SOUP AND SALSA - NEW RECIPES

We're back in Cochise County in far southeastern Arizona, visiting at Paws and Hooves Ranch - home to my cousin Rosanna and my aunt Carol, and their multitude of animal companions.

This is Chili, their macaw, in her beautiful and gigantic cage which sits next to the dining room table. She talks, and barks, and laughs. Probably meows, too, as she shares the house with many (6? 7? 8?) cats, a miniature dobie, a large mutt... oh, and a caged snake. Four more big dogs outdoors, along with 3 miniature horses, 2 big horses, 3 sheep and 5 goats... and a couple of barn cats. All the animals get along, and accept Luna as part of the pack, so she roams at will when we are here.

At the ranch, we slow down. The nearest shopping, movies, or restaurants are FAR. We visit, hike, relax, lend a few more hands for the ranch chores... and EAT WELL. Which reminded me that I am behind on posting recipes! So, this afternoon, I added two recipes to the "Favorite Recipes" sidebar on the left side of the blog.

You saw a photo of Salsa Veracruzana featured on the blog recently, when we had the big rain in Tucson. This is a warm tomato-based sauce that is typical of Veracruz, Mexico.

The very easy recipe makes a bit more than 3 cups. I add about half of it to a pan of sauteed white fish or shrimp during the last couple minutes of cooking, just long enough to get the sauce simmering before serving. This sauce will last about a week in the refrigerator (well, hmmmm, come to think of it - I'm not sure I have ever kept it that long - we eat it quickly).

The other recipe, Spiced Butternut Squash and Lentil Soup, is now officially Odel's Favorite Soup. I got the recipe out of my girlfriend Becky's crock pot cookbook when we were in Sacramento - I'm always on the lookout for good crockpot recipes, especially vegetarian ones.

I travel with a LOT of spices... REALLY a lot. This recipe, however, called for Garam Masala, an Indian spice blend that I did not have on hand. I thought of using curry powder, a blend in the same family, but then remembered that I had a bottle of Trader Joe's Thai Yellow Curry Sauce in the cupboard and decided to use it for seasoning, instead.

I'm not sure why I felt that an 11 oz. bottle of curry sauce was the proper equivalent replacement for one teaspoon of garam masala, but I did... and the soup was DELICIOUS, though on the spicy side for those who like milder flavors. For guests, I'll be using just half the amount of curry sauce. You can try it either way... or follow the original recipe by using 1 t. of garam masala in place of the curry sauce I wrote into the recipe.

That's it for recipes for now. Time for a nap before we have the second half of the Salsa Veracruzana on snapper for dinner tonight.

PARANOID PLANNING PAYS OFF

As this "Camper's Flood Advisory" says, the sandy wash on the main (and only) road in and out of the campground at Catalina State Park is "prone to flooding", and "it is possible for vehicles in the campground to be stranded there for up to several days".

Heavy rain was in the forecast yesterday so, obsessive planners that we are, we were ready, well stocked with everything we might want.

The weather forecast was right - we got heavy rain (around 2 inches) along with strong winds... it was a wild night. First thing this morning, when we stepped outside, the campground host told us that the wash was flooded, so we hustled on over to take a look.

This is what the road looked like. The people who have their backs to the camera are campers - we all are watching another camper wade the flood. He got to the other side, but the water was knee deep in some places.

The rangers say it will be at least Monday before the sand and mud can be cleaned off the road, depending on when the water stops flowing. Not a problem for us... we aren't planning to leave until Tuesday anyway. The hiking here is great, we've got food, books, entertainment.

Other campers aren't so lucky. We talked with several who had planned to leave today, and other who are camped in tents! One woman told us she moved from her tent, which seems to be blowing away, to her car in the middle of the night. Another camper was to participate in an art show/sale this weekend; she is counting on her sister to staff the booth.

As I write, the wind is blowing, with squalls of rain moving through every so often. Odel's got a college football game on TV, and I've got a new recipe in the crockpot. Next break in the weather, we're going out to check the wash again. Great entertainment!

UPDATE ON OUR EXCITEMENT

Later this afternoon, we walked back to the wash to see what progress had been made. A line of cars had formed, hoping to get out. We joined the drivers and passengers standing on the "shore", watching the big front loader work.

The driver was a real pro, scooping up huge loads of mud and water, which he deposited on a giant berm - the visible sign of other floods.

Before too long, he had a narrow road cut through the mud, filled with a couple of inches of muddy water.

A few more scoops and the wash was reopened. The lineup of cars - which now included a few of the smaller motorhomes - headed through. Our day's entertainment was over... oh, except for the fact that we ran into a couple of old friends of ours, Stan and Lee, also staying in this large campground. We had a nice happy hour with them, catching up on our summer travels.

Back home now, listening to the wind whistle - and occasionally howl - outside.