So...whats for dinner?
Comments
-
Hope your dinner at friends was fun, Carole! We decided to have a nice dinner at home...filet mignon which is rare for us since we don't often eat mammals. So our VD menu was filet mignon; roased lemon/garlicpepper/parnmesan asparagus; bib lettuce salad with pears, mushrooms, carrots, and my vinaigrette; homemade garlic bread, and a tiny chocolate mousse cake for dessert. It was all good!
Wow, Eric....not sure I'd be so eager to exit and see what's on the other side of that “bathroom" door! Makes dealing with snow feel quite tame.
Magari, nice to see you posting. I hope your intestinal issues are resolving well. That can be so debilitating.
For all of you who who know our founder, Laurie, she just said goodbye to her family's giant 14 year old dog, Eli. He was a sweet loving dog who “helped “ her raise her boys, so it's a significant loss for her. Hope you can all keep her in your thoughts.
Special and Minus, I hope you two can connect in FL!
I hope everyone enjoyed a “lovely" Valentine's Day!
Tomorrow I head to DF for my yearly oncology visit. Hoping for boring....
0 -
We stayed in as well. DH had a filet too, I had a lobster tail and red shrimp. Twice baked potato for each of us. I also made some dark chocolate covered strawberries that were a nice treat.
Three fast moving snow storms heading our way on Friday, Saturday night and Monday. It's the winter without end.
0 -
Sad about Laurie's dog. They leave such a hole in your heart.
0 -
Sad about Laurie's dog. They leave such a hole in your heart.
0 -
In Oak Lawn for the Hilton’s V-Day package (Bob has to be at work at 7 am tomorrow). Room came with chocolate-dipped strawberries, a bottle of so-so but drinkable CA bubbly, breakfast buffet in the morning, and dinner for two tonight. The dinner promised way more than it delivered: a “bruschetta flight” turned out to be four little identical tomato crostini. The shrimp bisque was OK. Surf & turf was so-so: broiled lobster tail was slightly over-cooked but still edible; but my “medium-rare” prime rib came out medium-well-to-well. Ugh. They were nice about taking it back. But the only accompaniment was a scalloped potato terrine—no veggies whatsoever. Listed desserts were tortes: cannoli or Key lime. Key lime turned out to be lemon curd; and they ran out of the cannoli torte an hour into dinner service. So we got flourless chocolate cake to go...but the rooms have no fridges. And they didn’t give us utensils so we couldn’t eat it in the room. The whipped cream’ll melt, but the cake should be ok overnight. I have to keep reminding myself to lower my expectations when it comes to “fine dining” in the south suburbs (the Hilton in downtown Chicago is a world away in terms of elegance). Call me a snob—guilty as charged. But for the same price we get much better food in my N. Side neighborhood, which is not particularly upscale
BTW, it took me 2-1/2 hours to get here! Brutal traffic downtown—Auto Show is in full swing—and I-55 was crawling the whole way, because people have apparently forgotten how to drive facing a setting sun, since we haven’t had sunshine in a week. (Going home on surface streets Saturday afternoon took all of an hour—hope it works for me tomorrow afternoon). I can’t imagine how Bob deals with this horrid commute every day.
0 -
Hi all, I’m back on land. The cruise was great, I loved Labadee, Haiti and we will definitely be going back to The Bahamas for a longer visit.
Sandy, thanks for the Boca restaurant tips, we’ll probably check them out next time.
Dinner this week was mostly seafood.
0 -
Lacey - please tell Laurie we all still think of her often. How old are those cute boys anyway?
My VD dinner was munching on a grilled cheese sandwich as I pulled an all-nighter composing an Income & Expense report from 1999-2019 for our neighborhood (yup - 20 years). Unfortunately I couldn't just cut & paste since it involved several different computers over the years, not to mention a couple of different management styles - each with their own set of GL numbers. Literally, I turned out the lights at 5:30am. I can't remember doing that since I was in college. Well, there were some NY Eve nights we partied all night, but working with small numbers & trying to balance ... not so much.
Had to get up since my 'other' son and his wife were supposed to have arrived in town for a couple of days sometime last night in transit on their move from HI to Panama. I'm going to take them to lunch this afternoon before I head west tomorrow for the scattering of my SIL's ashes. How come everything happens at once??? I've promised to take at least two salads & a dessert. More later.
