Sorry no chestnuts

Dinner is a constant in this house. It happens daily, sometimes more effectively than at other times, but this idea is one to keep for a mild  - or down right cold - baking day. Yes, I made this in the middle of the summer. Go figure.

Vegetable - Corn on the cob
Remove the very outer layers of husk, but keep most of the covering in tact. Snip off the silk on the end, if you prefer, to prevent it from burning. Heat the oven to 350F. Roast on a middle rack for 30 mins. Then eat!

Fruit - Mixed fresh and roasted goodness
Roast sliced plum, pitted cherries, and grapes for 15-20 mins at 350F. Add fresh blueberries and strawberries. Then sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg. drizzle honey, stir, and eat! Tasty!

Main dish - Roasted turkey and bacon sandwich
Prep the turkey and roast (my Mr. did this bit, so I didn't catch the details, but my guess is 350F for several hours, depending on the weight of the turkey), but, the kicker here is to lay strips of bacon across the breast for added flavor and juiciness. It was tasty! Basting occasionally during cooking only improves the outcome.

When it's cooked, slice the turkey into sandwich size pieces. Spread the best bread available with mayonnaise that has a dash of balsamic and chopped fresh basil, top with turkey, and lettuce, tomato, cucumber, avocado, sprouts, or your favorite sandwich item, and eat! So good.

People who need people meet Murphy

You may blame it on the weather, or on the impending arrival of our first child, or on constant ebb and flow of hormonally-based emotions I am currently experiencing, it might be all three, but today I want people around me. No need for entertainment or excellent conversation, just another soul nearby to pass time and make small talk. Yes, this is coming from a psuedo-hermit. Some days are like that. So why are we meeting Murphy? Well, today of all days, my excellent husband has grad school orientation and won't be home until much later tonight. Murphy Law always picks the most convenient moments to arrive. At least I still get the occasional swift kick in the ribs to know that another little person wants some people, too. Just a few more weeks. Maybe Murphy can come for that, too.

Ale? Would you like a little ginger with that?

While we're on the subject of drinks, the latest find is a ginger ale recipe. I combined two recipes to get the following:

Ginger ale

Combine in a 2 liter bottle:
2 T grated ginger
6 oz sugar
1/8 t active dry yeast
2 T lemon juice

Fill with water. Cap. Shake gently to mix. Allow to sit at room temp for 24 hours, until the bottle is expanded enough you are afraid it will burst. Put in the fridge to chill. Drink up.

What I learned:

• It's a tasty homemade treat!
• The bottle will expand as the pressure builds. Neat!
• The yeast flavor lessens after a day or two, making it better
• It gets flatter the longer it sits and the more the bottle is open - surprise, anyone?
• If aesthetics is key, strain the floaties as you pour - it's the ginger and yeast