So...whats for dinner?
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auntie - Happy Birthday! Beautiful cheesecake!
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Another belated Happy Birthday Nance. You do know that as we get older we can celebrate every day for an entire week. Lobster AND crab? Be still my heart.
Eric - my BFF's son used to call me to come clean out his Mom's fridge every couple of months. She saved leftovers from every meal but never ate any of them. Just pushed them further & further towards the back.
Lacey - great to see you. Do you feel like the concussion PT has helped? I didn't even know there was such a thing. Wow - all of those people at one time. It will be fun to have everyone together but I agree that four dogs would be over the top.
Special - how was your trip to VA? Do I remember correctly that you went with your DD?
Carole - and do I remember reading that you are considering stopping your northern sojourns and this may be the last year?
Yesterday was Hawaiian Sliders with roasted turkey & Monterrey Jack since I didn't have ham or Swiss. I buy the 4 packs of Hawaiian sweet rolls since I like them for tuna sandwiches & w/meals but often they don't get eaten. This was a good way to use up the package that was drying out. Delicious baked with the melted butter, onion, dijon mustard & worchestershire. I meant to eat two but ate all four.
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Tonight was cheesy (gruyere) stuffed chicken with a creamy garlic spinach sauce, broccoli, carrots, squash and zucchini. It was pretty good but the chicken was bland. I think I’ll need more seasoning and better browning next time.
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Minus, at our age/s (78 and 82) everything is on a year to year basis. Climate change is definitely affecting the summer weather in northern MN. This is the first summer in 9 years that we're dependent on the a/c units in the camper. During some past summers, we rarely turned on the a/c. Also, the air quality has been poor this summer because of fires in Canada. I have been experiencing scratchy throat, chest tightness and dry coughing the last few days. Watching the weather report this morning, I learned that these are common symptoms from breathing the smoky air. I was on the verge of having a Covid test.
Last night was a summer "cop out" dinner. Hot dogs with buns (Lacey won't admire me!) and a salad of fresh beets and delicious cucumbers bought from a farmer. DH's salad included sliced onion.
In this hot weather I do get hungry and eat, but I don't have a lot of interest in food. I lack inspiration. Yesterday I read a WW article about using a cast iron skillet for one-dish dinners cooked on the outdoor grill. I have a cast iron skillet I purchased during a visit with a bc.org friend in Thunder Bay some years ago. I found it at a church fundraising sale. Maybe I'll put the skillet to use. I haven't used it a lot.
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A belated happy birthday Nance.
Tonight two other couples are coming to the house for the weekly music jam and dinner will be light snack food. I'm going to make some cheesy garlic bread balls for tonight.
The weather here is hot, but that's expected for a desert summer. The monsoon is here and the humidity is high as well..sort of like Houston's summer weather. :-) I know it's not particularly comfortable hauling boxes to the storage unit.
Sharon's aunt died this morning around 2:30am at age 83. Ovarian cancer... :-(
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Eric - sorry to hear about Sharon's aunt.
Have fun at your music jam. What kind of instruments to you field? Do people sing too?
Oh - edited to say dinner was a delicious omlette with fresh mushrooms & green onions.
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Sharon on banjo. Fred on guitar. Bruce on mandolin. And, yes, they do sing.
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Eric,
Condolences on the passing of your aunt-in-law. It is never easy.
Jane
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eric - so sorry about Sharon's aunt.
minus - I got home late last night. Glad we went, but also glad to be home. Flying was not a really fun experience, but also kind of glad to have done it to know that I don't want to do it again anytime soon... good thing I love a road trip, lol! How are things going in your house - your posts were wearing me out - you have been BUSY!!!!!
carole - this is late breaking, but I have seen a recipe for a chicken dish in cast iron that involves sun-dried tomatoes, parm, and cream or half and half. You could do it on the grill and add potatoes and veggies in foil to bake alongside. The chicken is called "Marry Me Chicken" and there are a zillion versions online, and you could totally adapt it to do it completely in the grill/oven.
Not sure what tonight's dinner will be. Mysteriously there is a big ziplock of French bread in the freezer, I am thinking it must have come from DH's office while I was gone. I may turn it into French bread pizza for tonight, but there is also one container of chili that I need to either use or freeze, so dinner is TBD until I consult with DH.
On a cute note - I startled the dog this morning - he was sleeping peacefully but I couldn't resist giving him a cuddle since he was sound asleep last night so I didn't want to wake him then. His eyes flew open but then he was like oh hey...you're back...so good to see you Mom... I missed you. Adorbs.
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Thanks for the condolences.
