So...whats for dinner?
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Kielbasa
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Just got back from NC and it is Freezing here!!! Took my sister and BIL to visit with my SIL who is still staying in our home till she closes on a house. Thought she could use some family company, since I know the first Christmas after losing your husband is going to be a rough one for her. She did a lot of crying while we were there, but really appreciated our company and help with the purchase of a home. So much to figure out when buying a home...a lot of work. But we did a lot of sightseeing and a LOT of eating....my favorite being a crab stuffed portabella mushroom...ohhh yum.
the town of New Bern was having their Christmas activities and the whole town was out and about. Cracked me up..as they make snow with a machine and spray it into the air.....I could have brought them a truckload from NY.
Now trying to play catch up to get ready for Christmas. I love all the pics of your trees. I,too, will get out my "Charlie brown" tree and call it a day. They are actually "in" in the design world right now...kinda rustic..industrial.
As for cooking, lots of soups. For some strange reason my stomach has been way off for probably a month now. I have good days, then Ill get the nausea and diarrhea for a few days...cant seem to find a common denominator, but me and the immodium are getting to be really good friends.
Maybe some cookie making this weekend
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Sitting around right now in long johns and a T-shirt under heavy sweatpants and a fleece hoodie, plus shearling booties (the boiled-wool slippers leave my ankles exposed). Due to some un-caulked cracks in the front room drywall, it’s a good 10 degrees colder down here than upstairs. At least my boiler is still working (the radiators are warm) and I can’t see my breath. It’s a balmy 9 degrees (going down to 0 again), with snow from rush hour tomorrow through Sunday night. So much for going Christmas shopping. Bob had a focus group downtown and wanted me to go to lunch with him, but no way was I going to get up early or Uber it down there and drive us both home in his low-slung (compared to my Outback) Fusion. Most schools (except CPSs) were closed today. So it’s not a day for going out shopping, even if confined to one indoor mall like 900 N. Mich. or Water Tower Place. There really isn’t anything I need for Christmas—have more jewelry than I can wear and electronics, appliances & cookware than I can use, don’t believe in wearing fur, and really have no need for the wine fridge that’s my reward for winning an election bet—what’s the point if I have to cut so far back on alcohol? Can’t ride a bike or skate (never was able to learn) or downhill ski—and I’m too heavy for X-C skiing (the Bunion From Hell is keeping my ski boots from making me scream in pain). I do most of my reading now via the Kindle app, so all those books I get go unread (because I’d already downloaded them). I’m more into experiences than stuff now—and there really isn’t anything I can't buy online rather than in person.
Might defrost a steak—or see if Bob’s bringing home leftovers. Or maybe order out for Indian food.
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Sandy, we're heading for the deep freeze too. It's 15 here and heading to singles tonight and below zeroes for the weekend. Brrrr!
I know what you mean about presents. My relatives and friends with whom we exchange gifts, have all agreed that we're now in the consumable years and all presents should be eaten or drunk. In fact, my niece just sent us a gift basket that contained two bottles of wine and some nice Belgian chocolate and assorted nuts. Nice, I like it. She sent one last year that had some outstanding Norwegian smoked salmon in it (and wine and chocolate.)
Dinner tonight was some mahI mahi that I picked up at Fresh Thyme today, along with some scalloped potatoes and steamed broccoli. I really haven't been eating enough green stuff lately. I really wish I liked kale.
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Carrie - good to see you. Oh yum - portabella mushrooms stuffed with crab!!!
Lunch was at the Capital Grille w/my ex-DH and his wife. Presents were exchanged. I had an extremely tender filet & haricot verts with Boston Clam Chowder to start. His wife wanted dessert & I felt forced to join her because she was upset that no one else was interested. So - a cheesecake mousse with mixed berries on the side with a delicious raspberry sauce. No dinner tonight. Just a leftover hard roll from lunch.
I agree at our age it's nice to get presents that can be eaten or drunk - but I still always like to receive books - or gift cards for books. I have a kindle but read real books most of the time.
