So...whats for dinner?

eric95us

Mine wasn't old enough to get a stale oil smell....and I have no idea about what to do about it.

The taste seems to vary a bit depending on how recently the starter has been fed. The first batch of dough was made from a starter that was going to be fed (I saved what I poured out of the starter's home to make room for 'a feeding') and it was noticeably sourdough. The 2nd batch of dough was made with recently fed sourdough and it was essentially normal tasting.

I bought a new pizza stone today. Hopefully it will last longer than the first one.

Tonight I'm going to make a pumpkin soup from the pumpkin that was left over from my pie making.

ChiSandy

Eric, what happened? Did the stone break in two as you tried to retrieve the pizza from the oven? Did part of the pizza stick to it? Yuck either way. Hope the new one's better.

Half a BLT for breakfast (mostly "L&T") and leftover linguine for late lunch. Removed and refrigerated the mussels, since reheating would have turned them rubbery. So I will toss them with oil & vinegar and put them in a salad. Bob's coming home for dinner, so we'll drive to Cellars to pick up the wine we bought last month and satisfy my craving for great fish & chips. (If they're out of it, I'll have a dinner-sized portion of the seared ahi app instead).

illimae

minus, I love Perry’s, the pork chop is so good!

Lacey, that looks delicious!

Tonight was spaghetti squash with rosemary garlic bread and a side salad.

Beaverntx

Tonight was gluten free spaghetti with tomato meat sauce and a green salad -- nothing very exciting as we have a guest who cannot have dairy products, so there went the plans for pizza with cheese! The last of a bottle of aglianico went well with the pasta.

eric95us

I was being really careful with it.....don't bang it, don't drop it, let the oven heat up and cool down with the stone in it. After the last time it cooled to room temperature, I went to take the stone out of the oven and part of it stayed in the oven. It cleaved in a curve that reminded me of the yin-yang 'symbol'.

I got the thing off of the "final clearance" sale table for something like $5 and it wasn't in any packaging, so someone may have banged it around before I got it....I looked for chips and cracks and didn't see any, but that doesn't mean one wasn't hidden inside the stone.

Illimae, what is in the squash filling?

The pumpkin soup was good. The recipe is here. I was going to use a different recipe, but I didn't have all the stuff to make it, so I went looking for one that could be filled from the pantry. I didn't have "lite" coconut milk, so I used the "regular" canned coconut milk and I used my left over roasted pumpkin (I measured one time and a 15 (weight) ounce can of pumpkin is about 15 liquid.ounces).

It is kind of pretty in the bowl, and I think it would make a nice soup course for a "fancy meal", but I would need to remember that it's VERY filling.

I agree with Special about LA's winter weather being too cold for shorts.

Tomorrow, Sharon and I are going on this almost 10 mile hike. We walked the same route a couple of weeks ago and the last three months of rains have filled all the little "catchments" and brought out the wildflowers. There were places where the whole hillside was a beautiful yellow with rose, purple and blue colored "dots" of other flowers. And, since it rained just a few days ago, it will likely be even more "flowery and watery".

ChiSandy

Went to Cellars. Shared app of "tacos gringos:" carne asada tacos with salsa, guac, crema, in a crispy shell cradled in a flour tortilla shell. Entree was fish & chips, with slaw. Yup, lots of leftovers (incl. part of Bob's seared ahi Niçoise). Tomorrow's dinner will be leftovers--not just those but mussels (marinated and atop a salad) and linguine. Unless, of course, Bob works so late that he'll get home too late for dinner. Sunday morning we're headed to 900 N. Mich. so he can get a haircut with his favorite barber; then investigate the new food court. Probably get some Donut Vault donuts to go, and have lunch down the street at Hugo's Frog Bar (seafood).

MinusTwo

Illimae - we both had the lunch filet, but we did treat ourselves to fried deep asparagus with lump crab meat as a side. I probably only eat steak every 2 or three months, so it was a treat.

