Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Chilly

It's darn chilly here today....the high is 47 degrees.  And it's rainy, which is NOT cool because I started washing windows yesterday and I really wanted to finish today.

Even though I just washed them in the spring, they need another scrubbing:


Much better.

How often do you wash your windows?

Finally my cooking aversion has left me!  Yay!  

I'm making chicken stock with all of the bones I've saved from roasted chickens and I also use the rinds from the spent wedges of Parmigiano Reggiano.  See it in there? 



I threw a few sprigs of thyme and parsley from the garden:



I'm also going to make Ina Garten's Beef Bourguignon.  I don't know about you, but Fall isn't official until I make a double batch of that and some French onion soup.


Doing anything special today?

10 comments:

Michelle said...

I like the new blog design!

I've been making stock in the slow cooker, and I'm completely smitten with this method. I cook it on low for about 24 hours, and it makes the house smell just as good as when it simmers on the stovetop.

Thirkellgirl said...

It never occurred to me to use the crockpot for stock, thanks Michelle! I just saw college girl off after her fall break. I packed up all sorts of stuff from the fridge and pantry for her to take back, since she has her own apt. this year. I puttered on the back deck, finally getting rid of the windowboxes that held basil plants and plunking a bunch of 25-cent mums in a basket.

Living the life in The Little City said...

The new header is fabulous. Seriously.

That Ina Garten recipe is a good one. I've made it a few times and am always very pleased with it. Actually, I don't follow the recipe to the letter, but the results are still good.

Gina said...

Lovin' the new blog design.

Ok, I'm a person who never has an aversion to cooking...I love to cook and I have never made homemade stock, so you've got one up on me! lol

jillskict said...

Love the new blog design and the pics! Not this past weekend, but the weekend before I made a big pot of ham and white bean soup, chicken noodle soup, a roast and your meatballs. All were delish. Last night I made roasted butternut squash ravioli and rice, brussel sprouts and pork chops. I am trying to cook at least two dinners at once since I am out of town every other week and have a lot going on. We need a freezer though :)

Do you charge by the window?

Kim said...

OOOoooo, that stock looks so good! I made a batch of Julia's Boeuf Borg. earlier this month...SOOOOO good!

Martha said...

Hi Girls!

Michelle, it has never dawned on me to make stock in the crockpot...why is that?

Thirks, you little Martha Stewart, you! Where the heck did you find Mums so cheap? Man, I can't believe you have a kid with her own apartment! Are your girls going to the same school?

Kathleen, I always make a few changes to that recipe too :) I chop the onions and don't use the pearl onions, add peas at the very end and use half the booze.

Oh, Gina I wish I were more like you. I've been reading your blog lately and you are always doing something fabulous to your table AND you're putting food on those tablescapes??? sheesh!

Jilly! You are putting everyone to shame with all of that cooking. By the way? You have my sister in law on your Linked In page. I think we are meant to know each other!

Thanks for the comments on the new blog design! I did it all by myself! I'm basically computer illiterate, so it's a big deal to me :) Also, did you all see the photo on Ina's beef stew? I think it's the bean soup Jilly made! Food Network clearly needs me to be one of their editors.

Jacci said...

yum. i make stock, too, but i've never thought to add a cheese rind. that has to make the taste so much more complex. i'll have to try it! :)

Martha said...

Jacci,

Try it! And my main stock trick is that I reduce my stock by half after straining out all of the bones, etc.

Janelle said...

OMG, I need to wash my windows so bad! You asked how often others wash theirs...I refuse to answer on the grounds that it might incriminate me as a slob and a terrible housewife. :-p

I love making chicken stock--yours looks awesome!