Hello Blog Friends!
This may prove to be a short post since, after dodging it for 6 years, I have finally succumbed to COVID!
Unfortunately, my friend, Anna, inadvertently, must have picked it up on the train from Halifax. She was not well for a few days after they arrived but we just thought it was a nasty virus. I started to feel ill about three days after they came but pushed on because there was so much going on. Last Sunday, I finally got hold of a test kit and tested POSTIVE (AGH!!)
I have not dramatically taken to my bed and continue to put in my daily office hours but the most annoying symptom is that I cannot taste or smell, which, as a foodie, really freaks me out!
I do hope you enjoyed the Day Camps Wrap-up blog post, that was finally published this past Wednesday. It was challenging prying photos out of people in various communities, but I think we ended up with a pretty good selection.
Since our DC meeting on Sept.2nd, I have made progress in some areas, although a Speaker for the October Team Gathering is proving to be WAY more elusive than usual and no one has yet been found, the quest continues.
Meanwhile, nailing down the Cook-Along Chefs has been more successful and I think they are now lined up for the three episodes of Season 10. Also, we now have an excellent MC in place for Carols & Cocoa, for the present, I’ll keep that person as a surprise!
Outside of office hours every spare moment has been taken up with sewing the four clergy shirts I agreed to make for the postulant, whom I mentor, and who is to be ordained to the Diaconate, tomorrow afternoon. Today I’m sewing on the buttons, praise the Lord and will be very glad to hand them over to Alex!!!
There has not been much else happening, although I’ve done quite a bit of knitting on my chunky autumn cardigan. This morning I did a small Bake and the rest of the days looks as if it will be listening to podcasts while sewing on a total of 32 buttons!!!
Meals for the past 10 days have largely consisted of large bowls of soup (as I write this there is a GIANT pot of chicken broth simmering on my stove!) On e of my favourite late summer recipes is this corn chowder, made with fresh ears of corn. Highly recommended….
Summer Corn Chowder
- 6 ears of fresh corn
- 6 strips of bacon
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 medium jalepeño, seeded and finely chopped
- ¼ cup finely shredded lovage leaves
- 3 medium tomatoes, chopped
- 4 small potatoes, cubed
- 1 tsp. salt ½ tsp, ground allspice
- Pinch sugar
- 1 small bay leaf
- 1 cup whipping cream
- 2 cups whole milk
Black pepper and chopped parsley for garnish With a sharp knife, over a bowl, cut the kernels off the cobs to about half depth. With the back of the knife, do over the cob again, releasing as much “milk” as possible. Set aside. In a large pot, fry the bacon until starting to crisp, then stir in the onion and cook until golden. Add the jalepeño and lavage leaves and cook until slightly softened. Add the tomatoes, potatoes, salt, allspice,sugar, bay leaf and the bowl of corn kernels and stir until it starts to sizzle. Reduce the heat, add ½cup water, cover and cook until the potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes. Add the milk and cream and just bring to a boil then remove from heat, season and garnish with parsley. Serves 4-6