So...whats for dinner?
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Dh birthday is coming up so I made his cake. (A coffee cake his mom used to make). For dinner it was a Hormel brand beef carne asada (which I cooked in the crockpot so I could take a nap) wirh sides of a green salad and mushroom rice. I also heated up a kasha lentil tomato thing to go with the rice. My original plan was altered because the squash I was going to mash had gone bad.
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It’s gonna get down to 37 degrees tonight, so DH made cauliflower and leek soup, yum and warm.
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What a wonderful afternoon on my back porch. The three of us ate (no gorged) for more than three hours. I hadn't seen my BFF, who basically doesn't live in town anymore, since February. Not sure I'll be able to sleep since i ate so much.
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Simple dinner tonight: baked potato with the last of the chili as topping and a big green salad. Topping the evening off with a glass of eggnog (yes with nog!).
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Minus, your luncheon sounds like it was great...both the menu/prep, and the event. It is so enriching to spend unhurried time with cherished friends!
Illimae, what a tasty looking soup!
We had grilled turkey tips for the past two nights. Night one with our typical garden salad with horseradish dressing and side of a kale, onion, peppers sauté tossed with broken whole wheat pasta. Turkey tips redux last night included sides of similar salad and acorn squash baked with butter, brown sugar, and chopped walnuts.
A trip to the grocery store is in order today since we need protein choices. Tomorrow we are caring for the tiny toddler terror, so we’ll pick up some healthful foods for her, too. Fortunately, she eats just about anything offered to her, so that’s easy.
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illimae - soup looks good! Soup season in Florida is dang short and I feel like I am always wishing it was longer!
minus - sounds like the backyard soiree was a success - so glad you got to catch up with your friends!
Dinners here have been random, multiple main dish salads - one night chef, last night taco. I am thinking grilled cheese and tomato soup tonight - DH found some really nice thick sliced brioche on his last shopping foray - perfect for grilled cheese. I am sewing masks again for a short burst so I want to do something easy for dinner.
DD started her new job yesterday and I did a meal prep type of thing for her with lunches and breakfast all week - breakfast has been everything bagel with cream cheese and assorted fruit, ham and cheese omelet, and an English Muffin sandwich with bacon and cheese, with more fruit. Lunches are a burrito bowl with brown rice, chicken, black beans, corn, salsa, sour cream, and taco sauce. Also an Italian chopped salad with romaine, veggies and mozzarella and salami. A Greek orzo salad, penne with turkey meatballs and marinara, and today she took a caprese with aged balsamic, cucumbers on the side, and sliced chicken breast. We went shopping on Sunday for new pants which was a great success - 4 pairs of nice cropped pants from the Gap outlet, on sale and an additional 20% off - yay! First store we visited, and everything fit. She is struggling a bit with tops while waiting for her polos and oxfords to be finished by the company, but it didn't make sense to buy anything when she will be wearing company shirts. She has worn flip flops for work for the last three and a half years and she got a blister from her new closed espadrilles, so I gave her some moleskin when she stopped by to get the rest of her breakfasts/lunches last night. DH is leaving work early to deal with a backed up kitchen sink at her house, he is off Wed for Veteran's Day but will be meeting a roofer to do a repair over there. By the time we sell this house it will be in great shape, lol!
lacey - how great that your DGD eats so much! My kids were picky eaters - they have expanded their horizons but there are still pretty common foods than neither of them will eat. DS is very carnivorous and not a super fruit/veg lover but does like salad and a smattering of different veggies and fruits - doesn't like tomatoes or oranges, DD is less carnivorous, does like chicken and fish, and a broader array of fruits and vegetables. Both like international foods - Italian, Mexican, Greek, Asian - DD especially loves sushi. Weirdly, neither of them liked watermelon (what???) until adulthood. Neither liked jello, and still don't, DS is not a dessert person, DD is but only likes certain things - apple pie and chocolate cake.
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Lacey, that dinner looks great!
Special, soup season is short in Houston too but out west on the mountain, it’ll last until March, I think.
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Special, you are such a good mom! I need a mom like you about now.
Our days had been filled with cleaning years of grime and replacing outdated fixtures at the new house. My head and my pocketbook hurt. So does my knee. Bright spots are new appliances are coming Friday and friends and family are coming to help paint and clean.
Meals have been hit and miss with too much carry out and fast food. Looking forward to actually cooking a decent meal somewhere down the road. Moving day is December 14th.
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I need a mom like that too. Special - what are your rates by the week? I'd even pay for your plane fare. And do you want to paint ceilings when you're not cooking?
