So...whats for dinner?
Comments
-
A sweet year back to you, Sandy.
Special....an exciting dash indeed!! Glad you could post about it!
Really a too cool damp day today, so while DH crankily watched the local sports teams lose their games, I decided to cook ratatouille. So we had that for dinner with another mixed greens garden salad (my daily ritual), and some cute triangle shaped delicious mushroom ravioli (made in Somerville, Susan). I also finally got around to making enough veggie/fruit smoothie mix for the next five days.
DH was dying to watch The Mancurian Candidate recently, so we did that tonight...the 2004 version with Denzel Washington. Scary......:{
0 -
I finally decided I had to make meatloaf even if our daytime high was still 86 degrees. I had some leftover boiled potatoes that I smashed with heavy cream & butter & garlic and baked along with the meat. Served with English peas and a nice cab.
Texas is weird (as you all know) so we celebrate National Night Out the first Tuesday in October. I do understand that it's hot for the police to wear their body armor in August when the rest of the US celebrates, but we really don't have much of a turn out since they switched us to October. We only have 188 houses so we used to throw open the neighborhood pool & pay for lifeguards, have games for the kids and a band & volleyball & horseshoes, and full catered BBQ meals. Some years we had dessert bake off contests and prizes donated by Target & Blue Bell Ice Cream. But in October the kids are back in school & have football or soccer or band or scouts or teacher's meetings or whatever and it's getting dark and very few people come. This year in addition to several drawings for Home Depot gift cards, we are giving a prize to the newest homeowner in the neighborhood (who shows up). We're also trying to draw people by offering to 'install' Pet ID chips for only the cost of the national registration. But we're only serving cookies from Costco. I just don't have the spark to get anything else organized this year and then have 10 people show up.
So tomorrow, after spraying again for the tropical web worms that are destroying our lawns, I'm off to Costco. One benefit is there Mandarin Orange Chicken is on sale this month.
Bedo - glad you like your job. It makes every day fun. Special - I sure hope you don't get too much backlash from Matthew. Lacey - I never saw that remake of the Manchurian Candidate, but I agree about scary. April - so glad you've joined us. Carole - hope your return has been easy. Susan - where are you?
0 -
No idea yet. I'm in the same situation as Lacey in regards to Matthew.
0 -
Going to rummage around and see if I have any cedar planks to soak, so I can cook a nice piece of wild Coho on one. If not, I’ll pan-sear it, with bourbon marinade (I don’t keep brown sugar around the house, so I can’t precisely replicate ATK’s recipe for the rub—and I do like the skin, which they remove. Maybe I’ll pan-sear the skin). Will also grill some asparagus with olive oil & balsamic, and just reheat some already pan-roasted cauliflower.
Had to go to the bank today (Gordy’s debit card got hacked with a massive charge for a dust-mite treatment company in Dubai, and because he’s leaving for Coachella in a couple of days couldn’t wait for a replacement card with a new number to be mailed to him), and next door is the Swedish Bakery—which I hadn’t been to in over a year. Picked up a loaf of limpa bread and some mini-Danish. Tried the taiglach last night, and the cookie dough from which it was made was bland and dang near broke my tooth. Feh. I figured there was a reason why I hadn’t tried it in over 50 years. I can wait another 50 again.
Those of you in the path of Matthew, stay safe and batten down the hatches.
0 -
Coachella....as in near Palm Springs?
Eric
0 -
Yup. The rock festival. He’s going because he actually got a hotel room nearby so he doesn’t have to camp. (He went to Bonnaroo once—a camping-only rock fest—and he was utterly miserable). Spending time with friends in L.A. before and after.
0 -
Argghh Can anyone give me suggestions to bring to the Pumpkinaloosa event at school? It's a "bake" sale to raise money for something or other( I'm sure it's a good cause) and I see from the sign up list that everything is baked and sweet. I am not good at baking. Does anyone have any suggestions for something easy and savory or salty?
Thank you so much!
Oh, I was thinking apples, but found out that it has to be good enough to sell to raise money.
0 -
Quiche is easy.
0 -
bedo - You could do a Chex mix type of thing and bag it up in single serving amounts. Here is a no bake recipe, and you can add or sub out the ingredients as you like:
http://www.budgetsavvydiva.com/2013/09/fall-chex-mix-recipe/
0 -
bedo - I love to bake, but for bake sales, I recommend buying a brownie mix. My favorite is Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix (need only add water, oil, and egg). I was at Sam's Club once and saw a man in a chef's coat loading boxes of this stuff in his cart.
