OCTOBER 2023
Sunday 2023.10.29
Flour Tortillas Yet Again
On Thursday morning I made another batch of tortillas, eight in number. There is almost always room for experimentation. Rather than using butter, which is 20% water and therefore might affect the texture, I used some of the chicken fat I captured from my latest batch of homemade chicken stock.
Not all experimentation produces good results, but it is nonetheless a learning opportunity. In a recent test I tried making the dough in my food processor rather than my stand mixer. That produced a gummy, elastic tortilla dough. It wouldn't roll out thinly.
For this latest batch I returned to the stand mixer, staying with the recipe almost perfectly. The only variant was the fat. The result was the same — eight deliciously thin tortillas. The chicken fat didn't affect the flavor.
Although I made a commitment to eat the foods in the freezer before adding anymore, I decided to see how well really fresh tortillas freeze. They're fine. Next I'll experiment with slightly larger tortillas, maybe dividing the dough into six pieces rather than eight. And if that goes well, I might make a double batch for freezing.
Speaking of Freezing
I'm not freezing yet, but with nighttime temperatures now dipping into the upper 40s for the first time since early spring, I am walking around barefoot less often in the morning. It's time to wear socks and put on my slippers.
It's also time to put away the portable air conditioners. I only used one this year — the one in the office. The other two were never even connected to the window.
And, staying with the theme of freezing, I inventoried the freezer again. It's amazing what can be found when digging around. I found a ziplock bag with several portions of Real Texas Chili in the back of the freezer. Those are probably from the recent batch in which I used beef tri-tip I found on sale at a lower price than chuck. It was delicious chili and I look forward to enjoying the remainder of it.
Sticky Nonstick
Another of my nonstick skillets is showing signs of no longer being nonstick. Even with a little butter melted in the pan some foods stick. The best test is scrambled eggs. I decided it was time to retire that pan to the recycling bin and I pulled another one from the shed. I had an extra because Costco often sells them in packages of three.
I'm trying to use up my spares because the next skillets I buy will be carbon steel. They're about as nonstick and a sticky nonstick, but with proper seasoning and care they'll last decades. I read somewhere that most professional kitchens, like those in restaurants, prefer carbon steel. And there is another advantage: They heat very quickly on a induction cook surface. I already have one or two on my Amazon wish list.
Wednesday 2023.10.25
Flour Tortillas At Last!
Sunday was a big day for me. I did more research on YouTube, trying to find a way to successfully make thin flour tortillas. I found this channel:
https://youtu.be/KraewXkFTXc
She has a unique way of rolling her tortillas really thin. And, her method works. I made half a batch on Sunday afternoon, rolling smaller flour tortillas suitable to making my favorite Flautas (Serranitos style). I figured out the filling. I figured out the guacamole. And now, finally, I've figured out the tortillas.
I didn't fuss enough to get mine beautifully round, but I did strive for a thin, pliable tortilla. They were so thin I could see text through them. And I used them to make my dinner.
I can't accurately describe how thoroughly pleased I am to have finally found a flour tortilla recipe that really works. I no longer need to rely upon the tortillas sold in the grocery stores. And I no longer need to store a package of tortillas in my freezer. They're easy to make; so, I can make them as I need them, and maybe store a few in the refrigerator.
And then I got another idea. The ones I made, as I said above, were not good, round circles. What if I were to put each dough ball in my tortilla press first? That would flatten it into a round shape. Then proceed with putting one piece of dough on another and rolling them thinner. The result should be a better shaped tortilla. That's my next experiment.
Also, if I were to weigh the dough and divide it equally by weight, I could get tortillas the same size. And here's another idea: What if I were to shape the rounds with my tortilla press, then stack one on top of another one, with melted butter burshed in between, and press again? Would I get thin tortillas? What about stacking three? There is plenty of room for experimentation here and flour is cheap.
