So...whats for dinner?

Lacey12

Just wanted to share an interesting scallop recipe. Since I bought a few bunches of leeks today, I researched scallops and leek recipes.I had all of the ingredients for this one, so made it, with a couple of short cuts. Turned out tasty. I did add a bit of cornstarch in water to thinken the sauce a bit at the end, since I'm not crazy over brothy fish dishes. We had it over quinoa with a side of beet greens sauteed in garlic and evoo, with red pepper flakes. Pungent! I always feel like I am being healthy when I eat beet greens.



Scallop recipe by Maaaaaatha

http://www.yummly.com/recipe/Orange-Flavored-Scallops-Martha-Stewart-192113

Kay_G

That sounds good Lacey! I was looking for something to do with squash and leeks that I got from the CSA and found a recipe for a soup. It came out really well.



Sadly, I don't have a recipe for the pumpkin pancakes. It was a mix I picked up at the store, just added eggs, oil and water. We did make pumpkin bread last year with real pumpkin, it was good. My DD brought a recipe home from school. It was easy and good, but I don't know what happened to it. There are so many pumpkin things at the store now, beer, coffee, tea, and more.



Made tacos tonight. DH is out of town, actually in Phoenix for a conference. Both kids enjoyed it. I made three different kinds though: beef for DS, chicken for DD, and bean for me. The chicken was just from a a rotisserie chicken from Costco though, so I am exaggerating a bit.



Why do weekend go so fast? I can't believe it's over.

Moonflwr912

Just watched an iron chef episode. Mystery ingredient was Silkie chicken. an unusual variety that kinda looks fluffy, with like a poodle cut on the head. But the skin and flesh is black. Now, my dad grew some on his farm, why don't I remember that? I mean I would have thought eating a black chicken leg would be something you'd remember! LOL

eric95us

Sharon's dutch oven cooking was really good. She had planned on using the slow cooker, but it wasn't big enough. The dutch oven in the regular oven worked perfectly as a slow cooker..



While that was going on, I replaced (and fit) a door. I don't think I was even 20 years old the last time I did this. But, I guess I remembered how because it fit and worked right the first time.



Her energy level is returning to normal....which is wonderful.... :-). She's been offered a job teaching one high school physics class, so right now she's filling out employment paperwork.



Eric

chabba

Good news Eric. I'm sure I'm not the only one to offer her congratulations!

carolehalston

Great news, Eric!

Don't have a clue what is for dinner tonight.  Except the meal will include veggies that need to be cooked.  The next CSA pickup is Wed.

The Salsa Chicken was delicious cooked in the slow cooker.  Some leftovers. 

auntienance

Good news there Eric. Moon, are silkies the ones that lay colored eggs?

Kay_G

Wonderful news Eric!  Both the job and the energy.  Is your daughter going out for Halloween?  I think this is the last year mine is.  She is driving me crazy asking me what she should be.  She doesn't like any of the suggestions I make.

Not sure what's for dinner tonight here either.  Probably either grilled cheese or leftovers.  DH is still away.  Won't be home for dinner until Thursday.

chabba

auntie, it is Araucana Chickens are the ones with colored eggs.  They are south american and have been bred for fighting cocks.  Not only are the eggs different colors but so are the birds. The are all pictures of Araucanas.

   

A good friend of mine used to raise them when they lived on a small place in the country. For those few years she kept us supplied with all the eggs we could use and that was back when I was baking a lot!

auntienance

Chabba, thanks I remember now (I raised chickens long ago). I believe Martha Stewart has araucanas. As I recall, silkies are very interesting too. Didn't know about the dark flesh though.

susan_02143

So for the Boston-area folks, I am reposting a review of Rendezvous written for another site. When I left Central Square after living there for a while, it was a bit edgy.  Getting heroin was easy. The streets were filthy. There were boarding houses everywhere [not sure their removal was a good thing] and a population that was always drunk. I loved living there, for the Greek diner, and the Lebanese bakery, and the great T-access not to mention the Rock n'Roll clubs and jazz haunts. Back in 2004, the Burger King closed. [Score one for the home team!] Rendezvous is in that building. Since all urban Burger Kings were built with flat roofs, the chef/owner has used that entire roof for a garden! Open Table states $31-$42 per person. I don't think that is realistic. We spent $50 per person and only got a carafe of wine.

===

I am a year older, and my stomach is full of the goodness served by Rendezvous this evening. For us, this was not a casual meal. In my income bracket, this was a special night out. My husband and I arrived right on time. Open Table had failed to cancel my first reservation, while my phone reservation was also in the system. The front of house figured out what had happened and had a table for four ready for us.

