Hide & Seek

So as I've mentioned before, Key West has two Publix grocery stores located just blocks from each other on Roosevelt Boulevard. The original is the 'Old Publix' and the newer one, the store that moved into Albertson's space in Key's Plaza, is the 'New Publix.' The chain is working hard to make the 'New Publix' even newer by redesigning the space. They've been at it since mid-summer. It's kinda making me nuts.

We don't have the shopping options of the rest of the state, and I've made my peace with that, but I always found solace in knowing where EVERYTHING I need is located for my quick trips to Publix between other errands or before picking the girls up at school. Yesterday as I wandered around looking for something, noting that the aisle sign was completely wrong, I briefly considered finding the manager to point out the incorrect signage and tell him or her how this whole renovation thing really wasn't working for me. Fortunately, because I live on a small island, I don't actually go through with these plans because I will run into this manager weekly if not daily, at Publix and every other place in Key West.

I was talking to a woman the other day about the renovation at our local K Mart. She was completely exasperrated that everything was someplace different. She went on and on. I hadn't known about that project because I only go to K Mart under duress. But it made me think that maybe my feelings are an island thing....maybe I'm not the only one who has a hard time dealing with change.

While on the topic of shopping, I could write several blogs on Key West's 'Dollar Store.' I'm not sure of it's official name, everyone just calls it that so I do as well. It is a microcosm of island life....a bit chaotic, slow moving, with a dose of crazy most times I go in there. Last weekend the girls and I ventured into the island's new dollar store, called Deals on Flagler Avenue. Josie said, "Wow! This is fancy!" I wouldn't go that far, but it is DEFINITELY a much nicer alternative to the other one. There are many reasons to move to Key West, but shopping isn't one of them.

Local Sources

For a small island, we have some great resources for locally made foods, fresh produce, and specialty items. In the last year or so, Key West's non-restaurant food scene has really taken off.

When I first moved here, Annie's Buying Club (www.anniesbuyingclub.com) was the first thing I found. For a really reasonable price (especially compared to how much something like this would have cost in Maryland) you can choose from the various boxes of organic produce (fruit only, paleo, whole or half share, etc) for weekly pick up at sites around the island.

Next I discovered Help Yourself (www.helpyourselffoods.com) on Fleming Street. This natural-food restaurant and shop has really expanded since then, with the retail space now offering a selection of fresh organic produce daily. Plus I can find many of the things I used to purchase at my beloved food co-op in Frederick, The Common Market, like organic vitamins, teas, cleaning products, etc. And their smoothies and juices rock.

Sugar Apple (www.sugarapplekeywest.com) on Simonton Street has been in Key West the longest, and it's a place I need to explore more, especially the tiny cafe/juice bar attached. They offer every type of supplement/vitamin/herbal remedy you can think of and the staff is very knowledgeable.

The entire island was thrilled last year when the Restaurant Store started filling their large parking lot area with food purveyors, vendors, and crafters on the first Sunday of the month. This Key West Artisan Market (look them up on Facebook) is like a little party, and I just love it. Taste some wine and cheese, shop the local crafters (Kdub Designz, Guilded Peach, SALT Provisions, etc), and have some lunch. There are several vendors each month selling food to eat there or take home, including some really great barbecue from Tennessee Steve's, tacos from Death by Tako, and special soups and sandwiches from Cole's Peace.

The fresh produce has really expanded at this event (they drive up to the markets in Homestead and Plant City for pick up), and the flower vendors make it feel like a big-city market to me. I never leave without some flowers for the table, some killer mozzarella from my friend Mozzarella Mark, fresh-made pasta from Pasta Pailloux, pantry items from the Pickle Baron, and whatever else strikes my fancy.My husband's friend Mundy the Pirate sells  local shrimp and fish and if he's got the big red shrimp, I always get some.

When I first heard about the Key West Green Market (look them up on Facebook) last spring, coming to Bayview Park every other Thursday, my first concern was for the Artisan Market....oh no, can little KW support two similar markets? Well the answer is a resounding YES to that - locals love them both and have supported them so well that both have grown and expanded.

