So...whats for dinner?

MinusTwo

Good idea with the garlic Beaver. Thanks.

Debbiemarler

Bacon, baked bacon so it's healthier

ChiSandy

I nuke my bacon between paper towels.

Reader425

Yes Minus, red enchilada sauce. And I believe turkey would taste fine in these. For me it's all about the cheese and sour cream anyway 😉

I have esophageal dysfunction from an auto immune ailment so I have no contributuon to make to the hatch chili discussion. DH pours Texas Pete (?) all over the aforementioned Enchiladas.

Tonight was pesto i made over grilled chicken and penne, along with foil grilled vegetables. These are my last pictures for a while I promise. But we love this meal and it's also pretty.

ChiSandy

Looks yummy! Tonight was asparagus seared in olive oil, finished with balsamic, plus 4 frozen Buffalo wings. Dessert was a handful of mixed nuts and the dregs of a pint of Enlightened Keto butter pecan ice cream.

CeliaC

Beginning to ease back into "non-soft" foods after tooth extraction on Monday. Mixed up Cauliflower Risotto w/Parmesan & Sea Salt, Spinach & Sauteed Shrooms + a bit of Rao" Roasted Garlic Alfredo and topped with Key West Shrimp sauteed in herb & garlic butter.

MinusTwo

Celia - that looks delicious. Glad your mouth is healing.

Reader - Love your grilled veggies. I'll be using my zucchini and tomatoes in a saute w/onions tomorrow. Forgot to buy enchilada sauce on my 2 week grocery run - but I'll stop next week on my way back from my PCP appointment.

PCP better not say one damn thing about statins since I brought my LDL down 25 points. HDL & Triglycerides are still over the top fantastic. I think I'll discuss CoQ10 with her. Anybody else use that? Or any other successful supplements/food to lower LDL w/o taking prescription drugs?

I hit Costco today and got one of their excellent, huge rotisserie chickens for $4.99. Also treated myself to one of their shrimp "cocktails". I managed to stay away from the wine section since I'm really enjoying this Australian Shiraz.

ChiSandy

CoQ10 is supposed to make statins easier to tolerate. Before he died, my PCP said that it (as well as OTC fish & krill oils) showed no cardiac benefits--and that lowering cholesterol & LDLs doesn't necessarily translate to lower risk of CV events. The only reason he prescribed Crestor for me was because my family's CV history (both parents, all four grandparents) was a train wreck. He didn't find my Feb. LDLs concerning. My husband is a cardiologist, and takes Lipitor even though he never had elevated cholesterol. Meanwhile, the NP at NorthShore's non-surgical weight mgmt. clinic (part of Skokie Hosp.'s cardiology dept.) doesn't like my Feb. LDLs (though my HDLs and triglycerides were great. So she doubled my Crestor dose (from 5 to 10mg.). Personally, as far as any other supplements, I won't take anything that enhances circulation until my ocular melanoma has been radiated into "sterility;" its location is too close to blood vessels and unlike most other solid cancers it spreads not through the lymph system but through the circulatory system.

Dinner was more fridge-foraging: spiralized the remaining half of a small zucchini and tossed the "zoodles" in olive oil with an equal volume of whole wheat spaghettini, jarred pesto, pecorino Romano, salt, cherry tomatoes that I picked as they were starting to split, and some more basil. Dessert was mixed berries (strawberries, red raspberries, blackberries and blueberries) and a FatSnax (2gm net carb) double chocolate cookie,

Beaverntx

Dinner tonight was salmon burgers (DH had a bun with his), Alexia onion rings from the air fryer, green peas, and fresh tomatoes. Quick and easy to fix, as well as colorful on the dinner plate.

CeliaC

Minus - I have taken CoQ10 ever since statins were prescribed. Couple of things to know about: if take it before bed, may interfere w/sleep; best absorbed after a fatty meal unless you take tablet(s) formulated (solubilized) w/polysorbate 80 or formulated as water soluble. Tablets are generally large. Water Soluble brand: Qunol Mega CoQ10 Ubiquinol. (PS - Thanks for the food compliment.)

Sandy & Beaver - Sounds like some good eats!

auntienance

Minus, here's a quick, easy and tasty red enchilada sauce for those times you forget to pick it up at the store.

https://dinnerthendessert.com/best-homemade-enchilada-sauce-and-quick/

I've been thinking about Costcos rotisserie chickens but alas I don't have one. But we're having chicken pot pies anyway with a small chicken breast from the freezer. Doubt there Will be any sides but a sliced tomato from my patio plants.

I can't write any more - my autocorrect is nuts - correcting EVERYTHING I type to the wrong word. Argh!

