So...whats for dinner?

ChiSandy

Celand, Carole--praying that you stay as high & dry as you can. I have a dear friend who lives in the Carrollton neighborhood of NOLA--she is a musician (singer, songwriter, guitarist and fiddler extraordinaire--besides her solo career she moonlights in Bruce Daigrepont's band); even before the pandemic she was just making ends meet, and barely made it through Katrina. And now this impending double-whammy...

Late lunch was guacamole toast (had half an avocado I needed to use up). For dinner I'm freezer-foraging: chunks of Filipino skewered pork & a couple of lumpia (mini-spring rolls) made by Bob's medical partner; likely accompanied by cauliflower rice or grilled asparagus. Bob's working late again tonight, so just "nuking" for myself. Hotter than blazes out and only getting hotter; tomorrow night we were planning to dine alfresco but I hope it's cool enough and we can score a table in the shade. Certainly not going to our sushi/Thai spot, which is out in the open on a treeless blvd. with no table umbrellas.

UPDATE: As the (supposed) pork began to thaw, I noticed it was really roasted potatoes. Oh, well. Back to the drawing board...

I defrosted an Alaskan salmon filet, and prepped the remaining snap peas. Fired up the grill (didn't want to heat up the kitchen) but also knew that no matter how many times I'd oil the grates (and how hot they got) the fish would still stick. So I decided to use the grill as a burner and make the filet the way I do on the stovetop, in a cold nonstick skillet with salt & pepper as "ball bearings." Nope--just wouldn't get hot enough. So I sighed and made the salmon on the stovetop while I sauteed the snap peas in garlic-ginger oil and toasted sesame seeds. Squeezed lemon over the fish. Ate out on the deck, even though it was 90F, because I was in no mood to have Happy jump on to the table or my lap (which is what he does whenever I eat). It was actually quite pleasant, because the sun had set.

I have to shake my head when I recall what I was taught in 7th grade Home Ec (and later in a local--Brooklyn--WW chapter mimeographed "cookbook"): "Fish should be cooked fast and hot in a broiler, till it flakes with a fork." By that point, it's overdone and tastes "fishy." It should cleave in glistening slabs--and the way to pan sear it to achieve that is to monitor it with an instant-read thermometer: for Atlantic, 125F, for Pacific, 120F. Works every time.

eric95us

Pork cooking has undergone a similar transformation.

SpecialK

chisandy - just bought some salmon, and don't cook it often, so will follow your advice with the thermometer - I have an instant read digital one. I think I will cook extra and make salmon tacos another evening with an avocado crema. Debating trying to use DD's Traeger while she's out of town - should be interesting as we have not used a pellet grill before. She is sponsored by Traeger and receives weekly shipments from them - sauces, rubs, and different flavored pellets. How are you feeling?

Last night was beef short ribs - seared on the stove, then braised in the oven in a mixture of chili sauce, pineapple with juice, onion, Worchestershire, honey, and garlic. I made risotto with parm and broccoli to accompany. Tonight I need to take dinner to DD's as she will be gone and DH is staying there for the remainder of the week. That house is half the distance to his office as our house, cuts his commute from an hour to 20 mins. He is feeling crappy in the run up to his surgery so any additional rest is a good thing. His ENT couldn't believe he can even function, but he was medicated around the clock with ibuprofen - can't do that for the two weeks prior to surgery date, has to settle for Tylenol which is not as effective for him, but better than nothing. I am thinking mac n cheese - was going to add bacon and chipotle, but realized I am out of thick cut peppered bacon, so will have to come up with an alternative. Later this week will be a pesto and goat cheese flatbread - maybe on the grill... Will also prob do something in the crockpot - when we cleaned out my MIL/FIL's house DD ended up with a crockpot she has never used. I have a chuck roast in the freezer, that could work - maybe with French onion soup and mushrooms, extra onion.

ChiSandy

Thanks for asking, Special. My eye is slowly improving, though as the sutures dissolve and make their way out of the eye they do hurt, like a grain of sand in my eye. I'm seeing well enough to try driving, except the pupil is still dilated (and both will be dilated in tomorrow's exam) and will remain so until 1-2 wks after I've stopped the nightly atropine drop. The other drops (antibiotic & steroid) are a PITA, but at least I'm down to twice a day. I have another issue--I was exfoliating (hadn't taken care of my face in weeks) and a whitehead popped--the "plug" was very hard, like a tiny seed. (At first I thought it was one of the cleansing grains). I messaged my derm (with photos) but she hasn't responded. It didn't bleed. I washed it immediately with soap & water, blotted dry with a sterile gauze, applied antibiotic ointment and covered it with a little "spot" Band-Aid. Hope it doesn't get infected or scar. No way I can see my derm--she's way up in Lake Bluff (almost an hour north) and I'm not yet cleared to drive. My full-skin exam is scheduled for Sep. 10. (Rescheduled from May due to the pandemic).

