Running with the Beth

It is so cold here and the house is so cozy and there are books to read and computers to play and yet, Beth and I are going to run around.  Why?  We certainly do not need a market.  I cleaned the refrigerator this morning, made ham salad, froze the big ham bone for soup in the future and am sick of the sight of food of any kind.  Many people I know are not feeling well and the other night I had one of my spells--oh my, I sound like an old woman--having a spell?  Maybe I am watching too many Victoria movies? Anyway, this household seems well enough and I understand there are bargains to be had out there, so off we go in a couple of hours.

Nate, world traveler:

Nate Lechler is posting the most glorious pictures in Hawaii.  I think he will be there for a while longer then head to see friends in New Zealand.  He has made the most fascinating acquaintances on his trips around the world.  I wish he would write a blog of his travels, but he does not seem interested in that aspect.  The flowers today are an orange-flowered hedge.  It is on his Facebook along with other shots of Hawaii that are off the beaten path.

Soups and authors

Is there anything more appetizing in winter than soup? I think not.  Just look at this scrumptious, dripping, crusty bowl of French onion soup.  I have these bowls that I bought in Paris years ago and they have lids and lion grips.  One could not get a lid on this and who would want to?  It is perfect as it is presented drips and all.  This is from the cookbook I have been raving about. Strangely enough I have not been tempted to jump into the kitchen to cook from this book, but I can hardly put it down because the woman can write as well as cook and I feel I am right there in her kitchen with her, watching but not doing anything but sipping a glass of wine and enjoying her calm in chaos that surrounds her all of the time. I am on page 135 now and know that her first book will arrive from Amazon before I have finished this one. (She has a Facebook and blog as well. Mimi Thorisson)

As I am writing this I now recall another inspiring writer and TV cook Nigella Lawson.  I used to relax watching her cook on TV when I was in London.  I feel like it was on a Sunday each time, otherwise I would have been antiquing and chasing leads to more antiques.  She is the most casual, bewitching cook I have ever seen.  That woman loves food but stays beautiful. She casually cooks a dinner and then before bedtime stand in front of the refrigerator and eats from the left overs while still scanning the booty that might hide in there. I don't know how many cookbooks she has authored, and I have bought none, it is just inspiring watching her cook and watching her enjoy the fruits of her labor. I discovered her Facebook and she has a good recipe on there for Bailey's tiramisu. She puts me in mind of Mimi Thorisson with fewer children and dogs.

Dressed at last

I had to put the family's minds at ease today.  I got dressed for the first time in three, maybe four days.  They started to worry although they knew I showered a couple of times a day and wore different night gear.  No makeup though and so the dogs questioned my identity. Monica is here trying to make sense of the place.  Everything is out of whack and all the beds need to be changed and arranged.  The one thing that frightened our guests was getting the plethora of bed pillows on the beds in the correct order. That and trying to catapult into the bed at night for they are all very high and deep with feathers. I am going to buy some steps to place beside the beds because the guests are older and more feeble. LOL . Maybe I should lift them in to luxury at night. (I just watched Victoria and Abdul on Demand and noted how a bevy of servants lifted her into a sitting position on the bed, then lifted her to her feet, and 10 or so dressers were there to make her presentable without her having to do more than lift her arms to receive her clothes.

I am on page 112 of French Country Cooking and have not made one single recipe due to my being a four- day slug. I can still read and enjoy without scampering to the kitchen to cook. I like the book so much I ordered her first one though I had read a portion of it on- line.  It was only $24. and it had been $40. (as was the one that Beth bought for me.) So waiting paid off. I need to look at Mimi Thorisson's blog.  She is an interesting woman.

I meant to tell you that the doctored saltine crackers and the doctored oyster crackers were a big hit over the holidays.  David carried home a tin of crackers, a tin of ginger snaps, and a tin of what we call cereal crack.  It's that recipe with oats and dried fruit and nuts and coconut--all kinds of goodies to enjoy; granola for breakfast...or a snack.

Andy and I ventured out to the store today.  Kroger had (now it's gone) buy one get one chuck roast free.  He brought two home and I made beef stew for a crowd.  They were the best chuck roasts I have ever seen, so we went back for more, but, the special is done and pork shoulder has taken its place.