Key West Green Market has become so popular that is is now open EVERY Thursday from 9 to 2. Bring some shopping bags for fresh Florida produce, the basics plus some unusual Caribbean stuff. And bring an appetite for Indian, Greek, Conch Ceviche, Gumbo, Pulled Pork and much, much more. The Empanada Lady's empanadas are outstanding, with the blue cheese/caramelized onion/walnut version our personal favorite. The new Italian cheese/meat/olive vendor has some great stuff too. It's all great stuff, really. Served up with a smile and a hug for the regulars in true Key West style.

Generousity

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind....the stuff of daily life with kids and a house to keep in fairly decent order, plus girl scout cookie season and a large fundraising event at our church. As I sit here at the laptop in my office (wow, where does all this stuff on my desk come from??), on probably the first morning in several weeks that I haven't had a place I needed or wanted to be, I am feeling kind of emotional (just a little!) about all the kindness I have witnessed in my recent travels.

First off, I want to thank all the awesome people who have listened to the members of my girl scout troop's impassioned pleas and explanations on the business of cookie selling. Sometimes you may have gotten WAY more information than you were looking for, but you didn't show it, and I'm sure you felt as good as I did when you walked away from our little table with a armful of Thin Mints and Samoas. Key Westers are kind-hearted souls. So far we've sent many boxes to the troops deployed overseas, and I know the donation jar will be filled again in these last two weekends. Filled with not just dollar bills, but with fives, and tens, and twenties for cookies you will never taste. Thank you! What an example for the girls - giving to others may just be the sweetest treat of all.

Next, I would like to thank the generous business owners on this small island for their overwhelming support for the fundraising event. As a member of the silent auction team, my main job was to hit the streets. Armed with a thick file of donation request letters, I visited restaurants, gift shops, jewelry stores, and bars. And more often than not, I left with a gift certificate or a specialty item.  If the manager wasn't there, I left a letter with my cell number, offering to come back and pick up anything they may like to donate. And sure enough, they called me back. It was fun to answer my phone and hear 'Hey Kendi, I'm the manager of Margaritaville....your items are at the hostess station!' and 'Hi, it's Sean from Eaton Street Seafood. Lunch rush is over so your gift certificates are ready and waiting!.' There are many, many fundraising events in Key West throughout the year. And the island's businesses somehow manage to donate to many of them. One more reason to shop local and support them. They deserve it.

Food Exchanges

In the past few weeks, I've had strangers exchange food items for me in the grocery store. Unsolicited. Two local ladies just being nice.

The first time it happened at Fausto's on Fleming Street. I had gone there for some of the house made Italian sausage, and a quick stop across the street at UVA for some of their outstanding locally-made ricotta to make stuffed shells. While I was at Fausto's I picked up a few other things, including a random jar of spaghetti sauce in case I didn't have enough of the 'good stuff' at home. (My favorite jarred spaghetti sauce is made by a family near where I grew up. The Del Grosso's. I love that I can buy it at Publix all the way down here in Key West! The 'Sunday Marinara' is the best.) While I was in line to pay, I realized I had forgotten to get a baguette....and how can you have an Italian feast without a little bread? I asked the woman behind me if she minded if I ran to the bakery in the back of the store for bread. She said 'Oh, of course not! As long as you don't mind if I replace your spaghetti sauce for you. You've got to try this other one....meet ya back here!' I got my bread, and met my new friend back in line. She showed me the label of her favorite spaghetti sauce, called Brooklyn Made or something like that, prepared with no additives, no sugars, just tomatoes, basil, garlic, etc. She said, 'Now granted, it's like $10 a jar, but totally worth it!' Apparently I didn't look like someone who would balk at spending $10 on a jar of spaghetti sauce. She got me spot on. And when I got home and made dinner, she was right! It was a great meal.

The second time a stranger 'hooked me up' was at the 'new' Publix, in the produce section. I was looking at the red bell peppers for a shrimp stir fry. The peppers didn't look so great, but I found the best one and put it on the top of the other items in the front of my cart. After milling around, gathering the other items on my list, I looked down and noticed that my anemic pepper had been replaced by a huge, bright red pepper that looked like it fell out of a gardening magazine. What the??? I looked around, and I woman caught my eye. She walked over and said 'The produce guy just opened a brand new box of bell peppers.....you couldn't take that other one home!' I thanked her profusely. What a nice thing to do! Seriously. Maybe this happens other places, I don't know. I am going to haul out my oft-used line.....only in Key West. People looking out for each other in the smallest of ways. I love it.

