I hope everybody had a lovely, safe “unofficial start” to the summer. The end of last week looked dismal. I was sick as a dog, couldn’t breath through either nostril, which meant I woke up choking several times a night- dreadful. I thought the long weekend was doomed. It didn’t help that the weather guys said we would get thunderstorms all weekend!
While I was sick, I made myself
makeshift ramen:
2 1/2 chicken bullion cubes
2 cups boiling water
Lots of fresh crushed black pepper
Franks red hot sauce
Egg noodles I bought somewhere…
and scotch bonnet sauce at the very end – to try to burn my sinuses open!
there is a fish in this picture… I swear!
We ended up going up to Milton, NH for the weekend, to spend the weekend with my boyfriend’s family. They have a nice big house right on a lake, complete with kayaks, water trampoline, jet ski and a boat.
My nose finally unstuffed itself, and after excessive water drinking, I felt a little more like myself. I was still waking up at 5:30 in the morning for work though, and without coffee (the aunties don’t drink it fully caffeinated) I was stuck (until anybody else who could let me borrow keys, or drive me) walking around looking at things – like fish tooling around the dock at 6am.
We feasted on vacation, I also had very little to do with the cooking. I stirred a few things, and got dishes and moved things around. It was relaxing- but it meant that I’d been on a several day (dare I count…? 6!) kick of not cooking a damn thing!
quick sweet potato fries
Tonight I did a service call after work, then I went to Market Basket- which wasn’t the nightmare I imagined it might be. I grabbed all the things I needed for lunches for the week (we got a massive bag full of 10-12 different kinds of breads because the aunties never send us home empty handed) and a few things for dinner.
Quick Sweet Potato Fries
1 bag organic Trader Joe’s yams (cut in thirds the long way, then sliced thin)
Olive oil (to cover)
Salt & pepper (to your taste)
Preheat oven to 425f
Put sliced potatoes in a bowl, toss with oil, salt and pepper
Put on baking pan, and cook until browned- watching them and flipping so they can get somewhat evenly browned.
I ended up broiling them on high for a few minutes because the hamburgers were already done, and we were ready to eat and getting impatient.
While in Milton, I finally got to go to the Stonewall Kitchen Outlet Store! Something I’ve been dying to do since I saw it a few summers ago.
I got this red relish there, it’s made with crushed red pepper and red bell peppers, and it’s amazing. Ah-maze-ing. I love it. No need to put anything else on this burger. Just the Farmstand Red Relish. I’m not sure how I lasted this long without it – to be completely honest. I had it on an egg sandwich one morning last weekend, and then on a hotdog for lunch, then burgers when we got home. I plan on putting it in a panini before long.
I noticed at Stonewall that they had a green relish too – but I was so overwhelmed and I didn’t see a sample to taste, immediately, so I passed on it. Plus, aunty would’ve had it if it were any good, I’m almost sure of it! She said the inventory changes almost every week up there – ohmygoodness! I can’t wait to go back…
inasmallkitchen 
apuginthekitchen
May 30, 2012
Glad you recovered enough to have a nice weekend. Your quick soup and sweet potato fries sound perfect.
Julia Fairchild
May 30, 2012
I’m sure as far as ramen goes it was pathetic, but it was the best I could do with a cloudy head! 🙂
Mmmm – they weren’t the best I’ve made, but I love sweet potato fries, but these are especially good cause I have indecisive wisdom teeth that have been “cutting the surface” for QUITE a long time now, so soft fries are more tooth friendly for me.