Photo Essay - Ft Zach 1/28/14

Crystal clear water. I could see the pale ripples of sand on the bottom even way out over my head. The water was cool and invigorating, with gentle waves.

The water was turquoise and the sky pale blue. So many blues, as far as my eyes could see.

Lots of boats going by...

and some crazy gulls having a party on the rocks.

Beautiful full sails.

I could walk for hours looking for treasures on the rocky beach....this seaweed was so delicate and pretty.

A piece of coral, shaped by the waves. So many shades in the sand and shell bits.

Chicken & Spinach Enchilada Casserole

My friend Tara asked me for this recipe this morning. I haven't made it in ages, but it sounds just perfect for dinner tonight. This recipe is based on one from Martha Stewart. It was in one of the first cookbooks I purchased with her name on it, probably around 1990. I used to make these enchiladas for parties and work luncheons....one of my 'go to' dishes. When I wrote my cookbook many years later, I included my version of Martha's recipe. It was definitely a fan favorite. You can place the chicken/spinach mixture on individual tortillas and roll them, or place the tortillas in layers. You can also use the meat from a rotissierie chicken to save the first step. Enjoy!

Chicken & Spinach Enchilada Casserole

2 pounds boneless chicken breasts
4 tablespoons butter
1 large onion, chopped
1 10-ounce box frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
3 cups sour cream
1 4-ounce can chopped green chilies
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 cup milk
Salt and pepper to taste
9 flour tortillas (taco size)
8 ounces shredded Monterey Jack (plain or with jalapenos)

Place chicken in a deep skillet and add water or stock just to cover. Poach on medium heat until cooked through, approximately 20 minutes. While chicken is poaching, sweat the onion in the butter over medium heat until soft.

Remove and cool chicken before shedding or cutting into chunks. Place in a mixing bowl.

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 13 x 9 inch baking dish.

In a separate mixing bowl, combine the cooked onion, spinach, sour cream, chilies, cumin and milk. Add salt and pepper and mix well. Add half to the chicken and stir to combine.

Layer three tortillas in bottom of dish and top with 1/3 chicken mixture. Repeat process two times, ending with a layer of tortillas. Cover with remaining sauce, spreading evenly, and top with cheese. Bake until hot and bubbly, approximately 45 minutes.

It's the People

Yesterday was a pretty normal Saturday for my family. John headed out for his bike ride to Boca Chica with Father John, one of the priests at our church. The girls woke me up at 7 to check if it was time to leave for the birthday party that started at 1 pm. Believe me, I was VERY happy when it finally WAS 1 pm. The party was on the military base where the girls' school is located. I love the mix of parents I've gotten to know in the last four years, and yesterday was a little microcosm....young military families mixed with older-parent transplants who moved to paradise to live an island life. Moms, dads, lots of squealing little girls, a few little boys, and some babies. Military, civilian, black, white, gay, adopted....so different but so much the same. John and I left to grab a quick lunch and do a major grocery shopping trip while the girls partied. While he headed to the butcher counter to get some steaks cut, I made a new friend near the orange juice. A 78-year-old lady told me her entire life story, just because I happened to be there. She was warm, wise and so funny that John heard my laughing all the way across the store. 'Who was that?' he asked. 'Not sure, but tomorrow is her birthday' I replied. I don't remember that happening in Maryland, but it is a weekly occurrence in Key West. When we went to our next errand, John ran into the man who had just spoken at his Rotary meeting on Thursday. He is trying to raise funds to buy the medical equipment that could have prevented his teenage son's death from a diving mishap a few years ago. This gentleman manages the Publix and I see him several times a week. I will look at him in a new light knowing his story. Turns out his wife is the woman who orders John's kegs for his kegerator....we know her too. We are definitely going to the fundraiser they are holding in a few weeks, because that is what you do here. You look past differences and you support your fellow islander. It's the people. The sunshine, swaying palm trees, and turquoise water just come with them.

Cookbook Corner - Essentially Lilly (Pulitzer, that is)

Several months ago John and I had breakfast at Sarabeth's and we chose to sit inside for some AC. I had never been in the larger of the two dining rooms and I was thrilled to see that the long shelf behind the banquette was lined with cookbooks. I scanned the titles and was surprised to find one by Lilly Pulitzer, published in 2004. Light, fresh recipes perfect for Florida heat and vibrant, gorgeous photos....I had to find a copy for my collection! I received it a few weeks ago and I just love it. Reading it is like visiting your very wealthy relatives at their Palm Beach estate, with every person and every surface draped in LP's signature colors and patterns. I don't actually have wealthy relatives with an estate in Palm Beach, or any other place for that matter, but it certainly looks like a nice gig if you can get it. One of these days I am going to make a pitcher of her Jalapeno Bloody Mary's (from the Minnie's Sunrise Sail menu). And the Key Lime Roll (from the Blue Moon Beach Supper menu) looks divine. Maybe I'll do a shindig for my girlfriends, asking them to wear their finest summer frocks and garden hats, and we'll sip Key Lime Mojitos (from the Pink-and-Green Thumb Birthday Party menu) by my pool. Or maybe I'll just daydream about doing that. :)

'Winter' in Key West

While much of the country is enduring brutal cold, with well-below zero temperatures and wind chills, Key Westers woke up to the coldest temp since last winter. That would be 54 degrees. It IS chilly for here, especially since we have had a warmer-than-average winter. Our daily highs and lows rarely differ by more than 10 degrees, so a drop of more than 20 is noticeable. When I dropped the girls at school this morning, the teachers working car line were in scarves, hats and fleece jackets. A few of the kids looked like they were going on some type of winter adventure...snow boots?? My oldest ended up taking her jacket off in the car, and the youngest wore tights under her dress and a fuzzy fleece jacket. It should be near 60 degrees when they go to recess, so I think they will survive. Today is the first day back at school since December 21st. We get a looooong holiday break here in KW. It was fun, relaxing, and festive, but it felt great to get up and get moving this morning. To celebrate the chill in the air and the girls' return to school, I got a latte on the way home. I read all my news and social media in peace. I've been enjoying the quiet, for sure. But the sagging Christmas tree is in one corner and a million legos are in another....time for me to get moving and make the most of this wintry island day.