As most everyone knows San Diego is burning, again. I've been glued to
the news while our electricity is on. The high Santa Ana winds have
prevented any air attacks on the numerous fires that have been burning
out of control. Today helicopters and tankers are able to get in the
air, great news for us.

Kirk at http://www.mmm-yoso.typepad.com has maps and detailed
information. I don't need to repeat what is only a click away. Kirk
was kind enough to e-mail me this morning making sure I was o.k. and
to offer assistance if needed.

I am feeling grateful and guilty, so many have lost so much. I'm sick
at heart for my fellow San Diegans that are effected by these fires. I
have been within minutes of evacuation myself, several times, thank
God I've been spared.

When the goin' gets tough I comfort myself with preparing food. There
is something about preparing food, the planning, chopping, slicing and
dicing that gives me comfort. It makes me feel like I'm "doing"
something when I can't really "do" anything. I'm not hungry, I just
cook. I've made a few meals with flames cresting the hills too close
to us with ashes falling on us.

Yesterday I busied myself and juiced the little calamansi. They are so
small I was able to juice them two at a time.
http://i20.tinypic.com/2iht75h.jpg

I now have 1/2 cup of lime juice.
http://i20.tinypic.com/29lmm1z.jpg

I also had some fresh baby ginger that I needed to take care of so I
chunked it up and put in some sherry to preserve it. That went into
the fridge. The pieces that didn't fit into the jar I grated on the
ginger grater, that and it's juices went into the freezer.
http://i24.tinypic.com/20zr4nl.jpg

We were without electricity most of the day. I waited a little too
long to start making a pot of vegetable soup, comfort food, and most
of it was made in the semi-dark. I had some bok choy, celery, onion,
carrots, sugar snap peas and green beans.
http://i23.tinypic.com/4javc7.jpg

The greens were added the last few minutes along with some dark red
kidney beans.
http://i21.tinypic.com/sls3g0.jpg

I used the thyme mix I bought at Parsian Mkt.
http://kokoscorner.typepad.com/mycor...n-interna.html
It is delicious. It contains: Thyme, vegetable oil, spices, sumac,
roasted sesame and salt. I was tempted to eat some right out of the
bag it is so good.
http://i21.tinypic.com/aninph.jpg

Eating in the dark is a whole different experience. I was more aware
of textures, taste and the size and shape of the food.
http://i23.tinypic.com/2yose29.jpg

Thank you to everyone for your concern for San Diego residents. Please
keep us in your prayers and good thoughts. I'm blessed, me and my
family members still have our lives and homes.

koko
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http://www.kokoscorner.typepad.com
updated 10/23

"There is no love more sincere than the love of food"
George Bernard Shaw