I woke up around the usual time on Saturday. I putzed
around, drinking coffee and watching it snow. Then I shaved, showered and got
dressed. I left just after 9:00 a.m. to get my haircut.
There was about two inches of snow on the ground (it was
difficult to get a read on exactly how much snow as the winds were blowing it
all around). The roads had not been touched by snow plows or salt (I assumed they
are concentrating on the freeway first) so driving was tricking and the ABS
brakes saved my ass more than once.
I got my haircut and gave my barber a Holiday tip, wishing
her a Merry Christmas. Then I went to Kroger’s. I got everything on my list,
plus everything I needed for Christmas cookie baking. I have not heard from
Tracey since I visited her in the hospital (I don’t even have her new address
to send a Christmas card) but she mentioned then that her and Steph might be
stopping by to bake cookies. So, I thought I should be prepared, on the odd
chance they do. You never know with biker babes!
I checked out the butcher counter cooler (I always do) and
saw some beautiful lamb chops (seriously). So, I bought two for my Sunday
supper. Slipping and sliding, I got the cart out to the car (they hadn’t plowed
or salted the Kroger parking lot then).
It was snowing like hell, with no signs of stopping. So I
decided to treat myself and stopped at Leda’s Coney Island and got my usual
weekend breakfast: homemade corned beef hash, two eggs over-easy, rye toast and
coffee. Damn, that was good!
Back on the roads, nothing was still plowed or salted (20
mph was the top speed). So, I skipped Costco and GFS (they were on the list,
but not that critical). I finally got home about 11:30 a.m.
I unpacked everything after treating the cats. I changed clothes
and stripped the bed. But this time I immediately remade it, using my flannel
sheets. Normally, flannel sheets are too “hot” for me, but it’s been too cold
for too long…
Then I decorated the inside of the house for Christmas. I
couldn’t find my nesting crib set or the branch lights I bought last year for
the now-dead bay leaf tree. I remember thinking I’d put them somewhere safe and
accessible but I’ll be damned if I can remember where that was! Getting old is
a b*tch!
But, I managed without them to make the house festive.
By 3:00 p.m., I had about five inches of snow in the state
park grill. But, as I said, the wind was tricky. There was less than an inch of
snow on the roof, and as you can see in the photos below, some of the shed roof
is actually clear.
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Good Thing I Filled the Feeder! |
I took a moment to run the car out to the road and back
several times. I don’t have a snow plow contract this year. My neighbor usually
does this, but his driveway hasn’t been plowed, so I think they are out of
town. I packed it down enough so I am sure I can get out come Monday morning.
I decided that, when the going gets tough, the tough make
soup! So, I made some soup. If you remember, I was impressed with the Time Out
potato soup with bacon. So, I searched the web and found a Wolfgang Puck recipe
that seemed close (it had sharp cheddar cheese and the Time Out didn’t). But, I
like cheese…
I started prepping the veggies by peeling a carrot and then
dicing it. Next I cut a large yellow onion into medium dice. Then, I chopped up
a leek (the recipe called for two small ones, but they didn’t have small leeks
at Kroger’s). Finally, I minced a big clove of garlic. Note: the recipe just
calls for a “clove of garlic” but I like garlic and went with a big one. I also
peeled three pounds of Idaho potatoes and cut them into 1/2 –inch cubes,
I sliced a 1/4 pound of thick cut bacon into half-inch
lardons. Then I fried them in my Dutch oven. I pulled them out and kept about a
tablespoon of the grease. I added a 1/4 cup of butter to the pot and threw in
the leeks, onion, carrot and garlic. I cooked those for about five minutes.
Then I worked in a 1/2 cup of AP flour. I let that cook a
while and then slowly stirred in 6 cups of chicken stock. I added in the potatoes
and brought it to a boil. I cooked it about 15 minutes or so until the potatoes
were tender.
I put about a pound of shredded sharp cheddar cheese in a
bowl and stirred in some of the soup broth. Then I added it back to the soup.
Finally, I added the bacon back in and a cup of heavy cream. I seasoned it to
taste with some salt and pepper.
I ate a big bowl of that with some crusty bread. It was
excellent!
I continued to eat that throughout the night and all day
Sunday (I know that my style of potato soup does not freeze well).
Sunday, I just screwed off… I didn’t even make my lamb
chops. The potato soup and bread was more than enough. I did get a little fancy
and added some chives as a garnish for my Sunday supper, though.
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