Long day on this Saturday...

I woke up several times during the night, but was able to fall back asleep right away. I got up at 7:00 AM and sorta moseyed around. Then I checked my email and did the blog.

I thought about breakfast, and then decided to forget it. Still no coffee in the house until after today's grocery shopping. So, I skipped shaving and popped into the shower. I have a lot of running around to do today, before I even start the real work I want to accomplish today.

Here's the plan: I go to the Credit Union for some money (always important on a shopping day, lol) and then hit Lowes (for another set of plastic shelving - at $25.00 US it's the cheapest way to go), Meijer's (for the big grocery shopping), Westborn (for needed herbs and veggies), my scheduled hair cut at 12:30 PM (I forgot to call early enough in the week to get my usual 9 or 9:30 AM appointment), and then home.

This afternoon, I want to make some chicken noodle soup and bake two kinds of cookies (the chocolate chip ones but with the right chocolate and those molasses crinkles I didn't make the first time.) I want to drop off a plate of cookies to the lawn lady and her boyfriend for shoveling my driveway. I also have to clean Newt's bowl.

Well, that was the plan anyway. It took too long at Meijer's (not enough cashiers), so I went home instead and put away the groceries, then went and got my hair cut and hit Westborn afterwards. I got home and got everything put away by 2:00 PM. So, it's later than I'd like, but I must soldier on!

Before we move on, I must tell you it's an absolutely gorgeous day! Sunny skies, above freezing temps, etc. I hate it! Why? Because the 60 degree temps we had last week and this kind of day all just trick us gardeners into believing Spring is "right around the corner." But, any real Michigander knows, February and usually most of March is where it really, REALLY sucks for blizzards and cold. So it's all an illusion, man! And I HATE being tricked, even by God!

The last paragraph not withstanding, and since it was so nice, I took the opportunity to retrieve the four red bows and remove the cedar garland from the front porch. As I suspected, the bows were wet, so they went in the back room to dry before putting away for the season. The cedar rope garland went on the discard heap to turn into mulch.

Now, I changed into my everyday at home clothes (tee shirt, shorts and slipper socks) and got to work. Here's how I am making Mom's Chicken Noodle soup:

I took a thawed package of two split chicken breasts (bone in, of course) and put them in my Dutch oven pot. I added 8 cups (two boxes) of store-bought chicken stock (I'm all out of homemade, dammit), four sprigs of fresh thyme (Westborn), two dried bay leaves, and then 1 1/2 cups of medium-diced onion, 1 1/2 cups of medium-diced celery, two teaspoons of fresh, minced garlic and 3/4 cup of medium-diced carrots (Knife skills, baby! It's all about knife skills!) I brought that all up to a boil, and then turned it down to simmer for 30 minutes to poach the chicken. As it simmered, I skimmed off any froth that formed on the top.

Meanwhile, I had lunch. The last of the liverwurst on rye, made my Dad's way (with butter, not mustard). Sure I can feel my arteries clogging as I write this, but, damn, it tastes GOOD! But, never being satisfied, I can't help but think a layer of thin sliced onions would put this sandwich over the top!

When the timer went off (near 4:00 PM), I shut down the burner and removed the two chicken breasts to let them cool. Seeing this as the perfect opportunity, I went and took a nap.

When I woke up, I checked and the cast iron Dutch oven had held the heat (like I knew it would). I removed the thyme stems and the two bay leaves, then de-boned the chicken breasts (the bones went into the bag in the freezer so I can make more chicken stock someday). I cut the meat into small-sized cubes and added them back to the soup.

Meanwhile, I cooked four ounces of wide egg noodles in a separate pan of salted water until al dente (since this is a simmered soup, I don't want to bring it back up to a boil and beat up the aromatics). When the noodles were done, I drained and then added them to the soup. I let everything get happy for another 5 minutes or so, then I added two teaspoons of fresh chopped flat leaf parsley, one teaspoon of fresh chopped tarragon and (after taste testing) a few grinds of black pepper.

After trying a bowl, I decided if I had to do it all over again (and I probably will. This is good soup!) I'd use just a little less tarragon. Why? Because, I don't taste much parsley, mostly just the tarragon. I got three containers filled: one for the freezer, one for the fridge and one to take to Mom's. So, what next? It's almost 10:00 PM, but I did have a nice nap. I don't much feel like it, but I guess its cookie baking time!

Okay, so now its after midnight, the two dozen "My Big Fat Chocolate Chip" cookies are cooling (and, yes, I used the right kind of chocolate this time) and the first two sheet pans of the "Molasses Crinkles" are in the oven. Tonight has reinforced my belief that, while making cookies with two people can be fun, making cookies all alone is messy, time-consuming and no fun at all. In fact, if my buddy Tracey can't make it next year, I'm gonna drop the whole damn thing and just make Christmas Soups (anybody want to buy some folding cookie drying racks?). My legs are starting to feel all the standing up I've done, and I'm getting cranky (as you may have noticed).

So, now it's 1:00 AM. I was getting a bit overheated (hey, even with the vent fan on and the kitchen window cracked, a 375 degree F. oven throws a LOT of heat!) So, I fixed myself a drink and went out on the front porch to smoke a very old, stale Pall Mall cigarette. I got about 3/4 of the way through when the cold forced me back inside.

The cookies are all cooling, Most of the bowls, measuring instruments, spatulas, spoons, etc. are washed and what isn't, is soaking. So, I'm gonna post this and go to bed.

And thus, this Saturday slides into history...