Off the cuff I invited a friend over for dinner on Saturday night. Usually I know in advance what I am
Oops, it turns out I am guest posting on the Really Real Housewives of America this week instead of later in the month. I feel a bit bogus because I haven't been a real housewife in a long time. I have someone who comes in to clean for me these days. At least vacuuming and dusting. I just cannot manage that stuff any more. Actually, I have had a cleaner most of my life. I always remember in my 20s I lived in a two room apartment and had a woman come in to clean for me. I used to pay her half a crown an hour, peanuts today, but it was a lot to me then. However, she could afford to fly to America to see her kids, I could hardly afford to go to the local restaurant. Struck me as funny all those many years ago. My mother had a cleaner most of her married life except a period when my father was broke and we couldn't afford it. Then she worked like stink However, eventually things changed and she had a cleaner once again. I had one cleaning lady who used to come to me once we had divorced and I couldn't afford her any more and she would just come to have coffee with me and do a bit of cleaning. She was such a wonderful woman. Years later her husband said she loved me very much, I loved her too.
We both love Brie. This is a slightly different version of Baked Brie.
Herbed Baked Brie
Big group? Go for the show-stopping giant baked brie recipe. Smaller party (or can’t find the large
1 2.2-pound wheel of brie (or 8-ounce rounds)
6 sprigs rosemary
6 sprigs thyme
2 Tbs olive oil
Cranberry-Pear Mostarda, Thyme-Roasted Walnuts, sliced pear, crackers, and sliced baguette (for serving)
1. Place brie on a plate and freeze until very firm, about 30 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 350°. Cut off top rind of brie with a sharp knife (it’s okay if you can’t get the rind off in one piece; brie will smooth out as it bakes).
3. Toss rosemary, thyme, and oil on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet until coated. Spread herbs evenly on parchment. Place brie in the center so that it covers about half of the herbs. Bake until cheese is melted, 15–20 minutes. Remove from oven and let rest to firm up slightly, about 5 minutes (if you skip this step, you risk spilling molten cheese all over your cutting board).
4. Strip leaves from uncovered herbs and sprinkle over brie. Using parchment and a wide spatula, carefully slide brie and covered herbs onto a cutting board.
5. Arrange mostarda, walnuts, pear slices, crackers, and baguette slices around cutting board; serve
Source: Bon Appétit
Hope you are enjoying your Labour Day holiday weekend.
How fun with the "chat" you all had! My mom cleaned houses years ago; she was deeply loved by those that she cleaned. Not sure because of her services but also her sweet disposition that she had. I have cleaners come when we move out of a house. The last thing I want to do after moving is come back and clean it :)
ReplyDeletebetty
It was fun Betty. I expect it was her disposition Betty. I don't blame you about getting them to clean the house. Horrid job when you leave. Did you notice I was on the Really Real Housewives this week?
DeleteHi Jo - so glad you could hook up via Google Hangouts with some bloggers - great fun I imagine ... good to hear the voices - if not the person. Good luck with the projects ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteYes, it was fun Hilary. We are going to try again next week.
DeleteThree glasses of champagne? I would be a mess. One glass of wine and a few sips from another is about all I can handle. Plus, it messes up my sleep. I enjoy wine, but it does not enjoy me.
ReplyDeleteI am assuming you don't have to drink them all at once Denise, spread out during the day perhaps. I love champagne and have a couple of glasses every Sunday. Pity you can't drink more wine, it is so enjoyable with a meal.
DeleteThree glasses of champagne and you won't be remembering anything anyway.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't the only one not using a camera on Saturday. Thanks for thinking I have a nice voice.
LOL Alex. As I said to Denise, I am sure you can spread it out through the day.
DeleteYes, I know, but that was more accidental than intentional. You do have a nice voice. One of these days I will come back to the Carolinas and hunt you down.
Wow, that sounds like amazing fun a google chat.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun Truedessa. All you need is Google Hangouts and a webcam or at least a mic.
DeleteI've only tried Google Hangouts once but it was fun. I've never had a cleaning lady but I would love to have one. I've just never liked to pay for something I can do myself. But I hate housework.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun Susan. I hate housework too. To me it is soul destroying and something that is never completed.
DeleteI wonder what is in the champagne? This is very interesting and I'm going to look this up. I should start now:) the Google fest you had sounds like fun and so glad that all of you enjoyed it. My mom used to have a cleaning lady and we were not as lucky as you were. We had some doozies! Many never cleaned very well at all and one was a klepto and took quite a few things from my parent's home before she was caught ( by me, my mom's rings fell out of her apron and I told my mom).
ReplyDeleteIt's not so much the champagne as the particular grapes which are used although they may have to be processed into champers before they work. The Hangouts was fun will be trying it again this weekend. My mother did have one cleaner years ago who was a klepto. Mostly, however, they have all been great.
DeleteI've only had a cleaner once in my life and that was only for three years when my 5 kids were all between 2 and 8 years of age. I really needed one then. There's always an excuse to drink champagne. Even the cheap stuff tastes great. Do it, Jo.
ReplyDeleteI can imagine you would need a cleaner then Pinky. I just hate doing the job. These days I can't manage much anyway. I love champagne too. Don't think I can afford 3 glasses a day though Pinky.
Delete