Asparagus, Cheddar, Münster and Bacon Tart & Garden Salad

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

Welcome back folks!   Our delightful moderators had a well deserved weekend of rest and relaxation...  we are thrilled to be back cooking and sharing with all of you fabulous foodies!  

Today was a day of two seasons...  the morning was cold...  blustery...  by afternoon the sun made her presence known...  sliding out from behind her mask of clouds to grace the earth once again.   Between clients...   slipping into the greenhouse to enjoy the warmth and solitude...  masked children on their way home from school...  teachers looking worried... hustling toward parked cars...  few bikers swishing by...  leaves following in a burst of color.

NYers are nervous once more as covid stats deteriorate here in the Big Candied Apple...  some neighborhoods shuttered once again...  eyes behind masks dart from person to person...  wondering...  

The president returned to the White House under care for Covid-19...  Americans...  wondering...  

This virus has clearly defeated all attempts to eradicate it...  a vaccine in the future...  will it be safe...  wondering...

Too much uncertainty makes me uncomfortable...  into the kitchen to relieve tension and prepare supper...  Asparagus, Goat Cheese and Tarragon Tart by Melissa Clark...  a delightful choice.  As I prep the ingredients I realize I have no goat cheese...  horrors 😳...  no trip to the store last minute these days...   subbing out cheddar and münster...  adding in bacon...  because, well...  IT’S BACON 🥓 ...  alongside a crisp green salad of romaine, radicchio, greenhouse fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, Kalamata olives and red onion with a light balsamic vinaigrette completed our repast.  Dare I say it was delicious...   wasn’t quite a meatless Monday...  but close! 

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

Porterhouse, Roasted Potatoes, Peppers & Brussels Sprouts

 Friday...  the end of another week...  visited the market today...  excellent values...  winter squash...  baby carrots...  potatoes...  yams...  plantains...  a bonanza...  planning to cook up a storm through the week ahead. 

Today was chilly with a crisp fall feel...  fallen leaves skittered across the sidewalk crunching underfoot walking to the car...  the occasional crack of an acorn...  a snare drum to the soft percussion of the leaves.  The sun peeked in and out throughout the day...  teasing with warmth then retreating behind the clouds denying us its splendid face.   The greenhouse remained a warm refuge from the chill...   plants relaxing within its walls.

A fresh porterhouse steak liberally seasoned hissed against the searing grates of the grill...  cooked atop a sprig of fresh rosemary...  as the hubs grilled our supper.  Potatoes, peppers and brussels sprouts roasting in the oven lent a savory air to the kitchen...  the avocado salad received its finishing touches of basil and balsamic.  

A glass of wine toasted the end of the week as we sat down to eat...  grateful for our food and safe place to wait out the pandemic.  

The President has been taken to Walter Reed Medical Center as a result of his diagnosis of COVID-19...  regardless of our opinion of his abilities as Commander in Chief or as a human being, we wish him & the First Lady  recovery from this devestating disease...    

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

Spinach, Sun Dried Tomatoes, Caramelized Onions, Hot Sausage, Mini Shells and Parmesan Pasta Bake

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

It was chore day here in the  Big Apple...  with less back discomfort beds got stripped...   laundry was done...   bills were paid...  Mr Sam spent some time out on the deck stretching in the afternoon sun while plants were tended to...  then suddenly...  LOOK...  SQUIRREL 🐿...  the greenhouse was warm and snug with a good amount of humidity and a breeze from the fan.  Lots of new tomatoes peeking out from between the forest of leaves and stems.  Today’s warmth...  mid 70’s...  will be our last for a while...  rain tonite and tomorrow morning with low to mid 60’s and a chill arriving from Canada in the afternoon.  

Tomorrow is market day...  covid numbers are climbing again here in NYC...  limited excursions are back on the menu...  teachers understandably nervous with students back in the classroom...   restaurants now permitted indoor dining at 25% capacity...  most folks preference...  eat outdoors...  the daily positivity rate in some parts of the city nearing 5%...  

Special thanks today to Elsa Lisciandro for the delicious pasta bake we enjoyed for supper tonite...  simple...  flavorful... a delight.  Small shells...  chopped spinach...  caramelized onions...  sun dried tomatoes...  spicy Italian sausage meat...  loads of Parmesan and sautéed bread crumbs...  

thanks so much...  it was yummy! 💞😷

Shout out to registered voters in PA, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan and NY...  85,000 phony robocalls were made threatening folks that voting by mail would result in debt collections, being listed for forced vaccination by the CDC & police arrests...  all efforts attempting to intimidate voters...  ignore these calls...  VOTE! 

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

Cajun Chicken Thighs, Crimini Mushrooms, Pita & Applesauce... Post Storm Greenhouse

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

The rains stopped early this afternoon...  the sun peeked out from behind broken clouds as if checking to see if we were all okay after last nights furious storms.  Winds howled...  driving rain pounded against the window panes running down the side of the freshly painted house... washing away the dust and grime.  Chairs slid on the deck...  running out to stack them against the wall, the wet shirt stuck to my back...  plants nestled in the corner behind benches...  out of breath and soaked the wind ripped the back door from my loose grip trying to tear the it from the house...  slamming it closed I dripped quietly onto the clean kitchen floor.  Whew...  what a storm! 

Today save for the leaves and small branches scattered throughout the property it was not apparent that there had even been this howling monster.  Sunshine graced the deck drying the repositioned tables and chairs.  

Checking the greenhouse...  post storm... tomatoes continue to grow and ripen...  turnip greens ready for a second harvest...  baby arugula coming along nicely...  spicy basil and radish sharing a home...  table squash blossoms appearing beneath each leaf...  eggplant flowering...  leeks thickening their stems...  carrot tops filling out... nasturtium vine trailing... all is well within...  my little green heart is pleased.  

After work the hubs went for his flu shot (the last of us to get it) while I played in the kitchen.  Chicken thighs with Cajun herbs and spices roasted in the oven while mushrooms in garlic and olive oil were tended on the cooktop... a delightful pan sauce of red onion, yellow pepper, basil and chicken stock reduced nearby.  Whole wheat pita bread warmed in the oven and homemade applesauce completed the meal...  Sauvignon Blanc for me... Pinot Noir for him...  just right for a Wednesday night supper.

We have recovered from the trauma that was last nights debate... 

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

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?