So...whats for dinner?

M0mmyof3

Made Shepherd’s Pie last night. Got enough for another meal. Tonight, I was thinking of throwing the other Crock Pot meal that we got from Omaha Steaks in for dinner tonight.

MinusTwo

Late lunch was a large spinach salad with grape tomatoes, Craisins, grated provolone & Gorgonzola cheeses. I'm still full so I don't know if I'll eat again this evening. I do have 1/2 of a roasted turkey sandwich on a croissant that is literally 5" high so that's another full meal.

Interesting to hear my late 30ish niece discuss how they've been eating a lot of Mexican food. Apparently she can get meals for $10, it's around the corner, and her husband said if the 'take out' costs over $10, they should be cooking at home. Take out for me is rarely that expensive. This sandwich & salad combo from Costco was $7.57 and it's a full three meals. Thinking about my 11" MOD pizza for $8.27 - which should have been two meals if I hadn't been such a greedy guts.

GreenHarbor

We put up our Christmas tree up today; my house feels very festive! It was a grey drizzly day here, so I was craving comfort food for dinner. I made meatloaf. I cooked it in a muffin pan, so the leftovers are easy to freeze. I served it with maple brown butter mashed sweet potatoes and steamed green beans.

auntienance

Same kind of day here and I needed to make chicken stock anyway, so went with chicken and dumplings. And just to add coals to Newcastle, made some cornbread to go with it.

Friday, I made my first ever chocolate Swiss roll with a vanilla whipped cream filling and ganache. Pretty good for my first attempt, although I overcooked the cake a tad. Won't stop us from finishing it off tonight.

SpecialK

Everyone's food is making me hungry - and I just ate, lol! Went to the Buc's and Panthers game today and had chicken tenders and French fries, then came home and had a green salad with leftovers from yesterday's BCO ladies lunch at my house. Made a salad for DH but put shrimp and feta on his, and made three soft tacos for DD with leftover shredded chicken. DD was coming from the barn where she spent time with her newly arrived horse. Now I am going to tell you a story that will make you go awww at the end. When she was in high school, but still too young to drive, we half-leased a horse for her. She had been riding for a while and wanted a horse but we felt this was a reasonably priced plan without actually owning a horse. The horse - Windsor - was an eventing horse owned by a young lady who had just started college. Eventually she decided that she needed to sell Windsor, so DD half-leased the other horse this young lady owned, but she really loved Windsor more. Windsor changed hands a couple of times as is common in the eventing world - horse and rider have to be very attuned. One night about 10 years ago DD was surfing around the internet and came across a youtube video of a 15 year old girl test-riding an eventing horse. The horse looked an awful lot like Windsor. She got in touch with the girl who posted the video, who put her in touch with the girl in the video. The girl had bought the horse, and it turned out to be Windsor! What are the odds? DD and this girl exchanged contact info and kept in touch over the years, and DD got to see Windsor a few years ago when he was in Florida for a training period. A couple of months ago the girl who had bought Windsor posted something on Facebook about needing homes for her horses because she was facing financial issues. DD immediately asked about Windsor - who is now 20 years old, but still a beautiful and well cared for horse but can't jump or do dressage anymore - and the owner agreed to bring him down to Tampa and free-lease him to DD, who pays for food/board. He arrived about three weeks ago and his owner spent a few days with us making sure all was set up and a good situation for the horse. So a full-circle deal for DD and Windsor - is that great, or what?

JosieO

What a beautiful story! That was an Awww, for sure. Kudos to you for supporting your DD that way-a wonderful life lesson.

Thanks for sharing it

auntienance

Awww, what a nice story!

ChiSandy

A definite mega-awwwww!

Hilton had a great breakfast buffet this a.m.--I had spinach frittata, broccolini with pimentos, hash browns with pork belly lardons, a slice of applewood-smoked bacon, papaya, pineapple, a steamed BBQ pork bao (there were also pot stickers, noodles and two kinds of congee for Chinese guests) and half a croissant. (Lest you think I pigged out, all that barely covered my plate--I am a buffet-grazer). Bypassed the eggs-to-order station, waffles, & pancakes. After the show (our final matinee), had lunch with a friend who attended: a burger bigger than my head (with farmhouse cheddar, bacon, lettuce, tomato, mushrooms and onion. (Didn't need no stinkin' ketchup). Spurned the fries for coleslaw, as I've been veggie-neglectful most of the week. Dinner was leftover paella.

