Bad virus, bad beans

I know there are bigger disappointments due to the virus than with party and wedding plans made and moved several times, but it is jolting.  Things are definitely out of control right now. We alone have had five events this spring that simply did not happen. Luckily everyone here is safe and healthy, but still we are not used to disappointments I guess. It is more important to get the economy moving and people back to work although that is going to be a problem when you figure those on unemployment are making more not working than working in many cases. I don't think the powers that be thought that through. I just feel our great-granddaughters will not know us once we get to see them again.  Luckily they have a good mother and father to keep them happily occupied.

I have banned beans from the property.  NO more bean soup from my kitchen.  I can't eat it, it destroys my stomach and now I discovered last night I cannot even taste the cooking juice for seasoning. I've been up all night and just now settled down with a cup of tea.  Andy and I were going to Dill's this morning for coral geraniums but that got ditched as well thanks to beans that I did not even eat...not one. Beans and the virus, boo humbug!!!

I am not cooking today as you might have guessed and the family won't be eating beans. The beans have landed in the garbage disposal. Good riddance.

 Well, this is a cheerful post don't you think?

morning outing at long last

We had an outing just now.  We trussed up with all the protective gear and went to Oakland Park Nursery where Andy has been passing by wanting to go in, park, and shop for weeks but didn't until this morning.  We were very brave.  People were so squirrely though.  They did not speak but stood in their spot and nodded for me to get out of their way.  It was surreal. So, I decided to ignore them and enjoy my outing.  They had the most wonderful peonies bushes. I have never seen such healthy peonies for sale.  Usually, you have to get what they have, plant them, and hope for the best. I want one of those for Mother's Day to add to my alley of peonies. I was glad, however, to get in the car and to head to Tim Horton's for an iced capp, dark, to end the outing. There was no talking or joking, or pleasantries of any kind to enjoy at that nursery today. But, the plants were glorious and now Andy has started on the guest house steps with the geraniums which grace the steps every year. They cascade down the steps like a red river and get prettier and prettier as the summer progresses.  Love them.

old post--lobster rolls omg

Sundays with the Lechlers

Welcome to Sundays with the Lechlers. This blog shares recipes and events in our lives. It's written for family and friends and people who like to cook and read about good food. We all live busy lives, so we set aside Sundays to rekindle.

Friday, July 19, 2013

Lobster Rolls

I  was quite old before I had my first taste of lobster and even older before I had a lobster roll.  It was
 in Cape Cod during one of many antiquing excursions.  I've never forgotten that first bite...like my first introduction to pizza in the late fifties both stay with me still. I had only had one disappointing lobster roll, soggy and too early made last winter on the way home from Florida.  Lobster salad must be combined at the last minute before placing it on a toasted, buttered bun.  It's scrumptious then.  The best ones I have ever had, however, was one winter stay in Boca.  I had lobster salad, lobster rolls, and anything lobster related each day for a week.I was reminded of this when Ina Garten sent me her blog this morning which featured this delicious memory.  It's not hard to make at home, but here in Ohio we must simply come up with the lobster and fuss with it's cooking to a delicate state. Oh just to go to the fish monger and buy a pound already for the bun would be wonderful, but at what they charge on Long Island for lobster salad--last I hear it was $100. a pound at the Bread and Fishes and that was five years ago.  They don't charge that in Florida.  My lobster rolls filled to the brim was  $16. and worth every penny.  If you don't have it often, then why not?

                       

3/4 pound cooked fresh lobster meat, diced
1/2 cup good mayonnaise
1/2 cup finely diced celery (1 1/2 stalks)
1 tablespoon capers, drained
1 1/2 tablespoons finely minced fresh dill
Pinch of kosher salt
Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
8 hot dog rolls, grilled or toasted

Combine the lobster, mayonnaise, celery, capers, dill, salt, and pepper. Fill each roll and serve.
Recipe and picture Barefoot Contessa.

Labor Day week end is going to be crazy, but fun. Joe and Glenda arrive Friday night because Joe and Andy are attending the band show and football game at The Ohio State University.  Then they spend another night and the next day surprise guests arrive (surprise to them) and there will be a family birthday grill out party on Sunday with twenty to thirty guests. The guest of honor likes steaks and can't get enough of them, so they will be on the menu for sure.  Taco bowls will be present as well.  I always try to add a couple of new items to the two meal day, so I am looking for easy but tasty treats for the entire week end of partying. Glenda's stay is easy, she's a pizza girl so when they arrive Friday afternoon for cards and drinks, pizza will be on the menu for who ever else shows up and there are always plenty who magically appear especially with the pool beckoning.  Man it's a heat wave around here! As the menu for the long week end ahead comes together, I will share it with you. We may need to add ice to the pool, it's like bath water today,( Friday.) Tonight it is grilled salmon for those who love it and BLTs for those who can't do without them since the tomato crop has arrived! We already have two baskets of tomatoes, both red and yellow. Hello.

