So...whats for dinner?

The freeways out of town, according to one radio station traffic reporter, "Pack a lunch, dinner and a breakfast for tomorrow. You'll need it."

Some of the roads have 25-30 miles of barely moving traffic. I'm at home where it's nice and quiet, although it did take me over 2 hours to get home from work.

chisandy - hope the skin stuff is nothing serious. At my last six month check they actually carved nothing off of me - a first over the last several years!

DH just had scrambled duck eggs for breakfast - he's a fan.

susan - sorry for the blown arm access, it always annoys me when that happens - particularly when the person causing the problem does this all day long. One would think they would be better at it. Allergic reaction finally under control - turning point was Thurs, had a good second post-op on Fri. I appreciate the thoughts - warms my heart

minus - thanks! I actually getting really good at doing a minimal amount. Probably didn't hurt that I seriously overdid just before surgery - I actually was tired. Throw in the complications and I have been content to lay low. I have a backlog of magazines that drives my DH crazy so my "job" has been to go through them - I'm ripping out recipes and travel stuff, then make a little pile once I'm done that DH puts in the recycle bin. Everyone is happy!

Dinner last night was a non-event. I did make waffles and sausage this morning, with strawberries for DH and I. DD and her BFF are in Savannah for a girl's weekend. I think they are coming home a day early due to weather and they will either go out on the boat tomorrow or paddle board with DH

I am sitting here with feet burning. I have officially overdone for three days in a row. When will I learn?

On Thursday, seven hours at IKEA and much of what we need to start a bed and breakfast has been sourced. I paid to have much of it delivered. My car can hold quite a bit, but not that extra 222 lbs of furniture flat-packs. Can't even remember what we had for dinner that night. Yesterday, my mother came to visit. Somehow, when she is in the house, I have to move quickly lots. No offer to help with setting the table, or getting the water, or carrying the serving dishes to the dining room. Just doesn't occur to her! And then she eats and smiles and say "It is so easy for you!" Umm.... only cause you didn't notice how F*CKING hard I was working! That dinner was excellent. Grilled lamb chops, fresh local asparagus, and saffron rice with a freshly opened container of Saffron I brought home from Spain last year. Today I made some ciabatta, roasted a ton of vegetables, braised some lentils and made a large fennel and orange salad. The whole shebang, plus fresh mozzarella cheese, pesto, and a fresh tomato were stashed into a bag. Then I delivered it to the other new mom I know. This is my second delivery to her, and my last. Her baby is also fussy at 5pm, is a bit suckle challenged, and adorable! I didn't get to hold her since she was trying to feed and crying at the same time.

I have poured myself an adult beverage. My feet are on strike. Hope everyone is enjoying their long weekend.

*susan*

Special, it's nice for you to remain productive in a quiet way! It is good to be able to clear out those magazines without worrying about what else you should be doing!

Carole, it must be extra hard to be the newly annointed "enforcer, especially on a rainy long weekend. Oh dear... I hope the weather clears soon for your own enjoyment!

Minus, that dessert sounded binge worthy, for sure.

Susan, I'm sure your mother enjoys your wonderful nurturance as much as seeing her great granddaughter....you may have a frequent B and B guest! ;/

We are at the lake....have not been "in" it, but lots of neighbors were yesterday since it was 94 degrees!

We had our beach association meeting, right after we arrived here, then an appetizer beach party to re-connect. It was fun, tho food was pretty unremarkable 'cept for the wonderful sausage stuffed jalapenos wrapped in bacon and grilled which the couple across the street makes. His teen daughter obviously remembers that I am a fan so she sought me out as the supply was getting low so I could enjoy one. Oh my! Love that family! After the beach gathering we actually went out for dinner! I had a lobster roll and garlicy (sp) broccoli as a side instead of fries. Yay! Both good. Then our friends and DH and I both ordered molten chocolate cake to share. My dresses will not be getting any looser!

Today much cooler, still humid...not a beach day! Good for walking tho.

We made a trip to the grocery store to get some salad fixings and a dessert since we were planning to have dinner with our same friends down the street and that was what I was bringing. I decided to try to replicate the wonderful salad that we enjoyed at the wedding last week. What made it unique was added avocado and crabmeat to the lettuce, cuke slices, carrot shavings, scallions, and heirloom tomatoes. I was able to score a wonderful red leaf lettuce, which was just like I had at the wedding, and I made a horseradish vinaigrette, which was perfect with it. I placed it on a large platter instead of a bowl, so it was pretty, too. Our friends made grilled chicken, and we also brought Florida corn that was wonderfully sweet! For dessert we bought store made eclairs and Talenti gelato. I'm hoping the salad cancels out those othercalories!

We did go to dinner with DGF's parents at Ocean Prime on Friday evening, and while I do not like the concept of such overpriced restaurants (same as Morton's), we enjoyed ourselves. I had four (not very large) sea scallops over risotto. DH had grouper and really liked it. The funniest thing tho was that after dinner while none of us ordered dessert, the waiter came over with a large piece of carrot cake with a chocolate medallion on it inscribed with "Congratulations!" He obviously knew that parents were both meeting for the first time, and assumed that which I guess happens there often enough! It was more humorous than embarrassing, and we all made sure that DS2 checked it out!! That said, we still do not know who is most wanting to be in the "holding pattern" in which these two remain.