Eric - looked up your hike. That sounds like a great day. I miss the desert.

Did you know that Barry Goldwater was a professional photographer even more than a politician? I had no idea. His goal was to document the state that he loved and the history of that state. His favorite subjects were the ancient cultures of Arizona and the state's unparalleled landscapes. He was a member of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain and a friend of Ansel Adams. He was a frequent contributor to Arizona Highways and sold his first photograph to them in 1939. He preferred black & white, but would shoot in color if requested.

There is a fairly new museum in Scottsdale that has a premier showing of some of his photographs - The Arizona Highway Collection. The museum is Scottsdale's Museum of the West, a Smithsonian affiliate. The exhibit is in the Heritage Hall Gallery from January 6 - June 23, 2019

https://scottsdalemuseumwest.org/explore/exhibitions/

illimae

Eric, the spaghetti squash was topped with spaghetti sauce and Parmesan cheese. Pretty easy meal and I already had leftover sauce from a previous pasta night.

eric95us

Thanks Illimae. I'm always interested in "easy". :-)

Thanks Minus. I didn't know about the museum's upcoming exhibit. It is about a 45 minute drive from home..I would very much like to see that.

Arizona Highways, over the years, has published quite a few of Barry Goldwater's photographs.

I found out about Barry Goldwater's photography around 1980 via ham radio. I'm a ham radio operator, as was Barry Goldwater. A college classmate that grew up near Goldwater's house was also a ham and known him for probably 10 years. I got invited along one time to go visit and it was literally "drive up, ring the doorbell, get introduced and we get invited in".

I'm sure security concerns would make it impossible to do this now.

Anyway, after greeting us, we walked back to see the ham radio station and along the way, I noticed all the photographs......and that's how I found out about his photography skills.

MaddieBrie1

I'm only on pg 521 (from my mobile view on reading all of these posts - fantastic recipes for those that have shared them, many I've copied and pasted to my cloud to try later). Wanted to join and post my meal today. Had Taxol #2 at 8am Friday (my phone keeps autocorrect Taxol to taco).... Soup was made on Thursday while I was teleworking.

Had some of the 'kitchen sink soup' around 2p Fri after tx, was fantastic. Leftover frozen Thanksgiving turkey plus whatever veggies I had around the house that were 'past their prime' or just sounded like they would work well. I used parsnips, mushrooms, carrots, garlic, cherry tomatoes (added last 30 min so they kept their form), potatoes, celery, onion and white beans. Simmered in chicken stock with garlic powder, oregano, black pepper, basil, tumeric, a bit of sea salt, ground sage, cumin and the celery leaves chopped up. Simmered for about 4 hrs then added the tomatoes.

I'll eat on this for the next few days. Haven't done the lasagna yet, tho everything is prepped for it (herbed ricotta, cream cheese and cottage cheese; seasoned ground beef, pork and veal; store bought sauce but added seasoned stewed tomatoes and doctored further w more herbs and snuck in some wilted but sauteed kale - I don't think my husband will notice the kale). Hubs was apprehensive about putting it all together on his own so he had a soft pretzels and Christmas cookies for dinner while I was sleeping off the benadryl. I'll assemble and put this in the oven tomorrow for his dinner. I will still be eating soup most likely. My belly doesn't handle cheese well on chemo....

Eat well, be well. MB1

GreenHarbor

Welcome, MaddieBrie1! That soup sounds delicious. I make a lot of soup in the winter.

illimae

tonight was soup (11 bean and ham) & salad (standard garden with balsamic vinaigrette).

Beaverntx

Tonight was turkey burgers, oven fries and oven roasted green beans to minimize the cooking utensils needed as a water main down the road from us broke today and, while we do have water the pressure is way low. Not washing dishes until it improves or we become desperate enough to heat some of the water we saved in various and sundry .bowls and pots...

illimae

Tonight was a Pablo topped stuffed (artichoke heart/onion/mozzarella) chicken breast, spinach, baked squash & zucchini and a 1/2 Roma mini pizza. Next time I’ll leave the artichoke hearts out, not really my thing.

