So...whats for dinner?
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Glad our kitchen table friends were spared damage from Laura. It isn’t even September and we are already past the letter L! It is scary what a hurricane moving in the warm waters of the Gulf does. The worst I’ve seen in Tampa so far was Irma - letter I, and that was mid-Sept - but it is nerve wracking every time one gets close. Sometimes I’m not sure why I live here, but my alternative is California which seems to be on fire a LOT these days. I’m waiting on a wine shipment from Napa but sheesh, they are all just trying to stay cool and not burnt up (burnt down?) there.
Dinner has been meh lately - had to ferry it to DD’s house - tortellini with marinara and mozzarella on top with a side of sautéed squash one night, pork chops with sweet potatoes and steamed green beans last night. I’m currently waiting at the house for the delivery of the impact windows. My delivery time was 8am to noon. Apparently not...we are an hour past that now.
I think tonight will be ribeyes and loaded baked potatoes, and the rest of the green beans.
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Cleaning out the fridge. Yesterday I had leftover broccoli salad from Chicken Salad Chick. It's not quite the same as the mix from Costco, but a it's manageable size & pretty good. Decided on a grilled cheese sandwich w/that. My hunk of extra sharp NY cheese was covered w/mold but I cut if off and there was just enough for a delicious 1/2 sangy on sour dough bread.
Tonight will be hamburger steak w/sauteed onions and boiled new potatoes.
So I chopped & prepped everything to make potato salad w/the leftover potatoes. Didn't have celery so I'm going to toss in small pieces of English Cucumber with the seeds removed which really needed to be used. (although I considered Water Chestnuts first) Going to use the other half of the cucumber to marinate with onions with dill. And while I was boiling the eggs for the potato salad, I tossed in a couple more and made egg salad for tomorrow - which will be served on a pumpernickel bagel.
Still planning on boiling some rice so I can make fried rice later this week with the rest of the leftover veggies & some leftover rotisserie chicken.
Also made some Godiva Milk Chocolate pudding to use up some milk. This is the third time I've made that and it's addictive. Even though I usually prefer dark chocolate, I didn't care for their dark choc pudding - but this is delicious.
Enjoying pottering in the kitchen w/o turning on the oven since we're under a heat advisory. I have a two pack of quiches from Costco, but I'll wait until it's a bit cooler to do that. And I have everything to make Reader's quick enchiladas - but again - too hot for the oven. Think I'll stop & read for awhile before I boil the potatoes.0 -
Minus-where does one find Godiva chocolate pudding? Sounds yum
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Nance - actually I was trying to buy instant Jello Chocolate Pudding (in a box) when the virus started & I could not find any - so I bought Godiva. It's with the boxed puddings & jellos, but decidedly NOT 10 for $1.00. Still...
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Made it to alfresco dinner at Cellars last nigjt--no storms, and the temp was dipping below 90F. Had a Caesar to start. Entree was roast half chicken with peas and Chardonnay gravy (Bob had chicken piccata). Tonight will be the leftovers, augmented with gazpacho. Weather now is dry and mild--70s. Dining on the deck to keep Happy from climbing on the table or my lap, mooching scraps. Will go out for brunch tomorrow; and pick up BBQ for dinner. Bob is jonesing for a smoked turkey leg and I could use some rib tips or smoked wings.
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Roasted veges and mac & cheese near Jacob Lake, Arizona. We'll be home Monday afternoon.
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Minus, I use celery seed instead of celery when I make potato salad. Don't generally make it unless there will be other folks around as my mother's recipe makes about a gallon.
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Oh Beaver - thanks for the reminder. I will miss the crunch, but I do have some celery salt. Just opened the Tupperware & stirred it in. My leftover potatoes made about 1-1/2 cups so needless to say it was my Mom's recipe adapted & cut 20 times or more.
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My challenge in trying to cut the recipe is that it has a special cooked dressing that would be hard to reduce and potatoes, eggs and dressing are all mixed in while they are warm/ hot.
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Ah - I understand. I'd love to see your Mom's recipe, but I don't cook for big groups anymore either. I prefer sour cream based & not mustard potato salad - so I'm able to improvise with mayo & sour cream and etc. It's not the same, but passible when I'm cooking for one.
