So...whats for dinner?
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This Jepson is copper still-produced ala French brandies/cognacs and made in California. I wonder if they closed shop. You're right, the stuff you describe doesn't sound even close.
Editing: I just found one place on line (sold out) but OUCH on the price. I'm glad I bought it 11 years ago, LOL.
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Ah, I remember a CA alembic (double-distilled in copper) brandy a few years back: Germain-Robin. Delightful, IIRC. There's a German alembic brandy, Asbach-Uralt. The distillery was our very first stop--literally after being picked up at the Frankfurt airport--on my first trip to Europe, with a wine merchant and his rookie salesman. It was suppoaed to have been 30 of us, in a bus--but one by one people dropped out. When I called the travel agent about getting my deposit back, she told me the merchant was still going because it would be partly a wine-buying trip. So instead of 30 people in a bus, it was the three of us in a Mercedes (which I never had to drive because it was a stick-shift), and we got comped nearly everywhere we went--including lodging. Even got to do a barrel-sample tasting of Nahe/Rheinhessen rieslings--and I was listed as one of the day's wine critics in Essen und Trancken magazine.
No Regalia tonight--the owner is closing at 8 because just about all reservations were cancelled due to the snow. He said (at 6:40) he could take us if we came by 7pm, but I told him it wouldn't be fair to keep the place open just for us--so he & the staff should be able to go home and celebrate the New Year with their loved ones. We'll go Wed. night--they're closed tomorrow, Bob has office Mon. night, and wants to bring home takout from Chez Joel Tues. after he wraps up his day at Union Health. Tomorrow night I'm thinking of going to L.Woods (WI-style lodge "supper club") for whatever is on Sun. special...or the Fred Flinstone-size beef ribs if they have them.
We'll have last night's leftover nibbles as dinner tonight. Even that half-portion of corned beef hash & an egg, followed by a breve cappuccino, was very filling. Bob is very happy to stay home and watch football & movies to his heart's content.
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DH and I had a lovely early NY Eve (2pm) take away from Carrabba's - Spinach sauteed w/garlic, Mahi Wulfe (yummy lemon butter sauce w/sun dried tomatoes & artichoke hearts) & other side was Parmesan Fries. The fries were DH's idea, so I just ate a few of mine & gave him the rest. Fish portions were very generous, so leftover fish & sauce for another day. Popped the cork on my CM present Moet et Chandon & had a few glasses. "Dessert" was a Godiva Dark Chocolate Raspberry bar. Crackers & cheese (brie w/truffles, port salut, double gloucester and champagne cheddar) & more champers at 8 pm. I had the last of the champers & DH had sherry to toast the "ball drop".
DH ate the remainder of the mahi & some veg for lunch, but was kind enough to pick up Moo Shu Pork for me and some spring rolls for his "snack". It was very nice to not think about cooking anything for 2 days!
Happy 2022!
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Celia - sounds wonderful.
Happy New Year to everyone at the table.
If anyone's still in touch with Laurie - like on Facebook - tell her thanks for starting this thread - soon going on 11 years ago.
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Sandy, I think the Germain-Robbin had something to do with Jepson, but I may be mis-remembering. Your adventure sounds wonderful. I've only been to one cask-sampling as a tourist and that was on our motorcycle trip through nova scotia, newfoundland, etc., but god if i remember the name of it, LOL.
Celia, your meal sounds wonderful! I see you are in Kentucky; hope the weather won't be too yucky.
Minus, Happy new Year!
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Wally, I was going to say "Screech," but though it's widely available in NS, the distillery is in Newfoundland. (It's also mentioned in "Come From Away," and when we saw it on B'way the theater's bar served it). One of our best friends--who passed away suddenly 21 years ago--always brought a bottle of it to our NYE parties and we all toasted with it after the champagne. (Many a party ended after daybreak with me stepping over snoring bodies on the floor).
How is everyone here (on BCO) in the PNW and upper Midwest faring after the "Game of Thrones" weather event? Went to bed with the "lake effect" dumping another inch atop the 4" we already had (far less than predicted); awoke to find our landscaper's crew had come out and shoveled our sidewalk, steps, path to the garage, and alley entrance "apron." So we can go out to dinner tonight.
