So...whats for dinner?

auntienance

Awww Monica, great pictures - congratulations!

MinusTwo

Moon- thanks so much for the update. Glad to hear your DD is OK and that it looks like the halo can come off of DH. You have really been up against the wall. Your anniversary dinner sounds great. Really, I'm to the point that I usually prefer good, tried & true "local" places most of the time. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

MinusTwo

I bought a liquid "envelope" of both red & green enchilada sauces at Whole Foods a couple of weeks ago but haven't gotten around to testing them yet. Supposedly cooks in 15 minutes. Maybe today I'll make green chili enchiladas with Monterrey Jack cheese. I was going to add leftover rotisserie chicken pieces from the freezer, but (inspiration) I'll sliver the rest of my pork loin and use that instead.

Special - hope you're having a wonderful time in CA.

auntienance

Are they the Frontera Minus? If so, they're pretty good.

carolehalston

Great pictures, Monica! Glad you enjoyed an anniversary dinner. Good news on your daughter's pregnancy.

I much prefer chicken thighs but have learned to prepare the breasts so I can enjoy them while spending zero points. They taste good when cooked quickly and just long enough to reach a healthy doneness. I also prefer a fatty pork steak to pork tenderloin but last night's pork piccata made with tenderloin medallions was very tasty, thanks to a good pan sauce.

Given my druthers, I would take mashed potatoes over cauliflower mash, but last night's cauliflower mash was yummy with piccata sauce spooned to top. It's a matter of walking versus waddling. I visit a nursing home regularly and the number of obese women in wheelchairs (including my mother) far outnumbers the slim old ladies pushing their walkers.

My food discipline does not extend to giving up my evening cocktail. Last summer I discovered that the Costco vodka ($20) is very good. I do not have a membership since we have no local Costco, but a couple of my resort neighbors bought vodka for me. Last week after some online research, I decided to gamble on buying the Sam's Club vodka, Member's Mark, which is $13 for the big bottle (glazed to resemble the Grey Goose bottle!). I figured I could gamble on $13. To my amazement, the MM is quite drinkable in a martini. What a savings. Though not for my liver.

I woke up this morning thinking about how I could re-organize my kitchen counters. So I tackled the project and created more space. For example, I had two knife blocks filled with knives. DH and I picked out our most-used knives and eliminated one block. It's only a tiny beginning to all the re-organizing that needs to be done in this house.

Dinner will make use of the uncooked half of the pork tenderloin. Also some uncooked broccoli and yellow bell pepper and half a package of soba noodles. I plan to make the sweet/spicy sauce I have described before, saute the pork cut into pieces and the veggies, cook the noodles and mix it all together.

auntienance

I seldom drink anymore but when I did I liked the Costco vodka (Kirkland) very much. I still keep it on hand in the liquor cabinet.

Carole, I know you eat the colored bell peppers often

Hers a recipe you might like:

https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/parmesan-peppers-365672

I make these a lot for a quick colorful side dish and when I have one of those packs of three languishing in the vegetable bin threatening to go bad on me lol.

ChiSandy

Bob got home so late last night that he had to eat his dinner at the hospital. He got a late start this a.m. (noonish), so doesn't expect to be home for dinner. He says I can have his leftover filet. I will likely reheat it gently per ATK's method so it stays mid-rare, and have steamed asparagus with that prefab Christian Poitier hollandaise. Might also nuke half a sweet potato with sea salt & cinnamon.

Last night was four Buffalo wings and a small bowlful of some of the last of our heirloom cherry tomatoes with basil oil and flake salt. No fresh basil--it froze outdoors while we were away. Even though we had a freeze overnight, the Italian parsley, rosemary, mint, oregano and the last of the lemon thyme are hanging in there, as are some of the wild-growing chives. A sure sign that "winter is coming" is having to buy packaged basil & chives again.

Had prefab shrimp chips and a bowl of Special K & milk too close to bedtime and awoke with monster GERD. Took two each of Gaviscon & TUMS, plus sitting up, to be able to get back to sleep. (It happens only if I'm sleeping on my back or left side). An EGD & biopsy ruled out any growths or H. pylori, but did show a definite hiatal hernia. So the way to make sure it doesn't happen--besides staying on Dexilant--is to avoid eating anything (especially fried or with chocolate) w/in 2 hrs. of bedtime. (Ditto alcohol, though I haven't imbibed since Fri. night).

eric95us

Congratulations Moon!!!!! And I'm glad to hear good news about DD and DH. I think I'd have gone nuts with the halo on.

I agree about the chicken breasts tending to take on the flavor of the things it's cooked with. I use that to my advantage when I make the Jasmine Rice-Chicken dish, but otherwise I like the whole bird or the thigh and leg meat.

Chi, my flight TO Florida was bumpy and rattled the plane a lot, but nothing like you experienced. The thunderstorms did make the flight about 3 hours late though. Coming home was a perfect flight (smooth and arrived 15 minutes early)!

