Saturday, September 11, 2010

Garage Sale at The Swamphouse

Up at 6am sharp...pants on, shirt on, keys, coffee and toast and newspaper readings done. Off to The Swamphouse across town to clear out the clutter (I would say ONCE AND FOR ALL but I know better) from the front hall. Audrey came along and was a very good helpmate and worker as well as the runner for our lunch (SUBWAY Sandwiches). Sold some stuff...about 150 bux worth of mixed items...mixed meaning identifiable and almost clean but worth less than 5 bux. Lots of books at 25 cents each/5 for a dollar went into other hands. Very nice. It was easier than I thought it would be to tell the truth, I had been somewhat apprehensive as today is The Anniversary of the World Trade Center destruction.

I have an idea about today to help ease the pain of it, make Septemebr 11th a National Holiday to celebrate Volunterism and Public Service. Celebrate our Fire Departments, Police Departments, Emergency Workers, Highway Patrol et al. and use it as a call for volunterism. It could be a great follow on to Labor Day as well which just got over with last Monday. Two Holidays in the beginning of September? Sure, why not? There's nothing else except the beginning of Monday Night Football to celebrate this month. Seems logical and a needed thing to buffer the awfulness of this date in the history of our country. Talk it up, maybe we can make it happen!

Thursday, September 09, 2010

New Stuff...September is here

Where to begin? I dunno...first is the discovery of our beautiful grandchild Kaylee's FB page. How fun, corss generalional communications, what a treat. They are so much more technologically able than us old farts that they communicate in this way like we used to with IMing and emails. Who even remembers snail mail? When was the last time you bought a stamp to mail a letter to someone dear and not so near? So she friended (a new verb) us and we are now on her list of friends.
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Today I baked a loaf of bread without sugar as an ingredient. It's a first. Usually the 3 cups of bread flour have 2 Tablespoons of some sugar, molassus to assist the yeast in it's work. Today there was none of this. The result rose normally and browned nicely as well. The aroma was that of nuts and caramel. I'll let it set a few hours and try it and report back.

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I asked last night at the Cast Iron Grill and Bar to get a kitchen tour today. The chef, Anthony set a date for today at 2pm and I was there with bells on! A beautiful slab of what was going to be corned beef was being prepared at the time so I kept out of the way and watched as Anthony drew his razor sharp (I mean it!) blade along the underside of the silverskin and peeled it away bit by bit. Then came another slab prepared the same way, then pierced to allow the seasoning to penetrate thoroughly. The it was wrapped in plastic and put aside to marinate for a while.
We discussed many elements of his kitchen as well as recipes and methods. He has worked in many restaurants after culinary school and worked as a sous chef with Bobby Flay in the past as well. He possessed a very kindly and knowledgeable attitude with this chef-wanna-be-but-will-never-be answering my cooking questions one after the other. It was a very impressive visit and as I left I said "You are our restaurant now!" and meant it.