I raced home in case there were early trick-or-treaters (Redford doesn't have a specified time, like 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM for the kids to go begging). Just as I pulled into San Jose, I saw two of them about four houses down, but heading north (and I live south). Sigh...
When I got out of the car, a strong food smell assailed me. Now, that's not unusual, because I grille a lot, the grille is stored in the garage and the smell of, say, a smoked pork loin lingers for days. It took me a minute, but then I got it: the stew!
I gave each cat his or her daily treat, changed just my shoes (don't want to scare the kids with these scars) and went to check out the stew. Perfect! I stirred it a bit, took out the stems from the herbs, turned it on "Warm" and got ready for the kids.
I open one of the two bags of candy and put it in a bowl (for easy distribution), turned on the porch light and all the living room lights. I went in the other room for something and the door bell rang! Hurray! But, alas, it was the UPS guy, dropping off the last Bourdain book (it was back-ordered). He thanked me but refused my offer of some candy.
So, I sat on the couch and read (so people could see I was home) and read and read until 8:00 PM. Somewhere in that time, Carla called to say they had a bunch of kids so far, even one dressed as a penguin! And, Jer and Jyl emailed me pictures of Joe and Riese in costume so I could at least say I saw some trick-or-treaters. But, I'm hungry and discouraged (somehow, I can't explain why, but I feel like Charlie Brown) so, I turn off the porch light, turned off the living room lights, put the bowl of candy on top the fridge and get to work on dinner.
I turned the slow cooker to high as I need it bubbling for the dumplings. I mixed together the dry ingredients (two cups of flour, four teaspoons baking powder, one teaspoon sugar and one teaspoon salt). Now, long time readers are familiar with me mixing dry ingredients by using a whisk. But, for these babies to rise perfectly, they really need to be incorporated so I always use my flour sifter and run the stuff through four or five times. Then I stirred in a scant cup of milk.
I dropped tablespoons of the mix on top of the stew (but not touching each other). Oh, I forgot to mention, the gravy must be low enough that the dumplings touch the vegetables. Then I turned the slow cooker to warm again (on a stove, you turn it to simmer) and cooked them uncovered for 10 minutes and then covered for 10 minutes more.
I plated it and took a picture for you, but forgot to post it. It was delicious (really) but needed "something" as the texture of the potatoes, parsnips and rutabaga is all quite similar. I was thinking maybe fresh green beans, added just when I put in the dumplings, might still be a little "al dente." I also belatedly thought I should have put in mushrooms.
But, it really was good!
I kept reading the new book until I fell asleep.
Sorry nobody came to your house Dad. On a brighter note, we got 89 kids at our place. I have to gloat a little.
ReplyDeleteYes, we thoroughly enjoyed our first Halloween at the house. I gathered two weeks ago that we lived in a fairly festive neighborhood, as about every third house was decorated for the holiday.
ReplyDeleteWe got home and quickly ate a traditional Halloween meal of haunted hot dogs and massacred macaroni and cheese. As an aside, they were out of the "blue box" that I prefer when slumming it, so we got organic. Judging by the little pebbles of organic cheese sauce mix I was eating, apparently they don't make organic anti-clumping agents.
While we setup a couple chairs on the front porch we noticed a neighbor two houses down moving a rocking chair out near the side walk. He came back shortly thereafter in what from a distance appeared to be a gorilla suit.
Then the festivities began. We were visited by several Bob the Builders, Power Rangers and witches. As you mentioned we also had an oversized penguin being led by an undersized zookeeper. While the children did not pay much attention to us, several of the parents welcomed us to the neighborhood.
The highlight of the evening was a visit from a young fairy (which Carla mistakenly took for a princess but was quickly corrected). After receiving her treat Carla said goodbye but the child did not appear to hear her. With her eyes fixed on something behind Carla she inquired inquisitively "Did a squirrel eat your pumpkin?". To which her father replied "Just like at home.". Apparently the neighborhood is full of these gourd gouging rodents!
Looking down the street as porch lights started fading, our neighborhood gorilla began to pack up his rocking chair. We too moved the chairs inside and began to clean up. Just as we were closing up shop we were visited by the last two tricker treaters, both of whom received about half a bowl full of candy.
We retired to the living room, comforted from the entire Rockwellian experience and 89 visitors.
See, that's what I'm talking about! Oh, well, I think its a combination of many things. It's a dirt road, poorly lit with no sidewalks. And, the registered sex offender three houses down probably doesn't help either.
ReplyDeleteMaybe next year we can rig up a camera to your computer and I can get a live feed of the event!
John wrote: "somehow, I can't explain why, but I feel like Charlie Brown."
ReplyDeleteI am very sorry that someone snatched your trick-or-treat football, P.J. Speaking of introverts, though, (the introverts being both Charlie Brown and his creator, Charles Schulz) I left an inquiry for you in your inbox.