My military friends...moving on

Some call Key West a party town or a drinking town, assuming the stuff on Duval Street is what it's all about here. More accurate descriptions might be a fishing/boating town (many residents make a living on the water), a baseball town (THE major sport here), or a military town. KW is home to three military bases with a fourth just up Route 1 on Boca Chica. My girls attend a charter school housed on one of those bases. The school was started three years ago to serve military families, focusing on the needs of students who move every few years and who may need individualized attention because of it. The school also has a focus on marine science. The younger students walk the short walk from school to the ocean to learn about the island's ecosystem. With each grade advancement the opportunities get better....snorkel field trips to the reef, overnight camping in the Everglades, paddle boarding or sailing for PE. The school's demographics are diverse, with 80% military families and 20% locals. We are very happy to be part of that 20% - it's a great school. The individualized attention benefits both my girls. These last three years I have learned a lot from the military moms I have met....they are tough cookies! These women have had babies while their husband was deployed overseas and have moved across the country solo with three kids and two huge dogs while their spouse was in training elsewhere. They make GREAT friends. You need something? These women are ON it. And they have great stories about all the different places they have been stationed....Puerto Rico, Japan, Hawaii, Alaska, Germany. Most military families stay in Key West about three years. The first year my girls attended, I really didn't know anyone well who moved on. Last year was tougher. This year people I have known for three years are moving to their next assignment, along with some I have gotten quite close to this school year. I like to joke that I'm not going to befriend anymore military moms because they move and break my heart. But I will continue to get to know these ladies. I'd really be missing out if I didn't.

Key West Kendi: Easy Quesadillas with Corn & Black Bean Salad

Key West Kendi: Easy Quesadillas with Corn & Black Bean Salad: I've been on an 'easy' kick lately. I like to eat (and serve) fresh, good food but I'll be honest that I don't always f...

Easy Quesadillas with Corn & Black Bean Salad

I've been on an 'easy' kick lately. I like to eat (and serve) fresh, good food but I'll be honest that I don't always feel like going to a lot of trouble to make it, or to be faced with a lot of clean up. I completely understand why so many people turn to take-out, but other than the occasional pizza or Chinese delivery, I cook our dinners. Even though I technically have more time on weekends, I always feel like Saturday and Sundays are the hardest days for coming up with dinner....probably due to the fact that the girls are home and by the time dinner rolls around I have served breakfast, lunch and what sometimes feels like hundreds of snacks. So this is what I made yesterday. I thawed a bag of frozen corn, rinsed and drained a can of black beans, and chopped some bell pepper, red onion and tomato.

Everything got tossed with salt, pepper, garlic powder, a little canola oil, and some apple cider vinegar. After tasting it, I added a few bits of pickled jalapeno and a little of the juice from the jar. Perfect! I took the easy route for some quesadillas. Instead of dealing with hot oil in a pan, I preheated a baking sheet to 425 degrees. I sprayed a touch of oil on a tortilla and placed that side down on the hot sheet. That got topped with shredded cheese, some cooked and seasoned ground beef, and pickled jalapenos. Place the second tortilla on top and spray that with a bit of oil. Maybe 10 minutes in the oven, maybe less, and the tortillas are pleasantly crisp and the cheese is melted.

I cut them into wedges to serve with the Corn & Black Bean Salad, adding some sour cream and salsa on top. I have leftover salad for another meal....that will make a nice lunch on Monday when the girls are back at school.

Key West Kendi: Good Morning, Beautiful Ocean!

Key West Kendi: Good Morning, Beautiful Ocean!: I think it started as a distraction on a rough morning. One of the girls was in a state over hair, clothes or just going to school in gener...

Good Morning, Beautiful Ocean!