0 -
I remember how Laurie planned a whole week's meals. That so impressed me and made me wish I could do the same and not have to face THE QUESTION daily, What's for dinner? Tonight will be a pasta hot dish with leftover Rao's marinara and a liberal amount of grated romano added to bowtie pasta. Side will be a lettuce salad with our favorite additions.
I downloaded Turbo Tax yesterday and filed our federal tax return. Did NOT notice any benefit from the big tax bill. The larger standard deduction was offset by elimination of the individual deduction.
0 -
Hi, all! We pay an accountant to do our taxes, but the worksheet he makes us send him along with our paperwork still takes a couple of hours to complete.
Our fish CSA delivered opah yesterday, so I pan seared that with a sort of tapenade type sauce and made parsley rice to go with it. Homemade peanut butter cookies using Bob's Red Mill gluten free flour came out pretty good!
It's been raining hard and endlessly for days, so I'll making more soup over the weekend. Probably using my Instant Pot.
Our new dog was adopted because our last one (a border collie/heeler mix) finally died in August at the age of 18. He was truly the best dog ever, and we miss him every day. We knew we wanted another herder, thus Ella joined our family!
0 -
When DS was living at home I planned and posted menus a week at a time. He enjoyed anticipating upcoming meals and did help me when I was working. Now I deal with the daily question too, often not deciding until a few hours before dinner. DH asked me the other day if it would be helpful to plan ahead (I think he enjoyed seeing the menus too) but I don't think so. Things often don't appeal to me or my appetite fluctuates too much on any given day anymore. DH isn't much help - he will eat anything that involves ground beef and will state as much when asked what he wants for dinner.
That being said, tonight is one of his favorite non burger meals - kielbasa, saurkraut and mashed potatoes. Even though we had cornbread recently, I think I'll make some cornbread sticks - mainly because I have a lot of buttermilk on hand.
Friends are coming tomorrow night for dinner and a movie. The menu is reverse seared ribeyes, oven roasted tiny potatoes and bacon braised green beans. Friends are bringing the dessert.
Minus, I am in awe of you! I couldn't pull an all nighter anymore if my life depended on it. And especially not with a full day ahead of me. You go girl!
Illimae - nice seafood!
0 -
I'll let L know the thread crew is thinking of her and remembers how impressed folks were re: her meal organization...she substitute teaches a lot in her sons’ elementary school. They are very cute kids.
Minus....i hope your trip goes well, and that you can catch up on a bit of rest somehow!
Nance...even when my boys were young, I planned meals by the day. I'm just more spontaneous than organized, I suppose.Carole, I’m impressed that you have tackled your taxes already. DH does ours (was formerly an acct) and I always feel for him as he labors through it. Tho I guess this year will be easier (and more expensive) with deductions removed.
Onco visit was pretty boring as I'd hoped, and we did talk about how I can work out a better gym plan since the center we frequent has rigorously upped their classes, in which I am managing to irritate my rotator cuff tear, my back, and arthritic wrists. Ugh! MO actually suggested the program some of you go to at the Y. Will look into that. I need to get back to a regular exercise routine in which I don’t hurt myself. Old body blues...
I was really tired yesterday (I am such a night owl that I could have easily kept you company during your night marathon, Minus;). After going into Boston for the med appt., then to an interview session with some engineering students at Olin College who were gathering ideas and feedback for a project (an invention) on which they are working, I was NOT interested in "asking the question", nor completing the task, of making dinner. So, we ordered a chicken kebab dinner with Greek salad, mashed butternut squash and a spanakopita from our former fave take out Greek restaurant. "Former" because the owners' "kids" have taken it over and the food quality is down but the prices are up. We will be finding a new fave Greek spot.
Magari,,,best of luck with Ella! When we said good-bye to our last pooch (16 years old mini schnauzer), we decided not to get another, (I was in active bc treatment and working a demanding full time job) and over time made peace with that decision. While we miss having a dog, when we see people walking their dogs in the middle of snow or rain storms, we know we made the right decision for our current life stage. And while we always enjoy caring for our DS1's Scottie when they need it, once he goes home we feel relieved of the responsibility. Of course he could never live up to our memories of our sweet pooches.
