So...whats for dinner?

Made turkey broth/stock today with two carcasses

Used up the dozen yolks making three batches of light wheat egg yolk noodles. Got out the pasta extruder and made two types of short pastas, fusilli and rigatoni. Turned out to be doable and not like Lucy in the chocolate factory. Had the attachment at least a year and hadn't broken it in.

Also used the roller and hand cut some flat noodles. And used the linguine cutter.

Too tired to cook dinner. Warmed up bowls of chili and sliced some multigrain bread. Cooked a few flat noodles in turkey broth to sample them.

Made it thru the laser eye surg. Feels like someone has scratched up my eye with a rusty nail. Doc was over an hour late getting started. I've been going there so long I know most of their routines and could tell when doc arrived in office. So breakfast turned into early lunch at Coffee Shop. Turkey/dressing, mashed potatoes, spinach and lovely rolls served early since we were famished. DH had a cheeseburger. Back to office to check pressure and eye status and discharged. Had disagreement at pharmacy. Love it when you take the initiative to call your ins. ahead of time to get a quote. Aha moment - ins. price quote was wrong, pharmacy was right. At least the med will do for the other eye next week. Thought DH was going to throw a fit since the entire thing took so long. Quiet afternoon, well after 3 pm. Only made one short stop on the way home. I just a bit ago warmed up pork chop, rice and some bagged salad. Made DH and I extra thick Tim Horton's hot chocolate - not sweet at all - and added a nice dollop of pumpkin pie liqueur. Very good and just what I need to top off the day. No way could I have driven myself

Sounds like everyone has had a busy day. Nancy glad you got stitches out.

Luv- glad it's behind you.  Where do you find Pumpkin Pie Liquor?  It sounds divine......

Yes, it's been two years...doesn't seem possible. Two years ago, I was at the government job and we were taking a quick break before continuing with the training. I remember pulling out the phone and reading the post.

Susan, I spent all day huddled in front of two servers setting up operating systems. UNIX on one MS Windows Server on the other....It *is* tiring. :-)

I've watched my grandmother make pasta. That's something I've never done. At the moment it's a ways down the list of things to do, but someday I'll give it a try.

Auntie, are you able to hold a knife now? I'm guessing it feels better after the stitches were removed.

Red, that's neat you have a compounding pharmacy nearby. There used to be one near where I live, but it closed when the owner retired. The place is now an old time soda fountain pharmacy looking place, but no pharmacist.

Luv, how long does the rusty nail in the eye feeling last?

Dinner last night was brined pork chops cooked in the oven, a quick home made salsa, mixed vegetables and a salad.I got home a bit late last night, so I was hoping for a quick cooking grain to go with the pork chops....no quinoa, no couscous and I didn't want to wait for the brown rice to cook. The pork chops came from Costco and were about 1-1/2 pounds each. I split them "thick wise" in half so they'd cook more quickly. I just put the cast iron skillet in the oven and it took about 5 minutes to cook. For what it's worth, I am very happy with the new pork cooking guidelines.

Eric,

It is so very hard to believe that it has been two years, and at the same time hard to believe that it has only been two years. I think of her daughter often. I know that Apple had a large village and have always hoped that the women of that village stepped in to help Kiara grow into the strong woman she had the potential to become.

*susan*

Thanks for the compliment on cooking Susan but it was leftovers from the night b4. I for one love leftovers and my DH usually never complains, that is unless it was truly awful stuff to begin with.

He just passed by and said didn't you buy some sausage patties? Yes, under the egg cartons. Said he's going to make pancakes/sausage in a bit. Oh boy. Well, frozen pancakes. A girl can't be choosy, right?

The rusty nail feeling if abating a bit. Only now when I put one of 8 eyedrops/meds it it. Slept great so no problems there. Yes, doc does the other eye next Monday and hopefully he will be on time. DH said he's going to embarrass me and ask if doc is there when we arrive, otherwise we're off to the coffee shop 2 blocks away. Office had sign that doc was 1.5 hours behind and would pts like to reschedule. Don't think office got a lunch break at all.

I need to get in gear and brine my pork loin 1# lounging in the fridge. Got to time it right to freeze for a bit so I can slice it thin after brining.

Red - glad you Dad was only a bit forgetful about the door. Nothing like a good scare to get your day started wrong.

