As usual, my life is feast or famine, I am doing little or going 900 miles per hour. So, my blog suffers. the real estate market is starting to move a tiny bit and that is a wonderful thing. If you are looking in Zellwood, Apopka, Mt Dora etc. let me know!
I saw this wonderful UTube video of our own Mt Dora, FL and wanted to share. I hope the makers of the video don’t mind, it is really well done and shows a lot of Mt Dora, which is 20 minutes from Zellwood.
I have lived in Central Florida (Apopka / Zellwood most of my life and did not know a lot of the interesting things in this video. We shop and eat in Mt Dora regularly so I can attest to the great food. We were actually just at the Abbey Sunday. Yummy food is truth!!
And we went to a place in Mt Dora today that was amazing. Tonys on Donnelly Street. I have posted the info and menu below. Their specialty is Clam Chowder, and I have to tell you I am not a huge fan of clam chowder. It is ok but I don’t seek it out. When we got there, we were waiting outside for others to join us and the server came out and asked if we wanted to eat inside or a table outside. Remember, it’s Florida so we can eat outside in January with 80-degree weather. She was very friendly and accommodating. When we told her we had never been there before, she brought out table small samples of their famous clam chowder to taste. And it was fantastic. I ordered a cup of soup and crab cakes. When I was done with the soup, I wasn’t hungry for the crab cakes. I must admit, I tasted them and they weren’t my favorite, but it’s not their fault. As we all know, I am not a veggie fan and when I see green, I am pretty much done. My brother-in-law at one and he thought they were terrific. So, see, I don’t know everything. But I will say if I like it, it is usually very good!
So, you see the menu, pretty much seafood. Their shrimp and lobster rolls are the cold variety, and I prefer the hot ones. Next time we go I am getting soup and the shrimp skewer. And yes, we will go back. I love a nice bowl of soup. The service was very good, and our server was knowledgeable about the menu and the restaurant itself. A pleasant place and relaxing. Oh, I almost forgot, they sell the soup in the restaurant and on-line!
My foot is still in the boot, another few weeks of that before they decide what to do about that. I do not like physical therapy at all, but I must go. I’d rather hate PT than surgery.
Lulu is growing up so fast. Still very stubborn but we are making progress. She is 5.8 pounds now!! And she is finally starting to walk on the leash with less fight. She knows come, sit and her name, although she won’t do the commands, she knows them! haha.
Life is good in my part of the world. Holidays are over, the blessed Girl Scout cookies are for sale to ruin all of our 2026 resolutions, and we just keep marching!
Once upon a time there was a girl named Marilyn who did not enjoy crafting. Marilyn had a big mouth and liked to tell people to get out of their comfort zone and do things that they have never done before. Marilyn had a friend named Ginger who heard her say “do it anyway.” And Ginger made Marilyn put her money where her mouth was!
I have never been much of a crafter although I DO like the products, I just don’t like doing it. I am not talented or artsy imaginative. It has just never been my thing. So, when Ginger said let’s go make a craft I was opposed to the idea. My hubby John backed her up too, saying that I should go. Sigh, words always come back and bite you in the rear!
Ginger found a class in Summerville, Coastal Custom Creations, that teaches you to make Charcuterie Boards (the wooden boards, not with meat, just the boards) with a resin decorating product. Don’t look for too much technical info from me, just know I did what they said, I survived AND I didn’t throw my product int he garbage when I got home!
Ginger and I signed up for the class and then I recruited Tracy to join us as she loves crafting. The more the merrier!
Marilyn Tracy and Ginger!
When we arrived, the room was all set up, a pizza box full of all the supplies needed for our individual projects. Ginger and I selected the boards that were the shape of Florida and Tracy made a more traditional oblong board. Why did I choose the Florida shape? It was a tough decision actually, but I chose the same as Ginger in case I needed help. At the point we signed up, it was just me and Ginger, I try not to tempt fate!
We had a small cutting board that was our “practice board” which we did first so that we could see the process and hopefully get the main idea. Less chance of messing up the bigger project! Bridget, our teacher, did a fine job explaining everything, and demonstrating, as you can see, she has a broken wrist and still managed to keep us going in the right direction!
