THE VILLAGE VOICE

“ Cinco de Mayo has come to represent a celebration of the contributions that Mexican Americans and all Hispanics have made to America.” ~ Joe Baca Rembrandt tulips _______________ SEVEN LAYER CHICKEN TACO SALAD ~ Favorite taco fillings make a simple festive salad ____________ 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts 2 cup organic chicken broth 3 Tbsp. chopped parsley 1/2 tsp. coarse salt 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper 3 cups shredded iceberg and/or romaine lettuce 1 lb. diced ripe tomatoes 1 can (16 oz.) drained and rinsed black beans 1-2 diced avocado sprinkled with fresh lime juice 1 cup finely diced red onion 1-2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese 3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil salt & freshly ground pepper to taste 1 heaping tsp. Dijon mustard 1 large peeled and sliced shallot Place chicken breasts in medium sauce pan. Add chicken broth and enough water to cover by 2 inches . Bring to simmer over medium high heat, reduce heat and cook until ch...

NOTE FROM KAREN HALL (An Artist's Garden)~ The date Saturday 7 th February The venue VP’s blog and your own blog The event A dinner party ___________________ Guest List: Guest of honor: Karen Hall (Artist, Embroiderer, Designer Maker, and Gardener - Dyffryn Ardudwy , Wales) Vincent van Gogh Henry David Thoreau Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn Claude Monet Anne La Flamme Karen Hall Vincent van Gogh Henry David Thoreau Rembrandt Claude Monet Anne La Flamme (Garden Mentor) _______________________ MENU: NASTURTIUMS FILLED with GUACAMOLE CREAMY MOREL SOUP TYROLEAN BEEF TENDERLOIN DEEP DARK CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE (A click on above will take you to the recipe) ~ 'Flow Blue' Dinner Party (click on Flow Blue for history on this charming china ) The 'best of the best' for a night to remember! ______________ Note : A rush to get dinner on the table for my honored guests by 8:00, left much unsaid. First, thanks dear Karen, who honored me at 'Mrs. Grumpy's ...

"First flowers on the table; then food." ~ Danish saying ~ Rembrandt tulip ____________ Garden's Note : These modern day tulips, named after the famous Dutch painter, are reminiscent of the flamed-shaped streaked 'broken' color color tulips selling for astronomical sums when Rembrandt was a young man during the tulip mania craze that gripped 17 th century Holland. _________ RED or WHITE SANGRIA ~ Delightfully refreshing during or after a warm sunny day. Enjoy the infused fruit wedges as an after treat. _______ 1 bottle fruity red (Beaujolais or Zinfandel) or dry white wine 1 cup fresh orange juice juice of 1 fresh lemon juice of 1 fresh lime 2 Tbsp. Grand Marnier Liqueur or Calvados 3 Tbsp. Cointreau or Triple Sec 1 orange thinly sliced 1 lemon thinly sliced 1 lime thinly sliced Cherries, grapes, apple slices optional sparkling water or lemon-lime soda like 7-up mint sprig for garnish Pour wine large glass pitcher. Stir in orange, lemon and lime juice, Grand ...

MORE ' TULIPMANIA ' INFO (never enough) ... " You may be surprised to learn that many of the same elegant flowers that inspired ' Tulipmania ' in the 1600s, and appeared in paintings of the Dutch Masters at that time, are still available to plant in gardens today. " Read more about 'Time Traveling Tulips' ~ http://www.uvm.edu/pss/ppp/articles/tulips.html ~ Rembrandt tulip ____________________ BOURBON SALMON ~ Guests proclaiming they don't like salmon, love this! Give it a try ... (great for a buffet brunch or dinner ... Kentucky Derby, perhaps?) * For each 1 1/2 lb. of salmon fillets (skin or skinless) 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 3 Tbsp. Bourbon 2 Tbsp. soy sauce 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 3 Tbsp. chopped green onions additional green onions Combine brown sugar, bourbon, soy sauce, olive oil and chopped green onions. Pour over rinsed and patted dry salmon fillet. Marinate several hours. Remove salmon and reserve marinade. Grill salmon over hot c...