So...whats for dinner?

Lacey, I am positively drooling! What a lovely food excursion, and what a wonderful thing to share with a friend who also loves food. Your DH is a mensch. Totally. I continue to admire him. And you! Doing your walks on the beach, earning your glorious dinners. The weather, until yesterday, has been my definition of perfect. Sounds like the Vineyard was just as good.

A mojito is one of those drinks that could land you on your butt without noticing. First you muddle some lime and mint, then add a bit of simple syrup and lime juice, muddling a bit more before adding light rum and club soda. Shake and pour over ice. And repeat.

Happy Birthday SpecialKid! I never warmed up to Dr. Pepper. Made me the recipient of many jokes when we lived in Texas.

*susan*

I had a wonderful summer making mojitos here one year. I keep a big pot of mint but never seem to make them much anymore. Frankly don't drink much at all anyway. Susan - I put tonic water in my mojitos. Don't know what started me on that but I do love them that way and a touch of Rose's lime juice.

I made a casserole of cube steaks (browned), potatoes, onions and a lovely gravy of cream of chicken soup, milk and pan drippings. Highly not diet food. But we are finishing it tonight. I do so love not having to cook every night. Not sure what we will have tomorrow. Maybe just snacks. I have a seedless watermelon I bought from a roadside stand. Need to get that cut up. A nice small one since just us two.

Eric - many recipes out there for Dr. Pepper cake and frosting. These appear to be some originals. There are a few leaflet type cookbooks out there too.

http://www.squidoo.com/DrPepperRecipes

I made the cake ages ago. Also Dr. P baked beans. Notice this collection has a recipe for pork loin. Hmmm - may have to try that since I have one frozen. My mom loved Dr. P, my GM not so much but I understand my great grand mother who I barely knew was one of those 10-2-4 women - when to drink Dr. P. But of course those were the teeny tiny bottles back then.

Could kick myself. Went into next town over yesterday. WalMart/Albertsons. Forgot to look for the frozen dumplings. Oh well, I think I will treat myself to "back to school" sales on Friday no sales tax weekend. The tax is not the draw but the prices.

Lacey - what a culinary adventure. I have to keep Google maps open to figure out where you have been. I flew into Boston years ago when I was working on an Army Corps of Eng. project grant for the Univ of Texas/Dallas. We sampled water and dredge dump sites for pesticides/heavy metals. They had been dredging somewhere in Narraganset Bay. We drove to Newport RI and stayed there 2 days going out on a cutter from Buzzards Bay. I was single then, but engaged. Went on to Long Island sound off of Norwalk CT on some dinky lobster boat on a cold Nov. day. I don't think he had a radio even. Boston was only a blur - in/out but I remember Newport was beautiful (1975).

I did get my exercise this morning. Don't know what year (not kidding) DH last edged the driveway. We got 60% done this morning. Had to haul off clumps of bermuda sod that had overgrown. Bend/stretch/lift/sweep - should be good for something, well at least something more than the Advil I had to take for it.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend. Our cool spell is fading along with our rain chances.

Ok Lacey, you definitely got my drool going! What a great time!

So Luv, no worries that your mint is not needed for mojitos anymore. There are so many wonderful ways to use mint....definitely Greek Salad, some soups, and if you google uses of mint you will enjoy many new ideas of what to do with it. I always dry it at the end of summer so I have plenty on hand.        

It's just as well that Boston was a blur to you in the 70's since it is so massively changed from that time. I intentionally landed here (from midwest college) for grad school in '67 and lordy, the city is massively changed....mostly in a good way. (I do worry about what has happened to the families in Southie, Somerville, parts of Dorchester, etc., who have been displaced for the yuppie element like DS2 and his peers). He is involved in a lot of the Boston development given where he lives (Southie....read, Good Will Hunting) and his work...managing real estate investments. Several of his accounts are in the Boston area, so he has educated us about what is happening here. Anyway, it is a lovely city...very different from Newport, tho, which is totally beautiful in a different way from "the bean", which the young'ins call it. Sounds  like you had an interesting job as a young adult!

Late this afternoon, DH (who was starving) and I made our way to Volante Farms to get red russian kale, so I can return to making smoothies tomorrow, then Traders to get avocados, burrata, and a variety of other things (thanks, Nance...I remembered the ginger cookies....yum), then to our local food store for some marinated chicken to grill (never usually buy such prepared things but it was late and DH's stomach was panicking). So after unloading, we grilled the chicken breasts (not bad), steamed the Volantes corn....and the one we got from Sudbury as a comparison....and I made two salads....a caprese using the burrata, and a green lettuce one with spring onions, and kalamata olives with Italian dressing and shaved parmesan. Dinner was good! DH is happy that food is back in the house.....;) And, yes, Susan, he is a mensch. His being on the island with friend and me is always a plus....for all of us. 

Tomorrow, back to my smoothies......

Yum - love fish filets.  Let us know how the crappie tastes.  I've not had it before (though hubby has a t-shirt that says "Don't worry - be crappie"    Obviously a fisherman joke...

I haven't been cooking a lot lately, instead we've been making freezer jam.  We've done two different takes on raspberry jam (one with herbs and horseradish - which was a little more weird than I like) and a few batches of boysenberry. 

This week I'm planning on canning dill relish and salsa.  Gotta check out the tomato and cuke availability.  In a normal year it would still be a bit early, but this year has been very hot and dry (for us), so I've a hunch that things are probably available now (all except for all the jars I need....)  When we moved I didn't want to store jars, so now have to repurchase..... 

So ladies, is crappie a white fish or like trout or what? I have never heard of it.....