Fausto's Food Palace

     For a small island, we certainly have enough grocery stores. I've mentioned our two Publix stores, less than a mile away from each other on Roosevelt Boulevard. We also have a full-sized Winn-Dixie in the shopping center between the two Publix. The oldest grocery store, and certainly the most colorful in the Key West sense of the word, is Fausto's Food Palace. Just the name is very KW - it's a food palace! There are two locations - a smaller one on White Street and the larger outlet on Fleming Street. We use the White Street location most since it is a short bike ride from our house. But lately I've started visiting the Fleming Street location to rediscover some of the neat things I've been missing on my many trips to Publix. (Before we moved here, we would shop at Fausto's for supplies for our rental houses in Old Town but it's been a few years.)

     First, a bit of history. Faustino 'Fausto' Castillo came to Key West from Havana in 1910. He opened his first small grocery shop in 1926. Ten years later Fausto moved to larger quarters on Fleming Street, eventually building the current store after a fire at the first. I'm not sure when the White Street location was opened but I know it's been there for a long time. The Castillo family has always been deeply involved in many organizations in Key West, a tradition that continues to this day. The third generation of the family, Fausto's grandson, Jimmy Weekley, has worked at the stores since he was a kid. Along with running the family business, Weekley has served as Mayor of Key West. My husband knows him from Rotary, and I know his list of community service affiliations is long and impressive. We even watched him marry our friends at their wedding at Ft. Zach several years ago...justice of the peace, maybe?
     OK, now back to shopping. Fausto's has the best wine selection on the island, in my humble opinion. The department manager can be seen holding wine tastings at both locations, and she is helpful and knowledgeable. Next time I see her I will ask her name, so I can thank her again for helping me find my favorite summer wine. The Fleming Street location has a full bakery plus breads from Cole's Peace. There is a hot food station with daily specials cooked in house, including the very popular roast turkey and meatloaf. Great cheeses, antipasti items, and fancy condiments for entertaining. And they even carry Bell & Evans chicken, hormone free tenders for the kids. Your purchases will be packed up in the iconic Fausto's paper sack with handles, which is the perfect size to gather the newspapers for recycling after the groceries are put away. They will even deliver your groceries....how cool is that?

Key West in Paint Chips

So now I have names for all those shades of blue, green, and gray that make up Key West's sparkling clear waters. According to the Let's Chip It! software offered by Sherwin-Williams, the sea is a mix of Sapphire, Powder Blue, Upward, Cascade, and Extra White. A pile of coconuts contains Stamped Concrete, Gray Screen, Verdant, and Different Gold. I find this fascinating, and as I get ready to choose new shades for both the interior and exterior of my home, I find it empowering as well. Instead of standing with my jaw hanging in front of the paint chip display at Key West's Home Depot or Strunk Hardware, I am going to load my own photos of sea, sand, palms, and flowers into the program at letschipit.com to find the shades that keep repeating and the colors that really appeal to me. Even if you don't have any home improvement projects on the horizon, log on just for fun. It's kind of like wasting an hour on Pinterest....find some inspiration, get a new idea.

We are redoing our house here in Key West. My husband and I have been talking about it for a while, but after being up north and spending time in one of our homes there, we are inspired to dig in. He has been glued to home design software for a week and yesterday he ordered the new appliances for the expanded kitchen. After four years here we know what we want and more importantly, we know what we need to live well in this small space (At 1,700 square feet our house isn't the smallest for the island, but in Maryland we had over 3,000. Way over, actually.) More storage. More counter space. Smarter office space. A faux mudroom area right inside the front door for the kids backpacks, shoes, etc. It's exciting! It's been a while since we've done a re-do of any kind. In a few weeks a friend is driving a truck of furniture from our other houses to be used here. (And he gets to stay as long as he can and we will fly him home...never hard to find someone to do this for us!) When we were packing to move to Key West we brought second- and third-string items, thinking that we would be back and forth between here and Maryland. Nope. We love being here on the island. It isn't a beach house or a vacation home, it's where our life is. Time for the first-string items, the furniture, rugs and cooking equipment that we miss. This is our home now. The other houses are now rented. Investments with memories attached.

