When I sat down to write this, I started thinking about all The Kitchen readers out there and wondered what you could possibly be doing on this long weekend. I pictured you rolling up blankets and filling thermoses for a picnic or dashing into the grocery store for supplies for a last minute barbecue. I saw you floating on your back in a lake, looking at the clouds and trying not to think "summer's over" thoughts. Some of you I know are catching up on your canning, or making large quantities of cheese (three gallons of whey, Julia!) or figuring out how to get dinner on the table in a rental kitchen outfitted with two cork screws and a butter knife.
Some of you are on airplanes, some of you in your back yards. Some of you are wrapping your hands around a hot cup of tea (burrr, you must be in San Francisco) or icing it down for an arnold palmer. Reading books in hammocks, exploring the wilderness, staking out a spot for the last of the season's fireworks, catching a movie, a bus, a wave, some rays (vitamin D!). It's the last lick of summertime, so dive in!
Me, I'm going to
• try pickling grapes
• have a friend over for pancakes
• see a German film about a restaurant
• take a walk in the magnificent hills of Marin
• sort through my cookbook collection while getting caught up on radiolab podcasts
• take naps, eat and laugh heartily, and bask in the it's-not-quite-fall-but-no-longer-summer-either bits of September sunshine.
I hope your holiday is refreshing and fun, and I hope you found release, if even for a moment or two, from your labor and toil.
Related: Weekend Meditation: Labor and Love
(Image: Dana Velden)
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Some of don't have a long weekend, because we're not in the U.S. And some of us are even at WORK, because it's a workday (especially in Muslim majority countries). How about some love for your international readers? And speaking of which, are there going to be any suggestions coming up for Eid dishes that we can impress our neighbors with next week? There were some last year I think.
Yesterday I made a muffuleta to eat all weekend (but I ate a lot of it yesterday)...stewed plums in an Earl Grey based syrup as mentioned elsewhere her in the Kitchn, baked some very plain banana bread, sorted out a big bookshelf, drank a LOT of wine with my best friend on the front porch.
Today?? More de-cluttering and going outside to enjoy the perfect day!
Tomorrow--BBQ & beer with friends.
Hey, it's not only international folks who have to work on Monday! That's what I get for working at a museum...
Today I made apple cinnamon bread french toast in anticipation of a long day of cleaning our whole house from top to bottom. We're throwing ourselves a long-overdue housewarming party next Saturday, so cleaning needs to happen!
If I have time today I'm going to try adapting an oatmeal quickbread recipe into plum and pear bars. We'll see how that goes. :)
♥♥♥ to Bronzeager and all international readers! It's true that this is a US/Canada centric post. I had intended to address that for a variety of reasons some people could be working this weekend but I somehow lost that thread when I actually sat down to write. So apologies and thanks for pointing it out. I hope your labor and toil has some satisfaction and joy today!
PS I'll ask Faith about food for Eid.
I've spent my whole summer deployed to the Middle East, so all of the wonderful things I've been reading about on this website will have to wait until I'm back (which is very soon!)
I made cookies today--oatmeal raisin--and am headed to an evening wedding. Yesterday I brought my version of David Lebowitz's tomato tart to a pre-wedding potluck. And lastly I hope to get a batch of apple-cinnamon ice cream together by tomorrow... we'll see how it goes!
trying to can peaches and make pesto with a crazy fussy baby and a husband sleeping/working night shift. it must be done though, wish me luck!
French toast brioche, lazy brunch with friends, and sun (in San Francisco!) Tomorrow I may have to labor, though.
No long weekend this week, but next is "Jeûne genevois" ("Genevan fast"), which dates back to the 16th century. Traditionally, a plum cake is served...
I made bangers and mash (with amazing floury potatoes from our local French market) with cider and onion gravy today, and crepes for breakfast yesterday. Saturday (market day) lunch we always have pain au levain with fresh goat cheese and other cheeses (St. Nectaire, Abondance, Morbier, St. Marcellin) and amazing tomatoes...
I'm with vintagejenta.. cleaning my whole (new) house, and getting things in order for a house warming.Moved from NY to Cali..from a 2 bedroom to a house and its still rather empty.
All that be damned, we're having a party next Saturday. The sales at the supermarkets were awesome this wkend, so I've stocked up and frozen everything for next week.
Wish VJ and I luck!
Today was waffle brunch at my house. I diligently did all of my prep work by last night and putting things together this morning was so completely stress free. It was wonderful.
Tomorrow is a ferry ride to the Mister's mom's birthday lunch in Marin.
Overall, pretty nice long weekend, even though I feel like I mostly lost Saturday to the kitchen.
Last night we had a campfire in the backyard and roasted brats and marshmallows.
This morning the unexpected death of a beloved pet interrupted the our lives, and we've spent the day alternately grieving and doing what needs to be done. It's funny how even the pets have become part of the rhythm of my food preparation, with my cat usually underfoot in the kitchen and our bunny who I would always stop and greet on my way to the extra fridge.
I just now got a lasagna in the oven for a very late dinner. Then I absolutely must get the rest of the strawberries cleaned and crushed and into the freezer.
I'm working tomorrow, but it's teaching a lot of very bright, eager and happy college students about a topic that I love, so I can't and won't complain too loudly!
In preparation for the mad week of teaching, I'm making some lunch related things tonight. I'm going to make some granola (to accompany some vanilla yogurt and fresh blueberries. yum!). I'm also hoping to make some cherry hand pies. Given that it's already well into the evening and I haven't even started on the crust, I think that might be a mid-week project instead.
Yes no long week-end for us in Aus. Looking forward to the Queen's birthday.
http://www.foodjobs.com.au/
Things are difficult here; my father's in a nursing home and declining, and my mother and sister are having a tough time with it.
It's funny; yesterday, cooking seemed like, well, labor, but this evening, I think I might cook something to soothe and comfort myself. Familiar labor can help you to relax and not think too much when you're stressed, and there's plenty of stress in my life right now.
Today was a lazy day at home with my visiting in-laws to join us for brunch and enjoying their grandaughter/niece; who coincidentally will soon be joined by another cousin in the family. Great news from my brother and sister in law-yeah!
We're on pre-Kindergarten staycation, but so busy with prep for upcoming fall projects that it hasn't felt very vacation-y at all. This inspires me to pack up a picnic for the playground.
I, too, have to go to classes today! My first one is at 9:30 am, so to soften the blow, I'm baking blueberry muffins for all of my classmates. I figure it's the least I can do on a holiday weekend, since I definitely can't grill in my apartment.
Ah, to be a real adult with an income and a house that can accommodate a real barbeque...
I went to a magnificent (mostly vegetarian) wedding over the weekend, and am actually lucky enough to be camping for the next few days. My husband and I are testing out camping-food recipes on a brand new dual-fuel Coleman stove, so hopefully we'll have some really tasty meals after some scenic hikes and bike rides!
I was just teasing ... but long holiday weekends in America without new posts mean it's harder to waste time at work! And at least there was one new post for those of us who can't resist checking anyway, even though we know there probably won't be anything.
I had a grilled eggplant-zucchini sandwich with parmesan, and a lovely fresh peach with some homemade quark for dinner.
Dana... I made pickled red grapes last year as a lark. I used a similar recipe from Linda Ziedrich's book The Joy of Pickling. They were wonderful and a huge hit as gifts... they canned easily and held up quite well.