The Sandwich Life

Getting Ready....

Still lots to do but a care package from Amy last night sure made it all seem more doable....  I love this blog and the friends I find through it....

Wish me luck today guys!!

Random Notes from the Sandwich Life

1. I got the biggest treat yesterday afternoon....I think I've written about my friends Jim and Diana before....Jim is the antique dealer I had a crush on when I was twelve and reminds me of Kieran Kane.... Diana is his wife---wonderful, funny and kind....anyway Diana was in town for a high school reunion and she and her sister (whom I had never met but was equally wonderful and good lord the woman raised five sons...) drove to C-U to see their old collegiate stomping grounds and kindly made time to stop by our house.  It was absolutely wonderful and Diana hasn't seem to have aged at all....not sure I understand that.  The only thing that could have been better was if Jim had been there....

2.This morning Owen was sickeningly cheerful and got ready for school early.  Leo was grumpy and growled a lot.  Owen looked at me and said, "it seems like when I'm cheerful, he's not...it's like my bad goes to him."  I assured him that Leo had plenty bad of his own.  Leo just growled some more.  But you know....no matter how grumpy they are---they ALWAYS kiss me before they leave.  And even Leo at his grumpiest (and that's saying something for those of you that know Leo) always responds when I say 'I love you' even if it's "I LOVE you TOO" in a growl...

3.  Ernie was so tired yesterday that he couldn't mow the lawn without taking a break....and he said his hip hurt.  I don't like that.

4.  As much as I'm a nervous wreck about getting the house ready and figuring out where to get a PA, etc....I can't wait for our party with Kane Welch Kaplin.  Last night I dreamed the party had been last night and that we'd forgotten to pay them. Hmmmm.  I also dreamed that I was following a woman around the Art Institute of Chicago yelling at her to stop touching the artworks in the decorative arts gallery. Hmmmm.

5.  Tried out an appetizer for a party that sounded SO good and it was so-so.  Disappointing...although the chick peas were good and I'd do those again....

6.  Last night Leo and Owen went over for the last swim of the season in our neighbor's pool.  I talked to my sister for a bit and when I got off  I went into the media room and Ernie was watching A Hard Day's Night.  It was gray and almost drizzly out...we just sat in the dusk watching it.  Always reminds me of how many lines Ernie comes out with that are based on it..... 'I'm a mocker."  Nothing like guys in skinny black pants and jackets.  If I'd been the right age to have a crush on one I think it would have been George.  Definitely George.

The Saga of the Sauce....

May I just say that my husband is brilliant?

Thank you.

As you may have read, I have become obsessed with the Ravenswood Winery's Zinfandel BBQ sauce, or more technically Ragin' Raven Zinfandel BBQ Sauce.  Ernie hunted it in town to no avail, I hunted it online to no avail....we had turned it over to some dear friends that live in Sonoma (Hi Jim! Hi Diana!). Then my husband had the phenomenal idea to look at the JAR it came in....  Who'd a thunk it?  There was a website and when you go to it you find the company that makes it.

    RED ZINFANDEL DIPPING SAUCE

Ray Roundtree's Sauce & Spice Company exclusively manufactures and distributes the Red Zinfandel Dipping Sauce for retail and wholesale markets across the United States.  This product combines the rich fruity-infused taste of Red Zinfandel Wine with more than 25 herbs and spices which provides this product with extra ordinary flavors that are unique to the gourmet market place. It's a smooth flavorful sauce with a slight kick that you can enjoy on steaks, chicken, and salmon.

    Net Wt: 16oz.     Price: $5.50 

The tab at the top of the webpage even says 'Ravenswood BBQ Sauce.'

My husband is brilliant.

Shipping is high but I'm going to order some----any other locals want to go in with me?

It's nice having a brilliant husband.

Random, Random, Random

1.  I'm pleased at how many people totally understood my worry about ice cubes and the like.  My husband's response was a tad more prosaic.  He said, "no wonder I always had to empty the ice cube trays.  Couldn't you have just emptied the whole thing and refilled it?"  humph.

2.  I was playing Dale Watson last night and thinking about what a great show that was.  I think if the Vertebrats play here next year they should play at the Rosebowl.

3.  My sister called Owen the other day to ask how his first day of school was and he responded with "don't you mean how was my first day of FIRST GRADE?"  How an aunt could be so clueless not to realize this important distinction I just don't know.

4.  Leo walked to school by himself this morning.  sniff, sniff.  So much for his demand that Ernie walk him to school until he was in fifth grade.  Owen was doing his normal roller-coaster-mood/procastination thing and Leo just sighed deeply and said, "THIS is why I will have to walk by myself."  Leo gets VERY upset at the thought of being late.  So off he trotted...

