Everybody Hates Greens

I like greens. When I was a kid we picked dandelion greens, cooked and ate them. I know it sounds weird but lots of people did this. We may be getting back to doing this kind of thing if the economy doesn't turn around soon.

Later, when we moved south, I was introduced to mustard greens, turnip greens and kale. I love all of them. Occasionally I'd buy a big bundle of greens, wash and rinse them many times, boil them, then fry them in a bit of bacon grease.

They were delicious - I loved them but I was the only one - so I gave up on them.

In the weeks prior to my boyfriend showing up I went through many magazines in the evenings. I bought (from the library for a dime each) Bon Appetite!, Gourmet, Cooking Lite and others. Even though I rarely cook anymore, I love to look at recipes.

One night I found this dish that looked wonderful and it featured greens. The next night I was with friends and decided I'd have them over after my boyfriend arrived and make this recipe.

But first I thought I'd better feel them out about the "greens" thing. Two of them are from Alabama so I knew they'd love greens.

But nooooo! They didn't.

So we had them over last night and I replaced the greens with fresh spinach. Also made a few other changes (as I always do.) The dish was huge hit - as I thought it would be. It also fulfills my criteria of being a one dish meal that can be prepared ahead of time.

I know lots of people like to stand in the kitchen with their guests. I like to sit in the living room and drink a glass of wine with them and then have the dinner magically appear.

The recipe follows:

Dijon Chicken Stew

Smart Balance Omega Oil
PAM
1/3 lb. fresh ground pork sausage
2 cups sliced leek
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup dry white wine
3 cups chicken broth
1-1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
3 cups cubed pealed white potatoes
1 10 oz. bag spinach (Or 8 cups mustard greens, Swiss chard or kale)

Spray PAM in a big kettle over medium-high heat. Add crumbled sausage. Cook, breaking up sausage into tiny pieces until almost brown. Add leek. Saute until soft. Add garlic and saute 1 minute. Spoon mixture into large bowl.

Place flour in a shallow bowl. Dredge chicken in flour, salt and pepper, shaking off excess. Heat small amount of oil in pan over medium high heat. Add half of chicken mixture to pan. Cook 6 minutes, browning on all sides. Add browned chicken to leek mixture. Repeat with remaining chicken.

Add wine to pan, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Combine 1 cups broth and 1 tablespoon flour, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Add broth mixture, remaining 2 cups broth, 1-/2 cups water and mustard to pan. Bring to a boil and cook until 1/3 reduced and smooth.

Transfer sauce to a crock pot that has been sprayed with PAM. Add chicken mixture and potatoes. Cook on high for 4 hours or until potatoes are done.

While you're waiting, clean up the kitchen and take a nap.

Just before serving stir in the spinach. (If using greens, add after two hours.)

Serve in fancy bowels with biscuits.


***

Go Vote

For the last 40 years, as far as I know, I've voted in every election (no matter how small.)

Here in Florida we now have early voting for presidential elections. This started on Monday but, according to the papers and some scary word of mouth, the wait can be hours. As you know, Floridans are notorious for not doing the voting thing well.

I went to the county library yesterday, armed with my driver's license and cheat sheet. The line snaked out through the lobby. I said to my boyfriend, "Oh, no!" But I cued up.

What a surprise. It moved fast. Sort of like a line at Disney. People were happy and there were interesting things to look at along the way.

The volunteers were friendly and well trained - and there must have been 20 voting machines. No wonder the line moved fast.

The only glitch was at the end when I couldn't get my ballet sheet to go into the box. The worker helped me but in doing so, since I'd taken my sheet out of its folder, she could see who I voted for. I know her and I know I didn't vote for her guy.

She helped me anyway. With a smile. What a country! What a privilege to be able to vote.


***

Cess the Trickster

Over the weekend, at the invitation of some good friends, we took my oldies to lunch at a very high end retirement community. After lunch in the elegant dining room (jackets required) we toured the villas, apartments, pools, etc.

