What's Cooking Saturday October 26th

[wilderness]

Have a great day.

Bet

[annrms]

Good morning! It's clear and cold this morning. It will be a 'rinse and repeat' day today with sunshine, gusty wind, and fallish weather.
Oour field trip to the sea coast was great. We saw a number of birds. The highlight was seeing a Great Blue Heron take off in flight right in front of us. The wing span of that bird is 6 feet...!
We ordered burgers from the restaurant last night with chips and salads. We like to put the cheeseburger atop the salads w/o the roll...sort of like steak tips on a salad! Hit the spot!!
Tonight I'm making Shake 'n Bake thick pork chops. The pork choice on this month's menu is 'braised pork belly' which is extremely fatty so it's not to our taste. The chops were on sale at the market so I got two. I have to check on the potatoes in the cupboard. If good, I'll make bleu cheese mashed. If not, I'll use the rest of the spicy noodles. I have veggies from the restaurant...brussies, corn, mushrooms, and butternut that I ordered with the burgers.
There's a traditional music concert this afternoon. Description: "Come hear the music that fellow residents have been playing for the past 8 months in the hallowed halls of the Baldwin. During this concert, you will travel to Ireland, Scotland, Canada, New England, and Appalachia to hear a sample of their traditional music melodies. The band consists of banjo, Irish whistles, bodhran drum, guitars, and fiddle. Dancing and hooting are strongly encouraged!" Sounds like fun, doesn't it!!!
Time for breakfast!! Enjoy the day! Waving!

[cooktocook]

Hello to all and a very good early morning to each of you!

Bet, what a nice picture to begin the day! Great to read that your freezer is fixable. 

Tasty, sounds like you had a productive day yesterday taking care of your freezers--so worth the time afterwards in finding items you need/want. Unfortunately, I've not been able to go out to our large upright or small refrigerator with top freezer in the garage in months. I have had to rely on DH to tell me what is in both and make calls for dinner based on what he sees. We both are determined to try and use what is there and just mentioning it this morning, DH said we've been doing a good job---items left are getting more limited, some items completely gone, only a few larger cut items to cook (we'll have leftovers to freeze afterwords), and he said there is more open spaces to move what is there around. In the kitchen I see more of my glass and plastic containers returning that I haven't seen in a while.

Tammy, found it interesting about your neighbors that were set to relocate from Care to Boston near their sons. Guess it was very good that they realized that was not what they really wanted to do before they actually moved. Unfortunately, costly in the fact that they sold their place and now must purchase a new RV, but so very kind of you and DH to help them out by staying at your apartment until their new home arrives.

Going to go now and eat some breakfast. I may not be back here until late tomorrow to chat (after DD and Lilith leave) or until later Monday (after PT). Wishing a wonderful weekend to all!!
Lori

[cooktocook]

Ann, that concert does indeed sound like a good time---enjoy! As for pork belly---no thank   you, not our cup of tea. Tried it once a few years back at a Cuban restaurant down Miami way--just too fatty for both us and disappointed we were.
Lori

[emr]

Good morning friends! DH & I were watching Game 1 of the World Series last night but got sleepy and turned it off -- so we missed one of the greatest endings of a World Series game ever! Walk-off grand slam with 2 outs in the bottom of the 10th inning! Oh well, we enjoyed watching the video this morning.

We had a nice lazy breakfast downstairs and now DH is at his office grading. I will get back to work on the inventory in a minute and then I have some errands to run in town later. Tonight we'll be packing up and getting ready to check out of the hotel tomorrow morning. Looking forward to getting into the house.

Ann, that concert sounds like a lot of fun. I bet there will be some "dancing and hooting"!
The only time I've had pork belly was when DS2's Korean friend cooked for us. He grilled it over high heat and served it on a flatbread with kimchi -- kind of a Korean taco. Maybe the cooking method got rid of some of the fat -- I found it crispy and delicious.

Lori, wow, y'all are really making progress on the freezers! Aren't you glad you had so much stuff out there, though? That's really been a help while you're recuperating. I'm going to actually buy groceries next week. I have a couple days off scheduled in early November to do my Christmas baking, and I'm looking forward to it.

Bet, another great picture. You could sell a calendar! I love the spots of bright color from individual trees. I'm seeing a little bit of that around here too.

