So...whats for dinner?

MountainMia

I think coffee filters would be a better option than shop towels. You don't know what chemicals are in either, but at least coffee filters are designed for food product, and presumably are not going to hurt you.

Reader425

I enjoyed today's mouthwatering descriptions and pictures of all your meals! Here was ours. In the middle was stuffing instead of potatoes. When I went to peel potatoes for salad they were all quite green. Too much for my liking. So stuffing it was, with ham!

ChiSandy

I have a whole bunch of Melitta-style filters that don't fit my Hario pour-over cone, and are just about the right size and shape to fit between my cloth mask & my face...will try it.

ConsumerLab.com did testing and found disposable surgical masks (not N95s) can be disinfected by baking for 15 min. at 160F--with a little dish of water in the oven to make it moist heat. Might be moot, though--my PCP thinks that due to my risk factors I should shelter-in-place indefinitely, getting my exercise on the treadmill & weights, and going out only on to my porch, deck or yard.

Lacey12

Sandy, I had heard that the basket shaped coffee filters were the preferred ones to use in homemade masks. Since we use Melitta unbleached cone single serve filters, I tried out one of those out for breathability.....not good! Am guessing the basket style might be a bit friendlier to those who'd prefer not to asphyxiate. From what I've read so far, it seems the blue shop towels are really not something I'd ever want to breathe through. Apparently, there is a “sewing company" , Suay Sew, in CA, which is trying to make masks and filters that are safe and effective in filtering out Covid-19, tho not medical grade. I'm getting masked out! Might just be easier to stay in the house!

Carole, do you know what you might be doing about your annual trip North?
We've been wondering how the summer at the Lake will work this year....if we are even fully un-socially distanced by then. Then this morning I noticedan article in NYT about the town where our lake house is located, focusing on the economic devastation of such smaller towns. I was surprised to see that specific town written about until seeing who wrote it. The author is married to the daughter of one of our NH neighbors' and we realized that they moved their family to NH to our neighbor's home to ride out the NYC version of the pandemic. Interestingly, that's the fourth couple we just heard of who moved to NH to escape the density of either Boston or NYC.

Tonight we'll have turkey chili with rice or farro and a cucumber salad.

Haha....and thanks everyone for indulging my attention-seeking, paella making DH. He does make a pretty (and tasty!) paella, and enjoyed the compliments beyond those coming from yours truly.

ChiSandy

My PCP just got back to me: he considers me to be at "medium risk" but advises me not to leave the house w/o a mask; the only way he advises I can play that festival is with proper social distancing: impossible to teach workshops that way, and even the main stage is too small for my partner & I to stand 6' apart. Then there's that little problem of singing through a mask (much less playing with rubber gloves)...

We no longer have any old-school "basket" filters (the Kalita Wave ones are thicker), but I tried one "pane" of those "linen-feel" paper hand towels and they're breathable--would they be adequate as a filter between mask & face?

We've agreed that the plan for Bob's every-other-weekend Little Co. duty is to have him take 2 changes of clothes and a trash bag--stay in a hotel Sat. night to strip/shower/sleep; and on Sun. before coming home, to strip & change in the attending physicians' lounge men's room, disinfect his steering wheel & door-handles, then strip again at home and dash (well, hobble with those creaky knees and awful bunions) upstairs to dump his clothes, shower and change into fresh scrubs. (Our first floor bathroom does not have a working shower--to get one, assuming we could find a willing plumber, would run >$10K, and that was the figure quoted us a decade ago). I am the one doing all the home Lysol-ing and laundry (and burning through gloves at a scary clip). The residents' quarters has the hospital's only staff shower--he doesn't want to "trespass," but if ever there were a time to pull rank...

Moonflwr912

Hope everyone had a good Easter and or Passover! We had my daughter and the grznds over for dinner, because we sit for both the kidz and see the parents when they drop off or pick up every werk, so same germs. Kept dinner very simple, ham, green beans, corn and roazted potatos. We a loved mashed, but the kids are still managing keto so didnt want to tempt too much. DD2 brought a chocolate keto cake iced. It was actually really good.

