Water, Water Nowhere

As you know, our home 'renovations' all started because the ice maker water line leaked onto the hardwood floors. Between then (mid-June) and now, we've had the floors in the kitchen torn out and replaced with tile, the dishwasher has been torn out and we're waiting for the new one to be installed with help from Chris, the tile guy. We have the shower in the master bath partially torn out because THAT water was seeping under the floors (in the kitchen, no less). So we can't use the shower. We are waiting for the contractor to come - he was supposed to be here last Monday, changed it to today, then upped it to this COMING Monday. We'll have a full house - the contractor and tile people in the bathroom starting Monday and the countertop folks installing the granite counters in the kitchen and baths starting on Tuesday. A full house IF THEY SHOW UP.

Anyway, we have been using our guest bath which has a tub/shower combination. Well, wouldn't you know it - the ONLY shower we have in the house....IS NOT WORKING! That handle in the middle of the hot/cold knobs (you know, the one that switches it from tub to shower) DOES NOT WORK. Now Paul gets it to work - he has to turn the center knob to 'tub', then turn on the water, then turn it off, then turn the center knob to 'shower', then turn the water back ON again. It's ridiculous. He hasn't had to kick it yet, but I feel that coming next! Most of the time I can't get it to work and think that pretty soon unless we get this water mess all taken care of that we'll be bathing in a pan of warm water heated on the kitchen stove (which is still functional, thank goodness). It seems every place we should have water coming out of ... there is none. Oh, and did I mention that because the dishwasher is not yet installed, I AM HAVING TO WASH ALL THE DISHES. ALL OF THEM! ALL THE TIME. And can't use the garbage disposal, so I'm having to scrape the food trash into the garbage. What a pain. And because the icemaker broke right after it caused the water on the floor and we didn't replace it because I didn't want the expense ($98), we are using ice trays. I hate ice trays. Funny, I didn't want to spend the $98 but we have spent thousands on repairs that are not yet finished; repairs that have been ongoing since June. That $98 is just a drop in the bucket. What else is new????

As long as I have ice cubes for my gin & tonic at happy hour time, life is good. And I'm ordering that ice maker pretty soon....

Culinary Delights - Mushroom Flatbread Pizza

OK, I promised you mushroom flatbread pizza and here it is! It was much more complicated and time-consuming than simply making pizza, but let me tell you it was WORTH IT!

This flatbread had baby portabella mushrooms, garlic and olive oil with herbs (basil, oregano and Italian parsley, all finely chopped or julienned), caramelized onions (one and a half large onions), and goat cheese.

Here's how it's done:

bake the flatbread - sort of like pizza dough without any toppings and VERY thin. Almost like a wafer. Bake until nice & golden (about 15 minutes), the remove it from the oven. Brush the crust with herb infused olive oil and chopped garlic, then load it up with baby bella mushrooms (or you can use reconstituted wild porcini mushrooms if you like), the caramelized onion and top with generous dollops (sprinkles) of goat cheese (which is a very wet cheese, unlike feta).

Pop it back in the oven and let it bake at 375 degrees until the cheese appears no longer solid, or close to bubbling. Watch to see the crust does not burn. I baked this one on a pizza stone - it took a little longer than usual because the stone has to heat up. If you preheat the stone along with the oven, it saves time. Try it. It's wonderful!!! My descendent of a Roman God husband seemed to like it. Hey, he brought me three large bouquets of flowers home today. I must be doing SOMETHING right!!!

Stay tuned for more culinary delights....mangia!!

Cooking - Southern Italian style!

Today, on what I assumed was the Autumnal Equinox (it's apparently the 23rd this year), I have decided to make mushroom flatbread for dinner.  And salad.  A beautiful salad containing mixed greens, radiccio (a bitter red lettuce, sort of), dried Ocean Spray cranberries straight from the bog, chick peas (cannellini), and walnuts, drizzed with a cranberry balsamic reduction.  Now I have to still purchase those mushrooms and an onion.  Obviously I have not grocery shopped for these items.  I will visit the local ALDI, or get my very own personal descendent of Roman Gods to bring them home for me. 

