I woke up on Sunday at 7:30 AM after another, long, sleepless night. Thunder woke me up just before 2:00 AM and lightning kept lighting up the bedroom. So, I put on my robe, went outside and watched the storm from my porch rocker. It was quite intense for a while, but then it moved off, muttering and grumbling. So, I went back to bed, but had a hard time falling back asleep.
I decided I wanted some breakfast, so I made some white sausage gravy. I browned a pound of pork sausage in my cast iron pan and then took it out with a slotted spoon. I added two tablespoons of flour to the remaining grease and stirred it for about two minutes. Then I added in two cups of whole milk, whisking constantly. I brought it to a boil, and then let it simmer for another two minutes. I added the sausage back in and let it all get happy while I baked the biscuits.
Now, I normally make mine from scratch, but I had a roll of them in the fridge that I bought for something, but never used. So, I just baked them for 13 minutes at 350 degrees F (until they were golden brown.) I took two, sliced them in half, topped them with my sausage gravy and dug in. Oh, my!
I started the rest of this weekend's laundry after I shaved and showered. Then I puttered around for while, doing chores (emptying the dishwasher, cleaning up from breakfast, hanging up the clothes, etc.)
At 2:00 PM, I started working on my Sunday dinner I put all but three slices of a pack of bacon on a half sheet tray, seasoned it liberally with fresh ground black pepper and popped it in the oven (pre-heated to 350 degrees F.) I baked them until they were almost crispy (about 25 minutes)
Meanwhile, I took the last three strips of bacon and cut them into 1/2 inch chunks. I saut�ed them in the cast iron pan and cut two small yellow onions into a fine-dice. When the bacon was almost done, I threw in the onions to sweat. When I had them where I wanted them, I took the pan off the heat to let the mixture cool down.
Once cooled I added two pounds of hamburger to the bacon and onions, some salt and pepper and red chili flakes (I need my heat!) and mixed it well by hand. Then I formed eight burgers from it, each slightly larger than the buns I will use and with a dimple in the middle (to allow for the "plump" factor when they cook).
Unfortunately, by the time I was ready to cook them, it had started raining. So, I put the grille on the apron, but tight under the garage eave so the rain wouldn't wash me out. I fired up the charcoal starter and let it get hot. I spread the charcoal out, and let the grates heat up. I scrubbed them off and hit them with non-stick spray.
About that time, Lu called with a cabinet question (they bought another cabinet to go over the fridge and one that's tall that will be a pantry).
Next I put the burgers on the grille, four minutes on a side. Nice grille marks, BTW. The dripping bacon chunks caused a lot of flare-ups, but I coped. I finally pulled them off, covered them with foil and let them rest.
Inside I opened a small can of Bush's baked beans and warmed that up on the stovetop. I made up my burger (bun, yellow mustard on the bottom and mayo on the top, some leaf lettuce, the patty topped with melted sharp cheddar cheese and a slice of bacon, broken in half and placed like an "x") and put it on a plate next to a nice helping of beans.
I ate dinner watching the movie "The Rock" starring Nicholas Cage and Sean Connery. I went out just after 7:00 PM (during a commercial) to see if the coals were cool enough to bring the grille inside and got a shock! It was snowing!! Now, I know they said possible flurries today, but this was a hard, wind-driven snow that had already started to cover the grass.
I dragged the grille inside and went back to finish the movie. Then I watched my one Sunday night show (the other was a rerun) and went to bed about 10:30 PM.
P.J., I genuinely do not understand something about you. If you see me write about some contraption I put together out of a lack of a steamer basket, you seem to see that as a problem that you solve by sending me a steamer basket. That makes complete sense to me! If, on the other hand, someone sees a problem in you (like the insomnia you have blogged about for the past two days) and tries to give you a solution, you get offended and act as if you are being victimized. What gives?
ReplyDeleteHey Dad,
ReplyDeleteYou should try Melatonin (herbal supplement) in order to help you sleep. I use it when I have a hard time falling asleep...it seems to help! Good Luck and Sweet Dreams!
love,
Carla
Jyl, I believe the answer can be found in the way you asked the question.
ReplyDeleteThank you, outside observer. If you are specifically referring to how I ended with "What gives?", I am just using language that Capatain K himself likes to use.
ReplyDeleteThat should read "Captain." I should know better than to try and type while I am running out the door. :)
ReplyDelete@ Jyl:
ReplyDeleteIt's quite simple (and I do believe that outside observer hit the nail on the head). You "see" a problem with me and try to give me your "solution." That suggests that (a) I don't recognize this as a problem and (b) I don't know the solution.
In most cases, I know what the problem is, what causes it and what the various solutions are. Which is why you offering me your opinion of the solution (as learned as it might be) is both insulting and annoying.
Make sense?
A) I realize that you recognize the problems. B) I know you have had a small army of people telling you the solutions for decades. The reason I posed the above question, though, is that I was listening to what ultimately inspired your "Discrimination" post. I am just wondering how you can simultaneously "not give a shit" whom you hurt with your choices _and_ be offended by the reactions of others to your choices. That is the part that does not make sense to me.
ReplyDeleteYou really, REALLY need to get a hobby...
ReplyDeleteI overheard the conversation where you were referred to as a "drunk" because I live in a small house, not from a lack of hobbies. Doesn't really matter much, anyway. Have a good one!
ReplyDelete