Beaverntx

Nance, thanks for the sauce recipe, looks like a keeper!

MinusTwo

I agree. Looks like a great enchilada sauce. Thanks Nance.

Thanks Sandy & Celia for the CoQ10 information. It will be interesting to see what my PCP says next week. I know it isn't standard for reducing LDL w/o the addition of Statins, but apparently it worked in mice. (LOL)

Lacey - hope all is well.

Lacey12

Just caught up on several pages of posts and pix. Some nice meals...and I do love the pix...probably why I add them often, too!

I am a compulsive lettuce washer...almost every single night...unless I just can’t face it with end of day back pain, and go for the fast and easy cuke salad.
In one of my former jobs, a few colleagues and I decided to have a “salad lunch club“, which for me deteriorated when I saw my boss empty a bag of greens, Into a bowl and mix it with dressing. Not sure if I was always this way, but I am really particular about my salad greens...i.e, not having rust or black slime, or specks of dirt, which I find I can best avoid by purchasing whole healthy looking heads of lettuce and washing and spinning it one leaf at a time. Sadly, DH, who has had a nice transformation into being a food shopper and sometimes meal prep helper, doesn’t have the best eye for lettuce dirt, so I am unwilling to delegate that task to him, lest I find myself chewing on dirt and rudely abandon his salad effort mid-meal. He has gotten much better at spotting good looking heads of green leaf, romaine, and red leaf lettuce, which is a treat. I will buy some of the Trader’s bags of arugula and of baby spinach, after inspecting the quality through the package. Obviously, I am a bit nuts about salad quality. And since Covid-19 I have not ordered a salad of any kind with any take-out meals...purely preferring just cooked food items.

We have been bopping back and forth between home and the lake since arriving here a few weeks ago. Last week, we returned home for removal of a huge maple tree in our front yard which was listing in the direction of our neighbors’ house. Glad we had it done given the winds of Isaias this past week! Here there were a lot of downed trees, and I am relieved that we just lost power, and did not gain any trees in our living room! This week we head back for a stress echo for me, then back here again.

Our local son came up for the weekend with baby Amelia, who he was eager to introduce to our beautiful lake. She was not impressed with the water temp, tho totally enjoyed her relationship with sand at the beach. This morning DH (the breakfast cook) so enjoyed making pancakes from scratch and scrambled eggs for the family, and Mila enjoyed scarfing them down. Last night we had lobsters, local corn on cob, and a cuke salad. DDIL2 stayed home to supervise the final stage of their bathroom renovation, and I bet she was happy to avoid witnessing our outdoor lobster “eat in the rough”, since she does not tolerate seafood well.

I feel like most of our time here is spent planning for and making meals, (for us and the hummingbirds!) since our only other activity is going to the beach...and watching series, or Celtics’ games. I developed hip pain suddenly last week, which I think is bursitis...had it years ago...and am treating it with arnicare and ibuprofen with some success. But long walks have not been onmy agenda, sadly.
I’m sure there are folks taking part in many more local activities than we, but I’m not sure that is a great idea for us, especially with so many folks traveling here from more Covid “involved” states.
DH plans to make paella while DS2 is here, and shopped for the ingredients, so you can be sure if it gets accomplished, I’ll post s pic.

eric95us

I'm out of the Grand Canyon and all went well. If anyone goes to the Grand Canyon and the toilets flush, I had a hand in it (speaking figuratively, of course). :-)

The water pumps to get water to the south rim of the Grand Canyon are located about 1/2 way down the canyon, in the trees at the bottom of the red line. When I took this picture (Sharon and I) were still an hour from finishing our walk out.

Meals down there were freeze dried backpacker meals.

The whole point of my visits there was to set up the wireless data system so that the park staff can remotely monitor and control the pumps from "up top" rather than have to walk or be flown into the 'canyon.

CeliaC

Good job in the canyon, Eric!

Lacey - Lobsters - oh boy, are you lucky! I am like you about salads. Love a simple mix of greens + radicchio + homemade balsamic vinaigrette. Was in heaven on assignment a number of years ago in France, where we lunched at a cafeteria and was able to have a daily mesclun salad w/vinaigrette. Unfortunately, cannot find much in the way of a variety of greens here, unless I resort to packaged spring mix. Consequently, infrequently eat salad.

auntienance

I appreciate the convenience and variety offered in bagged salads - I just don’t trust the precut stuff these days. The only salad I’ll even order in a restaurant is a wedge salad at my favorite Italian joint. One time I picked up a package of chopped greens at Trader Joe’s and while I was in line to check out I noticed something moving inside the bag. Close inspection revealed it to be a rather large live wasp! Boy was I glad I didn’t get it home and open it lol

Tonight is the remains of a brisket with the addition of barbecue sauce. Sides will be corn on the cob and sautéed yellow squash with tomatoes and onions.