5.  I bought new jeans and such for the guys the other day.  It's the first time I've had to give in and buy the exact same size for both of them.  I noticed today that the SIZE EIGHT jeans are a bit snug on Owen and a bit short on Leo.  For God's sake I can't buy my six year old size TENS.  I need to stop feeding them.

6.  I'm moving into denial mode about getting everything ready for our party that's in a month.  You gotta go with your strengths in life though and God knows denial is one of mine....

7.  Dinner last night:  Linguini with fresh tomato sauce (thank you Matt)  just simmered a few minutes with slivered cottage bacon from Triple S farms and parmigiano reggiano.  Oh my.  And cottage bacon....I'm a sucker for just the NAME....

8.  After having to postpone dinner with my mother two nights in a row we'll give it a try tonight.  Pancake night because we haven't done it in ages and the guys get so excited.

9.  Like many people, I cried through most of Ted Kennedy's speech last night. It's somehow tied into my grief about my father I think.  They are men of the same generation---my father loved Bobby Kennedy.  Good men.  Imperfect men but truly good men with loving, passionate hearts.  Of course my father suffered through brain tumors years ago although not malignant....and then again I'm not too fond of the whole cancer thing.  So it all coalesces until I'm just a big weepy ball when I watch him.

10.  Lots of hummingbirds among my flowers of late....they love my zinnias and my false turtlehead. Oh, and my pink morning glories are finally blooming as you can see below.  Not the best morning glory year for me----one of my worst  Heavenly Blue years in awhile but even few and far between I love them.

11.  Oh....and I forgot to say it was just a lousy garter snake that bit Ernie the other day as he tried to relocate him.  You know me and snakes already though...and then to see blood dripping from his hand....yeuch....  Sasha thought it sounded biblical and wondered if we'd seen any hordes of locusts or had frogs rain down on us and what do you know?  When I got home there WERE a bunch of cicada shells stuck on our adirondak chairs.....

Back to school....huh?

1. I am NOT ready.  I am not ready for campus to be busy again.  I am not ready for work to get crazy again. And most of all I am NOT ready for my guys to start school.  I am not ready for battling/coaxing/convincing Owen to actually move his butt in the morning and get ready for school.  I am not ready for thinking about whether Leo has done his homework and God help me....if Owen starts getting homework this year it may be the death of me.  Sigh.  Oh well...doesn't matter a damn bit whether I'm ready or not....it's here.

2. In other notes....this is what happens when I go crazy at the farmers' market and buy too much.  Damn.

3.  Last night we grilled some chicken and used this barbecue sauce that Ernie had picked up at Schnuck's marked down.  OH MY.  It was WONDERFUL. Sorry about the slightly blurry picture.  As I was telling someone just yesterday I have flash issues with my camera. Ragin' Raven Zinfandel BBQ Sauce. If you see it buy it...but not all of it, I need to buy more. Oh, and just pretend you don't notice the ice cubes in wine glass.  It's a summer night and I like it that way damn it.

4.  Here's Hattie getting a little too friendly with a piece of 1860's Bellflower pattern glass.

5.  And on that particularly random note I am off to face the day....

Freakin' Comcast and other weekend notes

1.  As Leo would say, “Freaking Comcast!”  We didn’t have internet service for a day or so---it’s probably good for me but it still makes me crazy.  Something is still screwed up and I can’t figure out whether it’s my computer or Comcast or most likely both…

2.  Why am I so obsessed with the John Edwards affair?  I really don’t know.  Normally I would read about it---I’m not above enjoying salacious gossip but for some reason I have been downright obsessed about this.  It’s not really a political issue for me.  I don’t think having an extramarital affair messes with your ability to govern, etc.  Well….except for the sheer stupidity of it all and the arrogance that it hints at but then again I don’t think that is unusual in politicians particularly at that level.  I don’t know.  Is it the long term marriage with a spouse with cancer side to it?  It is a woman not that much younger than me having a child.  What is it?  I was never particularly interested in Bill Clinton’s affairs….  I don’t know.  Something in it gets to me and I can’t quite figure out why. 

3.  As I write my dining room is becoming orange and I am LOVING it.  I hope I like it as well when it’s done and dried.  The boys have turned out to be superlative painters, particularly my Leo, which delights me.

 

4.  I made some of the best frigging potatoes in the world last night.

Crusty Russet Potatoes with Coriander
From 5 Spices, 50 Dishes by Ruta Kahate

4 large russet potatoes (about 2 ¼ lbs), boiled and peeled
6 tablespoons canola oil
½ teaspoon cumin seeds
2 medium green Serrano chiles, cut lengthwise into quarters
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons coriander seeds, coarsely crushed

Slice the potates lengthwise into quarters.  Then cut them crosswise into 1 inch pieces.

