StyleBlueprint Brings You Soggy Tidings of Comfort & Joy

I just hung up the phone with Liza and we decided to take a different direction than originally planned with this post. Liza is out of town, with two of her three kids, so I have been trying to convey to her the state of Metro, and although I am not an accredited weather man, one thing is for sure: Nashville is under siege, and many places are under water.  Last night at the Jimmy Buffett concert, the Parrotheads didn’t seem too terribly concerned, but in a mere 24 hours, things have changed dramatically.  If the concert had been scheduled for today, it would have been canceled, and that in itself would have been catastrophic, 17,000 disenchanted Parrotheads roaming the streets of downtown would not be a pretty sight.

And, as this is Music City, you knew it wouldn’t be long until the songwriters had penned some new tunes about this great flood.  Here is one, fresh off the presses, “Landlocked” by Seth Jones. This week will be tough, but this song is quite clever: (Note: video has been removed.)

While Liza’s and my houses are okay, we are very concerned about many of you who are in stressful and precarious situations.  What can we do to help?  Well, the one clear directive for the day is this: stay at home.  Don’t venture out if you don’t need to. If you’re going to do anything, do it in your own hacienda.

That makes us genuinely empathetic to the organizers of the Harding Art Show, because elements beyond their control (the rain) affected this year’s show, which is especially difficult after last year’s decision to cancel due to the H1N1 outbreak.  The Richland West End Home Tour was forced to cancel Sunday’s tour and Saturday’s attendance was way waaaay down – as in twenty tickets sold. For all of you who put literally hundreds of hours into these events and others, we thank you and offer our condolences for the extreme frustration you must feel after all your efforts for good causes and the good of our city.

And, wow, the pictures of Bellevue, Cool Springs and more.  The homes everywhere that are flooded.  Facebook proved it’s weight in gold providing minute by minute updates.  Neighborhood list-serves saved many neighbors by providing practical information for sharing pumps and reminding neighbors not to walk in basement water that could be carrying electric current.

Anyway, rather than do our usual post, we decided to offer some of our favorite recipes and movies, so that everyone who’s stuck at home waiting for the flood waters to recede can perhaps find some comfort during this TRULY remarkable occurrence.  Hopefully, what we’re suggesting is in your pantry or available from a neighbor or friend thus bringing community closer, which is what devastation like this tend to do. If not, have a couple of Raindrop specials and improvise!

Raindrop Special or Bourbon Toddy

(This cocktail is compliments of a famous bartender from Memphis, Lafayette Draper)

• 1 ½ ounces bourbon
• ½ ounce simple syrup*
• Dash of bitters
• Splash of Club Soda
• Lemon Twist

*Simple syrup is a mix of 2 parts sugar to 1 part water.  Boil until sugar is dissolved.  Cool and store in refrigerator.  Keeps indefinitely, one spoon of syrup equals one spoon of sugar in any recipe.  Basil and mint can be added to flavor the syrup during cooking process.

Fixins' for a bourbon toddy

Loretta’s Wild Rice Soup

(This recipe has been requested by my friends when they are really down and out. It has medicinal qualities beyond belief.  It is a no fail recipe and was inspired by my grandmother, Loretta Dennany)

• 1/3 cup wild rice soup
• 4 c. chicken broth or stock
• 1/3 c. butter
• 1/2 c. celery
• 1/4 c. green pepper
• 1/4 c. onion
• 1 large carrot
• 1 t. garlic
• 1/4 c. flour
• dash salt
• 1/4 T. pepper
• 1 T. pimento (optional)
• 3/4 c. half & halt
• 4 T. sherry

Cook rice in chicken broth 45 minutes. In another pan cook thinly sliced vegetables in butter for 10 minutes.  Add flour and cook 2 minutes.  Add rice and chicken broth. Bring to a boil–stir in cream and sherry.  Heat thoroughly but do not boil.  Serves 4.

Katharine Hepburn’s Brownies

(Is there anything better than chocolate to make you feel better?)

• 2 squares unsweetened chocolate
• 1 stick butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• ½ t. vanilla extract
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ t. salt
• 1 cup nuts, coarsely chopped ( pecans or walnuts)

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Butter and flour an 8 inch baking pan.

Melt the chocolate with the butter in a saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and stir in sugar.  Stir in eggs and vanilla until smooth.  Add the flour, salt, and nuts. Stir until smooth. Pour in pan.  Bake for 40 minutes. Makes 16 decadent brownies.

Once you’ve satisfied your taste buds, here are our top 3 favorite movies to watch when what you want is to relax and escape.

The Philadelphia Story, Liza's Favorite

Tootsie: Elizabeth's Favorite

Humphrey and Ingrid in Casablanca

Casablanca: Brad Bourland’s* Favorite

*Brad Bourland has ranked the greatest films of the 20th century having viewed almost 7,000 films to create his list of 9,2000.  He plans to reach a list of 10,000 films with suggestions from his readers.  To read more about this incredible labor of love, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/18/movies/18bourland.html.

As we bid you adieu, a couple of thoughts for the day:

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