I'm finally getting re-synchronized to being awake during the day and sleeping at night. So today I'm going to get a whole chicken and cook it. I haven't decided how, exactly, I'm going to cook it. Since it's only 1:15pm, I've got some time to make that choice.. :-)

MinusTwo

Nance - yes it is Frontera. I'll have to try it later this week since the greens in the salad drawer were more critically in need of eating. So - huge green salad w/whatever was around - including but not limited to - avocado, cauliflower, radishes, cucumber, red cabbage & carrots.

Interesting Vodka comments. When my son feels extravagant, he orders Grey Goose martinis. At home he told me to keep Svedka as less expensive close taste substitute. He does not care for Titos, although my BFF loves that. Does either the Sam's or the Costco brand follow a Grey Goose taste?

I just bought some Starr Blu, which the Total Wine employee said is similar. Bought it because it comes in a plastic bottle, and the glass 1/2 gallon bottles are getting too difficult for me to manage with the lingering neuropathy. (thank you BC!!!) I'm not particularly a Vodka drinker unless it's mixed with OJ or Bloody Mary Mix so I have no way to judge. Gin is my usual poison, followed by bourbon (not blended)

carolehalston

Minus, last summer at the resort we did a blind tasting with Kirkland, Stoli, and Grey Goose. The unanimous winner was the Kirkland. I couldn't believe it. All the tasters were vodka drinkers, but I was the only martini drinker. Costco in MN has a good price on Grey Goose, $40. I was having my Costco friends buy the Grey Goose for me before I switched to the Kirkland. I also like Ketel One a lot. Sam's has a good price on it, $37. All this discussion is making me look forward to cocktail hour!

DH is a gin drinker and he likes Gilbey's, which is a moderately priced gin. I occasionally buy Beefeater for him. He does not like Gordon's, about the same price as Gilbey's. He enjoys the Beefeater but does not buy it for himself.

On the wine front, I have suddenly switched from chardonnay to cabernet. It was like something clicked a switch in my taste preference.

Eric, I know Sharon is glad to have you back home.

Nance, I like that recipe with the roasted colored peppers. Thanks for the link.

auntienance

Minus, I think it's more similar to ketel one, my former favorite. I was a huge grey goose fan for a number of years until I tried ketel one and found it smoother.

MinusTwo

Thanks for the vodka tips. I'll see if he'll discuss Ketel One with me. Or maybe I'll just buy a bottle of Kirtland Vodka before his next trip.

Carole - I prefer Gordon's for every day. On special occasions or if drinking just on the rocks, I like Tanqueray. But of course because this seems to be the way of all things, my son prefers Bombay gin.

auntienance

I don't care for gin but my DDIL the chef will drink only Hendricks.

illimae

Hi all, finally feeling better after being sick for more than a week. Not the flu, just allergies that turned into sinusitis.

I made a pot roast and will use the leftovers in a beef and barley soup in a couple days.

ChiSandy

Bob's absolute fave vodka is Snow Queen (from Kazakhstan)--it's not particularly expensive but not widely distributed. He discovered it at his favorite neighborhood Italian restaurant (the bartender/waitress is from Estonia). In quantity, he likes either Kirkland or Svedka, but is happy with Tito's. Me, I'm not a fan of vodka--I don't particularly like to drink for the sake of drinking. I have to really like the taste. If I drink spirits, it's either the occasional arcane cordial or a single-malt Scotch (usually Islay), Cognac (from the Grand Champagne subregion), or bourbon. (I'm partial to Old Weller or locally-distilled Koval).

Tonight with leftover steak was 2 oz. of Maryhill Cabernet Franc (WA). I slow-reheated the filet mignon, steamed asparagus and nuked a small sweet potato. Seasoned the sweet potato with cinnamon, sea salt and the dregs of crystallized sugar at the bottom of the jar of White Kitty Farm maple syrup. Sauced the asparagus with bearnaise.

carolehalston

I'm not familiar with Tito's but learned from my vodka research that it is a favorite. Our of curiosity I will look for it just to see if it's available here. In Louisiana every good-sized supermarket is a liquor store and wine store. In MN we have to go to a Spirits store to buy booze and wine and the prices are higher.

DH cooked red beans with andouille sausage today. I will cook some brown rice and make a romaine salad. May also make cornbread with a box of Jiffy. I know, I know. Not good cornbread but dh likes it.

A pat on the back. I have lost a total of 10 lbs since going back to WW earlier this year. It has taken months, but 10 lbs is 10 lbs. Four more lbs and I can go to meetings without paying.

The recipe on the WW weekly today is Spaghetti Squash Pomodoro. I may give spaghetti squash another chance to impress me. The photo makes the dish look appetizing.

MinusTwo

Carole - you certainly deserve a pat on the back - congrats on the 10 lbs. That's a great milestone, and during the summer too!! I'm going to Costco tomorrow if Hurricane Wilma slows down & doesn't pound us with rain. Who would have thought...a hurricane from the Pacific Ocean in Texas.