We had sort of preselected our colors, I didn’t know that I had done that, but it worked out fine. I’d have selected something RED and that probably would have been a mistake with Florida and waves and stuff. Red Tide? Probably not a good plan. We mixed our resins and played with the small boards and oohed and ahhed accordingly. It actually wasn’t that hard. Bridget showed us the painting technique for the resin which was pretty similar to paint; except if you jiggle the boards the resin will move. I had a hard time making THIN lines though. After our lines we drawn, we tapped and blended and used a blow dryer to make the resin move. (which kind of made it look like foamy waves!) When our boards were acceptable to us, we used a flame thing, similar to what you would melt marshmallows with (haha) for three seconds really FAST so as to not set the project on fire. I managed to accomplish this goal without any fires. I figured that would be my downfall, but I had close supervision with Ginger and Tracy!
Practice board completed. It doesn’t look like ocean waves but it’s acceptable and useable. I think it will hold cheese just fine.
ON to the big project.
Now we know the technique to use, and I am waiting for Bridget to tell me (us) exactly how to start and what to do. Guess what? She gives us the dreaded crafting words “USE YOUR IMAGINATION, MAKE IT YOUR OWN”. NOOOOOO! I have no imagination and cannot possibly make it my own. You must tell me exactly what to do. I am sure now that it was a mistake to come and it will all go in the garbage when I get home. You only THINK I have confidence. I do not!
Luckily Bridget finally throws out a couple ideas and Ginger, and I go in completely different directions. Tracy is moving along merrily making her board like she has been doing this stuff all her life. She is definitely one of THOSE craft people! By the way, we had plans to record all this, but it all moved way too fast and that was out of the question. We all managed to complete our projects without any major issues and they all turned out really nice.
Ginger’s finished boards! Aren’t her waves great!! Ginger just works along making very little mess, she is focused and quiet. I cleaned up my mess before the picture was taken, and it is still a mess. And of course, I talk and ask questions and forget instructions …. I am a bit high maintenance.
Tracy and her boards! She did what was called a double line on her big board. She is an over-achieving crafter and it turned out beautiful. Look at HER waves!
After our projects were completed, you have to leave them right there as they are and pick up the next day. If you move them the resin will jiggle and move, and the project will be a mess. Tracy was kind enough to go back the next day and pick up the completed projects.
We walked around the room and saw other art projects that are taught at this facility. Apparently, there are several teachers that rent the space for different classes.
These stone rock crystal (???) trees were adorable. There was one for every holiday. Also, all different types of painting classes. looked like maybe a photography class; pretty much anything of that type you want to learn, they have it.
After our crafting was done, we stopped at a nice Mexican Restaurant, Campo Azul Mexican Kitchen right in Summerfield. The food was very good. We each found our favorites and had a nice meal together.
I have to say, Ginger was right. Our craft projects were fun, it was nice spending time with Ginger and Tracy, and it didn’t kill me. It’s easy to say “no, I don’t want to!” But saying yes has its rewards. Do I like crafts now? Not really! BUT I liked having the experience and maybe that is what it is all about. Doing something different, with friends, and just getting out of the normal routines. My finished project isn’t so bad. I didn’t throw it out when I got home! And yes, the seashell is SUPPOSED to be Orlando; but I don’t know where Orlando actually IS so THAT is Orlando to ME.
FOOTNOTE TO ZELLWOOD PEEPS! Ginger and the Depot team have arranged for these classes to be held in the Caboose in January, February, March and April. Watch for flyers or contact Ginger if you want to get info on exactly what the classes will be when so you can reserve your spot! Seating will be limited. I’m gonna say it once more…It was fun!
A kumquat isn’t much bigger than a grape, yet this bite-sized fruit fills your mouth with a big burst of sweet-tart citrus flavor. In Chinese, kumquat means “golden orange.” They were originally grown in China. Now they’re also grown in several other countries, including warmer areas of the United States, such as Florida and California. In contrast with other citrus fruits, the peel of the kumquat is sweet and edible, while the juicy flesh is tart.
This is a kumquat.