Regarding the masks filters, the blue shop filters wete tested along with 2 panels of cotton, tshirt material, tea towels, bandanas, coffee filters,and compared yo surgical masks. Not to N95s, because they win. But the shop towels were the only homemade to work on the smallest size they could test. Blocked Over 75%. Surgical masks were 80 ish% cloth 65, tshirt 40, voffee filters around 40 to 50. I dont know if you put a filter in the cotton it it raises the level.

I made 20 masks last week, because my daughters clinic just got the ok for homade mazks for everyone who doesnt actively see patients. and sat down to make 10 more today. My machinr went kookoo. Which p*sses me off, as I took it in Feb and they replaced the bobbin case, and tuned it up for 80 bucks! Anx yet something is whacked and i couldnt finish even 1. Arrrrgggghhhh. Ill call them tomorrow.

BTW. It snowed today. 25 degrees right now. A very good reason we dont pkant things til almost Mothers Day... LOL

Much love

carolehalston

We have a whole roll of the shop towels. Sandy, I'm glad you and Bob have worked out a plan. Bob sounds like a physican workaholic. My physician BIL did not adapt well to retirement. His identity was tied up in his profession and it was like he lost an essential part of himself.

Last night was curbside pickup pizza. Nice not to cook and the pizza tasted good. Tonight will be a repeat of red beans and rice and salad. Another no cook night. It's not that I mind cooking but I seem to run out of menus.

Another wonderful cool (cold this morning) sunny day. I will take my neighborhood walk. I played golf yesterday and took the gamble of renting a golf cart. At the risk of insulting the cart barn employee, I wiped the steering wheel and seat before driving the cart off. He assured me the cart had been sprayed thoroughly. My playing companions and I stayed apart but not far enough to suit me. I've become germaphobic.

ChiSandy

Bob does plan to close his practice once this is all over and his staff either have the resources to retire or work elsewhere. But as long as Union Health will still have him, he'll continue to work there twice a week as "semi-retirement." We've realized that we're a long ways away from feeling safe to travel anywhere or attend entertainment & sports events, though some of that might come back for others.

I insert those paper filters between mask & face. Can still breathe through them. Also found out that ironing the cloth side of surgical masks (but not N95s) on the "steam" setting disinfects them.

Reader425

We had a mixture of leftovers for dinner tonight. Moosewood eggplant parm from last night, Easter leftovers, and even joy of cooking mac and cheese. All washed down with a tasty Cabernet sauvignon. Hmmm our dinner sounds like one of Minus's delish sounding concoctions LOL!

Carole I am also finding it interesting how good pizza and takeout Chinese taste now that it's once a week or less. 🥡🍕🍕🥡

ChiSandy

Pan-seared Alaskan salmon with Silver Palate's lemon-dill aioli; roast asparagus; and a grape tomato/basil salad.

MinusTwo

Moon - great to see you. Thanks for the data on the mask fillers. Really - SNOW???

I'm with Carole. Cold here for my morning walk - 57 degrees. Walk # 19 coming up tomorrow.

Dole Spinach Miso Crunch salad for lunch/dinner. I added hard boiled eggs & Campari tomatoes. Yum. I REALLY like that dressing.

ChiSandy

We woke up to an inch of snow this morning. There was a 54-car pileup on I-90/94 this morning due to snow over black ice. (A 9-car pileup at another exit). We're getting as much as 6" on Friday. Oh, and it was 80F last week.

SpecialK

My physician FIL didn't completely retire until he was close to 70, then he became a concierge doc to my MIL, lol! He had a private practice in Miami for 30 years, then went back into the Air Force as a flight surgeon for several years, but MIL couldn't handle the moving. They settled in NC for about 10 years and he worked at the VA, developing one of the first PTSD groups. They moved to their retirement house in SC and he worked as a civilian provider at the Navy Hospital for several years before stopping completely.

I am pretty much out of the mask business for the moment - I made about 40 before running out of materials. DH is mailing to my BFF in CA today, I sent her some last week too, but they were early prototypes - my more recent ones are lighter and cooler with a removable liner made from the soft grocery totes, and totally washable. Also mailed some to our real estate agent - she is still showing houses but going through multiple masks a day doing so, as well as shoe covers and gloves. Washable masks will be helpful for her.

