I'm Surrounded By Old Cranks

It's not their FAULT, of course. I've given my cold (or maybe it's a completely different cold, and we'll give these two different colds back to each other, wouldn't that be fun?) to Sean and the boys, so Sean is lying in bed going "I'm dyyyyyying" and Chas is taking cough medicine with Oscar-winning theatrics. I have never, ever seen a child make such a fuss about taking medicine, and THIS CHILD IS TWELVE YEARS OLD.

On Saturday, Margo complained that her fridge is absolutely full of too much food, and WHO PUT THOSE PEAS THERE?? (The peas are an ongoing saga. Don't even get me started on the peas.) Yesterday she said she had NOTHING to EAT in the HOUSE (except peas) (!!!!), so I promised to take her to her favourite grocery today. She forgot, of course, but eventually we got organized and spent a happy hour, me putting things into her cart and her taking them back out again.

"What IS that?"
"It's a fish pie, Margo, you said you loved it the last time"
"I DID? I don't need it."
"Well it'll keep, in the freezer, for emergencies. And here's that nice little quiche that you liked."
"I don't need that much."
"You have enough for two days, let's get a little extra so that you don't run out of food."
"I never do!"
"And then you'll call me on Wednesday and say you have NOTHING to EAT in the HOUSE!"
"WHEN have I EVER done that??"
"Yesterday afternoon," I say, through my teeth.

I retreat to the next aisle to mutter to myself, and the next time I see Margo, she's putting things back on the shelves. I wait  till she's not looking and put them back in again. It's a battle of wits, and Margo will lose. She has the look of someone who knows that they could win an argument if they could JUST remember what they were arguing about.

I win by announcing that there's bad weather expected this week, and we won't be able to get out again.  I feel bad for winning a battle of wits against someone who would usually argue anyone under the table, but really, is a trip to the supermarket supposed to be so fraught?

I have put a lamb stew in the crockpot, and it's going to be yummy:

8 small lamb chops
About a half-cup of black lentils
2 potatoes, peeled and chopped
What do they call those things that look like white carrots? Parsnips! 2 of them
Crushed garlic
1 onion
Thyme
2 carrots
Half a butternut squash
2 cans of chopped tomatoes (you can blend these up if you have kids who hate lumpy tomatoes)
Some red wine is good too, but if you drink any make sure no-one sees you. It IS only ten o'clock in the morning, after all.

Layer the lamb chops, and everything else, in your crockpot, and then pour the tomatoes over everything. Add water to almost cover, and cook on low for 6 hours or so. You may want to add a pinch of salt towards the end. I'll put some into serving-sized containers (this stew freezes really well) so that on Wednesday, when Margo suddenly has NO food in the HOUSE, I can send some for her. I need to think ahead here.

By the way, my Amazon buttons seem to be working out!! Do you see them there? (We couldn't miss them, Nan, they're big and ugly) If you buy ANYTHING from Amazon via this site, (there's a little search bar on the right, there, or you can buy reviewed stuff) I get paid! Someone bought a Hamilton Beach 33967 Set 'n Forget 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker, and I got $4.50! Now that's awesome. For great book reviews and links, see the "Our Favourite Books" button. It looks like blogging can not only be fun and therapeutic, but profitable too. Who'da thunk? Happy Monday, all, and may your cranks not get to you!