So...whats for dinner?
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Illimae, you are definitely in the "whatever floats your boat" category. Enjoy a big sundae on my behalf.
Not very hungry--definitely having that telltale "throat cold" feeling I get every year or two around this time. Eyes & teeth hurt a little until I remove my retainer. Oral thermometers said 98.5, forehead 98.9, but ear (new Thermoscan) read 100. Uh-oh. Bob said to put my mind at ease and try that second test in the OnGo kit (it's been 24 hrs. since yesterday's). Followed every step to the letter. NEGATIVE again (this time confirmed by the app).
So I officially have some kind of cold, maybe adenovirus. I asked Bob how the heck I could have caught a cold, considering I haven't been around anybody but him since Sunday. He replied, "I probably had a cold on top of COVID." (Heck, people can even get flu and COVID at the same time). The 24-72 hr incubation period for the common cold fits precisely when I began noticing feeling crummy (colds are "3 days coming, 3 days with ya, and 3 days going.". Gordy dined with us (I sat closer to him than to Bob) Sat. night, and he hasn't reported any symptoms. Anyway, I'm gonna semi-quarantine for awhile--anything that would prevent spreading COVID would prevent spreading a cold. Not leaving the house or having the plumber over till at least the weekend is over. Bob walked to the Greek joint to bring me some broiled chicken & salad (bet he will have a gooey greasy gyros & fries plate).
My breakfast (after feeding the cats at 11) was a Whole Foods egg-white/spinach/chêvre mini-souffle. If I do cook, Bob is getting the lions' share of the fish & veg (broccoiini) and all the leftover turmeric rice. I may have just the tip of the filet; and lots of chicken soup. (Might treat myself to some of those little "mandlen"--tiny balls of choux paste--atop them). Too lazy & cruddy-feeling to dig out noodles or make matzo balls.
Landscaper came by and cleared our walks, deck, porch & garage apron. Fingers crossed that's all the snow we get till Wed.
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Beautiful plate illimae!
I love golden tile almost more than any other fish, but rarely eat it because of high mercury levels plus I rarely find it available even in fresh fish markets.
Oh Sandy, I feel bad wishing you a cold but I hope that's what you're coming down with. I was hoping you'd escape unscathed. I'm glad Bob is doing better.
My DSIL and DBIL who are moving to Texas just left us after a four day visit - the last we'll see them until after they move. Lots of cooking was done and consumed -- lemon chicken roasted in a cast iron skillet, another choucroute garnie with smoked pork chops, knackwurst, polish sausage, country ribs and cornbread (no sugar), fire roasted tomato vegetable soup with whole grain bread and a simple salad, a couple of frittatas for breakfasts with biscuits and a wild blackberry crisp for dessert. We even went out a couple of times. I was sad to see them leave. Of all of DH's siblings, we are closest to them.
I love Cornish hens too and unlike DH, can eat a whole one by myself. I really only fix them for special occasions but I don't know why that is. Probably because like your DH Carole, mine is lukewarm about chicken unless it's in strips and fried. Like Popeye's chicken strips. Those he loves.
I just came across a recipe for pressure cooker garlicky Cuban pork. It calls for a pork shoulder which happen to be on sale this week. I think I might make it this weekend.
Special - I trust you are healing well from all of your slicing and stitching.
I'm missing Lacey too and trust that all is well. I'd be pleased if you can get her to post, even briefly, Minus. I also hope the coming storm causes little disruption.
Tonight's fare is lasagna from the freezer, a salad and some warm rosemary olive bread.
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The corn bread ("cake") turned out quite well for a first time and I got a "request" for more. :-)
As with a lot of recipes, there is a couple of "next time, try".
I will use only 1 tablespoon of butter the next time. There was so much butter that it floated atop the batter and made the bread look strange.
Also, the recipe says to preheat the pan in the oven. I think I'll not preheat the pan and instead just coat the warm skillet with melted butter. I thought the crust of the bread was a bit too crispy and the time it takes for the heavy cast iron skillet to heat up should help slow down the cooking of the crust.
The recipe is
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Nance - I look at lobster tail like Cornish game hens - special occasion. Lately I've started buying them more often. OK - this is not Boston or Maine, but they 'previously frozen' at better grocery meat counters. Two for $12 is reasonable for a facsimile of the real thing.
