So...whats for dinner?

Lacey12

Minus, the zucchini orzo recipe was less than exciting....but I was in a rush making several things at once, so wasn't paying much attention to how bland it was. I think it has possibilities if spiced up more. Will post pic of the recipe later, and you can decide if it looks worth trying. Apparently it originates from a Barbara Kingsolver book. I'm glad to hear that the house painting is going well! How does anyone do that in such heat!

Our new refrigerator was delivered last week....a week later than scheduled. We joke about NH meaning “No Hurry". Anyway, it is nice to know that our food is being held at the right temp, and ice cubes are made quickly, but the quality of the machine is so inferior to our 34 year old one. Now I see why the life expectancy is only ten years! And we had no other choice for a better model given the space in which it needs to fit. I will stop with the first world complaining....but I do find planned obsolescence annoying now that I'm an oldie!

Two pix to share...

First, of Amelia not looking amused at the idea of trying out the lake water. She did not like the wate but had a ball playing in the sand. Next, paella DH made for last evening of DS2's visit. It was a very full meal...paella, salad, ratatouille, and garlic bread. Finished it up over the rest of the week!

auntienance

Beautiful meal Lacey and cutie patootie grand daughter! Can't believe how she's grown already!

Just returned from a three day visit with DBIL and DSIL. Haven't been to their house in a couple of years. She is my cooking and pasta making partner and currently has custody of my pasta machine while we're in the apartment. For the past few months DSIL has gone mostly gluten free and has jumped on the "feed your bacteria" train. I don't mean to sound like I'm denigrating that - on the contrary I believe there's a lot of merit to it and feel that our over processed diet is probably causing us lots of problems that could be avoided by a simpler diet. But frankly I don't like the way a lot the dishes taste. She made a "quiche" with an almond meal crust and some gluten free banana nut muffins that were utterly forgettable. We had a lot of things with lentils, which although I like, I'd rather have beans. Don't know why she's focusing so much on lentils when there are so many other options except that I know she's found a place to buy them in bulk. I'm not versed in the theory so perhaps lentils have some magical quality that I'm not aware of. Anyway, other things we had were a short rib ragu with some pappardelle pasta (wheat flour - she's not totally rigid about it), lots of salad (unfortunately heavy on the kale lol) and fresh veggies, a nice grilled pork tenderloin with chimichurri and "refried" lentils, zucchini fritters (don't know what the binder was - it wasn't flour - probably lentils) and grilled peaches for dessert. Many of the cooked items were too heavily spiced in my opinion, I think to make up for bland taste. I hope this doesn't sound too judgy, it's just that the experience was so far from the usual. My DSIL is a wonderful cook so perhaps she'll get a handle on this and find out what works and what doesn't. I think she was experimenting with us, as we often do with each other, and that's ok and I appreciate the effort she made for us. She has some severe skin issues so I certainly can't fault her for looking for resolutions. Besides, I think I'm mostly disappointed that there was no blackberry pie - one of her specialties - lol!

Tonight's more conventional meal will be pinwheeled flank steak stuffed with spinach and garlic, green beans and tiny potatoes and our second beefsteak tomato from our plants.

I'm off to repot orchids.

Lacey12

Nance, I totally “get" your response to your relatives' new eating style... especially since it represents a loss of some foods you loved so much. Sadly, I think our society has so destroyed healthy eating patterns with the focus on fast and processed foods (and valuing profit over health)that many folks are doing a needed “about face" with good choices for their health. It does take getting used to, tho and that doesn't happen in a brief visit. It also is easier to adapt to a specialized diet if one needs it to improve their health. I would have a difficult time adapting to a gluten free diet, but vegan really throws me since so many foods include cashew nuts/cheese to which I'm highly allergic. I totally understand my DS1 and wife being religious about being vegan, but when they visit, extended family meals are always a challenge for me to construct...between the vegans, the omnivores, the “Non-mamalvores", the allergies, and one VERY selective eater. Not easy! But then, Covid-19 has changed that a lot with no extended family visits... esp with the docvegans.

Today is cloudy and quite cool here, and we are on our porch being amused by the 8-10 hummingbirds who are competing for our many feeders, swooning, darting, hovering in twos, perching, attacking each other and intrusive bees,and jetting around like Star Wars figures. Such entertainment!

Minus, I'm posting the article and recipe for the zucchini orzo

After trying this last night, I would definitely increase the spices...a lot!

