So...whats for dinner?

Maggie - eating 'whatever' only works because I live alone. If I had a husband or kids still home, I'd be cooking balanced, nutritious, meals - and likely be back to at least 2x a day instead of my normal one meal.

This evening I finished 2/3 of a bag of chopped broccoli and cut up & re-heated the Pasta Roni with LOTS of milk. That was decent once the boxed sauce was diluted - if boring.

"Coffee with Cops" in the morning hosted by our City Council representative. Pastries & doughnuts will be on tap. I'll have to come home & brush before I head to the periodontist in the afternoon.

Tuesday was crab..all I could eat

Yesterday several of us went to Harpers Ferry. Most everything was closed by the time we got there, but we were able to walk arounad a bit and had dinner there at The Rabbit Hole. It has a US Forest Service sign motif and one of the signs was for Palace Station (Prescott National Forest). Sharon and I had our first date at Palace Station.

I'm flying home Saturday afternoon. there

I went to the dentist today and finally got a crown that fits. The third time was the charm. With Wally’s stable eyes and Minus’s OK gums I guess we are holding steady.

Eric, one of the things I miss most about Salisbury, MD is the crabs. The Palace Station sign was quite the coincidence. I hope you have a good flight home.

Dinner tonight was meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

Hi all - I know I said I would try not to have extended absences again, but, rather unbelievably (at least to me), I got sick. Again. I assumed it might be influenza B, since I had already A, but it was my first case of Covid. I had managed to dodge that particular bullet for 5 years! Symptom onset was 3/29, and I just tested negative for the first time yesterday. I am glad that the symptoms are more mild with these recent variants because I was still pretty sick and still have a cough like a coal miner. I have had an upper respiratory something since the first week of Feb - very unlike me - and I am not usually a catcher of things. Bleh. I am now suspecting the pulmonary function test I had on 3/25 - it was my only interface with another person for any extended period of time, in a small, closed-door room, which involved putting my hands and mouth on equipment. The tech was masked and gloved and the mouthpiece was disposable, but it is the only thing that makes any sense timing wise. In any event - I am back now!

Dinners have not been a thing for the last two weeks, DH has been fending for himself except for the corned beef I had postponed from St. Patrick's Day. That was his prep day for colonoscopy so not a good time for it! Despite my mom always cooking corned beef and cabbage on the stovetop my whole life, I baked it in the oven with brown sugar and mustard on top, in a shallow bath of the spices and water, tightly covered. Then you add potatoes, carrots, onion, and cabbage, cover again and up the heat for 30 mins. Then uncover for another 30 minutes. Super tender, and something of a sheet pan meal. We sat on opposite sides of the kitchen to eat, lol! Distancing and masking seem to have worked - DH escaped illness this time.

We are currently having our pool enclosure and deck refurbished. The lanai and enclosure currently have no screens, and the cross beams and side rails have been primed. The cage is currently white but it will be bronze once it is painted. Our covered part of the lanai has Ipe wood decking so we think the darker color will look nice, and will certainly show less dirt. The cat keeps looking longingly out but he can't go because there are no screens. Hopefully no gators, bobcats, or snakes realize this and come in.

minus - I did read back to where I left off and saw that you asked if I was still on Prolia. I stopped in 2018 (had been on since 2012) and did not do a supplemental Reclast - that recommendation came slightly after that. I think you and I discussed it back then. I was an exceptional responder on Prolia, had the largest gain in density my onc had seen among his patients. I have had multiple DEXA scans since then and my density is holding. I just had one in Jan and slipped minutely, but still in the normal range, so no additional intervention has been needed. I also saw your avocado dilemma - you can halve then, remove the pit, and flash freeze them. Then gather them and put in a ziplock and keep in the freezer.

illimae - belated yay for your scans and wow on the snow!

eric - besides the stellar public school education my kids got while we lived in Fairfax County, VA I was always grateful for the many interesting places they got to go on field trips. Gettysburg was the fifth grade trip and we went for the whole day, battlefield and museum. I went two years in a row because my kids were only a year apart. I always tried to be a chaperone on any field trip because they went to such cool places. I share your thoughts on how it feels to be at Gettysburg - indeed sobering. On my list of similar experiences that I did not get to when I lived there was the Memorial illumination at Antietem - 23,000 candles lit at night in the cemetery. There is a driving route through and the cars are to only have parking lights on.

we had leftovers of choice last night. Any leftovers of the leftovers will be discarded.

Today we'll have a heavy lunch at a cookout hosted by a member of the Woodworkers Guild at his camp on a bayou. He cooks chicken, ribs and sausage on a gigantic outdoor grill/cooker. He makes his own barbecue sauce. I love the chicken and usually bring some home. I'm making a pasta salad and have to finish it up this morning. I cooked the fusilli pasta yesterday.

Sorry you got Covid, SpecialK.

Special - thanks for the prolia updates. Yes, we did talk when I approached the 5 year mark. Now I'm at 11 years. My original endocrinologist (who wrote the book & recommended 10 years) retired and I've only met the new one once. Last year she agreed with the warnings that taking a break could make benefits reverse very quickly. Because she has scheduling conflicts, I'll only see the nurse for my shot again this month and get a DEXA scan. I won't meet with the doc until later this summer.

Carole - your cookout party sounds delicious.

Maggie - always nice to finally get a crown that fits correctly - especially since they are SO darn expensive. Hope you've had no more problems.

