Report from the Florida Keys @LucyBurdette

LUCY BURDETTE: Lots of people have asked me how the Florida Keys and Key West are faring after Hurricane Irma roared through. Friday was the first day we were able to see for ourselves. Honestly, it was a bit of a grim ride south, especially the area stretching from Marathon through Big Pine, where the eye blew across the islands. The road is still lined with piles of trash, boats washed ashore, and mind-boggling deposits of appliances and mattresses. I'll show you a little of what we saw...

appliances

mattresses

We saw many trucks loading up the trash and heading north--but it will be a while before things get back to normal. And quite a few people lost their homes in the middle Keys, and are struggling to figure out where and how to find a new home. This of course will have an effect on businesses attempting to open without their full complement of employees. And there is definitely a push and pull between welcoming tourists, which the Keys economy depends on, and allowing the residents to recover from the storm.

Key West, on the other hand, was lucky to avoid Irma's worst wrath. The town lost big trees and vegetation, so it appears lighter and a little more bare than it did. However, this is Fantasy Fest weekend, one of the biggest parties of the year. And the spirit of the Keys is still strong.  These photos from Friday's locals' parade show that Key West residents will not let a hurricane dampen their imagination and playfulness!

I think this is Elvis

Part of a gaggle of "Chers"

Hula-hoop costumes

Who can resist a guy in polka-dots?

Matt and Leigh blast off

The Wizard of Oz gang

And here are just a few shots from the big Saturday night parade--the hurricane theme was very strong...

We're so grateful that the islands and our friends survived...

There's no place like home

Easy Soup for Trying Times

Julia Spencer-Fleming:  Well, it's been quite a week here at Jungle Reds - hurricane, power outages, travel interruptions. Up here in Maine, we got electricity back mid-day Wednesday. Hurrah! Then on Thursday, my husband Ross discovered steaming hot water literaly bubbling out of our hot water heater (thank heavens our 200-year-old house has beaten dirt floor in the cellar.) To stop the machine from parboiling itself, he had to turn off the oil burner, which also, alas, turns off the furnace.

I'm not sure if it was the earthquake or the superstorm that caused the damage, but I do know five days without heat and hot water is a bit too much. We have decamped to a seaside hotel to lick our wounds and take showers. 

In times of trial, we want comforting things, and so today I'm sharing my recipe for peanut butternut squash soup. It's the easiest thing ever to make, delicious and nutritious, and keeps well atop a wood stove when the power's out. When we get home, if my oven doesn't explode, I'm going to make a batch.

One good-sized butternut squash
One onion, diced
Two cans chicken broth (you can substitute vegetable broth if you or your guests are vegetarian.)
1/4 to 1/3 cup natural peanut butter (don't use the pre-blended Jiffy or Peter Pan type)
One can Coconut milk
1/2 tsp cumin
cayenne pepper or hot sauce to taste
two bay leaves.

Peel and chop the butternut squash into cubes. Sautee the squash with the onion until the onion wilts. (You can use butter or oil for the sauteeing. I like to use soy oil - it gives it a bit of a taste.)

Pour in the broth to cover. Boil until the squash is very soft. Take off heat and process it in batches in the food processor until everything is smooth and creamy. (You can also use a masher in the pot if you like a more textured soup.)

 
Stir in the natural peanut butter. You can add more or less as you like - it should taste of peanuts but not not so strongly that you feel like you ought to add grape jelly to the thing. Drop in the bay leaves and let simmer for up to an hour to develop the flavor. I'm not much one for salt, but if you are, go ahead and use your shaker. If the mixture starts to get too think and paste-like, throw some more broth into it.

Remove from heat and stir in the coconut milk and cumin. Add enough cayenne pepper or hot sauce to give it a bite. Serve and share with family or friends. Don't forget to be thankful for having heat and hot water.