I think it started as a distraction on a rough morning. One of the girls was in a state over hair, clothes or just going to school in general, and I said 'HEY! Let's go say good morning to the ocean on the way to school!' It worked. To see the ocean, we just take a slightly less direct route from our home in midtown Key West to the girls' school, which is on NASKW Sigsbee Park. Last school year we would do it once a week or so, or any time one of them asked. This school year, we do it every morning, to avoid the traffic created by the major road construction on A1A, or Roosevelt Boulevard. (I use the word 'traffic' but it is really just more cars in one place at one time. I've driven I270 during rush hour, so I know what real traffic is.) So we make a right on 1st Street, which turns into Bertha Street after crossing Flagler. When we get near the 1800 Atlantic condos, I start saying 'Are you ready?' And then there it is, right in front of us.

Sometimes it is all three of us in unison, sometimes just me if the girls are crabby. But we say good morning to the beautiful ocean, the sun, the palm trees, sometimes to crabs, sea stars and giant squid. We drive with the ocean on our right side for most of the trip. It is beautiful. Seriously. Some mornings it so beyond that....stunning, jaw-dropping, awe-inspiring. The girls laugh and enjoy our short ride, but I am still new enough to this island life that I am still thrilled by it, every time. When I used to take them to preschool at Frederick Country Day from Clover Hill in Frederick, I truly felt like I was risking our lives trying to merge into traffic on Route 15 South from Hayward Road. The traffic and aggressive driving was such a crappy way to start the day....I always felt like yelling 'Is letting me in REALLY going to affect what time you get to work?!' This is much, much nicer.

And today I start a blog...

I have been thinking about what I want to do next.....I need a new hobby slash outlet slash passion. Open a shop? Fun to order products but I would actually need to BE there, which isn't nearly as fun as the planning part. Get a part time job? Always a possibility, but the hours would have to mesh with every other thing I have to do and like to do and, well, it's been so long since I've worked for someone I have turned into a primadonna. (Um, I don't like to run the vacuum at my HOUSE, I am not doing it here!) Another thing.....I need to spend more time outside in the glory that is Key West! I've gotten into the rut of being busy, busy and not taking the time to try paddle boarding, yoga on the beach, fishing off a pier and a long list of other things I dreamed of doing when we moved here in April 2010. And I need to get back in shape, so the whole two birds one stone thing. My girls' school just held the annual silent auction, which I co-chair with another mom. I got to get crafty making lovely signs and decoupage trays for our cigar girls and talk about food, drink and flower arrangements..... things I love and am actually quite good at after ten years working in food and magazines. The event was a few days ago now but I am still buzzed from all the prep and excitement. It inspired me and reminded me of past successes that I had forgotten about in the hustle and bustle of life with two young girls. I also miss writing, something I did professionally for years. I know I could freelance but back to the primadonna thing...your story will arrive after kid duties, house duties, PTO duties, and complete catch-up on ALL current Real Housewife franchises. I am an editor's worst nightmare. So, what I am going to do is start a blog. Right now, after I finish typing and hit send. I'm going to do it on my trusty Android and Google blogger. I will take lots of pictures and make it fun and who knows....it might lead to my next hobby slash outlet slash passion.

Key West Kendi: Tuesday stops @ Camille's and Isle Style

Key West Kendi: Tuesday stops @ Camille's and Isle Style: Yesterday John and I had lunch with a good friend at Camille's on Simonton Street. We had a little PTO business to attend to for an ...

Tuesday stops @ Camille's and Isle Style

Yesterday John and I had lunch with a good friend at Camille's on Simonton Street. We had a little PTO business to attend to for an upcoming school event and some catching up on the last few busy weeks....this school year is about over!

Camille's is one of the first restaurants John and I visited in Key West. Our first trip to the island was in 2002 for a friend's wedding. We stayed at The Reach that time, so we walked the few blocks to Camille's most mornings for breakfast. Every morning they offer fun specials - a variety of pancakes, omelets, benedicts and 'super scrambles.' The latter is basically scrambled eggs cooked with everything but the kitchen sink....think filet mignon/mushroom/onion/brie, or maybe andouille sausage/jalapeno/bell pepper/gouda. Really good. And one of the toast options is Cuban bread pressed with butter....also good! Lunch at Camille's offers a list of daily specials as well, a nice selection of sandwiches, soups, salads, and burgers. Yesterday I had the Special Caesar of the Day, topped with panko-crusted Key West pinks, and John had the Tuesday Burger, topped with bacon and smoked gouda.