I've done that with Gypsy, our soon to be 14 years old, lab dog. She'll be sleeping and I'll reach down and give her a pet and she'll sort of jump. Then she'll realize whats happening, relax and stretch out. Frankie is such a light sleeper that as soon as I move my hand, he stretches out so I can more easily pet him.
Last night, for the jam, I made some "cheesy bread biscuits" based on the recipe at https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/260622/red-lobster-cheddar-biscuits/ . I've increased the cheese by about 50%, reduced the salt by about 50% and I had to increase the 'after basting with butter' baking time by about 5 minutes. From "I think I'll make some to out of the oven and cooling down" is around 30 minutes, so it works out well for a quick snack food for the jams.
One of the folks at the jam is a type 2 diabetic and was (after eating the 4th biscuit) saying he'd need to be careful after eating them. So, next time I'm going to try one of Sharon's spinach-artichoke dip recipes and surround it various vegetable "sticks".
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Hey, folx.
Since my last post I've had some dinner successes...like a huge batch of chili...and a pork chop dinner...and "street-cart-style" rice with tofu.
Today the wind has gotten knocked out of my sails a bit and I am trying to regroup. I was going to try making pesto zoodles for the first time, but due to an overwhelming lack of enthusiasm from my family members, I am not only gave up on making them today, but I am trying to take deep breaths and find the strength and energy to love myself and make good choices in spite of my family.
In theory, I could make a number of things for dinner. In reality, I may just let my husband/kid order pizza and/or sandwiches.
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That's too bad about the lack of enthusiasm for the pesto zoodles. To me, most things (except maple syrup or a nice ale) are better with pesto. I'd make the zoodles anyway and let everyone else figure out dinner on their own.
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Saltmarsh - I agree with Eric. I make zoodles of various veggies all the time. Maybe this time you could hide the zoodles under marinara sauce? For the future I wouldn't even ask what they want. Or if they ask what's for dinner, tell them it will be a surprise. If you get push back you could always say, 'whatever you're cooking'.
I'm still trying to shop only at my freezer. I took the last two wild caught Keta Salmon pieces out and they're defrosting in cold water. I'll likely saute them with just butter & dill and serve w/leftover new potatoes and maybe a frozen vegetable.
Eric - it's just about Hatch Chili time. I'd likely add some to the cheesy biscuits. One thing I tried to buy at the beginning of the lock down was a box of Bisquick since flour was in short supply. No boxes - but I did score 6 small envelope/packages. They make 6 biscuits each or pancakes or... So the dilemma is, should I use them or save them now that we're into hurricane season?
Actually Special - since there are no contractors every day it's becoming quite fun to sort & throw away or bag papers for shredding. Not to mention it could become addictive. I'm moving at 'turtle' speed and only addressing one box or one cupboard a day. I can already see more things that will go in places I've finished - but I will force myself to go through everything once first. I think I mentioned the hardest are yet to come - the pictures and all the old letters. The benefit of limited 'turtle' speed work has allowed me time to start reading again. Now I've really "come home".
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Sandy, the wife of one of the "jammers", considers bell peppers to be at the upper end of her heat tolerance, so I wouldn't have added peppers--even if I had thought of it. I didn't think of the peppers, which kind of surprises me as I like spice in that kind of stuff.
About the only thing I don't like "hot" is a jam or jelly. The hot plus sweet doesn't taste good to me.When the Hatch Chili season arrives it's pretty obvious here. I'm guessing it's the same there. I'll get 5-6 pounds of the hottest ones I can get, slice them and then can them. I'd have to check, but I think it's 5 parts vinegar, 1 part water and 1 tsp of canning salt per cup of the vinegar-water liquid. After a month in the jars, the liquid is perfect for a salad dressing and the pepper slices are good on the salads (or by themselves).
I love to fly, but not on airlines. A "tail-dragger" doing acrobatics is a great time. :-) Besides the flying at government expense, I've flown on an airliner twice in, I think, 16 years.
Minus, we, too, are going through a cleanup-cleanout-pack it up phase. I wish we could be done packing and moved in a a single day as a house with no books is kind of depressing.
Carole, cast iron on the grill works *VERY* well.
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Tonight is a big salad because tomorrow will be a junk food fest. It’s our friend (and current houseguest’s) birthday, he eats crap and loves it, so we’re having frozen pizza, chicken nuggets and cocktails. I’m gonna go easy though, now that I can eat mostly normally now, I’m putting weight back on. Ugh.
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I can eat junk food, even if it is a "bad idea". :-)
What I meant by the "obvious" when it's Hatch chili season, is that the stores put out displays of 40-50 pounds of chilis and then have a bunch of large burlap sacks, also full of chilis, around the display. Last year the nearby store had a "roaster" in the parking lot that charged by the pound. The smell of roasting chilis was *amazing*.
