Friday, September 10, 2021

Roux Rushing (Don't Do That)


And the lede tonight is that Gibson won student of the week! For, and I quote- "Great effort, Role Model, helpful, great grades!"

We are so proud of him! And isn't he handsome? 

I am so behind on my usual schedule tonight. It's ridiculous the way I schedule my post writing every evening. I have a timeline that I feel I must adhere to which is ridiculous but it's what I've come to here in my older life. I don't even know what to say about that except that as Popeye, the famous mariner philosopher and eater of canned spinach, always said, "I yam what I yam and that's all that I yam."

So what happened was that I worked out in the garden some and got way too hot even though it is cooler today be a degree or so and then I came in and then Mr. Moon mentioned that I had talked about making him a coconut cream pie recently and he sure was thinking about that and I said, "Well, I'll make it this afternoon because I sure don't want to go back outside to work," and so I made the pie which of course took awhile because I had to make the pastry and bake it and make the custard and make the meringue and top it with coconut and bake that and THEN I started making gumbo because I'll be damned if I'm going to let the last of my lovely okra pods go to waste and Lily and Lauren came over and sat in the kitchen and talked to me while I stirred roux and made broth with shrimp shells and chopped celery and onions and peppers and garlic and sliced up my okra and so on and so forth which also took quite awhile. Every time I make gumbo now I am amazed at how easy it really is but it does take some time and patience because you cannot rush a roux. 
That would make a good title for a poem, wouldn't it? 
"You Cannot Rush a Roux." 

So it's much later than it usually is when I write this and it's Friday and my sheets are still not back on the bed although they are lovely-clean and line-dried and my kitchen looks like a tropical disturbance came through, although not a tropical storm. It's not that bad. 

I have been listening to a novel titled "Ginny Moon" by Benjamin Ludwig and somehow the author has created a fourteen-year old girl who has autism whose mother severely neglected and abused her, made her the protagonist of a book and somehow gotten into her mind and heart and made me love her and hang on to my seat to see how things turn out even as I am so afraid for her. I see that the author took in a teenaged foster child with special needs and his ability to translate that experience into this book is amazing. 
There's so much more I could say about it but I'm not finished with it yet and quite frankly, I'm not sure I'll be finished with it for quite some time, even when I've read (with my ears) the last page. 
And listening to it, I am reminded that we all (or at least me) share traits with people with autism. 
Ginny Moon must have nine grapes with her breakfast every morning and I must start answering comments on the previous day's blog post at 5:00 p.m. 

I can, of course, deviate from my schedule but I surely do not like to. But hell, I did get some work done in the garden, I did hang the laundry outside, I did make a gumbo and I did make a coconut cream pie for my sweetheart. 

My kitchen may be a mess but it smells heavenly and even though I was running so very late on my self-imposed schedule, I did not rush the roux. 

I'll try to get to the comments I haven't answered later or tomorrow. 

Meanwhile...

Happy Friday, y'all.

Love...Ms. Moon


38 comments:

  1. That’s a gorgeous pie! Roux cannot be rushed, but I remember seeing roux in a jar in Texas. I’ve never seen it at Publix. I like to make a big pot of gumbo broth so there’s enough to freeze and add protein to later. It’s one of the most delicious smells! I’m a creature of habit too, just can’t help it.
    Gibson is a very handsome boy, his smile shows his sweetness.
    I think I’ll probably dream about that pie tonight.
    Xoxo
    Barbara

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    1. I think I've seen roux in Publix in a jar. Not sure though. It's so easy to make I'm not sure why anyone would buy it. Gibson is a love, isn't he?

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  2. Lord Amighty, woman!! That pie is breathtaking! I was going to comment on gorgeous grandsons, getting overheated and the ‘making of the roux’, but that pie has left me speechless! I couldn’t make a decent meringue if my life depended on it.

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    1. If you have a decent mixer you can make meringue. You can even make it with a whisk but that's a lot more work.

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  3. All your grandchildren are gorgeous, but there is something about your Gibson that tugs at my heart every time. Must be that sweet smile.
    That pie is a masterpiece.

