So...whats for dinner?
Comments
-
Just caught up on several pages of posts and pix. Some nice meals...and I do love the pix...probably why I add them often, too!
I am a compulsive lettuce washer...almost every single night...unless I just can’t face it with end of day back pain, and go for the fast and easy cuke salad.
In one of my former jobs, a few colleagues and I decided to have a “salad lunch club“, which for me deteriorated when I saw my boss empty a bag of greens, Into a bowl and mix it with dressing. Not sure if I was always this way, but I am really particular about my salad greens...i.e, not having rust or black slime, or specks of dirt, which I find I can best avoid by purchasing whole healthy looking heads of lettuce and washing and spinning it one leaf at a time. Sadly, DH, who has had a nice transformation into being a food shopper and sometimes meal prep helper, doesn’t have the best eye for lettuce dirt, so I am unwilling to delegate that task to him, lest I find myself chewing on dirt and rudely abandon his salad effort mid-meal. He has gotten much better at spotting good looking heads of green leaf, romaine, and red leaf lettuce, which is a treat. I will buy some of the Trader’s bags of arugula and of baby spinach, after inspecting the quality through the package. Obviously, I am a bit nuts about salad quality. And since Covid-19 I have not ordered a salad of any kind with any take-out meals...purely preferring just cooked food items.We have been bopping back and forth between home and the lake since arriving here a few weeks ago. Last week, we returned home for removal of a huge maple tree in our front yard which was listing in the direction of our neighbors’ house. Glad we had it done given the winds of Isaias this past week! Here there were a lot of downed trees, and I am relieved that we just lost power, and did not gain any trees in our living room! This week we head back for a stress echo for me, then back here again.
Our local son came up for the weekend with baby Amelia, who he was eager to introduce to our beautiful lake. She was not impressed with the water temp, tho totally enjoyed her relationship with sand at the beach. This morning DH (the breakfast cook) so enjoyed making pancakes from scratch and scrambled eggs for the family, and Mila enjoyed scarfing them down. Last night we had lobsters, local corn on cob, and a cuke salad. DDIL2 stayed home to supervise the final stage of their bathroom renovation, and I bet she was happy to avoid witnessing our outdoor lobster “eat in the rough”, since she does not tolerate seafood well.
I feel like most of our time here is spent planning for and making meals, (for us and the hummingbirds!) since our only other activity is going to the beach...and watching series, or Celtics’ games. I developed hip pain suddenly last week, which I think is bursitis...had it years ago...and am treating it with arnicare and ibuprofen with some success. But long walks have not been onmy agenda, sadly.
I’m sure there are folks taking part in many more local activities than we, but I’m not sure that is a great idea for us, especially with so many folks traveling here from more Covid “involved” states.
DH plans to make paella while DS2 is here, and shopped for the ingredients, so you can be sure if it gets accomplished, I’ll post s pic.
0 -
I'm out of the Grand Canyon and all went well. If anyone goes to the Grand Canyon and the toilets flush, I had a hand in it (speaking figuratively, of course). :-)
The water pumps to get water to the south rim of the Grand Canyon are located about 1/2 way down the canyon, in the trees at the bottom of the red line. When I took this picture (Sharon and I) were still an hour from finishing our walk out.
Meals down there were freeze dried backpacker meals.
The whole point of my visits there was to set up the wireless data system so that the park staff can remotely monitor and control the pumps from "up top" rather than have to walk or be flown into the 'canyon.
0 -
Good job in the canyon, Eric!
Lacey - Lobsters - oh boy, are you lucky! I am like you about salads. Love a simple mix of greens + radicchio + homemade balsamic vinaigrette. Was in heaven on assignment a number of years ago in France, where we lunched at a cafeteria and was able to have a daily mesclun salad w/vinaigrette. Unfortunately, cannot find much in the way of a variety of greens here, unless I resort to packaged spring mix. Consequently, infrequently eat salad.
