Crabby Christmas

How was your Christmas?
Ours was a little weird.

Christmas Eve was so warm that when we went for a walk, we came back home sweaty and wishing we had worn shorts.

The day after Christmas, there's such a damp, bone-chilling cold that sitting in front of a portable heater I still can't warm up.

At 2:45 AM Christmas morning, something woke The Husband and I.  It wasn't Santa on the roof.  No creatures stirring.  It was thunder and wind.  And something didn't feel right.  I don't know what exactly.  But I felt it.  Having lived in Joplin, MO for a few years, I've picked up on signs.  The tangible and intangible that all point to one thing.  Tornado.

The Husband turned on the TV to an alert.  A tornado warning.  The cell heading just to our South.

I did what I learned to do living those years in tornado alley.

Peed.  And put on a bra.

Because if a tornado hits, I am NOT going to be the poor disheveled interviewed victim with no bra who needs to pee.

I sat on the couch watching the weather reports, wringing my hands.  Heart racing.  Shallow breathing.  I didn't leave Joplin to come back home to this shit.  On Christmas no less.

Around 3:15 the storm was well on us.  The wind was whipping.  City lights bouncing off the clouds gave me visual proof that those gut feelings were right.  The way the clouds looked.  The way they moved.  I'd seen it before.  Not good.

It passed.  And no tornado touched down.

We went through a few more rounds of the same.  With the same outcome.  Others throughout the day would not be so lucky.

We "did presents" before 4 AM since the storms woke up The Boy.  Not much sleep was had after that.

By 8:30 AM, I was loopy.  Making breakfast, singing to my new Queen's Greatest Hits.  And drinking the blackberry moonshine Santa left.

Good thinking, Santa.

I'd been up since before 3.  8:30 was more like mid-day, right?

We postponed Christmas dinner until the 26th since it was unsafe for anyone to travel.

Back to work tomorrow.  Back to normal.

Creamy Crab, Corn, and Tasso Soup

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Creamy Crab, Corn, & Tasso Soup

2 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 small green bell pepper, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2 celery ribs, chopped
8 oz tasso*, diced
1 can creamed corn
1 cup chicken stock
1 1/2 cups half and half
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 shakes Tony's Creole Seasoning
hot sauce, to taste
1/2 tsp dried basil
1 cup cooked crab
chopped green onion

Heat butter and olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat.  When hot, add the onion, bell pepper, garlic, celery, and tasso and saute until the vegetables are tender.

Stir in creamed corn, chicken stock, half and half, and seasonings.  Lower heat to medium low and simmer for about 20 minutes.  Do not boil.

Gently stir in the cooked crab.  Simmer a few minutes to heat through.  Taste for seasonings and adjust as needed.  Serve with green onion sprinkled over the top.

*Tasso (TAH-so) is a seasoned, smoked meat (usually pork) used for seasoning Cajun dishes.  Highly smoked sausage can be used in its place.