Cooking Marathon

 Thursday, at 6:15 pm, we cooked meat. I had three package of chicken tenders from Publix, a total of about 5 lbs. and a package of six huge drumsticks, also from Publix. I used garlic powder on all the chicken. I put all four packages into one cooking bag that cost 60 cents. They went into the oven. 

Garlic powder tastes nothing like garlic to me. I like both, but it is so easy to sprinkle the powder over all the chicken. Plus, there is no salt. I never use garlic salt. Garlic is delicious. By using garlic initially, we can put any kind of spin on the cooked chicken.

Then, I put the pork loin, a small one, into the crockpot. I had left it frozen solid on the counter in front of the microwave which is next to the freezer. I use this bit of space to place things as I work things into the crowded freezer space. Well, four hours later it was sitting there still, limp and fully thawed. So, two days later I am cooking it. No, I don't think it spoiled. Tommy sees how dark it is in the kitchen although he swears he can see just fine. grr. So, he got the crockpot on high. Oh, I washed the teriyaki flavor off, so we can eat it. There is enough flavor left. It is in the freezer for Easter. 

While I was unpackaging the chicken, He cooked and chopped 1.75 lbs. of ground beef. Lots of it will go into two packages for the freezer since he is done. 

The rest of the ground beef will be made into a meatloaf and cooked after the chicken comes out of the oven.  Okay, meatloaf done and in two packages in the freezer. I did not have bell pepper, so I will somehow get it incorporated into the meatloaf later.

This makes over 30 helpings of proteins for meals from what we prepared in thirty minutes. His help is immeasurable! 

Now, for the vegetable front. I sit in my chair and put the month and year on top and front of cans so I will know which to eat first, not when they will kill me. After I got up from a long nap Thursday, Tommy told me what he found. There was a can of black beans under the edge of my chair. It was crushed almost in half! That can will be eaten in the next few days unless I find it was crushed and opened. I cannot believe I did that. 

Tommy asked what we will have of those meats for dinner. I told him--your choice. So, he chose chicken and a salad. I know I will have chicken and tomato, not sure what else. 

At this point, I still need to make the meatloaf. Okay, meatloaf done. I used one of the cheap cans of tomato paste. I might use a smidgen of catsup on top. I had no bell pepper, so I will cook it without bell pepper, find or buy some before we eat it and poke little pieces into the done meatloaf. We both love bell pepper in meatloaf. I used the last tablespoon of catsup in the bottle for the top of the meatloaf. 

Oh, and I finally made the hummingbird food! 

While I napped, he washed the rugs from the bathroom and hung them on the ramp railing to dry. I asked or he would never have done it. 

Friday morning

I had saved the juice from the crockpot pork loin. I used it with water to cook navy beans. Plus, I shredded the cabbage for slaw. It will be a coarse slaw since I cannot use the grater like I did before hand injuries.  I may use some of the cut cabbage for colcannon or for soup, and will definitely freeze some. 

That cooking marathon was fun but tiring. Do you having cooking marathons? 

A Hummingbird, a Cardinal, and Dementia

 Monday, I took a nap at 5:30 pm and had Tommy wake me at 7:30. I felt horrible when I awoke. We were gone all day. Tommy had to get a CT of his liver, yearly one for him. Well, we shopped our way home. Actually, it was mostly driving. He came in after I said I was not cooking after I got up from my nap.

He left for the kitchen and came and showed me what he found. He found the spaghetti pasta, put the last bit of turkey breast on it along with pickled onion, relish, and mustard. He found the leftover cole slaw and had that on the side. I saw bread, too. I told you he could find dinner from leftovers. 

We watched a Christmas-themed Frasier and Christmas at Belmont. I think there was a third Christmas-themed show we watched. 