Can you tell I really want a lobster roll?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

chicken and noodles

Note: I just discovered people leaving comments.  This is a new feature to me after 900 posts, so if I have not replied to your comments, it is because I just found them.  Also, thanks to Patty James for the help with shrimp burgers. I think that is entirely possible.  I will give it a try and report. (I had thought egg whites but had not tried it. I am still working Trader Joe's.)

Beth asked if I would make a main dish for several health care workers who, as you know, are putting in massive hours of labor during this crisis. Well, that is up my alley.  I can cook and I love to cook big, so this pot is larger than it looks and to lift it is scary. I hope they enjoy it and I can do it again with pleasure.

Well, my hair has officially taken over my head.  It is now in charge and I am but its slave.  I want to stay put, but I am getting nervous that I will never see the rest of my face in this life time. Everyone who lives here needs hair attention some look like cavemen; not naming names, however.

Andy and I look forward to the plants in various nurseries.  The pots need planting but it is not worth the risk of exposure.  I am afraid we will explode one day, get in the car, head for the nursery, and buy everything in sight. I want to buy more peonies for my alley of peonies.  One lucky day Andy came home with fifteen unmarked peonies.  They practically gave them to him because their color was unmarked--they turned out to be yellow and glorious. Now my friend, Pam B. in Cincinnati says the yellow peonies there are $100. each.

What's for dinner?

This is a master piece.  I don't know how many times I have made this combination, but this is certainly the best-looking one I have ever done. I watched Ina Garten make this on more than one occasion and I had to try it.  I then forgot about it and drew on it once or twice a year and now today, ahhh.  I have a happy family today.  Along with the greatest weather, this has been a scrumptious day all around. This is two sheets of puff pastry with layers of ham and cheese on top of the mustard slathered bottom and a homemade sauce on the top layer.  The cheese is Pepper Jack and also baby swiss. The ham is thin slices of deli ham.  Ina used this as a party starter, but I use it as lunch or dinner.  It cannot be more simple to prepare and you will get rave reviews even if you have to rave yourself. (I do that on occasion.)
Slice into squares and enjoy.

At the ready

Andy has all of the planters lined up like soldiers waiting for the blooms and herbs that will give us pleasure all summer. He drives by Oakland Park Nursery but does not go in because the place is crowded and the parking lot is full.  I am surprised at this flaunting of the rules of safety.  He drives by other places that have plants but so far only the perfect little Johnny Jump ups and pansies are available and even they are taking a beating in this cold weather.  Soon, however, it always comes and with it perhaps some freedom too.  I must say we have been really good about minding the rules.  I have not been out but twice since February. I don't want to have to fight for a ventilator at my age, I think I would lose.

I cook every day and have tried some really good recipes.  I need to spend the rest of this time organizing recipes and getting rid of those that I no longer or have never used.  I have over 970 posts on this blog and early on I printed many good recipes for you to try.  Now my freezers have room for new additions and the pantries actually have shelf space for products, so there have been several months of intense cooking. We have a large order in to Kroger to be picked up tomorrow but I hope to be able to shop myself before long.

We miss our great-grandchildren and hope they will not forget us.  They are very young and they might just do that and then we have to start all over with them when we are all free.  I know you are having the same problems but this one is one of the hard ones to carry out.

I made pasta today with the last of Bob Evan's zesty sausage.  Nate and Andy are happy and full.  I am now officially out of spaghetti, sauce, and Bob Evan's but the guys are content for now.

The best to you all if there are any of you still out there.

Free at last

Andy and I made our first trip off the property in close to seven weeks. Trussed up like turkeys we made the trip to Sam's pointing out areas of interest like we hadn't lived in Columbus for the last 64 years. It was surreal.  Sam's was not crowded and those who were there were also trussed and safe.  Some of the shelves were empty...like the fresh green beans that I buy for Bella had only one bag left.  But we managed to fill two carts with wonderful things.  There were no lines to check out and we were out of there in less than 25 minutes. I think I can now make it to the end of this virus having had that little break. I am sipping my iced capp from Tim Horton's as I write and this session is giving me great pleasure. Oh, Andy also got a set of five cans of Clorox wipes which we are very proud of...did I just write that???

I am now considering which delectable to prepare for dinner.  I will try to have something more interesting than pizza which was our Easter feast.  I can't believe I am actually writing that sentence, exposing myself to bouts of laughter from the Cincinnati Lechlers who usually come here for every holiday event. Well, I try to be entertaining and succeeded with the pizza story,

The wind is picking up after the nice little rain so I am hoping no trees fall.  The neighbors on both sides of us have some serious dead trees and they never fall in their yards, only in ours and of course, they knock down a portion of the fence each time. A couple of weeks go by and they finally get to the tree, one does a good job, one does not. Sigh.  Well, that's all I have to bitch about today.  I am off to the kitchen to prepare a little feast.  I think it will be with salmon today.

NOT SALMON:

One strange Easter

By now, in normal times, Many Branches would be jumping with people.  We usually have at least twenty and usually close to thirty.  Today we have five with only four eating the Easter feast which is pizza.  Yes, you read it right. Pizza. I decided to cook for people in crisis today rather than we who are not in crisis unless you count the pizza.  I simply have to get out of here tomorrow I am really getting rather strange, and, the freezer and pantries have let me down.  I can find nothing that I want to cook.