Last night we had a lazy dinner - hot dogs on rolls topped with slaw, and chips. Night before was cheesy risotto with chicken apple sausage and peppers. DH has requested kale salad tonight topped with chicken. I usually make a strawberry vinaigrette (basically squashed strawberries mixed with a simple vinaigrette) for kale salads and I add the dressing early and toss aggressively to soften the kale, but unless he shops I have no fresh strawberries. I do have some frozen so I suppose I could thaw and mash those. He went in to the office this morning, and will be stopping at DD's house this afternoon to see a friend of hers who flips houses. We have a list of things that need to be addressed so we are finding out which of the things on the list can be done by him. Chief among them, an extended fence so she can keep her boat there instead of in my garage - where my car goes. We moved the AC unit and concrete hurricane pad back 10 feet already, but need to move the fence forward and add a gate. We also apparently have termites - ugh. The house was supposedly treated for termites six months prior to our purchase but we are having trouble getting the seller to give us the name of the company. He is notoriously slow with that stuff - also was during the escrow process. We have a receipt and invoice number, because the VA required it, but it is without the company name - seems sketchy to me. Will be arranging treatment for those before the end of the week one way or the other, as well as trying to get estimates to fix the floors ruined by the faulty install of the new washer and dryer. At least that is an insurance claim against the installer, not out of our pocket. Very hard to do this stuff without leaving home... yesterday we had an estimate on resurfacing the pool over at this house. The upside of that, the pool is already outside so we can be socially distant from the folks doing the work, lol!

Edited to add - the food photos are so beautiful - the paella and pineapple ham!

auntienance

We had snow in the forecast too but fortunately it decided to bypass us. I'm done with snow and winter. Wish the feeling was mutual lol. My garden is still sitting in the garage.

I braved the supermarket yesterday which was as maddening as it was frightening. Because this county of 18000+ has only six diagnosed cases people around here act like it's a joke - standing in the middle of aisles in each other's faces yapping like they're at a church picnic, coming up on you with no regard for any kind of distancing much less 6 feet, people coughing with no effort to cover their mouths. About half the people in the store were masked. When they actually start testing people or as soon as one of the store employees tests positive perhaps attitudes will change. In the meantime, I'm avoiding it as much as possible.

Tonight is a potato and onion frittata with a salad and garlic toast.

Beaverntx

I braved the grocery store today. Since my trip last week, some employees of the grocery chain in a neighboring city have tested positive for the virus. Noticed today in our store all employees had masks (as compared to last week when maybe 1/3 to 1/2 had masks); also while I was shopping, they announced store capacity had been reached, the store was closed to any new shoppers, please continue your shopping...

Still not all shoppers were wearing masks. The good news was I was able to get everything on my list for the first time in weeks. They also had toilet paper; brand did not look familiar but not in need yet so didn't go down that aisle. Also, snagged two small bottles of hand sanitizer!

All that said, tonight's plan is left over chili, cheddar biscuits, and the rest of a 2009 Ken Volk Cabernet Sauvignon we opened last evening. Since starting Tamoxifen, my tolerance is one glass of wine, so no more declaring "that's a really good wine, let's have a second glass" at least for the time being (especially the 14+% alcohol California wines we have)!

ChiSandy

(Seems as if) it's been so long since I'd ordered hand sanitizer & alcohol wipes on Amazon that I'd forgotten I did so--so their arrival on my doorstep yesterday felt like I'd won the Lotto...well, at least a two-buck "scratch-off" ticket.

Passover ended at sundown yesterday. No breakfast today, as I had to get ready to take Heidi to the vet--finagling to get her into her carrier--plus deal with the bad news that my housekeeper's DH tested COVID+, which he no doubt caught from fellow dialysis patients at the V.A. (one veteran got flu symptoms and tested positive, so all that hospital's dialysis patients were tested due to the fact that the loungers were placed cheek-by-jowl and nobody except the staff was masked). So when I got back from the vet (Heidi's fine--we're awaiting her annual bloodwork results to determine why she was suddenly lethargic Tues. night into yesterday afternoon), I thawed out and toasted a couple of slices of low-carb bread and made myself an avocado BLT.

