Brussel Sprouts and Bacon Recipe

 

Brussels Sprouts and Bacon

Ingredients:

• 4 strips thick-sliced bacon
• 2 tbsp butter, unsalted
• 1 lb. Brussels sprouts halved
• ½ onion, chopped
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:

1. Fry bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove to a plate lined with paper towels, then chop roughly.
2. Melt butter over high heat in the same skillet with bacon fat. Add Brussels sprouts and onion, and cook for about 8 to 10 minutes, occasionally stirring, until vegetables are golden brown. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Transfer bacon back into the pan, and serve immediately.

Roscoff Gravy adapted as Vidalia Turkey Gravy

Roscoff Gravy adapted as Turkey Gravy

By Monica Perez Nevarez

Ingredients

2 Sweet Vidalia Onions  

80 grams Butter
1 Tbsp Flour

1 tsp Dijon Mustard
1/2 Knorr chicken cube

500 ml Chicken Stock

100 ml Chardonnay wine

Preparation

1. Peel and thinly slice the onions. In a heavy saucepan on medium heat, melt the butter, then add the onions and cook until soft (about 10 minutes).

2. Turn to the lowest heat, cover and let the onions simmer — stirring occasionally — until they reach a nice brown colour, about 30 minutes.

3. Add the flour and cook on medium heat for 1 minute. Add the Dijon and the smashed Knorr cube and mix, slowly add the Chicken stock while stirring, let it reduce for 10 minutes, add the Chardonnay while stirring, let it reduce for 5 minutes, then let simmer on low for about 5 minutes.

4. When you reach the desired consistency, adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper and serve while it’s hot.

 

The Gifts that Bind

By Monica Perez Nevarez

(Visiting Mummy’s grave, Massachusetts National Cemetery, Cape Cod, MA, November 24, 2013)

“Be grateful for all you have,” you said,

“Cherish what you’ve lost, but let it go;

Spread joy; hold your tongue,

Banish worries with a shrug. 

Heal your sorrows, unbidden.”

“Love the good in Thanking,

Make amends to those the “good” abused,

Love the kids, the moms, the dads, 

Who came before, who may yet come.”

Like a wounded dog, I licked my wounds 

whenever I promised I would.

“Most of all respect the Mother,” you said

Replenish Her, keep her, care for Her.

For She is Life and She is dying. 

If you transgress,

Unintended consequences follow.”

Wisdom imparted in silence, echoes on cold stone, 

yellowed grass, rustling leaves, bracing wind. 

I did not understand.

Earth’s energy is rising in me, slowly, slowly.

“Breathe in love, breathe out love.

Breathe in life, breathe out life.”

Thank you, dearest one.

Now The Mother calls to me, 

Her wisdom dissolving my resistance

Releasing my spirit, dancing blessings into being, 

in tune with a symphony made of Her parts:

The sun to hold me, 

The stone to ground me, 

The wind to carry me,

The rain to cleanse me.

Your memories to guide me. 

Nothing left of me

Nothing but the gifts you gave,

Gifts I've shared,

Gifts I cherish,

In loving memory of you.