So...whats for dinner?

MinusTwo

Laurie:  I would have wanted two Margaritas.  How wonderful to share her experiences - but I agree about blocking my own.  Sometimes I get too weepy to do anything but escape into a book.  Must be getting time for me to get off my butt & start paying forward.

Laurie08

Minustwo- She read for an hour and a half.  I cried, for just a moment  twice.  At the end most of the other ladies packed up and left, the place we were at has the ....best.....margaritas.  I walked up to a waitress and ordered one and sat down.  I talked with two women I had never met before and laughed...alot.  I love it when that happens?! 

Glad I am not the only one who likes to stick her head in the sand:)

debbie6122

Bedo- I would of picked the pizza too! LOL! I know for me when im dieting i make little lettuce wraps with turkey and feta cheese or just wrap the turkey by it self with low fat cheese. The key thing i found is drinking LOTs of water, i drink  a 16oz after every meal it keeps me from going back for seconds.

Laurie- Ohh Laurie, that must of been so hard for you, but bittersweet at the same time. Especially after losing your mom through BC.  I still get so emotional when i do the walks or see a sad story about some one elses journey through BC. You have been through so much and with your own DX of BC. I found that for me talking about it helps, i forget some things too, but i have blogs that i go back to look at just to remind me what i went through, sometimes this helps. (((hugs)))) Yay on the margarittas!

Lacey12

Laurie, It took courage and generosity for you to attend that lecture, and to be sure your friend got to see/hear it. Of course, tho, it would stir up pain. I think that everyone who is confronted with this damn disease finds their best ways to manage it and integrate the experience into their life as they are currently living it. For someone who is busy parenting two young children, I suspect a bit of head burying can help you do he best you can at that important job. So don't be hard on yourself. I'm so impressed that you got to the reading, got through it, and were able to experience that full range of emotions that connects us humans in such important and often healing ways. Thanks for sharing your day with us.



My adorable little tornado of a grandson is 14 months....keeps us running and laughing....tomorrow I suspect there will be a lot of running! And he really has brought our dog back to life with his antics...they jet around the house together, with an occasional brief face off...but very respectful, which is a relief.

Kay_G

I can identify Laurie. I just got home from my cosin's funeral. It was very emotional. She was 64 and had a lung transplant five years ago. She has five kids and thirteen grandchildren, seven born since her transplant. Her middle son did the most amazing job on a eulogy I've ever heard. I used to babysit the five kids. She had the most wonderful marriage. When I used to babysit, I always wanted a marriage like hers. Her husband was completely devoted to her. He is just lost. She was the one who was in the hospital at Christmas time and her husband was being helpful and wrapped all the presents, but didn't put names on them first. And with five kids and thirteen grand kids, I imagine it was pretty confusing. It really was a wonderful tribute to her life though. I think there were over five hundred people there. Just amazing. And they prayed for all the doctors at the hospital (which is the same hospital I go to) and the gift of life donor program. It was an emotionally draining day.

Laurie08

Kay- I am so sorry about your cousins passing.  So very sad.  I hope her husband, kids, grandkids, you...all of you will be ok.  It so hard losing someone you love.  When I got home last night I sat on the couch and sat back and kind of sighed.  DH says whats the matter?  Didn't you have fun?  I told him I did, but it's just all so much, the memories, the fear, the love.  (((hugs))))

Lacey- Thank you so much for your very kind words.  How wonderful to have your 14 month grandson around!  It is a lot of fun and alot of work with him at that age, something new everyday!  Love that your dog and grandson are entertaining each other.  Our dog is the same way with our boys, he gives them his ball and gets them running and they play keep away.  It's loud and hectic but all three love it so I let it go awhile

Michelle- Your sleepover with your grandkids sounds like it went awesome!!  The pics you posted on facebook were so cute!  I love it!!

