So...whats for dinner?

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  • eric95us
    eric95us Posts: 3,347

    Sharon and I went kayaking tonight. A moonlight kayak with 26 other folks, including the park ranger leading the "flotilla".  So dinner tonight was a couple pieces of Halloween candy (we didn't have much left--probably 150 kids this time) and some store bought tamales.

    In the same vein as the "It's a major award" line and the leg lamp in the movie "A Christmas Story", my old Jeep truck was declared "Our Favorite FC Survivor" in JP magazine.

    Link
     

    You'll need to go down about 1/3 of the way down the page to get to the picture.  It has the "Our Favorite FC Survivor" headline.  

    DD calls it the heap and says that it started life as a regular truck that was run into a wall to get rid of the hood and then was severely beat with an "ugly stick".  I really can't argue too much with her! :-) 

  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Posts: 2,394

    Halloween. Our neighborhood doesn't really do this holiday anymore. The kids go to libraries, schools, all "safe" places instead of tromping through neighborhoods. We started keeping our house dark several years ago since the only trick or treaters were huge teenagers without manners. This year, the doorbell didn't ring even once. Around here, an era has passed. But, I think Moon gets the prize! A hat that dances? Totally fun.

    That truck is something else! I can see why it won a prize.

    *susan*

  • Eric, congratulations to your Jeep truck!  I didn't know about jeep trucks. 

  • auntienance
    auntienance Posts: 4,043

    Eric, love it!

  • eric95us
    eric95us Posts: 3,347

    Most of the kids here were "imports" from other neighborhoods...  

    We used to have that many kids around here, but most have grown up.

  • m0mmyof3
    m0mmyof3 Posts: 10,061

    dinner for one tonight, other half can't have anything but liquids because of a test in the morning!

  • moonflwr912
    moonflwr912 Posts: 5,945

    eric, my DH will love the article on your truck. He just now, very reluctantly,  took in his 89 Concord with 318,000 miles in it. And the day he did he stood there looking at it and said to me, "I've never gotten rid of a drivable car before". I told him "drivable" was debatable when only one person could get it to move.... LOL

  • eric95us
    eric95us Posts: 3,347

    I'm not sure what dinner is going to be.  Sharon is really busy during the week, and I get home kind of late most evenings, so I do lots of cooking on the weekends.

    So far, at 10am...a pork roast is in the oven and a chicken is turning away on the grill.  I'm probably going to do the chicken and rice dish and if I can find a small pumpkin...a pumpkin pie.  

    We keep the old cars (that do freeway speeds) around for as long as they are reliable...saves money for better things.

  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Posts: 2,394

    Snowing outside! Big, fat, ugly snowflakes. Turkey smoking will wait until tomorrow. Instead we will eat the leftovers in the fridge with a big garden salad. Have to stay flexible in New England in early November.

    *susan*

  • eric95us
    eric95us Posts: 3,347

    I was out working on a car and I had to come in to put long pants on....it's 66F outside. 

  • auntienance
    auntienance Posts: 4,043

    lol Eric! I remember the first time I visited Phoenix in a late June. I had just come from camping in the Colorado Rockies where there was still snowpack and ice on the lakes. Phoenix had just come off a lengthy stretch of 100+ degree weather and was enjoying low 90's. I was astounded at how many women were wearing sweaters  of an evening. In my world anything over 50 degrees is shorts weather and they're standard issue  house attire whatever the season.

  • minustwo
    minustwo Posts: 13,799

    Eric - that truck is a hoot.  What fun.

    Oh oh.  I'm in trouble.  Sur La Table mailed me a 20% off coupon good through the end of the month.  I can never go in that store w/o finding lots of cooking gear I just must have.  It's easier for me to resist on line for some reason.  For those of you who haven't been tempted yet, have fun:

    http://www.surlatable.com/

  • Lacey12
    Lacey12 Posts: 2,895

    Eric your DDs descrition of that truck was perfect! It is a riot!

    Last night's pizza party was fun and the pizzas were interesting. We each got to top one with many interesting toppings, cheeses, veggies, carmelized and otherwise. No meats since the other couple who came is vegetarian. Two of the most interesting were pumpkin with carmelized onions, and one with chickpeas and gorgonzola cheese. For dessert we didn't have baklava, but a pear cake that had red wine of sorts poured over it. Quite nice. We left quite sated!

  • specialk
    specialk Posts: 9,299

    eric - cool article! And yay for your Jeep truck! I too did not know suck a thing existed - but have owned a Wrangler and two Grand Cherokees - love Jeeps.

    susan - welcome home! We missed you!

    moon - awesome H'ween get-up and fabulous porch!

