It always happens when I break my routine. I forget something.

And so it went as I was rushing around yesterday. It was Saturday, laundry day, and I was trying to do my regular three loads of wash, but I was also trying to get the ingredients for the chicken teriyaki recipe that I wanted to try.

Which meant going out three times—count ’em!—three times—in the sub-30° F weather to get the chicken thighs (Acme) and ginger (9th Street) and sake (State Store, what most people call a liquor store).

Oh, yes, I know what you folks in the more northerly environs are saying to yourselves now. Sub-30° F, why that’s nothing. That’s a walk in the park on a balmy day. That’s fine for you, and I’d’ve felt the same way 40 years ago, maybe even 10 years ago. But it ain’t 40 years ago, or even 10 years ago, and these days, I don’t like outside temperatures much under 50° F. Or much over 72° F, for that matter.

But be that as it may, when I returned from the Acme, I left the groceries on the first floor and rushed down to the basement to transfer the first load of wash to the dryer and put the second load in the washer. Then it was back up to unload the groceries. Then I needed a minute to catch my breath.

The first wash load is my bed linen, and as it only takes a few minutes to dry, I set a ten minute timer on my Watch, so I’d know when to go back down to retrieve that load. 

After retrieving the bed linen and folding them (well, my version of folding them which might not be my grandmother’s), I took off to 9th Street to get the ginger (and strawberries and blueberries).

I was running a bit behind but after my second cup of coffee (well, half-caff), I made breakfast, after which it was time to retrieve the second load of wash from the dryer.

But to my dismay, I had completely forgotten to transfer the second load to the dryer! That’s what comes from making two early morning trips in sub-30° F weather.

So for the rest of the morning I was running an hour behind on laundry duty.

But I did get the sake from the State Store.

And I did make the chicken teriyaki.

And even though I only made half the recipe (the full recipe is for four), it turned out very good. The only difficulty was cutting the bone out of the raw thighs, something I’ve never done before. I think I ended up discarding more chicken with the bones than I needed to. But I guess it’s a learning experience.

Here’s the video for the recipe if you want to try it.