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OCTOBER IS MY FAVORITE COLOR

October 15, 2020 by Mary 14 Comments

“Every morning I awake torn between a desire to save the world and an inclination to savor it.  This makes it hard to plan the day.”  E. B. White

My sentiments exactly…

Bean & Tortilla Soup, Everyday Dorie, The Way I Cook

SAVE & SAVOR

Unlike Oprah, I’ve experienced very few AHA moments but have approached Enlightenment, those lightbulb moments, gradually. Call me a Slow Learner. I plead guilty. But about 20 years ago as we moved into the 21st Century, I AHA’ed bigly. I decided that Joy is a choice with resilience and attitude, the survival tools. But, most importantly, I realized women must be Brave.

My AHA moment has successfully guided me through the past 20 years but it’s been a total lifesaver the last 7 months – a time like no other, bouncing between status quo to terrifying. And yet, despite the barriers, restrictions and mis-managed Pandemic, I have been not joyful exactly, but very content. Admittedly, some days I’ve had to pull on my big girl pants and just be Brave. 

Bean & Tortilla Soup, Fully Loaded

Here’s to sharing some of the past month’s joyful moments and hoping you’ve had some of your own. It’s chilly in the Colorado High County so soup is on the menu. Need comfort food? This Bean & Tortilla Soup smells heavenly and carries some heat (or not, your choice.)

OUR HILLS ARE STILL ALIVE

Hunter Creek Valley
A Sunday Morning Hike with Jessica Salet.

By mid-September it’s always a quiet time in the mountains. 

I was hiking Lower Lost Man and ran into these guys who were pulling in trout like crazy. It was mid-morning, they started fishing at 7:30 am and had already caught 10. They are part of the cooking staff at Plato’s, one of Aspen’s fine dining restaurants at Aspen Meadows.
While we were watching, he caught two fish on the same hook. His friends accused him of showing off but even he was amazed.
Max and his buddies were having such a great time.
I was feeling sorry for all those fish. What a lousy Sunday morning for them!

VOTE

The women’s suffrage movement was a decades-long battle to win voting rights in this country. It took 100 years to make that happen for white women and longer for black women. Suffragettes were brave. Other brave Americans have fought and died so we can vote but only 56% of us cast votes in 2016. Don’t ask me to understand that.

Photo from “Decade by Decade: Aspen Revealed,” a current show at the Aspen Historical Society which focuses on a comprehensive view of Aspen History from 1870-1970.

In 1893 Colorado was the first state to grant white women the right to vote although the Wyoming Territory granted voting rights in 1864.

Since our Emma is a first-time presidential election voter, this is an exciting time for our family. (Well honestly, I’m the one who’s most excited.) Although Clara is a not-yet-eligible 17, she’s was a Poll Watcher in California’s last election. She wrote an extensively-researched paper on our Women’s Suffrage Movement last year which she shared chapter by chapter with her Grandmother. They both definitely needed VOTE necklaces.

BREAKING MY RULES

Self-Saucing Ginger Toffee Pudding, a sweet, gooey and delicious Australian classic (Gayle Morgan photo)

As you Readers know, I’m a Fauci follower. Realizing no one is immune to this virus, I still listen to Dr. Fauci’s suggestions, trying to stay safe and not harm others. In late September, I was asked to join six others at a dinner party to celebrate a very special birthday and another friend’s becoming an American citizen. 

The birthday boy and his wife, Cathy. Fred and Cathy are the reason I began going to Paris for the winter. Cathy is also the gal who master-minded my trip/flight home from Paris last March when I was stranded after the quarantine was announced. I seem to keep Cathy and Fred on speed-dial.

It took a few days of discussion and our knowing we’d all been like-minded with our safety protocol to make it a Go. Realizing we faced a predicted surge as well as winter (it’s already snowed in Aspen), if not now, When?

