So...whats for dinner?

Oh the renovations and the Dads. Thinking and hoping that things work out. And Moon, what is up with that??? Sheesh!

For dinner last night pizza with eggplant topping at a bar that plays music, with Narragansett beer, of course. Danced a bit, my partner asked for my number. Really only looking for a dance partner

I still am working on the split pea soup I made a few days ago. Feeling like an egg- in- a- hole for breakfast with some grape jelly

Susan, I hit the jackpot when you posted SOUP I'll be busy for a while.

I am becoming addicted to Halos- those little orange things that are so much sweeter and better than regular tangerines or whatever they are. Try them if you haven't

I'm going to practice then spend the night with a dog. I real dog who's Mama is in Cancun for business, poor thing.

Happy weekend everyone

It's a GORGEOUS 70 degree day today. In honor of this taste of spring, I'm grilling ribs tonight with some baked beans and potato salad. Carb fest! The pressure cooker is going to be busy today.

Ok, here's the Dad Update. It's been a very long week. Yesterday dad had a peripheral angioplasty procedure and stent placement in his left leg. The arteries in his left leg (the same side as the bone infection) were 90% blocked, but with the stent he now has good blood flow to that leg. He will have one put in the other leg at a later date. This will hopefully improve the ischemic ulcer formation in his foot as well as the healing of the current infection. He has been on oxygen because he has fluid buildup around his heart which has given him trouble breathing. He's getting lasix right now, but I'm not sure what else is going to happen with that. In spite of all this, he looked better yesterday then I've seen him for a week. Dad was very alert and even wanted a hamburger after his procedure. That was good, because he's been eating very little. The skilled nursing facility is really nice and the staff are wonderful and have been outstanding in communicating with me. Of course Dad does nothing but complain about it. Little things like they don't bring straws with his drink or they give him a shower then take him to physical therapy where he gets sweaty again, or every time the staff come in his room they move everything out of his reach. I had to remind him yesterday that he wasn't in a hotel and even in a hotel, room service doesn't show up immediately after you call them. To be fair, the guy's been in a hospital environment for going on 4 weeks. I'm sure that would make anybody cranky. He also complains that they make him do stuff in physical therapy with his arms when what he really needs is to walk (they make him do that too). I have to keep reminding him that getting his strength back involves more than walking. Sheesh! Red, it's definitely a sisterhood, isn't it?

Enough of that. I want Meyer lemons too! Thanks for the inspiration link Susan! The only ones I've seen here have looked pretty crappy. But I'm so happy they are an excuse for Lacey and Susan to lunch!

Carole -- yay for golf! Glad you get to play again. How's your foot holding up? I know about that cart thing. At the grocery where my dad likes to shop they only have three so they're often all taken. I've found myself following people around the store or the parking lot, while my dad waits in the car, so as to snag the cart when they're done with it. I'll even carry their groceries to their car if necessary lol. One day after I had loaded my dad back into the car, I was driving the electric cart back into the store. I passed an elderly lady who was walking into the store who said to me "You should be ashamed". Wait, what??

Susan, I don't know how you keep your sanity with all of that going on. Same for you Special! UTIs, ugh! Had way too many of those.

Monica - so happy your "plumbing" is better. I know, the food thing is weird. My DBIL has bouts of gout, and spinach, red meat and beer are prime antagonists. Who knew? Bummer on the implant though. Sorry you're finding yourself going through that again.

Hey to everybody else. Minus - hope you enjoy that avocado recipe. I love that salad.

Eric - I would read your blog faithfully. Bedo - I'm a Halo addict too. Betcha can't eat just one!

Again you have all bested any cooking I do. Still on a use it up/eat it up craze though I did stock some more thin cut pork chops from BOGO sale. The most I have cooked was a pork chile stew with 1# ground pork. It turned out surprisingly good but disappointingly only a little over 4 servings. DH will have some remainders for lunch even though we are going out with group for Mexican food tonight after a Lowe's shopping trip. I really don't remember much else I've made. We have been scrounging thru the fridge lately. Tomorrow is the Daytona 500 so not sure what I will make. I do have new pancake mix and good bacon so might be breakfast for dinner.

Went to town yesterday for yearly mammo. BS ordered 3D which my radiologist was pleased with. Talk, wave, see you next year. Yay. Not so pleased with the facility itself. My old home hospital but they do need some expertise (?Susan) in software. They thought I was going to put $1000 down on this. Order says with sono if needed and pre-regist. last week was insistent that $1000 was what I would have to do. Last year I overpaid by about $300 which I got back on my credit card. Circumstances a bit diff. this year - have not met deduc. and 3D costs more. Both things I understand but ins. did pay for the diagnostic last year (1st time it has). I came armed with cost comparison off my ins. page. But PTL I got to register with an old (from 1979) acquaintance who said "we'll bill you the difference" and laughed at the $1000 thing. Then despite my calling last week to verify they had an order from BS insisted they did not have the order - finally found one from last summer that said good for 2016 so they used that. I'm so done with them - the only thing keeping me there is the radiologist I adore. She herself admitted the fac. has software. problems. Don't know what people do who don't speak "insurance".

