Sunday, catching up

I awoke at 6:00 AM on Sunday and immediately reheated some of yesterday's coffee. I started the wash machine and loaded in my work clothes.

I made up my grocery list from the sale flyers and the running list I keep when I run out of stuff. Then I shaved and showered, got dressed and headed out about 10:00 AM. I went to both Meijer's and Kroger's and got home just before noon. I unpacked the car, put everything away and then got down to business.

I oiled a half sheet pan and put it in the cold oven. I set the oven to 450 degrees F. I noticed I forgot to mention yesterday that I finally thawed out the Christmas present from Jeremy, Jyl and the kids: veal bones. So, today I am making veal stock.

When the oven was preheated, I put the bones on the oiled sheet pan to roast (30 minutes on one side, then another 15 on the other until golden brown). Now, I gotta tell you the only recipe I found for making veal stock calls for 10 pounds of bones (it's for a restaurant) and I have about 2 1/2 pounds, so I am adjusting it all down 75%.

Naturally, I forgot to crack the kitchen window and turn on the vent, so the smoke alarms went off. I quickly remedied the situation. During the first 30 minutes, I went out in the garage and gassed up the push mower and also checked the oil. I need to cut the front lawn.

BTW, it's a bit cool and quite windy, today. I had to wear a jacket when grocery shopping. When the bones were done, I covered them with water and got them up to a light simmer. I dumped off the oil from the sheet pan and added water. I scrapped up the brown bits and let them get happy for a bit. Then I added them to the stock pot. Note: you definitely want to taste them at this point. If they are bitter, (it happens), discard them. If not, add them to the stock water. Mine were good so, I did.

I warmed up the last two hot dogs and ate them watching some of the taped Sunday morning cooking shows. While I was lying down, I heard some calls from the front door. It was Jake and Carla, with my early Father's Day present: a 10 cubic foot dump cart. They thought (and rightly so) it would save me a lot of work, moving the wood chips. They also had two Father's Day cards, one from the cats (hilarious) and one from them (touching).

So, Jake insisted in putting it together. He predicted an hour, although it took just a little longer. But, now I have a means to move the wood chips with a lot less physical stress.

They left around 4:30 PM (thanks again) and I went inside to check on the veal stock. Then I went back outside and started cutting the front lawn.

I finished up just after 5:30 PM. I revisited the veal stock. I added a carrot, two celery ribs and an onion, all rough chopped, and one clove of garlic. Then I added two stems of fresh parsley and three stems of thyme I picked out back. I don't have to start prepping dinner until 6:30, so I thought it was a good idea to give my legs a rest. I turned on a taped show but, before the hour was over, I fell asleep.

I woke up at 8:30 PM and was ticked when I realized it was now too late for the barbecue dinner I'd planned (a whole chicken that I was to spatchcock, before I roasted it, served with grilled potato slices). Well, no use crying over spilt milk.

I strained the veal stock into a bowl, put the cover on it and popped it into the fridge. The bones and veggies went into the trash and I'll wash up the stock pot and sheet pan in the morning. I opened a can of chili and warmed it up on the stove and then went in to watch my Sunday shows.