Although I volunteered to bake a birthday cake and Donna Grauer offered to make ice cream (our usual dog-and-pony show), Jonathan insisted on making this pudding for Fred. We applaud his effort and are glad he insisted. On the day of our dinner, Jonathan became an America citizen and has dual citizenship.
Gayle is a beautiful and gracious hostess. Most of us had not been in their newly built home so that was a treat also.

It was a perfect evening albeit making us realize even more how much we missed being around a dinner table with old friends. These are strange times when we are hoping for the best, planning for the worst and staying focused on what’s most important to us. That was important. No regrets. 

THE LAST WORDS

Books read this past month. Loved them all. (L) The Seine, The River That Made Paris; American Lion; Duck Season, Eating, Drinking, and Other Misadventures in Gascony; What Unites Us; and my absolute favorite, The Soul of America by Jon Meacham

This week I received the Roaring Fork Audubon newsletter written by our president, Mary Harris, who is an expert birder and passionate about protecting our Valley. What I loved most was the advice she shared from her son who has a PhD in Microbiology focusing on tuberculosis. It dittos the reminders I often receive from my daughter. Ya gotta love our kiddos.

“Mom,  Please stay safe. Don’t cave. Wear your mask outdoors when others get close, and don’t go visiting the people you miss. Hang in there.”

COOK THE BOOK FRIDAYS

It’s such a windfall to be cooking through Everyday Dorie, The Way I Cook right now. These are the easy, simple recipes Dorie cooks every day at home for her family. Right now the Greenspan family is +1. Dorie and her husband Michael are grandparents for the first time…to a lovely little girl. Mazel tov.

BEAN & TORTILLA SOUP

SERVES: 4

INGREDIENTS:

For the Soup

1 large Spanish or Vidalia onion, chopped

1 large red bell pepper, seeded and chopped

1½ tbsp olive oil

2 large carrots, peeled and thinly sliced

1/2 jalapeno, seeded and minced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 tsp sea salt

pinch of sugar

¾ tsp cumin

½ tsp chili powder

3 cups vegetable, chicken or bean broth, adding more as desired

15 oz canned fire-roasted diced tomatoes

11/2 cups cooked or canned pinto or red kidney beans or black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed if canned

For the Add-Ins

Sour Cream or Greek yogurt

1-2 avocados, halved, pitted, cute into bite-sized chunks

Shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack

Chopped fresh clilantro

1-2 fresh limes, Cut  1 lime into wedges and freshly squeeze lime juice from the other 

Tortilla Chips

Hot sauce (optional)

PREPARATIONS:

1. Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, pepper, carrots, jalapenos, and garlic to the pan. Season with the salt and sugar and cook, stirring every few minutes, for 20 minutes.

2. Stir in the cumin and chili powder and cook for 1 minute. 

3. Pour in the broth, canned tomatoes, and beans. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Season to taste with salt, black pepper and the lime juice from 1 lime. 

4. Remove from the heat and divide into serving bowls. Top with suggested mix-ins above, as desired.

5. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with sour cream or yogurt and the avocado, some cheese and a generous amount of cilantro. Pass the lime wedges and tortilla chips. If desired pass the hot sauce also. 

TIP:  The soup can be made ahead and kept covered in the refrigerator up to four days or packed airtight and frozen for up to 2 months. 

BIRDS AND ANIMALS CAN’T VOTE BUT YOU CAN…AN INFORMED ELECTORATE IS THE FIRST REQUIREMENT FOR A SUSTAINABLE DEMOCRACY…THE SECOND IS TO VOTE. 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

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Comments

  1. AvatarArdyth says

    October 15, 2020 at 11:33 pm

    And Happy Birthday Month to you!!!!

    Reply
  2. AvatarDonna Grauer says

    October 16, 2020 at 2:21 am

    Thanks for the reading list. I was also impressed with the RFV Audubon newsletter. I appreciated them taking a stance in favor of Democracy for Birds and clearly leaning toward all of my favorite candidates.

