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Saturday, January 29, 2011

Scary News, Little Pleasures

More scary news in the big world, even scarier than the last batch.

I am so lucky that I am able--on a lazy evening--to sit back and watch Trevor Nunn's Twelfth Night.

Not only was it fun in itself, but I was actually WORKING. I am teaching Shakespeare's play next week, and the plot--for a reader--is head spinning. Not so for a viewer.

I am lucky in another way. I can wander down my back steps and pick some scallions and cilantro. Then, since I have to attend a pot luck dinner/musical performance tonight, I get to make a dish that uses some of my bounty: Texas caviar. I've eaten this, but never made it: WHY? It's easy and good. In fact, Mr. FS urged me to make a ton, so he can eat the leftovers tomorrow.

Texas caviar is a frugal recipe: black-eyed peas are the caviar. Recipe from Pam Anderson.

Ingredients

* 2 (15.8 ounce) cans black-eyed peas, drained
* 1 (14.5 ounce) can petite diced tomatoes, drained
* 2 fresh medium jalapenos, stemmed, seeded and minced
* 1 small onion, cut into small dice
* 1/2 yellow bell pepper, stemmed, seeded and cut into small dice
* 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
* 6 tablespoons red wine vinegar
* 6 tablespoons olive oil (not extra virgin)
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
* 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
* 1 teaspoon dried oregano
* 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

Directions

1. Mix all ingredients in a medium bowl; cover and refrigerate 2 hours or up to 2 days. Before serving, adjust seasonings to taste, adding extra vinegar, salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving bowl.



EASY! I have a number of Pam Anderson's cookbooks. My favorite is Perfect Recipes for Having People Over.

I also love her book on losing weight. She lost 50 pounds, eating real food and without starving herself. I would use these recipes even if I weren't on a diet. Actually, I am not on a diet.

How lucky I am in my cilantro and scallions. And how wonderful Shakespeare is!

What is love? 'tis not hereafter;
Present mirth hath present laughter;
What's to come is still unsure:
In delay there lies no plenty;
Then come kiss me, sweet and twenty,
Youth's a stuff will not endure.

3 comments:

Duchesse said...

I can taste the brightness and satisfaction in this recipe. (Guess that is like a musician who can hear music from reading a score.) A fresh contribution, many potluck dishes are (IMO) boring.

Funny- was thinking the other day of the two summers I spent at 16 and 17 enrolled in a college course on Shakespeare. My parents' idea for keeping me out of trouble. Anyway, our prof told us about a book called "Shakespeare's Bawdy", and shared all the ribald references that were likely not in our view unless explained. (Twelfth Night included as I recall.) Not quite what the parents expected but much appreciated.

Anonymous said...

I've copied this recipe too. We tried the dirty rice last night! Made it exactly according to the recipe, ground gizzards and diced livers and all. A BIG hit! I am indebted.

Frugal Scholar said...

@Duchesse--That book--by Eric Partridge--is a classic!

@Terri--I am so glad! I spend so much time reading cookbooks. Happy to share.