So...whats for dinner?
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lacey - Happy B-Day, a bit late! You are fab, as is your seafood feast!
moon - pretty pix, can't believe how big your DGDs are! Time flies, right?
auntie - sounds like a lot of progress!
minus - I do that same freezer inventory when we get to this time of year - and I usually only keep bread, extra ice, and non-protein things in the garage fridge because it would go out without me noticing right away.
Last night was an Asian chicken salad with napa cabbage and romaine. Not particularly exciting, but quick and easy - I had extra cooked chicken breast to use up.
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Bob's working late office hours so will be eating dinner there (and likely bringing home fried chicken to tempt me). So I'm on my own tonight. Will finish my leftover Caesar salad (or maybe the mixed greens from yesterday's brunch), plus at least half a Quest cauliflower Supreme pizza (5 gm net carb). Haven't had pizza in over a month--nor even the cauliflower crust since late Feb.!
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A neighbor gave me a 2 lb bag of Yellow Split Peas. I've never heard of 'yellow' - only regular green split pea soup. Anyone have any suggestions or recipes other than just simmering w/vegetables &/or ham bone? Oh - BTW - they are a "21st Century Bean" a heartland legacy from Kansas. Gluten free & non GMO.
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Beautiful photos, Moon!
Thanks for the all the birthday wishes! I would like being 75 better were it not for all the aches and pains. Just got off Zoom with my primary care doc for my telemedicine PE. Not my favorite way to have things dxd! Oh well....
On Saturday, DS2 and co. came here for my birthday dinner. It was a beautiful day, so we enjoyed being in the backyard and ate on the deck. I was delighted to watch little Amelia “toddler romp” all over our yard, even with the new rigid shoes she was wearing. She is a determined lass, and must have wanted to be sure to enjoy every minute of being out of her confinement at home. Next week they move out of the city and she will have a yard in which to play and will love it!! She thought she was in heaven here with the additional treat of our next door neighbors stopping by to visit her, too. This poor baby has seen practically no one except her working parents for the past three months after being in a lively family daycare where she had had lots of adult and kid stimulation. It’s not clear with the new health regulations when she can return there. So at least she will be living in a neighborhood with other kids soon. Haha...and will have to keep her distance from them! Oy!
So after enjoying the lobster cream cheese spread I made from Friday’s wasted lobster tail, for dinner we ate grilled marinated chicken breasts with nuked baked potatoes and salad. Amelia is an enthusiastic little eater. She barely grimaced when I gave her a piece of pickled mushroom to try that was in our salad...and then took another! Her namesake, my Italian mother, would be ecstatic to see how she enjoys food! My DDIL2 made a key lime pie for our dessert, which I really enjoyed.
Since Saturday, we have been eating lots of leftovers, fish, beef from the gyro place, and the grilled chicken. I’m so tired of planning and cooking dinners that I’ve been happy to have leftovers on which to rely!
Tonight will be the last of the grilled chicken, and maybe some carrots with tarragon, and farro for a grain.
Last night’s caprese salad to go with the leftover grilled chicken and sweet potatoes.
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Sadder words were never spoken than “wasted lobster tail.”
Both refrigerators have more been thoroughly cleaned- one destined for storage the other for the new owner. Still so much stuff to use up. Where did I get all these Asian condiments?
Sloppy Jim’s tonight with salad for me and fries for dh.
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auntie - same with the plethora of condiments at my house!
Just finished making lasagna rolls, with spinach and ricotta filling, so that will be dinner tonight. Maybe tomorrow night too! I made ten, but I’m sure DH will eat at least three, two for his lunch tomorrow, two for me tonight. Maybe I will freeze what is left and use it for a later lunch for him. He has finally turned the corner on his sinus infection - after his negative Covid test he had 10 days of amoxicillin and pseudoephedrine, which barely improved things. He limped along at work with some Mucinex for the last two weeks, but I finally convinced him to be seen again and he received ten days of Levaquin (my nemesis after BMX - I am violently allergic), and Claritin-D. He seems to be more responsive to this combo, so yay!
