POTATO PANCAKES
There are three reasons I am posting this potato pancake recipe.

First of all, I was talking to Ronni recently and she expressed interest in making potato pancakes and I thought that this was a good time to do it since the cold weather is approaching in New England. Instead of going out into the sunshine, it's time to spend more time in the kitchen.


Photo by Taaalia.

Another reason for the pancake recipe is that the Jewish holiday, Hanukkah, starts on December 15 and the traditional food served is potato pancakes. I only make them for the holiday, as I find them a chore, but in the end they are worth the effort. They freeze well so I can make them at my convenience and have them "at the ready."

The last reason is that my mother made the very best pancakes. She didn't have a recipe per se, if you asked her "how much" her answer was, "just enough." She just had a knack for making anything she made taste great.

Over the years I have tried to make them like hers, this is the closest I've come.

Millie's Potato Pancakes

6 Russet potatoes (they don't turn brown)
1 Medium Onion
2 Eggs
1/4 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1 Teaspoon Salt
1/8 Teaspoon Pepper
3 Tablespoons Flour
Peanut Oil for frying

Peel and grate potatoes, add grated onion , beaten eggs, seasonings, baking powder and flour. Mix well.

Heat quarter inch of cooking oil in frying pan. Fry batter by large heaping tablespoons until crisp. Turn and cook other side.

The secret of making pancakes in advance is to fry and remove them to layers of paper toweling, allowing them to drain for a few seconds.

Place pancakes on a cookie sheet and freeze.

When ready to serve, set oven at 400 degrees and heat until, like my mother would say, "until they are hot."

Serve with sour cream or apple sauce.

Enjoy!!

posted by millie garfield @ 2:45 PM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >> 27 comments

 
MEMORIES
Meeting Claude at South Station last Thursday triggered some memories from my single days.

Since our get together I was trying to remember when the last time I was at South Station. I thought about it and thought about it and then a light went on!! It had to be some time in the 50's when I was friendly with a great gal who I worked with.

After work we did many interesting things, took evening classes, ate out and went to the theatre. We also went on vacations together and had the greatest times.

Once when we were looking for a different type of vacation we heard about this great resort in Sainte-Agathe-Des-Monts in Quebec, it sounded like an interesting and intriuging location but the problem was, how do we get there? Well, my friend had a casual acquaintance who was also interested in going to Quebec and she was willing to drive. PROBLEM SOLVED!!

The ride up was uneventful, the resort was all that we had anticipated, the surroundings were beautiful. The food was excellent, entertainment good, and the "fellows" were mostly from that area so it made for some interesting conversations.

My friend and I were having a good time, but our traveling companion was having a great time. She meet someone from Ohio who wanted her to go back there with him. Before the week was out she told us that she was going to Ohio with him and leaving us to fend for ourselves!!

We had to figure out how we were going to get back home via public transportation!!


South Station, Boston by absolutwade, uploaded from flickr.

Taking the train to SOUTH STATION was the answer. I had to be in my early 20's at the time and even then I remember shlepping my suitcase was hard, after all when you go to a resort you have to take loads of clothes. By car it's one thing but by train, it's no joke.

Well, you want to know, "so what happened to the rat that left us for that guy?"

We did learn that it did not work out for her. We never saw her again but my friend and I still keep in touch after all these years.

posted by millie garfield @ 3:06 PM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >> 11 comments

 
SWAMPSCOTT and PARIS MEET in BOSTON
When I first learned that Claude from Blogging In Paris was going to be visiting friends in Sudbury, MA which is a suburb of Boston, my thought was, "how were we going to get together." I live north of Boston and Sudbury is west of Boston.

Well, you know the old saying, "if there is a will, there is a way." Claude was visiting Ronni in Portland and found out that there is a train that leaves Portland and goes directly to South Station in Boston. It's been years since I have driven into town but I was able to arrange a ride that took me to the station.

Her train came in even earlier then scheduled, I arrived early too. Well, I wish you could have seen the two of us -- She spotted me before I saw her but hesitated, she saw someone that looked like me but I was sitting with a gentleman and then she thought, "well, that could be Millie!" By this time I recognized her and we both ran to each other. As far as the gentleman was concerned, the station is a busy place and he asked if he could share the table with me.


I have read Claude for a few years now and know what a lovely, sensitive and caring person she is but meeting her in person I found she was even more special then I imagined. What a wonderful visit we had!!


Fortunatly, my daughter-in-law Carol was working in that area that day, met us at South Station and walked us over to Les Zygomates, a restaurant that she is familiar with. I rarely get into town so having Carol take us over there was a big help. She went back to work and left us to enjoy lunch together and gab, gab, gab.

To top of having a great lunch with Claude we each had a cappuccino - was that ever good!


Steve and Carol joined us after lunch and got to spend some time with Claude and as you saw from my previous post, he video blogged us.


Isn't it wonderful how blogging brings people together from near and far!!

posted by millie garfield @ 5:51 PM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >> 17 comments

 
Claude and Millie have lunch in Boston

Click to Play

Watch a clearer version over on blip.tv. [ MPEG4 ]

posted by Steve Garfield @ 11:57 AM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >> 6 comments

 
Today's Zits Comic Strip

Today's Zits Comic Strip - ArcaMax Publishing

posted by Steve Garfield @ 7:02 PM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >> 7 comments

 
A SPECIAL FISH DISH
Years ago, whenever I attended a special event like an engagement party or a shower at a function hall, the dish that was usually served was baked haddock. No matter how many times this dish was served at these events, it was always a big hit.


One time I asked for the recipe and the owner of the function hall was kind enough to give me the recipe.

It's not my usual "Nice and Easy" recipe but it is worth the effort.

Millie's Baked Fish with Vegetables

6 pieces of haddock or cod
1 large onion, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
1 small green pepper, diced
1/4 pound fresh mushrooms
3 tablespoons butter
8 ounces tomatoe sauce
salt and pepper to taste

Lighly grease a baking dish.

Brown vegetables in 2 tablespoons of butter. Place vegetables on bottom of baking dish. Place fish on top of vegetables. Dot with remaining butter. Season fish with salt and pepper. Pour tomatoe sauce over fish.

Bake in 400 degree oven for 35 minutes. Baste occasionally.

Enjoy!

posted by millie garfield @ 3:43 PM | Permalink | I LOVE COMMENTS >> 15 comments