So...whats for dinner?
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Oh yes my Dad was spoiled. Mother also made homemade pies at least two or three times a week, and beautiful cinnamon rolls & delicious cakes, and fresh bread weekly, and our cookie jar was always full.
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I want to sneak a couple but I know they are for dinner. If they turn out tasting as good as the look, I’ll make them again for the holidays.
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Oh Mommy - I think you really should eat one - just a taste test you know to make sure before you serve them. Of course if there's some question, you might have to eat a second one to be sure.
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Mommy, I'm with Minus! DH had an aunt who never brought a full sheet cake to gatherings-- she always cut out about a one inch corner sample "just to be sure it was OK".
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Beaver - Love the GREAT story about the aunt tasting first.
Dunch was "Organic Ancient Grain Blend: Brown Rice & Quinoa with Amaranth & Garlic". I added a small can of sliced mushrooms after it was cooked. Also cooked a package of frozen peas and added 1/2 of those. Actually I only intended to eat a little of this portion meant for two, but the mixture was so good that I ate the whole thing. Since it was my only meal today, I don't feel too badly 400 calories but 14g of fiber and 16g of protein. It was from Costco and is a Kirkland Signature brand - certified organic, gluten free & vegan friendly. Microwave for 90 seconds in the bag. Similar to Seeds of Change brand products.
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The rolls were perfect! They went well with the beef stew.
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I also love the story of the sheet cake missing a small corner. Mommyof2, you have way more self-control that I have. I would have sampled one (or two) or those rolls with butter.
Last night's late lunch/early dinner was a Mexican pizza at a casual restaurant that serves Mexican food and pizzas. DH had a different small pizza. Our companions were four other couples who were crazy enough to play golf in 45 degree weather that felt like 39. This will be our last golf outing in MN this year.
Tonight's dinner will probably be the leftover stroganoff. I may have to go to town and buy some half & half or cream to "loosen" it up. Any excuse to get out of the camper! We're cozy and warm but there isn't much room for wandering around.
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Last night’s dinner at Bravery Chef Hall was fish n chips from Atlas (5 restaurants, 1 common dining hall). This was a very good friends 40th birthday bash and a party bus to a bar was next, so I wanted to keep it a bit light, more than a salad but less than a 10oz pork chop. Both the cod and the fries were absolutely delicious.
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Yay for fresh baked rolls!
Illimae - the fish/chips looks yum!
Tonight will be Chinese chicken salad with some Napa cabbage and kale, added veggies, and some almond butter in the dressing. This past week has been hit or miss on dinner, DH has worked late and I cooked ahead for him as I am going to Cali on Monday for a week, so we ate dribs and drabs.
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Oh I goofed Special. I thought you were already in CA. Looking forward to your reports from there after your trip. Still - I do like Chinese Chicken Salad.
Illimae - yes the fish looks good. After your report, I'm not sure I'd go downtown for this venue. I have a friend who has a lunch meeting there in November. I'll report if he says anything super exciting.
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Loved the roll and cake testing stories! 😉
Last night I made chicken marsala which we had with farro and a big salad.
Tonight we had leftover turkey chili which was in a casserole over gluten free pasta, as well some leftover fajita chicken pieces and yet again a big garden salad. It was a nice change from the grease laden fried food scent we got to experience at TD Garden for the Celtics’ open practice earlier today. Supposedly, new food options are to be available there this year, but we didn’t see or smell anything but gross fried foods. That and replaced seats with “shrunken ones” is a disappointing start to the season. I really dislike greedy corporations...so it’s too bad our most enjoyable recreational activity is impacted by that. End of rant anout a first world problem.
Judging by the looks of our refridge, we will be plowing through more leftovers for the next few days!
Special, I also misjudged your getaway dates. Have a wonderful trip!
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Mmmmmm.....pancakes....I miss them (waffles, too). Coconut flour/almond-meal ricotta latkes aren’t quite the same. I used to use Atkins Baking Mix about 15 yrs ago but it seems to be off the market. Hesitant to try other brands that may or may not taste decent; I trust the Bob’s Red Mill coconut flour & almond meal I’m using.
