So...whats for dinner?
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The food in Portland was extremely good. Had some wonderful Thai food, fish, salads [great salads!] and lots of Stumptown coffee. Thursday was treatment day. Though we usually go out I felt that I had eaten out so much I elected to make a simple pasta with garlic, cheese and sun-dried tomatoes with a not-great salad. While I was gone my mother emailed my husband, very unusual, that my Dad was failing. He died today at 2pm with my mother by his side. It was peaceful and he was in no pain. I made a pasta e fagioli soup for dinner from some found smoked turkey stock. Tonight was a night for true comfort food. My heart is weeping and my body is cold. A hot bowl of soup was the perfect supper.
My mother has decided not to do a service until the summer when all the family will be in their town. I don't quite know what to do with myself without marking this important transition. He was a sweet and kind man.
*susan*
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Oh Susan, I am so sorry for your loss. I hope you have many happy memories of your dad.
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Susan: So sorry about your Dad. The anniversary of my Dad's passing is Monday and I'm already planning to hibernate w/comfort stuff.
Lacey: So you have the definitive white chili recipe now? Will you share after you recover from the contest?
And Debbie - you are in our thoughts every day.
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Laurie, that is so sad that DS1 is in such pain. So hard to see him like that for sure. I hope his virus passes pronto and that DS2 escapes it!! Your Cordon Bleu sounded good. I have never made it.
We were really snowed in today, so I just spent time in the kitchen (for variety;). Since I knew we wouldn't want to go out for dinner in this mess (about 18 inches) and DH was busy outside killing himself with the snow blowing and shoveling, I figured that I'd have a hearty soup ready when he walked back into the house. I made a soup that I named Snow Soup in honor of the day (or I should say, two days ). It is not a white soup....guess I'll rename it Snowday Soup
. For a throw together, it was really yummy and nutritious.
Snowday Soup
1 very large spanish or sweet onion medium diced
3 cloves garlic minced
1 carrot diced
1 red pepper diced medium
1 small zucchini (outer part only, not center seed part), diced medium
Sautee those in 2 TBS olive oil for 15 mins or so
Add chicken broth or stock (one carton, 32 oz)
Bring to boil, and
Add 5 leaves of stripped, chopped kale
Add 2 cups of poached chicken cut in 1/2 inch cubes
Add 2 cans of drained, rinsed cannellini beans
Add one can (15oz) diced tomatoes
Add 3 Tablespoons tomato paste
(I also add a cup of water mixed with a tablespoon of Better Than Bouillon)
Reduce to a simmer for at least a half hour
Add 2 tablesoons basil pesto (just cause I had it in my fridge... gave it a great taste)
Add any other spices you desire....I added some oregano and some hot pepper flakes
Add 1/2 cup of orzo during last half hour of cooking (I actually brought it to a boil again for adding the pasta....I am a random cook!)
Topped it with fresh grated parmesan at the table. Very yummy and hearty for snow blowing hardworkers! DH was quite happy.
Tazzy, always nice to see you post here.....
Tomorrow AM I head to the chili cook off. DH asked me if I used a lot of salt since restaurant folks use that for good flavor. Oh well.....0 -
Oh dear....Susan, our posts crossed. I am so very sorry to learn of the death of your Dad. Yes, it is hard not to have a ritual to celebrate his life and mark this difficult time. I am sure you will find a personal one that will be meaningful for you until his memorial. ((((((Hugs)))))
I will get to posting the chicken chili recipe later.
Minus, I am also marking the anniversaries of both my parents' deaths this weekend....tho many years apart. Then last year we had to put our little Lacey dog down on the anniversary of my Dad's death....so, March is definitely a time for comfort food in this house, too.
Nite, all......0 -
Laurie - Michelle - everyone else. Didn't mean to ignore anyone. I'm challenged by going back more than one post. Wishing everyone a great weekend. I'm going to Coldwater Creek for a 35% off deal. Then hopefully going to fix my toilet since the tank is off and sitting in the middle of the floor. Thinking of those who are in the storms. Our weather in Houston is more like Carole's in LA.