But mostly I'm nervous & anxious and my appetite is off. (Worried about my eye and the biopsy, my friends in NOLA and Houston, and whether I will get my mail-in ballot in time). It seems my cats eat oftener than I do. At least Happy doesn't vomit daily. Heidi is a finicky little princess and doesn't always finish her wet food in one sitting--so I have to protect it & her kibble from Happy, who will basically eat anything except his prescription food.

We're in for a very hot one tomorrow--at least 98F (stop laughing, Eric), heat index 105-110. Ugh. And of course, my HK--who is dropping me off at UIC--can't wait with me at my eye appt., and we're not allowed to mill about indoors after I call her to pick me back up--so I might have to wait outdoors.

keywestfan

So deeply in your pocket Sandy for today’s results.

carolehalston

Celand, my sister Linda lives in your "neck of the woods." She lives at Four Corners, near Jeanerette and also Franklin and Patterson. Lafayette has some good restaurants. About a mile from my sister's house is a little family owned restaurant where she can get good oyster poboys or seafood dinners. I think she does take out occasionally. She and her dh are recluses with their own little zoo.

Hurricanes are one of the three H's that influence us to leave home for the summer. The others are Heat and Humidity.

Last night's dinner was leftover eggplant casserole. It tasted even better warmed up. The side was a salad with tomato, cucumber and banana pepper I picked off a bush in Mary's little garden. On impulse I made a sort of garlic toast with two buns advertised as Kaiser buns that I had bought for home-made hamburger night.

I don't use Tony's but do use onion and garlic powder and cayenne regularly. Tony's has a lot of salt. Another sister, Michelle, uses Tony's on every meat dish she cooks and even in beans.

The tagalong storm, Laura, is looking like a serious threat.

SpecialK

chisandy - hope the exfoliating situation is nothing to worry about and that your derm gets back to you. I just had my delayed skin check last week - had a mole removed - from my face - not one that I was concerned about other than it was getting larger. They called yesterday to tell me it was benign, first time I have heard that from them, lol! I am 100% for skin cancers on things they have biopsied, so it was refreshing to hear nothing bad. It was sliced off at the skin level, so will now look like a large freckle. I hope. I realized afterward that I could not get my Vivera retainers in and out because the bandage was at the corner of my mouth. First world problem, I know. I feel you on the worry and anxiety - I think we are all doing a good job of holding it together until there is just one more thing to worry about and then we realize the tipping point for each of us has shifted - I totally get it. I had to laugh at the animal goings on at your house, I have a similar situation. Our cat is inordinately interested in the dog's prescription kibble, but if he eats a couple of them, he throws up. The dog has to be convinced to eat, and likes to graze, but I can't leave the kibble in the bowl or the cat thinks it belongs to him. The cat has also taken to napping on the ironing pad on the counter that I am using for pressing the masks I am still making. It is a good thing they are cute, they are getting on my last nerve. Hang in there, and fingers crossed for some smooth sailing for you.

ChiSandy

No results yet. (Ocular onc. says possibly the tumor was too small to get an adequate sample). Should wait another week. But he's happy with my progress--tumor hasn't shrunk yet (that'll take weeks) but cell damage has begun, which is the point. I can taper off the drops--including the atropine, so my pupil will gradually become reactive again in 7-14 days. Acuity and swelling improving (though I get an occasional "zinger" as a dissolving suture makes its way out). I have permission to drive--short distances in familiar territory, to judge my depth perception, when the sunlight isn't too bright (until my R pupil can constrict again). Followup in Nov.

Good news on the derm front--I just need to keep the area clean and apply Aquaphor or Vaseline, no bandage necessary. Should not scar, just look like a large pore. Mederma is also an option.

Today is just about the last day of my pity-party (my appetite has been sucking of late--heat, inactivity, political angst and medical worry have all combined). So basically, I've been eating what I want (not far off from what I should) when I want (not often enough). Bob suggested my HK & I stop off at the drive-thru at Pompeii in Little Italy (right near both UIC & Union Health, his lunch spot of choice). Ordered a slice of pizza "al taglio"--square cut, slightly thick crust but not as thick as Sicilian or deep-dish--sausage, pepper, mushroom; and (don't judge) a cannoli. (Plain--chocolate-dipped is a bit over the top). So brunch was 3/4 of the slice of pizza. Dinner will be the other 1/4 and a small Caprese (a couple of homegrown tomato remnants I need to use up) over baby arugula. Will have half the cannoli tonight, and offer the other half to Bob when he gets home. (I realize now I forgot to order arancini--maybe Bob can bring one home tomorrow, stashing it in his office's or hospital fridge till he leaves). I prefer arancini to suppli--the former is crunchier and the latter too tomato-ey.

