Another Good Sunday!

I woke up at 6:00 and decided it was too early to get up, so I read in bed until 7:30. I put a pot of coffee on and took a shower. Got dressed and for some odd reason, remembered a clock I forgot to change: The one in the programmable thermostat. So, I fixed that.

Then I fixed myself some scrambled eggs. I cleaned up the dishes, got another cup of coffee and contemplated my Sunday. As I think I mentioned yesterday, the house is pretty clean. And, I got all the outside work done yesterday. So, I think today will be several small projects, interspersed with goofing off.

I put my grass-cutting clothes (all covered with dust and leaves) in the wash machine along with the towel I used to mop up the water yesterday when the floor drain overflowed. I haven't had to do this in three years or so, but I think it may be time to get those guys back to snake out the line to the street. Note: Every time the washer was on rinse, I'd run back to see if it was overflowing. It never did, but this was only a "medium" load, so maybe that's why.

Next I started to deep-clean to stove. I used Soft-Scrub on the all the stuck-on grease and gunk under the burner trays, wash the burner trays with a Brillo pad and throw the grates (or whatever they are called) in the dishwasher. My back is starting to ache from all the rubbing and scrubbing, but I got it done. I'll turn on the self-cleaning oven tonight when I go to bed.

That done, I cleaned both cat's dishes. Sweeping up the spilled cat food, I noticed the wood floors in both the office and the bedroom were clean, but a bit dull. So, I got out the Swifter Wet Jet and washed the floors.

My daughter, Melissa called from their new home in North Carolina. Dave and Dustin have a football game they want to watch this afternoon, so the women are making a ton of appetizers (she made my mouth water just naming some of them) for an indoor tailgating party.

Oh, yes, I added a non-skid pad under the front hall rug (Jake remarked how it moved yesterday when he stepped on it). Since I rarely go in or out of the front door, I hadn't noticed, but don't want anybody (including me) falling.

One thing I forgot to write in yesterday's post was that I had thawed out a boneless turkey breast yesterday for smoking today. So, last night I made up a simple brine and the turkey's been sitting in the fridge ever since. As I said, this brine's pretty basic. For each quart of water needed, you mix:

4 cups of water
1/4 cup table salt or 1/3 cup kosher salt
3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 medium bay leaf, crumbled.

Mix together until the salt and sugar dissolve. Put the turkey breast in a big baggie (I don't have them that big, myself) or a pot with a weight on the breast to keep it submerged (I used a soup bowl) and fill with brine. In my case, since I used a large pot, it took three quarts of brine to cover.

Anyway, it's now almost noon, too early to start the turkey. I need to use up the last six hardboiled eggs, so I made up some bacon and cheddar deviled eggs. Just as I was about half way done, Jake and Carla showed up with the meat. So, I popped it all back in the fridge and went out to help unload. We briefly discussed doing another inventory as we put it away (we did this last year and printed off what Carla was fond of calling "The Meat Log"). But, since we didn't keep up with it last time, why bother? With another year's supply of meat safely tucked away, we retired to the kitchen for a short chat.

They caught me up on what's happening with Jerry and Kathy and St. Clair while I finished the deviled eggs. They each tried an egg and said they were good (Dammit! I was hoping for GREAT!) Then, they grabbed some meat and headed home. I tried calling my Mother, but there was no answer, even after 20 rings. I imagine she's at somebody house today.

I started the grille, set up for indirect heat/smoking at 2:00 PM. Once the coals were ready, I took the turkey breast out of the brine, patted it dry and applied a liberal amount of canola oil on it. I did the trick of cutting halfway through a potato, but this time a sweet potato, slathering it with butter, wrapping it in tin foil and putting it directly on the coals. Then I added wet wood chips (apple, this time. I think it will go well with the brown sugar brine), stuck the digital thermometer probe in the meat (alarm set for 165 degrees F. internal temp), closed the lid and went in the house. I'll check it throughout the afternoon (you just look out the front door for the tell-tale of no smoke) and add more wet wood chips and/or coal as needed.

I set the timer on the stove for 20 minutes and go out and add more wood chips. Repeat... Repeat... When the internal temperature of the turkey breast hit 150 degrees F., I started on the other side dish. I put a pot of salted water on to boil and cleaned a tray of Brussels sprouts. When the digital timer in the turkey went off (just before 4:00 PM), I pulled it off the grille and tented it with tin foil to re-distribute the juices. I dug out the baked sweet potato and brought it in (but left it in the tinfoil. Then, I started the Brussels sprouts.

I cooked the Brussels sprouts in a large pot of boiling salted water until just tender, 9 minutes. Then I drained them in the colander, put them back in the original pot and tossed them with 3 tablespoons of butter and added salt and pepper, to taste.

I cut the strings off the turkey breast and carved it, putting 4 nice slices on a plate. I unwrapped the sweet potato and was momentarily taken aback. It was totally black! I know better!! It takes less than an hour to bake a regular potato with this method. Why the heck did I leave this on the fire for almost two hours? Then I realized while the skin was burnt, the inside was perfect! So, I dug out the inner potato with a spoon and added it to my plate. Finally a slotted spoonful of the Brussels sprouts and I dug in...

The turkey skin was a dark golden brown. The inside had a nice, visible smoke ring and was so moist and juicy it was unbelievable. While I couldn't pick out the precise apple or brown sugar taste, it tasted definitely different and delicious. The sweet potato was excellent and the Brussels sprouts perfectly done. A great Sunday meal!!!

I cleaned up the dishes and decided that, at 5:00 PM, my workday is done. I took my book into the living room and let my supper settle in my stomach in my recliner. I tried calling my Mom again. Still no answer. Then Luanne called. She's back home, a day later than they'd planned because they missed a connecting flight in Texas and had to stay overnight. You could tell just from her voice it was an awesome experience for her and a great way to mark turning 50. I myself have no idea what, if anything, I did to celebrate being a half century old. Anyway, she said they'd bring up the photos when they come at Christmas time so I can see the whole expedition.

Now, its 6:30 and I just put away the leftovers from dinner. I've been cleaning up as I went, so it's just a quick wipe of the counter and I'm free to watch my Sunday shows. I tried Mom again, but still no answer.

I watched a taped show, then my 8:00 PM regular show (Extreme makeover, Home Edition - I'm such a sucker for that show, lol!). At nine, I tried Mom again, still no answer, so I called Carl, but got his voicemail. So, I called Jim. Bingo. He said Mom had been at their house all day and he took her home 20 minutes ago. I said I had just called and got no answer and he said she probably went to bed as she was very tired. So, I'll call her another day, I guess. When I hung up from Jim, Carl called me back and I told him I found the answer out already.

Forgot to mention, for days now, Caley has been jumping up on the computer table on the left side, getting bored after a bit and walking across the keyboard to get to the tight side. Since this types in way more letters than I want, I angrily pick her up and put her down on the floor. So, she has learned that's a no-no. Now what she does is jump on top the monitor, lay down and hang her head and one leg over the front and try and catch the cursor with her paw. Weird cat...

I figured I'd post this when I wake up during the night and I did.