kitty companiona

kitty companiona

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Stuck in the Kitchen

Stuck in the kitchen, chained to the sewing machine.
It sounds like the plight of the 1950's housewife.  It seems to be where I've been lately, but not regretfully.

Actually I like being stuck in the kitchen.
Since I cleared my counter tops several weeks ago of knitting and rughooking projects, plus piles of books and papers, I've been on a happy cooking binge.  The new oven is wonderful.  Don't know how I've lived without it!  So far I've baked cookies, bread, and casseroles and they have all come out good.

The breakfast strata made with sausage and brussels sprouts and cheese baked perfectly.  No burning the bottom and edges.




Since morning is the time when I have the most energy, breakfast has been the meal that has brought out the creativity.  With asparagus season being upon us, I couldn't resist rolling some in crepes with mustard cream cheese and crumbled bacon.


I have to confess that the Food Network is one of my guilty pleasures.  I love Chopped, Iron Chef and Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.  But, I DO NOT watch during the daytime!  Only after 6 p.m.!!!  Do I sound like an addict justifying my addiction because I only indulge after a certain time of day???  You bet!

Since the 'pink slime' in grocery store burger revelations, Zip and I have decided to grind our own burger and sausage meat.  I've also been irritated by the 'enhanced' label on many meats.  Since when is adding water to make an item weigh more an enhancement?  This past week our grocery had chicken thighs on sale.  We bought a pack of ten thghs.  Look at the excess amount of FAT and SKIN that I removed from them.  And there was still plenty of fat and skin left on the meat for pan frying.  



I fried it crisp and it will go to the stray outside kitties who come by for a meal.

We're hoping to get a smoker this summer so we can make some good lean smoked sausage.

OK, we're done in the kitchen and off to the basement.  Not the most pleasant place, but it's where we keep our two container-sized citrus trees, a lemon and an orange.  We repotted them last year and the lemon didn't give fruit.  But...Horay! the orange gave us two fruits!


The trees themselves aren't that attractive, but look at the lovely fruit!  They are more like clementines with a thin skin and sweet flavor.


 The other passtime that's been using much of my creative energy has been sewing.
My sewing for Brad and Kami is now mostly hats and shoulder boards for their re-enactment business.

And this early 19th century style vest.


Two weeks ago when we had those few days with the temperature in the mid 70's I was digging around in my selection of summer clothing and found that I had NOTHING to wear.  I am not kidding.....ONE short sleeved shirt!!!  After checking out the selection at KMart, I decided it is time to do some sewing for myself.  So far I've finished one shirt and have several more in the 'almost' stage.


I started with some of my least-favorite fabric in case the pattern didn't come out right.  I'm pretty well pleased but next time will add a little across the shoulders.

I'm off in a few hours to a Knitting at Large meet-up in Frederick, MD.  It will be fun getting together with a bunch of women and comparing projects.  I hope to take lots of pictures.  If I don't forget!

Have a great weekend!



10 comments:

  1. your breakfast strada looks and sounds wonderful, you should post it in your recipes. mom and jana come to bond next week... yum! glad your enjoying your oven! enjoy i cant wait for fresh asparagus! enjoy your day!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Pat,
    I always get hungry after reading your posts! LOL! That strata and the asparagus look heavenly! Glad you are enjoying that new stove!
    I love everything you have sewn and no wonder you have been glued to your machine! You are getting so much accomplished!
    How big will those fruit trees get? It's great that you can keep them growing and get the fruits from them!
    Love the Dieter pic!
    Hugs!!
    Cathy G

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Pat,
    I always get hungry after reading your posts! LOL! That strata and the asparagus look heavenly! Glad you are enjoying that new stove!
    I love everything you have sewn and no wonder you have been glued to your machine! You are getting so much accomplished!
    How big will those fruit trees get? It's great that you can keep them growing and get the fruits from them!
    Love the Dieter pic!
    Hugs!!
    Cathy G

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm so glad the new stove is working well, meals at your house certainly are creative!

    My parents have had a potted lemon tree for more than forty years! It has never produced fruit but it is beautiful! A few years ago my mother decided she was fed up dragging it in and out of the house each spring until the weather was warm enough for it to remain outside for the summer, so Robert and I took it and endured the giant thorns poking us as we maneuvered it around. Then a few years ago we moved house and our new house was just too small for this huge tree so now my sister has it!!! I hope it lives on and on in our family :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Pat I wish that I live closer just to sample some of your baking and cooking. It simply looks so good and your presentation looks so professional. I'm so glad that you got that nice oven.

    I've been on a baking and cooking spree myself lately. Today I tried the peanut butter muffins on Mennonite Girls Can Cook blog and it was delicious. It got rave review from my husband and two hired hands.

    You have been busy being very productive. Those period costumes would interest my granddaughter as she's so keen on sewing period costumes.

    Your sewing looks so professional.
    Hugs, JB

    ReplyDelete
  6. Pat ~
    Glad to hear all is well and you are no longer hibernating :)
    Can I come and sample your cooking? Everything always looks so yummy.
    Hugs :)
    Lauren

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Pat,
    Yum!!! Your breakfast casserole looks super yummy! Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day! Would love for you to post the recipe :)
    I sure wish I was as productive as you in the kitchen - just too much good food here for me to sample - why cook!
    Looks like you'll have a wintry day today - sounds like a great day to be in the kitchen! Stay warm & I'm sure Spring will return later in the week.
    Cheers, Jill

    ReplyDelete
  8. Pat,
    That asparagus crepe sounds and looks fabulous. Glad the new appliances are making you happy. I didn't get the "pink slime" reference, but I think I'd rather not know :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a great post ....I think you really have become a 'fifties' housewife ...all this activity in the kitchen and on the sewing machine.
    Since my computer has been sick and I have had to borrow my daughters lap top when I can, I have done quite a bit of knitting and tried out a couple of wartime cake recipes ...Rock Cakes and Jam buns ...such fun...but I so need to sort my computer out ...just putting it off....as usual.

    Take Care xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Pat, thanks for visiting and leaving a sweet comment. I always enjoy hearing from you.

    I ordered a Mac Book Pro for my husband through Reward points but it wasn't compatible with the farm management program he was using and had to get another lap top so now I have his Mac Book Pro and it is not easy to get use to the built in mouse.

    So I'm using a cordless mouse with my lap top and I love it. I went into Bluetooth and set it up.

    The mouse is compatible with the Mac but cost $65.
    a bit pricey and uses batteries.

    By the way I made strata for supper yesterday and my husband loved it.

    Have a great rest of the week. Hugs, JB

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for visiting!