Nance - I hope your appliances show up on time. The delivery of my son's new fridge after they moved was pushed forward three times. It was eventually almost 2 months late. I've since read an article about the shortage of appliances country wide. Weird. Fingers crossed.
I second the healthy eater. My son was required to eat whatever was served - or at least taste it. There was only one exception. I didn't like stuffed peppers & my DH didn't like stuffed cabbage - so when I made the filling & navigated those two separate entrees, the kid got to have a hot dog. But he had two little friends who were always a PITA when they came over. For example one would eat only brown sugar & butter sandwiches. The other would only eat white bread with mustard. (no meat, no veggies - just mustard)
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Special. Tell husband "Thank You" and thank you to you and your family too.
Families are often forgotten.
And to any other veterans out there that I don't know about....also a thank you.
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Eric - thanks for your post. Yes, Special - thanks to your DH and to you.
Been thinking about you Eric. How is your MIL? What are you cooking?
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I made baby golden potatoes, a Gorton's crunchy pollock fillet, broccoli and zucchini.
I also made a pumpkin pie from from some mix I made and froze last year. I prefer to make it myself because I prefer my pumpkin pie to be a little less sweet and have a little more spice than the commercial varieties.
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auntie and minus - I wish I could come help - how much fun would that be?
eric - thanks for thinking of us on Veteran's Day! I honestly feel like any hardships encountered during my husband's military service helped prepare me for dealing with breast cancer - resilience is a crucial aspect of weathering that life, I know you know. Sending a prayer of appreciation to your folks, and my appreciation to you and your family too!
Trying not to be annoyed, but unsuccessful in that endeavor. I had an appointment scheduled for today to get my driver's license renewed. All DMV activities here in my county are by appointment only and it takes weeks and weeks to get an appointment, and my license is now actually expired while I was waiting for today. I can't renew online because I am required to get a Real ID license and have to show passport, SS card, proof of address, and hand over my first born child. As you may know we had a tropical storm last night in the Tampa Bay area - leftover Hurricane Eta. The DMV decided late yesterday afternoon to close their offices today for safety - which is silly because this was just some rain and wind, there are some flooded streets downtown 30 miles away, but that office is permanently closed anyway. None of the other offices are in flooded areas, including the one where my appointment was. My husband and daughter both had to go to work today, and the schools are only closed to provide shelters, if needed, which aren't. I haven't driven since early October because I really try to be a law abiding citizen! I rescheduled a hair appointment and my annual check with my PS because I didn't think I should drive on an expired license, knowing I was getting my new license today - NOT. The next available appointment is Dec. 7! Putting on my "assertive" hat tomorrow morning - this is ridiculous, I am being held hostage in my house not only by the pandemic, but by the DMV...
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Special. Did Gov. DeSantis extend expiring driver licenses?
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I know in Texas both driver's licenses and car registrations have been extended. I mailed in my car registration the end of March that was due in April. I finally got it in June. When I got through on the phone they said they only had one person working & lots of mail.
I have a friend who's DL expired in May but the DL offices were closed. Looks like in Texas they are open again by appointment only. I expect it's like FL - a month to get an appointment. If it were me, I'd certainly be driving. He never missed a day.
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Even by my weird standards, tonight's dinner was odd. Tomorrow's garbage day. Did I throw out two avocados that were becoming mushy ($1.00 each)? Nope - I made guacamole. Did I toss a bag of petite red potatoes that were getting ready to turn? Nope. Dinner was boiled potatoes with butter and a couple of spoons of guac on the side. Served with a glass of Goss Shiraz. The rest of the potatoes became potato salad for tomorrow using Bok Choy instead of the celery that I didn't have.
I finished off the deviled eggs this morning. Still have leftover fruit salad & 3 bean salad. I did toss a bag of lettuce that wanted to be used by 11/7. It wouldn't last several more days until I finish all the other leftovers. Besides I have a head of red-leaf lettuce to use. Now I just have to cook a spaghetti squash in the next two days.
I would like REAL spaghetti and some fried rice, but too many other things to eat first.
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eric and minus - they extended licenses only for those who had expiring ones for March and April when the entire shutdown happened. Once the offices reopened and went to appointment only, no grace period. This is partly my fault for not realizing way far in advance that I needed an appointment, combined with now having to provide these documents in person to renew. So I am getting up early to stand in a line tomorrow morning and will hope I can plead my case to renew on the spot. I actually got a back up appt for Dec 2, so five days earlier than what it showed yesterday, in case I can't get in tomorrow. My hairdresser is going to kill me because I will have to cancel the appt I made for that day and I already cancelled the Nov one so I wouldn't drive illegally. I think most police officers would not ticket me because I have the printed appointment page and they know what the situation is, I am more concerned if I had an accident that my insurance would say, nope...