GreenHarbor

Beaverntx, I hope you’re back to having water running full strength soon! Dinner tonight was chicken cutlets dredged in bread crumbs, ground pecans and Parmesan. It’s browned on the stove top and finished in the oven. I made mashed sweet potatoes with maple syrup and brown butter in my Instant Pot and also had baby spinach tossed with vinaigrette. For those following along at home, that’s TWO vegetables- I’m working hard to improve my diet.

ChiSandy

"Pablo" topped? Bet you typed "Panko" and Auto-Incorrect decided to change it. (Auto-Correct is my worst enema).

Beaverntx

ChiSandy, yes, that too with Auto-incorrect!

Our water is back to full strength now, so showers all around and the dishwasher is running. Dinner was clean up leftovers: choice of meat (beef tenderloin, ham, or turkey), oven roasted potatoes and a large green salad with tomatoes and dessert possibilities included banana pudding, pumpkin or mincemeat pie. We're almost ready to start fresh. Our three remaining houseguests will be leaving this week and DH and I will once again adjust to peace and quiet, after a month of company!

eric95us

Jessiecat is strange. If we put out dry and canned cat food, he'll eat the dry food firs and then, if he is still hungry, he'll then eat the canned stuff. Because of several missing teeth and his age (the vet thinks around 19 years old), the vet suggested we try to switch him to canned food. We've been doing this for awhile and the dogs are continually hoping we will do the same for them.

So, tonight, as usual, I put the cat's food dish on the floor in one corner of the kitchen and the dogs' food dishes on the floor in the other corner of the kitchen. Gypsy, the yellow lab, vacuumed up her food like normall, but Frankie (medium sized black dog) sat down in front of the cat food dish and tried every cute trick he knew, all in the hope that SOMETHING would allow him permission for him to eat the cat food.

Dinner for us humans was turkey tetrazzini, a salad and a microwave warmed doughnut that Sharon made in the air fryer.last evening in the air fryer. Tomorrow we'll finish off the rest of the pumpkin soup.

Beav...I love company...but I love it just as much when the house returns to normal. :-) It's good the water is back to normal. For me, I can backpack for a week to 10 days and not worry about showering, but at home.....I am no longer the little boy that hated "bath time".

ChiSandy

Bob had a haircut down at 900 N. Michigan, so we had early lunch (11:30!) at Gibson's Steakhouse--its adjacent sister restaurant, Hugo's Frog Bar, now opens at 3pm. Just as well--been eating seafood in various forms most of the week. Hadn't had beef in a week and a half, nor any mammal meat (pork chop) since New Year's Eve (and the leftovers the next day). Had an Angus prime ribeye sandwich--packed half of it along with the accompanying fruit (instead of spuds). Ditched the bread and ate the other half (with broiled tomato and baby arugula).

Stopped off at Donut Vault in the new food hall at 900 N., because it was there (and because its other branch downtown closes when it runs out--usually before noon). Had wondered what all the fuss was about. Well, have now tried all the artisanal doughnut shops in Chicago and Donut Vault wins hands down. Its yeast-raised glazed donuts (chocolate, vanilla, chestnut) are gargantuan, as is their take on a jelly donut (marmalade!). Also got a pistachio-glazed old-fashioned buttermilk cake one. Once home, I had 1/4 of the chocolate one. (Yeah, it's that big). Yesterday I stopped at Stan's in Lakeview (any time I can find a free parking spot, it's a sign), but they were picked nearly clean. Got a maple bar and a Biscoff "pocket" (sort of a cronut with a dab of Biscoff caramel/toffee inside)--yesterday had half the maple bar and half the Biscoff this morning before leaving the house.