Loquats are small fruits with a sweet, slightly tart flavor. Recent research suggests that loquats may offer a variety of health benefits, including protection against some diseases. The loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) is a tree in the rose family native to China. It is prized for its sweet fruit. Loquats are small, round fruits that grow in clusters. Their color varies from yellow to red-orange, depending on the variety. Loquat fruit, seeds, and leaves are packed with potent plant compounds and have been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years.
This is a Loquat.
All of this fabulous information is according to Healthline.com.
Now you have to hang with me. I know you are asking why on earth is Marilyn writing about kumquats and loquats. First off, because they are fun to say! And second, because lots of people in Zellwood have them in their yards and don’t even know what they are. As it states above, they are edible, skins and all and they can be nice, sweet/tart taste.
These are pictures of my friend Ellyn’s loquat tree in Zellwood. (Thank you, Ellyn, for letting me photograph them.) As you can see, these trees grow quite large. There are lots of blooms happening.
This is an old video of my dad explaining Loquats to my Uncle George. I hope you find it as entertaining as I do. It’s very short and funny. I think it was made around 1986, so you understand the fashion! And if you listen carefully he has a suggestion for their use.
Yup, THAT is my dad, so if you know me, it explains a LOT!
I was talking to my friend Ginger about the kumquats and loquats, and she remembered a Kumquat parade in Orlando, which I had never heard of before. She looked it up and sure enough, from the mid-80s to the 90’s there was the Queen Kumquat Sashay each year downtown! (Thank you, Ginger!)
I have my own personal story about kumquats, which I feel is also relevant. As a lot of us southern girls like to call people by sweet names, I am also guilty. I had a workmate who always gave me a hard time, and it was miserable to have to argue with him every day to accomplish my job. I decided I HAD to do something to learn to like him or I’d never get past it so every time I talked to him, I’d call him sugar or honey or sweetie. I talked to him a LOT so i had to start coming up with other names and it kind of became a game to us. (But it was working, the atmosphere was less tense.) One day I called him my little kumquat, and we both burst out laughing. It was just too much! After that we became friends. It was a silly thing but as I said earlier, it really is fun to say! Give it a try!
I hope you enjoyed your lesson on kumquats and loquats and also the Kumquat Sashay and how a little humor can defuse a tense situation!
Magical Dining is a program in Central Florida for restaurants to offer special deals to patrons and donate money to charity. It is usually August and September, which are historically slower times. This gives locals and tourists an opportunity to try spots they normally would not try. Last week we went to Dubsdread Country Club but didn’t check times, so we missed out on the special. That was fine because the food was still good, and we enjoyed our meals.
This week we tried something completely different. Sea World’s SHARKS UNDERWATER GRILL AND BAR. I don’t think I have been to Sea World in 40 years, so they are definitely getting a customer that does not normally dine there!
Reservations have to be made on Sea Worlds website. I Googled Sea World Magical Dining and got what I needed. When you make the reservations, it looks like you are buying tickets and paying but it is for $0.00. You pay the bill at the restaurant, $40 per meal. And know that Sea World is 100% CASHLESS so bring your debit or credit card, they won’t take cash.
Parking is not charged when you show them your reservation and there is no park entry fee. When you come to the gate, you also show your reservation, and they refer you to a specific gate where an escort takes your party directly to the restaurant. I don’t think we would have found it on our own. Wear comfy shoes as it is a pretty good walk! (Casual dining, no need to dress up!)
Our great friends Bob and Cathy joined us for dinner; our reservations were at 4pm. ( I think Magical Dining starts at 2:30 at Sea World but check to be sure!).
Once we were seated, our Server Ron greeted us and gave us the details of our choices. Ron provided us with great service; he was friendly and professional. And he also was fun!
The menu is 3 courses, appetizer, main and dessert for $40 each. The appetizer choices were Sundried Tomato Chicken Quesadilla, Cold Water Lobster Bisque or Caesar Salad. We all had Ceasar salad, which was fresh and crispy. Main course was supposed to be filet mignon, salmon or Chicken Quinoa Tabbouleh Bowl (which was probably good but if you know me at all you know that wasn’t going to be MY choice!) They were not able to offer the Filet Mignon, so they substituted a Wagyu beef slider with truffle fries which 3 of us had and it was delicious. Cathy had the salmon and said it was good but not a fan of the slaw that came with it.