Soup
I saw an appetizing recipe on Sunday. It was tomato soup with tortellini. I have plenty of the soup in my freezer. I haven't started eating it yet because I've been waiting for cooler weather. The idea of tossing in a handful of tortellini seems like a good option for making the soup heartier. It will mean storing a bag of the frozen pasta in my freezer, but that's okay. One step backward, two steps forward.
If I wanted to be industrious, I could make the tortellini myself. However, if you've ever seen a video of them being made, they're a lot of work. It would be easier to make and freeze a lot of benfati, a small soup pasta. I might do that after I use up the tortellini I bought on Monday.
And I learned something new this week. I have an app for a local grocery store. Some items on sale offer larger discounts if I clip the coupon into my phone. I knew how to clip, but I didn't know how to display the bar code. A sales clerk at the store showed me how. The tortellini, rather than $1 off, was $3 off with the coupon, triple the savings.
Stock
On Monday morning I bought more carrots and therefore started another pot of chicken stock that afternoon. And, once again, I dug around inside my freezer. I did not find anymore chicken trim; so, this appears to be the last batch for a while. I put away a final total of 54 cups. That should last a while.
And here's another thing: I usually don't save the chicken fat that rends from the trim. Some people do. They use it for cooking. However, this time I strained the fat and put it in the refrigerator. Supposedly, it can be used as a fat when making tortillas. It's worth an experiment.
And maybe a few more words about broth. Is chicken bouillon okay? Yes, if it is good quality. America's Test Kitchen recommends Better Than Bouillon brand. I always have it in my refrigerator. Besides the chicken variety, I also keep beef and vegetable. I use the beef when cooking with lamb. The vegetable is useful for soups without meats.
Is Better Than Bouillon Chicken Base better than homemade? Certainly not. Homemade stock is silkier because the bones release collagen into the broth. It has a better flavor too. But it takes a lot of time to make. I'm retired. I have the time. And I enjoy making my own stock. But for convenience, I use the bouillon. It adds a little extra flavor, even to rice cooked in homemade chicken stock.
What about the canned and boxed broths sold in the store. Most are too watered down. A good bouillon is easier and adds better flavor. And, of course, homemade is best.
Another Soup
Now, with plenty of homemade chicken stock in the freezer, my first soup of winter is Potato and Ham Soup. I didn't video it, yet, because the original recipe came from a cookbook. I can't always trust those recipes. Many of them are never tested. This one, however, came out okay.
It's delicious. I really like the creamy texture of the soup, accomplished by using velvety chicken stock and some light cream (half-and-half dairy creamer). It isn't a soup I'm likely to crave like I do my Clam Chowder, but it will go on my list of soups to make each winter.
A Little More About Catheters
My latest order shipped yesterday. The tracking data said to expect it today. And, once again, I'm glad I have good insurance. The retail price for this 90-day supply is $5,832. Do a little math. That's nearly $65 per day, $13 per catheter. Thankfully, my insurance pays for them. I pay nothing, not even a co-pay.
Sunday 2023.10.22
Catheters Revisited
A thought occurred to me since posting Wednesday's blog about my latest catheter order. Maybe the problem isn't Byram Healthcare. Maybe it's my insurance. When I order catheters, I order a 90-day supply. I decided to check the date of my previous order. It was July 24th. Dating my newest order to October 24th makes sense if they are not going to hold strictly to the 90-day period. October 24th is 92 days later. So, okay, I can wait a little longer. I have plenty on hand.
However, with those dates in mind, when I created my 2024 calendars on Thursday (see below) I added reminders on January, April, July and October 24ths to "Order catheters."
The Frozen Foods Chronicles
More was accomplished this week. As mentioned last Sunday, I used the last frozen pizza, which eliminated the box from the freezer. That opened up some space. On Thursday I used the last of the frozen tortillas. They don't take up much room, but it felt good to get one more food item out of the freezer. Also on Thursday I made my first batch, 12 cups, of Chicken Stock for use this winter. That used a full one-gallon freezer bag of chicken trim — bones and skin, etc.
