10 October 2010
Maceroni and Shreik
10/10/10 09:52
HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM CANADA!!
Big news this week. Marsha has learned how to make Macaroni and Cheese.
OK, OK I can hear all of you out there saying "Well Duh", but no we aren't talking about the blue box. I was 30 before I found out that cheese sauce didn't start with orange powder. We've discovered that real Macaroni and Cheese is a completely different animal. Like the difference between prosciutto and ham, or marinara and red sauce, or spaghetti and pasta.
Wait, I guess those aren't good examples.
It's like the difference between a McDonald hamburger and one you cooked on your own grill with real lean beef, fresh toppings, on a home made bun. It's that much better.
Real macaroni and cheese has good quality pasta, good cheese, a little milk to make the sauce, some spices, and is baked in a medium oven. It comes out warm and creamy with crunchy bits on top and on the sides of the casserole. The first time Marsha made it was good. She kept trying and after three or four experiments it now has cheddar, sharp cheddar, pepper jack, and parmesan, she uses cream instead of milk, and a few more spices. It is simply wonderful; and we seldom have leftovers. For the next batch she's going to try adding little onion and caraway. I can't wait.
So Wednesday while we were enjoying our macaroni and cheese all heck broke loose around here.
It started with Oscar. Oscar is a friendly neighbourhood cat. He's got long grey and white fur and travels up and down the block visiting houses. Now, Geiger doesn't like Oscar. Frankly, Geiger doesn't like any strange cat. He'll often run from window to window glaring at Oscar when he wanders by. Today though, something else happened and we don't know what.
Our first hint that something was amiss was the screech. Marsha and I jumped up from our macaroni and cheese with the same thought. Geiger had just been hit by a steam roller. Exactly how that would happen inside the house we weren't sure but we dashed down the hall checking rooms. Finally we found him in the bedroom on the windowsill. His hair was on end and he was growling and snarling at a (very surprised Oscar sitting in the back yard. To this day we still have no idea what may have set Geiger off so badly. Barbara has suggested there was something like a big dog or a racoon on the outside of the fence and he was reacting to that. Whatever the reason Geiger was totally freaked out.
Just as we got to the room Geiger jumped down and ran out. He was in total psycho-kitty mode. He does that. He runs from window to window, fur on end and tail as thick as a rolling pin searching for the intruder outside the windows. He has to protect the house. This time he ran over Momiji in the hallway. I don't think he growled at her or anything. I suspect he was so intent on the intruder that he just ran over her.
After about 10 minutes of this we got the curtains closed and Geiger calmed down. The thing is that for some reason this time his psycho-kitty act had scared Momiji rather badly. Now whenever he comes around her she starts growling and hissing. This has Geiger all confused. He doesn't remember the incident at all. (It's one of the advantages of having a brain the size of a walnut.) All he knows is that his best friend and playmate is really pissed at him and he can't fix it. No matter what Geiger does, Momiji will have nothing to do with him. He wanders around, tries to give her little presents (stuffed mice etc.), acts all submissive and the rest. But she just hisses and spits. He'll sometimes try to start playing with her, but to him playing is wrestling, and she sees that as a threat so she growls and hides. The worst part is that he does not have any idea why she's mad. He's completely clueless. He travels around forlornly trying to make up to no avail. He'll just have to wait until Momiji decides to accept him again. (Does this sound at all familiar to you married guys out there?)
To confuse Geiger even further, today during the start of the Minnesota Wisconsin game. The announcer said something particularly painful ("Yes Jim, you couldn't AXE for a better day for these two teams to play for the Paul Bunyan trophy"). Marsha looked over at the TV and just growled. Grrr! Unfortunately just then Geiger was coming in the door to the kitchen and he just froze. You could see him thinking, "Oh crap now SHE's mad at me too." He turned and hid under the table until I coaxed him out. It's been a bad week for Geiger.
But slowly Momiji is getting to trust Geiger again. Now if Geiger is sitting or sleeping Momiji will join him. However if Momiji is sitting or sleeping and Geiger approaches she usually growls. At least it's a step in the right direction. The tension in the house is slowly going down bit by bit and by next week life will be back to normal. Also the rains have hit so we likely won't be seeing much of Oscar or anyone else out back for a while. All this is good.
Doug & Marsha
Special thanks to Jean, Ron, Jody, Rick, Jessica and Jacob. The Grapenuts were delicious and so was the Tillimook cheese! We are now in our withdrawal period.