Have a lovely week-end.
Picture from My French Country Kitchen

Mimi Thorisson

Meals and Moments

The last guest left very early this morning and Mike and Beth are back in the nest. Andy and I are taking it easy today eating chicken pot pie which I whipped up in a hurry.  It is tasty even though I used many left overs. I'm sorry I didn't make this while David was here, he would have loved it. (I expect he is almost home to Florida having left here at 1:30 in the morning.)

I am still in my pj's and cabin socks, curled up reading My French Country Cookbook by Mimi Thorisson.  Beth gave it to me for Christmas and I am on page 77 of this 330- page tome.  I am reading every word because it reads like a novel.  I have been reading her books on Amazon and she is very good at what she has done and she is relatable.  It's a captivating journey to off-the-beaten-path in French wine country with 100 simple exquisite recipes and stories inspired by life in a small village with nine children and more dogs and a husband.

I'll make another pot of coffee, water the dogs, and it's back to the simple life home, reading, cooking (again someday) and being grateful that I am still here in this glorious life.

Oh, I forgot to tell you about our family dinner with candle light on the 27th.  I decided to make it a small meal with beef tenderloin that turned out perfectly, now I've got it down, mashed potatoes, peas, sweet potatoes, and corn.  We had a couple of bottles of wine and started telling stories about when Mike and David were boys.  Some I had heard about and still shutter, and others new to me.  We laughed so hard that I had to leave the table.  My back and stomach ached from hard laughter that had not happened in years.  That will be a memory to keep.  It was Mike, Beth, Andy, David, Johnna, Matt, Stacy, JD and,Madeleine, and of course, I was there.

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Doris Lechler

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Slugness has set in

We have a house full of slugs at the moment.  We lay around, cook a bit, eat a lot and enjoy each others' company.  Mike and Beth are landing in the next few minutes and Dave and Andy are off to pick them up.  I have just made beef and noodles and fried potatoes with green onions--I don't know why but potatoes sounded good to me and right.

Tonight the table will be full of family.  Another beef tenderloin for the beef-loving family... mashed potatoes and peas and salad.  I am not over-doing it for sure.

Wednesday the Florida family leaves and peace of sorts descends on Many Branches once more.

There will be NO activity New Years Eve.  We will welcome the new year with a calm demeanor. 2017 was a great year.  I wish you all wellness and happiness in 2018.

Picture from my new favorite book French Country Cooking~

Christmas luncheon favorite

Nancy's

The hit of the Christmas luncheon:
Out of five soups, this is the one recipe they wanted.

We are all set~

We have gotten so much done since first starting the cooking and set ups early. I don't know how people do it at the last minute, it would stress me out for sure.  David and dog arrived yesterday and both have adapted beautifully.  The dog is accustomed to being in charge in Florida, but has settled down to pamper stage.  David has gifted me with another security feature and has just installed the Ring system to the front door camera and all.  George put in driveway security during Thanksgiving, so we will surely catch the buggers if they try anything on Many Branches property. We now have 18 dishes prepared or oven ready for the two meals tomorrow, and I am still perking along.  Nancy and Danny will arrive late tonight due to an emergency, but all I have left to do are the scalloped potatoes with ham, and to roast the beef tenderloin and heat the spiraled ham.

In a Mexican restaurant one time, a friend ordered shrimp already in cocktail sauce with saltine crackers. I am doing that for starters but with those crackers that I wrote about in the previous post and also on Facebook.  I think that will be a special treat to lay a shrimp laden with sauce, on one of those special crackers. Yum.

JD and Johnna arrive at 6:45 by plane; let's hope it is on time.  We will all be waiting, but hopefully with full stomachs. until the candlelight meal.  Merry Christmas to all and I, for one, will be glad when this holiday is over. It came way too fast and stayed way to long, and way way too much fun.

Crackers

I have to say, these disappeared when I went to the hair dressers today.  I made all four sleeves of crackers and left a tray to sample.  When I got home, they were all gone.  The hair dresser said her mother made a version using the same recipe, but with oyster crackers. Both are workable and tasty.

1  1/2 sticks butter
1 package Ranch dressing mix
2 tablespoons red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
 3-4 sleeves saltines crackers ( I got all four sleeves into this solution)
Mix these all together except for the crackers.  Dip both cracker sides into this mix and place on a baking sheet that has been covered with foil.  Bake the crackers on the baking sheet at 250  degrees for 15 minutes and then turn them over and sprinkle parmasean cheese over the crackers.  Bake another 15 minutes or until slightly brown. Yum!

