Crew O’ Cats

Photo of ravioli with peas and anchovies.

Unopened box of Olasagasti brand anchovies.

Opened tin of anchovies in oil.

Day 31: the final meal of Tinned Fish January. Longest January in memory. Cacio e pepe ravioli with tinned Basque style anchovies “a la Donostiarra,” (cooked not cured), green peas, and a cream sauce. Tasty, easy, and a good value. Happy to close out January, but I’ll keep eating tinned fish…

Latvian herring on crispy cauliflower and potato latkes with sour cream and lemon.

Opened tin of herring next to a martini.

Closed tin of Latvian herring with Cyrillic writing.

Day 30: broke open a tin of Latvian herring that I’ve had for longer than I can remember. It’s likely moved states with me. It was very tasty and very delicate. And it had roe! Ate it on crispy cauliflower and potato latkes with sour cream and lemon.

Piece of salted cod on a piece of Norwegian crisp bread n

Day 29: Broke open another highly anticipated tin. This one was bacalhau, (i.e. Portuguese salted cod). It was ok. Not bad. Not great. Not nearly as good as the Bela brand I’ve had. I could see it in a pasta dish with tomato. It was buttery but bland.

Unopened tin of small scallops in Galician sauce. The tin has red netting around it.

Opened tin of small scallops in Galician sauce submerged in red-hued oil.

A serving of small scallops in Galician sauce on an elote flavored corn chip.

Day 28: it was a very long day, indeed. I thought I’d give us a little treat and break open a tin I’d been saving. These were… not good. I managed to struggle through a second bite but gave up after that. I don’t mind fishiness but this was more, “low tide” and lacked any sort of acidity or zest.

Two large white bowls with white bean stew with arugula and pieces of spicy mackerel with jalapeño slices. A half-finished cocktail stands to the right.

An unopened tin of King Oscar brand mackerel filets with jalapeño peppers.

Catching up! It’s been wild here in Maine the past week or so… but we did finish out Tinned Fish January. Day 27, we were still sick, so it was repurposed white bean stew, with wilted arugula and some spicy mackerel on top (plus chili crisp).

Two large white bowls with white bean stew with arugula and pieces of spicy mackerel with jalapeño slices. A half-finished cocktail stands to the right.

An unopened tin of King Oscar brand mackerel filets with jalapeño peppers.

Catching up! It’s been wild here in Maine the past week or so… but we did finish out Tinned Fish January. Day 27, we were still sick, so it was repurposed white bean stew, with wilted arugula and some spicy mackerel on top (plus chili crisp).

White dish with raviolini, arugula, pistachios and grated cheese/yolk.

Opened tins of sardines with chilis.

Day 26: We are both sick. We are both tired. We are both sad and angry and overwhelmed. So tonight’s dinner took less than 10 minutes. Raviolini. Arugula. Olive tapenade. Spiced sardines. Pistachios. Grated cured yolk. It was quick but it felt comforting.

White dish with raviolini, arugula, pistachios and grated cheese/yolk.

Opened tins of sardines with chilis.

Day 26: We are both sick. We are both tired. We are both sad and angry and overwhelmed. So tonight’s dinner took less than 10 minutes. Raviolini. Arugula. Olive tapenade. Spiced sardines. Pistachios. Grated cured yolk. It was quick but it felt comforting.

Ha. Probably true 😹

Yeah. Lemon thyme would work great. Or even dried chives which I ca handle. Or some fresh dill.

Chives are actually the classic garnish! (I dislike them personally but I also dislike parsley and that didn’t stop me here…). I swear that I have a weird mild allergy to alliums and parsley/celery when raw. They make my tongue go numb. But I digress. Chives would look beautiful and add some zing!

Thanks to @javapeg.bsky.social for the extra nudge to do eggs and anchovies this morning!

Photo of toast with scrambled eggs, anchovies, parsley, and capers on white plates.

Day 25: hunkered down for the cold and impending snow. Brunch of Scotch Woodcock, i.e. toast with anchovy butter, scrambled eggs, and some anchovy filets on top. I’d skip the parsley next time. Maybe a bit of cilantro instead.

Oh yum!! I think I’m going to make Scotch Woodcock for lunch today which is anchovy buttered toast topped with scrambled eggs. I feel like anchovies and eggs just go together so well!

And yes. Some of these are super splurgy. 😬 Some a worthy treat but some a bit disappointing.

Bag of sourdough rye chips and an unopened tin of Riga Sprats.

Opened tin of Riga Sprats.

Riga sprat on a rye chip.

We did also open a can of Riga sprats because, why not.