Choucroute garnie tonight: drained rinsed active culture kraut w/caraway, 1 strip of bacon, diced & pan-fried, 1 uncured bison hot dog, and 1/2 each chicken bratwurst and pork Oktoberfest wurst from Whole Paycheck (all chosen for their low-to-no-carb content). Gruyere/herb French omelette (ATK recipe) this morning. Guacamole low-carb toast (chopped tomato, minced shallot, cilantro, basil, chipotle powder) for late lunch.
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Tonight/late afternoon we're walking the short distance to John's condo, our cocktails in hand. He has invited us to share a chili he is cooking today, to be eaten over wheat spaghetti. I will contribute a salad of sliced tomatoes, maybe cucumber if the cucumber tastes good.
I surveyed the freezer today and doubt that we will be able to eat all of what's left. Neighbor Hugh will probably get some food gifts, which he will welcome.
Our meals have become very simple, often with just a main, no sides.
Yay, we had some sunshine today!
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I cooked a pot of Anasazi beans for supper that I set to soak early this morning. I really do think they are sweeter than pinto or navy beans. Since I had carrots but no celery, I sliced those marginally thin & added along with chopped onions. I had some 1/2 square chunks of ham in the freezer that were too stiff to chew, but I tossed them in for flavor since I didn't have a ham hock. (and then picked them out)
I forgot that Anasazi beans also cook faster. I simmered for an hour, but will likely do only 45 minutes next time so more 'al dente' & less soup. Anyway, they were delicious.0 -
Minus, I had to look up Anasazi beans....and they are so pretty! They remind me of liver/white coats of Springer Spaniels! LOL
Last night DH grilled a honey/chipotle marinated pork tenderloin, and sides were “late season corn” we picked up at the Farmers’ Market, and a spinach salad with cut up pears. It’s almost 4PM and I have practically no idea about tonight’s dinner menu. It will happen......
DH has (at least temporarily) significantly reduced his intake of carbs, so bread with dinner has gone away, as has most pasta. Since he has a big appetite (and a very high metabolism), I now have to be creative to make bigger meals to fill him up! He’s doing this since his recent blood work showed a trend towards pre-diabetes, which is likely a result of his inability to engage in aerobic exercise while awaiting his hip replacement.Am envying the professional sports players who have their private chefs!
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Went to our old standby the Palm last night and was quite disappointed. They sank a bundle into renovating (adding booths in front and doubling the size of the bar, making it double-sided, and a bunch more tables & TV screens in what had been the Swissotel lobby), but the experienced servers seem to have disappeared. No sommelier nor even a beverage director--the (young) manager does it all. I am shocked that a steakhouse this pricy with such a huge (heretofore renowned) and expensive wine list (much, much higher markup than almost any other place in Chicago) has staff that know less about wine than I do. The server was unaware that the drink specials had changed on Oct. 1--I knew because the place sent us a monthly e-mail.
We ordered a 2013 cabernet blend, and the server brought out a 2017. When we objected (way too young & tannic), she apologized and pointed to the disclaimer, printed in "mice type" at the bottom of the first page: "vintages subject to change without notice subject to availability." Since there was no sommelier she had the manager go to the wine room to pick out a couple of bottles that would work with our cowboy ribeye. The manager brought back a 2013 BV meritage that was half again the price of the bottle we'd ordered, and a 2015 Pinot Noir that was even pricier. Oh, and the wine glasses, which had been sitting out on the table perhaps for days, were filthy. We gave up and ordered a couple glasses of a different 2016 Pinot, which we knew would work with the steak--even though by-the-glass is always a bigger markup and makes no sense in a city where it's legal to take home an unfinished open bottle. I asked the manager if any of the vintages listed were accurate and she admitted it was a crapshoot. (Only the first page, containing the cocktails & members-only wine bottles of the month, plus sparkllng wines--and that disclaimer--gets reprinted monthly).
Then there was the matter of the steak. We'd had our salads (thank goodness) first so we weren't starving--but they didn't bring out the steak until the wine mess got straightened out. The server began to slice it--very long bone, on a tiny round carving board normally used for bread--on the edge of our undersized two-top; I had to hold the end of the bone to keep it from sliding around. She got about 1/3 of the way in and discovered the interior was rare-bordering-on-raw (we'd ordered it medium-rare), so she had to take it back to be reheated. Meanwhile, our sides didn't arrive simultaneously. She finally brought it back done to our liking. It took us 2-1/2 hrs for a dinner that used to take us 90 min. under the old regime. At least they comped us the glasses of wine.