Feeling good about my accomplishment, I started another pot of stock later in the day. The bag had less trim; so, it yielded only 8 cups of stock.
And then, feeling even more encouraged, I dug around in the bottom of the freezer and found four more bags of trim. So, I kept going.
Friday morning's batch, my third, yielded another 8 cups. The fourth pot — yeah, I was on a roll — yielded 12 more cups for a total of 40, so far. And I was out of carrots for my mirepoix. So, the remaining bags of frozen trim will need to wait until after another shopping trip.
The stock, portioned into one-cup containers and frozen might actually take up more space than the trim, but I can use the stock for soups and rice. The trim just sits in the freezer until I'm ready to make stock. However, when popped out of the plastic containers and arranged in a ziplock bag, eight cups to a bag, they're not too bulky. The containers are reusable. I have more than 30 of them.
It might seem difficult to believe I could use more than 40 cups of stock during the winter. I have one cup of frozen stock remaining in my freezer from last year. I'll use that to cook some rice this week.
On Second Thought
I made more Flautas for my lunch yesterday. Making flour tortillas is not as easy as it looks. I couldn't get them thin enough, even after letting the dough rest for about an hour. It's okay. I still have plenty of Maseca. I'll return to making corn tortillas for my flautas. They're easier.
October OCD Time
Every October I engage in something that might be described as an Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) project. I create my calendars for the following year. Mine are a little different than the average store variety. I like mine printed on 8½ by 14-inch card stock. The size makes it easy to add notes. One calendar goes on the kitchen wall (visible in my cooking videos). The other two hang on walls in my home office, one above each computer.
It's a little tedious, thus the OCD, but the project only takes about an hour or two. Besides all the usual holidays, my calendars include notes of important dates I wish to remember — the purchase of my portable washing machine (February 18, 2018), the date I retired (July 1, 2011), the day an awful neighbor moved away, taking her obnoxious dogs with her (August 23, 2019) and the purchase of my Pedago bicycle (October 25, 2017).
Before the end of this year I'll print the pages and hang them in place for next year.
And Here's an Experiment
All those one-cup plastic containers sit in the drainer in my sink after they're washed. How can I speed up the drying time? I have a fan I use to blow air onto my clothes when they are hanging and drying after being laundered. I put the fan next to the kitchen sink. The plastic containers were soon dry.
It was okay for an experiment; however, I use those plastic cups and lids only a few times each year when making my stock. So, using the fan needn't become a practice.
And, Finally, Some Weather
This is the time of year when the weather prognosticators like to predict a little rain. The forecast for tonight is 20% probability of showers. The forecasts are almost always wrong. We probably won't see any reliable rain until the end of next month.
Wednesday 2023.10.18
Shirt
I pushed myself this week to finish the latest shirt by yesterday evening. The fabric is an ivory color; so, for a more casual look I used a dark gray thread for the buttonholes and to attach the dark gray buttons. It's a good look.
I think I have enough fabric for one more shirt. Maybe I'll tailor that one this winter when it's more pleasant to stay warm and dry inside my home.
The Correct Tools for the Job, Again
I blogged about tools last week. When stitching buttonholes using my machine's automatic feature, there is a lever on the left side that needs to be pulled down. I might have pulled it down too hard one time. Something inside went out of alignment. The machine wouldn't stitch buttonholes.
Thankfully, I still have the tools I used way back when I fixed typewriters. That was back in the 1970s. Besides regular tools, like needle nose pliers and a screwdriver, I needed a couple odd things — a "spring hook" and a "screw starter." Out of curiosity, I checked Amazon to see if those tools are still available. They are, but they're not as nice as the ones I own. The screw starter on Amazon is aluminum. Mine is brass.