Make the tadka: heat the oil in a large wok over high heat.  When the oil begins to smoke, add the cumin seeds, covering the pan with a lid or spatter screen.  After the seeds stop sputtering, add the chiles.  When the chiles are well toasted, add the turmeric and briefly stir.  Add the potatoes and salt, toss well, cover, and leave on medium high heat until the potatoes are slightly toasted, about 4 minutes.

Uncover and add the coriander seeds and toss well again.  Continue to heat uncovered, tossing occasionally, until the potatoes are crusty and well browned, 6-8 minutes.  Serve warm.

WOW.  Now I will admit that I microwaved the potatoes and left the skins on but other than that I followed it pretty closely (oh and I just used a saute pan instead of a wok).  We devoured it last night (served it with curried pork chops which Owen loved and spinach) and today we both kept poking into the leftovers (see below) for a bite.  It’s from a cookbook I got recently on Indian food and hadn’t tried before.  Despite the serrano it’s not hot spicy just WAY flavorful!  HIGHLY recommended!

5.  I love cooking zucchini this way----shredded, then salted and drained and sauteed with whatever else I have on hand.

Random Notes from the Sandwich Life

1.  So far two possums and a raccoon have been caught at my mother's house.

2.  The tree people aren't returning our phone call about the tree in our front yard but that's probably just as well as I don't want to know what it will cost.

3.  Ernie registered the boys for school yesterday.  Cross your fingers that Owen's year starts off well.  He had a long cry about going back to school the other day but we talked a lot of it out.  I wish Leo could have the same teacher again....he's going to miss him.

4.  Owen's new hobby is climbing up door frames. To get through you have to give the password which is generally "Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga."

5. The other night our neighbor Dave gave us a BLT made with lettuce and tomato from his garden.  It was the classic BLT----toasted white bread, mayo and the B, the L and the T.  It was SO good that Ernie and I almost swooned.  So last night we went over to my Mom's and made BLT's for dinner.  My mother hadn't had bacon (I don't count turkey bacon) in almost a decade!  They were good but not as good as Dave's. hmmmmm.

6. My roasted beets.  I tend to just throw them in a roasting pan, put a splash of water in, cover them with foil and roast at 400 degrees about 45-60 minutes.  The skins then slip off pretty easily.  These golden beets were amazingly good.  Some of the red ones were a little too big....they're not as sweet at that point....but I still love them.

7.  I'm feeling particularly random of late....it's as though I'm existing in this state of suspended animation.  What am I waiting for?  Sometimes by the end of summer I look forward to school starting and the return of routine but not this year. I think Ernie's in the same state.  I guess I partly feel like the last year has been one drama after another and things have calmed down a bit and we almost don't know how to deal with it. huh.  I think it would be a good weekend to paint the dining room orange....Ernie doesn't necessarily agree....

Random Saturday Food Notes

part of this week's farmer's market haul:

A problem:

I LOVE the farmer's market.

The boys HATE the farmer's market.

sigh. 

Leo says he hates it because he's not used to standing that long.  I tried to argue that he stands and walks all the time.  Just a word of advice:  don't try to argue with Leo.  Owen says he hates it because there's no bathroom.  For God's sake we're not there THAT long....although every time sure enough Ernie has to take Owen over to Lincoln Square halfway through to go to the bathroom.  Leo and I sit on the curb and wait.  I'm thinking that next week they will go to Grandma's house while we are there.

Regardless of the foul little creatures it was nice to be there.  August is sort of what I consider the high season of farmer's markets---although September is almost as good.  I tried to restrain myself but ended up with a bag almost too heavy to carry:  sweet corn, green beans, golden beets, red beets, arugula, sweet red peppers, peaches, red and gold heirloom tomatoes, thin pork chops and chicken from Triple S farms.  My mother's coming over for dinner tonight and I can't decide how to narrow all that bounty down...

Oh, and we also got a cup of ice cream for Owen from the Sidney Dairy Barn for Owen (Leo declined). He happily ate it and was pleased with the Sidney Dairy Barn sticker on his chest.  He confided, "no offense Mom, but this is better than your ice cream cones" and then told his father, "no offense Dad, but that ice cream cone you made me last night was pretty bad."  Ungrateful wretch.  Although I must admit that Ernie does seem cone-impaired...

We do NOT seem to be having a good tomato year at our house.  Our cherry tomato plant is curling up and dying and the others look good but not as huge as they should be at this point.  I think this fall/next spring we have to do some serious work on our soil.  My pole beans are doing great (in fact I planted them too close to the house----they're going to take over the front porch) but I find myself with the same problem I have had other years.  After the first flush the production is too slow.  I don't want a handful of beans.  I guess I just need to plant more.  Gotta give it some thought for next year.