Dinner tonight was leftover Costco ribs, supplementing our Cellars order of lentil soup, a huge Cobb salad (which I'll be eating for days) and gorgonzola-spinach meatloaf with mashed spuds, mushroom gravy (no roux!) & green beans for Bob. I could barely finish one rib and maybe a cupful of the salad. Had a really nice Mark West Pinot Noir, too. (Probably not finish my glass).

MountainMia

I went to the grocery this morning to pick up an order and also go in for produce. Now the cupboards are bursting and the freezer is full. Naw, it's not really that bad, but there is a lot of food in the house! So, most of my shopping was done by online order and I was only in the store about 15 minutes during the "senior hour." But honestly it was just stressful. Not many people in the store, still seemed like a long wait to check out. Everyone with masks. Produce was the busiest spot, so I felt like I was dodging people. Other aisles are one way, so if you just want one thing and you're at the wrong end, you have to circle around for it. Then you get everything home, wash, put it away, wash, sterilize the knobs and pulls and counter. You all know, as you're doing it, too. Then husband left for Costco for a few more things, so the clean-up process repeated once he got back. BUT. We won't need to do this again for at least a couple of weeks.

One of the things he got was a rotisserie chicken. So I pulled it apart before dinner. We ate the leg/thigh quarters and the rest is waiting for some other plan. The carcass is already in the compost bucket along with the remains of a pineapple and the rest of the week's food trash.

Besides the chicken, we had broccoli and some leftover sweet potatoes. I didn't finish my broccoli. I think I'll cook it up tomorrow for breakfast with some mushrooms and eggs.

One of the things I ordered that was out of stock was a corned beef. That was disappointing, after setting my taste buds for it!

ChiSandy

Costco chickens are da bomb! Bob's Union Health office is only a few blocks from Costco, so one day a week after work he becomes "hunter-gatherer" and brings home a chicken (also booze & whatever else we need they haven't run out of....so far, so good). Last week's chicken carcass became matzo ball soup.

Cellars, from whom we order out at least one, if not two nights a week, has made its St. Pat's Day corned beef with colcannon (mashed spuds w/cabbage) and Brussels sprouts with coarse-grained Dijon mustard sauce a menu staple. It's usually the first item to sell out.

carolehalston

Last night's dinner was in the "blah" category. I had thawed a pork tenderloin. It was large so I cut it into two pieces, seasoned with s and p, onion and garlic powder, and dried rosemary. DH cooked it on the grill to the perfect doneness. Still pink in the center and moist. The side was a bag of frozen whole green beans. I started them in a skillet with chicken broth. Added a little Rao's. Sprinkled some Italian cheese, mixture of parm and romano from a jar. The result was still frozen green beans from a bag.

The up side is that green beans always affect me like a diuretic so I was up a couple of times last night getting rid of fluid! I was disappointed when I stepped on the scale this morning. Then remembered I hadn't weighed after eating pizza recently so I probably really had dropped a couple of lbs.

Tonight I will slice the leftover pork and heat it with barbecue sauce. Apologies for not being more inspirational.

I did amaze myself yesterday by walking and playing 18 holes of golf. A walk of at least four miles. Afterwards I was tired but not exhausted, thanks to a gorgeous day with a high of about 72 and low humidity.

A repairman came during the afternoon and diagnosed my washing machine's malady. Part and repair would be about $450, so no, thanks, I never liked the pricey machine when it was working. It lasted eight years so its service was a little less than $100 a year. The Kenmore gas dryer, bought used, has been giving service for 20 plus years.

CeliaC

Roast chicken is a weekly mainstay for me. DH bought an uncooked one on Tues and we roasted it on Weds, so should be set for another week.

Sandy - You are so lucky to have such high quality take out available. Especially, since you can get wine as well.

MinusTwo

I agree about Costco's wonderful rotisserie chickens. They're always much bigger than those in the grocery store, and so moist & tended. One is at least 5 or 6 meals for me.

Oh Special, what a nightmare going on at that house. Hope the termites are easily dispatched.

