Foodie Wednesday

I went in for my half-day on Wednesday morning. When I came home at 11:15 AM, the first thing I did was to go out back and refilled the bird feeder. The wind was coming from the north, so the smoke from my neighbor's wood-burning furnace wafted across the yard. It reminded me of the many fires I made back in St. Clair.

Then I started the Wednesday wash (made even more imperative by the hairball someone left on the bedspread while I was at work!)

I went through my change and dug out all the quarters (and there were a lot!) I put them in the car for future car washes. It was above freezing again and the salt spray and crap on the car looks bad.

I made a sandwich for lunch and watched the noon news. I hung up my shirts and pants and put them in the closet. I folded the socks and then put the bedspread and blanket in the dryer.

I got on my boots and went out to get the mail after I saw the postman drive by.

I watched a couple of TV shows, trying to take a nap, but that didn't work. So, I got back up and, when the dryer stopped, remade the bed. I took out the Monday Night Chicken to let it come up to room temperature for dinner, later.

About 6:30 PM, the doorbell rang. It was my next door neighbor, Rick, returning my glass pie dish. He said while his wife Tammy was unable to eat it (diet? diabetes? I dunno...), he shared it with his brother and both loved it. I asked about the moving van I'd seen the other day and he confirmed my fear: It was the navy recruiter (with the Japanese wife). He had been reassigned to Japan for three years. But, he didn't sell his house; he rented it to his replacement. So, they will be back! I'm glad, because I like them very much. More good neighbors!

Back inside, I started tonight's dinner. I made some rice while I heated up the chicken. If you remember, I'd bought some zucchini for a soup I wanted to make. But, I only needed two and the smallest package I could get contained six.

So, I got out the mandoline, set it for 1/4 inch and cut up the two for the soup. I set those aside and sliced up the rest. Those I saut�ed in butter. When they were done, I salted them and added them to the Monday Night Chicken plate. I ate dinner watching some TV.

After dinner, I was restless, so I made the soup for later this week. I saut�ed four sliced carrots, one large chopped onion, two sliced stalks of celery and three minced cloves of garlic. I added two cups of homemade chicken stock and brought that to a boil. I then reduced it to simmer and cooked it for 10 minutes or so (until the onion was soft).

Then I added two more cups of stock, the zucchini, four chopped plum tomatoes, 1 1/2 cups of frozen cheese tortellini and one 15 ounce can of red kidney beans (drained and rinsed). I brought that to a boil again and reduced it to low. I simmered that for another 15 minutes (until the tortellini was tender) and then shut it off to cool.

Note: I'll top the soup with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano when I serve it.

I went back in and watched TV until bedtime.