Tuesday, October 25, 2022

Hurricane Hope


 Wild Mushroom & Smoked Salmon Rotini | recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dinner

Hurricane Ian slammed into Florida a month ago. For most of us, it's difficult to watch the path of the storm as it sets its eye on land. Those of us with a heart and the capability to feel compassion, that is. For me, the dread was mixed with deja vu.

 
I think you all know by now that my mom's winter home is on Marco Island. Hurricane Irma put Marco in the bullseye back in 2017, which was the last time I'd seen a CNN news story focused on the tiny Island.

In the end of September, it happened once again. Ian's bullseye was confirmed to be Naples. And Marco is just off of Naples.

That night was the second time I'd seen a CNN news story focused on Marco.

After the initial devastation, as the storm worked its way up the coast, weakening along the way, and we were able to assess the damage in general (my cousin was on the island and kept us informed), we waited to hear about the condition of mom's home. And I got to thinking.

Relief that it was over mixed with heartbreak at the loss of life. And there was empathy for all of those who had to deal with the aftermath, the clean up, the loss, the trauma. Millions were without electricity, their streets were flooded hampering even local travel, and something as simple and life sustaining as food was an issue. Where would their next meal come from?
 
 
 Wild Mushroom & Smoked Salmon Rotini | recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dinner
Wild Mushroom & Smoked Salmon Rotini
 

I remembered the devastation Puerto Rico suffered in 2017 and how the trump administration did not provide the humanitarian support those citizens needed. Not a hurricane, but I remembered Texas's winter storm last year, when Ted Cruz called his friends, gathered his family, and went off on vacation.

And I thought about DeSantis, and what he had just done to target and harm people taking refuge in his state.

All of which, believe it or not, brought me to hope.

Because despite DeSantis's cruelty, my home state of Massachusetts rose honorably to the challenge.
 
 
Hurricane Hope | graphic designed by, featured on, and property of www.BakingInATornado.com |#MyGraphics #blogging

 
And it made me realize that the tide has started to turn, no matter the level of cruelty by the local administration of the exact state that was now in such a desperate situation, we no longer, at the federal level, reward or punish states based on their local politics. 

We have far to go as a country, just to get back to square one when it comes to how we treat each other. It was a relief to know that under this administration, desperation would once again be met with support, compassion, and collaborative assistance. 
 
Whichever way the wind blows.

Hurricane Hope | graphic designed by, featured on, and property of www.BakingInATornado.com |#MyGraphics #blogging


And that gives me hope.

Baking In A Tornado signature | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics



Wild Mushroom & Smoked Salmon Rotini
                                                                       ©www.BakingInATornado.com

Ingredients: 
2 cups vegetable broth, divided
1 package (.5 oz) dried wild mushrooms
1 box (16 oz) vegetable rotini 
4 - 5 oz smoked salmon, sliced
1 TBSP butter
1 TBSP olive oil
1/2 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced 
6 oz portobello mushroom caps, cleaned, stem stub removed, sliced
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp dried dill
1 TBSP cooking sherry
1 TBSP lemon juice
1 green onion, sliced

Directions:
*Boil 1 cup of the vegetable broth. Add the mushrooms and set aside for 15 minutes.
*Cook the pasta to al dente. Place the salmon in the pot with the pasta and cover to keep warm.
*In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter with the olive oil. Add the onion, garlic, and portobellos. Cook and stir for 3 minutes. Add the wild mushrooms with the broth, the additional broth, salt, pepper, dill, and sherry.
*Bring to a boil, reduce heat, add the lemon juice, and simmer 3 minutes. Mix in the pasta with the salmon. Top with the green onions.
 


10 comments:

  1. Living in the swamps of south Louisiana, we know, we get it, and yes, compassion is needed.

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  2. I'm not as optimistic as you are, Karen. True, Biden (with his compassionate nature) is in office for two more years, but I have real fears that we are going to lose one chamber of Congress-possibly both of them. And we'll be back to paper towels. Maybe even worse. Why did Adidas take their time to dump Ye? Because they were afraid they would lose profits? And customers? People are more and more open with hate and lack of compassion.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. In this day of open and blatant antisemitism accepted by so many, at least Adidas did drop him.

      Delete
  3. Sometimes Hope helps get real things done.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hurricanes are just awful. I'm so glad that I don't live in an area that has them. We don't have much in the way or tornadoes or earthquakes either. That's the one good thing about living here.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds great, weather wise. I grew up with hurricanes and squalls, now live in tornado country. Don't like any of them, but tornadoes really scare me.

      Delete
  5. Oh my. I came to read recipes and got politics.
    I am not for either party and would like to just get thru something (anything) without politics!!! It's everywhere and closing in.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's everywhere because this is such a pivotal, consequential time in our history. Everything is in jeopardy, we all need to talk about it, and most importantly we all need to stand up for our morals and values.

      Delete

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