Happy Hanukkah! Got home too late for the temple's latke supper, and was too tired to haul out the spuds, onions & Cuisinart (or even throw latkes together from the Manischewitz mix). Ditto lighting the real candles on the real menorah--the electric one on the windowsill had to do. Tomorrow night, however...

BringOn2017

Hi all. It's been a long time since I came here.  I am back at home having spent a few days in hospital after my hysterectomy and oophorectomy. Lost 2kgs from surgery since my uterus was like a small watermelon. Lots of dissection from adhesions due to previous surgeries. Upside of it all my profile is already better and my squishies already look better and more pronounced! Now at home for a few weeks to recover and time to spare. Doc has been very insistent that I rest and rest! Sounds like a dream. But am already bored sitting alone on armchair at home! 

Saturday we had pie at home ably prepared by the 11 year old DD under supervision! 2 pies actually.... Ricotta pie and Minced Meat Pie. Shortcrust pastry as the base and topped with puff pastry. The fillings are actually very simple to make. Ricotta mixed with egg and a pinch of salt for one. Stirfried, minced beef, carrot, peas and salt, herbs or spice to taste then mixed with egg and a pinch of hard grated cheese. Takes less than 20 minutes to pop in the oven when buying ready roll pastry!

Yesterday DH made pork medallions and roast potatoes and courgettes. 

Today toying with the idea of a mushroom and minced beef risotto.... But many hours in which to change my mind!

BringOn2017

So the mushroom and mince is appealing more and more as the day goes by. Now will it be with rise in a risotto with cream or with pasta and cream. Time will tell. Having my second coffee of the day. 

I've been trying to catch up with your posts. Wow Special K what a beautiful story. You brought some tears to my eyes or is it the hormones or lack of them? So happy for your DD. 

Feeling bored sitting down on an armchair doing nothing. Actually do have stuff I can do on my laptop...but not really feel up to doing much.

Have a nice day. Guess most of you are still waking up. House is quiet so far, though it won't be very long as the DD (who is 11 going on 16) will be home from school in a couple of hours.

carolehalston

Definitely an "awww" story, SpecialK. Your daughter sounds like such a nice young woman.

Enjoyed all your posts and descriptions of good food that aroused food envy.

Sandy, glad your performances were a big success.

Last night's dinner was chicken breast fillets breaded with Italian panko and cooked (a bit overcooked) in the air fryer. Side was green pea salad. Thawed green peas with blue cheese and avocado and mayo dressing. Should have squeezed in some lemon juice.

No clue about tonight's dinner. Maybe lamp chops purchased at Fresh Market later today.

The good news is that I've managed to lose the extra pounds gained on our Thanksgiving road trip.

ChiSandy

Potato latkes and Buffalo wings tonight.

Lacey12

Lovely story, Special! So happy for DD.

Happy Hanukkah, Sandy, and to others who celebrate!

Bring it, glad to hear that you are home, and I’m impressed with your DD’s culinary skills, as well your DH making dinner. I hope your recuperation time goes well, and that you find interesting things to do while sedentary.

Our meals have been pretty boring since T-giv. Soups, baked chicken, leftovers of same, only interesting things on our menus have been salads. Of late I really enjoy mixed greens (not those bagged ones) with red onions, red cabbage, carrots, avocado and pear. I usually add maple syrup to my vinaigrette. We enjoyed a very nice poached salmon and spanakopita at a pot luck dinner party Sunday. Needless to say, I brought the salad.

Today, I’m meeting a friend for lunch at Wegman’s where they have a vast buffet, and I’ll pick up some cauliflower rice to make a “shrimp fried (faux) rice” for our dinner.

Carole, good for you to be back on track now that you’re home. I am trying harder to drop a few lbs....which has been really hard this year...but as I get back to my exercise regimen, the scales show an improvement. I’d like to avoid shopping for next size clothing!

But then...Nance, your wonderful dessert baking/making is alwayshunger producing!

illimae

I love the Windsor story, so sweet.

Working on leftovers from big California burritos we had Sunday night, nothing special planned yet. Weight keeps creeping up though, so some lighter dinners in my future for sure.

carolehalston

I am stocked up with meats and veggies after a shopping trip to Sam's yesterday. One item in the cart was a lb. of lump crab meat. Tonight I'll make crab cakes and cook part of a large packet of asparagus as a side. Salad will be part of a kit package of kale salad with addition of avocado.