Dessert choices were Chocolate Cake Confusion, White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake, Cannoli Cake or Chocolate Chip Cookie Platter. Bob had chocolate cake, Cathy cheesecake and John and I had the Cannoli Cake. All were very good and large portions. We were all so full we had a bite and took the rest home for later. Way too good to waste! The meals were a success, and it was a nice time.
The huge aquarium was full of fish and sharks, and these were not baby sharks. They were full sized, real deal sharks.
I have to say, I did enjoy the venue and the meal and the company!. It was something very different and we never would have gone here on our own. The Magical Dining Experience made it something we wanted to try. Then an added bonus, once we finished our meal, we were on our own in the park. We walked around a bit and looked in gift shops and called it a day. Our visit was on a Thursday, and the park was not crowded at all. If we wanted to enjoy more time, I’m sure the lines were minimal. If you are looking for something out of the ordinary, this would be something to try.
My week was busy with Monday morning line dancing and Monday evening I had dinner and games with friends. A girls night out and that is something outside MY comfort zone. I had a really nice time. Tuesday Jukebox Bingo, and I had real estate appointments this week which is always welcomed! It was busier than expected and only one night of the dreaded no sleep.
I had another dermatology appointment with NP Kim (from previous blog). And guess what? You guys are awesome. Kim told me she got 49 appointments from the blog post! That is just amazing and
I had another dermatology appointment with NP Kim (previous blog post) and guess what?! You guys are awesome! Kim said she got 49 appointments from y’all. That is just amazing; God is good. Word of mouth really does work and Kim says THANK YOU! This is why I want to keep it up. It does matter when we share our positive events and give kudos to the well deserving!
I hope you have all had a good week. No line dancing Monday because of Labor Day, I get to rest a bit! I’d rather show houses so give me a call if you are looking! And, as usual, share my post, give me ideas and feedback. I am open to try anything, so far! LOL
Its Tuesday and raining, probably will all day. I have a hard time doing nothing and daytime TV is so depressing to me. So, I am going to make PIE! I am also going to experiment with video chats so this might be very interesting. I have never done it so today seems like a good day to try. Remember I am not a professional! This will be a work in progress!
After reviewing the video, John said I should have at least put some make up on and comb my hair. SIGH. But if you were at MY house this is what you would see. So, I am staying true to myself. One day you might get some make-up, but it is not something that means that much to me. I’d rather you see ME.
AS you can see, you are probably going to want a cup of coffee, glass or wine or bottle of beer to continue this journey with me. Remember I am an amateur and am frustrating everyone I know to teach me how to do this.
TURNS OUT that the mystery container was SPAGHETTI SAUCE! LOL. I guess since it tasted a bit like BBQ Pork it was time to go. So funny, if it ends up in the freezer it probably is not going to ever make it to a meal.
John’s family is here from Virginia to visit so they got to have some pie! Melissa is John’s daughter-in-law and Hannah is John’s Grandaughter!
Melissa and Hannah had the raspberry pie and said it was really good. John likes the blueberry pie! They aren’t “pretty” but taste is priority, right?
I learned a lot about recording from my phone; I ordered a phone stand so that I don’t have to hold the phone while I talk. And there has to be a way to do this where I don’t have 15 different videos. Sorry about that I don’t know how to edit them together, if you even can. BUT I still learned something new, I took a chane to do something different. I wasn’t bored at all. My rainy day was successful. And let me tell you, this took ALL DAY. I do not whip this stuff up bing, bang boom! But I feel like I accomplished something fun and made the people in my life smile! Hopefully I made you smile too!
PS PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT AND LET ME KNOW IF I SHOULD CONTINUE WITH THE VIDEO OR JUST WRITE! IT WON’T HURT MY FEELINGS, as this thing moves forward I need to know what works!!! And please subscribe if you are enjoying the blog even a little bit! And lastly, please share with others!!! I’m so grateful for your support!
