Your Weekend Challenge: Margarita Balls

Margarita Balls

The weekend is almost here.  Time for fun and games.  And cooking.  

What are you going to cook this weekend that reminds you of Key West?  Last weekend, I cooked Margarita Balls . . . to rave reviews.  

Yes, they do have Tequila in them, and no, the alcohol is not cooked out.  I'm sure that if they're not eaten fairly quickly, it evaporates, but they get eaten fairly quickly.

They are made with vanilla wafers and almonds

They also contain WHITE CHOCOLATE!

The recipe is posted on http://keywestcantina.com.

Well, enjoy your Margarita Balls.  I am trying to think up my new Key West Challenge dish for this weekend!

Making Key Lime Pie with Key Westie

Well, here I am on YouTube.  My first cooking video.  Key Lime Pie.  Yum!  What do you think?  I know it could be better, but everyone has to start somewhere. To find the recipe, click here.





This weekend, I videotaped Chef Chris making his wonderful whole wheat flat bread on the grill, which you'll see in the future.  Did you miss the slide show of him making Bananas Foster on the Grill?   You can watch it here.  We served it with Spicy Black Bean Humus. I also made Margarita Balls.  Yum!  Wanta know how to make them?   Stay tuned.  


Just adding to this post.  Just heard Kenny Chesney's song, "Key Lime Pie" for the first time.  LIKE!

Breakfast with Hemingway

The famous author, Earnest Hemingway, was a facinating man with many strange habits. For one thing, he's rumored to have eaten kippered herring on toast and raw onion for breakfast. Sometimes with beer.  Kippered Herring is herring that has been preserved by kippering (a special technique of preserving herring, where the fish is split from head to tail, gutted, salted, and smoked).  Actually, herring for beakfast is a tradition in England, probably dating back to Medieval times.



My husband, Captn' Dan, is currently totally caught up in the Hemingway legend, which is cool by me, because I've been a Hemingway fan for many, many years.  When I was young(er), I really wanted to run before the bulls in Pamplona.  And Hemingway was one of the draws of Key West to me. That's where Dan really discovered him. We've toured his house there twice, peeking into the room above the poolhouse where he wrote most mornings, before hitting the Key West bars or going out fishing with his "Mob" aboard his wooden boat, the Pilar.  I have a Hemingway page on http://keywestcantina.com/ and I create art and products from old Hemingway photos. Yeah, we're fans. 

Captn' Dan's on the right

Capn' Dan entered the Hemingway-Look-Alike contest at Sloppy Joe's this year. We hope to get to go back and take a more active part in the Hemingway Days festivities in the future.  It was fun.  He's been reading books about and by Hemingway, and we're watching all the movies about him we can lay our hands on. We also ordered a model of the Pilar for our mantel. 

Last weekend, Capn' Dan took his research on Hemingway to a new level.  He tried Kippered Herring for breakfast. On toast. Without an onion.  No beer.

Me:  "So, Honey, how is it?"

Captn' Dan:  "Not bad, want to try some?"

Me:  "Nope, just wanted to know how it is for research purposes. I'll take your word on it."

Predators and Prey Come out to Play

The official Fantasy Fest Website reads,
"The insane costuming continues as Fantasy Fest announces the theme for Pretenders in Paradise 2010 as “Predators and Prey Come out to Play.” We are looking for those crazy and hungry predators and the sweet and delicious prey to join the collection of talented
costumers decorated in their most outrageous gear."




I was inspired to try to come up with my own Predator/Prey costumes.
This is fun! I may do more!!

Glenda	Scarecrow
Ringleader	Lion
Police Officer	Biker Dude
Cowgirl	Cow
Pirate Wench	Prince Charming

Fantasy Fest in Key West

Leave Your Inner Prude Behind

The weather man says that the weather will soon be turning cooler.  Tonight , summer is over and fall begins.  Tonight the Harvest Moon will shine full.  This weekend will feel like fall, because I will not be in Key West.  Time for changing leaves and pumpkins and Halloween Costumes.  Where are my boots and my jackets?  But Key West has its own way to celebrate this time of year, and it doesn't involve jackets . . . maybe a few boots . . .  and nothing else . . . .

Habitat For Insanity Theme for 2010!!!

The insane costuming continues as Fantasy Fest announces the theme for Pretenders in Paradise 2010 as “Predators and Prey Come out to Play.”

What You Need to Know About Fantasy Fest

First, it's not for everybody.

