So...whats for dinner?

luvmygoats

Deb and Debbie - thinking about both of you and your families.

The chicken alfredo was great. Threw in some rough chopped onions, celery, garlic. Cooked some kind of mini pasta 1/2 box leftover. DH had 2 helpings with a snide comment about the # of mushrooms in it. Had a Parmesan mixed grated cheese - Asiago and others - on it. And it was just yummy just now warmed up. I dug out most of mushrooms for mine.

Made it to optometrist today. Says eyes are fine except for the glaucoma and very minor beginning cataracts. Didn't change lenses last year and for $550 or so change is so minor he says not really needed. Think I will save my money. Though I may go to Lenscrafters or whatever their name is now and at least see the price. I haven't bought glasses in years except at his office. I could never get them to fit right at other cheaper places.

Eric - thank you for telling us about Apple's birthday. I, too, bookmarked the YouTube video of her playing. Miss her dreadfully and wish I had had the pleasure of knowing her longer and in person.

Happy almost Friday.

MinusTwo

Luv - interesting comment about glasses.  I've had the same problem with the cheaper places.  No one could ever make my progressive lenses work.  Always end up back w/my expensive guy.  Very frustrating to hear of everyone else going to Today's Vision or Wally World or whatever.  So - I've been in for yearly checks but am still wearing the scrip from 2010 since the changes weren't horrendous.

Eric - thanks for the Apple notes.

Found the most wonderful thing last night.  Chemo #2 and I stayed overnight in the med center for Neulasta today.  I never eat fast foods but wandered into a Burger King to see if I could get an egg biscuit for breakfast today.  They have Pina Colada smoothies.  Tasted fantastic when everything else was cardboard.  I wish I'd ordered a large.

I can't imagine what I'd be doing w/o these boards - especially now that I'm back in active treatment.  The honesty is amazing and the willingness to share.  It's such a great help since most tips aren't available around the MO's or the infusion centers.

Hi to everyone else.  I'm off to crash shortly.

luvmygoats

MinusTwo - I forgot about a place that has been talked about on here. Mailorder "Zenni". I'm going to put a message on the "girly things" thread later and ask again about ordering there. I'll let you know, maybe in a PM unless other members here don't object to a bit of hijacking.

The Pina colada smoothie sounds great. I, too, love being on here. I found BCO while I was home after my LX. Wish I had known about it sooner.

Everyone make it a great day.

Laurie08

luv- I don't think anyone will mind here if you talk about anything.  Hijack away!

Tonight I think I am going to use up what is left of the shaved roast beef and make pepper steaks and have them in Syrian pouches.  The boys can eat whatever.  My NH blood is not used to the temps we have been having and I am HOT.  It has just felt muggy and in the high 70's.  I am super impressed that I looked today and some of the plants DS2 and I did on Wednesday have germinated!! 

SpecialK

Today is pretty warm here in FL!  I have taken the dog out twice and needed to come right back in.  I was wanting to walk this evening to see how my knee is, but I am not sure at this point if it is too hot.  We are having a home-made 3-bean salad, rice and turkey tenderloin medallions in tarragon cream sauce.  We had a lot of cut veggies left over from the party - people just don't want to eat healthy things at parties! - so I used the last of the red peppers in the bean salad.  DH has been eating broccoli and cauliflower all week for lunch at work - good news is he loves them!

carberry

Well...after dealing with my 23 year old mentor at work  (that has threatened to  quit at least 5 times this week) my dinner tonight will be WINE! No kidding!  I think I can really like this job and the people there once I get on my own shift and dont have to work side by side with her and her whining.  Told me today her mom kicked her outta the house...Gee I wonder why?

Laurie08

Carrie- You make me chuckle!  I hope you get away from the whiny 23 year old and get to enjoy your new job, congrats!  A little wine to drown out the whines never hurts either

auntienance

I have ordered from zennI as well as 39dollar glasses.

nibbana

Whoo, I got two pages behind in this thread. 

Dinner tonight was simply so delicious. Pork apple sausage sauted with turnip greens and a splash of sherry vinegar. Steamed baby turnips on the side. Chocolate for dessert.