John and T finished up their meeting while I popped next door to Isle Style to drop off some items for a fun event they are hosting this Sunday.

Island ladies have been invited to clean out their closets for a great cause. I dropped off 6 purses (yay....now I can buy more!) and a pair of shoes, and paid $15 to take part. I received a special bag for Sunday's event - I can fill it with 6 things from everyone else's items, and the shoes will be donated to women in need of casual business attire to enter the work force. After everyone 'shops' on Sunday from 12-2 (and eats, drinks and grooves to a DJ, that is what the $15 is for), the garden will be reset and the ladies who can use a hand will be able to 'shop' for what they need. Fun, right? Isle Style is one of my favorite spots in Key West. It's a boutique/salon/spa with a gorgeous courtyard out back. When I arrive for a haircut or service, I am graciously invited to get some tea or water and have a seat. In just a minute or two I am relaxed and ready to enjoy what comes next. Here are some shots from the courtyard. Enjoy!

Key West Kendi: Crab cakes!

Key West Kendi: Crab cakes!: Just saying those two words makes me happy. I lived in Maryland for twenty years before we moved to Key West three years ago, so I know fro...

Crab cakes!

Just saying those two words makes me happy. I lived in Maryland for twenty years before we moved to Key West three years ago, so I know from crab cakes. When I was a food writer I actually took part in a day-long crab cake tasting, visiting restaurants in a limo with a bunch of other judges. It was fun, but I'll say it was quite a while before I had one after that. Our friends, the Staggs, lived in Kent Narrows, on Maryland's Eastern Shore, for many years and we visited them often. Jeannette Stagg was famous for saying 'It takes as long to make a crab cake as it does to make a hamburger... why would anyone make a hamburger?' She's right, although there is nothing wrong with a great burger in my opinion. But crab cakes ARE quick and easy to make, nothing to be scared of. This is how I make my Maryland-style crab cakes. (I also make a Key West version....a future post.) I picked up one pound of crab meat from Publix yesterday, 8 ounces of lump and 8 ounces of jumbo lump. Dump it into a colander in the sink to drain. Toss it around to check for any shell. Remove that. Very finely crush 1/2 a sleeve of crackers - Ritz, Townhouse, saltines, or Club. I dump them in a plastic storage bag and smash 'em up. Pour these on top of the crabmeat while you make the binder.

I know that seems strange, but trust me, it's important. The crumbs help to absorb moisture and take on the flavor of the crab meat. In a mixing bowl large enough to combine everything, place one egg, generous dashes of Worcestershire and hot sauce, a tablespoon or so of Dijon mustard, and 1/2 cup or so of mayonnaise.

Whisk to combine then dump the crab/cracker mixture in. Gently stir to combine, then stick the whole bowl in the refrigerator for at least a half hour.

Preheat the oven to 425 and spray some oil on a baking pan. Form the crab cakes to desired size, and bake until golden.

About 15 minutes or so. They puff up slightly and have a nice crust on the bottom.

Yesterday I whipped up a quick sauce to go alongside....a little mayo, Dijon, touch of ketchup, and sweet relish. And that was dinner. I make them smaller for parties and keep the baking sheets in the refrigerator until popping them in the oven to bake and serve hot.....people eat them up!

Key West Kendi: Some easy weekend cooking

Key West Kendi: Some easy weekend cooking: Yesterday afternoon I sent John and Mari to the store for a few things to make Saturday evening dinner and Sunday brunch. Some chicken, bel...