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For those of you who remember SlowDeepBreaths, she passed away this week. She was a lovely lady who welcomed everyone and made all feel at home.
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Minus, so sorry to hear the news about Slowdeepbreaths---don't remember her but I just hate to hear when someone passes, especially near a holiday. It's a struggle for many as the holidays draw near..
Central IL is heading in to the cold as well---freezing rain/sleet tomorrow then snow on to p of it...kind of puts the end to my plans for the weekend. I did get a call from the PCP nurse today and another dr. worked me in at noon. He was pretty useless--he had my carefully composed emal to my PCP about my illness and what I had done to treat it, then I went thru the litany of my illness---sore throat, fever, sinus pain/congestion, cough t h at won't quit with post nasal drainage...chest pain.... He started out by discussing steam cleaning my carpets and running the humidifier and checking my basement for mold...... I pointed out that this is not a year round condition, that I usually have a upper respiratory episode sometime between November nd Feb every year. and that I ran a fever....that I have no carpets in my home and run a humidifier as I have been treated in my 20's for allergies....He gave me cough syrup with codeine, another round of steroid s ( this time a taper down dose pack) told me to steam my face before I went to bed and to try turmeric in hot water. Or warm milk. I asked him how that tasted and he said horrible..... Also eucalyptus oil ......Call him in a week to let him know how I am doing...... Will not accept another appointment with him....
See the onc tomorrow to discuss my every other day Arimidex and I have to say, I am not hurting and feeling pretty good, just worried maybe it isn't protecting me--although he says with the half life of the drug, not to worry.........
Picked up 1/2 dozen donuts while I waited for the scripts to be filled, I have two left......AGHH but they were so good..
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Redhead - love your tree. Maybe the MO will have some better ideas about your upper respiratory illness. Sounds like he couldn't do any worse.
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Beautiful tree, Red! Get a bottle of Kneips eucalyptus bath oil (or even a dollop of Vapo-Rub or Noxzema), close the bathtub drain, apply the stuff to the bottom of the tub, shut the bathroom door behind you and run the shower on screamingly hot & full-blast while you sit on the toilet or vanity bench. Feels & smells just like the aromatic “inhalation room” schvitz at the health club but without the membership dues (and weight-shaming from the other women in the schvitz).
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Awww, pretty Red! I don't blame you for being frustrated about the doc visit. Sounds like he wasn't listening for sure.
Woke up to snow falling (again.) This wasn't supposed to happen until tomorrow. Weatherman job, what a gig.
Minus, I love Amazon gift cards too. I never feel so rich as when I have credit to spend at the kindle store.
Cookie dough making going on today. I'll bake tomorrow and Sunday. The high Sunday is single digit, a good day to keep the oven going. I also told dh I'd make calzones for dinner, so I'll make that dough too. My old but faithful cuisinart was among those with a recalled blade so I'm handicapped. When I looked at mine, it did indeed have cracks in the blade. It's nearly 20 years old, I'm amazed I never noticed it before. I ordered the new blade replacement, but who knows how long that will take. I just read that this is the biggest appliance recall in history. Not sure if that's history of the world or just cuisinart's.
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We're making up for the scorching summers....62F degrees outside right now and with light rain.
Oops..fire drill....
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Freezing is the word of the day in CT too. The wind last night was almost surreal!
Tonight is cheesy chicken divan. I found broccoli on sale and have some nice chicken breasts in the freezer. This is one casserole I have to stop myself from eating too much of. I usually make rice or bow tie noodles to ladle it over. I use a nice sharp cheddar for the cheese sauce. It is simply divan....er, divine. LOL
Edit...oh, and I have been a baking fool for Xmas cookies. Many, many, many dozen! Here is batch one...of a zillion! LOL
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Nance it is spitting snowflakes here as well--not supposed to anything but sleet and freezing rain until this evening. Shot in to visit Dad briefly since I had worn slick shoes that i could slip off easily to weigh at the Onc's office.....and of course I had to park quite a ways from nursing home door. So scared of a second fall. He had a received a gift bag in the dining room where they play bingo--it had three handkerchiefs, a pair of socks, a little framed picture of the cross and a book about chicken soup of the cat lover's soul. Someone had visited his room and knew that he reads his bible and devotional every day and that he has a framed picture of his much loved (deceased) cat---- I got there in time to help him in the bathroom, and help him shave. He said he was feeling ok, but st ill coughing.
