So...whats for dinner?

Going to make a beef roast, roasted butternut squash and a salad for tonigh

I often make my own breakfast sausage using a recipe from Alton Brown that I tweaked to suit our taste. We like it a little spicy. I haven't made Italian sausage though the meatballs I make use all the same spices. I've never liked turkey burgers, turkey bacon and the like but I might try my own sausage with it.

I have no idea what dinner is, although I have a thick rib eye ready to sous vide. I also have half of a container of marinara thawed that I need to use in something.

Illimae, I'm so sorry about your fur baby. They leave such a hole in your heart.

(((Minus))). May your sister-by-choice's memory be for a blessing.

(((Ilimae))). Though 14 is an amazing run for a bulldog (even a Frenchie), it's always too soon to lose a furbaby.

Been offline the past two days here in the western Berkshires. Fall color is near-peak (will take pix tomorrow, rain permitting). We're in a timeshare condo, so we have to supply our own food. Last night we went to Williamstown and the 6 House Pub. (In an 18th century barn). It was prime rib night and they had only 2 pieces left, both end cuts. Normally I insist on mid-rare but we'd travelled all day and could have eaten the furniture. The outside was salty but the thickest part was a perfect medium—the end medium-well. Each portion was the size of a calf. Needless to say, we brought back leftovers. And they gave us a first-floor unit with full kitchen—only thing missing was a teakettle, which we got at Target for $9. Today we drove down to the Berkshire Mall in Pittsfield to see “A Star is Born,” which was wonderful, but the mall was depressing—a ghost town with only 1/3 of the shops occupied (only 3 stalls in a 10-space food court and one was closed today) and most of the rest shuttered on Sunday. At least Target was open, where we got some rudimentary staples for the fridge, (No breakfast buffet, no eatery on-premises). We stopped at the package store en route to dinner and home-away-from-home, just as it was closing.

The only open eatery was a tavern in Lanesborough—and it was far better than we expected. So-so salad bar, but fresh & adequate. Bob had a surprisingly authentic shrimp etouffee (good dark roux, albeit none too spicy—this is New England) and I had broiled sea scallops in a garlic “nage” (spoon & bread provided). I asked for double veggies in lieu of spuds or rice, and the veg was an entire quartered roasted acorn squash. Between that, some asparagus from Target, half a baked potato and half of one leftover prime rib portion (each leftover portion can feed two), tomorrow night’s dinner is set. Had to buy salt, pepper & olive oil—gotta remember next time to pack some, along with Panola sauce. I have a bunch of tiny bottles of Spanish & Italian olive oil & balsamic I swiped from business class on Iberia & Alitalia. Should’ve packed them

I first tried ground turkey because of WW influences. I was hesitant because I'm not a turkey fan. It's such a bland taste, and I have never found a deli turkey for sandwiches that I like. To my surprise ground turkey lends itself to tasty cooking and serves well as an alternative to ground beef. On the current WW program, it's a zero point food, which also encourages me to choose it over beef or pork. LOL, Lacey, on not liking its appearance. Google Italian sausage recipes and you'll find one with seasonings that sound good to you.

Yesterday I played golf at Carter Plantation in Springfield with two women golfing friends. One now lives at Carter, and her husband, a Cajun, loves to cook. He gifted me and Linda, the third golfer, a container of shrimp and pasta out of their freezer, which is loaded with his cooking. DH and I had the shrimp and pasta for dinner, and it was delicious. Rixby cooks with a lot of seasoning. I had to add a little milk for the right consistency since the pasta soaks up the sauce. I was surprised to discover that pasta freezes.

My big food story for yesterday is lunch at Carter Plantation. The small restaurant is a nice room, always a plus. It was very hot and humid yesterday, and I had sweated buckets out on the course. Even rode out the last few holes. I decided to splurge and ordered a burger and sweet potato fries. The burger was wonderful. I enjoyed it to the last bite, feeling rewarded for my endurance of the golf round under such uncomfortable conditions.

If it weren't for health considerations, I might just eat whatever I wanted to eat and waddle around. And buy a bigger size clothes every few years. NO, NO, NO.

"If it weren't for health considerations, I might just eat whatever I wanted to eat and waddle around. And buy a bigger size clothes every few years. NO, NO, NO."

Carole, I have been doing exactly the above and it is not pretty! I agree with NO, NO, NO!

Hi everyone, long time no "see" I have been very busy at work and too dang tired to get on the computer for anything much in the evenings.

Minus, sorry about your sister.

IliaMae, sorry about your pooch. My daughter has an english bull-dog that she got at a rescue. Dexter is so sweet. He is only around 2 and he is such a ham. He is always the center of attention. I will post a photo at the end of this post.

Eric, hope you get a better meal soon. Thanks for helping all of those poor people down there. I am sure they are scared to death.

Anyway, tonight is eggplant parm with linguini and salad. I have some nice shiraz and tonight I will indulge in a glass. It has been a bummer of a day.

Ok, wanted to say hello and leave Iliamae a photo of my grand-dog Dexter. See you all soon!