[mamma482]

Good morning.
A chilly 60º this morning so I put the windshield up on the golf cart. That kept the cold air from slapping my face and it kept my ears from hurting as well. Just three more days of the 90's. Then down to our normal for this time of year, which is the 70's during the day and 50's at night. By next weekend I may be putting an extra blanket on the bed. I will also turn the mattress. I do that every 6 months or until I can't do it anymore. It's really an awful job in such a super small room.

This morning I really need to wash the golf cart. We aren't suppose to do that anymore. But I don't use a hose, I just use two buckets of water, one to wash and one to rinse. They don't want us using so much water and the hose uses up way more than my two buckets per vehicle. I can get the car washed and rinsed with two buckets as well.  Those that wash off their concrete drives use way more water than washing a car. But I guess that is okay. Go figure. I'll get to the golf cart after I finish my coffee, I still want another cup. It's a three cup morning after so little sleep last night.

Not much else planned for the day although there are a few things on the to do list. 

[wilderness]

Just so you know.  I haven't taken many of these pictures.  Our folks on our local facebook post pictures almost every day.  I save them and they run as a slide show continuously on my computers home screen.  The one where these pictures are coming from I started collecting this past spring and currently there are 211 different photos mainly of scenery around this immediate area.

Ann, another enjoyable afternoon of entertainment planned for you.  Aren't those Blue Heron spectacular when the take off.  It is unbelievable that they can even get into the air.  They nest in this area so used to see them quite often but the last few years haven't.  I have some pictures that one of the fellows that post on Facebook has taken.  I will see if I can find them and post them in my good morning.

Tasty, you are sure getting your freezers under control.  I am not looking forward to that project once I get my freezer back running.  What took me an hour or two to destroy when I had to move everything will take me a couple of days if not more to fix.

Lori, is today the girls are coming for a visit.  I am sure you are anxious to see them and there will be big changes in Lilith.  Does she still read you bedtime stories?

Elza, I am sure you can't wait to get moved tomorrow and maybe get some normalcy back in your life.  The reason for all the questions regarding the age of your inventoried items is if you replace them it should be replacement cost today if you have that coverage on your policy and if you don't replace them you get a depreciated value.  It is a messy job no matter how you look at it and a lot of work.

It was 46°and we had a couple of brief shower then partly sunny with a high around 50° I have a couple of jobs this morning in a town just south of me that I planned to do this morning.Then when I got home if warm enough I could get the greenhouse cleaned out and down. It not today tomorrow.  Well I haven't left for work yet and am deciding if it will be this afternoon or tomorrow morning.  I have spent the morning trying to comprehend my work starting the 4th of November.  Lots of things are changing and they have us taking on a lot of new jobs which are not the kind of work I hired on for 5 years ago.  Some big decisions to make.

Need to get off this computer.

Bet

[emr]

Bet, I know it's necessary and since we do have replacement value on our policy, I'm looking up what it would cost for me to buy those things right now. Tedious but worth it! I think I'm close to done, actually. I'll have DH review it later since I know he will spot some things that I missed.

Mamma, it was a 3 cups of coffee morning for me just because it's Saturday and I have the time to enjoy it. 

[tasty]

Good morning gang.  It has turned into a beautiful day here with blue skies and lots of sunshine.  Temperature is about 50 so not too bad for late October.  The sky in your photo this morning Bet, is just like we have today.
I got the inventory finished this morning for the freezers - let me do that any day over the inventory you have to do Elza.  That sounds like a nightmare.  Other than for fresh veggies and dairy, I should need very little from the grocery store for the next few weeks.  If I wanted to use everything, I could keep going into January but we might prefer to have a little more variety than that would give us.  I just keep working away at it a few days at a time because I know if I commit to doing this for 3 months it won't happen, whereas, a few days at a time is so much easier - "let's just do this until the weekend" and then I'll have some leftovers to use, so we'll aim to get to the next weekend . . .   And if there's something we really want, I'll buy it.
Glad you enjoyed your day out yesterday Ann.  Have you ever seen the Blue Herons landing in a tree?  They are so ungainly until they have their balance  We used to see them landing at the golf club a few years ago but haven't seen them recently.  Have fun at the concert this afternoon.  Isn't it a great feeling Lori to see that empty space just grow as you eat your way thru the freezers.  Enjoy the time with your girls.  Happy moving Elza.  It will be nice to get settled for a while.  There's always a few things on the to-do list mamma, now matter how organised we try to be.   Enjoy the nice weather while we can Bet, because we know it isn't going to last.
Have a fun day everyone.

