So...whats for dinner?

Momine

Apple, I am so sorry. My brother (one of them) is also about 3 years younger and he has severe schizophrenia that developed when he was in his teens. He is still alive, but there have been many close calls over the years. It is a complete bastard of a disease, and living with that and deciding to keep going in spite of it is the real battle in my opinion. 

Momine

Tazzy, welcome to the supper club

Yesterday I made quiche with a rye and olive oil crust, filled with leeks and feta. I also baked eggplant, Greek-style, topped with onion, garlic and tomato and baked for a long time with lots of olive oil.

A nice guy from Crete, one of the cabbies we use regularly, just gave us a huge tin of olive oil from his family's land in Crete. Greeks are convinced that olive oil cures all ills, so he brought when he found out about the stupid cancer. It is great oil, so I am very happy.

Kaara

apple:  Nice family photo!  How much fun to grow up in a large family.  I was an only child until I was twelve, then my little sister came along and I enjoyed her for a few years before I became a selfish teenager and she became an annoyance to me.  Sadly, we were never very close because I married and moved away from home when she was only six.  We had little or no contact with each other.  She was the wild child of the family, and when our DM passed, I tried to get her to come live with us in Florida, but she didn't want to give up her drug habit to do so.  I lost touch with her for many years after that until she contacted me out of the blue one day to tell me she was dying from hepatitis C.  I flew to Houston immediately and we reconnected.  I thought she was going to have a little more time, I was planning to return right after the holidays, but she died of an overdose shortly after I left.  She did tell me that she had made a terrible mistake by not coming to live with us in Florida, and how she had wasted her life away.  So sad...I always wonder if there wasn't something more I could have done to save her.

carberry

Morning everyone.   Just found out son and girlfriend are coming for the weekend, guess I need to stock up on the groceries.  I know he will want chicken wings on the grill.....we can go to the fanciest restaraunt in town and he will look for chicken wings on the menu....cant get enough.

Momine  that is the best gift ever!  Good olive oil is so pricey.

Kaara  You cant feel guilty..you tried... and theres no saying that she wouldnt have gone down the same path in Florida. We do the best we can in the moment. Addiction and mental illnes are both very tough to manage.

Apple  Eggplant parm comes to mind...mmmm my favorite

Tazzy

SpecialK .... That would be motivation for sure.   I am still on chemo and my taste buds now love sweet things, whereas before I was definitely a savoury/salty type.

Apple -  I feel very privileged that you could share your story with us... thank you. 

And Kaara... thanks for sharing your story also.   So sad, sorry for your loss.

Deborye... good luck with the surgery.

Carole... your dinner ?  what can I say.   Louisiana food... yum, yum !  OMG... almost gets me drooling

Momine the quiche sounds delish - and how kind of the Greek cabbie to give you olive oil. 

Apple/Kaara - your family stories have made me realise how so very lucky I am to be so close to my only Sister - there is a 6 year gap between us and yes we had that awkward annoying each other stage when I was a teenager (I am the oldest), but now - even though I am in Canada and she is in the UK - we are so very very close.  Apart from my husband, my sister Jo was the first person I told about my DX with BC - I cherish her.

Well...back to food.... It is still only 8.45am  here so I have a long time to think of dinner. 

eric95us

I just re-read my last post and felt like it came off odd.



Apple, I do mean thank you for sharing. I have a hard time saying much about my experiences along those lines so when someone else shares like that, I really do appreciate it. It's one more "I'm not as alone as I thought".





Eric

LuvRVing

Wow, this thread is moving at lightning speed!  Welcome SpecialK and Tazzy - so nice of you to join us!

Apple - that is a bittersweet story about your brother.  It seems yours was a very close-knit family.

For my blogger fans, I managed to finish writing about our day in London and there are some pretty good pictures, if I do say so myself...lol. 

DH cooked burgers and corn on the cob for dinner last night.  I'm going for my biopsy this afternoon and they may drain a seroma that seems to be about where my TE was removed.  I'd love for that pressure to be relieved, it feels so weird. 

We are having pasta with spicy sausage and caesar salad for dinner.  It's something DH can whip up if I end up feeling bad after being used as a pin cushion...again. 

I'm missing French bread - that fresh baguette that DH picked up every single morning and brought back to the apartment for breakfast.  Why can't we get those here? 

Speaking of food, neither my stomach nor my body seems to have adjusted to the home time zone just yet.  It's 11 a.m. and my tummy is telling me I missed lunch already! 

And I brought back a tube of French mustard with three kinds of pepper - an impulse purchase in Le Grande Epiciere.  Now I need to come up with a good recipe to use it.  Any suggestions from our European friends?  I was thinking of making a little dipping sauce for some beef.

