So...whats for dinner?

Lacey12

Just caught up on today's posts....Laurie, I can totally understand your worry about having some cardiac irregularity that feels terrifying when you are at home caring for young kids. I hope the recent info offered is reassuring to you, and can allow you to feel less stressed about this. Didn't the doc tell you why it is unconcerning so you could worry less? If you are still really worried, Could you call the doc back to ask questions you have now, just to be reassured while you wait for the monitor? And by the way, you are just too cute....keeping up with the thread theme by shifting from cardiac worry to what you were having or dinner. Love your focus!! You did not miss a beat!!



Debbie and Laurie, yes Mangoes are a bit ug, but so uniquely tasty and I really enjoyed them for a while until the last one I ate resulted in systemic edema on a remote beach in Mexico. Scary ride back to the town for a shot of adrenaline. I am always sad to have to turn down the wonderful mango salsa entrees that are offered on so many menus, but that beach memory is still clear so many years later.

debbie6122

deb- Curried chicken sounds good! I never was crazy about curry but while at a gourmet store last week they had some tasters open to try and it was really good.

Lacey- I had no idea you could get edema from mangos, who knew??

Minustwo- Great ideas, it sure makes things easier and faster to prep those things. After I go to the store I wash and cut all lettuce's and fruit and veggies. 

apple

i'm tired of cooking.. made chicken noodle soup for the last time before summer.   I guess i need to replenish the freezer... (trying to get to the bottom of it)

LuvRVing

Apple - hope you are having a better day today.  Time to get your kids going in the kitchen to help replenish that freezer!

Laurie - so glad that the cardiac issue is benign, even if it's scary.  You are spunky, for sure!!!

My favorite microwave tip - cooking corn on the cob for two people.  We eat just one ear each, and taking out a pot and boiling the corn is too much trouble.  So I peel two ears, run them under the faucet to get them sort of wet, wrap them in waxed paper and nuke for 4 minutes if they are big, less if they are small.  Then let them sit for a minute or two.  Perfectly cooked corn on the cob in no time at all.  No muss, no fuss!

My morning wakeup call today was the whoosh of hot air balloons floating overhead:

As you can see, they land right across the lake from our back patio. I get excited every time I hear the "whoosh" of the burner. 

chabba

Michelle - I used to cook corn that way too but found a way I like even better.  I just nuke it husk and all.  If the husk is fresh and green (the only way I buy it) just take from fridge and put in microwave.  The corn is even sweeter and the silk that dosen't come off with the husk just wipes off.

LuvRVing

Chabba - doesn't that husk become rather hot to handle?  My DH is not especially fond of corn but he'll eat it once in a while.  I'd be the one to clean it for him.  I have visions of burning my pinkies!

chabba

I just use a pair of clean hot pads. The husk and silk come off much more easily than when raw and I swear the corn is sweeter.

edited to add - A double layer of paper towels works almost as well.

carolehalston

Laurie, you continue to amaze me with your talents as a menu planner.  I had to smile at your having THREE dinner possibilities!

I always cook corn on the cob in the microwave but I use a pyrex dish with a little water in it.  The wax paper method would mean no dish to wash!  Smart idea.

I'm off to the dr. at 12:15 today.  My bp was up again this morning.  159/100.  I'm so glad I had the dentist apptment which raised my alarm.  I suspect the elevation has been occurring for the last weeks or months.  For some reason I stopped taking my bp, probably out of confidence that it was ok.  Hope I get cleared to play golf tomorrow.  Our weather is gorgeous today.  A shame to waste this kind of weather sitting around the house.

Here's the marinade I use for flank steak.  It's a Rachael Ray recipe I've used for several years and I love it.  You pierce the steak with a fork and marinate it for a few hours or whatever amt. of time you have.  She marinates hers for at least 20 min.  I heard on some cooking show that marinating for too long isn't good, but maybe that was when citrus was in the marinade.

3 garlic cloves finely chopped, 1 T. grill seasoning (Montreal Steak), 1 tsp smoked paprika or dried chipotle powder or ground cumin (I use smoked paprika), 2 tsp hot sauce, 1 T worcestershire, 2 T red wine vinegar, 1/3 cup EVOO. 

I made up the marinade this morning and will marinate the steak this afternoon.

Here's the Grilled Lemony Chicken recipe for anyone who'd like to try it.  I plan to cook it again.  Very easy.