I had a can of Bar Harbor brand Crab Bisque today for lunch. Very disappointing
Tonight was leftover pasta with a few spoons of Raos and a few spoons of sour cream and a can of sliced mushroom. Not bad for a quick meal on a cold day. Then of course I was "forced" to eat another couple pieces of my chocolate pie. It really is an excellent flavor, but I think I'll make it in individual pudding cups next time.
Thanks for the cornbread (cake) update Eric. Somehow even living in the South all this time I rarely make it.
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Eric, you are correct; tofu is a chameleon. It makes to-die-for chocolate pudding, easily. Eric, the horror of a sweetened and FLOUR-laden "cornbread."
Illimae, I'm so happy to see your photos again! Lovely.
Sandy, I hope you will be on the mend...as to where you could catch a cold...even wearing a mask, but dining out and having to chew, puts you at risk for "stuff..." and there's the fact your DH works in a hospital setting. Happy it is "just" a cold. The new Omicron variant is supposed to be detected by the rapid tests, so you should be good to go.
AuntieNance, your meals sound wonderful. You and your family sound like wonderful cooks.
Had the last of the tofu sweet potato coconut curry and "fleshed" it out with some fried eggs.
Tomorrow will be refried bean nachos.
Editing to add: QFC is having a sale on Raos sauce for 5.47...is there a specific one to try?
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Waiting to hear from my PCP as to whether I should get a rapid flu test in case I need Tamiflu. But my fever isn't high enough and I'm not getting muscle or joint aches. This is one of those "throat colds," without nasal congestion. Sucks that I'm getting laryngitis, but glad I can breathe and I'm not burning up. Dinner (early) was a broiled chicken leg & wing; later, a big mug of chicken broth with a Greek pita (first one I've had in forever). Then a late snack of provolone melted on matzo. I'm giving myself a dispensation from keto, as I'm not taking in a lot of calories.
Not looking forward to taking out garbage, cat litter & recycling (all 3 of my kitchen baskets are full, and they have to be dumped directly into the blue bin in the alley--no bags allowed).
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Took a road trip with my bff to Chicago to visit some family in the Humboldt Park area had some awesome Puerto Rican food at Ponce Restaurant, but nothing I can't/don't make at home. It was just nice to have PR food that I didn't have to cook.
I really wanted to go to Fogo de Chao, but was having great time where we were. Next month my son and I will be down there for St.Patrick Day so maybe then.
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Glad you had a great time in Humboldt Park, Serendipity! When I was recording my first CD (24 years ago) at a studio on Division St., I used to stop across the street at Cafe Boricua for cappuccino & pastries. Never did get to try a jibarito (flattened fried plantains instead of bread) sandwich--which was supposedly invented in Chicago. Not sure if the cafe is still there. Where is Ponce? (The restaurant, not the city).
We're finally having the St. Pat's Day parade for the first time since 2019, dyeing the river green and all that. Should be fun!
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Chi....stay well, or get better fast. Flu or COVID, neither is good.
Wallycat, my Aunt Hattie, born in southern Kentucky in the late 1800s, taught me how to make cornbread. I'm sure she would be giving me "the look" if she were to see me adding that much flour and sweetener to cornbread. She taught school full time from age 17 through age 78 and then as a substitute teacher until age 88, so I'm sure "the look" was well practiced. -)
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serendipity, DH and I love Fogo. It’s difficult for me to imagine going back post Covid though, maybe someday.
I’m thinking pork tenderloin, not sure about the sides but I’ve got all day to come up with it.
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Nance, you will have to visit the relatives in Texas. I know you will miss having them close enough for frequent visits. Your meals all sound appetizing as they usually do.
My chilis relleno casserole was not a "looker." The slices of tomato created a lot of liquid. If I had bothered to check the progress, I would have removed the casserole lid. The taste was good. But I'm always disappointed not to achieve the "looker."
Tonight will probably be a root vegetable main dish. I am in a "blah" stage of choosing a menu.
DH likes a sweet cornbread. I'm not a fan. Since he's perfectly happy with Jiffy and I have a small pan that is the perfect size, I stopped making the "from scratch" in search of a recipe that would suit both of us. I do like the golden crust from a preheated cast iron skillet. I'm thinking of buying a small skillet for the Jiffy.