The room is calm and warm. The music was at a low level and the music selection was really pleasant. The TV in the bar was out of sight. As I sat there waiting for the kids to arrive, I couldn't believe that this was the Central Square I had left in 1980. A complete transformation!

We all chose the prix fixe menu. It is the only menu available on Sunday nights, but you don't have to order all three courses. There are no prices on the menu for the a la carte prices.

For the first course, two people ordered the lamb ribs, one had the eggplant meze platter and the other had the grilled sardines.We all tasted each other's dishes, and they were all seasoned and spiced perfectly. Next course we had two seafood stews, one steak-frites and the veal and pork meatballs. I couldn't taste the stew due to allergies, but those diners were very happy. The steak was cooked perfectly. I had one bite which was delicious. I was only able to eat 1 1/2 meatballs with the pasta and greens, but the other diners dove in and polished off the dish.

For dessert, we all chose different items. One lemon-buttermilk pudding, the chocolate cake, a walnut spice cake, and I ordered one cheese. I must have put birthday in the Open table reservation since the cheese platter arrived with a candle. (The first time a birthday person has ordered cheese. The kitchen found attaching the candle to a wood cutting board to be a challenge.)

The lemon-buttermilk pudding was revelatory! Oh my goodness. I have never tasted anything like this. My cheese was at the perfect temperature. My only complaint for the entire evening was that the apples on the cheese plate weren't as tart as I would like.

The service was warm, welcoming, and professional. We didn't feel that anyone hovered, and we were not ignored. Waters were quickly filled. Dishes weren't removed until the entire table had finished the course. Watching our server at each of his tables, he managed to find the right tone based on the customers at the table. Nicely done.

We all feel that we had a special evening. The food was considered. It was cooked with care. Attention was paid to details. The service made us feel comfortable. I feel that we received a good value for our calories and money. Rendezvous was the perfect recommendation. Thank you all. 

===

*susan* 

eric95us

Cool chickens. If I lived outside of the city I'd try (again) it, growing coyote food..... :-)



I'm sure she'll be going out for Halloween, but I don't think even she knows what she's going to be.



This Saturday she went to a haunted house/corn field with a bunch of friends. A deputy sheriff friend working at the event recognized her, called her by name and said "Hi". It may have unnerved her friends a bit!



Sharon's "come in and fill out the I-9 form" meeting got canceled for today...the other person has strep throat and didn't want to spread it around...so later this week or early next week.

auntienance

Lacey, when I started chemo, I was having lots of gut issues. The nutritionist recommended a yogurt drink (live cultures) since I couldn't palate regular yogurt at the time. Boy, did that make a difference. Made a believer out of me.



Yesterday I roasted some of the last garden tomatoes to freeze. what an intense tomato flavor they have. I have a bunch of green ones turning red so I'll probably get another batch out of them. It's a great thing to do with them as the texture isn't very good this time of year.



Dinner tonight is kielbasa, saurkraut and mashed potatoes, DH's favorite combination. It's weird to me, but that's the way he likes it, go figure. We'll be eating while watching my beloved Cardinals in the NLCS baseball playoffs. Go Cards! (sorry, it just slipped out ;-)

Lacey12

Yay for Sharon, and you Eric! I hope she finds the job to be calm enough that it doesn't sap her re-newed energy. The good news is that being around adolescents is always energizing.

I have really been missing my job (tho it was really two jobs, which I could no longer manage with my new lower energy level....and poor sleep), then my principal called early this AM to vent, and get my clinical opinion and resources for some of the kids/families who have not been doing well since I left. Makes me sad, a little guilty for abandoning everyone for my own needs (tho really necessary), and sort of relieved that I don'tbhave to face those challenges every single day after a bad night's sleep! How's that for major ambivalence!! So at least if I can help her out sometimes, and do weekly consultation with the person who is replacing me. That will be plenty....



DH and I are "rug doctoring" our family room rug which has seen nothing but a vacuum for three years. Keeping my fingers crossed that any Lacey "remnants" come up well.



Kay, I love the idea of squash/leek soup. I like it better than using the leeks for potato/leek soup. I will check to see if I can freeze it... and if so will make it today, to clear out some of the produce in the fridge.

eric95us

Lacey...don't feel guilty....in my 3rd job (emergency response), they pound into us to take care of ourselves first...that if we go down we can't help others....and the other responders have one additional person to handle.



