Chicken.

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It takes a while.  I decided to brine the chicken.  Good thing, too.  There was ice inside the cavity.  While the rest of the bird was thawed, the ice would have make the cooking messy.  Anyway, I got that done.  Then dried it.  But, that wasn't enough.  I let it dry longer, then dried it again, inside and out.  Wrapping it in paper towels, I gave it a bit more time to dry more fully.

Finally, it was ready.  I set the oven to heat in time to be ready for when the chicken was ready.  I used a roasting pan, lined with foil, as the base.  Then herbed and spiced the chicken.  Salting inside and out, adding herbs on the outside.  Lots and various herbs.  Rosemary, thyme, white pepper, garlic and onion powders, and others...  Everything that goes well with chicken.  I just... wanted a really flavorful bird.  We'll see.

Then I wrapped the chicken, whole, in more foil, put it in the roaster, and let it go.  Forty minutes, then I opened it.  Letting it roast a bit more, before turning it for a bit more in a bit.  The smell is fantastic.  I hope the chicken tastes as good as it smells.

With the windows still open, and the front door a bit, with a fan going, it is remaining cool enough.  It is just hitting 80 out there, so time is ticking.  But, it's still 72/73 downstairs, inside of course.

I also reset kefir.  But instead of throwing out the storebought milk based kefir, I am keeping it.  Will use it as it cools, and thickens.  I... just want kefir.  Love that stuff, it's been a while, and I can handle the less than quality, mechanically disturbed, milk used in the process... for a short bit.  It's a negotiated settlement, but temporary.  I so miss kefir.

One thing about kefir?  Don't cut better... real... cheeses too close to where the kefir is fermenting.  Those bacteria will get in.  That is what happened to my last batch.  It wasn't... horrible, or toxic.  But, kefir shouldn't taste like stinky cheese.  It... just doesn't work.  On the good side, the kefir grains I stored, frozen, are working very well.  It is taking more like three days, rather than half a day at peak performance and 70 degree type temps, to ferment, the fermentation is beautiful.  Mild, soft, still juicy, like a thinner yogurt.  Love this stuff.

Still... exhausted.  Something seems so wrong this summer.  Then again?  With the means of keep it mostly cooler, I am remembering this summer.  Slow dog days, not getting to things as I would, but alive, awake, aware, planning... even if not successfully processing those goals.  This is still high summer.  That I remember my name, live daily, have real days and nights, sleep pretty well, and am even coming back to a actual day and night schedule?  I... am pulling a miracle, I just... want more.

Have a great day.  Say a prayer.  Add me to it?  Whether as an added grace, or because you think I need more salvation?  I... don't mind.  I do.  I'll take all the help I can get, divine or mortal.  Though, if you just want to put a plug in with me, to the real Big Guy, I'd... always be grateful.  I'd certainly be praying for you.  Directly or not.  Though, if you are reading here?  Probably both.  Amen.