Monday, September 15, 2014
Sunday, September 14, 2014
The mind goes first---
Today I needed a boost, and offered to make a blueberry cobbler for supper. Turns out that David isn't fond of cobbler, with the biscuit topping. I suggested blueberry crisp and he countered with chocolate chip cookies. Got everything out and started and suddenly had a brain fart. I know that a single batch needed 1 tsp of something, but could not for the life of me remember if it was baking powder or baking soda. I had to check the recipe.
I have been making those suckers for 60 years, and haven't needed a recipe for most of that. Just shoot me now!
Why did I need a boost? I seem to remember a poem that has a line that refers to "night creeping in on little cat feet" or something like that. With the cold fall weather, I could feel depression "creeping in on little cat feet", and I'm not going there. Of course, a good discussion on how to slice a leek, gets the blood stirring, and I guess that should help too.
I have been making those suckers for 60 years, and haven't needed a recipe for most of that. Just shoot me now!
Why did I need a boost? I seem to remember a poem that has a line that refers to "night creeping in on little cat feet" or something like that. With the cold fall weather, I could feel depression "creeping in on little cat feet", and I'm not going there. Of course, a good discussion on how to slice a leek, gets the blood stirring, and I guess that should help too.
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Enjoy your stories...
My oh my Pati, you have some interesting times and best of all you share them so we can all enjoy. I just had a bath... but it was made interesting for me because I took Cathy's idea and made it mine including the glass of wine !! This is a nice end to a busy week and a busy day today. I made my 6 th batch of tomato ketchup trying to use up the tomatoes adorning the card table set up in the front room. Yesterday we picked all the tomatoes as the nights are cold now. Also I was able to get all the house plants cleaned up and back into the back room. Still have all the geraniums to do- we strip them to the roots and then wrap them in newspaper and store in cardboard boxes over winter. I was outside all day yesterday cleaning up. I stripped out the small greenhouse totally so only have to clean the inside walls, tape all the seams and door, and install and tape the electrical cord inside ready for the spring when I set up the electric heater. I want to wait for a warmer sunny day to do the taping as it is easier and sticks better. I will make my outside Fall TO DO list this week - having a list makes it easier for me to get all the necessary chores completed. The one I do not look forward to is winterizing the big greenhouse - have to cover the roof and its hard for me to do on my own - getting harder each year haha! Well, time for bed and listen to Randy Bachman's show. I wanted to watch the second in the series of City Beautiful on the WFP web site. It is available for a week so I have to do it another time as I'm too tired to watch for the almost hour? Take care
Interesting Day
but an adventure?? Maybe not.
Up early to go into Hakim Optical for a 10:00 appt. I have not been happy with the glasses I got there three weeks ago, and had been in to speak to the optician, about a week ago, She then arranged a conference between herself, and optometrist, with me available if necessary, for today. She evidently is an optometrist, but only working as an optician because--as she says--she much prefers the face-to-face customer work. She has an obvious Eastern European accent, and I have to wonder if she may have had a problem with her license, but that was just a vague thought at the back of my mind.
After discussing the options available, given the problems I'm having, which appear to be with focal length, she got permission from the optometrist to alter the prescription, provided she first did a thorough focal length assessment. So she brings out a big suitcase full of supplies and does the assessment in the middle of the store on a Saturday afternoon. The end result was that we purchased a third set of glasses with a focal length specific to my studio work.
Now, each step of this was a "hurry-up-and-wait" process, as the optometrist was seeing a steady stream of patients at the same time. So we took a break and went to Tim's for food, and then stopped at a bedding store to check out a new winter comforter. Ended up buying a duvet, but then ran out of time and had to head back to Hakim's. Did more business there and back to buy a duvet cover. Then came home and over to the church across the street so I could have a hot dog as it was "Children's Games and Hot Dog Day". Ate there and then home and into the house, only to realize that we hadn't gone back to Hakim's to pick up the paper work that was pending. By this time, I had taken my diuretic , so David went back on his own, but the paper work wasn't ready, after all.