So last night, my ear was bothering me, felt kind of icky, no big deal.  Woke up this morning and felt awful.  All the glands by my ear and jaw were really swollen and I was running a fever and just felt like poo.  So at 11 me and the two boys headed to the Dr.  Oh my head.  Thats all I can say about that hour and 15 minutes.  They were actually very good, but when you don't feel well and are trying to talk to a Dr and your 4 year old just wants to tell stories....so I have an ear infection and am back on antibiotics.  Thankfully my fever seems to have gone down and I feel much better compared to this morning.  Not great but not like I need to curl up in a ball. The Dr took a blood draw to check my levels.  Why does that make me nervous?  She said it had been awhile and since I was there....

Anyway, chicken pot pie will be for dinner.  It's what I feel like having and it's not too much work.

Hope everyone had a great day.

LuvRVing

Laurie- you poor thing!  Just what you didn't need!  Hope you feel better soon, and try not to worry about the levels.  I'll bet yours will be just fine. 

Kay - very sorry to hear about your cousin, sounds like was an amazing person who inspired people.

I have been parked in my recliner all afternoon and evening.  I even took a little nap, I am pooped!  After the big dinner on Sunday and 24 hours of the grandkids, I need a rest.  It will all be better in the morning 

carolehalston

Laurie, I hope you recover quickly from your ear infection.  It has been quite a winter season for you and the boys with various illnesses.

It's nice to read about you grandmothers enjoying your grandkids.  Children are a lot of fun. 

I will post the red beans and rice recipe very soon.

Tonight we had a delicious dinner.  DH cooked lima beans yesterday, the small white ones, with a hambone.  They came out so good.  We warmed them up tonight and also warmed up the basmati brown rice I cooked last night.  It has a wonderful nutty taste.  I made "chopped" salad with a large beefsteak tomato, romaine lettuce, yellow bell  pepper and Greek olices.  Dh had chopped sweet onion in his salad.  The dressing was light mayo and white balsamic vinegar. 

Lacey12

Laurie: Oh dear! Just what you didn't need....I can just imagine the difficulty of trying to get your own ear infection dxd/treated with a long drive, a fever, and the kids in tow. But you made it, and I hope that the antibiotic kicks in super fast! Feel better....



Kay: So sorry to learn about the loss of such a special cousin. You certainly have many wonderful memories about her. Always so sad to have to say goodbye to someone who meant so much to so many!



Had dinner with DIL's parents, DS and DIL tonight....lots of leftovers (lasagna, stuffed cabbage rolls, and stuffed peppers) with a huge salad, and Persian rice pudding for dessert. Heading home tomorrow so will be back to trying to stick with my healthy foods regimen and being the solo chef. It's been fun sharing kitchen detail here. I can't even let myself think about how much we are going to miss our little GS and his constant adorable antics.

deborye

(((((EVERYONE))))))

 

Lacey12

Michelle, a well-deserved rest for you!! Your family is so lucky to have such an attentive, fun loving grandmother. And I am still envious of your familial proximity while thrilled for you that you have it!!

debbie6122

Kay- Im so sorry for the loss of your Dear Cousin- From your earlier stories of her, she sounded like a wonderful person. May you and all her family get through the hard times (((hugs))

Laurie- If i could i would make dinner for you while your sick, feel better soon!

Carol- I love lima beans but my hubby does not, I remember the best lima bean soup i ever had was when i was with friends and my ex staying in a cabin during a skiing trip, we had made a huge pot of lima beans and let them cook all night, everytime i got up to go to the bathroom i would check on them and salt and pepper them, which was at least 3 times, when we all got up in the morning i mentioned how i had stirred and seasoned them all night, everyone (6) of us said they had too, we were so afraid they were going to be too salty, but they were the best i ever had, i cant even duplicate them as well as that night. LOL! 

I made blackened cod and stewed okra for dinner tonight, very tasty!

lexi4

I made the smashed potatoes that Apple posted a couple of pages back. They were yummy! Also made a meatloaf using Harry and Davids pepper and onion relish. It has a sweet and tangy flavor. My DD wasn't thrilled with the meatloaf but thought the potataoes were really good! DH and I enjoyed the meatloaf though. Looking forward to using it to make sandwiches tonight.

duckyb1

Making homemade chicken soup for my son, and chicken salad..........then will make scone................made 6 so far this week, and gave them all to my kids....................did Gravy on Sunday, and sent all the leftovers to my son too..............his wife left him, and me and my other kids are sending him and his 3 kids their dinners..............its tough on him, but there are many of us, so its easy when we all pitch in.........

