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I'm still having the Blog Reading List Issue-I have to click each blog to find their latest, so if I miss reading or commenting, it's because I didn't find you soon enough. I'll get caught up, but as still looking for a fix. Doing my blog reading this way though has me clicking on blogs that I haven't read for a while and got me wondering if some without recent posts have 1) stopped blogging, 2) are taking a long break, or 3) started a new blog and I never fund it. If anyone knows if Jane at Life Begins at Retirement, or Sue at You Can call Me Sue are still blogging, let me know.
Watching the Olympics, while I know some athletes end up with sponsorships and big endorsements, most competitors fund their own training. How do they do this? I can't imagine having a full time job, and training enough in any sport to be one of the best in your country, and the world. While many are still college student and their training is there, many are nearing or past 30?. How much does a pro Volleyball player make? How much practice does fencing take and how are your living expenses paid for? I'm baffled by all of this.
For those of you who are prolific gardeners, what are you doing with all your surplus? Do you freeze or preserve in different ways? Do your friends and family devour everything you grow? I can't imagine I'd ever have to figure this out for myself as I can't even grow zinnias let alone delicious produce. I am in awe of you good gardeners eating from your own gardens year round. It has to be mighty satisfying in the dead of winter pulling flash frozen green bens out of the freezer or making spaghetti sauce from tomatoes you grew and then canned yourself.
Last night at dinner, I had a baked potato with my meal. Why do restaurant baked potatoes taste so much better than when I make them at home? Even when I do the whole rub with oil and a little salt after poking the holes, they are good, but not the fluffy gorgeous potatoes in restaurants. Anyone have any other tips, pass them on. Having a baked potato in a restaurant is one of my simple pleasures.
And speaking of said dinner, the restaurant was under staffed as are mot these days, but it was an enjoyable night-we were in no hurry and the food was good. My sister and her husband though were pretty antsy that the bill didn't come quickly after the meal. My sister still had 1/2 a pour of her wine and he was itching to leave. I think when people go out to eat as often as others do, eating out becomes just a transaction and not an event. I was happy to linger and talk with others, take my time with my drink. When we were in Europe, particularly France, we noticed we didn't get the check until we signaled the server that we were ready for it. No rushing to turn over tables. While we went out twice over the weekend, it'll likely be a few more weeks before we do so again, taking DD2 out before sending her back to school to a place of her choice, but knowing her, that could be Jimmy Johns or Chipotle, LOL. What are your thoughts on eating out? Do you prefer to linger over your meal out, or order, eat, drink, and leave? Do you find the level of enjoyment goes up if you eat out sparingly or is it a joy regardless of the frequency?
These and other questions are in my head this week. I sometimes go down rabbit holes trying to find answers to things that are not important, but nag in my head for some reason. I think it is good to be curious about things, but not irrationally curious. Any things noodling in your brains these days? Do you have any thoughts on my pondersings?
When our kids were younger we used to eat out quite a lot because I was just so tired when I got home (add in a 90 minute commute each way on top of F/T work). BUT I found that none of us particularly enjoyed it after a while. It was just a way to eat. Oh I did cook but for a while we certainly ate out far too much. So we stopped, and I think we all enjoyed it so much more. As for getting the bill immediately, that always shocked me. Here you get the bill when you ask for it and not before. There really isn't that feeling of turning over tables, and yes I do like to linger when I get the chance!
ReplyDeleteFor as busy as it was, she did a good job with our large table. They likely would not have had another seating after us anyway.
DeleteI often start my day with coffee while I read various blogs. It's my way of keeping an ear to the ground and keeping me current. I haven't watched one minute of the Olympics. I am in awe of the discipline of athletes who compete at that level. I have always gardened and was raised on food that was grown in the garden or foraged in the area. I often think of how hard my mom worked to provide us with such good food. There was a cellar in the kitchen that stored root vegetables and a cellar in the living room with shelves lined with preserved fruits and vegetables. I can/freeze beans, peas, carrots, kale, chard, zucchini, etc. I also preserve tomatoes and fruit (raspberries this week thanks to the generosity of friends). I'm anticipating the salsa with the black beans and corn that has become the favorite recipe. It seems that any food prepared by someone else tastes better. I can't comment on the baked potato but I have got a garlic mashed potato replicated in my own kitchen. I don't eat out very often. Eating out is an elevated experience for me for the most part. I went to a restaurant last week, the first time in >16 months, a real treat. And like all meals, part of the experience is the company the food is shared with.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the meal out should also be with people you want to enjoy the experience with. I love your telling of your mom's canning and root vegetables.
