Gentle rain

Nothing drives me to the kitchen like the big wide open door,  the dogs alert but in a resting position while the gentle rain satisfies the new plants.  It makes me want to cook and I have not had that feeling for several days.  I made up a pasta recipe.  I am sure it has been done some place in the world, but it's my throw together Friday late lunch meal today.  I am hoping someone in this crowd has a take out idea for dinner. Andy is out in this gentle rain cleaning the newly opened pool.  It is not too bad this year but we hold our breath every spring when it opens. One never knows what has crawled under that cover and departed the world chuck full of chlorine. One year after the pool was opened and cleaned a baby deer went for a swim.  Now that was scary.  How would it get out?  Who would go in to get it? Only two people available that day; both old.  But the mother deer came back and the baby walked up the steps and out of the pool like Easter Williams. (Let's see who gets that last sentence.)

For the pasta: 
Fried pepper bacon and zesty Bob Evans sausage with lots of fresh herbs.  Drained the fat. Poured in Trader Joe's 3-cheese pasta sauce. Added more fresh herbs and put it all in the pot with thin, cooked, al dente pasta strands. Called in my hungry man and Bob's your uncle.

carlsbadcravings.com

I had forgotten how good this cooking blog was.  I ran onto it again today.
There are so many good recipes and cooking videos.  Give a look.

Looking pretty

Many Branches is looking pretty!  A contingency of workers descended on Cook Road yesterday working through a gentle rain into the bright sunlight and made the place beautiful and ready for summer.  This is to be a busy party-filled summer, but in places other than here. Nevertheless, if a venue is needed, we will be ready. We have the week-end to clean the pool which also opened yesterday.  It  is pretty ugly at the moment, but Andy will work his magic.

We used to have a big building project about every three or four years on this property.  We have not had such a project for several years but now I am eyeing the building with the cupola with some very interesting ideas. Once I get the project bug it is hard to resist.

I am totally neglecting the kitchen right now.  I am not in the mood to cook for some reason.  I will get over that probably.  I just haven't seen anything that inspires me.

Salmon with herbs and lemon

A busy day's dinner salmon with dill and lemon and simple but tasty tater tots. Fresh thyme sprinkled over the tots and baked with them gives off an extra special essence.  With a crazy week this pops from oven to table in minutes.  We've all done it.  Confess. 

What's with the green beans?

Perhaps you can tell me why green beans appear on nearly every restaurant plate as a side.  These flaccid vegetables simply take up space...oh but wait, sometimes they are so crisp  one wonders if they had even a brief nod to heat. There they are on $100.  plates and on Red Lobster plates.  Who eats these sad sides? The chefs get away with this pile of waste because everyone is focused on the meat. There may be an even sadder pile of potatoes to grace the other side of the meat.  Now that makes me even madder.  I do love potatoes in any form but the torture these spuds endure when they reach a professional kitchen is unacceptable, but, do we send them back?  No,  because we cannot wait to attack the meat. We also don't want to embarrass our table guests who at times are halfway through their entree before one can face the sides. Why can't some attention be given to the sides?  These stepchildren are even an extra expense when everything is ala carte on the menu.  I have not forgotten broccoli.  It takes the place of green beans sometimes and is equally pathetic. Don't they teach vegetables in culinary school? 

Does this look like a hundred dollar dish for two? I have to say this was my fault.  I wanted to try the steaks at Smith and Wollensky and the Chateaubriand was delicious and plentiful. Mike's fillet was just over $54. (just for the steak) Beth's mussels were beautifully done and delicious. So have at it if you want a very good expensive meal sans the vegetables.(Actually, the carrots were pretty good and not overly done.  The green beans, however...)

Ahhh, nature

Happy Mother's Day to you all.

Nature has taken over Many Branches and there are so many things going on that I have neglected the blog.  Only one person has asked about the blog, so maybe people are not interested in it anymore.  I will try it a few more times, but if the interest is gone I have posted over 500 times in the past so there will be plenty to read anyway.

The painter finally finished.  So many jobs are filled everyone is working six and seven days a week.  It took forever for him to finish the pergola, I actually changed the time of the pool opening 3 times and they were really getting feisty with me on the fourth call. So, Wednesday is the day and it is also the day for Eric's yard crew and the hauling away of the extra large brush pile in the back.  Also the tractor, mower pick up.  I threw a rod while mowing...how's that for  mechanic talk?  Monday, tomorrow, is the only quiet day this week.  Now I am missing the slow, silent winter days of hunkering down with a book.

