May 2020 - Bite The Road

The days are as full as ever; so it helps keep the mind from wandering

Changes are the norm. Trips were cancelled.
TEDxProvinvetown 202o is shelved as well.
I will be starting a new detail on COVID19 response next week.
Been keeping my hands busy with Tiktok (@frank_memtorsf) and some crafting xmas gifts early more on that later.
Cooking as usual

On the home front

Plenty of time with the 4-legged boss while managing to teach to night classes.

Just found out that that the “What the “Bears” can teach Goldilocks” talk I did for TEDxProvincetown 2018 now has the transcript translated in three languages including Japanese https://www.ted.com/talks/frank_strona_what_the_bears_can_teach_goldilocks

Continuing to cook up a storm to keep the boys fed;

This is what happens when Paul And I watch Saturday morning cooking shows.

P: Honey. Make this…
Me: What? The Mexican inspired pizza?
P: No, the green sauce. Let’s do “make your own Tacos”. So we can use it.
Me: “eye roll”. Fine. I bet you mean use hard taco shells too. Not the soft ones .

So the end result; I swapped out a kicked up ground turkey for traditional carnitas (pork) that I wasn’t about to make or regular ground beef. Used whatever greens I had around and dinner is ready. Paul got his Taco and as usual mine got turned into a layered salad.

The roasted Tomatillo Salsa recipe is great. Will make again. Note to self; 1 roasted jalapeño wasn’t enough. A second or add the seeds/ribs next time

Getting lots of specifc food cravings too. So this Instant Pot Rice Pudding with cinnamon, shredded coconut, and my new non-dairy decadent treat – “condensed coconut milk”; all the sticky sweetness without the dairy hit the spot. Using lactaid free milk also added to the whole, making the whole dessert good for is “intolerant” folks. Chilling now to set but looks super easy to replace items and with only 20 min cook plus set up – including cooking the rice.

Another win at the house was a simple Instant Pot, 5-spice chicken & vegatable stew to go along with our Jodie Foster weekend. From Hotel Artemis to Silence of the Lambs

Been dragging recipes up “from the past” treat was inspired by strawberries that needed to get used. Old school Strawberry Shortcake with a twist of sweetened greek yogurt cream and homemade biscuits.

One day I even had time to have a cookie day with my version of “monster cookies”. Pretty much an “anything goes” coolie, so perfect way to use up bits of this and that.. chocolate bunnies from easter, nuts, m&ms, etc. it’s no delicate tea cookie. Its a solid oatmeal and peanut butter base great dunking.

The boys got all excited about a 70’s fav dish with “shake & bake” porkchops, baked sweet potatoes & green beans from our childhood too which was part of retro week. When I did a past’ & beans for dinner. A favorite since I was a kid and money was tight. Its kinda like the italian-american version of fast comfort food. Not to mention all the Friday grill ups we have been doing