|
|
By Annette, on February 3rd, 2008% Superbowl day (and what the hell with this stupid pregame crap on Fox, anyway, reading the Declaration of Independence? This household polls 100% WTF.), but also a very fine Sunday to do various things around the homestead: a test mix of soil to go in one frame, to see how we liked it. The answer: we liked it very much indeed, and will be mixing up a huge batch in the coming week or so to fill a lot more frames to hold the seedlings we’ve started – and a whole lot more that will be directly sowed.
I finalized the area for the chickens and their coop, spread some hay, put out another flat of seedlings, supervised my sister’s preparation of the guacamole, and let others put the kebobs on the grill. If I could drink alcohol at all, I’d be kicking back with a nice cold beer, noshing on chips and guac, waiting for the food. Alas, none for me. Guess I’ll round up some chips, though, and give those a go while I get some more work stuff done.
Enjoy the game, everyone. For the record, I picked the Patriots.
By Annette, on January 20th, 2008% Today has been all about food. Well, that and getting the dogs shaved and bathed. That, and getting the Princess wiped down and brushed. And watching football. But it has been a day full of cooking for me, although I was a bit behind schedule due to the dog-bathing part.
We begin our tour with a hunka hunka nice looking buffalo.
Salt, pepper, garlic, and in it went to a pan to sear. After nicely browning on all sides, it went into the oven in a bath of beef broth with some onion and garlic as companions.
After that, it was time to start the soup. I had roasted a couple of butternut squash, and started some onion, garlic, and carrot in a pot. Some chicken broth, a couple of diced potatoes, the innards of the squash, and some spices, and it turned into something like this.
All of that was stirred together and then allowed to simmer while I began the next item on my culinary agenda: guacamole. Here, our model Aubrey demonstrates the functionality of that fabulous green appetizer.
Meanwhile, those of us still suffering from a root canal went on to the creation of another yummy item.
The soup was coming along nicely, and was almost ready for the immersion blender.
Two other parties chimed in with their own orders.
Often, they don’t know exactly what they want, but they know you might have it.
The soup was ready, so I blended it and Mom kindly jarred it for me.
I asked that she do that because I was moving along on the bread front.
I also threw together some tarragon-pickled mushrooms and onions for Aubrey, who was starving because she insists on doing this “total carb” thing instead of net carbs since she wants to drop some weight, but hey, who am I to say anything about peoples’ strange ideas? I moved along to the roast, pulling it out of the bath it had been in for about three hours.
The braising liquid, to which carrots, onions, and potatoes had been added, was thickened a bit to give us a hearty backdrop for the roast.
We also had some roasted zucchini with parm-reg.
And we added the final touch of our lovely focaccia.
Besides the Packers losing a game the Giants seemed better prepared to play, a very enjoyable day. Just to prove I am certifiably insane, I also ordered more seed today, because the very best thing to do when you think maybe you’re getting too close to that gardening mania line is to just boldly step right over it.
By Annette, on January 13th, 2008% This afternoon, we watched the Packers beat the Seahawks in a near blizzard. This evening, we watched the Jaguars put up a valiant fight against the Patriots. They played much better than I thought they would, and really, after watching the Patriots in a couple of close games this season, I think the Jags put up a bigger fight than the Colts and the Ravens did – the game was much closer than the 11 point difference in the score.
And what do you need in order to watch a couple of playoff games? Food!
Guacamole: this batch was perfect. Astonishingly perfect. I’ll have to remember the ratios next time. I even ate some myself. We had corn tortillas made from organic corn with this. I had a few chips, too, but I think I could just eat this with a fork and be as happy.
Shrimp! Boiled with Old Bay, and lots of that.
Beef! A big pile of it. Grilled, and seasoned only with salt, peper, and garlic.
That was because half of it was ordered from a place in Missouri offering grassfed beef. And I think this is even better than the last batch of beef we found from a local place – sweeter, more fragrant, if you can apply that sort of terminology to beef.
