Zen and Chowders

I am starting to crack up as the winter of 2010 begins its descent into Spring. Dad is getting the best of me and I am ready to strangle him.

I feel guilty when I keep telling him to go to bed so I can have a few minutes of peace.

"Where are we going tomorrow?", "Where are the car keys?", "Where's the ax", "Give me the keys!!".... over and over.

Somewhere in his mind he is back in Montpelier. This is not his home. We all happen to be here as far as he is concerned. It is bizarre to sit near him as he asks continual bizarre questions. By the end of the day, I'm exhausted. I never read in bed anymore. I just fall asleep.

He walks with a cane because his legs are giving out on him. He paces back and forth upstairs while I type away on my laptop. I think of Captain Ahab on the deck with his peg-leg bonking along as he walks... and the crew down below listening to the bonking. Its very spooky.

We had chowder tonight made from haddock. It was very good.

Chowder

We just fried some onion and (shallots if you have them) until they are golden in some oil. Add some cut up potatos and and watch closely until the potoatos begin to sear to the pan, (you want to get some of that brown stuff at the bottom of the pan). Then you add some water enough so they steam and cover for awhile. After potatoes have become soft you add cut up fish and put cover back on (add more water if necessary at this point). Then wait just a little for the fish to cook and then turn off heat. Add some milk to your taste. We use a little evaporated milk a la "Out of Vermont Kitchen" era.... or you can use a little half and half. I only like a little bit of milk and half and half. You just want to add a creamy texture without it being too thick.
Then add some parsley if you want and some salt and pepper and some bay seasonings and a touch of butter. And just let it stand for awhile. Its very easy. Add some home-made toasted bread on top for a floater.. that's it. Bon Appetite Julia!!!


We had cookies for dessert. They were wonderful although my mother says we should have added stronger molasses rather than the light stuff we used.

Molasses Cookies:

1 cup molasses
2 1/2 cups flour
2 tsps baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger
1 cup shortening
2 eggs
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup sour milk

Sift dry ingredients. Cream in shortening. Beat in sugar and eggs. Then add molasses and then the milk. Add to dry ingrediants and mix well. Chill dough for a few hours or overnight. Take dough in small amounts and flour the board well and roll out the piece of dough a little on the thick side. Use the top of a drinking glass as a cutter. Puff up some raisins in a bowl of water, covered in the microwave for a minute and leave to puff for a little while. Keep surfaces all floured very well because the dough is sticky. We put it on parchment paper on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for about 12 to 15 minutes.