So...whats for dinner?

turkey breast, stuffing, and a veggie

Got enough of the turkey breast left for hubby’s lunch this week

Minus, thanks for posting that recipe. I've made mushroom risotto but this spin for Asian style sounds amazing. And yes, short grain does take less water. I also tend to soak the rice for about 1/2 hour, according to many japanese cooking shows. It cuts down the cooking time and it is more evenly cooked. Even works well with short grain brown rice.

The goat shoulder was lovely. I used the last of it taking off all the meat, chopping it to bite sized pieces and making a stew with cabbage and potatoes. Only a serving left, so maybe lunch tomorrow.

I think I will make Saag Paneer tomorrow (I use tofu instead of actual paneer…easier and more protein).

Tomorrow is DH's zoom appt. with Fred Hutch, so crossing fingers something good comes of it…and his weekly dental appointment.

Many good dishes in the posts I caught up on this morning. This past weekend featured family and food to an extent that I don't know when I will confront the scale again. My youngest brother from OK came late on Friday night. We left the door unlocked for him. On Saturday dh and I and brother drove to a nephew's upscale new home where his father (my middle brother) was hosting noon dinner with his homemade seafood gumbo, which was full of fresh oysters, shrimp, crab pieces and crab meat. It was spooned over Parish white rice. The side was our family's mashed potato salad and dessert was a layer cake made by a relative famous for her cakes. My younger sister and her dh attended plus the nephew, wife and two daughters were present. It was a most enjoyable occasion. We spent the afternoon out on a shaded patio room overlooking the swimming pool. Two siblings did not attend for different reasons even though they both live within driving distance.

Yesterday dh cooked a big breakfast for the three of us with bacon, sausage, eggs and warmed slices of my Einkorn whole grain bread. Dinner was leftover seafood gumbo we brought home with us, rice, leftover potato salad and crispy fried catfish I cooked. DH's home-made tartar sauce.

Brother departed during the early hours this morning to drive himself to the airport. I haven't given any thought to dinner tonight.

Minus, I cannot imagine a supermarket in the Houston area does not have smoked ham hocks in stock. I prefer the slices which do not have as much skin. Our little Piggly Wiggly grocery store has the ham hocks and pickled pork.

I have not eaten goat because of lack of opportunity.

Today will definitely include exercise.

Eric, life can sometimes deal too much hardship and your friend has been dealt huge losses, especially the death of his wife. I know you wish you could ease his grief. On the positive side, what a good thing for Sharon and DD to have time together.

I bought canned chicken at Sam's Club. Opened one can and found the chicken tasteless. I gave the rest of the cans to my sister either to use, give away or feed to her dogs. I would much rather go to a little trouble and poach a chicken breast.

I, too, hope your dh can get some encouraging information, Wally.

I rooted around in the freezer and found a ribeye. I also did a review of refrigerator contents and found turnips, cauliflower, broccoli, romaine, cabbage, carrots. So there are good options for side dishes.

Thank you again, Wally, for introducing me to Einkorn flour. I so enjoy a slice of my whole grain bread for breakfast. I didn't warm it today but had it room temperature with peanut butter and a drizzle of honey. And the bread is easy to make. No kneading.

I had Mac n cheese and hubby had soup seeing he had dental work done today and he’s in a little pain

Carole, That seafood gumbo sounds so good. There are many dishes that are regional and hard to recreate due to the local inavailability of ingredients. Ham hocks and pickled pork are nowhere to be found where I live now. One consequence of moving is I can no longer make some of the good foods I was introduced to. Spices are pretty easy to get online but perishable ingredients are not.

In Alabama a goat stew was a big social occasion like a barbeque or a New England clambake. Goat is not readily available here but I can buy it if I travel to a halal market.

Minus, Trying new rice dishes is a good idea. If you cook rice you can then make smaller varied meals so you don't have to keep eating the same thing.