We used to be seated in the middle room, which is no more, at roomier (albeit less comfy-upholstered) booths with older, experienced waiters who knew us and their wines and menu items, as well as expertly carved steaks and dismembered lobsters with no mess. But ever since the remodeling, we've been seated up front (nice view) but the servers have been different each time and the tables are smaller. We got an e-mail this morning asking for a review. At the very least, I will ask them to stop printing vintages; instead, printing in larger type on each page "Ask your server for current vintage information." Yes, it might take the server an extra trip to the back, but save her the wild goose chase she had to do last night. At the very least, they need to update the staff about availability before the start of each dinner shift...you know, the way 99% of fine-dining or even upscale casual restaurants do. And since the place is in a hotel (albeit 4-star), we see more and more patrons dressed the way they would for a theme park or ball game (and behaving the same way). Tank tops, baggy shorts, ripped jeans and touristy T-shirts negatively impact the experience. I don't expect patrons to dress up for dinner, but what's wrong with at least "smart casual?"
Sorry for the rant--but I'd rather pay extra to maintain quality, rather than less or even the same--and I don't give a rip about how modern the decor. There's a reason we choose certain types of restaurant depending on occasion--and if they're too rich for our blood, we go elsewhere.
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I saw this twisted pizza in instagram yesterday, it looked great so I made it tonight with a salad. I’ll definitely make again or as an appetizer for a small gathering.
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Wow, Illimae your pizza sure beats the one we had tonight, our usual home made one. Ours was good in taste but cannot hold a candle to the eye appeal of yours!
Sandy, we had a similar restaurant experience. When they reopened after remodeling the quality of both the food and service had deteriorated to such an extent that we quit going there! Really can't fathom a logical connection between remodeling and poorer food and service...would think it might be the other way around.
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It's all about social media--Instagrammable food & interiors, and Yelp reviews. The latter can be ridiculous, with stars taken off for the stupidest things: no gluten-free items (in a patisserie!), too old a clientele, boring background music, not enough (or no) TV screens at the bar, and (this is the most insane criticism) "decor is too harsh & masculine for a lesbian-friendly neighborhood" (one of the things that sank a bar/restaurant a few blocks from me). The silliest Yelp reviews? Lake Michigan, a local monastery, even the moon! Millennials are largely responsible for this trend: ever wonder why so many restaurants play loud electronic dance music? Market research showed that it makes people drink more, eat faster, and draws a younger, more attractive crowd. No restaurant (except those utterly secure in their reputations and faithful clientele) wants a reputation of looking outdated, being unhip and partly full of mostly 40+ patrons. Every place wants to be where people who want to see & be seen go (apparently food, drink and service are secondary). We had thought that such a venerable steakhouse chain as The Palm (which dates back to the 1940s) would have been immune to this trend, but nooo...
And they wonder why they never seem to be full any more (we used to have to make reservations even on a Sunday night, and when we were staying at the Swissotel for a cardiology meeting they were full, even for "837 Club" members and hotel guests; but now they take walk-ins). Apparently they're coasting on the name recognition, as well as being the only restaurant inside and within several blocks of the hotel. Another ominous sign is that we never have to wait more than a minute or two any more for the valet to bring our car--the joint used to be jumping and a 10-minute wait was not uncommon.
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Enjoyed the Palm review Sandy. I too have seen that kind of changes for the worse in the DC area. I hadn't thought of the social media connection. The wine situation was flat out false advertising.
Lilli great looking pizza! I'll have to be more creative with the dough next time I make one.
Tonight was a big salad, 4 cheese tortellini with whole foods rose alfredo sauce. And a side of pan-fried bratwurst. I have a study group on Mondays so dinner is more of a quickie.
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We have a Palm here too. I've always thought it was way over priced for what they offered. Quality is good but not superb. Alcohol prices are over the top. Too many other excellent restaurants in town.
Illimae - would you be willing to post the pizza recipe? It looks delicious.
