Monday Miscellany
- I made macaroni and cheese and apple brown betty last night for dinner. It’s a meal that gets consistent raves and every time I make it, I feel a bit guilty because it simply could not be easier.
- Why is it that we feel like we need to drive ourselves crazy making really complicated stuff, when the easier stuff seems to make people happy?
- Speaking of which, as part of slowing down, I was thinking of more simple dinners. I grew up with a roast, 2 veg, some sort of starch and a dessert for Sunday dinner. What do you cook?
- It’s finally feeling like fall. I love fall. I have no idea what about fall it is, but I love everything about fall.
- Maybe it’s because I like fall clothes? Or the cooler weather? Or my birthday? Or school supply shopping?
- Honestly, I’m super sad that I don’t get to buy duotangs and gluesticks and felt markers.
- It’s the one thing that I think sucks about adulthood with no children.
The only constant element in a proper supper for me growing up was salad. The main could be pizza, tacos, stir-fry, roast and potatoes, soup, or anything really. Dessert was an optional, and not encouraged, thing. But unless there’s a salad course, it’s not a real meal.
I don’t cook – my husband does (I burn water – it’s a gift…). When I’m feeling nostalgic for my Dad’s cooking, my husband will make liver and onions for me as a reminder of my Dad’s Friday night dinners.
Basic food like Jell-O. When I go to pot lucks I bring big bowls of Jell-O and some topping. Set it amid the fancy desserts–guess which goes first. If I really want to make it “difficult” I make jell=o poke cake. Bake a cake mix in an oblong pan. When it comes out of the oven prepare a pkg of jell-o. When the cake is just warm, poke holes in it with a meat fork, 1/2″ apart in every direction. Pour jell-o over, refrigerate, frost with topping if desired. That also goes before the fancy desserts.
I love autumn too. When I was teaching I only saw autumn in 15-min bits 2-3 times a week (recess supervision). I stayed late because there is so much work to do until first report cards in Nov. then it got easier. I love the smell, the different kind of warm temperature, the colors, and the fact that it’s cooler at night. The golden grain, the geese flocking…
I grew up with roasts and three veg too. Sometimes I’ll do that. But my go-to easy meals are pasta (current fabourite is bacon, pimpkin and feta) and stir- fries. Stir-fry veg go with anything and everything, even a roast or a steak.
Now I’m off to google what an apple brown betty is.
I grew up eating a lot of meat & potatos (including roast beef or pork with mashed potatos & gravy) and casseroles. Dh did not, and since he does most of the cooking, we tend to eat a lot of his favourites, which include beans or lentils with pasta or rice & some veggies thrown in. Now that I’m home, though, I am eyeing my seldom used crockpot & dreaming of roast beef, lol. 😉 Although with just the two of us, the leftovers tend to last forever.
I grew up with the traditional meat and potatoes fare. I like to experiment now, although it makes me sad that I really don’t have the time that I’d like. I made moussaka for a houseful a couple weekends ago. I made a couple quiche lorraine for guests a couple days ago. Add a good salad and some bread and you have a meal. In between there were crock pot meals and casseroles. The thing that I like about fall is that I can once again begin simmering pots of soup in the crock pot. Easy peasy and I don’t have to feel guilty about everyone on their different shifts not getting fed properly.