The Chateau Diaries #196 Nothing ever gets finished and often never even started

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I am hoping…that the plant hire company LOXAM is also in France. Otherwise this 15 ton cherry picker has come from the uk…surely not.
My French is not good enough to search to see if it is a possible to hire from this company near Jarvis!?
Not to worry, we’re a diverse bunch. Here it is, though it is in French. My translator was uncooperative.

 
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My aunt Martha used to make something she called Turkey Glacé -- layered turkey, gravy, stuffing and a generous coating of cranberry sauce, baked. Shepherd's pie, exactly, super delicious.
Ooh! This is giving me ideas of a wind up of my brother in law (Gordon Ramsay Mk2).
Whether or not to mention at Christmas dinner that he uses the leftovers to make a kind of Shepherds pie or shall I wait and serve it up to him when it's my turn to cook....
Decisions decisions
 
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https://giphy.com/kaq6GnxDlJaBq View attachment 1760855

Stop the press! I can't believe he's doing... an original drawing!
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On sale starting Monday, November 28? That’s cutting it pretty close for anyone wanting to mail Christmas cards. But, that’s typical for Michael…waiting to the last minute. I mean, he’s had all year to put together Christmas cards to sell. It’s not like he was working on a lot of videos or anything like that! Anyone who orders those cards is taking a risk to get them in time to send out…he has to print them, package them, and then mail them…so I’d say it’s at least a week turnaround time, minimum, to receive an order. Once again, a missed opportunity.
 
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Order now for next year.
 
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Only thing missing is the broken down car up on blocks out front!
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The busted old Jaguar was in the open hangar / Patreon dining room for years covered in peacock poop. Where is it now? Probably pulled over to Selmar’s wooded camper area or perhaps pushed into the partially dug hole of the natural swimming pond or maybe I’ve just figured out why no one is allowed in the chapel anymore. Out of sight out of mind.
 
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I think people are trying new things for their celebration. Just reading about some new vegetarians who managed to keep a lot of the white trash carb cookin' overload and June-Cleaver-cheese-for-fancy on their menu. Which sounds delicious:

Chipotle Mac and Cheese
Broccoli Cheddar Bake
Sichuan Blistered Green Beans
Low Country Field Peas and Rice
Stir Fried New Potatoes with Hot and Numbing Korean Spice
Stuffing
Mom's Apple Pie


Noticed a trend on lattice pies, to make the lattice strips two or three inches wide, so that three will cover your contents. Nice and modern looking, plenty o crust and far less labor.

My ideal menu remains the very pared down one my mother conjured up when she went on strike at age 80. She said, I've cooked two gigantic holiday meals a year for the last 60 years and I ain'ta gonta do it no moar. And, there will be no goddam vegetables.
Her two menus, of which we did all the cooking:

Roast Duck
Scalloped Oysters
Fresh Fruit Salad with Cooked Mustard, and Orange Zest Dressing*
Maida Heatter's Lemon Custard Tart

Roast Pork

Country Style Paté
Fresh Fruit Ditto*
Lemon Custard Ditto


She loved that pie. She'd condescend to stew down the duck carcass into a superlative soup.

And we'd do the traditional food we couldn't live without intermittently during autumn and winter -- her sweet potato casserole flavored with orange juice concentrate and a minimum of sugar; creamed onions; Brussels sprouts vinaigrette with roasted red peppers; stuffing and a big homemade giblet gravy, like quarts. Parsnips. Salsify if we could find it. Celeriac, etc.. For Christmas breakfast, an apricot compote with cranberries, and fresh grapefruit and orange segments; tangerine/cranberry juice; overnight cheese strata; oven bacon spirals. Apple pie with cheddar, if you please. Punkin pie.

And celery. I love celery. It's scrumptious raw and scrumptious in this delicious Jane Grigson soup. To die for with her equally delicious Burgundy walnut bread, from her immortal book, Good Things.