Yesterday's meal was cottage cheese & campari tomatoes with a piece of thick, toasted sourdough bread. I just ate today's meal a little early - leftover Dilly chicken Salad and broccoli salad from Chicken Salad Chick. I actually popped some of the chicken salad in the freezer. Not sure how it will turn out, but I couldn't bring myself to toss it.

A neighbor is re-gifting me some liquor he won't use - one bottle Messina Hof cab, one bottle of Bailey's Irish Cream and one bottle of Kahlua. I told him I'd make him Special's 'one step' devil's food cake.

Carole, Cookouts on an outdoor giant grill are the best. It's even better when there is a variety of meats to choose from and potluck sides. I miss the unspoken competition of potlucks in the south since everyone brought their special recipes. Up north people just bring what is convenient.

Rhonda, Thanks for the recipe. I prefer the taste of white wine with chicken so this should suit me better than the usual red. Reading recipes is a great way to taste things in your imagination even if you never eat them.

Minus, You can make many delicious desserts with the Bailey’s Irish Cream and the Kahlua. The Messina Hof cab is too nice to use as cooking wine.

I baked an altered version of Aldi’s brownie mix today with espresso powder, vanilla, chocolate chips and melted margarine. Butter was recommended but it’s for DD who can’t have milk or soy while she’s breastfeeding. It smells good but I’ll have to wait until tomorrow to taste it. Lots of label reading was required to get the right ingredients but I’ve been doing that for years.

I hope the four inches of snow we got melts soon. I thought I was done with shoveling.

Dinner tonight was chicken in barbeque sauce out of the freezer, creamed corn and mashed potatoes.

On my walk in the neighborhood minutes ago, I came up with a dinner plan. Fried rice using smoked sausage and smoked chicken from the cookout yesterday. Also some chopped celery and colored bell pepper. I love fried rice, understandable since I like rice so much. I don't have enough leftover rice cooked so I'm cooking a batch as I write. My favorite brown jasmine. I'll cook more than enough for a meal so there will be leftovers to eat topped with an egg.

SpecialK, that layered shot sounds yummy. The summer folks up in MN are big on shots. Personally I like to sip them and savor the flavors.

Special: I've had a B-52 before, but it's been a long time. I don't keep Grand Marnier around. I'm going to be trying a French Dream. Equal shots of Kahlua, Chamboard and Baileys Irish Cream. I'll report back on any updated Prolia info after I see my endo in May. Your potato salad sounds like mine - no mustard but I like to add some celery if I have it handy.

Maggie - thumbs up on the deserts with Kahlua or Baileys - but I usually skip desert. Instead I've taken to sipping just one shot glass before bed of those. Have now added Sambuca (licorice taste) or Tuaca (an Italian brandy) or several other after dinner liquors to the rotation.

Carole: I too love fried rice. It's my go to meal when I have lots of vegetable leftovers in the fridge.

Wally: How is your DH doing?

Food today is once again (for the last time) Dilly Chicken salad mid afternoon and Broccoli salad for supper. I know I bought too much, but there is not a Chicken Salad Chick close to me so I get it when I can. The plan tomorrow is for Naan Pizzas.

Special, Thanks for the recommendation. Unfortunately it contains soy lecithin and both soy and milk are off limits to try to prevent future allergies for the baby. DS is still allergic to milk protein but DD who never had it until she was 2 is not. The brownies tasted good with the margarine.

Carole, Your dinner sounds like a good use of the cookout leftovers.

Wally, I think of resistant starch when I eat leftover rice and pasta. Making it resistant in advance is a great idea.

I got to hold my grandson today. He’s cute but colicky like my son was. My ability to stay in constant motion came right back but the traffic in Queens doesn’t allow for my former favorite solution, driving up and down I-65.

Dinner tonight was vegan veggie pizza which was good even with the fake cheese.

Eric - that is a true bitch…tired (exhausted) but not sleepy. Good luck re-acclimatizing.

Maggie - I remember those times with a baby with colic. Have to keep moving all the time. And driving was something that really helped.

Welcome back to your home, Eric.

Maggie, glad that you're holding your grandchild and visiting with your daughter.

It dawned on me yesterday that we're departing on our trip to Amsterdam on THIS Sunday. Yikes. The river cruise I've been trying to imagine will become a reality.

Dinner last night was oven fried catfish fillets. They were delicious, cooked in a 450 degree oven until very crisp. Side was boiled small potatoes with butter.

Mapo tofu leftovers. It was divine last night…

Glad you are home and safe, Eric.

My DH's granddaughter graduated dental school last year….OY, I feel old.

Carole, I hope you have an amazing time!

Carole, I never got to go on a river cruise but visiting different places without having to take your luggage with you sounds wonderful.

Eric, I'm glad you caught up on your sleep and had a delicious meal.

Wally, If your DH's granddaughter is not too far away you might be able to get a dental discount.

Sandy, I hope you can have a dinner that doesn’t involve too much cooking.

Before heading back today we were able to meet up with my son at LaGuardia after he changed his flight home from LA to a red eye. That was an unexpected bonus.

Dinner tonight was bacon, eggs and hash browns.

I have leftover rice and no idea what to do with it. Off to google it. Refried rice is the obvious….

Maggie, she's in Michigan. Don't think I haven't thought about it, though, LOL.