So...whats for dinner?
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Minus, I don't think we have Capital Grill.
Tonight we had leftover chicken. Yesterday I butterflied a whole chicken and cooked it following the recipe for Braised Chicken Thighs with Lemon and Olives from the NYT newsletter. Last night we ate the legs and the breast was left over. Tonight we also had creamed spinach and a salad. The spinach was a microwave in the bag and was quite good. I was surprised.
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We had both children's high school grad dinners at Capital Grille - our son's at the Tyson's location in Virginia, our daughter's at the location here in Tampa. Dinner tonight was stew beef cooked in the oven with tomatoes and onions, corn pudding, and a romaine salad with feta dressing and avocado. I needed something I could set and forget because just before dinner time I had a dozen neighbors in my back yard watching DD do an interactive dog training video for submission for a job. Neighbors were the "audience" and we appreciated their willingness to get involved - we live in a great 'hood!
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gotta make something quick for tonight, have to be somewhere that I really don't want to go to
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We have Capital Grille here but I don’t go--not because of the price but because it’s a Darden Group restaurant (same group as Olive Garden & Red Lobster). Darden is notorious for maltreating its employees (read “Behind the Kitchen Door”) with stingy-to-nonexistent sick leave, tip theft, wage theft, disregard for even tipped-minimum-wage regs, etc. For steak, I either grill my own, go local (neighborhood restaurants or Pete Miller’s in Evanston), Mon Ami Gabi (can get spinach instead of the usual frites), or the Palm, where we rack up points. (Pricey, but I get 3-4 meals out of a steak from there). May try RPM for my birthday (#65) a week from Sat., since we’re Lettuce Entertain You members. Best restaurant in Chicago I’ve tried (not counting Charlie Trotter’s--RIP, Charlie) is Sixteen--but since it’s in the Trump Tower and part of the Trump Hotel, no way I’m ever setting foot in there again. Seven years after eating there I still feel dirty.
After my LE therapy session, I may stop at Davis St. Fishmarket--or see what seafood Whole Paycheck has on sale. (In a tiger-prawn or diver-scallop mood). Unless the weather stays clear, in which case I’ll take out a steak from the freezer and fire up the grill.....because I can. (Wintry mix tomorrow, Chiberia this weekend).
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chisandy - I haven't been to Capital grille for about 10 years - I can't tolerate aged beef - from any restaurant. With the info in your post I would avoid it for both reasons.
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Now me I'd go to both Red Lobster and Olive Garden. Love the food at both of these places. Another place I recommend if you get the chance to go to and if you have one close by is Texas Roadhouse. Their food is to die for, especially the rolls!
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Sounds like all are eating some interesting (ChiSandy!) and hearty meals. Sunshine, your recent meal is right up my alley!
Minus I admire your restraint with the truffles.
Nance, I love the post snow wildlife reports. We've had two recent installments of snow, so I am enjoying the sweet animal tracks in the backyard....have seen no owls, however. I feel badly for the birds who still show up at the birdbaths just to find blocks of ice where they had been frolicking in relatively warm water until two weeks ago with our unseasonably warm weather. I wonder about a heated birdbath....but if it exists, would the little "guys" find themselves with frozen wings after enjoying a bath?
So, we had our small dinner party on Tuesday which just proved to me that I definitely inherited my mother's gene for doing everything the hard way. I ended up making chicken roll ups with a greek style stuffing (layers of spinach, feta, pimento, and black olives); couscous with diced onion, zucchini and yellow peppers; buttery, minted baby carrots, Greek salad, and no faux French bread since I ran out of time. But I guess since we were heavily involved in the Greek theme, there was no necessity to confuse people!
For apps we had assorted cheeses, crudite and hummus, and dates stuffed with blue cheese and pecans. For dessert, I took Nance's suggestion to have gelato (talenti) with my anise and meyer lemon pitzelles, which worked well. It was actually a lovely evening, and our older gentleman friend is such a vibrant and intelligent guy at 87. He has had such interesting life experiences and has so much knowledge to share, along with humility and curiosity about what he can yet learn from others, so it is always great fun to spend time with him. We also admire the fact that he moved into the local retirement facility from the North Shore, so that he could be close to his wife who has late stage Alzheimer's, and is cared for in the Alzheimer's Center there.
Meanwhile our other friend, who was not supposed to be eating red meat, (thus the chicken roll ups) since he is on a fairly restricted diet for weight mgmt during his major knee surgery recovery, managed to have a red meatapalooza last night when a mutual friend of his and DH decided to bring them three kinds of take-out barbecue meats, corn bread, slaw, and bread pudding (!) for a "guys dinner" at our friend's home. Ha! Next time, I'll make what I want! Bring on the Boeuf Bourguignon !