It wasn't difficult getting to the parts I needed to realign. The worse piece was a little C-clip that holds a fulcrum in place. Taking the clip off is easy enough, but getting it back on is a challenge. The clip kept falling off before I could snap it into place. The trick: Use a little grease. It holds the clip in place until needle nose pliers are used to push it onto the shaft. After the repair the machine worked well again. Note to self: Lower the buttonhole lever more carefully.
Catheters, Again
Yesterday I received a notice from UPS, informing me a package would be delivered today. It's the "sample" pack of 30 catheters Coloplast sent me.
Meanwhile, I checked with Byram Healthcare to see when my latest order of catheters will be shipped. Here's a thing: Byram likes to claim they have same-day shipping. They dated my order 10/24 and the shipping date as 10/24. However, today is 10/18. I submitted my order on 10/12. Same-day shipping? More like 12-day shipping.
However, as I said on Sunday, I like to hoard a back supply to cover myself in cases like this. I'm not allowed to submit an order unless I have a 10-day supply, or less, on hand. However, if Byram doesn't ship for 12 days, what am I supposed to do during those two days when I might not have any catheters to use? Ergo, hoard.
History
The History Channel is preparing to air the next season of The Curse of Oak Island. I like to watch the show — not because I believe in the treasure, but to see what lengths those guys will go to find what is obviously not there. I say "obviously" because people have been searching for treasure on Oak Island for more than 200 years.
Meanwhile, the channel is airing shows like "The Top Ten Treasure Theories" and "The Top Moments From Season Ten." They're boring. The first show of the new season will air on Tuesday, November 7.
Taxes
It's about time! The IRS is rolling out a program to allow taxpayers to e-file their tax returns free of charge. California is among the first states to be included in the limited release of the new filing system. It is also limited to people with relatively simple returns. That's me. So maybe I'll be able to file easily next year. We'll see. However, I'll keep my expectations within reason. The House of Representatives can't even select a Speaker. How well will the IRS establish free e-filing? And how long will "free" last?
Sunday 2023.10.15
Not much today. There doesn't seem to be much to blog about currently.
Amazing Advances in Technology
When I was a youth in Connecticut, there were three networks that reported the news — ABC, NBC and CBS. We didn't have cable, yet; we had an antenna on the roof.
Years later CNN came along and I remember something said in jest. When the Army raided a war zone they found CNN already there.
Now we have live cams online. Lately I've been watching a few sites with four cams displaying at the same time. I'm not a fan of war, but it has been fascinating to see live events in the Middle East on my computer screen here in Southern California. I like to feel informed.
Ineptitude
In Wednesday's blog I wrote about my visit to the urologist. We agreed on a better type of catheter. The nurse was supposed to submit a prescription to the supplier, Byram Healthcare. I had to call twice to get that done. However, the nurse submitted the prescription to the manufacturer, Coloplast. They called me on Friday morning. They got the prescription, but they don't fulfill orders. Meanwhile, I ordered another 90-day supply from Byram, but they can't ship until they get the prescription. So Coloplast forwarded the prescription to Byram. Meanwhile again, Coloplast shipped me a "sample" box of 30 catheters to hold me until Byram sends me the caths I ordered.
And that's why I like to keep a back supply of catheters. And I have quite a supply. I didn't tell anyone, but as of Friday morning I had nearly 450 catheters tucked away. That's a 90-day supply. If there is a major earthquake in Southern California that disrupts supply lines, I'll be good for six months, assuming I receive my next order before the ground starts shaking.
Where Are the Roots?
I mentioned in a recent blog my experiment with rooting a few tomato plant clippings. I have some sprigs in a cup of water on my kitchen windowsill. So far, no roots. It has been two weeks. I'll give it a little longer and if no roots appear the clippings will go into the trash. As I've said before, tomato seedlings are inexpensive at the Home Depot Garden Center.
The Frozen Foods Chronicles
Today is Sunday. "Pizza" is on my menu for dinner this evening. And that will be the last of the pizzas in my freezer, at least for a while. I also took out a frozen chicken thigh to thaw. I'll have a Flauta for lunch. Now that I know how Serranito's made them so divine, I love them.
