Maison Rustique

I hate it when I have my mind and taste buds set on something and it turns out to be a huge disappointment. Sorry it wasn't as expected.

Plastic is still very popular here in Missouri--bags in all the stores. I can only think of one store that offers compostable produce bags and it is no where near me. People here just don't care. Trash all over the freeways. Lots of people don't recycle at all. They don't pick up glass for recycle here, but a group started a glass recycle some years back--there are bins set up in many locations throughout the area, but you do have to take it there yourself. And I do that. The paper, aluminum and what bits of plastic they recycle here are picked up weekly. As far as the plastic bags, they tell you not to put them into your trash, but many people do. Some stores have bins set up for them but again, you have to take them yourself and many people are too lazy.

I had a late lunch out with friends and stuffed myself with eggplant parmigiana, so didn't really want anything last night. Had a light snack with a glass of wine.

I had a big lunch out this afternoon with a couple of old friends. So, I wasn't really hungry. Just made this for myself to eat with a glass of wine this evening.

Hate and our trash recycler doesn't take them. They have to go into the landfill or you have to take them someplace special which I can't seem to find in this state. California was a lot more recycle-friendly.

Thanks for sharing the recipe--can't wait to try it. We have a new Mexican market that opened not too far from me so I may make a trip there this week to pick up some ingredients.

@ElsieD, good to know. I've often thought of buying those egg whites in the carton.

@Smithy sent me a couple of her nut picks! Sorry I didn't take a photo and I've already put them away, but I'm so happy. I won't be pickin' and fiddlin' (leaving that to Smithy), but if I've got nits or bones to pick, I'm all set!! 😉 I won't post the whole list, but this little envelope traveled a long way, back and forth for many days. And Nancy, if you can believe it, even though I got it yesterday, I got an email from USPS this morning saying the package had exceptions and would be delayed. 🤣 Thanks so much!! ❤️

@Honkman, that sauerkraut looks & sounds delicious! I've got to give it a try. Was trying to get a few things out of the fridge and pantry.

Last week at Costco, I picked up a box of porotta (paratha) and it is really tasty. I gave half to my sister and should have taken a photo of the front of the box because she tossed all but the back, which is shown below. A friend gave me some of her cottage pie that she'd made for St. Pat's. I heated up the pie and heated a porotta. Then I sauteed some asparagus in a bit of butter and some Penzey Curry Now. I rolled the asparagus in the porotta. Very tasty fast food.

Costco has had oxtails for the past few months, but I haven't paid attention to the price. I'll check next time I go.

I had no idea Tillamook was making cream cheese now. I wonder how hard it is to make yourself? I might have to take a look at that. I've been avoiding even looking at spices because I've got so many I don't know what to do with all of them! I swear I don't know how you fit everything into that RV!!

If I'm having a grilled cheese sandwich for supper, it isn't going to be an orange plastic slice on Wonder bread. My sis brought a little of the cannoli poke cake she made when she was here Saturday, so I followed with a piece of that. No pix, sorry but I mangled it trying to get it onto the plate.

This is a local producer that makes/sells them but I'm pretty sure they ship. They do ship, but sadly these are sold out.

My food-gifting friend brought me this rice bowl a couple of weeks ago. I had it last night with the rest of my steak. I would buy that rice again. One of the best instant rice products I've had.

Got a package of these in my order from the milkman yesterday. Excited to try them! Reuben bratwurst

One of the smoked sausages I grilled the other day with some potato, onion and eggs. Burrata plonked on the middle and a little other cheese and Ajika seasoning sprinkled over.

I think it would be OK to use the pre-cooked brisket, but I'd use some other meats in it, too. You're going to want some meat cooking in your pot to add flavor to the entire dish. I always like to use a combination of meats in my chili (usually pork, beef and sometimes a little ground turkey). Think about at least a little other meat to actually cook in that pot.

I had another piece of my decimated steak with some salad last night. The salad isn't really swimming in dressing--I just missed and it puddled up on one side.

When I was a child, we did not go out to eat often but when we did, I don't recall ever even seeing a children's menu. At home Mom cooked all sorts of food and we ate what we were given so to order from a menu, we were familiar with and liked most anything on that menu. It was generally at lunch time in a department store restaurant so often it was a sandwich of some sort--maybe a Monte Cristo or something a bit fancy. We ate it whatever it was and loved the experience. We were in our hats and gloves and wouldn't have dreamt of throwing a fit because there were no chicken nuggets. Different times, for sure. I just saw someone post about Oreos cereal. OMG! I can't recall Mom ever giving me a bowl of cold cereal for breakfast. Yuck!

Yesterday was the best weather we've had so far this year. Mid 60s and no wind. I got the grill out and had defrosted an old NY steak and some smoked sausage. I must have had the fire too hot because I completely overcooked the steak in less than 10 minutes! As soon as I realized, I pulled it off and put it in the fridge to stop it cooking as best I could. I did not take pix of it but sliced up half of it and had it with this grain blend I rescued from the freezer. The steak was OK--not quite shoe leather. Not sure what I'll do with the other half. I'll think about it. The grains were quite good!

Most frozen broccoli I have bought has way too much water in it to successfully broil/roast. I think you would end up with slightly browned mush.

Great stories and precious photos!!

@weinoo, spices/herbs/blends are the only thing I have more of than Rancho Gordo beans. Somehow these things breed in my pantries and have multiplied by the next time I open the door.

After getting my taxes done and finding that I'm actually getting a tiny bit back for the first time in forever, I decided to get take out from Olive Garden. They have a new entree call Steak Gorgonzola Alfredo or something like that. I've been craving steak so ordered that, zuppa toscano and a take-home size of 5 cheese ziti. The ziti and zuppa went into the freezer for future use. I had a little less than half of the entree last night. It was disappointing. I really wanted steak and did this because it is really near my house. I should have gone farther and just gotten a steak somewhere. I think weather is warming up again so maybe I'll defrost a steak and couple of other things and do some grilling sometime soon. At any rate, I sat at the bar and had a glass of wine while I waited for the food so at least I got out of the house for a while.