Tucson Desert Museum and a Grocery List.

The Desert Museum is ranked on TripAdvisor.com as one of the top 10 museums in the country and the #1 Tucson attraction. Unlike most museums, about 85% of the experience is outdoors. The museum covers 98 acres and is a fusion experience: botanical gardens, hummingbird aviary, zoo, art gallery, natural history museum, regional mineral collections and aquarium. There are miles of walking paths through various desert habitats where you can view some 230 animal species and over 2,000 species of plants. This is a museum not to be missed on your travels. It's practically a whole days experience.
As you drive into the museum you are greeted by what we call "cactus sentinels" standing guard on the mountainside and in the desert.

My recent purchase of  this guide to everything you'd ever want to know about cactuses (cacti) came in handy though most things were well marked.

I was able to zoom in get up 
'close and personal' to this cactus.

  Aloe Cactus

Teddy Bear Cholla

Totem  Pole Cactus

Ocotillo

Now this sign was rather alarming and its one field trip we were grateful Bella stayed behind but this fountain was a welcome sight.

One had to be quick to catch this hummingbird at the feeder.
Have you ever heard of a javelina? The javelina, or collared peccary, is a common game animal in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. They resemble small pigs but belong to a different genus and move in herds. My husband caught two slumbering ones who found some shade..

The following information is really true. I recently purchased this cookbook

and on page 128 is a recipe for Javelina Stew. This is what it says in the introduction The trick to cooking javelina is to make sure the hunter who supplies it knows how to deal with the skin and the musk gland. There's nothing worse than poorly prepared javelina, which has an over pungent odor and taste. Good javelina, however is a popular dish throughout the Southwest, especially in the rural areas where hunting is a popular sport.   
Dear Readers,
You can be assured Ever Ready will not be posting any javelina recipes just in case you had hoped to read some.

Organ Pipe Cactus

Photo to give you an idea of the size of these cactuses (cacti). They are tall !
A trip to this desert museum was definitely a highlight with so many unusual plants and animals. There was lots to learn.

P.S. Just in case you are grocery shopping

be sure to pick up these staples for your Chinese/Asian cooking:
hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, 5 spice powder, rice vinegar, some fresh vegetables including Bok Choy, green onions and snow peas, rice, beef, chicken or pork and chicken broth. February 19th is the kick off for Chinese New Year festivities with recipes.

Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras also called Fat Tuesday refers to events of the Carnival celebrations. beginning on or after the Christian feasts of the Epiphany (Three King's Day) and culminating on the day before Ash Wednesday. Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday", reflecting the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season.

Popular practices on Mardi Gras include wearing masks and costumes, dancing, sports competitions, parades, debauchery, etc. In many areas, the term "Mardi Gras" has come to mean the whole period of activity related to the celebratory events, beyond just the single day. In some American cities, it is now called "Mardi Gras Day".

Kings Cake

A king cake is a type of cake associated in a number of countries with pre-lenten celebrations of Mardi Gras Carnival. What started out, roughly 300 years ago, as a dry French bread type dough with sugar on top and a bean inside is now a sweet, sugary and iced Danish-type dough braided with cinnamon inside and a plastic doll underneath. King Cakes are made of a cinnamon-filled dough in the shape of a hollow circle. They have a glazed topping and are sprinkled with colored sugars. Hundreds of thousands of King Cakes are eaten in New Orleans during the Carnival season.

The cake often has a small plastic baby (said to represent Baby Jesus) inside, or underneath; and the person who gets the piece of cake with the trinket has various privileges and obligations.

The recipe seemed labor intensive when I could buy this one at the bakery. So I put my energies into Jambalaya, a popular dish from New Orleans. I made chocolate cupcakes with vanilla frosting and sprinkled them with purple, green and yellow sprinkles (Mardi Gras colors).  

 
Jambalaya is a Louisiana Creole dish of Spanish and French influence. It originated in the Caribbean Islands.