Shrimp! This batch in honey, lime, soy, pepper, cumin, red pepper, and ginger.
Broccoli! Because you have to have something green.
I also made another batch of rolls (there are a grand total of three left), we had corn on the cob, and we had a cheese sauce for the broccoli. I just realized as I was uploading these images that we completely neglected to make any baked potatoes. Not that anyone missed them, since we stuffed ourselves with everything else.
So we watched the Jags hang with the Patriots for awhile, enjoyed our food and good company, and overall had a grand evening. Now to start work on the menu for the conference championship games…
By Annette, on December 31st, 2007% For football fans, this time of year is the best: both college and pros come to the end of the season, which means multiple games throughout the week, and the very end of the year brings the bowl games, with multiple games on the same day, starting early and ending late.
One of the other things all this activity brings is even more strange and bad things from the mouths of the announcers.
Tonight I heard Sterling Sharpe say “I don’t got none o’ that.” while referring to an Oklahoma State fan decked out in his Cowboy duds, complete with large belt buckle. This is as bad as anything Emmit Smith managed to stumble through in what I hope will be his one and only season on ESPN.
During the Minnesota game yesterday, I caught this gem: “How many defensive touchdowns has Minnesota scored on defense this year?” Well, that would be all of those defensive touchdowns, just by definition, since the offense can’t very well score a defensive touchdown. I’m sure he meant “How many defensive touchdowns has Minnesota scored this year?” (six interceptions returned for tds for 2007, in case you’re curious), but that struck me as quite funny while I was checking through all the games.
I know it must be hard, speaking extemporaneously during a live broadcast, but at least in the first case, I would hope they would be able to speak in a grammatically correct way.
By Annette, on October 29th, 2007% We should count ourselves lucky here, of course. After all, we did get a Monday night game here this season, against the defending world champion Colts, no less. As someone in the stands said (on their sign), “This game is HUGE”.
The Marines were in town, and they were serious.
Very serious.
Very, very serious.
After a lot of warming up, and a badly rendered version of the anthem – why do some of these performers think the anthem needs to be imbued with their own personal touch or vocal hysterics, anyway? – it was time to kick things off here.
I will say here that the Jags started off well: harrying defense, moving the ball fairly well. But the Colts, like the Patriots, are simply playing in an alternate universe from the rest of the football world at the moment, and those moments rushed right by. I was playing a little game, myself, testing the limits of the camera I was using and trying to think like the coaches by determining what play I would call, then following that player and trying to capture an action play.
It isn’t exactly rocket science to know Manning is going to throw a few passes. The trick is catching that pass (so to speak) in the air, as in this one. You can see the ball pass right by the defender’s hand.
Picking Greg Estandia to catch a pass, though, is something else, and not something most people would expect. Pregnant Sister gives Estandia a hard time, incorrectly. I like him (and picked him to make the team when watching the preseason games), and I’m glad he got some touches in this game.
Jack Del Rio was in a suit for MNF. The jacket he was wearing rapidly made an exit.
Another play call by me: Garrard to Northcutt. My sisters kept calling me a geek for some reason.
But I don’t care all that much. It just shows that girls know a thing or two about football, too.
These sorts of pictures also give you a good idea of how the blocking is in creating lanes for passes or running backs.
Fred Taylor.
Greg Estandia.
David Garrard gets some good protection.
“What do you want for dinner?” “I don’t know, what do you want?”
Maurice Jones-Drew was open for a checkdown and had some room in front of him, but Garrard threw it down the field.
Northcutt is becoming Garrard’s favorite target.
The problem with this is that other teams know it, too. That, combined with overthrows, leads to interceptions.
The Colts started playing their game. Manning was actually under center for a change.
They were driving to the end zone…
…and Manning took it into the end zone himself on a sneak.
Both Taylor and Jones-Drew had some nice runs…
…but it really turned into a one-way game…
…with some nice plays, like this one by Reggie Wayne.