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Susan - so very sorry to hear about your dad. I hope you find some comfort in your fond memories.
Lacey - good luck with the chili contest!
The grandkids all have a music recital this afternoon - should be very cute!
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Susan I am sorry for your loss. I'm glad that his passing was peaceful and that he was with your Mom. I think that he must have been very proud of you.
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Susan I am so sorry about your Dad. I am glad his passing was peaceful.
Lacey- Good luck with your chili cook off!
Michelle- Enjoy the musical concert this afternoon, it should be a lot of fun to watch!
DS slept for 17 hours and seems to be doing better today, not as much pain. Thank goodness!
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A great day for a grandkids' recital. Which instruments will they be playing? Enjoy, Michelle!
Brings me back to the many years of piano recitals we attended. Fortunately neither of my boys were ever nervous about playing in them...I think that their lovely Suzuki teacher made performing such a natural thing that everyone enjoyed it. DS1 was a natural at playing the most challenging Mozart pieces, mainly by ear since that is how they first learn with the Suzuki method. The downside to that is that he never became a stellar note reader....but those fine motor skills have certainly served him well as a hand surgeon. I always harbor the hope that he will some day again take up the piano, since he was so much more accomplished than his mother who never got past Fur Elise!
So, there is no chili pot trophy in this house......
Interesting chili cook off facts:
Out of about a dozen participants, there was one woman cook, one person who made a chicken chili, and one woman breast cancer survivor. She did not win! But I sure did learn that when you cook for male judges who sell hot sauce and barbecue foods for a living, you really need to ramp up the heat!! The kid ( I think he as about 19 years old) who won made a basic beef chili that was so hot (and I like spices) that I was scrambling for bread to calm my mouth down, after tasting just a little bit of it. The cook off was fun though, and I ran into my neighbor's daughter, learning that my neighbor is returning from her regular Haitian humanitarian trip tonight. Since they love my chili, I am sending it over to them so my neighbor doesn't have to feed her family upon her return. So all is good! And now I know a bit about how to participate in any future chili contests ....make nothing as healthy as chicken, and burn the judges brains out! We will still eat medium heat chicken chili in this house.
Off to make a tiramisu trifle to bring to a friend's house for dessert tonight.
Laurie, I'm glad to hear that DS1 is on the mend!
The sun on the snow today is just spectacular here!! Enjoy the day everyone.0 -
Chili for us tonight too. It's the only thing I had all the ingredients for on hand. I need to sit down and take stock of the pantry to plan subsequent dinners. It's pretty bare. I have a couple of new recipes to try, one of which is an Ethiopian soup. I also need to make some pappardelle and English muffins.
The sourdough starter lives and didn't seem to miss me one bit!
Have a great weekend all and don't forget to spring forward ;-)0 -
Lacey, I think the judges were incompetent and you should have won. So there. What a kind person you are to give your delicious chili to a neighbor. I'm looking forward to the recipe.
Susan, I empathize with your loss. My dad died almost 18 yrs. ago and we still miss him.
Laurie, thank heaven your son is better.
I went to a car wash place to have my car washed this afternoon. While I was waiting I looked through a cookbook that was on sale and ended up buying it. Now I'll read it cover to cover like some people read a novel!
My birthday dinner last night was good. A cup of oyster and spinach soup with a creamy base. Blue cheese dressing on my salad of mixed salad greens. Entre of crab cakes with a side of green beans. Drawn butter with the crab cakes. I could have chosen baked white potato or baked sweet potato as the side. No dessert. 3 glasses of chardonnay. Good company with two other couples. A most enjoyable evening.
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Lacey - the 5 year old DGD played Ode to Joy on the piano, the 7 year old DGS played My Country Tis of Thee on the guitar and the 9 year old DGS played an original drum solo. They were all so darn cute! Then I lost a dizzy nausea battle as I got to the car and I'm now home in my chair trying to settle things down. Ick.
Laurie - glad your DS is recovering.
Carole - glad you enjoyed your amazing birthday dinner!
Yes, everyone - spring forward and check your smoke detector batteries.