Some easy weekend cooking

Yesterday afternoon I sent John and Mari to the store for a few things to make Saturday evening dinner and Sunday brunch. Some chicken, bell peppers, flour tortillas, avocados, a fresh jalapeno, and a bag of tortilla chips. I had the rest of the ingredients on hand, in the pantry and freezer. First, I turned a can of tomatoes, two onions, the jalapeno, and some garlic cloves into a salsa cruda, using the food processor. I added kosher salt and a splash of apple cider vinegar, tasting it several times until I got it right. That went into the refrigerator to chill and bring the flavors together. Next, I sliced an onion into thick rings and sliced the bell peppers into large planks....easier to grill without falling through. Some canola oil, orange juice, and a packet of sazon seasoning went into a plastic container, with the prepped veggies and four boneless, skinless chicken breasts.

Put the lid on and shake a bit....turn it over every so often for another quick shake if you think about it. Next up, some guacamole. I made the kid's version and served them, then added a few big tablespoons of the salsa cruda for dad's version.

We 'chipped and dipped' for a while, and enjoyed a few margaritas, then John got the grill ready and put the chicken and veggies on.

Five minutes on one side, maybe three minutes on the other, then a few minutes on a plate under foil to let the juices redistribute. I sliced everything up on a big cutting board for make-your-own fajitas, using the flour tortillas and some more of the salsa cruda. Quite good! Easy clean up, too. Everything back in the refrigerator (I used the foil I covered the plate with to wrap up the leftover meat and veggies).

This morning, I preheated the oven to 375. The girls had some Cheerios, while John and I enjoyed coffee and read the Sunday papers. I chopped up some of the leftovers from last night's grilling (I still have one whole chicken breast and some peppers left) and placed them in a frozen deep-dish pie crust.

Top this with about 1 cup of shredded cheese. I used cheddar but any kind will do, including a mix of cheeses. In a bowl, whisk together three eggs, about 1 cup of milk, 1/2 cup sour cream, salt, pepper and a dash of hot sauce. Pour over top, allowing it to settle before adding more. I always bake quiche on a sheet pan to catch any bubbling over, which it tends to do. In about 1/2 hour we will have Fajita Quiche! Quiche needs to sit for ten minutes or so before slicing, so it doesn't fall apart. The leftovers will be eaten up for breakfast this week. Quiche also makes a nice dinner with a green salad. Enjoy. :)

Key West Kendi: Musings on a sad morning

Key West Kendi: Musings on a sad morning: I can't believe all that happened in Boston last night while I was peacefully sleeping. And I can't believe all that is going on the...

Musings on a sad morning

I can't believe all that happened in Boston last night while I was peacefully sleeping. And I can't believe all that is going on there this morning, with hundreds of thousands of people on lock down in their homes as authorities look for an armed and dangerous criminal. I pray that no one else is injured in apprehending him....that he doesn't take an innocent family hostage, or kill another law enforcement officer, or any of the awful, horrible, terrible things that could happen before he is in custody. Living on an island these last three years (it is now officially three years, we closed on our house April 16, 2010) has shown me how much we are all connected. Of course, we all know that somewhere in our hearts, but I really KNOW it now. Here in Key West, we are all connected by the fact that we live on a small island in the Gulf of Mexico. We all have that in common, which serves as a bonding agent. This leads to a certain level of respect that is granted to EVERYONE here. It sort of levels the playing field....no one really seems to care if you are rich, poor, gay, straight, have a live parrot on your head, have a fancy education or barely made it through high school. You live here in Key West, like I do, so we are on the same team. This is certainly something wonderful about this little island of around 25,000 year-round residents. The connection I feel with people here makes mornings like this extra sad for me, because I feel so much more connected to everyone everywhere. I am sad for so many because I can put myself in their shoes and think of how I would feel if I was stuck in my home wondering if a dangerous man was on my street, or what words I would use to explain to my two young girls why they couldn't go to school today and why we can't celebrate that by driving to the movie theater. Obviously, a national tragedy would have been terribly upsetting to me if I still lived in Altoona, PA, Frederick, MD or Washington, DC. But since taking Key West's 'One Human Family' motto to heart, it makes me even sadder, on a much deeper level. This photo was sent out by a bed-and-breakfast here after the explosions at the Boston Marathon. Pretty cool. :)

Running a few errands...