MountainMia - I love your story about wash, decontaminate - then do again. What did we ever do with all our free time when this wasn't the protocol?

Carole - when I finally bought a new washer last year (top load, agitator) I kept my same old Kenmore dryer that is likely 25 years old. So they don't match - boo hoo. Remember back when we first had our own apartments or houses that had avocado green or harvest gold appliances? Who would have considered buying new? We were grateful we had a fridge & stove & dishwasher that worked?? And now working appliances are tossed out for stainless.'

Dunch was two Oscar Meyer Wieners in one bun. On to something new tomorrow.

SpecialK

minus - termites won’t be easy or inexpensive. These are subterranean, the worst kind. I’ve already been warned by my bug guy it won’t be a simple treatment. Bleh.

My parents built their first new house and had a front loading washer and dryer that were built in under a Mexican tile counter. They were butter yellow - and it was 1959. I have very clear memories of moving into that house. Orange groves, jack rabbits in the back yard, and the drive from the old house with our Siamese cat in a laundry hamper howling like a madman. All of the rest of the appliances - an electric stove built into the counter, a wall oven and a pull out dishwasher were also butter yellow. We also had a black and white linoleum floor, the squares were 12” - a classic look. My mom had a floor cleaning service once a month and they waxed and buffed that kitchen floor until you could see your reflection in it. I also remember cleaning and shining the fridge with Jubilee.

Dinner tonight will be a corn, black bean and salsa salad and chicken and cheese enchiladas.

DD is here waiting for her dad to come home - he had to go to his office today - and we will watch her in a tv show shot last winter. She is a guest host on a FL fishing show. She is also in a Yamaha boat engine commercial that happens to be on during the show - a double whammy! Very exciting! She came over this morning early and watched it with me, we recorded it for DH to watch this evening

Reader425

Dinner tonight came out better than expected. Crockpot chicken sauced with what was supposed to be molasses, Worcestershire, cider vinegar, mustard and hot sauce. Had to substitute maple syrup for the molasses as the lid was unremovable. But it came out pretty tasty if a bit thinner and less adherent than molasses. That, with sweet potato hash baked on a pizza stone, and a green bean casserole.

There was one glass of cabernet sauvignon left from the other night so I took one for the team. 😘🍷🍗

carolehalston

For a while I may just check in and say, "We ate dinner last night." I actually dreamed about cooking dinner last night. The dream wasn't terribly stressful but it wasn't blissful either. In the dream I got out a container of cooked chicken from the freezer and made a Betty Crocker style casserole. I just may do that.

DH has a Zoom meeting of the wood turners club this morning.

Tomorrow Lowe's is delivering a new Maytag washing machine with an agitator. They won't bring it into the house but dh and I should be able to manage getting it through a door from the carport into the laundry room. He will hook it up. After reading a lot of reviews about washing machines, I concluded it's a "cr*p shoot" whether you get a lemon or a machine that works a few years. There seems to be widespread dissatisfaction with multliple brands and models. In a superstitious move to get 5 years of service, I sprang for the 5 year extended warranty.

auntienance

I have the Kenmore washer to go with your dryers. We have had it for 25 years. The dryer finally gave up last year after 27 years of faithful service. Those days are gone I fear.

Carole, I'm with you about dinner. It seems like such a chore to figure it out every night. Last night was a grilled ham steak and grilled fresh pineapple with some Florida corn on the cob. Tonight might be red beans and rice if I can snag some beans today.

It's finally going to warm up enough to take my garden out of the garage and move it to the porch.

SpecialK

My washer and dryer are inexpensive, non digital, top loading with agitator washer and electric dryer. I bought the largest Kenmore set, for the least money, when we bought this house. We had so many other expenses I went with other priorities. They have been faithful servants, I fixed the door switch on the dryer myself for a $10 part off Amazon and a YouTube video. I recently had to replace the heating element on the dryer but that’s the only repair in 14 years. I bought Maytags for the new house, partly because they are American made, but also for the reputation. My BFF has her Maytags from 1983 - still going. My MIL went through several sets of digital front loaders in what seemed like short order

It is raining here. DH just left to walk to the car repair place. His vintage 1996 BMW Z3 needed new gaskets. I’m pretty sure he just got rained on, hopefully he could duck under an awning along the route - rain come here in bands most often, so he may have some more episodes before he arrives there. I have a green pepper that needs to be used so I think I will make chili and cornbread for dinner.

