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.

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 pepper

Add 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 mayonnaise

Mix together, cover and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving.