The old gray mare.....

She ain’t what she used to be….at least not today.

Good morning fellow bloggers, I’m one tired pup. The marathon cooking, cleaning, laundry and entertaining has me seeing double today.

I started this ambitious task Tuesday morning. After a few cups of coffee and a load of laundry in the dryer, I washed up and started a pot of sauce. No, I’m not Italian. But I have been married to one for almost 14 years. For those of you unfamiliar with "goomba lingo", it’s the word Italians use for spaghetti without the basta (this is how my in-laws pronounce it) or pasta. But NEVER, EVER say noodles or macaroni. OMG, it’s a cardinal sin for any self-respecting “descendant of the boot” to speak those two words.

Anyhow, the “sauce” wasn’t for dinner it was to be divided into 4 containers an put in the freezer for “Number One Son” to take home. After rolling and baking 24-equal-in-size meatballs, I added them to the sauce during the last cooking hour. In between stirring the sauce I dusted, cleaned the 3 bathrooms and changed the 3 sets of bed sheets. Not to mention grocery shopping for ingredients for the chicken paprikash and fried chicken. After the sauce was in the freezer and those dishes washed, I made a sausage roll. (Phew, I'm tired all over again just recalling Tuesday)

I'm sad to say Nick and I had Burger King for dinner, I know, I’m pathetic. I am however, extremely grateful to be married to a former “momma’s boy” who understands and was once the recipient of such treatment when he was a single man living on his own.

Wednesday I cordoned off the half-bath in an effort to keep it fresh and one less thing I’d have to do Thursday morning. Again, after a few cups of coffee I started laundry, cleaned up and started the chicken paprikash (with tiny dumplings please!). After a trip to the post office I folded the load in the dryer and prepared to freeze four containers of paprikash. Then it was off to work at 2:30. Yes, I did go to work. All the while thinking of the things I could be getting done at home for the impending arrival of Number One Son.

Thursday morning BC, (before Christopher) was relaxing. Just a little straightening and a quick redo of the bathrooms. I’m glad I had energy in reserve, I was going to draw on it all day. Hershey announced their arrival and after kisses and hugs all around the real work would begin. I told Christopher to bring his laundry and I would do it for him. I wasn’t expecting 9 loads of washing, drying and folding. In between prepping for dinner and catering to every Christopher whim.

The dinner consisted of my homemade fried chicken, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn on the cob and glazed carrots. We were going to eat around 4:00 - 4:30, so I had to get everything going around 2:00. We’d be leaving for the game at 6:15pm for a 7pm face off.

My fried chicken recipe, not unlike Colonel Sanders 11 herbs and spices, is not a secret. I’ve tweaked it through the years and the real secret is how one “fries” the chicken. First I combine flour, poultry seasoning, sage, paprika, pepper and a dash of dill. Once your chicken parts are washed with cold water, one simply forgoes the usual egg dredging and rolls the chicken parts in the flour mixture. Arrange your floured chicken on an ungreased cookie sheet.





Now this is the secret to awesome fried chicken, shave thin slices of butter (NO MARGARINE) on top of the floured chicken. Just like I have in the picture above.



The butter, combined with the chicken skin, will cause the flour mixture to bake/fry into a crispy coating that actually stays on the chicken parts. The above photo shows the beginning frying of my breasts.

(That doesn’t sound right, does it….)



And here’s some of the finished product all ready to go in the freezer for a few hours while we’re enjoying the hockey game.

And finally, the first and last picture I was able to snap before my batteries died. Had I waited 3 more seconds I would have had the entire Penguin starting line-up skating around the rink.

Needless to say, I slept like a rock last night. That is after I knew Christopher and LMA made it home safely.

Nope, this old gray mare she ain't like she used to be....