Tip Top, Top Hat...

My first project for last weekend was way too easy.

The back story is my niece Amanda's boyfriend Dom wanted to find a top hat. An antique top hat. He said he'd been wanting a new one for over a year. Dom's British, and makes a tradition out of wearing a top hat to formal occasions. I don't know if I'd call it a British thing, but it surely is something unique to Dom. He looks great in a top hat.

We got to talking about the search for a top hat over a dinner a few weeks ago. I just remarked that when they came to visit next, I had a couple of ideas on where to find an antique top hat. There are re-sale stores in our neighborhood and some of them sell really cool stuff. It was worth the long shot.

Amanda and I were coming back from an errand and I remembered the top hat quest. We only had to detour about a block to check out my first option for a place to find one. When we walked in I went right up to the proprietress of the shop and announced that I was going to challenge her inventory because I was looking for something out of the ordinary. She just smiled. I told her I was looking for a top hat. She answered, "We have two. The only thing I worry about is they are kind of small." We decided to take a look.

Both top hats were in relatively good condition. The latter one was the real prize. It was in near perfect condition; shiny beaver with a grosgrain trim. It looked remarkable. Right out of a Dickensian tale. Amanda fully inspected it and decided it was a perfect candidate to become Dom's next top hat. The wonderment was how it stayed in such fabulous condition and then the proprietress revealed the secret. When she told us the price of the top hat she also announced that it came in it's own box.

High up on the shelf was a swoopy looking leather box with a handle. Of course, it was the perfect shape to hold a top hat and had, in fact, been made FOR the hat. It was about 100 years old. Having spent many of its 100 years in an attic, the box was tired, dried and very brittle, but it was so cool!

The mental deal was sealed. Amanda loved the hat, figured Dom would too and the box was a real treasure bonus. All we had to do was find Dom, (who was out clothes shopping) to see if the hat fit him.

Dom's a slight, handsome, British guy. A modern British man. The 100-year-old hat fit perfectly. He beamed. The proprietress beamed. Amanda beamed. Dom was meant for that hat and vice versa. After a little bit of budget consideration the purchase was made, the hat was packed up and Dom was now completely ready to fill out his outfit for the friends' wedding coming up this weekend.

My husband and I have been invited to the wedding. I can't wait to see Amanda walk down the aisle in her beautiful bridesmaid's dress and to see Dom standing outside the church in his 100 year old top hat. I hope the rain holds off. Rain might be good luck for a wedding couple (It sure worked for us. It poured on our wedding day), but it's probably not good for a 100 year old top hat. Stand by for a weather report.

EASY Chicken fajitas

This might be one of the most fun-to-eat, slightly messy recipes. If you want to make it slightly more complicated and add a smokier flavor, you can grill the chicken before you put it in to marinate. That's my idea for summer. But just the way it is, this is a perfect meal for a starter cook; really, one with no experience. Or it's also great for a busy cook with no time to spare.

Serves 4

3 chicken breast halves. Skin removed
1 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes. You can get the ones with chili bits, or the garlic and onion ones; or just plain. Your choice.
2 tsp Mexican chili powder. This has a smokier flavor than regular but regular will do too.
1 tsp dried Oregano
1 Tbl ground Cumin
1 Tbl Italian spice mix
2 Tbl diced Cilantro
One red bell pepper sliced into strips
One yellow bell pepper sliced into strips
One small red onion peeled and cut into narrow rings
10 - 6" tortillas. You can use regular white flour tortillas or they make some really nice wheat, low-carb tortillas now.
One cup of sour cream
1 ripe avocado cut into chunks, or if you love avocado cut up 2
1 cup of shredded Mexican cheese

Cut the chicken breasts into 1" wide strips. Now you can grill them until they have grill stripes on them and are done or you can proceed with the recipe without cooking them. If you grill them, let them cool off before you go to the next step.

Put the chicken strips, tomatoes, seasonings, pepper strips, and onion rings all in a big bowl. Stir to mix it all up. Let this marinate for 30 minutes in your refrigerator or up to 2 hours.

When you take this out you are going to cook the whole mess in a large sauté pan. It's sort of like you are going to stew it because you are pouring it all in the pan including the liquid. Put the heat on medium high and cook until the chicken is no longer pink inside (cut one open to see). This will only take about 5 - 7 minutes. (If the chicken has been grilled your only goal is to get all of the veggies and chicken hot).

When ready to serve, heat your tortillas by wrapping them in paper towels and heating them in your microwave. You can heat them in a covered pan in the oven too. You don't want them to dry out. This only takes about a minute in the microwave or 5 minutes in your oven set at 350 degrees.

When the tortillas are warm put the whole mess of chicken strips, tomatoes etc. in a large bowl in the middle of your serving area. Let your diners take a warm tortilla, put in a spoonful of chicken mixture and top it as they please with sour cream, avocado and cheese. Then roll it up to eat it. So what if some of it squishes out the sides? This is fun, messy food.

There's more than one tortilla per person so they can go back for a second one, at least.

I serve this with spiced pinto beans on the side. You can also add corn on the cob or Mexican corn from the can, heated. Add some chips and salsa and you have a meal. Even a simple salad on the side can round out this dish too.

Enjoy!
Cheers,
Zola