Friday, 3 January 2025

Twenty Delectable Mountains

 

Most of the year, this is my second or third favorite dish at Rumbi Island Grill. When I have a winter head cold, it moves to first place.

 

Copycat Bahama Mama’s Tortilla Soup

 

2 chicken breasts, grilled and cut into chunks

8 cups chicken broth

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

Pinch of dried thyme

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon fresh ginger, chopped

1 tablespoon garlic, minced

1 cup shredded carrots

1 cup coconut milk

1 chopped tomato

1 cup mozzarella, shredded

2 cups tortilla strips

Juice from 1 lime

Salt, pepper to taste

 

In a large pot, combine chicken broth, allspice, thyme, cinnamon, ginger and garlic and bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add coconut milk, carrots and chicken.  Let it sit a few minutes to heat the chicken. Get four soup bowls and place 1/4 of the tomato in each. Ladle broth mixture into bowls. Top with cheese, tortilla strips and lime juice.  Makes 4 bowls.

Thursday, 2 January 2025

No Place Like Home

 

I bought this kit years ago, on sale at one of the stores in the Utah Quilt Shop Hop. It came with its own pattern and it was half price. A steal, or so I thought. When I got around to opening the kit, I realized half the fabric that should have been there was simply missing. Even if the kit was complete, the directions were vague and useless. By this point, my receipt was long gone, the fabric line was years out of date, and the shop was no longer in business. I couldn’t bring myself to toss the kit, but from time to time I’d “borrow” bits of it for other projects. Last month I decided it was time to fish or cut bait. I pulled out the kit and started hacking away. Here are the results so far. Last week I actually snagged a couple of yards of a matching border print online. Wonders never cease!


Wednesday, 1 January 2025

Three Blue Houses

 


This was the year that was not the year

 

This was the year that was not the year

I repaired the bathroom tap

And emptied out the kitchen drawer

Of a lifetime’s worth of crap.

 

This was the year that was not the year

In which I launched a new career.

A West End hit eluded me

And so did Time Person of the Year.

 

This was the year that was not the year

I became a household name.

Action figures were not sold of me

I wasn’t made a dame.

 

This was the year that was not the year

I spent less time on my phone.

Nights of passion did not happen

In boutique hotels in Rome.

 

This was the year that was the year

I didn’t get that much done –

Much the same as the year before,

Much like the year to come.

 

-          Brian Bilston