DeleteOur garden has done well this year. I have been drying basil, thyme, two different oreganos, thai basil and rosemary. I always make about 24 cubes of pesto for the freezer to get through the winter. Berries I usually freeze in one cup servings. I blanche corn, tomatoes and beans for the freezer. All varieties of peppers will dry or freeze well. I have made numerous jars of pickles from the cucumbers and jalapenos. So far, I've made 4 jars of jalapeno pepper jelly. There is nothing like enjoying a bit of summer in the dead of winter. Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteThat will be a nice collection of things in the deep of winter. I'll be making jalapeno jelly too.
DeleteHello Sam, That's why I prefer having people over for dinner, or going to their place if they invite me. Even before covid, it is increasingly difficult to find common time to meet with friends, and I want it to be relaxed, with no time limit and no one snatching plates away.
ReplyDelete--Jim
I do enjoy having people for dinner-and yes, no rushing. It can be a lot of work though so eating out has that joy for me.
DeleteFunny you should mention restaurants! I actually went out to eat again yesterday, with my husband and youngest. That is twice in three days, and I typically go maybe once every two months. I stopped going out because I didn't enjoy it--the time to get to the restaurant, the cost, the food, and, no matter where we went, unless we sat in the bar, ALWAYS loud, obnoxious, whining children. I would often find myself getting antsy after I finished, while I waited for others. I think you hit the nail on the head--if you go too often, it's a transaction, not an event. I really enjoyed yesterday's early dinner until about halfway in. We went at 3 p.m., and sat outside. While I enjoyed the meal (it was delicious) and company, I also wanted a glass of wine, but couldn't bring myself to spend $9.00/glass for something I know cost about $7.00/bottle. We went to the golf course restaurant during happy hour. I was hoping it would be mostly adults at that time. We sat in an outside area, very near the bar, (son is 16, can't eat in the bar) in the hopes of avoiding anybody with small kids. No such luck. Halfway through our meal a table near us was seated with a girl, about 6. I thought it would be safe, because she was quiet, slouched in her chair, looking at a device. But, soon after, she pulled out a jar of stuff like slime, designed to make rude noises as you squish it. The first time I heard it I turned sharply, and realized what it was. The parents let her do this for the remainder of our meal, in spite of me not being the only patron who was clearly disturbed. Have I mentioned I despise other people's kids? My kids weren't even allowed children's menus and crayons when they went out to eat. We told them that if you are old enough to go out to eat, you are old enough to order from the regular menu, and sit and converse with the adults at the table. If you want to color while you eat chicken nuggets, you can stay home and do that at your own kitchen table. Anyway, I was furious. As my son said, "Man, I really want to schmack that stuff out of that kid's hands." At that, a couple walking past our table as they left leaned in as they passed us and said, "It's the parents who need the schmack!"
ReplyDeleteWhen we got home, we headed to our patio where I had my wine, husband a beer. Shortly after, our tenants swung by to drop off a check. They joined us for about 1.5 hours--he had a beer, she and I chatted. It was lovely. I'm not going to eat out for quite some time!
Well, per my profession, I clearly don't dislike other peoples children, but I do say it is nicer to go out without children around in my opinion. I never had the rules you had, but did have well behaved children in restaurants. We were once complimented when my kids were perhaps 4 and 6 how well mannered they were.
DeleteI often sit around and wonder things, too. Maybe the potatoes are better because someone bakes them and brings the potato to you. ??? Most of the time, I like to linger after eating. Once, I went with friends to a nice restaurant and we ate and some drank. I had a few friends who were drunks and were the most fun people, never a foul word or any fighting words. Well, they decided we would all sing things like Amazing Grace. We stayed about three hours after we finished eating. The drunks were drinking and the rest of us had cokes. No one suggested we leave to free up tables. The guys tipped well the whole time. I think it is the most fun I have had at dinner, but we did not want to leave. At other times, I have felt so ill, I just wanted food and to go home. Okay, maybe I said too much!
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love the taste of soup made with tomatoes I have canned and vegetables I have frozen. Canned tomatoes are the touch of summer that I love in the winter.
That might be why the potatoes are so good-but htey are fluffier, even than when I splurge on the big bakers.
DeleteI can't believe the waiting staff bring the bill before its been requested, I can't remember the two days I spent in the USA very well but it doesn't happpen elsewhere in the world (unless we're in a canteen in India!) although I've only eaten out once in the last 17 months so manybe things have changed!
