Feb 24 - The Carefree Gourmet
by Joyce McCombs

Back from Vacation

I’m getting hooked on this winter vacation routine. The Carefree spouse and I just got back from a terrific two weeks visiting friends and family in Washington, Nevada and the lovely Arizona desert, which decided to bloom just as we were visiting – what an amazing sight. All of our flights were either right on time or early, all our hotel rooms were either nicer than we expected, or upgraded for no reason we could determine. The weather was a bit gray and damp in Washington, just like always, and breezy and bright and in the high sixties in Arizona, so no complaints there.

I still can’t believe how many wildly different things we did in such a short time. The first day, Steve and our cousin Justin floated the river I grew up on and tried to land a steelhead (no luck, but darn fun trying), I spent a pleasant couple of hours wandering through two family cemeteries, getting the dates and names straight for my “someday” genealogy project. The world’s most terrific Aunt, the dear and ever talented Betty, spoiled us every which way she could with good eats and great coffee and amazing stories of family history that I have got to write down someday. Since we’re on a quest for a new rig, we rented a Trailblazer to drive on to part two of our journey, and even though I didn’t get to try the four-wheel drive on the freeway, I sure liked driving it.

Our Longview pals John and Robin kindly let us impose for a couple of days at their lovely Casa De Swecker, and they cheerfully tagged along with us to the Portland International Auto Show. There seemed to be an awfully high level of testosterone in the Convention Center, and there were lots of babes tossing their tresses while they leaned on sports cars and purred into their microphones about rack and pinion steering, extended warranties and all terrain tires. Who knew so many guys would find this information just riveting and need to hear it three or four times in a row? My job was to find a vehicle that didn’t have an awkward console. I was also hoping for a speedometer that I could actually read and a windshield that didn’t give me tunnel vision. The only rig that came close was an upscale model that cost as much as the gross national product of a small Balkan nation, so I guess we’re still looking. To distract myself, the next day I made my annual trek to all the liquidation stores in Longview, where I earned the title of “power shopper” in less time than it takes to swipe a debit card.

If you don’t know about liquidation stores, you’ve really missed out. These places are more fun and the biggest treasure hunt going. Discontinued, one of a kind, outlandish and just plain strange items lurk around every corner. It’s like an outlet mall for groceries or one of those “everything’s a dollar” stores, and I had a total blast. It’s too bad these kinds of stores don’t exist up here, but with the shipping costs, I suppose it just doesn’t make much sense. That’s ok, though. Shopping at them is now part of my vacation routine – where else can you get a dozen imported tomato garlic bullion cubes for fifteen cents and a container of microscopic marshmallows for a buck?

Other highlights of this trip included three fun events in Las Vegas. We finally got to the Liberace museum and highly recommend it - be sure to get the two for one-ticket coupons available at all hotels. There are videos of him playing his many pianos throughout the building, but he also collected them and when I stood in front of the oldest one on display and read that Chopin and Brahms had both played that very instrument, I had a seriously reverent moment. Liberace was known so much for his exotic cars, incredible costumes and expensive jewelry, but he also established a foundation for musical scholarship students and we were most impressed with that legacy and the incredible display of the winners at the end of the tour.
We also saw Mac King, a wonderful family friendly magician and comedian. He’s corny and cute and clever and he kindly took a moment to autograph his book for the Delta Library. Tickets are also very reasonable at less than twenty bucks, and his shows are in the afternoon so there’s plenty of time to explore afterwards.

And finally, we invested in tickets to see Elton John, and even though I’d gulped a little at the unreasonable price of those tickets, I will admit it was well worth every penny and our seats were wonderful. The music ranged from his classic hits to his newest releases and the The Celine Dion theater at Caesar’s Palace and the sets for his show were just amazing. The stage itself is half acre in size, and the video projection screen behind it is the largest in the world. Sir Elton gave a ninety- minute show that left the audience breathless and his talent on the piano, which I think, is often masked by overproduction of his albums, was truly stellar. The most amazing thing to us was the audience. There were people older than our folks, and elementary school kids, and everyone in between. Some people were in diamonds and fur jackets some in jeans and tennis shoes, some looked like they’d just come from the golf course and were planning on a swim later. There wasn’t a lot of flannel and I didn’t see any Carharts, but they could have been there among the 4,127 people (this figure provided by our usher) who filled every single seat. It’s been a long time since we’ve been in a crowd that big, and it was kind of relief to get back to the hotel and catch our breath.