Today I have mopped, done laundry, sewn masks, ironed, and cooked. I feel like June Cleaver
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Oh my - "wasted lobster tail". Be still my heart. But the lobster cream cheese spread sounds delicious. How far away from you is their new house Lacey? Closer or further? One of the things that really pisses me off about cancer - I have no idea if the aches & pains are only from getting older of how much cancer contributed. Not reasonable, but I'd like to know.
And oh yes, June Cleaver. Except wasn't there a different day assigned for each task - wash on Monday, iron on..., clean on..., shop on... - but the cooking never ended. Every single day, usually 3 meals a day. My dad wouldn't eat leftovers. Good think I love them.
Dinner was Fried Rice with NOH seasoning packet from HI. Leftover chicken, cold rice, peas, onions, two scrambled eggs, easy soy. Really delicious. Next time I'll remember to add a small can of mushrooms. I really like these NOH seasonings, but like Nance & Special - I have way too many even after my spice purge in January.
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Bob went to Costco after work and brought home a rotisserie chicken (a huge one). We had it with leftover salad (supplemented with cherry tomatoes), steamed broccoli (dressed with lemon, flake salt, olive oil & Penzey's Tuscan Sunset seasoning) & roasted potatoes.
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Sadly I am in the "aches and pains" category now. I don't know if it's cause and effect, but the aching joints began after I stopped going to the gym and started walking on the street. Stopped my exercise classes at the gym for range of motion and stretching. I must start an at home exercise regimen.
Goodness, SpecialK, you have a lot of energy, judging from your day at home activities.
I decided to join the small executive golf course that's less than a mile from the resort. It suits my golf game better than the longer, nicer golf course we joined the past two summers. I have played twice with a group of very nice women, most of them in my age category. Mary Ellen is 89 but you would never guess her age. DH may join Headwaters as a single. He hasn't decided.
Dinner last night was roasted asparagus and pork tenderloin, both cooked on the grill. I marinated the tenderloin with olive oil, garlic and onion powder, s & p and dry rosemary. DH has never been a fan of pork tenderloin but he made favorable comments and there wasn't much left.
It has been hot and windy the last couple of days. We've had to resort to running the a/c. The forecast is for storms with possible large hail this afternoon and tonight. I should plan a dinner that doesn't require outside cooking. I'm thinking about a version of taco salad.
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minus - my MIL had different days for each major task too! Then again, she had five kids with only a seven year span between oldest and youngest - which were a set of twins. Smart woman that she was, she took an older neighbor who didn't drive to the grocery store once a week. and split the twins between their carts. She got a twin sitter and the neighbor got a ride to the grocery store - win-win!
carole - funny that your post contained mention of your aches/pains and me being busy - if I am not busy, my aches and pains get much worse. I find that sitting is my worst position, it affects my disk degeneration most particularly. The disk issues were originally diagnosed at L4/5 almost 20 years ago and I don't treat with anything other than exercise and keeping busy. Some days are better than others depending on sleep position and level of activity. I have noticed that now that I am not going to the gym my discomfort is worse since I have lost strength. On my last MRI a few years ago for an unrelated hip issue, my MO also did a lumbar since we didn't know what was causing the hip pain (oldness, muscle tears, and trochanteric bursitis - problem solved with a lengthy PT) I now have new areas at L3 and T12 and also bone spurs, so I am much better if I am moving. What I usually do is a number of tasks at the same time - I have been sewing a mask or two, then mop a room, then iron, etc., if I do too much of one thing I get uncomfortable, so I stay a moving target. I am still staying home for the most part so need to keep busy or I will notice that I am staying home, lol!