Note: I went to the hair dresser today after making the crackers.  I took a bag of them to her and she gave me an idea; she said her mother did nearly the same thing but with oyster crackers.  Isn't that a good idea?

Merry Christmas 2017

Today will be busy.  It's three days before the party and the refrigerators are filling up with items for the event.  Today I can prepare and add three more and mark as ready.  I have a long hair appointment at 3:00 and David and his dog are on the way from Florida and if I know him, and I do, he will drive straight through. This dog rodeo will be harrowing, but we will survive, we have done it before. (There will be four dogs and 22 people at last count.) 

Mike, Beth and Brooks leave tomorrow and Nate is in Hawaii, yet the list grows here at Many Branches.  The leaves, the leaves, good grief, I have never seen so many.  Matt is supposed to come next week, when he can to get rid of some of them; otherwise we will have to put up with them until spring.

For the first meal, around 2:30 on the 23rd I am trying several of Trader Joe's hors d' oeuvres.  I like to try his new things and he has many new and different offering for Christmas.  I'll let you know how they go. There will be a cheese board and cheeseballs, and dried fruit, nuts, and grapes nestled in place. There are four crock pots lined up and ready for duty to hold, seafood chowder, beef and noodles, beef and vegetable soup, and bean and ham soup. (Make that five, Nancy is bringing her special soup.) I am trying a new cranberry salad that I am eager to report about its acceptance to you after the holidays.

Dinner will be a ham and a beef tenderloin, scalloped potatoes, that good corn recipe that I have given to you before, squash/sweet potato dish with the caramels and marshmallows from Ky., three salads, brussel sprouts, trifle and orange cake for dessert...I am sure I am forgetting something; oh, Nancy and Danny are bringing chicken enchilada soup, buckeyes, and the orange cake.  AND, they are coming a day early to help me out.  I am sure I am leaving out something, but there you go.

Merry Christmas to all of you out there.  You never know what is in the future, so enjoy every minute (even if you have four spoiled dogs nipping at your feet every minute of every day for a week.)

And so it begins

Brooks and Nate arrived last night; Nate for 24 hours before heading to Hawaii and parts unknown for three months, and Brooks for a few days before leaving for Singapore for Christmas. I had a big pot of ham and bean soup ready for the growing gang.  This morning, however, the fare is a big frittata. We are starting to gather for a Christmas dinner out tonight as we usually do except this year it is not on Christmas eve.

                                                                               

Brooks came home around 2:30 and I could not sleep, so I got up at 3:00  and started the fratatta.  I took shredded potatoes and made a big potato pancake in the pan where I fried the pepper bacon which I had  set aside. (I added green onions and jalepeneo pepper to the potatoes.)  So the bottom was the crispy pottato concoction, then the fried pepper bacon, then a layer of cheese, then the whipped eggs with herbs, tabasco, a shot of hot sauce and Bob's your uncle. (Cheese on top at the last minute, of course.)  You cannot hurt a fratatta no matter if you try, it's invincible. 

Now I am working on a seafood chowder for Beth's party on Sunday. She and Mike are having some friends over and she is decorating up a storm.

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Moving right along

The guest list for December 23rd is up to 22 as of now.  I am always glad to have a crowd to please on these special occasions.  People  actually start coming in to stay tomorrow and this continues as we draw closer to the 23rd.  So far I have 4 soups tucked away and many dressings for salads, artichoke dip, beef and noodles, and so on.  I have people to feed up to and including the 23rd. so part of these prepared foods will be sampled along the way.

Kroger has such a great ham sale.  It is 97 cents a pound and I fixed one to use in several dishes along the way and Andy has had some for sandwiches;  we find it a very pleasant tasting ham.

I had bought 2 large chuck roasts and slow cooked them yesterday and was able to prepare 3 different dishes from these two chuck roasts: beef stew, beef and vegetable soup, and beef and noodles (Tom's favorite.)

The tables are set and waiting, although I do have to add another table since the list has grown.  No problem, we can seat many people in this house which begs for company.  They built this house 80 years ago (maybe for me since I am 80) and it is perfect for greeting and entertaining the family and friends. In this case, it is all family this time.  Fourteen are coming from Cincinnati and will start home late due to Johnna and JDs late arrival on the 23rd from Florida.  They don't seem to mind and I do like a candlelight atmosphere.  Nice to guzzy up once in a while.

Have a Merry Christmas, I wish you well.