Culinaria ~ Albondigas Soup

Albondigas Soup ~ Mexican Meatball Soup

By My Grandma Refugia "Cuca" (Cocio) Carey

1 sm      can chopped green chiles OR even better 
             a few fresh roasted green chiles                                 
2-3       garlic cloves, minced fine
1 lg       onion, minced fine
1          egg
1 lb       lean ground beef or turkey
1 lg       tomato, chopped fine
1 tsp     oregano
1/2 bunch fresh mint
1 bunch fresh cilantro
1 tsp     ground coriander seed, optional but recommended


Mix all ingredients together, adding just enough flour to make meat stiff enough to form balls.  Bring 1qt water to a boil, add salt to taste and drop balls, as you form them, into the boiling water.  Simmer approximately 20 minutes.

(The meatballs will produce the clear broth that will be the soup so add salt to taste as you cook them.)  I also added a spoonful of fresh salsa to my bowl and that was Yum, Yum, YUMMY!!!


Enjoy!!!  Tis Bueno!!!


Gracias Grandma!!!  Gracias Mama for showing me too!!!

Such A Beauty!!!

Countdown To Launch!!!

Today is Wednesday, May 4th and next week Wednesday, May 11th I am LAUNCHING Towards My Destiny... NYC!!!

I am thrilled and giddy... this is a Dream I have had for 20 years and in 7 days I will be deep into this Dream!!!!  It absolutely AMAZES me on a daily basis that the timing is NOW, that God is paving the way!!! I watch the next stepping stone be placed, rather effortlessly, right before me, and as I step onto this and prepare to take yet another step I see I am led to another launching point.

  I am reminded that it is not about jumping off one ledge but Life is a story of many ledges.

I am ready to step off and with much more confidence than I had felt the last time I stood at cliff's edge... however, I will do exactly what I did before... wait (this time patiently) for God's nudge.  His sweet soft whisper that will lift me off my feet and sending me soaring under the safety of His wings into ALL THE POSSIBILITY that My Life has in store.

I am SO excited!!!

My Life is about to go someplace I only dreamed about.  I have no expectations because this territory is absolutely unfamiliar.  I am open to what lies behind this Door that has opened with God's touch.

What exactly does God have in store for me???

I shall find out in a mere 7 days.

How Absolutely Thrilling!!!

Ever Grateful, Ready, Willing, and Able!!!

Yesterday I purchased a bookmark that I connected with so much.  It reads:

She was on a journey back to her wings.

QUICK REVIEW OF LAST WEEK!

Let's have a quick review of last week (Easter Week):
         
                                   MONDAY:

Went with Mom to American Heartline where 500+ chocolate chip cookies were baked and packed to be sent off to soldiers.  We were there from 2:30 - 4:30p and this is an impressive group of volunteers... completely organized and fairly simple... amazing!!! I had the opportunity to work with these caring folks twice.

6 dozen eggs

endless flour and chocolate chips

The Scoopers!!!!

87 lbs of cookies!!!

Sans a couple "taste" cookies... quality control!!!

All packed in bags of 8 cookies, with stickers on the bags and tied with red, white, and blue ribbons....SWEET!!!  Literally!!!

Delivered to a troop that is likely much happier!!!!

Oh.... and the kids of the Continental Elementary School (they use their cafeteria) write letters and cards from the heart to add to the boxes... each box is sent to one soldier and has 43 (or so lbs.) of cookies to share amongst their friends.

So that was our Monday.

TUESDAY:

I can not remember Tuesday except that we, of course, headed to Wisdom's Cafe for our weekly dose of AMAZING margarita's...two for one Tuesdays!!!!

In Tumacacori, AZ

Just look for the Big Chicken!!!

WEDNESDAY:  

My Dad's High School Class Picnic... Class of 1952

My Pop's is (slightly) cut off in the upper left corner (red shirt) ... look at this beautiful property....GREEN in Tucson!!!  Amazing!!! I was impressed with how many of his classmates came... they were a fun group and we feasted excellently.

Me and my Mom with the lady of the casa (sitting).

THURSDAY:

Lunch with my Tia Bea... j'adore her SO MUCH!!!

Isn't she SO CUTE!!!!

Oh and the flat enchilada's...YUMMY TREAT!!!

After this I headed to see my Aunt Myrtle and Uncle John, meet up with my cousin's Kari and Jenny and with my Mom the girls headed off for a 4th Ave. shopping trip... I managed to not spend much $... Brava!!!

