Crumpet meets Satchel and Bucky

Crumpet meets friends from Get Fuzzy (no, you can not buy these plush toys. They are one of only a few handful factory prototypes ever made in the world. Their net worth is probably higher than our house)

After mom, dad & La Gringa left we're alone to deal with Crumpet ourselves. How quickly we forget how nice it is to be able to hand her off to someone else for a few hours? A las we game on soldierly. Signed up to Netflix(tm). Since Crumpet's first ever movie was Gladiator we decided her second will be something less bloddy and watched Shrek 2. It has a few moments but I was disappointed with the movie. Two things that bugged me: 1) Much of the jokes were a re-hash from the first movie; 2) overuse of pop songs to tell the story (I counted at least 9 songs, even though give them credit for using Tom Wait and Nick Cave in the same movie). Thumbs down.

Continue to eat well. Made our favorite roast chicken (adapted from Marcella Hazan's Essential Italian Cooking - or known as The Bible in this household)

Brine the chicken in water, kosher salt, sugar & bay leaf

Rub the chicken with olive oil, kosher salt, Joe's stuff, paprika, cumin, cloves, nutmeg, connamon and cracked pepper

Stuff the chicken with whole lemon (with holes pricked in them), rosemary & sage

Roast in the oven at 325 degrees, 20 minutes per pound. Do not turn. Do not open the oven during cooking time.

When it's done, let chicken cool for 5 - 10 minutes before carving. Make gravy with white wine, roux, sage and shallots.

Served with roasted sweet potatoes (rubbed with olive oil & kosher salt) and sauteed oyster mushrooms.