Laurie08

ok- I am headed to bed but decided to share with all of you the strangest thing.  So....2 days ago the boys knocked down the lamp in DS2's room and the bulb was junk.  Won't turn on etc.  I can't seem to remember to ever buy light bulbs.  For the last 2 days we have tightened/lossened the bulb, last night DH unscrewed it and shook it and heard the rattle- dead bulb...of course.  SOOOO......tonight I am laying in his room rubbing his back putting him to sleep and I am thinking of my Mum.  That my Dad is coming home with his new fiance in a couple of days and I should go get her stuff out of there.  That I should go visit her grave and bring her lily of the valley- because she loves it so much and I never go to her grave enough.  I shit you not- the light turned on for about 2-3 seconds while my stream of thought was going and DS2 says- did you see me light?  It went on?  I said yes....thats weird.  He says yha....because its broken.  I laid there and smiled.....sometimes you have to believe.  I am going to her house tomorrow before my dad gets back.  I called my brother and told him the story.  He said...you know whats really weird?  I already planned on going there tomorrow morning too.  Neither of us have been to the house in 6 months.

Lacey12

Wow....great story Laurie....yes, believing is beautiful! Have a good visit to the house tomorrow....nice that DB will be going too.



Had a sad bit of news today from one of our NH friends (we see them a lot in the summer). Their son-in-law who is 45 was just diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer. His family is in the midst of opening a new entertainment venue in NH, and he will now be busy travelling to Boston for chemo, radiation and then surgery afterwards. Cancer sucks!



Carrie, I sure hope you get your own shift REAL soon! Can't imagine that gal mentoring anyone! Yikes, scary to think of who can rise to positions of authority these days. I worry about who might be administering to me if I have the misfortune to land in a nursing home some day.....just can't see many of the "me generation" being caretakers. That is probably an unfair overgeneralization......and I would actually be cared for by many Mother Theresa types.



Really warm and polleny (!) out today...gave me the urge to get a bit more planting done.

I was happy to shower the pollen off afterwards.



We had soup, lamejan (sp? picked up at a Middle Eastern grocery store) ) and a caprese salad for dinner.

carberry

Wow  I love that story Laurie.  I am such a believer and have never had the fear of dying as I believe there is a wonderful afterlife out there. AND I cant wait to stalk people! Right now, that 23 year old is on my list! lol

Rainy and cool here...I was gonna try to put in some garden plants, but we are having some unexpected company today.  My DH best friend from college and his family are coming up from Long Island. Will do some sight seeing for them and then out to dinner.  Guess I should clean the house.

SpecialK

carberry - your 23 year-old mentor comment made me laugh - my DD is 23, so I can relate.  She pitched a hissy fit when my DSILs were here for her graduation because she had to go to work and I washed her uniform pants and forgot to dry them - now they think she is a spoiled brat!  Honestly, it was my fault because I took the pants without telling her and washed them and left them in the washer because I was too distracted - she had 10 minutes before she had to leave for work and she kind of lost it in front of them - now of course, it is gossip fodder for the rest of the family - they think she is "immature".  Of course the fact that she was supportive and helpful to me after diagnosis, and took great care of me through 8 surgeries and chemo (along with DH), all while working and going to college counts for nothing to them.  None of them has faced anything like that, or really anything critical in their whole lives - nothing more serious than a hangnail.  It annoys me that they are judging her - but it sounds like you have every reason with your mentor, lol!

laurie - def believe that you and your brother were getting a message.  All of my immediate family has passed, mom, dad and only sibling - they "talk" to me all the time.

MinusTwo

Laurie - Relating to the "me" generation, my son was 23 at the time my beloved brother died 20 years ago & inherited many of his treasures.  My brother continued to 'hang out' w/my son, and son's girl friends were always mentioning a "presence" at his house. 

Carberry - Stalking?  Spectral version? Oh I can't wait either!!

Special - Isn't it funny how others see our kids.  I have one friend who can't believe my son, now 43, only sent a card for mother's day.  But he was my only nurse for both BMX & reconstruction in 2011, and just flew here again as I started over w/chemo.  He's arranged ahead for family leave in advance so he can come from CA whenever I need him.  I think he's a keeper.

eric95us

I'm glad I get to drive the school bus.  The kids I drive are great kids.  As long as the whiners don't "win", they'll take good care of the world.

bobogirl

Special K, I am in FL too, and I am also hot.    Laurie -- Syrian pouches?!  Wow!  And I think your story about the light is amazing.  You are so... tapped in to wonderful things. I don't know how to say it better. I fear I am too tired to tap into anything wonderful like that!