FRIDAY:

Errands!!!  AND Paint purchased to fluff up backyard... (this week's project)

Beautiful Good Friday Service at the Evangelical Free Church of Green Valley

SATURDAY

A Very Special Tour of Tucson's Presidio Museum and San Xavier Mission

SO GOOD This will get a post all on it's own!!!

Coming Soon!!!

It's A Smokin' Peep Show!!!

Today it was an experiment... Roasting Peeps!!!


So my Mom built a fire and we set out to explore the possibilities of Peep Roasting.  

For this recipe you will need the following:

.Willing Peeps

. Skewers

. A Fire

And we are ready to commence the roast!!!

Hhhhmmmm.... toasty buns!!!

Just about...

Yes!!!  Fully roasted to perfection!!!

Don't burn your mouth!!!

Yes!!!  We BOTH agree.... Roasted Peeps will now be an Easter Tradition... deelightfully tasty, the sugared coating offers a caramelized crunch... next time we are stuffing the Peeps in chocolate and grahams!!!

Delicious!!!

photos by Carol Carey 

Peep Roaster

A Little Reflection

I am Most Grateful to have the gift of Time lately to simply reflect on what has just happened in my life.  The past season was spent deep in the heart of "The Move" and now I can feel I have decompressed.

I spent this morning reflecting on my past blog
http://paradisemillinery.blogspot.com/ A Day In The Life Of Haute Hat Couture.
I followed my story as I went from Disgruntled Store Manager to Dream Warrior to Pioneer!

Here are the links to two pivotal entries, if you are interested...Wow oh Wow I am grateful for this change in my life!!!!

http://paradisemillinery.blogspot.com/2010/09/one-big-leap.html
http://paradisemillinery.blogspot.com/2010/12/approaching-bliss.html

Meet Frida My New Model!!!

                 We found each other and were instantly friends!!!

I asked her if she'd like to go to the Big Apple as My Muse???

She seemed pleased as She felt stuck in the dead section of the store

Yes...Frida is a tattooed smoker but She has such Rosy Cheeks and a Sparkly Smile!!!

and of Most Importance... She looks wonderful in Hats!!!!

You'll see lots more of Frida... I LOVE HER!!!!

Pool Review #1

It's true Peeps!!!  I am in the land of poolside bliss!!!

Green Valley, Arizona where the people come to R&R on a daily basis (unless of course they are playing card games, throwing parties, or enjoying margarita's at Wisdom's - two for one Tuesday nights!)  Sheesh...I can barely keep up with this crowd!!!

But how about those pools!!?!!!

So in Green Valley they have the GVR which is MULTIPLE-locations-for-one membership of pools, workout rooms, meeting halls, basic fabulousness.  One membership... endless choices!!!

Now since I am planning on writing blog reviews of Irish pub fare once I get to NYC I thought... why not start with the low down of the pool fare here in the desert!!!

So for Today's Choice I enjoyed thoroughly...

The East Social Center Darlings!!!

I love the architecture of this building and found out it is the original GVR pool in town!  It's so beautiful from the outside with the arches and then as you can see...las rosas!!!!  Let's take a stroll through the garden...

So Dreamy!!!

She reminds me of Alice's stroll through the flowers in Wonderland

 Yes indeed...a stop for a gaze and a sniff... absolutely divine!!!

Hey!  But what about the pool????

No worries on this!!!  I love this pool!  It reminds me of a grand (in size) version of my friend Leslie's pool (except we have to wear swimsuits... well let me re-word this... want to wear swimsuits here!)  Oh but it is So Lovely... large but not too large, there are foam water "noodles" in every color to borrow for your floating pleasure... the hot tub located in the far right corner is tres hot and tres deep (my Mom and I are fans!).  In fact we are planning on enjoying this hot tub Sunday night for the full moon gazing...fantabulous!!!


I met these lovely ladies (who were kind enough to be in my photo)... the woman on the right is a local artist and knows my family... even has some of my Aunt's painted Christmas ornaments.  The woman on the near left is from Syracuse, NY and is a snow bird heading home come Monday.


Oh yes.... Snowbirds!!!  Those who flock away from the winters...I may just aspire to be on myself!!!!


In any case, I give the East Social Center 2 tan thumbs UP!!!


Tomorrow...I will be visiting Tubac, AZ one of my Most Favorite towns ON EARTH!!! (No pool but OH THE COLORS!!!)


I'll be back... You Be Blessed!!!