Saturday, February 25, 2023

Mostly Food


That, my friends, is a nice little pile of Cedar Key oysters. Since Apalachicola oystering is not happening, north Florida has had to find other sources to feed our hunger for the salty bivalves. They are actually farming them in Cedar Key and I have to say that these were some gorgeous oysters and were salty and delicious too. 

I had planned on making my version of Oysters Rockefeller and thought I had frozen spinach which of course would be a poor substitute for the real thing but needs must. However, it turned out that no, I did not have any spinach in the freezer so Mr. Moon went down to the GDDG but they didn't have any either so he just hopped on the interstate to go to Publix. I texted him that he might as well get fresh spinach and a loaf of French bread while he was at it and by the time he got home I was just about finished chopping and sautéing shallots and garlic and artichoke hearts, and grating parmesan. 

He hopped to it and shucked a couple of dozen and laid them out beautifully on baking sheets on foil and I steamed the spinach and then mixed it with the other ingredients and also a little white wine, a little nutmeg, a little grainy mustard, and a drop or two of Worcestershire sauce. I gave each oyster a dollop of the green stuff, topped them all with the Parmesan and baked them in a hot oven. 
Oh my. 


Y'all- that was fit to eat. 

And I seem to have suffered no ill effects and have felt pretty darn good today with no pain. 
Still, I've been fairly lazy. 


This boy came out for a tiny visit while his papa helped Mr. Moon set up his printer with the internet and everything that entails. He also set up my phone and laptop in case I want to print something. Vergil is such a fine guy. So is Levon. Doesn't he look grown-up with his new haircut? 
He had been asking me if we could make bracelets. That boy loves to wear things on his wrist. And of course I said we could and was going to take the beads and elastic cord over there on Thursday but that didn't happen as my services were not needed. So while the men fussed with the printer, Levon and I picked the best beads and he made two bracelets and I made one for August with a sort-of rainbow theme because that is what he loves. They had to hustle on home because he had a piano lesson. August couldn't come because he had a dance lesson. 
Oh! The lessons! 
I gave Levon two fun-sized bags of M&M's that I found in the cabinet, one for him, one for brother, and off they went back to town. 
That truly was the high point of my week. 

I've done a little pot-holder knitting and I've made a soup of venison and vegetables because we need some vegetables. I mean, we ate spinach last night but that was hardly an adequate amount of nutritional vegetable matter. I'm sure we'll have a few more oysters too, but this time probably just grilled with a little parmesan on top. Mr. Moon does like them raw and I enjoy a few now and then but I feel safest eating them cooked. You have to buy them by the bag or half-bag and even the half is a lot of oysters and they definitely have a use-by date which is quite short so unless you're entertaining the masses, you have to eat 'em while you got' em. 
I believe that oyster stew will be coming up next on the menu. Mr. Moon's mother used to make it with basically nothing but oysters, milk, butter, and salt and pepper. Of course I have to mess it up with celery and potatoes and onions and sherry. He likes it that way too. 
Fried oysters are manna from heaven but Lord, I hate to fry. It's such a mess and it's NOT good for us. And I'm sorry but you just cannot air-fry an oyster. The ghost of some Louisiana woman would come and slaughter me in my kitchen if I tried that. I can and do air-fry chicken, okra, french fries, pork chops and fish but I just can't go there with oysters. 
It ain't right. 

Here's my soup. 


I feel this will sustain us. 

Love...Ms. Moon


 

33 comments:

  1. I wish I could dive face-first into that bowl of soup with only a wedge of crusty bread and a spoon to hold onto! And the oysters..!

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  2. glad you are feeling better but don't neglect *it*! That soup looks great! Oysters Rockefeller look to die for.....but I usually don't *go* to that trouble LOL! Being so close to the Pacific here ....we have abundant access to oysters. I've started (not often) hard searing them in butter, worchestershire and celery salt just till their edges curl (I don't like'em raw but hubby does).....then add more butter, a goodly dash of white wine........and pour over linguini pasta. Oh, and bread of course. You will have a delightful dinner! Found out today (have to vent/share?) hubby leaving next Tues. for Arizona (a 10 hour drive)....to visit w/ his Dad on hospice and defying all odds........ and I plan on making a HUGE pot of beans, stew, or soup for myself and will eat that and bread for the week he is gone! Oh,,,,,might have to bake something too..... LOL. too long of a comment but so it goes at times- I felt the *need*
    Susan M

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    1. Your comments are never too long, Susan!
      Your recipe for oysters sounds perfect. I might try that one of these days.
      I hope you enjoy your time alone and yes- definitely bake something just for you.

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  3. Hubby makes a mean oyster kilpatrick. Now I have the taste! That soup looks delicious and healthy and soul satisfying. All boxes ticked.
    How lovely that the boys are doing creative things.
    You sound much happier today. This is good.

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    1. Just had to look up the recipe for Oysters Kilpatrick and boy, do they look good! Yes, m'am.

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  4. "The ghost of some Louisiana woman would come and slaughter me in my kitchen if I tried that." Damn, I'm still laughing! :)

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  5. We are fortunate enough to live on an oyster beach. Thousands of oysters visible at low tide. My favorite way to eat oysters is oyster stew, mostly your simple version with a little onion. A family favorite is "Angels on Horseback", oysters wrapped in bacon and grilled/broiled/baked. Served on triscuits.

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    1. I have never had oysters on horseback but I've heard about them. I bet they are incredibly delicious.

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  6. So long since I had oysters, way back, in Brittany, raw, I think lemon squeezed over. I love seafood, but they sort of escaped me, just salty tasting. I probably need to try yours, Mary, for an education in oysters.

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    1. The plainest way to eat them around here is to just put a few drops of hot sauce on a raw on on a shell and then slurp it down. I bet you would love the ones I make with the spinach.

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  7. Your soup looks delicious and I don't even like oysters, so that's saying something. I need more vegetables in my diet too, it's been so hot here lately I haven't wanted to cook much and I don't like them raw. I love the bracelet making! And piano and dance lessons too? Lucky, lucky boys.

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    1. The oysters did not go into that soup. That was vegetable and venison. We did eat more oysters though.

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  8. I don't like Oysters but you make everything sound so delicious and who knows, mebbe I'd like your versions of the lil bivalves? *LOL*

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  9. I'm not keen on oysters but just very occasionally they are a real treat. Once a year maybe, and then I'm good!

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  10. I'm not an eater of things from the water, but I'll still say num to all of that because it is clear its good stuff. You are such a kickass cook.

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    1. As much as I like to eat I better be a decent cook.

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  11. Oh, now that DOES look sustaining.

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    1. Yes. I believe you could pretty much live off that soup forever.

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  12. I definitely cannot imagine an air-fried oyster.

    I used to eat raw oysters with abandon but I don't think I'd do it now. I've become more cautious in my old age!

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  13. Oysters are the only food that I can no longer eat with pleasure since I stopped drinking almost 6 years ago (Boy, is it really that long?). I used to so love them, but they are just not the same without a glass of cold white wine. In France they are so abundantly available and so relatively cheap - I could almost be tempted to have some with a wine - but no, I will resist.

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    1. That makes me sad. But you have to do what you have to do! And more power to you.

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  14. oysters, ick. that's all I have to say about that. though there was one time I ate them and they were good, the only time. grilled until the shells popped open with lemon and hot sauce and I forget what all.

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  15. Your soups are magic potions, I think. And I love that photo of Levon. And what a cute little annex to your home is visible in that photo. You really do live in a fairytale place, shaded by cathedral trees.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.