An Ode to Wegman's

We have been home in Key West for a week now. Our three weeks away definitely took its toll....we were really pretty lazy this whole past week, just doing what needed to be done and spending time with our books and pool otherwise. Oh, and we went to the grocery store about a million times. I didn't realize how many staples we were out of, so every meal idea had the 'basics trip' plus the 'how can we not have ANY mustard/extra virgin olive oil/etc in this house? trip.' There isn't much I miss about the 'real world' but there is one thing: Wegman's. I looove Wegman's. Is it weird to love a grocery store? I don't care. Every time I walked into Publix this week I sighed a little. Now, of course, we can get most everything we need, and probably most everything we want at the local grocery stores. But what about those food-related items you don't KNOW you need? Those are the things that always get my attention. Some of it is completely decadent (WARM chocolate chip cookies for sale by the coffee bar, anyone?), but some of it would really make me a better cook.

In the completely decadent category are their amazing mini cheese boards, available every day in ever-changing themes. The cheeses are accompanied by nuts, dried fruit, etc, and the display is surrounded with crackers and fresh baguettes for you to choose from. I wish I knew enough people to have a wine and cheese party every quarter, let alone every day! Some are available on a pretty little board, or even on a small piece of log, for taking directly to a party, just in case you don't happen to have your own collection of give-away cheese displays at the ready.

And before we leave the cheese department, look at this: SLICES of blue cheese for your burger. I mean, think of all the stress alleviated by not having to chase blue cheese crumbles around the plate during your next barbecue. They never stay on!

The bakery area is just jaw-dropping. Who purchases the bazillion loaves of every kind of bread you can think of, mini croissants filled with everything sweet and savory, whole cakes, cake slices, cookies, donuts, bagels, and cupcakes that look like Martha Stewart herself stopped in and decorated a batch for that themed party you didn't know you wanted to have? Really....can they possibly go through everything by the end of the business day? When we were in Maryland two weeks ago I took these photos. The cupcakes were Pre 4th of July....not stars and stripes just yet, but hamburgers, crabs, and watermelon slices.

The area of Wegman's that would make me a better cook is the produce section. I, like most moms with elementary school-aged kids, am constantly trying to get my girls to eat more fruits and vegetables. It is frustrating! At Wegman's they have so much already prepped for you that it would be easier to expose the family to different things without the major time commitment on the cook's part. My favorite example from this trip: Brussels sprouts. First of all, I don't know if I could find them in Key West right now, but if I could find them I know they wouldn't be available already cleaned and halved, let alone already cleaned and shredded. Toss them in a stir fry, saute with onions, bacon, and dried cranberries.....endless possibilities! I'm sure the girls would like THESE sprouts.

I won't see a Wegman's until our Christmas vacation (they are in MD, VA, PA, NY) and I can live with that. But I'm already wondering what kind of holiday goodies they will have for my photos. Until then, I'll see you at Publix!

Islanders on the Mainland

Last week during my girls' spring break from school, we headed north to Fort Lauderdale for a few days of shopping. There are lots and lots of reasons to move to Key West, but shopping isn't one of them. We can get everything we need (pretty much) but not much of what you want at local stores. Most people on the island shop online for many things......clothes, books, shoes, etc. Every so often you've just got to make the three hour drive and GO SHOPPING. As a former shopaholic (not clinically, but I certainly spent a lot of time in the stores in Maryland), I admit I miss it. But given the choice of living someplace else and having a Target and a Nordstrom close by, I'd much rather live here with the water, palm trees, beaches and island way of life. After several tries, I finally found a good mall. Aventura Mall in Miami has all my real world favorites and then some. John gave the girls a pep talk while I was in the shower at the hotel. Something along the lines of 'mom does everything for us and she is upset about Murphy and this is HER day.' So while I browsed and bought, John and the girls rode escalators and elevators (can't do that in KW!) and walked around the large mall. We met up for lunch at The Cheesecake Factory, which they thought was just grand. It's been a long time since a server handed me that bound, thick menu! Mari thanked the guy at the Lego store for making all the cool Legos......she was just beside herself with joy in there. When we entered the Disney Store Josie said 'Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh' and took off! I told the startled greeter that we never take them out of the house. We separated again for my final rounds. As I emerged from Henri Bendel with the most fabulous sunglasses in my brown and white striped bag, I found the three of them sitting on a bench surrounded by all my purchases, patiently waiting for me. So sweet, so kind. I said LET'S GET OUT OF HERE AND DO SOMETHING FUN! Both girls have been asking for a trip to Chuck E Cheese, and I had seen one on our way to the mall. But as we were coming up on it I looked in the back seat at two sleepy ladies and decided they had probably had enough retail fun for one day. The next morning, after checking out of the hotel, they dropped me off at Target and I spent almost TWO HOURS, ALONE going up and down every aisle. John and the girls did a last trip to Barnes & Noble, Mari's favorite. With just enough room left in the back of my Jeep for John to see out the back window, we got back on the FL Turnpike and headed back to Key West. Josie did a little cheer when we crossed to bridge back to our little island.

