Wishing everyone a merry Christmas.  I am working very hard down here, but will have a few days in early January to spend some time with family and friends.  I am cooking some great food, when I slow down I will post some recipes.

I haven’t been able to post much since I have been busy with the new job.  I am down here in Florida, and am getting ready for a busy winter.  I drove down to Ft. Lauderdale on Monday to do some shopping at the International Markets, and brought back some memories of my very first posts here as I talked with the owner of the Sahara Middle Eastern Market.  I just missed the yacht that I left as they are heading to the Caribbean for the season.  There is so much going on down here, I will be cooking some great food, and of course posting pictures and recipes, so hang in there.  I am buying myself a new camera for Christmas so I can play around with my food photography.  I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying this wonderful time of the year.

I have been in N.Y. for the week, but I am flying out on Sunday back to Florida. It is absolutely crazy here, people are here from all over the world (weak u.s. dollar makes for good shopping for Europeans) to soak up the Holiday’s; I feel like I am packed like a Sardine. I had to deposit my check at BOFA the other day, a little glitzier than what I am used to. Here is a simple soup recipe to warm the soul.

Thai Chicken Soup

Serves 4

2 Chicken Breast halves

1 Tbsp. Canola oil

1 carrot, sliced

1 small onion, sliced

1 Red pepper, chopped

1 Tbsp. Thai Curry Paste

6 cups chicken broth

1 can coconut milk (not the sweetened kind)

Saute chicken and vegetables in the oil in a soup pot until softened. Add the paste, broth, and coconut milk, simmer for 15 minutes. I like to add a squeeze of lime at the end and chopped cilantro (rice or noodles may also be added at the end for a heartier soup).

I have had a few people ask about the website. I am absolutely still moving forward with it, but I have decided to have a custom built site. There were some features that I wanted that I just had to have custom programmed. The main things that I wanted customized were separate areas for each diet that I will support, a quick and interactive way to communicate with me and the dietitian specializing on your diet, and an easy way to customize and manage your weekly recipes that I will be sending you. It’s going to take a few months, but will be unlike anything I have seen on the internet- recipes for your diet that you can customize, with your chef and nutritionist just a question away. I even have a personal trainer who has developed a program for the members and is also just a question away. We are going to start with a weight loss diet, recipes for diabetics, and healthy family dinners. Drop me a line if you have a need not being met, we will be adding more diets. The programmers are building it, but I am so busy with my new job, I am in no immediate hurry, so keep your britches on.

The weather is a little warmer down here.  I spent the day with my best friend (Cheffrey) from culinary school.  I have him to thank for my yachting career, and where I am now.  He flew me down to Ft. Lauderdale in 2000 to drive some belongings back to Seattle with him.  He was working on a yacht at the time, and I was hooked.  The  trip was eventful, we even jumped out of an airplane together while we were here.  He got it videotaped, and there is a point before we are jumping out where they video me nervously giving a thumbs up, and then they scan to Cheffrey, and he is fumbling like a madman trying to get his goggles on, confused, and about to jump out of a plane.  We recounted the story again, and I get tears in my eyes from laughing so hard every time we talk about it.  He just got a job as the chef on a new yacht owned by the owner of the Baltimore Ravens, and it was a great coincidence that we were in the same area, it has been 4 years since I have seen him!  We hung out at the beach, drank some beer, and told a bunch of stories.  Great day.

It’s been awhile since I have seen snow (yachts are usually chasing the sun). I was ready though with my big coat, gloves, and goofy hat, I just wish I had someone to get in a snowball fight with. Much more exploring today getting to know the surrounding neighborhoods. I saw a news story here where the local chocolatiers are battling it out for the best hot chocolate in the city. I have no idea how I got a reputation for making good hot chocolate on the yacht. I can not think of a situation where it would be needed, but it did get requested once and awhile. This is a recipe I have never written down, I just bring some milk to a simmer and add semisweet chocolate and some sugar to taste, add more chocolate for richer flavor,(sometimes I add a little vanilla extract) and top with whipped cream and shaved chocolate (or marshmallows).

I arrived safe and sound. I thought I was flying out at 11 a.m., well it turned out it was 10 a.m. and I figured it out around 8:45, I didn’t know Celeste could drive so fast- thanks! I could get used to this flight (just two hours), it was full of people visiting for the holidays. I got settled in to a nice apartment (view enclosed), and put on my walking shoes. Wow!, this place is crazy busy. It was really cold, but added to the experience; I bought a goofy hat to keep my ears warm. My place is only a few blocks away from everything (times square, rockefeller center, broadway etc.). I am also only a few blocks from restaurant row that I posted last, so I am heading out to dinner. I will post a recipe tomorrow.