I'm not going to Stan's again--its boxes and waxed paper bags have that odd petroleum distillate scent (sort of like newsprint mixed with lemon oil or bug spray) that Whole Foods' self-serve bakery bags do, which is why I don't buy self-serve individual pastries at WF any more. I did stop into Vanille Patisserie a block from Stan's and bought a bizarre chocolate cupcake (garnished with a macaron) and a dark chocolate ganache-covered mousse "dome." Gonna let Bob have his choice of the goodies, so he can drown his sorrows over the Bears' last-second loss. (Cody Parkey is the new Steve Bartman...look it up).

Dinner tonight was reheated leftover linguine with mussels. Killed off the rest of Friday night's fish & chips last night, using the air-fry function of the Breville toaster oven. I think I'm gonna ditch the regular air fryer, which I've used just once before getting the Breville. Wanna make room for the Instant Pot (whose manual I've yet to read). Once I've used off all takeout leftovers I will try to actually cook something in it.

SpecialK

Have been MIA due to a bizarre set of circumstances - so have not been cooking much. Since I have had this tooth extraction and bone graft in hopeful prep for an implant in 2019 I can't take Femara or Prolia, so I need to do all I can to help myself so I have re-started the Virgin Diet and gone back to the gym and walking. As part of this I also started a multi-part skin care regimen with a high-end set of products - all I will say is that it is the brand that gives you skin like a Geisha - NOT SO MUCH!!! By the morning of Jan. 3 I had a little rash on my right cheek so I stopped using the products. By the 4th my whole face was covered in a rash. I finally went to urgent care on Sat and had to get a steroid shot as my eyes were swelling shut and I had a blistered rash, and am now on a dose-pack for the rest of the week. Not the look I was going for! Anyway - steroids seem to be doing their job now, after a bit of a backslide overnight on Sat when my whole face was swollen with pockets of edema. Eeesh... I am getting a lot done around the house with the steroid mania - gotta play the "glad game" if I can! Lol!

MinusTwo

SpecialK - wow, so sorry you had that extreme reaction. Hope the steroids continue to work and you can get back to walking soon.

My dermatologist recommends that I use as little as possible on my skin since it is extremely 'sensitive'. I took her seriously. I use only soap & water, CeraVe and if I'm going to be in the pool or on the beach, a sun block. Other than that - for very special occasions I only use eye shadow & mascara and maybe a little powdered blusher. It is sooooo refreshing not to be tied to make up every day. Dealing with chemo treatments started this trend and I never went back.

I too am almost through using up the leftovers. I think tonight will be a baked potato & a salad. Thank heavens Yoga starts again today after the holidays. And Silver Sneakers tomorrow & Thursday. I was turning into a slug.

Yes, welcome Maddie.

Lacey12

Special, yikes! So sorry to hear about your skin disaster, but glad to hear that the steroid is doing its work to clear things up. I am always nervous about trying new skin products expecting what you experienced due to my many allergies. I guess some of us will never reach porcelain doll status! LOL. Thanks for the fashion advice for LA temps!

The mention of Ansel Adams in connection with Barry Goldwater was interesting to see. Tomorrow I'm scheduled to join DH to hear an art historian's lecture about the art/technology collaboration between Edwin Land (Polaroid founder) and Ansel Adams. Then, weather permitting we will trek from Cambridge into Boston to see the AA exhibit at the MFA. It's supposed to be snowing....hope not.

Wasn't interested in making a regular dinner yesterday, so cooked up a pot of kale soup, and we had that for dinner with some fresh baked French bread from Volantes and sweet potato hummus (Wegman product that is delicious). Tonight we are going to a lecture at our local PBS, so will probably have more soup in between gym and that. I promise this will be my last pic post of my fave kale soup.