Since 1985 we can finally buy beer & wine in our supermarkets in Houston, but the blue laws are by county so some places are still totally dry. Even so, you can't buy anything before noon on Sunday, and you still have to go to a liquor store for the hard stuff. And Carole - I use Jiffy cornbread from the box. Or Dromedary if I can't find Jiffy. It's what my Mother (who never lived in the South) cooked for my Dad.

Breakfast was a pork sandwich. Dinner was a ton of leftover veggies heated up from the fridge. I LOVE my chair yoga class on Mondays.

ChiSandy

Oh, my--they're really reusing "Wilma," which did so much damage to SE FL back in 2005? (Tore up my mom's retirement village--her building was the only one in her section that sustained no damage). I thought that they retire the names of major storms, just like baseball teams retire the numbers of their most significant players & coaches.

eric95us

I'm cooking some black beans for a recipe that Sharon wants to try tomorrow and I'm also cooking a whole chicken for use as snacks and meals.

That's good news about your weight, Carole.

I never liked vodka and for that matter, I never really liked any of the hard liquors. A good cool ale, however, is a wonderful thing. :-)

DodgersGirl

ChiSandy- I think you are right, Wilma was retired as a Hurricane name. I think I heard on the Weather Channel a discussion on Hurricane Willa in the pacific

MinusTwo

Sorry - Willa is the correct current storm name.

auntienance

I love roasted fennel so here's something for you pork tenderloin lovers. I can't get fennel here so I haven't tried it, but I'm going to as soon as I get to the next town to get some.

https://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/sheet-pan-pork-with-fennel-and-apples

MinusTwo

Nance - sounds delicious. I have never cooked with Fennel but will look out for it in the store. Thanks for posting.

eric95us

Fennel is awesome to cook with....

Now I'm on alert for typhoon response....busy, I am....

M0mmyof3

Meatloaf, rice and green peas

Lacey12

Congrats Carole! I will hold you up as a role model in my quest to drop 10 lbs. I keep resisting heading to a local WW, but was partially “on the plan” by association while visiting my friend on the Vineyard. She was counting points constantly...and lost lots of weight. I was, and still am, rather fascinated about how many foods count as 0 points (!!!). That “allowance” did not exist when the point system first started many years ago...when I was a member.

And Moon, I’m so pleased for all of you that your daughter is doing better, and that your DH will be released from that halo soon. Surely a sign of better days ahead. And what lovely then and now pix! Happy 45th! We will also be celebrating that number in a couple of weeks.

Illimae, glad you are feeling better!

The liquor brands mentioned are lost on me. I can only stand the taste of hard liquor if it is masked in a sugary mix, so haven’t imbibed in years. Wine is another story. I used to like to drink tequila and tonic or tequila and grapefruit juice, but that, too, was long ago. I am always amazed that anyone can drink spirits straight over rocks...just don’t have those taste buds.

Sunday, I attended a “conversation pot luck dinner” in our town sponsored by the Diversity Initiative, to which I contributed an appetizer plate of ratatouille over toasted baguette pieces, topped with fresh grated parmesan. After seeing some of the other offerings at my table (bag of chips and salsa, packaged cheese slices with a box of crackers, etc.), I realized I could do this a bit more easily next time. The conversation part really made it worth going....a focus on cultural appropriation vs appreciation. Really made me think in new ways.

Last night DH decided we should depart from our chicken or fish menu, so he picked up a pork tenderloin, which I marinated in a maple dressing and he grilled. We had sides of brussels sprouts, salad and nuked sweet potatoes. We had a similar dinner with the leftover pork tonight. Our menus are really the height of boring these days....and I haven’t even started making my kale/chicken sausage soup yet!

eric95us

The alert has turned into an activation. Typhoon Yutu.

Lacey12

Oh dear, Eric. Do be safe. That typhoon sounds really awful. Were you expecting this much excitement during your retirement? Maybe you can import some of that food you were starting to cook this week. Seriously, I’m hoping that it magicallyturns away from Guam, and that you can get back to your stove quickly.

carolehalston

Lacey, I feel the same way about our menus. Definitely not exciting. WW has certainly evolved from year to year, and I think the company genuinely tries to help people lose weight in a healthy way. It's a company, of course, and the profit motive is there. I find the meetings (now called work shops) helpful. I call them my AA meetings! The group support and camaraderie are uplifting. Our food culture in the US works against those of us who battle being overweight. I think downsizing portions would be a big step in the right direction. So-called "family" restaurants encourage over-eating.

I used up my last frozen eggplant casserole last night. Our side was a scrumptious tossed salad.

Tonight will be leftover red beans with sausage over brown rice. Side will be a salad. I may go to the supermarket and buy some pork country style ribs to cook in the oven with barbecue sauce.

Today I must get out into the yard and pull weeds and do other yard chores. I'm feeling a strong lack of enthusiasm over the prospect. I fantasize about hiring a yard man.

auntienance

Stay safe Eric!

Carole, 10 is an accomplishment - congratulations!

Spaghetti and meatballs from the freezer stock. These were the last so I need to be making some more.. Also the last of the pasta sauce and I just used the last of the chicken stock. Guess I know what I'll be doing tomorrow.