chiver78
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 16, 2023 18:14:56 GMT -5
Made from grapes on the vine that have frozen. The bottles are about 1/3 the size of a wine bottle, and usually not inexpensive. It’s also very sweet. Fingerlakes region of NY make some excellent ones, as does an area of BC. I am currently drinking a Hungarian version. In German, I think it is Spatlese (umlauts missing). I'm a fan of Innskillen, which is currently $60 for a half bottle *wine bottle size* and I think the one I am working on is about half that or less. It is not an ice wine but the one right before it in German parlance. I think I decided to get it after Mich or someone decided us underfunded folks were not worth funding small alcohol purchases even though our lives are quite hard and on the margins. I personally am surprised there aren't more underfunded folks committing suicide or drinking themselves to death. USA indeed. okay, for real. WTF?
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 16, 2023 15:40:41 GMT -5
y'all, it's barely been 6h of house arrest again. both dogs hate me bc we haven't gone anywhere today, LD isn't putting that paw down at all now. and I'm not sure I can do this again already so soon. may it rain sheets tomorrow, so nobody wants to be outside. I hate to wish away everyone's weekends, but it needs to be Monday already so I can see some xrays to know what I'm dealing with.
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 16, 2023 13:55:33 GMT -5
Pop is on a John Grisham tear since yesterday. I fell asleep watching A Time to Kill, waking up much later to The Pelican Brief with enough time for something else to have played through. I put it on with a sleep timer when I moved up to bed. when I realized we were inside for the day, I went looking for background noise and found The Pelican Brief almost exactly where I fell asleep last night, and it's almost over. The Client is up next. I've seen that one before, it's Susan Sarandon and a kid whose name I should remember....he was in a bunch of stuff, like Stephen King's Apt Pupil - a movie that horrified me so badly that I turned it off. his name will come to me.....he's a member of the 27 Club. oh wait, he was only 25. but still. yikes. ETA: Brad Renfro, the opening credits just rolled. I knew I'd know it when I saw it.
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 16, 2023 13:25:19 GMT -5
Yes, aspic. Natural stock from meat collagen. I grew up in the 50s and 60s. I've never seen those salads. We ate exclusively Russian food. If someone was to serve my mother those sweet salads, I think she'd die laughing. When I go to foreign countries, I don’t laugh and do try to sample as much local food as possible, regardless of how repulsive I might think it. There have been times I have been pleasantly surprised. My chicken stock looks like jello when I thaw it. Collagen gives it body, and the Indonesian chef on the cruise ship made his stock with pigs feet (and it smelled wonderful). He told me pig and chicken feet will give you the most collagen out of an animal, that you want the collagen in your stock. I haven’t been able to find either locally, but chicken wings are a good Plan C, and can be found. as I travelled more, I got there. obv with the exception that I'm not trying any shellfish dishes as those would actually kill me. but I tried bites of beef dishes (I don't really eat beef) and other things that aren't in my normal wheelhouse. but my first few trips to Ireland when I was all of 22? when the local coworkers wanted to take us out for local delicacies like pigs' feet, I firmly stuck to the "I'm a vegetarian" the whole time.
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 16, 2023 13:22:20 GMT -5
I have found chicken feet at Walmart. About the only thing I will enter their doors for, and I have to really be desperate for bones for my bone broth. Grocery store wasn't too awfully crowded and was in and out about half an hour. I chose the wrong checkout - the woman in front of me had 15 gift cards. I got the salmon and will start the marinade after I put everything else away. report back how you like it, please. this is a little bit different than what I normally do for chicken thighs, mostly in the addition of some lemon juice for the fish.
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 16, 2023 11:59:19 GMT -5
the grocery list contained a couple things I needed for teriyaki marinade that I was supposed to do a couple days ago, and a package of boneless skinless chicken thighs to have more than just the one leftover BSCB. I'm using this marinade for the first time. I'll update once the chicken is cooked. tonight will be this chicken with leftover Chinese takeout. ETA - I'd do this marinade again. I went light on the sugar and used both garlic and ginger. it was pretty tasty.
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 16, 2023 11:22:03 GMT -5
idk. I just basically manhandled his whole leg, including the paw itself, and he never flinched. so he's definitely on lockdown today and tomorrow. that so sucks bc today is another gorgeous day. 😕
I think I'll pull the pen panels across the deck stairs, so Punk can still go outside at least. guess I'm going to be somewhat productive today instead of going to walk the canal. nuts.
