I’m trying to pay less attention to the news for all the reasons you might suspect and decided to browse our vintage cookbooks instead. What could go wrong, other than a few arteries snapping shut?
The first cookbook I grabbed was The Galloping Gourmet featuring 1970s celebrity TV chef Graham Kerr. I remember watching the show with my sister, who learned to make Chicken Kiev. The recipe was in Volume 1.
Basically, you make a compound butter with cayenne pepper, lemon, parsley and garlic. Roll it into a log and wrap it in plastic. Freeze.
Then you pound out a chicken breast fairly thin and stuff it with slices of the frozen butter. Roll it up and use toothpicks if necessary to keep it secure. Dip in flour, beaten egg and then breadcrumbs. Deep fry until golden brown.
It was DELICIOUS, but it made a huge mess, and we don’t really eat that way anymore. I read Mr. Kerr also doesn’t eat that way anymore. I do love me some fried food occasionally, but we mostly use chicken breasts for soup, salad, stir-fry – that sort of thing. And by the way, chicken breasts are ginormous these days. We should have split one.
I guess I’ll keep poking through the stacks, but I can’t imagine making that again. I’m not even sure why we’d keep the books. We have the whole series! Looks like the set sells on eBay for less than $20, and I can’t be bothered. I suppose I’ll donate them.
In other critically important food news, our second refrigerator crapped out after only eight years. Same as our washing machine, so maybe that’s all you get out of them these days. The repairman came three times and couldn’t fix it.
For a replacement, we went to Lowe’s. Why? We’ve always had great luck with Best Buy, but for some reason we picked Lowe’s. The salesman was great, but the delivery system sucks.
Our refrigerator was supposed to arrive Monday. They were supposed to call Sunday to give us the window of time for delivery, but they never did. After Dale called them, they said 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., which is bullshit. Then they called at 4 p.m. or so to tell us the truck broke down, and now we’d have to wait until Wednesday.
Today is Wednesday, and we still don’t have the refrigerator. Again, they didn’t call. Dale had to hunt them down, and they said there were still issues with the truck. I guess they only have one? Now they have promised it tomorrow, stating they’d call with the delivery time. Yeah, right. So, we’ll be hanging around all day waiting for the appliance delivery man or someone like him.
I realize whining about a second refrigerator is a first-world problem, but still.
Just to keep things simple, Dale is making paninis tonight – tomatoes, basil and whole milk mozzarella cheese sandwiches drizzled with a balsamic vinegar glaze. Yum.
I’ve been wanting a metal pie pan for ages and finally caved. I deserve a metal pie pan, or at least that’s what I told myself.
I saw one in the King Arthur catalog. I like the corrugated bottom and am eager to try it out. I didn’t buy it from King Arthur, because they charge for shipping, and I found the same one on Amazon Prime.
The pan was $19.99, while the King Arthur version is $16.95, so the difference is probably a matter of cents. I do like King Arthur and purchase from them frequently, but I try to be selective. For example, these measuring cups were not cheap, but they are fantastic. And, of course, flour, cocoa — the usual suspects.
I actually like Lowe’s, but we, too, had delivery issues with them a few years ago with a lawn mower. I was so angry I called the store manager and he knocked an extra $100 off the price for our trouble. I’m on the East coast but Lowe’s is pretty reputable, I’d call again and ask for some consideration.
I’m calling the store manager tomorrow!! I’ll report back.
Lowe’s doesn’t actually do the delivery, they scab out to some cheesy delivery company. It’s always an issue. But I like Lowe’s selection and prices and I get a discount with my card. So, I keep doing it.
It will all be good when it’s over!
Our fridge, stove, washer and dryer came with our house (6 years ago) and I believe are at least 20 years old. Yup, they are ancient and unstylish but they currently show no signs of giving out. Sometimes I wish that they would, just so I could have something fancier…but I really do not wish to tempt fate! ‘Love your new pie plate!
We used to pride ourselves on having appliances that lasted forever. Just doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. I might try the pie pan out today! Details to follow.