0 -
Serenity - welcome. I too love the Ghirardelli triple brownie mix.
0 -
I grew up about an hour north of Coachella
Hi Serenity. Sourdough and oatmeal raisin cookies are my favorite baking things.
0 -
Since it is pumpkinpaloosa, why not baggies filled with pumpkin seeds? They are so easy to make and everyone seems to love them. Just a thought because I wish I had some right now...LOL
0 -
You could even offer some toasted & seasoned ones—chili, lime, sea salt, cinnamon, et.
0 -
MinusTwo - Thanks for the welcome! I've been lurking. That brownie mix is great on its own, but it's yummy with add-ons. I have used it to make a layered dessert with caramel sauce, toasted pecans, and chocolate ganache. My daughter has used it as a base for brownie waffles.
Eric - How often are you baking sourdough bread? I created a sourdough starter once and made pancakes and English muffins that the kids loved. It seemed the starter needed more upkeep than I could handle so I stopped. May try it again. I would like to try a long fermentation. I used to make oatmeal raisin cookies until I had white chocolate oatmeal cranberry cookies.
I bake on special occasions because most everything I make is really fattening. My husband cooks dinner most of the time. He's made chili for tonight. I'm working on making soup.
0 -
I hate to say OMG ,but.....
I love these ideas!
I love the pumpkin seeds ideas and the quiche, I could do that ( I pictured onion, cherry tomato, and mushroom )
And the Ghirardelli, Serenity, you are dangerous
I told my co-workers the ideas and said that I asked my friends -you are after all this time-
And knowing my cooking ability they said chex mix is genius and to ask my friend to help me Haha special. Come to Rhode Island?
Thanks everyone,I will make it without nuts? for the allergic people and put it in cute little baggies with orange string
Thanks again
0 -
Good idea about the pumpkin seeds in little bags. I was going to suggest using the easiest mix in the pumpkin baking world.....Trader Joe's has the best pumpkin bread and muffin mix for 2.99... For the next few weeks. It is a breeze to make, even for non-bakers like me. The stocking staff at TJ's said that people were buying it by the caseful. So since you are set for this weekend's event, pick a few packages up to make for Thanksgiving dinner. They are really good!
I was going to enjoy some pieces of a store bought chicken, with Brussels sprouts and some challah bread, for dinner since DH was still at an HBS volunteer meeting. However, he showed before I ate so we both had store cooked chicken.
I awoke with an outrageous sore throat and headache, and hope it resolves before we head to the lake on Friday.
Welcome, Serenty!
0 -
Tonight was the first Bar Show chorus rehearsal—and everyone stood up and cheered when I walked in the room (they all knew why I had to drop out of the cast last year). Our exultation was short-lived—since the title of this year’s show (we parody a different B’way musical, movie or TV show each year) is “(This Case is a) Shamilton,” the opening and closing production numbers are from “Hamilton.” Hip-hop, except in 6-part harmony—and since I’m a mezzo, I get the notes that make absolutely no sense out-of-context. My work is definitely cut out for me.
Took the CTA back, and met Bob for dinner at B’way Cellars. We had hanger steaks in balsamic reduction with green beans—Bob’s also came with mashed potatoes and I subbed out roasted brussels sprouts. Had an A to Z Oregon Pinot Noir. Bob has cataract surgery down on the SW Side at 7 am tomorrow—and we have to be there by 5:45 (!) am. He’s NPO after midnight. We were going to pull all-nighters, but I think I’ll turn in in a few minutes and take a nap.
0 -
bedo - glad you liked that idea! And yes, I would come up and assist!
I had thought I was going out to dinner tonight with my DD and her BFF for my 60th birthday, but after being told we had to make a quick stop to see BFF's mom before going to the restaurant, it turned out to be a surprise party with a dozen neighbors for one of those canvas painting and wine parties! They brought a buffet dinner and a beautiful cake, and they decorated with flowers and balloons, and we all painted and had a good time! I have some very nice friends!
0 -
Happy 30th Birthday, v. 2.0, SpecialK!
0 -
chisandy - thanks! I actually invoked that saying "60 is the new 30" before I blew out the candles, lol! When I was actually turning 30 we were stationed on the other side of the dateline and my DH tried to arrange our return from that assignment on my birthday so that I would turn 30, then cross the dateline and do it again - he is a funny man!
