In the kitchen

 It was a cloudy, rainy day best spent in the kitchen. 

Jambalaya is a lot of work...chopping, stirring, building flavors and stirring some more.  Far Guy followed the video by the Cajun Ninja on You Tube.   Far Guy used a pork butt roast, chicken thighs and andouille sausage.  He should cut the sausage into smaller pieces next time  or use a different sausage...  it was a tad warm...like makes your nose run and your brow sweat.  If you were a beer drinker you probably wouldn't notice. 

My old cast iron Dutch Oven is just perfect for cooking and then finishing off this dish in the oven. 

We omitted celery as neither of us really like celery and sometimes it does not agree with me.  We used gluten free broth base and seasonings.   Jess and Floyd said to use Cajun two step as a seasoning so we did.  

It was delicious and we froze up individual servings.  In fact it was so good that I suggested Far Guy cook ALL the time.   I had a long nap after my help as a sous chef/dishwasher was complete. 

In other kitchen news the window is full of tomatoes. 

Far Side

Quiet Day

 We saw this nest along one of the trails in the area.  It is a wasp nest. 

We have gone on this trail before and this is the first time we have seen the nest. 

We had a quiet day on Friday.   I had a nap in the afternoon.  I am feeling a bit "off"  my Covid shot arm really hurts...not sure if that is a coincidence or not....the weather changed.   I often have intense itching in that arm.   I got the flu shot in the butt...the injection site is swollen to the size of a softball and has a temperature.  I am tired and chilled, but I am often tired because I am old. 

We started painting the Christmas Ornaments...the first few test ones turned out great so painting is a go.   It will be a process and I hope to be done by November 1st...we will see. 

Far Guy made Halibut and a baked potato for supper...raspberries for dessert.   He is a good cook. 

We may get our first freeze overnight. 

Far Side

Hibernation

 It is turning downright cold...freeze your butt off cold....sub zero cold with horrid wind chills.  So we are hibernating at home. 

 Grocery pick up was great, just a brand swap on bread.  

Far Guy made a list for groceries...he said he may as well cook up some Seafood Gumbo.  Miracle of miracles everything he needed was available.  I am not a huge fan of Gumbo...I will have it once the day he makes it...maybe with some fresh bread!  It is one of his favorite freezer meals.

Book Club was a good discussion on the trials and tribulations of pioneer life in 1877 North Dakota;  An Untamed Land by Lauraine Snelling.  The book to read for the March meeting is My Life with Martin Luther King Jr by Coretta Scott King. 

For something new this week, I took out the cards that were a gift from Jen. 

Can you see the faint design?  It is there...it is a new kind of stamp that allows you to see the outline of the design. It is called Fadeout, no line coloring detail ink.

This one was created with Prismacolor pencils and a lot of glitter.

This one was created using Tombow watercolor markers and just a bit of glitter. 

I have some Arteza water based markers and some good old pan watercolors to try the next time I decide to play with these cards. ( Jen pre stamped ten cards for me, five different designs.)

Stay safe and warm out there! 

Far Side