Cook’s notes: You will need to add more chicken broth on the second day to serve the dish, since the rice absorbs the broth. Serves 8
Ingredients:

• 1 box Zatarains's New Orleans style Jambalaya Mix 
• 2 large chicken breasts
• 2-3 cups diced Andouille sausage
• 2 TB. olive oil
• 1 can low sodium chicken broth (14.5 oz.)
• 1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes (basil, oregano, garlic)
• 3 oz. tomato paste
• 2 cups of water
• ¾ cup diced onion
• 3/4 cup mini red and yellow peppers, diced
• 3/4 cup celery, diced 
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• ½ tsp. Cajun seasoning
• 1/2 tsp.sugar 
• 1 tsp. dried parsley flakes
• 1 tsp. basil
• 1 bay leaf
• Optional: substitute 2 cups  cooked shrimp for chicken and add in last 15 minutes of cooking time. 

Directions:

• Cook chicken breasts at 350 degrees for 50 minutes and sausage 20 minutes
• Cool and dice both meats-set aside
• In a large skillet sauté onions, celery, green pepper and garlic
• Add in water, broth, spices, jambalaya rice mixture, sugar, tomato paste, canned tomatoes, bay leaf and diced meats
• Simmer 45 minutes on low heat covered
• Remove bay leaf before serving

The first day of the 2015 Chinese New Year is on February 19, 2015 in China's time zone. This day is a new moon day, and is the first day of the first Chinese lunar month in the Chinese Lunar Calendar system. 2015 is the Year of The Sheep.
The next two postings will feature recipes to celebrate the Chinese New Year.

Gumby and friends with some cactus humor.

Gumby is a green clay humanoid character created and modeled by Art Clokey in the early 1950's, He also created Davy and Goliath. Gumby has been the subject of a 233 episode series of American television as well as a feature-length film and other media. Since the original series' run, he has become well known as influential cultural icon, spawning many tributes and parodies, including a video game and toys.

Gumby was a favorite toy that could be pulled, punched, stretched and twisted.

I couldn't help but think of this icon as we walked the trails of Saguaro National Park. These cactuses seem to take on different personalities with a variety of shapes. 

Saguaro National Park is part of the Tucson area.  The Saguaro can live more than 200 years attaining heights of 40-60 feet high. It grows only in southern Arizona, in California along the Colorado River and in northern Mexico state of Sonora.  Check out the impressive size of this Saguaro found in the back of the Ritz Carlton Hotel. 

CACTUS

author unknown

Thorns are my language.
I announce my existence
with a bleeding touch.

Once these thorns were flowers.
I loathe lovers who betray.
Poets have abandoned the deserts
to go back to the gardens.
Only camels remain here, and merchants,
who trample my blooms to dust.

One thorn for each rare drop of water.
I don’t tempt butterflies,
no bird sings my praise.
I don’t yield to droughts.

I create another beauty
beyond the moonlight,
this side of dreams,
a sharp, piercing,
parallel language.

Mary O' Neill

Mary O' Neill 

Children's Writer and Poet

February 16, 1906 - January 2, 1990

One of Mary O' Neill's most popular books, Hailstones and Halibut Bones  (1961), identifies and interprets the spectrum of colors through verse. 

O'Neil is a master at using rhythmic words to convey feelings. The format of her poem from the book The Random House Book of Poetry for Children  conveys the power of word choice.

                                                               Feelings About Words

Some words clink 

As ice in drink

Some move with grace

A dance, a lace.

Some sound thin:

Wail, scream and pin.

Some words are squat:

A mug, a pot,

And some are plump,

Fat, round and dump.

Some words are light :

Drift, lift and bright.

A few are small:

A, is and all.

And some are thick,

Glue, paste and brick.

Some words are sad:

"I never had..."

And others gay:

Joy, spin and play.

Some words are sick:

Stab,scratch and nick.

Some words are hot:

Fire, flame and shot.

Some words are sharp, 

Sword, point and carp.

And some alert:

Glint, glance and flirt.

Some words are lazy:

Saunter, hazy.

And some words preen:

Pride,pomp, and queen.

Some words are quick, 

A jerk, a flick.

Some words are slow:

Lag, stop and grow,

While others poke

As ox with yoke

Some words can fly-

There's wind, there's high;

And some words cry:

"Goodbye...

Goodbye..."

by Mary O" Neill

While some poets can write at great length about words, some poets on the subject are brief.

A Word

A word is dead

When it is said, 

Some say.

I say it just

Begins to live 

That day.

by Emily Dickinson 

The sun setting over the desert indeed is an incredible sight. This photo was taken right out my back door 

and reminded me of another poem of Mary O' Neill about the color purple written in verse form. 