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 16, 2023 10:41:51 GMT -5
fanfuckingtastic. I looked out the back window to call LD in from howling at whatever, and noticed he was holding up a back paw - the same leg that was surgically repaired this summer. he's alternating between limping and not, so I'm. not sure. if it's the knee or something else. our vet is closed today, so he's on rest til I can call on Monday. ugh. not what I needed today....
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 15, 2023 20:42:19 GMT -5
Okay, I'll stand up loud and proud for beef tongue, or lengua as we call it down here. Since there's only one tongue per beef, it's gotten really expensive too, about $20/lb. Beef tongue is one of the only reasons I keep my InstantPot pressure cooker. It's actually one of our very favorite forms of beef. I have texture issues with food so the whole head cheese thing just doesn't work for me. Ditto menudo where the tripe is rubbery, like a red pencil eraser. For some reason I'm okay with the chew factor of octopus, maybe it's the seasoning? I love tongue. When I was in my prime and partying every night, we'd always end up at a Jewish deli around 4 in the morning, when the bars closed. My go-to order was always a hot tongue sandwich on rye with yellow mustard and a cherry Coke. but canned bread is gross? anyway, it's been fun. I'm gonna watch the movie I turned on at the top of the hour. have a great night, everyone!
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 15, 2023 20:32:09 GMT -5
I'm watching 90 Day. This guy is converting to Islam so he can marry his love. His mother asks "Do Muslims celebrate Christmas?" He replies "No, they have another holiday....Yom Kippur." Are people really this clueless? sadly, yes. and they vote.
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 15, 2023 20:19:39 GMT -5
please see the post you quoted, where I pointed out that I don't eat it, either. I'll reshare the link on the history of why this is a thing - link it was fizzling out as a regular thing when I was a kid, similar to other atrocities of that era like aspic and gelatin salads with shit suspended in them. but, a very regular thing in the homes of my friends on Saturday nights was chopped up hot dogs, New England baked beans, and this canned brown bread. I know that you don't eat it either. I wonder why it hasn't caught on everywhere else. A very popular Russian/Ukrainian food is pork Jello. That's the best way to describe it. Pork meat and bones are boiled for hours with spices until it turns into Jello and sometimes vegetables are added. It's freaking delicious, and eaten with horseradish and hearty black bread. I can't imagine a salad in gelatin. Kholodets your photo is an aspic. I'll pass, thanks. basically, a savory gelatin "salad". these salads from the 50s/60s/70s were of the sweet variety. floating pineapple, strawberries, and all sorts of other things in it. as far as why it *hasn't* caught on anywhere else? it's an old New England thing. it's one of those things that I see in my local foodie/home cook groups, posted by the much older members of the group.
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 15, 2023 20:00:40 GMT -5
What should I eat for dinner? I'm not cooking. I don't want to go outside to get anything. I could order pizza I guess. I'm not really feeling pizza though. can of soup? I keep a few on hand for nights like that.
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 15, 2023 19:59:01 GMT -5
please see the post you quoted, where I pointed out that I don't eat it, either. I'll reshare the link on the history of why this is a thing - link it was fizzling out as a regular thing when I was a kid, similar to other atrocities of that era like aspic and gelatin salads with shit suspended in them. but, a very regular thing in the homes of my friends on Saturday nights was chopped up hot dogs, New England baked beans, and this canned brown bread. Yesterday I had a hilarious online conversation with younger friend about the joys of "congealed salads" including shredded carrots and diced celery in lime Jello, and chopped pecans and miniature marshmallows in cherry Jello. I think he's permanently traumatized. I didn't even get into the wonders of head cheese ohhhh......I just threw up a little in my mouth there. thanks for that.
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 15, 2023 19:53:29 GMT -5
same here, well except the broccoli. it's usually $2.49/lb at the "expensive" store when not on sale. luckily the broccoli is hardy and will hold for awhile. I'll use a bunch on NYE with my typical Korean spread. I'm going to blanch a lot of the asparagus and freeze it for the pups for later on. I'll be enjoying a lot of it myself though - between IP risotto and wrapping it in prosciutto to broil...yum! What's this? We love broccoli and are always looking for a new way to enjoy it. On the off chance there is leftover broccoli or asparagus, we like to toss it into a stove-top frittata (Italian for use up leftovers). Cut any and all leftover veggies sort of small, nuke 1 minute in microwave or gently saute in skillet. If desired, add diced protein like chicken breast, ham, fajita beef, tofu. Top with appropriate amount of beaten eggs (we use 4 eggs for the 2 of us). Sprinkle with grated or shredded cheese (Cheddar, mozzarella, feta, whatever) if desired. Cover and turn down to really low - let cook until eggs are set as desired, we go for a slightly firm texture but not dried out. I tend to stir a bit of herb seasoning into my eggs, Italian, Greek or whatever moves me and works with the vegs and protein. would you like the Korean recipes I use? b/c the broccoli won't be anything unusual. I'll roast like I usually do, and then toss the roasted veg in a little bit of toasted sesame oil and top with sesame seeds. if I'm staying home on NYE (most of the time, it's amateur hour!) then I always make japchae with the vegetarian tweaks as I don't eat beef. I also generally make something 'bulgogi' or BBQ. this year, I'm thinking salmon bulgogi for a twist.