The class is one section of high school AP physics, so the kids should be pretty good to have.

auntienance

Here's a pumpkin recipe that sounded really good to me

http://mobile.seriouseats.com/recipes/2011/08/pumpkin-pasties-harry-potter-recipe.html

chabba

Eric, I bet Sharon enjoys teaching that class.  AP classes can be a challenge and not just because of the scholastic level.  About 15 years ago I got in touch with my high school physics teacher.  When I was a senior our school college prep program was on of the top in the state.  It had been chosen by MIT to test a new physics textbook and this one class was the test group and we had been selected as the top 15 students in the senior class.  He told me we were a special challenge not just because of the textbook program but because of the mischief we got into.  Said we were the most ingenious group he ever had.  His was one of only two high school classes that ever managed to challenge me....the other was drama.  And he and the drama coach were the only two teachers that figured out that I was the inciter behind some of the more notorious stunts. 

eric95us

She has taught AP physics before and loved it. Kids from a decade ago still will say high to her and thank her.



If the position turns into a full time one, it will be a 4 honors and 1 AP physics class at the school district's college prep high school.



She's a nuclear engineer by training, so she's good with the content...gotta brag on her a bit!



It sounds like you also had the "sneaky, smart and a sense of humor trait" too. :-)

chabba

Eric, The sad thing is that those two teachers and the head of the Drama Tepartment in college were the only three teachers that ever managed to get me to apply myself to my studies.  I had a B+ average and studying meant reading the text the night before the test.  I suppose that it says something about me that my favorite type of humor has always been the pun.

eric95us

Chabba, that sounds a lot like me.

susan_02143

Tonight's dinner was a simple chicken soup with some diced veggies and Greek pasta. We both wanted something light after so much restaurant food. Gave me time to make the "house" granola for husband's breakfast. I made him chop the fruit though. That is the tedious part.

*susan* 

SeasideMemories

Eric,



So happy to hear that Sharon is regaining her energy! It is so frustrating to not be able to do the things that you want to do... Congrats to her on her new job and WOW..... a nuclear engineer!! She definitely has earned those bragging rights!!



Chabba,



Didn't have you pegged as a trouble maker... Lol!! The smart ones are usually the most diabolical! I'm sure you all gave them a run for their money back in the day!! HeHeHe....... Would love to hear of your capers!



Tonight was Michelle's Waldorf Salad (very, very good) and Cheese Steak sandwiches. Would love to call them Philly Cheese Steaks but I'm certain they are not authentic the way I make them! Have to meet strict criteria to put the Philly stamp on it, right Kay...Lol!!!



AuntieNance,



Those Pumpkin Pasties look really good!!!! I am definitely in the mood for pumpkin something.... I think because it turned turned cold here so it feels truly like fall.....



Hope you all are having a good night!

auntienance

Seaside, if you make them before me, please let us know how they were!

SeasideMemories

Nancy,



Will do!! As a short-cut I wonder how it would be to use a refrigerated Pillsbury pie crust... I haven't ever made a crust from scratch before but, maybe it's time I give it a whirl... What's the worst that can happen?!!! Famous last words...lol!

deborye

Eric, so glad Sharon is getting stronger, I wish we would hear from her.

chabba

Seaside, I never participated in the "capers".  I simpley planted ideas, a comment or an innocent question to get the perpetrators thinking.  Rarely did the perpetrators even know where they got the idea.

SeasideMemories

Chabba,



Even better!! Shear genius to influence the others while staying out of it yourself!! lol



Wish I had shared your planning.... I seemed to always be involved in different "activities" that seemed like a good idea at the time... And I was always in the group that got caught!! Learned my lesson after a bit that it was so much easier and less stressful to just toe the line..lol!

eric95us

I never got caught. :-)



I too wish Sharon would get on here.



Sharon is a nuclear engineer. Mickey (fiancee) had been accepted to med school and was going to be a pediatrician. I guess I was trying to be a kept man.



Dinner tonight was frozen yogurt....

Moonflwr912

I am happy for Sharon, and being married to a nuclear has its, um, moments. Kind of like a Vulcan..... Ask what time it is, you will.get 11:02 not 11:00 or about 5 after! LOL actually most engineers are kind of like that. My DH is nuclear, and one of my DD is a chemical engineer. That's what keeps life interesting. LOL

apple

Glad Sharon is feeling better Eric.

I had a pretty good meal last nite.  My friend had brought me a ton of tomatoes.  I made a tomato sauce and then stuffed green peppers.  they weren't quite done, the green peppers could have been a bit softer but the flavor of italian sausage, ground beef, crumbs and such was good.  I made kale chips (there are never enough), had some grape leaves from the Arab market and goat cheese.  My fam likes the unusual things and do the dishes nicely if i cook a great meal.  They'll do the dishes but i kind of have to yell at them.  Actually they are getting pretty good and getting 'em done, efficiently and thoroughly.. They like to stay for dinner and invite their friends.

I am kind of famous - the friends will nicely ask if there is enough for them to stay and eat.