SpecialK

minus - I am now scared enough of skin stuff to go back to a very basic regimen - either Cerave or Cetaphil for me! I am going to have to be vey careful in Hawaii because my skin will still be sensitive. I am taking barrier sunscreen because my son - who has sensitive skin like I do - developed allergy to regular sunscreen a couple of years ago. He discovered this while at a bachelor party beach weekend and for a minute was afraid the allergy was to beer, but no, just sunscreen, lol!

lacey - thanks! Yes, porcelain doll status - not happening! Your soup looks beautiful! I have some chicken sausage and kale and am thinking soup might be on the agenda for dinner after seeing your pic!

MinusTwo

special - CeraVe makes a couple of sun screen & sun block products. I don't see them on the shelves in Houston, but I found them in Hawaii w/no problem (at ABC) and was able to track some down in CA.

MinusTwo

Lacey - your soup looks delicious - except I don't like kale. Could I substitute spinach? Oh, don't stop posting pictures. All the home-made meals are inspiring. Hope you get to see the AA exhibit. Please do report.

ChiSandy

SpecialK, yikes! I'm always leery of "natural" skincare & makeup products, especially those based on fruit & vegetable extracts. I once tried Yves Rocher products and broke out (though my rash was nowhere near as bad as yours). Those fruit, veggie and other plant extracts can be allergens--best to try them on your wrist or the crook of your elbow first. Look for sunscreens that use minerals (zinc & titanium oxides) rather than avobenzone & oxybenzone. The latter may be endocrine disruptors as well as allergens. The mineral oxides in today's sunscreens are micro-encapsulated so you don't have to walk around wearing clown white.

auntienance

ACK Special! How awful! Hope that calms down soon. I developed psoriasis on my eyelids this year and now have to go fragrance free on everything that goes on my face. Certainly doesn't make makeup easy. At least I probably only wear it once a week. Oddly enough the best skin I've ever had was during chemo.

Roasted chicken tonight on a bed of Yukon gold potatoes and shallots, drizzled with lemon and some rosemary. Also some golden beets in the sous vide. Not much color in this meal!

SpecialK

minus and chisandy - I got some Blue Lizard sunscreen, only has titanium dioxide and zinc, recommended by my derm. I had asked about sunscreen for my son when he had the allergic reaction and that was the brand they recommended. Happened to see it in CVS before any of this skin stuff even happened!

auntie - thanks! Whole thing was pretty shocking! I feel for you on the psoriasis on the eyelids - same allergic son has eczema on his in the winter only. Miserable when your eyes itch. You had a "beige dinner" as my family calls them - sometimes it just works out that way and everything on the plate is the same color, lol!

ChiSandy

Back in 1981 when I started performing in a rock band, I wore quite a bit of eye make-up, for maximum visibility. I also wore soft contact lenses. (You can see where this is heading). Everything was okay until summer allergy season kicked into high gear--and one evening, while I was onstage my eyes began tearing uncontrollably. Then, to my horror, one of my lenses slipped almost behind my eyeball. We finished our number, I excused myself, and extracted my lenses...never to wear them again. But the mixture of those salty tears and my iridescent eye shadow made my eyes swell and my eyelids itch so badly I had to see a dermatologist. We quickly determined that the mica in frosted eye shadow was the culprit and from then on I wore only matte shadows until the past few years; today's glitter shadows are less irritating (but I wear them only for festive occasions and remove them when I get home).

eric95us

Our yellow lab, Gypsy, is wearing the "party collar" (Elizabethan collar) . She had a wart removed from her inner eyelid and the vet doesn't want her scratching at it.

I sent a picture of Gypsy to DD and asked if she was going to be wearing such a thing after midnight....at midnight, she will be 21.

I got a DAAAAAADDDDD??!!!???

Bragging a bit...she go a letter from the university...one for making the dean's list. And, because of all the college credit classes she took in high school and the summer classes taken since, she's now considered a senior.

Dinner tonight is the remainder of the leftover turkey tetrazzini (autocorrect tried to change it to tetracycline).

I'm not sure how much the E-collar is going to help because Jessiecat is trying to lick the surgical site.