Journal

Thanksgiving 2021

Appetizers

  • Carrots, Celery, Cornichons

  • Cheese and Meat board (Cheese Shop)

  • Crackers, variety

Bread

Mains

Desserts

  • Pumpkin Cheese Cake Tarts (Personal Sized, Tami’s Tarts)

  • Chocolate Caramel Tarts (Personal Sized, Tami’s Tarts)

  • Rhubarb Custard Tarts (Personal Sized, Tami’s Tarts)

  • Pumpkin Brioche Pudding w/ Dark Rum Caramel (Tami’s Tarts)

  • Ice Cream (Black Cat)

2021 - Week 44 Cooking Results

Debrecyna sausage

I saw these at my local grocery store, an bought them on a whim. There was a similarity to hot dogs to some extent. I had trouble finding other usage other then stick it on a bun and eat it. So with Yellow mustard, sweet relish and a brioche bun, it was quite good. A good hotdog texture and a strong flavor of paprika, it was pretty nice.

Pork Burgers

Pork, Holy Cow, good things.

Chickpea Vegetable Stew

This was ok. Filling, but not to much. I like the texture of the stock and the coconut milk provided.

Pumpkin Chipotle Soup

Most of the work here, is in the blender. As my blender is still hanging on, I haven’t been able to justify the purchase of a new one. I would recommend an equal mixture of things, since the diced tomatoes and chipotle are a bit to much for the old thing. Combined with the chicken stock, and you are doing fine. I added a third chipotle pepper and simmered it as directed. I didn’t measure the cream at the end, but probably used closer to half a cup. Anyways, I’ll make this again.

Mexican-Style Spaghetti Squash Casserole

I added chicken to this, and when I ate it I added some spicy salsa. It was all right. I ate it a few times for breakfast, as we are running on a lot of leftovers, It was a nice use of a spaghetti squash.

2021 - Week 44 Cooking

We started talking in depth about Thanksgiving and what to do. I think I’ve got most of a plan figured out, but will probably need to decide for sure, before moving forward.

Iðunn continues to progress, She no longer hides when I’m in there on my bike. Earlier in the week, she escaped, saw another cat, and turn back around to run back in. Last night, she actually hid from us for a bit, in the dining room, before we got her back in her room. She has a vet appointment on Friday, so we can make sure she’s ok to officially introduce to the other cats.

2021 - Week 43 Cooking Results

Taco Salad

Good as always.

Sloppy Sammys

I usually add a bit of yellow mustard to the mix, and I ended up using mustard powder since, the yellow mustard was out. Other then that, it went pretty normally. I ended up using the leftover mixture in further taco salad, and to add to the Mac and Cheese.

Red Beans and Rice

I started this Friday night, Soaking the beans. I made some modifications, because who would find pickled pork shoulder around here? I ended up using a bit of pork shoulder. I did add cider vinegar, and a bit of Lola’s hot sauce. I should’ve probably reduced it a bit more, but it was 6:30 already, and I thought it might be pushing it a bit later. I should’ve have probably started when I planned, rather then extending my nap. It still turned out pretty good and I’m looking forward to eating leftovers.

I used Crooked Gap’s andouille sauce for the first time, and It get’s a thumbs up from me. Though I’m not much of a connoisseur, since, you know, Iowa and availability. I did buy a few of them, so I’m looking forward to using them.

I started to take pictures, but then, stopped, I guess.

Chickpea Vegetable Stew

Delayed!

Macaroni and Cheese

So uh…this is supposed to be healthy and looking at the ratios, I was like, that doesn’t seem like enough sauce for a pound of noodles, so I doubled it. This was perhaps a bit to much sauce, but better then what it would’ve been. It was ok.

2021 - Week 43 Cooking

It has been about 4 months since Freyja, passed. I am still struggling with the loss. In my recent therapy appointment it took a good chunk of my hour. However, it did feel like it was about time to open my heart again…to some extent. I thought about just letting Shannon pick a new kitty out, since I perhaps, wouldn’t feel as connected, but Shannon insisted that I participate, which is completely fair, and also probably good for me.