Deb - hope your FSIL is OK. My daughter had her gall bladder removed a few years ago and she was fine the next day.

Tazzy

Just finished reading your blog Luv...and yes, you have taken some really great pics.   So glad you had a great time.  London is truly a magical place - the history of it alone!   I was born and bred in London until I emigated to Canada in 2000.

Hoping the biopsy goes well for you.  

Gonna try and think up some good recipes to share for dips... not sure if I will have any success - blame it on the chemo !

Laurie08

Wow-how am I going to catch up?

Tazzy and Special K WELCOME!!!  SO glad you ladies have joined us!

Deb-  Good luck to your FSIL on his surgery.  I hope he feels better quickly and everything goes smoothly.  I am glad your infection is clearing and you are feeling better.

Michelle- Good luck with your biopsy.  I hope you get some relief from the pressure/odd feeling you are having.  I agree with everyone here, you have a knack for writing and I enjoy reading your blogs.  You are also great with a camera!

Apple- I am so sorry about your brother.  I too loved the picture of all of you piled on the couch.  What was with the books anyway?  As for a dinner suggestion I recommend trying Debbies Blegian chicken.  I love it.

Carrie- Yay that your DS and girlfriend and his girlfriend are coming for the weekend!

Kaara- I am so sorry about your sister.  You did all you could.  Sometimes there is nothing we can do to help someone we love, no matter how hard we try.

Momine- your quiche sounds delish!!

I know I am missing some of you and I am sorry!!

So, who has two thumbs and a new oven in her kitchen? This girl right here! YAY!  Yesterday we finally got the call that it was in and DH and by brother went and got it and put it in last night. By the time we got it in the house I had already fed the kids and we had to move on with the night time routine. DH and I had BLT's around 9:30 last night. They were good and simple which was what we needed by that time.

Tonight DH has to work late so the boys and I are on our own. Where DS #1 can't eat much I have no idea what to make. I suggested to him that we make one of his favorites, spaghetti and meatballs and he informed me that "is too spicy for his throat." So I will have to think of something else. He is on day 6 today post op which is when they say it gets the worst days 5-8. He is doing ok though...not as good as yesterday but still being a trooper.

Any ideas of what would be soft to eat that a 4 year old would like that isn't mac n cheese, pancakes or spaghetti o's?  Both biys just got their first taste of spaghetti o's this week and they think it is amazing....I am not a fan of feeding them from a can too much....

Debbie- Thank you again for the Belgian chicken recipe, we just about licked our plates clean two nights ago.  Also, thanks for thinking of me and the loss of my friend.  It is very sad.

LuvRVing

Laurie - would your son eat spaghetti with cheese and olive oil?  It's a little better than stuff out of a can.  Or maybe an alfredo sauce that you could add some peas or other soft veggies? 

When I was a kid, I always liked chicken with gravy over mashed potatoes.  Even if you bought a pre-roasted chicken, you could use a chicken gravy mix.  Your boys are not as fussy as my grandkids - they think they don't like mashed potatoes...craziness!

I'm back from my biopsy and fluid draining.  Three biopsy samples (a little ouchy) and 38 cc's (maybe - not sure what the measuring unit was, just that it was a 20 and an 18 - two tubes) of gunky seroma fluid.  Sorry, TMI...LOL!  Definitely feels better now.

I'm glad you all are enjoying my travelogue ramblings.  I have to stick with it and get it all out there before I forget what we did! 

DH is having a tough day - his company laid off 100 people and he knows most of them, he's been with the company for 33 years.  The good news is that he's invited to a conference call at 4:30 to discuss the after-effects.  So we think that means he's safe for this go-round.   He doesn't need this stress on top of everything else...poor thing.

carberry

Michelle  that was a good suggestion on the spghetti with no sauce,  My daughter went through a "white" phase and would only eat white foods so that was a go to for her only with butter and parm cheese. for your question about the mustard, I always think bratwurst with saurkraut with a good spicey mustard.  Your a trooper getting through those biopsies....that was the only time I cried during all of this...the Dr. really hurt me!

carolehalston

The CSA veggie pickup today loaded down the bag.  I wish I could share the eggplants.  Three kinds.  One large purple variety, 2 lavender (longish and smaller), and one large white eggplant.  6 large red potatoes.  3 green bell peppers and 2 small purple ones.  Cherry tomatoes that aren't round but long ovals.  Cucumbers.  Lettuce.  A bag of assorted hot peppers.  Four large green tomatoes.  Basil and tarragon.

I love the unhealthy southern method of cooking eggplant, which is to peel and slice them, dunk the slices in egg/milk mixture, then in seasoned breadcrumbs and fry in hot oil.  Delicious but so high calorie.  The green tomatoes are good cooked the same way. 