Last night we finished the opened caviars (I used a cookie-cutter to make toast rounds from my low-carb whole wheat bread), hummus & babaghannouj, and made a significant dent in the remaining supply of crudites. Meanwhile, Bob just bundled up and headed to Beard & Belly around the block for brunch--if he can't bring me back quiche he'll call me. Plan B if Beard & Belly is closed is Susupuato next door--I told him just bring me stuff I can eat, like carnitas, carne asada or shrimp, transferring it to my own low-carb tortillas. If Beard & Belly is open but is out of quiche, I will just make do with what I have. Just no poutine, please--that stuff is GROSS.
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Screech was served on the tourist boat when we went to the cliffs to see the Puffins. I was not into rum then, silly me. DH reminds me it was Glenora Distillery. I wasn't much into Scotch then either. My how times have changed
We are experiencing 60mph gusts. Most unpleasant. I suspect going from 20s to 42 is causing it. At least maybe the postman will deliver tomorrow.
Having the last of the leftover ham and beans tonight. I have a tiny wedge of ham and I may use it as "bacon" to make carbonara for tomorrow.
On a happy note, my elderly, unwell cat (fussy eater) ate a nice small mound of cut up ham...twice.
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ChiSandy - Went out last night and shoveled around my son's car (he had to work at 4am so I thought I'd be nice, plus I didn't want him to have to do any shoveling at 3am), the driveway, path for my dog to walk as he doesn't like the snow, there was about 2 inches. It was light and fluffy, so I didn't have any issues with my arms, it was a good workout. Woke up to about another 2 inches, much less than what was expected. It was very pretty though.
Is Beard And Belly part of Honeypie? Was at our local HoneyPie this morning.
Today's dinner menu is leftover pork, probably just shred it all and throw in some bbq sauce; some homemade mac and cheese for my son and a friend and a salad for me.
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(Still) Scanning old film negatives and slides. The batch I'm currently scanning is of DD when she was just a few days old and a few that were taken the day before DD was born.
We looked so young 24 years ago! :-)
Wallycat...glad your kitty is eating.
Serendipity, it's been raining here and our 14 year old dog doesn't like to get out in the rain and the cement porch has become the temporary "grassy spot". It actually is easier to clean than the grass. I'm not sure how she would handle snow.
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DH made beef stew, extra good on a chilly night.
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Mae - looks delicious.
The turkey tenderloins were very good & extremely tender - and a perfect size for one. I'll buy these again. Enough for this meal and two more. Roasted them with a dusting of garlic & onion powder. I served with sweet potatoes (& I whipped the left overs), and mashed potatoes (I ate them all) & turkey gravy from Trader Joe's that was more than acceptable.
Eric - oh my - 24 years ago.... Some interesting memories.
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Mae, we are on the same page for dinner although I made vegetable beef soup! Hot lunches for the week.
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New Year’s Day dinner. Tonight was a ham sandwich and a bowl of tomato soup.
The pie turned out pretty good with the frozen apples They kept their shape really well surprisingly. I’ve started adding vodka to my all butter pie crust and it definitely makes for a flakier crust. Sadly, I didn’t get a picture.
Frigid temps here too but no snow thankfully. As you all know, I’m no fan of winter. My favorite DBIL and DSIL are moving to Missouri City, TX and have invited us for extended winter visits. Maybe we’ll finally get to meet up Minus
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Yay Nance. Maybe we can round up Illimae for lunch too. And maybe the COVID spike will recede.
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Yup, Beard & Belly is the cafe/pub side of Honey Pie bakery. Embarrassed to say I ate the entire slice of quiche Lorraine--crust and all. (It was just that good).
Tried to dine out tonight. Went on OpenTable for L.Woods, but there were no tables available. Booked an 8:30 at Jameson's Charhouse--which promptly called to tell me they were closing at 8. So I reserved 8:30 at the Alcove, but decided to call them to make sure--good thing I did, because I got a recording that they were closed 12/30-1/5 "due to COVID." Not sure whether that meant--did a staffer have COVID, or (as with Pompeii, Bob's lunch mainstay on his Union Health days) to train staff as to how to check & enforce the proof-of-vax mandate? So booked an 8:45 at Ba-Ba-Ree-Ba, and called to make sure how long they'd be open and whether they still have a valet. Reassured, I hung up--only to find Heidi had thrown up for the second time today. Cleaned it up; and we left for the restaurant, pulled up in front at the valet sign, hit the flashers and...no valet. Went inside, hostess said he was probably out retrieving or parking a car. After 15 min. I was about to find a street space, when the valet pulled up in his own car and said he was "done for the night." He did park my car across the street, as a favor, so I gave him a tip.
