Skipping to N is for Stinging Nettles!

Yes- I know I am supposed to be on H is for ?

But, I am just NOT in the mood to be making Haggis-not yet at least

So- I chose to share Sally's recipe for Stinging Nettles.

Ta dah! Here it is:

(photo below:Sally's Vanishing Point Ranch barn has a lot of blooming roses right now)

On April 8th Russell and I drove down to California

to visit good friends and family-

it's at least an annual trip if not even more often.

While down there we stopped off first in Weed,

then in Sausalito with then a drive over the hill to Bolinas

where we visited first Sally and Gregg Peacock

and our close encounter with Stinging Nettles as a main course for dinner!

I had heard of such meals and boy were they delicious! YUM!

Here are a few photos from that memorable meal....

Harvested and rinsed off Stinging Nettles waiting to be blanched

Above is how to pick your Nettles
Below is the recipe Sally used for our delicious dinner.



Below are Sally's hard working hands stirring the sauce into the noodles.
While it is spring-venture forth and find some tender Nettles.
Bon appetit!



(and you can see more photos on my flickr site)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/katheworsley/sets/72157623923995856/

Easter at the Ariadne's

It's always always a fun time at Malia and Daniels-we had great fun with the kids, good visits with all the adults and of course a very delicious dinner. Thanks to everyone! Here's a few pics from last Sunday plus you can see more pics on my flickr site:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/katheworsley/sets/72157623668639975/

Amesia masquerading as the Easter Bunny.....

Peeking past Malia to the 2 beautiful lamb roasts....we had the lamb, 2 BBQ'd Salmon fillets, Greek Salad, roasted potatoes and garlic, lots of Kathe's bread, deviled eggs, hummous, and Easter Chick and baby Lamb cupcakes. Washed down with champagne and a variety of juices.

G is for Guiness Ginger Garlic Chicken

This is my version of an Epicurious recipe-

I substituted Guiness for sherry......

and I used chicken thighs not chicken breasts...

much tastier part of the chicken.

Both Russell and I enjoyed this meal=we were so taken with

the tasty chicken that I totally forgot to snap a photo..,,

guess you'll just have to use your imagination!

Guiness Ginger Garlic Chicken
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup Guiness or some other stout....
4 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
4 large garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons grated peeled fresh gingerroot
2 pounds or so boneless skinless chicken thighs

Marinate for at least 30 minutes.

2 tablespoon vegetable oil

In a heavy skillet heat oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking. Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip off and reserving marinade, and cook until browned and cooked through, 5 to 10 minutes on each side. Simmer til done. Transfer chicken to plate and keep warm. Pour reserved marinade through a sieve into skillet and boil until reduced to about 5 tablespoons.

Drizzle chicken with sauce and serve with citrus salad and Yakisoba type noodles.

Updated skateboard pics

Russell's niece Jennifer is quite active in her
community of Dundee Oregon. She is heading
a fund raiser for a skateboard park.
Jennifer has recruited a lot of local artists and
residents to paint/decorate some skateboards
to auction off on May 7th .
Fortunately she asked us also-
we have had fun doing these!
Here's a link for more information:
http://www.dundeeskatepark.org/

Russell's completed board

close up of top

close up of bottom of skateboard-lots of Bartism's...hahah

Middle of skateboard

back of Russell's skateboard witha self portrait....

back of my skateboard

Front half of Kathe's skateboard

Back half of Kathe's skateboard
I took some of the lyrics from Jimi Hendrix's song Angel-
translated them into Italian (anything is possible with a PC)
On the back is the English translation and acknowledgments
to Jimi Hendrix and De Simone whose imagery inspired me.


Russell's skateboard-not quite done...
His inspiration was Bart? Day of the Dead? Screams?

Funny how Kathe's has an Angel and Russell's......?
I'll post more pics once Russell's is finished.
We had fun doing these............