So...whats for dinner?
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Carole, Hopefully your garbage can didn’t blow away.
Minus, I agree that meatloaf (like stew) tastes better the next day.
Special, I hope your pulmonologist appointment finally happened and was helpful.
No show jumping today so we went to McArthur state park which is one of my favorite beaches. It has a long boardwalk that crosses the intracoastal waterway to the beach on the Atlantic. If DH were up to it I would have rented a kayak. It was nice to watch the waves and breathe the salt air.
Dinner tonight was chicken with artichoke and mushrooms.
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I was very tired today so I made taco meat early then took a nap until dinner. Dinner of course was taco boats filled with leftover salad, meat and fixings and DH added a can (!) of tamales as a side. Shockingly not as bad as I anticipated.
WWe May be getting very windy weather tomorrow but if all is reasonable outside I have a church study group in the morning, a trip to Trader Joe's in the afternoon then dinner at an Asian Fusion kind of place with my sister-in-law.
We've lived here 1.5 years now and I've yet to hit the TJs because it is oddly angled with so-so parking on the wrong side of a major road (for me). I guess I'm a fuss- budget. Tomorrow is the day as I love their big bags of haricots vert which I'll use in a planned recipe.
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Minus, our Viking River Cruise starts in Amsterdam and goes to Bucharest. We depart on Easter Sunday and have an extra day in Amsterdam. I'm feeling thankful this morning that we got wind yesterday and last night and some rain but no violent storms.
The cauliflower and broccoli casserole was very good and a pretty dish as a bonus. It's a bit of prep work, which I did in advance of cocktail time. Steam the veggies for 6 minutes in a pot with a basket. Put veggies aside, empty pot and use it to make the sauce. 2 T butter and 2 T flour (recipe called for rice flour; I used all purpose) and 2 cups whole milk (I used 2 per cent). Make bechamel sauce. Add seasonings—1 tsp each onion powder and garlic powder, s & p. When sauce is thickened, add 2 oz cream cheese softened. Stir to smoothness, then add 1 cup shredded sharp white cheddar. Stir to smoothness. Removed from heat and add drained cauliflower and broccoli. Spoon into greased casserole dish.
Topping is 2 T butter melted in microwave on High. Add 3/4 cup panko and 1/4 cup parmesan. Combine well. Spoon on top of casserole. Heat casserole in 375 degree oven about 30 to 40 minutes until bubbly and topping is nicely browned. Let sit 5 minutes.
The veggies were cooked perfectly, and the sauce is nice. The crunchy topping adds to the enjoyment. You could modify this recipe with curry flavors.
We had the casserole as our main dish, an iceberg lettuce wedge salad and a slice of freshly baked whole grain bread.
Dinner tonight will be at Pontchartrain Poboy with my sister Michelle and her dh Michael, who recent helped us with a water leak in the yard, saving us a plumber's visit. The dinner is payback.
I will be looking for a good recipe with butternut squash, maybe combined with chick peas.
Hope Sandy is doing well. Also SpecialK and Mae and anyone else missing for a while.
Happy Ash Wednesday.
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Casserole is uncovered. I read a tip that casseroles with cooked ingredients are heated uncovered in the oven.
Also, Washington Post had an eggplant recipe that looked good called Rollatini. I printed it out. It uses the lengthways slices of eggplant to make rollups that are nestled in a tomato sauce. Cheese filling for the rollups.
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I'm not a big butternut squash fan but this one even sounded good to me:
Orzo with Roasted Butternut Squash and Spinach
Ingredients:
1 cup orzo pasta
2 cups butternut squash (cubed)
2 tbsp olive oil
3 cups fresh spinach
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp fresh thyme (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Toss cubed butternut squash with olive oil, salt, and pepper, then roast for 20-25 minutes, until tender and lightly caramelized.40-50 mile per hr wind gusts here today with blowing snow Yuck hope they die down by the time the trash cans go out
Rhonda - it seems like every Trader Joe's I've ever been to has lousy parking I still love them but it's one of the reasons I don't go more often Fit what it's worth, the Aldi I go to always has haricots verts
My recent trip to Penzeys was big fun if expensive I've almost completely converted and refreshed my spice collection
Dinner tonight will be oven bbqd pork steak, sautéed spinach and leftover mashed potatoes fancied up with some sour cream and grated cheese then baked. Kind of like a twice baked potato.1 -
Maggie: I looked up MacArthur State Park. Oh I am soooo jealous.
