Confessions of a Grandma

My mother used to fight with me as a child to get me to eat eggs.  Scrambled, could choke them down, but in any other form--as in a yellow ball surrounded by whiteness--forget it.  Even worse if the yellow was jiggly and the white was runny.  Instant gag reflex. Now that I am a mature adult, I have made peace with eggs.  I have even found that eggs are just a wonderful foodstuff in my life of cooking for one. In all honesty, I still do not care all that much about facing an egg first thing in the morning, but I do prepare them for a simple supper or an easy lunch. This homemade fried brown rice with vegetables became a complete meal with the protein supplied by a topping of fried egg. It is no secret.  I really love avocados.  Really, really love avocados.  Avocados marry well with eggs. I like to mash a really ripe avocado with a little olive oil or some juice from the olive jar, salt, and pepper.  Stir some chopped hard boiled egg int...

Sunday dinners...remember them?  Come home from church and mom would be in the kitchen for hours roasting some meat and peeling, boiling, mashing potatoes.  My grandmother was fond of serving turnip and she mad an excellent cabbage slaw with a sweet-tart vinegar dressing.  There was always dessert.  Although if the meal was big enough and late enough, dessert might be turned into Sunday night supper. Later, Sunday dinners were alternated between my parents' and my in-laws with siblings and their children also likely to be attending. My point is that after so many years of being treated to Sunday dinners, I never really got too much in the habit of doing that kind of cooking myself.  This is not to say that I don't occasionally jones for roasted something with all the trimmings in a fit of nostalgia for past generation. I was in the store on Saturday and happened to see a woman hoisting a large roasting chicken onto the counter.  All of a sudden I...

This article from Everyday Health lists five foods to avoid if one suffers from Bi-Polar Disorder: Caffeine Alcohol Sugar Salt Fat They are all likely to impact mood swings according to this report. Well, thank goodness I do not have that disorder.  If I had to give up those things, my mood would be pretty stable, though--dark, dreary and miserable, but stable that way. I can say that I am most grateful that I have few restriction on my daily diet. I am also grateful that I can afford  (at least for now) to eat a variety of foods.  According to an Associated Press article in our newspaper this morning: "People who spend the most on food get the closest meeting federal guidelines for potassium, dietary fiber, Vitamin D and calcium...Those who spend the least have the lowest intakes of the four recommended nutrients and the highest consumption of saturated fat and added sugar." The point being made was that too many people cannot afford to follow the new...

I went to bed last night and watched flickers and flashes of light in the northern sky for the longest time.  I heard not one rumble of thunder--although I do have to admit that the windows were closed because the air conditioner was on.  It was hot and it was humid so I was thinking "heat lightning." I understand that heat lightning is just a regular old electrical storm that is so far away that you just cannot hear the thunder.  Still, those flashes were persistent and lasted for quite a long time.  Someone was getting a hell of a storm. It was hot again today, but the humidity was not so bad.  I did my library volunteer gig and then went for a short walk.  I even turned the oven on and baked a cheese cake that I topped with blueberries.  I used my adaptation of a recipe from Moosewood Cookbook by Molly Katzen.  My copy is a 15 year anniversary edition--printed in 1992.  It all of a sudden occurred to me that that makes it a p...

This recipe was given to me, but now I have forgotten by whom.  Anyway, it disguises the rhubarb enough so that Mike will eat some of it. Rhubarb Crunch Crust: 1 cup each-quick-cook oats, light brown sugar, and flour (I use wheat/white mix).           pinch of salt           1/2 cup butter (1 stick) Give all of this a whir in the food processor or (the old-fashion way) blend with a pastry cutter til it is crumbly. Press half this mix into a deep 5"x7" pan. Put 2 cups of diced rhubarb over the crust in pan. Filling: 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch Bring these ingredients to a boil until thickened.  Add to this 1 can cherry pie filling. Spoon the mix over the rhubarb in pan. Sprinkle the rest of the crust ingredients over the top.  Sprinkle on 1/2 cup chopped nuts (I liked a mix of walnuts and almonds). Bake in a pre-heated 350 oven for 40-45 minutes....

Have you noticed that the cost of groceries is skyrocketing? If you haven't, please tell us where you shop! I have changed my eating habits to increase fruits and grains consumption and to reduce salt (a lot) and sugar (a little bit) over the past year.  Mike is not so into what he calls "depression era" foods and "third world country" cuisine.  He likes what he likes and is not so inclined to venture into new territory.  I have been steadily building my stock of herbs and spices and increasing my variety of fresh vegetables.  Mike views these efforts with suspicion so we are ending up spending more time cooking separate meals together. However, his daughter is a kick-a** good cook.  If she cooks something and does not make a major deal about full disclosure of all the ingredients in a big way, he will eat it and declare whatever she serves, "the best meal" he has ever eaten.  In turn, this gives just a little bit of license to try something sh...