I had a small list of things I needed from Ben Franklin, so I headed there this morning. Key West's franchise is small, a tad grungy, poorly lit, and has about a quarter of the items offered at a Ben Franklin on the mainland. That also describes the Kmart and Dollar Store here. I often can't find what I was planning on at these establishments, but I can usually find something that will work, or I head home and shop online at 'dot.com.' (That is what the girls call it.) I asked the clerk if they have dice to replace some we had lost from a game. She said no, but if they did, they would be in the last two aisles on the left. This is what was on those aisles: Now I happen to know that the Tutu 10K Race is coming up, so I'm sure these are the supplies for people running that. Those tiny skirts and tutus, boas, wigs and eyelashes will be worn by grown men and women, and for everyone's sake I hope they are wearing running shorts underneath, but if not, oh well....back to the dice. I have no idea why the dice would be in this aisle, so after a bit of looking around I find them where I assumed they would be. Score! I head to the back of the store for the rest of my list, noting the fat, gray cat that is always sleeping in the middle of one of the aisles. I have to wonder how many times this poor animal has been stepped on! I have time to hit the grocery store before I pick the girls up at noon so I head to the new Publix. The NEW Publix is right up the street from the OLD Publix. When Albertson's closed last year, Publix opened a second branch, but kept the other one open. Yes, two locations of the same store on an island that is 4 miles by 2 miles. You will pretty much see everyone you know at either store, depending on the time of day you visit. Our grocery stores are much smaller than the super-mega groceries of larger towns. But they have everything you need, and a good selection of natural and gourmet items, plus a cool selection of Cuban-Caribbean items. You can always find sour oranges, various cooking roots, plantains and cooking bananas, and tamarind pods. Publix's bakery has a yummy assortment of hot empanadas and croquettas, and lots of the breakfast pastries are made with guava paste......so good. The meat section has pretty much EVERY part of the pig, and you can buy chicken feet for extra flavor in your soup. The girls ask to see the chicken feet every so often, just for squealing purposes. After my shopping I head over to school with time to spare. I sit in my car with all the windows open, enjoying the breeze, and check my email/facebook/texts until I hear those familiar shouts of 'MOM, LOOK WHAT I DID TODAY!' and the girls jump in the Jeep in a flurry of papers and backpacks and questions. :)

Mini-Staycation in Paradise

This week and next is FCAT testing at the girls' school. Due to test regulations, parents aren't permitted to be near the classrooms, which shuts down volunteering. I am using this respite from my usual routine to get caught up on various things around the house. I am also just tooling around my little piece of paradise and enjoying the little things that I tend to miss when I'm busy. First up, my pool. The weather is warm again and the sun is bright! I have enjoyed some mindless floating....good for my soul.

While floating on this raft I have been making plans for summer, thinking about plants that need to be moved or cut back, what kind of soup I want to make next, and other important issues. This morning I also did a hibiscus inventory, finding big, gorgeous blooms in yellow, red and orange.

One of my favorite things about my life here in Key West, is that I spend so much time outdoors. In my old life, if given some free time to myself, I would have automatically headed to Target, Nordstrom or Barnes & Noble. Grab a latte, browse, buy some stuff I don't really need. Here I am 3 1/2 hours from such places. I feel like I do more things that matter here, and I really like that. :)

Food is Love

Today I am making dinner for a family who is going through a very tough time. They received a terrible medical diagnosis not too long ago and the mother is undergoing months of chemotherapy. In true Key West fashion, the island has rallied around them. A fundraising day was recently held at a local restaurant, and we are planning something at our school. Someone immediately started a 'meal train'....sign up to make and drop off dinner so they have one less thing to worry about. I am going to make something simple and comforting. Baked ziti, with marinara, eggs, a splash of cream, mozzarella and parmesan. I will add the makings for a salad and a loaf of bread. It feels good to be able to DO something. And I'm sure all the other moms who have signed up for dinners feel the same way. Cooking for someone and thinking about them during menu planning, grocery shopping, and food prep is a wonderful thing. These meals will arrive at the family's door in many different forms and flavors, but every one will be filled with the love, support and good wishes of the person who made it.

