WillowGrouse of Sleet
Jan. 31st, 2025 10:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ismoIt was another day that tantalizingly hinted of spring: temperatures above freezing, snow melting, sun shining, a cheerful robin hopping around in the snowmelt. I do believe he pecked successfully and made off with his noodly prey dangling from his beak. I had to make another shopping run. As I passed the lake on the way home, there were still quite a few ice shacks out, and people walking around out on the ice. Meltwater was forming pools atop the ice, though, so I think they should bring themselves and their belongings back to shore soon.
I spent most of my time cooking, because we're hosting the in-person book club tomorrow, which is 8 grownups plus between 3 and 5 children, depending on who has other activities. I'm making beef stew again--this time I cut up 6-8 pounds of chuck roast and half a pound of bacon, browned the bacon, browned the meat in the bacon fat, tossed it with flour, set the flour in a hot oven as instructed in the recipe, then added salt, pepper, thyme, bay leaves, a bottle and a half of red wine, sauteed onions, carrots, and leeks, and beef stock to cover, and then put them in a low oven to simmer. About two and a half hours later, everything seemed very tender and well-blended. This was a higher cut of meat than last time--less tough, didn't need as much cooking time. Then I separated the juice and the meat so that hopefully the fat will solidify on top and I can skim it off before warming it all up tomorrow.
I have more cooking to do tomorrow, and I feel my house is not at all ready for company, so there's a lot to do yet, but I'm glad I was able to get started on it today. I took some time out for tea, and was trying to do a little writing in my notebook, but just then I got a call from Cee Squared in Minnesota, who had many a tale of woe to relate. Her health problems have health problems, and her daughter, with whom she lives, has them too. I think my friends' phones have a secret app that tells them when I'm sitting down . . . .
I spent most of my time cooking, because we're hosting the in-person book club tomorrow, which is 8 grownups plus between 3 and 5 children, depending on who has other activities. I'm making beef stew again--this time I cut up 6-8 pounds of chuck roast and half a pound of bacon, browned the bacon, browned the meat in the bacon fat, tossed it with flour, set the flour in a hot oven as instructed in the recipe, then added salt, pepper, thyme, bay leaves, a bottle and a half of red wine, sauteed onions, carrots, and leeks, and beef stock to cover, and then put them in a low oven to simmer. About two and a half hours later, everything seemed very tender and well-blended. This was a higher cut of meat than last time--less tough, didn't need as much cooking time. Then I separated the juice and the meat so that hopefully the fat will solidify on top and I can skim it off before warming it all up tomorrow.
I have more cooking to do tomorrow, and I feel my house is not at all ready for company, so there's a lot to do yet, but I'm glad I was able to get started on it today. I took some time out for tea, and was trying to do a little writing in my notebook, but just then I got a call from Cee Squared in Minnesota, who had many a tale of woe to relate. Her health problems have health problems, and her daughter, with whom she lives, has them too. I think my friends' phones have a secret app that tells them when I'm sitting down . . . .
