John Cruz - Island Style

I first heard this song in a helicopter on a tour over the Big Island of Hawaii.  I lost the video of the tour with the song on it, and couldn't find the song for years.  I finally found it last year, and it's now one of my favorites.

Island Style

Wild Geese

"Wild Geese" by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain are moving across the landscapes,

over the prairies and the deep trees, the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination,

calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting--

over and over announcing your place in the family of things.

h/t Handsome Family

Large Values of Two

Grabel's Law: 2 is not equal to 3, not even for large values of 2.

h/t Joe Retzer

Roast Pork Gyros

Another great idea from Fat Johnny.  Roast Pork Gyros.  Yum.

Fish Tacos with Caper/Dill Sauce

Thanks, Vickie, whoever you are: http://montana2.wordpress.com/2010/12/12/fish-tacos/

Sauce
1/2 cup plain yogurt (I’ve substituted sour cream and it works equally well)
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 lime, juiced
1 jalapeno pepper, minced
1 teaspoon minced capers
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (this can be cut back to 1/2 tsp, if you just can’t take the heat)
Puree all in the food processor. Put in a small dish and cover. Set aside and let the flavors blend. May be made ahead and refrigerated.

Beer Batter
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup beer
To make beer batter, combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Blend egg and beer in a measuring cup, then quickly whisk it into the flour mixture.

Remaining Ingredients
oil for frying
1 pound cod fillets, cut into 2 to 3 ounce portions (I like to cut mine in smaller portions which makes more breading – you choose)
1 (12 ounce) package large corn tortillas
1/2 medium head cabbage, finely shredded

Directions
While the recipe gave instruction for a deep fat fryer, I adapted it by using an iron skillet with a good 1/2″ of canola oil heated at slightly higher than medium heat. (The deep fryer direction is – 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Dust fish pieces lightly with flour. Dip into beer batter, and fry until crisp and golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Lightly fry tortillas; not too crisp. To serve, place fried fish in a tortilla, and top with shredded cabbage, and white sauce.

Serve these with lime wedges.