Ok, off to make my scone..............have a great day ladies............it is beautiful here in Pa..............

LuvRVing

I made Emeril Lagasse's recipe for jambalaya tonight, except I had a cajun seasoning mix that I made up a while ago, maybe a really long time ago.  Yikes, it turned out really hot.  My DH loved it but I would have enjoyed it more if it were kicked back a notch or two.  In looking at the recipe for his creole seasoning, I am sure it would not have been as hot if I had used his mix.  It was very tasty, I'd make it again with the right heat level.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/cajun-jambalaya-recipe2/index.html

deborye

I loved watching him on TV.  I have an autographed cook book of his.

bedo

Yikerrs! I was so stressed out at work today and so short of time and ended up working 11 hours. When I went to Starbucks and they didn't have anything vegetarian and quick with protein, that I had a turkey and cheese sandwich because I was desperate.   It tasted weird.   I haven't had turkey in > 10 years. I put a lot of mayonnaise on it.  It was sliced, so I didn't bite into it.  I think that this job is destroying my life.(really)  I'm listening to Adele to relax. I'm not sure what to do. I want to resign but then would have not income. I can't work 12 hours a day with this stress

Dates and Graham crackers for dinner

I hope that you ladies had a better day than I, and hugs to you all.   

Lacey12

Pulled into the driveway from visit to DS1 and family around 3PM, and by 5, DH was wondering about dinner options... I drove and was way more tired than hungry...so I sent him off to Roches to get the on sale haddock and made baked salsa fish with added jalapeño peppers (discovered in fridge)and low fat mex cheese, sides of carrots and asparagus and fresh baguette....was just too tired to make a salad or rice....but

it all worked, especially since our conversation about the antics of our amusing little grandson more than filled us up!

Saw an interesting Morrocan red lentil soup posted today on the Healthy Soups forum, and have lots of veggies in the fridge, so will get that one going tomorrow.

Lacey12

Bedo, so sorry that you were so stressed today. Work can do that, for sure. I'm off this week and since returning home from a family trip have already "enjoyed" organizing a huge pile of reading materials, and thinning out my bulging wallet...especially getting doc cards/appts straightened out.....two little things that will help reduce my stress when I get back to the volume/pressure that awaits. I hope Adele helped you out tonight.

May tomorrow go much better, be much shorter, and leave you with lots of palatable food options!! .

apple

Millye was my mom.. she still is, but she has passed on.. One of best things we made in my childhood was tuna salad for sandwiches.. no one liked it but us and we loved it. I miss my mommy.  lots of tears.  i really could use here today because she would say ' hair is just one of those things.  you don't really need it"..

so that's what i had today.. i made clam chowder for the fam and they loved it.  My son #1 did like the tuna salad and it will definitely be gone unless i get off the computer and get to the kitchen.

recipe:

2 boiled eggs, chopped

2 cans of tuna

1/2 of a small onion

1 large stalk celery

1/4 cup pickle relish

kind of a lot of mayo

salt and pepper.

boy i loved those sandwiches during Lent.

Laurie08

((((Apple))))) I love that you made your mom feel good food.  I do it too.  A huge hug to you tonight, I hope you sleep well.  It can be so hard sometimes.

Lacey- For someone who was tired it sounds like you still pulled off a great meal.  Kudos!

Bedo-You get a big hug too.  I am sorry the job is being so hard on you.  Especially to the point where you ate meat!  You must have felt desperate to resort to the meal you had, which can only show the way you are feeling.  I hope tomorrow is better.

