Maison Rustique

Thank you, @rotuts!

The slightly smoked salmon is a canned product? I want to be sure to look for it next time I go.

I tried that Tikka Masala last time I went to TJ's and we liked it a lot! Great for what I call fast food (as opposed to greasy burgers and cold fries).

Darn it! I must have 4 old regular can openers, but I just put this electric gizmo in my Amazon cart. There is a 5% off coupon for it!!

New to me as well! Thanks for sharing.

I've been buying the Pronto Amaro for a while now. I enjoy it with sparkling water while I'm cooking dinner. I'm a Campari fan, but this is so affordable that I've switched to it most of the time.

Christmas will be at my sister's this year and it will be early, so we think a brunch. I hope so because I'm planning on things I will bake--scones and breads. She is not much for planning ahead on these things so that's as far as it has gone.

That looks like a great book! Now I need to buy another cookbook. Darn it!!

I love that soup. I don't really follow the recipe, but I play off the idea often. Can't go wrong with sausage and kale in soup, as far as I'm concerned.

I'm going to concoct today. For the first time, I have a smoked turkey carcass to use. I've got some white beans soaking. I have some chard and kale, I think. I've got sweet potatoes. Not sure if all that works and I can't figure out spices/herbs to season it. All thoughts welcome.

Please post recipe/method when you do.

Hope you feel better soon. Please see the doctor if you haven't.

Thank you!

The year we got married (on Nov. 17), we also hosted Thanksgiving at our small townhouse in San Juan Capistrano. There were several of my in-laws in town for the wedding still, so they were there. Then at the last minute, one of the nephews who was in the USN in San Diego called to ask if he could bring a couple of buddies and join us. Sure!. I was running around the complex to borrow chairs, plates, etc. It was a grand time and we got everyone crammed in. Probably the largest sit down dinner we ever hosted. I was in such a flurry about all the logistics, I couldn't even tell you how the food was, but I'd guess with several sailors there we didn't have any leftovers!

I love those Rubbermaid totes. I bought 3 of them at Costco decades ago, then decided I wanted more. Had to get them online and they'd gotten a lot more expensive. but they are sturdy and perfect for putting groceries in.

Clearly, I am not their target market. Make it under $10 and worth every penny or I'm out.

@PatrickT, I'd love that butterscotch bread recipe, please. If you're willing to share.

Hooray!! I break them into 2-3 pieces and use them as croutons. Yum !! I was so sad when they didn't have them on my last visit to TJ's.

I threw together a little soup for supper last night to use the rest of a half turkey breast I'd roasted last week. Turkey, aromatics, carrot, Trader Joe's Harvest Grains and ladled over chopped fresh spinach in the bowls.

Yesterday was our 39th anniversary. Since my husband's dementia has gotten so bad, he often doesn't know I am his wife and certainly did not understand that it was our anniversary. A rather sad day for me. It cheered me immensely when the doorbell rang. It was our neighbors' daughter who started a bakery business in her apartment during the pandemic when her college classes were all messed up. She has absolutely killed it with her fabulous baked goods in this area. She now rents a commercial kitchen space and two local coffee shops carry her pastries. Anyway, my beloved sister ordered some pastries to help get me through the day and it was Kirin delivering them. Rai's Bake Shoppe

I've never tried to grind it, but what if you pureed it while raw, then gently cooked and re-ground? Seems like it might take some of the graininess out.

I could watch that pot boiling all day. There is something very soothing about it.

What fun!! She looks and sounds great for 90. I wondered about her accent in the video, then when she says she has no idea what that accent is about, it cracked me up!

Yeah,, I already switched to that. With only 2 of us and my husband so ill now, he barely eats and I barely eat because I'm on the stress diet. We just can't keep up with it. I've donated way more than I've used in the last couple of years.

@blue_dolphin thank you, that looks wonderful! And I just happened to get black eyed peas in my Rancho Gordo order the other day.