So...whats for dinner?

Lacey12

Wow! Lots happening since I popped in....with food and the rest of life! I actually wrote a post that I managed to lose last week, which included B-day wishes for “Mr. Carole“. Glad You never met any deer on your ride back from dinner...and happy for you that the boat sale went through, too. A good start to your summer,

And more recently, Happy belated Anniversary, MOmmy.
I loved your Meatloaf pix, Special. Reminds me a bit of my mother’s recipe, tho she didn’t have quite so much bacon. Yours is prettier! I always enjoyed meatloaf, but since we rarely eat red meat now, when we do have it, we go for something a bit more extravagant. Ha!

Nance, I’m so happy that things are in gear with your moving plan! You and DH have been so organized about your approach and preparation for this process, I’m sure it will go smoothly. Best of luck! Do you get to bring your baking table with you?

I hope all goes well with your GC project, Eric. I keep hearing that AZ is spiking with Covid-19. Is that just around the cities? It does seem amazing that your DD has already graduated...or am I off by a year?

Moon, your grands are looking so grown! Am guessing they are working hard at “keeping you young” . You are lucky to be with them! I worry that when our little DGD2 goes back to day care, she will become a vector for sure, so until there is a vaccine, I have no idea what we will be able to do as far as interacting with her.

They are coming here today to grill turkey tips and eat on the backyard deck, so we can try to distance. DDIL2 is making a key lime pie for my 75th (!) birthday, which was yesterday. It was a quiet day except for a Surprise Zoom session with friends from all over. I knew we were going to zoom with our kids/grandkids, but as we chatted with them, my long time friends kept popping up onto the screen. My head was spinning! But it was a happy spin and I love that DH used his favorite new tech communication method to help me enjoy my BD. The rest of the day, I tried to organize the house a bit, including our dining room which is now my chaotic sewing studio.

For my “Covid2020 birthday” dinner we ordered take out seafood, Speciality Broiled Seafood dishes, clam chowder, and Point Judith calamari. It was good and we have lots leftover. My dish came with a half lobster, which we never touched, so I plan to make a Cream cheese lobster dip with it for tonight’s appetizer. We had carrot cake for dessert.Yum!

I can hardly wait to see little DGD2 enjoying the freedom of “toddler romping” around our back lawn! And soon she will have her own backyard to do that. Yay!

I hope everyone has an enjoyable, not too terribly hot, weekend!

MinusTwo

Lacey - Happy B-day. I'm not quite a year older - but older counts. Actually I liked the feel of 75 - in my brain and my mouth. Not sure I like how 76 sounds. The dinner looks marvelous. Have fun with the kids tonight.

If I'm interpreting Eric's email correctly - his DD is still in college, just changing domiciles. I'm guessing she'll be a Junior in the fall - whether actually or virtually.

Sandy - both of your meals sound delicious. Wish we had a place like that close to me. But then I'd have to wish I could afford it more than once a month.

eric95us

She graduated, with no fanfare, in May.

MinusTwo

Oh wow - where did 4 years go??? What does she hope to do now? No worries if you don't answer until you're "out of the canyon" - so to speak.

auntienance

Happy belated birthday Lacey - sorry we missed it! Yum indeed on your dinner it looks perfect.

And a belated happy to your DH Carole. Does no boat mean no more fishing? That would be sad in the land of 1000 lakes.

It’s been a productive day here - lined up a mover, storage unit, and a tv and internet provider for the new place. That’s a relief. I even managed to pack up the dining room. Tomorrow will be a full day of packing. Tonight will be a takeout pizza. Our carryout options are going to greatly increase soon.

Enjoy the Grand Canyon Eric - one of my favorite places on earth

Moonflwr912

Happy Birthday Lacey! Congrats to your daughter, Eric. I feel do sad for all the Grads this year. We have 5 in the family and a couple in the neighborhood, the celebrations are small, but happy!

Nance, hope everything goes smoothly. Mommy, Happy Anniversary.

My DH is at the farm this weekend, always work to do there, if there isnt enough to keep him busy here. LOL There is so much water up on the farm. More than when we first got married almost 46 years ago.went through a dry spell, to where the pond was less than an acre, to this. From a small pond to more than 40 acres in the

lake this year. Sad part is so many trees gone. But Ash borer got the Ash trees, so not as many dead from tbe water as the borer. Ill quit with the pictures, even though I have sonme of my DGD1 helping me with making my Dandelion jelly, and of the Apple Blossom jelly project too! LOL. Much love

MinusTwo

Eric - I just read a recommendation that we should NOT ask anyone from the Class of 2020 "what's next". Apparently those words are 'echoing through their minds every waking hour.' Make sense so I'm sorry for asking about your DD

Beaverntx

Dinner tonight was homemade pizza. We needed to find out if the bread machine was working or kaput after a little incident last week. One of us, who shall remain unnamed, was preparing to use the machine and carefully removed the pan to avoid getting flour in the machine and then poured the water and oil into the machine instead of the pan! After taking the machine apart as much as possible we cleaned it and let it sit to air and drain. Today was the test run and it worked!!! Next step is to try making a loaf of bread...