Costumes Attending Fantasy Fest or The Key Largo Pirates Fest or Hosting Your Own Costume Event? Shop for costumes here!

Last year we attended the parade, but no other events, so I can only speak about that from experience. Although many children were in attendance, it's not for the prude at heart. From what I saw, the thousands of people in the audience is more outlandish than the acutal parade participants. Dress is optional, body paint is everywhere. You often have to look twice to see if someone is dressed or just painted, which is obviously the purpose . . . to make you look twice. Last year I heard that a nude cruise ship was in town during Fantasy Fest. I had just never throught about nude cruise ships before . . . And I've been told (gossip alert) that some of the Keys have laws against wearing clothing. On your way down A1A, look out over the ocean at all of those keys in bothAtlantic and the Gulf that cannot be reached by road. And let your mind wander about what goes on out there . . . .

Plan Ahead

The week of Fantasy Fest, the cost of all hotel rooms and other rental properties skyrocket . . . if you can find anything for any price. For some prime restaurants with a good view of the parade, you must make reservations a year in advance.

Have Fun!

You are on Duval Street. Everyone is in outlandish costumes (well, not everyone). You can buy cold drinks without going very far. You will see things you've never seen before. And the beads! The people on the floats throw beads just like in Mardi Gras, and you have to yell and get thier attendtion to snag your portion.

Also, this year, one of my favorite Keys musicians, Howard Livingston, is going to be Grand Marshall.  I can't attend this year, but  I really wish I could!!

A package from Ireland just arrived in the the mail. I won it on Facebook!

Yes I did!  And for the second time in as many months!  


It just arrived in the mail and it will never, ever wipe a dish.  It will be a family heirloom.  My son's wife will have to try to find a place for it in her home someday.  She won't mind, though, because it's absolutely beautiful, and I will frame it nicely.

I won this beautiful Irish linen tea towel from http://www.IrishFireside.com/ on Facebook!  


Last month I won a dinner for two from a charming restaurant here in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Cafe Ole, located right off of the Restless Ribbon (Peoria). Voted Best Southwest, Best Outdoor Dining, Best Margaritas, and Best Brunch in Tulsa.  If you come through here, you have to try it.


I've had a lucky streak here, but there are some awfully nice folks out on Facebook giving away some pretty cool prizes.  I'm thinking of doing one myself.  It'll take me a little while to plan it, but I'm gong to do it!  I want to be one of those nice people.  Right now, I'm just a lucky person.  


Thank you Irish Fireside and Cafe Ole!!

Ahoy Me Mateys. It's Talk Like A Pirate Day!

Ahoy! Although my husband and Me do not normally enjoy rap, we do think the pirate Youtube 'ideo linked t' har is a hoot. 
We enjoyed it so much that, me designed the shirts below for us.
Ahoy, we're goin' t' the Scottish Faire today, wearin' our Yo and Ho shirts
Aye, What be you doin'?
Gar, Where can I find a bottle o'rum?

Purchase these shirts on Zazzle

Cooking With Tequila to Celebrate Mexican Independence Day

When life hands you limes............ DEMAND Tequila and Salt!

Mexican Independence Day was yesterday, so to celebrate, we should all drink tequila this weekend-- Lots and lots of Tequila

This weekend is also a great time to cook with Tequila. From shot glass to frying pan, Tequila has become an exciting and delicious element in Noveau Mexican cuisine.  It goes great with lime, mangos, pineapple, etc., all common ingredients in Key West cooking.

Tequila Fajitas

Ingredients:

• 2 lb. skirt steak
• 3 bell peppers, all green or assorted colors, cut into strips
• Marinade
• 1 large white onion, sliced into thin crescents (half rings) Marinade
• 3 T garlic
• 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 4 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 4 tablespoons tequila
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon salt
• SLAP YA MAMA Cajun seasoning to taste (Note: The name came about because the creator was slapped on the back by her family each time she used this seasoning, in appreciation. Be careful with it. It's wonderful, but, like Tequila, must be consumed in moderation.)

Preparation:

1. Cut the steak into strips and put into a gallon Ziploc bag.
2. Mix the garlic, 1/3 cup vegetable oil, lime juice, tequila, cumin, cayenne, and salt.
3. Pour into bag with meat and marinate for 2 hours.
4. Remove the meat from the marinade and grill outside or cook in a grill pan inside over medium-high heat.
5.  Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil and sauté the peppers and onions over medium-high heat until crisp-tender.
6.  Serve with Pico de Gallo  (See my recipe here), grated cheese, sliced avocado, and warm tortillas.  You can garnish with cilantro and add sour cream if desired.