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I l enjoy the crispy buttery cornbread crust too. I have a small 8” skillet that’s the perfect size for two. I use a modified Southern Living recipe. Modified to decrease the white flour and increase the cornmeal. No sugar, although it could be added. I use Bob’s whole grain cornmeal medium grind. (I like the crunchy). Eric, Ilike your Aunt Hattie.
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ChiSandy - Ponce is at 4313 W Fulllerton. Jibarito's are so good. I make them at home, my son loves them. They are very easy to make. I'd be more than willing to tell you how if you'd like.
There's a food truck in Humboldt Park that has been there since I was a kid (probably not the same truck, but the same family lol) and I look forward to going down there during the summer. Although things have gotten a bit crazy in the area. I have so many good memories with my dad
We went down last year and saw them dying the river. Looking forward to it this year, of course, with precautions. 4th of July at Navy Pier is very fun too.
Illimae - I haven't been to Fogo since the pandemic started. The Brazilian restaurants here have everything spaced out and if going up to the buffet you have to use gloves, at least that's what my son and others have told me. Now that I'm fully vaccinated I think (key word) I would feel comfortable going.
Tonight is going to be sweet plantain lasagna and a salad, of course my son has to have his rice.
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serendipity, sounds like good precautions. I’d like to go back myself eventually but for now, the image of my potential food being walked around to multiple tables before reaching mine, isn’t very appealing. Things are just so different now, especially for us unvaccinated (not anti-vax), fortunately the cabin is free of nearly all city life problems.
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illimae - I def get it. Vaccinated or not, WE still need to be careful.
I will say, I love food and miss going out to eat on a regular basis. For now, I'll just keep experimenting with new meals and my own delicious meals at home and make the best of it.
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Well, after 4 negative rapid antigen tests (2 days between each, 3 different brands) I still had low-grade fever & a scratchy throat, so I got PCR (and flu) tested this morning. Flu-neg, but COVID+! Waiting for hospital pharmacy to call me back as to how & where to pull up to get my Paxlovid (assuming they have it) at curbside. Getting nervous bec. it's an hour drive and it closes at 3pm. Holding and they're not picking back up. Gulp. Think I'll head out anyway and hope they call me back before I get there.
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Sandy, Wow, 4 negative tests is disappointing. I considered ordering some but decided to wait since I really don’t go out in public and thought others might need them more but I’m hearing more stories of them being unreliable, honestly, I probably won’t bother. I do hope you feel better soon, you might be nearly over it by now.
Serendipity, I’m learning some of my favorites meals now, not due to Covid and dining out but because the cabin is so far from anywhere. So, I have a pizza stone and dough recipe, a few Asian dishes I like and some Mediterranean meals to get better at. DH has Mexican, curry and fried chicken perfected. We won’t miss out on much.
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Feeling like a runaway adolescent (I wish!), but more like an old lady whose arthritic hands (avoiding typing) and irritated dry eyes making screen communications pretty frustrating and painful these days. I have yet to catch up on so many pages, new "threaders", recipes, etc. Apologies…
Today is a “white out" with the N'oreaster blowing. Looks like someone went nuts in the confectioners sugar aisle, a very dry snow! Our plow guy has already been here once and you'd never know.
I have been cooking a lot these wintery days since we never eat out anymore, and only order take out once every few weeks it seems. Since DH has developed such a fondness for grocery shopping, our (annoying new) fridge is always full. So I have no excuse to not cook. Good thing I like to! Tho some nights I feel uninspired. Right now I have a hankering for cornbread…hmmmm, better check the pantry to see if cornmeal is there. Thanks, Eric, for that recipe.
I think it was before Christmas when I last posted. We had local son and fam here for the day, along with a drop in by next door family who was heading South until they got last minute word of a Covid positive relative at their planned destination. So we enjoyed a “safely tested" group, tho I spent too much time in the kitchen.
Must avoid that in the future.