ChiSandy

Happy birthday, Lacey! Congrats on your DD's graduation, Eric. (And what I wouldn't give to see the Grand Canyon again)!

And Monica, I can relate to the loss of your ash trees: about 6 years ago the emerald ash-borers spread like wildfire through the north side of Chicago and even Evanston--we lost a third of the trees on our block; and the lovely row of ash trees that separated the northbound & southbound lanes of the Sheridan Rd. curve just n. of Chicago into Evanston, along the lake, had to be removed and replaced with maple saplings.

If we live long enough (and stay healthy) for int'l travel to be safe once again, we're thinking of taking rail through Europe--from Switzerland to Prague or vice versa.

carolehalston

Happy Birthday, Lacey! DH has mastered Zoom, attending wood turners meetings.

Good luck with coping with the challenges of moving, Nance. The apartment sounds like a nice place to live before you purchase your next home.

Moon, you seem very happy with your busy life. Lovely harbor photo.

Dinner last night was beef fillet steak, steamed broccoli, and a warmed up portion of rustic mashed potatoes from our one restaurant meal since arriving in northern MN.

CeliaC

Belated Happy Birthday Lacey! Looking good!

Congrats Eric, to your DD. Even if there was no fanfare, kudos for graduating.

ChiSandy - DD used to live on N. Sheridan Rd, near Nibbles and Nosh. Shared a lovely 3 BR, 2 BR flat (with some not so lovely roomies) that ran from the front of building to the back, with a view of the lake. Worked for the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre on Navy Pier. She only made it through one winter. We helped her move in during a January snowstorm & visited again in September for our birthdays. Rail trip in Europe sounds like a great idea.

carolehalston

Last night's dinner was roasted chicken thighs, cooked on outdoor grill serving as an oven. I bought aluminum foil pans yesterday and didn't notice until I started to use one that it had round holes in the bottom. It was for grilling veggies. I covered the holes with aluminum foil. Our one side was roasted sweet potatoes.

MinusTwo

I ended up with a huge salad last night - using all the rest of the fresh veggies in the fridge & included two hard boiled eggs and some bacon. Pulled some ciabatta rolls out of the freezer. They were fine toasted after I cut off a strip of freezer burn on one edge.

Also prepped tonight's meal - a "use it up" variation on Laurie's Mexican chicken. Drained black bean & added leftover green chili sauce to a casserole dish. Needed a bit more fluid so I added some Rose wine. Sauteed leftover 1/2 of an onion & tossed that in. Pre-cooked & added 1/2 lb of small baby carrots cut in thirds. I will simmer the mix today and either add leftover defrosted rotisserie chicken breasts, or pour beans over the chicken. I may stir in some sour cream or just plop it on top, and serve on rice. I will be making extra rice so I'll have some cold for fried rice later this week.

I plan to try Seeds of Change organic "Mushroom Simmer Sauce" (only 135 sodium), adding slices from leftover frozen eye of the round roast and serve over noodles or rice.

As you can see, I'm working on whittling down the freezer. We're already in hurricane season and I have no idea what's in the back. I know there are more frozen rotisserie chicken breasts, not to mention uncooked chicken breasts & pork loin roasts and frozen cod & salmon steaks from Costco. And 8 or 10 containers of previous leftover meals.

SpecialK

lacey - Happy B-Day, a bit late! You are fab, as is your seafood feast!

moon - pretty pix, can't believe how big your DGDs are! Time flies, right?

auntie - sounds like a lot of progress!

minus - I do that same freezer inventory when we get to this time of year - and I usually only keep bread, extra ice, and non-protein things in the garage fridge because it would go out without me noticing right away.

Last night was an Asian chicken salad with napa cabbage and romaine. Not particularly exciting, but quick and easy - I had extra cooked chicken breast to use up.

ChiSandy

Bob's working late office hours so will be eating dinner there (and likely bringing home fried chicken to tempt me). So I'm on my own tonight. Will finish my leftover Caesar salad (or maybe the mixed greens from yesterday's brunch), plus at least half a Quest cauliflower Supreme pizza (5 gm net carb). Haven't had pizza in over a month--nor even the cauliflower crust since late Feb.!

MinusTwo

A neighbor gave me a 2 lb bag of Yellow Split Peas. I've never heard of 'yellow' - only regular green split pea soup. Anyone have any suggestions or recipes other than just simmering w/vegetables &/or ham bone? Oh - BTW - they are a "21st Century Bean" a heartland legacy from Kansas. Gluten free & non GMO.

Lacey12

Beautiful photos, Moon!