What is Purple

Time is purple just before night

when most people turn on the light -- --

but if you don't it's a beautiful sight.

Asters are purple, there's purple ink.

Purple's more popular than you think...

it's sort of a great Grandmother to pink.

There are purple shadows and purple veils,

some ladies purple their fingernails.

There's purple jam and purple jell

and a purple bruise next day will tell

where you landed when you fell.

The purple feeling is rather put-out

the purple look is a definite pout.

But the purple sound is the loveliest thing

It's a violet opening in the spring.

_________________________________________

Blueberry Blast Smoothie

Cook's notes: A healthy and nourishing start to your day.
Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup nonfat or 1 percent low-fat milk
• 1/2 cup non-fat plain yogurt
• 1 cup frozen blueberries (unsweetened)
• 1 teaspoon honey

Directions:

• Put all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.

2005, Ellie Krieger, Food Network

Orphan Train Book Review and Beef Tostadas

“So is it just human nature to believe that things happen for a reason - to find some shred of meaning even in the worst experiences?” 

― Christina Baker Kline "Orphan Train"

Since its publication in 2013, "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline, has been a bestseller on all the national lists in the U.S. I love it when an author sends me hurrying to Google in order to learn more about certain facts I've learned from their books. Christina Baker Kline has definitely achieved that here with her historical fiction novel, "Orphan Train."

Between 1854 and 1929, so-called orphan trains ran regularly from the cities of the East Coast to the farmlands of the Midwest, carrying thousands of abandoned children whose fates would be determined by luck or chance. Would they be adopted by a kind and loving family, or would they face a childhood and adolescence of hard labor and servitude?

In "Orphan Train", Christina Baker Kline seamlessly weaves together two stories from different time periods and two characters' points of view. Along the way, she infuses just enough history about the trains that carried Orphans across the county from 1854 to 1929 in search of new families to intrigue without belaboring the story. 

On the surface Molly and Vivian, the two point-of-view characters, seem to be worlds apart. 

Molly is an at-risk foster teen who has just narrowly escaped a stint in juvenile detention after stealing of all things, a book from the library. Her foster mother is fed up with her—the feeling is mutual—and her foster father, while a bit more supportive, mostly doesn’t want to cross his wife. Molly has bounced around far too many disappointing foster families, and is cynical and ambivalent. 

Vivian is a 91 year old rich widow, living alone in a waterfront mansion with too many unused rooms and a cluttered attic she needs cleaned out and organized. Her housekeeper is the mother of Molly’s boyfriend. Through that connection Molly and Vivian meet and agree that Molly fulfill her community service hours by helping Vivian organize her attic. As Molly and Vivian sort through boxes of Vivian’s history, the heart of the story unfolds. They learn they have a great deal in common, form an unlikely friendship, and together learn the meaning of family. 

As with many stories that take place in both the past and the present, I preferred Vivian's story in the past. This book is very much a character driven book but it is much more driven by Vivian than by Molly. I loved all of the historical details that Kline put into the book. Much of Vivian's story is set in Minnesota. The author is from Maine but she was meticulous in her research. The Minnesota references were authentic to the setting. I also really liked the descriptions of the families that Vivian went through and the people that she met along the way. Some parts of the newer story seemed a little forced. Vivian's story also had a lot more twists and turns than Molly's story. 

If this is any recommendation, I read the book in less than 24 hours. I was captivated and mesmerized by the story. In that brief time I became emotionally attached to the story and the characters going through several pieces of Kleenex. I do not usually read books on a Kindle except on trips so I kept checking to see how much of the story was left. Last number I saw was 89% but with that number my wailing  began! I couldn't believe the story just ended. I was sure there was a mistake since it still had 11% more to go. But what I did not realize was that the rest of the remaining pages were an excerpt from her first novel "Sweet Water." I can only hope there will be a sequel to "Orphan Train." I wanted MORE!

 ____________________________________________

One Recipe=Two Different Dishes

Add a Southwestern flair to your cooking. One recipe makes a beef refried bean salsa dip or 3 Beef Tostadas.