For some reason, I always forget that vacations are lovely for another reason. You get to eat at some darn good restaurants, often three times a day, and the best part is that people are eager to take away your dirty dishes when you’re done. With some home cooked meals from our hosts sprinkled throughout the trip, we never got tired of ordering something off a menu, but I must admit that when we got home, I was ready to get back into the kitchen.

I don’t have much rhyme or reason for this week’s recipes – just that they’ve been accumulating for a while and need to go somewhere. I do tend to notice a lot of sour cream showing up this week, and that’s mainly due to this first recipe, which mom in law Patti made for us during our week with them in Bullhead City. Add a salad and some rice, if you can get Papa Chuck to make it for you – he’s the best.

Creamy Chicken Bake
If you use fat free sour cream, add a tablespoon of heart healthy olive oil to the sauce mixture to give it more body.
6 boneless chicken breasts
1 16 ounce carton sour cream
1 small can sliced mushrooms
salt and pepper to taste
Spray a 9 x 13 glass baking dish and get the oven going to 375. Mix the sour cream and the mushrooms, (don’t drain them) in a small bowl and add a pinch of salt and pepper. Brown the chicken breasts very lightly in a bit of olive oil, then place them in the baking dish. Pour the sour cream and mushroom mixture over the top and bake 30 to 40 minutes.

Chicken Enchiladas
We had great Mexican food several times on the trip and I am on a quest to see if I can get these to taste as good as the enchiladas we had in Bullhead City. You can use mashed black beans from the can instead of pinto beans for a heartier flavor if you like.
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 cup salsa
2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
1 can pinto beans, drained
6 (6 inch) flour tortillas
2 cups shredded Colby-Jack cheese
Preheat the oven to 350 and spray your glass 9x13 inch baking dish.
Combine the cream cheese and salsa over medium heat, stirring until melted and well blended. Stir in the chopped chicken and beans, reduce heat to low and cook five minutes. Remove from heat and fill tortillas with the mixture, roll and place into the prepared baking dish. Spread cheese over the top. Cover with foil. Bake 35 minutes, removing foil the last 10 minutes so cheese will brown slightly. Garnish with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and sliced black olives.

Sun-dried Tomato Dip
I couldn’t get enough fresh tomatoes on our trip – they just kept calling my name every time I went by the salad bar or in a grocery store. I brought back several packets of sun dried tomatoes from Arizona and I can’t wait to try this dip with some bagel or pita bread chips.
1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
Balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup sour cream
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup plain yogurt
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon parsley
1/4 cup chopped olives
Place the chopped tomatoes in a small zip lock bag and add balsamic vinegar until just covered. Let them soak for about an hour, then drain well. Mix with other ingredients and chill overnight before serving to let flavors blend.

Cranberry Crumble
I passed a long forgotten can of cranberry sauce hiding in the back of the pantry the other day and all I could think to do was make an entire turkey dinner dinner, which made me tired at once, so I checked in a cookbook I got for Christmas and found this tasty sounding solution. Easy enough for kids to try, too – no eggs to crack!
1 1/2 cups oatmeal
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 16 ounce can whole cranberry sauce
Combine the oats, sugar, flour and butter in a food processor until crumbly. Press half in bottom of an 8-inch square pan, spread cranberry sauce, and then sprinkle remaining crumbs evenly over the top, pressing lightly. Bake at 350 for 35 to 40 minutes.

