the weekend is nigh

Here’s the plan-

Friday night: Blitzen Trapper at the Ladies Lit Club with about a million of my most favorite people from west Michigan. The biggest bummer is that ArtPrize is going on so parking could be a drag as could getting my preshow ritual Irish carbomb from The Cottage. The show itself? Not concerned. Blitzen Trapper could potentially blow the roof off the place.

Saturday: Peter and Erin have the whole day off. Together. With no specific plans. This is epic. This never ever happens. The market will probably happen. A trip to Sandcastle will probably happen. Beef stock might happen. And French Onion soup. Possibly something involving chicken. Maybe a trip to Target to get another season of Top Chef which has become my most favorite show. Anything is possible.

Sunday: Peter and Erin have the whole day off. Together. This is epic. This never ever happens. But Sunday is a biiiig day as it’s Neal’s 2nd birthday party. There will be hardhats. There will be cake. And presents. Lots of presents most likely. There will be crazy children running wild. Anything is possible.

I really need to get organized with homemade Christmas. There are ideas marinating, but as October 1 is tomorrow (and my mother gently reminded me that as we’re flying to Vermont this year mayhaps I’ll want to get my act together in time to ship presents) I need to start producing. I got sidetracked by a scarf for Peter to match his most favorite winter coat and I really need to finish my embroidery sampler which was supposed to just get thrown away, but has been requested by the Boyles to be stitched together for a table..thingy. I hesitate to call it a tablecloth as it is for a side table, but I guess it’s sort of a tablecloth. I may need to make myself a chart with everyone’s name and a list of what I’m making. I have some new ideas and some things I’ve never done before in the works. I will not freak out. I will become a crafting machine.

And every year I say it, but this year I mean it: I will start in January next year.

Will I ever learn?

food glorious food!

Currently residing in my freezer:

1 chicken carcass
9 chicken feet
3 packages of organic chicken thighs
1 oxtail
2 lamb shanks
1 beef soup bone
1 package of pig necks
1 lb of ground lamb
1 lb of bacon

I’ve somehow managed to squeeze in 1 gallon bag of blueberries, sweet corn, peppers, and an ongoing bag of vegetable scraps for stock as well.

I’m in a cooking sort of mood. Can you tell?

This weekend I made vegetable stock for the first time (thanks to Xtina suggesting I put my scraps in a bag in the freezer) which then led to a kale and white bean soup. Sunday I made a roast in the crockpot with potatoes, carrots and onions. I also made gravy. Which ruled. If I do say so myself. I, for some reason, have always looked down upon the crockpot. I am here to say I was wrong. Not only is it 100 times more energy efficient than my oven, it’s 100 time easier. There are things I still will not do. A whole chicken belongs in the oven. But thighs? Thighs I could do in the crockpot. The lamb shanks I’d prefer to do in a dutch oven (which I’ve been pricing at TJ Maxx. It’s going to be my own little present to myself.), but the oxtail is absolutely being made in the crockpot.

My name is Erin. And I was wrong. The crockpot is a glorious invention.

In other food news, Rebecca and I went to Butch’s where I had the most delicious scallops I have ever encountered. The bacon apple risotto was meh, but the scallops were outstanding. The crab stuffed portabello was good in theory, but a wee bit cold. We came thiiis close to sending it back. I need to get into sending things back.

I’ve been asked by a server to help her come up with some vegetarian suggestions per the chef’s request. I have until tomorrow night. I can tell I’ve not just fallen off the vegetarian wagon, I’ve jumped on board the meat train as every thing I come up with sounds great until I realize I want frites in duck fat. Or black beans. With pork.

My vegetarian friends: I remember with fondness my wonderful years having a near 100% plant based diet. I remember how satisfying and eclectic my diet was. I remember how superior I felt. And I did feel superior. I still think vegetarians should feel superior. It’s better for you. It’s better for the environment. It’s just better.

But, my vegetarian friends: meat tastes good. I am weak. You are strong. I'll think about how delicious brussels sprouts are all by themselves as I'm enjoying my brussels sprouts roasted in bacon fat.

well....huh.

I appear to have a blog.

Ahem.

Here’s what’s happened:

a bunch of people came into town including Metal, Reynolds, Becky and Sandy, Kevin and Xtina, Michael Miller, Heather Mickelson, Krista and Amy, Carl and Rasa.

That was August.

There was a young African American felon sleeping on our porch for a spell. He has recently moved to Allegan. That was nice.

I have an oxtail in my freezer and am on the hunt for rabbit.

I have made awesome chicken thighs, delicious sausages, amazing vegetable sauces, tasty salads. I have not grilled enough. I’m looking forward to stock making season and bread making season and braising meats and wearing legwarmers with tights.

I have not been running. This should be remedied.

I am currently reading “Freedom” by Franzen.

Peter turns 30 next weekend and we’re going to Wheatland for the first time. I’m going to see Toad the Wet Sprocket with my gayboyfriend Michael. I’m hopefully going to see The Press Delete play their first paying gig at Founders. Tickets for Blitzen Trapper have been purchased. As have tickets for The Books.

Fall is looking mighty good to me.