So...whats for dinner?
Comments
-
Yum...and congrats, Ilona!
Wed. night I was sitting down to coffee & a whoopie pie when Bob called. He was unable to valet-park at a restaurant where his side-employer's dinner was held (cars triple-parked, he was hemmed in at the curb with no valet in sight, cop threatened to ticket him--since the other cars were empty with flashers on and he was still in his car. Cop pushed one of the blocked cars--got in, put it in neutral, hopped out and nudged it with the cruiser's bumper--and ordered Bob to move along). One block east, Bob saw the spot in front of the valet podium at RPM Italian was open, with the valet there. So he parked and called me--I Ubered it down.
We started with carciofi fritti (Roman fried artichokes) & aioli; then spaghetti cacio e pepe; Bob had swordfish and I had halibut, and we shared broccolini. Dessert was house churned-to-order pistachio gelato with Italian wild strawberries. Our server looked at my cast-brace and asked about my injuries; I mentioned what a bummer it was because I'm a musician. She then asked if I was familiar with the local improv scene. I mentioned my son is artistic director of Big Shoulders Comedy, formerly pH Comedy Theater. She said "I loved pH--what's his name?" I answered "Gordy An..." and she said "no way--you're Gordy's mom?" Turns out they'd been teammates at i.o., and she's the pianist for their musical improv team. Not just that--a few years ago, she and the team were at my house to watch the finale of Breaking Bad!
Tonight was fridge/freezer-foraging (the last 3 Buffalo wings, Wed. night's leftover broccolini, and Tues. night's leftover elotes & mac & cheese).
0 -
Great news, Illimae! And a delicious-looking celebratory dinner.
SpecialK, I wish I would get an invitation like that! Sounds like a wonderful opportunity at just the right time.
I am back in northern MN, wearing jeans and a sweatshirt. The high didn't rise out of the 60's yesterday and it's cool again today. I will soon go to the gym for much-needed exercise. Once again I disappointed myself during my two weeks in Louisiana by not taking advantage of our Anytime Fitness membership, although there's a gym no more than a mile from my house. I just don't like it as well as the smaller, cleaner gym here, where you have to change into exercise shoes.
Dinner last night was chili made from scratch. I cooked a lb. of light kidney beans and a lb. of pinto beans and used half of the huge pot of cooked beans. The meat was lean ground beef. The chili was/is very tasty and the side was a salad with lots of goodies.
My patio tomato bush is bearing small tomatoes that have that home-grown flavor.
0 -
No one's cooking?? Miss you all.
0 -
minus - I cooked last night! Ribeyes with sautéed mushrooms (thought of you!), oven roasted small quartered Yukon Gold potatoes that had been tossed with olive oil/garlic/seasoned salt/pepper, and steamed broccoli with lemon pepper and Parmesan cheese.
Thinking of boneless pork chops tonight with a wedge salad and maybe a carrot salad.
0 -
Special - oh so that's where the vibes came from that hit me in the evening. Obviously your thoughts reached me even if I couldn't smell the rib eyes. Sounds delicious. Maybe I'll pull a steak out of the freezer for tomorrow.
Are your DD and DH back home? Cooking for one is such a challenge. Or I should say - cooking for one "creatively" is a challenge. My dinner last night was 2 ears of corn on the cob w/butter & salt.
0 -
minus - lol! DH came home late on Thursday, DD doesn't return until Sunday evening after breaking down their booth and putting it on the pallet to be shipped to the next show. DH got to sit in the bombardier seat of the B29 at the airshow, his late father's seat - he was ecstatic and had himself a moment - they let NOBODY into that part of the plane. DD greased it with those old-timer B29 guys last year because I texted her photos of my FIL in the plane from WWII - they remembered her and when she introduced her daddy to them, and added in that he was a B52 guy....kismet!
You and I would be great eating partners - I have never been a 3 square meals a day person - I am a random grazer with an eclectic bent! When I cooked for my mom/dad and MIL/FIL toward the end of their lives when they needed help I made big pans of stuff, cooked it and then portioned into single servings and froze it - I think you mentioned doing the same. It was most expedient, and the last time I did this was when DH and his sibs were taking turns with my MIL - that way they could share something or each have something different. I went to the big box store and got the single serve containers and made probably 50 freezable single-ish portions of assorted stuff that was protein heavy to try to sustain my MIL. When I am alone I often do a salad with leftover chicken or steak added on top, but also enjoy just fruit or veggies, and POPCORN!