Butterfly whole chicken by cutting out backbone using sharp knife or shears.  (This is doable!)  Lay chicken flat, skin up, and press on breast to flatten.  Cover with plastic and flatten breast by pounding a little or pressing with palms.  Work mixture of 2 tsp lemon zest, 1 tsp salt and 1 tsp coarse pepper under loosened skin of breast and legs.  Refrigerate chicken for 30 min.

Heat grill and then lower heat on one side.  Place chicken on the lowered side, skin side down, with legs pointing toward higher side.   Place 3 lemons cut in half on high side with cut surface facing down.   Lower cover of grill.  Desired temp. of 350 to 375 if grill has a temp. gauge.

Cook lemons 6 to 8 min and remove to bowl for use in marinade. 

Cook chicken 45 to 55 min. until breast measures 160 degrees.  Shift chicken to hot side of grill and cook for 10 min. longer for more browning.

Vinaigrette dressing for chicken:  Juice of the cooked lemons, 1 clove garlic and 1/2 tsp salt worked into paste with knife, 1 tsp Dijon mustard, 1/2 tsp sugar, 1/2 tsp pepper, 1 T finely chopped parsley, 1/3 cup EVOO whisked into other ingredients in bowl. 

Spoon vinaigrette on chicken.  Yummy!

Grilling tip from America's Test Kitchen.  After heating grill and scraping off bits of charred food from previous cookings, use tongs to grasp a folded piece of paper towel.  Dip the paper towel into small bowl of veg. oil and oil the grill to form a no stick surface. 

Happy Thursday to all!

debbie6122

Apple- Its still rainy and cool here so chicken noodles soup sounds really good.

Michelle- I love that picture so serene looking.

Yesterdays breakfast was healthy today it was chocolate chip oatmeal cookies! 

Laurie08

Carol- I hope you get your BP under control and the appt went well.  Is your marinade spicy?

Debbie- LOL at the cookies

This morning we played at the park and now that DS#2 is up from his nap we wil head over to the neighbors to play outside for the afternoon.  Loving this weather!  Today I planned ahead, we need to eat the seafood tonight. So I just finished getting my fish all ready for the oven with the crumb topping etc.  Last night we stayed way too late and had the pizza for dinner.  Carol, I am glad you got a kick out of my three meals:D  Every week I plan my meals out and I always pick an easy one that requires little effort.  I never did my easy meal from last week (pizza) and my easy meal for this week is turkey burgers.  But, the kids are begging for steamer clams again so that means seafood.  They won't eat the fish but they will eat scallops.

I do the corn in the microwave too if I am only cooking a couple of ears.  It's a great trick.  Michelle- I wonder why you guys get so many hot air balloons in your area?  I love it!

carberry

Michelle  Beautiful pics of the hot air balloon  so pretty over the lake.

Carole My BP was up during chemo and I ended up on medication, then when I was done, it came down so I took myself off the medication, but my BP sowly climbed back up over several months and I ended back on meds when I was getting bad headaches.  High BP is sneaky and something we dont think about, good luck at the drs...hope they get it resolved.

Last night was the launch of the boat...we did a sunset cruise with a ton of people.  everyone brought  appetizers.  I was so good and brought cut up veges with a fat free dip, but lo and behold ...didnt someone bring chicken wings!  Tonight I will use up the leftover cut up peppers and make chicken cacciatore, also got some cool spinach noodles to have as a side.

Debbie  I have a girlfriend who eats a cookie and diet soda everyday for breakfast on her way to work...she is THIN!!

LuvRVing

Laurie - there is a hot air balloon ride company just a couple of miles away, and I suspect ending a trip coming up the lake to a nice landing spot is a good thing. I was talking to my next-door neighbor and apparently this has been going on for several years. I am betting we will see this often over the next few months.

Lacey12

That is very cool, Michelle...what a great way to start the day!



Once when at the lake on New Year's Eve, after a night of partying

I was heading to bed and noticed through a skylight a firey light and colorful balloon. It took a while to realize it was a hot air balloon. No one believed me (everyone had already crashed) that it existed until they ran an article about it in the local paper. It was magical.....against the black of night. Not sure I would have wanted to be riding in it in the dead of night however.



Debbie, made your marinade for steak tips tonight (after my dernotologist said I needed to have red meat to fight the famous fatigue that I continue to complain about and experience). I thought since she is an integrative dermotologist she would be so impressed that I rarely eat red meat, but she was exactly the opposite saying I needed it to support my mitrochondrial repair, given all this fatigue. Yikes! Who knew!?! My wickopedia search of "mitochondria" was way above my science acumen.