Speaking of that Roman God, he is known to surprise me with all sorts of 'little' things.  He brings home flowers for no reason, creates wonderful wine and cheese appetizer spreads, and we have actually sat on the floor and 'picnicked' in the house.  We play bocce in the backyard (tree roots and all) and we antique shop together.  Sometimes we walk, hand in hand, saying nothing at all.  You see, my Roman God had a rough life in his previous marriage.  He was married not by choice, but by circumstance - to someone he despised.  He stayed put because of kids - the first was the reason for the marriage (she was pregnant - the age old way to 'trap' a man when you can't get one any other way HAHA) - kids that now have no manners and are rude and sarcastic with no regard for anyone but themselves; kids that have turned out to be a true disappointment to him.  His daughter actually went on this tirade in front of the entire family AT A FUNERAL!  A funeral they showed up for but clearly used it as a 'stopping point' for a little family vacation, complete with his ex-wife.  He on more than one occasion has said that if he knew they'd turn out the way they did, he'd have left in the beginning.  But, he did what his father told him to do - face the music.  This is another post in itself - another time.  Anyway, where was I?  Oh yea, right - SO, now that life is behind him, and he has finally begun to live.  And boy, do we!  We cook together in the kitchen; we create recipes, we belong to our local SOI (Sons of Italy) Chapter.  We have three four-legged, furry children that adore us.  They are:  Buster, Stormy and Daisy (Buster, Tempestoso, and Margherita in Italian).  We have a grand life.  Now if we could just get these home renovations done....

I'll let you know how the flatbread turns out.  Ciao! 

It's Summer in South Carolina, and it's hotter than hell outside

As a newly non-employed-outside-the-home baby boomer, I have a hard time sitting still.  It's just not in my nature, guys.  I am a doer.  I have always been a doer.   So, whilst I was sitting on the veranda at daybreak, my Vermont (we're going there on Monday - more about that later) Moose coffee cup in hand,   I was surveying the shrubs that flanked the porch.  Two on either ends are nandina - you know what those are, right?  Well, I had pruned them before and it occurred to me they looked like two broccoli spears standing upright.  Not at all the image I wanted to convey in my Southern brick (which pretends to be a New England saltbox dwelling) house.  I called my husband to get his thoughts on what I was about to do - which is to CUT THOSE SUCKERS down.  Of course, being the good husband he is, he said 'do it'.  (remember, I'm the doer).  So I did it.  I got the pruners, the keyhole saw, my trusty garden gloves, and I commenced hacking away.  Now They are gone, but stubble remains - for hubby to take out when he comes home with his 'descendents of Roman God' muscles (did I tell you he's Italian?  He's EYETALIAN!!)

He's gotten pretty used to my starting things and he finishes them.  That's why I'm the brains of the operation.  HE is the brawn!  I should have taken pictures before and after, but was too eager.  From now on, I will post what I write about so you can see what I'm doing.  A diary, if you will.

Home Renovations and Sad Realizations

We have ordered the granite for both our kitchen AND bathroom countertops.  Check out this marvelous company we got them through:  Stone Interiors http://www.stoneinteriors.com/

They are being cut to size as I write this.  Next week our shower is being torn out and reconstructed with beautiful travertile tile on the walls, and travertine mosaic on the floor.  We have a glass shower wall being installed with Tuscan Bronze Faucets, etc. 

Once all this is done, we'll have to repaint and repair the walls for any damage that will have been done as the result of this soon to be beeyoutiful renovation.  Any suggestions on color?

Every day I search for jobs.  I apply for jobs.  I get turned down for jobs.  Day after day.  Most of the companies I apply to never even respond.  It's more than disheartening.  It's difficult for this baby boomer to come to the realization that I am too old for employers to need me.  It's also difficult to not be needed ANYWHERE.  I thought this would be the happiest time in my life - kids are gone and now it's time for me.  I was wrong.

SO, I signed up for a catering class online through Midlands Tech.  Don't know if I'll ever use it, but it can't hurt to have it to go along with the floral design and cake design courses I have already taken.  Never know when that B&B will present itself.  And it keeps me busy and keeps my mind off what I can't do anything about. 

I can dream, can't I?

Cooking in the New Kitchen

OK, so we have the 'new' kitchen put back together - sort of.  We needed to get a new dishwasher and have it installed like NOW because when the 3 tiles in front of it are 'cemented' down, the dishwasher is in place FOREVER.  Would you believe we found one - at a GREAT discounted rate.  Now I am all about savings.  Especially when it's a high dollar purchase (i.e., DISHWASHER).  So tomorrow we will attempt to pull out the old one and put this new one in.  The old one is washing dishes right now.  Dishes we used when we had this mouth-watering grilled chuck roast.  Grilled, you say?  Yep....grilled.  Took the roast, pierced it and inserted slivers of fresh garlic.  Rubbed it with salt and pepper and sprinkled a smattering of Montreal Steak Seasoning.  We put that puppy on the grill, and roasted it - slowly - for about 45 minutes.  On the side burner, we threw a handful of mushrooms, some garlic salt, pepper, a half stick of unsalted butter and a splash of merlot.  They simmered while the roast grilled.  Oh My Gosh was it good.  Add steamed fresh green beans with wedges of russet potatoes on top (steamed with bacon grease in the water)....and you have a meal fit for a KING (or a QUEEN).  My friend brought dessert - a dump cake with peaches and apples - with this awesome cake we had steaming mugs of chocolate cappuccino coffee.  Not bad for a weeknight, eh?