SpecialK - I had piping redone last year from house exit out and new cleanout installed. Yup hedge roots got in. I watched when he cut the section out. He said it was cheaper grade PVC and went with tougher stuff too. Hate plumbing problems.

Dislike personal plumbing problems too. Glad you Moon and you Special are on the mend. WTH Moon with an implant that's not an implant any longer. Good thoughts for your appt. next week.

Lacey - tell met about the muffin blend. That sounds delicious. I found some bit out of date applesauce so going to make those tomorrow for DH's lunch. Will open the applesauce b4 I brew up an ingredients.

Susan - there is no way I could keep up with your day. And do a full time job on top of that. Kudos to you. Glad the GI stuff seems to have gone bye-bye for now. I have a glass doorknob passed down my DM from my great grandma's long gone rural house. I use it for a paperweight

I don't think I've ever seen a Meyer lemon. Perusing the grocery ads yest. morning one did have a small bag of them. Susan can't imagine 100 recipes for something I've never seen lol. Drooling over the scone recipe.

((Hugs)) Red. Hope things are coming along with your dad. Nancy - see you've updated since I started this missive hours ago. Glad he has the stent surgery behind him. Some NH/AL I saw did not have straws. I know they are gas enhancers. Maybe he needs a stock supply in his overbed table. And of course it never hurts to have him gently remind his caregivers to put his stuff back like it was. I know easier said than done but maybe with reinforcement he will.

Happy Cooking and Happy Saturday everyone.

I loved reading all of your medical updates and adventures with elderly parents at the food stores. It has been some time since my mother was here visiting so that I could find her clothes to wear to DS1's wedding, and your shopping accounts brought me back to that time.

Special, I am so glad that you had no untoward effects from your post fix'em clean up.

Carole, I hope you enjoy your friends' visit...and that the house prep is not too onerous!

Today was an interesting, poignant time for DH and me. We attended a memorial at Harvard for a friend we knew from a board DH is on, the one in Stockbridge. He was quite a distinguished guy, a US ambassador who effectively helped the Philippines become a more democratic society, and later dealt with South and North Korea in ways that left them both respecting him (the South Koreans not so happy about that!), and our government understanding more about the mindset of North Korean leaders.

The many global and academic speakers today gave incredibly textured personal and professional stories about their experiences with him. It was amazing (apologies for using that term). The last family speaker shared amusingly real stories about his experience living as an adolescent in a secured ambassador residence during the regime change. It was rebellious, humorous, painful, authentic and nostalgic. Wow! Most striking in all of these remembrances were the speakers' characterizations of Steve being the kind of person who made everyone in his company feel at ease. I can attest to that.

Last Spring, I had the pleasure of sitting with him at a welcoming dinner for the new medical director at the Stockbridge hospital where DH and he were on the board. I have to say that I was a bit intimidated, knowing his resume, although I had met and spent time with his wife with whom I totally connected the previous year. But I did not need to worry. Conversation was easy and meaningful, and I had no idea that he was still struggling with a cancer that we all thought was in remission.

This was a man, a native midwesterner, who earned the respect of friends and enemies alike. One of the speakers today said that his manner was so kind, peaceful and respectful that "he could tell contentious enemies to 'go to hell' in such a way that they would look forward to the trip, and start packing their bags". John Kerry was unable to attend today, but sent a wonderful account of his accomplishments and appreciation of knowing this man. It was not just impressive, but food for thought in terms of the meaning of patient diplomacy vs. exertion of power. The world lost a good man, and hopefully all of his Tufts and Harvard grad students who attended this large service today will have taken in the lessons he offered and lived.

Not secondarily, DH and I were so struck by his wife, who stood by herself, at the end of the service, greeting hundreds of guests, after the service and during the reception, like the seasoned ambassador's wife she was, remembering and mentioning so many personal comments to each person. Yikes! At the reception, I noticed that she was hardly making her way into the main rooms where there was food and drink, so I interrupted her greetings to ask if she needed anything. She did. The woman was totally parched and happy to have a glass of water brought to her. Lordy!

And also...not tertiarily, if that is a word (Carole?), the service was held in Memorial Church at Harvard. DH and I were married in Appleton Chapel, which is a part of the same building, and which I have not seen since the day we were married!! So today was meaningful in many ways to us.

After the reception, we thought we might go out to dinner since we were dressed up (unusual!) and it was a gorgeous day for a walk to a local restaurant....but the food at the reception filled us up nicely, so we, instead, walked around Harvard Square and bought DDIL a b-day gift in an artisan store...a lovely hand-carved left-handed spatula...for the gal who needs nothing and is left handed!