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 15, 2023 19:41:12 GMT -5
leftovers tonight, easy enough. I've got a grocery list for the am where I'll be doing some batch cooking this weekend. probably Sunday as the weather's supposed to be shitty.
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 15, 2023 19:37:15 GMT -5
that weird canned thing is a very New England thing, TYVM. (I don't eat it, either....) Canned bread is blasphemy, unless you're on the International Space Station. please see the post you quoted, where I pointed out that I don't eat it, either. I'll reshare the link on the history of why this is a thing - link it was fizzling out as a regular thing when I was a kid, similar to other atrocities of that era like aspic and gelatin salads with shit suspended in them. but, a very regular thing in the homes of my friends on Saturday nights was chopped up hot dogs, New England baked beans, and this canned brown bread.
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 15, 2023 19:26:31 GMT -5
heh. a friend of mine is a radiologist. he posts his work voice-to-text fails pretty regularly, and they are spectacular. I'll try to remember to share a few when he posts another. I'm in for the night, LD already went to bed. Punk is downstairs with me, being a super drunk toddler fighting sleep. lol... once I stop moving around, she'll be snoring. I did a bunch of kitchen prep/cleanup while they were having dinner, and still need to go reheat some leftovers for myself in a bit. while I'm sitting here, I made up a grocery list for tomorrow morning and clipped the digital coupons off the online flyer. next week's going to be tasty and full of veggies. asparagus and broccoli crowns are both super cheap with a 5lb limit on the sale price. Asparagus is running $3.99/lb here with Brussels sprouts and broccoli not too far behind. If my farmer's market is actually open the Saturday before New Year's like they say, I'm going to look for Brussels sprouts for New Year's Day. It's not so much the price at the local stores that I have a problem with, it's the fact that those veggies are ancient and dried out at that price. same here, well except the broccoli. it's usually $2.49/lb at the "expensive" store when not on sale. luckily the broccoli is hardy and will hold for awhile. I'll use a bunch on NYE with my typical Korean spread. I'm going to blanch a lot of the asparagus and freeze it for the pups for later on. I'll be enjoying a lot of it myself though - between IP risotto and wrapping it in prosciutto to broil...yum!
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 15, 2023 19:05:12 GMT -5
heh. a friend of mine is a radiologist. he posts his work voice-to-text fails pretty regularly, and they are spectacular. I'll try to remember to share a few when he posts another. I'm in for the night, LD already went to bed. Punk is downstairs with me, being a super drunk toddler fighting sleep. lol... once I stop moving around, she'll be snoring. I did a bunch of kitchen prep/cleanup while they were having dinner, and still need to go reheat some leftovers for myself in a bit. while I'm sitting here, I made up a grocery list for tomorrow morning and clipped the digital coupons off the online flyer. next week's going to be tasty and full of veggies. asparagus and broccoli crowns are both super cheap with a 5lb limit on the sale price.
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 15, 2023 15:13:07 GMT -5
ahh.....fantastic. I needed to reach out to the pushy woman with a question. it's limiting my ability to submit a legal document for review. bets on how long it takes her to answer? she's seen the request.
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 15, 2023 14:32:50 GMT -5
www.daringgourmet.com/vollkornbrot-german-whole-grain-seed-bread/This is more like what I expected when CG’s DIL talks about brown bread. It’s very good, but I can understand why a child would prefer white bread. It’s very chewy and really doesn’t make a good sandwich. It’s more of a slather with really good butter, pate or steak tartar (which is how I had it too). That looks pretty good actually. I don't read CG's posts but saw the mentions of brown bread and that weird canned thing chiver posted. When I hear brown bread, I think pumpernickel. One day I had bought some and then couldn't find it later when I was going to eat it. I started asking if anyone had seen it and the girls' dad said he threw it away because it was bad. He decided that since it waa brown it had to be rotten. I had juat bought it a few days before. Good thing bread is cheap or I would have been pissed. that weird canned thing is a very New England thing, TYVM. (I don't eat it, either....)
