A busy weekend to help ease me into a busy week
Cleaning, prepping, errands and a run to KC to visit Costco and have dinner with friends filled our Saturday.
Sunday saw me up at 6:30am to start the grill. I decided to give smoking meat on my gas grill a try. There were a couple of issues–the smoke box was useless for my set-up and I had a hard time keeping the temperature down, even when only running two burners. I know I won’t get the same results as using a wood smoker, but it still worked out great. Next time, I’m going to prop the lid open a little to see if I can get the temperature down to about 215-225. I didn’t plan Sunday’s meal until Saturday morning, so planning and prepping was a bit hectic. Along with the smoked pork and chicken, I also grilled some bacon wrapped shrimp, portabella mushrooms with tomatoes, onions and garlic, and asparagus. I added a spring mix salad w/ apricots and feta and german potato salad (with bacon), citrus and pomegranate punch and homemade ice cream and my first attempt at vegan cupcakes* for dessert. Our big dessert plans–the chocolate fountain–fell through when Mac set it up and it wouldn’t turn on. Mac’s dad saved us by picking up pie.
I don’t really like my guests to have to help while I’m prepping the meal. I’d rather they just relax and visit with each other, so I appreciate the people who helped get the meat shredded, took the asparagus off the grill because I forgot about it, and helped fill the punch bowl with pi-cubes. And, of course, verminiusrex, who did almost all the prep work for the potato salad and cut up my apricots. I don’t know why he is the exception to my guest rule, but when he walks in, I just hand him a knife and set him up to chop something.
This week is going to be busy. My pasta roller shipped last Friday, so I should get that this week. This is also Ada’s last week for school. She will be home all day starting next Monday. That means I get to sleep in a bit longer since I don’t have to get her ready, and unless I have to drive her to school, I don’t usually change out of my pjs until lunchtime. Ah, working from home! We also get to see a movie on Wednesday, thanks to a volunteer babysitter! Our movie conversation:
Mac: Do you want to see Star Trek or Wolverine?
Me: Star Trek
Mac: Do you want IMAX or VIP?
Me: VIP. IMAX is overrated.
Mac: Overatted compared to alcohol?
Me: Yes.
*I suppose, as vegan cupcakes**, they were fine. Compared to real cupcakes, not so much. Cows and chickens have a lot to add to all parts of a meal.
**On my quest to find egg substitute, I got to read the labels of a lot of Egg Beater type products. I chuckle a little when I read that label that says “Egg Substitute” and also says “Made with 99% Real Egg.” I know leave out the yolk and add other things to make it look it has yolk. That reduces the fat and cholesterol. That’s fine for a substitute. However, I found one that said, “Egg Substitute, Now With Yolk.” What is being substituted? A box that substitutes the small effort it takes to crack and beat an egg? It was a lot more expensive than just buying a carton of eggs.