Main Dish:Baked Beef Tostadas

Appetizer:Chips and Salsa 

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 LB. ground beef
• 1 cup onions, diced
• 1 jar 16 oz. chunky salsa
• 1-2 TB. chili powder
• 1/2 can refried beans (vegetarian)
• 2 cups diced grape tomatoes
• 2 cups shredded Shredded Mexican 4 cheeses
• chips
• optional avocado slices
• 6 floured 7 inch tortilla shells 
• Olive oil
• toppings;sour cream, guacamole,green onions, diced tomatoes

Basic Directions:

• In a skillet cook hamburger until no longer pink and onions are tender.
• Crumble hamburger and drain grease using a colander. Wipe skillet clean with a paper towel.
• Add hamburger and onions back to skillet with refried beans, chili powder, salsa and cheese.  
• On a low heat blend mixture and cook for 15-20 minutes, uncovered. Remove skillet from heat.

Dip

• Serve mixture warm in an ovenproof bowl with chips.

Beef Tostada

• Preheat oven to 400
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Brush 3 tortilla shells lightly with olive oil and place shells olive oil side down on parchment paper. 
• Evenly divide meat mixture on 3 shells. Top with diced tomatoes and avocado slices. Place remaining 3 tortillas on each shell and lightly bush with olive oil. 
• Bake for 10 minutes.

Valentine's Day Greetings

It's a waiting game for Charlie Brown. He seldom gets a Valentine on this special day, February 14th.

But this year is different. Charlie Brown got a whole mailbox full of them.

And there's even one for you. 

BEE MINE
Valentine greetings from Minnesota- Room 13 Kindergarten Class

this one is from Ever Ready

and of course Bella sends her greetings your way too. 

ENJOY YOUR DAY!

Valentine Specials

Charles M. Schulz

Cook's notes: Easy last minute valentine specials

Heart-Shaped French Toast

Cook's notes: recipe inspiration from landolakes.com
Ingredients:

Strawberry Butter

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/3 cup powdered sugar
• 2-3 TB. strawberry preserves
• 8 (3/4-inch) slices Italian bread or another type of firm bread
• 1/3 cup half and half
• 2 eggs, slightly beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup butter
• Powdered sugar

Directions:

• Combine 1/2 cup butter, 1/3 cup powdered sugar and preserves in bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Cover; refrigerate until serving time.
• Cut bread slices with a 2 1/2- to 3-inch heart-shaped cookie cutter. Combine half & half, eggs and vanilla in 9-inch pie plate; mix well. Dip 4 bread shapes into half & half mixture, turning to coat both sides; let stand 1-2 minutes. 
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in 10-inch nonstick skillet or griddle until sizzling; add coated bread. Cook over medium heat, turning once, 3-4 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from skillet; keep warm. Carefully clean skillet with paper towel, if necessary. 
• Repeat dipping remaining bread shapes into egg mixture. Melt remaining butter in skillet and cook bread as directed. 
• Sprinkle hot French toast with powdered sugar; serve with Strawberry Butter.

Heart Shape Bread sticks

inspired by Kraftrecipes.com
Ingredients:

• 1 can (11 oz.) refrigerated soft bread sticks
• 4  TB. grated Parmesan Cheese
• 1 tsp. dried thyme, oregano or Italian Herbs  
• 1 tsp.sesame seeds
• 1 egg 
• 1/4 tsp.water

Directions:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Separate breadstick dough into 12 pieces. Twist 2 pieces together; form into heart shape on baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Repeat with remaining dough pieces to make a total of 6 hearts.
• Combine egg and water with a whisk, brush on dough hearts.
• Sprinkle with sesame seeds, dried herbs and Parmesan cheese. 
• Bake 15 to 18 min. or until lightly browned. Serve warm.

Strawberries with Chocolate Hazelnut Filling

Cook's notes: The recipe can be easily halved.

Ingredients:

• 1 – 8 oz. brick of cream cheese, softened
• 1 – 10 oz. jar of Chocolate Hazelnut Spread
• 3 – TB. powdered sugar
• 1-2 TB Amaretto or Kahlua
• 2 – lbs. fresh strawberries

Directions:

• Blend cream cheese, hazelnut chocolate spread, and powdered sugar until fully integrated and creamy. 
• Use a paring knife cut the top of the strawberries off and discard, hollow out the inside of the strawberry slightly to make a cavity to stuff the chocolate cream cheese in. Fill the strawberries and refrigerate.

Side note: Nutella spread works fine for this recipe but if you happen to come across  this product shopping check it out. The spread is top of the line in flavor :)