DH has been out the last two nights, so I've been having mini dinners (not necessarily healthy mini) of this and that from dinner party leftovers....unfortunately lots of the leftover cheese and dips, but tonight also a chicken roll up and salad.
I did not know much about Capitol Grill's ownership, but the one time we went to the one near us, with our friend from Paris, we were horrified at what a sports bar tone it had. We weren't expecting sports games on large TV's given the high-priced steak place. And that loud atmosphere made it difficult to have a conversation with our friend. Never went back. Many other individually or family run restaurants that are excellent usually get my business.
My recent obsession about avoiding red meat for our friend has me craving beef braciole!I may make it in the slow cooker one of these fine days. Last year, my neighbor and I made a timpano on the first day we were snowed in last January. Boy was that good! Maybe this year we'll do beef braciole! Or maybe both!
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I will say the Capital Grille I went to was definitely upscale - white table cloths, private booths, white & red wine glasses on the table, silverware that I barely remember from previous "fine" dining, extremely quiet, butter sprinkled w/sea salt, one waiter for every two or three tables, no TV's, maybe 25 tables max. We went there because I'd eaten at Eddie V's a year or two ago and this is supposed to be their "downmarket cousin". Eddie V's was the best seafood I'd had in a long time and they are not open at lunch. That was excellent seafood - and again maybe 20 tables & more upscale than Capital Grille. Qualifier - I know I'm in Texas folks & it ain't Boston or Chicago. But was raised in Northern California & grew up eating really fresh seafood right off the boats. I generally order seafood when I'm on the east or west coast - shrimp in Texas or LA. It I have a steak or prime rib, I don't want it adulterated with spices or rubs if the meat is really good quality. But for steak, my ex-DH's favorite food, he likes to go where he can be waited on like a king. He chooses places like Ruths Chris, Mortons, etc. I was trying to find another option where he can buy my lunch - quiet, good service, decent meat. He will like this. My lunch will be free!!! I won't likely go back on my own.
Today was a huge bowl of Mushroom soup w/french bread. And I brought home an individual Spinach Quiche for tomorrow or Saturday.
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Lacey, we have a heated bird bath. Birds only seem to dunk when the temperature is moderate but they drink often.
No Capital Grilles in St. Louis only Kansas city.
Mini meatloaves tonight from leftover Swedish meatball mix. The recipe would have made a thousand of the suckers, which I didn't need.
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Okay Nance, that's all I needed to hear! I am going to search out a heated birdbath. Any ideas of a good one.....do you like yours? Thank you!
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Simple, easy dinner here.....Baked Sea Bass and broccoli. Chicken salad earlier, with crackers.
Waiting to watch debates. 9:00 here in Florida.....hope I can stay awake!
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Lacey, this is the one I have
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005UJ6NUW/ref=psd_mlt_bc_B005UJ6NUW
I really like it, it's very sturdy and easy to clean. We've had ours for a long time and I see that they've gotten quite expensive. You might check out Petsmart or Petco.
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Today was my first post-Xeloda oncologist appointment. Dana Farber was on its best behavior today. Wait for lab work was moderate. Needle was painless. Oncologist was early [as was I.] She was out of sorts. My RX had not been done properly [and has still not been arranged for delivery.] My online portal was not populating properly. She forgot to add the tumor markers to my blood work. I joined two more studies which requires some extra blood during regular blood draws and some tumor tissue from the existing banked samples. Easy enough, yes?
I decided that dinner needed to be prepared by someone else. Claire went off on her own to visit a Harvard University museum and then to see the Isabelle Stewart Gardner which is open late on Thursdays. So Mr. 02143 and I went to a local chain for some seafood. It was fine. Not spectacular but good enough. We shared a calamari appetizer and then he ordered a White Clam pizza and I got the Lobster pizza without lobster. It was topped with fontina, wild mushrooms, grilled green onions, and [the start of the show] an egg. I was only able to eat a third of this very rich pizza. Someone will have a good lunch tomorrow!
I want braciole now too! I haven't made that in ages! Maybe I should do that this weekend..... great idea!
*susan*
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Me too! I want braciole too!
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OK - I had to look it up but it sounds marvelous for a cold day. I'll enjoy reading all your reviews.
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Susan - sorry for the hassle. What is it about these big specialty places? MD Anderson is the same. Hope the blood work comes out good & your RX get delivered in a timely manner. Glad your cousin found something to do alone today.
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I also had to look up braciole as well. I kind of accidentally made something similar awhile back.
There is a Capitol Grill here in Phoenix. I've had dinner there once. It was OK, but my impression of the patrons was that they were hoping to move from self important to important...but without really succeeding... :-)
Susan, I hope things settle down at DF. Mayo was a little disorganized with my mom when she started going there, but they must have done something to fix it as it suddenly changed to perfectly smooth.
