Wistful time of the day . . .

Dinner is cooked, eaten, and washing up is done. It is kind of a wistful time of day when you review what got done and what still awaits your attention. Mornings makes all things possible. Evenings reflect shortcomings. I guess God leaves enough undone so we know we have a good chance of waking up tomorrow!

Since we now have a bit of an expense to pay off with the air conditioning, I'm being frugal and careful about the meals. I found three, medium boneless country pork ribs in the freezer. When they were almost defrosted, I split them down the length to form thin chops. I marinated them in red wine, onion, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and Dijon mustard. I fried them in a bit of olive oil and butter.

The potatoes got peeled, diced, and boiled until almost done. I salted the boiling water and added a whole, finely diced onion to the water. After I drained the potato/onions, I sauteed them in some olive oil until gentlely browned. My son, who doesn't like potatoes, had three helpings of everything this evening. I'm glad I had already put away a plate of food for my husband's work lunch or it might have disappeared, too!

My daughter asked if I would make a quilt for a friend. The friend likes horses . . . I've never made a horse quilt but it just so happens that I have a couple of yards of a horse print! I got the top of the quilt pieced today but need to invade the fabric store for backing fabric. My evening will be spent catching up on two other quilts so I don't feel quite so bad beginning another project with work still left undone.

The new air conditioning got into place just in time as the weather has soared up into the 103-plus degrees and will remain so until the beginning of next week. We set the temperature at 80 degrees and enjoy the fact that we are no longer glowing quite so much in the heat of the day.

Started digging out and organizing Christmas cookie recipes. Everyone has a favorite that I have to make and I always include a couple of new ones to the list.

Remember in your prayers all the people who are in the path of the upcoming hurricane on the East Coast. It seems to be increasing in strength so I hope people aren't trying to brave the storm and got out while they could.

A Failure on all counts . . .

The holiday season is upon us and I find that I am still remiss in being all that I can be as a cook and hostess. A friend gave me a stack of culinary arts magazines which have done nothing for my self esteem. I am so lacking in all respects.

For one thing, the basics in my pantry do not line up with the recommended items called for in establishing a gourmet collection of necessities. Caviar, pate', savory crackers, imported cheeses, and artichoke hearts will never let you down when you have unexpected company. The only thing I have in my cupboard for toast points is peanut butter.

In an effort to better myself, I have tried researching recipes but I think they write them in a different language. Quick Ratatouille with Polenta slowed down fast as I didn't have either eggplant or a fennel bulb on hand. As for cooked and refrigerated polenta, it didn't happen.

And when the recipe is for Lobster Chowder, there seems to be an unspoken assumption that you have leftover lobster. Our budget prohibits lobster from entering our premises. The only way one could show up would be a really, really bad hurricane that would send the ocean depths this far inland.

What happened to mashed potatoes? One does not partake of potatoes under such mundane terminology. It is Potato Puree. To insure that your children will not eat it, go with Roasted Garlic Potato Puree.

My husband is hungry when he comes home and Warm Wasabi Sushi Rice Salad and Red Curry-Carrot Reduction would certainly put our marriage into counseling!

I have even been putting my ingredients together incorrectly. One should not fry, but braise. Nothing is covered anymore but enrobed. You don't just mix, you incorporate. And remember, it is not just salad, it is greens. If you can recognize any of the greens in your bowl, then you didn't do it right.

From all my reading, in order to do the Thanksgiving meal correctly, the menu should look something like this: Gently roasted turkey, rubbed with parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme . . . you may hum here. Potato, Carrot, & Turnip Puree with a choice of braised asparagus or baby spring peas enrobed with a creme sauce. Said turkey should be stuffed with imported bread crumbs, dried apple rings, chestnuts (home roasted, naturally) and fennel. When in doubt, always use fennel. The dinner rolls you can bake in your spare time using spring water and freshly ground wheat. Make sure you have enough Pimiento Butter and Cranberry Pineapple Relish on hand.

Sigh . . . Looks like another holiday season will escape un-enrobed and un-incorporated. I don't think it will be a sin but if it is, may I braise in . . . never mind!

Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie

My thoughts are turning towards the holidays. I've been busy this summer knitting and quilting in order to have unique gifts for friends and family. I'm also thinking about my holiday excuse for doing extra cooking and baking. Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday as it doesn't involve gift-giving, just appreciation for the chance to share an extra-special meal with family and friends. This is a nice dessert to tuck away for such an occasion. It's easy and doesn't take up refrigerator space and can be ready to cut into with a few minutes notice if you start running low on the other goodies.

Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie

One baked, pastry or graham cracker crust
1 pint vanilla ice cream
1 pint coffee ice cream
1 cup cooked canned pumpkin (NOT pie mix)
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 ½ teaspoon vanilla

Allow ice creams to soften. In a large bowl, mix pumpkin, sugar, salt, spices and vanilla. Gently fold in ice creams. Spoon into pie shell. Freeze 4 hours or overnight, covered.

Let set at room temperature for about 10 minutes before serving. Slice and serve with whipped cream.

Hint . . .
If you want the pie filling to be really, really smooth, try running your canned pumpkin throught the blender before using.

There are a few of my favorite things . . .

Just a collage of some of my favorite scrap/crazy quilts. Even when I follow a specific quilt pattern, it often takes a crazy quilt twist. I currently have three boxes and one bag of precious scraps that I just know I will incorporate into a quilt eventually. There is something about taking almost nothing and turning it into a full-sized covering. I've noticed that most people seem to prefer my scrap quilts. My children love theirs as they can often find bits and pieces of their childhood in the many pieces of fabric that came from shirts or dresses I made for them years ago. Interesting . . . I picked mostly warm colors for this collage whereas my usual choices tend towards the blue spectrum. Recently, I've gone for sea colors and am working on a landscape quilt . . . mostly out of scraps, of course!

Quotes that speak for themselves!

"Isn't it interesting that the same people who laugh at science fiction listen to weather forecasts and economists?"
       -- Kelvin Throop III

 

"Where facts are few, experts are many."
       -- Donald R. Gannon

 

"God help those who do not help themselves."
       -- Wilson Mizner

Sharing an English lesson . . .

Consider this…   The English language has some wonderfully anthropomorphic collective nouns for the various groups of animals. We are all familiar with a herd of cows, a flock of birds, a school of fish, a pride of lions, and a gaggle of geese. Less widely known collectives include a troop of monkeys, a pride of lions, a murder of crows (as well as their cousins the rooks and ravens), an exaltation of doves, and (presumably because they look so wise), a parliament of owls. Now consider a collection of baboons: they are the loudest, most dangerous, most obnoxious, most viciously aggressive, and least intelligent of all the primates. So, what is the proper collective noun for a group of baboons? Believe it or not .... a group of baboons is called a CONGRESS!