So...whats for dinner?
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I greeted winter and it's accompanying 1 1/2" snowfall by falling on my butt on the very slick deck. Injuries sustained were a bumped head, a skinned knee, a broken fingernail and a bruised ego. Oh and birdseed all over the deck as the reason I was out there was to hang the birdfeeders. The juncos were very happy. My back is starting to ache a bit so I'm downing some aleve as we speak. I usually fall once a winter so let's hope this is it. Take care Red!
Susan, I'm sorry about the boy's DGF. I was fortunate to have all of my grandparents and two great grandmothers well into adulthood (they married young in my family ) so I have lots of loving memories of them.
You have your supplier work cut out for you Susan -- best of luck!
It's a soup kind of day so I'll be making potato corn chowder a Caesar salad, and perhaps a warm baguette as they're incubating now. I've taken the frozen turkeys out to begin the thaw and they'll be cooked on Saturday. Yesterday, I ground a pork butt and made some breakfast sausage. It's the best yet. This time I chilled all the tools and partially froze the pork and the resulting texture was much more excellent. Next week I'll get some casings and try the merguez again with the lamb shoulder I got at Costco.
In the irony of ironies, my dad got a replacement car and a motorized scooter all in the same day. I've mentioned that he has problems with his feet. They don't affect his driving but it hurts him to walk any distance. I'm happy about the scooter because now he can take the bus places. He wouldn't before because he has to walk half a block to catch it back to his apartment and it was too difficult with the walker. The bus has a lift that just picks him up and puts him on the bus. It's great. It will also help him around his apartment building where he has some long walks to reach things like his mailbox and the dining area.
Lacey - the info about MOTH was really interesting! I think I would like that.
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Need to look up that stew recipe from you, Special! So happy that Red made your day!
Thanks for the see thru bag idea.Now if the mayor had given us more notice about see thru bags for this game I could have ordered one quickly! I may just take my chances with my handbag.....
Off we go.....
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Cross posted....
Ow! Nance, so sorry to hear of that intro to winter....feel better fast!
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Carole - surely you jest about the damn phone calls. I'm already getting calls for the NEXT election, which as we know is a year away. I think this two year "run time" & hourly coverage is ridiculous. I know we don't discuss politics, but this is non-partisan - both parties and all positions. Ugh.
BTW Carole, I'm having new windows installed one of the days during the 1st week of December. Don't know which day yet, but I'm trying to keep the rest of my week relatively open so I can meet you when you come for the "pig". Are you just going to detour by Houston on the way home from Chicago? Let me know when you get a schedule.
A friend took me to a new bakery in my quadrant of town this morning. They have been catering for some time but just opened a storefront 2 months ago. Each week as more people discover them, they add more items. I got lemon-blueberry scones and a loaf of Rosemary sourdough. I tasted the salt milk biscuits, which were excellent, but both look & taste more like really tiny, baby, dense yeast rolls instead of biscuits. I'll ask more questions next time.
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Be careful out there everyone.
I was 20 when my mom's dad died and 26 when my mom's mother died. They were healthy and able to do whatever they wanted up until I went off to college, so I have lots of memories of them. My dad's parents died long before I was born, so I never got to meet them.
I'm cleaning the refrigerator and ***DEEP*** kitchen cleaning today. I need room in the refrigerator for the turkey, so I'm getting rid of the Mesozoic age refrigerated food.
And, the sourdough starter is warming up for another "performance"
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Queen, the Andersonville branch of Pastoral is pretty good. Only shopped there, haven't dined there. But the bar (called “Appelation") looks nice--the menu seemed to be mostly sandwiches & small plates; and if you want to try wine without drinking too much, they also have half-pours as well as full glasses. (Of course, the cheapskates on Yelp are complaining they can't get wasted without shelling out the bucks). The retail counters are not inexpensive, but ultra-high-quality and heavy on American producers, especially Midwestern. Parking is a little better at the Andersonville location than in the Loop at Lake & Wabash, or the original on B'way in Boys' Town. Still street parking, though, and the now-privatized rates are mind-boggling. Bought duck prosciutto, country paté, jamon serrano, black truffle and wild boar mini-salamis and some cheeses.