Once home, I made a dinner salad topped with our leftover V-day rib-eye steak. Clearly rib-eye is better when it is warm and one cannot see all the fat marbling that I painstakingly cut out tonight. I made a horseradish dressing for the salad, and we enjoyed it with some nice red wine and crusty bread. Yum!

And that was our day.....thank you for letting me carry on about it.

Oh.....Luv, I will post link to the muffin recipe tomorrow.

Luv, this is the recipe I tried/used for the banana pineapple coconut muffins. You will notice that it also calls for maraschino cherries which I love, but left out. This "bread" does not need any more sweetness, which cherries would definitely add (along with red dye!). I think the amount of sugar could also be reduced. As I think about it, even without the cherries, this recipe could serve as a tropical banana cake with some cream cheese icing....decadent!

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/17050/hawaiian-banana-nut-bread/

Red, hoping the assisted living works out for your dad. I'll be thinking about you.

Lacey, what a a wonderful description of your friend. He sounds like an outstanding person. Too few of those in public service these days. Or maybe there are lots and we just don't hear about them.

Dinner tonight is easy peasy (or more correctly, lazy lazy) -- chicken and rice with asparagus. Looking forward to losing myself in tv tonight (Downton Abbey!) Tomorrow is another doc appt for dad. Not looking forward to it.

Hi all!

Fixed this salad to use up at least abit of Meyer lemon: http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1017318-radish-...

Very light and refreshing; luckily my husband volunteered for mandoline duty. I also fixed Ree Drummond's beef stroganoff. The two dishes don't exactly go together but I wanted to try both so I did.

Dinner was a riff on Laurie's favorite - chicken breast already poached, black beans, small can of Hatch Green Chilies, enough sour cream to moisten - topped w/shredded cheese. It's better w/actual salsa.

I made a bourbon barbecue sauce this morning, mixed it with the leftover brisket from yesterday. I'll make coleslaw later in the day and will make brisket sandwiches on brioche buns for dinner. I will also make mashed potatoes as an additional side

hsant - I'm coming to your house for dinner, lol!  Love brisket sandwiches, prefer them to BBQ pulled pork, and also put coleslaw on.  The Whole Foods by my hairdresser just started carrying some awesome brioche buns - super soft - and I love them for sandwiches and burgers.  I was relieved that the plumbing thing was easy to fix, I was dreading the possibility that the leak was under the walkway, lawn or garage.  A few years ago the large city pipe that snakes up under the street supplying water to each house broke under my lawn (I am the first house on the corner where the pipe is the largest) and they had a hole in my lawn 8x8x8 with backhoes, etc. all night - the cul de sac had no water for a couple of days, and the street was blocked off - it was a mess.  I was amazed that when all was said and done they had replaced the pipe, filled in the giant hole, re-sodded my lawn, poured a new sidewalk, and re-paved the street.  Our only involvement was the geography - but my neighbors kept driving by and looking at us like "what did you people do?" I felt bad, for us and them, lol!

chisandy - ugh on the GS cookies - my DD brought home Tagalongs she got at work.  Tagalongs are my kryptonite.

eric - in hindsight - always 20/20 - we could have made this repair ourselves.  Isn't that often the way?  DH is pretty handy but usually defers with plumbing and electrical.  I have to say the fee was very reasonable and he came to the house three separate times, so I did the clean-up with a little grumbling.

paxton - it goes together if you say it does!

auntie and red - hope that dads are under control and you have a calm week.

lacey - the service for your friend sounds lovely, as did he.

I got some pre-grated cauliflower (gotta avoid scraping my knuckles or exacerbating my LE by manually-grating or hauling the Cuisinart out of the basement) and there’s a pizza-crust recipe on the package. It calls for egg, grated parm and mozzarella as binders--no sense in wasting good Parm Regg. on that so I bought some grated domestic parm. and mozz. as well. Will bake and freeze the crusts tonight.

Took dad to the foot doc today. Feet are healing nicely with no visible signs of infection. He gets to resume physical therapy this week. He was in better spirits and the swelling in his arms has gone down. Less fluid means easier breathing. Dad didn't complain about anything today and he was joking with the cnas who were dressing him. It sounded like he was trying to get along. All in all, a good day!

Western omelets for dinner, (substituting bacon for ham) with onion, peppers, tomatoes and cheddar. Home fries and biscuits will join the omelets.

Dinner tonight: baked zucchini wedges topped with garlic, olive oil, lemon zest and Parmesan, and roasted cauliflower (which I could eat all day every day). Okay, and homemade vanilla ice cream with hot fudge sauce and cinnamon pecans--y'all dragged it out of me

I ran 6 miles tonight and just ate a little bit of ham and an apple....and a whole liter of water.

Back in the day, I could, every night of the week, run 10-15 miles at a nice and easy 6 minute per mile pace and think nothing of it. Now, 35 years later.....I'm not quite sure what happened. :-)