Making Guacamole with Josie

My youngest daughter Josie is a tiny little thing and she eats like a bird. She has a long list of foods she 'hates' even though she has never tried them. But one thing Josie loves is guacamole. So last night she and I made a big bowl. We do two versions, kid's and dad's. The kid's version is avocado, lime or lemon juice, and a bit of kosher salt. They do not like 'chunks' in their guacamole! Dad's version adds chopped onion, tomato, a bit of fresh or pickled jalapeño, and garlic, finely chopped fresh or a sprinkling of garlic powder. I do NOT like guacamole. Or avocados. Nope, not one bit. But it sure makes everyone else happy. :)

Lunch at Hurricane Hole

A lovely day in Key West! John and I ran some errands around the island then went to Hurricane Hole for lunch. Casual dock side joint, like so many in the Keys. Lazy Dog rents kayaks and paddle boards from here, plus the marina is home to a bunch of charter boats. A busy Friday....lots of boats coming in and out. And pelicans. Always lots of those here. New owners took the restaurant over not too long ago. The food is better....lighter, fresher somehow. (The food was good under the previous owners, too.) Today John had the fresh catch, yellowtail snapper, fried and in a sandwich. I had the shrimp po' boy, which is much better under the new owners...bursting with fresh, lightly breaded shrimp and yummy remoulade sauce. I pretty much just ate the shrimp out of the bun. Really good. :)

Green Thumb in KW

I love, love flowers. I have always wanted a cutting garden....rows of colorful blooms to cut and arrange and decorate every room in the house. Instead, I used to bring home armloads of cut sunflowers, zinnias, coneflowers and dahlias from the farmer's markets in Frederick. Our first home was in an urban setting. I tended the ivy that grew up the bricks on the front of the house, but that was about it. Our second home had a large yard and I jumped into gardening with gusto.....an herb garden, hydrangeas, and coneflowers added to the existing peonies and butterfly bushes. A few years later, we put in a large raised bed vegetable garden. Fun, but lots of work, and I was seriously afraid that we might perish in a sea of sun gold cherry tomatoes. Here in our third home, in Key West, gardening couldn't be easier. Put something in the ground, water during the winter dry season and let the short, drenching rains and humidity take care of it the rest of the year. Here are a few of the things growing by the white picket fence that fronts our property. Yellow tropical buttercup, fragrant jasmine, the red flowering trees that line one side, a firecracker bush, and some colorful croton.

One thing led to another...

My love of magazines and books got me interested in cooking. After college, I discovered that I loved having friends over for Sunday afternoon dinners....lasagna or chili, nothing fancy. That led to our annual parties - Kentucky Derby in May, Open House for Frederick's In the Street festival in October, and always something around Christmas. I loved having invitations printed, ordering flowers, planning menus, all of it! I went to culinary school in 1997, and by just being in the right place at the right time, I was able to turn my experience in publishing and marketing into a 15 year gig of food writing, food styling, running my own cooking school, revamping one restaurant and opening one from ground up. In 1999, a small publisher I worked for produced my cookbook. Very Frederick, MD focused, it featured menus tied to local events and recipes from local chefs. A really fun project and a fun time in my life. I rarely look at it, and I'm not sure if it's even in print anymore. I tend to haul it out when we have new friends over and I've had a drink or two....hey, wanna see my cookbook?! :)