A good meal.

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I have had a few meals, but not many.  And few have been well rounded.  Today I got that.  I had bacon which I wanted to fry in bulk.  Mostly because it was purchased in bulk.  Have you ever seen a deal that was far too good to be true, but your eyes insisted?  Well, that was the bacon.

I had been buying bacon parts and remnants.  Which was good.  Took more attention, when frying or else.  It also was in bulk, three pounds.  But, before, it would last until I finished it, if sealed and else.  The last two or three times, not so much.  It smelled off as soon as I opened the package.  I stopped doing that, dumped what stock I had after three misses.

This, however, was regular bacon.  Not just regular bacon, it was thick cut, beautiful, bacon.  Whole, long, pieces.  They hadn't trimmed to cut pennies.  And, it was three pounds.  I looked it over, looked at the ingredients, looked for every flaw possible.  The problem?  It was being offered at $10.  Usually, now, twelve ounces of the good stuff can easily cost that.  And... this... looked better than most bacon I have seen in some time.  So... I... doubted.

Doubted or not, my eyes told me to shut up and buy.  I told it to bugger off.  It told me, in that case, to buy two!  I thought to say something else, but didn't want to buy three.  Two it was.  One is in the freezer.  With the ducks, mom, and else, it has sat in the fridge for... a while.  Well, and I doubted.  Today was the day.

I baked, actually, the whole lot.  First, I smelled it when I opened the package.  I have learned, from the other bacon, that if it smells funny cold, it will stink up the house something awful while being cooked.  But it smelled... sweet.  Not the common euphemism, nor literally, but rightly.  A very nice smelling bacon.  As it should be.  Mild, even.

So, in it went.  I lined a sided cookie sheet with foil, set the oven at 350, and let it rip.  It smelled very good while baking.  Tasting a piece nearly right out of the oven, it tasted good.  Still not sure, I had some, later in the process, when it was cold.  No, this really is exceptional quality bacon.  Not too smoky, salty, not bad, or off, and so it was.

I used two pieces, diced, as the beginning of a shirred egg(s) gig.  Broccoli, bacon dices, a diced piece of munster cheese, two deli meat cuts sliced julienne, a few light spices, and twenty five minutes in the oven.  Having difficulty getting the whites to set and keep the yolks from getting too tacky.  I may separate the yolks and whites, and add the yolks for the last ten to fifteen minutes?  Maybe.  I like a runnier yolk, and a more firm egg white, than I am getting as is.  Still, I am sure it is done, but texturally it isn't... satisfying.  I really am pleased to have those au gratin dishes.  Perfect for about three to four eggs and else.

I ordered one last thing, maybe, for the month.  An air fryer.  Between my research, wants, and reviews from various sources, this brank was given good reviews.  It fits the bill.  Can't find one with everything I want, but I can find those with more or fewer items on my want list.

I wanted a non-digital one.  I found one, in the size and brand I was otherwise seeking.  I just knew it would cost a fortune, more than the other, just because that is how it often works.  Strangely, it was actually priced according to costs... meaning less, a lot less.  It was about two thirds the cost of the digital.  I think, with the other one, you could program your presets.  I'm not sure this one will do that, though I don't use presets on much else I have... Microwave, instapot, oven(?), toaster oven... I just don't use presets.  Though, if it was programmable?  I really might.  For very specific meals.  Perhaps even the shirred eggs.

Why buy all these tools and gadgets?  Because, especially for me, one might prove easier, or better, to cook a specific food or process.  I really need to eat, and I'm not doing that much better than I am taking medicine.  It... isn't to be fussy, or this, or that.  I just... can't remember!  I... I am tired.  So, having a few things around, which might allow me to eat, and possibly better than how I would otherwise?  I'm trying to not die, people.  Perhaps I should just give in, up, and let go.  But... I... won't.  I can't.  I feel that, as tough as it is, that God gave me this task until He decides otherwise.  So I will do my job.  The one thing I have left, until it is time or someone decides to fix the problem, on way or another.

Anyway.  It was a decent meal.  I now need to shower, then get trash out... maybe recycling.  Feeding and watering the critters after those things.  Though, a bit of time to get food settled.  It was a small meal, but felt like a feast.  It's... been a while since I have eaten much, or so it seems.  Later.