Since it was perfect tree-decorating weather, I invited Emma and Guillermo over for dinner Monday to trim the tree. It had been a long day and I had taken out one lobster tail and two steaks to cook for Zeke and I, not enough for the five of us, so I started pulling stuff out of the freezer. Two elk steaks, two bratwurst… I decided to make it like an Argentenian parrillero, where all kinds of meats are grilled. Zeke grilled the lobster, which we served as an appetizer, sliced in chunks and served with melted butter.

I was making a complicated Brussel Sprouts dish from the New York Times, which involved labneh and pickled shallots. I also heated up some mashed potatoes and made grilled pita bread. After all that, we were both exhausted and we hadn’t even gotten the ornaments out of the upstairs bedroom. Plus, the tree was only three-fourths lit since Zeke ran out of lights, so we decided to give a rain-check for the next night.

I was also busy that day setting the table for the Pinecrest Garden Club’s Holiday Decorating Contest, which we had on Zoom Tuesday at 12. Earlier in the day, Kelley and I had been at Pinecrest Gardens distributing meals from Honey Baked Ham for members who requested lunch. Each member who came got a small poinsettia as well. It was our way of trying to keep connected to our Pinecrest Garden Club members.

The theme of my table was “2020- It’s Been Bananas.” It was inspired by some monkey plates I had and, of course, the craziness of this year. The other tables were wonderful- all different and creative in their own ways. There was “Shaken, Not Stirred”, “First Hanukkah”, “New Years Eve”, a Mother’s Birthday and beautiful outdoor table with silver palm fronds and black and white gingham from Christian Armstrong. We ended the meeting by singing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and “Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel.” We were off-key and definitely not in-sync, but the Holiday spirit was there!

Tuesday night was a very cold night (50’s), perfect for the Beef Chili I made for dinner, which had been my original idea for a Tree-Decorating dinner. It was a Williams Sonoma recipe I’d cut out of their catalogue (they have good recipes!), a basic chili with ground beef, onions, crushed tomatoes and spices. I didn’t follow it exactly, however, so don’t know if I could ever replicate it. I didn’t have beer, so used red wine. I added cocoa powder and cinnamon, reminiscent of a Mexican mole and Zeke said it “needed more cumin and smokiness” so I added more cumin and smoked Spanish paprika. I used red kidney beans because Zeke said not to use any of those “weird” beans I usually do (who knew garbanzo beans were weird?) and served it with jalapeño corn bread. Everyone enjoyed it. After dinner, we lit a fire in the fireplace, trimmed the tree and made s’mores.

Please and Thank you are the magic words…

I picked up Wyatt from school Wednesday. We went to the playground where he ran around and to the library at Pinecrest Gardens to get some new books. We came home and made sugar cookies in the shape of Christmas trees. Wyatt insisted that he roll out the cookie dough all by himself and he’s become a really good baker!

Dinner was Homemade Mac ‘N Cheese, because I had all the ingredients. Zeke came home, complained the kitchen was a disaster (it was) and said “Pizza would have been easier.” Really? That’s gratitude for you. As Tami Gautier told me her Father-in-Law instructed his sons about wives making a homemade dinner, the appropriate response to this effort is a simple: “Thank you.”

Thank you indeed.

I had a lovely Birthday Lunch (outside of course) at Fiola’s in Coral Gables. They have a three-course Prix Fix lunch that’s a great deal for $29. I can highly recommend the Ceviche as a starter and my Roast Chicken entree with Fall Harvest vegetables was very good as well. Their bread is delicious, dipped in a little olive oil; it made repeat appearances at our table. My fellow diners all got the Grilled Skirt Steak with mashed potatoes and endive, which they enjoyed; dessert was Tiramisu and a Chocolate Marchesi with pistachios on top and two MORE desserts (white cake) for the birthday girls. In a year like 2020, there’s no such thing as too many desserts.

Thursday night I headed down to the Keys. I’d been trying to participate in a Screenwriting/Acting workshop for the last three Thurdays and finally decided to go to the Keys and barricade myself inside to join the Zoom call. As I arrived, took a walk and relished in the peace and tranquility that is the Sanctuary, I wondered why I hadn’t thought to do this before. It was wonderful! Unfortunately, we’re renting our place out for three months so my little Thursday get-aways will have to wait till April.

