Pieces of my broken mind

Unhappy with the last batch of Tomato Pickle in the Manger, it was time to try again.  Last batch I used cherry tomatoes and the skins took up so much of the batch I was not happy with the effort at all.  So this time I went and purchased a bunch of large (beefsteak) tomatoes from the local King Soopers.  Four pounds of peeled tomatoes and three hours of cooking I have another pint of this wondrous concoction. Lessons learned: Use more tomatoes, but don't increase the sauce.  Peel the tomatoes as they cook. Enjoy the devil-fruit goodness! This semester is quickly coming to a close and I'm happy.  The Spirituality class has been rough and I'll be glad to be rid of it.  It's not because of the whole "Apathetic Agnostic" thing - it's because this professor overly critiques everyone's work.  Why would you ask me to write, essentially, a personal essay, then criticize my sentences?  Not the structure or grammar, but the words I'm writing?...

  Brianna shook her head. Claire had gone with Lizzie as escort to attend a birth at one of the farms at the far side of the cove; if the child hadn’t arrived before sunset, they would stay the night at the Lachlans’.    “No. She said if she wasn’t back, I was to bring you up some supper, though.” She knelt and began to unpack the small basket she had brought, laying out small loaves of bread stuffed with cheese and tomato-pickle, a dried-apple tart, and two stone bottles—one of hot vegetable broth, the other of cider.    “That’s kind, lassie.” He smiled at her and picked up one of the bottles. “Will ye have eaten yet, yourself?”    “Oh, yes,” she assured him. “Plenty.” She had eaten, but couldn’t resist a quick look of longing at the fresh rolls; the early faint sense of malaise had left her, replaced by an appetite mildly alarming in its intensity.    He saw her glance, and with a smile, drew his dirk and sliced one of the rolls in half...

Each year I make piccalilli from my great-grandmother's recipe and try to put up at least two batches each summer, planning to give away a few jars for holiday presents. This version is a sweet relish and tastes fabulous on burgers, hot dogs, etc.  Or the tasty crackers from either Crunchmaster or Mary's Gone Crackers. Reflect on the flavor, I bet my dad's Corton recipe will be tasty topped with piccalilli.  10-minute water bath The Outlander Cookbook only has one recipe for piccalilli, but it uses ripened tomatoes and sounds spicier than this one.  Yay! They're done! I remembered a mention of Mrs. Bug's piccalilli in one book and took to the internet in search of the recipe. The Outlander Kitchen  website does not disappoint.  The link will get you to the actual recipe but have a look around. The Battlefield Blackberry Jam recipe sounds like the perfect use of my husband's bramble pickings. Hopefully, we'll have enough berries for this re...

“River Run?” he said. “You have relations with Mrs. Jocasta Cameron?” “She’s my husband’s aunt,” I replied. “Do you know her?” “Oh, indeed! A charming woman, most charming!” A broad smile lifted the Baron’s pendulous cheeks. “Since many years, I am the dear friend of Mrs. Cameron and her husband, unfortunately dead.” The Baron launched into an enthusiastic recounting of the delights of River Run, and I took advantage of the lull to accept a small wedge of fish pie, full not only of fish but of oysters and shrimps in a creamy sauce. Mr. Lillington had certainly spared no effort to impress the Governor. --Diana Gabaldon, Drums Of Autumn   I made the Fish Pie at the Lillingtons'  recipe   for Hubster's birth day last February so yes, I'm behind on posting the picture.  First things first when making any meal -- I really need to read the recipe and assemble ingredients BEFORE the cooking process commences.  Assorted fish is called for so I used shrimp, salmon, so...

I wonder if I can count my efforts in getting through the Outlander cookbook as part of my efforts for this Creativity and Aging class?   Like trying to find creative ways to make Cherry Bounce not taste like industrial strength cough syrup?  This effort was tasty but put me into a sugar shock. 2 oz Cherry Bounce  1 oz Moscato 4 oz Club Soda Garnish with a slice of orange  On the school front, I have nine papers to read for the week (plus a few chapters out of our books), but one of them is a 34-page research study. FFS, this doesn't even account for the papers to write or comments on the message boards. 

“Bridies! Hot bridies!” A high-pitched screech cut through the rumble and racket of the hall, and Brianna turned to see an old woman elbowing her way robustly through the crowd, a steaming tray hung round her neck and a wooden spatula in hand. The heavenly scent of fresh hot dough and spiced meat cut through the other pungencies in the hall, noticeable as the old woman’s calling. It had been a long time since breakfast, and Brianna dug in her pocket, feeling saliva fill her mouth.   -- Diana Gabaldon , Drums of Autumn Brianna knew what she was doing when she bought meat pies on the dock. Giantess or not, one will simply not do. My friend Kathy uses the word "Yummalicious!" which is a perfect description of these meat pies. Made with the Short Crust Pastry the inside is a perfect blend of meat, vegetable, and butter. The recipe in the book is separated into vegetarian and meat bowls - the recipe says this will make four of each using a packed 1/2 cup of filling in each ...