Eric, you are amazing. I hiked a lit halfway down the Grand Canyon once and to this day it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

MinusTwo

Oh Nance - now you've made me hungry for a wedge salad. And I had been wanting a pizza since I haven't tasted one since February. Sigh. But I'm not comfortable going out to restaurants yet.

Breakfast was 2 hard boiled eggs and 1/2 a cup of canteloupe. Supper will be the last of the corn - and maybe if I'm still hungry, rotisserie chicken sandwiches on Hawaiian rolls.

Edited to add -gorgeous country Eric. But especially difficult going for those of us who live at sea level with no inclines.

Beaverntx

And I haven't eaten a wedge salad since finding a worm on one years ago! All depends on one's experiences, I guess.

Eric, gorgeous picture. Have no plans to go back to the Grand Canyon at present but should I ever get there again, I'm certain to think of you and Sharon.

ChiSandy

Eric, WOW!

I must confess I'm a bit of a "use it up, waste not/want not" gal. With romaine or Little Gem lettuce, if I see rust in the center ribs I trim off the green leafy parts to eat. I have a top-rated salad spinner, though I can never get my greens totally dry.

Last night we ordered out from Cellars: sesame-seared ahi with Asian slaw and wonton crisps to share; roast half chicken with peas, mashed spuds & Chardonnay gravy for Bob; and grilled salmon Caesar for me. We left half the entrees over for tonight. Will supplement the Caesar (Bob can have the croutons) with cucumber slices and a few homegrown cherry tomatoes. And as an appetizer, I bought a qt. of great gazpacho. Dessert will be ripe cantaloupe & berries. (Last night's was Enlightened Keto Cream-of-Coffee ice cream, topped with NuStevia chocolate syrup). Made Birch Benders Chocolate Chip Keto pancakes (half recipe) this morning, so I'd better watch the starch & sugar tonight.

MinusTwo

Linner was the 2nd half of a Costco Shrimp Cocktail. For those of you who've bought this delight - half means approx 30 decent sized cold boiled shrimp (bigger than silver dollars) - peeled w/tails only. Served with salt and a new Sauvignon Blanc.

I had intended to have a Spinach salad, but I'm so full I likely won't eat again today.

ChiSandy

Bob's coming home late again (he guesstimates 10 or 11 pm). I'm defrosting a couple of pasture-raised pork chops to grill, and will probably cook either green beans or broccolini. Gazpacho to start, as well as the remainder of the Caesar I stretched with cukes, 'shrooms and tomatoes (and tonight, with baby arugula). Will just reheat his (not the salad or gazpacho) share when he gets home.

He's promised to take next weekend off to help me get through my ordeal with my (probably very painful) eye. Hope I leave UIC's SurgiCenter with a good painkiller prescription, as CVS & Walgreen's would never fill one he'd write for me. (I have just two Tylenol 3s left from my arm surgery 2 years ago--written by my late PCP. His NP--his daughter--would have to document an office visit in order to call one in for me). The weekend after, I will suggest Bob stay at a hotel in downtown Chicago, which will be much safer than one in Oak Lawn or even near Midway Airport. Sure, it's not as close to the hospitals as the Oak Lawn one, but closer than here (about 1/3-1/2 the way between here & Oak Lawn/Evergreen Park). There's also a Hampton Inn less than a mile north of us--he could park here and walk there rather than depend on their valets. (They have no parking lot--they use a nearby condo bldg.'s garage, not open to the general public. Parking is otherwise nonexistent in the immediate Loyola U. area, even with no students in attendance).

This morning I made soft-scrambled eggs (2) with fresh herbs & truffle salt, over a slice of low-carb toast, with 2 slices of bacon on the side. It's a bit more than I like to eat that early in the day, but I know dinner will likely be late. For a snack, I had a wedge of cantaloupe and a breve cappuccino (enjoyed the latter out on the deck).

carolehalston

Gorgeous photo, Eric.

I'm a wedge salad fan but never make it at home. The dressing makes the salad.

The tomatoes are finally ripening here in northern MN. Last night we had a delicious BLT sandwich for dinner with a salad of cucumber, more tomato, avocado and mild onion (bought at the farmers mkt) on dh's salad.

ChiSandy

This has been a disastrous tomato-gardening season. Maybe a couple dozen cherry tomatoes, fewer than 10 full-sized, among 4 plants. (More than half of those still green). Going out in a few minutes to anchor & cover the pots with trash bags in case the impending super-storm (75-100mph winds forecast) knocks them over (so the fruits wouldn't roll away). Rabbits & squirrels eat what few strawberries there are (unripe, to boot). And my zucchini plant keeps making only male blossoms. Only the herbs are doing well.