    We usually have a ton of kids for Halloween but I was so busy preparing for DD's move (the next morning - caravan of U-Haul driven by DH, my SUV with plants, art, two flat screen TV's, and DD with her big truck pulling the boat with a 12' paddle board on the roof and a foot long bearded dragon in the front seat) that I didn't get a ton of candy. Good thing because at the back of the neighborhood they did a centralized party with a scary house, a candy table, and MANGO SANGRIA!!! I probably had three dozen groups but I had just enough candy. I'm still in GA until mid-week but did cook a little last night. Roasted chicken and veggies for DD for lunch with kidney beans and brown rice and some steamed spinach and kale. Also made a Greek yogurt parfait with granola and berries and honey that refrigerates overnight for her. This is part of her new plan - Fit Girl - we will see. She is not the healthiest eater when left to her own devices! She did her swim test this morning - a 400 in less than 20 mins, 10 minute tread, bottom dive, and 25 meter under swim with no breath, outdoor pool at 6 am, air temp was 38. She was so cold  she said she couldn't think, lol! Then she had to do a "ditch and don" scuba test.

  • Redheaded1
    Redheaded1 Posts: 1,455


    The Hungarian Sausage I think may be called Hazi Kolbasz.  the thing about Hungarian sausage is it is never boiled--only -either baked or sautéed.  And it is fresh, I've never had the dried kind, although Hungarians do make dried ones.

    the recipe I use is from June Meyer.  If you google her, you will even find a recipe for how to make the stuff with casings and eertying...

  • Lacey12
    Lacey12 Posts: 2,895

    Wow, Special! Busy bittersweet weekend for you, DH and DD! She will be well equipped in her new digs and job! I love hearing about young people being launched in such supported ways. Boy! I don't envy her that swim test....brrrrr. And you will surely miss having this "special" daughter close by. But I bet she keeps in close touch...so you get to enjoy her exciting new journey. Best wishes to you all!

    The soup sale was really successful...four kinds flew off the table! Thank you mother nature....it was raining, snowing, blowing and freezing....a perfect soup day! Next time I will make a gluten free soup since lots of folks were looking for that.

    So, of course last night we had my chicken pastina soup and a big bibb lettuce salad and crusty bread for dinner.  This evening, after stretching class, we are headed to Concord to a restaurant DH has wanted to try, appropriately named, "80 Thoreau",  to celebrate our 41st anniversary. I still have to check out the menu.....:)

  • Happy anniversary, Lacey! 

    Always love to get a report on your DD, SpecialK.  She sounds amazing.  So full of energy. 

    I'm starting the week off full of purpose!  Went to the gym this morning since I can't go tomorrow morning with dh.  Have begun "tracking" my WW food points.  My goal is to drop 7 to 8 lbs by Thanksgiving.

    Thought about you, Nance, when dh and I stopped off at Beau Rivage Casino yesterday afternoon on our way home from an open house gathering in Ocean Springs, the little town next door to Biloxi.  Love the casino lobby.  It's so pretty with all the plants and flowers.  We played poker machines for a couple of hours in the non-smoking section.  Of course you have to walk through the smoking sections to get there!

    I think dinner will be a version of Laurie's salsa chicken but maybe with pork chops.  I may not have chicken breasts in the freezer.  But I have cooked black beans in little cartons.  I cooked 2 lbs last week in the crock pot.  We're all set for lunch with potato/leek soup in the refrigerator! 

  • auntienance
    auntienance Posts: 4,043

    Carole, I love the Beau's lobby. I don't know if you're familiar with their promenade, but they always have a huge gorgeous fresh flower arrangement in the middle. One day I came upon the florist arranging it and I complimented her on the always beautiful display and she plucked a rose out of the arrangement and gave it to me. It pays to acknowledge people's efforts!

    I'm not sure about dinner, maybe chicken noodle soup. Too bad I don't have a rotisserie chicken. Love that for the stock. Dh just informed me he wants spaghetti and meatballs. I'll have linguini with white clam sauce. Guess I'm baking a chicken tomorrow.

  • Dh learned the result of his liver biopsy today.  He has a fatty liver.  I was not surprised.  The plan is for him to stop drinking any alcohol for 6 wks, lose weight and increase exercise.  Then his dr. will look at his blood work numbers again to see if there's any improvement.  We will definitely miss our cocktail or wine in the evening but weight loss might be a little easier without those calories. 

    The salsa pork chops are in the oven.  It will be good to eat dinner a little earlier than usual. 

  • minustwo
    minustwo Posts: 13,799

    Carole - glad to hear that there is a plan for your DH.  Hope that does the trick.  I agree, you'll miss the cocktails but you're right about the weight loss too.  Hugs.  Please do keep us in the loop.

  • minustwo
    minustwo Posts: 13,799

    Dinner was tri-color coleslaw with oil, tarragon vinegar & garlic, and just a touch of Hidden Valley Coleslaw dressing.  Also 1/2 a mini sour dough baguette toasted w/butter & Havarti cheese.  Dessert is a glass of Bailey's carmel Irish Cream.  Or maybe two.

  • Lacey12
    Lacey12 Posts: 2,895

    Carole, thanks for the anniversary wishes.  I like your idea of tracking the WW points and setting a weight loss goal with a time frame attached. Good luck! I do think that the elimination of alcohol will help your loss plan as well as DHs health effort.  Wishing him the best as he manages this. I bet that you can replace cocktail hour with something that results in your not missing it much...a new interesting routine.