For months I’d been craving the Drunken Noodles at The Key Thai and Sushi restaurant in Key Largo and Friday, I finally got my wish. The slick, flavorful noodles come with chicken, red pepper, onions and basil and it’s delicious. The lunch special includes a salad or potsticker and is a deal at $8.95. Zeke came Friday afternoon and we met friends Doug and Heidi at one of our favorite local dives- The Pilot House. We ordered the Margarita Flatbread, Coconut Shrimp, wine (for the girls) and beer (for the guys) during Happy Hour. I was celebrating Liam finally getting out of NICU and coming home with his parents. Yea!

Perhaps I celebrated too much, because I didn’t feel so great the next day. Chris and Courtney had dressed Liam in the cutest UM outfit on Saturday for the game, with a little Turn-Over Chain his Aunt Allison had made. Unfortunately, it didn’t help UM who lost big to UNC. As Christopher said “We got bludgeoned.” Dinner that night was Grilled Grouper (I’d got from the freezer), Butter Beans (also from the freezer), marinated artichoke hearts and leftover couscous. We are trying to eat things out of the freezer, so we have less to transport when our renters come. Dinner was okay; it was a freezer meal.

I finally finished Bruce Springsteen’s autobiography, Born To Run. I love the Boss, but it took me a LONG time to read this book. Next up, The Elegance of the Hedgehog, the book for my Book Club. After that, I have a small stack of books I got for my birthday, including Ina Garten’s new cookbook, Modern Comfort Food to plow through. On T.V., we’ve been watching Schitt’s Creek. We average about three episodes a night. I want to finish it, because I’m dying to see The Crown, and the Princess Diana season. I’ve also heard The Queen’s Gambit and The Undoing are worth watching and I want to see Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, starring an almost-unrecognizable Viola Davis.

The two new colors of 2021, named by Pantone are Ultimate Gray and Illuminating, a color that reminds me of a Whipped Lemon Meringue Pie. This makes sense, seeing as how, at least in the beginning of 2021, most of us are going to still need to hunker down, social distance, wear masks and generally, avoid life as we once knew it; but after being vaccinated, we’ll be reveling in the “optomistic promise of a sunny day.” If we can hang in there for 4 to 6 more weeks, we can finally get to the other side of this s**tshow.

Whether or not to get vaccinated with the new COVID vaccines seems to be a big question. I recently talked to a friend who was able to get vaccinated this week through their work. They turned down the vaccination, wanting to see how the vaccine effects other people first. I originally felt that way, but after reading up about it and talking to nurses (Elise) who talked to Doctors, I would take it right away if I could. I don’t, however, fall into the necessary categories of Health Care Worker, Elderly, Essential Worker etc… It’s 95% effective, with no known (short-term at least) side effects, so why not? Life could finally go back to normal.

The one purchase I’ve made for myself, in my mini-spending spree, that I recommend would be the weighted blanket I bought online. I need something heavy to be covering me when I sleep, or I toss and turn all night; this blanket fits the bill. I’ve slept more soundly and deeper than I have in a long time since I’ve been using it. It was worth the investment. They range in prices from $50 to almost $300.

Sunday was a beautiful day in Key Largo- sunny and calm seas.

Should we go out on the boat?

Zeke asked.

I noted that it was a beautiful day, but that I also knew it was a lot of work cleaning the boat after our “three hour cruise”. We decided to go out anyway, found Nest Key (where locals like to anchor and swim) and were headed to lunch when I realized I’d forgotten my mask. You would think bringing a mask (and I usually wear the gator in the Keys) would be second nature, but apparently not. We made a quick pit stop to the dock and I ran up to get my mask and then, we were on our way to Señor Frijoles.

It’s kind of cool to be out on the boat listening to Christmas music and it made me think of a time when my Dad, Butch Rice, entered the Boat Parade in our neighborhood of Gables By The Sea. Our boat, The Wild Rice, had been decked out in lights, my Dad was dressed in a Santa outfit, pillow under the suit for his belly and all the kids were there, including Chris and A.J., who were young. We set off, singing Christmas carols and all was well until my Dad tried to maneuver a rather tight canal corner. Then, the expletives started flying right and left, as my Dad frantically tried to reverse the boat and avoid crashing into the seawall.

Dad, you’re dressed as Santa Claus. You’re going to scar the kids.

I said.

