Monday, March 31, 2014

NF Inspiring Photography 85 - Catching the Light - Laughter at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam


The last two years, I've returned home to San Francisco from India with 
December connections through Schiphol International Airport in Amsterdam.
It is a duty free shopper's paradise and it always gaily decorated for the 
holidays.  Since I rarely have funds left after my lengthy India stays, I am 
quite content to stroll about, camera in hand, taking pictures, and allowing 
myself an indulgence of a few bars of marzipan for the continued trip onward.

I thought this picture, as I disembarked my India flight, was perfect for 
today's theme, "Catching the Light".




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Sunday, March 30, 2014

See It Sunday - Theme: Structure - Hong Kong LIghts - March 30, 2014


Flying to and/or from India on Cathay Pacific Airlines from San Francisco is nice
because, besides the fact that it is a really superb airline, one can have
a free stopover in Hong Kong ( their main hub ).  I spent five days there on
my return home from Mumbai in 2012.  Even though I was alone, I still 
enjoyed my visit and loved the fact that, as a senior citizen, all my rides on
the Star Ferry on Victoria Harbor were free.

I did a harbor cruise, one night ( not free but well worth the price ) to see the
spectacular "Symphony of Lights" which, according to Guinness Book of
World Records is billed as "the world's largest light and sound show".  More
than forty buildings on both sides of the harbor participate in this incredible
synchronised light extravaganza.  You can view it from the harborside 
promenade but, from the deck of a boat, it is even nicer.




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Friday, March 28, 2014

Six Word Fridays - "Sweet" - Harper's Smile - March 28, 2014


Sweet is a granddaughter's toothy smile!




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Monday, March 24, 2014

Ruby Tuesday Too - Louisiana Crawfish - March 24, 2014




My month long trip to the South in January was a wonderful visit to friends and family.
I was also delighted to feast on some of my favorite foods, from grits to barbecue to 
raw oysters to catfish and, of course, as I had hoped, Louisiana crawfish were in
season when I arrived in New Orleans.

Crawfish prices have certainly gone up!!  Nearly fifty years ago, when I started
nursing school at Charity Hospital in New Orleans, you could buy boiled crawfish,
three pounds for a dollar.  This past weekend, because of recent cold temperatures,
crawfish cost six dollars a pound at the Louisiana Crawfish Festival!

Crawfish, or crayfish, or "mudbugs" as some call them are freshwater crustaceans
that look like small lobsters.  They are found mainly in brooks and streams with
fresh water running through, to meet the huge demand, the main source is through
aquaculture.  Lousiana produces most of the world's crawfish.

With the tail being the only really edible part ( the claws provide barely any meat ),
you have to eat quite a bit to feel full.  Crawfish are GOOD eating, though,
and it is easy to consume several pounds!

In case you've got crawfish handy, here's a recipe from the Food Network,
compliments of Emeril Lagasse.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/crawfish-etouffee-recipe2.html

Crawfish Etouffee

21 Reviews 

Recipe courtesy of Emeril Lagasse

Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2001
SHOW:  The Essence of Emeril

EPISODE:  CAST IRON

Total Time:  1 hr 50 min    Prep:   30 min     Cook:    1 hr 20 min

Yield:8 servings

Level:Intermediate 

CATEGORIES 

Crawfish Main Dish Southern

Ingredients

6 tablespoons butter

4 tablespoons flour

2 cups chopped onions

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped bell pepper

6 cloves garlic, minced

2 bay leaves

2 sprigs fresh thyme

2 1/2 cups fish or shrimp stock

1 cup peeled, seeded and diced tomatoes

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Hot pepper sauce

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

2 pounds crawfish tails, with the fat

1/2 lemon, juiced

1 cup chopped green onions

1/4 cup chopped parsley

Cooked white rice, for serving

Directions

In a large, heavy saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons of the butter and whisk in flour to combine well
Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until roux is a peanut butter color.

Add onions, celery, bell pepper, garlic, bay leaves, and thyme and cook until vegetables are

soft, about 6 to 8 minutes. Add stock, tomatoes, salt, red pepper, hot sauce, and

 Worcestershire sauce and bring to a boil.

Skim surface, reduce heat to a simmer, and cook uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring

occasionally.