I still don't feel well and hate the paranoia that goes with it.  Debbie- thank you so much for your kind words.  Tonight DH made dinner.  He got home and I had a whole lot of nothing going on.  My "rally"  got up and went.  So he took left over chicken and made quesadillas with veggies for us all and cleaned up the kitchen and was awesome.  Then the poor man let me chew his ear off about my anxiety.  God I love him.

debbie6122

Apple- Your mommies tuna salad sounds so good, we get fresh tuna here and is especially good right now, im going to try it this weekend.Thanks for the recipe.

My mom always made egg salad sandwiches, i make them the same way she does, but they dont taste the same.

Bedo- I was vegetarian for a few years and when i first tasted meat it again it upset my stomach, not sure why i went back to eating it, i can do without it, except i love bacon! Sorry your day was so crappy!

Laurie-Your DH is so awesome, he cooks and cleans too! I dont trust my DH in the kitchen LOL! Im glad he is taking good care of you!

Michelle- I have emirals jambalaya and creole reicpes in my recipe file, loved the jambalaya, I make it less spicy for DH and them spice mine up once i get it on my plate. 

LuvRVing

(((Apple))) - so sorry your hair has taken flight.  I saw your picture on the thread you posted about having a job and you look beautiful.  

(((Bedo))) - I hope your day goes better today.  I remember being on business travel and stopping in at a Starbucks looking for a protein source for breakfast, and realizing that I couldn't count on them for anything but processed carbs and fruit.  I think this was before they carried sandwiches, or it was too early in the morning.  I have to admit that I don't miss the day to day pressures of working in corporate America.

Laurie - big props to your DH for taking over last night and giving you a much-needed break!

When I was a kid I wouldn't eat anything with mayo and raw onion, so all those "salads" were out.  I still don't eat raw onion but I will eat Hellman's mayo.  I ate a lot of PB&J or cheese sandwiches during lent.

carberry

Bedo  Sooo sorry you had such a stressful day.  Stress leads to so many ailments...but how to get it out of our lives is tough.

Laurie Your husband is a gem!  We went out last night and had chicken  quesadillas and they were horrible, my DH complained, and they took them off the bill. I didnt think they were that bad, but homemade ones are better.

Apple tuna salad sound good. I was just reminding my mom the other day how she used to make elbow macaroni with stewed tomatos with nothing else in it,,,,it was my favorite and still make it for myself (no one else will eat it)   I think it was our budget meal for our big family when things were tight.

On tues I made two meatloafs, one for us and one for a friend, and today I will make tuna casserole and take it all to a friend that has been battling cancer and now heart problems, had a pacemaker put in yest, and his poor wife is exhausted traveling to see him and work also.

Lacey12

Apple, your memories of your mom are so sweet, even tho it brings up the sadness of not having her physically with you now...her wisdom clearly lives on with you....loved the quote about hair. Hope you made it back to the kitchen in time for some tuna!



Laurie, so impressed with your DH....cooking and empathic listening....WOW! Not hard to figure out why you married him! So sweet....Hope you are feeling better today....and able to chase the worries. This is one of the hardest things.... the lingering worry of the unknown whenever we don't feel "right". If you can't actively do anything about it right now, maybe I can send you a virtual "worry box" to place it in...purely to contain it a bit so it doesn't totally ruin you day... then do a little escaping with or without the boys if you feel physically well enough. Comforting hugs to you til your supportive DH gets home.



Oh those lenten meals from days long ago.....my dad was severely allergic to fish, so we couldn't even cook it in the house unless he was away for a week on business....thus lots of grilled cheese sandwiches, tuna, and egg salad during Lent. i have a weird allergy ...celery...so it never makes it into my egg salad. My mother used to make this Italian "cheesballs and peas" dish which my brother, sister and I wouldn't even touch. I think it was the mushy texture of the cheeseballs in tomato based sauce that our young sensory systems rejected. It was interesting this week to see our little grandson eat every variety of food that the adults in his house eat....very little problem with textures, spices, etc. He eagerly ate Persian stews, and my roasted veggie lasagna without a second thought.



Enjoying another organizing day around here. Wish I could work part time so I could keep up with the clutter factor.

Have a good day everyone....later making red lentil soup to have on hand, and something creative with halved chicken breasts that were on sale this week. Will probably use some of them in a soup, and use some in an Italian dish.