The place was crowded (and across the aisle a table full of Gen-Zers were singing "Happy Birthday." The menu was much more limited than I recall--even when it first reopened in summer 2020. We ordered the seafood paella--which used to have lobster, clams & mussels but now has only squid, shrimp and (allegedly) cod. It was sort of wet & gloppy: no soccarat (bottom crust), under-seasoned, and the shrimp & squid were on the verge of overdone. They obviously made it in too much of a hurry and added the seafood too soon. We started with some "pinxtos" (skewers): bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with fig-infused goat cheese, blood sausage (slices, when they used to use whole mini-links), blistered shishito peppers and goat cheese baked in tomato sauce.
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Had the carbonara with the Vital Farms eggs. What's not to love about cheese, eggs and pasta. Cat is angry that we're out of ham. I mean, reeeally angry and letting us know it.
Leftovers tomorrow. Probably won't reheat as well, but can't imagine it tasting bad. A glass of Malbec.
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Sharon and I went running this afternoon. She ran 3-1/2 miles, and I ran 5-1/2 miles. Running seems to stunt our appetites, so dinner tonight was a 5 inch home made pizza for her and I just had a bit of rice and beans, liberally "spiked" with hot sauce....and about 8 glasses of water each.
Wallycat, the thought of your cat letting you know about not having any ham, made me laugh. My (and Sharon's) 2nd cat was like that. :-)
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Eric - I agree about appetite. It's so weird. I can walk 6 miles & never be hungry enough to eat at all. But when I sit in my recliner reading all afternoon - I'm starving.
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Eric, you have NO idea how loud this creature can be. Well, maybe you do, LOL. He sounds like a 3 year old throwing a fit in the middle of the store, heaving big tears and wailing. No joke. I feel like he'll ruin is vocal cords or something. Insane.
I miss running. We'll hit 50 but my knees don't care. Used to do 15 mile days in my 30s and my orthopedic guy said if I didn't want knee replacement in my 50s, to stop running. Maybe I should start again and find a new doctor
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Wally - I don't run for that very reason. But I do a reasonably fast walk - 15 minute miles. My ortho said that was much better for my knees. Edited - guess I should say 'brisk' and not fast.
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Lunch was avocado toast--made with fresh ripe avocado rather than guacamole; tomato, sweet onion, and cilantro topped by a Vital Farms egg. (Technically sunny-side up, but I sort of "cheat" over-easy by covering the pan and turning off the heat. The yolk begins to film over--so it's over-easy without flipping it and risking a broken yolk).
Dinner was chicken broth, mesclun salad with cherry tomatoes, the rest of that half avocado, and lemon vinaigrette; two blistered shishito peppers and a smsll portion of the leftover paella (almost no seafood or green beans remaining in it) which I heated on med-hi till it formed a soccarat. That's more like it. BTW, this was also the first paella I'd ever had there--or anywhere--without peas or peppers. The original tapas chef long ago retired, his successor decamped to his own place in the west suburbs and also retired. At this point, the only truly authentic paella I've found in the Chicago area (other than properly-made DIY) is at Little Madrid, a BYO hole-in-the-wall in Andersonville. (So BYO, in fact, that we bring our own corkscrew because theirs doesn't work well and our own Govino plastic glasses because their only glassware are large thick water goblets). But their paellas are very small. Wish I'd been able to try Cafe Iberico on LaSalle St. before the pandemic closed it almost two years ago.
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DH finally got his chicken and dumplings last night. He had requested it for our stay at home Thanksgiving dinner but we didn't stay at home. It was delicious. I enjoyed every carb laden bite as much as he did and there is a big container of leftovers.
These "dumplings" are really home-made noodles not spooned dough. There must have been some Germans in the area of Mississippi where my mother grew up. The labor intensive part of making the dish is rolling out the dough and cutting it into pieces to drop into the bubbling chicken broth.