Carole, no more snow in the forecast after today, and by Tues. we should be in the mid-40s north to 50s in the south ‘burbs.
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(rolls eyes at the cheapskates) Well, that's why I don't much care for Yelp! My take on all that is if I wanted to get shit-faced for cheap, I wouldn't and shouldn't be drinking at any retail outlet.
But DH and I have patronized Pastoral's French Market and Lake St. outlets for cheese (and the occasional sandwich and bottle of wine) over maybe the past four years, and we appreciate both for that very ultra-high quality (and correspondingly ultra-high prices) cheese selection. More importantly, for the fact that both outlets have had staff on hand who jump at the chance to present eager customers with samples of indicated cheeses.
Or why I appreciated Adagio Teas so much yesterday: attendant staff members who presented reasonable customers with reasonable numbers of samples upon discussion of "This is what I like, and what I'd like to buy, but am willing to negotiate according to your reasonable suggestions based on what I like."
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I'm sitting here happily listening to my freshly baked baguettes "sing" (crackle). Ahhh, successful bread baking . . .
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I need roasted chestnuts. I want to make roasted chestnuts and Brussels sprouts for Thanksgiving. Lord knows this will not happen over an open fire, and probably not in my kitchen. ( I checked out YouTube and it involves a lot of sharp knives which I can't handle with my Rottweiler chewed right hand, as it appears that I have to press really hard)
I want to make this.
Can I get frozen or already roasted chestnuts in RI or anywhere?
And how about that recipe. Does anyone know of a recipe that accommodates this please?
Don't ask me why I am so obsessed about this. I don't know.
I just know I must make it.
Probably crazy. I have been looking for hours
Susan? Anyone?
Thank you!
I should calm down about this, sorry.
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Bedo, I'm guessing Whole foods or a similar high end store would sell them. They come already roasted. I've seen them in stores in St. Louis. A gourmet food shop is a likely source.
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Bedo - what do you mean your Rottweiler chewed hand? Heaven's girl - what happened?
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Queen, I forgot about Pastoral’s French Market location. When I played there back in June, I was disappointed after I tore down and packed the car that they (and most of the other stalls) had closed up for the day. I had especially been looking forward to hitting Da Lobsta--had to settle for some fresh soft-shells from the fish & meat market to grill when I got home.
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ChiSandy: The French Market location does seem to be geared to commuters, alas! But I'll check out the Andersonville Pastoral's web site; always looking for something to do after checkout.
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Minus, it was about 8 years ago. I was working in the Arctic in Barrow, Alaska and was walking to my friend's house, the last one before the tundra and a Rottweiler came out of no where and knocked me down and tried to kill me by dragging me under a house. (they're all about 3 feet off the ground so they don't heat the permafrost and make the foundation crack) So I managed to get up three times and he knocked me down three times and out of no where (again) came an Eskimo on a snowmobile who knocked him off me and put me on the back of the snowmobile and took me to the hospital where they sewed me up and later flew me back to Georgia for surgery and casts and PT. After they sewed me up I asked the nurse where the man was because I wanted to thank him. She said "We've never seen him before" This in a town of 3,000 people where everyone knows each other buy their parkas and you have to fly in. His green with wolf trim. I never saw his face because the hood was extended to protect from the wind. No one ever found out who he was. To this day the police report says "saved by unknown person" You can't make this stuff up haha. My hand moves and looks fine, but is weak for gripping hard,, stuff like that.
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Wow Bedo, quite a "Who was that masked man?" story! Scary stuff.
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No ideas at all about dinner. What are you all having?
Carole, what was Sunday dinner?