So it's now 2:00pm, and the real part of the day hasn't yet started. I'm "pooped". But have yet to find a place in the freezer for a duvet and duvet cover.
Up early to go into Hakim Optical for a 10:00 appt. I have not been happy with the glasses I got there three weeks ago, and had been in to speak to the optician, about a week ago, She then arranged a conference between herself, and optometrist, with me available if necessary, for today. She evidently is an optometrist, but only working as an optician because--as she says--she much prefers the face-to-face customer work. She has an obvious Eastern European accent, and I have to wonder if she may have had a problem with her license, but that was just a vague thought at the back of my mind.
After discussing the options available, given the problems I'm having, which appear to be with focal length, she got permission from the optometrist to alter the prescription, provided she first did a thorough focal length assessment. So she brings out a big suitcase full of supplies and does the assessment in the middle of the store on a Saturday afternoon. The end result was that we purchased a third set of glasses with a focal length specific to my studio work.
Now, each step of this was a "hurry-up-and-wait" process, as the optometrist was seeing a steady stream of patients at the same time. So we took a break and went to Tim's for food, and then stopped at a bedding store to check out a new winter comforter. Ended up buying a duvet, but then ran out of time and had to head back to Hakim's. Did more business there and back to buy a duvet cover. Then came home and over to the church across the street so I could have a hot dog as it was "Children's Games and Hot Dog Day". Ate there and then home and into the house, only to realize that we hadn't gone back to Hakim's to pick up the paper work that was pending. By this time, I had taken my diuretic , so David went back on his own, but the paper work wasn't ready, after all.
So it's now 2:00pm, and the real part of the day hasn't yet started. I'm "pooped". But have yet to find a place in the freezer for a duvet and duvet cover.
Friday, September 12, 2014
sometimes life is good
Today, at work, my brain was mush. I was totally burned out. I know I shouldn't have done it, but I took 2 hours of my overtime and left at 1.. By the time I should have gotten off of work I had had a bath (with a glass of wine) and was curled up in my jammies.. Ir left only 2 people in the office, but I was too tired to think. It is only 7 pm but I will probably be in bed before Jim gets home from meat draw. It is really weird how you can tell when you know for sure that your brain is too tired to work
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Bracing myself for downpours tonight?
Weather warnings and alerts for lots of rain tonight - sometimes we don't get what is called for but then you never know....hoping for the best. I think I am being positively influenced by the blog Not Afraid of Colour Today we went to Huntsville and in the Habitat ReStore they had a table of Hallowe'en decorations . Right in the middle of the pile I spotted a piece of cotton fabric- bright orange, with black spiders and spider webs all over. I grabbed it without thinking..oh no... have I been taken over by the "fun" side ? No idea what I will do with the piece- probably it will go into my stash to be taken out and fondled once in awhile haha It was pure indulgence but I feel great. I measured it when I got home - 42" wide and 84" in length. And it cost me $1.00.
We are still at the vegetables and actually making some headway. Going to come close to freezing tomorrow night and over weekend so probably will have to bring in all the tomatoes. It is the apples that are piling up and still so many more to pick. And I still do not have all the houseplants into the house yet!
I have read and reread your power cooking entry Pati and have written down some ideas. I found it and Cathy's entry all so fascinating. I could never be as creative as you both nor as cost effective, but it has made me bring out my slow cooker books again and hopefully I can make something. But you have to have all parties "on board' so in that regard you both are at a definite advantage. Well, I bought a ticket for tonight's lottery draw - so will have some fun dreaming and distributing the money! It is in this way I figure I'm getting my money's worth and if I win , say a free play, then it's a bonus haha Take care
We are still at the vegetables and actually making some headway. Going to come close to freezing tomorrow night and over weekend so probably will have to bring in all the tomatoes. It is the apples that are piling up and still so many more to pick. And I still do not have all the houseplants into the house yet!
