Diary 5|11, 12|2014: Mother's Day, And Recovering From.

[title type="h5"]Sunday, May 11, 2014. Mother's Day: Recovering From.[/title] It's Mother's Day and nothing else. Mary Ann is in complete control. She says we will limit all celebrations to our home, beginning with grilled ham, from a tremendous surplus of Chisesi's finest bought for yesterday's multi-purpose party. And hash browns, also made from leftovers, but the best I ever tasted, because it employs MA's unique high-heat technique. Meanwhile, I work up a batch of waffles, in which comes yet another breakthrough in the use of leftovers. A few days ago Mary Leigh saved a dozen egg yolks from a cake project that called only for egg whites. Today I use four or five yolks in the waffle batter--much more than usual. Also half-and-half instead of milk. Then the vanilla bottle let loose more vanilla than I wanted. The result of all these alterations of my long-standing waffle recipe tastes somewhat like vanilla ice cream. I'll remember that for next time. [caption id="attachment_36186" align="alignnone" width="399"] Ice-cream-flavored waffles.[/caption] Historical note: the first ice cream cones were made by folding waffles over. During breakfast the five of us--our full family plus its soon-to-be first addition to it, Suzanne--listed the people to invite to Jude and Suzanne's wedding. It seems likely to occur this December. Several times, we think the list is finished--but then we think of another must-invite friend or relative. Everybody but me spends the day looking at venues for the ceremonies and the reception. The Audubon Golf Club House, Ralph's on the Park, and Popp's Fountain seem to be leading the list. So a theme--gigantic live oak trees--has emerged. Mary Leigh came home with the idea that the Audubon Golf Club would work for her, too. But she and The Boy are only thinking about getting engaged to be engaged. I begin the day with a tricky lower back problem, a bit worse than the one I went to bed with last night. That means I will have to nurse it for two days instead of one. I think I've figured it out. I get this ache when I work in front of a sink or a stovetop for an extended time, as I did yesterday. Yesterday, in addition to making a lot of roux for gumbo, I performed the role to which I have been relegated by Mary Ann: that of keeping up with the tide of utensils and china that need to be washed. Doing that last Thanksgiving caused the worst backache I've had in many years, and I'm still not quite over it. I think Eat Clubber Carl Scully has the right idea. He has two dishwashers in his kitchen. I'll bet that solves a multitude of problems. [divider type=""] [title type="h5"]Monday, May 12, 2014. Sandwiches And More Sandwiches. [/title] We have enough sliced ham, salami, and cheese left over from the weekend's parties to make dozens of sandwiches. I make a muffuletta from a multi-grain Italian bread loaf, and load it up the way I like to see such sandwiches when I order them in restaurants. Which is to say grossly overstuffed. After attempting to put that away after the radio show--I can only eat half of it--I would not be hungry until tomorrow. Jude and Suzanne leave for Los Angeles--or try to. The buddy passes Mary Ann acquired for them wewre superseded by a lot of last-minute ticket buyers with cash. They have to hang around in Kenner all day until squeezing aboard the late-afternoon jet. Who told me that buddy passes are what airline employees give to their exes?