Christmas Vacation - Day 13 (New Year's Day)

I woke up at 6:30 AM on New Year's Day. With all the stuff that's been happening, I've had no time for reflection and resolution creation. If 2009 is anything like 2008 was, all I can resolve is to try and make it through the year!

I heated up a cup of yesterday's coffee but didn't feel like breakfast. So, I carefully washed up the pots and pans from last night's spaghetti dinner. I had this theory that, if I spread the use of water out over time, the drains might not overflow. So, I swept the bedroom and the kitchen floor and then watched the Today show, waiting for an hour until I took my shower.

It didn't work...

Lake San Jose returned...

I had an apple and some cheddar cheese for my brunch. Then, around noon, I started making Potato and Leek soup. This was supposed to be on the menu for Sadie and Lu this past week, but we never needed it. However, the leeks are starting to go, so I thought I better use them up.

So, I chopped the leeks (after cleaning them and removing the dark green sections) until I had a pound of leeks (I'm using my kitchen scale). I melted three tablespoon of unsalted butter in my Dutch oven on medium heat. I added the leeks and a pinch of salt (so they release their moisture) and sweated them for five minutes. Then I decreased the heat to medium-low and cooked them until completely tender (about 25 minutes), stirring occasionally.

Jake and Carla stopped by to pick up the toasted computer. Jake set up the loaner laptop so I could use my mouse, monitor and keyboard and then put in shortcuts so I can get to the website I need to post the Blog. Carla and I visited in the kitchen while I stirred my leeks.

They left with the CPU, their dishes from Christmas dinner and gift bags from Lu and Sadie. It seemed like just minutes later, Lu called from a nearby gas station, saying they were almost home and asking if I needed them to pick up anything (I didn't). So, they came in around 1:30 PM.

We exchanged New Year's Eve stories (theirs were better) and then they started to get ready to go to my Brother's party at my Brother Jim's house. I, obviously, am not going, so I don't infect my Mother.

Jake called and talked to Lu a long time. From the one-sided conversation I overheard, it was to thank her for the gifts and then turned into a long discussion on soap-making.

Meanwhile, back at the soup. I peeled and diced four small russet potatoes (the recipe called for Yukon Gold, which I had, but I think russet potatoes work better in soup). I added 14 ounces of the diced potatoes to the leeks and then a quart of my homemade chicken stock. I increased the heat to medium-high and brought it to a boil. Then I reduced it to low, covered it and gently simmered it until the potatoes were fork-tender (approximately 45 minutes).

Sidebar: When a recipe asked for "fork-tender" you really need to use a fork! A sharp paring knife will still slide into an under-cooked potato, but a fork won't!

When the potatoes were done, I used my immersion blender and pureed the soup until it was smooth. I stirred in one cup of heavy cream and one cup of buttermilk and then added 1/2 teaspoon of white pepper. I added one tablespoon of snipped chives (from the bag in my freezer I have since my chive harvest last Fall) and stirred.

I tasted-tested it and it was perfect, to me. I asked Sadie if she wanted to taste what she would be missing and told her it was pretty good. She tasted it and said, "Its WAY better than just 'pretty good'!"

When Lu got off the phone, she tried it as well and seemed to really like it, too. So, after getting all the cat hairs off their clothes, they left for the party.

After they left, I caught the Blog up to date. This was the first time I used Open Office (instead of Microsoft Word) so it was interesting. Not bad! I also checked my email and found a ton.

Next, I had sort of a party myself: trying, once again to snake out the drains. I am concerned about doing this, because it seemed to get worse when I snaked it out yesterday, but I gotta try!

I cleaned up the mess and tested it. Hmmm... not much difference, dammit!

Jake called with some good news! It was just the power supply, so that will only cost me around $50 US. Then my friend Leon called, returning my call and wishing me a Happy New Year, too. We caught each other up on the past year's events and then said our goodbyes.

I made myself a salad and got a bowl of soup (I froze the rest for my Mom). I ate that with some crackers, watching TV. They got home about 9:30 PM and we discussed the party (sounded like some serious good eats). They also gave me a birthday present from my Brother Joe and his wife Kathy.

I opened it and there where four big jars of herbs, some loose, dried bay leaves, cinnamon sticks and whole nutmegs. Perfect! Thanks, guys!!

Since I had to go back to work tomorrow, I didn't stay up very much longer. We said our goodbyes (they will be gone before I get home Friday, going up to Jeremy's house to celebrate Christmas and Riese's birthday. They will be leaving for Virginia and home directly from Port Huron.) and I went to sleep.

With all the excitement of the last 13 days, going to work sounds nice and peaceful...