I am hoping that everyone who is experiencing the bad rain storms we keep seeing reported on TV is safe!

Perfect weather today. Friends grilled today rather than tomorrow. They provided ribeye from Costco, grilled mid-rare over hickory chunk charcoal, and simply grilled corn on the cob. (Good call on my part not to make elotes). Another friend brought deli potato and macaroni salads. I made an insalata Caprese, with vine ripened tomatoes (store-bought, since my Early Girl plant isn’t bearing yet), basil from my garden, and mozzarella “pearls.” dressed simply with sea salt, pepper, a drizzle of aged Balsamico and a mild Genoa-style domestic EVOO. Then a fennel slaw: one bulb thinly sliced fennel, mixed with a few handfuls of finely chopped fronds; two thin slices each from a large red and Walla Walla sweet onion. I then zested a Cara Cara navel orange, peeled & sectioned it, coarsely chopped the sections and threw them in along with the juices that ran off. Added some grapefruit balsamic vinegar to bring up the brightness, then blood orange olive oil, sprinkled with Sicilian orange sea salt and a couple pinches of cayenne. Dessert, made from scratch by our hosts, was classic strawberry shortcake: a giant biscuit split and cut into wedges, hand-whipped cream, and fresh strawberries tossed with a little sugar.

The weather here today is about as perfect as possible. Friday I took some stuff out of the freezer and will probably grill it.

Yesterday Sharon and I duplicated our first date--driving from Prescott, AZ to Crown King, AZ along the Senator Highway. Highway is somewhat of a misnomer though. :-)

Susan, that's too bad about your mom not recognizing the effort you put forth. I hope that she acknowledges other successes of yours.

Special, that sounds like a good way to still get something done, not go nuts and still relax.

Nance...cherry, rhubarb? Whatever....gorgeous!! And I'm sure soooo delicious!

We are supposed to be getting rain but Mother Nature has bestowed on mid NH lake country the most perfect of days, sunny, warm, dry, and breezy. We took a nice walk to the local store to get some deet, then to the marina guy to set up a June date for our boat to be summerized and "launched"....a task DH has decided to contract out after so many years. Now relaxing on the deck before heading into town to check out a screen door replacement. Second homes are a privilege and a pain. We are not setting up our outdoor spaces yet since the pollen deluge comes in a bit later here.

Did I mention that I saw a hummer hovering near our deck yesterday....announcing their arrival, obviously! So I immediately made some food and we hung one feeder out ....but he has yet to return. Waiting patiently....

Saw some nice flatiron steaks at the store, so will pick one up to grill for dinner, along with a nice salad with the lovely lettuces I bought yesterday. Posting a pic of the salad I enjoyed recreating from what I remembered from the reception dinner. Obviously those were on individual salad plates, but this one for our dinner last night was on a humongo platter since I transported it down the block.

Special, good thing that the antihistimine took away some of your boundless energy. Sounds like it did the job of "encouraging" you to relax!

Lucky to be at the lake today Lacey. Rained almost all day after a long night rain. Now it is just steamy and muggy.

Tonight I am on once again employed by New Mom Catering once again. Taking the kids some chicken, mac & cheese, salad, and peas. [Salad for him; peas for him.] Will get a bit of Olivia time which always makes me happy. We will also stay and eat dinner with them.

Gotta catch a nap before I start preparing dinner. Day 6 and it shows.

*susan*

hmmmm pie! Peach is my favorite but cherry is a close second. Salad looking mighty fine also.

Long weekend with both kids home and fiance lots of summer foods boating concerts pool party opening of a friend's brewery and on and on.......the kids act like tourist trying to fit it all in. I am exhausted but very happy.

Twice someone brought corn on the cob....from the grocery store and obviously imported from the south somewhere and it was surprisingly very good and sweet.

It was so hot on Sat (94degrees) we actually got in the lake! Water temp 58 degrees! Arizona temps Eric! Very unusual here in ny on memorial day. Especially since two weeks ago it was snowing.

For the second day in a row, we had food from a cookout

Oh watermelon!!! I haven't indulged yet this year.

Eric - what's your DD doing for the summer? Maybe a last hurrah of free time? Or working before college starts? I love the juxtaposition between the brand new Olivia and Eric's daughter leaving the nest.

DD has been working at a multi-location family owned restaurant for the past 5 months.

I'm loving my Spiralizer. Has anyone tried freezing something like zucchini after ribboning? Even one squash makes a lot for one person and once I get the "machine" going, I'd like to do a bunch at one time.

Minus,

I don't think that zucchini "pasta" would freeze very well due to its high water content. Perhaps, if you salted and drained for an hour or two after spiralizing, then dried by wringing out in a dishcloth, before freezing, it would be passable. Other option would be to use some of the spirals to make fritters or cakes, cook, and then freeze. To reheat, just pop them into the toaster oven until warmed. Potatoes, sweet potatoes would fare better.

I have no idea why I am now indented. This site has some funny code!

*susan*