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Minus, that sounds delish I will have to make that soon.
I'm thinking of getting some harvested fat popped into the dent from my lumpectomy. I think they take it from your stomach? How does that work? Does insurance pay? I have Medicare BCBS So sorry to add that, but I trust you guys.
PS, it is majorly hot here, it's either raining or 90+ degrees.
I am loving my garden though, and my besties and my DD and 2 tiny grandsons.
I am so glad that you are all still here and that I am able to see people who I recognize!
Life does get away from us, doesn't it?
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Unfortunately I have been eating mostly blended soup for a few nights due to terrible mouth sores in my throat from Doxil. I also have smoothies in the morning which feel so good on my throat. The soup is good tho !!!
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Welcome SierraSue. Sorry about the sore throat. Maybe add jello for dessert?
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On no BEdo - I was so glad to see you. Sorry you deleted your post.
Dinner tonight was a fried rice with everything in the fridge tossed in the pan- celery, green onions, leftover broccoli, mushrooms & bean sprouts
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Hi SierraSue. Sorry to hear that you are having mouth-throat sores.
How about a blended banana split (minus the nuts)?
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The cook has been quite ill with a respiratory virus that perhaps started with smoke inhalation, the smoke from Canadian wild fire. I went to a walk in clinic on Saturday. An antibiotic and use of an inhaler seem to be helping. DH has not done well in role of substitute cook but we haven't starved. Last night we had a version of taco salad.
Today after his trip to the gym, dh is doing grocery shopping and going to a produce stand for fresh veggies. We're hoping to score some tomatoes, which are finally "in."
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carole - oh no! Hope you're feeling better soon! DD had some issues with western wildfire smoke in Washington, D.C. last week, it was very hazy there.
Dinner last night was roasted chicken thighs, red skin mashed potatoes with chicken gravy and carrots with butter and thyme. There is paving going on so I am captive in the house. Dinner tonight will be teriyaki noodles with sliced pan seared steak tossed in sweet chili sauce with black sesame seeds and scallion, courtesy of the freezer and pantry, minus the scallions - which along with celery is the only fresh vegetable in the house. I am down to bare bones but since I don't have a helicopter I can't go to the store for a bit, lol!
DD is currently taking her DBF to the ER at the VA hospital, he is Covid + and has an unrelenting migraine type headache, by several days. She is currently negative and trying to stay that way, but DBF was advised to report to the ER. They have been distancing in the house, she has mainly been at work. I cooked a bunch of food for him so there were things for him to eat. I dropped meals at the door and hightailed it out of there. He tested positive while we were in DC and I told her if she goes in the door of the house she can't come to my house, so that is what the current situation is. DH has a number of people at work testing positive, some in spite of vaccination. Sheesh.
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SpecialK, hoping your daughter stays healthy.
I felt optimistic about our population overcoming the pandemic when the vaccines were first offered following good test results, but I'm growing increasingly pessimistic and increasingly critical of people who endanger themselves and the rest of us by refusing to be vaccinated. The virus will continue to evolve. I plan to start wearing a mask again when I'm shopping in a crowded store and go back to other practices to avoid picking up viruses like the one I'm recovering from.
Dinner last night was fresh green beans with new potatoes, a salad of beets and cucumber, and grilled pork steak.
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carole - same here - I am now concerned that we will have a continuous situation of surges unless more people get vaccinated. I never stopped taking precautions such as mask wearing everywhere I go, and hand sanitizing even though restrictions had been lifted because I have had recent enough blood work that still shows a compromised immune system. DH's workplace - a military headquarters - is now going back to mask wearing as of yesterday whether vaccinated or not, as they are now seeing positive cases even among the vaccinated. They had been relying on the honor system that allowed vaccinated individuals to go maskless and unvaccinated to continue mask wearing - but not everyone has enough honor to make that realistic... They also don't require proof of vaccination, or proof of positive or negative testing results. This has meant that some employees have indicated that they have tested positive, taken leave for the approved quarantine period, without having to prove to anyone that they are actually sick. I am suspicious that they have realized they can game the system and get out of work. This may be skewing the case count and muddying the water. Ugh.
On the dinner front tonight will be oven braised short ribs, cheesy yellow corn grits, and steamed green beans with lemon pepper and dill.
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Been out doing yard work. I had to buy a new lawn mower after the 12 year old electric one finally broke beyond repair. An hour to assemble the new mower, plus three hours of lawn mowing, trimming hedges, raking everything up and finally sweeping.
The heat index was up "just a little bit" today--126F/52C. Working in that level of heat turns off my appetite, so dinner may be two large glasses of water.
