Mother's Day Road Trip

I did set the alarm for the usual 5:30 AM, but I slept badly last night and apparently shut it off. So, I woke up for real at 8:16 AM. Yikes! I got a pie to bake!

So, I jumped up and got to work. First, my bedding went into the washer. Then I started on the pie dough. I combined three cups of flour, a three finger pinch of Kosher salt (about a teaspoon) and 10 ounces of cold butter (I diced it to make it easier to work with). I worked the butter in with my hands (it was tough as two sticks of butter were still frozen).

I got out the food processor to speed up this process, but for some reason, it would not turn on!?!

Using my hands, I got the butter into pea-sized chunks, so I added ice water to bring the dough together (maybe half a cup). I didn't beat up the dough, just shaped it into a disc and, after covering it with cling wrap, I stuck it in the fridge (for a minimum of 20 minutes or a maximum of one day).

I took that time to shave and shower.

Back in the now very messy kitchen, I took out the dough and cut one third of it off. I took the two thirds and rolled them out to about 3/16 of an inch. I put that on my glass pie plate.

Then I took my rhubarb and fine diced it until I had about five cups in a large bowl. I covered it with 1 1/2 cups of sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves and 1/3 cup of cornstarch. I tossed that by hand until it was well mixed and let it sit. Note: if you do this too early, the sugar leaches out too much water before it goes into the dough.

Then I took the cut off strips and the other 1/3 dough and rolled it out until it, too, was 3/16 inch thick. Then I used my chef's knife to cut it into 3/4 inch strips (I wish I had a pastry wheel, because it would leave the edges fluted, but I don't).

I brushed the edges with an egg wash, and then I poured the rhubarb mixture into the pie plate. I placed five strips of dough horizontally at even intervals across the pie. Then I folded the first, third and fifth strips back to the edge and laid one strip of dough vertically across the horizontal strips. Next, I folded the first, third and fifth horizontal strips back then folded the second and fourth strips back to the first vertical strip. I laid a second vertical strip an equal distance from the first one. Then I folded the second and fourth strips back. I repeated the process with the final lattice strips. Then I brushed them all with the egg wash.

I set the pie plate on a half sheet pan and stuck it in a preheated 425 degrees F. oven. Then I went and filled the Blog in to date. I checked the pie after 45 minutes and found the lattice strips were starting to brown on the ends. So I covered it with a sheet of tin foil (it's supposed to bake for an hour or 1 1/4 hours).

I went and got everything I need for today's lunch (except for the pie) into the car. My theme here is springtime, so I have a rack of lamb, fresh asparagus, Yukon gold potatoes, and fresh garlic. I am also taking my Wusthof knife, my biggest non-stick saute pan, the non-stick tongs and the fish spatula. I also took my sea salt and black pepper grinders, a jar of mint jelly (that's how my Mom likes to eat lamb) and a jar of herbes de Provence.

Finally, the pie was done. I was glad I put it on the half sheet pan, because the juices had boiled over. I let it cool for a bit and then put it on the passenger side floor. It was about 11:15 AM when I left. I drove too fast, but I got to Mom's about 10 minutes after noon.

Carl was already there and threatening to go buy corned beef sandwiches since I was sooo late. I assured him we would be eating in less than 30 minutes, so I got to it. Cora volunteered to peel the potatoes, so I let her (it's nice to have a prep cook!) I preheated the oven (after cleaning it out) to 400 degrees F. For some reason (something must have gotten spilled in there) it started smoking, so I turned on the vent fan and Carl opened the doors for a bit.

Then I took the rack of lamb and cut it into eight individual chops (if you put the meat side down, its easier to see exactly where the bones are, BTW.) Cora was done with the potatoes, so I cut them into small cubes and put them, along with four cloves of garlic I'd smashed and taken the skins off, in water to cook.

I cut the tough ends off the asparagus and put them on a cookie sheet. I drizzled them with olive oil and sprinkled on some sea salt and fresh ground pepper. Then I tossed them around to coat them and set them aside.

About that time, Carl's daughter Leeann came over with her two sons to visit with Grandma. It was really nice to see her again and the kids are so big!

I got the lamb ready to saute. This is the same method I used a few weeks ago when I grilled lamb chops for Jake and Carla, BTW. I brushed both sides with olive oil, sprinkled on a little sea salt and fresh ground pepper and then added the herbes de Provence.

Just so you know, herbes de Provence (or herbs from Provence) is a unique French blend of herbs and spices and contains chervil, basil, rosemary, tarragon, garlic, lavender (yes, lavender), marjoram, savory, thyme and parsley. I pressed the herbes de Provence into each side of the chops and let them sit for a bit.