So, steak tips it was tonight, and my favorite kale salad, and DH's favorite lemon marinated grilled asparagus and sweet potato. That should make my mitochondria happy!



Am glad to learn that you can cook corn on the cob in the microwave...always thought the little kernels would explode. Handy idea. Thanks!

Laurie, I hope you are feeling better....sounds like you are.



Thoughts with you Apple, and hoping you are having some beautiful weather to enjoy all the beauty and peace of nature around you.

bedo

I am so jealous of the hot air balloons and carrie's boat! Apple, how about a 'slug' day tomorrow?  Nap and read and sit outside and do nothing.  I love those days!

I had breast pain and warmth and inflammation after my pack training,Monday,  but will go back to it.

This is really unlike me. I haven't exercised in decades, don't know what's gotten into me.  I guess I just want to kayak without gettting so tired.

 I went to my MD today and she did an US and found no fluid and said, Of course it hurts, it's supposed to, you haven't exercised in 9 months. It's good for you, just don't over do it, So I took my note to my Personal Trainer and will start again with pack training on Saturday am, and for now just do cardiovascular, plus, I got a good high impact bra and she suggested that I put a sock or something in the bottom so I don't bounce and take Ibuprophen.  She did an Ultrasound and said no fluid so maybe I'm just stretching scar tissue, which is good, I guess, So I'm back to the gym! 

PS any suggestions for spagetti sauce with mushrooms?  I got 16 oz of them because they were on sale and now don't know what to do with them.  Maybe just saute them in butter and eat them up? 

Thanks

deborye

A few years B4 my Mom died, I went with them to the upper state of NY, I think it was Warren, it was an old airport and all the RV's would line up in rows.  Everyone would have cookouts and bring a sorts of food, get up a 5 AM and hear the woosh of the gas for the balloons while they were filling them up to fly in the big field.  It was a beautiful sight so early in the morning cuz it was still dark and the fire from the burners were so bright.  I'll try to find those pics and post them.

The were members of the Good Sam's Club. 

LuvRVing

We had steak on the grill tonight and I sautéed some mushrooms to go with it, yummy! I started with a little butter and olive oil, chopped garlic and shallots. Then I tossed in the mushrooms and cooked for a couple minutes. I added some Cabernet, a splash of cognac, a couple dashes of worcestershire sauce, a teaspoon of grey poupon, salt and pepper, and a little parsley. Let it reduce then add a bit of butter to finish. Sorry, I didn't measure...lol. I think it's kind of like a steak Diane sauce.



My silly DH just facetime'd me iPad to iPad. We are sitting ten feet from one another...what a goofball!



Lacey - glad your doc suggested some red meat. Despite what people think, it's really god for you, assuming you're not eating it every single day. Let's hear it for mitrochondrial repair!!!



Sally - glad all is good and you can exercise without worry.



Carrie - hope your BP behaves!

MinusTwo

Bedo:  I'd just saute those mushrooms w/lots of garlic & maybe a little wine and toss w/pasta.  But I liked Michelle's mushroom "Dianne" idea too.   I also cook corn in the microwave w/wax paper, but I'll try Chabba's method in the husks.  It's hard for me to cook for one after years of recipes for multitudes.  Cakes & Pies don't happen because I'd eat them all.  Cookies might happen if I'm playing bridge or dominos with a group.  I'm trying to get used to more things to the microwave & stir fries.  It's way too hot in Houston to turn on the oven for one potato. 

The hot air balloons are lovely.  Carberry - I'm jealous of your boat launch.  Isn't it kind of early for NY?  

Apple (((((hugs)))))

deborye

deborye

Found some.

 

deborye

It was like they were sprouting out of the ground.

Laurie08

Michelle- LOL at your DH doing facetime   And super cool about the hot air balloons.  My mom always wanted to go up in one and my father was afraid of heights.  I worked for a bank doing commercial lending and we sponsored a balloon at a local hot air balloon rally.  My boss came to me and said  do you have anyone who would want to go up?  I swallowed (hard) I DID NOT want to do it and said yes, my mom.  SO I took her up and my dad jumped on last minute (good for him!)  Of course we get in the balloon and my mom says you smell like you had a drink I turned to her and laughed, well yha!!!!  This is your dream not mine, some liquid courage was in order!!  Here is a picture of before we took off- I was about....ummmm...26 I think?

MinusTwo

Laurie:  Great picture.  Great memories.

Laurie08

PS- should have had the little boy in the front who we did not know duck down- lol!

debbie6122

Laurie- Your videos of the boys on FB were so cute can't believe your little one can drive so good such cute boys!

