LOADED CAULIFLOWER MOCK POTATO SALAD

Some people get a chuckle out of the fact I now and then put a recipe on here and others tell me how much they like it.

LOADED CAULIFLOWER MOCK POTATO SALAD

 2 lb. cauliflower cut into smallish same-sized pieces (see notes)
 6 hard-boiled eggs, cooled and chopped
 6-8 slices of bacon, cut into short strips and then fried crisp
 1 cup grated sharp cheddar (white or yellow cheddar will work; we used some of each)
 1/2 cup sliced green onion (mostly green parts)
 1/2 tsp. onion powder
 salt and fresh-ground black pepper to taste
 1 cup mayo
 2 tsp. yellow mustard (not Dijon)
 1 tsp. onion powder
 salt and fresh-ground black pepper to taste
Cut up cauliflower into smallish same-sized pieces and steam 5-6 minutes in a
vegetable steamer or in a pan with a
steamer insert. Test a piece after 5 minutes; you want the cauliflower fairly soft to resemble the texture of potatoes.
Drain the cauliflower into a colander placed in the sink and let it cool while you prep other ingredients. Don’t rinse; you want it to continue cooking a little.
When you’re ready to assemble the salad the cauliflower should be quite dry. If it isn’t, spread it out on paper towels placed on the counter and pat dry.
While the cauliflower cooks and then drains, cut bacon strips in short cross-wise strips and cook until the bacon is very crisp; then drain on paper towels.
Make
. (click that link to see the method I used, or use your favorite method.) Chop eggs coarsely.
Slice the green onion. Get one cup of grated sharp cheddar ready.
Whisk together the mayo, yellow mustard, 1 tsp. onion powder, salt, and fresh-ground black pepper to make the dressing.
When you’re ready to assemble the salad, put the well-drained (or blotted dry) cauliflower into a bowl and top with the chopped eggs.
Season well with salt, fresh-ground black pepper, and 1/2 tsp. onion powder; then add the dressing and gently combine with the cauliflower and eggs.
Add the crisp bacon pieces, sharp cheddar, and green onion and stir (gently) until the salad is well combined. (We saved out a little bacon, green onion, and cheese to garnish the top of the salad!)
You can eat right away or let the salad chill for a few hours.
Leftovers will keep well in the fridge overnight and can be eaten the next day, although you probably won’t have much left over. I’m guessing it might keep up to two days, but I’ve only kept it overnight.
We started with a 2-lb. bag of cut-up cauliflower and trimmed off some of the stem parts.

Weather!%$^&

Weather!
Whether the weather is cold,
Whether the weather is hot,
We'll weather the weather,
Whatever the weather,
Whether we like it or not!

No, I didn't write it but it is one I have repeated for years and it could not be more appropriate. I am almost thinking that triple-digit heat isn't as bad as daily gloom. It is either raining or threatening rain and even if it isn't raining it is cloudy. If and when the sun comes out it never lasts for more than an hour.
Yesterday Butch and I went for a tour around some of our favorite haunts in Greene County Iowa. I took a few photos.

Spring Lake and yes, it was crowded.

The Twin Shoppe is open for business. It is Butch's favorite place for ice cream.

 This is a neighborhood cat laying claim to our tree. We are on speaking terms but not petting terms just yet. He had better leave the birds alone or it could get ugly. So far, so good!

Normal for now

I think we have reached the 'normal for now' mark because really do any of us know what the new normal will shake out to be?  We, seniors, are lucky. At our age, we have either learned how to roll with the punches or we are planted in the cemetery. If we do happen to get Covid-19 they predicted that our age group would be hit the hardest and in some ways that has been true. As for me and mine, we have done our best to obey the rules as they have been requested and it has not been much of a hardship. We will continue to take care and live on hope and hamburger.

We have been in our summer home for a week as of today. So far, so good. We have seen one of our friends, Mickey, from a distance. We happened to be going by her house and she was outdoors so we pulled into her driveway for a 6 foot+ visit. Sure was good to see her.

I told Butch I was ready to take a drive around the county and take some Spring type photos. The only thing missing is the sun! Cloudy day pictures are not that much fun to take or to look at.

The bird feeders are filled and the war of the squirrels has resumed. Butch now has to rely on stealth instead of speed. He shot off the BB gun in the air and they indeed remembered what that meant.

Butch is giving up the cane entirely for short trips. He says it doesn't feel totally comfortable but it is way more than he was doing 3 weeks ago so we are happy with it. The pain has abated and he should be ready to resume therapy. We are waiting for our 14-day isolation to end before we schedule much. 7 more days to go. We have an appointment in Moscow Iowa for the leveling legs on the motorhome on May 28th.  Therapy will be back on the list when we return from that, followed by getting our 2nd shingle shot and seeing some of our friends from a distance. In June we have appointments with the plastic surgeon for a dermatology exam and eye doctor for exams, not on the same day.

Till next time...

Done

Motorhome mattress turned, bedding washed and put back together, refrigerator washed thoroughly and set to air out so no moisture tarry's long, Yesterday and today caught up on laundry.
I did get credit card activated a couple of days ago when I happened to get hold of the woman who knew how to do it. Took less than a minute.

And Butch is back on his lawnmower!

His indoor cane.

His outdoor cane is on that mower somewhere...

Fairly Done Deal

Well, I did it! All the trips have been made except for an odd or end now and again. Yup, it is all in the house and it looks chaotic here. It will all get sorted out in time. Getting things organized, doing laundry and a good cleaning of the motorhome is all on my todo list. Better yet, is that the weather will not interfere. Forgot to mention the outdoor stuff. I even forgot to think about until this very second. Hmmm
I was so tired last night that I learned from others that there were storms. I didn't hear them. I do like a whizbanger of a thunderstorm now and then. It clears the air. Maybe next time!