So...whats for dinner?

A football day sounds nice...I wish I liked football.....back to the law  sprinkler repair work....

Carrie, I think your DH's football watching will be more relaxing than my DH's Pat's game experience was last night. He came home around 1AM drenched and full of hilarious stories about how the grp of my DH2's  friends all decided to park at one of his other friend's houses not too far from Gilette Stadium....only problem was they had to walk in the dark thru a "short cut" in the woods to get there. It was not a very well trodden path, so they struggled in the rain  to get to the end over rocks, mud, tree branches hitting them in the face.... only to meet up with two sets of fences on the perimeter of the stadium property. Ha! They eventually found a hole cut in the first fence by some other "shortcut genius", and then made their way up huge mushy snow banks and over the second fence, and back down more snow piles, then on to the game, which they enjoyed in the rain. I had a good laugh about this adventure. Then they had to try to remember how to get back thru the woods to the friend's house. One of my DS2's favorite funny guys said....didn't anyone drop any crumbs?? Somehow they made it back..... And I imagine they felt less of the tree branches on their faces.;)

So Tuesday I am having a family over for a lunch who I hardly know. This is the DIL of my college friend and her three children under eight years. They are staying in Boston while one of them performs the child's part in the musical "Once".

I offered to have them over since it is going to be a crummy weather day and figured they might enjoy a home cooked meal in an acutal house since they have been living in hotels totally since September. It sounds like her kids are healthy eaters...only fish, no chicken or steak....so since they like salmon, I was thinking I'd make a sort of dinner/lunch with baked salmon, broccoli (which they like), winter squash, and maybe mac and cheese? Since I never make real mac and cheese, (used to make boxed versions for my kids...yuk), I could use some help with that. Am hoping it is easy.....And can I make it in advance....or partially so? I am not the  greatest early morning person these days, so would love to have just the minimal to do on Tuesday morning before they get here. Thanks for any ideas.

I'm just going to make oatmeal cookies for dessert. Then after we eat may take the kids to a play spot up the street to do some crafts....then back into town in time for her show. We already saw her perform in Providence...a very cute, talented kid....who is definitely loving being a part of a cast. 

Nance, eagle watching.....cool!

Lacey I watched that game.  I think I saw your rain soaked crew in the stands. Really couldn't believe how hard it rained

Today was fun eagle watching. Saw lots and lots. I tried to get pictures but the larger groups were on the other side of the river or in a tree I couldn't get close enough to.  There was also a large group of white pelicans that show up every year. Had lunch at a local Mexican joint, always good. Tonight was a simple cheese omelet and a bagel.

Good luck with the mac and cheese Lacey, I'm sure it will be good!

Last night on the spur of the moment I made several cherry handpies. If this baking frenzy keeps up, I'm going to have to check into the Betty Crocker clinic for rehab.

DD passed the driver license test.  She had to wait 1-1/2 hour to get her license printed because the computers quit working while she was out with the examiner.

It's about $1400 per year for her to be on the car/liability insurance.... !!!!!

and, Eric. We won't mention what happens when they have their first fender bender or in my family's case, first mailbox hit... LOL of course if they get a ticket for stupid stuff they pay the difference after it goes up again. Good luck. 

Finally got out of the house to buy yeast. I thought I had some but nope. So after my Livestrong program I will try my hand at bread making. 

Much love to all. 

I'll let you know about my ridiculous mac and cheese caper later tomorrow....if I see the little kids it is for, spitting it out, I'll know! If it is decent I'll ship the rest to the little boys next door....I could not in good conscience each that much fat while on my effort to lose more weight! But it may be tempting....:)

Meanwhile, cherry handpies!!???!! Be still my taste buds!!! I adore any kind of cherry pie, with or without eagle spottings. Yum! Love the pix.  I am getting a kick out of your baking spree, Nance, so I hope you don't have to check in.....;)

Yes Eric, be happy you don't have to pay the xy gene rate! I still laugh about the first (and only, tg!) fender bender DS2 had. He was driving to meet up with us at the Cape shortly after getting his license, and when he arrived told us he had just bumped the car of the woman who was stopping in front of him. As it turns out, she never felt the need to exchange papers since there wasn't much evidence of the hit....and she was driving a rental car, so didn't care. Swell...great role modeling for my son! It's always good to get that first bump out of the way. . DS1 is a very fast and precise driver, who to our knowledge never had a crash, tho he can be hair raising to ride with. Now that he zooms around in a Tesla, I am more nervous than when he was young and driving our old cars. We may get to see that this weekend since he is coming up for a Celtics game....I won't be asking to ride in that bat mobile!

