Daily Archives: January 19, 2010

For Lease:

Posted on January 19, 2010 | Leave a comment

Turnkey ski condo, 3BR 2 BA, passive-aggressive neighbors. Overlook nature preserve, say g’day to a neighbor and a complaint will be lodged with the HOA! One-car garage, gas fireplace, and gorgeous views of three of America’s best ski resorts as you amass fines for just being there. What a vacation! If you and your family want a fun vacation, join us at 123-456-7890 and you won’t forget you left home and the peskiest neighbors in your hometown. We have our own, and can import yours for an extra fee if you’d like to be harassed (on two fronts) on vacation as well as at home. At FeelGoodPlace we’ll do everything we can to make you feel at home. For extra, we’ll bring in your boss and your worst work nightmare so your vacation really feels like home. Call us. We’re a full-service firm and will even fly in your ex-spouse, for a fee of course. FeelGoodPlace, where you’ll never get away from home (123) 456-7890.

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Boom!

Posted on January 19, 2010 | 3 Comments

Zoe (our dog) recoils as the guns blast: avalanche control measures are in effect in ski country. It must be time for comfort foods, as detailed in my latest blogs.

Regarding delis, I’ve a tale to tell. Raised Catholic (lapsed long ago) and married to a fundamental Christian, my knowledge of the Jewish faith is meager, only what I can read or glean from friends. A short time ago friend and noted cowgirl poet/singer/songwriter Juni Fisher was visiting and the subject of Ashkenazy and Sephardic Jews came up. She asked the difference.

I explained the cold climates of Russia and Poland, and the Southern climes of Spain and told her about borscht and matzo ball soup as opposed to the one Sephardic meal I was invited to attend (a friend was shocked to see me there as she didn’t know I was in the “tribe,” no I wasn’t, just a guest). I waxed poetic about foods to keep you warm and foods to keep you cool and when I finished, Juni said “Leave it to you to explain the entire Jewish faith in terms of food!!!”

She’s right. It’s laughable and a comment I’ll remember. I guess that’s what started this blog. Food has been an interest of mine for most of my life. I cook, and have attended great schools: I write so why not combine the two. It’s been an honor to host this blog and have nearly 25K hits in 18 months. For a niche blog that’s pretty impressive. I’m certainly thankful that so many people consider my prose worthwhile reading.

View to Nature Preserve

View to Nature Preserve

Boom! Boom! Someone here is not happy. The blasts must sound much louder to a dog’s ears. My husband just called to say he got to work OK even though I-80 was not plowed. Thank goodness he has AWD, DSTC and great snow tires! The ladies are walking to lunch today, in boots. I just sent in a photo report to our local weather station.

Time to get moving and make progress indoors as it’s snowing yet again and will for the next few days. Early this morning I read that this is the driest winter here in 67 years! Enjoy the day, Dee

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Mission: Possible

Posted on January 19, 2010 | Leave a comment

Issue: Leftovers
Solution: Individual servings.
Method: Four covered French onion soup bowls I found and bought for $6. Yes, that’s $6 for all four with lids.
Menu 1: Julia Child’s French Onion Soup. I own two of her books with the recipe (see Cook Books for links) so had no trouble going online for measurements of ingredients I already knew. My beloved cooking books are all in storage and have been for nearly a year. Let the browser beware, there are a lot of fake Julia Child French Onion Soup recipes out there, luckily I knew which one was real. Served with croutons and probably Fontina cheese because that’s what I have on hand today. A green salad would be nice.
Menu 2: Chicken pot pie. I’ll work on this one probably tomorrow, with a purchased puff pastry round on top that is scored and triple-glazed with egg wash for a great topping.
Menu 3: Shepherd’s Pie. I’m working on my own recipe for this delight.

Jim won’t eat leftovers. I’d love the perfect rectangular pans so I can make other dishes, as the round ones probably won’t work for Menu 3. Or Jim will eat two! I’d like to be able to make individual lasagnes.

There’s still a search on for two perfectly sized le Creuset dutch ovens for stews. I can always cool a stew and put it in plastic to freeze for a while, like the ratatouille I just found in the freezer. If we leave this place and go to a larger home in the area, the first thing Jim’s going to do is buy me a chest freezer. That’s why we’re still here??? I don’t know that I want the pressure of a chest freezer but it would be a great place to store Zoe (frozen food for the dog) food so the indoor freezer could be for us.

This message will not be erased in ten seconds, Jim. This is my mission and I will carry it out and report to you later. Cheers! Dee

p.s. It’s snowing! We’re looking at a ski paradise over the next few days and a driver’s nightmare. Luckily we have two AWD vehicles with traction control and great snow tires.

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