I have read and reread your power cooking entry Pati and have written down some ideas. I found it and Cathy's entry all so fascinating. I could never be as creative as you both nor as cost effective, but it has made me bring out my slow cooker books again and hopefully I can make something. But you have to have all parties "on board' so in that regard you both are at a definite advantage. Well, I bought a ticket for tonight's lottery draw - so will have some fun dreaming and distributing the money! It is in this way I figure I'm getting my money's worth and if I win , say a free play, then it's a bonus haha Take care
Monday, September 8, 2014
Catch up
Cathy. I never answered your question about what I power cook. I think you probably have more variety than I do. I know you freeze such things as potato dishes, and you even gave me a recipe for one.
I freeze things, including Daddy's Ribs in two serving portions. From what you've told us, you often have no idea how many people you will be feeding at any given meal. I very rarely have a surprise guest, but it's easy enough to pull out a second package, if I need to. I seldom make only one meal when I'm cooking ( except stir fries--only make enough for two with those). There is usually enough to freeze for another day. Yes, I used to buy a good roast, and then cut it up into slices for Swiss Steak, chunks for stew, chunks to cook off and freeze in gravy, and leave enough for the two of us to enjoy an oven roast plus with a couple of slices of left over roast for a sandwich for lunch. Although, with the price of beef, I may not being doing that for awhile.
I like boneless chicken thighs. I brown them off and then put them in the slow cooker with a gravy I make with a can of condensed mushroom soup, a packet of French's Mushroom gravy mix ( two for $1.25 at Dollarama), and a soup can of water. I will also put the browned off thighs in Safeway Select Honey Garlic B-B-Q Sauce, either cooking them in the slow cooker or as a simple casserole.
One pork tenderloin will feed us for two meals. I cut it into medallions, brown it off, and cook with French's Mushroom Gravy, and a can of mushrooms--then freeze half of it. It's not half bad with the Honey Garlic B-B-Q sauce either. I sometimes make a slow cooker ful of meatballs in French's Ragout Sauce, and then divide it up into single meal portions.
Left over roast turkey slices are often frozen in gravy. When I make the turkey gravy, I make if thinner, than if I was going to serve it immediately, and add a package of French's Turkey Gravy for extra flavour. Left over turkey scraps are frozen to use in stir fries or casseroles or French meat loaf. Left over white rice is frozen in 1 1/2 cup bags for casseroles or rice pudding, or even fried rice.
Okay, too much information??
I freeze things, including Daddy's Ribs in two serving portions. From what you've told us, you often have no idea how many people you will be feeding at any given meal. I very rarely have a surprise guest, but it's easy enough to pull out a second package, if I need to. I seldom make only one meal when I'm cooking ( except stir fries--only make enough for two with those). There is usually enough to freeze for another day. Yes, I used to buy a good roast, and then cut it up into slices for Swiss Steak, chunks for stew, chunks to cook off and freeze in gravy, and leave enough for the two of us to enjoy an oven roast plus with a couple of slices of left over roast for a sandwich for lunch. Although, with the price of beef, I may not being doing that for awhile.
I like boneless chicken thighs. I brown them off and then put them in the slow cooker with a gravy I make with a can of condensed mushroom soup, a packet of French's Mushroom gravy mix ( two for $1.25 at Dollarama), and a soup can of water. I will also put the browned off thighs in Safeway Select Honey Garlic B-B-Q Sauce, either cooking them in the slow cooker or as a simple casserole.
One pork tenderloin will feed us for two meals. I cut it into medallions, brown it off, and cook with French's Mushroom Gravy, and a can of mushrooms--then freeze half of it. It's not half bad with the Honey Garlic B-B-Q sauce either. I sometimes make a slow cooker ful of meatballs in French's Ragout Sauce, and then divide it up into single meal portions.
Left over roast turkey slices are often frozen in gravy. When I make the turkey gravy, I make if thinner, than if I was going to serve it immediately, and add a package of French's Turkey Gravy for extra flavour. Left over turkey scraps are frozen to use in stir fries or casseroles or French meat loaf. Left over white rice is frozen in 1 1/2 cup bags for casseroles or rice pudding, or even fried rice.
Okay, too much information??
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)