[helen]

Hello All. I was pretty grumpy yesterday as I was faced with a hot water problem on a Friday that means no fix til Monday at the earliest. Unfortunately the kids are not available and with the hot water tank in the garage attic (after a perilous climb up pull-down steps) I am of no use whatsoever. Having no hot water is not my issue -- that's the least of it. It's what might be wrong with the tank that is a worry. Oh well, In the fullness of time, as my Hubby often quoted. I'll be moving on soonest with movies and Solitaire, a nice nap, and French bread pizza for supper. Hugs to all.

[weebill]

[weebill]

Good morning. I have 2 minutes of it. Been busy cleaning this morning. Off to play cards this afternoon.

Elaine

[wilderness]

Momma, glad you could enjoy your 3 cups of coffee this morning.  Your lows are going to my highs if I am lucky but that is rather warm for the 1st. of November but not complaining.  I am glad to read that you are pushing yourself for a little more motivation.  It is amazing how much that little inner push can make a big difference in how we feel about ourselves and what we can accomplish.

Tasty, I had stopped buying a while before my freezer went down.  Like you it is hard to resist a sale.  However starting tomorrow the bacon I like is on sale buy 2 get 3 free.  I am almost out of bacon and it will keep in the refrigerator for quite a while before I have to freeze it.  It will depend on the price however if I buy it or not.

Helen, I think you had a right to be grumpy yesterday.  Those major appliances that we depend on so much can be very costly to repair and even more to replace.  I hope you can get some help on Monday and get hot water again.  Stay off those stairs in the garage to the attic.

Elaine, who is the girl in the picture.  Did I miss something?  Have fun playing cards this afternoon.

I have had a very busy day however never did a thing I had planned to do.  Never stepped foot outside.  When I finally quit trying to figure out what I was going to do about my job without any conclusion, I headed for the kitchen.  Well not quite yet.  I was printing out things for work and neither of my printers were printing right.  I new the Lazer needs toner and that is ordered but the big color printer wasn't printing have of the words on a page.  I put all new ink in that and not help so spend about 2 hours running tests etc. to get it working properly again.  No idea what caused it but at least I now know how to fix it.  I packaged up things that were in freezer containers in the refrigerator freezer and added another small container to one self that held all of that stuff and some other things that were taking up space.  That made room for me to get 5 meals of leftover pork chops and gravy into freezer containers and then are now in the freezer.  I spent quite a bit of time looking for something for dinner tonight.  Finally decided on a new recipe for chicken enchiladas.  I was out of enchilada sauce so made a batch of that and got the chicken cooked for it once I found it in the freezer.  They are all put together ready to just add the sauce and cheese on top and into the oven.  Wanted something sweet so make my Mom's chocolate cake that makes 4 4" cakes.  I like my boiled chocolate fudge frosting but it is to much to mess with if you just want to pull a cake from the freezer and frost it.  I found a new frosting that I can make and keep the extra in the refrigerator ready any time.  So I have a nice little cake all frosted for dinner tonight.  Also made ranch dressing and a tossed salad for dinner. If I wait until dinner time I usually don't make it.  The dishwasher is emptied and will be full after dinner so will get that run.  Making trips up and down to the basement for things I have been also taking things on the way down and getting them put away.

That's not a bad day accomplishments but considering I have been up since 4 and it is now 6 I should have got more done.  I need to head for the basement and get the steam canner as I have Rotel tomatoes I made the other day that need to get processed.

Enjoy your evening.

Bet

[tamaralynn]

Not an exciting day here. I worked, napped then made supper. The tetrazzini was fair, I doubt I will make it again, but DH did like it.

I plan on washing my hair later on. Actually the dogs are looking shaggy and need bathing but that won't be happening tonight. Maybe next week.

Helen, so sorry you are having water heater problems and no one to rescue you. Good luck coping.

Lori, enjoy your family.

Waving to everyone! Hope we all sleep well.