My kids knew it was their grandfather (Pop Pop) underneath the Jolly Old Elf’s (ha!) red suit, but I still didn’t think it was appropriate for Santa to be cussing up a storm; my thoughts were on the therapy needed to erase this not-so-merry experience. Every time I go out on our new boat, it reminds me of my Dad. We grew up on the water and one of his favorite things to do- that we both loved doing- was going out on the boat. I like to think he’s up there, looking down on me, happy that I’m happy.

Sunday night, we came home and I made latkes. It started from a NYT latke recipe with grated potato, but I added some mashed potato, egg and bread crumbs to it. I’m not Jewish, but I’ve always loved latkes. I fried them, sprinkled them with salt and served them with sour cream and smoked salmon for our dinner. Zeke and I noshed away, as I drank chilled Prosecco and he his Pinot Grigio. L’Chaim – to life!

I read a New York Times article that stated “The fundamental value in human existence is communion with others.” The article spoke about the fact that we find meaning in life through acts of mutual acknowledgement. Different than Descartes’: “I think therefore I am”, Jewish philosopher Martin Buber believed in the philosophy of Dialogue, a form of existentialism. In a time, and during a Holiday, when we long to be with others, but cannot, I feel this communion with other human beings is essential. Even if we have to achieve it through Holiday cards, phone calls, texts, e-mails or, God help me, Zoom.

Please keep in mind local restaurants, especially Mom and Pop’s, when thinking of Holiday gifts for friends and family. So many great restaurants have already perished due to COVID restrictions and we need to support them at this time. Also, if you’re looking for a beautiful and unique gift for the Holidays, my daughter A.J. of Ashley Jordan Events has a Pop-Up on Miracle Mile in the Gables. She’s selling succulent arrangements, Moss Walls and other unique items, at different price points so you can find that perfect gift AND support a small, female-owned and operated local business. You can find her info on Instagram at Ashleyjordanevents.

I’m waitin’, waitin’ on a sunny day Gonna chase the clouds away Waitin’ on a sunny day.

Bruce Springsteen

Up Next: Jambalaya Quiche and Favorite Dishes, Drinks and Desserts from 2020.

“Letting the days go by…”

Last week was a week that felt surprisingly normal to me.

I looked at my calendar and instead of the normal blank white space of these three last months, I had meetings, parties, a massage and babysitting penciled in. I had my Book Club over for our meeting/dinner Tuesday night, attended an end-of-the year party for my tennis team (celebrating winning B-1), had my first massage in three months and went out to breakfast, lunch and dinner at restaurants in Key Largo over the weekend.

Best of all, Friday night I found out that my newest grandchild is going to be a boy! Yipee! Courtney and Christopher, married last November are expecting a baby boy (Liam James) next November, close to my birthday. The gender reveal party, via Zoom, was in Tallahassee, with Courtney’s Dad, sister and nieces attending. As they cut into the icing that revealed the cake’s blue interior, my Mom, A.J., Wyatt, Chris’s Dad and his best friend Devin were all there for the happy news. I can’t wait to see his sweet little face.

Zeke and I went out to celebrate afterwards at one of our favorite Key Largo spots, The Pilot House. While we wore masks to our table and the servers did as well, none of the patrons were wearing masks and young adults, who apparently hadn’t seen each other in a while, were high-fiving and hugging. It was heart warming (they were so happy to see each other) and horrifying (there’s still a global pandemic), all at the same time.

In the Keys, life certainly seems back to normal, in a way that didn’t feel at all safe. Basically, it’s nuts!

The weekend after the Keys opened to non-residents, restaurants were slightly busy, but this past weekend it seemed like everyone and their mother decided they’d had enough of being stuck at home and decended on the Keys like unmasked locusts. Traffic was horrific, the waterways were packed with boaters and, restaurants filled to capacity. The Keys has decided to leave it up to individual businesses whether to require patrons to wear masks. Most do not. I expect a spike of corona cases in the Keys in the next couple weeks.

On Sunday, we tried three different restaurants (Shipwrecks, Buzzard’s Roost and The Big Chill) for lunch with outdoor seating. They were all packed. We ended up at The Catch, which not very full but also not outside. I gobbled my tuna poke and tried to get out of there ASAP, which was not a relaxing dining experience.

Week of dinners last week:

• Monday Radicchio salad and lentils. Meatless Monday and was trying out recipes for my Book Club dinner.