Carole, Ilona, Minus, and everyone between NOLA and Houston--hope you've gotten far enough north to high & dry ground ahead of Laura, which has the potential to be worse than Katrina. (Carole, hope you're still up in the north woods)!

Reader425

Sandy hurrah on the pizza and cannoli dinner. You sure earned it lately with all you've had going on.

My dinner after a hike with hubby today was a wonderful mango, walnut and parmesan green salad (delish) along with one of those gigantic soft pretzels topped with a local favorite, crab dip. This was at a place we stopped after our walk. They immediately embraced outdoor, distanced dining and we like to patronize them.

A serene picture from today to wish everyone well in these trying times.

MinusTwo

Thanks for the hurricane wishes. Last night before I dark I took in all my hanging & potted plants and my porch furniture. But as you know, the storm didn't come to Houston - so today I took them all out again. Sorry to hear about La., but glad we dodged this one.

After my early walk, I spent much of the 99 degree day re-potting plants, pruning and watering. Truly hotter than hell when I finally quit around 3pm & started a load of wash. Sorry to report I probably got some sunburn - but I'm not good at quitting when I'm in the middle of something.

Once I cooled off, my meal of the day was a spinach salad w/carrots & cashew nuts and the last two ears of corn - served with a lovely Sauvignon Blanc.

Special - interesting about your derm appointment. Hooray for benign. I usually go in every 6 months and they often have to freeze 12-15 spots and do at least one biopsy. But I think you're still ahead of my 7 MOHS skin cancer surgeries. My derm doc has severe asthma so my March appointment was cancelled. She had just started back when our numbers soared - so my July reschedule was cancelled. Now I have one scheduled for October. But who knows what will happen with the great 'return to school' experiment. Not to mention that our gov is chomping at the bit to open the bars again.

Reader - I love your walking path. I could have used some trees today.

Carole - did you hear that your house is OK?

ChiSandy

Reopening bars is just plain stupid. You can't social-distance and wear a mask in one. Why do people go to bars? To hang out with friends, and meet people (and drink). Bars are by nature crowded and convivial--and noisy, so you have to lean in just to hear each other. When a bar is serving its intended purpose, it's basically a Petri dish with background music. On my occasional walks, I peek into our neighborhood dive bar down the block. After the cops threatened to pull its license, it is complying with social distancing. And it is a sad place--two or three people sitting there picking glumly at bad burgers (bars have to serve food to be allowed indoor service), drinking cheap beer and watching TV. A bar where nobody interacts is basically a place for people who want to get wasted but won't--or can't--do it in their own homes.

carolehalston

When one area dodges the bullet, another area gets hit. The New Orleans area escaped the devastation that Lake Charles is dealing with. Thanks for the inquiries. This is looking like a very active hurricane season. Warming oceans aren't a plus.

Dinner on Wednesday night was chicken enchiladas. They were really tasty. I had the leftover serving for lunch yesterday. Last night was smashed new potatoes flavored with butter and sour cream and broasted dark meat chicken from Clancy's restaurant.

I have fresh green beans and fresh beets in the refrigerator. They will figure into tonight's menu.

ChiSandy

Glad eastern LA was spared, Carole--as was Houston. (Gordy & his GF--who is from Katy--are also breathing a sigh of relief).

If we can't dine out tonight, I will probably make a choucroute garnie (with bacon, juniper berries, caraway seeds and a splash of riesling) topped with bison kielbasa and chicken bratwurst.

SpecialK

Glad our kitchen table friends were spared damage from Laura. It isn’t even September and we are already past the letter L! It is scary what a hurricane moving in the warm waters of the Gulf does. The worst I’ve seen in Tampa so far was Irma - letter I, and that was mid-Sept - but it is nerve wracking every time one gets close. Sometimes I’m not sure why I live here, but my alternative is California which seems to be on fire a LOT these days. I’m waiting on a wine shipment from Napa but sheesh, they are all just trying to stay cool and not burnt up (burnt down?) there.

Dinner has been meh lately - had to ferry it to DD’s house - tortellini with marinara and mozzarella on top with a side of sautéed squash one night, pork chops with sweet potatoes and steamed green beans last night. I’m currently waiting at the house for the delivery of the impact windows. My delivery time was 8am to noon. Apparently not...we are an hour past that now.