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I too often make potato salad and put the potatoes in while warm. I make a red potato one with green onion and dill that is a half and half dressing with sour cream and mayo with salt, pepper, and dill stirred in, and extra dill added to the potatoes first. That one is easy to eyeball on dressing volume depending on how many potatoes I use. I like the petite reds, but will also use bigger ones and cut them down so they cook faster and can be added to the pre-made dressing without handling the hot potatoes. The other one uses the same mayo and sour cream dressing ratio, with salt and pepper, but I use baked russets, which aren't laden with water. I usually add crumbled bacon and green onions or chives, and every now and then shredded cheddar - so it is "loaded" baked potato salad. Using leftover baked potatoes is also faster if you need emergency potato salad, lol! I have also used them for more traditional potato salad with hard-boiled eggs and more veggies added.
The window delivery was accomplished this morning at the downtown house. The last two days have been a bit of a cluster - I waited at the downtown house for 9 hours on Friday only to find out that they tried to deliver the windows to our main house, waited 15 mins out front, then gave up even though there were special instructions with the correct address and my cell number, which they ignored. They were calling my landline in the wrong house. So yesterday I involved our salesman - who was hoppin' mad at the screw up - and the general manager of my neighborhood Lowe's. A few years ago Lowe's eliminated using their own delivery folks and contracted with a transportation company, which has proven to be a questionable - that is the consensus among the Lowe's folks. In any event, the manager went in this morning and made very, very sure they had the right address and then called me to let me know. From early this morning I was at the 'burb house, DH at the downtown house, so that we strategically had all bases covered. We are all set for install tomorrow so I will be at the downtown house for the next three days, supervising, lol! Fourteen windows and a sliding door - should be fun times! I am bringing Advil.
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Have not had potato salad in forever as I rarely eat potatoes. May have to break down & make some next weekend. I like to use small klondike golds or reds, thin mayo with olive oil, add dijon mustard, whatever else is on hand in the way of herbs, etc.
Just had Sunday lunch. Sea scallops sauteed in a garlic cream sauce with a dash of bacon + roasted broccoli. Accompanied by Bonterra Saugignon Blanc mixed with Pellegrino Essenza Tangerine & Wild Strawberry for a nice wine spritzer.
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Special, you are braver than I. We need a brace of new windows too, but the idea of packing up everything and moving the furniture out of the way in several rooms on two floors gives me major agita.
Brunch al fresco at Cellars was a crabcake Benedict with mesclun salad instead of pan-roasted spuds. They were so slammed today they ran out of quiche by noon (and they don't even open till 11am). Tonight, ordering out BBQ for pickup from Hecky's in Evanston--my driving "maiden voyage" since the surgeries. My R eye has improved to 20/60. (L is 20/20). When it gets as good as it's gonna (in about 3-5 wks) it's back to Warby Parker for refraction (the reading correction needed to be strengthened anyway due to aging). That should hold me for another year until (and even if) the radiation causes re-deterioration. It might not, because the tumor and radiation was at the bottom front of the eye, not the retina.
My weight has crept back up to 142, almost 143. Still below goal but higher than the 140 it was during my post-op temporary anorexia. Time to dial back the carbs again and go closer to keto than to Mediterranean (maintenance). I have a major wardrobe investment to protect!
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chisandy - well, the new windows are going in DD’s place, that we own. She doesn’t have nearly as much accumulated stuff as we do, and the house is 1600sf, ours is twice that - with a lot of sliders and arched custom windows and 14ft ceilings - so I’m not swapping mine out either!!! The way that house is configured we should be able to pull furniture away from walls relatively easily. DH and I will prob do most of that this evening so it’s ready to go tomorrow. I want them to start in the easiest room and do the front windows so we can put the blinds back up. I don’t really want people wandering by to be able to look in and see her stuff. And her. There is a reason we have a Ring doorbell, Ring driveway cam, and three ADT cameras on the sides and back, and whole house alarm. Be careful driving!
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We have Andersen awning windows--replacing them would be a nightmare.
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Back to potato salad. I. scrub the potatoes (5lbs russets) and cook them whole. 2. Chop the onion and put in bowl with pickle relish and celery seed. 3. Make the dressing: Beat well 2 eggs. Add 3/4 cup sugar, 2 Tbsp flour, 3/4 cup cider vinegar, 1 cup boiling water. Bring to a boil, stirring, and cook 'til thickens. Add spoonful of butter after cooking. Keep warm. 4. Hard cook one dozen eggs. 5. Drain cooked potatoes and cut up (skins too) into bowl with onion mix; peel eggs and cut up and add while warm /hot. 6. Mix dressing in.
I hold the hot potatoes and eggs in a folded dish cloth to cube them. According to my mother, the recipe came from my father's aunt who "kept house" for her widowed brother (my grandfather). For many years she prepared meals with the only water source in the house being a pump at the sink. The farm was in a sparsely populated rural area and the power company did not run electric lines to the area until well after WWI. They did have gas for cooking, heating and lighting.
