more air fryer talk

 Behold my new GE microwave which includes an air fryer. (Not frier, except in the UK.) My previous microwave was old/tired and so I splurged on this new model that does everything. The so-called manual is a joke and I spend a lot of time pushing buttons and wiping down my mistakes. But I'm learning and yes, this was a good decision. I also bought a toaster for $20 and that I can handle. Best Buy with free delivery. Yay!

vegetables anyone?

 Words you will seldom read here. I COOKED yesterday. The book club is meeting at my home today and I made a huge vegetarian stew/soup all afternoon and then did dishes and sheesh, what a lot of work. Tons of chopping and stirring and I actually remembered how to put the Cuisinart® together. It will all work out and the book (The Correspondent) will ensure a good discussion. Food is secondary, right?

Chef Stein is proud

 Of course I had to text Terri before I enjoyed the first delicious bite of these TJ fries that I cooked in the Air Fryer. Good job. No oil. There is a whole internet world of how to use the Air Fryer with Trader Joe products and I'm only now just beginning. Applause, please.

my solo voyage

 Air Fryer carrots! Delicious. Of course I texted this photo to Chef Terri and also to the Blogmaid. I'm still learning. For instance, the big old machine tells me half way through to turn he carrots, so I did. Really, I am pleased. The Air Fryer stays. So there.

a friend, a fire, a feast

 Chef Terri came over to Read The Manual and help me with the air fryer. There was a tiny scare when the parchment paper (not needed) caused some flame/smoke, but we unplugged and cooled down and had a good laugh. Thank you, Terri, I am now feeling confident about the new appliance and I vow to eat more vegetables and reheat things quickly so they aren't mushy like in the microwave. Women conquer the kitchen ~ sort of. Yummy grilled cheese sandwiches!

now trending...

 My friend Terri is a non-cook like me and she swears by her Ninja Air Fryer. Yesterday I saw one at (and by) Costco for $40 so I brought it home and found a snug corner for it in the kitchen. Yes, I am reading the directions and my hope is to become knowledgeable before I actually plug it in. Doug predicts I'll be giving it to them soon ~ how mean is that?

chef shop

 Bernal Cutlery is not exactly right up my no-cooking alley, but yesterday I accompanied Neighbor Jen there as she was picking up lots of gourmet items and studying the many knives and cook books and this-and-thats. Husbando would have LOVED this store, and I did appreciate the displays and knowledgeable workers and beautiful items and since I know so many people who love to cook, I shall return. Valencia Street, where else?

The Bear is stressful

 But wonderful. A small cafe in Chicago with a new owner who won awards as a quality chef and conflicts are rampant ~ mostly caused by family. Surprise. Anyway, I am loving The Bear on Hulu. Enjoy, Chef!

winter weather chef stuff

 Yesterday I made a veggie soup featuring 15 different kinds of beans that I actually remembered to soak the night before. Today step daughter, Nancy, and her husband, Scott, arrive and we will need some back up food. They live in Illinois so this rainy weather is not exactly a treat for them the way it is for us. And the house is clean and Annabelle on her best behavior.

currently trending

 I know I've posted about Budget Byte$ before, but I really do appreciate the free weekly email newsletter and menu ideas from Beth, who likes simplicity. I am not a born chef (huge understatement here) and yet I find lots of good ideas and I usually end up printing one of her three recipes very week. Today she is tempting me with an antipasto salad, but first I'd better have my blueberries and yogurt. 

out of the damn kitchen!

 It's getting too dangerous in here so early this morning I went downtown. But on Sunday, I did bake this really easy coffee cake from another one of Terri's recipes. We both like simple mix and bake ~ if a mistake occurs, so what? Of course this crumble cake is fabulous with strong black coffee. 

applause, please

 I baked this cranberry almond cake (Budget Bytes) with Terri's texting help yesterday. Yes, people who bike and exercise need rewards. Chef Terri assured me that it is a foolproof recipe and so the mistakes I made just added to the delightful taste. Hint: use dry cranberries, no need to wash/chop fresh ones. 

when the mood strikes

 Shortly after Bill died my friend Terri told me about Budget Bytes. The chef emails a weekly newsletter and now, 2.5 years later, I actually do a bit of cooking. The recipes are easy to read and print out and the dishes are small, ideal for one or two people. I do NOT want to spend a lot of time chopping, cooking or cleaning up, so this works for me. I salute Beth Moncel who created this simple site back in 2009. 

psssst ~ do you know where I can buy some J-e-l-l-o?

My neighborhood is waaaay too chi chi for Jello® but I managed to buy two boxes of cherry flavor and no one recognized me. Today, per Dodger Doug's request, I am making (cooking?) his mother-in-law's Coke salad which Chef Sarah calls Elvis Salad. I am looking forward to doing this and have been knocking back the Coca Cola to get into a good sugar high. So happy that Thanksgiving is on Thursday (duh) so I can hit Doug and Barb's back deck tomorrow. Do I miss the old days? So much, but I steer my thoughts once again to gratitude for all that is wonderful in my current life. And we will have a Presidential President in January, one who doesn't make me cringe on a daily basis. Gratitude. 

Duck Ragu? Shrimp with Cashews?

My dear friend with the Fevered Brain (Susan) sent me this glorious
cooking-for-one recipe book and yes, I am inspired. Anita Lo created
Solo with mouth-watering recipes which gives new meaning to "party
of one" and I am filled with gratitude and ready to cook again just
for me/me/me. Maybe Mac with Two Cheeses tonight? Thank you,
SBC ~ sincerely.

co-chefs for a night

Confession. Husbando and I do not work well together in the kitchen.
I believe this is because we are both control freaks and our usual
cooking conversation revolves around "How long will you need here?"
and "I'll come back when your are finished." So much for the happy
picture of a couple chopping and stirring alongside with garlic
sprinkled on well-worn recipes. But last night we cooked mussels
together in the big cast iron fry pan and one voice was only raised once.
Success! But this will not become a habit, that much we both know...

HelloChopChop

Daughter Nancy gave us a gift from HelloFresh. The first night we
followed detailed instructions to make chicken quesadillas. Cut
bell pepper into 1/4 inch squares, blah blah. Last night we made
sausage pasta and it was so much better. I used the Cuisinart® and
did not worry about the size or shape of whatever veggie the
recipe called for. It was very good. I can see this delivery food
service for young people who have never cooked because the
instructions are precise. For old cooks who like short cuts and
restaurants, not so great. But I must say that the Customer Service
women are terrific and they assure me that I am not quite the
customer from hell. But close. The servings are generous too and
we will have the pasta again tonight.

Sunday last

As perfect a day as one could ask for. Warm, no humidity or fog.

We shopped for Italian basil in a Chinese market out at 9th and

Clement, bought a hanging duck for dinner and then came home 

to make pesto while watching our Giants sweep the Nats. MadBum

was at his very best - such a great game. Who can not love baseball?

As I post this today we are only two games behind the Dodgers.

How about them basil leaves?

the january ritual

I spent all afternoon chopping and stirring and we have enough minestrone
in the freezer to last until summer when the fog rolls in and it will be cold
and dreary. But that's another story for another blog post. We also oiled the
oldest furnace in America and changed the filter - yes, another January
tradition here in Bernal. Now I head off to the Embarcadero for coffee with
Ginger and we will say, "je suis Charlie," and try to understand why there
is so much craziness in this world. But, Paris? Our Paris? For shame...

my productive Sunday