Add crawfish tails and fat, lemon juice, green onions, and parsley and cook for 15 to 20

 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add remaining butter and stir to combine well. Taste and adjust

 seasoning if necessary. Serve over hot rice
.
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/crawfish-etouffee-

recipe2.html?oc=linkback

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crayfish


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Sunday, March 23, 2014

Sunday Bridges - The Bandra-Worli Sea Link - March 23, 2014


This cable-stayed bridge links Bandra in the Western suburbs of Mumbai with 
Worli in South Mumbai.  All eight lanes became functional in March 24, 2010.
The bridge reduces travel during peak hours from 60 - 90 minutes to 30 - 20 
minutes.  The bridge, originally estimated to cost 3 billion dollars cost 16 billion
dollars!


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bandra-Worli_Sea_Link


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Monday, March 17, 2014

Happy St. Patrick's Day - March 17, 2014



I'm awfully glad I'm Irish,
Though it's really weird to me,
That lovely alluring Emerald Isle,
Is one I've yet to see!




I've traveled pretty close to there,
And though I'm not so fond of beer,
I often have an Irish whiskey,
When I need a bit of cheer!




I'm sad to  say I've searched in vain,
Till my knees have gotten sore,
But the only clover that I've found,
Hasn't had any leaves of four!




In my youth, I could dance an Irish jig,
And twirl about with the best,
Nearing 70, it's all I can do to walk,
And every few steps, I must rest!




Today, I'll have corned beef and cabbage,
Like any good child of the sod,
And before I sit down to devour it,
I'll offer my thanks to my God.




Tonight will end in a pub crawl,
Where I'll join folks of all races and creeds,
Because today, the whole world is Irish,
And we go where the leprechaun leads!!

Carmen Henesy

Copyright Carmen Henesy March 17, 2014














Monday, March 10, 2014

Whimsical Windows, Delirious Doors! #119 - Jaipur Beauty, Perfect For This Theme! - Marrch 10, 2014

I took this photograph during my five month stay in Jaipur well over a year ago.  
I always loved passing by this building, it looked so exotic and, of course, the 
doorway and windows - the whole house, really, are in colors I love.  I check
Meme-Aholics from time to time and was so surprised to see the above 
meme.  How have I missed it in the past?  Anyway, here are my beautiful
Jaipur doorway and window!



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Saturday, March 08, 2014

International Women's Day - Sisters, You and Me - March 8, 2014



Sisters, You and Me

I stand beside you, sister,
Wherever you may be,
And hope, one day, that life, for you,
Will be one of equality.

As I eat my morning meal today,
I pray for women filled with dread,
No food upon their tables,
Anxious for the day ahead. 

I think about the girl child,
Whose face never bears a smile,
Born to a life of poverty,
Never made to feel worthwhile.

I see the ancient woman,
Her wrinkled face wracked with pain,
Not able to afford health care,
Even if it were possible to attain.

This international day of women,
Must carry through the year,
The baby steps and efforts,
The promises undertaken here!

We cannot turn our backs,
On the oppressed and those in grief,
If we all put our hearts together,
We can initiate relief.

We can show that we, as women,
Will, somehow, find a way,
To improve the plight of thousands,
Who suffer abuse each day.

We can unite, worldwide, as sisters,
To make life better for us all,
In support and love and kindness,
We must answer to the call.

Carmen M Henesy
Copyright (c) 2014 by Carmen Henesy
All rights reserved. 









Friday, March 07, 2014

The Saturday Photo Hunt - Colours - Cricket - March 8, 2014

It's always easier, when your brain is on Sabbatical ( or when you are in the 
company of a baby for a whole month - as I have been since my return from 
traveling most of January about some of the cities in which I've lived in the former 
Southern U. S. ), to have nice blogging memes to help stimulate blogging posts.
"Colours" had me pouring through hundreds of photographs this morning.  India
pictures are the most colorful in my collection although I do have some other 
wonderful ones from other travels.  Of course, seeing them made me very
wistful to get out the suitcases and start look at reservation sites.  I do plan to
head back to India in the next few months.  That country is now so much a part
of me!!




This colorful group of young cricketers played in the courtyard outside my
"home" in Sahar Village, Mumbai, almost every day.  They always called for
Aunty Carmen to come out and cheer them on.  None of the fancy cricket 
clubs has ever captured my heart as these youngsters did.

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Thursday, March 06, 2014

Friday Flash 55 - Too Pooped to Pop - March 6, 2014

I can go from dawn to dusk,
In the most exotic places,
And never tire of meeting,
Dozens of new faces.

Yet, a day of playing grandma,
To this 11-month-old lass,
Leaves me way too pooped to pop,
And really dragging a*#!

Energizer bunny, Geritol and such,
Help - I need your magic touch!














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