PIX: Fall!
Big news this week. Marsha has learned how to make Macaroni and Cheese.
OK, OK I can hear all of you out there saying "Well Duh", but no we aren't talking about the blue box. I was 30 before I found out that cheese sauce didn't start with orange powder. We've discovered that real Macaroni and Cheese is a completely different animal. Like the difference between prosciutto and ham, or marinara and red sauce, or spaghetti and pasta.
Wait, I guess those aren't good examples.
It's like the difference between a McDonald hamburger and one you cooked on your own grill with real lean beef, fresh toppings, on a home made bun. It's that much better.
Real macaroni and cheese has good quality pasta, good cheese, a little milk to make the sauce, some spices, and is baked in a medium oven. It comes out warm and creamy with crunchy bits on top and on the sides of the casserole. The first time Marsha made it was good. She kept trying and after three or four experiments it now has cheddar, sharp cheddar, pepper jack, and parmesan, she uses cream instead of milk, and a few more spices. It is simply wonderful; and we seldom have leftovers. For the next batch she's going to try adding little onion and caraway. I can't wait.
So Wednesday while we were enjoying our macaroni and cheese all heck broke loose around here.
It started with Oscar. Oscar is a friendly neighbourhood cat. He's got long grey and white fur and travels up and down the block visiting houses. Now, Geiger doesn't like Oscar. Frankly, Geiger doesn't like any strange cat. He'll often run from window to window glaring at Oscar when he wanders by. Today though, something else happened and we don't know what.
Our first hint that something was amiss was the screech. Marsha and I jumped up from our macaroni and cheese with the same thought. Geiger had just been hit by a steam roller. Exactly how that would happen inside the house we weren't sure but we dashed down the hall checking rooms. Finally we found him in the bedroom on the windowsill. His hair was on end and he was growling and snarling at a (very surprised Oscar sitting in the back yard. To this day we still have no idea what may have set Geiger off so badly. Barbara has suggested there was something like a big dog or a racoon on the outside of the fence and he was reacting to that. Whatever the reason Geiger was totally freaked out.
Just as we got to the room Geiger jumped down and ran out. He was in total psycho-kitty mode. He does that. He runs from window to window, fur on end and tail as thick as a rolling pin searching for the intruder outside the windows. He has to protect the house. This time he ran over Momiji in the hallway. I don't think he growled at her or anything. I suspect he was so intent on the intruder that he just ran over her.
After about 10 minutes of this we got the curtains closed and Geiger calmed down. The thing is that for some reason this time his psycho-kitty act had scared Momiji rather badly. Now whenever he comes around her she starts growling and hissing. This has Geiger all confused. He doesn't remember the incident at all. (It's one of the advantages of having a brain the size of a walnut.) All he knows is that his best friend and playmate is really pissed at him and he can't fix it. No matter what Geiger does, Momiji will have nothing to do with him. He wanders around, tries to give her little presents (stuffed mice etc.), acts all submissive and the rest. But she just hisses and spits. He'll sometimes try to start playing with her, but to him playing is wrestling, and she sees that as a threat so she growls and hides. The worst part is that he does not have any idea why she's mad. He's completely clueless. He travels around forlornly trying to make up to no avail. He'll just have to wait until Momiji decides to accept him again. (Does this sound at all familiar to you married guys out there?)
To confuse Geiger even further, today during the start of the Minnesota Wisconsin game. The announcer said something particularly painful ("Yes Jim, you couldn't AXE for a better day for these two teams to play for the Paul Bunyan trophy"). Marsha looked over at the TV and just growled. Grrr! Unfortunately just then Geiger was coming in the door to the kitchen and he just froze. You could see him thinking, "Oh crap now SHE's mad at me too." He turned and hid under the table until I coaxed him out. It's been a bad week for Geiger.
But slowly Momiji is getting to trust Geiger again. Now if Geiger is sitting or sleeping Momiji will join him. However if Momiji is sitting or sleeping and Geiger approaches she usually growls. At least it's a step in the right direction. The tension in the house is slowly going down bit by bit and by next week life will be back to normal. Also the rains have hit so we likely won't be seeing much of Oscar or anyone else out back for a while. All this is good.
Doug & Marsha
Special thanks to Jean, Ron, Jody, Rick, Jessica and Jacob. The Grapenuts were delicious and so was the Tillimook cheese! We are now in our withdrawal period.
PIX: Fall!