The Florida experience would not be complete without a Key Lime Pie for dessert at least once in our winter stay. Actually, the first year we spent the winter here we sampled that confection more like once a week.  We felt compelled to try every bakery and determine the best available. Key limes are not something you generally see in the typical grocery store, although I have seen bottled Key lime juice.  They are very small and yellow when ripe.  A real Key Lime Pie is also a pale yellow.  It is horrible to add green food coloring to make it look like the typical green limes that we cut into wedges to drop into a gin and tonic. I have read recipes that call for the ingredients to be mixed and then just left to thicken, letting the acid in the limes "cook" the eggs.  I guess that is the original and most authentic way. I also guess that lemon juice "cooks" the egg in Caesar salad dressing, and fresh made is absolutely delicious. However, when you start to t...

Has anyone ever successfully mashed potatoes with a plastic potato masher?  What is the point of such an object?  This one didn't even come from the dollar store.  It wouldn't necessarily snap in two if you tried to use it, but it wouldn't mash a  potato either.  Hence, I suppose, "smashed potatoes."  I suppose that these are meant for use with those pots that have the stick-free coatings that you have to baby or they might give you serious medical problems.  Maybe no-stick is not entirely useless, but I prefer my cast iron fry pans and my two All-Clad pots.  With a good seasoning, cast iron pans are pretty stick-proof.  I do clean mine with salt and hot water once in a while and re-season.  They are heavy and they can leach some iron into food (which may be good or bad, depending).  All-Clad is expensive, but I pretty much use two pot sizes so that's all I invested in AND I got the larger size at a deep discount because it ...

The weather predictors admitted that they were taken by surprise by the snow storm.  Travel four miles down the hills to the south or the west of us and there is only an inch or two covering the ground.  Travel north or east and you'd be gaining elevation, so I would guess it is more.  We have 16 to 24 inches.  During the cleaning up of the walkways and driveway, I honestly had to ask myself just how much longer we will be able--and willing --to keep up with the maintenance required by home ownership, especially a home in this kind of winter climate.  My brother now lives six months in North Carolina and six months in Vermont.  The wisdom of that is dawning on me!  Well, no, we can't afford two homes and I'm here complaining about the upkeep on one home, so I guess I'll just have to keep  looking for other options. Mike dragging the snow blower.  When he gets done, the street plow will roar by and push the road snow back into the dri...

Before the power went out the other day, I had undertaken a blast-from-the past culinary experiment.  My mother used to make pierogis--alot, but it was not something I had ever attempted.  I happened to see an old Martha Stewart Show that featured her mother and her mother's recipe for pierogi dough so I decided I'd give it a go.  (I just can't seem to allow Martha to get the better of me!!  I should give this competition up as I am quite sure Martha does not consider me a threat.)  I started this project at 10:30 on Wednesday morning and finished it just as the electricity cut out at 3:30 in the afternoon.  That's five hours of working in the kitchen.  Now I know why homemade pierogis are not on my "what's for dinner" rotation.  The pierogi dough.  King Arthur four flying everywhere.   My mother made triangles.   I found it much easier to make round pierogis and actually keep the potato filling inside.   ...

Mike has left home--at least for the day.  It is the onion that are putting the tears in my eyes, though. I started my morning by making a big pot of soup which in itself started with mincing and sauteing an onion, garlic, carrots and celery.  The onion smell did kind of take over the house there for a while, and Mike really hates onions.  I added chicken stock, potatoes, squash, pumpkin, and apple cider, blended it all together and finished it with thyme, sage and a little bit of half and half.  OMG, it is so, so delicious.  I feel better after the lackluster mole debacle. We don't get to eat it though, so Mike will come back when he is done playing.  The soup is going to the Artisans' Market at the local high school.  Our town library sells soup as a fund raiser as part of this event each year.  I will go to buy a calendar for the benefit of the community center and have a soup and bread lunch for the benefit of the library.  They have be...

I was reading a magazine at the car dealership while having the oil changed and saw a recipe for Chicken Mole and I jotted it down.  I decided to experiment with supper last night and made something I'd always been curious about but had never tried.  Sometimes experiments work out fine...and sometimes, not so much.  Chicken Mole has a combination of spices--garlic, cinnamon, cloves, red and black pepper, cocoa--and this recipe called for almond butter (which I have been wanting to use up).  For the variety of ingredients, I found the dish quite tasteless.  It was almost like one thing would cancel the other out.  Out of consideration for my dear husband, I left out the onions--maybe that is what was needed to tie everything together. It's back to the tried and true for tonight--a hamburger for Mike and a walnut-lentil burger for me.  It is nice enough to fire up the grill.