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We are having some of the remaining Harira soup here. *susan*
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Nance, my sister cooked dinner today. We had barbecued pork ribs, the meaty ones, cooked in the oven. A yummy yellow squash dish that had cream cheese in it, baked potatoes (her dh doesn't eat veggies or fruit and never has from childhood) and a good tossed salad. It worked out great that I wasn't cooking because now another event has been added to the front end of the Big Bird trip north. DH's remaining aunt passed away at age 102 or 103. Her funeral service is on Wed. and dh wants to attend it so we're leaving tomorrow instead of Tues. I was busy getting some things done in preparation for the trip this morning.
One small complication. A roof cleaner is coming tomorrow morning. We hope he comes early. Once dh sees that the guy is competent, we'll probably just pay him and depart.
After Thanksgiving we'll travel to St. Louis and stop there overnight to visit additional Midwestern relatives who are partaking of turkey in the city. We'll get to see dh's sister, her daughter and son and the daughter's four kids. It's probably too much to hope for that we might eat at a restaurant on the Hill.
ChiSandy, thank you for the weather reassurances. All these years we've visited the Chicago area for family visits and have seldom gone into the city. I always enjoy the experience when we do. Popping into Talbot's is even a lot more fun in downtown Chicago. The last time there we saw the big reflective bean and had lunch at the café connected with it. I also visited the American Girl store with my sister-in-law who has bought those dolls for all three of her grand daughters. What an eye opener the store was! A salon for dolls and accommodations for a tea party with your doll, all at exorbitant prices. I look like a real country person walking on Michigan Ave. gazing upward at the tall buildings.
Minus, I guess we'll head to TX from St. Louis in search of the pig. The information on time and place of transfer are vague. I'm guessing we'll pick up the pig on Monday morning and drive home. It was suggested today that we might as well stop off at Tulsa and see my brother. Why not?
We're having Thanksgiving dinner with a nephew, dh's brother's son. He is married to a Mexican American girl whose parents speak only Spanish even though they've lived in Chicago for many years. I'm interested to see how Angie deals with Thanksgiving dinner. I doubt she has grown up with the turkey and dressing tradition. It would be a nice surprise to have enchiladas or tamales!
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Carole: Wow - that's going to be a saga. But you're right, might as well stop in Tulsa. I hope we get to meet but I'll understand if it doesn't work. I'll PM you my phone numbers.
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Minus, "saga" is the perfect word!
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Safe travels, Carole!
Last night we had a cup of a kale, chicken, veggie, farro soup I made, then the Trader's greek chicken breast with orzo prepared dinner that we like a lot. Garden salad rounded things out.
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Wow Carole, that's quite a journey. Safe travels!
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Carole, That is quite the journey you are taking! Crossing fingers that you don't run into any ice or snow along the way. Your pig saga is fascinating.
I have put on my figurative Pilgrim hat. Veggie stock is made. Turkey stock is ready. Bread has been thawed and will now be encouraged to get stale. Corn is thawing. Tomorrow I will head to the farm to buy the turkey, apples, onions, and all the other T-day ingredients. I will also need to do a mini-trip to Whole Foods for the dairy products and some dried fruit for the stuffing.
And in our continuing real estate saga, The Great Sergio began demo this morning after securing the proper permits. I am in high gear to order cabinets.... heading to Claremont, NH and Keene, NH this weekend to visit some showrooms. They are not actually open on the Saturday after T-Day, but are willing to come in just to be nice. Next week I will have to find some wood floors that match what is already in half the room.
So. my pesky tumor markers were way down as of last month. Today? Way back up. Scans on Friday.... don't start the next cycle of Ibrance until the scans reports have been written. ZOOT! Have decided that I won't say a word to anyone [except Mr. 02143] until after our happy holiday.
*susan*
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Susan - I agree, Mum's the word until after T-day. Your preparations sound staggering. I couldn't possibly do all that prep & shopping. Thrilled that you snagged the contractor ahead of time & will keep you in my thoughts as you now try to do THREE jobs. Hope you don't have any urgent EOY programming issues from your clients.