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I'm finally getting a chance to post.....I've been reading, but haven't had time to post. Things are finally settling down again a bit.
The salmon recipe is from the winter edition of Eating Light on page 37. It's also at
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipefinder/tarragon-citrus-salmon-recipe-ghk0511
The link may not be clickable...or may be split across lines....so you may need to type it in by hand. The next time I try it, I'll add a bit more lemon juice.
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Carol three glasses of Chardonnay?!
Oh, Boomers have always been wild, paved the way and done whatever they wanted to! You wild and crazy birthday girl.
Your dinner sounds delish
For dinner..... Nothing! Except bread and butter. Waiting for Peapod in the am
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Belated
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belated0 -
*susan*
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Love the variety in that delightful sounding recital....and hope you have regained your steady self, Michelle!
Carole, your birthday dinner sounds wonderful. Makes me want to get down to that neck of the woods to have some local eats. Glad you had such a great time!
Eric, nice for you to be able to slow down a bit....why do I think you will stepping it up in the kitchen?! Enjoy!0 -
Susan, I am so sorry to hear about your dad. Sending you hugs.
Laurie, thank goodness your son is better and he slept for 17 hours! Did you sleep too? Or did you use the opportunity to catch up on chores? And we didn't say you could be a nurse -- we said you could be a doctor! Start studying, we will all come to your graduation ceremony and then take you somewhere posh afterward and we will all get smashed
Carole, I am jealous of your car wash!!!
Your birthday dinner sounds wonderful. I'm going to go to a car wash tomorrow, just because of your post. Hard to find one here in which they do the inside -- in this warm weather place everyone is expected to wash her own car! 
Carberry, I know it is a pain, but I think your daughter sounds sweet. Let her boss you around a little bit! She obviously loves you.
Bedo, I did notice that Moonflower called me Bono, but I did not mind, because Bono is such an excellent role model. How was your presentation? Am I reading it wrong, or is your daughter just extremely polite and solicitous right now? I'm afraid she sounds sweet as well
I've got to be the bad sister. I'm working so hard on it. I just put subtle blue streaks in my hair (at hairdresser's) They washed out right away but my rebellious bad-sister spirit remains!
Dinner: roasted beet, 1/2 avocado, protein shake.
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Thank you Eric!
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Eric - the link was clickable - recipe looks good but DH doesn't eat salmon at all.
DH is cooking bacon and some sort of French Toast for breakfast. I think he actually researched a recipe, base on his description of "crispy" French toast that uses a little flour in the batter. This should be interesting!
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Wow Michelle, Rick's becoming quite the cook!
Carole, your birthday dinner sounds lovely. Except for the no dessert part ;-)
Tonights dinner is an Amish roast. Don't know what makes it Amish. It cooks in a Dutch oven in the oven for 5 hours.0 -
Michelle, the recital sounds adorable. I do so approve of children being taught to play musical instruments. I longed to play the piano when I was in elementary school and did take a few lessons from a woman who came to the school. But we didn't have a piano at home. Couldn't afford one and no room for one in our small house full of children. Sorry about the nausea attack. I love hearing about your dh's adventures in the kitchen! He seems so sweet and supportive.
My friend Julie has put herself on the Aztec diet, which I had not heard about since I don't watch Dr. Oz. It sounds quite healthy and quite vegan for the first couple of weeks when the diet consists of smoothies made out of veggies, fruits, berries, and the chia grain. The latter supplies the protein. Julie is dropping a lb a day, which is a lot of weight loss, but the caloric intake is quite small. After those first 2 weeks, you start introducing regular food.
Bedo, my dinner last night was the same as yours. Nothing. I had a roast beef poboy from Bear's, a local hole-in-the-wall popular eatery, for lunch and an orange about 5 pm. We went to a wonderful choral concert that ended at 9 pm.
Today we're having a family get-together at my mother's house to celebrate my birthday. The noon dinner will be pork roast, mashed potatoes made with cream cheese, and a green salad that will be massive since my brother Gary is bringing it. DH just went to pick up the cake which is Death by Chocolate. There will also be ice cream. My niece's three kids, 9, 7 and 3, will be there and my mother's house is the same house that was too small for a piano. So it will be crowded and noisy and fun.