DD has offered to grocery shop for us on Monday since she has to go herself. I really only need produce and she said she is thinking about a trip to the farmer’s market that is near her horse.

MinusTwo

Interesting - we're all focusing on what has to be used. Special - great that your DD will do the shopping.

I was going to have an avocado filled with tuna salad, but decided the avocado could last one more day. So this is my plan for a really professional meal... I'm going to prepare a box of Stove Top stuffing and add celery & onions & sage. And I took a hunk of leftover cooked turkey out of the freezer. I pulled a can of cranberry sauce from the pantry for accompaniment. Probably I'll add a small salad of pre-packaged greens that need to be used. Such a fancy dinner certainly deserves an excellent wine, and I have several in the $10.00 range that will be delicious.

ChiSandy

Had lunch for breakfast: a small tuna salad sandwich with lettuce, tomato & onion, plus black coffee. Spent all day feeding cats, cleaning the litterboxes, and laundry, laundry & more laundry. So far so good with the front loaders (Whirlpool). Had brunch for dinner: eggs Benedict (serrano ham, sliced tomato, over Mikey's keto English muffin, topped with nukable Hollandaise. Just me today & tonight: Bob is working the wards at Little Co. of Mary Hosp. and staying over at a hotel. He will come home tomorrow to strip, shower and have a good meal. Getting used to doing nothing but cat care and housework (mostly dishes and laundry) all day.

eric95us

Dinner tonight was from Chipotles. There were probably 3 people inside and another 8 or 9 waiting outside...all spaced well apart....the staff said they are about 3/4 normal on business at night, but *totally dead* during the day. DD went to a vegan place a few days ago to get takeout and they said they were "90% of normal". So I guess it's a crap shoot for the restaurants.

I kind of felt like I, too, had won the Lotto, and felt a bit silly at the same time when it came to toilet paper. I was in the store to get flour and other groceries and there were about 50 boxes of toilet paper (36 rolls of 1000 sheets per roll, 2 ply). The sign said 1 per customer so I grabbed a roll. When I got to the checkout stand, "We can only sell the toilet paper by the box. Do you want a whole box?" They even sent someone to grab the box with the missing roll. MIL is getting some, "Evil" twin is getting some and DD's roommates are getting some, so at least I'm not sitting on it. :-)

Chi, I hope housekeeper's husband comes out OK and she doesn't get it. When I was working at the quarantine station, a lot of people that tested positive never showed any symptoms and they were nearly all 70+ years old...so maybe they'll get lucky as well.

Is Bob going to completely retire or still do some consults with other doctors?

How is Heidi?

Special, how was the TV show?

Nance, it's supposed to be 90F by next Friday. The garden is growing nicely and I'm already getting tomatoes (red cherry) from the garden. The Serrano pepper plants are probably 3 weeks off from having peppers. By mid June, I'll be having to shade the tomatoes so I can get another few weeks of harvest from them. After that, they'll get overheated and while they'll grow, they won't set fruit. The peppers and tomatillos will do fine throughout the summer.

carolehalston

I looked up Kenmore online and the brand is no longer owned by Sears (which has gone bankrupt?). Apparently washing machine manufacturers can no longer make "lots of water" machines any more. All the sensing and clicking and dribbling of water is a matter of law. The Lowe's employee who delivered our Maytag yesterday explained that even on "deep water" setting the amount of water is still limited. As a pro environment person, I guess I can't complain. In our case we have two wells on our property and do not pay more for water than the initial price of drilling the 2nd well, which is 900 feet deep.

There was no cooked chicken in the freezer. The container was cooked okra. So I took out an 8 oz. package of ground chuck and Betty Crocker took over from there. DH was tickled with a macaroni hot dish for dinner.

I may venture out grocery shopping today before the rain comes in the afternoon.

As of yet we have no itinerary for travel to MN this summer. Have to see how things develop.