And one of the best things about this place is that they will drive you anywhere you want to go.

We told my oldies that WE were interested in checking out this place. I honestly wasn't trying to trick them. It's technically true. But I have a twenty year plan for staying in my condo and when I have to give it up my guess is that this place is a little too pricey for me.

Our time there was delightful. We were hosted by my friend's 96 year old mother who appears to be sharper than I am. So this place must do wonders.

But I could tell the oldies weren't buyin' it!


***

Are You The 10th Person?

I'm usually charged up after attending church. Last Sunday was no exception. My minister started a new series on "Strengthening Relationships." It was hard hitting and real. He was a mental health counsellor prior to the ministry and it often shows.

In Sunday school one of the members, as usual, taught. She's a psychologist. All of what she shared - plus the discussion - was excellent.

Following is one of her concepts:

- For every nine people who denounce innovation only one will encourage it.

- For every nine people who do things the way they've always been done only one will wonder if there's a better way.

- For every nine people who stand in line in the front of a locked building only one will check the back door.

When we walked out of church I felt like I'd just had an invaluable experience!


***

Power Move

A few weeks ago a close friend told us about an interesting encounter he'd had with an angry woman. I'd forgotten the details so yesterday at dinner I asked him to repeat the story so I could tell it to you. Here it is.

He and his wife pulled into a restaurant parking space. Apparently he'd inadvertently pulled into the spot that somebody else had her eye on because when he glanced in his mirror a furious woman was giving him a long, public obscene gesture.

My friend and his wife (actually one of my Power Rangers so she's more than a friend) entered the restaurant. As they were standing in line, he said, "Gee, I hope she doesn't come in here."

At that moment she charged through the door. He looked at her. She angrily turned her back on him.

What should he do? He was innocent. She was making an ugly, embarrassing scene.

Not knowing what to expect, he walked back to where she was standing in line - and apologized. He told her he didn't see her, didn't mean to take her spot but he guessed he had so he was sorry.

She melted. She wasn't angry any longer. She was sad. The details of her really rotten day came tumbling out. They ended up having quite a conversation.

Then he bought her lunch.


***

Thanksgiving Recipes

The following recipes were taken from the October 13th "New Yorker" magazine.

THANKSGIVING RECIPES
from the U.S. Treasury Department

Rare-Treat Potatoes

Six sweet potatoes
One can crushed pineapple
Your retirement account

Mix everything together. Bake until the account is completely melted.


Cranberry Surprise

Two pounds cranberries
One cup stock certificates,
torn into teeny bits
Cinnamon and sugar, to taste

Cook until everything is softened.
Serve.


Turkey Stuffed with
Seven Hundred Billion Dollars

Large turkey
Seven hundred-billion dollar bills,
crumpled

Place the crumpled bills inside the turkey. Roast until all that remains is a pile of ashes.

Enjoy!


***

Hard Times Lesson

Last night when my boyfriend and I were eating popcorn and playing cribbage we started talking about when we were kids and we'd send away for cool stuff.

He told me about his Captain Midnight watch. I told him about my Tom Mix decoder ring with the secret compartment. Actually the ring stood about half an inch high so the compartment wasn't much of a secret.

But we were both thrilled with our purchases.

Here's how kids did it back then. We saved box tops from cereal containers and saved the small amount of money that was required. It took a long time to save enough to order the prize. If moms were smart they didn't allow the tops to be cut off until the cereal was gone.

With enough tops and the cash we mailed them off and waited six weeks to receive the prize. There's no way of explaining the excitement of finding your very own decoder ring in the mail.

This process helped teach one of the most important lessons we human beings can learn. One I tried to teach my children as well.

Delayed Gratification!

My son used to say when he wanted me to buy some big ticket item, "Is it because we don't have the money or are you just saying no?"

My reply would always be, "It's because we don't have the money but I hope I would love you enough to say no even if we did."

This is a little different message than the flat screen TV commercial that, to my amazement, is still being aired in these perilous times.

I want it all. I want it all. And I want it now!


***