So...whats for dinner?
Comments
-
Red!!! Stand up for yourself! I admit that I have refused anymore colonoscopy and woe to the doctor that pushes. When he did I simply asked them which would kill me sooner the breast cancer I already have or a colon cancer that I don't. Let us say, that ended the conversation. All the other doctors have asked exactly once, and let it go after that. At least you get 5 years of a probe-free life. Why aren't they using Versad? I love versad.
Minus, I have never been a baby whisperer or anything. I was not born with overwhelming maternal-to-all-children feelings, but this kid [and mine before] just seem to respond well. I like it.
Nance, I am just so delighted that Dad has agreed to a new plan. Clearing out the apartment is going to be a ton of work. How will you decide what stays with him in his new home and what goes away?
Hsant, The amount of potatoes that you are mashing on a weekly basis is astonishing. Any chance you could get him to enjoy celeriac or sweet potatoes? Just for a change of pace? You must really miss your own home. How long have you been staying with him now? Is there any chance you can move him near your own home?
Eric, go DD!!!!!! What a wonderful, wonderful day for your family. Congratulations to everyone!
Tonight I am making a baked pasta dish. The ricotta is hanging now. Soon I will start cooking up some Italian sausages and making a sauce. The cheeses are all grated and ready. I will take a bunch over the the kids for their dinner tomorrow night. I have a PET in the morning and am not allowed to be near children for at least 24 hrs. Tomorrow night, we will have the leftover lamb since my day will be so chopped up with the scan prep and actual scan. I will be gone during the lunch time, so Mr. 02143 can have some leftover pasta for his lunch. It all works out. I have replenished the granola and made the season's first iced tea. Oh yea, and I actually billed out quite a few hours today!
*susan*
0 -
Lots of great news on this thread this week. Susan, maybe miss Olivia has a way of calming your soul as well.....you two will be great friends.
Eric You have reached the finish line! Such a great feeling to see them graduate and go out into the world...you did a good job!
Helped the parents today get the outdoors organized, canopy up on deck so they can sit outside out of the sun, patio chairs scrubbed, and various pieces of stuff taken to the curb. My mom made lunch...egg salad sandwich and a cold corn vege mix salad with a sweet dressing (very good). Dad not doing well, his back and ribs are hurting him pretty badly, this is new. He says he probably pulled something mowing the lawn, but I am thinking it is more. He gets scanned next week.
Then came home and did my own yard work Whew..shower now and early bed. No dinner plans
0 -
Carrie, you get to wear the devoted daughter crown today (there are many on this thread!), and I do hope that you had a bite to eat before crashing. What an exhausting day, but it will be so nice to see your parents enjoying their outdoor space. I do hope your dad's pains might be weather related? But I bet he was so happy to have your help today.
Red, glad to hear your colonoscopy good news. Most folks, as they age, have diverticuli and can survive quite nicely without incident. I'm sorry to learn of your anesthesia pain.
Susan, you always amaze with your level of productivity! Good luck tomorrow!
Eric, Congratulations on DD's graduation. How far away will she be attending college? Proud, exciting, bittersweet times.... She has been nurtured well, so will be ready to move on.
I've been dragging all day, except for my energy boost times spent with the kindergarten kids (read each class a great book focused on dealing with bullying to/by which they were riveted), so thought I would forget dinner tonight and crash. However, I needed to stop at the store to get milk and was drawn to the shrimp in the fish case, so got some and enjoyed shrimp cocktail for dinner. Then DH came home from his dinner with former colleagues and we chatted about their news and watched basketball, and I will finally crash after I do my NYT mini crossword puzzle.
Big news here is that DS2 asked us to join DGF and him next Friday for dinner with her parents who will be here for the weekend. Typically, we would be leaving for the lake on Thursday, but not now! This will be a first meet up. We first thought that there might be "news" about some future plans from the young couple, but we will not do any prognosticating! To be continued.....
0 -
Lacey, beautiful presentation! I absolutely suck at plating. It's a talent. Ok, so I'm reading this as your younger son and his girlfriend are getting both parents together for the first time. Exciting! At the very least your son is serious about his girlfriend. I look forward to hearing the details of the first meet between the "folks"
Bedo, "The Shack" looks awfully nice. How wonderful that it's right on a lake! Austin is a cutie. Gorton fish sticks remind me of my childhood in the best possible way. The fish tacos look good! But I would use a soft flour tortilla instead of a hard corn shell.