DH decided it would be fun and unique to have lobster rolls for our Christmas dinner. BUT, DDIL2 doesn't eat seafood, so we also marinated and grilled some turkey and beef tips. I would go for an easier dinner next year…but hopefully next year we will be able to return to having dinner with our friends who have hosted a lovely feast for many years at their home. This year they played it safe just having their daughters' families with their young unvaxed children.After Christmas, we had our little toddler “force" visit us for a few overnights while her daycare was closed and parents worked. She is quite a lively 2 and 1/2 year old now, and she had lots of fun cooking with me, having “dance parties" with her Papa, and delivering treats we made to our next door neighbors. We made (ready made crust) pizza for dinner, and the next day, chocolate chip cookies. Since that first effort, she enjoys making pizza whenever she visits here. I love cooking with her since food is not a main interest in their house and yet it is with her. She is always “making food" to feed her dolls, animals, etc., and loves using any prep item she sees in my kitchen to create unique recipes to offer us. Her fave last weekend was “orange soup", made by putting all of our mandarins in the salad spinner giving it a frantic spin and imagining that it turned into soup for me to try. Children so amuse me. She is also really exhausting, so DH and I take one or two full days to recover from these visits! We are old! We have to check our “post visit" schedules carefully before inviting her for overnites.
I'll post pix of some recent dinners…tonight will be leftovers from two different chicken dinners….one was Laurie's salsa chicken with pepperjack cheese melted over it, another was a stir fry chicken. Both tasty.
Laurie's salsa chicken with orzo and “my" salad. KungPao stir fry chicken,quinoa cuke/avocadosalad
Kale soup with garbanzo beans 
Had to share this….since exactly 7 years ago, my next door neighbor (now a FL snowbird!) and I decided to make a timbale for an Italian dinner while our first (of waaay too many that 2015!!) snowstorm raged. The timbale making and dinner were great fun and we enjoyed ourselves immensely. Good food, wine, fun company, and the meal topped off with my anise pizzelle cookies and my neighbor's champagne infused oranges. I'll think of this fondly and with some melancholy as I view their darkened house from our kitchen window, while warming leftovers tonight.
I hope you are all staying safe and enjoying favorite meals!
Thank you, Minus, for reaching out to this thread scofflaw!
Once my eye treatments work, I'll try to catch up on all of my back thread reading so I'll know what's happening other thanthis last page.
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Beautiful meals Lacey! They look delicious 🤤.
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Illimae, thank you, tho when I see how my pix come out, I have food photo envy for yours!
I love your menu ideas for your cabin retreat.
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Lacey, those meals look dreamy!
Serendipity, I forgot to thank you for the sweet potato crust recipe; thank you!
Sandy, so sorry for covid dx. Do keep us posted on your and Bob's recovery.
I guess no one has an opinion on the Raos sauce; I'll see what they have on Monday and maybe pick a few different ones, if they are available.
I think I posted I am making refried bean nachos tonight.
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wallycat - I think most of us here are fans of Rao's. IMHO, it's about the best you can buy.
Yay Lacey! I was afraid you might be without power. Have you recovered from your concussion? Please talk abut your dry eye treatments. I'm looking for relief in that department too. Your food looks lovely!
I'm so sorry Sandy but at least you know what's going on now. Hope it's mild for you and your recovery is quick.
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illimae - cabin life sounds awesome to me.
ChiSandy - so sorry about the + covid. Hope your symptoms are minimal.
Lacey - your meals look so good!
wallycat - I really like the vodka sauce and the marinara. My favorite is the garlic Alfredo for days that I'm feeling lazy and not wanting make my own. The tomato basil is also very good. In all honesty, all the ones that I've bought have been very good. Will not buy any other brand if I don't have too.
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Serendipity - by all means, please share the recipe for Jibarito's. I have never tasted them.
Woke up at 3am & couldn't go back to sleep, so I read until 7 and then slept until 10am, But in the mean time, I finished the rest of the chocolate pie in my bed at 6am. Wonder what meal I should call that?
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Jibarito
- 2 cups oil (for frying) typically vegetable oil
- 1 plantain, peeled and halved
- 2 tbsp oil (again whatever you prefer)
- 1 clove minced garlic
- 4 oz skirt steak, cut into strips
- ¼ medium onion, sliced (I prefer white onion)
- 1 pinch oregano
- 1 tbsp mayo
- 1 slice cheese, halved (typically American, but I used a variety)
- Tomato slices (about 2)
- Lettuce leaves (about 3)
- Heat 2 cups of vegetable oil in a large skillet or a deep fryer set to 350℉ (176.67°C).