Hope everyone has a great Sunday!
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Bobo you wild and crazy sister. I think my job would fire me if I put blue streaks in. I look like an innocent upstanding member of society (which I am at work, hehe)
The little dog who my daughter named Jezebelle for some reason has removed the eye from my stuffed polar bear, and the sqeeky thing from the inside of the cat toy. I just took my heating bill away from her, she was tearing it up. We will have to go to the dog park. Have been home all weekend due to cold.
The presentation went fine, it was by conference phone, the hard part was praying that 2 cats 2 dogs and dd didn't make noise. DD had her computer on and it started "talking" I kept shooting her wicked eyes. Yes she is a good girl. Maybe she is thinking she will miss me when I make my imaginary escape to Ecuador. Just like my imaginary escape to Barrow, AK to live in the Inuit culture
Peopod just delivered. Going to make some lentle soup with onions, garlic, canned tomatoes and whatever else I can throw in there, then mason jar salads for M-W (I'm taking more time off as my collegue quit and will leave end of month.)
I will get to play at a free Cajun Fiddle workshop with David Greely, fiddler from Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys with a bunch of other fiddlers this week. Fun!
Now to make the soup
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Carole I am so glad that your birthday dinner today will fianlly have some cake! Your dinner last night sounds delish but for a birthday...there must be cake!
Michelle I think you have your own personal band within the family. So sorry on the sickness afterwards.....are any of the nausea meds effective for you?
Yeah Bedo..how did that presentation go?
Lacey I love hearing the stories of your chili cookoff and of your impressive family. I learned to play the clarinet by ear also as a child and when I moved to a new high school the music teacher would get so frustrated with me because I could not read notes Actually I could read them to play them but had no clue if I was play a b an a or whatever. I quit the band and turned to twirling a baton....they had cuter uniforms ha ha
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Went fine Carrie, I sounded like a pompous boring old $$&% to myself. lol
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Michelle, I'm glad you're getting some energy back. I'm sure it lifts your's and DH's spirits equally. :-)
Susan, my condolences to you and your family. I'm sitting here remembering 1983. The last month, when Mickey was in hospice, she kept making me promise that I'd "keep on keeping on". I'm still amazed (and humbled) that with what was going on, she spent so much energy worrying about me. I'm sure your dad would be the same and want the same for/from you.
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Carrie - my SIL plays bass guitar, drums, saxophone and a few others. His brother plays guitar, mandolin and violin. My daughter has a great voice. I see all kinds of potential, especially considering how young the kids are. It's going to be fun to watch if the kids stay interested.
It's a random thing for the anti-nausea meds. I've got them all...zofran, compazine, scop patch, decadron, ativan, emend. I'm trying to spread them around, and not take every dose of every kind. My best days are treatment day and the two days after, which I attribute to the emend. If I would take more decadron it might solve the problem. But it raises my blood sugar so much that I'm trying to hold it to 2 mg twice a day. Honestly, if I get up a little too quickly, that's a quick trigger. And I have a gag reflex that defies description. Sorry if this is TMI.
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Carberry, please post a picture of you in your baton-twirling outfit immediately.
LuvRV, poor baby! I am so sorry for your nausea. It sounds like your sweet husband is making French toast because he knows you love it
Bedo, did you know I play the violin as well? Of course you do -- we were probably playing together our whole lives and driving our mother crazy. So happy about more naughty puppy stories! They make me indescribably happy.
Carole, your dinner sounds fantastic, as usual. I feel like I am living inside of an episode of Dynasty when I read about your dinners. And -- you look beautiful in your picture! DLLP washed the car inside and out today -- she was the car wash.
Bedo, do you know the Sade song about Jezebel?
Jezebel wasn't born
with a silver spoon in her mouth
she probably has
less than every one of us,
But when she knew
how to walk
she knew how to bring the house down
Can't blame her for her beauty,
She wins with her hands down ...
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Belated