Maison Rustique

I just finished reading "Toast" which I'm still not sure if I like it or not, but he does talk about a number of British foods that I was unfamiliar with or had never tried. I now want to either make or buy some mushroom ketchup. I see @andiesenji's recipe above. If I wanted to buy some here in the US or order online, any recommended brands?

I rescued some BBQ Rancho Gordo beans (Varieties unknown at this point) from the freezer and heated them up with a couple of my ribs from the other day. Tasty enough that I think I need to make some more beans soon. I've still got ribs.

Finally had some of the pork I made.

@Neely, I have never had pickled walnuts. Do you make your own or buy? I do have a walnut tree in the woods behind my house, but the squirrels would attack me en masse if I tried to take one of their precious walnuts!!

Today I made a pork tenderloin with Brussels sprouts, onion and apple. With butter and white wine and seasonings. Looks and smells really good but I did not eat it tonight. Yesterday I went to a local meat market and picked up a rack of smoked baby back ribs they had on special for $12. So, tonight I had a couple of ribs and a salad. My sis is coming tomorrow so I will send her home with some of each and will still have plenty to eat until Christmas.

That cheese is not burned--it is just right!!!! The dark brown cheese is the best part!

@scubadoo97, does your family know that you call them big asses? 😁 Great photo!!

I wish I still had a bunch of doilies (and/or old hankies), but I got rid of most many years ago. I'd like to use them to stitch together to use as curtains or a table runner.

I can't recall if I posted last night that I had frozen pot stickers. Lots left and I felt chilly this evening, so made a soup with broth, veggies, spices and some of the pot stickers. Turned out great and warmed me up just right. I'll do it again!

Since the only ones of us who still cook have limited time and energy this year, we've decided to have Italian. My sister and her husband host. She is going to make eggplant Parm and I'm to pick up a lasagna from a very good local restaurant here to take. I'll take bread and salad. My BIL will make some sort of dessert. He does a fantastic tiramisu (makes his own ladyfingers for it) but I don't know if that is what he'll make.

Wasn't sure whether to put this in Food Funnies or Non-Food. LOL!

The Hendrix is nice IMO and I'm guessing it would not be to everyone's taste. The Cabaret is a heavier fruity flavor --think a light sloe gin. The Flora is very heavy on lavender, which means I adore it. I'm a big fan of cooking/baking with lavender, so it is right up my alley. I tried both of them with sparkling water. I can even see a splash of the Flora in a cup of tea. I need to bring a tea bag or two back from the other house and try it.

No photo, but supper was a baked potato with the works--butter, sour cream, green onion, shredded cheddar and bacon. It was very tasty but nothing outstanding, so didn't bother with pix.

I had not shopped at Costco for a bit. I've dashed in to pick up prescriptions or head to a certain item, but hadn't browsed. Yesterday I browsed. And bought. My Costco had not had Tonnino tuna before and it was such a bargain I had to get one. I also couldn't resist the Hendrick's--$39 for the set of 2 bottles which I thought was great. I've seen the frozen Thali (Indian meal) for a while there, but yesterday it was marked down to $7.97*. I couldn't resist getting one--it will be 3-4 meals for me. *Did you know that when a price sign at Costco has a price that ends in ".97*", it means it is marked down and when it is gone, that's it. Might come back in the future, but what is on the shelf is all there is.

It was a long day with the auction folks here. I hadn't eaten all day and my goal was fast, easy, reasonably healthy and tasty. This worked. Sukhi's Butter Chicken with Turmeric Rice (Costco refrigerated section) and I added a little Cole slaw mix for some vegetables. It worked. Now I just want to fall into bed, but since it isn't even 6:30 yet, I'd be up by midnight! Ha!

Not exactly salad weather, but I have gifted salads, so added some pulled pork (also gifted) and blue cheese for a heartier supper. I don't think I posted it, but I made a pot of potato soup the other day at my sister's request. Bacon, cheese and Herbes de Provence.

Reporting back that my Effie's Homemade Gruyere Biscuits arrived and I tore into them immediately. I could easily sit and eat the entire box with nothing on them. They are so peppery and so good. I can taste a hint of gruyere, but the pepper seems stronger to me. They will be so good with a nice brie or other mild soft cheese. If I can hold out long enough to get cheese. LOL!

@Smithy and @SLB Try this.

Yes, breadcrumbs or cubed bread.

Grilled turkey, Fantasma sugar-cured bacon and Pave cheese. Finally had some turkey!

Back in the early 80s when we got married, we got one of these Oster Kitchen Centers. I used it a lot but decided I needed "fancy" stuff so got separate appliances for all the functions. I got rid of the Oster. I have an acquaintance in this area who cooks a lot of Asian food and she uses and loves her Oster Kitchen Center. Every time I've seen her photos, I think wistfully of the one I had. Well, lo and behold, my neighbor posted in the local Buy Nothing group that she had one to give away. So, I jumped on it. It has been sitting in her garage for a long while, so I'm gradually getting it cleaned up. And then I'll try everything to make sure I like it before I get rid of the separate blender, Cuisinart, etc. I have such limited counter space at the new house that I hope it will work out better for me. The day after she brought it over, she brought me the manual and about 6 little cookbooklets that use the various functions. I haven't really looked at them yet, but know I'll have fun looking at all the old recipes. This is not my photo--grabbed this one from eBay. This looks slightly different, as mine has a food grinder attachment and the 2 glass mixing bowls

Hoping someone has a good one! Decades ago a friend in the UK served us sliceable stuffing and it was delicious. I've tried various things over the years to achieve it but failed. I'm just certain someone here will know. I'd ask my friend, but she and her husband divorced and she no longer associates with any of us old friends.

@Duvel, all looks wonderful but I was drooling over the foie and the chestnut cappuccino!!

My husband was a sandwich guy. After T-Day, he'd eat all the leftovers ONCE. After that, he would eat turkey sandwiches for as long as the white meat held out. I'd wind up eating all the sides and letting him have all the turkey.