Whew! I am exhausted! The sweat has stopped dripping down my scalp and between my upper nether regions, and has now dried to a salty film on my face, and soaked into my foundation garment.
I've been cooking Easter dinner.
Yes, right now it's 11:20 on Thursday night, and I have finally reached a stopping point. No, I'm not such a bad cook that I need to start my Easter dinner four days ahead. We are having our Easter dinner on Friday. That's today! We're probably chowing down as you read this.
Even odder than Easter dinner on Friday is the fact that I am going to all this trouble when the only people at our holiday table will be Farmer H, and Mrs. Hillbilly Mom herself. The #1 Son has to be at his computer screen to do some business with Missouri Boys State on Sunday evening. He works there every summer, and sometimes gives presentations and works at fundraisers throughout the year. He's a giving-back-er. Since it would not be feasible for him to cut short his trip home for Easter dinner, we are meeting him on Saturday to take him out for a meal. Oh, and he made sure that I knew he was perfectly willing to help dispose of some Easter leftovers. Which he named in detail. How could I deny my boy his favorites?
The Pony is not making the trip home because OU already had their spring break (during which he did not come home, either, but we pressed on from Casinopalooza for a visit). If he drove home Saturday, it would take 9 hours. Then after eating dinner on Sunday, he would have to drive 9 hours back. He's not even getting leftovers. However...I mailed him an Easter basket. Make that an Easter box.
My back is in a spasm right now from sitting at my grandma's old kitchen table. I really miss my own kitchen table, which was cheaper, yet more solid, having four legs and not a pedestal, and better for pounding those boiled eggs to get them ready for peeling before deviling...but Farmer H decreed that we were putting Grandma's table in the kitchen, and moved mine to the BARn. Or gave it to some random dude at work. You never know.
Anyhoo...tonight I made Farmer H's chocolate (sugar free) pudding pie. And got the green bean bundles (wrapped in bacon, topped with brown sugar and butter) ready to put in the oven for 45 minutes tomorrow. I shredded romaine, diced green onions, thawed some peas, shredded sharp cheddar, diced bacon that I'd baked on top of yukon gold potatoes and baby carrots and onions with Hidden Valley Ranch powder sprinkled over, and put together my 7-Layer Salad.
Everything is pretty much under control, save for the baking of the ham(s) and green bean bundles and frozen rolls, and the deviling of the eggs.
In fact, by the time you read this, it'll be all over but the eatin'!
HM--It sounds like it was a delicious feast. I hope you and Farmer H have a nice visit with Genius tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteThat's so thoughtful of him to offer to take the left-overs off your hands. And he even is listing the food items, so you don't have to tax your brain too much to ensure there ends up nothing fuzzy and green in the back of your fridge a month later.
He is the thoughtful one--the polar opposite of his younger brother.
Sioux,
ReplyDeleteOf course there's more to the feast story. Tomorrow.
I'll probably have tales from the Leftover Delivery Tour as well!
And speaking of that younger brother...he was planning to go hog wild at a rock swap this afternoon. Always thinking of himself, not really caring about PEOPLE, that one!
I just accepted an invitation from one of my favorite campers for Easter dinner. When I asked what I should bring, I was told to just come eat the food. So, I will! Yours sounds yummy. I love 7 layer salad!! I will probably bake a cake and take it. You can never have too much cake!
ReplyDeleteCan I have a more detailed recipe for that casserole with the Hidden Valley Ranch powder; it sounds good!!
ReplyDeleteKathy,
ReplyDeleteCAKE! Nom-nom! My favorite (showing what a gourmet I am) is the boxed FUNfetti cake. I think it has a coconut flavor. Don't tell me it's actually vanilla! I don't like vanilla much.
I didn't make the Oreo cake, since The Pony was not joining us, and I don't really like it, and Farmer H is not supposed to have it.
***
fishducky,
It's not so much a casserole as a pan full of assorted vegetables. That's the same description the #1 son gave my vegetable beef soup when I made it light on liquid to appease Farmer H and make it easier for him to pile over the edge of the bowl.
Here's how to make the Hidden Valley Ranch veggies, so easy that even Mrs. Hillbilly Mom can do it:
Dump a package of baby carrots into a roaster pan.
Cut three onions in half, then each half into three wedges. (This is a math lesson! It makes 18 wedges all together. I really like onions!) Dump the onion wedges on top of the baby carrots.
Cut some Yukon Gold or other sturdy potatoes into halves or fourths. Just not large pieces, or they take too long to cook. You can use other kinds of potatoes, but russets and Idahos tend to crumble and fall apart when you stir them. Besides, I don't peel the Yukons because they're so thin-skinned. Dump the potatoes on top of the onions.
Drizzle some vegetable oil (or your choice of oil) over the mixture. Sprinkle on about 1/3 to 1/2 packet of Hidden Valley Ranch Dip Mix. Stir a little so the flavorings can seep down toward the carrots.
Cover the top of the potatoes with strips of bacon if you want added flavor. The veggies are perfectly delicious WITHOUT the bacon, too. I've only used the bacon for the last three times I made it, because my men LOVE bacon, and I use it on top of the 7 Layer Salad after it's done.
Put the lid on the roaster pan. Bake at 350 for about 90 minutes, or until the carrots are as done as you like them. (Sometimes it takes longer if my carrots have been in FRIG II.)