Dinner tonight was old school tuna noodle casserole and some sauteed zucchini. I wasn't sure how DH felt about the casserole, but he was down for it!
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Tonight was leftover short ribs with teriyaki sauce, steamed green beans & orange pepper slices accompanied by a Michael David Earthquake Zinfandel.
I might finish it off with a small eggnog....
Jane
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I am a licensed driver once again - yay! I went prepared with all my identifying documents and found that they were trying to incorporate yesterday's appointments into today - worked out great. I was given a new appointment time, then was there for about 45 mins waiting in line, getting my number, then doing the license. So happy right now!
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IL extended license tab/plate renewals to 11/1, and DLs to 2/28/21. Bob tried to renew his (at 71, he is required to take an eye test) but the line was so long that they couldn't get to him before closing. They're supposed to put seniors at the head of the line, but for line-preference purposes they have defined "senior" as >75. That was last week. Now, that office (near his hospitals) is closed for 2 wks. due to COVID among staffers. So his inability to progress far enough in line to get indoors was a blessing in disguise.
I threw my back out Wed. night (first time I had a full "lock-up" in nearly 2 yrs), so had to blow off my mani and yet another (postponed 3x already) allergy-challenge appt. We're under a stay-home "advisory" anyway. We had a combo of Friday the 13th and Mercury retrograde: my cellphone's text app went blooey and won't let me delete the second-from-the-top message, regardless of what it is, until it becomes 3rd in line. My satellite receiver kept giving me "771" and "775" errors despite clear dry calm weather, and when I searched for a program to record tomorrow night, I got a message that "a large number of Pay Per View titles are unavailable because you are not connected to the Internet." Spent over an hour with tech support (somewhere in Asia, and the tech obviously knew little more than I did--I could tell he was scrolling through a manual), who was unable to help, as my password kept getting rejected by the satellite box. So I had to have a service tech visit yesterday. He examined the cables & dish, and told me that those 771 & 775 errors were due to automatic downloads of new software & firmware, and only hard resets (sometimes 2 or 3 in a row) could fix it. He offered me a new whole-house "Genie" system, but that would mean losing everything Bob & I have on our DVRs' hard drives. (Back in the day, you could transfer content between old & new boxes, or even record to DVD-R, but the content providers decided to embed anti-piracy codes, with no exception for official DirecTV service techs to salvage and transfer content). But somehow, after only 2 tries, he was able to remotely reset the wi-fi interface between the box & my wireless "mesh" router and get it to accept my password. Whew!
Ordered from Jewel on Instacart, specified substitutions for some items and "do not substitute" for others. The shopper was a newbie: came an hour late; and she ignored a specified substitution (one of 2 alternate brands of low-carb bread) and instead of calling to give me an out-of-stock heads-up, substituted Pepperidge Farm (high-carb). And they were out of all major-brand paper towels--so she assumed incorrectly that "any" was better than "none" and brought me store-brand instead. Not just that, but one of the cucumbers I ordered was rotting and even moldy. At least I got a store credit. I didn't reduce her tip, though--she meant well even though she didn't follow procedure, and heaven knows she likely needs every cent she can get. But that's the last time I will have Instacart deliver from that chain.
Last night we had our Thurs. night leftovers (gorgonzola meatloaf, green beans, mashed sweet potatoes) from Cellars. Tonight I will have leftover cold shrimp Bob brought home from Costco, and make a remoulade to go with them. Will char shishito peppers and stir-fry snap peas too. I have gained a couple of pounds due to my relative immobility from the back strain plus bedtime "pity-party" snacks of Cheerios & raisins, so it's back to no grains or sugar, plus no snacking after dinner. (De facto intermittent fasting).
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Interesting. Commercial driver licenses (big trucks, buses, hazard materials hauling) are issued by the states, but the states must follow federal rules for those. Anyway, those licenses that expired after February, 2020 are extended in all 50 states until at least 31 Dec 2020. Usually they are more fussy about the commercial licenses than the regular ones...but not in this case.
MIL is home and doing almost OK. If one's physical capabilities are scored from 0 to 100 and a minimum of 10 is needed to live alone with no assistance; she's not quite 10 right now. The compression fractures in her lower spine have pretty well healed and the doctors are now thinking her sensation of back pain is being caused by her kidney stones. Unfortunately, Covid has delayed the treatment (lithotripsy) until some unknown later date. I wouldn't mind her staying over at our house (3 bedroom-2 bath, with walk in shower and just Sharon and I) until she improves, but she is "absolutely not....that destroys marriages", so we are driving over there when she calls. Fortunately she's only 10 minutes away. I think we convinced her to call for meals on wheels as she's been eating, exclusively, the microwave oven-TV dinner type meals. I looked at their nutrition labels and each one had between 2,000 and 3,100mg of sodium per serving!