Eric, congratulations to you and your wife on your daughter's graduation.
Susan, I'm sure it's a huge relief that Olivia has put on weight. Your son in law sounds very sweet. I bet it does your heart good watching you DD and SIL dote on their new daughter.
If I were mashing potatoes on a daily basis, I would be writing this from a padded cell. I make enough for about 3 days, and if I do say so myself, I think I've perfected the art of reheating mashed potatoes with out getting that gummy, gluey consistency. Funny you should mention sweet potatoes. I just found a recipe for for sweet potato salad in a maple dressing that I want to try. I make pasta once a month for a change from the usual, and risotto every couple of months or so. I find the process of making risotto to be oddly therapeutic.
I've been with my dad since August. He has no desire to move to the west coast. He's quite content living with his brother. Plus he has an amazing physician, who not only knows his medical history, but was a colleague when my father was practicing medicine.
I hope you're feeling better today. The SEs from Xeloda can be a bitch.
Dinner last night for my dad was fresh Chilean sea bass. It was especially thick, so I seared it on my cast iron grill pan and finished it in the oven. I made a sauce of mustard, lemon juice and a touch of sugar, whisked in a couple Tbsp of olive oil and added a healthy amount of dill. And (of course) the side was mashed potatoes. I had leftover turkey sausage with the onion pepper sauce on a low carb wrap.
0 -
What IS the trick to reheating mashed potatoes? I rarely fix them and usually only in small quantities but it would be nice to know for Thanksgiving.
There is a lot of cheerful news in this thread! Nice to read.
0 -
I don't know a thing about mashing potatoes. I stopped doing it as soon as the Bob Evans ones hit the refrigerator case. Seems like a lot of money, but OH THE CONVENIENCE. Even my penny pinching Dad got hooked on them before he moved to retirement home......
0 -
I stir some milk into the potatoes before reheating them.
0 -
Eric, congratulations to your DD! Where is she going to college?
I love mashed potatoes but don't have them often. I don't usually make enough for leftovers. My younger sister makes the mashed potatoes for family pot luck dinners and hers are always delicious. She puts a block of cream cheese in them.
We're invited next door to a reception tonight for our neighbor, Belinda, who is Teacher of the Year at her school. We'll either not eat dinner and just satisfy ourselves with party food or I might get us a Subway sandwich. No plans for cooking.
This afternoon I'll go through the pantry and check for items we might want to take to MN with us. We have a cargo trailer with plenty of room. I'm taking my embroidery and crochet stuff and my small sewing machine. DH is taking his small woodturning lathe. I'm betting he'll make more use of his lathe than I do of my crafts supplies. I've been seeing elderly ladies in the nursing home with their old-fashioned afghans. I think I'll make some to give away.
Lacey, the relationship before your DS and his GF is sounding serious.
Nance, that's great that your dad is positive about the assisted living place. I don't envy you the job of moving him out of his apartment.
Carrie, you are a wonderful daughter to do all that work for your parents.
0 -
Broccoli and cheese stuffed chicken breasts, veggie and cranberry
0 -
Minus, I know that there's internet, but I think that I will be competing for it. And the phone service is iffy. I'm kind of looking forward to a media disconnect.
Paxton, I don't know about the potatoes, but I think you could add more milk and heat them up and then put butter and pepper on top to make it look new?
Hsant a soft taco sounds good. I've been reading the labels of fish lately and have been horrified. A lot say they are made or processed in the USA but if you look more closely it'll say caught in China or Indonesia or vice versa. I was horrified. Think Swai. I was soundly scolded for buying that by this thread at one time and I've never forgotten. At least good old Gorton's in caught and processed in the US and not farm raised. Now I'm addicted to fish sticks. And
Hsant gets the dedicated daughter crown for tomorrow
MOmmy that sounds like hard work mowing the lawn. I would be tired too.
Sorry for anyone I forgot. For dinner making clams with whole wheat spaghetti, shallots wine, parsely hot pepper and a few other things for DD and DSIL, I can't wait to start digging them Free dinner!
0 -
I was beat last night. Not used to doing yard work. Palms of my hands are still hurting.