Last night Bob was late again, this time due to a huge pileup on Lake Shore Dr. caused by the same downpour that kept me from grilling pork chops tonight. So he had (by his request) canned split pea soup--which I supplemented with ham, croutons & a little sherry. Made myself a panino on lo-carb bread (provolone, peppers, onion, mushroom, coppa ham). Tonight I will make the chops--grilled if the storm has passed, otherwise seared in cast iron.

SpecialK

Last night was a calzone experiment since I had grown bored with deja vu dinners. I'm not a calzone person so much, but DH is. The recipe called for ready made pizza dough, which my grocery store carries in the deli. I found this particular dough difficult to roll out and the filling in this recipe bland, so if I make them again I will change it up. Probably would still use ready made dough, but a different one and hot Italian sausage rather than mild, would also add more things to the filling. I cooked all of the sausage but held back half to use in Carbonara with some bacon. I think I will make a main dish salad for dinner tonight. I am at the dermatologist at the moment for my delayed skin check. Not sure whether I will be sporting bandages when I leave so want to do something easy for dinner.

I am a wedge salad fan - I like that it is fast to make. There is a blue cheese dressing we like by Cindy's Kitchen, I usually get it at Whole Foods and then add additional crumbles. My fave one is Bob's Big Boy (looking at you minus - my fellow Cali girl) but I can only get it when I visit my BFF in Sacramento.

eric95us

Last night was spaghetti. Sharon is driving. Its a dirt road and hard to type on the phone. We're near Oak City, Utah.

ChiSandy

Going to have to grill those pork chops I took out of the freezer on Sun.--they've been thawed since yesterday morning and can't be re-frozen. Will grill asparagus and either a sweet potato or sauté broccolini. May not be able to eat till 9:30 or 10, since Bob has a raft of patients to see at Christ Hosp. after his shift at Union Health; and due to looting-prevention road/street closures may have to take another labyrinthine route home. Ate avocado-toast with an olive-oil-fried egg for brunch, and sat out on the (now-tranquil) deck sipping a breve cappuccino about an hour ago.

SpecialK

Dinner last night was soup and sandwich for DH (tomato basil and a black forest ham and provolone on everything bread) and just soup for me. My avatar pic is too small to see but I have a mole near the corner of my mouth, same basic position as Cindy Crawford's. I wish mine looked as good on me, but yesterday the derm said it has to go - has been getting larger over the last couple of years. So, it is gone and off to pathology - but I can't really open my mouth to eat very well due to the position and bandaging. DH says he isn't hungry tonight - I suspect a late lunch - so dinner might be grapes for me.

Beaverntx

Strangely enough Sandy, we shared a menu tonight! I fixed pork chops with asparagus and onion in a white wine and Dijon mustard sauce with baked sweet potato. Will have watermelon for dessert.

Needed a change from chicken. Cooked 4 large breasts in the Instant Pot a few days ago and have had them blackened on the last of the bean and Mexican rice, cubed and warmed with raspberry chipotle sauce with a mixed grain pilaf with dried cranberries and pecans and fresh tomatoes, and shredded and warmed with a mustard based bbq sauce and served on baked potato with a green salad. Still have one more but needed a change tonight.

ChiSandy

Well, it looks like yet either another insanely late (post-11pm) or ruined dinner. Bob--who decided to work like crazy starting last Thurs in anticipation of taking a long weekend (Thu-Mon) off to be my ride to & from the hospital (and help me at home)--never knocks off work in time to get past the post-looting road/street/ramp closures. Right now he is stuck 10 mi. south on I-94 (Lake Shore Dr., his usual route, is closed between the museum campus & Lincoln Park)--because of anti-looting ramp closures, nothing is moving. I am afraid to turn off the gas grill, lest I be unable to re-light it (which often happens). Can't put the chops or veggies on yet, lest they overcook. This is getting very, very old--the city has decided to do these closures indefinitely.

UPDATE: called him at 9:50 and he said he got past the bottleneck (from people rushing to avoid the ramp closures, to no avail) so he'd be home in 20 minutes. So I timed everything perfectly: I'd sliced the sweet potato and nuked it briefly to soften it, then steeped 2 smashed garlic cloves on low heat in olive oil. The chops had come up to room temp.; I grilled them to 145F and while they rested we ate the gazpacho starting at 10:30pm. The chops are from pasture-raised hogs (Butcher Box); all I seasoned them with was salt, pepper & herbes de Provence. No brining, no honey, no maple, no BBQ sauce.