I think I told you all that my Onc had put me on my AI every other day because of the side effects, well I feel fabulous, and told him I wondered if I should go back every day and he said, no but lets do a month where you just skip Monday and Friday and see how you do on two missed doses--and then if that is still good, we will try one skipped dose--and if not--we will be ok with what we know we can do. I just love this doctor. He is also ordering a blood test to humor me about my estradiol. He explained that it can fluctuate through out the day just like your blood pressure does, so it isn't reliable and there isn't a hard and fast number where I would get and stay.....Then he said, we will repeat it again next month when I see him to humor him.....I know he is expecting there to be a big variance in the numbers.....Gosh I would like to prove him wrong.......and see them even lower than todays because I increased the dose......SMILE.
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Hugs Red. It is so hard to watch our parents as they age and near the final years of their lives unless they are really healthy. My dad had dementia and when he passed last year, he seemed so happy that he was going to be with my Mom. That is all he wanted near the end.
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Our high today is 3. At least it is on the plus side.
Tomorrow may not get to 0. Lots of Christmas baking planned.
Right now I'm thinking about dinner for tonight: Stir fry! One of the best ways I know to take tons of veggies, throw in a few shrimp, bunches of chilies/ginger/garlic/fresh herbs and have a scrumptious plate of food.
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Welcome MTwoman. It looks like you just had a long time 'cancerversary' from your stats. Hope it's still holding true. Where are you located with a high of 3?
April - I WANT those cookies. I used to love to bake cookies, but it's really dangerous with only me to eat them so I seldom do.
Red - so glad you have such a good relationship with your MO. I just hate that my original MO retired just as I finished treatment.
Eric - Yup. Yesterday was 46 and today is 70.
I have 1/2 a bottle of Rao's Marinara simmering on the stove, but I've given it an attitude adjustment. I sauteed onions & garlic, added more oregano, & added a ton of mushrooms. Eventually I'll add all the 'small' pieces from a rotisserie chicken I bought yesterday. Hmmmm, shall I serve it on rice or pasta? I'll freeze the two breasts and have the rest for a chicken sandwich tomorrow.
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Redhead..its all about quality of life, so glad you have an onc that listens to you and helps you find a good compromise. My Dad and I have the same onc and we feel that he also listens My Dad is on an oral med for his lung cancer and was realy struggling to the point of being housebound from the big D. At 84 years old, whats the point? So the doc said that he would put my Dad in charge of his med and he could adjust it according to how he feels...he pretty much does a week on and then a week off and that works for him.
Homemade pizza night tonight. Braved the cold today at 6am with unplowed roads and little visibility, had to follow the tracks of the person that went ahead of me....geesh I am so over this stuff. So tonight we stay home, warm and cozy, with pizza and tv
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Hi MinusTwo, Isn't that funny, I hadn't really put 2 and 2 together (sudden recent interest again in CA and cancerversary). So far so good for me. I do have an annual coming up - I went down to annuals after a couple of years - which also may be giving me the 'wiggins'. I go for long periods of time sort of not really even thinking about it anymore (CA) and then it can just sneak up on me.
I am in Bozeman, Montana. Winters can be long, but playing in the snow makes it fun (not when it is this cold and windy though).
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I like your plan for tonight Carrie! Especially after your intrepid drive this morning. This cold is brutal and we will be getting the snow you already have tonight and tomorrow.
April...delish looking cookies. I am making the last of my pizzelle tonight....trying new flavors since I already have anise. Lemon/ginger, as well as, orange/cardamon are the flavors I am experimenting with.