    We went to a lovely restaurant tonight. 80 Thoreau is just outside of Concord Center in a renovated train station with a modern decor with colonial touches....very nice. I had read both wonderful and angry reviews on it while on the treadmill this afternoon and ours would be in the wonderful camp. We started with some bluefish pate and delicate crackers, then DH had an appetizer of gnocchi with bits of lobster and I had a beet salad with tiny sliced potatoes and walnuts in it. I had to settle on this since I was allergic to any number of other apps. For entree, DH had the hake with celeriac and lentils, which he enjoyed. I had duck with kale and it was the most well prepared, delicious duck I have ever eaten! But wait! There's more....

    I had noticed at a table across from us, a woman had a birthday candle delivered to her....no dessert....just the candle attached to her coffee saucer!!  Fascinating! So, I thought....maybe they don't have desserts here (like at Sweet Basil), but wanted to acknowledge her birthday. WRONG! They had wonderful offerings! I was not going for any saucer balanced candles, so ordered a carrot/parsnip/walnut cake with a dollop of caramel ice cream. But DH got the prize.....a goat cheese cheesecake with these little tart grapes in a sauce over it that totally exploded with flavor in your mouth. Wow! Fortunately we shared. :) This meal was a very sweet end to our 41st!  I would definitely return to this restaurant after saving up or winning the lottery! 

  • Lacey, your anniversary meal sounds like a real foodie treat.  Glad the restaurant was excellent. 

  • auntienance
    auntienance Posts: 4,043

    Lacey. Apologies for being remiss in sending you happy anniversary wishes. Sounds like you and dh did it up right!

    Minus, love your meal. If I lived alone, that's the kind of meal I would have.

    Roasting a chicken with garlic, thyme and preserved lemons. Or maybe I'll season it with the Moroccan spice mixture I just picked up at the spice shop instead of the thyme. I got some saffron at trader Joe's so perhaps I'll make saffron rice to go with it.

    Carole, I'm glad your dh's issues was not cirrhosis. I share his diagnosis. It's a common issue with diabetics. Losing weight is really the only treatment and that doesn't always make a difference. I don't drink much, so that's never been an issue for me. 

  • minustwo
    minustwo Posts: 13,799

    Lacey - belated anniversary wishes.  I agree - the meal sounds spectacular.

  • Cornmeal-battered oven-fried catfish fillets with a nice tossed salad and Green Giant broccoli with cheese sauce.  I forget how bad the steamer broccoli is.  It's all convenience and no taste or good texture.  I need to develop a "light" cheese sauce to put on steamed broccoli.  I'm happy with lemon juice and a pat of butter but dh enjoys the cheese sauce. 

    Nance, I learned that one of my brothers has fatty liver, too.  Apparently it's very common.  I ordered saffron from Amazon and it's very slow in arriving.

  • eric95us
    eric95us Posts: 3,347

    Dinner tonight is, just like I planned, left overs.  I get home pretty late in the evenings, so on the weekends I try to cook enough, or at least prepare enough things ahead of time so that Sharon and DD don't have to "slave" in the kitchen unless they want to.  The usual thing to do with the extra "non kitchen time" is to go work out in the gym and then come home "heat something up" instead of going out.

     

    Lacey, a belated Happy41st Anniversary.

    Special.  That must have been a whole set of conflicting emotions for you and DH..and a bit "wow" for DD.  I remember the first time I was "at home" after my parents left to head back to their home.......for me it was both "wow, I'm on my own" and so very quiet..   I'm sure I'll be a wreck when it's time for DD to "make the move"....

    Carol, the simple treatments are the best place to start for DH....even the side effects are good... :-)

  • specialk
    specialk Posts: 9,299

    eric - I'm still at her place but will go home tomorrow. I'm sure it will be hard for me to drive away. She will already be at work when I leave. We have been lucky that she did two internships away from home, so has really been gone for the last year, but lucky feeling in the sense that those were temp situations with an end point. This will be different and this time she took her bedroom furniture - when I go home her room will be totally empty. When she comes home she will have to sleep in a guest room - first time in 25 years, since she attended college locally and lived at home. It will be weird. Fortunately, she is a homebody and will enjoy her place. I have been here helping her get settled. As parents I think we try to prepare them, and ourselves, for the day they leave the nest - and it is a mixture of pride, apprehension, and missing them. It is the same feelings they have, I think.

    lacey - congrats on the anniversary and fabulous dinner!

    carole - glad you have a Dx for DH and a plan.

  • auntienance
    auntienance Posts: 4,043

    Roasted chicken carcass is happily cooking away making a wonderful stock for chicken noodle soup. Last night's saffron rice was sort of -- meh.  Not much flavor in spite of the saffron and being cooked in chicken stock. Have to tweak that a bit. But the chicken with the preserved lemons and Moroccan spices was delish.

  • Can't wait for my preserved lemons to be ready!  I have the date marked on the calendar. 

    Tonight's dinner will be turkey meatloaf.  I've been searching for the recipe I used before and found it at Epicurous.  I had tweaked it a little.  Made some substitutions like eggbeater for egg.  Green onions for yellow onion.   A side dish will be butternut squash.  And probably a garden salad.