I know what you mean Eric. I was thinking about her today when I came across a recipe calling for pomegranate molasses.

Debbie, so good to hear from you!! Love your long, textured note. I admire your stamina, given those significant breathing problems, to work hard in your lung rehab program. I also appreciate your remembering to post to us at all give what you have on your physical and emotional plates! You are a strong lady! ((((HUGS!))))

So our afternoon with the little "Once" performer and her younger sibs was so much fun! I went all out making the equivalent of a "Sunday dinner at Nana's" for them even tho it was Tuesday (they have been living in hotels since September!). They are a healthy eating crew (even the three year old), so I made baked salmon, winter squash, steamed broccoli, baby spinach salad with cranberries and walnuts, whole grain bread, and of course the much obsessed over, mac and cheese. I used the recipe Laurie posted, (thank you!:) which was easy to make, and the kids LOVED it! The eight year old girl (the performer) kept giving me compliments on it, and they all went for seconds and thirds.  Clearly this is a kid friendly mac and cheese! And DH ate lots of it too. I made two kinds of oatmeal cookies for dessert and it was a riot watching all of the kids negotiate with their mother for extra cookies.

After our big lunch/dinner, I offered the kids a few indoor activity choices, given that it was pouring rain out.They were dying to use my new old maid cards, and we played for as long as their sibling competitiveness could stand it! So funny....

Then they wanted to make puppets with fabric and materials I had left over from school activities I used to run. They were a riot....so creative, crafty and self-directed. Impressive! I didn't need to do a thing (except make sure my good sewing scissors didn't end up bathed in tacky glue;), and they had a ball. Before we knew it, it was time for DH to get them back into town so the performer could be ready for her 7:30 show. It was really weird to hear an eight year old lament, "Oh, I wish I didn't have to go to work tonight!" Definitely, an unusual life (tho filled with amazing experiences in so many cities) she and her sibs lead. Her six year old brother is already in an upcoming movie, and lord knows what the three year old girl will be doing given her current experiences. Fortunately they are really nice kids....and wow, how adaptable!

So off they went, and I was exhausted!!  Even skipped my daily exercise regimen. Carole, I have a new appreciation for your efforts with your Sunday  suppers at your mom's.

Tonight DH has a business dinner meeting, so I think I will make myself something like a crabmeat salad. Stopped at TJ's to get shrimp and they were all out, (!?) so bought a can of crab claw meat. I can use the rest to make a crab quiche (have whole milk leftover from yesterday), or a crab and pasta dish.

I think I'll get off here and get dinner together!

Wish I could be more helpful about the easy mac and cheese measurements....I pretty much winged it. I think you can get away with that. Laurie wuld know best.....

Eric the guard dog is what popped in my head! LOL.  

Debbie so good to hear from you. I can't imagine not being yo breathe that must be so hard for you. I am glad you are in rehab for that. 

Lacey, it sounds like you had a lot of fun with your visitors! What a wonderful experience for all. 

Laurie for winging it those recipes sound yummy! 

Much love to all. 

Debbie Good to hear from you...keep the faith and stay strong. Sounds like the therapy is a good thing? Sometimes just being with others that are having the same difficulties is a comfort and encouragement.

Lacey Glad the mac n cheese was a huge success. Sounds like a great day all around.  Keep your eye on those future "movie stars" !  What fun! I can still remember our Sunday dinners at Nana's house. She made the best chocolate frosting for her cakes, it was just like eating fudge on top of the cake.

Did a quick pasta with chicken, cherry tomatoes and spinach in a garlic wine sauce. Made a big pan and husband took the remainder for his lunch today. Tonight meatloaf, cause I got the meat out of freezer for burgers and found out I didn't have any ketchup...wth?  who runs out of ketchup? I swear there is a fridge thief in my house....I swear that I remember buying things and then cant find them. Wouldn't be my old Tamoxifen brain, would it?