The crowds are already out there now that we're into December. So far no Christmas spirit for me. I'm thinking I will skip the tree this year. Hang the wreath and get out the giant artificial poinsettias and the red berry bouquet and put away the autumn leaves and sunflowers which were my bid to fall and Thanksgiving. The scarecrow is still hanging outside from Halloween season, waiting to be replaced by Christmas wreath with lights.

I'm guided by the "What goes up must come down" reminder.

Good for you, Lacey, on whipping that scale into line.

ChiSandy

Since we're an interfaith couple, the electric menorah is glowing in the front window and the tree is up in the living room. Alas, since I'm asthmatic and we have cats, our tree is artificial (but quite realistic-looking). Tree water, light strings and kitties are not an optimal combination.

Dunno about dinner tonight--have both leftover latkes and paella. Carby, so maybe will throw together a salad too.

Lacey12

I ended up doing a lot of food shopping after enjoying lunch with my friend today.

I usually don't prefer to shop at Wegman's due to its vast size and unique product/aisle organization. I still don't understand it but didn't let it get in my way of buying some new as well as needed items. And for tonight's dinner I did make the shrimp fried (faux) rice, which was delicious, along with a lettuce and kale salad with avocado and pear (since I had another ripe avocado and a half pear leftover from last night). I'd seen the shrimp recipe featured on the Today Show, and glad I did! I subbed the coconut aminos oil with canola, and portabello baby mushrooms for the peas. It was my first time making grated cauliflower as rice and we were both happy with the result.

https://www.today.com/recipes/shrimp-fried-cauliflower-rice-recipe-t144300

Tomorrow we'll switch gears and have a pork tenderloin with seasonings from Wegman's, and sides of sweet potatoes and mybstaple of salad.

MinusTwo

Lacey - it's not quite 8 in the morning and your cauliflower rice/shrimp dish looks delicious. I too have avocados that must be used. Since I don't care for kale, I think I'll use a spinach base. All my cooking plans have been upended with friends calling to get together before Christmas. And I usually bring home leftovers for another meal. Dinner out last Saturday & this coming Saturday, lunch yesterday, today & Friday. Nothing particularly memorable - delicious salads, a passable lobster bisque, some great pizza. I'm not pulling anything else out of the freezer.

My treat to myself was a pound of See's Victoria Toffee. It's only available at Christmas and truly addicting. I'm taking a big piece of the slab to a friend today to get it out of reach.

illimae

minus, did you order the see’s toffee or is it being sold locally somewhere for the holiday?

M0mmyof3

It's a scrounge night for me. Hubby has a Christmas party for work to attend. He was on his own last night as my women's club had our annual Christmas party.

MinusTwo

Illimae - I bought it here. There is one remaining See's full service 'counter' inside the one remaining Rice Epicurian Market on Fountain View just south of San Felipe. Last year HEB and some other places still had kiosks selling 'prepackaged' items like peanut brittle & molasses chips & maybe toffee. Don't know if they're still around.

Special - neglected to say how much I liked the horse story. My niece still has her 17 or a18 year old horse that she first rode in HS and then bought & took to college when she got a polo scholarship.

illimae

Thanks minus, I stopped by there today. Didn’t see the Victoria toffee but got the molasses chips, peanut brittle and a bag of single treats, spending more than I planned, yikes! Now, if I can just ration these responsibly.

Dinner tonight will be a big salad with grilled chicken, a little grated cheddar and a handful of sesame sticks with buttermilk ranch dressing.

WC3

It was going to be spaghetti squash but it turned out to be bitter. Apparently sometimes squashes produce a compound called cucurbitacin when subjected to environmental stress, which makes it bitter.

Cucurbitacin is cytotoxic and can cause stomach cramping, diarrhea, and hair loss.

In other words, I picked a chemo squash!

Good thing I looked up bitter squash because I was about to put some spaghetti sauce and sugar on it and eat it. I would have been calling my MO crying "I'm two months PFC. Why is this happening so far out?!"

It will be potatoes and broccoli instead.

carolehalston

Last night was turkey, black bean, corn chili and cornbread. The chili recipe involved opening a lot of cans and tasted good. There are leftovers but we're going to the Woodworkers' Guild Christmas dinner tonight, which is held at one of those event places. The dinner is buffet and always has a slicing station for ham and another for roast beef. The young guy slicing the roast beef has perfected his art of slicing slivers. I always keep my plate there and say "More, please."

illimae

Tonight was a spinach alfredo with cauliflower gnocchi instead of pasta. I’ve never cooked or eaten gnocchi before, so I don’t know what the texture should be but I think it was too soft. It was still very good, I’ll definitely improve it next time.