Carrie- Sounds like so much fun on the boat! I have heard of that cookie diet but my problem is I cant just eat one, in fact I have been eating them all day lol!

Lacey- Never heard that word and i wont even try to spell it lol! Hope you liked the marinade, you do have to marinade them for at least 8 hrs or over night i do 24 hrs. I also add extra brown sugar for a little more sweetness.

Bedo- I am glad it wasnt anything serious, but hope the soreness goes away. I like mushrooms in a butter, wine, parsley, garlic sauce sometimes add a little maggi sauce to them which really gives them a burst of flavor but just a bi tit is strong.

Michelle- LOL at your DH! My DH will text me and say whats for dessert. We got some goofy guys dont we? LOL!

debbie6122

I made a good sauce for my haricot verts ( french  green beans) I love these so much better but havnt seen them until this week. The sauce is easy and so delicious and could be put on any veggies or fish or chicken, and even salad.

4 tablespoons of evoo- 2 tablespoons of dijon mustard- 2 tablespoons of rice wine vinegar- 2 shallots finely chopped. wisk all together. very easy, simple and very good. I double this recipe it is still good the next day,

debbie6122

I just had to post a recipe I got in my email tonight I can not even believe it got 4 stars. Its called a twinkie sandwich. You take twinkies and cut a twinkie down the middle then put the cooked hot dog in and pour the can cheese over it. Are you serious?? LOL!

LuvRVing

Laurie - that is so cool!  And how wonderful of you to help fulfill your mom's wish!  Liquid courage...LOL!

MinusTwo - I hear you about adjusting down to cooking for one or two.  I learned how to cook for six as a kid, and then there were six of us so I have had to learn to adjust for two.  If it were just me, I think I'd be doing lots of microwaves, frozen entrees, and other easy-peasy stuff.

carberry

Debbie  BEautiful pics  santa and an elephant too!

Laurie After your liquid courage did you end up liking the ride?  I dont think I could do that.

Michelle  I think your DH is flirting with you...wink:)

Last nights chicken cacciatore was delicious...forgot I had some zucchini and threw that in too with all the colored peppers. My DH was not impressed with the spinach noodles but ate them up and took the leftovers to work this morning. 

I am off to do some shopping as its my DH birthday tomorrrow and we having an impromtu B-day party for him...it is the big 60 for him!

carolehalston

Laurie, I forgot to explain CSA pickup.  Community Supported Agriculture.  It's great fun to take my green cloth bag, supplied by Covey Rise Farms (they have a web site if you're curious) and fill it with fresh, locally grown veggies.  This week was new small white potatoes, 2 cute small cauliflowers, a bunch of beets (milder variety than the traditional red beets), a bag of salad greens, a bag of tatsoi (braising green like kale), a head of cabbage, parsley and tarragon.  Oh and spring onions, which look like giant green onions.  They're very mild.  I think I could even eat them.

I cooked the beets right away and we've already eaten them on salads.  Tonight I'm cooking the tatsoi with some of the spring onion and some other ingredients following a recipe created by a teaching chef at the store where I pick up the veggies.  This chef is offering a class each week featuring the week's veggies but I probably won't take the class.

Laurie, you also asked if my marinade is spicy.  It doesn't taste spicy to me but I like spicy.  The heat ingredients are the smoked paprika and the hot sauce.  I use Louisiana hot sauce, which has more flavor than fire.  Not Tabasco.  With two small children, a milder marinade is probably a good idea.  I love the way you serve your children much of the same food you and your dh eat.

Our flank steak was delicious last night.  We cut it across the grain in very thin slices.  DH cooked it a bit more rare than he meant to, which was very much to my taste.  I'm the carnivore.  He loves good fresh veggies and ate two helpings of leftover green beans with potatoes.

My PC dr. doubled my bp med and added a diuretic.  I'll have some blood work done and go back to see her in two weeks.  Hoping the bp readings will go down but not too far down! 

Today I'm not playing golf but am babysitting with 2 1/2 yr. old Olivia, my greatniece.  Also taking my mother to her afternoon hair apptment.  It's a gorgeous day not to be playing golf but I'm sure I'll enjoy Olivia.

Happy Friday!

apple

maybe I'll throw in a balloon ride sometime soon. that sounds so fun.

tonite? chinese fried rice and fish sticks.. haha.. picked some up.. a blast from the past (we had them every friday)... or maybe I'll tackle the MEE KROB