I discovered a book, BLACK WALDEN. I am a fan of Thoreau and a reader of Walden: Or, Life in the Woods. For a few years I have been determined to find a copy of Walden and reread it. Almost all my classes in grad school covered these two areas. In school my area of expertise and interest lay with the American Transcendentalists and the British Romantics. I never knew the other inhabitants of Walden Woods were black people. So, I need to read Walden again. The article certainly informed me of aspects of the book I have read several times. Why did someone not lead me to the fount?
There was one disappointment in Thanksgiving. I lost the huge hunk of turkey breast I had cooked for the day. However, I had most of the turkey I baked earlier in the week and most of the breast of the hen. So, we did not suffer for lack of turkey or protein from the hen. Now, today, the two of us will try to find it in the big freezer. He and I both tried separately, but together we can actually take stuff out, lots if need be, and sort through it instead of shuffling it about. How can you lose pounds of meat all in a hunk and in clear plastic?
Today, I will put the hen carcass and the bones from the breast into a pot and cook long and low. I will add carrots, celery, onions and bell pepper. There is very little in the bag except bones with meat still on them and a bit of cooked onion and a bit of tomato. Any other suggestions?
Oh, I have another question. I read that a tablespoon of vinegar would release the calcium from the bones. Do I still need to break the bones? Also, will baking the bones make the stock tastier? Okay, that was two questions.
It is cold as I sit here, 48F outdoors. I have on a pink floral summer nightgown. When I got up, I slipped on my orange Halloween leggings, and a pink sweatshirt. Tommy thinks this kind of dressing is different. Do you ever wear "odd" things at home? Tell me all about it.
We both audibly rejoiced when we found gas had fallen in a few stations to $2.98/gal. Have you found prices of gas are falling, even if only a bit?
I received a "prescription card" In the mail. I finally decided to try it. That was a bust since the prescription was higher using the card. So, the cashier did not use it. Have you found a card that purports to make your meds cheaper and then found it did NOT do so?
I spray painted the mum and it is not attractive. I am going to spray it again and see if that helps. Yeah, waste a $5 can of spray paint. Way to go, Linda
It's a quiet, dreary Sunday, but the sun is supposed to come out.
I would not use green bell pepper in stock, but red might be okay. I would add some garlic if you had it. I also add the vinegar, but I have never broken the bones (to release the marrow, I assume).
ReplyDeleteRe-roasting already roasted turkey bones is supposed to be a "thing." I've never done it and don't intend to; it's more work than I need. Stock is already labor-intensive enough! Although I will say that I would never attempt to make stock from a raw bird. It leaves a "raw" smell to the broth that very off-putting to me. My mom would poach chicken and use the water for stock. Blech!!
I think your orange leggings and pink sweatshirt sound adorable. I LOVE pink and orange together!
A great way to get breaks on meds is to go to the manufacturer's website and see if they offer a discount. My son saves $60/mo on one meds
I'm sad to hear the mums didn't work out. But it's not a waste if you enjoyed the process!
Oksy, no bell pepper and add garlic. Thanks. The raw tasting stock sound awful.
DeleteI will try the manufacturer. I have not given up on the mums, just keep spraying...lol.
I too cooked the carcass down into soup; I have never heard of the vinegar notion. I think time/slow heat does a fine job enough.
ReplyDeleteUrspo,
DeleteI wonder. I also wonder if it will be safe to simmer overnight.
It would be for sure if you did it in a crock pot. I'd be concerned if it were in a stock pot on the stove.
DeleteHere in the UK gas is almost $8 a gal.
ReplyDeleteGlad you had a nice Thanksgiving
Sylvia
Sylvia,
DeleteI guess we would go for fewer rides. There is no public transportation or sidewalks where we live. That is very expensive. Thank you for that information.
You may substitute lemon juice for the vinegar if you wish for your stock. I usually use apple cider vinegar with beef bones and lemon juice with chicken, just a taste preference.
ReplyDeleteAunt Judy,
DeleteI think I will use apple cider vinegar. I have that, too. Thanks.
Vinegar with the soup bones to dissolve calcium is a blast from the past for me. I can't get my brain around it but Ruth ? , late sixties health guru? Anyhow, I do not like the taste of broth that has had vinegar in it even though it is supposed to simmer off. I like a long slow simmer as it softens the cartilage and the stock gels when cooled. Taste is certainly a matter of personal choice. I do poach chicken and find the stock from it to be delicious. I had not considered browning poultry bones for stock; that is done for beef bones. But I can't dis it as I've never tried it. However you do your stock, it's a good thing to be doing and I hope you enjoy your resultant soup.
ReplyDeleteGood luck finding the turkey breast in the freezer. I am finding that using a small box or shopping bag for each type of meat cuts down on the amount of rummaging required to find stuff in a well stocked chest freezer.
Rita,
DeleteThe apple cider vinegar is already in there, so no chance to change my mind. I want it to be good. I have an upright freezer since I cannot get things out of a chest freezer. I do agree it is a good idea.
I have made stock and put a little bit of vinegar in it. I don't remember exactly how much but it was either a teaspoon full or Tablespoon. I like the flavor of onion and carrots and just a bit of garlic powder. If Fuzzy will be having any of it, I leave the onion and garlic out, as it is said to be toxic to dogs. Fuzzy has had bits of food cooked for humans that had a little cooked onion in it in the past, but I wouldn't dare risk that now since he is old and his health is starting to fail. I never break the bones for stock.
ReplyDeleteWhen I am just at home,I have some cotton turtlenecks, and crewneck tops that I actually wear inside out, because all of the seams bother my skin. I used to make folk art Santa's and when I would be having a painting day with them I wore my top inside out, and the slacks too. The acrylic paint I used did not penetrate the fabric usually, so I didn't have to worry about ruining them with paint, even though they were just my house clothes. One time I was finishing up my Santas for the season and had been painting Santas, meanwhile, I was microwaving all of my broccoli and cauliflour for my lunches for the week. (I was dieting at the time.) Our home smelled like poopouri. The phone rang and it was our son who had arrived in St Louis early on leave. He said he was just getting off the highway and would be coming soon and he had a friend with him. Well I thought the highway he was talking about was the one further away from our house so I thought I had a little time to get ready, by changing my clothes washing my face, and picking the living room up a little. Well it was 5 minutes later and here I was with my paint drip, inside out top and slacks, barefoot, in the house where the odor of broccoli and cauliflour was nearly smothering. It was my son with a young lady. My husband and I sat visiting with him and the young lady for a long time. I was so happy to see him again, it wasn't until after they left that I looked down and realized that I still had all of my clothes on inside out. So those are the odd things I wear at home, but since I'm not painting lately my pants are right side out these days.
I could hardly read this to Tommy for laughing. Did this girl hang around and did you ever get to explain everything? Did your son notice?
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