There is bird do everyplace.  Every bird and bug wants to live here and some even prefer to live inside, so yes, the sugar ants people have been here already.  This is a zoo!  Winston has thrown up for two days straight.  I think he is okay now and luckily we missed having to take him to the vet.  I wonder if his stomach could not take the $20. a pill trifecta of flea, tick and heartworm medicine we have to give each of the dogs once a month.  Yes, $20 per pill!!! And you wonder why I have not posted?  That's not all. The floors have to be done on the 17th, not all of them but enough to make me want to get a gun.  Then the rug cleaners, after all, Winston tried to hit every area rug in the house. Did I mention that hundreds of dollars worth of plants that needed planting and arranging? I know boo-hoo, I am lucky we are able to take care of all of this, it just feels like a lot all at once and I am not as young as I used to be...yes, pull out the old card why don't I?

On the plus side, The guys are taking Beth and  me to a fancy lunch at Smith and Wollensky today.  We will see what fresh hell befalls us from that experience. Note: WOW if you go there you better have plenty of money! Andy and I shared Chateaubriand for $100. All the steaks, which were delicious, were near and well over $50. each for one steak. I just don't see it. It was nice one time, but that's it for Andy and me.

 A sly Robin planted a nest on the kitchen door wreath. One baby has already been born and there are two more eggs. So we are creeping around our own door trying to get in and out without disturbing her.

A sly Robin planted a nest on the kitchen door wreath. One baby has already been born and there are two more eggs. So we are creeping around our own door trying to get in and out without disturbing her.

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Sun and Sam's inspired me today

The sun is out today so I am in a better mood.  Also, Andy and I made an early trip to Sam's.  I made this salad, which is like the one you can buy at Carfagna's for several dollars a pound.  It is one of Beth's favorites because she likes peppers and pickled items and she likes them spicy.  This one is only slightly spicy.  Sam's had those tiny cucumbers that we adore.  I like them small and when they become cudgels they are not to my taste. The next things I added were those small colorful peppers in a bag. Then, onions diced as small as you can do it, blocks of cheese, and blocks of salami.  You can add anything that appeals to you.  I even added pickled okra.

We bought several fish items; I had a craving for fish, so that is on the menu for tonight. I will make chips from slices of potatoes baked at a high temperature. Any leftovers will be turned into a fish chowder tomorrow. I add potatoes to my fish stew after all, there are no rules in your kitchen or mine.  I might even add corn.  What??  I may add more pictures today because I am working with lovely fresh ingredients.

Doris Lechler

Just now · 

One of Beth's favorite salads. Andy an

Waaaaaa

I am soooo tired of April.  My favorite month has let us all down this year.  The plants are loving it, but I NEED sun.  The dark wet days have not stopped the line of proposals that have marched in all within one week.  Alex, a niece in Cincinnati, and a frequent visitor has become engaged.  Alyssa a granddaughter who is the daughter of Beth, our son's wife, became engaged over the weekend.  I am going to have to buy some dancing shoes.  I have this strange feeling that all the Columbus and Cincinnati grandchildren are heading for marriage in the near future.  I could be wrong and find I am often wrong as of late.

My nose is out of joint not only with the weather but with domestic help as well.  Everyone is busy and working which is great, but they also seem to have a sudden inflated sense of entitlement, now asking nearly $40. an hour.  It comes out to $37. an hour and change but as a teacher, I never made $40. an hour, not even close and even now, according to Google, an elementary teacher currently makes $28.37 an hour, and a secondary teacher makes $36.05 an hour. I am simply not having it.  I don't care if the dust is up to my knees I will never pay $40. (tax free I am sure about that) an hour to have my house cleaned.  A few years ago I paid $40. a day to have the same house cleaned and it was well done to boot, and, they were not out the door in four hours as they are now.  I know that was then, this is now but I am still not having it.

I have tried to stay out of the kitchen during these snits.  Things do not turn out well when I am slamming and stirring and shifting and swearing.  I need to get a grip before I pick up a knife. lol

I hope your April is pleasant.