MinusTwo

Thanks Lacey. I often saute onions & zucchini. I'd just need to adjust the spices and add orzo. Sometimes I toss in tomatoes that need to be used, but prefer without. Love the grandbaby AND I want to be at your nice blue lake!!!

Nance - I agree about treasured family recipes getting tossed. Even if it is for health reasons I miss them. I've been trying to eat more lentils. I like them but always forget about them. I forgot - are you actively house hunting?

I find I've been eating less & less meat. Maybe beef once a month, maybe pork twice a month. Maybe it's the heat? I still usually have chicken or fish once a week - but usually not both the same week. Today will be salmon patties. No salad greens in the house so I'm thinking broccoli. Carole's fresh green beans & new potatoes sure sounds good.

ChiSandy

My eating low-carb is (except for the ultra-low-carb whole wheat bread) pretty much gluten-free. I find myself eating smaller portions, and except for a slice of bacon or prosciutto with my egg a couple of times a week, I eat more fish & poultry and less red meat (beef, lamb, pork). I could never be a vegan, though--way too carby. And I would have to over-season, especially spice. I am still eating a bit more carbs until my surgery is over. Last night I had sushi, and then Bob had a chicken scallopine from Whole Foods. I had two dark chocolate salted caramels yesterday and one this afternoon with a cappuccino. Made a homegrown cherry-tomato Caprese & whole wheat toast this morning, Will share leftover Whole Foods salmon tonight, with whatever veggies I can scrape together. But no more waffles or rice, certainly no white-flour pasta. Back on the wagon tomorrow. The pity-party has to end.

CeliaC

Personal pizza for dinner tonight. Thin crust, smeared with Rao's Roasted Garlic Alfredo, chopped 1/2 of a Bilinski's Sun Dried Tomato with Garlic & Basil Chicken Sausage, lots of sliced baby bella shrooms, sprinkled with shredded Organic Mozzarella. Have not had one in quite some time and it was delish. Dessert was some mango sorbet + chocolate mousse gelato.

Have never been able to eat lamb and have not eaten beef in almost 30 years. Usually do not eat pork except for bacon or canadian bacon now and then. Instead of pasta or rice, I use an organic riced mix of carrots/broccoli/cauli or zucchini noodles or TJ's cauliflower gnocchi. Might have 2 slices of wheat bread per week. However, must have naan when eating a curry and warm crusty bread with butter when it comes with a take away.

Picked up some of Costco's Wild Caught boneless, skinless canned salmon this week. It is very mild & I think we will use it in lieu of tuna. Will have to research for a possible salmon loaf recipe. It was a childhood favorite on Fridays. Anyone have a recipe they like?

ChiSandy - In your pocket for the next phase in your eye surgery.

eric95us

Leftovers in Missoula, Montana.

The camper's propane furnace should work on the camper batteries or when getting commercial power...but it currently only works when the camper is "plugged in". The warranty repair folks have figured out the problem and it's a 1 hour fix if they can get the needed parts. Tomorrow we will find our if the parts to fix it can be shipped in on Tuesday. If not, we will have to stay in RV parks instead of US Forest Service (no electricity, inexpensive and less crowded) campgrounds and get the heater fixed when we return home....where it's still 117F/48C degrees.

Celand

Since I fractured my right ankle in April, which is now a nonunion fracture my DH has done all of our grocery shopping. I am temporarily off of my medication until my fracture heals.

Tonight we had baked turkey wings with barbecue sauce, macaroni and cheese, roasted okra from our garden! A Ghiardelli chocolate for dessert!

carolehalston

The pork roast cooked in the slow cooker was very tender and had some flavor from seasonings, but wasn't as flavorful as the "winter" pork roasts stuffed with garlic and green onion and cooked in the oven. I ate more of it than dh did. He chomped down on the fresh beets I boiled on the burner on the outdoor grill, peeled, sliced, and sprinkled with vinegar. We also had a large salad of tomato and cucumber from the farmers market, plus over ripe avocado, blue cheese and Kalamata olives. Onions on his salad.

I admire those changing their diet to be more healthy. It takes a lot of initiative that I presently lack.

M0mmyof3

Meatloaf, garlic mashed potatoes and salad for tonight

MinusTwo

Celand - welcome to the table. Oh my Ghiardelli chocolate!!!

