Social Hours

The event of the season. It happened last night. I felt like I was in an old-time movie, you know, family, friends, the holidays. I am surprised ol' George himself, wasn't there, to tell you the truth. And it all came down to being at.......WALMART. Yes, yes. The new super-walmart in town seems to have become the social gathering for all of the who's who in the town. First off, just going into the parking lot is quite an endeavor. The parking lot is about twice the size of the store and as you enter you survey every scrapping turn out for the closest spot. FInally when you give in to going out to the north forty you spot that one bea-u-ti-ful spot. You hammer the gas to beat the chick coming down the parking aisle from the other direction and smile as you slip in. The rewards of owning an Yaris. You can park it just about anywhere. Walmart only has two doors. Its built to look like and in only and out only situation, but you can actually use both for in and out. Nice touch. The store really is huge. And with huge, comes people. Last night I ran into four people I have not seen in a year. It was extra nice to see them and to catch up with old times. Seems as if the last dept. really is running without me. The new system they implemented a month ago has certainly played into business operations and of course individual personalities, wants and needs. Truly I have to just shake my head hearing it all....I don't miss it. I don't. And then the mother of A's friends...well you know she is a new granma. That's exciting.

The reason I was in Walmart was to invest in a stock pot for my turkey. I am going to brine my turkey this year. I vaguely remember my mom doing this years ago, when I was small. Of course I will have to make a trip to the Thought Dock to verify this, but I do believe it to be so. This recipe comes from Emeril Lagasse. I grew up with him. In the Bronx. NOT. lol sorry, i could not help but go there.... The stinking stock pots are 40 bucks. 40. Okay some were 29, but they were too small. I needed a big one for my mammer jammer of a turkey that is weighing in at 23 lbs. After two hours of looking (mind you this was only the 2nd time I have been in this store, and it IS a SUPER Walmart) I finally settled on a dish pan and turkey roasting bags. I hope this works.

Going to do my bird after work....brine him/her through night....and be ready to pop it in the oven in the am. (Heck, I washed and dried bed sheets this ams, cleaned my celery, peeled carrots, and diced onions already this morning. I am on a roll today!) W and I have to be to church this evening for Thanksgiving Day services. Members married 25 years or more are being celebrated and me and he,,,,we are gonna get celebrated. woohoo.

Last weekend I got a hankering for Tuscan soup like they have at the Olive Garden. So I made some. Well I made my own recipe after reviewing theirs online. OOOOOlala. It is pretty good. I didn't have spinach or kale so I subbed in brussel sprouts???? Yes I did. And they were good. I cut the butt ends off them so the leaves would break out on their own and dance through the potato stock. Not bad for making it up.

And,,,,,and....two weekends ago I made chocolate chip cookies. FINALLY. I made them with a sugar substitute IDEAL. If you have reason not to use the real stuff, you should try this. It works better than Splenda, I think. Except for the fact that my chips were about 3 years old (kept in the freezer...don't go there) the cookies were pretty good. I bought fresh chips for the next time around, hopefully in less than 3 years. I LOVE love love my new cookie sheets.

I am tellin ya, I got the kitchen bug and it is scaring me.

Tonight pumpkin pies and pumpkin cheesecake, clean and prep the veggies, and of course, clean the bathrooms. This year they are coming to my house! Well, not really, we are all going over to A's place. Somehow I am still doing the dinner. Now that I think about it, there is something wrong with this picture.

over and out..