Carole - thanks for the broc & cauliflower recipe. Sounds deliciously rich. Must be the cream cheese!!! Your river cruise sounds wonderful. I've known several people that went the opposite way, ending up in Amsterdam.
I agree about ALL Trader Joe's parking lots. Horrible. I only make the trek 2 or 3 times a year. My latest favorite is their fully cooked Italian meatballs. Since I'm retired, I try to go when everyone else is at work.
Nance - Penzey's is another place I love but only go twice a year. I used to go more frequently when they were still mailing their catalog with recipes regularly. I particularly appreciate their small jars for spices & herbs I don't use often.
Leftover egg salad for lunch and the last of the meatloaf for dinner. I will go ahead and eat the leftover Brussels sprouts even though I got distracted & cooked them too long. I like soft veggies - not al dente - but these are approaching mushy. Hmmm - 'mashed Brussels'??
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Nance, that recipe appeals to me. I have the ingredients except for the orzo and fresh thyme.
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The newly organized spice rack in mostly alphabetical order:
Sadly this doesn't include baking spices or blends like seasoned salt, curry powder, zataar etc. I ran out of jars. Since they come from China god knows how much they'll cost now. Maybe as much as eggs.
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I'm making diced chicken thigh coconut curry and green beans over short grain white rice.
DH had his virtual visit with the onco after labs…too much stuff and don't want to bore you guys. Between this and my idiot neighbors, a beta blocker was in store for me.
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Reader, I think TJ’s goes out of their way to make parking difficult. The nearest one is an hour and a half drive so I never go there.
Carole, I cook diced chicken breast in Rao’s, bake the diced butternut squash tossed in olive oil in a sheet pan, add it to the sauce for the last 5 or 10 minutes, and serve over pasta.
Minus, those Brussels sprouts would probably taste good mixed in with mashed potatoes. Colcannon is cooked cabbage added to mashed potatoes.
Wally, I wish I could send you a magic wand that would make those neighbors disappear in a cloud of smoke.
Dinner tonight was stuffed peppers and boiled potatoes.
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Maggie - interesting since I just clipped a recipe for Colcannon that is mashed potatoes and kale (with shallot & green onions). I was planning to substitute spinach since I don't like kale. But I have half a bag of shredded cabbage in the fridge so maybe I'll sub that. The Brussels were just fine bu themselves - especially since I didn't get around to eating until 8pm.
Wally - you truly won't bore us. We do care about the latest with your DH. Hope it's not too distressing.
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I second the wish for a magic wand to make wally's neighbors disappear. And please do share about dh's health news.
Some good news about dh that I haven't mentioned. The latest med prescribed by the headache clinic dr. is working. DH hadn't had the jaw pain for a couple of weeks. He has an appointment with his knee surgeon today, probably to be discharged. The knee surgery was a success, but the recovery has been more painful than the first recovery. He walks normally without a limp.
The fried seafood dinner at Pontchartrain Poboy was delicious. We had catfish, shrimp and oysters and all three were very good. Service is fast and the dining room is large with the tables not too close together. A nice eating environment though not at all fancy.
The weather has turned cool enough for chili so that's what we'll be having tonight. I'll put off making the butternut squash dish.
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Neighbors can be awesome or "why do they exist?".
We keep our spices alphabetized as well.
I agree with the others, Wally, about DH's "goings on".
I just told Sharon about the Rao's-chicken-butternut squash… Sharon, "That sounds good…we have all the stuff here". We have all but the spinach for Nance's recipe.
I suppose would could go into town to get that today…but…wind 45-50mph, temperatures around 40Fand cooling, and light rain that probably will turn into snow….so we may just stay home. :-) Also, were both kind of "dragging" today. Daisy had some sort of intestinal upset and Frankie was fine. Now it's swapped. Both ways, we were getting up every couple of hours…but that's easier than repeatedly using the carpet shampoo machine.
Oh, yes. I still make sourdough on a regular basis. I make three loaves at a time. One is for "current use" and two are frozen for "later use"…then I make three more loaves. I'd guess I'm making sourdough every 10 days, plus or minus a day or two.