Eaton Street Seafood

Sean Seaman opened Eaton Street Seafood in 2007, in a much smaller space, next to what is now Old Town Bakery. 'We were full if we had four or five people in there, but people waited outside and we were able to build a following,' he explained. Moving into the bigger site at 801 Eaton Street has provided more space and exposure. 'Since the beginning, we catered to people. And without much advertising, we've grown by word of mouth.' Commercial fisherman Damon Santelli came on board as a partner, providing support and fish, when needed. 'There are times he goes out for us when other fisherman are staying in, so we always have fresh fish in the case.'

I hung out at Eaton Street Seafood on a busy Friday. I knew from the traffic in town that LOTS of people were arriving in Key West, and it really seemed like half of them were stopping here for lunch or supplies. 

'I'll take 5 lobster rolls to go.....be back in a few!' said one gentleman as he headed out the door. Another regular came in for his usual of two crab cake sandwiches, on croissants, with mango salsa, please. A few first time customers were looking around, eyeing the large case full of snapper, salmon, shrimp, crab claws and scallops, but unsure of what to order. 'You can pick anything from the case. We'll cook it up for you and put it on a salad or sandwich, served with a bag of plantain chips,' explained Santelli.  After a short wait the couple was diving into a Lobster Roll and fresh snowy grouper over a salad of mixed greens. (There are stools at an indoor counter and several benches out front in the shade.) And along with all the food orders, there was a steady stream of customers coming in for Key West pink shrimp, fish and conch ceviche by the pound.

Eaton Street Seafood is well known on the island for their Lobster Roll, presented in the old school, New England style. Giant chunks of Maine lobster mounded in the side-split roll (shipped in from a traditional baker in Rhode Island) and topped with melted butter. I think their crab cakes are one of Key West's best deal s.....$5 each and full of crab. I often buy them to take home, but the staff will cook one up for you to eat there. Grab a container of their remoulade or Key lime mustard sauce to go with.

This seafood shop is also a great one stop shop for easy entertaining. One case holds containers of housemade dips, like smoked fish and crab & artichoke. There is a selection of specialty grocery items, plus some fresh produce and artisanal mozzarella from Key West's Mozzarella Mark. Seaman and Santelli procured a liquor license this past year, so you can also purchase beer and wine, to go or to enjoy with your meal there. 

Christmas Eve in Key West

We are still having unseasonably warm temps for this time of year....80 degrees last time I checked. But it is sunny and breezy and the island was sure bustling as I ran my final errands today. I have come down with a cold, so I scaled back  my cooking plans and purchased goodies from some favorite Key West vendors. First I hit Imagination Station toy store for a final gift for under the tree. This shop is our locally-owned alternative to Kmart, and thank goodness they have been able to make it through the road construction that I'm sure has greatly affected business. Next, I hit Key West Cakes on White Street. I loaded up with 2 pounds of their delicious Christmas cookies, date-nut bread, and a little cherry cheesecake, one of John's favorites. Eaton Street Seafood was packed! I got a pound of KW pinks, two fillets of yellowtail snapper, and two crab cakes. I will saute the cakes when we get home this evening, and I will do a seafood gratin with the shrimp and fish for tomorrow. Finally, I went to Publix. Good grief.....it took me 10 minutes of driving around to find one empty parking space! I managed to gather my list without getting run over (or running over anyone myself). I've got lots of good stuff on hand for some great holiday cooking and eating. And John just got back from the liquor store, so now we are really set. Merry Christmas Eve!

