| Mrs. Murfreesboro: Random fall thoughts |
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By: JEANNE BRAGG, Post Columnist
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Posted: Sunday, October 11, 2009 1:12 pm
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Some random thoughts in anticipation of fall ...
The last week in October will mark the end of the Farmers Market at the Lane Agri-Park on John Rice Boulevard.
It has been a wonderful season for the Farmers Market, and last Friday there was an abundance of almost everything – okra, turnip greens, pumpkins, eggplant, zinnias, baked goods.
I bought tomatoes, and I am trying to decide how to enjoy them since they’ll probably be the last. Do I want tomatoes vinaigrette, BLTs or tuna salad in a tomato?
My mouth is watering. I should use the last of that fresh basil which has been so prolific because it will die if it reaches about 55 degrees. Pesto may be on the agenda for today.
My sister requested French fries for a family potluck recently but I didn’t have many potatoes on hand. Instead I peeled a beautiful large eggplant and cut it into “sticks” (about 1/2” in diameter by 4” long), dipped them into egg wash, rolled them in cracker crumbs and fried them in canola oil. The teenagers in attendance preferred them to the potatoes. I’ll have to do that again.
Thoughtful reader Lorene Fourman called to demystify “sawing” butternut squash. She puts it in the microwave for two minutes before cutting. I did it this morning and it cut like a dream. Thanks, Lorene. Can’t wait for that, either.
I made a good soup yesterday by dumping leftovers of a chuck roast into the crock pot with carrots, onions, potatoes, a can of crushed tomatoes and some beef broth. I added about a 1/2 cup of leftover red wine and cooked it on high all morning, adding some barley at the end.
I’d shop around for better barley than the Quaker brand next time, but it was still good. Slow cooking the wine truly added depth to the flavor.
I’m getting ready to take a road trip (to see my grandbaby, of course) and will spend the rest of the day figuring out what pair of jeans to pack. I have to “audition” each pair since I haven’t worn them since last spring.
It’s never been easy to buy jeans, and I rejoiced the first time I saw the word “stretch” on a pair, never anticipating they’d stretch so much they’d bag down around my waist.
I’ve thought about taking a seam in the stretched sides but I might not be able to get them on after I wash them. The alternative is tugging them up every five minutes.
So far, the Platinum Denims from Chico’s ($$) are winning the race, but they’re being secured by a belt.
A Land’s End catalog featured some that didn’t have the word “stretch” in them, so I might head over to Sears to check them out.
And, speaking of Land’s End, one of my daughter’s friends gave her a clever gift for baby Jeanne – a Land’s End Canvas tote with the baby’s name monogrammed on it.
Anne uses that as much as her diaper bag, and I thought that was a clever idea.
Am I the only person who feels that real Coca-Cola is losing its fizz?
I only drink about one Coke a week, and Tommy agrees with me that they just seem flat these days.
It will be interesting to see what affect all the rains have had on our fall colors. I can’t wait for a walk down colorful East Main. We’re only a couple of weeks and a couple of miles away!
‘Til next week.
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