Frankie is "calling"…… sigh……
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No idea what I am making for dinner.
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Hi everyone, it’s been a while and I haven’t caught up, just jumping back in.
Tonight is seared chicken with a little mozzarella and sautéed red peppers/onions with roasted rosemary red potatoes and garlic bread.
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Mae - looks delicious. How are you doing? Still coming to Houston for treatments? How is the beach bar?
Dinner was cottage cheese & tomatoes. But I did get to the grocery store so maybe something more exciting this weekend. Tomorrow I'm meeting my nephew for lunch at Govindas - a vegetarian restaurant attached to a Hare Krishna temple. Several days a week is it VEGAN only. Tomorrow is one of those days. Since he is totally vegan it's a perfect place to meet. I'm not wild about tofu, but the variety of vegetables & salads is fantastic.
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Illimae, Good to hear from you. The chicken with mozzarella looks scrumptious!
Carole, I’m glad that the latest med prescribed by the headache clinic is working for your DH. Your dinner out sounds excellent.
Eric, Hopefully both dogs are over their GI upsets so you and Sharon can get a good night’s sleep.
Minus, It looks like you will have a good lunch tomorrow.
m0mmy, Looking at the contents of the fridge generally inspires me. I’m figuring out how to use up the remaining food since we fly back to the cold on Monday.
Dinner tonight was tuna casserole.
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Sorry for my absence—life has been getting in the way of getting to my computer (and I lack the patience to type in forums on my phone…fat-fingering, autocomplete, etc.). Nothing major…as a priest once said about hearing nuns' confessions, "like being stoned to death with popcorn." Incorrectly-addressed checks, things crossing in the mail, medical & dental appointments (and dealing with TMJ from my replacement retainer), and the news, of course. I'm worried our housecleaner may get deported because she's Ukrainian, here with "protected refugee" status which you-know-who is considering revoking.
Progress on the house is slow. The rickety staircase to the second floor has been replaced; the overflowing dumpster that (justifiably) had the neighbors up in arms is finally gone; the interior demo & plumbing have passed city inspection but we're still waiting on the electrical. Once all that has been approved and roughed in, we can finally choose paint colors, floors, and cabinetry.
Carole, I got a call two days ago from someone who offered a "free, no-obligation" roof inspection. I told him we already have a contractor. Our adjuster says those guys are "roof-chasers" and may be affiliated with the Irish Travelers racket.
On to food. Couple of weeks ago, Froggy's French Cafe was doing cassoulet—and it was the best we've had so far. I augmented the leftovers with some more cannelini beans & frozen duck confit. Last Thursday was what local bakeries called "Fat Thursday:" offering a wide variety of paczki to see which were the most popular and therefore to be made & sold for Mardi Gras. Saturday our fish market, Hooked on Fish, had a Mardi Gras luncheon: crawfish beignets, BBQ shrimp, seafood gumbo and king cake. On Mardi Gras itself we went to Big Jones (local low-country Southern cooking) for dinner. Bob had skillet cornbread, gumbo ya-ya and "duck duet" (breast and rillettes). I had fried green tomatoes and a "Peacemaker" oyster po-boy. The latter was humongous, but the homemade French roll didn't have the proper crisp exterior of the real thing made in NOLA. We had leftovers galore (I had to go up to 5mg as my maintenance dose of Zepbound due to food noise beginning to creep in after 14 months on 2.5mg, so am getting early satiety again). Lent is a PITA for me, as Bob is observing the one-meat-meal-per-day and meatless-Fridays (plus meatless Ash Wednesday), so I have to call him midday to find out what he had for lunch lest I end up making a meat or poultry dinner he can't eat. Limits where we can go to dinner too. Yesterday (Ash Wednesday) I made him skate wing and I ate my fried green tomato and his duck breast leftovers, and he also ate my leftover po-boy, ice cold. Tuesday I was able to get 6 paczki for $5 at Mariano's up in Northbrook (near my ENT). I had two, Bob had one and I tossed the rest today. My sweet tooth has definitely become subdued again…or is it my conscience?