ReplyDeleteWe've always grown bits and pieces, sometimes it's just herbs, blackberries & apples, other times it's all manner of stuff - I won't even begin to bore you with the list. It's great fun and so rewarding to eat whet you've grown! xxx
The servers will do a final check it seems, and if no one orders dessert or another drink, the bill gets set down, just how it is. Pubs are a bit different, which we tend to go to more. The chain restaurants are the worst offenders as I think they are trained to try and turn over every hour and even have food runners to expedite the process.
DeleteI love baked potatoes. I don't know how restaurants make them so fluffy though. If you find out, please let us know.
ReplyDeleteI've been going over my blogger r4ading list too.
I can't figure out the potatoes! I wish the blog reader thing would be resolved.
DeleteI've been watching the Olympics, and I don't know how they afford the years of training. Some of the stories have been inspiring though, like Suni's father building the beam for her. What an amazing family. And it is good hearing of the kindness from many of the athletes, does my heart good. :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you were able to enjoy time with family. We went out to eat in a restaurant last month for my son' birthday and again for my birthday. I think it had been 1 1/2 years since we had eaten in a restaurant, and it was so nice. We had done takeout, but the food isn't as good once it is in a box and driven home.
Sadly, I doubt if we will be eating out much with the cases increasing everywhere.
Hope you have a good week.
After we were both vaccinated, we had a meal in a reaturna, but I was not easy about it because we weren't' two week spast. My SIL made the arrangements for a sort of wedding shower for nephew-of course she made sure it was two weeks past their vaccines. Annoying.
DeleteThere must be some secret for baked potatoes because we got takeout at a local church with bbq chicken and baked potatoes was the side. It was way better than what I make at home. I thought they may have kept them warm in a crockpot but I only make one for dinner usually so that hasn't happened.
ReplyDeleteI'll even splurge on the really specific baking potatoes, but still not as good. I'll just consider it my restaurant treat.
DeleteThis summer I tried making my baked potatoes in the crock pot. I needed 8 of them, and didn't want to turn the oven on for only potatoes. Did the olive oil and salt, wrapped in foil, and put in the crockpot for about 8 hours on high. They were amazing!!!!! Everyone asked how they got so fluffy. Now, it could have been a fluke....I haven't tried it again. They were just from a 5 lb bag of Russets from Piggly Wiggly!! chris
DeleteI know a couple of former Olympians (gymnast & track/field). The amount of dedication, time & money they put into their respective sports are crazy nuts. Both of them work normal jobs now, and look back fondly on their achievements, but they are certainly not professional athletes in their 30s/40s.
ReplyDeleteI was out of town for a few days, and the zucchini & cucumbers have gone wild. I'm now way behind on using them up! Need a plan for the weekend.
Good luck with your plan. I suppose some athletes earn enough that they live off their earnings on their earnings, but at some point have to move on to other things.
DeleteI love eating out - it's a pleasure for me, and I always interact with our servers and chat with people. Sometimes I want to just eat and go, but even then, I'm chatty. You do have to kind of judge the establishment for lingering - if it's a hopping Friday night, you should pay and move on and free up your table.
ReplyDeleteHope your weekend was fun, Sam!
I agree people shouldn't interrupt normal flow of a restaurant by abusing space, but also a restaurant shouldn't rush. this was a case of the table wasn't going to be turne dover and my linger for a change.
DeleteReally pleased to have stumbled across your blog today!
ReplyDeleteI definitely think that eating out less means I enjoy it more. Same with takeaway - it becomes something to really savour rather than just a means to an end.
We do take out a bit too often-same meh reaction after a while. Thank you for stopping by. I hope you'll come back!
DeleteWe have a couple of restaurants that we went to (pre-covid) where we liked to linger. We would always inform the waiter that we would be taking our time, but we would also double tip because the waitstaff counts on their tips for their livelihood. Amazingly you don't have to double tip but once for a server. The next time you are there they will do anything to get you in their station.
ReplyDeleteWe're good tippers as well. My husbands family, not so much, and they are the worst for wanting to over stay and not have any eye for what is going on.
DeleteMy sis and I went to myrtle Beach for a long weekend 2 weeks ago- we went out for dinner once- 5 of us and cocktails- 1 for me, 2 for both my sisters. Nephew was designated driver. Bill $250. Was it worth it? NO! Sis paid and I treated us Saturday night- fried foods including oysters, shrimp and onion rings- 2 orders of cole slaw- $140. Worth it? NO! I doubt if I'm eating out soon again especially with the Covid variant overwhelming us in Florida. If our trip had been planned for this weekend, we would have cancelled. Please be careful out there!
ReplyDeleteI see there are now line us for the vaccine in smoe places in Florida. I hope that means something positive. $50 a person dinner and drinks is about average I guess, but a lot of money t spend when that can be groceries for a week!
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