Menus January 28, 2014

In the many there are one.
Stephen Lawhead.

Here's a funny thing about things- they're never just one thing. 

here's a simple example:

is this one tree, or many leaves, branches and roots?

now a little harder-...is this a little boy enjoying an unusual snack,

or a psychotot who's just hidden the
lid of this can sharp side up at the
bottom of the sink?

harder still....is this an ocean....

or a vast ecosystem that contains vast ecosystems,
each one of which supports a near infinite variety
of distinct organisms each one of which

is far more than just one thing?

(Whew. I don't know if I'm dizzy because I just spun out my own brain, or because I thought that last sentence without taking a breath.)

Here's the hardest of all- is this guy a fearless, patriotic hero...

Or a remorseless, sadistic murderer?

The easy and unsimple answers are: yes, psychotot, yes, and yes (unless your last answer is who? what? 24?) 

No one thing is ever just one thing- not plants, or people, and certainly not Januaries. Well, at least here in Texas, where a cold and windy week has been bracketed by warm weekends that provoke the sort of giddy talk usually reserved for spring: 

"Really ladies,  I dread turning into someone who talks
with interest of the weather, but OH MY GOSH this
beautiful weather! Let's never go indoors!! I can't wait
to explore this stream with my granddaughter Dora! Who
brought food?  Did I mention weather?"

One day cold, one day warm, heater in the morning, t-shirts by lunch-  it's a fun challenge to plan dinner, when  the soup that sounds good in the morning, may need to turn into salad by the afternoon. 

Here's how I'm hoping to roll with this crazy wonderful mercury:

Wednesday: Pan seared chicken and kale and beet salad

Just look at this beautiful salad!  Kale and winter beets! It's salad! It's winter! I'm so excited!. The recipe is right- giving the kale a good  rub down on its way to the salad bowl makes a heap of difference. The protein here is just a supporting player; a nice honey-brined chicken breast, pounded thin and quickly fried in olive oil should be perfect. Any leftover chicken will go into tomorrow night's gumbo.

Thursday: Gumbo

Mom, I have one, count em- oh wait, you don't need to count em cause there's only ONE bag of your garden's tomatoes and okra left in the freezer, and I'm using it tonight. We shall somehow commemorate this bittersweet occasion- some sort of somber memorial of how much life your garden gave over the summer. And then we'll dig in. There is at last a small packet of a spice called gumbo file (as in feel-ay, with a French thingy over the e. Unfortunately, this keyboard is the Standard American model- it means well, and is easy going, but it only speaks English.)

Friday: Honey and lime salmon and broccoli

The great honey lime marinade that my daughter suggested using on tilapia gets a try out with salmon tonight, and a simple pan sear will let the marinade flavors shine. I'll be roasting the broccoli in a pan or in the oven, for no particular reason. Well, unless taste is a particular reason. Roasted broccoli is just a whole lot tastier that steamed. 

Saturday: Chili and mexican slaw

Hard to believe, but this is the first time this winter that I've broken out this great chili recipe. Cross it with the spices in Deb's Hot Rod Chili if you want to take it up a notch, and spoon out some of the browned meat for tomorrow's salad.

Sunday: Cheeseburger salad

There seems to be some sort of important sporting event going on today (go Denver!!!). You may have your party menu all planned, or you may be relying on the menu of your favorite sports pub, or you may be wondering what I'm talking about. This Pioneer Woman salad looks great, whether you're eating with a crowd, or alone, or using gametime to go somewhere that's usually crazy crowded on a Sunday afternoon. It's a sort of deconstructed cheeseburger that looks hearty enough for winter, and light enough for what could be a relatively warm day. Because it'll be February! And if there's a month in Texas that can be 12 different months, it's February.

We'll deal with the multiple personalities of a Texas February when they get here. 

For now, I want you to know that I know-

I know that you too are never just one thing.

You, and the people you love

are hardly ever only 

just one thing.

And I hope that this week

you and the people you love 

are okay with that.

And that you find a way to embrace

all the wonder 

and beautiful diversity

of the mighty ocean

that ebbs and flows within your soul