Meatless Tuesday - Warm Farro Asparagus Salad

 Quarantine supper tonite...  Live from NYC... 

Weather today was rainy and cool...  kids splashing in puddles... laughing as Mom’s take their hands...  pulling...  trying to keep those pants dry...  acorns  becoming marbles that skid underfoot...  squirrels huddling in their nests...  soggy fur drying among the leaves and branches...  it’s fall in the Big Apple...

The grass and bushes loving the drink...  I could swear they were smiling...  storms continue throughout...  by tomorrow afternoon the sun will allow her countenance to shine down upon us...  her reflection sparkling like diamonds among the wet grass...  It’s just the right time for rain too as the trees need water to display their beautiful fall foliage.

Just finished watching the debate...  what a disappointment...  it was impossible to learn anything with the constant interrupting...  talking over and button pushing...   the American people would have preferred some discussion of actual issues...  plans to help out small businesses...  deal effectively with covid...  rebuild our infrastructure...  address climate change...  discuss civil unrest...  the economy...  but no...  felt like work...  watching a couple on the verge of divorce trying to hammer out an agreement...  it was difficult to watch...  traumatizing...  

Thank goodness for the mute button...  

Supper tonite was meatless Tuesday...  since we ate our spatchcocked (love saying that word) chicken last night.   It was a warm salad of farro, roasted asparagus, eggplant and peppers...  caramelized onions...  chopped fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and red onion...  chick peas...  shredded Parmesan...  lime juice and and a mustard vinaigrette.  Delicious and so filling...  made for an excellent supper...  even the hubs enjoyed it...  Yay!  He’s coming along in adapting to more frequent meatless meals...  makes me happy.

Mom received her absentee ballot today and will have voted by the end of the week.  We spoke with her pre-debate...  she asked for a summary tomorrow...  wasn’t interested in watching it...  she is wise...

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?   Thoughts?

Spatchcocked Grilled Chicken, Roasted Eggplant and Peppers & Tomato Jam

 Quarantine supper tonite...   Live from NYC...

Today was a last breath of summer feel...  warm... light breeze... humid...  except for the acorns cracking under my feet trotting out to the greenhouse to open the vent for fresh air.  Tomorrow the rains arrive with late day thunderstorms...   by midweek October brings with it clearing skies and temperatures in the low 60’s...  squirrels busily collecting nuts for their winter storage...  geese beginning to fly in gaggles bracing for their flight to Canada (how I wish I could join them) leaves dancing in the breezes soon to flutter to the ground...  autumn is upon us.

Last nights spatchcocked chicken hit the grates today with a satisfying hiss as the hubs stood watch...  tomatoes roasted into jam in the afternoon graced our supper table along with eggplant and peppers soft and pliant from the oven.  Mr Sam stood alongside patiently (many meows, begging and pawing) waiting for his plate...  chicken his favorite.  We ended with a disappointing fruit salad of empress plums (delicious) and white peaches (flavorless)...  the plums have been consumed...  the peaches may be headed for a dessert...  they will surely need sweetening.

Last Thursday I wrenched my back (don’t ask how... I don’t know) a few really bad days later and I’m making slow progress (back brace, gentle stretching and hot showers) standing is finally somewhat comfortable...  thank goodness...  cause cooking means standing...  and cooking is my go to for relaxation...

We have a grim milestone ahead...  we are about to grieve the loss of one millions souls to covid worldwide.  One in thirty three have perished from this pandemic...  and yet there is no end in sight...  tomorrow we hear from the two people who wish to guide us into the next years...  much is riding on the outcome.   Tune in...  make a plan...   vote...

How was your day?  What’s on your plate?  Thoughts?

A Series of Unfortunate Events Salad with London Broil, Chicken, Feta, Olives and Clementines

 Quarantine supper tonite...  Live from NYC...

Today was a series of unfortunate events...  we have a mini fridge that was originally purchased when our son went to college.  He didn’t take it to his home and since the pandemic we have used it for Mom’s groceries (I shop for her and bring her groceries to her the next day). It needed defrosting and so today we emptied it and placed it outside on the deck to defrost and drain...  first time defrosting a mini fridge...   

We took Mom for her flu shot, visited for a bit then came home.  Mini fridge looked dry and empty.  The hubs carried it into the kitchen and placed it on my cooking mat so I could clean it up...  suddenly a couple of gallons of water flowed onto the floor...  apparently it has a tray beneath the freezer...  who knew???  all the melted ice had accumulated therein.  Following clean up...  involving lots of cussing and many towels...  the fridge is back in its appointed spot...  no harm no foul.  

Our dinner got completely derailed since it was now well past cooking time...  and thus a “clean out the fridge salad” became supper.  Leftovers from our Japanese Hibachi takeout...  leftover london broil...   feta...  clementine segments...  olives and a robust mustard vinaigrette made for a quick and satisfying supper.  Guess I’ll make the spatchcocked chicken tomorrow night...

Taxes anyone?  NYTimes article was highly informative and probably irritated The Emperor’s New Clothes a great deal...  

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?   Thoughts?

Chili Night with Sam Adams IPA

 Quarantine supper tonite...  Live from NYC...

Today it was vanilla skies once again... Beta approaches from the southwest bringing with her humidity...  scattered afternoon showers and cloud cover.  Got my flu shot this morning...  no issues save a sore arm for about two hours...  glad it’s done! 

