The Wrong Way To Use a Toaster Oven

One of our employees insists upon ignoring our notes in the lunchroom and heats his pizza without using either the tray ( on top of the toaster oven ! ) or tinfoil underneath. You can't see it in the picture but some of the cheese has already melted and dripped down on top of the element, making for some nice burnt-food smells. We'll get to enjoy that over and over for the next couple of days !

Arlington National Cemetery

I just got back from Washington DC. We went and saw as many sights as we could. Arlington is probably the most moving. The Army's 3rd Regiment provides the members of the honor guard, who patrol 24/7/365. They only stop if there is a real threat of lightning striking.

Navy Bean Soup

I thought about making soup today so I headed over to the store and started wandering up and down the aisles. I grabbed 2 pounds of Navy Beans (grown in the USA; who knew ?).

2 smoked pig's feet, pig tails, a shallot, garlic, a cubed ham steak, 2 pounds of Navy Beans, celery, carrot, simmering in chicken stock. So far I have been disappointed with my soups. They're okay, but they don't really knock your socks off. Let's hope for a winner.

Chicken Marengo

I am making Chicken Marengo, which my father used to make on my birthday. This is the meal Napoleon Bonaparte had after he won the battle of Marengo. We share the same birthday. These are sauteed pearl onions and mushrooms in butter and lemon juice.

This is a cut-up chicken, in a white wine and chicken broth. Afterward, the onions and mushrooms go in, along with black olives and brandy. The Joy of Cooking advises waiting a day (unlike Napoleon). I am heeding her advice.

ANOTHER roast chicken dinner

The good news . . . the chicken looks pretty good. The bad news . . . the potatoes have about 20 minutes to go ( Oops ! ). I will spend the time making pan gravy.

OMG

OMG ( Oh My God ). No wonder the chefs on the Food Network rave about duck fat. This is a six pound duck ( duckling ) that I roasted for dinner tonight. The fat that poured off of this bird is unbelievable. There is a ton of it, and it's all good.

Boats

This is the USS Salem at her slip next to the Fore River Bridge. I haven't boarded her in 5-6 years but it's an interesting tour. It's self-guided, so you can stay as long as you like. She was built here at the end of WWII and has returned in retirement.

This was the scene Saturday morning at Wollaston Beach. I don't know if it was poor navigation or exceptional navigation. On closer inspection, she is moored, and the stern is propped up by a couple of large rocks. I'm thinking engine trouble (out of fuel, maybe ?). I will stroll by this morning to see.

Rabbit and Veal Stew

I am not sure about any number of things but I'm pretty sure I'm the only person in Quincy cooking rabbit and veal at 9:30 in the morning. With our large Asian-American population, maybe I'm only sure about my building ! This is the rabbit cooking away in my cast-iron pot, and below is the veal, resting.

I kind of skimmed "The Joy of Cooking" and figured I couldn't screw this up too much. I bought the only rabbit they had at Stop & Shop and a package of stew veal. I will cut the rabbit off the bone, add some chicken stock and the veal, and simmer with potatoes, onions, and celery. Then I will add some flour to thicken.

History; Today

Today, October 25th, marks the 594th aniversary of the Battle of Agincourt. This was one of the most decisive battles in history, and gained for England the French crown, but their gains were squandered (mostly by Henry's son, Henry VI).

Today is also the 155th anniversary of the Battle of Balaclava, in the Crimea, made famous by the Charge of the Light Brigade (commemorated by Alfred Lord Tennyson). The French commander, Bosquet, commented "It is magnificent, but it is not war".

End of the Weekend

Sailboats moored in the Vineyard Haven harbor. Boats are a lot of work. I could probably handle the dinghy that's tied to the boat in the foreground.

This is one of the two boats operated by the Black Dog. It's the Alabama. They take you out for sunset cruises, etc.

This is about as close as I got to any kind of boat this weekend. The ferry is big and very stable. You barely feel any sensation from the seas.