I think tonight will be ribeyes and loaded baked potatoes, and the rest of the green beans.

MinusTwo

Cleaning out the fridge. Yesterday I had leftover broccoli salad from Chicken Salad Chick. It's not quite the same as the mix from Costco, but a it's manageable size & pretty good. Decided on a grilled cheese sandwich w/that. My hunk of extra sharp NY cheese was covered w/mold but I cut if off and there was just enough for a delicious 1/2 sangy on sour dough bread.

Tonight will be hamburger steak w/sauteed onions and boiled new potatoes.
So I chopped & prepped everything to make potato salad w/the leftover potatoes. Didn't have celery so I'm going to toss in small pieces of English Cucumber with the seeds removed which really needed to be used. (although I considered Water Chestnuts first) Going to use the other half of the cucumber to marinate with onions with dill. And while I was boiling the eggs for the potato salad, I tossed in a couple more and made egg salad for tomorrow - which will be served on a pumpernickel bagel.
Still planning on boiling some rice so I can make fried rice later this week with the rest of the leftover veggies & some leftover rotisserie chicken.

Also made some Godiva Milk Chocolate pudding to use up some milk. This is the third time I've made that and it's addictive. Even though I usually prefer dark chocolate, I didn't care for their dark choc pudding - but this is delicious.

Enjoying pottering in the kitchen w/o turning on the oven since we're under a heat advisory. I have a two pack of quiches from Costco, but I'll wait until it's a bit cooler to do that. And I have everything to make Reader's quick enchiladas - but again - too hot for the oven. Think I'll stop & read for awhile before I boil the potatoes.

auntienance

Minus-where does one find Godiva chocolate pudding? Sounds yum

MinusTwo

Nance - actually I was trying to buy instant Jello Chocolate Pudding (in a box) when the virus started & I could not find any - so I bought Godiva. It's with the boxed puddings & jellos, but decidedly NOT 10 for $1.00. Still...

ChiSandy

Made it to alfresco dinner at Cellars last nigjt--no storms, and the temp was dipping below 90F. Had a Caesar to start. Entree was roast half chicken with peas and Chardonnay gravy (Bob had chicken piccata). Tonight will be the leftovers, augmented with gazpacho. Weather now is dry and mild--70s. Dining on the deck to keep Happy from climbing on the table or my lap, mooching scraps. Will go out for brunch tomorrow; and pick up BBQ for dinner. Bob is jonesing for a smoked turkey leg and I could use some rib tips or smoked wings.

eric95us

Roasted veges and mac & cheese near Jacob Lake, Arizona. We'll be home Monday afternoon.

Beaverntx

Minus, I use celery seed instead of celery when I make potato salad. Don't generally make it unless there will be other folks around as my mother's recipe makes about a gallon.

MinusTwo

Oh Beaver - thanks for the reminder. I will miss the crunch, but I do have some celery salt. Just opened the Tupperware & stirred it in. My leftover potatoes made about 1-1/2 cups so needless to say it was my Mom's recipe adapted & cut 20 times or more.

Beaverntx

My challenge in trying to cut the recipe is that it has a special cooked dressing that would be hard to reduce and potatoes, eggs and dressing are all mixed in while they are warm/ hot.

MinusTwo

Ah - I understand. I'd love to see your Mom's recipe, but I don't cook for big groups anymore either. I prefer sour cream based & not mustard potato salad - so I'm able to improvise with mayo & sour cream and etc. It's not the same, but passible when I'm cooking for one.

SpecialK

I too often make potato salad and put the potatoes in while warm. I make a red potato one with green onion and dill that is a half and half dressing with sour cream and mayo with salt, pepper, and dill stirred in, and extra dill added to the potatoes first. That one is easy to eyeball on dressing volume depending on how many potatoes I use. I like the petite reds, but will also use bigger ones and cut them down so they cook faster and can be added to the pre-made dressing without handling the hot potatoes. The other one uses the same mayo and sour cream dressing ratio, with salt and pepper, but I use baked russets, which aren't laden with water. I usually add crumbled bacon and green onions or chives, and every now and then shredded cheddar - so it is "loaded" baked potato salad. Using leftover baked potatoes is also faster if you need emergency potato salad, lol! I have also used them for more traditional potato salad with hard-boiled eggs and more veggies added.

