vegetable gratin

Straight from the oven, we found this to be delicious, and, it used up all the things in the fridge that needed using to get it ready for the next Kroger pick up that Andy uses several times a week.  He loves that service.

It is a moody day here, actually, two days of moods because it is so rainy.  We were lucky nothing came down to harm the property this time as we are still having the last wind storm's mishaps taken care of, no thanks to the owners of the wayward trees.  It makes me so cranky, but we were lucky to be able to do it.

Mike bought us a new upstairs window box for Mother's Day.  I am hoping to get it up and planted pretty quick after the rain.  You can't beat the geraniums this year, they are perfect.

I am into the third book of the trilogy called Me Before You.  I sobbed my way through the first book, enjoyed the second a little less but find the third one good from the start. (It is really good.)

I figured I have only been off this property one time a month since January.  It is hard to believe that I have not gone stir crazy.  Andy celebrated with a hair cut yesterday where they only allowed one mask-wearing, temperature -taken, customer in at a time. He looks good. Waaaa, I want a hair cut (and so much more.)

Here's the beef

You must try Hidden Valley spicy seasoning mix on beef and let it marinate for a couple of days in the fridge, of course. The carrots and potatoes were done in the same oven but a different pan and combined at the very end before serving. You can cut the beef with your fork, no knife necessary. I love this product as well as the original.  Buy it at Sam's where it is cheaper and get the big size, you will find you use it all the time. Darn, I used all the mushrooms in other dishes; just imagine how they would be in this dish.

Happy Days

I am so happy.  I have my maintenance plan back in action.  I made three appointments today, so I count this as my lucky day. I can uncover the mirrors and go out in public, in a mask, but still, there is hope. I don't have to beg the dog groomer to help me out, Bella can keep her own appointment and pretty soon things will be back to normal around here.

We have gone crazy with flowers.  They are everywhere and they are so robust this year. We have time to spend with the plants so there are good aspects to this quarantine. Another good thing is having good books to read. I am reading Me Before You and just ordered for Kindle The Night Tiger.  I started reading it online so I know I will like it very much too.

Yesterday we went to Sam's and I bought a lot of mushrooms and today I made mushroom and rice soup. Nate will like that after a long day of work and I think Beth will too. Not Andy, he's afraid of mushrooms.

Speaking of plants we also bought ten mini peony bushes.  I don't know what that is all about but we got them and Eric will plant them for us tomorrow.

What do you think of reality television?  Some of these women are so vulgar that I cannot believe what comes out of their mouths.  Some of it I never heard before and have no idea what it adds to life or to a conversation. And, the men.  I'll leave it at that. It is like watching a train wreck, you don't want to see it but you do and then you can't unsee or unhear it.  It's a different world.

Happy reading and resting and cooking.

yellow peonies, who knew?

Andy thought it was time to get me out of the house and off the property before I did something we would all be sorry for. It's best to let the authorities, people in charge, do the job and much easier on my nerves. So we layered up with masks and gloves and headed to Sam's.  They had a pretty good set up and we were in and out with two carts of goodies and visions of  tasty dishes to look forward to.  I have just put everything away and dealt with items that need attention right away.  We will have salmon tonight and gussied up tater tots. Pioneer Woman has a way of making the most mundane look delicious but then what is there to do out in the middle of nowhere--well, one could build an empire out of a blog and that is what she did.  Good for her.

It is a beauty today.  The sun is glorious but we did lose some plants as we always do when we get crazy and plant too early.  For Mother's Day I got a waist-high (on me)  yellow peony bush to add to the other bunch that we bought in a lucky streak of luck at $8.00 apiece because they came into the nursery unmarked and no one knew what the color would be.  We took a chance and they were all yellow and simply outstanding. There were fifteen and all but three or four survived and are looking ready to set the (peony) alley afire in glory.

I am off to sit in the sun and cool my jets.
Notes:
  The great Hidden Valley seasoning is for sale at Sam's for $8. a jar and Amazon sells the same item for $20. Same size, same product.  However, today I discovered Hidden Valley spicy seasoning.  I am trying it tonight.

I am reading another great book Me Before You which is the first book in a trilogy.  I really like what I have been reading. Also, The Giver of Stars is a great book too.  I just finished it.  Loved it almost as much as Where the Crawdads Sing. Happy reading.

Where's the meat?

Andy put in a pick up order from Kroger and when we got it home three meat items were missing. No chuck roast, no chicken tenders, no pork shoulder, I knew this was happening and now it has come to pass. I am getting cranky. The minute I sensed this I should have gone shopping myself. It looks like those darn beans are going to get used anyway. And, Mike's 70 pounds of rice should come in handy. I teased him so much about it he may not give me any. Bella is looking worried; she has chicken every morning and she did not see it coming out of the bag just now. She's pacing the floor.