Celia - I bought some of Costco's canned salmon too. So far I've just added it in to a creamy pasta and green pea dish.. We always had salmon patties instead of loaf. I imagine the ingredients are the same: salmon, green onions, panko bread crumbs, egg, lemon juice, mayo, dill, dijon mustard, S&P. Note - this is a Lacey kind of recipe and one of the few I make that doesn't have quantities. But my notes are to always double down on the dill. If you make as patties - olive oil in fry pan, cook 3 minutes per side.

Carole - I haven't decided if my diet has become healthier because of laziness or because of Covid 19. Or maybe because of the summer heat. Either way, I'm sure not crazy about shopping trips so I make lots of weird combinations with things on hand. And I try not to have bread on hand since it's so tempting.

Reader425

Visited friends at a respectful distance yesterday evening and they have basically a "farmette". We came away with a boatload of fresh veggies. I made this simple dish for dinner with a small side of pasta and garlic bread. It's apparently a popular WW dish ' zucchini boats (seeds scooped out) stuffed with mozzarella and topped with sauce. 400 degrees, 20-30 minutes. DH and I loved it. Meat free also.

ChiSandy

Leftover salmon, green beans & broccoli (with bacon, craisins & sunflower seeds) Bob brought home from Whole Foods yesterday. I found that salmon reheats beautifully in foil at 150F for 20 min.

Celand

Taco Tuesday!

Celand

MinusTwo,

Ghirardelli chocolates are the best! My husband and I each have one for dessert most nights!

ChiSandy

Whole Foods' dark-chocolate-covered sea salt caramels are "da bomb."

eric95us

Chi, so, in Phoenix, put the Salmon in the car, roll up the windows and wait 20 minutes. :-)

Last night was enchiladas...made in the camper's small propane oven.

MinusTwo

Love it Eric. I do hope your camper at least has a fan, since likely no A/C. I'd rather just throw a sleeping pallet down under the stars when it's really hot than in a camper.

Celand

ChiSandy,

I will have to try those! I do love my chocolates, I keep a bag of Dove Dark Chocolate Squares hidden in the vegetable compartment of my refrigerator, just a backup when we run out of Ghirardelli's!

auntienance

Love G’s sea salt dark chocolate and also the raspberry filled which are now hard to find around here for some reason. Perfect after dinner treat.

Mini meat loaves tonight with corn off the cob, mashed potatoes for DHand broccoli for me. Best thing about meat loaf is sandwiches tomorrow

Minus, we are casually looking right now but will start in earnest next month. We are bound by.

Celand

Auntienance,

Sea salt Caramel for my husband and the Dark chocolate raspberry one for me mmmm good! It's almost time for our squares at my house!

MinusTwo

Sanders Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Carmels from Costco. I have one every night. If it's been a particularly trying day, I might have two. Celand - before I discovered these I was eating dark chocolate raspberries & still have some of those hiding in the cupboard.

Dinner was - hmmmm, just had a brain freeze and had to walk into the kitchen to remember... So, dinner was 5 pieces of California Roll with Robert Rothschild's Lemon Wasabi and a bowl of English cucumbers & 1015 onions marinated overnight with dill & sour cream. Served with a glass of Carson Ridge cab. Desert was a piece of raspberry coffee cake. And since I ate "dinner" almost 5 hours ago - my bedtime snack was a bowl of fresh, hot, popcorn drenched in melted butter.

Special - do I remember that you knew & liked the brand Terrapin Ridge Farms from Clearwater? I did like things I'd purchased in the past so this year I splurged on "Hatch Chile Cream Cheese Dip" and "Hatch Chile Ranch Dressing (marinade & dipping sauce)". I'm likely to save them until the plethora of fresh fruits run out.

ChiSandy

Eric, I can't wrap my head around 117F, much less being outdoors in it. Highest temp I ever encountered in AZ (Tempe) was 107, one day in May. I think I sweated off five lbs. just walking a mile that day.

Breakfast was a Caprese "pizza" with arugula (on low-carb toast).

We walked to dinner at Cellars tonight--a lovely calm evening with the mercury holding at 70F (sorry, Eric). I had calamari with giardineria, followed by crab cakes remoulade with mesclun salad. Even allowed myself dessert: apple galette with salted caramel gelato.