Illimae, what great pix! Yum! Glad you had such an enjoyable cruise. I wasn’t aware that cruise ships stopped in Haiti. I have friends who travel there twice yearly on medical missions, and have always felt connected to that struggling island through several amazingly strong families I worked with in my last school who came to Boston after losing everything but their lives in the earthquake.
Today, I’m making my fave kale veggie soup (maybe with farro in it if I get to Trader’s to buy that) to have on hand for the week. And for tonight’s dinner I will do a stir fry with chicken breasts, peppers, onions etc.
0 -
Lacey, Labadee is a cove/resort privately owned by Royal Caribbean. It was fun but I’d really like to spend more time in the Bahamas, maybe a week.
0 -
Lacey, yay for boring onco visits!
I did our taxes and for the first time in many years, got a (very) small federal refund, which we received in a record 3 days. This seems to be the extent of our big middle class tax break.
Dinner tonight is a grilled ham steak with applesauce, leftover tiny potatoes and a few remaining green beans from last night's "dinner and a movie" with friends. The ribeyes turned out perfect and there is quite a bit leftover there too that will find it's way into a steak salad or stir fry later in the week. We demolished the popovers that I made with only one left - a sad little golf ball that didn't "pop". Don't know what went wrong there, the others rose beautifully.
Another crappy cloudy, windy winter day after a night of freezing drizzle and light snow. More on the way Tuesday. One bright spot - my orchids are blooming.
0 -
Lacey, I share your feelings about dogs. I love them and we were heart broken when ours left us a week apart. But they do tie you down somewhat. Right now we have enough peripheral dogs in our lives (grand dog, friends dog, neighbors dog) that I can get a doggie."fix" when I need one. When we move closer to civilization, I would like to do short term fostering for a rescue organization.
0 -
lacey - It is always good to be "unremarkable" at the onc's office, and remarkable everywhere else!
I shop with some vague menus in mind, but try to have a variety of freezer, fridge, and pantry staples on hand to make assorted combinations for dinners. I usually make extra dinner and that serves as lunch for DH the next day. I too planned more when I had kids at home - and both were involved in sports and had voracious appetites. When DS was a high school swimmer and cross-country runner he usually had an appetizer of a complete McDonald's meal in the car on the way home, then ate a full dinner. Thankfully, baseball season didn't work up quite as much of an appetite! DD is more of an I have to eat NOW person, so I always had to have some ready to eat things going on.
DH was not hungry most of last week after getting home from some late work nights so I didn't cook much. Had made some stuffed shells, and chili so those stretched out for his lunches. Last night we grilled some mahi and chicken and had mashed loaded cauliflower (defeats the purpose...) and sautéed carrots with thyme. Not sure what we will have tonight - need to think about that. DD wants to start some mindful eating - some version of keto/Whole30/Virgin, and I just rejoined the gym today and worked out - yay!
0 -
Uneventful doctors' (especially MOs') appointments are a wonderful thing!
Had an unusual dinner last night. There is a group that holds pop-up dinners where the food is infused with CBD, and in Dec. I went to one of their cocktail receptions at a CBD shop and had a great time. Turns out this meal was infused with a potent strain of indica (THC), so much so over all but the first of 5 courses, that I got very, very wrecked--first time since a New Year's Eve party back in 1975-6. The people were nice, the food great, the music too loud and a genre of which I'm not a fan; but this has confirmed to me that I do NOT like to get high, period. Only this afternoon is it wearing off, much to my relief. I am glad to get my brain back.
But the dishes were delicious: an African cucumber-tomato salad (sort of like fattoush) in vinaigrette, with fried plantain chips. (The only "virgin" dish, BTW). Next was a sweet potato soup with creme fraiche, basil and bacon. Sorbet intermezzo never froze, so it was served instead as a pineapple-mint slushie with berries. Entree was brined & blackened chicken breast over Jollof rice and roasted root vegetables. Dessert was supposed to have been an eggnog creme brulee, but there wasn't enough room in the small kitchen to put together and torch 20 ramekins; so it was a devils' food birthday cake (in honor of the host and one of the guests) instead.
0 -
Lacey, you often mention marinated chicken breasts. Do you use bottled marinades or make your own? Would love some info. I bought a lemon/pepper marinade and used it with some thin chicken fillets but dh and I were under-whelmed by the flavor.