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Had some good steakhouse dinners last week: Gallagher's in NYC and two nights later Prime & Provisions back home in Chicago. Gallagher's got my sis & my shared ribeye screwed up: we specified medium rare but they brought us medium. We pointed that out (politely) and they brought us a new one...this time it was rare. Oh, well. Had some of the (abundant) leftovers cold for breakfast (hotel had no room service but at least there was a fridge in the room. We hit the world's largest Krispy Kreme in Times Sq. (first donut I've had since Mar., both of them vax-card freebies). The trip home was an ordeal--not the flight, but the train home from O'Hare. I wore my mask from the time (1pm) I rode the elevator down from our hotel room to when I walked out of my neighborhood train station (9pm). Felt like second nature. (Though masks were required in the building, too many people at our hotel weren't wearing masks, and it wasn't necessarily because they were vaccinated--their kids weren't wearing masks either, so it's a good bet the parents were unvaxed). We're beginning to see some breakthrough infections that are serious (albeit mostly in obese & diabetic people). I'm wearing a mask again indoors even at businesses that say it's "optional for fully-vaccinated people," because you can't be sure who's telling the truth. I spent all winter and spring wearing a mask in indoor public spaces, so no sweat.
At Prime & Provisions, we had an insanely wonderful porterhouse for two--and we got three more meals (for two) out of it. On the third day, the creamed spinach & mushrooms found themselves in an omelet. Speaking of eggs, I finally found some with the deep-orange yolks I'd had in Europe:
They're from the Happy Egg Co., pasture-raised. Not cheap, but for eggs that I'm going to eat and not just cook with, I go for the best I can find. (These were fried in olive oil & browned butter, "faux-over-easy" done by turning off the burner and covering the pan for about a minute.
Tried pan-searing corvina again, this time slashing the skin. Nope--still curled up in the pan, and had a rather meaty rubbery texture. It was better when I removed and discarded the skin, but I won't buy it again when it comes up in our Hooked on Fish CSA. Two nights ago I made skate wing: sauteed in olive oil & browned butter, then a dash of sherry vinegar and finished with capers. Last night was Alaskan halibut--using my gas grill as a stove so I wouldn't stink up or heat up the kitchen. Thick fillets, so it took about 15 minutes total, but the texture was perfect. Finished it with chimichurri sauce. Had zoodles both days (with the skate, zucchini and with the halibut, yellow squash). After weeks of my patio tomatoes being hard & green (save for a couple that got blossom-end rot, for which I added calcium), this week's heat wave made a whole bunch of them ripen all at once. I'd leave them on the vine one more day, but there's a "bow-echo" storm coming through about 2 am and near-hurricane-force straight-line winds are predicted--so I'll pick the ripest ones to bring indoors should the winds blow the plants over (the pots are too heavy to bring indoors). Just hope our trees hold up through this, and if we have to take refuge in the basement it doesn't flood.
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Oh, and Gordy & Leslie's wedding is still on for April, but we're not making hotel reservations until we know whether New Orleans' COVID spike will have abated by then. Scary how the Delta variants seem to be letting breakthrough infections happen when its predecessors didn't. Amazingly, they're going through with Lollapalooza tomorrow: 100,000 millennials & Gen-Z'ers crowded cheek-by-jowl into Millennium Park. They have to show either proof of full vaccination (easily faked) or a negative COVID test result taken within the last 72 hours (useless if they got infected after being swabbed). Unvaccinated attendees are being asked to wear masks indoors (e.g., the restrooms) and "when crowded together" (e.g., the whole damn weekend). I'd like to see them try to enforce that: two years ago, they couldn't even keep gatecrashers from scaling the fences. We have been the major US city with the lowest positivity rate, and our state until two weeks ago was "moderate risk." Can you say "super-spreader event?" A music festival in the Netherlands last week, with much more stringent COVID protocols, caused at least 1000 new cases. And yes, Gordy is going but thankfully only on Sunday (and maybe I can talk him out of it by offering to buy his ticket from him). We're all fully-vaccinated but I get the feeling that unless the FDA gets off its butt and issues an EUA for booster shots, we're on the way back to Spring 2020 square one.
Good thing I never threw out my masks, and keep one with me wherever I go.
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Sandy, those are some beautiful yolks!
DH and are going heavily on veggies, so tonight I made zucchini boats (zucchini, Italian chicken sausage, carrots, red pepper, garlic and onion) with roasted rainbow potatoes and Brussels sprouts (roasted red and orange sweet peppers for DH). It's a lot of prep but tastes great.
Edited to add that this is technically a squash not zucchini but it’s green and I forgot the name
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Wow. That looks good.
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