My Weblog

Win or lose?

There's a recipe floating in youtubeland that everyone raves about. I decided to try it--again. I must have done something wrong last time as I really did not like the flavor. I'm still not sure I got it "right". I had ordered a loss leader el cheapo roast the other week (marked down to $3.47 a pound). I expected back something like $10 worth of meat. What I got was this little tiny 1.28 pound chuck roast. I had planned to can the beef, but I don't pull out that big ole canner for what would have been about 1 pint jar. No way. So, I wondered what to do with that cute little thing.

I finally decided to give that recipe another try. It's called Mississipi pot roast. Essentially you dump some french onion soup mix and some ranch dressing mix on top, add some butter and add some jarred pepperoncini and cook it up in the crockpot. I was doing a mini-roast so I adjusted amounts, but if you had a "real" roast, it would be one envelope of onion soup and ranch dressing, half a stick of butter and 4-5 pepperoncini (though some folks use a lot more than 4-5). It's then roasted on low for 6-8 hours. Anyway, I decided it tastes pretty darned good this time. But what puzzles me is that it didn't get tender enough to shred. I realize it was a cheap (tough) cut of meat, but, isn't that a specialty of the crockpot? 

Anyway I don't know that I'll try it again. Maybe two disappointments is enough.........

I decided I want to make some butternut soup. I've made it before and enjoyed it. Went looking for my recipe and it's going to turn out to be pretty darned pricey for a meatless soup. The recipe calls for 2 leeks (they're $3.99 each!!!!!!!!!!), It also calls for 2 granny smith apples (they're on sale for $.90 each). And it calls for 6 cups of butternut squash. Butternut is $1.29 a pound. I own the other ingredients called for so no cost for them at the moment, but just what I'd have to buy is about $11, That would work out to about $1 a pint jar which is pretty stiff for a meatless soup, in my opinion. That's also about 20% of my week's food budget. However, I know it's delicious and I know I'll eat it with a smile on my face, so maybe worth it afterall. 

I'm still here...........

I don't have much going on in my life these days. The highlight of my week is a trip to the grocery pickup, buying stuff that's on sale that will in some meritorious way add to my stash. I don't think there's much about that that you'd find interesting. It seems I feel less than stellar most of the times these days, but I figure you're getting older too and probably know about those aches and pains and other afflictions we senior folks experience. So, you probably aren't holding your breath to read about mine. So, it seems as though there's not a lot going on in my life that I need to share with you. But, I'll see what I can dredge up.............

I've found that the entire series (I think) of The Waltons is available on Amazon Prime. That's a big time thriller for me. i watched some episodes along the way years ago, but I never actually got to follow the show to get a true sense of what the show was all about. So, in my spare time I'm watching that on Amazon. I'm enjoying it and I think it's good to come at it with a different perspective than I had many years ago. Then, I was mostly interested in how this show about a family trying to make it through the depression lined up with what little I'd heard from my parents. Now, I can look on the show with a broader background and experience than before. And, who knows, perhaps I'll learn some skills, recipes, attitudes that will serve me well in the times ahead, in that the times ahead are reputed to be times of a deep economic depression.

In one episode I watched last night, Olivia, the mama, told the children "What Daddy says in this house is rule". I'm sure my father would have said that about his own home if he was talking to anyone who didn't know him well. However, I don't think that was true. My mother had her ways--she would fret, whine, needle, take potshots, lecture, pout, sulk and so on til he managed to make her thoughts come out of his mouth. Having lived in their home for 18 years, I can say that frequently my father would have compromised. My mother, never. 

As far as the world was concerned, my mother was inexperienced. She was basically at home most of her life. She had no interest in the news or what was going on outside those doors. And, if there was a negative motive, attitude, or meaning that could be inferred from anything, she'd find it. My father, on the other hand was raised in town, not out in the country on a farm. He left home and went to college, then into the Navy. Then he did substantial graduate work. He, of course, worked outside the home. He had a much broader range of experience. Perhaps that had something to do with his slightly less judgmental approach to other people. 

Next morning: It's "cold" here this morning. Depending on where you live, you may think I'm crazy. We're headed for a high in the 60's, and if you live up north somewhere, that might sound mighty fine to you. However, until yesterday, it's been highs in the 80's around here. That, highs in the 80's, was comfortable. But, yesterday, amid a high wind warning, it was blowing pretty good, and a brief "cold" spell has snuck in behind those winds. So, 60's today and tomorrow then back to the 70's for a couple of days and Thursday and Friday will be back down in the 60's, So, anyway, I had to break out a sweat shirt and some sweat pants to face the temperatures today.

I don't spend money on clothes. The exception to that statement might involve new underwear and my continual search for a comfortable bra. Truth is, I have enough clothes. But, I may go looking for some sweatpants. I am no longer buying or wearing sweat pants unless they have pockets. I have a small wallet with my ID and debit card and it lives in my left pant pocket. The keys and the cell phone live in my right pant pocket and I have given up on purses or totes. I find, these days, I can get by with what I can carry in my pockets. But maybe another pair of sweat pants would be in order........... I think I only have 3 pairs that fit the requirements..........

Okay, enough rambling for now. I'm gonna to get going on my LONG to do list. YOU be BLESSED today!