StephanieL

As noted in another thread, tonight's dinner will be kedgeree, with the addition of cauliflower from our backyard. For dessert, double chocolate raspberry pie from a new pie place (their coffee chess pie was excellent).

The wind gusts here are crazy. Lots of local reports of downed trees, as well as at least one downed traffic light.

Can you airlift some here?

Found one place in the Bay Area that sells true finnan haddie (smoked haddock). Ordered it online yesterday to pick up at their warehouse today, with several e-mails confirming such. Arrived at the pickup location, and found out that a large account had been given every single package of finnan haddie, including the one I'd paid for. I don't know if this was a genuine mistake or a "placate-the-client" thing. At least the customer service rep was embarrassed, and gave me a refund plus a credit equal to the original price. Looks like cod is going into tomorrow's kedgeree.

Unless they're planning on offering live music or an after-hours disco, I don't get it either.

At 91.

Though it's not chili weather here right now, N decided we need something big for the week so she made a turkey chili (ground turkey and the meat from a smoked turkey leg) with RG Mayacobas, tomatillos, fresh Anaheim chiles, and a small can of Hatch chiles. Cornbread (not sweet, with corn kernels) on the side.

Going to be a beautiful afternoon for a game here in the Bay Area.

When I travel domestically, I like to get beer from tiny local breweries that I know won’t be available at home, even in my ginormous Total Wine. When I visited PA for Thanksgiving, I picked up two beers from Neshaminy Creek Brewing in Croydon: a collaboration with Rita’s Italian Ice (to have in the summer) and JAWN of the Dead Red Rye IPA. The latter is a copper-red, bitter-but-not-super hoppy IPA that clocks in at 6.5% ABV. Part of the proceeds from the sales go to The George A. Romero Foundation.

Not yet.

Yellow Eye bean and fennel casserole--one of Rancho Gordo's recipes. The fennel came from our garden.

Went with a Bobby Burns rather than a Rob Roy. 1 1/2 oz. blended Scotch (I only had Glenlivet 12 on hand) 1 oz. sweet vermouth 1/3 oz. Benedictine 2 dashes Peychaud's bitters 2 dashes absinthe Stir in a mixing glass with ice and strain into a chilled coupe or Nick & Nora glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon. This was actually a little sweet for me. I might try half-half sweet and dry vermouth if I make this again.

First local Dungeness crab of the season, simply steamed with some melted butter on the side.

Amassing a wine collection large enough to require storage.

Is this when complaining is really bragging?

Wilfrid, when you come to SF there will be many serious cocktail bars at your disposal.

So did I.

The 4th season of All Creatures Great and Small has dropped in the US, so N is in her happy place again.

Made Trieste jota from my new cookbook. This stew shows the Central European influence on the northernmost regions of Italy, and includes beans, sauerkraut, potatoes, and some kind of pork product (smoked pancetta or slab bacon, in this case). I used the RG Good Mother Stallards because of all the potential suitable beans I had, these had the soonest "best by" date. Served with country sourdough bread from a local bakery and JAWN of the Dead Red Rye IPA from Neshaminy Creek Brewery in Pennsylvania.

Damn, Niners-Packers was a real nail-biter. Better than a blowout either way, though.

I bought Judith Barrett's Fagioli: The Bean Cuisine of Italy after realizing that I need to vary my bean repertoire beyond Mexican dishes. Am making a stew recipe from it tonight.

My cookbook Eat Something!, from the folks at Wise Sons Deli, has a "recipe" for prunes marinated in gin. One of the authors swore that his grandmother would have one every morning.

The Bijou. This can be adapted to fit however strong you'd like your drink to be. 1 1/2 parts Plymouth or London dry gin 1/2 part sweet vermouth 1/2 part green Chartreuse 1-2 dashes orange bitters Shake over ice and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry.

I've already been to Sweden and Finland.

Now all you need is a bagpiper and a big guy wielding a dirk.