So for dinner I think we'll grill the think pork chops....maybe throw a couple of peaches on the grill---do a little salsa of them with some balsamic vinegar. What goes with that?  I'd like to use some of the beautiful tomatoes....maybe just cut up with some basil and olive oil.  Perhaps some of the corn too.

I want to save the beets for a roasted beet salad (I love roasting beets) to go with the fried chicken I'm going to make Ernie with the chicken we got from Triple S.  Ernie adores fried chicken although we rarely eat it.  When he was a kid he said he always knew they were going to go on a picnic the next day if his mother started frying chicken after dinner.  I've made it once or twice for him but not for years so we're going to give it a try. Gotta decide on a recipe.....any recommendations?

I was supposed to be having a big productive weekend doing things around the house. Hmmmm.....not so sure.

Random Notes from the Sandwich Life

1.  The other day in a fit of rage Owen yelled at his father, "Dad, you, you SAVAGE FOOL."  Huh.

2.  The frigging Japanese beetles are destroying my Kiss Me Over the Garden Gate plant.  Damn them.

3.  I made a bad dinner from good ingredients last night.  Made a wonderful sort of corn salsa/salad of corn, poblano peppers, garlic and great tomatoes.  Unfortunately put it over some salmon that just  tasted bad.  Not bad like gone bad, make you sick....just bad.  First I thought maybe it wasn't cooked enough although I tend to like fish more towards underdone than overdone.  Cooked it some more and it still just tasted funky.  Threw it and my beautiful corn salsa in the trash.  I made do with curried popcorn...Ernie made do with nothing.

4.  It looks like Ripe Persimmons is winning.  I must defend poor Indiana Clay though----the color isn't true on my computer anyway.  I really like Indiana Clay at night but during the day it's got too much pink in it.  At night I love it but I think we're going with Ripe Persimmons.....or dreamsicle.....

5.  I'm embarrassed to say that I never knew that the Joan Jett song I Love Rock N  Roll was a cover.  I have discovered a new favorite pop band though....the Arrows....DO watch this video....oh, and from an Arrows website:

Some little known facts about Jake Hooker (the guitarist for the Arrows)--As a manager, in 1979 Jake got Hilly Michaels a million dollar deal with Warner Brothers records, and he orchestrated the deal for the first big budget MTV style video to promote Hilly's single "Calling All Girls". It was a landmark, breakthrough video in the industry.

Random Notes from a Sandwich Weekend

1.    I HATE MY COMCAST connection.  Sigh.  Sometimes it’s fine but sometimes it SUCKS.  Do any of you local readers have alternate internet service you would recommend?  This is making me nuts.

2.    I love the farmer’s market with all my heart but man it can be expensive.  I guess I’m feeling really broke right now as grocery store prices are freaking me out too.  Mind you I don’t begrudge the vendors the money----they deserve it and more but I did cringe when I paid $7 for the bag of green beans.  All that being said I was pleased with my somewhat restrained haul of beautiful green beans, sweet little baby zucchini, tomatoes, peppered goat cheese and some pork steaks.  Oh…and of course chocolate chip cookies for Leo (no nuts mind you) and an ice cream sandwich for Owen.

3.    Owen pretty much enjoyed the farmer’s market, particularly when we bought him that ice cream sandwich.  Leo, on the other hand, said we walked so much that his legs hurt.  Yup, the same guys that races around the neighborhood just couldn’t take walking up and down a couple of aisles.  We suggested that as soon as we got home we have him put his feet up and rest, perhaps use a heating pad and drink some liquids to replenish fluids.  He just growled at us.  It’s really fun to pick on Leo.

4.    Farmer’s market highlight:  I got to meet LBOTP and elusive peanut(let me just say the peanut is adorable)!

5.    I’m thinking of painting my dining room orange.  I’ve had a green in there that I’ve never been happy with and I’m thinking orange would work with what is in there as well as the deep gold of my living room.  We’ll see….Ernie’s not totally on board yet….

6.    I feel SO much better now that my friend Kathleen told me the reason she had snakes in her car was because when she put her lawnmower in there IT had snakes in it.  Then she told me that she could smell when they were there and she’d see one down by her feet and then it would slither up behind the dash.  EEEEEEEK. It never occurred to me that she continued to DRIVE HER CAR WITH SNAKES IN IT.  This is someone I consider a very close friend.  I may have to consider.

7.    An unnamed cat (I’m thinking it’s Bob) has begun dragging dirty clothes from the pile next to the washer in the basement and up the stairs and into the kitchen.  This is the same cat that grabs Lego wheels and takes them downstairs.  Huh.