Oven-baked Tuesday

I left for work on Tuesday, swerving in the driveway to avoid the trash. I noticed with amusement that the old battery-powered sweeper I had set out with it (the one that didn’t work) was now MIA. I guess there are people in the neighborhood who can fix things better than I (and I tried!).

I was getting low on birdseed, so at lunch I went up to the Feed Store and bought another 40 pound bag. Since I was right there anyway, I stopped at Westborn and bought two big baking potatoes, some tomatoes on the vine and some lemons. I checked out their soups looking for the elusive clam chowder. I found six others and settled on the split pea with ham.

I took everything home and ate an excellent lunch while the cats ate their snack. The house still vaguely smelled like pickles, lol!

I forgot to put this in Monday’s Post, so let me explain: When I went to refill the little humidifier in the bedroom, I realized it had been a while since I cleaned it. So, I washed it as best as I could and added white vinegar to the water (to sterilize it and kill any mold build-up). The rest of the evening, it smelled like pickles in the bedroom.

I took an afternoon walk (I took one in the morning as well) and while it wasn’t “warm,” it wasn’t as cold as it had been.

When I got home, I took in the trash can and closed the garage door. Then I went inside and treated the rather impatient cats. I immediately turned on the oven to preheat it to 375 degrees F. It will play a crucial role in tonight’s supper.

I turned on the news and listened to it (as opposed to watching it) while I lined a half-sheet tray with tinfoil. Then I spread out a package of thick-cut bacon on it and peppered the hell out of it. When the oven was ready, I stuck in the tray and set the timer for 20 minutes (that’s when I start to check on it, not when its done - not with thick-cut slices).

Waiting on the bacon, I pricked the two potatoes with a fork, after scrubbing them and patting them dry. Then I rubbed them with olive oil (you could use a brush I guess, but I like doing it with my hands). I heavily salted them on all sides with coarse kosher salt and set them aside..

I checked on the bacon and decided to let it go another five minutes. I used to touch it to see how crisp it was (not pleasant as it was HOT but necessary, I thought), but have since learned a trick: You look at the bubbles next in the grease next to each piece. If they are big, the bacon’s not ready. If they are small, the bacon’s probably ready. Hey, its better than burning your fingertips!

When the bacon was done, I pulled the tray and turned the temperature to 425 degrees F. I set the potatoes directly on the rack (yes, you can wrap them in tinfoil and/or put them on a cookie sheet, but I like my potato skins crunchy!) I set the timer for an hour and proceeded to drain the bacon on paper towels.

I went in and watched the rest of the news. When the timer went off, I checked and the potatoes were done, so I pulled them out, set them on a paper plate and put them in the microwave to keep warm.

I made up my vinaigrette for my grilled Romaine lettuce salad using one tablespoon each of the bacon drippings, Worcestershire sauce, balsamic vinegar and olive oil. I whisked that together and set it aside.

I cut one head of Romaine lettuce in half and grilled each half directly under the oven broiler. When they were slightly charred on both sides, I pulled them. I drizzled both with the vinaigrette, topped that with  crumbled blue cheese and crumbled bacon bits.

I slit one potato, scrunched it open and topped it with butter, sour cream, more crumbled bacon and snipped chives. I took my feast into the bedroom to watch TV while I devoured it. It was perfect, even down to the texture of the potato skin.

I watched some DIY shows and then went to bed about 10:00 PM.