Maison Rustique

The last couple of days I have made potato soup and black-eyed peas (Rancho Gordo) with collards. The BEPs are for New Year's Day--I will take them to Topeka--but I'll be putting some of both the soup and the BEPs in the freezer. And I took a photo of each when I first started but failed to take any of the finished products. I guess I can't multi-task taking pix and cooking anymore. 🙃 I've mentioned many times that I have friends who bring me food all the time. I was able to return the favor and took them some potato soup yesterday.

@SLB, I had seen one of these in the past and loved it. Thanks for sharing this. I'm making sure to add to my favorites. And @liuzhou, thank you for this introduction. Both of these channels seem like just the thing to put on when I need some calm in my life.

I always say my BD is the reason everyone celebrates that night. I don't mind it now, but as a child I hated it. If I tried to have parties, everyone was out of town or the weather was dreadful. I finally gave up. My family decided we would just do an appetizer night at home every year to celebrate my birthday. I have mostly stuck with that. Aside from going to a family member's house, I think I've only gone out on my birthday maybe 4 times in my (almost) 72 years.

Recently, there was a thread where the subject of timers came up and a couple of us said we use our Echo devices instead of stand-alone timers. There is a lot more you can use them for. I must confess I don't take full advantage of all the features, but I do occasionally make a shopping list, I often listen to the news, weather, music. I often ask how to do something. Very handy device to have in the kitchen. (I have in the kitchen, basement, my office and my bedroom.--I had a lot of reward points to use a few years ago, so got them all free.) I do not sell these devices--just a fan. Alexa in the kitchen

My birthday is NYE and I am going to my sister's in Topeka again. She says she is making pollo con arroz and some sauteed shrimp. Neither of those are things I'd request for my BD dinner, but she has also invited their best friends who are Mexican and the guy is very fussy about food. He doesn't like anything, so I suspect it is something she knows he will eat. I'm easy. I am making black-eyed peas with collards and ham for NYD. I used to always make posole for NY but I think that's just more than I can handle this year.

@Katie Meadow This inquiring minds needs to know deets about the calvados cake. I'm a calvados fiend! Or at least I was when I drank a lot more than I do know. A cake with it sounds like just the thing.

If money and space were not a problem!!

I don't think I can find fruit pierogis in this area--I've never seen or heard of them either, but they sound delicious.

I don't want to know how you send it to fishy heaven. I need to buy my fish already on the other side. Otherwise, I'd have it living in my bathtub permanently.

I made some sweet potatoes for Christmas dinner today. As long as I had the oven on, I took some of the starting-to-wrinkle baby tomatoes I had and put them in to roast along with a small potato to bake. So I had a baked potato with roasted tomatoes. Very tasty!

I have numerous timers that I never use anymore. Alexa is my best friend. She plays my favorite music, too.

My sister/BIL are hosting this year. My BIL has been talking about making beef for about 2 months, so I bought myself a very small ham to use for some sandwiches and making black-eyed peas for NYE. My sis texted me the menu yesterday. They are making ham. LOL! I know there will be leftovers sent home with me. I'll have to find some space in the freezer. Murphy was an optimist.

I like a slice of orange and a slice of cucumber in my water--especially good in warm weather. If I don't have fresh produce, I use lemon essential oil or the delightful Fiori di Sicilia oil that King Arthur Flour sells. If you use essential oils like this remember that you only want a tiny bit--a good idea is to dip a toothpick in the oil, then swirl it in your glass of water.

I noticed that about the lid when I washed it after unpacking. Apparently I will need to experiment with food for myself before I plan to make anything for others!!

I always brown in a skillet or roast in the oven. I've never simmered in stock, but I'm also not Irish.

There are some plastic bags that came with my A4. The only place I see them mentioned is on the box where it refers to Lazy-Cooking Bag. Any thoughts on how these are to be used?

Has anyone inquired about when the optional pans might be available? I'm anxious to get them!

I can't read the article (no account), but I would kill to have a Hoosier.

Mine just arrived this afternoon and I haven't used it yet, but I did turn it on to make sure it worked. I turned it on high for probably 7-8 minutes. When I turned it off, it stayed hot for probably 15 minutes and very warm for 25-30 minutes.

There may be a better place to post this but I couldn't find it. ABC News' David Muir had a delightful feature on Lodge cast iron company. Made me want to run out and buy one of their pans. What a cool company!

Just an FYI ANNIVERSARY5 still works for free unit, with shipping only ($44.99). I just did it. My consolation for losing Lucky this morning.

Does anyone remember the code to get it free and just pay for shipping?

Thanks for all the helpful info, @Smithy. I'm still on the fence. 🫠

Does it get hot enough to replace the Griddler with it?

You've got me still wanting one. Trying to figure out what I'll have to give up to make space for it. How big is it? With no handles on the insert, how hard is it to get it out when it is hot and full of food? My fingers are big and gnarled--they don't easily fit into small cracks.