Jim started talking to me at midnight and finally got to sleep again at 2:30. I wish I had a switch to turn off his brain, from time to time. His brother used to shut off the hot water as Jim tends to think a lot in the shower. And I’m wide awake now but need to be ready to go to the polls at 8:30. Big, tough guy is taking me into a rough neighborhood to vote. Surely his vote will cancel out mine, but leaving alive and unmolested is a priority.
Today I did my Penzey’s run. Tried to call m-i-l Margie to clarify the type of cocoa she wanted but didn’t get her, so bought dark Dutch process cocoa. I picked up a few treats for my students, who may get an herb and spice quiz day after Thanksgiving. That’s a hint, ladies! Also got some whole spices (fennel et al) to try my new Kitchenaid spice grinder. I bought it because it’s the only one in which the entire mechanism comes off and can be cleaned thoroughly, so it could conceivably be used for coffee and for spices. Most machines that can only be wiped carry coffee or spice smells so strong that you need one for each duty. Minimum of space is my motto, one machine is better than two!
As it is, a few weeks ago I made a lovely curried butternut squash soup, and the main blade of my food processor is bright yellow. Perhaps I’ll have to soak it in a weak bleach solution? It’s very clean but looks dirty.
As for Thanksgiving proper, I must make a new batch of spicy almonds and cashews (see site), Boursin and crackers, and I am toying with the idea of my Mom’s mincemeat tarts. Her pastry recipe is easy but I’m not good with pastry at all, as if I touch anything with butter in it, it melts. One hot mama!
Then I have to plan a teaching menu for the girls. We had an impromptu class last year and had fun with it, so I look forward to doing it again this year. I’ll bring nearly everything we need, except fresh ingredients. I may even do that if Jim insists on getting dry ice to keep the dog food cold. Oh, we feed our dog frozen raw lamb medallions with lots of veggies and fruit in them. Her coat feels like human hair, it’s so soft. Before you criticize, try it. I tried for eight months, every premium quality food in existence, and she wouldn’t eat it. Now she gets Nature’s Variety and is also on a dry food for hurricane times, which have been more frequent. She loves the frozen food and since there’s no grain, let’s just say there’s less to pick up.
I started with cooking with the girls and ended with doggie doo. Go figure. Perhaps it’s because it’s 3 a.m. and my husband and dog are snoring next door.
Thanksgiving is an interesting endeavor with my husband’s extended family. With new babies, we may hit 60 this year! My first year, before officially joining the family, we spent 12 hours at Nanny’s, four of it trying to build two sets of train tracks in Stevie’s “office.” He is into trains and has three different gauge tracks. Of course Jim took the physics approach and we measured and sawed until midnight. He ended up leaving his specs on the wall. Shortly after we left, the practical men took charge and built the thing in several hours.
I was the girlfriend then, two months later we eloped. Now I’m just another married lady who cooks.
Cooking with Dee 