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Christmas 2020 was a bit unusual but generally successful.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve dinner was next-door at the farm, with the in-laws. For the occasion I prepped five pounds of ultimate mashed potatoes. Not instant, not twice-baked, but ULTIMATE. Basically I crammed the oven full of oil-soaked taters, then took them out and threw 'em in a pot ( Read more... )

After a brief hiatus, my Friday night cooking experiments have resumed. Tonight it was creamy garlic chicken and--brace yourself--instant mashed potatoes.


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Last night I made a second attempt at my chicken flautas. I improved my rolling technique and refined the deep-frying arts. An oil thermometer is a big help, as is a nice, deep vessel. The first time, the skillet-type thing I used was altogether too shallow, and I'm pretty sure the oil temperature flirted with five-hundred degrees, creating a ( Read more... )

My nascent cooking endeavors continue. Fridays, I like to half-starve myself: for lunch I have only a Tim Horton's coffee, and by the time I get home and cook whatever I'm going to cook, I've gone a busy twelve to fourteen hours without solid food. Then I can eat without worrying too much about my calorie budget ( Read more... )

Maybe it was stress. Maybe it was cabin fever. The other night I felt the first hibernation urges of the season. It was dark, it was rainy, I was tired. I was sitting on the couch with Kim, slowly gnawing a square of chocolate. We had a blanket. We had the Hallmark Channel--part of our introductory cable/Internet package. I was so wiped out that ( Read more... )