Edited to add dinner, lol! Putting stew beef, sliced onion, an envelope of dry Lipton's onion soup mix, and a can of cream of mushroom soup in the slow cooker and letting it work its magic. Will serve over wide egg noodles with steamed green beans as a side. I never made the cobbler with my frozen peaches so maybe I will do that too. I need to go to the window showrooms for Pella and Andersen - we are replacing the windows in the rental house - they are the 1957 originals for the most part. Definitely not bug or storm proof - they have pretty big openings at the corners. We have two estimates so far from local companies that differ in price substantially, and the unfortunate thing is that the house sits in a 130mph zone so we have to do impact windows (my southern sisters know what I mean!), no choice if we want to do it legally with a permit. So...we definitely need to find the least expensive option. At least we get an insurance break and possibly a tax credit. Bleh...
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Our local (2 mi. away, not-quite-neighborhood) 9-hole course is fully open, but it's not an easy one by any means. Back in the day I played it once: was assigned to play with 3 guys who were unbelievably patient with an ultra-duffer like me (I had to treat them to beers and Titleists afterward to make amends). Been >30 yrs. since I've played anything but mini-golf (with a long putter at that), so I'll probably just walk the perimiter trail instead.
Dinner tonight will be leftover roast chicken (will make a piccata sauce with all the capers & lemon wedges I have), asparagus (pan-seared with balsamic), and rice for Bob/cauliflower rice for me.
Gordy & Leslie want to do something special for Father's Day, but not on Sunday because he's working. (Bob is off; he specifically requested steak). So we will have an early Father's Day dinner Fri. night (storms forecast for Sat., so outdoor seating would be a no-go) at The Barn of Evanston. They have valet parking, but I think it's safer to park in the city garage and walk the three blocks.
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Sandy - I snagged asparagus for $0.88 today - nice young, tender bunch. Do you sautee in EVOO or butter and then add the balsamic? Or ???
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Minus, I cheat by "blanching" the spears in the microwave for 30 sec., then sauteeing in EVOO and finishing with balsamic and Maldon flake salt.
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I often oven roast the asparagus and make a browned butter balsamic dressing, it has become a holiday dinner favorite but I don't necessarily wait for a holiday! ☺
Dinner tonight was a version of the layered enchilada casserole accompanied by a Cass winery(Paso Robles) 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon with the cab and dark chocolate for dessert.
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Beaver - I love that you posted TWO glasses of wine!! And hope it was also double chocolate. We only live once.
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Of course double chocolate! Actually Dove dark chocolate, so good with the cab sauv.
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Last night's dinner was an expanded version of our romaine salad on a dinner plate, topped with sauteed slices of chicken breast. Romaine lettuce, tomato, cucumber, avocado, blue cheese, kalamata olives. Dressing was white balsamic, EVOO, and a small amount of caesar dressing for me and sweet onion dressing for dh. Quite satisfactory.
No clue about tonight's dinner.
SpecialK, I have a package of cooked linguine in the freezer. What next when I want to use it? Let it thaw? Microwave? You said once that cooked pasta freezes well so I decided to give it a try.
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Good question about the frozen pasta. I always cook too much so will be glad to hear the answer too.
Beaver - oh my, the power of suggestion. I had to pop a piece of Dove Dark Chocolate with Raspberry (at 10:30 in the morning for heavens sake). Try the Godiva Masterpiece Dark Chocolate Ganache Hearts. But of course I had to eat one of those too to make sure my recommendation was still valid. The 14.6 oz bag is on sale at Costco again this month. The only reason I can parcel out my consumption is because they are individually wrapped.
Dinner was the last of the black beans w/green chili & chicken. Tonight will be spinach salad or leftover chicken fried rice. Now that I've eaten chocolate for breakfast, who can predict my mood by dinner.
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carole - I open the top of the container, add a scant few drops of water, then microwave in 55 second increments until the pasta is thawed. How long it takes depends on the volume, I tend to freeze in ziplocks in single servings and it usually only takes a couple rounds in the microwave. If you are adding the pasta to sauce that is already hot you could microwave just long enough to dislodge the pasta and then just put it in the sauce. In case you're wondering why 55 seconds, I tend to microwave in single button pushes, lol! 22 seconds, 33 seconds, etc. My family thinks it is ridiculous, but I am usually running around the kitchen like a nut and it is just easier than putting on my glasses to see the different numbers - my microwave is black and so is the number pad - not the best design.
minus - I think the chocolate at 10:30am is ok as long as you are not adding the glass of cab...