0 -
I appreciate the convenience and variety offered in bagged salads - I just don’t trust the precut stuff these days. The only salad I’ll even order in a restaurant is a wedge salad at my favorite Italian joint. One time I picked up a package of chopped greens at Trader Joe’s and while I was in line to check out I noticed something moving inside the bag. Close inspection revealed it to be a rather large live wasp! Boy was I glad I didn’t get it home and open it lol
Tonight is the remains of a brisket with the addition of barbecue sauce. Sides will be corn on the cob and sautéed yellow squash with tomatoes and onions.
Eric, you are amazing. I hiked a lit halfway down the Grand Canyon once and to this day it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
0 -
Oh Nance - now you've made me hungry for a wedge salad. And I had been wanting a pizza since I haven't tasted one since February. Sigh. But I'm not comfortable going out to restaurants yet.
Breakfast was 2 hard boiled eggs and 1/2 a cup of canteloupe. Supper will be the last of the corn - and maybe if I'm still hungry, rotisserie chicken sandwiches on Hawaiian rolls.
Edited to add -gorgeous country Eric. But especially difficult going for those of us who live at sea level with no inclines.
0 -
And I haven't eaten a wedge salad since finding a worm on one years ago! All depends on one's experiences, I guess.
Eric, gorgeous picture. Have no plans to go back to the Grand Canyon at present but should I ever get there again, I'm certain to think of you and Sharon.
0 -
Eric, WOW!
I must confess I'm a bit of a "use it up, waste not/want not" gal. With romaine or Little Gem lettuce, if I see rust in the center ribs I trim off the green leafy parts to eat. I have a top-rated salad spinner, though I can never get my greens totally dry.
Last night we ordered out from Cellars: sesame-seared ahi with Asian slaw and wonton crisps to share; roast half chicken with peas, mashed spuds & Chardonnay gravy for Bob; and grilled salmon Caesar for me. We left half the entrees over for tonight. Will supplement the Caesar (Bob can have the croutons) with cucumber slices and a few homegrown cherry tomatoes. And as an appetizer, I bought a qt. of great gazpacho. Dessert will be ripe cantaloupe & berries. (Last night's was Enlightened Keto Cream-of-Coffee ice cream, topped with NuStevia chocolate syrup). Made Birch Benders Chocolate Chip Keto pancakes (half recipe) this morning, so I'd better watch the starch & sugar tonight.
0 -
Linner was the 2nd half of a Costco Shrimp Cocktail. For those of you who've bought this delight - half means approx 30 decent sized cold boiled shrimp (bigger than silver dollars) - peeled w/tails only. Served with salt and a new Sauvignon Blanc.
I had intended to have a Spinach salad, but I'm so full I likely won't eat again today.
0 -
Bob's coming home late again (he guesstimates 10 or 11 pm). I'm defrosting a couple of pasture-raised pork chops to grill, and will probably cook either green beans or broccolini. Gazpacho to start, as well as the remainder of the Caesar I stretched with cukes, 'shrooms and tomatoes (and tonight, with baby arugula). Will just reheat his (not the salad or gazpacho) share when he gets home.
He's promised to take next weekend off to help me get through my ordeal with my (probably very painful) eye. Hope I leave UIC's SurgiCenter with a good painkiller prescription, as CVS & Walgreen's would never fill one he'd write for me. (I have just two Tylenol 3s left from my arm surgery 2 years ago--written by my late PCP. His NP--his daughter--would have to document an office visit in order to call one in for me). The weekend after, I will suggest Bob stay at a hotel in downtown Chicago, which will be much safer than one in Oak Lawn or even near Midway Airport. Sure, it's not as close to the hospitals as the Oak Lawn one, but closer than here (about 1/3-1/2 the way between here & Oak Lawn/Evergreen Park). There's also a Hampton Inn less than a mile north of us--he could park here and walk there rather than depend on their valets. (They have no parking lot--they use a nearby condo bldg.'s garage, not open to the general public. Parking is otherwise nonexistent in the immediate Loyola U. area, even with no students in attendance).
This morning I made soft-scrambled eggs (2) with fresh herbs & truffle salt, over a slice of low-carb toast, with 2 slices of bacon on the side. It's a bit more than I like to eat that early in the day, but I know dinner will likely be late. For a snack, I had a wedge of cantaloupe and a breve cappuccino (enjoyed the latter out on the deck).
