April 14, 2004

Chicken & Dumplings & Shaw Scope

In times of stress, we all have things we turn to for comfort. I'll list a few of mine.

The first is Chicken & Dumplings. Surprise, I made a batch on Sunday! I'm Southern, it's Spring, and it was time. I've considered cooking some for some little while, and finally made the effort.

What do I put in Chicken & Dumplings? Well, you have to understand that I almost never actually measure anything. Having said that, the ingredients are:

Skinless, boneless chicken breasts
Skinless, boneless chicken thigh cutlets (if you don't mix the white and dark meat, the taste doesn't turn out correctly)
Onion
Celery (very important)
Parsley
One (1) bay leaf (this is easy to measure)
Salt and Pepper (use to taste, but my advice is to use sparingly in the batch and apply liberally, if you like, on your individual serving)

If I was really dedicated, I'd make the dumplings from scratch. Sadly, I'm not that dedicated. I use Bisquick, and the recipe printed right on the side of the box.

The comfort food helps ward off feelings of anxiety and depression, and I certainly need that. Job uncertainty, 'nuff said. What about anger, though? You have to deal with the anger, too.

The comfort answer for that arrived in stores today, and I picked up a copy. Kill Bill, Vol. 1. I defy anyone to hold on to an urge to ... lash out ... after watching it. Excellent instant therapy.

I'll admit that books are another source of comfort, but if I listed all of them I'd be here for quite a while.

Posted by PyeCat at April 14, 2004 02:55 AM
Comments

(Shaw Scope?)

Things that bring comfort:

Those moments when there is absolutely no traffic on the road outside, no wind wuthering about the eaves, no neighbors walking down the halls, and no electronic intrusions (phone, television, stereo), when the room is finally, truly, completely quiet, and I can nestle down under the covers and let go of all the bad things happening in my life.

The sound of the copper windchimes on my mother's back patio.

The sound of my great-grandmother's clock bonging the quarter hours from my parents' mantel.

A small child curled in my lap, asking to be read to.

Fred.

Not necessarily in that order.

Posted by: Thinky at April 14, 2004 02:12 PM

If you watch "Kill Bill", then the Shaw Scope reference will be clear. :)

Posted by: PyeCat at April 15, 2004 02:35 AM