Carole,  that is one of the more inventive fried items at a fair that I have heard of. Tho I have actually never had any of them but fried dough, but being of Italian background, I would be tempted to try at least a bite of that creation! How do people come up with these ideas??!! Maybe you should introduce an idea for frying your turkey balls!

Visited the farmer's market today and got some beets topped with beautiful greens, which I used in my smoothie. I have a lot more left, so need to figure out some other way to use them aside from sauteeing.

Tonight we will be grilling lamb burgers laced with rosemary powder, ground black pepper, and fresh minced garlic and served on rolls with butter lettuce (according to the farmer, the sweetest of their lettuces), red onion, sliced local tomato and feta cheese.  Local corn on the cob and a butter lettuce salad (redundancy at the table!) round out the plates.

Big news here (or maybe not, since we could be reading waaaaay too much into this) is that while DS2 was out visiting his DGF  he actually changed his Facebook profile pic to include both of them as a couple. In a few weekends, he is taking her to visit DS1, his wife and family (which includes a lot of her extended family), so we are thinking that things are progressing in a serious way. He seems really happy with her, so we would be happy for both of them if they are "the ones" for each other. The big question remains, of course, as to who relocates! Fingers crossed here.....

Garden.  I guess great minds think alike.  I just finished a batch of plum jelly....cooked and canned.....

Eric

Nance, glad to hear that you like crappie.  I'm sure I will like it, too.  I froze the pkg of filets.  Last night we had walleye filets that were also a gift from one of the fishermen here at Pine Hollow.  I cut them into pieces and cooked them the same way we cook catfish in LA.  Dipped in egg and then breaded with a fish fry breading I brought with me from LA.  Pan fried in small amt. of veg. oil.  DH made a tartar sauce of mayo, dill relish and horseradish.  Our one side was fresh green beans and small new red potatoes.  Everything was delish.

Tonight's meat will be a rib eye steak.  Will probably make a salad and boil some more of the new potatoes to eat with butter and sour cream.

Had an attack of vertigo last night. Got up to go to the bathroom and had to hold on to surfaces.  Still had some of the symptoms this morning but feel good now.  If you've never experienced vertigo, it is really weird. 

I was disappointed in the Dr. Pepper frosting - not enough flavor, so won't make that again.  It was not terrible, just not that exciting.  DD is a big Dr. Pepper fan, so I was looking forward to the cupcakes!  Sent DD back to the keys with cooked chicken breast, pulled pork (auntie - greats minds, right?), cole slaw, all kinds of goodies.  DH flew up to DC early this morning - that means I am left all alone with too many leftover cupcakes   I am considering pawning them off on the next door neighbor, because I surely don't need to eat them!!!

carole - sorry about the vertigo - I have known more than a few people who have had it - not fun!  Lol on the fish for beer trading!

susan - cousinpalooza!  Enjoy!

No motivation to cook tonight.  Dinner will be a sandwich and or salad.  Today I bought some parmesan garlic buns from the Bread Lady.  I'm thinking we'll use them for sandwich bread.  

Tomorrow I plan to try roasting a chicken in the convection oven.  It's a combination microwave/convection.  I'll also cook some rice with intentions of making Eric's chicken and rice salad, which I REALLY like. 

For lunch today (after biking 26 miles!) dh and I split a chicken salad sandwich with chips and then each of us had an ice cream sundae.  Mine was French Silk Pie ice cream with hot fudge!  Yum, yum, yum!  DH had moose tracks ice cream with hot fudge. 

Had lunch today with a friend I haven't seen in over 20 years near the Boston Aquarium. Lovely salad and two pizettes [silly word eh?] Brought home half of the little pizzas which were actually quite good. Tonight I wanted something lighter so made a leek and potato soup with the stock I made from the last grilled carcass. Perfect supper for the two of us.

Lacey, I am so pleased for DS2 that he has found a girl that makes him happy, but I share your concern that he might move to Chicago. At least Chicago has a great food scene. Quick plane ride and you could spend time with him. Not the same though, is it?

Friday more cousins arrive and this time I am making the whole meal. Husband has talked me out of one course. I suspect he is planning to talk me out of another too. These two are just about to move to the UK, so I do want this meal to be special. I hate that they will now be over an ocean.

*susan*

Susan that's a lot to plan for! Hope it all turns out perfectly. 

Lacey you have so many fun weekends. That's so cool. 

Minus, don't worry, no one keeps up with Carole! I'm a slug too. But, I just graduated to a cane so maybe soon! LOL plus I was told swimming is ok again!  Can't wait!

Carole I had the vertigo. No no no. It sucks! Bad when you lay down and still spin. There wasn't any reason for mine they said and it went away after about 2 weeks. Hope yours goes away and doesn't come back. 

Nance I like beets too. Do you bake them first? 

Specialk, too bad the Dr pepper icing was a bust. It's dissappointing when it doesn't taste as good as it should. 

Eric, what kind of plumbs? My grandmother had the little oval ones that looked like giant olives but purple. They were so good. I am almost always dissapointed with the plums I find at the store. Some seem so blah. 

Hope I didn't miss too many people. LOL

Much love. 

spent today canning.  Made some number (forgot to county) pints and 1/2 pints of dill relish and salsa.  tomorrow is a busy day with acupuncture, DEXA scan and lunch out with friends, but I'm going to attempt to finish my canning session afterwards by making and canning tomato sauce with the last of the tomatoes.  I got tired.

Didn't see the two buck chuck product description, but I tasted it once, and it was definitely a not to be repeated experience.  Yuck!!

Lacey - thanks for posting the TJ link.  I bought some of the wine when they first opened here but didn't care for it.  Looks like there's a good reason.