We saw a little girl, that was mislabeled on the outside, so we thought that she might be a small kitty like Freyja, but after seeing her, and finding out her name was Greysie. In reading through her medical records (rabies, etc), She started as Greyson, then on a gender reveal, Greysie, and after a bit of discussion, Iðunn (Idunn) in our home. Born of a feral mom, she's shy and hesitant, as we try to get her to more people friendly. So far, she started hiding in a small bookshelf, moved to under the bed. She's explored the room a bit, but is still a bit hesitant when we are in there. She’s explored the room a bit more, with Shannon’s nap today, apparently ending in a nose to nose touch, where she went back to her under-bed kingdom.

Máni was also semi-feral, but I think Iðunn is more shy, and perhaps a bit more on the feral side, as she has lost a bit of her ear at some point.

But the plan stands at

  1. Get her used to the room, which is quite a bit bigger then her area at the ARL

  2. Get her used to us.

  3. Introduce her to Loki and Máni.

  4. Let her free on the house.

After reading some fairly scary items, Iðunn, will be the first non front declawed cat in this house. We have provided her with a ton of different scratching items to see what she prefers (we made this decision years ago, but this is the first time it’s been put into practice). Both of us think this will probably end up being a fairly long process, but she seems to be showing progress, which is good.

This is also mid-fancy beer season. I’ve got two special beer release trips under my belt (Big Grove (a bit ago), Lua (today)) and a couple coming up (Toppling Goliath (tomorrow), and Big Grove (December)).

On the food front,

2021 - Week 42 Cooking Results

Thai-Style Chicken and Sweet Potato Curry

I had more chicken, but I ended up not using it cause it would’ve been a lot more then required, so I put it back in the freezer. Beyond that I chopped up the chicken a bit more then the recipe called for, other then that, I followed it pretty closely. I served it with some basmati rice and called it a dinner. Not too complicated, and pretty good. I suspect it would probably better with a bit more heat elements.

Chinese Corn and Chicken Soup

I added more chicken, some spicy dried peppers, but mostly followed the recipe. With that it was quite good. The instructions on how to get that sort of egg thread in a hot and sour soup, or etc, worked really well and I’ll have to remember that when I want to make that sort of addition in the future.

Lincolnshire sausage and potatoes

Not a lot of work, but a good amount of taste.

Brats

Good as always. As a note I had a Bratwurst made at the Cheese Bar, which was really good. The brat stood out from the kraut, mustard and bun, but not so over powering…all the flavors where nice and distinct.

2021 - Week 41 Cooking Results

Spaghetti Squash and Red Sauce

Baked off a spaghetti squash and while that was getting ready, I made a red sauce. I started with onions, forgetting I planned to add meat to it, so after I had added the whole tomatoes, some sauce and seasoning. I added the meat and slowly broke it down as the time passed while the squash cooked. I scraped the squash with a fork or two, and it was a nice good dinner. Luckily I had a big can of whole tomatoes, cause I’ve been out of diced tomatoes for a bit, and just assumed I had them. I ate leftovers for lunch, which was kind of nice.

English muffins eggs and ham

Ham from Crooked Gap and just a nice simple dinner.

Kimchi Chicken and Cabbage Stir-Fry

Perhaps I used to much chicken, but the pan was a bit crowded when it came down to it. It took a bit longer then expected, It was a nice combination of flavors when it came down to it. Sesame oil, fish sauce, soy sauce and then the main ingredients. A good combo of flavors and textures.

Thai Coconut Chicken Soup

I finally got around to this soup again, and it worked out pretty well. I think I’ve made it before and as Autumn comes in in full force, this was a nice warming dinner.

Gochujang Chicken and Tortellini

Easy, quick and good. This Gochujang was spicier, but also more salty than the last one I got. But even so, it was pretty good.