Laurie08

Carrie- so sorry about your friend and how kind of you to take the time and help out with meals.  As we all know, it truly is a huge help.

Lacey- My boys always ate everything- and they still do.  Only now they fight it.  I miss when they were happy with everything I put in front of them.  Now dinner time has become a battle and things they used to love are no gross, like meatloaf.  Thankfully mashed potatoes are making a come back, lol!  It'll be interesting to see if your grandson does the same.

Thank you all for your support!  I am feeling a little better this afternoon, I got to nap for an hour with my youngest while my 4 year old played a curious george computer counting game.  Desperate times call for desperate measures!!  The pain in my jaw and ear are better, thank God!  I've had a hard time sleeping because of it.  I am about to start to make a shepards pie, Dh will be happy it is one of his favorites, he deserves it after last night:)  I did get VERY lucky when I married him, he proves himself over and over.  When I say thank you, he always looks puzzled and then says, stop it!!

This morning when I was dragging I decided to skip grocery shopping.  But could not avoid running to Sams Club to buy diapers, I didn't have even one left in the house.  The kids were thrilled, they love going there.  They eat the sample food and on the way out I let them split a big old piece of pizza.

I am trying to remember what we ate for lent as a kid?  I remember some fish but, since I was never a big fish person and I don't remember being unhappy about the meals my mom must have done pasta?  I always feel guilty that I no longer honor the lent traditions.  Catholic school girl that I am.....

MinusTwo

Apple:  My mom's tuna sandwich was smashed tuna on white bread w/butter since my brother wouldn't eat mayo.  Now I usually add mayo & nothing else. I still like it that way best.  Debbie: egg salad was egg, mayo & mustard.  Now I add lots of dill.  LovR could eat these since no onions.

Carberry: We had elbow maccaroni with butter only.  Still one of my favorites. I thought it was fulfilling a major food group - butter & more butter.

Wish I could go back to my Mother's hot yeast rolls most nights, fresh bread every week, pies after dinner when my Dad was home, cookie jar always full w/homemade.  Or not, since I'd weigh a ton.

DuckyB:  Sorry to hear about your son's wife leaving.  How old are the 3 kiddos?

Laurie:  Sure hope your ear's better.  And also hope the DH will take over for a 2nd night. That's a true test.

Box lunch today at Eagle's Trace.  Went to see the retirement community, but mostly to hear the lecture about how to downsize.  Lots of easy tips.  One great one was about clothes.  Turn all your hangers backwards on the rod.  Put hangers back the right way only after you wear something.  After awhile, move those hangers that are still backwards to a guest room or pack up right away if you're gutsy.  I've been in the same house for almost 40 years so there's lots of accumulation & also stuff from past generations that I've ended up "guarding" which no one in the next generation wants.  Sorry to ramble on. 

AmyIsStrong

What a great idea about the hangers. I used to work in outside sales - still have a lot of suits and dress up clothes. Now I mostly put on my gym/workout clothes in the morning or jeans sometimes. My hangers would be facing backwards for months/years.Maybe it means it's time to clean out!

We are having clam chowder (DH made) tonight, too. Yum! I am going to make some baked zucchini fries. Well not really fries, but supposedly an approximation. We'll see how good they are.

I like this thread. Lots of good ideas here. Hope you don't mind me jumping in. 

MinusTwo

Welcome Amyls - the more the merrier.  I'm so greatful to these ladies for the wonderful recipes & ideas.

LuvRVing

Welcome, Amy!  Your baked zucchini fries sound interesting, you'll have to report back.

I guess it's international week in our house.  Last night was jambalaya, tonight will be tacos.  When my DH went back to Missouri, he brought back a few boxes of our favorite taco shells (La Tiara white corn shells).  They are smaller, lighter and crispier than the standard ones and we like them so much better.  I also had to order several bottles of La Victoria taco sauce from Amazon because it's no longer carried in any stores near us.  Geez, who would have thought that tacos would be so complicated...lol!