    Reply
  3. AvatarKaren Carozza says

    October 16, 2020 at 3:59 am

    Glad to see you were able to have a gathering that was safe. It’s not impossible and it is good for the soul.
    I miss you…(I’m here back in Nevada!) xoxo

    Reply
  4. AvatarCatherine OConnell says

    October 16, 2020 at 5:15 pm

    Love that E.B. White quote. I’ll have to memorize it.

    How much would it cost to get my picture taken down????

    Reply
  5. AvatarPeggy Gilbey says

    October 16, 2020 at 5:22 pm

    Love that top photo of you Mary! Your soup this week looks delicious and a perfect rib sticker for the cooler months. I would have loved to be the recipient of all those trout and could think of plenty of ways to prepare and eat that up! Happy you enjoyed a gathering with close friends. Take care.

    Reply
  6. AvatarJane says

    October 16, 2020 at 8:26 pm

    Happy to see the Bean and tortilla soup. I make one like that frequently in the winter, too — sans cheese and sour cream, of course!

    Reply
  7. AvatarLiz says

    October 16, 2020 at 9:36 pm

    Seeing friends who you know have been playing it safe is good medicine!!! Hoping to have a sisters reunion when things calm down—not sure whether it will be Aspen, Maddy’s place in Oregon or Paris!! Wonder if Bill woud mind if we did all 3??? I can dream. xoxo

    Reply
  8. AvatarCher says

    October 17, 2020 at 1:05 am

    Such bizarre and surreal times.
    The mountains have been my salvation this year. Truly. I consider us so fortunate to live so close to so many places where we can escape the appalling actions of our leadership and gullibility of our fellow citizens
    So glad to see you working through this. And congratulations to your new voter. Now, more than ever each person’s voice matters.
    Miss you. XO

    Reply
  9. Avatarsteph (whisk/spoon) says

    October 24, 2020 at 7:08 pm

    those soups look so great! and i’ll raise my spoon to the two radiant and beautiful young ladies ready and excited for their times to vote!

    Reply
  10. AvatarShirley @ Everopensauce says

    October 24, 2020 at 11:41 pm

    Love the pictures of you with aspen trees in the background and your new voter of 2020. Must be an exciting time to get involved. May be, collectively, we can get us back on track to more joyful living. Meanwhile, being content is more than we can ask for in view of all the suffering and loss. I just had another bowl of the tortilla soup and like it even more. Would be making this soup again. It’s full of complexity, flavor and texture.

    Reply
  11. AvatarKim says

    October 25, 2020 at 12:24 am

    I agree with you…my motto has been “find the joy”. These are hard times, but there is always joy to be found. Your soup looks great…we loved it too!

    Reply
  12. AvatarBetsy says

    October 25, 2020 at 3:49 pm

    I LOVE your posts. They are a breath of fresh air, and bring me an added dose of JOY.
    Congrats to Emma on her first-time voting experience. It’s the first presidential election for all 4 of my sisters’ kids (ages 18-20). I find the experience never gets old, even at my age.
    You really went wild with the toppings. Is there even any soup under all those garnishes??? This soup was really good.
    Take good care, my friend. Happy Birthday month! The party isn’t over until the last celebration.

    Reply
  13. AvatarLillian Tse says

    October 25, 2020 at 7:33 pm

    ooh it is so pretty out there! I’m missing the fall weather already! it is full on winter here in Edmonton, Alberta 🙁 last week, there was black ice (no one had their winter tires on) so it made driving to pottery very fun!!! Then after we came out from class there was a good couple inches of snow on the car! it still is here and hasn’t quite melted all away yet!

    The soup was a super easy one! love all the photos!! paris sounds lovely!

    Reply
  14. AvatarTricia Stormer says

    October 26, 2020 at 1:25 am

    Reading my fellow Dorista’s blogposts is like visiting (or sorts) with them. You know how much we all have bonded this way over time. With all that has happened this year, the electronic bonding is even more important. It brought me a smile to read of your adventures, from the soup to your well planned and safe visit with friends to your outdoor activities in that gorgeous part of the country. And I just adore those sweet VOTE necklaces you got your granddaughters – spot on perfect.

    Reply

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