- Place plantains in the oil and cook for one to two minutes.
- Remove plantains from oil and set them on a paper towel to drain.
- Place plantains between two cutting boards and press to flatten.
- Place the plantains back in the oil and cook for another two to three minutes until golden brown.
- Remove plantains from oil and drain again.
- Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a large skillet and add the skirt steak, garlic, and spices. Stir frequently until cooked.
- Spread mayonnaise on plantain slice, then top with steak, cheese, lettuce, and tomato, topping with the second plantain slice.
I've tried air flying the plantains, but they come out very dry.
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Thanks. SOunds delicious.
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I start Paxlovid tonight--fingers crossed. What's weird is that but for the low-grade fever & slight headache I have now, this bout of Omicron COVID feels exactly like the coughing infection I had in Dec. 2019 a week after we returned from London. Maybe I had "COVID Classic" (pre-mutations) back then?
Illimae, it's not that simple. The at-home rapid antigen tests are very accurate about positives--the only one that gave false positives was Ellume, which was pulled from the market long ago. They do have a 10-20% rate of false negatives, especially when the viral load is low. Remember, the "antigen" they look for is a viral protein, not the actual DNA of the virus itself. The reason PCRs are more trustworthy are that they keep cycling through the sample until the viral DNA is detected--even an extremely low viral load (which viral particles may no longer even be viable). That's why the vast majority of testing centers without on-site labs (and assay machines) take 24-72 hours to produce a result. My health system's Immediate Care clinics, however, have on-site lab assay machines, which produce a result in 20-60 minutes. Mine came back positive at just under 20 minutes, which suggests the viral load was higher than I thought but still too low to detected by the rapid antigen test. Bob's rapid-antigen test (Abbott Binax NOW), produced a positive result at only five minutes (it could take up to 15). So he had a pretty hefty viral load. (BTW, to determine if one is ready to break isolation after 5 days w/o symptoms, never get another PCR test: because it will pick up even dead viral DNA, you can PCR-test positive for as long as 90 days after full recovery. But the PCR test can't tell whether the residual viral DNA is dead or alive. That's why you should re-test with a rapid antigen test at the end of isolation).
Spoke to the infectious disease doc tonight--he said that Paxlovid is superior to the sotrovimab infusion (90% vs. 80%), and that the reason Bob was offered the infusion instead was that his hospital's pharmacy didn't have Paxlovid. In fact, the I.D. doc said that as supplies of Paxlovid increase, it will be prescribed far more often than the infusion. (I'm not the world's easiest vein stick, so I appreciate being able to take a pill instead).
Not sure what I'll do about dinner--maybe a chicken thigh with Greek salad. Bob will likely want the breast over his half of the salad, as he prefers white meat. He can have the lemon rice and bread, of course. Getting a grocery delivery tomorrow, which will contain ample "no-nos" with which to comfort myself. But today will be largely a keto day for me, because that's what's on hand.
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Today's meal was a leftover rotisserie chicken breast sliced on Rosemary/Olive Oil bread. Yum. I'm baking gingerbread tonight for the first time in MANY years. I need to use up the rest of the heavy cream I whipped for the chocolate pie.
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I ended up trying a new recipe, Honey Garlic roasted pork tenderloin, which was pretty good. I wanted to make an herb crusted one but couldn’t find it. Sides were tri color quinoa, sautéed cabbage/onions and roasted carrots and sweet peppers.
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Lacey, so good to have you check in. I look forward to having you a "regular" again once your health issues are conquered. Your DGD sounds like a delight.
Illimae, what a beautiful plate of food.
I would definitely try the plantain "sandwich" if I had the opportunity.
Sandy, best wishes for recovering from Covid. I was afraid you were likely to be infected, given the home circumstances.
I'm thinking I will make a pizza for tonight, plus an extra for the freezer. Having a home-made pizza in the freezer is like dinner insurance!
Minus, I was awake at the same time last night. Or early this morning, to be more accurate. I eventually went back to sleep and slept until 8 am.
I'm looking forward to the football games today. I am glad to see the former LSU quarterback doing so well so I'll be cheering for the Bengals.
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