Today I spent a hour with mom's primary care doctor talking about mom. I went in there kind of hungry and left with no appetite.
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Tired after working 4 10s Dinner is gnocchi. Trying to keep heating bills down and don't' mind the cold so keep the heat at 50 at night. With the kitties under the covers for warmth sleeping is surprisingly comfy with heat turned down.
The fish stew I made was awful. I'm throwing the rest of it out.
I did read and enjoy everyone's posts, and you all crack me up as usual, I will answer more when I am more rested.
I hope you all have a good weekend
Susan I hope things work out. Arhhgg. to those things that always seem to go wrong or are not ready. May the Devil visit them and set them straight.
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Eric - that's the correct impression exactly!!! "Important" (??) men who lunch. Fits my ex-DH. And now you all know one reason he is an ex.
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I have no clue right now about what I'm making for dinner.
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So I'm too lazy to look up "braciole" and would love a description by those craving it. My NO French college roommate's mother made an involved dish with beef rollups that had a similar name. Lacey how were the chicken rollups? I've never eaten those when the chicken had much taste. Funny story about your avoiding serving the beef. The older gentleman sounds like very good company.
DH made lentil soup on his own yesterday while I was out of the house. He first made Italian sausage with a lb of The Pig ground pork. I could tell he also used carrot and celery and onion. When I checked the pot in the late afternoon, it was almost brimming with soup. Much too thin. So I took off the lid and started reducing the liquid. Later I added a frozen package of home-cooked faro. The Italian sausage flavor was a tad odd for lentil soup, I thought but did not say. We both enjoyed two bowls of the soup for dinner along with a large bun (half whole and half all purpose flour) from the freezer. I was most appreciative of not having to cook dinner myself.
Dinner tonight will be the responsibility of Chef Hosie at the club. We are meeting another couple for dinner there. The prices are reasonable and the food is always good. And from 5 to 7 in the bar, the drinks are 2 for 1.
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Minus, you are funny!
Carole, I'm impressed with your DH making soup on his own. I have been adding farro to some of my soups, too since I really like that grain....but not so good in leftover soup texture wise. The chicken roll ups were a bit dry....a disappointment for all the work. I used to make something similar, years ago,that I called "greek birds", which were delicious. I should have ferreted out that old recipe. I also might have added a butter or lemon sauce over the roll ups for a more moist and flavorful result. I might just skip making them altogether next time.
Braciole is an Italian recipe....beef roll ups in tomato sauce. Lots of interesting flavors inside and I love the inclusion of raisins. The best braciole I have ever had was at a little neighborhood restaurant in Jersey City, Joe and Anna's. To die for! I do think that making them in the slow cooker would render delightfully tender meat.
Eric, your description of the doc visit was gripping. Hugs to you....difficult time.
Need to run off for a haircut before I am renamed "Repunzel".
After, DH wants to go see "The Big Short".
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Since I do not have an Italian grandmother watching my every move, my definition of braciole is a bit more fluid. I never use the raisins even though I know that they are traditional. In the summer, I love to make a basil mixture for the interior. In the winter, I move towards spinach. Always include parmesan, pine nuts, and some sun-dried tomatoes. Such a marvelous dish with a special sauce.
Accredo called this morning. I will have my drugs on Sunday, but since I now have permission to delay the first day, I am going to wait until Tuesday to start. Sunday we are headed to Newport, RI to see some mansions, and Monday we will go to the MLK celebration at the Museum of Fine Arts. Have no interest in explosive diarrhea on either trip. So, why not wait until she is on her way to Paris? I have decided that I am in this for the long haul [we hope] and three days will not make a bit of difference.
Tonight's dinner is centered around a lovely avocado that is ready to eat. Grilled flank steak that has marinaded in a fajita thing, black beans, avocado, pico de gallo, and a lime-dressed cabbage salad. Mr. 02143 says that 28º is not too cold for grilling.
*susan*
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The rolled beef dish my roommate's mother made was called Brew-sha-lone-ee. I don't remember if the sauce was red but I'm sure the stuffing must have included onions and garlic and possibly parsley. Maybe cayenne. I believe the beef was pounded thin. It was probably a family recipe. And I think the sauce was red.
I was out and about today and was seized by weak hunger as I exited from Sam's Club. There's a new place across the street called Zoe's Kitchen so I decided to check it out. I had heard the hummus was good. I had a Greek chicken pita sandwich and it was quite good. Half a pita, grilled chicken, nice lettuce and tomato and crumbled feta. I dribbled some Greek dressing (bottle on the table) that was tasty. You order at a counter and are served at your table, food on real plates not throwaway. Some of the food other customers were served looked good, too.