0 -
Happy Birthday Special! Oh and I thought you were turning 29?
0 -
Happy Birthday, Special!!!! I like the dateline idea. :-)
Right now I'm not doing much with the sourdough, or cooking in general. DD is off to college and Sharon is losing about 1 to 1-1/2 pounds per week eating Jenny Craig's food. Before I'd make sourdough pancakes every few weeks and bake a couple of loaves of sourdough bread every other week..
I keep the starter in the refrigerator and feed it once per week. It seems to do OK on this system...I let it warm up, feed it, let it "explode", feed it a little more and put it back in the refrigerator.
0 -
Our local CBS news station did a story last week on meal kits. They found that Home Chef and Blue Apron worked out to be cheaper than even Jewel, our mainstream supermarket chain, for the same ingredients. So I might try that. I think I will get a rotisserie chicken tonight and make grilled asparagus and sweet potatoes to go with it. Gordy's going to California in a couple of hours; Bob is off until Monday recuperating from his cataract surgery (they just took him into the OR and I'm typing this while I wait), so we may do a getaway stay-cation downtown or in River North (gotta use those Hilton points) or maybe Lake Geneva. Looked into getting tix to the Cubs playoffs, but we're talking twice the price of Hamilton tickets on B'way!
Years ago, I lost quite a bit of weight on Jenny Craig--I would tweak the meals by adding extra low-calorie veggies to sop up the sauces & gravies. But it played havoc with our social & travel life. (I actually used to pay restaurants to nuke my JC dinners while everyone else ate off the regular menu; and I had to pack the dry foods & mixes in my luggage and order microwaves & fridges for our hotel rooms). Later on I tried Seattle Sutton (fresh, not frozen), but the portions were tiny and the food was monotonous & bland--the only seasoning was black pepper, the fruit was always unripe, there was no red meat or shellfish, and not even any fresh or frozen fish--just dishes using canned tuna! Bleccch. And by then I was performing several nights a week, so the meals began piling up in the freezer. Gonna go back to quasi-paleo--easiest on the road and in restaurants, and most palatable
0 -
For everyone dealing with the hurricane preparations.....be safe.
0 -
Happy birthday SK! Today is DH's birthday, so happy bday to him too!
0 -
Gotta do a freezer dive to see what I feel like making.
0 -
Special - Happy B-day. What a fun surprise. I loved turning 60. Mentally it meant I could do whatever I wanted because I earned it and I deserved it. Nance - happy birthday to your DH also. Sandy - hope the cataract surgery went well. Eric - Do you miss cooking or are you happy for the break? How is your DD doing at school? Lacey - thanks for the tip about Trader's pumpkin bread. Bedo - be sure to update us on the party.
0 -
Happy Birthday, Special! What a lovely surprise your friends/neighbors had for you! And, yes, the dateline crossing would have been a fun happening! I enjoyed the "almost happened" story about it.
Minus, you are great at recapturing themes with so many around our kitchen table! Impressive and thoughtful...
.Nance, HB to your DH!
So my DH just left for the dentist where he is starting a rather involved implant process. He is slated to be eating soft food for the next few weeks, so I'd better be googling "soft meals" to make for him. Good thing it's soup making weather! He was trying to talk himself into coping with such misfortune (my DH LIVES for food!) declaring that this is a great opportunity for him to shed some weight after our rather food-centric summer! I might need to remind him of this goal by tomorrow....this is going to be hard.....and he WILL lose a lot of weight, quickly! Poor guy/lucky guy! I covet his metabolism!
0 -
Lacey - I don't envy the upcoming restrictions due to DH's dental surgery. Men are sometimes inflexible about what they want and when they want it. Apologies to Eric for this general statement since he seems to be extremely flexible. (And disclaimer that we women can sometimes be almost as bad.) Just talked to a neighbor last night post knee surgery who has thrown away his crutches & cane at least 4 weeks before the physical therapist & the doc approved. He said it only hurts a couple times a day. Oh but what damage might he be doing with his stubbornness.
Anyway - yes it's lucky it's soup weather. Maybe he'll be able to eat macaroni & cheese (without the ham of course). And omelettes without the bacon. Will he eat cottage cheese? The hardest part about restrictions is that our brains automatically start thinking about exactly what we can't have.
0
