Wednesday

We had a very bizarre weather phenomenon this morning. The National Weather Service issued a severe weather alert for freezing fog (one of the obscure bits of information I know is that the Indians in the Northwest used to call this a Pogonip). When I went to work at 7:00 AM, there was NO fog here, but by 8:15 you could barely see the parking lot from the building.

I dispensed with the porridge this morning, still feeling way too full from last night.

When I got home, I felt the need to "DO" something, so went back to installing more magnetic catches on my kitchen cupboards. This ain't easy, folks! But, I got four more done.

Wow! I found a neat trick! Last night's steak was a round steak, so I only ate half (preferring to gorge myself on Blue Cheese Spaghetti). I've tried reheating steak many, many times with no good results. Put it in the microwave and it's tough and stringy. Wrap it in tinfoil and heat in the oven, and you lose the medium rare I prefer. Food Network had no recommendations, so I gave up and searched the world-wide web!

Suggestion that worked was to cut it in strips, put it in a baggie, squeeze out all the air and put the baggie in a pan of hot tap water (NOT boiling water, that will also cook it more) and leave it for a while.

So, while the meat was warming, I made a baked potato in the microwave and then made a Sauce Bearnaise (I always wanted to try that!) This involves whisking a strained reduction of tarragon leaves, wine vinegar white wine and crushed peppercorns into two egg yolks over a double boiler (I don't have one, but an aluminum pan on top of a sauce pan works, too). Then, whisking like a mad man, you start slowly adding softened butter, pat by pat. Then, after all the butter is melted, you season with salt, pepper and fresh lemon juice and pour over the meat and serve.

Outcome? I liked the sauce a lot, but think it would have been even better with less lemon juice. Note to Hannah: Yes, I know about the Goerlich curse, but I ain't afeared!

Read until bedtime.