I never enjoyed running but do enjoy walking. Fifteen minute miles is fast, Minus. In my 40's I walked 12 minute miles and that was travelling, with the rolling hips. I enjoy walking on the street but my knees prefer walking on a treadmill or bicycling on the upright bike in the gym. The elliptical gets my heartbeat up faster than either treadmill or bike. I benefit a lot from the senior exercise classes at our YMCA that combine cardio, weights and stretching. I also do a chair yoga class that helps greatly with maintaining range of motion. We do some standing yoga poses, too.
No clue about dinner tonight.
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Carole - I haven't gotten back to SIlver Sneakers at the gym. Too many people here believe there's no such thing as Covid and are happy to breathe on you to prove it. Even more, I miss the chair yoga class that was held at a local hospital. Of course that hasn't started up again.
Yesterday's meal was Black-Eyed Pea Casserole with a side of spinach and two flour tortillas. A friend brought over the casserole. I do love the recipe, but she makes it really thin like soup broth, adds a lot more bulk sausage than I do and doesn't add as much green chili. Oh well, I'm thankful that someone took the trouble to make it and share it with me.
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My son requested the spicy sausage with rigatoni and vodka sauce, but this time I'll be using Rao's instead of homemade; salad and garlic bread on the side.
ChiSandy - Cafe Iberico was my favorite. Their paella was the best. I loved their pollo a la brasa too. I used to drive down to Chicago just to go eat. Haven't done it since covid, I miss it!
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Happy New year. I am slowly recovering from Covid. I tested again on day 5, last Friday and it was positive. No taste or smell issues, but had a fever til day 9. Who knows, it could have been flu and covid! Well you just never know. The runny nose and dry cough ( who'd have thunk you could have BOTH those symptoms at 1 time) my husband has shown no symptoms, except for tiredness. He had 2 shots and a booster. I did not have a booster. So hes been feeding me. He doesn't cook, but has been making the rounds of fast food places. Culvers has mashed potatoes and soups and grilled chicken, and its 2 blocks away so it got business from us. Unfortunately, it was closed early (4:00) 2x cause of staff shortages so he had to run elsewhere. Hot and sour soup actually was fantastic. Lol and the chicken and rice was great too. My blood sugar shot up from the fever and illness so i figured id just go for it. I actually made a quick supper yesterday as im feeling so much better, we had pan fried pork chop with steamed green beans. I needed something green, and salads are a no for me while suffering, um, certain side effects, LOL.
We will have my brothers Mass on Saturday, for whoever wants or can show up. Got a meal planned for after, its all set now. One of my brothers may not be there cause hes sick as of Sun. He said we should postpone, but, um, no. Church, musicians, food, etc already paid for, 4 days is too late to cancel. However hes got 2 +boost so maybe hell be ok. Just want it over.
We havent had our Christmas with the family either. Thats planned for the following Saturday. Heres hoping, fingers crossed. If we have to move it again, well drop off or mail all the presents ( in the middle of our living room yet) and just go from there. This means tree and all are going to be up and extra week. We usually take them diwn the weekend after Epiphany, Jan 6th. LOL
HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE, MUCH LOVE!
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Monica, so sorry to hear you're still sick. Unfortunately, it is quite possible to have both flu and COVID at the same time. There's a strain of flu going around that isn't one of the four in this season's vaccine. The lack of smell & taste issues suggests Omicron rather than Delta, but the fever sounds flu-ish (as does the "issues" you mentioned). Feel better soon. Hot & sour soup was the only thing that got me through the laryngitis that came with my whooping cough in Dec. 2019. The chicken broth in it breaks up the secretions and the white pepper, vinegar & chili oil are counterirritants. By all means steam your veggies (even canned or frozen).
Well, no Chez Joel takeout for us tonight--they're closed till 1/11 (nearby UIC is not back in session, so their customer base is staying home). We'll be walking to Regalia instead, as tonight will likely be the last night till Sat. that walking will be tolerable. Bob's off tomorrow night, so we'll likely supplement tonight's leftovers with a small steak &/or veg.
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Moon, sorry that you've been ill with Covid and possibly with the flu, too. Hoping your dh continues to avoid getting sick.