Sharon took the camper up to a Bluegrass festival and is relaxing there for the weekend. The neighbor lady went with her as well, so it's a "girl's weekend". The festival is naturally Covid compliant, so there shouldn't be any issues. It's outside, 30 or so feet from the stage to the audience and everyone always spreads out in the rodeo grounds so families are 15 or so feet apart.
Dinner here, too, has been of the "meh" types as well. There has been nothing special and what we have eaten has often been a minimum effort. Sometimes it's just beans and rice with some spicy hot stuff on it, a sandwich, or even a plain baked potato. I do bake the sourdough bread about 3 times in 2 weeks for the sandwiches, so that at least is "something".
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Oh, and Lord willing & the creeks don't rise, Cellars may make it through the winter, and hopefully out the other side of the pandemic. At first, it appeared that Halloween would be its last day ever. Then, with a small-business loan they were able to plan to operate through next week and have to hibernate till spring, due to a ban on indoor dining and cold weather making the patio uninhabitable. (They can't use propane heaters because the city doesn't allow them with tents and the sidewalks are too narrow to accommodate tents, open-air tables, heaters & pedestrians; and the cost of retrofitting wiring for infrared heaters is prohibitive--they don't have a parking lot and the street isn't blocked off for tables as in some restaurant-centric neighborhoods).
But an unexpected warm spell last week gave them an extra 10 days of outdoor dining capability, which was always at legal capacity, and they were able to dip into savings. But then their home water heater & boiler blew. One of their friends started a GoFundMe, which goal was met & exceeded w/in 2 weeks. We donated, and plan to order out at least twice a week (plus re-donate periodically). They are able to cater takeout Thanksgiving dinner--we'll order the 2-3-person "Just Us" package for Bob & me, since the kids are working TG & Black Friday. Because Bob can't pre-emptively quarantine (he must go to his hospitals, clinic & office) and I am by necessity exposed to him, we are a greater danger to them than they are to us "oldies." So TG eve, we will gather with them socially-distanced and bundled up on our deck (or porch if it's raining or snowing) for nibbles & drinks (masked between sips & bites, of course).
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Dinner was a combo plate of left over salads: 3 bean salad; fruit salad w/6 fruits, coconut & sour cream; and potato salad with bok choy substituted for the celery. Yummy.
My nephew and his 4/5 year old daughter came over today for lemonade on the patio. Then we went down to the park in my neighborhood. She is better about wearing her mask than most adults. Once she got tired of the slides & climbing equipment, we had a fun afternoon throwing pine cones and sycamore pods, hunting for pecans and poking pine needles through the holes in the top of the picnic table. Although it was 88 today, she actually found a few red leaves on the ground. I haven't seen her since March and she's really grown.
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Glad you had a nice family day minus.
I rarely have a taste for meat lately, so tonight was corn on the cob and some rice cooked in chicken broth, DH just had the chicken. We’re out of sync food-wise but it works out.
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Minus....what a fun, lovely outing! Kids that age are so much fun! I keep hoping that DH and I will last long enough to be here for Mila (and in functioning shape!) at that age. She is really expanding her interests at 17 months, and is a lot of fun to be with.....delightfully exhausting. We had her here on Wed to cover for closed daycare, and as soon as DDIL picked her up at 5:30, I fell asleep on the couch! I guess DH was really hungry and worried, so he googled a salmon recipe and grilled the delicious lemon/dill/garlic filets in foil packets. When I awoke, I microwaved sweet potatoes and made a quick cuke salad. It all worked....lots of cute memories and an actual meal!
I’m still amazed at how receptive Mila is to all foods. This is a funny pic of her eating a toddler rice cracker and watchful that her stuffed creatures don’t try to claim it!
Last night we had grilled chicken breasts (which DH generously offered to trim and pound...a new skill... since I was busy making masks for the local school lunch staff), mashed butternut squash, a typical big ol salad, and French bread with a garlicky avocado spread I made.
