Nick's Birthday!

Happy Birthday!

Pastels

I found a love for painting pastels. I only started in October last year.

Lately I keep thinking I'll start one or finish the one I started weeks ago (it's been nagging at me, haunting me). But there's this weird time in the birth of the masterpiece when it seems to go very bad. In the past I've worked through it. Just kept my head down and my fingers dusty and caked. Unfortunatley, that's where I left this most recent painting...ugh. That bad stage. I should never have walked away at that point. I know, I could always start a new one, but that's like giving up.

To make myself feel better, here's a picture of the first pastel I did using Kim's supplies and good critique.

It worked, I feel better. Maybe I'll try playing with my pastels tomorrow.

breathe, dammit, breathe!

It seems as though if I don't have enough things tumbling around in my head, I will collect more things so I can keep the tangled knot spinning.

I was thinking how sad it was. How I left my blog to die. What about those people who were interested? But there are no people interested... except my sister, Nancy. Nancy was so supportive of my blogging she immediately put me on her "list". I really must have let her down.

BUT, seeing my blog in her list reminded me that I had a blog and should make the time to nurture it, resurrect it. and so I did..last night...
look...it's still breathing...

A little history

The Pleasant Cafe

Feliciano and Carmella Iantosca opened the YD meat market in the early 1930's. In 1939 four of the sons incorporated and began to run it as The Pleasant Cafe.

The Pleasant Cafe 4511-4515 Washington Street Roslindale, Massachusetts

Circa 1950
Uncle T (Attilio), Grandpa Al (Emilio), Uncle Pompey (Palmarino), King Knickerbocker (of Knickerbocker Beer), ?, ?, ?, John Prada, and Carmelina Prada.

Grandpa Al pouring liquor at the bar, as he did for 41 years (1938-1979).

Wow...It looks as though our last posting was, um, months ago. YIKES!

It's funny how time can simply disappear.

It's my Birthday

Sept. 25, 1982

I was finally 15.

Black Bean Soup

My absolute favorite black bean soup I've ever made!!!

BLACK BEAN SOUP WITH CILANTRO LIME SOUR CREAM

1 16-ounce package dried black beans (about 2 1/2 cups)
6 bacon slices, chopped
3/4 cup finely chopped celery
3/4 cup finely chopped onion
3/4 cup finely chopped carrots
3/4 cup finely chopped leeks
10 cups canned low– salt chicken broth
1 large tomato, chopped
1 cup (packed) chopped fresh cilantro
1/3 cup (packed) chopped fresh parsley
1 1/2 tbsp minced garlic
1 jalapeños chili, minced
1 tbsp red wine vinegar
2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander

3/4 cup sour cream
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
2 tsp fresh lime juice
Additional chopped fresh cilantro
Additional chopped tomato

Place beans in large bowl. Add enough water to cover by 3 inches. Let stand overnight. Drain well..

Cook bacon in heavy large pot over medium heat until brown but still soft, about 4 minutes. Add celery, onion, carrots and leeks and sauté until vegetables begin to soften, about 10 minutes. Add beans, chicken broth, tomato, 1/2 cup cilantro, parsley, garlic, jalapeño, vinegar, cumin and coriander.
Bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer soup until beans are very tender, stirring occasionally, about 2 minutes.

Working in batches, transfer soup to blender and process until slightly chunky puree forms. Return soup to pot. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Bring to simmer before continuing.

Mix sour cream. Lemon juice, lime juice and 1/2 cup cilantro in small bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls. Place dollop of sour cream mixture atop soup. Garnish with additional chopped cilantro and chopped tomato.

Serves 8