The window delivery was accomplished this morning at the downtown house. The last two days have been a bit of a cluster - I waited at the downtown house for 9 hours on Friday only to find out that they tried to deliver the windows to our main house, waited 15 mins out front, then gave up even though there were special instructions with the correct address and my cell number, which they ignored. They were calling my landline in the wrong house. So yesterday I involved our salesman - who was hoppin' mad at the screw up - and the general manager of my neighborhood Lowe's. A few years ago Lowe's eliminated using their own delivery folks and contracted with a transportation company, which has proven to be a questionable - that is the consensus among the Lowe's folks. In any event, the manager went in this morning and made very, very sure they had the right address and then called me to let me know. From early this morning I was at the 'burb house, DH at the downtown house, so that we strategically had all bases covered. We are all set for install tomorrow so I will be at the downtown house for the next three days, supervising, lol! Fourteen windows and a sliding door - should be fun times! I am bringing Advil.

CeliaC

Have not had potato salad in forever as I rarely eat potatoes. May have to break down & make some next weekend. I like to use small klondike golds or reds, thin mayo with olive oil, add dijon mustard, whatever else is on hand in the way of herbs, etc.

Just had Sunday lunch. Sea scallops sauteed in a garlic cream sauce with a dash of bacon + roasted broccoli. Accompanied by Bonterra Saugignon Blanc mixed with Pellegrino Essenza Tangerine & Wild Strawberry for a nice wine spritzer.

ChiSandy

Special, you are braver than I. We need a brace of new windows too, but the idea of packing up everything and moving the furniture out of the way in several rooms on two floors gives me major agita.

Brunch al fresco at Cellars was a crabcake Benedict with mesclun salad instead of pan-roasted spuds. They were so slammed today they ran out of quiche by noon (and they don't even open till 11am). Tonight, ordering out BBQ for pickup from Hecky's in Evanston--my driving "maiden voyage" since the surgeries. My R eye has improved to 20/60. (L is 20/20). When it gets as good as it's gonna (in about 3-5 wks) it's back to Warby Parker for refraction (the reading correction needed to be strengthened anyway due to aging). That should hold me for another year until (and even if) the radiation causes re-deterioration. It might not, because the tumor and radiation was at the bottom front of the eye, not the retina.

My weight has crept back up to 142, almost 143. Still below goal but higher than the 140 it was during my post-op temporary anorexia. Time to dial back the carbs again and go closer to keto than to Mediterranean (maintenance). I have a major wardrobe investment to protect!

SpecialK

chisandy - well, the new windows are going in DD’s place, that we own. She doesn’t have nearly as much accumulated stuff as we do, and the house is 1600sf, ours is twice that - with a lot of sliders and arched custom windows and 14ft ceilings - so I’m not swapping mine out either!!! The way that house is configured we should be able to pull furniture away from walls relatively easily. DH and I will prob do most of that this evening so it’s ready to go tomorrow. I want them to start in the easiest room and do the front windows so we can put the blinds back up. I don’t really want people wandering by to be able to look in and see her stuff. And her. There is a reason we have a Ring doorbell, Ring driveway cam, and three ADT cameras on the sides and back, and whole house alarm. Be careful driving!

ChiSandy

We have Andersen awning windows--replacing them would be a nightmare.

Beaverntx

Back to potato salad. I. scrub the potatoes (5lbs russets) and cook them whole. 2. Chop the onion and put in bowl with pickle relish and celery seed. 3. Make the dressing: Beat well 2 eggs. Add 3/4 cup sugar, 2 Tbsp flour, 3/4 cup cider vinegar, 1 cup boiling water. Bring to a boil, stirring, and cook 'til thickens. Add spoonful of butter after cooking. Keep warm. 4. Hard cook one dozen eggs. 5. Drain cooked potatoes and cut up (skins too) into bowl with onion mix; peel eggs and cut up and add while warm /hot. 6. Mix dressing in.

I hold the hot potatoes and eggs in a folded dish cloth to cube them. According to my mother, the recipe came from my father's aunt who "kept house" for her widowed brother (my grandfather). For many years she prepared meals with the only water source in the house being a pump at the sink. The farm was in a sparsely populated rural area and the power company did not run electric lines to the area until well after WWI. They did have gas for cooking, heating and lighting.

I do make other versions of potato salad, usually in smaller amounts, but this is the treasured family recipe!

ChiSandy

Driving was a bit odd, seeing as how it was my first time behind the wheel since Aug. 12. R eye still slightly dilated, but no worse than when I resumed driving after my first cataract surgery.

Having rib tips and collard greens, maybe a spoonful each of baked beans and mac & cheese, since it's been over a year since I've tasted either. Bob's having those sides with a BBQ turkey leg, plus fries & bread.