Adobe – Poblano - Mole Sauce
The sauce I had on my Poblano chicken at one Mexican restaurant was simply the best I’d ever had – dark, rich, complex and mystifying, even though the menu mentioned cumin and chocolate and tomatoes. I am trying to learn the difference between adobe, poblano and mole sauce, and as far as I can tell they all involve lots of spices and the mysterious pinch of chocolate powder, all built on a tomato base. Since this version features one of nature’s most perfect foods, tomato soup; I aim to try it soon!
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried cilantro
1 clove minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed tomato soup
1 (4-ounce) can diced green chili peppers
Sauté the onion in the oil until tender. Mix in cocoa powder, and spices. Stir in the lime juice, tomato soup and peppers. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve on the side with chicken, roasted pork, or shredded beef.

Pea Salad
This was featured on the buffet at the Stardust in Las Vegas and every time we ate there I was hoping it would still be around. It’s one of my favorite things, and I never make it at home because I’ll just get in trouble eating the whole batch. If I do make it, it usually goes to a potluck and I hope and pray there are no leftovers. It’s not particularly calorie friendly, healthy or good for you, I must admit. But it tastes great and maybe you can just pretend you’re on vacation for a few days while you enjoy it!
8 hard boiled eggs, peeled and chopped
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 heads romaine lettuce - rinsed, dried, and torn into bite-size pieces
1 (16 ounce) package frozen green peas, thawed
2 cups mayonnaise
1/8 cup milk
3 tablespoons sugar
3 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
Spread Romaine lettuce evenly over the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Layer crumbled bacon, thawed peas, and eggs over the lettuce.
Mix mayonnaise, milk, and sugar until smooth. Pour evenly over salad, and top with cheese. Cover and chill for at least 2 hours. – overnight is even better.

My thanks to Diane and Robin who filled in here for me while I was gone – you girls are the best and I so appreciate your time and efforts! I’ve had a request for interesting sandwich ideas and I’m already working on that for you next time – see you then and yes, it’s SO good to be back home!
  

Index to Carefree Gourmet Articles

Sourdough Sensations June 29, 2007

Kitty Treats June 29, 2007

Dog Treats April 20, 2007

Sandwich Plan March 23, 2007

Carefree Wacky Ingredients March 8, 2007

Homestead Hearth January 25, 2007

Carefree Cooking 101 January 11, 2007

Holiday Punch December 23, 2006

Holiday Treats December 12, 2006

Thanksgiving II November 20, 2006

Standby Favorites October 16, 2006

Cabbage October 11, 2006

Apples September 22, 2006

Kids Cook July 6, 2006

Wacky Tips June 8, 2006

Graduation May 11, 2006

African Cuisine April 13, 2006

A Bit of Irish March 23, 2006

Crazy for Carrots March 9, 2006

February Vacation February 23, 2006

Easy Budget January 12, 2006

Christmas Treats December 22, 2005

Sweet Surprises December 8, 2005

Turkey Times  November 22, 2005

Grand Champions - Part 2 - October 13, 2005

Janet Boyer September 22, 2005

Grand Champions September 5, 2005

Blueberries  August 12, 2005

Halibut and Zukes July 28, 2005

Orange Juice July 14, 2005

Happy Birthday June 30, 2005

Honey June 9, 2005

Picnic Dishes May 26, 2005

Celebration Salads May 12, 2005

Kraft Foods April 21, 2005

Shrimp April 7, 2005

Carry on Airline snacks March 25, 2005

Sandwiches March 10, 2005

Back from Vacation February 24, 2005

Super Bowl Snack Attack  January 14, 2005

Ginger Snaps December 29, 2004

Christmas Memories - December 12, 2004

Thanksgiving November 23, 2004

Glen and Meat  October 29, 2004

Blueberry Pie Champion  September 30, 2004

Fair Winners  September 2, 2004

Glen's Knives June 11, 2004

Aunt Aggie Tells All... May 13, 2004

Crazy About Catsup April 29, 2004

Carefree Clearance Special April 8, 2004

Seattle Adventure March 26, 2004

Vegas, part 2 March 12, 2004

Vegas Wind February 12, 2004

Casserole Bonanza January 11, 2004

No Fuss Dishes  December 19, 2003

Fake and Bake Christmas  December 11, 2003