I do make other versions of potato salad, usually in smaller amounts, but this is the treasured family recipe!
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Driving was a bit odd, seeing as how it was my first time behind the wheel since Aug. 12. R eye still slightly dilated, but no worse than when I resumed driving after my first cataract surgery.
Having rib tips and collard greens, maybe a spoonful each of baked beans and mac & cheese, since it's been over a year since I've tasted either. Bob's having those sides with a BBQ turkey leg, plus fries & bread.
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Carolehalston,
We sure did dodge the bullet with Hurricane Laura. We rode it out at home and I was saying my prayers from 1 am til 5 am when you heard the wind whistling and blowing. We woke up to yard debris blown all over, my backyard swing toppled over and my husband lost his pecan tree. But I am very grateful that is all the damage that happened and no life was lost. My girls rode out the storm in our mobile home but they were also fortunate no damages or life lost. It is a challenge to find shelter with my daughters 4 cats and our 3 dogs. I feel terrible for the communities that took a direct hit. It will take a very long time to build back up. My friend from Sulphur, who evacuated, says that they will be at least a month with no power. It seems that these storms get stronger each time, it makes me want to move away from here.
I do know where Jeanerette is but not familiar with four corners. Lafayette does have good restaurants, unfortunately, some have closed due to Covid19. But still a few are left. Cajun food is so good!
Oh, speaking of food, dinner was leftovers, my husband had leftover Barbecue ribs, macaroni and cheese, baked beans. I had leftover eggplant casserole and rice from Lebanese restaurant that we went to last night. And of course, our Ghirardelli chocolate for dessert!
Celand
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ChiSandy,
Well NOLA dodge the bullet with Hurricane Laura and TS Marco was downgraded at last minute. I know that your friend was rrelieved.Our westward neighbors were not so lucky. The news media has shown many photos of the destruction. My friend from Sulphur who evacuated with her family to Kentucky said that there will be no power for at least a month.
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Celand - so glad that you and your family are OK. Scary stuff.
Beaver - thanks for the potato salad recipe. Sounds delightfully rich. Reminds me of my mother's fruit salad recipe - when she cooked the dressing at great length. I just toss cut fruit with coconut, baby marshmellows, pecans and sour cream.
When I had all my windows replaced a couple of years ago, the window company actually moved all the furniture & covered it with plastic before they started in each room. Here's hoping the rest of the experience isn't as painful Special.
Edited to give a shout out to Eric - who actually may be sleeping in his own bed tonight. That was a long round about treck but I know you had a great time.
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Tomorrow night is "in bed at home". The camper is quite comfortable, so it's not a nig deal where we're at. But I do miss DD and the dogs.
I was on call for July so I wasn't on call for August or September, but if the federal medical response goes 'long"...I could get an email....and be away from home some more.
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Celand, glad you made it through Laura unscathed!
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Celand, "no power for a month" is almost a death sentence. Here in north MN we are feeling the coming of fall weather. Our plan is to do what we did last year--stay for the fall colors and head home before the snow starts. That should be about the middle of October.
Dinner last night was homemade chili out of the freezer served with sour cream and grated cheddar. Side was a salad of tomato and cucumber.
We're watching some video of destruction in Lake Charles on the morning news. Terrible scenes.
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I’m also relieved to learn that members of our kitchen table were spared the wrath of Laura. A few weeks ago, I was concerned during a local storm that the giant swaying trees in our yard might land on our house. We lucked out with minimal rain before the winds, so OUR trees stayed firmly rooted, and we only experienced loss of power for 12 hours. I can’t imagine how terrifying it must be to experience the level of hurricanes the Gulf Coast folks do. I’m glad you and your family are safe, Celand!
We are still hunkered down at the lake....probably for two more weeks. I managed to strain a muscle in my lower back last week, so have been on “back rehab” protocol. I’m sorry not to be near my “back healers” at home, so the rehab could be faster, but with DH’s reminders of my meds and rest/movement Routines, I should be closer to normal In a few more days...hopefully.
Our Meals have mostly been done on the grill by DH since food prep standing has been too hard for me. I can just stand long enough to put a salad together. Last night, DH felt ambitious and followed a recipe for shrimp and sausage in saffron rice. I thought of it as a faux paella dish (which is his signature...and only... dish), and it was really pretty, but not as tasty as his paella. Lots of grilled chicken and nuked sweet potatoes and salads gracing our plates lately.