My exciting news is that I went to the cancer center and all my crocheted hats were gone! I was very pleased. I left some more that were, if I do say so myself, much better looking than the others that were in the basket.
Susan, we all insist that you are "in this for the long haul." Don't even think about leaving us on our own.
Eric, I empathize with your sadness over your mom's decline.
My head cold/sinus crud is flaring up again. I just took some o/c med.
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My impression of Cap. Grille the couple of times we went (back in the day when drug companies allowed spouses to tag along at their doctor dinners) was the same as yours--businessmen trying to one-up each other and their clients. I don't miss it at all.
Houston & Dallas have just as upscale restaurants as do Chicago & Boston (though fewer edgier hole-in-the-wall places). And I wish we had a branch of Legal Sea Foods here! (Fortunately, Davis St. Fishmarket in Evanston is nearly as close as Dead Lobster in Lincolnwood--and no pricier).
When I got home from LE therapy yesterday, the steaks weren't yet fully defrosted, so I served the sauceless BBQ chicken dark meat quarters I bought from Mariano's on the way home. Two giant leg quarters (the legs were almost as big as RenFair turkey drumsticks) for three bucks! Their in-house Todd's BBQ finally has its act together--they were perfect, not at all salty, with the skin beautifully crisp. Gordy & I shared one quarter--he had the drum, I the thigh. Bob got home late from office hrs., and ate the entire other quarter. No starch--I nuked the remaining asparagus & kalettes I had on hand (rinsed first, then one minute, practically a “blanch"). Sauteed the asparagus in olive oil, lemon balsamic, and Sicilian orange sea salt. Tossed the kalettes in olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, ground sage, cumin and a bit of smoked paprika. Dessert was Greek yogurt with a little raw honey.
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Still not sure what's for dinner. Gotta dig through the freezer and see what I come up with. Don't believe in frou-frou food, give me simple and satisfying!
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Chicken pot pies tonight. Since I have extra crust, I'll get a quiche out of it as well. I have a plethora of eggs and tomorrow is egg day (again!) I also made a 7" key lime cheesecake in the pressure cooker. First time for this. I don't have high expectations for it but I'm very curious.
Eric - I'm sorry about your mom's decline. Believe me, I feel your pain. It's hard.
Bedo - 50 degrees! Yike! I'm a wuss. 67 is as low as I go lol!
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DH had leftover pork stew last night and I had nibbles at my church meeting. The stew turned out OK. I used a beef stew recipe and modified it just a bit. The pork stew meat was not the greatest - lots of gristle and some outright bone. No need to feel badly that I can't buy more. I think it could have used more of the stout but I was adjusting for what meat I thought I had vs. the 3# the recipe called for. Did brown it and made the stout/onion/garlic sauce in the skillet along with some frozen juice from the pork roast from Christmas. Later I added celery, carrots and potatoes so it was pretty much a beef stew recipe. Not sure what would have made it more memorable.
So tonight DH passed on more leftovers and had chips and dip leftover from last night's meeting. I will get up and get something in a bit - might be yogurt with some granola in it.
Thanks Nancy for the chops recipe. Not sure DH is adventurous enough for fennel. Yes grocery does have it. I settled on a bourbon apple cider recipe. I don't have a cast iron skillet and most recipes called for it. I don't think you can even use one on a smooth cooktop. So it had to be total oven or total cooktop. Green beans, mac/cheese and either the frozen pie we didn't eat at Christmas or my fake cheesecake will do it. So tomorrow we cook.
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/220953/bourbon-apple-...
One of the reviewers added apple and onion to it which I plan to do.
I cannot imagine making cheesecake in the pressure cooker. And I agree my thermostat is set at 70. We just got our electric bill - 1st with the new thermostat and it was fine. So DH and I think the old one was not working well for sure. But - we've not had a really cold snap yet and not seeing one in the 15 day forecast. Might have a bit of snow flurries tomorrow but the low tonight is only supposed to be 40.
Eric - I know my DM and Aunt went thru similar with my GM but I don't think she had anything in trusts. Family lawyer handled her stuff but then that was 20 years ago.
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Going to stovetop-grill (raining now, can’t use the outdoor gas grill) a couple of Snake River Farms tenderloin petite filets I defrosted yesterday (seasoned with just kosher salt and fresh-ground pepper). Have some wild mushroom blend, so I’ll saute it with half a shallot and some red wine or sherry. Baby haricots verts amandine or Brussels sprouts with balsamic-glaze (haven’t decided yet) and will split a small baked sweet potato seasoned with salt, pepper & cinnamon. Gonna tap that Bordeaux I Coravin-ed last month to see how well it fared--will drink about an ounce or two.
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My simple dinner.....Vegetable pizza, extra tomatoes with mozzarella balls and cucumber slices. Earlier, today, sauteed kale and scrambled eggs.
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