Sunday, still taking it easy

I woke up on Sunday at 7:30 AM. I put a pot of coffee on and started inspecting the refrigerator. I threw away the last of the buttermilk and some suspicious leftovers. I found a roll of pork sausage I had thawed last weekend (I was gonna make biscuits and sausage gravy, but never did). I still don't feel like fussing with it this weekend, so I fried up the pork sausage into patties. Three of them and two eggs over easy made up my breakfast. The rest went back in the fridge in a baggie.

I emptied the dishwasher and then started to fill it back up. I have to redeem myself to myself after taking yesterday off, so I moved all the chairs, the rolling cart and the trash can into the living room. Then I swept the kitchen floor (again).

I replaced the sponge in my main mop (I wore the last one out!) I filled the bucket with hot water and Top Job and washed the kitchen floor. While I let it dry, I gave Luanne a call to see how she was doing. Her back had gone out and she was icing and heating it, along with taking muscle-relaxers and pain pills (been there, done that, so I could sympathize. I remember once when I couldn't get up off the floor, back on Palms Road). She got a new buck for her goat herd and all in all, other than her back, everything seems to be going well. By the time I hung up, the kitchen floor was dry.

Next, I refilled the bucket and washed the main bathroom floor. I took out some mild Italian sausage and a 6 pound whole chicken to thaw. The sausage will become lasagna today and the chicken will be turned into chicken stock and chicken soup. Judging from how frozen that chicken really is, the stock/soup will probably be later this week, though. While the bathroom floor dried, I went outside to check out the back yard.

None of the tomatoes were ripe enough to pick, so I let them be. I went out to the rear garden and pulled up all the squash and cucumber vines. I took a bunch of pictures, but nothing was that cool enough to post except for my neighbor's bush that is turning color.

Back inside, I decided to take another nap, so I did. I woke up at 4:00 PM and decided it was close enough to start the lasagna.

I heated some Canola oil in my Dutch oven over medium-high heat. When it shimmered, I added 1/2 medium yellow onion, finely chopped and four cloves of minced garlic. I seasoned it well with salt and freshly ground black pepper and cooked it until just softened. Then I added the mild Italian sausage (after removing it from the casing). I cooked that, stirring occasionally, until the meat browned. Then I added 1/3 cup of white wine and deglazed the pan. I put in two 28 ounce cans of whole tomatoes and squished them up. I added one teaspoon dried basil, one teaspoon dried oregano, some red pepper flakes, two medium dried bay leaves and seasoned it well with freshly ground black pepper. I stirred all that until it was well mixed and the tomatoes had started to simmer. I reduced the heat to low and simmered it, stirring occasionally, for about an hour.

I preheated the oven to 375 degrees F. after putting the rack in the middle.

I boiled my lasagna noodles for ten minutes and then did the usual layering (sauce, noodles, sauce, dollops of ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano) and then repeated until I used everything up. I covered the pan with tinfoil and baked it 40 minutes. Then I uncovered it and baked it for 20 minutes more (until the top was golden brown). I let is rest for about another 20 minutes and then cut myself a nice piece.

Not bad, but I should have used more spices (it was a bit bland).

I watched my usual Sunday night shows and went to bed at 10:00 PM.