4 1/2 MINUTES - PEANUT BRITTLE - BUSTEDNUCKLES - OLD SHIRTS - GOULASH - SUCCESSION PLANTING - ROBO BURGER

 4 1/2 MINUTES

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PEANUT BRITTLE "it does exist."

A gift from west neighbor. Said he has been baking and needs to get rid of the sweets before he eats it all. I thanked him before telling him my story of not being able to eat peanut brittle. I had loved this as much as the first cup of coffee every morning, but quit because i could not  survive the glass-hardness of the brittle. 

But, I broke off a peanut just to tease myself. A smidgen of brittle on the peanut chewed softly. Hmmmmm! Could it be?

A larger portion as a small test. All chewed softly with all of that wonderful mixture of peanuts and what ever the brittle is. Melted in my mouth and coated the top layers of all of my teeth. Not good, yet so damn good. Another piece and I knew I was in trouble.

That the photo above made it to day two on the kitchen counter is an anomaly. Her put it out of sight and, therefore, out of sight out of mind. And it worked. 

And at 76 years now, I have learned peanut brittle does not have to be as hard as a granite counter top. It can be soft, chewy with added nut crunches. Better late than never. I am not going to ask for the recipe. 

FROM BUSTEDNUCKLES 

I am not aware of what prices are today in your world or to the degree you are affected.

 

A hundred dollars for a carton of cigarettes. Ninety dollars and the gas tank not filled. Portland, Oregon area. West coast large city costs. 

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Twenty miles roundtrip to town here mid-week. Made multiple shopping stops. I was curious for my own comparison with the above story. 

Cigarettes are $80 to $100 a carton here also.

87 grade gas $3.89

89 grade gas $4.49

93 grade gas $4.69

Diesel nearing $5/gallon

What I did choke on this day was $54.00 for 3 large bags of potting mix.  Garden needs what the garden needs.

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"YOU BOUGHT THIS FOR ME FOR VALENTINES DAY"

Sitting the morning away, her mending and chatting. Old shirts are special items. I have gone through a few myself, wearing them outside for work. What folks who stop by to visit must think. 

Her said that she will be spending much more time out in the flower beds than she will be at a fashion show downtown. Squinting at the label she notes 100% cotton, made overseas, and this was an expensive shirt from Macey's in Manchester before they tore it down. A few Valentine days have passed since this gifting. Twenty-two according to her. 

Says she cannot find good denim shirts anymore. Well, she can but refuses to pay the outrageous prices. Old shirts with personal mileage on them are priceless. She side glances at me and tells me to send this one with her when she goes. I understand!

While her sewed, I made a pot of goulash. Basically fried/drained hamburger in mixtures of tomato products and personal seasonings. I used frozen green peppers from last season;s garden and findings in the fridge vegetable bin.

I did not have a grand plan making this. I tossed items into the pot  as I found them in the cupboards and fridge/freezer. Simmered the mixture for a half hour and then tossed in al dente elbow noodles.  

Satisfied my craving for old school full meal deals of the 1950's and quick hot lunches mid-week. 

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FOUND ON 90 MILES...3-24-22

Born in the 1940's, I have been privy to experiences of my parents/grandparents coming to this country from Russia and Norway and living through the depression and WWII rationing.

Lessons taught to me were products of the daily living of coming out of those days. What my elders learned were practiced for the remainder of their lives. Lessons were taught through conversations of those times and daily habits of thrift, saving/reusing everything and how so much can be made from so little. 

My wife still talks of the first time she met my mother. Arriving at her home, she noticed that my mother had empty plastic bags closed pinned to the clothes line, drying. Mom had washed out the plastic bags for re-use. That was 23 years ago and well past the depression era. Habits of thrift and playing life close to the vest had been set deep within my mother. She never forgot having to do with "nothing."  

Of all the doom and gloom promised to be ahead of us now, it might be best to take to heart of what is being said on world stages. 

My wife has started re-using some zip lock bags. Yes, washing (if she chooses) and set to dry. Not the nasty ones (yet) but getting into a habit of reusing instead of tossing away. We have all but stopped using paper plates in favor of generic plasticwear.  

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SUCCESSION/STAGGERED PLANTING

I never gave any thought to planting for younger crops to come in behind harvested crops last year. Through conversations with other locals and basic research I decided to give it a try this season. 

Six large heads of beautiful cabbage came on last year all at once. Much more than two people could consume or save. Gifted half away which was the right thing to do. No waste when gardens produce. There is always someone who will use and appreciate. Sharing builds relationships. 

I plan to start using young cabbage as it comes on. There will be fresh coleslaw in the fridge for a few months and both her and I enjoy without tiring of that in lunches and dinners. I am a fan of fried cabbage, onions and peppers. Her not so much. 

Regardless, should have 12 consecutive weeks of fresh cabbage off the hoof this summer. 

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AND THEN, THIS MORNING NEWS

Robo Burger. Is this "the first apple computer for sale" kind of moment. Historically speaking. Will/would I buy and try? YEP!

If the picture of the hamburger is what it appears to be AND if it is messy to eat AND if it has juicy flavor AND there is not afterbite a half hour later, then I am in. The only stumbling block for me will be the method of payment. That is where the chain of purchasing events breaks down. 

If I can put in cash and get the hamburger, then sign me up. Put one in the building where I work. 

I set my notebook down on the arm of the chair after reading this article. Sipped coffee as my mind pondered the meaning of all of this. "I have lived long enough to again see history being made." 

Will I soon be able to go to an Old Spaghetti Factory machine and order half Mizithra and clam sauce with half spaghetti and meat sauce accompanied by a glass of cheap Chianti as my drink? 

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US TROOPS GOING TO THE UKRAINE? 

Soooooooo..............

"It is time for us to do what we have been doing and that time is every day." Kamala Harris

Feeling fuzzy, warm and hopeful as the world churns. 

Two dozen pepper plants to get in the dirt this morning.

Thank you for your visit this week.