Labor Day Weekend, Day #2

I woke up at 8:00 AM on Sunday. I got my breakfast and first cup of coffee and then remembered I had to fill up the pill box.

It was already too windy to spray the herbicide on the driveway, so I watered the forsythia first and then new arborvitae out front with the square head sprinkler. When done with the water (for now at least) I dragged the hose back and then reeled it in.

Inside, I started the weekend wash. I emptied the dishwasher of the last load from the mouse incident. Using my step again, I put all the various wineglasses back on the top shelves. While I was doing that, I was also wondering why I have so many "various wine glasses" when I don’t like to drink wine.

When the clothes were in the dryer, I carried two buckets of water out to the peonies, filling the bird bath and watering the pot of petunias on the way.

After planting that arborvitae yesterday, I was taking it easy and doing all the small chores inside. I wound the clock, replaced the furnace filters, added some antifreeze to the car, put away the Sawzall, and so on.

I had thawed out the rest of the ground ham and made that into more ham and pickle sandwich spread. I talked with B___ for a bit and we caught each other up. It was weird, as he was talking about how hot it was in the sun (he was grilling). I told him it was overcast and had been since Friday here!

When I was planting the arborvitae, I noticed that one of the evergreen branches had grown and drooped and was rubbing on the incoming cable line. Long time readers may remember that several years ago, Jake went up on the roof and cut away all the pine branches that touched the roof for me.

Well, no way was I about to climb onto the roof and even going up the extension ladder to lop it off seemed fraught with peril. Then it dawned on me: It is right up above the attic window.

So, I got the tree saw/lopping pole and went into the attic. There was just one problem with my idea. I couldn’t figure out how to get the screen out. I finally did get it out, but bent it in the process. Oh well, I still have one on the south end of the house and I never open those windows, anyway.

It took some doing, but I finally got the branches cut off (see photos). Pleased with myself, I shut and locked the window, leaving the bent screen on the attic floor. I’ll figure that out another day.

About 5:00 PM, I started making dinner. One thing I must confess up front. Baking the potatoes the day before and then sticking them in the fridge was a mistake. Yes, it kept me from burning my hands digging out the potato flesh, but it was much harder when they were cold. Also, mashing them was difficult, too. If I had thought about it, I would have at least warmed them up in the microwave.

But, I finally got the skins refilled with the potatoes, green onions, bacon bits and cheddar cheese, all mashed with sour cream and butter. I let them sit on the cookie tray while I did two things. One was to make a double batch of that homemade marinara sauce that I’ll need (hopefully) for tomorrow’s dinner.

And the other was to make a basil and Parmesan pesto sauce I need to put inside the chicken breasts. It said you could either use a blender or a food processor. I choose the blender, because I haven’t used it in a long while and figured using it and then washing it would be good for it. Maybe it was, but it wasn‘t for me.

It would have taken no time at all in the food processor, but I had to keep pressing the stuff down, then pulsing, then doing again, over and over! And, all that was in it was about a cup of fresh picked basil leaves (Hey, look at me, using herbs from my raised herb bed garden), 3/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup of olive oil and one clove of garlic.

I put each chicken breast between two layers of cling wrap and flattened them to about 1/4 inch thick with a rolling pin. I put a rounded tablespoon of the pesto in the middle and then rolled it up, securing them with two toothpicks.

Meanwhile, I preheated the oven to 375 degrees F. When it was ready, I stuck the cookie sheet with the potatoes in on the bottom rack and set the timer for 25 minutes.

I dusted the four chicken roll-ups with flour and cooked them in butter and olive oil until they had a golden crust. Then I stuck them in the oven to finish cooking.

When the timer went off, I pulled out the potatoes and checked the chicken with my instant read thermometer. They were at a 160 degree F. internal temperature, but I wanted 165. So, I let them go another five minutes. I rechecked them and they were done.

I let them rest a bit and then plated my dinner. I took a photo for my brother Carl. But, I must admit, I did go and get another chicken roll after the first one was gone. Hey, I still had half of the baked potato left and needed something to go with it!

BTW, the chicken was excellent and this set of twice-baked potatoes was much better than my first effort.

I watched a little TV during and after eating, but then went out and put away the leftovers and put the marinara sauce in two container and then into the fridge. I hand washed the non-stick pan and my Wustof, but ran everything else through the dishwasher.

I had slept in as I mentioned, so after watched the last episode of "Breaking Bad," I watched taped shows until after midnight, when I finally felt sleepy enough to go to bed.