I have never owned or wanted to own a dog. We had cats who were interesting pets, especially two brothers we called Pat and Mike. You would never guess they were related, judging from their appearance but they seemed to be very fond of each other. They grew to be very large cats and had sweet dispositions. If we reach the point of staying home year-round, we might think about getting another cat or maybe a dog.
Tonight's pork roast is filling the house with a wonderful aroma. I don't have anything exciting for a side but will probably heat some frozen kernal corn and add some butter. I thought of going to the supermarket and buying a butternut squash but didn't get around to it. We'll also have a lettuce salad.
0 -
Chinese takeout leftovers: I stir-fried the plain steamed veggies in garlic-ginger oil and oyster sauce; I made fried rice with a bit of BBQ pork I diced and a couple of my windowsill scallions; and nuked a couple of chunks of the tea-smoked duck.
0 -
Hello all! Just popping in to let you know all is well here. Its just been very busy with my DH retired. Of course our 1st big project is getting the basement cleaned up. After the sewage problem this summer, everything they could save went into the little back room. So we have now started going through box, by freakin box to sort throw donate or put stuff away. We couldnt work on it at all when DH had his Halo on, and then he worked for the last month of 2018, so now its time. Sigh. But feels good to finally know what really was tossed, and what we might find in the boxes. All of my easter "singers" are gone. I thought xmas was gone but the actual LAST box we unpacked had all the animated xmas ones. Yay. But that means the Easter ones went bye-bye. Oh well. I did, um, happen to, completely by chance, of course, find 2 new ones at CVS...LOL!
I need to set a time to myself to stop by here to keep in better contact with all of you. I miss you all.
Supper tonight was chipotle/cinnamon rubbed pork tenderloin with winter root veggie hash. It was pretty good!.
Much love to all!
Here are my oldest DGD and my newest DGD. Labor went way better for my DD than her pregnancy! LOL
0 -
Sweet picture, Moon. Hope dh's retirement is good for both of you.
0 -
Welcome back, Moon! Congrats to DH on his retirement and being “halo free”! You two are way more ambitious that we about getting basement organized. But then, I doubt I’d want a sewage crisis to spur me on. Good luck with sorting that out, and hope you have more serendipitous discoveries in those boxes. Most importantly, what an adorable DGDs’ photo! Congrats to all, and glad the delivery went well.
Carole, I rarely use any bottled dressings or marinades any more. I just usually just make a simple marinade by combining olive oil with either soy or balsamic and minced garlic, S&P, and whatever spices move me. I often check out marinade recipes on the internet for inspiration, or try to replicate the flavors of a marinated meat I’ve had from a store, like the rosemary balsamic chicken we used to buy at Traders. Using powdered rosemary for that makes it easy. I buy that at The Atlantic Spice Company when we are on the Cape, and I think they sell online now, too. Seems hard to find rosemary powder somehow. I don’t have any recipes written down for marinades. LOL maybe if I did, I could spend less screen time!
Yesterday we had an early dinner out with DS2 and DDIL2. The trendy neighborhood spot had little of entree interest on the menu for this diner. So I settled for a cup of clam chowder and a kale salad with beets. Seemed like a counterpoint to most of the menu. We had a cauliflower app that was devoid of nutrition in my mind.....fried pieces, coated in a sweet chili sauce, served with a blue cheese sauce. Yikes! Does that even count as a veggie?!
Meanwhile they are planning to have a “celebration party” for their friends and kids and our friends (I guess an “unshower”, of sorts as they don’t want their friends to buy them gifts since several of them have given them their hand me down items already) in early April, and it seems I have gotten myself to be in charge of dessert. My thought was to make a variety of cookies and finger desserts that are displayed on platters with a children’s book that relates to each selection standing up behind each platter...e.g., “If You Give A Mouse A Cookie”. So I obsessed about book titles, and recipes, and wondering which cookies I can freeze, so I won’t be a crazy person the week of the event. To be very much continued.......ideas welcome!
Meanwhile, it occurred to me while with DDIL that it seems like her pregnancy is taking a long time, and we figured out that including the months prior to her miscarriage, and by the time she delivers in June, she will have been pregnant for more than 356 days ....tho not continuous....more than a horse mama and around the same length as an alpaca mama! But they seem to be doing well and are very excited about their little one.