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Oh Special - what an interesting idea... I actually have an open bottle of Carson Ridge cab from Paso Robles. Be still my heart. No - I'll wait until WEEKDAY happy hour time.
Thanks for the pasta info. Now I will have no excuse to eat all the extra pasta w/butter.
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OK, ladies. All the talk about chocolate has made me cave in, melt several squares of TJ's Organic 73% Cacao & spread it on Biscoff cookies for dessert as an after lunch treat. Yum!
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minus - Happy Hour is an adjustable thing - you know the saying - it must be 5 o'clock somewhere... P.S. - I am a fan of pasta with butter too, especially wide egg noodles, and with just a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. You can eat the extra pasta with butter, then make extra extra pasta to freeze..see, problem solved.
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Minus, their house closing is tomorrow, and over the next two weeks, they are moving to a town that is the closest they could find next to Boston and all they love. I had hoped they would be a bit closer to our town, mainly so we could be easily available for child care, but I think it will work out fine. And after all, when I consider DDIL’s position, I doubt she would be dying to move to the town where her husband grew up and near her In-laws. Depending on highway traffic, they are 20-30 minutes away. We’ll go there this Sunday to tour the property with them and honor the dads! The following weekend they will do the big part of the move, and we will have sweet Amelia here. It will be a happy test of our energy reserves, Ha!
Our weather has been beautiful, so we’ve been enjoying dinners on our backyard deck. But tonight the heat and humidity was a bit much, (I know....I know, you south westerners!;), so we popped back into the kitchen. DH grilled teriyaki salmon filets, which we had with sweet potatoes, brussels sprouts, salad, and a nice chunk of crusty bread slathered with mashed avocado flavored with roasted garlic powder. It made my heart smile to reflect on the fact that every item on our plates was purchased by DH.....our new resident food shopper! He actually likes grocery shopping now! Only took 46 years! 🤣
Special, your June Cleaver reference had me chuckling. You will have quite the house transformation once your projects are complete! I have no idea what the 130 reference was....??? But it doesn’t sound like I’d like it! Your mil was a resourceful woman!
We are about to have a 100 year old tree removed from our front lawn. Last week we had a strong flash storm blow through town, and neighbors lost a number of trees, on cars, and fences. This old maple has a big crease on the trunk bottom and carpenter ants are making work stations there, so we need to avert a crisis, lest it land on our or our neighbor’s house. Another neighbor’s giant two hundred year old oak broke in half last weekend and miraculously missed the two houses it was between.
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lacey - 130 miles per hour of wind!!! You definitely wouldn’t like it! We have a similar 100 year old oak that needs removing at DD’s house - it has been decimated by termites and presents a hazard to several houses because it is unstable. We had to treat the termites, which was expensive and ongoing, and need toremove the tree, also expensive. I should have gone into either appliance repair or tree removal as a career.
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oh boy Sk, how awful. 130 mph is a big storm Lacey, I'm sorry your neighborhood is losing so many trees. We've lost so many to ash borer. Areyou having the little one iver night, or just during the move? I hope it goes we. My DS1 is moving, and all we get to take care of is a camping trailer! LOL.
Minis, I freeze cooked pasta and rice, its easy to just pull out what I need. I also freeze whatever spaghetti sauce we have leftover in small jars, either half pint canning jsrs or plastic one I have. Its easy to thaw out a half cup for lunches. And you can toss the noodles in a cup ofhot water to thaw them out.
Carole thzt sounda like a great salad. Yum.
Beaver and Celua, dark Dove chocolate, say no more.... LOL
Supper tonight was meatballs with rice, steamed cauliflower and green beans.
upper photo is my DGD1 picking dandelions for me, next is her helping me pluck the petals, that's a hard job! Bottom photo is the jelly we made this year. Middle photo is the apple blossom jelly, I added a single drop of pink food coloring just so it would look different from the d. Jelly. It worked, that is the color of the blossom infusion before you cook it, so im happy. The d jelly infusion looks like dark green kale smoothie, its amazing how the heat and lemon and sugar changes them. Im especially happy because while the blossoms were steeping overnight, the wind blew every single flower off the tree that night! I was so glad we picked them the day we did! Much love to all!