Eric, You and Sharon have been on the road quite a bit.. I've just been going back and forth to Boston. Saturday we went to drop off a coat for repair at the Zipper Hospital, a nice change from the people hospital. There was a nearby deli that sold blueberry blintzes as well as the popup Portuguese custard tart shop so we had two delicious treats.

Wally, I hope the Fred Hutch appointment went well and your DH's teeth are holding steady. I have two replacement crowns to compensate for shifting and exposed roots scheduled for February.

Bedo, I keep telling myself that the days start getting longer on Dec 22. This freezing rain is bone chilling, however.

Dinner tonight was chicken in orange curaçao sauce.

Auntie, I was looking for people I remembered, and here you are! Yes, I bought the condo that I was living in, I have 2 grandsons, and I retired from working as an RN/NP 3 weeks ago and now "walk" dogs. Haha, people only want me to babysit them, and I only take under 40 pounds, so I get little bow-head types who are so cute, and tomorrow, I'm taking a 5-month-old kitten for four days. This is the life I celebrated by going to Hawaii and went scuba diving with the manta rays and all kinds of things. AND it only cost $250 as the ticket was $450 round trip from Boston and I got $200 credit for getting an American Airlines card and am in a Trustedhousesitters and Homeexchange programs. I am the cheapest woman on Earth! I am still vegetarian but kind of as I now sometimes eat fish. It is so good to see you here ! Sally

Hi, Bedo! Good to "see" you again. A few of us oldie foodies are still here. Your black bean soup sounded good.

I am thawing two chicken thighs, skin on bone in, and cook them for dinner. Side will be butternut squash and maybe romaine salad.

We finished up the left over chicken & dumplings dish and had some roasted cubed squash.

Bedo - REALLY great to see you. Your trip to HI sounds like a dream. Yup - a bunch of us are still here. Welcome to the world of retirement.

Christmas lunch with my BFF today. She lives an hour to the North so we meet sort of in the middle. We went to an Italian restaurant that was quite good. Then I went Aldi, since they supposedly had some Kringles from Wisconsin - pecan and strawberry. The clerk looked at me like I was crazy - hey lady - they came in last week so of course they're sold out. Sigh… I'm not driving across town to Trader Joes since I expect they are sold out also.

Comfort food night here….

French toast and bacon

Cold short days are perfect for comfort food.

Minus, I’m sorry you missed the Kringles. Aldi’s special stock goes quickly and even the availability of their staples can be inconsistent. I go there first since it’s cheaper and fill in the blanks at another grocery store.

Carole, I would eat cauliflower in cheese sauce for my entire meal.

Dinner tonight was chicken curry.

Yesterday I poached a salmon fillet in white wine with dill. Difficult food decisions today. Do I have leftover pizza or leftover ham & beans… And I must use a bag of spinach either today or tomorrow, which doesn't go with either of those. Nor does the bag of fingerling potatoes.

It's a beautiful day. Bright sunshine and 65 degrees. I should have been writing Christmas cards, but instead I went outside & raked leaves. Oh well, I only send cards to a few far flung friends and they will already be late anyway, so….. How's that for rationalization?

I gave dh a couple of options for dinner last night and he went with our reliable standby, linguine with Raos enhanced with Italian sausage removed from the casing. I grated some pecorino Romano to sprinkle on top. The new dh who eats with moderation did not have a second helping. He has lost enough weight that he's down to one pair of pants that fit. I keep urging him to go shopping for a pair of jeans.

Yesterday I was able to wear a pair of jeans that had been retired in favor of a larger size. It felt so good that I passed over a couple of super high calorie items on the menu at lunch with two women friends. We ate at Rip's on the Lakefront and had a table overlooking Lake Pontchartrain. I love the brie and crab soup at Rip's and also their version of a wedge salad using buttercup lettuce and a blue cheese dressing to die for. Instead I had the shrimp remoulade salad and was happy with the choice. There's nothing better than a good remoulade sauce. And the company was great.

Our temperatures have dipped and it's currently 45 degrees outside and sunny. Back to chili and soup weather. So tonight's menu has not been decided yet.