Pinterest Inspired: The Perfect Poached Egg?

I love poached eggs.  But I never can get the traditional "dropped in boiling water" method to work for me.  My egg usually ends up looking like a candidate for Egg Drop Soup.  Ugh.

So when I came across a method attributed to Julia Child I decided to give it a try.

First you are to pin prick a hole in the blunt side of the egg.  I used a tack because there was no way a needle was going through this egg shell.

Then you put the egg into boiling water for 20 seconds.  After 20 seconds you turn down the temp, get the egg out, and break it back into the now simmering water.  The egg shell was a little bit hot but not bad.

Then you poach as normal until it reaches your level of doneness.

At this point I was very pleased with the results.  No cooked egg whites floating around like sea weed!

A very close to perfect poach egg!

Rolling Down The River

Another outing we took while our friend was visiting was a cruise down the Cumberland River.

It was the first week of October so there wasn't much in the order of autumn color change.

In fact, the day was in the upper 70s with a slight breeze.

Just perfect for a slow pontoon boat cruise.

This is my favorite site of the day.

Those limestone pillars are very common bridge supports in this area.

This is the old train line that eventually goes right past our home!  The rails have all been lifted now.

The water was so still it was like a mirror.  Very beautiful.

Nothing like being on the water to relax.

Cooking With Herbs: Bay, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme (Italian Pot Roast)

At a recent cooking class with Chef Dan Maggipinto I learned how to make the most succulent pot roast ever.  Cooked low and slow, the flavors were deep and the meat was fork tender.

After browning, the roast oven cooks with all sorts of flavorful bits.

After it cooks a long while, it is time to make the sauce from the pan leavings.

The roast resting a bit before slicing.

Yes... it tastes as good as it looks!

A Trip to Paducah: Quilt Museum and the River Flood Wall Murals

We recently had a friend from North Dakota come down for a visit.  One of our excursions was a trip up to Paducah, Kentucky.  The main object of the visit was to go to the National Quilt Museum.

It was fantastic!  The quilts here aren't your grandmother's bed quilts.  No, these are magnificent works of fabric art.  Unfortunately, "No Photography" was the much stated rule.  So if you'd like to see more, you'll have to go to the web site:

http://quiltmuseum.org/

They do have a museum catalog available at the gift shop...

However, in the room we waited for our tour (which I recommend), there was this special 'quilt' that you could take a photo of.

This is why it is special!

A cross section so you can see it really is made of wood.

After spending several hours in total amazement, we headed a few blocks over to enjoy the murals on the flood wall.  Paducah is built along the Ohio River.

The beginning of the murals.

Each one is a bit of Paducah history.

You almost felt the cold looking at this one.

Love this one of a tug boat Captain's view of the river!

The nearby lock and dam.

Civil War history.

Local history.

And really local history!

We had a picnic at a park at the end of the flood wall.  Lovely place with the river right there next to us.  

There was so much more to see that we have made plans to come back and stay the night (Paducah is an hour and a half drive from The Sticks).

EHC Project: Cake Stands

October's 'make and take' project for Homemakers club was a cute stand (cake, fruit, whatever).

The weather was perfect so we worked on it outside.

The plates and bowls once again came from Dollar Tree... total cost: $2 plus a bit of glue.

It doesn't get any easier than this project.  Clean your selected plate and bowl.  Make sure to get the sticker off if it is in a place you'd be able to see it.

Run a bit of E6000 glue around the bottom rim of your bowl.  (Be careful with this stuff... it is nasty to your health!)   Position the bowl bottom centered on the bottom of your plate.  Let dry 24 to 72 hours.  (It is pretty much set in 30 minutes, but do give it ample cure time).

E6000 is a clear glue so it works with cut glass plates too.

We had quite a variety of stands!  So cute and they would make really cute gifts.

Travel Trinket: Panama Canal

Seven years ago this month, Himself and I were cruising along in the Panama Canal.  It was a straight through trip, unfortunately with no excursions.  So how does one get a travel trinket when there is no place to get one?

You make it!

One of the activities the ship offered was a time to make a poster and at a certain lock the ship's photographers would take photos of passengers and their poster.

Of course I was all about that!

The above photograph is our travel trinket of our trip through the canal.  

Isn't the frame I found at TJ Maxx just perfect for it?  I love how it lines up the photo with the canal on the world map.

Linked at:

https://nihongojapango.wordpress.com/2015/11/05/wall-hanging-trinket-and-memories-23/

Travel Theme: Frame (Through the Windows of Scotland)

The theme for this week is 'framed' photos.  Easy topic for me since I love doing this with my photos.  I think my very best photographs often use the framing method.

Here are some of my favorite 'framed' photos I took while in Scotland, using a window or door.

Dunstaffnage Castle, partial ruins

One of the oldest stone castles in Scotland, it dates to 1220.  This view looks out to Loch Etive.

Stirling Castle, these buildings date to the 1400s.

One of the most important castles in Scotland, with several kings and queens having been crowned here.   The window reflects other portions of the castle.

Argyll's Lodging, near Stirling Castle.

A view of Loch Duich from the iconic Eilean Donan castle.

Castle Urquhart window overlooking Loch Ness.

View of the Highlands from our window on the Jacobite Steam Train.

Sorbie Tower, seat of the Clan Hanna.

The Baptist church on the west side of Colonsay Island...

... and the Church of Scotland on the east side of the island.

http://wheresmybackpack.com/2015/10/30/travel-theme-frame/