• Tuesday Book Club dinner at my house (see previous post). Appetizers were Sliced Radishes with Vanilla Butter (Alex Raij’s), Cheddar biscuits (The Splendid Table). Dinner: Chicken Marabella (Silver Palate), with Make Ahead Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes (Ina Garden) and Radicchio Salad (Kitchn) with olives and sliced Parmesan. Dessert: French Vanilla Ice Cream with candied oranges and Cornmeal Nut Biscotti (The Last Course) .

• Wednesday Met my sister Kelley for drinks at Riviera CC (her first venture out). Zeke and I got sushi, which was really good.

• Thursday Roast Salmon with Miso Butter and Radish Salad with Jasmine Rice. A Food and Wine recipe, this wins as dinner of the week, even though I don’t like salmon. I will be featuring this recipe, along with other Food and Wine recipes in a future blog post.

• Friday Happy Hour at the Pilot House. Conch Fritters, Tuna Nachos and a Harvey Fish Sandwich. All yummy!
• Saturday Key West Pink Shrimp with Jerk seasoning and Mango salsa and Rice Pilaf. This was a close second for dinner of the week.

• Sunday Grilled Ribs with Memphis style rub, roasted Brussel Sprouts, baked beans, leftover rice, homemade pickles.

Coronavirus cases are climbing in 22 states, including, Florida. Last Saturday, new cases surged 35% over the previous day. It was the third record jump in three days and it can’t all be explained away with more testing. As my friend Sharon texted me: “Geez, I am over this crap!” I texted back: “Yes, but it’s not over with us.”

Sad news, Aragon 101, a cookware store in Coral Gables with curated kitchen items and fun cooking classes, is closing. I met Erica Guzman, the owner, on the Tour of Kitchens committee and always enjoyed talking to her, visiting the store and especially attending the wonderful cooking classes with various talented chefs. Books and Books on Miami Beach is also closing, due to high rent and the ever-shrinking Miami Herald is relocating buildings, finding it’s easier (and cheaper) for employees to work remotely.

My sister Elise and I were discussing a friend of hers who lost her job with a cruise line. But, the thing is, it was a job she hated, so this may be an opportunity to find a job she loves. And we agreed that while some jobs have evaporated, others have probably opened up. Or perhaps people are discovering a hobby they’ve taken up while in quarantine that they can turn into a side hustle or even a new business. As for me, the coronavirus has crystalized for me what I miss and what I don’t. I miss traveling.

Zeke and I had planned to go to London next year, so I found a great deal for a hotel in the Bloomsbury section that I booked through Travelzoo. It’s fully refundable and I need something to look forward to, even if it’s next year! I’m also planning a road trip for when we drop Lauren off in D.C. in August to Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia, three of the six states I haven’t seen.

I read an article (T & L) about what was a safer way to travel- by car or plane. The conclusion was driving is probably safer because you’re able to control your interaction with other people more than flying. Flying, you may encounter crowded airports, long security lines and then, of course, the hours on the plane itself with people you don’t know. Someone on my tennis team’s husband recently had coronavirus, which he contracted on a flight from Colorado. She was on the same flight, they both had masks on and her husband got it, but she didn’t. Coronavirus is a weird bird.

So, as much as I would for life to go back to normal, it hasn’t yet, at least not completely. I got my convertible top fixed to stop the leaking, we’re in the process of getting our roof fixed, the rat hasn’t been spotted lately, the cat’s had another catastrophe (inflamed claw) after a cat fight and I’ve just about given up on trying to make sourdough bread. Emma’s moved out and Lauren’s away, so the house is quiet. I have to remind myself, even when life was “normal”, it was never perfect and I still have summer, road trips, babysitting Wyatt and a new grandson to look forward to.

I love this speech from Our Town, given by Emily, a character who’s died and comes back to her hometown of Grover’s Corners for one last, ordinary day. (Emily was also on the short list of possible girl’s names for Chris and Courtney). So many times, we don’t appreciate what’s around us until it’s gone. So let’s savor and lean into whatever time we have left of this strange and unprecedented period of our lives.

Lets really look at one another…It goes so fast. We don’t have time to look at one another. I didn’t realize. So all that was going on and we never noticed. Wait! One more look. Goodbye, goodbye world. Goodbye to clocks ticking… and Mama’ sunflowers. And food and coffee. And new ironed dresses and hot baths… and sleeping and waking up. Oh earth, you are too wonderful for anybody to realize you. Do any humans beings ever realize life while they live it, every every minute?

Thorton Wilder, Our Town

Up Next: Mango Mania and Food and Wine Recipes I Love