ChiSandy

Shopped at Mariano's yesterday after first seeing my BS for annual exam (all good) and then getting my car "winterized." Bought a smoked chicken half for $5; three large potato latkes from the kosher hot bar; and a bag of ready-to-steam halved Brussels sprouts. Air-fried a latke. Put Sur La Table Brussels sprout/broccoli seasoning, olive oil and balsamic in the bag, resealed it and nuked it for the recommended 4 minutes. Could've gone only 3 min., which I'll remember for next time. Warmed the dark quarter in the microwave along with the veggies. Repeated the meal tonight, only this time with half the breast. (Saving the rest for stir-fry).

Had an unnerving experience today: my kitty Happy was nuzzling, cuddling and kissing me when he suddenly decided he'd had enough and nipped my face. Had to go to Urgent Care to get the wounds lavaged (I'd already washed, disinfected and bandaged them at home) and antibiotics prescribed. (The std. protocol is amoxicillin or Augmentin, but since I'm penicillin-and-quinolones-allergic, I got doxycycline and clindamycin instead). Found out I've finally climbed back out of the Medicare donut hole--the meds were two bucks apiece. I have to go back Sat. and then Mon. for followup and to see if I need another 5-day course of the abx. Looks like I have two "popped" zits on my face (to match the actual zit a few cm away).

illimae

Sorry about the bad kitty moment ChiSandy and all the hassle that goes with it.

Tonight was sautéed gulf shrimp and broccoli florets over brown rice. No picture this time, I dug into it too fast.

Lacey12

Tonight we had the leftover pork roast which I sided with acorn squash baked with maple syrup/cinnamon, and a huge “virtue" salad (“Virtue" being the code name for salads that are half lettuce and half kale for the greens) with lots of other veggies added. Somehow having a roasted meat with squash and salad for dinner feels like such a Sunday dinner type of meal.

Last night before the Cs' game we broke with our dinner routine and went to a very old style bar/restaurant called The Fours. It was an “older male server" kind of place similar to the older Italian restaurants in the North End (which are just across the expressway). I was happily surprised that their entrees were priced very reasonably, and I had grilled scallops with sauteed veggies. No rice pilaf for me, so I got lots of beautifully done vegetables. We also had clam chowder which was great and chocolate mousse for dessert since I was tired and wanted a tasty “vehicle"for some caffeine.

Today while having my hair colored I enjoyed listening to a young millennial dad tell Mario the hairstylist about the meals he cooks his young family four times a week. He also shops for the food!!! I wanted to take him home, but would feel badly for depriving his lucky family! 😉

eric95us

BBQ chicken on the rotisserie. Awhile back the butcher at the grocery store asked if I'd like some whole chickens that were at their "sell by" date. I got four of them for 25 cents a pound (!) and put them into the freezer. This was the last of the four chickens.

I was kind of surprised that they did this as they normally send the "past the 'due' date" chickens over to the deli, roast them and sell them there.

Chi, it doesn't sound like Happy was terribly happy. Hopefully the doxy and clindamycan will quell the infection potential. I"ve been lucky with all three of "my" cats being *VERY* gentle with me.

WC, I never knew that about squash.

ChiSandy

Happy was purring right up until he nipped me. I doubt he intended to attack or cause injury. He's never done that before. And he has resumed soliciting cuddles. Go figure.

After popping into the dispensary (they were having a 3d anniv. sale) I had plenty of time remaining on my parking meter. Next door was a hot dog joint. Walked in and was blown away by the menu. Besides the usual Chicago complement of hot dogs, brats, burgers, Italian & Polish sausages & wings, there was a "special" menu. Andouille, chorizo, turducken, venison demi-glace, currywurst...and duck sausage with medallions of pate de foie gras and a truffle aioli. Plus duck fat fries. Yes, please. One heckuva lunch. And it was the "food" with which I took my clindamycin. (I think the owner inherited the recipes from the late great Hot Doug's in Ravenswood).

Bob came home early for dinner (only an hr. after I had lunch) and was ravenous. We went to Cellars, where we shared a small Caesar salad (welcome back, romaine) and today's special: a porter-braised pork shank with carrots & mushrooms over creamy polenta. I mostly nibbled.