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 15, 2023 9:11:13 GMT -5
I just enjoyed a veggie burger for breakfast. black bean, dressed with pico and guac, yum.
Punk is at daycare today, LD and I are going to take a walk around lunchtime. it's supposed to be near 60 degrees today, and it's already bright and sunny. here's to today going better than the last couple work days have!
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 14, 2023 14:47:56 GMT -5
Cookies Galore - please tell me you got to see Margaret Atwood speak today?! another friend is there, and she posted a picture. also, I didn't know this convention was a thing until you mentioned it recently. can you kick me in the ass next year if it's a thing again? I would have loved to go to this!
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 14, 2023 12:49:17 GMT -5
Note to self - no more mid day flights out of Logan. no, the earlier the better. are you still getting out today?
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 14, 2023 10:43:53 GMT -5
today's becoming more expensive. HVAC service is typically ~$200. Stanley Steemer was just shy of $300. and the well guy finally got back to me about a PM on my well pump. he'll be here before noon. no idea what that's going to cost for today, as to whether he will be equipped to deal with the corroded fittings today or if he has to come back. oy.
ETA: woof. ~$600 to replace the corroded fittings. and I just caught myself, I almost turned on the kitchen faucet to wash my hands. oops. that could have been a mess.
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 14, 2023 10:21:17 GMT -5
it really was! I think it's even more shocking b/c the other Chinese place I go for takeout hasn't raised their prices at all over the same time frame.
today, I think I'm going to make teriyaki chicken breast to go with some spicy green beans and white rice. I need to make rice for the pups by tomorrow am anyway, so I'll just swipe some of that for myself. I have one BSCB left over from the package I opened for piccata earlier this week.
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 14, 2023 8:47:48 GMT -5
That sounds wonderful - we only use whole grain breads. When I googled "brown bread" this is what I got bmbeans.com/product/brown-bread-plain/ which to me feels more like a dessert than bread and this is where my brain went first - link
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 14, 2023 8:33:47 GMT -5
well, HVAC techs arrived about 815, Stanley Steemer at 825. LD is pacing the house, losing his mind. Punk is warily eyeing the baby gate I have at the top of the basement stairs. good thing I don't have any calls til 10am today. lol....
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 14, 2023 7:06:03 GMT -5
well, I'm up and dressed for public interaction, trying to wake up with a cup of strong coffee. it's only just now starting to lighten up outside, and I totally could have slept a little longer today. but I was given a 7am arrival time for an HVAC tech to do a PM service on my furnace today. let's see when they actually show up, as it's now 705am.
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 13, 2023 19:00:04 GMT -5
I'm about to head downstairs to wind down for the night. tomorrow's an early morning, with both HVAC techs (simple furnace PM) and Stanley Steemer arriving in the morning. HVAC tech is slated for 7am arrival, woof. whatever, it needed to be done, I forgot last year. and the couch? thank the universe for those little odor absorbing jars of round gel things that Yankee Candle sells. b/c my sectional smells like wet dog. time for a deep clean! M was here this afternoon, she took a work call on her way home from the airport. she got here with enough time for a potty break before calling in, she never would have made it all the way to her house in time. the pups were happy to see her, it's been a few weeks. we also finally gave the pups the "pupcakes" for LD's birthday last week. they seemed happy. both are out cold now, between her visit and us taking an adventure into the sand dunes earlier in the day. I'm already not looking forward to logging in to work tomorrow. I've fielded a number of texts today with requests, and my response has been yes, I'll add it to the to-do list when I log in tomorrow morning.
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Post by chiver78 on Dec 13, 2023 18:53:00 GMT -5
I picked up takeout this afternoon - 2 sushi rolls for lunch, and some Chinese food to have for dinner/leftovers. woof, did prices go up. I remembered the last time I stopped in for a quick sushi lunch that the rolls had gone up noticeably, so I grabbed a takeout menu that day, maybe a couple months back? anyway, here's a comparison between today's pricing and the previous menu I have. order old price new price6pc eel/cuke 8.45 116pc spicy yellowtail 7.45 10edamame appetizer 6.50 9lg rice noodles w/veggies 10.45 13spicy green beans 11.45 14
I had an Asian pear martini while I waited for the order I placed when I walked in, and today's total was $75. I mean, the food is fantastic quality, but wow. I know I don't eat out very much since COVID and everything, but has everything gone up that much? yikes. at least I've got leftovers to take me through the weekend here, mixed in with some home cooking.
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