Yes, another (brief) trip to CT. Actually, I went yesterday to return my Presto Pressure Cooker because I found out that it couldn’t be used as a pressure CANNER (Duh!). They did have a large pressure canner/cooker but it said not for use on glass stovetops (which we unfortunately have–I hate it, it sucks, I DO NOT recommend getting one). But then I remembered we have a handy 2-coil electric stovetop/hotplate/whatever that we used when Mom was renovating the kitchen. Bingo! So today, I went back to CT and picked up the Mirro 22Qt Canner/Cooker, some more pectin, more canning jars, and a big waterbath canner (since it was pretty cheap). Then I went to Thrifty’s and bought a boatload of fresh fruit for making jams and some cucumbers for making pickles (I hope they are the right kind!!!). Anyways, the good thing is that I got to use my $10 Promo CT gift card and a bunch of Canadian Tire money. I can’t wait to start making my own jam/pickles/preserves! I bought a ton of apples (2 kinds), oranges, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, etc. etc. Oh, and they have fresh green beans (or haricots verts for you jenesaisquoi types) which I want to make into spicy pickled beans for Caesar garnishes, etc. Mmmm! Oh, I picked up a nice big roasting chicken and some fresh carrots, parsnips, brussel sprouts, etc. so I’m going to do a nice oven roasted chicken again (probably just the usual butter-roasted chicken with bacon in my Staub). I really want to make Boeuf Bourguignon again but I just don’t have the time…maybe in a week or two.

In other news: Zoë got a trim yesterday and her nails done so she is feeling like top dog today (and being very lazy). I just realized the other day that I have a paper due on Monday for 2 books which I have only half-read! Fortunately, one of them is very short and in a big font (and I’ve read it before) but the other is long, dry and pretty boring. This is going to be a tough one. Ah, well…at least it’s a very short paper (like 750 words), although sometimes those are the hardest ones to write.

Ciao for now!

D-