0 -
Just saying "HI" since I've been meaning to write all week and the days have gotten away from me. I'm pretty much the only one working to get the subdivision pool open this summer. One guy had quad tendon surgery & the other got a new job. There are people who will help with things like registration, but I'm the lucky one to get it all set up & schedule those people. Along with getting new keys made, making sure the algae is cleaned off the steps, changing the battery in the clock, calling the plumber to fix a sink, buying TP & paper towels, & etc. & etc. & so forth. (Anybody going to see the King & I revival?)
Saw a new play by Lauren Gunderson called "I & You". If you get a chance to see it, don't let it pass by. And don't let anyone tell you what happens in the play. She won all sorts of awards for this play. It will probably only be in little theaters.
Food sounds great. I'd love Bedo's spaghetti if it wasn't wheat. Lacey - what fun to meet the "in laws". Mommy - I spent 4 hours Thursday trimming bushes & pulling weeds. I agree that my winter muscles didn't know what to do that night. Oh gee, sorry to miss everyone of the previous page but I read your posts voraciously.
0 -
Today, I think I've vacuumed up enough dog and cat hair to make another very large dog.
0 -
Have not been cooking or eating much - never do after surgery, but I'm doing ok. Doing the lunch for DH's secretary provided lots of stuff for DH and DD to snack on for the last few days.
eric - congrats to your DD on her graduation! It doesn't happen in a vacuum, good parenting is always in the mix, so congrats to the both of you too!
Waiting for my post-op on Mon. And hoping that the PS has the results from the biopsies during surgery - not really nervous about it based on comments by the PS about physical appearance, but it will be nice to have definitive word. Last minute decision to leave my port between the MO and PS, which I'm ok with. Not sure if the MO will still do MRI if the biopsy shows nothing. Hurry up and wait.
Loving all of the Olivia updates - I'm totally jealous
0 -
After a busy day with getting the pool opened I'm to tired to cook. I did put some pork loin in the pressure cooker with carrots and mushrooms for my DH...
0 -
Special - glad to hear you're doing OK. We'll be with you Monday too!!!
0 -
Been in a bit of a funk the past few days. But, we have eaten in spite of my punkiness. Tonight, he grilled a 3oz tenderloin that was threatening to have too much freezer burn. I made some zucchini "fritters" with feta, a fresh salad, and a baked potato. My half tater and the leftover steak will probably become part of my breakfast... steak, hash browns and eggs. Mr. 02143 went to the store tonight to replenish the buttermilk cause he wants pancakes. The man LOVES his pancakes. Lunch was the leftover baked pasta. Last night was leftover meze. Lots of vegetables with a bit of meat. We had the first local asparagus of the season. Oh so good. It is getting to be summer! Can't wait until things are truly in season.
No Oliva for me today since I still had radioactive waste coursing through my body. Instead, she was taken to a northern suburb to meet her great-grandmother, a great-grandfather [separate lineages] and a bunch of great aunt and uncles. I haven't had a full report yet, but I assume they too were all smitten. I don't think I will see her until Monday. I have agreed to go in the afternoons to give Lauren a bit of breathing room. Give her a bit of time to nap, shower, or whatever.
After a bunch of coding today, I investigated airbnb. Talked with one of my closets friends from college about his six year hosting in San Antonio. Now that our third floor is vacant, this could be a way to start a new income stream, allowing us to stay in the house even after I can't work any longer. Are any of you considering this as an option? Our house is less than 2 miles from MIT, Harvard, Tufts, and only 2.5 miles from Copley Square in Boston. This is a prime location! I am thinking through the unintended consequences, and trying to imagine how I would market this space. I would need to buy some stuff, much of which I would buy anyhow in order for us to use the space. Thoughts?
Special, I am so relieved to hear that you are okay. This surgery stuff always makes me nervous. You always seem so cool and collected. Me? When you are once again, going under the knife, I am not calm or collected. Will eagerly look forward to hearing about your post-op appointment.
*susan*
p.s. I was all about doing airbnb 5 years ago, but Mr. 02143 was not interested at all. For some reason, he likes the idea now.
0 -
I've been busy beyond belief. I hope it settles down a bit. I've been reading, but as you've noticed, not positing much.
