More work even now.

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Every time I thought I was about done, there was something else.  I have transferred the remaining half gallon of soup to a jar and stored that.  Even then I have another pretty large bowl to eat.  More, I cooled the liquid stock.  I kept it in the freezer for quite some time thinking a thicker skin of fat would appear.  It did not.  I only ever had, perhaps, an eight of an inch of fat.  Finally I gave up, skimmed that off, then set the pot to heat again.  My goal isn't, this time, to work toward pocket soup.  I aim to reduce by four, so that four quarts, for example, would fit in one quart.  How to freeze it though?  Ice cube trays, I suppose.  But those are so small.  Several ladies and gents out there suggested using silicone cupcake molds.  I concur, if I have none of those... yet.  Yeah, I put them in the basket.  I am thinking those would be just about perfect.  A heavy reduction would make one of those about perfect for, say, a four large-man portion of chicken soup... or as a strong additive to some sort of gravy.  Each "cupcake" would produce four times it's size, plus, when hydrated... or be a very strong flavor for a smaller recipe.  Yeah, it works.

Of course, after it all, are dishes.  Some of those were rinsed, and put in with the regular dishes, the bigger pots and pans, other than what is being used to reduce the stock, are in a hot soak on their own.  Too big to fin with the rest.  I am having trouble keeping up.  And yet I am doing my best.  If you leave meat, stock, or other out too long, it can go bad quickly and be quite a... disappointment.  All that work having to be flushed.  I really don't want that.

While stuffed sole might be next on my entree menu, sometime this week, maybe not until Friday honestly, I have other things on my mind.  One is chocolate chip cookies.  Oh, hush, even diabetic/pre-diabetic ogres get a treat once in a while.  I don't have brown sugar.  I hate brown sugar.  Not because of flavor, or this, or that... because it goes bad too quickly.  I don't care what they say, at some point, and it isn't very long, the stuff goes stiff and that isn't fixable.  However, in doing a bit of research, I found a very pleasant surprise.  Turbinado is a one for one replacement.  I prefer turbinado sugar anyway... slightly less processed.  And, yes, I do have some of that.  The other thing is beef stock and egg noodles.  No, not really soon.  Perhaps within the next few weeks.  I found recipes for all of those things that I am satisfied, on a good day, I might be able to make.

More?  I am thinking that, with things like the noodles, on a "fresh" day, when life is good, if I have my dietary needs met, that would be a great day to make, say, a triple batch of the stuff, dry it, dry it some more, dry it even a bit more, than bag tag and freeze it.  Same with stocks, stews, and such.  Simply make all or parts of this or that, freeze portions for in batch sizes, and... on some not so future day, pull it all out, assemble, right into smooth sailing.  We'll see.

I didn't do what I had hoped to do today.  Busy with the soup, still a bit down from illness, napping from time to time out of need.  I didn't really have too much of a choice.  I am, however, hoping to get things together and be to the breakfast tomorrow, to help out.  If I can stay on into the afternoon, to help them finish up, I will.  If I can only help with cooking, so be it.  I like working with them, I like helping, I like being near church, I like being useful.  Feeling something is one thing, being something is totally different.  I am guessing, as I learn more and do more in the kitchen, I will become more helpful too them.  Just a fringe benefit.  I best figure out something along the way of wardrobe though.  I never did get my proper slacks in, though my cords should be well set.  I may go with just a standard shirt.  I do need to find shoes though.  Bleh.

Oh, I best finish off the dishes so as to get a shower in.  Needed, though mostly from cooking.  Wanted, always, though.  Required for church, either way.  Later, most likely.




Take your pick.  I'm stuck with what lies before and behind me, mostly.  I suppose I made my choices.  Though, given certain gifts, choices are slim.