The First Monday of the Rest of my life

I awoke via the alarm clock on Monday morning (or, "Moanin"" as I like to say). I shaved, showered and primped (well, as much as a 60-year old bald guy can primp) and then got dressed for work.

I remembered my experience from yesterday and dug out my leather jacket. It's damn cold outside, but I can't complain... I see where my daughter Amy and her two Carl's are getting snow in Minnesota this morning!

In the Monday morning staff meeting, my boss announced that, as of this week, I'd be going to part-time. Nobody reacted, so I have to guess either (A) they already all knew about it, or (B) they were too busy thinking, "Thank God it wasn't me!"

It was a long, exhausting day and I was glad when 5:00 PM finally rolled around.

Back at home, the promised (well, 30%) chance of rain still hadn't materialized, so I turned on the hose to water the new-sown grass. Since I was out there, anyway, I filled the bird feeder. I decided that I still need to do that (if only for my Mom's sake) but not the two and three times a week (and two or three suet cakes a week) I'd done before. If things get too rough, I might just want to be able to shoot me a pigeon or two for supper (not to mention fried squirrel for breakfast).

While I was out there, I grabbed a handful of flat-leafed parsley, a clump of chives and some tarragon.

Back inside, I set the timer and washed up the small stock pot (still soaking with the remains of the split pea soup). When that was air-drying, I set about replacing the kitty litter (garbage day is tomorrow, after all). I got that done and ready to go, then set about to make some ranch dressing.

Now, I know, if you read this Blog a lot, you already realize I make my own salad dressings (unless I had out of town guests - Luanne likes "Newman's Own" Balsamic vinaigrette and Sadie likes Low or No-cal Catalina) and, since it just involves some sort of acid (one of my many flavored vinegars and/or lemon/lime juice) whisked with olive oil, I usually make it on a per salad basis.

But I do like ranch dressing and, in its basic form, it's pretty damn simple. So, I put one cup of buttermilk (some recipes swap that out for yogurt, but that's just wrong!) and one-half cup of Hellmann's mayonnaise (the only kind of mayonnaise I allow in this house) into a pint jar. To that I added a tablespoon of fresh chopped flat-leaf parsley and a teaspoon of fresh chives. I smashed a clove of garlic, added a teaspoon of kosher salt (it provides a much-needed abrasive) and, using the side of the chef's knife, ground it into a paste. That went into the jar as well. All that remained was to add 1/4 teaspoon of fresh ground black pepper and 1/4 teaspoon of dried dill (I don't grow that, here). I shook it up (violently) and stuck it in the fridge for later. When homemade (with no preservatives), it will keep about a week in the fridge.

Then I moved my milk crate from the hall closet (its cool, summer home) back outside to the garage. I took out the two apples that had long protected my potatoes (I remember to this day that, back in my Mother Earth News period in the 60's and 70's, apples were supposed to release a gas that retarded the sprouting of potatoes), cut them up into bite-sized chunks and threw them under the bird feeder (for the squirrels, rabbits or the 'possum). I put the crate inside my homemade garage root cellar, added two new apples and 10 pounds of russet potatoes. Those as well as two nice acorn squash and two medium-sized butternut squash compose my winter veggies to date.

Next it was time to make the chicken salad. I'm using an Ina Garten recipe, but modifying it. She roasted four bone-in chicken breasts and I have only two poached ones (if you remember), so I cut her recipe in half.

So, I cut the chicken into 3/4-inch dice. To that I added 3/8 cup of mayonnaise, 3/4 tablespoons of fresh chopped tarragon leaves, 1/2 cup of fine diced celery, a teaspoon of kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon of fresh ground pepper. I mixed it well and stuck it in the fridge to cool.

I cut a nice sized slice of that rustic Italian bread I buy every now and then (primarily for eating with soups and stews) and cut that in half. I spread a little mayonnaise on both halves, added a piece of leaf lettuce and then a generous amount of the chicken salad.

Then I wandered in to watch some TV and go to bed. The chicken salad was fantastic, by the way. I had to force myself NOT to make another sandwich! But, I'm still watching my waistline as well as pinching my pennies now, so the rest will be another meal in a day or two.