The dear deer

Andy is sure our garden is in jeopardy and I think he is right. Four full grown deer have taken over the back part of our yard traveling to and from the stream that runs close by.  They have eaten two young fruit trees so far and I hear they like everything in a garden.  The dogs may be able to keep them moving on over the fence, but I am not sure they are up to the job. One year a baby deer ended up in our pool.  Well, with our cold spring this is the least of our spring problems.  We still have not had enough days for painting and if the painter does not come to do the work this weekend I am going to give up. This is the coldest April that I remember and the winter seems to be holding on for dear life.  This is not news to you, right?

Tonight we had lemon chicken piccata with roasted potatoes and carrots. I am not doing too much cooking for some reason.  I can't find anything to hold my interest.  I think I just need SUN and warmth to get back in the groove. 

 Beth leaves for New Orleans for the weekend.  It is her daughter, Alyssa's birthday and there seems to be another 'special happening' that's going on down there over the weekend. Love is popping up in the lives of the Lechlers and Andy and I just celebrated being married 59 years.

Be sure to check out Manger

Life in Médoc : Manger - Mimi Thorisson

(a blog) by Mimi Thorisson, author of two French cookbooks.  She has a good Facebook section too.  I love her writing, her photography and her style.  I don't do her recipes, but I read her cookbooks like novels.  She's preparing to do a cooking show, but I doubt it gets to our televisions.

I was saddened by the death of Barbara Bush.  She was so real. May she rest in peace.

Cooking tricks

I watch particular cooking shows for tricks and recipes.  One that I learned recently was to put some drops of water inside a plastic zip lock bag before pounding for chicken piccata.  The chicken will not stick to the bag and tear if there is moisture in the bag.  Who knew?

Instead of chopping herbs on a board, put the herbs in a water glass and scissor the herbs into submission.  You get a fine cut and it is safe. If  you insist on using the chopping block for herbs, throw some salt on the board and that will help to keep the herbs from flying everywhere.

When you are baking leave butter and eggs and cream cheese out on the counter over night.  If you are roasting meat, leave the meat out for an hour or so before roasting so that it is at room temperature through out and then it will roast evenly.

Do not use oil in the water when boiling pasta, it will keep the sauce from sticking to the pasta.

Helpers, workers, where are you?

All kinds of wonderful work things are supposed to be happening here at Many Branches, but it is all promises.  The economy is so good everyone is busy and work is piled up.  That's a good thing unless you are waiting to have work done in a small space of good weather time.  So I spend time in the kitchen looking out the windows while cooking noting everything that needs done and admiring what does not need doing.  During this session I made scalloped potatoes with smoked Gouda and forgot to put in the ham, so the side is sauteed ham with peppers and onions. Actually I think I scare the workers when they do show up because I am so happy to see them.  I offer food and drink and smiles, but I guess everyone is doing that right now.  Mike and Nate are very busy which is great.  Andy is finishing up a set of classes at OSU and picking out the next set that interests him.  Matt is in Japan and missing his little family but learning a lot.  JD is now a Gator and will spend his Junior and Senior year at UF. (Oh dear.  I posted this news already, sorry, after all it is Friday the 13th so I am trying to be positive and not spook the gods.)

Alex just got engaged.  I have a feeling we are going to have many weddings this year and next.

Scallop potatoes with sautéed ham peppers and onions on the side

April

Get in here spring!  April is usually my favorite month of the year.  I always got my best ideas in April, Andy and I were married in April, Mike was born in April, all good things happened to me in April.  But it is too slow coming this year and nothing is happening other than Andy and I have been married 59 years as of the 4th. I suppose that in itself is an accomplishment.  The daffodils were out in force this year despite the cold weather. They came for Easter and stayed a long time.

Today is beautiful and we will have a string of good days.  I hope the painter will get here although he is really busy.  People are spending money and everyone seems to be raking it in which is, of course, a good thing.  Another good thing that happened is JD, our grandson, is now a Gator.  He is spending his junior and senior years at the University of Florida.  He has a free ride to any Florida University and that's the one that will see him through.  Another good thing is Matt, another grandson, is in Japan on business and doing well with his new promotion,  Now that I read back, April seems pretty good after all. See.  We all need to stop and count our blessings.

I am not cooking today. Andy and I are running around.  We found a grill, which is not hard to do.  I wonder how many grills in our married life have we bought?  I had to drag him from the area of plants and flowers.  We always plant to soon and regret it later.