Creamed Rutabaga and Pearl Onions

INGREDIENTS
12 ounces pearl onions
1 large rutabaga, diced
1 cup heavy cream
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon chopped flat-leaf parsley
1 garlic clove, smashed
1/2 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup goose stock or chicken broth

DIRECTIONS
Blanch the pearl onions by placing them into a large pot of rapidly boiling water. Cook them for about 1 minute. Remove the onions from the water with a strainer, and then plunge into an ice bath to stop the cooking process. Drain them, and then remove the skins. Toss diced rutabaga into pot of boiling water and cook until tender.

Put the onions in a 3-quart saucepan and place over low-medium heat. Add the cream, bay leaves, parsley, garlic and nutmeg. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and let simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened. Then, remove the cover and add stock and tender rutabagas. Season again. Allow to cook down for 5 minutes to tighten up the cream sauce. Discard the garlic clove and bay leaves before serving.

The foliage has been losing its freshness through the month of August, and here and there a yellow leaf shows itself like the first gray hair amidst the locks of a beauty who has seen one season too many. ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

 

Sheila Metcalf

I thought it might be fun today to do something different… just talk about me for a change (tongue in cheek). We all know I do a lot of talking. Some people have even said, they think I talk just to hear myself think. But whatever I am running off the mouth about, I do generally have a purpose or I thought I did at the time.

I’ve gotten many, many genealogy requests this week but haven’t spent as much time on it as I should have. I don’t seem to be as focused as I need to be, with so much going on this month. It may take me a little longer to get around to your personal requests and I do hope you will bear with me a little longer. Only one of me… so your help is always welcomed.

I do want to say a very special, “Happy Birthday” to my sister-in-law Cookie today… very important person in our lives. I don’t think we take the time to tell her often enough how much we love and appreciate her. So I want to be sure to tell her now. Love and Hugs for your B-day!

I also want to say, that the month of September is always one of my busiest months of the year, but this one in particular with work, upcoming day trips and micro-vacations, baby showers, birthday parties, garden club meeting, Montgomery County Fair, Steven going off to college, thus making me an OFFICIAL CARD CARRYING… EMPTY NESTER, all in one month… WOW! Yes, all of that and I will still have to clean the house, plan the meals, grocery shop, cook  (okay, we do eat out… a lot) so most of the meals anyway, do the laundry and decorate the house, the shop and Steven’s dorm room. All while, trying to look amazing and well put together, with a clear handle on life.

This will be my final month as Garden Club President and I wanted to say, I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. I have also chosen not to continue on as the South Montgomery County contact person for the OAGC. My decision wasn’t made lightly; I just want my life back. I want to go back to doing what I love… which is just playing in the dirt, moving my plants around as if they were supposed to be transplanted on monthly basis and break all of the rules. And if they die, just replace them with bigger ones. Talking to my over population of Chinese walking sticks as if we were old friends. I do miss that. And asking my weeds if they know how they got their names and how would they prefer to die. A short quick yank or would they prefer a little harsher method of Round-up. Then I tell them… it’s up to me to decide. Muhahahaha!

Well I better get a move on, the phone has rang twice and both times it was the same person, my sweet and wonderful hubby with a list of things he needs me to do as well. I say, “Sure Hun… no problem… I didn’t have a thing to today. I was just waiting for you to call.” I better update my Facebook status to… Sheila Metcalf: is holding her sides in an effort to contain her laughter or does this well, and gets consistently high points for Being Totally Truthful and Honest, when facing Reality.

Have a really great day and let me know if you want to have lunch… I’ll pencil you in; there is nothing more important than spending time with my family and friends, regardless of time constraints… I will find time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

September is a big Birthday Month:

• 1st Mary Wanda Angel Metcalf aka Cookie
• 4th Carly Christine Metcalf
• 12th Julia Lorraine Stump Adkins Ball – birthday remembrance
• 13th Rocky Ray Metcalf
• 14th Charlie Metcalf
• 14th Sheila Michelle Metcalf
• 19th Samuel James Metcalf Sr.
• 21st Willia Mae Metcalf Crase Welch
• 22nd A. Craig Metcalf – will be 29 this month, and I’m still trying to figure out where the time has gone. Happy Birthday son. We love you!
• 22nd Happy Birthday to Tiger Zamora
• 29th Ronald Terrance Adkins aka Little Ronnie
• 29th Trinity Nicole Metcalf

Happy Anniversary… to David & Joy Metcalf Rose.

Fall decorating, should be warm and comforting… use Nature as your theme this year and enjoy all it has to offer. I’m going to repaint my front door green. It makes me happy to see it whenever I get to be here. That to me says, “Welcome” and family is always welcome here.

The love we give away is the only love we keep. ~ Elbert Hubbard