Still darned cold here but due for a warm up finally end of week. We have an average high (hear me laugh) of 56 degrees this time of year. Someone forgot to tell ole' man winter that.

Susan, the home-made noodles are good if you like pasta made with half whole wheat flour.  There is a different taste and texture from the pasta made with white flour.  I've pretty much given up on home-made pasta or bread made with all whole wheat flour.  I did half and half on the pasta.  My ingredients were 1 cup all purpose unbleached flour, 1 cup wheat flour, 4 egg yolks, 1 whole egg, 1 tsp salt, water as needed.  I added 1 T olive oil to two of the batches.   

I rolled the panels pretty thin, to 5 or 6 on the Kitchen Aid rollers.  I suspect dh would prefer the white flour pasta but he humors me on my bias against white carbs.  Every now and then I buy Dreamfield white linguine for his eating pleasure.  I have come to enjoy wheat pasta, which has been much improved in taste since it first came on the market.

It took me a few years to come to prefer brown rice over the white rice I grew up eating.  Currently I'm cooking a brown jasmine rice that is raised here in LA and is delicious.  I order it from the farmer, who sounds like such a nice man on the phone.  He sent me the rice with a bill in the package, trusting that I would mail a check.

Luv, glad your eye isn't causing too much discomfort.  I had cataract surgery in my 50's and it brought a miraculous improvement to my eyesight.  There was no discomfort whatever. 

Nancy, the tagine dish sounds yummy.  When I was researching tagine vessels recently, I read that some of those gorgeous decorated ones are for serving, not cooking. 

Redheaded, what a scare you had!  Your dad sounds like a real dear.  I miss my dad, who died in 1995, but I still have my mom, who recently turned 92.  She's quite a character, just like your dad.  Today she enjoyed the sight of a mamma duck and a bunch of ducklings trekking across her lawn on the way to a neighbor's pond.

I'm signed up for golf tomorrow at 9 am.  If necessary I'll wear some long johns, but I gotta get OUTSIDE!!!!

More leftovers for dinner.  This is the last hurrah for the beef stew. 

Carole, I know, I kind of freaked after ordering mine not remembering if I noticed that it was for cooking. Fortunately it was. In searching for recipes I read a rather interesting article that said most Moroccan cooking these days is done in a pressure cooker. I don't know if that's true or not, but several of the recipes I found had pressure cooker instructions included.

I too would be interested in the Jasmine rice man info. Carole, have you tried soba noodles? They might be right up your alley.

OK the pork loin bit did not get brined. I have the worst split open fingertips from this nasty cold weather. Going to bathe them in foot cream after dinner. Thank goodness I have a few surgical gloves I used to make dinner. Need to get to the restaurant supplier which I've been trying to do since Thanksgiving and get some real gloves.

But - tada - did finally get the Christmas tree down. No worries, it's artificial. Good use of a dreary afternoon. But I will say bending/stooping has made the eye a bit itchy. Surprised there are no restrictions on any activity - I just for my own peace of mind would not be picking up anything heavy.

The pork loin turned out really tender. I sliced it very thin. Tons of vegies. Ginger teriyaki stir fry sauce. I had black Japonica rice. Splurged on at Central Mkt. I ate the leftover rice/sauce from the pork chop dinner for lunch. One lonely pork chop holding out in fridge.

Red - I forgot you asked about the pumpkin liqueur. It's called Fulton's Harvest Pumpkin Pie Liqueur, have not tasted it straight. Bought it at local booze store.

Difficult and important decisions Eric. When a parent has been independent and thriving for so long, it is really hard to acknowledge the need for more care. It's good to hear that your mom has a watchful supportive neighbor...with nursing skills! I'm sure you will make the best plan with/for your mom.

Hopefully, I am nearing the end of this virus. Will skip the gym again today in favor of doing some moderate exercise at home. Besides not wanting to spread any lingering germs around, I am terrified of picking up additional crud from the gym equipment. Lord knows what I might pick up tomorrow in the kindergarten classes! I just want to get back to functioning.

Last night I made us French onion soup to go with a big garden salad topped with our leftover Rosemary/balsamic grilled chicken.

Luv, be careful with all that bending/stooping stuff as you heal....tho I'm sure you know that.

Sweet thoughts about Apple and her lovely music, earth mother style and varied, sophisticated tastes. I, too, hope her daughter is being nurtured by that "village", but also feel that what her mother left her are some amazing personal strengths. Special woman.......