The oven is smoking just a bit. I was given a 22 inch cast iron skillet and I'm seasoning it right now. It was really crusty when I got it, but nothing that a week in the lye-water bath didn't fix. It will probably end up being used as a camp skillet as it's much too large for the stove.
Special, here's to hearing the words "unremarkable" on Monday. I think you've had more than your unfair share of surgeries.
Susan, I think it will rent quickly. :-) Prime location might be an understatement.
The phone is ringing...and it's for me....sigh....
0 -
Susan - everyone I know who has either offered space or used an airbnb location has had a totally separate space. This included a separate entrance, at least a minimal kitchen, usually a big new fancy bathroom, etc. Seems like some of the locations in CA are illegally converted garages. Others are converted "pool houses" or mother-in-law conversions. With separate outside entrances, they are not in the B&B category & renters don't mingle with the owners, or even necessairly come face to face. I've never tried it myself but will be interested in the responses & your findings.
0 -
Hi Susan,
I rented a place in Chicago many years ago, that gave me privacy with a bathroom, a loft bed, and a living room. The owners offered a continental breakfast. It was in a wing of their house. I've also looked at a very very small trailer in Appalachia with no kitchen, no bathroom, but access to a bathroom through a door into the house. There were restaurants nearby. They both sounded fine and great for me, but the trailer was too far from where I was heading. Maybe check out those in Boston and compare yours to what's available. I know that some in the Boston area are very simple, I have looked at them for overnight or week long jobs when I didn't want to drive to DD's.
Oh, tonight for dinner imitation crab and fishsticks with ketchup
0 -
Sunday lunch was a marvelous Prime Rib French Dip at a local Italian place. Melt in your mouth. It came with fresh asparagus and a ton of thin fries dusted w/onions. My SIL had chicken piccata. My BIL was on a diet so he just had guacamole and ceviche. The ceviche looked like maybe it had baby shrimp. Of course by the time he had all the chips, I'm not sure it was diet food.
Then we went downtown hear the Christian McBride Trio do a performance with the Houston Chamber Choir. The trio was amazing. I would think it's hard for a jazz trio to really 'get down' in a large theater/auditorium (this is where the opera is performed), but you could hear every note & feel every syncopation. We were on the 3rd row so we could see their facial expressions. They were fully involved making music whether we were there or not.
Somewhere - maybe this thread - there was discussion of the King & I revival. One of the songs McBride played on the base w/a bow was I Have Dreamed. It was so beautiful it pulled at your heart & I wasn't the only one with leaky eyes. His fingers just flew on Tangerine and Baubles, Bangles & Beads. Lovely afternoon.
0 -
What an odd day. I came into the kitchen this morning to find my husband looking very worried. He was sure he had run the dishwasher last night, and found dirty dishes in the washer this morning. His worry was all about his memory. Had he remembered something that actually had not happened? If so, this would be a first, and a really bad sign. We started the machine. It made noise, but not the right ones. No sounds of whooshing water. For 90 minutes, it continued. And then we washed the dishes by hand. I did a ton of research, found some models with good reviews [including consumer reports], found stores that had them in stock. And after breakfast [yea, he wanted pancakes again!] we went to a mall and bought a new machine. Can I say that this experience reminds me why I shop online almost exclusively. We tried to buy an open box at a 20% discount, but a really pregnant woman told us she had "bought" it and it was hers. Long story short, she got the open box, and we got a brand new machine at 10% off with free installation and free old dishwasher removal. The new machine should arrive on Wednesday.
So, after cleaning all those breakfast pots, pans, and dishes, we decided that someone else could make our dinner. We went to our Chinese spot [it has been months!] and ordered enough food for two meals. I had the hot and sour soup, then we ordered dry-fried chicken, cumin lamb, spicy green beans and one rice. OMG! Whoever was cooking tonight was spot on. So good. So perfect. And we have enough for dinner tomorrow night too.
Planning an IKEA trip to buy a few things for our third floor suite, and then I will list it. Maybe we can get some of those graduation people!
*susan*
p.s. Minus, I haven't had a prime rib dip in years. I had forgotten how much I loved them, once upon a time, when they were part of my regular routine.
0 -
Dinner tonight was hamburgers with blues cheese crumbles mixed into the meat, and caramelized onions as a topping. I had a few half used bulbs of garlic, so I roasted them and made garlic and saffron mashed potatoes.
