Outside the dugout: What's cooking?

Speaking of filet mignon we got a gift certificate from Omaha Steaks for Christmas from a dear old friend. Filet on the way.

I would have preferred filet from our local butcher, but I will not complain.

 

Duck lo mein last night.

I am defrosting some pesto I made awhile back to put on some farfalle (bow tie pasta) for today's supper.

 

The guy I was talking to about installing my new range now tells me he cannot do it. He lost his second person and he cannot get the range up the steps (3) into our house by himself and his insurance will not allow me to assist. If I can get the unit into our kitchen myself he can do it. He does have a floor jack for moving it on flat surfaces.

While I do have a dolly rated to 800 lbs I don't want to enlist the help of a friend to move the unit. Too much risk involved with amateurs wrestling a 350 lb range.

I guess I will ask for recommendations for other installers from him.

 

LOL.

I no longer have a pick-up and no 4-wheeler to load. In fact I don't even own a car. I use my MIL's every once in a while.

I miss having a full sized pick-up and wish that more used "work trucks" were available: bench seat and no AC required. It should have a radio, but no more of a sound system is required. Seems like they are mostly "stepping out" trucks now.

 

Fired up the KJ to cook some chicken thighs with Pat's Ho-Made.

Still have a whole smoked duck for tacos in the fridge.

Lots of frustration with the new stove. I got a quote from a local mover to take it 50 feet horizontal and 3 feet up for $350. That is the "go away" estimate.

 

That is at the high end of bringing it in and connecting.

I have some friends and me could get it in the house and I know how to connect it to code, but my wife doesn't want us to move it in and me connecting it voids the warranty.

This has been the most SNAFU thing I have ever done.

 

Making skirt steak with corn, green beans and pesto for dinner.

 

Here is my current plan for the stove.

I know a local installer that can do everything if the stove is in my kitchen. He just cannot get it up the three stairs into my house.

The stove arrived without the back splash I ordered so I will pester the shipping company (that was supposed to install it) for delivery of the back splash and have them move the stove to my kitchen. That is the very least they can do. And they just emailed me apologies and will "look into it".

 

Friday is my wife's and mine 39th wedding anniversary. I was in my late 20's and she was in her early 20's. Call me a cradle robber.

Working on the menu, but maybe shrimp and grits Charleston style.

We like "bubbly" and love Roederher Brut from France, but their bubbly from Anderson Valley in California is almost as good and a lot cheaper. We once did a blind tasting with friends and everyone preferred the French version, but everyone said not by much.

And if you want a cheap but decent sparkling wine I would suggest Freixenet Brut Cordon Negro, Spanish sparkling wine and very good at its price point.

 

Orecchiette with arugula and hot Italian sausage tonight.

Also bought some baby bok choy and gai lan (Chinese broccoli) at our local Asian market for a Sunday stir fry to go along with other things we already have.

 

It is a great deal for how cheap it is. Now nobody will confuse it with a high end French Champagne or good California versions like Roederher Estate from Anderson Valley or Iron Horse from Sonoma but the California ones are twice the price and the French ones are four or more times the price.

Except I got a Moet brut on sale today. WTF? French champagne on sale the day before New Year's Eve? My lucky day.

And enjoy the anniversary.