Country potato bake

I am always on the look out for Thanksgiving dishes.  True there are the traditions that I don't fool with, but potatoes give me selections.  While mashed with turkey is wonderful, if you have thirty guests milling around smelling this and that, mashing and seasoning potatoes is distracting and irritating at the last minute before you are 'thankful.' I found this great country potato bake that I have tried three times and it is flexible as well as delicious. Today I added some broccoli and cauliflower left over salad to the dish before baking and it is scrumptious.  So this is my white potato dish for one of the Thanksgiving day meals.  Then I will do a sweet potato dish and a butternut squash dish.  That should satisfy everyone. Here it is ready for the oven after a slathering of cheese.

Looks like a beautiful day ahead, cool and beautiful.

Zesty sausage and peppers soup

Boy am I in the mood to cook today.  I hung on the refrigerator door and was inspired by all the products that needed attention and hence, the wonderful crock pot soup that you see here. Let's see if I can name all that I found to put in: zesty Bob Evans sausage (I hope it is in your markets, if not I feel sorry about that, it's that good.) I sauteed the peppers, onions and sausage with pepper bacon diced and also a little pancetta diced all for flavor. I found a lovely package of baby zucchini, so tender and delicious so in they went, sauteed some grated cauliflower in the pepper and bacon skillet and in it went, with a large can of tomatoes, a small can of Rot-el some spices and seasoning.  I know I have left out some things, but in a soup like this you can put in whatever you have.  No measuring, just taste and add. (also fresh Rosemary from our enormous bush, and a sprig of sage.)  It's like where's Waldo when you look at the picture.  Try to pick out what I missed listing.

Doris Lechler

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Three weddings, no funerals

And they just keep coming.  We have Alyssa, Alex, and now Brooks and Carly all engaged and it is a happy Lechler family time. Brooks has had the ring since July and just made the great decision to marry Carly.  She is a dear girl.

It still looks good outside even though it is a bit cool.  The plants are loving it and the yard is still being mowed once a week.  I did dial that back, however just now.

I love my Hamilton Beach food processor.  I used it this morning to grind up a rotisserie chicken's (pieces) to small pebbles.  I then used the chicken stock that I had made a couple of days ago to do Amish noodles and at the last minute put in the chicken pebbles.  It was soooo tasty. That appliance is the easiest thing to use in my entire kitchen.

I am well stocked for autumn and winter cooking. I've been to Sam's, Trader Joe's and of course Kroger. Lordy, don't go to Kroger on Sunday afternoon.  Matt and I went to Appliance Mart to get him a washer and dryer for his new house that he closed on a couple of days ago.  We stopped in Kroger for flowers and there were NO CARTS.  So you can imagine the crowd...that's what I did, just imagined it and got out of there in a hurry.

Then he had called ahead for Massey's pizza for us to take home.  They too were swamped--what is it about Sunday afternoons?

It is quiet here and I just loaded the crock pot with boneless bbq pork short ribs.  I am serving them over curly thin buttered noodles for dinner tonight.

Have a lovely week.

What now?

Things are a-changing.  Matt and Stacy closed yesterday on their first home and we are all a-titter planning on getting them settled.  Matt and I will be shopping for a washer and dryer Sunday while the rest of the crew have their jobs of help lined up as well.  Saturday in the main house the gas men will be in the house checking on everything before turning on the new gas line.  We have so few gas using items that should go pretty smoothly.  Especially since we just had a new gas line put in two years ago.

Andy and I are going to Sam's today.  That is always an adventure and I think fish chowder will be in order for the evening meal.  I love cooking in the fall and winter and usually have something burbling in the crock pot.

We ordered Madeleine a Buckeyes cheerleading outfit and are looking forward to seeing her in that on OSU football days.  Andy and his brother Jimmy are going to the game Saturday.  We share the season pass with our Cincinnati family.

Have you heard of Amish oatmeal pie?  On my Facebook there is a picture of one and the link for the recipe.  I think it would be delicious.  When things settle down (if ever) I may tackle that.

I'll let you know what is going on at Sam's today.

Love my new Hamilton Beach

Have you had the same problem with food processors as I have?  Getting the plastic lid to turn and snap into place?  I had a small processor that I finally managed to beat into submission with some degree of comfort, but the plastic lid got old and part of it snapped off and so the entire unit had to be tossed because it was too old to bother searching for a new lid.  Then I got a large Cuisinart and it resided in the pan pantry.  Someone jammed the lid on a metal pot and a big sliver came off.  So that one bit the dust as well.  NOW, to the good one:  Hamilton Beach.  I searched Amazon for one that had lid side flaps that you just press into place and Bob's your uncle, it has worked beautifully.  Today I have made ham salad as good as Carfargna's, ground the chicken for the dogs' breakfasts, dealt with vegetables to go in soups and next I am going to shred cheeses. I am on fire! So I love the flap lids, but now I face the Instant Pot pressure cooker.  I am still afraid of that but am encouraged to get on it pronto.  Oh, by the way, I still have not mastered the electric can opener.  This is all not new to me, I am just not technical and never have been.  I just want it to be simple and to work without reading two or three manuals before starting to cook.  Hamilton Beach does it for me.

Today marks the day when we get out front lawn back. (WRONG. STILL NOT DONE.)    They are finishing up Cooke Rd. gas line and I must say I cannot for the life of me figure out why people did not select a different route knowing that Cooke Road is one lane, or no lane, and has been that way for seven months.  Still they come, wait in line, and creep to the freeway.  I say DUH.  The workers, however, are gracious to the residents and neat in their work.  Andy has just gone down to supervise the driveway work--I know how they love that!

I am so chatty because I have been down and out for two days but now I am chipper again and on foot.  Hope you are all well and happy.