Serves 6.

Today is National Guacamole Day!

I LOVE Guacamole!  

And I make great guacamole, if I do say so myself.  First, of course, your Avocados have to be "just right."  I start by cutting them up so they'll be easier to mash.  I mash them with a potato masher. 

 Then I add Salsa Verde, made with Tomatillos.  By using that kind of salsa, rather than tomato-based salsa, your Guacamole doesn't turn brown nearly as quickly. 

Then I add chopped pickled jalapeños and chopped green onion and cilantro.  Then I add chopped garlic (the refrigerated kind), a dash of cumin (not too much) and lemon pepper to taste (be careful--it's salty).  

OK. That's my secret recipe. It gets rave reviews. I'll have to experiment with quantity and add this recipe to my recipe page, then, when I get my camera back, make a video of it.

I Want to be a Star!

My next project on Key West Cantina is to create some cooking videos.  I have filmed my first one. It's about how to make Key Lime Pie with Meringue topping.  

It's a simple recipe, but no one seems to make them.  The history of the pie in interesting. When sailors used to land on the island, which was virtually uninhabited then (for one thing, it has no natural fresh water), they found lime trees with little, tiny, tart key limes.  They also found birds eggs.  So, they just mixed them up. The lime chemically cooked the eggs.  They added some sugar and they had a primitive key lime pie.  The limes were good for them--prevented Scurvy.  We saw a billboard last time we were there that said, "Prevent Scurvy. Eat Key Lime Pie."


But now my DV tape is stuck in my camera and it's in the shop, so we'll all have to wait for my cooking show debut.  I did get half of it uploaded before I took the camera to the shop, and the other half is safe on another tape, so, yes, you will get to see it.  I just have to edit out all the laughter when my husband almost fell off the kitchen stool laughing at me while I was filming and decide if I should leave in the part when I was "beating" the egg whites when he loudly proclaimed that I could "beat him anytime."

My Relationship with Jimmy Buffet

Jimmy Buffet is a hero of mine. He really is a philosopher. When I was working my way though college, I worked at a college pub for a while. I would get so tired of the rock and roll and country that when someone requested a Jimmy Buffet song, I sighed with relief. That was my introduction to him. 


When I met my husband, he introduced me to many more of his songs, songs that say so much more than songs like Margaritaville. I know he doesn't live in Key West anymore. I know he's worth millions, but I still really like his music. 


And I also like his books. No, they're not Hemingway or great literature (Sorry Jimmy), but they are a rollicking good read! 


I just created a page on http://keywestcantina.com that is a tribute to him. After all, even if he doesn't live in Key West, he is part of Key West.  Here's lookin' at ya, Jimmy!  

http://keywestcantina.com/jimmy.htm

Love, Key Westie

My first "Live the Key West Lifestyle" Recipe Slide Show is published!!!

My stepson, a renowned Tulsa chef, prepared Bananas Foster for us on his grill, and I captured the experience. Watching him work was fascinating and the results were like heaven in a spoon!  Don't be afraid. It's not hard. You like to play with fire, don't you?  You want to totally awe your guests, don't you?  It's all about that Key West life style.  Even if we have to create our firey Bananas Foster in Oklahoma, we WILL enjoy ourselves!!  I've also included the modifications that Blue Heaven made to this traditional New Orleans recipe to make it totally Key Westie!!

You can watch Chef Chris make Bananas Foster on the Grill here!

Wishing I were in Key West . . .

This summer, we took our third trip to Key West. The first time, we stayed in a conch house in old town. The second time, we learned about Fantasy Fest. No room at the inn in Key West during Fantasy Fest, so we rented a house on the beach on Cudjoe Key and fell in love.

This summer we rented the larger house next door on Cudjoe Key and took the whole family, myself, my husband, his two boys, their girlfriends and my teenaged son. My husband entered the Hemingway Look-A-Like Contest and we went shark fishing (video).

We absolutely love Key West, but we know we can't live there. The kind of work we do does not exist on Key West. We also know lots of people have the same desire and same problem. http://keywestcantina.com/ is born of our commitment to live a Keys lifestyle as much as we can wherever we have to live. Healthy limey food. Tropical Music. Learning to relax and enjoy ourselves as much as possible. Then get back down to the Keys as often as possible.