As we head into April and (hopefully) spring weather, I find myself contemplating something that made me stop and do a deep dive into a rabbit hole, or two, or even maybe three.

The Return of the Deep Fat Fryer

This one really made me stop and do a double take. I grew up with a very large electric deep fat fryer that was used sparingly. When I moved out on my own, one of my first purchases was a Fry Daddy, which while smaller than what I was used to but was big enough for what little use I put it to.

What you need to understand is that if your oil is at the right temperature, usually 350 degrees Fahrenheit, your food won’t be greasy on the inside. That is the key.

I’ve seen some cookery shows do a lot of recipes using dutch ovens on top of the stove with a thermometer attached to the side of the pot. Yes, it works. No, it isn’t for me. Cumbersome and messy come to mind. If you like that method, by all means go for it.

I like the convenience of a built in thermometer. I like a smaller size pot that I can move about easily to empty and clean. A basket is a plus but I have used skimmers, too.

What Would I use a Deep Fat Fryer For?

• Fritters of all kinds
• doughnuts or doughnut holes
• home made french fries
• home made potato chips
• home made tortilla chips

Those home made chips are awesome, by the way. Easy and cheap, too. If you have never had a home made french fry you do not know what you are missing.

When my Yelloh delivery came recently, the driver and I were discussing some of the new options in the catalog and I was astounded to learn that the cooking options for several of the items had been updated for deep fat frying in addition to options for oven or air fryers.

I admit I am contemplating getting a new deep fat fryer. I haven’t had one in years and the last time I attempted my favorite tuna fritters the result was less than satisfactory.

I’ll let you know what my final decision will be. I won’t be doing anything in a hurry, however, as there is a lot to consider. I need to find a place to store the thing!

It’s Baaaack!

I am always amazed at how the turn of the season can wreak so much havoc on our daily lives. Well, the part where we do some decluttering, cleaning up, general projects and other stuff that has been on our To Do List forever.

In my neck of the woods, weather has a huge impact on what can be done when, and if Mother Nature isn’t cooperating that To Do List goes back in the drawer it came from.

Spring cleaning is always an interesting collection of tasks. Is it too warm to run the self-cleaning oven? Can we shampoo the carpets? Who’s up for taking the curtains and drapes down for laundering? Will the vacuum cleaner survive or should we get a new one now?

There was a time (way back in the dark ages) when Spring Cleaning was done in all its glory. The house was basically stripped down to the baseboards and tasks were done in an order that might not seem to make sense, but by the time everything was done (and rather quickly, too) it looked brand spanking New.

I shudder to contemplate what that would require these days.

In the meantime, I’m pulling out that To Do List and seeing what I can accomplish before it gets too warm, too cold or too wet. Too dry doesn’t seem to be an issue.

Wish me luck.

There is a touch of irony when I think of gardens. I grew up on a farm where the ‘garden’ was a food producing entity. In our corner of the world, Summer was hot and dry so growing flowers was deemed to be way too much effort and used precious resources that could go to food.

Fast forward a few years and I found myself living in apartments where growing things, what few I had managed to keep alive, were in pots. Flowers, as such, appeared on upholstery and bed linens.

Zip forward a few more years and I had moved to my own small place where the idea of a ‘garden’ was still pretty much in pots on the deck, or scattered throughout the interior of my home which, incidentally, was decorated with growing things on upholstery, etc

My reality, when it comes to gardens as such, is that I am not really what ‘I’ would consider a gardener. I tinker. I experiment. I cross my fingers and offer prayers for the little greenery that deems brave enough to attempt to exist in my small plot.

Some might say that makes me a gardener. <shrug>

I have a friend who is an Actual Gardener. It is never unusual to find her in her garden doing all the chores associate with gardens, or contemplating the state of her garden, or plotting the next phase of her garden. And her garden is always beautiful.

Gardens are magical places of hope and dreams. Those who embark on the care and maintenance of gardens bring these things with them just as they bring the tools of the trade. It doesn’t matter what level of expertise these folks have, either. The idea of gardens is enough to entice them to get their hands dirty, to attempt to coax life from a spot that might not seem to be able to sustain it.

Sometimes we succeed, other times…not so much. I could tell you my particular sob story about raising deck tomatoes but why bother?

Mr. Carrington encouraged me to return to my deck garden and see what I could make of it. By sharing his adventures on his roof garden, he reminded me that sometimes it is simply the joy of accidental success that makes all the work worth it

Last year I acquired a small selection of indoor plants that were cat friendly and were touted to be able to survive in a not so sunny space. Half of them bit the dust while the remainder seem to be … dare I say it … managing happily in areas of my home that I could have sworn would not sustain plants.

Miracles!

Years ago I was a faithful viewer to PBS’ Victory Garden. I learned a lot about a lot of things…mostly that I wasn’t cut out for actual gardening. No matter, I enjoy watching the process and seeing the results. I still enjoy watching gardening shows. Monty Dons hosts a lovely garden series carried on BritBox that I found not only beautiful but useful.

I happened across The Curious Gardeners on BBC Home on PlutoTV recently. There are similar shows on YouTube.

Gardens are magical spaces no matter what your skill level or amount of space. If you are interested, there are options. Encouraging a small plant can be quite rewarding even if the only goal is to keep it alive, not cultivate it for food production.

I find myself contemplating adding a few things to pots in my house again this Spring. Who knows? I might have better success this year.

Miracles and magic seasoned with a lot of hope and prayers.