WAY BACK in October 2023, we went on a cruise to the Mediterranean; we flew to Athens, spent a couple days there and then got on the cruise ship and went to Istanbul, Mykonos, Naples, Florence, Rome, Caan, and Barcelona. It was a wonderful trip, highly recommended! As I write my blogs, I will probably be referencing our travels and experiences as they are a part of my life. Which is kind of the entire point of the blog right? And I can already see that food is going to be a big part of the blog as well, not because of my cooking (God Forbid!) but the lovely people I meet along this journey!
This trip was planned well in advance and then the Isreal / Hammas war started October 7, 2023; we were due to leave a couple weeks later. Do we stay or do we go? Cruise line, airline, governments etc didn’t cancel so we didn’t either. We probably had a heightened awareness of our surroundings but otherwise everything was fine.
Until Istanbul. in order to KNOW ME, I have a really vivid imagination, and it doesn’t take much to get my brain going. The cruise ship gives an informational talk on each port the day before, so we all know what to expect and one of the things they said was ” if you see a big crowd developing, go AWAY from it” so of course that got me started. Big chicken, foreign country… cluck cluck cluck!
We did not have a tour scheduled as we initially docked at 4pm and would be there a 2nd day so we had decided we could be on our own and go to the world market. That would be plenty for day one. They assured us we could take public transportation with no problem. However, because of the war, the cruise ships going to Israel were diverted to Turkey; and instead of getting 3 ships, 5 arrived. An additional 10,000+ people all in port at the same time. Add to that, locals said it was the first beautiful clear day Istanbul had been given in a week. There were people EVERYWHERE in a city of 15 MILLION PLUS people. Avoid crowds, impossible! Our phones didn’t work, public transportation was very kind to take our credit card money and not share a ticket back, tick tick tick goes my mind! We decided to walk, because we were told it wasn’t that far; so “in for a penny, in for a pound” we will die here anyway! There were 6 of us walking and walking and no market in sight. And the more we walked; I relaxed a bit. There were people everywhere, but the city was interesting. It was also intimidating. None of us knew where we were going, except THAT WAY. Not much further… I think we walked 200 miles (LOL not really about 5!) and finally found a very nice man who spoke English and could actually help us. We were not going to make it to the market before it closed so we decided to go back to the port. In hindsight we should have found a place to eat and then gone back to the port but that did not seem to be an option at the time. This kind man helped us get 2 taxi’s and back to the port we went.
I must observe, after the fact, that us American’s are so stupid and trusting. We go to a foreign country, where we don’t speak the language, know little to nothing about the cultures and trust that these total strangers are actually going to help us. And you know what, they do! It’s just amazing. (By the way, maybe that is just ME that is so stupid and trusting! Other people might actually research places before they go).
Back to the story, day 2 we have a tour guide! YAY and we see this wonderful city of Istanbul and the Mosques and find out this is where “Cherry Races” were held. (It was Chariot Races, but I am a bit hearing impaired and I don’t necessarily hear things right. When things don’t make sense and I ask, I gain an entirely new understanding!)
The first picture is the bridge we went over, the 2nd I think is Hagai Sophia but I could be wrong and the third is the Blue Mosque. Do not ever allow me to be your official travel guide. I never know where I am going or where I have been!
On to the MARKET we go.
It was fascinating and CROWDED and overwhelming. This was, by the way, the SPICE MARKET. I believe the smaller market. We passed through the big one and that was HUGE and packed!
Saffron is where my story continues. Most people know Saffron is the most expensive spice and it is “reasonable” here in Turkey. So, I bought a lot. My brother loves to cook so I got a jar for him and a jar for me. I bought nuts and candy and other spices so I could not begin to tell you how much it all cost. It is like play money to me. And to tell you the truth, I have no idea why I bought it. I do not cook. But it was there and I had to have it.
Bye bye Istanbul, it was fascinating and scary and a nice adventure. and no, I didn’t die there!
Fast forward to 2025! I still have the unopened jar of Saffron, and it is obvious that I am never going to use it. I don’t know how long it lasts but I certainly do not want it to go to waste, I want someone to have it that appreciates what it is and will actually use it and enjoy it.
