on the back side of the bracket.  This way, I could attach heavy metal brackets to reinforce them that would be hidden.  The brackets will sit inside a cedar 2x4 frame and I practiced making the bevels on the band saw to get them perfect.  That was all I could get done this afternoon. However, tomorrow, I will bevel the cedar and attach them and then paint them. I love geeking out on the band saw!

I Heart NYC!

I was so proud of NYC this week and of the stance that Cuomo took on the Federal Government's decision to pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement.  There are days when I want nothing more to do with life in a big city.  This week was not one of them.  My entire working life has revolved around this town and at least this week - I couldn't think of living any place else.  The center of the world - NYC.

Lunch with Mom - 6/3/2017

Lunch with Mom 6-3-2017

It was raining this morning when I woke up.  I love rain but it’s June and I still have the heat on in the house?  The rain stopped shortly before lunch and I did a little bit of yard work before I came inside to order lunch and head out the door.  Lunch was black pepper turkey, bacon and swiss cheese sandwiches from the Cheese Barrel. Mom was tired and strangely calm today.  We sat in her room and ate lunch.  I don’t know who’s clothes she was wearing but they were not hers.  The laundry person sometimes switches clothing around and we get little “gifts” in our wardrobe.  Mom had a good appetite and sat back in her chair after she had sorbet and asked for orange slices as well.  I turned on my laptop and played songs from her playlist on YouTube.  

Jeanette, one of the aides, came into the room and started chatting with me.  Jeanette lives in New Kingston and is really sweet and I enjoy talking to her.  We were talking about our ponds overflowing and her son’s landscaping business. I turned to check on Mom.  She had her eyes closed and was lying back in her chair.  When I asked if she was tired, she opened her eyes briefly and said no and commented on something that Jeanette and I had been talking about.  I find lately that she likes listening to conversations even though she has a problem participating.  She clearly hears and understands everything - at least today.  

I brought Mom a gift. I had been at Michaels and found this little gnome on a swing to put in her little mini garden that I had made her last week.  She really seems to like the garden.  I got her into bed but I had work to do and sat there working in Photoshop on my computer. It was quiet while listening to Nat King Cole sing “Stardust” and Mom dozing and the clicking of my laptop mousepad.  I got most of my project completed and kissed her forehead and left around 2. 

From His fullness, we have all received grace upon grace. - John 1:16

Today was such a beautiful day. I had a nice long lunch with Mom. I came home and worked in the yard and on a new project. Late, this afternoon as I was watering the vegetable garden, I looked up at the sky overhead. It was such a beautiful blue color and in the middle of the sky - the moon was just hanging there. I was filled with gratefulness. We have such amazing gifts thrust upon us. I couldn't help but think about what happened this week with the Paris Agreement. We take so many things for granted.

Spring drew on … and a greenness grew over those brown beds, which, freshening daily, suggested the thought that Hope traversed them at night, and left each morning brighter traces of her steps. 

— Charlotte Bronte