Don't forget to vote November 6th.

Ludicrous

Can you believe that I leased one of these things for a year and never made or received a call...nor could I carry it. I was traveling to London and Paris every other month after retirement and thought it would be handy.  LOL.  DUH! Ludicrous.

Political circus

Andy and I went to the circus yesterday right in our own home.  We rarely watch daytime TV, but at 10:00 am we started watching the inexplicable escapades of our elected politicians and it was riveting. We ignored everything including the dogs; I forgot to feed them. Finally, they were not having it any longer and I realized the mistake (in more ways than one.)

Today I assume will be just as jaw-dropping watching lives destroyed and careers being thrown to the wind.

At Many Branches we proceed getting the property ready for winter.  Trimming back the rosemary and boxwoods and the roses in hopes they make it through another winter.  We've discovered after many years you can actually kill Knock Out Roses.  They get old too and give up. While it is still warm we are getting the outdoor furniture put away.

I am thinking of pasta alfredo with shrimp today. It is quick and easy and we can have another look at what we have voted for as chaos ensues on in D.C.

Dinner is at the ready~

If you have a can of beans, olives, and lemons you have what is needed for the bottom of your baking dish.  Top it with white fish or in my case salmon with layers of sliced lemons and seasoning and pop it in the oven for a quick dinner with lots of flavors.  That's our dinner for tonight cooling in the fridge until I have a handle on how many and when the family arrives tonight.  Andy is off to OSU class and a visit to the OSU clinic.  He has what he had two years ago and needs antibiotics which is what they gave him for a bad cough (like walking pneumonia) last time.  Andy has a great immune system but this cough sounds really bad.

The pool closed yesterday and we are starting to take in the outdoor furniture.  However, we are dragging our feet because it looks and feels like early spring on Cooke Rd.  We have had steady gentle rains for three days and everything is lush and growing still. I have the back door open and the dogs are guarding it while they take their first nap of the day.

We are trying to get our plans in order for a Christmas visit to ski in Colorado. Well, I'm not skiing, but I am going to see our grandson graduate from Pike's Peak. That's just one event to plan for in the busy upcoming holidays.  Alyssa and her mother-in-law to be arrive for the weekend November 10th to shop with Beth for wedding gowns for Alyssa's destination wedding in Italy.  (We can't forget Alex's wedding in Cincinnati in April and she has her dress already.) All the Lechlers have a good time at weddings!

I have some alone time to cherish so I'm off to do some fun things since dinner is at the ready.

RUN

Head for the hills, I am using my new instant hot pot for the first time and it is not going well. I should know by this age not to go back to pressure cooking.  When my mother pulled out the pressure cooker we could not leave the house fast enough.  It jiggled and hissed us into submission just by resting quietly in the cupboard.  All Mother had to do was open that particular cupboard door and we were gone.  Now I have this monster in my own kitchen.  I finally moved the button to slow cooking, but I am not sure that is even working.  I should have waited for Pam and George to come the day before Thanksgiving to try this thing out.  Beth could probably figure it out but she is busier than a one-armed paper hanger.

Joe, Glenda,  Andy, and I had a lovely three day holiday together here at Many Branches.  It is so green one would think it was mid-spring and today it is raining again. The plants are in full bloom and still growing. Glenda, Joe and Andy were into football mode for ten or more hours on Saturday.  Joe and Andy attended the OSU game and watched a 100-year-old man dot the I in Script Ohio.  He was so happy to be doing the dotting that his daughter finally had to go get him and take him off the field.  I hope we are as healthy as he at 100 years old.

I hope your week is wonderful, and wish me luck with the roast that is doing God knows what in the instant pot.Note: The instant pot crock pot feature failed.  I had to finish the roast in the oven.  Obviously, I was not doing anything remotely right.  I will shelve it until help arrives.

Lynn's fruit market

It's a bit of a misnomer calling this a fruit market.  True they have fruit, but the array of beautiful things encompasses hot dogs, hamburgers, Kettle popcorn, pumpkins, pies, jelly, chutneys, peppers, corn, tomatoes...the list is endless and it is like a carnival with people picnicking on the knolls while enjoying lunch or dinner. We bought plenty and had lunch there.  Now we are home playing cards and relaxing.  We always like it when Joe, Andy's brother, and Glenda come to visit.  Later we are buying and planting fall flowers for the window boxes since the weather is still holding well.  The pool closes Tuesday.  Sad but true.

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Fall's This and That

I can't believe there are Christmas decorations in the stores already.  That is part of what makes me sad each autumn, there is no time to enjoy each season or event except maybe summer. Summer is slow and lazy and fully enjoyed. Autumn also brings on the pressure of Thanksgiving and Christmas and all it entails.  I think this Christmas we are going to Adam in Colorado.  He is graduating from Pike's Peak with an Associate's degree. Thanksgiving, however, I am looking forward to because everyone is gathering here and there is lots of help and no pressure except in my own mind. Pam and George come the day before to help wrangle the turkeys, chop, eat, chop, assemble and drink, then we go out to dinner that night because we are sick of the food we messed with all day long. It is always fun.

Joe and Glenda are coming here Thursday for a few days and Joe and Andy are going to the OSU game.  I've made a series of salads and soups for the visit and we will go to dinner one night, not sure which one.  I look forward to the coffee cakes they usually bring.  I hope for a raspberry coconut one again from North College Hill Bakery.

Alyssa is coming home November 10th with her future mother-in-law for the weekend and they, with friends and Beth, are bridal dress shopping.  I will sit this one out.  I think I can enjoy it all from home with pictures and details. I know she has several appointments in various bridal shops and there will be limited room. They will have a good time for sure.

Fall at Many Branches