0 -
Gorgeous photo, Eric.
I'm a wedge salad fan but never make it at home. The dressing makes the salad.
The tomatoes are finally ripening here in northern MN. Last night we had a delicious BLT sandwich for dinner with a salad of cucumber, more tomato, avocado and mild onion (bought at the farmers mkt) on dh's salad.
0 -
This has been a disastrous tomato-gardening season. Maybe a couple dozen cherry tomatoes, fewer than 10 full-sized, among 4 plants. (More than half of those still green). Going out in a few minutes to anchor & cover the pots with trash bags in case the impending super-storm (75-100mph winds forecast) knocks them over (so the fruits wouldn't roll away). Rabbits & squirrels eat what few strawberries there are (unripe, to boot). And my zucchini plant keeps making only male blossoms. Only the herbs are doing well.
Last night Bob was late again, this time due to a huge pileup on Lake Shore Dr. caused by the same downpour that kept me from grilling pork chops tonight. So he had (by his request) canned split pea soup--which I supplemented with ham, croutons & a little sherry. Made myself a panino on lo-carb bread (provolone, peppers, onion, mushroom, coppa ham). Tonight I will make the chops--grilled if the storm has passed, otherwise seared in cast iron.
0 -
Last night was a calzone experiment since I had grown bored with deja vu dinners. I'm not a calzone person so much, but DH is. The recipe called for ready made pizza dough, which my grocery store carries in the deli. I found this particular dough difficult to roll out and the filling in this recipe bland, so if I make them again I will change it up. Probably would still use ready made dough, but a different one and hot Italian sausage rather than mild, would also add more things to the filling. I cooked all of the sausage but held back half to use in Carbonara with some bacon. I think I will make a main dish salad for dinner tonight. I am at the dermatologist at the moment for my delayed skin check. Not sure whether I will be sporting bandages when I leave so want to do something easy for dinner.
I am a wedge salad fan - I like that it is fast to make. There is a blue cheese dressing we like by Cindy's Kitchen, I usually get it at Whole Foods and then add additional crumbles. My fave one is Bob's Big Boy (looking at you minus - my fellow Cali girl) but I can only get it when I visit my BFF in Sacramento.
0 -
Last night was spaghetti. Sharon is driving. Its a dirt road and hard to type on the phone. We're near Oak City, Utah.
0 -
Going to have to grill those pork chops I took out of the freezer on Sun.--they've been thawed since yesterday morning and can't be re-frozen. Will grill asparagus and either a sweet potato or sauté broccolini. May not be able to eat till 9:30 or 10, since Bob has a raft of patients to see at Christ Hosp. after his shift at Union Health; and due to looting-prevention road/street closures may have to take another labyrinthine route home. Ate avocado-toast with an olive-oil-fried egg for brunch, and sat out on the (now-tranquil) deck sipping a breve cappuccino about an hour ago.
0 -
Dinner last night was soup and sandwich for DH (tomato basil and a black forest ham and provolone on everything bread) and just soup for me. My avatar pic is too small to see but I have a mole near the corner of my mouth, same basic position as Cindy Crawford's. I wish mine looked as good on me, but yesterday the derm said it has to go - has been getting larger over the last couple of years. So, it is gone and off to pathology - but I can't really open my mouth to eat very well due to the position and bandaging. DH says he isn't hungry tonight - I suspect a late lunch - so dinner might be grapes for me.
0 -
Strangely enough Sandy, we shared a menu tonight! I fixed pork chops with asparagus and onion in a white wine and Dijon mustard sauce with baked sweet potato. Will have watermelon for dessert.
Needed a change from chicken. Cooked 4 large breasts in the Instant Pot a few days ago and have had them blackened on the last of the bean and Mexican rice, cubed and warmed with raspberry chipotle sauce with a mixed grain pilaf with dried cranberries and pecans and fresh tomatoes, and shredded and warmed with a mustard based bbq sauce and served on baked potato with a green salad. Still have one more but needed a change tonight.