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Enjoyed the pictures, Moon, especially granddaughter in a dandelion field.
Last night I made a potato salad and ordered broasted chicken to pick up at Clancy's. I did the pick up since dh had a Zoom wood turners' demonstration that started at 6 pm.
We visited the one small gym in Park Rapids yesterday and paid for a 3 month membership. The machines are spaced apart and the young employee told us the number of people working out is small. She also recounted a conversation with an employee at the Park Rapids hospital who said they had not had any Covid patients. The number of confirmed cases in this large county was 6 when I checked yesterday.
We plan to go to the gym this morning.
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My meals were the just add water dehydrated backpacker meals in those foil & plastic envelopes. Sharon hiked down to Indian Gardens (where I was working) and hiked out with me.
The Covid shutdown put the whole project behind schedule and the other work wasn't quite far enough along for me to get all of my stuff done, so I need to go back on Monday
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Moon, your “granddandelion” photo Is just adorable and the jellies look great! What a fun activity! That said, I have a horrible allergic response, (epi pen and ER variety) to dandelion inhalation, so miss being able to select those greens in the produce aisle, and I very carefully put aside any dandelion “bouquets” that children proudly bring me. 🥴
Carole, that’s great that you found a small safety conscious gym. We are still unconnected to a gym, and I’m not as good as DH about working out on our basement machines. Have been walking, but it’s Houston temps and high humidity today, so not to eager to walk in that.
Eric, it sounds like you will be stuck doing “piecework” on this project. Impressed with Sharon’s hiking to collect you! Have a nice Father’s Day!
Thinking about a cookless dinner tonight since our house is not air conditioned. Hmmmm....
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Dinner last night at Cellars's patio was about 1/3 of Bob's fried calamari app (yeah I know, but it was SO good & crispy), then half a portion of a salmon Caesar salad. It was a huge piece of salmon. I had the leftovers (no croutons) for brunch this morning. Meeting Gordy & Leslie tonight at The Barn steakhouse in Evanston for Father's Day in advance, out on the patio (indoor dining set to resume at 25% capacity next Fri., in time for our anniv., but I think patio dining is as far as I want to push it till the area's "R-naught" value dips below 1.0. Tonight's special is a half duckling; and they have a "caviar sandwich" (wild American bowfin) as an app. For dessert (if I have room), maybe cheese. I still don't trust valet parking yet, so we'll self-park in the city lot a couple blocks away.
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Last night at The Barn was a joy--not just the food but being able to sit across the table from Gordy & Leslie (instead of talking through a glass storm door or from the sidewalk), no masks necessary (except when leaving the patio). The online (web page) menu was not available--there was a briefer but just as delicious one to be scanned via QR code, so no duckling. I had the "Grand Central Caviar Sandwich" (wild bowfin sturgeon roe and creme fraiche on housemade white bread--yeah, I know, but once in a blue moon...). Bob & I split the "tomahawk" bone-in ribeye (it came with smashed potatoes, which I didn't eat), and for the table we got maitake mushrooms, creamed kale and sauteed Brussels sprouts.
Tonight, we had the leftovers, supplemented with Thursday's green beans, Wednesday's quinoa, and some insanely wonderful strawberries (ripe & farm-fresh, from a local Amish natural grocery). I had forgotten till now how strawberries are supposed to taste, what with the styrofoam commercial supermarket (even Whole Foods) versions we've been getting. No sweetener, cream nor balsamico necessary!
Also got a couple of ripe apricots, a small delicata squash, half a dozen duck eggs (just because), a Cherokee Purple heirloom tomato (to go with my garden basil) and cremini mushrooms. If it's too stormy to go out to a patio brunch tomorrow, I will make shakshuka or maybe a Caprese...or both.
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