This is getting to be a pretty regular meal for us, so I’m happy that DH now knows what to do with chicken prep! Covid isolation has been good to me in terms of DH’s expanding culinary involvement. It’s a huge help given my painful back issues of late. My appointment with the spine doc/physiatrist is next week. Yay!Special, I’m so glad you succeeded in getting your license. I went through a similar scenario last month, (minus the Eta complication) and after completing everything required online to make the stay at the DMV office as short as possible, the (un)lovely young bureaucrat gal who “helped” me, insisted my printed data was not what she wanted. She wanted me to schedule another date....months away, of course, but I stood my ground and got to (re)fill out the paperwork then, since my extended license was expiring the next day! I would also not drive with an expired license... sociopathy doesn’t run in my family. So I was both annoyed and relieved to get it done. The funniest irony about the DMV process was that I was worried about being able to read the small line on the eye chart, and the woman doing that task instructed me to read THE TOP LINE only! Pretty funny...And pretty worrisome about what people on the roads actually can see! BTW, I was able to read the smallest line to myself.
After a week of beautiful temps, we are finally heading into winter, so I will be making my kale soup soon, and turkey chili, etc.
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It's such a treat to see your name come up Lacey. Agree about the kiddos. Fun but exhausting. My grand-niece starts sentences with words like 'Actually...', 'or on the other hand...'. And called me on it when I forget and use the word "stupid". (That is apparently the new "F" word.) Her Dad tried to tell her the word is OK when talking about things, just not people (I was talking about the virus), but she was adamant. So I asked her what word I could use instead. She said not 'dumb' but it was OK to say 'bad'. I countered with 'ignorant', and she repeated it several times. I may not have done her nursery school teacher any favors.
Great news about the new skills your DH has learned. See - retirement CAN be fun. Is the chicken grilled outside? Or sauteed? Wishing you positive news for an easy fix at the spine doc.
Not sure what dinner might be since I'm still trying to eat up what's becoming endangered. Nothing is prepped since after my 6 mile walk this morning, I promptly spent the afternoon in the recliner reading the Sunday paper. Well, at least I made it through the first section with lots of dozing. Six or eight more sections to go before the funny papers.
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Beef chili was dinner with cheese and light sour cream. We both were feeling lazy and I had started the day with a headache so it was easy and quick.
Love the Sunday afternoons spent taking it slow through the newspaper. Readers heaven!
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illimae - I am sometimes out of sync foodwise with my DH! I used to love pizza, but cannot eat it anymore, the combo of ingredients causes me trouble but he loves it! I have started getting flatbread crusts by Brooklyn Bred and he makes his own - and seems to get a kick out of it! He is also a wing fan, me not so much. Too much work, not enough reward, lol!
Dinner last night was...nothing. We both ate late snacks during football and DH had a big breakfast, so we were not hungry at dinnertime. We had cheese/crackers and some fruit which was enough to hold us over. I did start on DD's lunches for this week, she stopped by to give me the containers to use. She collected chicken salad and raw veggies to dip in Ranch dressing, and a shrimp and roasted vegetable salad over Israeli couscous, and breakfasts of ham/cheese omelet and an English muffin sandwich with some melon. After this week she will be working six days a week for the foreseeable future, so while I am somewhat of an enabler, I think she deserves a relaxing day off not spent in the grocery store planning lunches. I am cooking anyway, so it is really not any kind of burden. We also went through some casual jewelry of mine that I have not been wearing so she has options for looking more corporate. I need to go over to her house tomorrow afternoon for the final small finish on the window install now that the city inspection has been done so I will take the three remaining sets of meals over and drop them off. On the agenda are broccoli salad and a chicken and rice salad with curry, artichoke hearts, topped with chopped cashews - those are old stand-by recipes that she loves. I am making an Asian chicken salad with napa cabbage and toasted ramen/sesame seeds/almonds for dinner tonight, so that will be in there too. I'm also thinking a beef and vegetable stir fry. I struggle the most with breakfast but did make some little frittatas in a muffin pan with spinach, onion, artichoke heart and goat cheese - I didn't have any but DH pronounced them delish. I need to find a healthier recipe for something like tiger bars that is an easy breakfast on the go.
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Special, funny you should mention pizza, today is my 4 year cancerversary and we’ll be running around with errands, so my celebratory dinner will be truck stop pizza slices, lol
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Special - have you made the muffins with AllBran & dates or raisins that you leave the batter in the fridge until you want to make a few (maybe DH) or make some ahead (DD). They last for a long time. Or rather they keep a long time if they are not eaten up. I've had that recipe for ages. My BFF has started making something along the same line & I can ask for her recipe too if you want.
Love the "somewhat" an enabler. The elder daughter of the neighbors across the street still lives at home. She at least 26 & a school teacher. Her mother takes her a cup of coffee in bed every morning or she wouldn't get up. That's a serious enabler.
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