today's basket

My computer will crash soon

I always keep a windows solitaire window open on my laptop and play it at odd times during the day. I play Vegas 1 card at a time, cumulative scoring. When I get more than $500 in the hole, I start again at $0. Right now I'm up $724. Historically, if I get ahead, my computer usually decides it's time to crash. (This ASUS has a short in the mother board that randomly sometimes gives me the Windows error screen and reboots when I plug in or unplug the power.)

I don't ever remember being more than $500 ahead so I am sure a crash will happen momentarily.

---

howeird reported that the Hobbit Hole special menu breakfast currently at Denny's was good. So this morning, after my swim class, I went to Denny's. howeird totally undersold this meal. It was fabulous. It was so fabulous, I might even go back tomorrow. If not tomorrow then one day next week. There was also a grilled turkey sandwich which looked excellent.

---

I made a couple of grocery stops. A few years ago, during the holiday season, Ocean Spray offered their cranberry jelly in small (2-3 serving) cans. I used up my last one about a month ago, at the time thinking that I could easily get more since the season was upon us... But, alas, all everyone has is giant, family sized cans. So, I'm now on the hunt.

---

No plans for the rest of the weekend. There's a giant soccer playoff game here tomorrow evening so if I do decided to do anything that requires the car, I will need to finish it off before about 2ish tomorrow. Otherwise, whatever happens happens. I have my usual knitting, TV and book. I'm good.

Score cubed

I remembered one place that might have small cans of cranberry jelly and figured I might as well go check today so I did and SCORE! It's a small little market but is also the only place in town that has Tates cookies (which if you haven't tried and can find, you really should). BUT, they ran out of Tates several months ago. I found the assistant manager and gave him my card and asked him please, please, please to reorder and let me know.

He, apparently, reordered and totally forgot about letting me know. No worries. I got three bags - they freeze beautifully. Plus cans of cranberry jelly.

---

One thing on my list - not critical - was hamburger meat. You know, the old fashioned ground beef with lots of fat in it that costs $2 a pound or less if it's on sale?

Well, turns out, I've been in my wayback machine.

Three stores today did not even have any ground beef with a decent amount of fat in it. And Holy CRAP on a stick, $6 a pound for hamburger??????

Finally, at my little market that has Tates and small cans, I found ground beef with 23% fat - close enough. It was $4 a pound but by that time I was just glad to know that hamburger hadn't followed Twinkies into the Land Of Food That Was.

---

I put all my glasses and all my flatware in the dishwasher. And turned it on. Half of my dirty clothes are cleaned and in the dryer and the other half are in the washer.

I feel accomplished.

In the oven now

thin sliced potato
thin sliced onion
shredded swiss/gruyère mix (from Trader Joes)
heavy cream

Layer potato slices, onion and cheese. I used about about 4 potato slices to 1 onion slice. Top with ground pepper and a little heavy cream.

I'm baking now for about 30 mins at 400 degrees... I have no clue how this will turn out. It's a kluge of something I saw on TV and my imagination.

I made two of these. I plan to freeze the other one, unbaked. We shall see...

Potato verdict

I think it might can use some more cheese - especially on top. And it needs more cook time.

I think the next batch is going to get an hour at 3:50 and I'll add more cheese for the last 15-20 mins.

But it was darned good. I think I'm on to something excellent here.