My Celtics are back on the court and looking strong so far, so I’m grateful to be able watch them again during my “rest” period. Also proud of them and the NBA for stopping their playoffs for social/racial justice causes until they could use their power to negotiate a platform that includes establishing safe voting places in the NBA Teams’ arenas.
Minus, I might be scouring the grocery shelves for that Chocolate pudding!
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Oh no lacey - so sorry about your back. I'm actually going to buy several boxes of the Godiva Milk Chocolate pudding mix and put them in Christmas stockings for my DIL, my nieces & some lady friends.
Carole - I'm jealous of your approaching fall. As you can imagine, our last couple of days have been awful - 101 & 102. And the humidity!!! Do you have someone watching over your LA house?
Welcome home Eric.
The potato salad with mini pieces of English Cucumber w/o the seeds was really delicious. Living dangerously to avoid going to the grocery store for celery this time. What's next? Wild rice with water chestnuts if I don't have mushrooms??
Day # 150 of my walking program, 3-1/2 to 4 miles every darn day. Lost 12 lbs. LDL down 25 points. I'm sure I deserve to go out for a lobster dinner reward, but that's not going to happen anytime soon. But oh I do miss the ocean!!!
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Lacey, bummer about your back. I have age-related "degenerative disk changes" so the nerves get irritated and can cause aching, even sudden spasms. I've found that lidocaine and menthol (e.g., BioFreeze) roll-ons, followed by topical CBD balm, do help. (Some CBD creams have menthol, so it's a 1-2 punch, but I don't like my hands smelling of menthol). Sometimes I use Voltaren gel. There's a piriformis stretch that my PT taught me last year that also provides some relief--but you have to do it slowly and patiently so that you feel a gradual stretch. If I get impatient, spasms can happen all over again. As the weather cools down, there's always the trusty heating pad. At the beginning of a sudden spasm, ice is better--but if it's one of those creeping nagging backaches, heat is better because it relaxes the muscles.
But today I had a "good back day." Tylenol at bedtime and in the morning, proactively...
Dinner was an insalata Caprese of homegrown heirlooms (Green Zebra & striped beefsteak) with blood orange olive oil and fresh basil, followed by collard greens and a couple of leftover rib tips, then grilled asparagus with olive oil & lemon juice. Bob will be home for dinner tomorrow and promises to bring arancini from Pompeii in Little Italy. (No cannoli, though--I've gone back to faking it with ricotta, monkfruit sweetener and rum extract. The shell of the real one I hd last week was sort of an anticlimax).
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I was diagnosed with disk degeneration about 20 years ago, had pain and got an MRI. Mine is lumbar, but since breast cancer I now have an additional level, and also some thoracic bone spurs. I have inconsistent pain, but mine is made worse with sitting - particularly if sitting for an extended time like in a car or plane, and sometimes I have pain upon waking. I haven’t really done much about the issue consistently but have found the stronger I am the less pain I have. I don’t take any consistent pain meds, but have found heat to help a lot.
Dinner last night was forgettable, pork potstickers and some veggie fried rice, after a long day of watching window installation and cleaning up. Not sure what is for dinner tonight - something fast and easy. All the windows are in except one, and the slider is postponed because it arrived damaged
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My back issues are lumber and cervical--the latter began in my late 20s.
So Bob brought home food from Pompeii tonight. The arancini were ultra-meh: mushy, drowning in marinara. Sausage & peppers excellent, forgettable but decent tossed salad, and semi-Sicilian pizza (square, soft crust but not as thick as true Sicilian, at least NY-area-style). I had a 2x6" strip of sausage pizza and 1x6" strip of cheese pizza. No dessert. Maybe some dark chocolate later.
Tomorrow night is Cellars' winemaker dinner--perfect patio-dining weather.
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Dinner at Cellars tonight (with Oak Farms wines from---amazingly--Lodi, CA) was as follows:
Seared day-boat scallops with grilled-peach salsa on spinach.
Apple-serrano ham crostini on baby arugula with hazelnuts.
Rice-and-chorizo-stuffed calamari with romesco sauce.
Thin-sliced grilled skirt steak on acorn squash puree and diced summer squash & peppers.
Brie fondue with spiced appples on cinnamon toast.
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Dinner last night was beef stew cooked in the multi-cooker using different functions. The veggies were the usual--carrots, potatoes and one onion for dh. I cooked green beans with fresh tomato in a separate pot since I didn't include the green beans with the other veggies. DH is a fan of beef stew and we have enough leftovers for another meal.
It was in the mid 50's this morning and it's very windy. I will be skipping women's golf league.
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