Day two in Abaco, not so great fishing, but really great food
On day two of my visit, we went deep-sea fishing for grouper and albacore. Captain Sandy, a friend and neighbor and a real Abaconian took us in his boat. Grouper is a stout-bodied fish with a large mouth and can be quite big and long. Albacore is a real prized catch and is a type of tuna. Both make for really good eating. Our hopes were high, but on that day, only one grouper was reeled in.
Good thing I had a hankering for arroz con pollo and I was happy to prepare it that evening. Arroz con pollo is kind of a simplified paella made with rice, chicken, tomatoes, green peppers, seasonings, and sometimes saffron. As a little twist, I added some shredded cabbage to the mix and it was really great. Sautéed plantains (related to the banana) and roasted pineapple slices were yummy for dessert.
Hi, Martha,
Thanks for the update on day two of your stay at Abaco. Deep-sea fishing for grouper and albacore with Captain Sandy sounds enjoyable. Did you have a fight on your hands in catching the barracuda? Was it hard to reel in?
The arroz con pollo with the rice, chicken, tomatoes, green pepper, seasonings, and saffron as well as shredded cabbage must have been delicious. It sounds tasty as I just read the ingredients, but as I look at the photograph my mouth is watering! The same goes for your dessert of saluteed plantains with rum and demara sugar and the roasted pineapple slices. What a feast!
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy | January 12th, 2009 at 1:14 am
Hi. Martha is brave! A vegetarian, fish, fowl, or animal being cut for consumption grosses me out. Natural peanut butter & dried beans/peas/lentils are always in my kitchen. Recently I bought a brick of tofu. Yesterday I forgot to mention my avg. typing speed spring 2008 was 93 wpm with 100% accuracy.
Posted by: Mina Isham | January 12th, 2009 at 1:52 am
Martha,
You know what the best eating fish in the ocean is? Cobia.
(I'll have to stop back in and pan the rest of the pics.)
Posted by: tinay | January 12th, 2009 at 4:57 am
Dear Martha,
You are my idol and the expert on so many things. I was so surprised to read you refer to yourself as me instead of I in your blog. I am only pointing this out because of your ability to do everything right. Your knowledge on so many subjects is amazing. Are you going to the inauguration?
Posted by: Nancy Pacinelli | January 12th, 2009 at 5:48 am
Hi Nancy,
When captioning photos, it is alright to refer to yourself as me instead of I. However, it would not be OK in a complete sentence. And, yes - I cannot wait to go to the inauguration!
Posted by: Martha Stewart | January 12th, 2009 at 6:32 am
Who corrects Martha's grammar?
We would love to attend the inauguration but the nearest available hotel is in New Jersey.
Have you ever been to the American Girl Store or dined in their lovely cafe?
Linda
Posted by: Linda Crispell | January 12th, 2009 at 6:55 am
(...I want some sunshine, with a blue-skied day, and white fluffy clouds, like are in these photos!! [said here in a whining tone] I know, I know...it's wintertime, afterall...I have to finally accept it! [big sigh] )
...More photos for my needy/wanting-a-warm-day/thirsty soul! Gee whiz, I'd take a warm enough day that would enable hanging-out-laundry-that-it-would-dry kind of day! Maryland dodged (again!) another forecast of a wintry mix over the weekend...so far this season, we've been snow-free, but I know I'll be eating those words before long. Later in the week, we're expecting teen temperature highs - man-oh-day! - the heating bill!! In the meantime, though, maybe I'll re-look at a couple seed catalogs I just received to tide me over. [wink]
Martha, how 'bout many of these post-ers who saw you meandering around the island?!...pretty neat, huh?! We can see you are having a good time and savoring every moment - that's our Martha that we know and love! (Carpe Diem!)
Today (it's Monday), I'm feeling muuuch better, and thanks bunches to fellow-blogger-friends Trish, Jan, Kathy, and Gloria Brown for your well-wishes the latter part of last week. Gee whiz, we're all at the opposite ends of the country, aren't we?! On Martha's blog, though, we come together as family! (And Gloria, Winterport sounds like a charming town!...anything Maine, for that matter, does! [except, "brrr!"] )
Happy Monday, all!...stay warm and cozy and happy in your heart, wherever you may be. (thinkspringthinkspring!)
=^..^=
"Scatter thus your seeds of kindness all enriching as you go ~ Leave them. Trust the Harvest Giver. He will make each seed to grow."--Anonymous
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | January 12th, 2009 at 7:26 am
Hi Martha,
I have fished many times in freshwater but I have never fished in the ocean. Today’s photos were a treat …enjoyed seeing the large fishing rods for deep-sea fishing.
Have you tried fishing in freshwaters?
I look forward to seeing your inauguration photos!
