Another Cold Spell

My new shoes in the “Ocean Waves” pattern. I got them for the beach!

OMGosh! It’s been really chilly the last couple of days but it warms up on Wednesday. The low last night was predicted to be 39° and 36° tomorrow night. I took the quilt top to the quilter yesterday morning. I stopped for donuts on the way in case there were folks there and sure enough, the parking lot filled up right after I arrived. We all sat around and talked about the projects we’re working on and nibbled on our pastries. It was so much fun. I miss having a stitching group to get together every week. Maybe this fall I’ll organize something!

I got a notification that a couple of samples I ordered from my shop had arrived so I stopped at the Post Office to get them. Then I headed home to help Mr. FixIt clean house. We got in the habit of stacking books and magazines beside our Big Red Chairs and we have a tendency to throw our jackets on the back of the sofa. So it just took a little while to get things put away.

We have to go to town today for an appointment and to pick up prescriptions. I noticed some little black ants in the camper this weekend so I need to get some ant poison to leave in there. I really need to move the camper around to the back of the house and get it away from the maple tree because that’s where the ants are coming from.

By late afternoon, we were ready to stop for the day and I fixed supper. I thawed out some salmon and made saffron rice with mushrooms and steamed asparagus. OMGosh! It was SO yummy. Mr. FixIt never complains about my cooking, but he has…only once…told me something was good but I didn’t have to make it again. *giggle* He’s such a gentle man. Anyway, he raved about this meal so I need to make it more often. I think I only have one more meal left out of that large salmon filet I bought in late January. Fish is really good for you!

He had never had saffron rice before. I haven’t made it in years. I bought some saffron at the store a year or two ago and finally decided yesterday was the day. I don’t know if you’ve ever cooked with saffron or know where it comes from. It originated in Greece but today it comes primarily from Morocco, Greece, India, and Iran. It comes from the saffron crocus and looks just like the little caucus that blooms in the early spring except the stigmas are longer. Each flower only produces three strands of saffron that are harvested in the mid morning while the flowers are still closed. And all this is done by hand. It takes at least 1,000 to produce one ounce of saffron which can costs $60.00 an ounce or more. You can get a .07oz tin for under $14 through my affiliate link on Amazon HERE.

I take a couple of good pinches of the saffron and put in a tiny dish. If you have a mortar and pestle, grind it with a half teaspoon of sugar then add 2-3 tablespoons of warm water. Stir and let sit for the the saffron to “bloom”. Then add a little salt. While the saffron is soaking, caramelize some onions and sliced white mushrooms. Stir in the cooked rice and the soaked saffron along with another pinch of the dried saffron and you have a beautiful, rich side dish that goes wonderfully with seafood, chicken, or lamb.

Two more sleeps…it’s time for a road trip, y’all!