Shirt
I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel, looking for something, anything, to blog about. I still have shirt pieces arranged on my sofa, ready to assemble. So far, I only stitched together the back and the yoke. I'll work on that project today. Maybe I'll have a completed shirt to blog about on Wednesday. It's a goal.
Wednesday 2023.10.11
What is "Nice"?
If I can be permitted a pet peeve: I encountered this in a recipe I read lately. "Knead until nice and smooth." What is nice? Friendly? Pleasant? Cuddly? "Knead until smooth" should be enough.
To make certain I am not guilty of the crime, I searched all of my recipes for "nice". I used "nicely" a few times, such as cook until nicely browned, but there were no instances of "nice." "Nicely" is tolerable.
Tortillas
I simply love my Divine Flautas (Serranito's). I crave them. The issue is the flour tortillas. I still have a few in the freezer and I definitely don't want to buy more until I use up most of my frozen foods. So I've been experimenting with making my own.
What could be easier? Flour, salt, water, mix, knead until "nice" and smooth, flatten and fry in a dry skillet. Some recipes call for the addition of a little baking powder. Others for a little oil. I think simple is good enough.
And, actually, I think it would be fun to make my own flour tortillas when making my flautas. The homemade tortillas are a little thicker (the dough can be rolled thinner if desired) and I like the soft texture. When I use the last of the tortillas in my freezer I won't buy more. I'll make my own. I have a tortilla press; so the task should be easy, and delicious.
Israel
I've been following events in Israel as best I can. CNN is my preferred source. My opinion is that Hamas went too far this time. What did they hope to accomplish? Gaza is not a wealthy area. Even with the backing of Iran, they wouldn't be able to overpower Israel's defense forces. Hamas had motorized hang gliders. Israel has fighter jets and assault helicopters. Hamas has rockets, but so does Israel, with an Iron Dome defense system to intercept and destroy most incoming rockets. Plus, Israel has tanks.
Maybe Hamas wanted to satisfy their blood lust by killing Jews, but they evidently didn't look ahead. By instigating this attack, they also killed their own people in Gaza. Although I'd like to see this confrontation resolved quickly, I agree with those who are saying this war will take a long time with many more killed in Gaza than those killed in Israel. I'm also hoping Iran and Libya won't be pulled into the war. I can't imagine what that might lead to.
Catheters
The following might be too much information. A lot of guys don't want to talk about their waterworks, but I think it's important to be open about such matters.
I haven't written about catheters in a while because I've had few issues with the newer style I've been using. The pocket caths were awful. The worst time was when I went three days without successfully self-cathing. I was able to release a little urine fairly often the normal way to relieve extra pressure, but there was never any comfort until I was able to successfully empty my bladder.
The newer catheters are long and straight. They usually slide in without difficulty, although I often need to use extra force to push it through the sphincter leading into the bladder. Sometimes I use so much force I cause a little bleeding. I'd prefer not to see any blood.
I was looking through the online catalog of catheters and I saw one I thought might be the best of both worlds. The pocket catheters have a coudé tip, which is slightly curved. If I could orient it correctly, it would slide easily into the bladder. However, the catheter was coiled and sometimes I had to fight the curl to keep the tip oriented the right way. When I lost the fight, the catheter would refuse to go all the way in. It was very discouraging.
The catheters I saw in the catalog were long and straight, which works well for me, but they also have a curved tip, not a straight one. When I saw the urologist on Monday for a routine follow-up visit I asked about them. One of his staff gave me a full box of them, 30 in number, with which to experiment.
I've been working with them. They work very well. Therefore, today I'll call the doctor's office and ask them to submit a prescription for these newest ones. On Friday I am due to submit another order; so I'll order a 90-day supply.