0 -
Well, it looks like yet either another insanely late (post-11pm) or ruined dinner. Bob--who decided to work like crazy starting last Thurs in anticipation of taking a long weekend (Thu-Mon) off to be my ride to & from the hospital (and help me at home)--never knocks off work in time to get past the post-looting road/street/ramp closures. Right now he is stuck 10 mi. south on I-94 (Lake Shore Dr., his usual route, is closed between the museum campus & Lincoln Park)--because of anti-looting ramp closures, nothing is moving. I am afraid to turn off the gas grill, lest I be unable to re-light it (which often happens). Can't put the chops or veggies on yet, lest they overcook. This is getting very, very old--the city has decided to do these closures indefinitely.
UPDATE: called him at 9:50 and he said he got past the bottleneck (from people rushing to avoid the ramp closures, to no avail) so he'd be home in 20 minutes. So I timed everything perfectly: I'd sliced the sweet potato and nuked it briefly to soften it, then steeped 2 smashed garlic cloves on low heat in olive oil. The chops had come up to room temp.; I grilled them to 145F and while they rested we ate the gazpacho starting at 10:30pm. The chops are from pasture-raised hogs (Butcher Box); all I seasoned them with was salt, pepper & herbes de Provence. No brining, no honey, no maple, no BBQ sauce.
0 -
Have enjoyed catching up on a few pages of missed days. On Monday I roasted (sort of) a 3 lb. Chicken in the crockpot as I knew I'd be out at the hospital getting a scan then to a few local shops. Hospital seemed to be quite safe / orderly.
Anyway, chicken was surprisingly delicious and I served it with stuffing, gravy and green beans. (Fave of DH). Tonight was a (well cleaned!) Green salad I made and Moosewood eggplant parmesan from the freezer.
0 -
Last night was linguine with Rao's sauce. I seasoned half a lb. of ground turkey with fennel, onion and garlic powder, red pepper flakes, s & p. Sauteed it in olive oil and added the jar of Rao's. Delicious every time. Cooked a whole lb. of linguine, added some to the sauce and froze the rest.
0 -
I'm thawing cod fillets to cook tonight. Minus or Lacey, if you happen to read this, would you refresh my memory on Lacey's recipe for baked cod? Meanwhile I'll try doing a search and also consult with Google.
0 -
I just got a Butcher Box shipment of frozen cod fillets. I usually marinate & pan-sear.
0 -
Just lost my post, but here is what it said:
carole - found a post from lacey where she said she cooks the fish fully by itself. In the post she said it was served on that occasion with peppers, mushrooms, onion, and yellow squash with Rao's puttanesca, over orzo. My interpretation would be sauté the veggies, add sauce, nap cooked fish and serve over orzo. I'm not so much a fish person but with cod I usually lightly bread and pan fry. Make fish tacos by serving it in a flour tortilla with shredded cabbage, pickled red onion, and a drizzled crema made from sour cream cut with a tiny bit of milk and sriracha. Good luck!
Tonight is beef stew - kind of a winter dish but I have all of the ingredients so that is what I'm doing, lol! I was instructed to wash my surgical site on my face twice daily and dress again, and took the opportunity to reposition the bandage so I could open my mouth! Yay! I get to eat!
0 -
Carole: Here's the post I copied. It's delicious. Thanks again Lacey.
Lacey's cod with tomato sauce.
I find that it is a good quick dish if I use a bottle of Rao sauce....either Puttanesca, Marinara, or Ariebietta (sp?), anything you like. Our local grocery store has Rao's on sale every few weeks for $6 so I stock up then.
I like my sauce to be filled with veggies, so I cut up a large onion, some mushrooms, and red peppers, and sauté them,
remove from pan, add pieces of the fish to pan and start to pan fry it until it is almost cooked through.
Then I add the sauce and the cooked veggies with chopped basil and any other spices you choose. Cook until the sauce is bubbling, and fish seems flaky and opaque. then keep it simmering for a bit.
While the fish/tomato is cooking, I boil water and cook either orzo, orchiette, or any other pasta we are in the mood for.
Drain that and put in a casserole with a bit of sauce in bottom of casserole first.