Tonight, since I made him a ham sandwich to take to work, I pan-seared a fish called "hiramasa," which is sort of a cross between hirame and hamachi. Supplemented it with a Caprese. Tomorrow I'm making seafood paella. Our temple has a "milestone" Shabbat at 6:30, with hors d'oeuvres & drinks before service and sweets afterwards at the Oneg. I have my semiannual ab MRI at 4pm in Evanston; Bob will probably not get home before 6, especially with the predicted "wintry mix," so I may attend alone. I will do the mise en place between the MRI and leaving for temple; I should be home by 8:30 and the dish comes together very fast, thanks to tinned Spanish seafood, bottled clam juice and jarred sofrito. Speaking of which, Mariano's has a huge Spanish-seafood section, including canned wood-fired stocks by the quart (chicken, seafood & veg), Bomba rice and even paella kits. And of course, anchovy-stuffed olives.
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Lunch at Govinda's. I missed the rice pudding because Fridays the food it totally vegan. But the rice and the Dal were delicious and the Mango cake was fantastic. Total of 8 or 9 hot entrees in addition to a huge raw vegetable salad selection, soup & 3 desserts. Lovely hot papadam passed to the tables. And my nephew insisted on treating!!
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Hi Sandy and 'mae. I was wondering about both of you.
Sharon and I recently celebrated our 36th wedding anniversary. It seems only a moment in time. :-)
Today we had snow, rain, hail, sleet and graupel. Now it's a somewhat red mud that reminds me of the color pictures of MARS. The neighbor's Great Pyrenees dog is typically "snow white", but is now the color of a Golden Retriever.
Our dogs….even after washing their paws and legs, much mud remains. We have a carpet shampoo machine that will soon be useful. :-)
Tonight will likely be leftovers.
It's snowing again. There is a power pole about 100 yards from the house. I can't see it through the snow.
Hopefully the power remains on.
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Congrats Eric and Sharon! DH and I just celebrated our 45th. Time flies when you're having fun!
Yay Carole on your DH's finding some relief Wally I wish you could find some relief from your neighbor. Who needs that with all the other stresses you have.
Dinner was stuffed peppers and two small dinner rolls.
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Sandy, It will be great when the electrical is approved and you can start picking out finishes. I haven’t ever seen a Spanish seafood section outside of supermarkets in Spain.
Minus, The mango cake sounds delicious.
Eric, Congratulations to you and Sharon on your anniversary. That red clay mud was a staple of life in AL which added extra steps to laundry.
Nance, Congrats to you and your DH, too.
Dinner tonight was leftover tuna casserole.
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Congratulations on the anniversaries! Times flies, for sure. Today is March 8, my birthday every year. No cooking tonight. DH has reservations at a nearby restaurant and the couple who are travel companions will be joining us.
That mud sounds awful. People use a red clay in foundations here and it stains.
My birthday lunch yesterday with three women friends was very enjoyable. I had shrimp remoulade salad. I love their spicey remoulade sauce. Funny story. I set a small take out container on the roof of my car when I was leaving. Forgot it and drove off.
Dinner last night was leftover broccoli and cauliflower casserole and a salad. It's so liberating to learn that we don't have to have a meat entree with dinner at night. We will need to be mindful of getting enough protein.
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Happiest of birthdays to you Carole! Eat something wonderful!
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Thinking beef stew
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Carole - happiest of birthdays. I've taken to eating lots of nuts since I only eat meat a couple of times a week
Eric & Nance - happy anniversaries.
Crazy hearing about everyone's snow. Hope all are OK. I thought we might be favored with a little cooler weather today, but nope. Yesterday was 82 and it's already 84 at 1pm today.
I purchased some Spinach Ravioli at Costco this week based on stellar recommendations. I'll report back.
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Happy birthday Carole and happy anniversary Nance (and to DH). :-)
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Carole - Happy happy birthday 🎉🎊🎁🎂 Hope you have cake and Ice cream and a libation of your choosing !
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and Happy anniversary Nance.. woohoo. 🥳
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Carole, Happy birthday! Enjoy your dinner out. I once lost a beach towel by putting it on the roof while unlocking the car and forgetting about it.
Minus, Aldi’s spinach ravioli is all that’s left in the fridge and will be tomorrow’s dinner.
Dinner tonight was chicken salad sandwiches.
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