SpecialK

minus - I do indeed like Terrapin Ridge but it was you who turned me on to it even though it's a local product for me! I have tried the Smoky Onion Mustard and the Bacon Jam. Terrapin Ridge products are carried at the Olive oil and vinegar shop across from my gym - which I haven't been to in months. I should stop there and help support that small business - they have been very flexible and will do curbside or also ship. We drank a Chilean cab the other night, affordable and light for a cab - 2017 Cremaschi, I couldn't remember where it came from, so I looked it up and it's about $10. I would buy it again, it was good! I just ordered some wine from Napa, a 2015 cab that is about to go to the cellar at the winery, and go up significantly in price. It's a splurge wine at what I paid - I bought six bottles and it's totally worth it, but at the cellar price I would be unwilling to buy it.

Dinner tonight was a deconstructed lasagna type dish made with wide egg noodles, meat sauce, and the cheesy layer is a combo of cream cheese, sour cream, and green onion. Definitely comfort food, we had a small Caesar salad with it. DH had been struggling with residual issues and chronic facial pain following a bad sinus infection last April. He had a specialized CT last week and returned to the ENT yesterday afternoon. He has so much swelling and retention of sinus gunk that the sinuses have sealed and are bulging enough that his facial bones and eye orbit are being moved. He is scheduled for surgery on 9/8 with an overnight stay. The ENT warned of the possibility of transfusion so DD will do a directed donation that will be held for him in case he needs it - they share a blood type. She is squeamish, not a fan of needles, has passed out from lab work - but she didn't bat an eye when I asked her. Warmed my heart, and her daddy's. We are relieved that this was not worse news - and DH will spend his first night in a hospital! Due to Covid I likely can't go into the hospital at all, or see him after surgery - which is unfortunate.

ChiSandy

Special, prayers for your DH, and that his hospital stay will be successful & short, so you can be together again.

SpecialK

chisandy - thanks, appreciate the good wishes! How are you feeling? What is your next step?

ChiSandy

Feeling better than expected. Next step is the followup appt. on the 26th; then refraction in 4-6 weeks for new glasses (which will probably be good for a couple years until the radiation damage becomes apparent). On the 26th I should also have my biopsy results back--if the tumor shows the "BAP" mutation (which hadn't yet been discovered back when I had my genetic testing in 2015), then I will make Gordy get a blood test & dilated eye exam from an ophthalmologist, not just an optometrist. And if the tumor is missing chromosome 3 or has an extra or mutated chromosome 8, then I will know what immunotherapy I'll need if (likely "when") the time comes. If the brachytherapy was successful, by 6-9 months out the tumor will have shrunken to 40% of its size, with the remaining cells inert. And of course, bloodwork and repeat CTs of the liver & lungs every 3 months--the disease micrometastasizes via the bloodstream rather than lymph channels.

carolehalston

Good news that you're healing, Sandy. Best wishes for your dh's surgery, SpecialK. Hoping he does well. What awful times that you can't be with him in the hospital.

We're having gentle rain this morning and it's very dark outside. Great weather for drinking coffee and reading newspapers online.

Last night was baked chicken thighs. Seasonings and a can of cream of chicken soup produced a curry flavored sauce to spoon over brown rice. Side was a salad of tomatoes with mayonaise.

Tonight is supposed to be a fish fry on Mary's deck. My dish may be sliced cucumbers and onions with sour cream dressing.

ChiSandy

Got home from dinner last night just in time for the start of the DNC taped-remote "roll call" (actually, more interesting & enjoyable than the old-school ones from the convention floor--which had been announced by party bigwigs, prefaced by corny bragging about their states). It was really refreshing to see the actual states themselves--AZ desert, Selma's Edmund Pettis Bridge for AL, Springfield, IL's Old State House, DC's BLM Plaza; a farmer in a cornfield in KS, etc. When they got to RI, a fisherman held a huge platter of the "official state dish:" deep-fried calamari. (Most calamari sold in the U.S. turns out to have come from Point Judith, RI). So last night's dinner's appetizer was an homage to RI! (My new online PCP--a longtime friend of ours who hails from Cranston--would approve).

Tonight we'll have leftovers--the aforementioned calamari, a crab cake, Bob's cavatappi a la Barese--supplemented by a cherry-tomato Caprese (gotta use up those little 'maters on the sill to make room for more ripe on the vine) and maybe--if it's early enough and he's hungry enough--grilled baby lamb chops with a mint-garlic gremolata. Had another low-carb "breakfast pizza" (leftover Caprese over arugula) for lunch.

M0mmyof3

Made beef stew tonight. Whatever is leftover is going to be made into beef pot pie tomorrow night