Last night's dinner featured a vegetarian skillet recipe from Allrecipes called Winter Vegetables Hash. Ingredients were potatoes, butternut squash, mushrooms, bell pepper, spinach and seasonings. Also butter and olive oil at the beginning. I made some substitutions such as using spinach instead of chopped kale. It was quite good. Side was a romaine salad.
Tonight will be warmed up chicken and dumplings.
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carole - I think we had the conversation long ago about the chicken and dumplings that are not really classic dumplings. My MIL grew up in Pennsylvania Dutch country (Lancaster, PA) and made what she called chicken pot pie, that was not a pie, but rather a chicken stew situation with large flat square noodles, maybe 3-4" squares. Is that what your dish is? I looked at the recipe for Winter Vegetable Hash - looks yummy! I was considering doing the squash and potato in the oven and then adding them to the cooked mushrooms and kale/spinach. I wonder how that would be?
Last night was dog meal prep, DD salad making, and DH had leftover soup made from a ham bone, potatoes, carrots chicken broth, canned coconut milk, onion, turmeric, and frozen peas. It was very good - I also made him a little sandwich to go along with it. For DD I made a rice salad (Rice-A-Roni based) with chicken, artichoke hearts, red bell pepper, scallion, and a creamy dressing (mayo, thinned with some bottled vinaigrette, and curry powder), topped with chopped cashews, and a straight up 3-bean salad - she loves both of those - I used to make them for her when she was involved with dolphin and sea lion training for the US Navy and had to go out to the pens and stay there for the day - had to take her food with her.
Tonight I am pretty sure I am making stuffed zucchini - plan to use chicken Italian sausage, some added veggies, and DF mozzarella. I used to make them all the time but somehow they fell out of the repertoire.
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Those chicken & dumplings recipes are quite similar to what Cook's Country (or was it ATK?) did a couple of years ago--with the dough cut into elongated "diamond" shapes.
Bob couldn't pick up from Chez Joel because it's closed during the nearby UIC's winter break (with faculty & staff making up most of their patrons). So we walked to Regalia...because we could. We started by sharing the egg-battered artichokes piccata; then spaghetti cacio e pepe and a house salad. For the mains, Bob had a sauteed whole branzino with spinach and I had the spatchcocked whole roast chicken with peppers & mushrooms instead of potatoes. Since Bob had only a Costco hot dog (in his car) for lunch--as his standby Pompeii is closed this week--he polished off his plate. I ate a dark quarter of my chicken plus the veg, so we will split 3/4 of a chicken tonight--and I will spiralize a zucchini over which to pour the sauce. I'll also pan-toast the remaining paella so Bob can have a starch. And we will start with a Caprese of heirloom tomato, mozzarella and my windowsill basil. Staying put tonight because the polar vortex will be doing its thing overnight--time to put the faucets on dribble.
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Live about an hour from Pennsylvania Dutch "Amish" country so we can purchase Pennsylvania Dutch (brand name) pot pie noodles which are square. Used to be "bot boi" noodles on packaging but they seem to have Americanized the spelling. If you order this meal in a Pennsylvania Dutch restaurant they include sliced carrots, and celery along with the chicken and noodles. They are filling so a "stick to the ribs" meal that the Amish favor since they do heavy manual labor. They still plow their fields using draft horses and I love to drive out there in March to see the early prep of their fields. Some of the restaurants used to do family style serving where you were assigned to a table, they just kept bringing Amish style foods and you ate until you burst. Definitely not low carb meals and my favorite is apfle und schnitz which is dried apples cooked with homemade dumplings. My Mom used to make this for dinner when my Dad worked 4-12 shift since he did not consider this a meal but with milk over it, it was a complete meal and one we looked forward to for dinner. Never did find her recipe which was a huge disappointment and ones I have found, including in Pennsylvania Dutch recipe books, are just not it.
Pre-Covid there was a German festival held every summer where we could gorge ourselves at the Mennonite church sponsored tent restaurant and eat all of our favorite dinner foods followed by milk tart or shoo fly pie for dessert. We usually ate the milk tart and purchased a wet bottom shoo fly pie to take home. Bought my DD and DSIL a "happy cake (also a pie)" one year and my DS's dog counter surfed it and ate half managing to get the heavy saran wrapper off. DD had been instructed to pick it up early but delayed and Boomer had a field day. Needless to say "he was happy" with it. I need to go to the Amish countryside to have a good meal and some fresh air.
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