Bahama Village

This small island, home to around 25,000, is divided up into sections. Old Town is the area most visitors know. Within Old Town is the Meadows, a lovely area of historic homes. We live in Midtown West, a short bike ride to Old Town. There's also Casa Marina, New Town, and Key Haven. To me, the neighborhood here that really FEELS like a neighborhood is Bahama Village. The narrow streets, tiny Conch houses, and shady courtyards that lie adjacent to Petronia Street have charm and history. This area was settled by immigrants from the Bahamas, and it is one of the oldest African-American communities in Florida. When I go there for lunch or shopping I always find lots of photo ops. Yesterday I met my friend Dee Dee for lunch at La Creperie. She is their biggest fan! I think I finally get her crepe love after enjoying one filled with spinach, mushrooms, chicken and bechamel....so good!! And then I got to share one of my faves with her. In all her years of traveling to Key West, Dee Dee had never been to Besame Mucho! Dios Mio! Of course, she loved it.....such a great shop. I found the most awesome earrings. Engraved with 'Dance when you're broken open, dance when you're perfectly free' from Rumi, with tiny sapphires. That little shop is just filled with unique treasures.

Almost-No-Cooking Party Menu

This second week of summer was busy! Lots going on, plus getting the house ready to leave town, laundry ready to pack our bags, AND have a little going away party for friends. Since I love to cook, and I'm known for cooking, I can stress myself out about what to make when we have guests. But with the pace of this week I realized that I wasn't going to have time to do much preparation, plus, I didn't want to have a big kitchen mess to clean up. I ditched my original menu. At first I considered ordering pizzas and appetizers from our local go-to for that sort of thing, Big John's. Instead, I decided to see what inspiration I could find at GFS, Key West's answer to Costco. Mini hot dogs in puff pastry, check. A frozen Buffalo Chicken dip that could be placed in the oven frozen and baked in just 35 minutes. Tortilla chips (regular corn and blue corn) and a jar of fresh salsa from the cooler. I also found a nice sized wheel of brie. Off to Publix for the remaining ingredients - watermelon chunks, water crackers to serve with the brie and some macadamia nuts to top it. I found a Toasted Coconut sheet cake in the freezer there. The bakery lady wrote on it for me, and assured me it would be thawed perfectly in about 45 minutes. (It was!) When I got home, I turned on the oven and added the still frozen dip. I put the wheel of brie on a baking sheet, topping it with chopped fresh mango, brown sugar, and chopped macadamia nuts. I made a pitcher of margaritas, and had the watermelon, salsa, chips and salted cashews on the table when guests started arriving. I put the brie in the oven with the dip, giving it about 15 minutes at 375 to melt a bit. Both were big hits, and I would definitely purchase the dip again. Eventually I baked the hot dogs in puff pastry.....those always go in about two minutes! And the guests (most of whom I didn't know....co-workers of the guest of honor) brought some yummy additions - fried chicken, Caprese salad on crackers, chili con queso, extra chips, apples and caramel dip, beer and wine. We sliced the cake and I brought out chocolate cup cakes for the kids, also from Publix. It was a really fun party - casual, comfortable, fun and delicious. I need to stop stressing about entertaining and just do it more often!

More from Big Pine Key

The first week of summer flew by with our commute to and from Big Pine Key for art camp. I enjoyed my time poking around, and the girls really enjoyed camp. I will definitely sign them up next year. My previous blog post lists a few shops I found in BPK and here are some more. Out of the Blue Gallery, the big pink building right in Route 1, has lots of gifts, books, cards, and jewelry. It has a room of consignment items, and even a small hair salon upstairs. There is an art co-op gallery in the Winn-Dixie Plaza that has some really great art work, priced much lower than it would be in Key West. They also do framing. And next door to that is a little dress shop....I forget the name, but the owner carried some cute stuff, including locally made jewelry. On the girls last day of camp, I drove down to Summerland Key to check that out. I had to stop at one of my old favorites, Sugarloaf Food Company. I got a double latte and a box of goodies....excellent baked goods here. The Key Lime Coconut bar is to die for! So is the Key Lime shortbread. New owners are taking over and the woman I chatted with said they don't plan to change a thing. Good! My four mornings in Big Pine Key ended with having to stop to let a Key Deer prance around on the side of the road, before heading back into the trees. Pretty cool. :)

Some of the kids handiwork.

Love this place!

So delicious.....the cookies went home for the girls and John.

Hey buddy!