Then I pour the fish mix over the pasta....your choice if you want the fish to be in serving sized or smaller pieces over the pasta in the casserole. I usually buy less than a lb. of a firm white fish for this, and use about a half lb or sometimes 3/4 lb of pasta. We always have a leftover meal out of this, especially if we use a larger pasta.
It is good with grated cheese (I know, I know, Mario.) And I really love it with dried red pepper sprinkled over the top on my plate. You will note that I never include times in this loosely woven recipe...because0 -
I went to Central Market today to pick up my yearly batch of Hatch Chili Scones. I freeze a dozen individually wrapped. It's such a good thing I don't live closer. I always find such tempting & interesting things. Because the Hatch festival is only a couple weeks long I bought: two Hatch salmon patties, Hatch Chili quesadillas (ready to cook), Hatch pepper/jack cheese, spinach-artichoke dip - not related but I needed it for the Boudin Twice Baked Sourdough crackers that I found (imagine - from my favorite bread store in San Francisco). Picked up Kettle cooked Waffle Cut Garlic Hatch potato chips, blue corn hatch tortilla chips, a jar of Hatch Chili Cream Cheese Dip, and.... Oh and I picked up some fresh, homemade tortillas - half corn & half wheat - so I can finally make the enchiladas with Reader's recipe. And two cans of Hatch Chili Enchilada Sauce - one green & one red. Do you get the feeling I like Hatch Chilis?
Also got some pumpernickel bagels - the only place in this huge city that I can reliably find them. Oh and a 'personal' watermelon and, and... Like I said, it's a good thing the store is across town. I only get there 2 or 3 times a year. Dunch was a Turkey & Havarti sandwich on 9 grain bread so I'm way too full for dinner.
0 -
minus - wow! Hatchapalooza!!!
0 -
Went to Cellars--I decided if ever there were a time for a mini-pity-party, this was it. So I had egglplant parm over linguine--barely made it through 1/3 of the gargantuan portion. (Yummy). Originally wanted dessert, but no room whatsoever. As 10 pm (my NPO deadline approached), I savored a single Girl Scout Thin Mint. It was okay, but not that much better than my FatSnax keto double-chocolate cookie, When I get home tomorrow, if I have an appetite I will send Bob down the block for chocolate frozen custard (kid-size portion) with sour cherry topping. I will have to get back on the straight & narrow soon, as I am hoping the procedure will work for at least 5 years--and I don't want to get fat and pre-diabetic agin.
0 -
Thinking of you Sandy. Best wishes tomorrow! ❤👍🙏
0 -
Minus, thanks for posting Lacey's recipe. I baked the cod fillets in the microwave/convection oven at 400 degrees. I followed a recipe I found online. The "sauce" was 1/2 block of soft butter, juice of a lemon, minced garlic (I substituted garlic powder), onion powder, 1 T flour, 1 tsp dejon mustard. I spooned the lumpy mixture on the cod, which had been salted and peppered.
The outcome was good but not memorable. The main taste was lemon with a hint of the mustard. Side was steamed yellow squash and a salad of cucumber and tomato.
I will probably start buying the cod which is not as expensive as Canadian walleye. I think the lightly breaded and pan fried version would suit dh and me, too.
0 -
carole - do you like pecan or other nut crusted fish? I just found an easy recipe for pecan crusted cod baked in the oven, I would be happy to post it if you think it might be a possibility? I used to work in a restaurant and one of my favorites there was a pecan crusted trout with a citrus chardonnay sauce. I actually had a dream about it once and I am not even that crazy about fish...
Ended up having pasta and a salad last night - angel hair in tomato cream sauce with the leftover cooked sausage and a romaine salad with a creamy balsamic vinaigrette and some additional veggies, will make the beef stew tonight. DH had his scans yesterday but doesn't have his return visit to the ENT until Tues. It will be a long weekend. We looked at the disk, and it had some stark differences from one side of his face to the other - but we don't know what it means yet.
chisandy - in your pocket, hoping for smooth sailing.
0 -
Hubby requested cheeseburgers tonight. It's been scorching here lately and he's been trying to give me breaks with cooking by saying to cook something quick and easy.
0
