Exchanging Work Aprons

Yesterday, I put on a different apron and worked at my daughter’s kitchen, making soufflés’. I will be doing this every other week…making soufflés that she will serve at her downtown Deli. I haven’t made soufflés for months…but the job is easy and I like working in the kitchen alone and on my own. 

The process is an easy one. After I wash my hands, put on my apron, I go through my routine of making the soufflés. I pull out the pastry from the freezer and take out a number of pastry sheets to thaw. Then I get two long sheet pans and line them with parchment paper. I pull out the soufflé cups and spray them and lay them out on the sheets. My next step is to mix the egg mixture and when I finish with that, I place the mixture back into the refrigerator.

The most time consuming is cutting circles out of the pastry, pressing it into the soufflé cups and then cutting strips to line the sides, making sure to praise all the seams tightly together.  When I am finished with this chore, I add different types of cheeses to the bottom of the soufflé’s cups, and then pour the egg mixture into the cups. I put the trays into the oven and bake them. When they are finished and cool down, I wrap three of the soufflés in plastic and freeze them for the Deli.

When the Deli serves the soufflé, they add toppings and cheese to the top of the soufflés and all the customer has to do is enjoy every bite of it!

So, the next time you are in downtown Pittsburgh…eat at Erin’s Deli and order a soufflé…you won’t be disappointed! And tell them

Early Morning at the Greenhouse

It’s Saturday morning at the greenhouse and it’s fairly quiet here. There are four workers around and the owner is in the upstairs office, working. So far, I am waiting for the Mums to dry up a bit before I water them. I checked the Poinsettias in Greenhouse 2, 3, and 4. Most of the pots are still heavy with water and can be watered later. But the 2 benches by the wall, the plants are dry and I water them, along with the ferns. I have been going through the greenhouse, taking off the dead leaves and cleaning up the plants.

So far, there have only been two customers. I don’t remember the greenhouse being this dead. Of course, it is fall and most of the gardeners are cleaning up their own yards and gardens.

I walked into Greenhouse 6…it is empty of plants; the benches are empty and all that is left is a big black potting bin where we used to empty the bags of soil into and then fill up the flats and pots. I remember how every space on those benches and even underneath was occupied by 804 trays and trays with 4-1/2” pots. Hanging baskets filled the house and sometimes, they hung from the benches themselves. Now, the house is empty.

 

In the front yard, there are lots of Perennials for Sale. It’s the right time to buy those plants and dig them into one’s yard and garden. There are also lots of pumpkins and cornstalks waiting to be purchased.

All in all, despite the maintenance and watering, I feel the cold days of winter slowing coming.

Jeans with a ZIPPER!

Since February, I have been trying to lose weight. In the beginning my diet started around Lent (for non-Catholics, this is a time of penitence and giving up things in preparation for Easter). I gave up soda (which I love), chips, dips and snacks (which I doubly love), and sweets (which I could live without). I lost about 15 pounds but unfortunately, it didn’t show up in my blood work.

Then I doubled down and went hard core…reading labels, trying to find low sodium items lowering sugar intake along with starches, etc. In reality, I was trying to eat cleaner and healthier. I dropped 25 more pounds. I have lost a total of 40 pounds and will find out in a few weeks if this has affected my blood work for the better.

With all the weight loss, I felt great, my knees felt so much better without lugging all that weight. But in all of this, I had to buy new clothes. My old ones were totally baggy, hanging off of me and making me look sick. I kept pulling up my pants because they kept falling down. I ended up going through my closet and taking four big bags to a women’s store.

Then, the other day, I went to a store to buy a pair of jeans. After looking for my old reliable style of Mommy Jeans (ones with the elastic waist)…I couldn’t find any. So I tried on a different pair of jeans…they were in a normal size. They were actually smaller, and they fit but not only that they had …a ZIPPER! I haven’t worn jeans or any type of pants with a zipper since I was in my early 30s. I felt good about this.

But WOW…jeans with a zipper…amazing and awesome and who would have thought that I would now have a pair of jeans in my closet with one of those sweet little things - a zipper!!!!!

Zelienople Festival Days

I spent Sunday enjoying the Zelienople Fall Festival with my youngest son, his wife and five grandchildren. Most of the shops were open in the small quaint town. Some of the merchants had tables set up in front of their store displaying their merchandise.

There were a lot of interesting activities including chainsaw carving, music, sidewalk sales, farmers market, arts and craft vendors wood cutters, civil war re-enactors with their camp site, animals, a display of bees, free horse drawn wagon rides, and a whole lot more activities. Of course there were lots and lots of food to buy and sample.

For the little kids there was face painting, bouncing houses and some activities throughout the area for them to engage in. 

 I spent some of my time and money at the Alpaca tent with my oldest granddaughter checking out the soft and beautiful sweaters, hats, gloves, scarves and socks. While we were feeling the merchandise, my two younger granddaughters got to pet the two live Alpacas that were next to the tent…they were soft, fluffy, and adorable. But, alas, they weren’t for sale!

The weather and sun helped to make the day comfortable. It was fun but the best part was spending a few hours with my son, his wife and five grandchildren!