The squirrel attack has begun in earnest...  both pumpkin and watermelon plants have been eaten...  leaves, flowers and stems...  gone!  The little furry thieves can’t get into the greenhouse, but they sure can nibble up anything in the garden.  Fortunately they don’t eat herbs...  not sure why...  so...  no pumpkin or watermelon this fall.  

We have more crickets this year than ever before...  apparently they love basil, Gardenia and sweet potato leaves.  There are chomps on most of the basil leaves where their hungry little mouths have nibbled away leaving enormous holes  ~sigh~  the Gardenia and sweet potato have been similarly assaulted. 

Tonite was chili night...  nothing warms the tummy like beef and bean chili with an IPA...  this one was Sam Adams...  perfect accompaniment to spicy chili.  The hubs added hot sauce to his bowl...   enough to create a light covering of sweat droplets atop his bald pate that shimmered in the kitchen light.  He was a happy camper.  Mr Sam doesn’t like chili...  he enjoyed his chicken and liver dinner without complaint...   warm apple crisp finished up the meal for us humans. 

Covid cases are once again rising in states all across the US...  amid the fires, floods, viruses and political animus there is a great deal of stress on us all.  Let us remember to practice self care...  time away from the news...  fun activities with folks we love where possible...  lots of long phone and video chats to keep social interactions going...  and of course...  cooking and baking...  and lastly something we all love to do... EAT! 

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?   Thoughts?

Garden Salad with Chick Peas, Grilled Corn and Nasturtiums, London Broil and Apple Crisp

 Quarantine supper tonite...  Live from NYC...

80°F...  what a delight...  with low humidity and bright sunshine it was a day to enjoy being alive.  Between work and chores made time to play outside... Mr Sam sprawled on the warm boards of the deck soaking in the sunshine...  I swear he smiled at me as I walked back and forth on the deck tending to the plants...  reveling in the warmth...  the sun on my face.

By supper time feeling energized... apples beginning to show softness were peeled and cut...  ready for baking...  the scent of cinnamon and allspice filled the kitchen... the crisp bubbling away.  The hubs grilled our london broil...  a quick salad came together...  greenhouse tomatoes...  chick peas...  grilled corn...  radish,  arugula and nasturtium leaves giving a peppery spice to the base of romaine.

We continue to monitor the wildfires in the west hoping for cooler weather  and rain to ease the heat and dryness...  the gulf coast endured another monster storm dumping enormous amounts of rain on communities still not dry from the hurricane just a few weeks back...  and amidst it all the covid crisis flaring up once again in the US passing the devastating mark of 200,000 lives lost...  please mask up and stay safe 💞😷

The US Census ends in a week...  have you been counted?  41 more days until the Election ...  are you registered to vote?

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?  Thoughts?

Grilled Za-tar Chicken Thighs, Grilled Peppers, Mushroom Stuffed Tomatoes & Baked Orange Marmalade Plantains

 Quarantine supper tonite...  Live from NYC...

Today was bright, sunny high of 72F...  light breeze...  perfect day for running errands and doing outdoor activities.  Tomatoes are ripening in the greenhouse slowly but surely as the days shorten and the temperatures slip into the 50’s at night.   

Five neighborhoods in NYC have seen a slight uptick in covid infections since Labor Day...  gives me the willies...  hoping the track and trace folks can get it under control.  Today’s awful milestone of 200,000 lost to the virus...  so many families...  such devestation...  our hearts ache for them.

Tonites supper...  (inspired by the NYTimes Middle Eastern Grilled Chicken Thighs) grilled za-tar chicken thighs with roasted peppers, mushroom stuffed roasted tomatoes and plantains baked in orange marmalade...  the counterpoint of the sweet plantains against the savory flavors of the chicken and tomato worked particularly well.  

Following our supper the hubs built a small fire in our fire pit...  we relaxed on the deck for an hour enjoying the warmth...  a delightful end to our day.

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?   Thoughts?

Roasted Eggplant, Pepper and Cauliflower tossed with Cacio e Pepe

Quarantine supper tonite...  Live from NYC...

Today was another cool blustery fall like day...  bright blue skies graced the Big Windy Apple...   the sun shining down in all her glory warming the greenhouse and our chilly souls.

Spent some time in with the vegetables today nipping off dead leaves...  checking hydration... humidity...  temperature.  Using one light bulb in a reflector next to the tomato planters keeps them above  50°F at night... today was delightful and warm...  a moth fluttered away each time another plant was examined...  shy fellow.  Incredibly...  the cool nights (mid 40’s) and mild days (mid 60’s) tomatoes are still producing...  beyond pleased with results thus far...

Researched cold weather growing...  found many vegetables that love the winter...  lettuces...  cabbages...  root veggies...  peas... chard... parsley...  thrilled to keep growing as long as possible.

Today’s dessert was a use up of nectarines in a delightful clafoutis by Julia Child (link:  https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/12688-julia-childs-berry-clafoutis) the custard was steeped in vanilla and we both found its perfume truly enhanced the dish (always make dessert first...  right?)

Supper was another successful meatless Monday...  roasted eggplant, peppers and cauliflower tossed with Cacio e Pepe (https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017304-cacio-e-pepe)  delightful...  no disagreement  from the hubs this time...  necessary after our grilled hamburger and chips meal last night...  our son and a few of his friends spent the day disassembling a dead maple tree we had taken down on Saturday...  they want the firewood...  huge sawing job...  three of them plus the hubs... 16 burgers later... 

How was your day?   What’s on your plate?   Thoughts