Eric, I identify with your worries about your mom.  I'm in the same situation. 

Luv, there were three evidences of Christmas in this house.  Pottery Santa, Reindeer card holder, and poinsettia, which was outside and brought indoors to protect it from freezing.  Santa and reindeer still sitting in their places!  Guess I should put them away.

Susan, thanks for the links.  I will check them out.  I was reading about soba noodles recently.  Made from buckwheat. 

Eric and Nancy, will gladly share my supplier of brown jasmine rice but the mailing expense makes the cost high.  A 5 lb. cloth bag is only $5 but the post office cardboard box is $12.  Brings the per lb. price way up.  I first bought the rice in Gulf Shores, AL, at a Farmer's Market.  The seller is a customer who buys in bulk.

The grower also produces white jasmine.  He sent me a lb. of white as gift.  If you buy a smaller bag, the mailing expense goes lower, of course.

Jimmy and Brenda Hoppe, 19400 Beebe Rd., Iowa, LA  70647.  337-756-2259.  I left a message and Mr. Hoppe called me back. 

Brown basmati rice is also worth buying any time you spot it.  All brown rice is not created equal!  So Lacey is the kale queen.  I can be the brown rice queen!

Golf was cancelled.  Boo hoo.  Lunch was not cancelled.

Luv - I could have gone all day w/o hearing we're due for another blast of cold air. Brrr. And you're much further north than I am!! I know - we really shouldn't complain to loud w/all our friends in the east & the mid-west, but Eric will understand.

Carole - The only signs of Christmas in my house this year were the wrapped packages which were on my son's bed and the basket holding Christmas cards I received. The gifts were dispersed. The basket is still out. I didn't plan on being a Scrooge but it made little sense for me to decorate since I went out of town.

Lacey - good luck w/the kindergarten class. Wonder if you could get away w/wearing a mask and calling yourself some kind of super woman? I guess you could tell them you're sick & don't want to spread your germs. Maybe a teaching moment?

I think of Apple often too. And Michelle.

Eric, I hope you can find an easy transition for your Mother. My parents absolutely would not move anywhere but the home they'd always lived in - unfortunately in a different state than my home. After my Mother's stroke, my Dad insisted on installing a hospital bed in the dining room & promptly fired everyone I hired to help as soon as I left town. Their wonderful doc - who made house calls - finally told my Dad that if Dad didn't keep the caregivers & accept their help, he (the doc) could be sent to jail on charges of not reporting "elder abuse". At 90 i finally told my father if he climbed up on the 3 story roof one more time & something happened, I would make sure he & mother were sent to different nursing homes and would never see each other again. That worked for the roof, but he still broke his collar bone at 92 falling while he tried to carry a TV down from the second floor. Sigh.

Susan - belated post but I've been thinking of you having to tell your family about the progression. What a difficult thing. Hope you'll rely on us when you need to bitch or moan. Mini rants or full blown rants are always accepted.

I still have a wreath on the front door, the back door and the bathroom door, as well as a nativity set that is still out.......

Took most of the pork loin and practically all the veggies to my dad.  He needed eggs so I went to store, and scored some beautiful beef short ribs.  If I can get the Lentil soup consumed ( isuppose I could freeze some of it)  I am going to make my moms vegetable soup again like I did before Christmas.    They say it is going to get warmer here on the weekend.  Suppose the car washes will be impossible.... 

My doc phoned in the compounded migraine med for me, now I just need to wait for them to call me that it is ready----promised my Dad a ride to Morton (30 miles) and if he can keep his blood sugar down, we might stop at "the Busy Corner" for pie.....its a little restaurant off I-74 at Goodfield, IL.

It shouldn't be too bad of a transition as this will just be an increase of the stuff already being done.

Minus, bread is among my absolute favorites, too.  Same with the butter!  Not so much with salty snacks.  I enjoy toasted almonds and walnuts with no salt.  Same with peanuts "parched" in the shells.  We always called roasted peanuts "parched peanuts." 

Posed the question to dh, "Have you eaten soba noodles?"  He said, "Sure.  Lots of times."  He was stationed in Okinawa when he was in the army and also visited a buddy in Japan.  That was back in 1962-1964.  He said in Japan they bought a little bowl of noodles from street vendors for 20 cents or so.  There was broth on the noodles and two little strips of pork on the top.