Thanks for the all the birthday wishes! I would like being 75 better were it not for all the aches and pains. Just got off Zoom with my primary care doc for my telemedicine PE. Not my favorite way to have things dxd! Oh well....

On Saturday, DS2 and co. came here for my birthday dinner. It was a beautiful day, so we enjoyed being in the backyard and ate on the deck. I was delighted to watch little Amelia “toddler romp” all over our yard, even with the new rigid shoes she was wearing. She is a determined lass, and must have wanted to be sure to enjoy every minute of being out of her confinement at home. Next week they move out of the city and she will have a yard in which to play and will love it!! She thought she was in heaven here with the additional treat of our next door neighbors stopping by to visit her, too. This poor baby has seen practically no one except her working parents for the past three months after being in a lively family daycare where she had had lots of adult and kid stimulation. It’s not clear with the new health regulations when she can return there. So at least she will be living in a neighborhood with other kids soon. Haha...and will have to keep her distance from them! Oy!

So after enjoying the lobster cream cheese spread I made from Friday’s wasted lobster tail, for dinner we ate grilled marinated chicken breasts with nuked baked potatoes and salad. Amelia is an enthusiastic little eater. She barely grimaced when I gave her a piece of pickled mushroom to try that was in our salad...and then took another! Her namesake, my Italian mother, would be ecstatic to see how she enjoys food! My DDIL2 made a key lime pie for our dessert, which I really enjoyed.

Since Saturday, we have been eating lots of leftovers, fish, beef from the gyro place, and the grilled chicken. I’m so tired of planning and cooking dinners that I’ve been happy to have leftovers on which to rely!
Tonight will be the last of the grilled chicken, and maybe some carrots with tarragon, and farro for a grain.

Last night’s caprese salad to go with the leftover grilled chicken and sweet potatoes.

auntienance

Sadder words were never spoken than “wasted lobster tail.”

Both refrigerators have more been thoroughly cleaned- one destined for storage the other for the new owner. Still so much stuff to use up. Where did I get all these Asian condiments?

Sloppy Jim’s tonight with salad for me and fries for dh.

SpecialK

auntie - same with the plethora of condiments at my house!

Just finished making lasagna rolls, with spinach and ricotta filling, so that will be dinner tonight. Maybe tomorrow night too! I made ten, but I’m sure DH will eat at least three, two for his lunch tomorrow, two for me tonight. Maybe I will freeze what is left and use it for a later lunch for him. He has finally turned the corner on his sinus infection - after his negative Covid test he had 10 days of amoxicillin and pseudoephedrine, which barely improved things. He limped along at work with some Mucinex for the last two weeks, but I finally convinced him to be seen again and he received ten days of Levaquin (my nemesis after BMX - I am violently allergic), and Claritin-D. He seems to be more responsive to this combo, so yay!

Today I have mopped, done laundry, sewn masks, ironed, and cooked. I feel like June Cleaver

MinusTwo

Oh my - "wasted lobster tail". Be still my heart. But the lobster cream cheese spread sounds delicious. How far away from you is their new house Lacey? Closer or further? One of the things that really pisses me off about cancer - I have no idea if the aches & pains are only from getting older of how much cancer contributed. Not reasonable, but I'd like to know.

And oh yes, June Cleaver. Except wasn't there a different day assigned for each task - wash on Monday, iron on..., clean on..., shop on... - but the cooking never ended. Every single day, usually 3 meals a day. My dad wouldn't eat leftovers. Good think I love them.

Dinner was Fried Rice with NOH seasoning packet from HI. Leftover chicken, cold rice, peas, onions, two scrambled eggs, easy soy. Really delicious. Next time I'll remember to add a small can of mushrooms. I really like these NOH seasonings, but like Nance & Special - I have way too many even after my spice purge in January.

ChiSandy

Bob went to Costco after work and brought home a rotisserie chicken (a huge one). We had it with leftover salad (supplemented with cherry tomatoes), steamed broccoli (dressed with lemon, flake salt, olive oil & Penzey's Tuscan Sunset seasoning) & roasted potatoes.

carolehalston

Sadly I am in the "aches and pains" category now. I don't know if it's cause and effect, but the aching joints began after I stopped going to the gym and started walking on the street. Stopped my exercise classes at the gym for range of motion and stretching. I must start an at home exercise regimen.

Goodness, SpecialK, you have a lot of energy, judging from your day at home activities.

I decided to join the small executive golf course that's less than a mile from the resort. It suits my golf game better than the longer, nicer golf course we joined the past two summers. I have played twice with a group of very nice women, most of them in my age category. Mary Ellen is 89 but you would never guess her age. DH may join Headwaters as a single. He hasn't decided.

Dinner last night was roasted asparagus and pork tenderloin, both cooked on the grill. I marinated the tenderloin with olive oil, garlic and onion powder, s & p and dry rosemary. DH has never been a fan of pork tenderloin but he made favorable comments and there wasn't much left.