0 -
If left to my own devices, I would be a grazer. But DH is a meat and potatoes kind of guy, (but sometimes I'll just have the potatoes lol.) So tonight is a flat iron steak on the grill and the last couple of fresh ears of corn that are now a couple of days old. Tomorrow we pick up the grand-dog for a week whine the kids are in San Diego. I'll make a calzone dough in the morning for our dinner which will also include a plump steamed artichoke for me.
0 -
Had a BLT for brunch yesterday, but the green heirloom tomato, though ripening, still was very acidic. So for dinner, I sliced and dredged it in Italian bread crumbs and air-fried it (brushed a little olive oil atop it). Veggie & starch in one dish. Pan-seared Chilean salmon to go with it. Brunch today was a 3-egg (don't judge) omelet with spinach, 'shrooms & Swiss, plus a mini-croissant. (WF used to sell 6 "minis" in a bag, but they were the size of what passes for a regular-sized "cornetto" in Italy--our "full-size" croissants would be way too big there). But now WF sells a dozen true "minis:" the size you find at European hotel breakfast buffets.
Think I'll make the other half of that ribeye tonight, with a Caprese & Brussels sprouts.
0 -
we had BLTs for lunch, too, with heirloom tomatoes from the garden.
Tonight, we are having chili and corn bread, again. Everyone liked it so much last week, dd is making it again tonight.
DH bought me a big air fryer as an anniversary gift. Tomorrow I plan to break it in with roasted Brussels Sprouts (love Brussels Sprouts)
0 -
I’m loving all the BLT’s here!
I made Shrimp Scampi with Quinoa, Spinach and a Sam Adams Summer Ale.
0 -
The Atlanta training didn't have the "most best" eating, especially for dinner and typically lunch was "convention fast food"--chicken things, hamburgers, pizza.
The training was for my government job and it was 3 very busy days. The meetings/training went from 7:30am to 7pm each day with 1-1/2 hours for lunch/impromptu meetings/seeing folks we work with but rarely see.
The walk between the convention center and my hotel was completely inside, but still around 3/4 mile (1-1/4km) and after the long day, the walk felt good. However, by the time I got back to the hotel, waited for an elevator, got to my room changed from my uniform, got back downstairs and to a restaurant, it was 8pm and not much was open.
So, it was mostly CNN food court food and ordering food in the hotel bar. The last night, when all I had to do was make it to the airport shuttle the next morning, I ordered a "Goin' Coastal IPA" with my burger. The hamburger was OK and the ale was excellent. I'm disappointed that the ale isn't available out here.
I did run a couple of nights in the Olympic Park, but I was kind of embarrassed getting, dripping wet, into a crowded elevator. I asked about using the stairs (I was on the 12th floor) but I was told I wouldn't be able to get out of the stairwell..so I had to use the elevator.
0 -
Illimae, I guess we posted at the same time.....I see you talked about ale's as well! :-) I love a good ale, but it's completly out of the question when I'm in uniform and since even bad perceptions are to be avoided, I wait until all the training and meetings are over (and I'm out of uniform) before I'll have one.
0 -
I get it about perceptions and gov jobs, I am heavily involved in contracting for the state and cannot accept so much as a free promotional key chain as it might appear to influence me, lol.
And, while I do enjoy a sweet red wine, Ale definitely has its place. Bass, Sierra Nevada, Blue Moon and the occasional Strawberry are my go to’s but I like to find new favs when I have a chance.
0 -
Dinner plans changed: made myself a small tuna salad sandwich, and a piece first of celery and then red onion hit me on the swollen sore spot on my palatal ridge behind the slightly-loose incisor. Yee-OWCH! Referred pain to all the teeth on that side of my mouth, as well as my ear and sinus. Plan B: rice pudding (keeping the rice on the other side of my mouth) and either quinoa salad (no big chunks of anything), corned beef hash (no peppers or onions this time), nukable palak paneer, or pate. Funny how the sensitivity isn't to cold, heat or sweet, so those toothache drops or some cloves probably would be useless. Been alternating between salt water, dilute peroxide, and Listerine Sensitivity rinses (the latter I can do only twice a day). And I feel a canker sore threatening to emerge too. Monday morning can't come fast enough--hope it's something my dentist can treat quickly and then schedule a root canal later in the week. (Terrified of extraction--not just because it's a front upper incisor, but out of fear of ONJ thanks to Prolia). I keep daydreaming of big fat syringes of novocaine... wishfully.