The Jaguars scored their only touchdown on a Jones-Drew run…
…a call that was upheld on review.
Our mascot showed up to reward a row of seats with boxes of Bubba Burgers. Given the obesity problems in this country, and in this city particularly, an alternative would probably have been in order, but I like a burger every now and again myself, so I suppose I wouldn’t have objected if they’d selected our row. They didn’t. Bummer.
Manning is an intense player.
“Mind if I copy your homework?”
All his gyrations at the line must be old hat to opposing teams by now. Who knows how much of it is really a change of play or total bullshit? Does it matter?
Because he could probably do this with his eyes closed. And sometimes he does.
Tony Dungy is one of the most laid back coaches in history.
Del Rio was sweaty and unhappy as the game started closing down.
Manning watches the play clock tick down and calls for the snap with only a couple of seconds left.
Dallas Clark – a player the Colts need to make sure they keep after this season, along with Bob Sanders – gets the final score of the game.
In the end, another loss for the Jaguars, and they didn’t really put up a huge fight – at least, not as huge as I expected, given the potential meaning of this game. And now, it’s time to go work awhile longer here. And shouldn’t you be working or sleeping or doing something other than reading blogs?
Yes, I’m talking to YOU.
By Annette, on August 19th, 2007% Preseason football can get rather ugly in the latter stages of the game. A lot of guys who will not make the team are in the game, fighting to show something that will enable them to make the practice squad or catch on with another team. Sometimes, that can be exciting. Mostly, it isn’t. Even with some regular players, sometimes the only excitement is wondering if they’re actually going to catch the ball. Matt Jones, we’re looking at you, One Catch, Zero Yards Guy. That first throw to you from Leftwich was his fault, but the other drops were on you. And why, while we’re on the subject, do so many players follow Leftwich’s amble back to the huddle? The guy looks and acts like he’s sleepwalking, and Matt Jones does that same slow jog back to the huddle. Hustle! You guys could learn a thing or two from someone like Nick Sorensen.
At the end of the game, the players head for the tunnels, or, in some cases, to the sidelines for interviews. Who showed up right in front of the section we’re in? Why, none other than Jeff Garcia. Aubrey skipped down to the rail and caught his attention while he was waiting for the interviewer to be ready.
“Jeff, Jeff! Can you look up?”
“Is that all the smile we’re going to get?”
As it turns out, no, it wasn’t. Stats for Jeff this evening: 6 of 6 for 43 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Very preseason-like. And even though his team lost, he flashed a big smile for Aubrey.
“Thanks, Jeff!”
Yes, thanks, Jeff. Made my sister’s evening by smiling for her. She wants to send you a thank you note. And she thinks you’re cute.
By Annette, on February 6th, 2007% Superbowl Sunday is a bona fide holiday around here: the championship game (which we always hope will be good and not a blowout) and also the true end of the football season (a sad thing indeed).
The broccoli gratin, having been eaten to the point of people scraping the last traces of cheese from the dish, had to be recreated for Sunday. Even with a smaller group, it didn’t last. Neither did the guacamole I’d made.
I also ordered some dashi and it arrived in time for Sunday’s bash.
This made a world of difference in the tempura dipping sauce, which was spot on. I made a lot of tempura, and by the end of the night, only a lonely green bean remained, having hidden itself under a tray.
A few hours before the game, I had gone to the store to pick up a few things, and decided that there was time for some braised short ribs. Got them browned, then sauteed some onions and garlic in the same pan, added some red wine, beef broth, spices, and a couple teaspoons of tomato paste, threw the ribs back in, and about two and a half hours later, had this.
Boy, were those good. I’ve been eating the couple that were left over for the past two days, with sauteed zucchini, mushrooms, and onions. It’s just as good now as it was Sunday, but I’m down to the last of it. Might be time to make more.
By Annette, on January 22nd, 2007% Hey, did you hear that?
Sunday. Two weeks before the Superbowl. The NFC and AFC Championship games. A good day for some food, family, and friends, alliteratively speaking.