My friend Lori is known to be a wonderful cook. I see Facebook posts of people who join her for dinner and rave about her cooking and dinner parties. She is a super friendly person with many talents, and we all know Facebook doesn’t lie right! I talk with Lori and ask if she cooks with Saffron and she assures me she does, so I decide to give her my beloved saffron from ISTANBUL. My only request is that she make a dish using it and share it with John and I so that I can at least learn what it tastes like. (I didn’t want a dinner party, just bring me leftovers, I’m good with that!) Lori agrees. She is a very busy lady and I knew she would keep her word and did she ever! She called to see our likes and dislikes and made arrangements to cook our dinner for Wednesday.
I have to tell you I was so excited, not only that I didn’t have to do dinner, but that Lori was! I anticipate things and blow them way up, so it is not easy to meet my expectations. All day I dreamed and savored what might be coming. I knew it was a chicken dish, otherwise, saffron.
One other side note, when we were in Barcelona, I ordered paella, which has saffron. Only it has octopus too. Euuuu. I took a big bite of what I thought was chicken, and it was octopus, which grossed me out and I spit it back in the plate (literally, I did that) and the meal was over for me. I could only tell you saffron tasted like octopus!
And now the big finish!
Here comes Lori with her beautiful casserole of chicken and yellow rice that she prepared, and I am so happy and excited. It smelled so good and looked amazing.
Lori is so gracious and kind, and I think genuinely excited to share her cooking skills. She featured the saffron in the rice so we could really get the flavor out of it. As soon as I tasted it, I recognized the flavor, but not as pronounced as this, in a good way. More than likely, restaurants don’t use much because of the expense of the spice. This was wonderful, and I am unable to compare it to anything I had ever had before. (And it didn’t taste like octopus! LOL) The chicken has green and red pepper, tomatoes I think, and beautiful tender chicken thighs. Red pepper flakes gave it a nice kick but not too much. It was perfect. I do not know what Lori did to prepare the rice, but it was so tender and delicate and YUMMY! I am not a culinary person, so Identifying flavors is not really something I do, but I tried really hard to focus, and Lori told me what was in it. LOL.
John, my hubby, is not as picky as I am but close, and he loved it too.
and YES! Lori was so very kind to write down her recipe for us so any of you who want to enjoy this treat can make it yourself!
In order to make new friends or build on the friendships you have, sometimes you have to take risks. It helps to be kind and unselfish as well. I was never going to use that Saffron so why not share it with someone who would truly enjoy it? And why not ask for a sample of her cooking expertise? The worst Lori could say was no and the best she could say was yes! Which she did. The kindness I knew of her rang through in her smile and her cooking. And I think I increased a friendship that I might not have ever had. I am so grateful that Lori allowed me to share her talents in my blog. If she ever invites you to a meal say YES!!! You won’t be disappointed!
Today is the day that I make Polish Dill Pickle Soup. I have seen the recipe on Facebook for a while now and since I am of Polish Heritage, I like to occasionally try some of the foods that are of that tradition. I am not a cook really, but I do like making soups, so this seemed right up my alley! And of course, looking for the right recipe is always a challenge.
God always seems to answer my call, and He sent me my friend Bobbie. I never knew it, but Bobbie and her husband Roy owned a Polish restaurant and deli up north and Dill Pickle Soup was one of their daily featured items and she said they sold out every day! What better recipe could I ask for?!! She was gracious enough to share the recipe with me so that I could give it a try.
I am always intimidated by cooking and recipes. I don’t usually understand, or I make it more complicated than it needs to be. Like when the recipe says to use a heavy pot, do I weigh my pots and use the heaviest one? Cut into small pieces, small to who (or whom), how big is small? Bite sized, who’s bite?? I’m not quite that bad but I am literal, and these things confuse me.
Alexa and I have become great friends as well. I have Alexa in the kitchen with a monitor so I can ask what to do and it shows me a video. I do this MANY times as I am making stuff so that I remember or clarify. (no, I don’t worry about the government listing to my conversations, my friends don’t want to hear what I have to say so I doubt the government would be interested either!)
I have spent the last few days reading and re-reading the recipe, googling stuff I didn’t understand, asking Bobbie questions. More than anything, I want Bobbie to be happy with the results AND I also want her to be honest with me if I don’t get it right. I already know I won’t on the first try, BUT if I come close and it brings a smile to her face I am beyond happy.