I love squash so this is a great time of year for me to enjoy local produce in a satisfying meal.   This morning I had pumpkin bread made with cranberries and pumpkin seeds for breakfast.  My lunch was baked delecata squash with apple and walnuts, sprinkled with chia seeds.  Tonight, I have pumpkin pudding for dessert.  Last week I made a baked squash stuffed with vegetables and bulghar wheat and a creamy pumpkin polenta that I ate at every meal until it was gone--it was that delicious. I hope I don't turn yellow. I went to the natural food store to get some fresh nutmeg and some fresh cardamom.  Both go well with winter squash.  I keep going to the spice drawer and sniffing it.  I like being able to buy spices from the bulk bins because I can get small quantities that I will use up while they stay fresh tasting and so fragrant.  I've had my share of those tin boxes of spices that stay in the cupboard for five years....

A lunch of squash soup with a dab of Greek yogurt and a sprinkle of pumpkin seeds.  Tonight we will be "bad" and have pizza for supper. I'm off now to dig up some plants to donate to the library plant sale tomorrow morning.

I went to my sister's yesterday to give her two hooded baby bath towels that I made from bath towels and a hand towel.  She was going to visit her new grandson so I sent one for a baby gift and one for a "big sister" gift.  Not having a baby or a kid handy, I had to use a teddy bear to model it.  I've often given these as baby gifts.  I haven't had any comments from the babies, but parents really seem to like them. We are having a rainy day and from predictions have decided to delay our trip to Rhode Island for a day.  I've been salivating at the memory of the fresh off the boat lobster we had for dinner there last year.  I can wait one more day because we had lobster rolls for dinner a few nights ago.  I was walking to the library and noticed a sign on in front of the Welcome Kitchen , a place in the village that opened last year and does take out meals and catering.  Lobster rolls called my name, big time, and they were delicious. ...

Cucumbers, green beans, tomatoes, fresh picked herbs, blueberries, sweet corn, beets, summer squash, little heads of cabbage--these are the things I can pick from my own garden or find at the local Farmers' Markets.  This is when food tastes so good--one of my favorite things about summer.  As a kid, summer eating was about hot dogs, watermelon, and ice cream.  I haven't had ice cream this summer.  I still go for an occasional hot dog grilled til the skin pops and covered with pickle relish--true junk food.  Watermelon...I'm getting a craving...may have to make a trip to the store. After considerable experimentation, I have decided that drying herbs in the microwave works best for me.  Also, I tried freezing vegetarian dishes so that on those days when I just am not up for slicing, dicing, chopping, etc., I'd have something on hand.  I find that I prefer to make something with the idea that I will have it in the fridge and have four or five meals of i...

There is some information about the derivation of "Fool" as the name for a fruit dessert, for what it is worth, here . I noticed that other recipes online called for two to three times as much heavy cream as I used in my recipe. I'm not a big dairy person, so I think a smaller amount works fine.

Our company arrived Friday evening and we had a leisurely dinner and wine and conversation. They brought Lindt Dark Chocolate with a touch of Sea Salt. One word: HEAVEN! Saturday, "the boys" left for a BMW motorcycle swap meet. Jeannie and I went to poke around an architectural salvage store and the antique mall situated above it. Jeannie purchased a little soap dish and a large green glass blown vase to put by their newly refinished fireplace. We went to the Four Corners of the Earth Cafe where we had my favorite sandwich and iced tea. Then we went for a nice long walk along the Burlington waterfront. When we all got back, we played bocce in the backyard--great fun, but just for the record, the girls had a quite spectacular win. A rout, really. We got up late this morning. A steady rain and cool air blowing in the windows made sleeping in just about the perfect activity for starting a Sunday. I made a big breakfast which included bacon for a treat. We get McKensie bacon here...

Tonight's supper was spinach pie with an olive oil crust that I had ready to bake in the freezer. I used the crust recipe from the Vegetarian Times and the filling recipe from the revised Moosewood Cookbook . It was quite good, but I hope the leftovers hold up since this was a large pie and it is rich. A small piece and salad filled me up. Mike made himself a sardine sandwich, but he forgot to take a picture of it. Simple recipe though--slice a whole wheat roll, open up a can of sardines and drain the olive oil before plopping on the roll. Top with a slice of cheese. Maybe someday I'll try one. I finished The Postmistress by Sarah Blake. Well, sort of finished as I did a whole lot of skimming. It just seemed to wander so much I found it really hard to get into. I have now started Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls. I'm finding it fascinating, can hardly put it down--hence the supper of sandwiches or freezer fare.

Oh. boy! It looks like we are in for some nice weather in the coming week. I skipped the deck today and mowed the lawn instead. Mike spent the two plus hours it took me to do that scraping the deck and helping me "help" him. First, I could not get the lawn tractor to start. I checked the fuel; I tapped on the carburetor; I tried again and again; I walked away and then went back and tried again. Nothing. I finally went to get Mike and told him I couldn't start the lawn tractor. He stopped his scraping and went into the garage--that darn tractor started with his first turn of the starter. He went back to his job; I could not get the tractor to move. Once again, I interrupt him. The parking brake was on. I did not even know the lawn tractor had a parking brake. After a half hour of mowing I went around the lilac bush in the back yard. It's on a small but fairly steep hill. I tipped the tractor into the bush and got it thoroughly stuck. I couldn't back out and I could...