0 -
Last night's dinner was one of my favorites. Grilled Ribeye, baked potato, and tossed salad. The potatoes, medium white potatoes, spent a little time in the microwave before being foil wrapped and finished on the grill.
On Saturday night we had warmed-up home-made chili and a couple of ears of corn, gift of a weekender who had bought a dozen ears. The corn was under-developed but sweet.
Tonight will be Dave's Pizza in Bemidji. I plan to attend a WW meeting there. Afterwards we'll have dinner in Bemidji.
0 -
DDS says it's an abscess deep in the root of my front upper incisor--was able to drain a little of the palate sore. He thinks the root might have a cavity or more likely a surface irregularity that trapped plaque the floss couldn't reach. The root isn't fractured (if it were, I'd be seeing stars and swearing a blue streak), nor is the tooth; and per X-rays, there is no decay in the visible part of the tooth. So I see the periodontist on Wed.--hoping he can fill the cavity or smooth the root to save the tooth and avoid an extraction (which would trigger ONJ). At least it's not oral cancer. Meanwhile, keep on doing what I've been doing: 1000mg. Tylenol + 800mg. ibuprofen every 6 hrs., warm salt water rinses several times a day, Sensodyne toothpaste & Listerine Sensitive rinse 2X day; with the addition of clindamycin and Peridex rinse after breakfast & at bedtime.
0 -
Goodness, Sandy, you've had more than your share of health challenges lately. Sympathetic vibes.
My WW weigh in was not cause for celebration, but DH and I ate at Dave's Pizza afterwards. We shared a medium extra thin crust pizza with Italian sausage, mushrooms, black olives, banana peppers and extra cheese. Pizza is a treat and I enjoyed the food indulgence with a cold glass of Coor's Light.
Not sure about dinner tonight but I will be mindful this week of reversing the weight trend from upward to downward while still enjoying the food I eat. Today I'll be playing 18 holes of golf.
0 -
chisandy - my DD was in your city yesterday for a few hours! She was flying out of Milwaukee later in the afternoon but jumped on a train to Chicago and met up with a friend and took in a few spots before jumping back on the train to make her flight. She was delayed out of Milwaukee but managed to make her connection in Charlotte because that flight was equally delayed - yay! I am a little bit over the airport - have been there seven times over the last 3 weeks and none of those times was for a trip for me, lol! I am sympathetic to your tooth woes as well, I was eating a soft chocolate chip cookie on Sunday night and felt something that didn't belong - turns out it was one of my crowns! Appointment tomorrow - saving grace is that I have no discomfort. I have had an abscess under a crown before - super uncomfortable - had a broken ankle at the same time so I can identify with your many non-functioning part right now! Not fun! Hang in there!
No idea what is for dinner - have been chewing on one side and tending toward non-chewy stuff - last night was spinach ravioli with mushroom and sausage marinara. I may make something for DH and DD and just have soup - path of least resistance.
0 -
Dinner was half of a left over rotisserie chicken breast, 6 ozs of Pacific Mushroom soup mixed with milk and maccaroni. Delicious, but if you'll excuse the pun... still soupy. The original plan called for the addition of broccoli & cheese and oven baking, but I was too hungry to wait.
0 -
Last night was a 1/4 lb. grilled brisket-burger with cherry tomato Caprese skewers (the tomatoes & basil are homegrown, and I used mozzarella "pearls" with toothpicks as skewers), and grilled marinated asparagus, with a little bit of WF's elotes & mac & cheese on the side. Then Bob brought home BBQ from Famous Dave's (courtesy of the drug co. detail man visiting the office). When I got home from my mani-pedi, Gordy was there. I offered him BBQ, but he asked for a burger & knish. So I pan-fried one of the brisket-burgers in cast iron, and put it on a pretzel bun (nuked the knish & crisped it in the toaster oven). The Geek Squad guys arrived early--good thing, because the TV & components require 3 HDMI cables and I had only 2--and one of them was too short. So I had to dash to the neighborhood TV store, whose owner was not happy that I hadn't called him to do the install (he did a lousy job hooking up thr Apple TV upstairs).