It has been hot and windy the last couple of days. We've had to resort to running the a/c. The forecast is for storms with possible large hail this afternoon and tonight. I should plan a dinner that doesn't require outside cooking. I'm thinking about a version of taco salad.

SpecialK

minus - my MIL had different days for each major task too! Then again, she had five kids with only a seven year span between oldest and youngest - which were a set of twins. Smart woman that she was, she took an older neighbor who didn't drive to the grocery store once a week. and split the twins between their carts. She got a twin sitter and the neighbor got a ride to the grocery store - win-win!

carole - funny that your post contained mention of your aches/pains and me being busy - if I am not busy, my aches and pains get much worse. I find that sitting is my worst position, it affects my disk degeneration most particularly. The disk issues were originally diagnosed at L4/5 almost 20 years ago and I don't treat with anything other than exercise and keeping busy. Some days are better than others depending on sleep position and level of activity. I have noticed that now that I am not going to the gym my discomfort is worse since I have lost strength. On my last MRI a few years ago for an unrelated hip issue, my MO also did a lumbar since we didn't know what was causing the hip pain (oldness, muscle tears, and trochanteric bursitis - problem solved with a lengthy PT) I now have new areas at L3 and T12 and also bone spurs, so I am much better if I am moving. What I usually do is a number of tasks at the same time - I have been sewing a mask or two, then mop a room, then iron, etc., if I do too much of one thing I get uncomfortable, so I stay a moving target. I am still staying home for the most part so need to keep busy or I will notice that I am staying home, lol!

Edited to add dinner, lol! Putting stew beef, sliced onion, an envelope of dry Lipton's onion soup mix, and a can of cream of mushroom soup in the slow cooker and letting it work its magic. Will serve over wide egg noodles with steamed green beans as a side. I never made the cobbler with my frozen peaches so maybe I will do that too. I need to go to the window showrooms for Pella and Andersen - we are replacing the windows in the rental house - they are the 1957 originals for the most part. Definitely not bug or storm proof - they have pretty big openings at the corners. We have two estimates so far from local companies that differ in price substantially, and the unfortunate thing is that the house sits in a 130mph zone so we have to do impact windows (my southern sisters know what I mean!), no choice if we want to do it legally with a permit. So...we definitely need to find the least expensive option. At least we get an insurance break and possibly a tax credit. Bleh...

ChiSandy

Our local (2 mi. away, not-quite-neighborhood) 9-hole course is fully open, but it's not an easy one by any means. Back in the day I played it once: was assigned to play with 3 guys who were unbelievably patient with an ultra-duffer like me (I had to treat them to beers and Titleists afterward to make amends). Been >30 yrs. since I've played anything but mini-golf (with a long putter at that), so I'll probably just walk the perimiter trail instead.

Dinner tonight will be leftover roast chicken (will make a piccata sauce with all the capers & lemon wedges I have), asparagus (pan-seared with balsamic), and rice for Bob/cauliflower rice for me.

Gordy & Leslie want to do something special for Father's Day, but not on Sunday because he's working. (Bob is off; he specifically requested steak). So we will have an early Father's Day dinner Fri. night (storms forecast for Sat., so outdoor seating would be a no-go) at The Barn of Evanston. They have valet parking, but I think it's safer to park in the city garage and walk the three blocks.

MinusTwo

Sandy - I snagged asparagus for $0.88 today - nice young, tender bunch. Do you sautee in EVOO or butter and then add the balsamic? Or ???

ChiSandy

Minus, I cheat by "blanching" the spears in the microwave for 30 sec., then sauteeing in EVOO and finishing with balsamic and Maldon flake salt.

Beaverntx

I often oven roast the asparagus and make a browned butter balsamic dressing, it has become a holiday dinner favorite but I don't necessarily wait for a holiday! ☺

Dinner tonight was a version of the layered enchilada casserole accompanied by a Cass winery(Paso Robles) 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon with the cab and dark chocolate for dessert.

MinusTwo

Beaver - I love that you posted TWO glasses of wine!! And hope it was also double chocolate. We only live once.

Beaverntx

Of course double chocolate! Actually Dove dark chocolate, so good with the cab sauv.

carolehalston

Last night's dinner was an expanded version of our romaine salad on a dinner plate, topped with sauteed slices of chicken breast. Romaine lettuce, tomato, cucumber, avocado, blue cheese, kalamata olives. Dressing was white balsamic, EVOO, and a small amount of caesar dressing for me and sweet onion dressing for dh. Quite satisfactory.

No clue about tonight's dinner.

SpecialK, I have a package of cooked linguine in the freezer. What next when I want to use it? Let it thaw? Microwave? You said once that cooked pasta freezes well so I decided to give it a try.