I used up some vegetables in a gratin today and it hit the spot.  I like to cook when I can get my hands on what I need.  I remember rationing when people hide soap and toilet paper under beds to hand it out only when necessary. The grocer used to save a Hershey bar for me every once in a while.  There were stamps in a rationing book which you had to present to get your staples, yet we were never hungry.  The system worked. I hope that never happens again. Three packing plants went back in business yesterday, so maybe this was just a dusting and we will be back in business soon.  Until then it's beans and rice.

Chin up, we can do this...again.

Note:  I am reading The Giver of Stars by JoJo Moyer having finished The Chemist.

Roasting pork

Is there anything that smells as inviting as pork roasting in the oven at low and slow? The whole house is invited to share in the cozy ambiance as the potatoes, pork, and carrots prepare themselves for the feast.  I needed a dish that took no time to throw together and did not need nannying because I am deep into a gripping book called the Chemist.  I love Amazon. One can read a chapter or two on the computer so that you know if the book clicks for you.  Sometimes the prologue is better than the actual content, but mostly it is very helpful.


Have you started stocking up on meat?  I see on television that's the next slap that we have to contend with as if 'it' is not disconcerting enough. Then there is the strong, mean mutant strain growing from the virus, slaying as it grows. I am settling into another few months of being at home but I am not worried about that, I like it here and I have plenty to keep me happy and content. (Beth says I am the most contented woman she has ever known.) Maybe, except for the hair, I do get agitated about that.  So does she.  Every evening she threatens to color her hair, but then she doesn't; hoping the ban will be lifted as we all do.

The flowers are cheerful, loving this weather of cool, rainy, hot and repeat. I have a tan and with a few days of sun in between clouds it is a comfortable coloring.

I will try to become more interesting with this blog, but right now I have only three acres of contentment to offer; even the deer and coyotes have left the area.

This and that

Andy and I decided to venture out today for more plants.  We still have several large planters to fill so we started at Menards. I guess you have found out that shopping in a mask and rubber gloves leaves a lot of happiness behind.  It is so uncomfortable that once we got to Oakland Park Nursery and saw a line of people we decided to get breakfast and come home to peace with fewer restrictions.  I am longing to make a trip to Trader Joe's.  We have shopping figured out with Mike and Beth and Kroger pick up, but it is not the same as strolling through the aisles and picking up interesting things to try. I am grateful, no doubt, but I like to do my own stuff as much as possible. Waaa Waaa, I have absolutely nothing to be sad about, yet I whine on in my brain.

I have made soup today.  Imagine that.  Such an unlikely event in my kitchen.  I used up the bits and bobs in the fridge, used Mr. and Mrs. T's bloody mary mix along with some beef base and the soup turned out delicious. I am giving pasta a rest since I have worked it to death last week.



We had a lovely visit with the great-granddaughters yesterday, the first since February. The baby didn't know us which was sad, but the 3-year-old remembered everything and is now interested in the pool.  She will have a good time in there this summer.  We watch her like hawks, however. 

We have been visiting the Cincinnati Lechlers by phone and Facebook.  We would have had several visits by now had things been normal. They are sad about a wedding that didn't happen on schedule and Brooks and Carly lost a lot of deposit money on their event that didn't happen through no fault of their own. Oh well, it will get done just not when expected.

We are off to plant.  The sun is out and things are looking up.  Be happy.

Note: I am reading The Chemist. (So far, so good.)
Also, Escape to the Chateau is now on at 7:00 on Tuesdays on WOSU public television.

The groomer's open, lucky dogs

The groomer called to say they were opening up on the 12th.  Bella is scheduled.  She's a mess, but not as bad as I am.  I asked the groomer if she could groom me too.  She said that was not her first request, but no. So the dog will look better than I.

We have still not gotten to Dill's.  I am not completely 100% yet but am getting there.  I have begun to cook, which is always a good sign and a relief to my family. (They know where their hamburger comes from.)

We are still lamenting the loss of the weddings and parties and graduations but I know you are feeling that pinch as well. If the groomer is opening up can the beauty salon's be far behind? Oh, to say nothing of the nails, I have none to take care of now.

I am doing an Alfredo dish today.  That's the base but there are many choices to be made. I did not cook last night so we ordered French bread pizza from Yogi's Hogies (sp?) The place has been in business for forty years or so but we ordered for the first time in ten years.  I took just a taste to see if it was the same and it was even better.  I was sorry not to be able to do it justice, but Andy and Nate took care of that problem.

Oh goody, we are going to Dill's after all. I will take pictures.

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?