dip week

Certain times mark highs and lows. Last week was Dip Week on Living Dayton and they asked me if I would come do a spot on a Super Bowl dip. After I hit the send button on the email confirming my appearance I ran into the kitchen to tell my best friend and sous chef that I was going to be on tv. She wagged her tail and licked my face.

You see when I agreed to go down to WDTN on Thursday I had no idea that I would have to put down my dear Lucy on Friday. But in some ways it was a fitting finale to our days in Dayton together.

I adopted Lucy eleven years ago. At the age of two she was a show dog reject and one of the sweetest and funniest yellow labs of all time. As we drove away from her former life I had no idea how much mine would change in her company. I met the love of my life, he got the job of his life- in of all places Dayton, Ohio. One daughter graduated and went off to college. Lucy and I held down the fort while my youngest completed high school and my husband commuted back and forth for three years. After putting my baby on a plane and getting her settled in her west coast dorm room, I packed up my house and traveled south to our new home in southwestern Ohio with Lucy sitting shotgun.

As a newly retired, brand new empty nester I knew not a soul, just my soul mate and my faithful companion. Lucy and I would walk through the woods that resembled an animated Disney movie. We’d hop in the car and drive past miles and miles of farmland. We’d laugh at the religious billboards, and eat french fries from the drive thrus at McDonalds. I always laughed when she got an especially hot one.

It was funny that for the first time in my life I would have a huge gourmet kitchen. And no one to sit in it. On the wall was a built in television set. It was difficult to turn on and almost impossible to turn off. So once I got on the morning news it often remained on until I could wrestle the remote into compliance. And because I liked to start my day with the Today show many of the voices that filled my kitchen throughout the day were those of the local NBC affiliates.

When I’d walk into the kitchen I’d cheerfully greet my celluloid companions. I’d say, “Good morning Jamie” “Hello Hoda” “Hi Marsha”. Lucy would get so excited she would run to the kitchen door. I had to explain to her that these were our “tv friends” not real friends that were coming over to go for a walk. Her ears would then droop and she’d walk back to her nest for another nap.

My husband and I have come to love Dayton and its surrounding environs. We have some of the best friends of our life. Lucy, Dave and I have crafted a warm and wonderful existence in our home in the woods. My kitchen now bustles with preparations for my blog. Lucy ever at my side sampling chopped carrots and red peppers and perhaps the occasional prosciutto.

Last Thursday morning I put together all the ingredients for my guacamole to create on Living Dayton. It’s a live noontime show. So for old times sake I left the tv on, kissed my pooch and told her I’d be back soon.

The secret to great guacmole is perfectly ripe avocados.

To expertly remove the pit- strike it with a sharp knife and it will lift right out (take care when removing the pit from the knife).

Score the avocado with a small knife. Then the flesh will scoop out into ready cubes.

Combine the chopped onion, garlic and cilantro in a large bowl.

Add the diced avocado and stir with a fork, mashing lightly.

Add fresh lemon juice.

Season with salt, freshly ground pepper and ground cumin.

And here is a super trick to keep your guac perfectly green. Place one of the pits in the bottom of your serving bowl. It won’t turn brown.

Serve with tortilla chips and salsa.

You see sometimes, just sometimes TV friends are real.

In memory of Lucy Bergsten 1/31/14