AT HOME, CURRENTLY READING OLIVE KITTERIDGE, BY ELIZABETH STROUT
Snow began falling this morning before 8:00 a.m, just ahead of its anticipated arrival.
Two hours later, the sky is thick with it. The streets, like laps, are dressed in swaths of soft white finery. Should weather forecasts hold steady, we can expect more of the same on Tuesday. On Thursday. And again, on Saturday.
I’d planned to go to early church this morning, then on to the theater to watch another Oscar-nominated film. But not being much of a driver under the best of conditions, I’ve decided to stay put. In rhythm with nature, I’m going to allow the falling snow to redefine my day.
Instead of kneeling and standing and sitting in a pew on the gospel side of the old cathedral where I worship, I’ll curl up, instead, in a comfy chair, where I’ll attend to God by taking in the ancient prayers and Scripture and commemoration of saints that make up today’s dose of the Daily Office. Then I’ll probably pick up the story threads of my latest novel….before watching Bill Murray in Groundhog Day…who lives a single day of his life over and over until he grows loving and perfect …. before catching up, later tonight, with the Crawleys and their host of caretakers on the latest installment of Downton Abbey. Nestled in between these, will be texts from the children and my daily phone call from my husband. And a few meals… though nothing worth writing about.
Missing from my list, of course, is anything to do with the Super Bowl. This year, with my husband away, all will be quiet on the NFL front since I won’t even hear it playing in the background. Which, I think, with all the parties thrown in its honor, is surely what most will experience out of the big game… except for the occasional play captured on instant replay.
Could today’s snow put a damper on attendance of planned, nearby parties?
If I were hosting a super bowl party tonight (lower case… intentional), I’d serve something easy like fish tacos. I’d bake some of my favorite pre-battered, frozen Alaskan Cod and serve it on softly fried corn tortillas with home-made tartar sauce and feta cheese… or maybe home-made coleslaw and feta cheese. All my children would be here… and of course, my husband, too. I’d go all out and make some of my favorite jalapeño-flavored Mexican rice…. and as a nod to “all things football”, some kind of nachos. How about some topped with white cheese and black olive… and feta?
Surely… everything is better.. shall we say “super”…when topped in white? Especially when served in small enough portions to enjoy over and over.
Today’s snow… for starters.
Two or three of those Fantasy Fish Tacos, qualify, too.
But not, I think, a football playing field covered in snow.
Nor the game played upon its surface, which can only be touted as super… if limited to once a year.
Fish Tacos, prepared with Aqua Star frozen Alaskan Cod
Homemade Tartar Sauce
1 cup mayonnaise 1/2 cup sour cream 1 Tbsp minced red onion 3 tsp sweet pickle relish 1 tsp. Old Bay crab boil seasoning 3 – 4 dashes of hot sauce Pinch of cayenne pepper 1 tsp coarse ground pepper 1 tsp sugar (to taste)In a small bowl, mix all the ingredients together until well combined. Cover and refrigerate.
Creamy Coleslaw
Chop fine with a food processor in succession, then add to a mixing bowl:
3 cups of chopped or shredded cabbage (for ease, I buy a bag of fresh cabbage & carrot mix) 1 small carrot peeled (see note above) 1/8 cup chopped chives, 1/8 cup sweet white onion, 1/8 cup green bell pepperAdd dressing ingredients — no need to premix:
1 Tbsp sugar (or more) 1 tsp. each of black pepper, garlic powder, Lowery’s Seasoning Salt and white vinegar 3/8 cup mayonnaiseMix together, cover and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.
an everyday life 
You know, what you said about your weather sounded awfully familiar. The front just rolled through here at 11 a.m. We were at 68, and now, an hour later, it’s 52. Tuesday’s forecast is or a 70% chance of rain, and Thursday it’s the same, except with a high of 42 and ice pellets. Living downstream from you is no fun! I’ll just read the OKC weather to see what we should except.
No super bowl for me today, either, although I’ll keep track of the score – a fast click to the Drudge Report, and there it is. Who do I want to win? Well, that Manning boy is nice. 😉
I do enjoy superbowl food, though. Your fish tacos sound marvelous. I really do like a good fish taco. The South Shore Grill serves wonderful ones, with a side of Cuban black beans and rice. I can’t for the life of me figure out what-all’s in their sauce, but the fish is terrific, and their tortillas are the thinnest I’ve ever come across. Still, they don’t tear.
Beyond that, I need a break from the computer, so I believe I’ll do some housecleaning, bake some muffins, take a nap and do a little reading. Why I feel like a nap I don’t know. I think it must be the cloudy, gray and trending-colder.
Your Sunday recipe for leisure sounds wonderful, Linda. And I hope it was. Mine proved a little more exciting than I first imagined into words… a few minutes after publication, I received a distress call from my youngest daughter… the one who lives a few blocks down the street. She smelled natural gas. Had already opened windows. But the smell was still strong, especially upstairs. She needed a safe port for her and my two newest grands to stay while my son-in-law checked “things” out. So, I got the little Mini Cooper out in the snow and we had a good visit until the leak was secured and they could return home. It’s not often I get to play the part of
knightdame in shining armor.Still don’t know the outcome of the game. Or which commercial hit home with viewers or better… could take home the Cleo. Or how half-time entertainment was received. But I did manage to watch Bill Murray grow lovingly perfect again…. read a little… and watch D.A.
I must check out the South Shore Grill next we are down. Your description of the taco and Cuban sides set my mouth to watering.
Stay warm. We’re expecting 2-4 inches of snow tomorrow!
Janell