Next order of business is grocery shopping. I don’t store much in my kitchen since I don’t cook much, and you can bet I don’t have the proper ingredients. Recipe calls for course ground black pepper, I don’t have course, is that a problem? One small onion, how small is small? Red skin potatoes, yes, I know what those are! YAY me! One quart of pickle juice! OhOh, do they actually sell pickle juice? Alexa!!!!! Yes, they do, but not all grocery stores do. Publix does, Winn Dixie, nope.
My shopping list is made and off to the store I go. This went very well actually, so I am very proud of myself. I didn’t have to ask any unsuspecting person who LOOKS like they know how to cook any questions at all. I did have to buy garlic dill pickles, says I needed 3, I wasn’t sure if that was spears or entire pickles so I bought a big jar and will figure that part out later. Now that I am home that was enough thinking for one day. I’m exhausted by it all. This cooking stuff is a LOT.
So today is the day! I got up ready to tackle the soup and I got this! I can do it. I have a chopper that cuts the vegetables very easy, and I do know they are supposed to be uniform n size so they cook evenly. I do watch Food Network!
This gizmo is quick and easy to use and preserves my fingers and fingernails, (side note, as it turns out, the pieces were too big, which didn’t affect the flavor, just bite and appearance. I will have to hand chop next time.) Following the instructions, it all goes into the pot and the simmering begins.
AND OH MY GOODNESS, my kitchen smells amazing. The garlic and the dill and vinegar, onions, wow. Since I don’t cook much, this is exciting. Don’t you just love the way your kitchen smells when it is not burning?
Now comes the tricky part, a roux. I have unsuccessfully made roux and this time I am determined! So Alexa is my very best friend. I am using videos to make sure I don’t mess up and burn it as I usually do. You stir constantly and stir some more! But Look!
I have a roux! It still has to darken a bit but it thickened up like I have never had happen before! I’m so proud! LOL! Roux is done and added to the pot and stir, stir, and stir.
The soup is finished.
I have to call Bobbie to have her look and taste, I want to make sure it is right before I share this with others and misrepresent an entire country! So this is where I find out the vegetables are cut too large and there is too much pickle juice. Sigh. But she says it is good and, for me, it is a successful first attempt. I go home and add some chicken broth to tone down the pickle flavor, which should be a tiny hint, not a blast. And then I put the soup in my food processor and slightly pulse to make it less chunky and that changed everything. It is delicious. The pickle flavor doesn’t assault you, it’s a small “afterburn” in your throat, not offensive or hot, just there.
When I do projects like this, the biggest part of my joy is sharing with others. I’m sure some of my friends cry when they see me coming with a container! But I do think they understand I like to experiment, and I don’t necessarily go traditional. I mean, anyone can make Oatmeal cookies. There is no challenge in that. My friends know I want honesty, if it sucks it won’t hurt my feelings to say so. I already know it won’t be everyone’s favorite! But it is the experience, not necessarily the outcome. I mean, how many people can say they ate Dill Pickle Soup? (Another side note, I am about the pickiest eater there is and I probably wouldn’t have tried it either. I mean, we were in Ireland, and I did not, would not, eat Haggis. And I will not TOUCH a mushroom).
After Bobbie’s critique and my adjustments, my first taste tester was Cathy, she is a fantastic cook, a fair reviewer and a good friend. She had a taste before the food processor and after and liked the after better, although not a real fan. Her question, which was great, was “would I make it again?”. The answer is no and yes. Would I make it for dinner or company, a meal, probably not. BUT would I make it for a Potluck where these types of dishes are encouraged, absolutely! I’m thinking it would be a big hit at a Super Bowl Party!
My next tasters were Jon and Brenda; they are great at tasting my experiments and giving critiques. Neither of them loved it but both agreed it was interesting. They both also agreed that the afterburn was unexpected! I always tell them to be honest, and they both are the best at being kind and honest at the same time. I will have to make Jon some oatmeal cookies to make up for this experiment!
I did share samples with a few others and have not heard back so I am thinking when you can’t say something nice, say nothing at all! Haha.
I consider my Dill Pickle Soup Day a huge success. I made something eatable and different. I shared with others, and I had fun.
MY LIFE IN A 55 PLUS 