In the wee hours, as I was doing some work, I got a head start on a batch of roasted red pepper soup. By roasting some peppers, of course.
Those got to hang out while I got some sleep, but when I got up, the cooking began in earnest. Finished up the soup…
…made the guacamole so we’d have it by the time the first game started…
…and then started chopping up various vegetables (leeks, red and yellow onions, carrots, celery, garlic)…
…and even more vegetables (cabbage and bok choy)…
…for the spring rolls, some of which would also have shrimp.
I also started some vegetable stock, for my sister the converted vegetarian.
All the spring roll vegetables got a quick saute.
And then a wrap in rice paper.
Shrimp spring roll.
Waiting patiently for dinner.
We also had steamed cauliflower and broccoli.
And mango-mustard glazed chicken.
With the extra sauce from the chicken on the side, cheese sauce made by my sister, and a dipping sauce for the spring rolls (made by yours truly), it was time to eat.
It was also time to watch the very exciting late game, with the Colts and Patriots duking it out. For awhile, it looked like the Pats were headed to another big game, but the Colts pulled it out. We’ll see how they do in two weeks, and if the Bears can make a game of it.
By Annette, on January 1st, 2007% There is no better way – in my humble opinion – to start off the year than to have an entire day full of football bowl games, even if you are like me and have no particular favorite college team. Work is fairly slow (unless a server’s hard drive is in imminent danger of death, as one is today), and it’s usually a good day to do a little of this or that. For me, between working and moving accounts around, that means baking some bread for the carb fiends around this place. It also means making another batch of the maple-cornmeal biscuits to go with the traditional southern new year’s meal of black-eyed peas this evening.
My sister, lucky girl that she is, had the opportunity to go to the Gator Bowl in person, sit in one of the terrace suites, and be waited on while watching what turned out to be an exciting game. The rest of us had to be content with watching on television, which worked out well: we all got a lot of work done, watched a bunch of different football games, played with the dogs, packed some more holiday stuff to be stowed away until later this year, and in general had a day that wasn’t particularly frenetic but wasn’t so slow as to put you in a coma. And my mom made small meatloaves.
My mom loves hamburger: extra-lean, lean, chuck, round, whatever. If it’s from a cow and can be formed into a patty, fried, perhaps with some sauteed mushrooms and onions on the side, and maybe a pan gravy by yours truly, she’s happy as – well, happy as a pig in poop, I suppose, or as happy as one of those cows in the California cheese ads.
She has a recipe she sort of follows to make meatloaf these days, that is more meat than loaf, if you get what I mean. Make a few extra, toss them in the freezer, and it’s an instant fix for the beef-addicted.
We had meatloaf tonight, along with rice (with shallots and parm), black-eyed peas, maple-cornbread biscuits, and corn on the cob.
And coffee. Lots and lots of coffee for me today. Mom also fed the dogs Cheetos, because she’s a sucker for a cute face.
Right now, the cinnamon-raisin loaves have just gone into the oven. I’m not pleased with the feel the dough had as I rolled it, and I would not be at all surprised if there were gaps in the bread, because for some reason the dough just felt extra sticky and wet. Wet = steam = bad oven spring = gaps. Still, it will taste fine, and the fam will down it even if it isn’t perfect, but this tells me I need to work on this recipe a bit. I’m also going to try my hand at this no-knead bread that apparently everyone in the world knew about but me until today. Instead of kneading the bread, the gluten develops through an extra long rising period of about 18 hours. It would be rather handy to toss everything together and forget about it, instead of fussing with dough every couple hours – although that is part of the fun. Some days are meant for a hands-off approach.
|
2012 Harvest Totals Eggs: 174
Vegetables:
Peas (shelling): 1# 12 3/8 oz
Peppers (bell, all colors): 7# 1 7/8 oz
Herbs:
Marjoram: 5/8 oz
Oregano: 3/8 oz
Rosemary: 7 1/2 oz
Thyme: 6 oz
|