I ordered these cans of clams accidentally from Costco one time, not quite realizing just how massive they are, but the quality of the clams themselves were so good that now I order them on purpose. I keep them in the pantry for emergency bulk cooking for mental health support.

Two massive cans of chopped sea clams and a small tin of anchovy filets.

Two small bowls of clam chowder with potatoes and clams, each with a soup spoon.

Day 24: welp, the state of my mental health can usually be inversely correlated to the amount of bulk cooking I’m doing. As in, the worse I feel, the bigger the bulk. Must be some epigenetic traits from my ancestors. Today I pulled out the 20 quart stock pot for some bulk clam chowder. Tinned fish ✅

Two massive cans of chopped sea clams and a small tin of anchovy filets.

Two small bowls of clam chowder with potatoes and clams, each with a soup spoon.

Day 24: welp, the state of my mental health can usually be inversely correlated to the amount of bulk cooking I’m doing. As in, the worse I feel, the bigger the bulk. Must be some epigenetic traits from my ancestors. Today I pulled out the 20 quart stock pot for some bulk clam chowder. Tinned fish ✅

“There’s no point to calling because my senators already agree with me”

“There’s no point to calling because my senators won’t listen”

These are both false information and you should correct and/or block anyone circulating them. Your calls are tallied and create support and/or real pressure.

Octavia got to finish the tin liquid. She appears to be a big fan. (Sound on if you don’t have cat sound misophonia).

Tin of Wild Planet Wild pacific sardines.

Open tin of wild pacific sardines.

Box of Portuguese spicy sardine pâté.

Plate with pâté, capers, olive tapenade, crisp bread and potato chips.

Day 23: two different tins today. I cracked into the first tin of Pacific sardines as a little treat, and then served some pâté with crisp bread and chips. Big fan of the pacific sardines and not such a big fan of the pâté.

Octavia got to finish the tin liquid. She appears to be a big fan. (Sound on if you don’t have cat sound misophonia).

Tin of Wild Planet Wild pacific sardines.

Open tin of wild pacific sardines.

Box of Portuguese spicy sardine pâté.

Plate with pâté, capers, olive tapenade, crisp bread and potato chips.

Day 23: two different tins today. I cracked into the first tin of Pacific sardines as a little treat, and then served some pâté with crisp bread and chips. Big fan of the pacific sardines and not such a big fan of the pâté.

After Lewiston experienced so much violence in the mass shooting several years ago, having masked men in tactical gear with assault weapons wandering the streets has got to be retraumatizing. As their rep, he should be protecting his constituents. Just disgusting.

Worse than a waste of space. My rep in District 1, @pingree.house.gov, is amazing, but I still left a voicemail with her office voicing my opinions and thanking her for her vote. Golden should be ashamed of himself.

Rice bowls with tinned tuna, sautéed greens, fried egg and crispy seaweed snacks on a base of purple sweet potato purée.

Tim of white tuna belly fillets in olive oil. The tin has a white cloth mesh around it.

Opened tin of tuna belly fillets in olive oil.

Day 22: how is it only 22 days into this year. Yikes. Rice bowl with a very fancy tin of tuna belly. Tuna was tasty but not sure it warrants the price. Steamed sticky rice, Japanese sweet potato stew, remainder of our dandelion greens, egg from our chickens and various other toppings.

It doesn’t escape my notice that pretty much every ingredient in this lunch is sourced from another country, the only exception being the two fried eggs straight from our own chickens’ cloacas. I don’t take that for granted. We are lucky to have access to such delights.

Interesting thought today: I have been very lucky to live in cities with large immigrant populations who brought their cultures and cuisines with them and I am lucky to continue to borrow inspiration from them.

Rice bowls with tinned tuna, sautéed greens, fried egg and crispy seaweed snacks on a base of purple sweet potato purée.

Tim of white tuna belly fillets in olive oil. The tin has a white cloth mesh around it.

Opened tin of tuna belly fillets in olive oil.

Day 22: how is it only 22 days into this year. Yikes. Rice bowl with a very fancy tin of tuna belly. Tuna was tasty but not sure it warrants the price. Steamed sticky rice, Japanese sweet potato stew, remainder of our dandelion greens, egg from our chickens and various other toppings.

CTA: $18 Billion More for ICE — WTF Are Congressional Dems Doing? | Shouldn't Need to Be a Lawyer by Matthew Cortland Get more from Shouldn't Need to Be a Lawyer by Matthew Cortland on Patreon

ICE is writing secret memos claiming power to invade homes without warrants. They're using children as bait. They're killing.

Congressional Democrats are about to vote to increase their budget by $18 billion.

Call your House rep tonight. The vote may come tomorrow.

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