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** Mustard Fruits
Serves 10.
I melon, seeded, peeled and cut into bite-sized triangles
1 orange, seeded, peeled, quartered and cut into fan shapes
1 Golden Delicious apple, cored and cut into bite-sized wedges
1 cup grapes
1 red apple, cored and cut into bite-sized wedges
1 cup cherries
Mustard Sauce
1/2 c loosely packed dill sprigs
Combine fruit and Mustard Sauce in a large bowl, mix to coat all fruit. Refrigerate until ready to serve (can be made 1 day ahead). Before serving, garnish with dill.
Mustard Sauce
1/4 c dry mustard
1/2 c water
Zest of one orange, finely julienned
1/2 c cider vinegar
1/2 c sugar
1/2 t salt
Juice of one orange, strained
Mix mustard and water together in a bowl, stirring until smooth. Set aside for at least one hour (no lie, don’t fail to do this). Combine zest, vinegar, sugar, salt and orange juice in a saucepan and boil for about 5 minutes. Add mustard to the syrup and stir while cooking until the sauce is thick and smooth. Remove from the heat, cool and refrigerate.
 
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He's turning her into his grandmother... "You need your coat" He's creating a dependence on him..
 
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Just have to ask, but, does any family in the USA really serve up sweet potatoes with mashmallows these days? TBH, just why would that combination have ever been added to any menu?
Yes, they do! Every single year- it's tradition! I always eat some to be polite, but yeah, it's a bit much. It, along with the green bean casserole, are two dishes I could forego. Mr. T Rex isn't a fan, and doesn't even go near them or stuffing. Don't get me wrong- I love Thanksgiving for the gathering of friends and family at a large table, but there is always far too much food and leftovers!
 
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Jun 28, 2022
Michelle Bennett
3 hours agoYou can now reuse all the bubble wrap and boxes from cadeau for the shop! Then people will be able to take their treasures home safely.



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Sweet Baby J
3 hours ago
Definitely keep for the chateau store. Lugging those beautiful breakable pieces home, I’m going to need all the help I can


@Madame de Pompanddoodoo Fret ye not Sweet Baby J Your mates from Tattle!and will give you a hand.


I‘d figured you out back in June which is strange for me as I’m not usually very astute.
 
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Congratulations on your VIPness, @Beachgirl!!!
Since us Yankees are still kind of waddling around after Thanksgiving, your very special fish shack shin dig shall take place next week. Fish shack just outside the entrance of the VIP lounge, and to the left, bien sur. Sort of going for an Irish Sea/Goan beach rave trance dance vibe.

Irish Gewurtztraminer
Miller Lite, Kingfisher Beer
Grandmama's Receipt
Cashew Feni Punch

Goan Portuguese Linguiça Sausage Rolls
Goan Mango Chutney

Goan Fish Curry with Pollock, Coconut Milk, Chili, and Warming Masala Spice
Basmati Rice with Cilantro
Steven Reichlen’s Florida Slaw with Mango, Starfruit and Scotch Bonnet
Steven Reichlen’s Guava Cheesecake
Massado, Egg Flip Coffee with Brandy

Get out your tie-dyed sarongs and glow-in-the-dark lotus ear jackets, bitchaaz.
 
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My mom was determined not to be like her mom (stayed home, cooked all meals from scratch) and wanted all the convenience items. I grew up on Cream of Mushroom soup and Velveeta, lol. And, I agree - massive marketing for these convenience items at that time.

And, my brother and I would FIGHT over the marshmallows on top of the disgusting sweet potatoes. I now love them but as a kid just wanted the toasted marshmallows. As a young, married cook I will admit that I made the things I grew up with. Green Bean Casserole, Velveeta Dip, Marshmallow Sweet Potatoes. As an experienced cook, it pains me that my family still wants those things. When I change/make it healthier they don't eat it as well. Sigh!
 
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Wasn’t she wearing one of those puffer vests while sitting on her bed saying she had a cold?
 
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