October, 2008

I think I have been transported back to the Midwest. This cold is totally unexpected. I'm so glad I put up some chicken stock a couple weeks ago. The consensus last night was we needed chicken noodle soup for dinner. I personally like to make my own noodles, both my grandmothers believed in homemade noodles, they are the ultimate comfort food at our house, BUT they really have to be made early in the day, not at 4 pm when I'm putting together dinner for 5:30.

Getting ready for the December issue I have been dredging through my much loved cookie recipies and just thinking about it fires up my need to bake. Yesterday I was browsing the Kroger's in TigerTown and was delighted to discovered they are carrying a line of the Guittard baking chips. This has always been one of my favorite brands of chocolate chips and they had a cappuccino chip there that I couldn't resist! I plan to make chocolate chip cookies today and add some of those cappuccino chips to see how they hold up in a cookie. I'll let you know how they work.

Sometimes I have a real hard time with the aspect of food that is "good for you". I had a nutrition teacher once that believed unless it was solid sugar it had some kind of nutritional value. I believe that was before the pyrimid was invented...anyway I like to put a balance of color on the table and eat the dreaded fish at least twice a week...today was time for salmon. It took me a long time to understand you cook it fast and you don't overcook it. I had to pull the platter of salmon away from my husband with both hands today. It was awesome!

Wow, I haven't been here for a while. The crazies have started even though the Holiday season is a whole month away. I sneaked a peak at my Rumtopf and stirred it to be sure there was no sugar lurking at the bottom. Baked cookies Sunday and Monday for 200, that was fun. Have about 20 college boys coming over Sunday to watch the races, it's supposed to cool down considerably tomorrow so believe I'll make the first pot of chili for the season and apple pie (better make one cherry, Greg isn't fond of apple).

Appropriate day to cook, unless you're making meringue, which I'm not. My Greg told me he has invited the Formula One team from the U to come watch races on the tube at our house. He said "My mom will cook" and that seemed to cinch the invitation. I've been busy enough that adding another "occasion" to the grind sends me into pre-prepare mode.

It's the only day of the week that I can be 75% positive that everyone will be at the table for dinner. In the cooler weather I'll start a roast before I head to church but since we are still experiencing summer weather here in the deep South the grill will continue to get a work out. I found some gorgeous aspargus at the store yesterday and usually the early fall harvest is tasty without being too woody. I am doing a turkey breast on the grill. I started it marinating before I left for church and took it out when I got home.

I am so ready for the weather to cool down enough to have a pot of soup. It's my turn to cook for my small group this week and I told the ladies to expect homemade chicken noodle soup, unless its too hot. I'd very much like to start some stock simmering this weekend, I usually do at least 2 large stockpots at a time, but the steam that creates can only be savored on a cool Fall day and it doesn't look like today is going to be one of those.