[chocomouse]

Salads tonight: seafood, broccoli, potato, and cole slaw.

[chocomouse]

My new Breville Smart Oven Air with Super Convection has 13 pre-set functions, including air fry, proof, dehydrate, and the usual bake, roast, reheat, etc. I bought it because my oven/stove is 37 years old and not working consistently well, and replacing it would require some major remodeling, rethinking of my kitchen.

I've never fried foods in my entire life, and air frying is not something I've ever wanted to do; I don't know how to cook or eat that kind of food. It's been a steep learning curve to use this Breville, but I think I do really like it and would buy it again.

Onion rings are the ONLY food I have air fried in it that came out really good!! I bought Alexis brand frozen, breaded onion rings - and they came out perfect! The second time I cooked them, they were not as good - dry, overcooked, but that was my fault because I used an incorrect temperature. There is no simple cookbook (that I have found) for the Breville. I am gradually making my own - a lit of temps and times for different foods.

I have tried doing french fried potatoes, several times - not good. Not crisp and crunchy, cooled off (got cold!) very quickly. I tried chicken thighs - made a greasy mess of the oven and smoked up the whole house. I'm not sure if I should air fry in place of roasting fresh vegetables, but some cooks say to do that.

Sorry, this is more about the Breville than air fryers --and I have read many comments on line from owners that if you want to air fry, get an air fryer, not a Breville convection oven. I think a lot of the problem is me - I like vegetables plain steamed or roasted, usually with herbs. I like meat marinated and roasted or grilled. After 78 years eating that way, it's not easy to change.

Janie, I would suggest you find an air fryer forum online and follow the discussions. Choose carefully - I think many of the air fryer users (of course, not all!) are new (pandemic?) cooks who are looking for a simple (toss it in the air fryer and push start) "magic" way to cook food at home, replacing their usual their usual fast-food take out.

Sorry for the rant, and hope this might be helpful.

[chocomouse]

We had ham steaks, potato salad, and cole slaw.

I plan to buy my tomato and pepper seedlings tomorrow. I'll hardened them off on the covered back porch for a couple weeks, but not transplant them to the garden until at least after May 15, possibly not until June 1. We need to get the electric fence set up, and try to get rid of the woodchuck before I plant, also. I think the bear and the bobcat are not likely to eat garden plants.

[chocomouse]

Dinner tonight was beef stroganoff with asparagus. Unfortunately, not fresh from the garden but the freezer and last year's garden. Still delicious.

[chocomouse]

I have dough for chocolate chip - oatmeal cookies chilling in the fridge.

[chocomouse]

Last night we grilled marinated chicken thighs, with smashed potatoes and buttercup squash.

[chocomouse]

I baked 2 loaves of buttermilk whole wheat bread.

[chocomouse]

Yes, the weather sure is a roller coaster this year. It is 28* and going down right now, at 2:00 a.m. Our last average frost date is May 15; I've been keeping records for 36 years now. I usually don't plant anything outside until Memorial Day, but may try a small planter on the deck with lettuce and spinach this week. And for once, I'd love two weeks of rain this year, as we are officially in a drought, but there is no rain beyond "a chance of showers" in the forecast for several weeks.

[chocomouse]

We had a stir fry with chicken, on angel hair pasta tonight.

[chocomouse]

We had split pea soup from the freezer, and gruyere rolls.

[chocomouse]

Baked beans and brown bread is a very old traditional New England meal. It was (and probably still is) the standard Saturday night supper for many. Twenty or thirty years ago, I baked it in empty coffee cans - til that became a no-no. Then we searched out stainless steel cans, for example, kitchen utensil holders. I still have some of those, but no longer make brown bread.

[chocomouse]

This morning I made Lemon Blueberry muffins with lemon streusel.

[chocomouse]

We had grilled steak, roasted potatoes, and broccoli.

[chocomouse]

We had leftover stuffed peppers, gruyere rolls, and green salad.

[chocomouse]

BakerAunt, I will continue making variations on that oatmeal bar theme. My husband loves them. I've decided I will not be trying the flapjack recipe Smitten Kitten posted. It calls for way too much sugar -- I would be sweeter than I like, and it's more sugar than I can eat.

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