Posted by: Gloria Brown, Winterport, Maine | January 12th, 2009 at 7:32 am
Hi Martha,
Muffin's kitchen is about the size of my kitchen except I have more counter space on the right side where it forms an L. You should see the mess I can make in there! Great photos from the boat and a nice catch too. Thanks for your Arroz Con Pollo recipe; I added it to my collections.
I'm so glad you are going to the inauguration. Bill Clinton had a contest going - all we had to do was write why we felt we should go and then they would pick someone, but I don't even have a coat warm enough for weather up north so I didn't compete! (Poor excuse probably!) Anyway, I will be watching on TV and maybe we’ll all see you there. I'm sure you will have your camera with you!
I'm off to watch your show at 1:00 P.M. Enjoy your day all! Trish
P.S. To Cindy Bricker and ~Gloria: (And thanks to Martha for allowing us a few comments to others). I got some great pictures from my walk on the warm beach last Saturday and wished you were there!
Posted by: Trish | January 12th, 2009 at 8:00 am
Hi Martha, Wow, you went from co-pilot to boat captain and then fisherwoman in a few days! You really look great and look like you are having a blast. I love these beautiful photos, especially of the food you cooked. The food looks absolutely scrumptious! I really like the way you roasted the pineapple. I can only eat it cooked and I usually cook it in a saucepan, but the roasted pineapple looks great. Do you roast it at 350 degrees and for how long? Thanks again for sharing. I LOVE THIS BLOG! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | January 12th, 2009 at 8:58 am
Hi Jan,
Roast the pineapple at 450 degrees for about 15 minutes.
Posted by: Martha Stewart | January 12th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Arroz con pollo is a staple in our family's diet. I would never have envision cabbage, though. A bold move! And my mouth watered as you spoke of fresh albacore.
Posted by: alina | January 12th, 2009 at 11:36 am
Martha,
My cable went out today during your show I missed my boyfriend being on, the handsome Josh Turner for his third visit to the show. Love his duet with Trisha Yearwood , Another Try.
What in the world were you thinking about in photo #6? A ten spot for your thoughts my dear!So intense there Martha or were you mad at the fish for not biting!
The other day on the show you were cooking an entire fish head and all ,please don't tell me you eat the eyeballs too! Imagine sitting down to eating pork or a steak and the head is still on it, makes me think of going veggie~
It's 71 here today please do envy me!
Pam from California
P.S loving my sun today
Posted by: Pam From California | January 12th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
That water reminds me so much of when I was in Belize. It was so beautiful. It's striking nature was almost other wordly. I miss it!
Posted by: Melissa Gutierrez | January 12th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
Hiya Martha
I think it's really neat that you actually read these notes and sometimes respond. I've loved your show and mag since my mama would get up early on saturdays when I was in grade school and watch (and tape)your show. I'd get up early with her before I went of to my babysitting job. We'd have tea and watch you. Now I tape you in the days and watch you at night, and my boyfriend gets me a subscription every year for christmas. I show and tell articles from the mag and the shows that I think he'd like, he especially loved your mexican and hot dog shows.
This has nothing to do with today's blog really- nice hat by the way, you look so comfy and glam at the same time! - there you go now it does!
That's all, you're lovely and I really dig you and your work.
Any plans to come to Toronto this year? Fingers crossed!
Lxo
Posted by: Leah from Toronto | January 12th, 2009 at 9:47 pm
Your trip sounds wonderful. The other day on your show about the whole body website, you noticed "Report as Inappropriate" on the blogs from people. Every blog has that on it. It's rather put offish and seems as though our input is not appreciated or was reported as inappropriate.
Posted by: Vicki Cowell-Foss | January 13th, 2009 at 8:27 am
Hi Martha,
Amazing capture, such a magnificent scene and place. Love those blues. Enjoy yourself and that warmth, you go girl! Cheers from snowy canada
MaddyLane
Posted by: MaddyLane | January 13th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Dear Martha,
One of our guests said that they followed you into the country but we thought - sure, like his fishing stories we wondered if perhaps he had exaggerated. Then another guest shared your blog. Loved your plantains, I put sea salt on and use as a side dish. I have a special wood smasher for plantains and one of my guests showed me how you fry, smash and fry again. We have a lot of plantains and the tiny sugar bananas on our property. I have sent your link to my daughter who loves to swim in the blue hole. Thank you for coming to our special island and sharing it. Next time be sure to visit our lighthouse on Hope Town? Peg P.S. it's a lot warmer down here right now!
Posted by: Peggy Thompson | January 21st, 2009 at 9:02 am
Hey
We used the same air charter service you did about an hour after you left FLL. The staff said you were a class act.
Sorry we didnt get to meet you, but glad to hear that your a real. nice. person. Sometimes we non-celebs forget you are a 3!
Posted by: Allen | January 21st, 2009 at 9:18 am