I’m getting old and the outside is getting cold. It’s still above freezing – barely – but the wind is blowing like a banshee – making the wind-chill seem colder than a witches well-digger. Or something. Definitely cold enough to eschew the grill, tonight.

Back in my hotel days, my dad used to tease me about snow and the cold, since it seemed like just about every place I was moving to I was going to be shoveling snow. He reminded me often that he had last shoveled snow in 1942 – and wasn’t about to do it, again. I’m beginning to see his point – and I haven’t had to shovel anything, yet.

I really do love the snow, but I’m getting to the point where I want to go to it – not have it come to me. I hear the west coast beckoning…

Instead of grilling the chops as I had originally planned, I breaded them, browned them in a skillet, and then finished them off in the oven. The breadcrumbs had garlic, salt, pepper, and cumin mixed in. Very simple – no egg wash, no flour – just crumbs.

The sweet potatoes had shallots, honey, diced green chiles, cinnamon, cumin, thyme, and salt & pepper. Those I baked off, covered, in the oven. Again, really simple. Nice warm house, nice warm kitchen.

As I lament the cold, I laugh, because we’re purposely heading right into it on Monday!

Niagara Falls in winter is truly stunning and the lights should really be spectacular. It won’t be nearly this cold while we’re there, although it will most likely be snowing pretty much the entire time. That’s fine. I’ve seen it colder than this. Of course, I was also a mere 34 years younger than I am, today – and we would always carry flasks of medicinal brandy with us to stave off the effects of the winter chill.

Sweet youth…

At my advancing age, I think I’ll be passing on the flask this time around and settle on just being properly dressed for the occasion. And maybe find a pub with a fireplace…