Had lunch at a local golf club tavern which overlooks the city (built on a landfill/dump!) with our local friends who we know from the lake neighborhood up north. It was a pretty good basic spot for lunch. DH had a cod sandwich with fries, I had a blt club with a kale slaw which was really good (says the kale fan!). I just finished the second half for faux dinner.
Tomorrow night, if weather cooperates, we will be spending the dinner time at a friends party, gnashing away on their good finger food.
Red, and Carrie, it's encouraging to hear about MO's being more flexible with oral chemo regimens for patients who are finding the side effects life quality altering. I so value my MO who is just really reasonable about such things. Unfortunately, as I have probably mentioned before, she has moved from my local hospital to Dana Farber. So I will trek into town to see her since I value the relationship and her work style. With good luck I will only need to see her rarely!
Carrie, I'm wondering if the oral meds your dad is on might be the same as the one my DDIL's dad is taking for his lung cancer. He had several rounds of chemo and now this oral meds....seems to be slowing things down, but he looks very tired to me.
He has always been a ball of energy. Hope your dad does well with his new regimen0 -
Back is getting a bit better—as long as I get up and walk around every 1/2 hr. or so. Think I'll go back to just bedtime Flexeril. Our little black princess kitty Heidi had her kidney stone surgery this morning. Gordy just brought her home, and she was very confused at first, just walking in circles. She has a cone collar to keep her from licking her sutures, and we're not sure how her little face can get to the food dish & water bowl. She has to have her own litterbox, so we moved one and food and water dishes into the first floor bathroom. She's not supposed to climb stairs, but within 10 minutes of exiting her carrier she dashed upstairs to Bob's & my bedroom. We found this out when Happy (our orange patch-tabby "puppycat") stood at the bedroom entrance when Heidi dashed across his path (he fled in terror). Gordy immediately closed the French door so Heidi wouldn't escape and Happy couldn't challenge her to some roughhousing. He came back with her litter box & dishes to put in his bedroom and coax her into it (where she sometimes likes to sleep)…and found the master bedroom door (at least the one not anchored to the door) locked….from the outside. Had to tighten the doorknob and after the fifth try, the latch finally sprung open. Heidi's still hiding beneath the bed. Poor little thing. Gonna be an interesting weekend. We're about $2K poorer right now, but a furbaby is a furbaby.
I treated myself today to something yummy—with few calories, no salt, sugar or measurable carbs, no fat, no alcohol and no carcinogens….a black Perigord truffle! (GourmetFoodStore.com has them on sale, still expensive but not as much as usual). I know that i'll have to use it all up with five days or so (when day 5 arrives, I'll make and freeze some truffle butter before heading out to NY). Slow-scrambled some eggs this morning and then shaved a bit of truffle over them. Oh, my. I'd wanted to order one from Tennessee Truffle, a truffle farm near Knoxville (yes, under the right circumstances they can be cultivated—spores scattered immediately around oak trees and worked into the soil will eventually yield tubers within 5-10 years). Many black truffles used in U.S. restaurants come from that farm. I phoned, and alas, the owner informed me that the oak trees fell victim to a blight and that he's going to have to start all over again from scratch. He notified a friend of his in Idaho who cultivates white Alba truffles, which are in season a bit later in the year.
So for tonight I'm thinking steak, Brussels sprouts, and truffled cauliflower mash. Sadly, been carbing all day. (Pre-hibernation behavior hardwired into our DNA).
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Dinner is ham slice with a baked sweet potato. Wish it was the stir fry or the Rao's concoction talked about above.
By Saturday night, our wind chills will be below zero and single digits on Sunday.
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Lacey - my adored MO retired & moved to NYC. He was a doctor to the whole person - not just some oncology side effect. I could still go see him, but it would only be for a Broadway show or a gourmet dinner. He became that much of a friend.