Was about to sit down to leftover BBQ when Bob announced he was coming home from a dinner, bearing cedar-planked salmon with sautéed root veggies and mashed potatoes. So fish it was (and I put tomorrow night's ground bison into the freezer). He also brought a piece of raspberry marble cheesecake, which I'm about to have with a decaf espresso.
Tylenol Extra Strength Rapid Release + ibuprofen seems to be working better--and longer--than Tylenol with codeine. And dilute oil of cloves is helping while I wait for the painkillers to kick in.
0 -
I've been expecting the bottled gas to go EMPTY during use of the outdoor grill. It happened last night while the skin-on-bone-in chicken thighs were roasting. I think they were probably cooked enough but I cooked them a few minutes longer in the convection oven.
Side was fresh beans, mostly yellow, from neighbor's garden cooked with chunks of white potato. Butter on the potatoes. Green beans always act on me like a diuretic. I was up at least three times last night.
No plans yet for tonight's dinner. There isn't a lot to choose in the freezer.
0 -
Saw the dentist this morning, crown base was cleaned up and crown reattached. Because it is the farthest tooth back it is shallow so now the gum area is sore from all the manipulation, but my wallet and I are both happy that this was a repair rather than a new crown! I think tonight may be another dinner that is easy on my mouth, but tomorrow back to normal hopefully. I have some napa cabbage and roasted chicken so I may do a salad with Asian dressing, julienned carrot and scallion, or do a sauté ofcarrot, onion, and the cabbage, add soy sauce and hot sauce with the chicken and serve over ramen noodles. I will leave the vote on hot or cold dinner to DH since it is more of an assembly than cooking situation with either.
0 -
Special - so glad to hear your crown could be re-attached. Hooray.
0 -
minus - thanks! I was happy too! Also important, I am in the home stretch of Invisalign - yes, braces at 62, lol! So, I was also worried about them having to re-scan my lower jaw because the trays are made based on a 3D image. Reusing the same crown top means the trays still fit. I’m ready to be done with the process - Prolia has slowed it down significantly, but it has been worth it
0 -
Tonight is Turkey mini meatloafs with mashed cauliflower and sautéed squash and zucchini. It tastes pretty good but I need to improve the sauce topping a bit.
0 -
illimae - I glaze my meatloaf with a mixture of either ketchup or chili sauce combined with a little dry mustard and some brown sugar. This works well if you paint the sauce on the meatloaf during the last 15 minutes in the oven. In a pinch I have also used jarred brown gravy with sautéed mushrooms and onions added and a little sour cream stirred in at the end fo more of a sauce to put on afterward.
0 -
Good tips Specialk, thanks. I was using some leftover juice from a pot roast but I over thickened it. I’m a good griller but sauces are definitely something I need to work on.
I’m craving crab cakes, so that might be happening pretty soon.
0 -
Ilona, you're making me drool again! Looks yummy.
Special, the perio says no evidence of ONJ, and that the tooth can be saved with root canal (and either a partial crown or overlay). He sent me over to the endo, who did a 3-D X-ray and discovered that the adjacent canine, not necessarily the sensitive and loose-ish incisor, was the source of the abscess. She did a root canal--packing the canal with antibiotic putty--and will finish the job next week. We might discuss the possibility of Invisalign, since my overbite is a likely source of the instability.
Scaphoid & ulna healing nicely (though not as fast as if I had never taken Zometa or Prolia), to the point where I can start doing gentle mobilization exercises at home with the brace off--maybe even type as well. (The brace does produce some interesting typos).
Dinner will be nuked leftover BBQ (brisket & pulled chicken, beans) and elotes.
0 -
Illimae - I like those two sauces also because I usually have that stuff in the house so they are both convenient and easy. Do you sauce your crab cakes? I’m less of a tartar sauce and more of a remoulade girl.
chisandy - I’m sure you’re relieved there is no ONJ, I was a little worried about this shallow back tooth treated this morning because I have been on Prolia since 2012, but so far no related issues either. Yay for gentle exercise, but be careful!
Tonight was chili - mainly because I had all of the ingredients, because who eats chili in August?
Tomorrow my littlest baby (DD) turns 29 - how is that possible? I mean, I’m only 35, right? Lol! Hell, I was almost 35 when she was born..
0 -
Time marches on--still can't believe my baby is almost 34. (Same age as I was when he was born)!
0