By now, the potatoes had been cooking for about 10 minutes, so I put the asparagus into the oven (they need to roast for 10 minutes, you see). Then I added the last of Mom's olive oil (somebody put that on her grocery list, please) into my saute pan and cranked up the heat. When the oil started to shimmer (I am getting good at seeing this), I put in the lamb chops. I was glad I'd brought the bad-boy, 14-inch saute pan because they just all fit!

I drained the potatoes and garlic and added one raw egg, 1/4 stick of butter and some 2% milk and then mashed them. After four minutes, I turned the lamb chops over (they had a nice sear to them) and let them cook for another four minutes (a perfect medium rare). I pulled out the table, got some chairs and then set the table while the lamb chops rested. I plated the chops, the potatoes and the asparagus and called everyone in to eat.

Mom seemed to really enjoy her meal and said she couldn't remember the last time she had lamb. When everyone was finished, I cut into the rhubarb pie and served that. Cora had never eaten rhubarb before but everyone (including me) raved about it. No kidding, it was damn tasty! It also really looked cool and I was sorry I was so rushed that I didn't take a picture of it.

Carl washed up the dishes (we'll never know if it was up to Cora's standards or not). I put the last two pieces of rhubarb pie in the fridge (I'll get my pie plate some other time) and went to get the mail for Mom. There was a beautiful card from Luanne and, while Mom was reading it, they delivered a box of flowers. We were all curious as to who sent them, but nothing was on the outside. So, Carl opened the box and found a card that said something like "Happy Mother's Day! I'll see you at the cottage this summer!" signed, Carl V. So, my grandson sent my Mom a beautiful bouquet of multi-colored roses.

I must confess to Amy, Carl IV and Carl V, it was a bit embarrassing when your Uncle Carl tried to convince my Mom that he had sent them...

My cousin Sue (or Kara, or whatever she changed her name to) called and she said she was on her way over to visit Mom, so Mom was thrilled.

Oh, I forgot to tell you. I gave Carl his shoe box of "Jack-in-the-pulpits." He looked at them and then corrected me, saying they were lilies of the valley (I knew that!) and that he, too, had a ton of them already (I told ya, they grow like weeds). So, I think he gave them to Leeann.

Carl asked me to stop over at his house to check out his English garden (in the front yard) and the other improvements he'd made in the back. So, we left, after wishing Mom a Happy Mother's Day.

I pulled into Carl's house right behind him and took the grand tour. Damn, he's done good! He's got various height's of garden in the back, surrounded by those big, reddish blocks (like behind my mail box). It really gives your eye something visual to see besides just a flat back yard (like mine). He fed the fish while I was there, so I got to see my old gold fish (who probably now weighs a couple of pounds!)

I checked out the new trees he's planted and the many perennials. Then I checked out his English garden in front. Beautiful! It made me embarrassed with my plain Jane front yard.

I borrowed his cell phone (my "emergency" cell phone is sitting back at home in my jacket pocket) and called my friend B___, since he lives only about four or five miles from Carl. I didn't think he would answer, since he didn't know that number, but he finally did. So, I asked him if I could stop by for a chat and he said, "Sure."

So, I dropped in to see him for a while. His boat is now in its slip and, while he's still got a bit of clean-up to do, it's basically ready for summer. I had a Corona with lime sitting on his patio porch and we caught each other up on what was new. Then I took my leave and he went to cut the grass while I headed for home.

Now, I'd heard that I-696 was shut down completely at one spot for this weekend. I took I-96 to I-94 to my Mom's, but there is no good way from B___'s to get there. So, I got back to Groesbeck and just took it to 8-Mile. I drove 8-Mile all the way from Groesbeck over to Inkster (it's a hike, but not bad. If you get into the rhythm, you always have green lights). So, I eventually got home about 5:30 PM.

I was really beat by the time I got home and was seriously thinking about taking a nap. Until, that is, I walked into the bedroom and discovered the bedding was still in the washer! Oh, well...

Instead I started cleaning up the kitchen. Not the big, floured bread board, because I overbought the rhubarb, so I still have another pie to make. But I washed up the bowls from this morning and the saute pan I brought back from Mom's.

I returned some calls, checked my email, filled in more of the Blog and finally, the bedding was dry. So, I made up the bed. It was almost 7:30 PM and I thought briefly about dinner. But, to tell you the truth, I was still quite full from lunch (Carl would probably say it's because I made it sooo late, lol). So, I lay down to rest my legs and read my book for a bit.

I switched to the TV and started catching up on my Saturday morning cooking shows. But, I don't think I got through the first one before I fell asleep.

I woke up after midnight, just long enough to go to the bathroom, turn off the TV and the lights and go to bed for real.