Spent the day at the med center. DEXA scan shows bones no worse, but no better either from last year's scan after chemo finished it's destruction. We'll have to re-think the Prolia issue. I really don't want to take those drugs. Hearing has degraded. They can't definitively say it's chemo related, but there's a good chance. Why not? I was lucky enough to get lymphadema & permanent neuropathy. Why should I believe I'd escape other problems. Sorry for the complaining. Urgh!!!
Stopped for a large salad & a piece of pizza at a place that George H.W. Bush used to frequent. Yum. So tonight will be only snack things - like apple slices & strawberry cream cheese and maybe almonds on the side. I decided not to accept any of several Thanksgiving dinner invites since I'm trying to get my house ready to have all new windows installed 12/1. So I bought a pork tenderloin today.
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Tonight was chicken Creole with rice, another oldie but goodie. I think tomorrow I'll make some pasta a fagioli and Italian slaw.
My turkey dinner will not be until Saturday but I've made piecrusts for three flavors of mini pies -- pumpkin, pecan and apple. As we are going to DH's sisters house on Thursday, Wednesday I will make dinner rolls and dressing for a caesar salad, my contribution to the feast. I'll assemble the salad and warm the rolls before we go.
Tomorrow is cleaning day, my least favorite part of the holiday. Ugh.
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Chi, are you now done with rads? I hope so.
I'd not heard of the rottweiler either, Bedo. The hand weakness stinks.
Carole, I agree that's quite a travel saga and I think tamales would be great for Thanksgiving.
Susan, again, I hope the markers drop down like before. That's really neat that the places are willing to open up for you.
Right now, my pressure canner is hissing about twice per minute.
Last week I cooked a turkey for leftovers and made broth or stock (I could go either way on what to call it as it involved *very* meaty bones) and tonight I'm canning it. I started this for my dad during the last year of his life. He loved soup, but was on an extremely sodium restricted diet. Mom could pop open a jar of broth and add noodles for soup. Dad is now guarding the streets of heaven, but I continue to do it "just because".
Shopping tomorrow....0 -
Gee Susan, I would suggest you could use three heads for all of those hats! Yikes, supermom, contractor, coder, culinary star! Good luck with all of it...your productivity continues to amaze me! And how sweet is that for the cabinet company guys to accommodate your need. Like it!
Minus, I totally empathize with you about having so many lingering health "hits" from the chemo. Totally understandable that you would want to bypass any further meds if possible. I hope that there is a better resolution for you. Like the sound of your snack dinner...and am chuckling at the image of HW having a favorite pizza spot...just can't seem to picture that. Wondered if he folded it like New Yorkers or used a fork and knife.
Not sure if any of you remember my carrying on about DGF's extremely limited eating range. Well, she is coming with DS2 for T-giv and asked to bring something. Two days ago she texted that she could bring a sweet potato casserole if I'd like. I was not smart as I was rushing to get somewhere and mentioned that I'd already gotten the ingredients for that, but that she could still do it if she enjoyed making that dish. Well, of course she said she'd bring something else. I emailed her the menu (quite boring plain T-giv one) and said if she wanted to do something to make it more interesting that would be fine. So we are shocked! She offered to bring shrimp and grits, acknowledging that it does not really fit Thanksgiving, but we don't care...and will love it! However, this girl does not touch seafood! Go figure! I am hoping that she noticed enough things that she eats on my menu that she will enjoy her Thanksgiving and simultaneously introduce us to a fun southern food.
Tonight was salad, pecanrolls, and my leftover chicken, kale, farro soup...with bloated farro sadly. I prefer it crunchy!
Tomorrow I head to Volantes to get Turkey and assorted veggies, make stuffing, pumpkin bread, and maybe roast some vegetables...assuming I can just heat them up Thursday...not sure.
Oh, burning question....anyone spatchcocking their bird this year?
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Lacey, of course I will be spatchcocking two birds this year.
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So Nance, how large a bird can I attempt that with? Would love to try it...
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No larger than 14 pounds, which is why I do two.
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