When we came home about 4 this afternoon, "Linda-neighbor" was not home. So, I told Tommy to let me get her gift and leave it for her. I had wrapped the candy in blue paper and had a blue hummingbird for her. We drove around and the Christmas lights in the neighborhood were not on because it was still light, too early. When we came back past her house on the way home, she was headed around the house to her front door. She saw us and put the gift back. I told her to not leave it there, so she got it and came out to the car and opened it. I did not mean for her to bring it to us, I thought she was going to leave it outside. A dog might have purloined the candy. 

She said she hoped I had not put something else in the box. She seemed really pleased with candy. And, looked like she loved the hummingbird. I was going to attach the hummingbird to the top of the package, but that was impossible because its curvy, sparkly body. So, I attached the alligator clip to the end of the blue foil package where it was folded. I leaned it in a chair, and I looked as though the hummingbird had perched on the box. She has three feeders, so she likes her hummingbirds, too. 

I am little by little, very little, returning all the things the cleaner picked up to their places! 

Sunday, I attached one wing to a cardinal. Monday, I glued the other wing. Tuesday, I will spray paint it red and the beak black. It won't get many coats, but they can spray it more so it can stay outdoors. This is for the couple who are 90. They have two blue birds hanging in the trees, so I know they like this kind of stuff. I want to deliver it Wednesday. 

Other Tuesday plans: chop celery and onions to jazz up the Stove Top, spray the cardinal, make pumpkin pie. (or Jello salad with red jello or green, or maybe something else. See, my plans are so fluid they sometimes slip right away.

While I waited for Tommy's liver test, in the car I made a call to a close relative. She would start a story and ask me what she was going to tell me. This went on and on. Saturday, I called a friend to ask her brother's phone number. He is supposed to mail me a book. His wife now has to take care of bills and everything because of his memory and lack of abilities. Then, my friend kept forgetting what she was saying. So, I have had three friends with dementia setting in, all this in three days. 

Tomorrow, I will tell you of my own personal brush with dementia.

I am waiting in the darkened living room, typing, and waiting for Tommy to wake up. I think he is pooped from yesterday since he is still asleep at 10 am. He may have awakened in the night and watched TV for a few hours. Sometimes, he cannot fall back asleep. Okay, he is looking at me and talking. No, he slept through the night but walked lots when he went to the hospital. 

So, my day starts. However, I have been awake since 6:30 am. I have a list so we will know what lies ahead today. 

I just saw an ad for a Chia Pet. Have you ever had one? I haven't and think I want one now. No, it is not on a bucket list. 

Big Breaths

 Today, I went to doctor and dentist. I have antibiotic for illness. My gums were very irritated! I love the slick feeling of clean teeth. 

The doctor said she wanted to look in my ears, so I turned my head to one side and then the other. She said now let me look in your nose. I dutifully turned my head up and wondered why she hesitated. "Take your mask down." With trepidation I pulled the mask from my nose and quickly put it back over my nose. Now, let me look in your mouth. Again, I tipped my head back. I opened my mouth. "Take your mask down." Rats, I cannot get the hang of this. 

She listened to my chest then reached to my back. I started laughing uncontrollably, trying to breath like I knew she wanted me to do. That resulted in a lot of gasping and stifled laughing. When she finally walked away, I asked her what she said...take big breaths. I could have sworn she did not, what I heard was "big breasts." I assured her I knew she was not talking to me. Well, I made the doctor laugh. 

Yes, this is affecting my hearing. 

The dental hygienist was wrapped head to toe. So was the dentist. In my county the hospital only had 4 covid19 patients and none were on ventilators. That makes me feel a bit better about uncovering my mouth and nose. 

I found a five pound bag of cornmeal for $0.49. I got only one since I don't use a lot of cornmeal. I should have gotten two more. But, at home I looked at the use by date--Oct 3 2020. Rats. Well, it is going into the freezer once I give it a sniff and taste. I feel quite confident it is fine unless stored in a hot warehouse for a long time. When this store has such a great bargain, a person must wonder why and check the date. 

Jello No-Bake Pumpkin Style Dessert came home with me. I showed it to Tommy and he noted "style." Dinner tonight was canned roast beef and gravy and green beans. Tommy had some green grapes. Maybe I will make the Jello Pumpkin "style" dessert tonight. Yes, I will. 