I usually start cooking and bringing out the finery a week ahead of a holiday celebration. Several tables are covered with antique linens and interesting old plates and combinations of colored glasses with matching flatware all in place, then covered until just before the guests arrive and the flowers need placing. Candy is scattered over the tables and little gifts to take home appear now and then. I line up the crockpot like soldiers appearing for duty.  I then begin to make the soups and stews for the first meal of the day on this glorious day.  I manage one or two canapes a day during that week as well. So around 11:00 the guests start arriving being greeted with flutes of Prosecco and we are off. After a couple of hours those items are taken away and the stage is set for a sit-down meal with at least two meats, several salads, and vegetables. Potatoes of many kinds take the stage as do deviled eggs and Pam and Chees' pies. I sometimes lose my mind and made a cheesecake or a trifle. We make plenty so there are left-overs to be taken home and enjoyed. After the second meal, things settle down with several tables of cards, and outdoor games, and chats under the pergola or the awning.

We never hurry.  It is meant to be savored and enjoyed because one never knows how long we are to be given the pleasure of being together.

Beth making a liquor run for we old folks.

Follow the fork 5

Are you stir crazy yet? We are still content as of now with the back yard looking like Easter.  Blue skies and green green grass and the Douglas Pear spraying white petals over the property ensure Easter is on its way.  The wind is kicking up this morning and I am grateful that the neighbors' cottonwood trees are not ready to 'snow' on everything yet.  A few more days of pristine property would be welcome. (Well, not pristine, but really pretty.)

In the oven today is a chuck roast surrounded by its natural companions of carrots and potatoes.  I am slow roasting the devil out of this well- seasoned gift from the freezer while longing for some fresh herbs to bury among the carrots and under the beef. Each time I do a stew now days I wonder if this is the last of the soup and stew season.  So far they are still welcome.

Andy is really enjoying ordering from Kroger on line.  You won't believe the wait, however, for pick -up.  He ordered on Monday and today, Thursday at 3:00, is his pick-up time. That is how backed up they are and yet they are doing as well as they can. I miss going into the stores but you won't catch me doing that for awhile. Andy may do the shopping on line from now on even after this disaster is done.

I have discovered something wonderful.  Escape to the Chateau is also on Tuesday nights at 7:00 on WOSU and they have started from the beginning and the first two episodes were new to me.  I was so excited when I wandered onto public television and there was actually something, that Tuesday night, that made me happy.  Now if the programmer does not go wonky and stick some other show on in that time slot to meander hither and yon, I will be a happy woman.

Even I am bored with this entire post.  Don't read it, it is simply not too interesting. I will try to do better the minute that something interesting happens...don't hold your breath.

 I am reading A Man Called Ove, by the way, and it is holding my interest so far. But, the book that I really liked that was given to me last evening called  Just Paint It Red and Forget About It by a Columbus author Gwynyth Lozier Mislin. It is so well written and done with humor.  She is doing a Bleuette book  and it is in the works.


   

Follow the fork 4

I had written Trader Joe's was closed much to my chagrin.  They are open it seems.  Who knew?  Beth was actually there and phoned to ask if I wanted anything and these carrots popped into my mind.  Roasted with olive oil, salt, and pepper they are so addictive and I can probably eat every one of these on the tray.  They are ready to go in the oven to be caramelized and roasted to perfection. Bella, the dog, and I fight over carrots.  Go figure. She can take a whole carrot, raw, and chew  it down to a nub in no time...and talk about roasted, that's when she really gets excited.  Less work for her.

I am just starting the book A Man called Ove.  My niece is excited about this book. I read a bit and was hooked so I had it sent to my Kindle.

Follow the fork 3

It is a good thing the family in crisis did not need the ham and beans that I had prepared for them this week.  They have food coming in to get them through several days.  I'll do it when they need it.  Beth will let me know.  What happened to the ham and beans...Johnny's three guys came to give the property a bath.  The power washer went all day and when it came to lunch, they enjoyed the entire crock pot of ham and beans.  Now, this is not a tiny crock pot...it is my biggest one.  I watched from afar and I believe they each had 3 large bowls.  It was so much fun to see them enjoy the food outside on the glorious day that it was.  I had a tub of water with Lysol and they took care of clean up and then after washing the dishes one guy loaded the dishwasher. They declared this job was like a vacation considering the enormous roofing jobs that they do day in and day out.  Thank God they have work. Many Branches sparkles.

Yesterday was our 61st wedding anniversary.  We had Chinese take out and sat around the fire pit and talked.  Oh, we had Perseco too.  We enjoyed the evening with Beth, Mike and Nate. I am not sure how correct this is but I think I have been on this property for six weeks straight.

  (My last hair appointment was the first week of January and I look awful now!  I have a mullet!  Can you imagine?) This too shall pass.  I just want to warn you how scary I look in case you drop by to shout hello from 10 feet away.