CRAWFISH BOIL

My friend, Tiffany, is a Louisiana girl and every year for her birthday, she has a crawfish boil. Well, living in the rainy northwest wasn't going to stop her, so she ordered 150 lbs. of live Louisiana crawfish and got a party going!

Even with sleet falling, we had a fun and SPICY time. I don't know how many I peeled and ate, but my hands still smell like crawfish!

The races were fun - don't blink! Only one crawfish made it to the outside circle and was a two-time winner. Alas, it was not mine. Enjoy the silliness - I just wish you could smell that delicious steam!

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~A SPRING GIFT~

Birds have been a theme for me, lately. I saw my first loons and eastern cardinals this week, when I was in Maine. 

Today, as I was walking toward the coop to put the chickens to bed, I found this beautiful, green egg on the path. I picked it up, looked overhead, noting there were no trees from which it could have fallen. It was just out in the open. I mentally took a roll 

call of all the birds in the garden at this time of year, then consulted my bird references. The only one that fits is an egg from a Stellar's jay. Perhaps it's the first laying year for a female jay and she was taken by surprise? I know our newest chickens are always appalled when they lay their first egg and we can find the eggs almost anywhere until they "get it". 

Whatever the scientific reasons for why this egg was where I found it, I take it as an offering from nature. To remind me of the renewal, growth and vitality of springtime.  

COOKING WITH FERNET BRANCA - Book Review

How do I describe a book whose plot is irrelevant, with a main character who is a completely unreliable narrator? The first thing to say is that it is impeccably written and FUNNY. I can't remember the last time I laughed so much while reading. 
Gerald has a wicked sense of petty revenge which he carries out against his annoying, female neighbor, Marta. Both are renting houses in Italy, separate abodes but too near by about 50 meters. Language barriers, misunderstandings and a morbid fascination combine hilariously in this curious relationship. 

The two of them trade volleys in this battle by cooking vicious recipes for each other. Gerald's are carefully planned, nasty concoctions meant to stun. Garlic and Fernet Branca ice cream, anyone? Marta's are "Voynovian" delicacies no less hideous. The descriptions of both food and people are original and clever. And did I mention funny?

I rarely say this, but, in the right hands, this could be one hell of a great movie. This book is a delight for any reader, writer or cook. If you happen to be all three, well...you must read this book!