Oh gosh, I remember Graham Kerr – my mother was a HUGE fan. In truth, as TV was relatively new to us from living overseas, we used to watch pretty much any & everything! I believe you’re right about his change in eating style and while my Mum is now a huge believer in the whole Fat=Evil thinking and would therefore be pleased that he’s made changes, it seems she’s a fickle creature and has cast him out for Rick Stein and Gordon Ramsey. Initially, I struggled to understand why – especially with the former as she’s not keen on fish, but I’ve come to realise it’s because they’ve written Indian cookbooks which she considers up to scratch (she’s Anglo-Indian). Not that she cooks anymore…
We eat just about everything and refuse to demonize fat or gluten or whatever. I remember watching him on TV as a kid, but the food doesn’t resonate with me anymore. Maybe it never did, I don’t know. I can’t quite tolerate Gordon Ramsey, but then I’m quite fussy about my celebrity chefs these days. I should do a post on who I like and don’t like and why. That would be a great way to alienate readers!
We just ordered a second refrigerator from Costco. They called the night before with the 2 hour delivery time window, and texted 1/2 hr. before they arrived. Two polite, masked, young men arrived on time. We had a similar good experience with a washer/dryer we ordered from Costco last year. Plus they haul the old appliances away for no extra charge.
We also found the Costco prices on appliances to be substantially cheaper than either Lowes or Best Buy.
Costco membership is worth it.
That’s a great recommendation for Costco. We don’t have a membership because we have a military commissary, but I could see joining just for the appliances.
I’m hearing appliances are tough to get right now, so you’re lucky if you’re getting one this week. Some are waiting months!!
I love King Arthur too. They have great gluten free products, especially the cookie mix. I buy what I can in the store, but often have to order directly from them. Their pans, etc. always look like they would be so much fun but so far I’ve held off purchasing any of them.
I have lots of old cookbooks too and occasionally wonder why I’m keeping some of them. I never even open them. Oh well. They look nice on my book shelf. 🤣
You are right. At least we got a new one. I’m going to make broccoli sausage pie in the new pan today. I don’t know why we keep the cookbooks, either. Dale has hoarder tendencies, but I may try to convince him we don’t need The Galloping Gourmet (for starters).
My father was still using the refrigerator we had when I was a kid when we cleaned out his house in 2002. I’m guessing it was new in 1957 because that’s when we moved into a new house. Not frost free, for sure. We paid for a maintenance plan, something we don’t usually do, for our refrigerator, and that’s been a good decision.
I think I read Graham Kerr tried to get reruns of his show off the air because he feels bad about the rich food and his drinking. I detest Gordon Ramsey. He’s mean and creepy.
Stuff doesn’t last like it used to, that’s for sure. We never do the maintenance plan, but we did this time after being burned twice. By the way, our refrigerator arrived. I called the store manager. No cash rebates for Dale and Donna. But he did say they were having trouble with the delivery company, and they would get fined.
My sister reminded me that we started watching Graham Kerr because my dad liked it. She said he enjoyed watching the drunken shenanigans.
We went the “cheap” route for our second fridge….mistake! We bought it at the used appliance place and they told us it was new, scratch and dent only. Thirty day return policy. The compressor started to go out in 45 days. Repair person said new compressor would be $800…and the dents probably came when it fell off a truck at a large height, pretty much rattling everything mechanical inside to smithereens. So we bought a new inside/primary refrigerator at Home Depot. Two hour delivery window, called when they were on their way. They moved the one inside to the garage (second spot), and took the dead one away… for $25! I’m loving my new indoor one.
I’ve been trying to cook new recipes more often, but just couldn’t bring myself to make something with that much butter!
That sounds like a terrible experience! I’m glad you’ve got it all sorted out now.
We probably use more butter than we should, but that recipe was more loaded than usual. There are so many great recipes out there — it’s hard to focus and say, yes, that’s the one, I’ll try it. But I say have fun with it. Mistakes will be made.
Hi Donna,
Long time reader, first time to comment……
Loved the Firesign Theater reference!
Thank you, and welcome to the comments section! I’m so pleased you caught the reference. We have a quite the collection of Firesign Theater on vinyl. We need to start listening to them again. Yes! You’ve inspired me.