Cocktail, Book, and Entree….

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been a lover of science fiction, mysteries and thrillers. I must admit though, I don’t read as much as I’d like, too busy with other things I guess.#toobusy  Buuut when I do settle down on a snowy or rainy afternoon by our crackling fire, I love curling up on the couch with a great book. One of my all time favorites is the DaVinci Code by Dan Brown. It brings me back to my adventures in Italy when I was in my twenties.

The mystery that Brown weaves, so piqued my interest that I couldn’t put the book down.  Cryptography, keys, symbols, codes, and conspiracy theories have always intrigued and interested me. I could envision myself in the Vatican library searching for clues, or studying the Last Supper looking for proof of the theories that were intertwined throughout the novel. I was mesmerized by the the words, phrases and quotes the author so skillfully used to get his point across. Knowing the Louvre in Paris, I almost felt as if I were there as Brown started his storytelling and the mystery began. It brought shivers down my spine when the murder and so many other plots played out.

Of course, when I’m lounging on the couch, I also think about having my favorite cocktail and meal.  When it’s cold outside, a nice hot soup and some freshly made bread is just what the doctor ordered. If you love soup too, read on…. I’m going to share a few of the recipes we spoke about on our podcast,  “We Teach So Hard.”  Click the link to listen on iTunes. I know, I know, I talked about one of my favorite books that takes place in Italy, so why didn’t I come up with some Italian recipes? Because I wanted to share something that most of you have probably never tasted. #yummy

First off, cocktails: A dear friend of ours turned us on to Southern Comfort Manhattans. Wanna know how to make one? Here’s how….                 https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/94362/southern-comfort-manhattan/

Ingredients:

• 2 (1.5 fluid ounce) jiggers Southern Comfort liqueur
• 1(1.5 fluid ounce) jigger sweet vermouth
• 2 dashes aromatic bitters
• 4 ice cubes optional
• Maraschino cherry

directions:

• Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.
• Pour in the Southern Comfort, vermouth and aromatic bitters.
• Shake for about 15 seconds then strain into a highball glass with or without ice.
• Garnish with a maraschino cherry.

I’m going to share a Colombian soup and bread recipe, the first is  SanCocho a hearty soup, similar to a stew. It’s the country’s national dish originating from the region of Antioquia, Colombia that combines potatoes, yucca, corn, plantains and meat. For many, this is the ultimate comfort food and is absolutely scrumptious. In Colombia “el almuerzo” is eaten in the afternoon as the main meal of the day, and is usually served with a side of rice and avocado.
https://www.skinnytaste.com/colombian-chicken-sancocho-8-pts/
 

ingredients:

• 1 pork chop
• 1 chicken breast or thigh (use more if desired)
• 1 piece of beef
• 5 scallions, chopped
• 1 tomato chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1 cup chopped cilantro
• Tie 3 scallion stalks and 3 cilantro stalks together
• 3 medium potatoes, peeled and chopped into 2 inch pieces
• 3 pieces of yucca (about 2 cups)
• 3 ears corn, cut in half (optional)
• 1 small green plantain, peeled and chopped into 1″ pieces
• 1 tsp cumin
• 2 chicken boullion cubes
• salt to taste

directions: