November 5, 2012

MENU FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 5, 2012

This has been a hell of a week with the arrival Hurricane Sandy.  We weren't hit too hard.  We lost power Mon afternoon and got it back on Weds. about dinner time.   There are still folks in these parts without power after what will be a week tomorrow.

The major problem in this part of the country was downed trees.  We have frequently mourned the fact that the developer here leveled everything when he built, so we have no lovely old trees. Not so, just below us in the Redwoods section. They built among the trees. And many of these trees are down.  Across the roads.  Across the wires. 

Across the homes.  Something like 8 people have been killed here in their homes when these big old trees crashed into their homes. Awful.

The shore areas of the Island and Jersey have been devastated.  It is difficult to look at the photos of all this wreckage.  Hard hit also were the Hudson River towns that got hit with tidal surges.   Don’t think we’ll be having lunch at one of our river front places anytime soon.

It has turned cold here.  We coped well as Warner made lord knows how many gallons of stock over those days – and canned them.  Got the meat out of the freezer so it wasn’t lost if the blackout continued.  And heated up the kitchen and lower floor.  It is amazing what warmth a big stove with 20 and 40 quart pots on it can generate.

What frightens me now is the prediction that Weds/Thurs. we are going to get hit with a Nor’easter.  40-50 mph winds again.  We are in too fragile a state here to deal well with this at all….

We however are prepared

Mon. AM             Pizza

Mon. PM              Jacques Pepin’s Chicken Bouillabaisse FFMW 150

                             Salad, French Bread

Tues. AM             Steak and Eggs

Tues PM               Braised Pork Belly revisited

                             Buckwheat Spaetzle, Collards 

                             Pork Scaloppini ala Milanese

                             Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce, Salad

Weds. AM            French Toast with Challah

Weds. PM            Chicken Bouillabaisse Revisited

Thurs. AM           Burgers

Thurs. PM            Cod Bercy CFSF   133

                             Steamed Rice, Baby Peas
                             We went out.

Fri. PM                 Pork Scaloppini ala Milanese

                             Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce, Salad
                             Chicken Bouillabaisse Revisited again

Sat. AM               Julia Child’s Shrimp Quiche JCI

                             Salad
                            gumbo

Sat. PM                Roquefort Gougeres FW 2008 296

                             Warner’s Pot Roast with Root Vegetables

                             Mashed Potatoes, French Bread

                             

Sun. AM              Spaghetti Frittata CIC II 350
                                   Ham and cheese pannini

Sun. PM               Roast Turkey with Stuffing and Pan Gravy

                             Steamed Rice, Asparagus

October 29, 2012

MENU FOR THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 29, 2012

Due to the weather forecasts, I did the menu and the weekly shopping this weekend.  Did not want to be out and about during the reign of Sandy.  As the reports are coming in, things look quite severe.  I am not looking forwards to the next few days – and we’re not near the shore. It is the anticipated loss of power that concerns us. We are worried about the two freezers and their contents should we lose power for more than a few days.  To say nothing about the loss of heat. 

We are up high – almost  1000 feet. And the back of the property becomes a wind tunnel that goes back to the Hudson.  Normal wind gusts are intensified here, so heaven knows what speeds we’ll reach in the next 24 hours.

In short, I’m not looking forwards to seeing what the wrath of Mother Nature can do.  I have great respect for the powers of this lady.

[Will get the Oct. 22 menu and pictures up real soon now]

Mon. AM             Steak and Eggs

Mon. PM              Chanterelles Chicken ad Dumpling BOTB 2001 101

                             Tossed Salad

We lost power about 6 PM so it was cooking and eating by candle light. 

Tues. AM             Scotch Broth

Tues. PM              Smoked Sausage Cassoulet BA 3/99

                             Tossed Salad, French bread

Still no power so candles again, this was very good and as I couldn't freeze it, the next day it was canned.

Weds .AM            Pea Soup f/ i

Below is some storm damage, the first is what happens when a high voltage line meets a wet road. That is a burn.

Tree holding lower wire down.

Weds. PM            Chicken and Dumpling s Revisited
 Power came on late afternoon

Thurs. AM           Pasta with White Clam Sauce CCI

Thurs. PM            Cassoulet Revisited

At this point the menu got some what scrambled as the cassoulet had been canned. This is Tilapia

Fri. AM                Black Forest Ham, Pickle and Munster Panini

Fri. PM                 Sausage, Shrimp, Chicken and Ham Gumbo Served over Rice GM 1/84 69

                             Tossed Salad

Sat. AM               Country Waffles

Sat. PM                Garlic Shrimp Tapas

Stuffed Breast of Veal with Spinach, Sun Dried T omato and Ground Veal

                                 Stuffing BA 9/98

                             Risotto Milanese f/i

                             Tossed Salad with Pears
                             Broiled Porterhouse

The breast of veal went in the stock pot.

Sun. AM              Gumbo

Sun. PM               Chinese Chicken Wings CCII

Pork Belly wit Buckwheat Spaetzle and Collards

                             Peasant Bread