Update: I did make the Jello No-Bake Pumpkin Style Dessert, and it was delicious. I won't buy it again, but we enjoyed it.

Does it make you a bit apprehensive to go to doctor or dentist? 

OH SNAP!

While I was making my Jello yesterday, I forgot how much water I had added. Did I only put in the two cups of hot water? Or, had I used the two cups of hot water and the two cups of cold water? If I had added both hot and cold and added cold again, I would have sloppy, half-firm Jello. If I had not added cold water and did not add it, I would have very firm! Jello. So, I had a decision to make. I ended up not adding more cold water. Consequently, I have very firm Jello.

Then, I was making Jello for Tommy. He hates bananas; I love bananas. Since I put five bananas in mine. I made one package for him, two for me because I like it more. I put in two cans of mixed fruit in his, one can of fruit cocktail in mine. Remember, I have lots of banana in mine.

I bought Red Delicious apples to peel and chop into the Jello salads. But, do you think I could find them? Noooo! Of course, when I had both made and set, I found the apples...sigh.

While I was looking in the car for apples, I found the sweater Tommy said he did not take with us yesterday. He refuses to plan for the weather getting cooler and maybe having wreck and having to stand out in the cold. He does carry small blankets. When I came inside, I asked him why he had a checkered shirt on the back floorboard, he questioned me about the color. He explained that after he showered yesterday, he put his dirty underwear in the bag under his rollator seat, forgot to take them out when he got to his dirty clothes. So, he found them while getting out at the church and using his rollator. He just threw them on the back floor of the car. Well, maybe you don't think so, but I thought that was funny.

Progress report:
I need to put hen in oven and bake pumpkin pies. Okay, I just put six chicken drumsticks in the oven. The hen will go in tomorrow morning. It will soon be so late that Tommy cannot see to get meat off bones of hen. He can eat chicken and drumsticks and sliced apple for dinner. Okay, he had drumsticks, applesauce, and English peas. And, I slept five hours. I got up after two hours and within ten minutes I went bck for another three hours. So, the hen will go into the oven early Thanksgiving morning. I am not worried since I do have things done and it all won't be left for Tday.

Thanksgiving Day--bake hen and make pumpkin pies. tada...feels good.

I never make deep dish pies, so both these will be regular pies. Pumpkin pies were always in a regular crust at home. Two crust pies were deep dish pies. Do you make thick or thin pumpkin pies?

Have you had any "mishaps" so far like my Jello problems?

Weight and Things

Because of a continuing leak under the sink, I ate fast food way too much for about three weeks. My finances were disastrous. I figured I had gained an inordinate amount of weight. At the doctor's yesterday, I stepped on the scale with trepidation. Thankfully, I had not gained a pound.

For some reason, all I want to eat is something that has Jello in it. My latest jag is Jello, cottage cheese,  crushed pineapple and Cool Whip. You know--pink stuff. Of course, you can use any color Jello. This all started with my love of cottage cheese, Daisy brand to be specific.

The next time I make this, I will whip cream, leaving behind additives and gross stuff. I love Cool Whip, but have you ever read the ingredients?

We are standing at 22 days without a drop of rain here. Some places in the state have had rain, but not this city. My grass does not need to grow anymore! I still have not found anyone to mow my grass who does not want a small fortune.

Wednesday night, I thought I saw a peeping Tom at a neighbor's house. At first, I thought it was the homeowner, but the person was acting shifty. And, did I say that one of the meth addicts has been taken in again by a person on the next street? By the way, the last time I thought I saw a peeping Tom at a neighbor's house, I was right. The police got about five calls that night. He was caught later. That was 30 years ago.

Wednesday was low-key until I tried to pick up a prescription.  Do you think this one was sent to the right pharmacy? No, it was not, just like yesterday and from a different doctor. The person suggested I go home and call back to see when they had it transferred and filled. No. I do not want to go home. Circling the pharmacy was the best solution. Grrr!