Paxton, The best way to reheat mashed potatoes is to use a double boiler. Fill the bottom pot about 1/3 with water, and put the potatoes in the top pot. Heat on medium low, stirring semi frequently as the potatoes start to cook. If you don't have a double boiler, you can use two different sized pots that fit easily into each other. But be careful that the pots don't become attached once they are heated.
Carole, thanks for the cream cheese idea. I'm always looking for different ways to spruce up mashed potatoes.
Bedo, if you have access to clams, please share!
Your pasta clam dish sounds delightful.
0 -
susan - I don't want you to be worried, but I am also hoping this is the last surgery for the foreseeable future. I am also hopeful that tomorrow's post-op is as eric says, unremarkable. I might have to compare new dishwasher notes with you - I have a 15 year-old Jenn-Air that is limping.
Thanks all for the support, I appreciate it.
I am experiencing some pinching/burning pain on the left side - have had this happen previously, it has been swelling that causes nerve impingement and it goes away as the swelling does. Hurts when I'm vertical, doesn't when I'm horizontal. So, guess my position for most of the day, lol! I did make some turkey and black bean chili with fresh corn, and Napa cabbage slaw. DD brought home some duck eggs and I used one to make corn muffins - interesting - they were fluffy. I have never baked with duck eggs before. She says there is a constant supply, so I will have to experiment
0 -
Special - adding more wishes for an unremarkable post-op tomorrow.
0 -
Minus and Wench Pool Worries! But soon you will have such a nice way to relax and stay cool
MOmmy I hope you have recovered.
Hsant, I can send you virtual clams,mussels and quahogs, but the people in Rhode Island would rather share their spouse than the location of their favorite clamming spot.
Special Good luck tomorrow!
Susan, some of the places I've seen listed were in an apartment with only an extra room, maybe for college student types?, but be careful and only accept lodgers with a long and positive history on the site.
Speaking of lodgers, DD's chihuahua will be staying with me next week. She is new and doesn't know whether I am friend or foe. I babysit so many dogs that the cats just walk by and think, "meh, another lodger"
I am getting ready to visit a friend who I have known since 4th grade. At times during our teens we were banned from seeing each other, as our parents, (silly parents) always thought the other was a 'bad influence.' In reality we were co-conspirerers. Is that a word? In any case, tame by today's standards. She trained at Le Cordon Blue Institute in France so I will be in for a treat and will bring some special flavored oils and vinegars.
0 -
Grrrr...lost a post...closed the web browser by mistake, so it was my fault.
I kept 25 year old dishwasher going until the parts were no longer available. The new one is very, very quiet, cleans OK and takes forever to complete a wash cycle.
Duck eggs...I've never tried cooking/baking with duck eggs. I did some quick reading and it looks like albumen is what makes things "fluffy" and duck eggs have way more albumen than chicken eggs...interesting... :-) They also say that duck eggs have about three times the cholesterol of chicken eggs.
French Dip is one of my favorite sandwiches.
0 -
specialk...hoping everything goes well with your postop!!
0 -
Good luck today SpecialK, I will be thinking of you!
We had broiled pork loin with garden salad and my pineapple, mango, red onion and avocado salsa. Very refreshing :-)
The duck eggs sounds like something I'd try. The high cholesterol kinda makes me baulk at the idea tho as I'm on meds for high cholesterol
0 -
I filled in the pool at my house after my son grew up & moved away, and after 5 basal cell skin cancers. Yes, I miss just lying on a float with a gin & tonic and I miss swimming laps in private, but I don't miss cleaning the darn thing and I was glad to miss the expense of re-plastering & tiling an aging pool. I help keep the subdivision pool running mainly so the parents w/little kids will have that joy. We're a really small neighborhood so we don't have a pool manager or lifeguards or any staff. It's getting to be a royal pain to find neighbors to open & close each day and someone who will reliably empty the trash & put TP in the restrooms, not to mention dealing with residents who lose their keys & City permits & mischief like throwing the chairs into the pool. A group of 'mature' ladies started a water aerobics class several years ago. I won't participate this summer but I'm still organizing the class & collecting the fees & paying the teacher.
Why does one half of a French Dip for lunch and one small White Chocolate Raspberry Bundtlet as the only dinner item equal 2 pounds?? Grrr.
0