Funny about docs we like. I live a LONG way from the medical center but I keep running into my retired OB/Gyn. One night she and her husband were eating at one of my favorite restaurants downtown. Last weekend it was at a Bach Society concert. Someone kept calling my name and I was sure I didn't know anyone there. We had a great visit, but not long enough to trade book recommends as we used to do. Turns out she recently joined the board of the Bach Society so I'll look for her in the future.
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I lied---dinner was a Stouffer's escalloped chicken TV dinner and piece of chocolate cake from the place I had lunch at ---The freezing rain is here in Central IL. People are sliding around everywhere. It took someone 2 hours to go from Bloomington to Carlock on Interstate 74....a trip that takes about 20 minutes maximum//// I was going to take out some stuff to my outside recycle bin and decided against it when I saw the glaze on my back sidewalk.
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Nasty out there, I know. We have gotten only snow thus far (2”, half of that enhanced by “lake effect”) but the forecasters were warning all day about “wintry mix” or freezing rain for areas s. of I-80. You’re certainly way s. of I-80, of course. Tonight’s snow is over, but round 2 starts in the morning and is expected to continue through midnight. We’ll have reached a high of 21, but then the temp will drop so fast that they’re predicting “flash freezing:” mostly black ice from melted snow. Our snow guy came by tonight and shoveled enough to make our sidewalk “legal” and clear the deck so melt water doesn’t puddle & freeze (the idiots who installed it didn’t allow enough clearance between the planks for water to drain—we’re thinking of having some holes drilled in it). He’ll be back after the last snow ends.
Took the path of least resistance—last night, Bob brought home some rigatoni (half his dinner portion is more than a full one from me) with sausage, peppers & chicken. Filled a small paper plate to the rim and nuked it. I feel satisfied—had I used a normal plate I’d have perceived I was the victim of portion control. Had an oz. of Fiddlehead Cellars Old Vine Zin—I’d Coravin’ed it three months ago and it’s as fresh as the day I had the first glass. Dessert will probably be a Krispy Kreme mini-cruller and a decaf cappuccino—or perhaps an almond-milk eggnog latte. (That stuff has only a little sugar and it froths up nicely). Somehow, hitting the freezer for gelato or limoncello just doesn’t float my boat tonight.
Bob just walked in, reporting the roads from Oak Lawn weren’t too bad tonight.
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Took out chicken for tonight. Don't have a clue what I am making with it yet.
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The kid I stayed with in Hawaii is supposed to get here today for a wedding. His choice to meet was lunch today or Monday - so who knows when or what or even if we'll eat.
This evening I'm going to have cocktails & appetizers with two women I used to work with. (every once in a while I remember what English teachers are supposed to say - 'with whom I used to work'.) We're only allowed to bring one "treat". The hostess doesn't like to "make do" with appetizers, only regular meals, but the other lady & I like to have appetizers for dinner. I was going to make Hawaiian Bread Sliders but since I don't know if I'll be gone all afternoon I'm going to do frozen 'heat & serve' Crazy Cuizine Mandarin Orange Chicken from Costo. I think it's delicious.
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Minus, I saw that at Costco when I was there. DH is an orange chicken fanatic. I'll have to try it for one of those Too Lazy/Busy/Tired to Cook nights.
Nothing but ice here today. Yuck. I'm not going out till next week. Hate the stuff.
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Minus, I always wince when I end a sentence with a preposition, yet read recently (wish I''d saved the article) that we are grammatically moving away from such rigid rules for the sake of easier, less formal expression. As hard as it is to follow the grammar rules we learned in casual writing, it is equally difficult to skip them!
Red....glad you opted not to "try out" the ice!
I never finished my pizzelle making last evening, so off to do that now. Need to have a large tray ready for a friend's party tonight. Hope it is still on.....we are in the midst of a very messy snowstorm.
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Major cookie baking going on here too. I'm sitting next to a large tray of cooling crispy oatmeal cookies. The warm caramel smell is tantalizing. Give me strength! 💪 💪
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