Birthday Barack-A-Mole

Some words become part of our vocabulary even when they are not real words. Barack-a-mole is one of those words! What began as evening pep-rallies at our kitchen counter over a few shots of tequila, limes and salt and the hope of Obama winning the election, have continued! We now toast to the small victories. A week of great work and new ideas formulating, a check from a gallery, an Etsy sale.... The everyday stuff that, on some days, feels like great accomplishments despite the odds life is handing us at the moment.

On April 12th, we celebrated Jons 48th birthday. On that day, 48 years ago, a quiet unassuming man was born. 25 years ago I married him and every day I am eternally grateful for his light in my life. He keeps me laughing on the toughest of days and is the defintion of a soul mate. Our job is to make art together every day!
I am blessed! I will hold his hand and heart forever!

He also makes killer guacamole.....hmm...Barack-A-Mole! This latest batch was served in a bowl we traded for from a fellow Etsy artist, Kristin Love. She creates beautiful heartfelt bowls that echo sentiments of hope and kindness. In exchange, we made for her a TattooDream Box for her handmade cards. Though many miles apart, her Hope bowl now lives with us and our card box with her.

Here is Jon's recipe for Barack-A-Mole.

2 or 3 medium size ripe avocados
2-3 cloves of garlic
1/2 c. red onion
1 roma tomato
1/2 lime squeezed
1/4 c. fresh cilantro finely chopped
1 tbsp. sour cream (optional)
a few finely diced jalepeno pepper slices
1 tsp. coarse salt to taste

Prepare the ingredients:
Finely chop the garlic
Slice onion into thin slices and chop into pieces.
Slice tomato in half, remove inside flesh and seeds. Then cut outer layer into strips and chop into small pieces.
Rinse a small bundle of cilantro thoroughly, dry with a towel and chop into fine pieces.
Once all of the above is prepared, cut each avocado in half and remove pit. Scoop with spoon and place into bowl.

Begin by mashing the avocados thoroughly. Next, incorporate the onion, garlic, cilantro and tomatoes. Add the sour cream to bring consistency to a creamy suspension. Squeeze the juice of half a lime and mix thoroughly. This will bring it to the final texture. Cover the mix with plastic wrap and chill for several hours. When ready, salt to taste, adding roughly 1 teaspoon. Mix thoroughly.

Tips for the best results: Pick avocados that are firm and not mushy. A slight resistance means it is ready. If it is very firm, place into a brown paper bag and store at room temperature for 2-3 days until soft enough for preparation.

Some recommended chips:
El Milagro Mexican kitchen style chips or Lundberg's sea salt flavored Rice chips.

Enjoy with your favorite tequila and Mexican dish. Olé!

Celebrate all the victories life sends your way!
Patricia

★ A 'Virgin' Jar of Jif......and thou....... ★

Jif and I go back a long way. I recall the old days when Jif was in a glass jar. I was 17 and living on my own. I had very little money for most anything other than food and rent. I rode a bike since I didn't have a car. That was kept by my Dad when I moved out. With all 'luxuries' removed from your life, you learn to celebrate the 'small stuff'. Soon, if you really tune into it, you realize that it's all this small stuff that makes up the bulk of our life. The little moments, the scents, the intunedness of just being that fills our lives.
This is the rich nectar of life.
Some people never get it. Some people try to fill in the 'gaps' with stuff to fill a void they themselves have never closed.
Got news for ya, it's not the 'stuff' that's gonna make you happy!

When I was 17 and walking to the grocery store I had to be certain I didn't buy too much as to be able to carry it home in one bag about a mile and half away. With my budget that was fairly easy. Ramen noodles and peanut butter didn't weigh much! One day while walking home, the bag fell out of my arms and out rolled onto the sidewalk my beloved Jif.............in a glass jar. It broke. I stood there in astonishment that this happened. I was being so careful. Next I wondered, as I saw the small chards of glass and Jif glistening in the sun, what would I eat that week. This was a sight I was not certain to forget.
After that I bought a small old ladies cart that allowed for 2 bags of grocieries to come home. It was like having a car!
I treasure those simple days. I moved out at a young age, had no car, only a bike. I owned my bed and a rocking chair and made my way.
It taught me worlds about myself and how very little I really needed to be happy.

So now, when I open a beautiufl new jar of Jif, I carefully remove the inner protective silver safety seal and examine the golden contents. I admire the small air bubbles left after the packaging process and see the tiny flecks of stuff I'd prefer to not think are nuts. ( I don't like nuts).....thus only the Creamy version for this Jif girl!
Admiration for this food that has sustained me all these years is the least I can do. I have shared my 'ritual' of opening the jar with friends over the years. Carefully lit, it's a thing of beauty - a sight to behold! Some look at me like I'm weird. The rest understand. For I feel, if I were marooned on a desert island I could use the glorious Jif as both food and sunblock and moisurizer. What an amazing all purpose food it is!

So, on this warm summer day, my 48th birthday, I celebrate all the things that make me smile! My wonderful husband Jon, my family, friends, our tigers and where I've been. If it were not for those desperate days I could not appreciate the fullness of my life now.
I feel blessed!
I continue to look inside the Jif jar and am happy to see when it's full!
★★★
Pat
Happy Birthday too to my brother Ken whom I share this birthday with. He's 50 today!