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    1. You can see his incredibly sweet heart. He's just a love.

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  4. Now I thought the roux title would make a lovely song - it could be sung while you are stirring the pot. I do love that you keep to a writing time because I'm on the West Coast so when I get on the computer at 5pm your writing is what I look forward to reading - my dessert for the day.

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    1. That makes me feel good, sillygirl. Thank you.

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  5. Although I do love coconut cream pie!!!

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  6. sigh......lovely and sweet Gibson.....and pie AND gumbo? You are a wonder woman! Don't know how you manage in your heat......AND it's Martini night to boot! ROFL
    Susan M

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    1. Well, the house is cool enough with the AC on. I would never do that sort of cooking in the summer if I didn't have it.

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  7. That pie ... so perfectly toasted! Sweet as Gibson's smile! Everything else comes in 2nd to the pie and Gibson!
    You are a marvel, girl!

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    1. I just like to cook a lot. And if you like to do something, you're generally pretty good at it, I think.
      Gibson, on the other hand, was just born to be sweet.

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  8. The pie is diamonds in the sky! Unmined diamonds, too. The best gems are under the opening mounds.

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  9. I'm so damned tired when I get home from work I can't even read other people's blogs usually. One more year.

    Jack has been with us for most of the week. He's getting back to his regular self thank goodness. Poor little guy.

    I would like some coconut cream pie as well. Just saying:)

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    1. I'm so glad to hear that Jack is settling down. You and the Big Guy give him what he needs. Love and stability.
      Yes. One more year. You can do it!

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  10. Have a sweet night, and hug that student when you see him. Well done Gibson.

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  11. Oh that pie looks divine. Lucky Mr. Moon! And well done Gibson (who is the splitting image of his mom)!

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    1. It was a pretty darn good supper.
      You can definitely tell that Lily's kids are related to her!

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  12. You are right about us all having slightly autistic traits. I, for instance, always put my left shoe on before my right, and I do the puzzles/crossword etc in the daily newspaper in the same order every day!
    Well done Gibson, he is a lovely looking boy yes! Great smile.

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    1. Our routines bring us comfort, don't they? I suppose they make us feel as if we are in control of something.
      And Gibson hugs are the best.

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  13. Way to go, Gibson! And way to go, Mary...that pie looks scrumptious.

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  14. I hang my head as I admit to rushing roux or two (unlike you). When I read about autism, I invariably wonder about myself. Autism is a spectrum, and try to figure out whether I fall on that spectrum or not. I think that I will always wonder. At 64, I don't imagine it will change my life to find out now.

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    1. No. By our ages, we are who we are. But it is interesting to think that some of our actions have more of an explanation than we thought.

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  15. Mr. Moon just mentions the coconut cream pie and you just whip one up! I am truly amazed and impressed by you. I wouldn't even know where to begin and then I wouldn't have the ingredients I need but you are ready to go at a moment's notice! Wow! You are really something, Ms. Mary Moon, you really are!

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    1. Oh, I keep a pretty well stocked kitchen. I had bought coconut a few months ago so I think this pie has been brewing in my head for awhile.

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  16. I tried to make a lemon meringue pie once and it was a dismal failure. not to lemon pie part. and I love coconut cream pie. last night was my turn to make dinner and it was a little late as I got facetime calls from both my twin grandgirls.

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    1. They love and adore you, Ellen. That must be so gratifying.

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    2. yeah, it is. I can't believe it. they're like my second set of kids.

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  17. I can completely identify with your routine. I must write my post first thing in the morning when I get up, and then I answer comments. And then I got to work. Or sometimes I go to work and THEN answer comments, depending on timing. I find comfort in routines! That pie sounds amazing.

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    1. Yes. Our routines are so important to some of us. Isn't it funny? And yet...as you said, comforting.

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  18. Congratulations Gibson! That's is some awesomeness right there. I love that poem title, you cannot rush a roux. Great book title too. As for routines, mine are pretty loose except for my self set work schedule. And oh, I must clean the kitchen each morning before I settle down at my laptop with my coffee. Beyond that, I find I resist routine.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.