Even though self-cathing has been much easier and I'm able to sleep at night now, these newer catheters will be even better. And, because I don't use five a day, I have plenty in stock in the event there is a shipping strike or other interruption in the supply chain.
Sunday 2023.10.8
The Correct Tool for the Job
Last month I blogged about the water diverter on my shower. I thought it was failing; so I ordered a new one. However, it was only the knob being loose. However again, the set screw that secures it into place requires a tiny allen wrench (AKA hex key). I have a set from back when I used to repair typewriters; however, the smallest size is too large.
I ordered a 30-piece set from Amazon — 15 Imperial and 15 metric sizes. The smallest wrenches aren't much larger than a human hair. The fourth smallest, at 1.5mm fits the set screw perfectly. If it comes loose again, I'll have the right tool to tighten it.
The Best Tool for the Job
Do you have some of those utility tongs in your kitchen drawers? They work okay, as long as the steak you are trying to grab is not too heavy. Mine bend when I use too much grip. But first, a bit of history:
When I was a young teenager we lived in a three story wooden house in Connecticut. The house was old and there were places way up under the eaves where bats could get in. My parents had the home covered with aluminum siding. That sealed up the holes. The bats couldn't get out; so they came in. I saw one hanging off the edge of a heavy bag on the attic stairs, evidently asleep, as it was daytime. I used my mother's kitchen tongs to grab the thing. Bat and tongs went outside into the trash. But I remember how strong those tongs were.
The tongs are known as scissor tongs. There are dozens of styles and sizes on Amazon. Rather than blades, they have loops and/or teeth on the business end. They work a lot better than the utility tongs. I ordered a pair with my allenkey hex set (and some Advantage brand hooks to bring the order up to the minimum for free shipping).
The Frozen Foods Chronicles
I'm making a dent. Naturally, it's going to take time. However, I am seeing progress. There is light at the end of the tunnel, or more accurately, at the back of my freezer.
It seems a little silly, but having a seven-day schedule of meals really helps. I don't need to ask, "What shall I cook for dinner this evening?" I look at the schedule. Friday evening was sautéed fish with mixed vegetables. And maybe worth mentioning: I don't like the smell of fish in my home, even if it's really fresh fish. So I put a little electric skillet outside on my deck and cook my fish out there. It works fine when the weather is good, which it usually is here in Southern California.
This evening will be another pizza. And I found a vacuum-sealed packet of pork ribs in the back of the the freezer. I'll sous vide that for 24 hours and have it for dinner tomorrow evening with rice, instead of chicken and rice.
Post Tomato Plants Chronicles
I put a few clippings in a plastic cup of water on my kitchen windowsill. I can't yet see whether or not they are developing roots. It has only been one week. The stems look a little fuzzy, but that might be the normal fuzz that you see on tomato plants. The clippings will either form roots or turn brown. If they die, it won't be a tragedy. Tomato seedlings at the garden center are inexpensive. I plan to buy at least one in March unless the roots still outside in the planter start growing new leaves.
Summer's Last Hurrah?
It was hotter than normal here this past week. On Friday my wall clock/thermometer reported 101°F (38°C) outside.
It's not too unusual. When I bought my Pedego bicycle on October 25, 2017 it was 103°F in Santa Barbara. We'll welcome cooler weather this week.
Crisis in the Middle East
I watched TV all afternoon and evening as I followed the unfolding events of the Hamas attack on Israel. I can't help wondering if this will eventually pull Iran into a war with Israel. One reports said Iran supplies Hamas with funds and weapons and Iran is the largest supporter of terrorism in the world. It's too early to know, but I'll be watching.
Movies
In Wednesday's blog I mentioned ordering a 512GB microSD card for my movies. While I was watching the news I transferred my Christmas movies to the new card. It took most of the afternoon and evening. Now I have one card for my Halloween movies and a separate one for Christmas films, with room to spare on both. I like to keep the card in my new laptop computer because it has an HDMI port. I can attach it to my home theater system and watch those movies on my large flat screen TV.