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Here’s the “Tasty”twisted pizza recipe, enjoy! (Note: the “glass” referred to in step #4 would be small, like a shot glass)
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What’s for dinner tonight chez nous? Nada—it’s Yom Kippur and I’m fasting till sundown tomorrow or when the temple serves the kiddush & refreshments, whichever comes first. Bob had dinner at the hospital, and the cats eat what the cats eat. I did have an early supper before temple of a big salad with a can of sardines and a stick of string cheese. I get to drink one cup of black coffee or one espresso tomorrow so I don’t get caffeine-withdrawal headaches, and water of course. But that’s it
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Oh I miss Bedo. Like me, she had odd combinations of meals at totally inappropriate hours. Last night at 8pm my meal of the day was leftover 1/2 a baked potato and 1/2 a package of frozen peas. Today was a bowl of leftover Anasazi beans with a nice glass of Cote de Rhone red wine.
Hey Bedo - if you're out there, hope all is well.
Lacey - is your DH going to have knee surgery this fall?
Oh and Nance - what's happening on the house front? Did you sell? Are you planning to move yet?
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Last night we ate leftovers that DD left when she was dog sitting for the week we were in Ohio. I gained about 2-1/2 pounds while there...sigh.....and now I'm working it back off.
The park service had to push the work schedule back to Oct 22 for the Grand Canyon work I'm doing. So, today, as a practice, Sharon and I donned our loaded backpacks (me 38 pounds, Sharon 29 pounds) and we walked about 2 miles up a not so nice hill in the White Tank Mountains before heading back to the car. As usual, it feels funny when the packs come off.
When we do go, it will be going on the Bright Angel Trail and then up the North Kaibab Trail, stopping at Indian Gardens, Phantom Ranch, a place near Cottonwood Camp and then out to the North Rim. It's three days of work-walk and one day of just walking....with the loaded backpacks.0 -
The temple’s break-the-fast snack table had keto-friendly stuff: grilled veggies, cheese, tuna salad. (I did cheat and have half a mini noodle kugel—figured the cheese & eggs in it balanced out the noodles). For dinner I pan-seared scallops in beurre noir along with some roasted romesco (looks like fractal broccoli) & cubed butternut squash over riced cauliflower from WF’s salad bar. Eggs shakshuka for brunch today. Tonight’s our last night of mild dry weather for quite a while, so I’ll grill a couple of small grass-fed burgers and top them with cheddar, tomato & ‘shrooms.
High of 63 tomorrow morning, then rainy & dropping down into the high 30s overnight (even here by the lake). So we’ll have to harvest the remaining tomatoes, even thos that are tiny & green, as well as bring in some herbs to root in water.
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Eric - sounds like some serious walking - not to mention the packs. We'll look forward to hearing about your adventure. How nice of your DH to leave you left overs. Did you MIL and her sisters have a good visit? Well - I too gained on vacation - 3 lbs. I worked hard and got it all off in a month.
Illimae - I forgot to say thanks for the 'pizza' recipe. Looks like something I'll try. Interesting that it calls for puff pastry. Most of the recipes I found for similar concoctions were with pizza dough.
Working on clearing out the fridge & freezer. I love having things on hand but I forget what's in the back. Today was a sandwich of sliced rotisserie chicken breast on pumpernickel - both taken from the freezer last night. Just took out a package of Spinach & Cheese Ravioli that I froze two months ago for tomorrow.
I'm cleared for cataract surgery on the first eye on 11/4. I'll be staying at a hotel in the med center since I have to be back the next day for post-op and can't drive until after that appointment. It's a 30 minute drive one way at the best of times & can be an hour. Rounding up different people to take & pick up & take & pick up was just a nightmare. This worked really well when I drove myself to my 8 hours of chemo every 3 weeks and stayed overnight for neulasta the next day. The medical rates & free shuttles to the hospitals make it an affordable option.
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Tonight was Johnny Marzetti in spite of temps in the 90s today. Needed something fairly quick to fix as DH needed to leave early for a meeting tonight. Should be more appropriate tomorrow night if the predicted cold front arrives as forecast. Have plenty of leftovers as this is yet another dish that I seem to be incapable of making "just a little bit."
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Pork chops, applesauce and beets
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Sharon and I went out for pizza tonight. Sharon was walking to the car and went back inside to put on a sweatshirt because it was cold. It was 82F degrees.
I'm not sure that 82F qualifies as "cold". :-)
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