Friday Food: Blender Sugar

Friday 

Short version: Leftover potato soup, omelets, still-frozen green beans

Long version: I had quite a bit left of the pureed potato soup that I had made the previous day. Some children elected to have just that. Then I made a cheese omelet for A., me, and the one child who dislikes soup. A. had soup with his omelet. The soup-hater had some leftover rice with his.

Saturday

Short version: Sonic for the girls, more omelets for the boys

Long version: Poppy and I had an outing this day to go into town and do a Walmart stock-up. She came with me because one of the mission churches in our parish is an hour away from our house, but right on the way home from the town with the Walmart. Poppy wants to see every church in our parish, and neither of us had been to this one, which only has Mass the second Saturday of the month.

So we went to town, did our errands, had some Sonic for an early dinner, and went to Mass on the way home.

The inside was nicer than the outside, but I don't have a picture of the interior because there were several people already there praying, and I don't like to take pictures of churches in that case.

A. made more omelets for the home crew, because we have a LOT of eggs on hand right now. I think eight dozen.

Sunday

Short version: Mother's Day Frito pie, cheesecake bars with strawberry-rhubarb sauce

Long version: I love Frito pie, but rarely eat it. However, on a day when I feel entitled to something I cook really for me, it seems like a good option. It also has the great benefit of being something that can be made ahead, so I don't have to cook on the actual day. I made the chili on Saturday morning, so on Mother's Day, all I did was re-heat that and chop up all the toppings.

I made the cheesecake bars on Saturday, too, using this recipe. Instead of topping them with berries, though, I cooked rhubarb and strawberries down in the oven while the bars were baking, and then anyone who wanted to could put the fruit sauce on their cheesecake bar.

This person did. I did not, because I don't really like fruit on my desserts.

Edited to add: I didn't have graham crackers for the crust because I never have graham crackers. HOWEVER. I made a "crust" with almonds, pecans, brown and white sugar, and melted butter in the food processor, and that was delicious. Better than a graham cracker crust for sure.

Monday

Short version: Chicken and rice with caramelized onions, asparagus, green peas

Long version: I found one of the roosters we butchered awhile ago in the bottom of the freezer, so I took that out to thaw. I cooked it by simply simmering it until I could pull the meat off. Then I used the meat, plus the stock, to make this recipe, more or less. I needed to use quite a bit more stock to get the rice all the way cooked, and I had to use some balsamic vinegar because I never have white wine on hand, but it's still good.

I remain enamored of the asparagus's bright green color.

Spring in a skillet.

Tuesday

Short version: Tuna patties, mashed potatoes, green salad with vinaigrette, Mexican wedding cookies

Long version: This is a very popular meal with all of my children. I myself fail to see what is so exciting about canned tuna in a patty, but it makes them happy.

Happy plate.

I made a rash promise to one child who was dreading a day of testing that I would make custard for dessert. But then in the end, I didn't want to use so much of my dwindling milk supply for custard. My next thought was Mexican wedding cookies, which are just as beloved as custard. I got the butter all soft and the nuts crushed and chopped, as needed for the recipe, when I remembered I used all my powdered sugar for the First Communion coconut cake .

Boooo.

However! I knew it's possible to make powdered sugar with granulated sugar and cornstarch. I duly looked this up and put the correct proportions of each (1 cup sugar:1 tablespoon cornstarch) into the food processor. After a few minutes of whirling around, it was not really powdery. Still grainy. So then I got out my blender and tried that. Much better, if not quite as fluffy as store-bought powdered sugar.

Blended sugar.

Annoying to have to use two machines, but now I know if I ever have to make it again that the blender is the way to go.

Since I had the food processor out and dirty already, I used it to make the cookies, which came out very well and were very much appreciated by all.

Wednesday

Short version: Leftover chili at home, FFA food out

Long version: I went to the FFA awards dinner, as did the older two boys who are in FFA. It was at the (singular) restaurant in the village. They had a buffet of green chile chicken enchilada casserole, red chile beef enchilada casserole, beans, rice, and homemade flour tortillas. It was so good. Too spicy for me, of course, but that's what sour cream is for.

Thursday

Short version: Lamb steaks, leftover mashed potatoes, asparagus or still-frozen green beans

Long version: Nah.

Refrigerator check:

So many eggs.

Okay, your turn! What'd you eat this week?