Wednesday 2023.10.4
Halloween Month
October is the month to watch movies with a Halloween theme, like Hocus Pocus and ParaNorman. Of course any spooky movies, like The Raven, Little Shop or Horrors and any of the Addams Family films are appropriate, as are any movies with zombies — Cockneys vs Zombies and Shaun of the Dead. I prefer comedies over nightmare movies. And, as usual, I'll finish the month by watching The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Halloween evening.
I have my list prepared, currently 21 movies. I don't know that I'll watch them all this month, but I'll see most of them.
One advantage to look forward to this year: My new laptop computer has an HDMI port on it. I have the movies on a microSD card in the computer. I can attach my laptop to my home theater system and watch them on my large screen TV.
And Speaking of Nightmares
I had the strangest dream this week. It was the first dream of the night. I was trying to fall asleep but there were a half dozen young men making a lot of noise in the street outside my bedroom windows. After a few minutes a neighbor shouted, "Shut the **** up!" at them. They went quiet and I thought, "Thank you." One of them turned on my outside faucet and it sounded like he was splashing water on his face. Then the water was turned off and the boys went away. All was quiet again.
The weird part was that I woke up in bed and the dream seemed so real I thought it really happened. I lied there trying to determine whether or not it was a dream. I really didn't know. Finally, I looked out the window at the stones near my faucet to see if they were wet. They were dry. Therefore, it was a dream.
And Speaking of Halloween Movies
The microSD card I mentioned above is almost as full as my freezer. The card holds most of my Halloween and Christmas movies. Some are on DVD, such as Ghostbusters. I ordered another memory card this week. Oddly, Costco does not have the best price. A SanDisk 400GB card is $56.99. A SanDisk 512GB card on Amazon is only $39.99. It costs less and it has more storage space. I ordered from Amazon.
What's In a Name?
On Sunday I published my latest video, Serranito's Flautas, on YouTube. As always, I monitor its popularity and respond to any comments posted in the first 24 hours. The video did not do well. The views were below average.
I wondered if "Serranito's" was the problem. How many people know about that restaurant? They'd need to be in their 70s and have lived in Isla Vista during the 1980s. One web site described Serranitos as “famous for pumping out literally the most divine flautas known to IV.” I changed the name on YouTube to "The Most Divine Flautas" and the traffic improved. It won't be a popular video, but at least it was up among the averages.
New Speakers
I didn't want to spend the money, but it was necessary. On my other computer I had one of those fancy-schmancy 5.1 surround sound speaker systems. It worked great for many years, until it didn't.
The system didn't die all at once. At first, the sound would drop out periodically. Then it dropped out more often. Yesterday all I got was an occasional blip blip blip. However, the headphones jack worked; so that eliminated my computer as the problem. It had to be the speaker system.
I walked to the local Best Buy store. I could have used my car, and would have, but the battery was down for some reason. I bought a simple two-speaker Bose set, nothing fancy, just sound when I need it. And it works fine. In fact, it sounds a little better than the Logitech system it replaced.
I'm disassembling the old speakers and putting the plastic into the recycling bin, even though it is black plastic. Supposedly black plastic cannot be recycled because the electronic sorters can't detect what color it is. However, that's their problem, not mine.
Meanwhile, last night I put a charger on my vehicle's battery. The meter said it was 100% charged this morning.
And Speaking of Speakers
Unless you slept all day yesterday, you are probably aware of the ouster of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. That's a first in US history. I can't help wondering how the infighting in the GOP will affect the 2024 elections.
Sunday 2023.10.1
The Last Tomato Plants Chronicle, Maybe
I decided October 1st should be the official end of my tomato season. I harvested the last of the ripe tomatoes, 16 of them. I'll eat those as fruit, which, technically, tomatoes are. Then I trimmed off all of the dead and dying vines, almost down to the soil. Those, along with a few green tomatoes, went into the trash.