0 -
In no order: Carole - my Mother always used Trader Vic's French dressing (oil & vinegar based) to marinate 1/2 chickens before my Dad grilled them. I get my powdered Spanish rosemary from Penzey's. Lacey - congrats on the boring onco visit. The program I'm in is "Silver Sneakers". It is national and offered at many Y's and gyms and community centers & churches. Many Medicare Advantage policies or Medigap policies pay for the memberships. You can google the main number to find locations close to you. Illimae - loved the cruise tales & pictures. What a perfect thing for February. Carole - I too was a cat owner. But sounds like I'm not alone in not replacing pets as WE age so that we are able be more flexible. Moon - so great to see you. Glad DH has the halo off. Now you just have to get used to having him around all day again. The kiddos are adorable. Special - I too shop with menus in mind. It's 20-30 minutes to a decent grocery store so I have to plan ahead. No running out for some forgotten ingredient.
The 'trek' to the country for scattering the ashes was good. The family had purchased a 3 TON boulder with turquoise paint artfully splashed across & down the front to sit by the front gate of the ranch in my SIL's memory. Yeah I know - a little odd. We walked 1/3 mile to the boulder for pictures, a ways further for the scattering, then another 1/3 mile around the corrals with the horses, donkey, sheep, chicken coops, and runs for 6 dogs. Traffic on the highways in Texas is always interesting. If there's not construction, the average speed is 85 - or you're likely to get run over.
I got to spend a morning with my niece before anyone else showed - doing cooking & prep work. Her boys (4&2) mostly played upstairs. She had purchased gourmet sliced meats & interesting breads for "assemble your own" sandwiches. We sliced onions. tomatoes, pickles, etc. She gets 5 dozen fresh eggs a week from her chickens so I made deviled eggs. I took 3 salads and a lemon cake. Salads were: 3 bean w/onion & bell pepper marinated in tarragon vinegar & oil; fruit pieces from 7 fruits mixed with coconut, baby marshmallows & sour cream; and my latest favorite - lime jello thickened then whipped w/mayo before adding diced avocado, celery, crushed pineapple and cashew nuts. The lemon cake was a cake mix base, add dry jello, 4 eggs & oil - then after cooking, poke holes & drizzle with lemon glaze. Eventually there were 6 kids under 5 - all running abound the room. My niece has a polished concrete floor w/a two story ceiling & one "great" room for living room, dining room, den, & kitchen - also open to the office, laundry room, etc. No carpets or draperies. Oh the noise... About 30 people came and it a good memory time on my SIL's real birthday.
0 -
Minus, it sounds like the ashes scattering memorial for your SIL went well, albeit the open concept noise factor in the house. I sometimes wonder if my DS1 and DDIL have hearing loss from the many loud concerts and ear bud listening they frequented as teenagers that renders them impervious to the “echo-y” space that they have created in their beautiful open concept home. The new wave... And how large is a 3 ton boulder? Reminds me that “everything is LARGE in Texas”...something I know nothing about! I hope you are getting some R&R now after such a busy week.
Last night’s dinner was a throw together effort: kale soup, veggie chips with red pepper hummus, and one of my stranger salads...arugula, red onion, apple pieces and sweet potato pieces with horseradish dressing. It was actually really tasty....and colorful!
I’ve assembled the picture books that will guide my baking process for DS2’s “unshower” bab event. Here they are...
tho some may be cut based on time factors. My next door neighbor who bakes a lot (but who is, unfortunately for me, in FL until Easter) suggested I make the cookie doughs and freeze them in paper towel tubes to hold shape, and just slice and bake later. Will definitely use that idea. I bet some of you bakers have other good ideas to help this process along. I planned to make fruit caterpillars with green grapes, but mentioned to DS2 that I’ll need to figure out how to do that without them being a chocking hazard for the little ones in attendance. He told me not to worry....haha....wait until this baby shows up!
0 -
Lacey, too bad you can't send along a taste with the picture of that gorgeous salad! Sounds and looks intriguing.
Also, what a creative idea for the "unshower". Ambitious, too, but looks like fun. I'm in awe.