Apple, that's a cute family picture.

Kaara, sad story about your sister. 

Please do share the carrot cake recipe, Tazzy.  DH and I travelled through part of BC last summer returning from Alaska to the lower 48.  Beautiful province.

Dinner tonight will be one chicken breast and two boneless thighs, probably chicken parmesan.  One side and a salad as yet undecided!  There will definitely be a before-dinner martini full of olives, vodka for me, gin for dh. 

debbie6122

Michelle- Loved all the pictures you shared so glad you had a great time.Sorry about the ouchy biopsy hope that clears up the seroma. Good to hear your DH is ok with his job i know how that is, not to long ago Chuck was going through the same thing, now we are hearing the new GM is being let go. Its scarey i know!

Laurie- Yay on the new stove so happy for you! they sure took there time didn't they. Michelle had some good ideas for your DS i was also thinking about  some scrambled eggs and applesauce not necessarily together. also some puddings. Thats a hard when when your trying to help them eat healthy but limited after surgery.

Kaara- Sorry about your DS too, i know we all talked about our losses not to long ago and i told you about my sis and how she passed too, there is always so much guilt there but now i know there ws nothing i could of done. Im just blessed i had her in my life for as long as i did,

Carrie- Enjoy your family this weekend.

Momine- Oh what a great gift, my DH brings evoo home for me from some of his vendors one little bottle that would normally cost around $30.00 i save it for special occassions. 

SpecialK

momine - the leekfeta  quiche sounds delish!

luvrving - Welcome home! Sorry you have to have a biopsy right after returning.  I have used mustard (usually Dijon) in an easy dish - take a pork tenderloin and make 1/2 inch slices.  Pound the pieces thin between two pieces of plastic wrap or waxed paper so you have medallions.  Salt and pepper them and saute them quickly in a pan.  Remove and keep the medallions warm, and deglaze the pan with white wine vinegar, reduce a bit then add some half and half or heavy cream and a tablespoon or so of the mustard.  Reduce again for a few minutes and add some dried tarragon (or fresh if you have it).  Spoon the sauce over the pork and serve.

Here is the Carrot Cake recipe:1 1/4 c. veg oil, 1 c. br. sugar, 1 c. sugar, 4 eggs, 1 c. flour, 1 c. - less 2 T. whole wheat flour, 1 t. salt, 2 t. baking soda & powder, 2t. cinnamon, 3 c. shredded carrots, 1 8.5 oz. can crushed pineapple - drained, 1/2 c. chopped nuts (optional)

Blend oil and sugars, add eggs one at a time.  Mix dry ingred. in a separate bowl.  Add to wet ingred. 1/3 at a time.  Fold in carrots, pineapple and nuts.  Pour into greased and floured 9" cake pans - or 13x9 or bundt.  Bake 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees, or until toothpick comes out clean.  Cool in pans for 10 minutes then turn out to cool. 

 Frost with following:  1 8 oz. cream cheese, 4 T. unsalted butter, 2 c. powdered sugar, 1 1/2 t. vanilla, 1T. grated lemon rind.  Beat until fluffy. 

You can freeze this unfrosted.  Better one day after baked - refrigerate.

Also - there was a chocolate cake recipe a page or two back - I have the same recipe but substitute Kahlua for the water.  Gives the cake a mocha flavor.  I melt choc. chips with a bit of veg oil in the microwave and drizzle over the cake - pretty and yummy!

Laurie - I like the chicken with gravy over mashed potatoes idea!  I want some too!  You could also do a quick chicken soup with rotisserie chicken, some frozen vegs, chicken stock and noodles or rice.

Kaara

I skipped lunch today so all this talk about food is making me very hungry.  I'm making a turkey meatloaf with sweet potato and a green salad for dinner tonight.  I put dried cranberries in the meatloaf and cover it with a turkey gravy.  It's delicious and for those who eat white potatoes, it's good with mashed ones.

Michelle...the biopsy and seroma draining sounds painful..sorry you had to go through that.

Laurie...so sorry about the loss of your friend...somewhere I missed that earlier.

Tazzy & specialk:  welcome to the thread and we look forward to your contributions. 

Tazzy

carole.... you are serving martini's... I will also have a vodka one, thank you

There are so many great food ideas here... I am sure I am putting weight on just reading them.... and the eggplant recipe... and I love fried green toms.... wait a minute, I think it would be easier to say what I DONT like !!

