Mari Bickmore Design | Having a Blast In Interior Design and Staging

Menu

Russia

Texas Clam Chowder – The Best 1024 727 Mari Bickmore

Texas Clam Chowder – The Best

Well this beginning has nothing to do with Clam Chowder, Texas or otherwise (that comes later).  In the middle of the night, many times, I have thought about topics I wanted to write about and none of those times did I follow through; they’re now like the misty stuff of dreams.  Here’s one I remember though…A couple of weeks after the inauguration I had a great conversation with a friend on the wrong side (oops).  We disagreed on many things, agreed on some, and did so amicably.  One of her big problems was the theory that Trump had some connection with Russia, still unsure as to what.  I don’t buy into any of that, nor do I think Trump has a man crush on Putin.  Anyway, as it turns out everyone and their dog has had a meeting with the Russians…on both sides of the fence…except, it seems, Sarah Jessica Parker, if you follow that sort of thing.  I recall a statement by Obama before the last election when he thought the mic was off that goes like this:  “After My Election I Have More Flexibility.”  Did you see the MSM go after that?  None of them seemed to have a problem with that…but now it’s like they’ve all went CRAZIER.   Also, how can they say the Russians interfered with the election exactly?  Even if they did hack the DNC and reveal things that they had done…then the DNC did those things.  Somehow the real “criminals” are  made to be okay just because their crimes were revealed by the Russians (if that is even true).   I know, we’re living in the Twilight Zone.

And now we see the true (tolerant HAHAHAHA) Alt-Left…breaking private property, impeding regular people’s road right-of-way, beating people up, acting like idiots, and trying to stop the free speech of others with differing ideas…the list goes on and on.  I’m glad we didn’t act that way when the travesty that is Obama was elected.  Sure, I complained, and hopefully so did millions of other people, but that was mostly words on a screen and not looting and assault.

Finally, I’m moving on.   I’m still looking at those resolutions and my work on them is a bit stifled, so I went to the gym yesterday for the first time this year.  And today I was shamed again, so I went on a 2.5-mile walk.  Who knows, maybe it’s a trend!  However, I have been playing tennis a few times a week.  Does that count?  First time playing on a mixed doubles team and it’s fun!  I was always intimidated about playing with guys so I always turned down the invites to play on those teams.  We are in second place.  Bummer.  Maybe that will change.  In any event, I had to make food to take to a match the other day and remembered how yummy my recipe for TEXAS Clam Chowder was, so I made it.   Instant hit!  I’ve been perfecting this one for many years.

IMG_7919 (2)
Mari’s Texas Clam Chowder
TEXAS CLAM CHOWDER — ONE OF MY PERSONAL FAVS
1/2 pound smoked peppered bacon, chopped into small pieces (I chop it small before I fry it, but you could just fry it and crumble later; it’s just easier to put it all in the pot to fry chopped small)
3  jars or cans baby clams and/or minced clams (I actually buy fresh clams if I can find them but that is unusual)
1 cup water
1 Tbsp cornstarch
4-6 medium red potatoes (peeled or unpeeled), diced
6 medium carrots peeled and diced
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 tsp Tony Cachere’s Creole Seasoning (you can try jalapeno pepper too)
3 celery ribs, finely chopped
6-8 ounces large fresh mushrooms, sliced
1/2 red onion, minced
Whipping/heavy cream about 1-3 cups depending on the consistency you want, I’m usually at about 2 cups.
In a large pot, fry chopped bacon until crispy browned; remove and drain on paper towels.  Drain off all but about a 1-2 Tbsp of the rendered fat.  Mix the cornstarch with a little water and mix until smooth.  Add clams w/juice and water to the pot along with the cornstarch mixture.  Add chopped potatoes and carrots, white pepper, parsley and seasoning to taste (I usually use about what is listed above).  Add chopped celery and mushrooms, then onion.  Crunch bacon into small pieces and add back to pot.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook until carrots are done.  Add enough cream to achieve desired consistency.  I serve with oyster crackers.
IMG_6707
Try it and let me know you loved it!  If you do then click Sign Me Up! on this site.
The Joys of Renovation 640 640 Mari Bickmore

The Joys of Renovation

We have flipped several houses in a few cities during our continual moving sojourn and I have never written about them.  Some things are just to painful to do whilst in the midst of chaos.  While living in Kansas we did a house in Overland Park and one in Independence and had two contractors directly from #*()#).  Well you get the idea.  One is being sued by the State of Missouri and the other should be being sued by several states and a multitude of people.  As far as I can tell he must be related to the Clintons.  It would take months and books to recreate what happened during that time…the lost sleep and anguish.  Now I know why people sue for things like that.  Really horrible people.   The best one we did was in Salt Lake City.  Loved the end product and the people we worked with.  Those are the two extremes of the spectrum.  Missouri contractors versus Salt Lake contractors.   At least the houses turned out well in the end.

Our most recent move was last summer, and this time we renovated the home we bought for ourselves.   We closed on the house while on a Scandinavian/Russian cruise, which was really weird, and at the same time went into contract on the home we were selling from the last place we lived.  Great stops by the way and Celebrity was a really great operator, but who am I to judge.  That was my first ocean cruise.  Cruises aren’t really my thing.  I like to rent a car and have tons of time to explore versus getting off the boat at 9 or 10 and then having to be back on by 4 or 5.  But I digress.

After we returned we moved out of our nice, midtown apartment to the burbs…to live in two bedrooms and a bathroom over the garage whilst our renovation commenced.  Did I say we were nuts.  Maybe not.  But you know the answer to that.  My darling daughter came to stay the first two weeks because not only was I starting demolition, I was having minor surgery.  Again, what was I thinking.

One of the first things we had done was removing all the hardwood and most of the tile in the house…kitchen, living room, great room, dining room, bathrooms, etc. and the carpet in the bedrooms (except for our “sanctuary”).  So first tip for any of you DIYer’s or those contemplating being in charge of your own renovation:  When someone quotes you on floor removal never sign anything other than a guaranteed price.  He ended up adding on charges that were over $2000 more than the original quoted price (Clean Site – don’t use them).  Not only that, they didn’t get close to the cabinets so I ended up having to pay extra to the floor installers to get that removed.  Not pleasant to deal with and not forthcoming, until later of course.   Then, of course, I had someone in for something else who said he could have done it for half the price…that really hurt.

One thing is weird, I would make appointments with three or four contractors for different parts of the project:  electric, plumbing, painting, etc. etc. and half the time they wouldn’t show.  Or if they did show they never got back with me to give me a bid.  Don’t these people need work?  Maybe they don’t.  In any event, that is a lot of time wasted and very frustrating.   Well, enough of this today.  I’ll continue with the saga in another few days.  But just to know it’s going to turn out okay in the end, here is a picture of before and after of my living room.  I think it’s great…but some of you may like the before better than the after.  Just let me know.  No, I won’t change it back if you do.  Needless to say,  it is not completely decorated yet, so I’ll repost later.

living room before after
24350599
IMG_5804