Crab Cakes and French Fries

We tested positive for Covid on our anniversary; felt lousy on Persian new year; and started to feel a bit better on my husband’s birthday. We were so disappointed to catch this awful virus after being so careful for four years. We just got the last booster vaccine eight days before. This has not been a good year for us, and an even worse March. My husband has been having too many doctor appointments since January and this was the icing on the cake. But for his birthday we decided it was time to make French fries. Not having any taste or smell it hardly mattered to me what we ate. Luckily I am getting some of that back but things still taste quite bland. But my husband loves French fries. So he cut the potatoes up in the French fry blade and I seasoned the potatoes in a bowl, then put them in the air fryer. Then we made frozen crab cakes and broccoli to finish up the birthday meal. It felt good to begin eating “normal” again. We were using the air fryers all of the time before Covid and I was really enjoying cooking. But I lost interest when we were down and out. After dinner I got out the usual snacks - lady fingers, cookies and candy - and added a single birthday candle. My husband was happy. In the end that’s all we can ask for. 

Progressive International Tower Fry Cutter

We got an air fryer last week and have been experimenting with different things - just to get used to using it. We first made frozen pierogies, and yesterday we wanted to try French fries. Rather than try to cut the potato to size with a knife, we got a progressive international French fry cutter. We found a “recipe” on the internet that we used instead of the one that came with the air fryer. One calls for freezing the potatoes overnight and using the “fries” function. The one we used just calls for cutting, rinsing, oiling and seasoning, and then air frying for eighteen minutes and shaking them half way through. The toughest part is cutting the potatoes with the cutter! I couldn’t do it and got a couple minor cuts trying. The blade is very sharp. So my husband finally got some cut after we first cut the potato in half. We will either need to buy smaller potatoes or continue to cut them in half in bulk, and then save a few packages and put them in the freezer. Then we will have them available when we want to use them. As for the air fryer? The French fries were edible, but they weren’t crispy. They probably needed to stay in a bit longer. But we can see these being a great alternative to the fried processed brand we sometimes get and microwave. The idea of the air fryer is to eat non fried healthier options. There is a learning curve to using the air fryer. Eventually we will get the hang of it. Today we will be trying shrimp and tomorrow pizza. 

Dan Dan Noodles and French Fries

We like Chinese food but are rather picky about it. We usually get the same thing every time - fried rice, wonton soup and spring rolls. So we sent a menu from a local Asian restaurant called Fahrenheit to our son and DIL and asked them what they would select from it because they always seem to know what to get. Then we ordered Dan Dan noodles with ground pork, stir fry bokchoy, potstickers, and langya potatoes. They also suggested an eggplant and pork dish but we thought we would start with these items. We drove just down the street to pick it all up and were looking forward to a tasty treat. It all looked good, but it all started to taste the same. The seasoning seemed to be the same on everything. I didn’t care for the texture of the bokchoy - a sort of cabbage dish. The potstickers were ok but we didn’t figure out the dip that needed to go with it until we were done. The Dan Dan noodles were quite mushy and the mild seasoning was too much for me. The best part was the langya potatoes because they were French fries with whatever seasoning was on them - sesame, soybean oil, aged vinegar, Chile, Chinese pepper? The whole meal was missing something - like bread of some sort. Perhaps it was just the texture and color of the food. I just didn’t feel very satisfied during or after the meal. Tonight I am looking forward to my husband’s eggplant masterpiece. There is something to be said about home cooking. 

Ore-Ida French Fries Treat

I love French fries - who doesn’t? I remember walking to the 5 and dime, sitting at the counter, and eating French fries with a soda. When McDonald’s came around it was even better. Cholesterol levels run high in my family and I’m sure that snack didn’t help. My husband loves French fries too. It’s been seven weeks since we have ventured outside - we’re are being cautious due to age and blood pressure issues. The last restaurant we went to was Italian, so I’m not sure when we had our last French fry. We have been lucky enough to score Peapod grocery runs and I added Ore-Ida French fries to the list. It’s hit and miss with any delivery service, but I’m just thrilled to have the option. We did try shopping at 1 AM to avoid the crowds early one Sunday morning, but as long as I can nab a delivery time I’d prefer that route. So yesterday we thought we would try some French fries as an appetizer before dinner. Half an hour in the oven and they were ready - and they were delicious. I’m sure a lot of it has to do with the fact that we haven’t had a treat like that in weeks. It was the highlight of the day. I am so thankful for everything that we have. A French fry is a small reminder. How things are going to change. 

A Burger King Stop in Honor of my Dad

I have been a McDonald's fan since it opened all those years ago. We still go there for breakfast when we are on the road, and now that they have breakfast anytime it's even better. Later on in his life my dad preferred Burger King - especially the whopper. Over the last couple of years our neighbor would stop at Burger King once in awhile and bring a whopper home for him to change up the meals on wheels routine. When he died last year, I always thought it would be appropriate to have a tribute whopper meal for my dad. And so we did. Last week when we were traveling to Wisconsin to visit our friends and colleagues, we were stuck on the turnpike heading west. It was around supper time, we were in Indiana, and the next service plaza was coming up. And wouldn't you know it was a Burger King. So we stopped in and ordered not only a whopper, but an angry whopper too. Then we toasted to my dad and chowed it all down. I know he would have liked it. I think in the end we still prefer McDonald's, but this was just a good idea. 

McDonald's Lunch

Whenever we drive somewhere on vacation, we generally end up at McDonald's for breakfast or lunch. It's an easy in and out. When we were in England last month we stopped at a McDonald's for lunch. I remember seeing the first McDonald's when I was about five or six years old. I always loved the French fries, but preferred no onions on my hamburger. Every year about this time, I have an annual X-ray scheduled in Chevy Chase, and on the way back, along Wisconsin Avenue, we stop at McDonald's. It was exactly noon when we pulled in to the parking lot. There was also a lot of pedestrian traffic out and about for lunch hour. My husband was looking forward to the jalapeño burger he had earlier in the summer - it was tastier than a simple hamburger - and more than two bites. Unfortunately he had to settle for a fish sandwich instead. I got a hamburger, and added two large orders of fries and a small diet coke to the order. Then we sat down and thought it might be a good day to pick up a turkey for Thanksgiving after lunch. Most people might say this is an awful place to go, but it was hard to tell seeing all the people of every kind having their lunch there. Maybe it's just fashionable to think that way. We don't go there that often, but once in a while it just hits the spot. And today was one of those days.