So, now maybe it's time for a little more experimentation. That's always fun. I gave the planter a good watering. Should I try to overwinter the plants? Would they survive? Will there be new growth in spring? Or will I need to buy more plants? I put a few green clippings in water to see if they would root.
Somewhat related, I've been concerned the tomato cage is leaning to one side. I set up a plumb line to check it. It was almost perpendicular. A little tweaking satisfied me.
Meanwhile, I put that one-gallon ziplock bag of peeled and seeded tomatoes, still somewhat frozen, in my Kuhn Rikon pressure cooker to finish melting. I love using that pressure cooker. Then I added some herbs and stock.
I also love using my Breville PolyScience induction cooker. Rather than trying to adjust the flame to the ideal temperature beneath the pressure cooker, I set a digital temperature on the induction cooker. It's easy. And it's set-and-forget. No need to monitor it every few minutes. I cooked the tomatoes at high pressure for 30 minutes. After the pot depressurized naturally, I tasted it. It's good soup.
I'd prefer a smooth soup; so out came my Vitamix. I love using that too. Thirty seconds at medium speed was enough to purée the soup. I poured it, a few cups at a time, into a sieve and pushed it through with a spatula, leaving behind the few seeds still in the soup.
The flavor of the soup is excellent, which makes me want to grow tomato plants again next year. I put 10 one-cup servings in the freezer. It's not shameful. The bag of tomatoes was in the freezer; so this was sort of like an exchange of space. The bag actually took up more room because of its round shape. The servings of soup are flat and therefore store more efficiently.
I can see why people with large gardens take up canning. If I had a few acres of land I'd probably have a big garden and can my produce each fall. There is something very satisfying about growing your own food and putting it away for enjoyment later. I plan to really savor my soup with grilled cheese sandwiches this winter.
Rethinking My Aprons
I've blogged several times about embroidering patches for the aprons I use in my cooking videos. I've been disappointed the patches don't show up. They're too low.
This week I removed all the patches from the aprons I'd done so far and repositioned them higher. Hopefully, in future videos my logo patch will appear.
Furthermore, yesterday I stitched patches on the last two aprons. They're all done now. Next I need to decide whether or not to sew a patch on a few of my shirts.
The First Frozen Foods Chronicle
A friend of this web site sent me a link to a video, the title of which was The Freezer of Shame. Ah me. Yes, I admit it. It's a good thing you can't see my face right now. However, I'm doing something about it.
As mentioned in last month's blog, I put a big sign on my freezer door — EAT FROZEN FOODS. I even added a second piece of paper on which to record the frozen foods I eat. That way, I hope to encourage myself by observing my progress. Using up one frozen pizza doesn't look like an accomplishment because the box is still the same size. But seeing my list grow is proof of success. I do better if I'm answerable to someone, or something, like this Blog.
So look for regular reports, and maybe a photo or two, as I chronicle my efforts to eat up the foods in my freezer.
And another thing: I don't like the routine of asking myself every evening, "What shall I have for dinner?" So, after looking at my inventory of frozen foods, I put a menu list on the side of my refrigerator. Now I know what's for dinner every evening of the week. It might seem a little silly, but even the little silly things can add up to an accomplishment over time. A foot race is won one step at a time.
My Next Project
When I get around to it, my next cooking task is to gather up all the bags of chicken trim in my freezer. Put those in a pan of water, preferably my pressure cooker, with a mirapoix of onion, celery and carrot, plus some herbs. Cook for a while to make Chicken Stock for soups this winter. It won't gain me a lot of space in the freezer because the trim comes out and the stock goes in. But I'll use the stock — if not for soup, then for rice.
Brinkmanship
Yawn. Another threat of a government shutdown going to the deadline before someone blinks. Two parties at war, each trying to make the other party look bad in advance of elections. I can't help wondering what this country would be like if government actually governed.
Next year's shutdown showdown might be more interesting because it will occur only a few weeks before the national election.