The meat course tonight is a beautiful rib eye steak. Side will be frozen whole green beans cooked with garlic and rotel tomatoes and sprinkled with romano pecarino. Maybe a salad. Maybe not.

Dexter is very handsome 😀

The culprit for me is carbs—I lose and maintain quite well on low-carb (far better than low-cal or prefab food plans), albeit being a PITA at restaurants: but eventually I get bored and fall victim to some special occasion. I have a large attic and lots of clothes racks. Because I usually buy classic pieces that accessorize easily, I am a pack rat and have sizes on hand from 4-22. I throw out only what can’t be cleaned or fixed, and give away occasionally to clothing drives

Last night was our one fine-dining meal this trip: Mill on the Floss in New Ashford, MA very close to our resort. The bldg. dates back to the late 18th century, and the cuisine is old-school classic French—not “nouvelle.” Started with Laurent-Perrier champagne. App. was escargots for me, Manhattan corn chowder for Bob (ok, not so trad.). Shared a salad with classic Dijon vinaigrette. Bob had baked haddock with scallops in a lobster-scallion cream sauce; I had pan-fried sweetbreads in brown butter, with capers, roast potato and seasonal veggies. We each had a glass of Pouilly-Fuisse with our entrees. We shared dark chocolate mousse with dessert; I had a cappuccino. WIne prices were half of what they’d be in Chicago for the same pours, and dinner tab was just a bit over half big-city prices. No leftovers.

Made scrambled eggs, bacon, and 7-grain toast for breakfast. Went almost to summit of Mt. Greylock yesterday after the (very soft-sell) timeshare presentation (they served us Panera lunch), but stopped 2 mi. short as the sun was starting to set low enough to have been blindingly in my eyes on the way down had we taken the 10 min. to get to the top, take pix, and then head back downhill 8 mi. along a narrow steep twisty road. View was spectacular from our turnaround point anyway.

Today we’d planned to leaf-peep in VT, but it’s clouding up and the forecast is for rain/snow showers to roll in about 3-ish. So we’ll do that tomorrow (cold & clear) and go down to sightsee in Lenox or the Rockwell museum in Stockbridge this afternoon. Leaves not yet at peak down here in the Pittsfield/Williamstown area, but peaking in VT

Damn!! Just lost a newsy post and no time to redo. Catching DH’s virus so will skip grocery store trip for protein, and make eggs to go with already made ratatouille, salad, and baguette. Then hunker down on the couch later for the Sox game. Nice meal of salmon over cauliflower with red pepper relish and side of broccoli last nite on way to Cs’ game. You get to miss my boring details of getting to game given my vanished post.

Carole, the shrimp sounds delish!!

DH is cooking a rotisserie pork roast, he’s great like that! I’ve cooked nothing after losing our dog, then dealing with massive allergies from last weeks cold front and now possible sinusitis. Trying to rest up for a trip to our cabin soon.

Parry - welcome. We're always glad to see new posters & hear what you're cooking & eating. Aren't you lucky to have people who will happily eat whatever you prepare!!!

Today I baked Costco Spinach & Artichoke quiche and took 1/4 to a shut in neighbor lady who is down to 90 lbs and doesn't eat salad or sweets or fish or.... Then I took 1/2 along with a salad to a neighbor who lost his wife late last year and just had heart "clip" surgery for A Fib last week. Unfortunately that didn't solve all his heart problems so he's trying figure out what's next with the dizziness. I thought he would want the fire roasted veggie quiche, but he's off anything spicy - and also no sweets for now so I brought back home the 1/2 chocolate pudding cake I took to share. Oh oh.

That only left 1/4 quiche for me. Sigh - because I like it leftover. Since Costco's quiches are sort of thin I could have easily eaten 1/2 but I added a small salad and the 1/2 glass of the wine left in the bottle. Don't really "need" anymore so just as well that it's gone.

Illimae sorry you're dealing with allergies & sinusitis. And I know you're missing your baby. Good for your DH. The pork looks delicious.

Last night was ribs and pulled pork, courtesy of one of the ED nurses. Tonight it's chicken & dumplings, courtesy of another ED nurse.

Hi Parry!.

Radio's going....

Quiche was a go-to for me on low-carb—just didn’t eat the crust. (I know, the best part. Sigh).

Today it dawned sunny but clouded up by 2pm and began to rain, so we headed south to Stockbridge and the Norman Rockwell Museum. I found it fascinating. We left about 4:45, and headed into town for “dunch” at the Red Lion Inn (established 1726). Started with New England clam chowder and split a turkey meatloaf entree, with mashed spuds and green beans. It was excellent—and I took half of my half back here and had it as a late supper. For dessert, Berkshire Bloom local Camembert-style cheese with whole grain toast, Gruet Brut...and (don’t judge) a dark-chocolate-covered crime brûlée truffle.

Have never tried to embed a photo exported from a phone to a tablet, but here goes—from our drive up Mt. Greylock yesterday:

Beaver - Sorry if I've asked before, but where are you in Texas?

Minus, I'm in Comal County. Have family in the Magnolia area also.