Island Dreams...a find in Big Pine Key

I dropped off the girls at Kim Wallen's Kdubz Designz studio on Big Pine Key this morning for a two-hour art camp. It seemed silly to drive the 30 miles back to Key West to turn around and head back to pick them up, so I decided to tool around and see what I could find in the area. First off, some coffee! I found a bagel shop, Island Bagel, in the Winn-Dixie plaza. A yummy latte and a quality multigrain bagel with artichoke, olive and garlic cream cheese can be found in BPK! Some of the other moms with kids in the art camp trickled in, so it turned into a little breakfast gathering. After that, I looked for a shop I follow on Facebook. Just past the light, on the right side if you are heading south, is Island Dreams. Beachy decor, outdoor rugs, kitchen gadgets, custom bedding, cocktail napkins, scented candles....a fun little shop to browse. A great source for hostess and teacher gifts, too. Two doors down in the same little plaza is Bare Soles Sandals. Tons of styles, including several brands I hadn't seen before. When you live in flip flops year-round, it is good to have lots of options! I will definitely shop there the next time I need some shoes. We will head back to Big Pine tomorrow morning for another day of camp. This time the moms are meeting at The Cracked Egg Cafe after drop off. Looking forward to it. :)

Road Trip!

I woke up Sunday morning with the desire to do something different, to get everyone out of their routine for a day. I also had a list of things we need that I haven't been able to find here in Key West. It hit me - road trip to Target! John greeted my suggestion with suspicion.... you want to drive six hours round trip to buy pool toys and bathing suits? Yes, dear, I do. So we did. The drive through the Florida Keys from bottom (Key West) to top (Key Largo) is lovely. 

View from Seven Mile Bridge near Marathon.

Near Islamorada.

Water on all sides with patches of land making up small towns. And since yesterday was a hot, sunny Sunday, we saw tons of people swimming, boating, fishing and sunning. It is easy to just pull over and make yourself at home at water's edge here. Love that! We reached our destination, the southernmost Target in Florida at Cutler Ridge. 

The girls squealed and acted like we were heading into the Magic Kingdom. I found what I needed, plus a bunch of stuff I didn't know I needed....ah, Target, how I love thee. The cashier tried to sell me on the new Target Debit card. As I explained that I don't get to shop at a Target regularly and that we drove three hours to get to this one, I noticed everyone looking at us. Oh, but you must have a Wal-Mart, she said. Nope, just a really bad Kmart, I explained. I could tell she thought we were a little crazy for living so far away from civilization. We filled the back of my Jeep with fresh pool toys, Dolphin Trainer Barbie, running shirts for John, another Scooby Doo DVD and quite a bit more. A quick stop at the Race-Trac gas station/snack emporium before the Keys start and we headed south to the end of the road. 

Yacht Club in Key Largo.

When we got to Roosevelt Boulevard Josie said 'We're home, we're home, we're back home in Key West!' It really cracks me up that I live with three people who have such a hard time leaving the Rock....how did this happen?

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 ...

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!

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. :)

Easy Cuban-Style Shredded Pork

So easy....really. I bought an almost 5 lb bone-in Boston Butt at Publix. Really doesn't matter what it weighs, as long as it fits in your crock pot. The two most important ingredients, other than the pork, are Adobo and Mojo seasonings. If you have never used it, Adobo is a mix of garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper, plus a bunch of other dried spices. There are several varieties available.....with pepper, without pepper, different flavors. Check the International aisle of any grocery store and you will find it. Mojo is a mix of garlic, oregano, and sour orange juice. Again, a ton of brands and choices. I like to use the one in the photo because the bottle is 10 ounces and it makes two batches of shredded pork. Season the pork with enough adobo that you can really see it. Add about 5 ounces of the mojo. This morning I also added one of those packets of taco sauce from the taco kit I made for dinner last night. Leftover salsa, a bit of spaghetti sauce, whatever is in the fridge....it needs a hint of tomato. You can also add some barbecue sauce, if you want, but this is a Cuban-style shredded pork, not traditional pulled pork. Up to you, of course - you truly can't ruin this! Put the lid on the crock pot and turn it on low. The longer you cook it the better. Today it will go at least 6 hours, but I've also done it overnight. I serve it with soft rolls, coleslaw, and some type of rice. I will take photos at dinner and show you how it turned out tomorrow.