Dinner for me and DH tonight will be a chorizo, spinach pasta: 

3 large chorizo sausages - chopped into bite size pieces
1 can (28 fl oz/796 mL) no-salt-added diced tomatoes, undrained
1 tsp dried oregano leaves
1 tsp basil
3 cups multi-grain penne pasta, uncooked 
1 cup water
6 cups baby spinach leaves
1 cup Part Skim Mozzarella Shredded Cheese 

Spray heavy bottomed pan with spray oil and genty cook chorizo.  When cooked remove from pan and keep to one side in a dish.
In same pan add canned toms, herbs, pasta and water (start with only 3/4 cup of water and add to 1 cup if required) bring to boil in large saucepan, stirring occasionally. Simmer on
medium-low heat 10 to 12 min. or just until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally.  Add sausages at this point. Stir in half the spinach; cover. Simmer 2 min. or just until spinach is wilted. Repeat with remaining spinach.   Serve topped with the mozza cheese and a nice baguette.

I have also added olives to this recipe and also used shrimp instead of the sausage - or use both.  Also enough left over for lunch too. 

Enjoy whatever culinary delights you are conjuring up and look forward to hearing all about them.

MinusTwo

specialK - thanks for adding the Kaluha idea to the choc chip cake.  I'll have to mark on my recipe.

Tazzy

OK... so my apologies...as I was prepping supper I realised that you dont actually share your recipes, just what you are having and then share if requested... I had a chuckle to myself about that one... I mean what excuse will I have when I'm not on chemo anymore

chabba

For the chocolate cake, I like to melt chocklate chips in heavy cream and use for a glaze--about 1/2 cup of each for a bundt cake.

LuvRVing

Tazzy - we absolutely do share recipes!  You may post one here any time you like.  Sometimes we just say what we're having, sometimes we share the recipe for our dinner or for something we've run across that looks interesting.  It's pretty much anything goes on this thread, and apologies are never necessary!

SpecialK

tazzy - plus the recipe looks great!

kaara - thanks!

SeasideMemories

Tazzy,



Yes, Yes.... Recipes, please!



I have chorizo in the freezer and spinach begging to be picked from my garden! This recipe sounds perfect!

SeasideMemories

Chabba,



Chocolate cake with a chocolate glaze.... Mmmmmmmm... Really doesn't get better than that!!!

apple

to me, it is amazing how many calories i must include for my growing teenage boys and hardworking husband.. i eat like a fairy compared to those three.

carolehalston

Tazzy, we definitely share recipes.  That pasta recipe looks really good.  It's interesting that you don't cook the pasta separately.  Here's a regional note.  I've never eaten chorizo, even though I've heard of it and read about it.  We have lots of smoked sausages that are made in south Louisiana and I usually use one of those or the Italian sausage that is made locally.  Chorizo is probably available in the supermarkets.  I'll have to look for it and give it a try. 

Laurie, glad you're once again "with oven." 

The carrot cake recipe definitely looks good.

SeasideMemories

Apple,



Funny thing, I have both a son and a daughter and, back in elementary school when we had the sleepovers and visits, it was the 'girls' that ate us out of house and home... We couldn't get the boys to sit still long enough to eat!!



Boy, did that ever change around come high school!! Those boys... they are like locusts... devouring everything in their path! But, secretly, I prefer that to cooking and no one eating what I made!



So sorry that your brother (and you) had to go through all that! Sounds to me that, even though he was dealt a rough hand, he was such a kind-hearted person!!

Tazzy

First of all I want to send out 'thoughts with you Laurie' on the passing of your friend.    I just managed to see that post. 

OK.. good to know on the recipes.  And chocolate cake... drool !  

Dunno about any of you ladies, but since being on chemo I have definitely developed a sweet tooth.

apple

i need to start making desserts.. real ones.  i almost made cream puffs.. but didn't quite have the gumption to go out and buy butter and whipping cream.. maybe tomorrow.. cream puffs are so good.

let's see tomorrow is Thursday June 7th.. i have such a trouble remembering dates.  ... cream puffs might be what is for dinner.  leftover sausage on the side.  sounds good to me. .. with a salad of course.  maybe brownies for salad.

apple

on a good note, my oldest son is home for dinner these days.. he was always working this last year.  he is such a dear.  omg.. i can't tell you what a good kid he is.

deborye

Nick has surgery first thing tomorrow so he has to be at the hospital for 6:30 am.

There is a potential complication with the stone that has got out and is blocking the bile duct. They can't necessarily address that with the surgery tomorrow. The doctor is going to try and flush it out but it might not work, he'll know more after the surgery and when they've done blood tests afterwards.

If they cannot get the stone out, we will have to go to Boston! So there is a chance that we may have to fly out on Friday or over the weekend. Its not a major op but just something they don't do on island - they essentially go in through the mouth and round into the stomach and pull it through into the intestine! He said you are usually in and out within the day. Won't know if its necessary until after the op tomorrow.