0 -
Minus, I like the idea of the big paint-splashed rock as a memorial. The food selection sounds good, too.
We had lamb loin chops for dinner last night. They were over an inch thick. Since it was raining and dh didn't suggest that he could pull the grill under the porch overhang, we used the cast iron grill pan to sear the chops and finished them in a hot oven. They were cooked perfectly. Side was steamed broccoli with a cheese sauce to spoon over and a lettuce salad with additions. My dressing was white balsamic vinegar and EVOO. It was a delicious meal. You can't order lamb chops like these in a restaurant for less than $30.
I watched a cooking show, Ellie's Real Good Food, in which she made a cheese sauce for mac and cheese by whisking flour into cold milk and continued the whisking while the milk heated to a boil. She added grated cheese to the thickened milk. I used this same method for the cheese sauce for the broccoli, thereby omitting the butter. Ellie also used part chopped cooked cauliflower to her macaroni and cheese. I might use that idea some time, too. She made a bread crumb topping with home-made whole grain bread crumbs, grated parm and olive oil.
0 -
I made coconut black rice with crispy tofu and asparagus last night.
The recipe was one I came across while flipping through a Better Homes & Gardens at the nail salon. The original called for shrimp, which I didn't have, so I subbed the tofu. Came out pretty good, though I would double the ginger and chilies next time.
0 -
lacey - I will confess that when catering and needing bite sized easy desserts I have used brownie bites from the grocery store, and piped rosettes on top with milk chocolate ready made frosting and chocolate sprinkles on top. That could work for the brownie book. I also have a great and easy recipe for caramel corn (from the Southern Living Cookbook) that could work for the popcorn book. You can definitely make it ahead and could fill little plastic shot glasses with it. One year I made a caterpillar out of - brace yourself - Twinkies! Not healthful I know, but it was adorable! I made as many sections of the caterpillar as there were classmates, but you could cut them in half or also use mini cupcakes. I just frosted them with vanilla frosting I tinted green and decorated with some candies.
0 -
Lacy, lovely salad and what a cute idea for the shower. Good suggestions SpecialK - love the caterpillar!
I must use the leftover ribeye, so it's steak salad again tonight. I have quite a few things to add to it so it will be filling I imagine. I would make a stir fry but I slept badly last night (not an unusual event) so I'm taking the path of least resistance with food. Someone is coming at 8 a.m. tomorrow to cut down two dead trees on the side of our house, so I hope to get to bed earlier than my usual 1 a.m.
More snow last night, but we have several days coming up above freezing so I hope to see it gone imminently. I would hope for permanently but I don't expect we'll be that lucky.
Minus, I'm glad the memorial went well and I too like the boulder. I like the open concept area of my house but it is a challenge when entertaining even a modest sized group.
Carole, did you have any problem with lumps when whisking the milk and flour?
0 -
Lacey: I know it's not practical for a party, but I actually cooked "Green Eggs and Ham" more than once.
Nance - seems to be quite a few of us who are usually still up at 1am. Urgh!!!
Special - love the story/food ideas.
Carole - I'm interested to know about the lumps too. But oh my...no butter?
Magari - I'd love the original recipe with the shrimp, black rice & asparagus if you don't mind sharing. I have some shrimp in my freezer that definitely need to be eaten.
My meals today are leftover salads from the weekend. Last night I had a bowl of maccaroni & butter. Desert an hour later was a 1/2 bag of Cheetos.
0 -
No lumps. Ellie emphasized that you must add the flour to cold milk and whisk continuously. The thickened milk was quite smooth. Minus, the grated cheese has plenty of fat. Though butter would add flavor, I readily admit. I'm a butter fan but try to be moderate.
I'm also recording cooking shows with a male chef named Jamie (English, I think) who throws together quick meals with five ingredients, not including salt and pepper and olive oil. The shows are entertaining and his food looks delicious.
I watch Milk Street but have not been tempted to try any of the dishes.
Tonight is a ho hum dinner, warmed up red beans with andouille sausage and brown rice. A lettuce salad with purple leaf lettuce and additions. Also a pork steak. DH was so unresponsive when I told him we were having the red beans that I asked, Would you like a pork chop? He immediately said Yes.
A rainy day today but mild temperatures. I think winter is over.
0