Oh -- and Spec K, I can totally relate to that gossip cycle thing.  First off, my family does the same thing.  And secondly, I feel the same way about my daughter, who is seven -- I just love her so much, and I know her, and I think everything about her is wonderful!  BTW, Eric, you are the sweetest ever, remembering Apple's birthday.

Dinner tonight -- leftover takeout Japanese lunch counter.  I am worried about Bedo.  She loves Japanese too.  It runs in the family.  She has not yet returned my PMs.

XXX

jenjenl

left over pasta with peas, onions, tomatoes in a wine sauce.  I have all the sudden loved tomatoes...can't get enough of them.  I even put them in my chicken salad now.

Kids are having waffles and fruit.

Right now I am cleaning like a mad woman in hopes to actually maybe possibly have a relaxing mothers day....as much as you can with a 5 and 3 year old!

bobogirl

Jen, can I eat at your house tonight?    I cleaned the house today as well for the same reason.

eric95us

I'm probably going to mix up a yeast type waffle batter tonight. So, for us, the waffles will be tomorrow morning....again on the ancient waffle iron.



I'm still thinking of what to do for a meal tomorrow....3 moms here, Sharon, my mom and Sharon's mom.



Eric

SpecialK

minus - yes, he is a "keeper"!  I would much rather have a child that shows me their love through their caring and kindness than through material gifts.  This also means that you raised him right!

bobo- the other annoying thing is that the one doing the most judging has no children!  I mean...... hello? 

Today was warm, but nice.  I went and hung out with a good friend - sat in the lanai by her pool and chatted and watched her 3 year-old grandson play in the pool.  It was great - a wonderful relaxed afternoon with a super person I am fortunate to have as a friend.

SeasideMemories

SpecialK,



As a proud Mom of a 23 year old young lady (and recent Master's degree grad) I read your previous post and thought... The people who are casting judgement either do not have daughters or have totally forgotten those overloaded, hormonal, teenage days we all went through where the slightest problem was just a catastrophy...



My DD is like a light switch... She's either totally content and loving life (most of the time) or having a meltdown over something that seems, to me, to be nothing but clearly to her at that very moment is an issue....



I have to laugh because, while many, many moons past the hormone overload of my early 20's I now am experiencing many of the same emotions due to menopause and tamoxifen! And I'm not sure I'm handling it any better...lol



Hoping my relatives aren't all talking about me.. Lol! But, if they are, F 'em... The relationships that I value the most are with my immediate family and branching out from there...



Laurie,



Loved your story about the lamp... I have had several such moments where I just knew someone was watching over me... and, yes, I believe!

SeasideMemories

Minus,



I totally agree! DS is a keeper... Being there when you need someone, in my book, is the best gift someone can give.... Seems that those on the 'outside' don't always see the times when our kids show us that they truly got the life lessons that we hoped we taught them... The best gift ever!



Eric,



I bought DH a couple of cast iron pieces for Christmas but we are trying to figure out how/if to season them. They are Lodge brand and say they are pre-seasoned. I'm thinking they need to be properly seasoned but not sure of the best method. Have googled and there are many different opinions on how to season cast iron. Any suggestions?

Lacey12

Have a wonderful Mother's Day, all nurturers! I always feel the targeted population for this Hallmark holiday should be a broad one. There are so many, many nurturing souls (think this very thread!:)who have made such a difference in the lives of people they have touched. I hope everyone enjoys tomorrow.....



And how lucky are we to have a resident expert on caste iron cookware maintenance....priceless!

chabba

Thank you Lacey.  I've been Aunt B and now Grandma to dozens of kids but couldn't have any of my own.  I do sometimes get a left out feeling this time of year.

Lacey12

Chabba, that's why I have always appreciated the thoughtful teachers who encouraged their students to include other than just their biological moms when making cards to bring home for this weekend. No one in the family or neighborhood tapestry should feel left out......Have a lovely day!

eric95us

Wow...I'm getting a headache...from a swelling head....

The oine new Lodge cast iron piece that I bought worked just fine from the start.

For reseasoning

I first dry the pan in a warm oven and then smear lard or shortening (or use Pam spray) all over the pan.  Then I wipe off as much of the lard/shortening/Pam as I can with dry paper towels. 

I then put it in the oven at 350 (for lard or shortening) 400F (for Pam) for an hour or so and then turn the oven off and let the pan cool down in the oven. 

2 or 3 cycles of this and it's good to go. I cheat and use Pam the first few times I cook with a newly seasoned skillet. After a few times, I can get by with just waiting until the pan is up to cooking temperature before I put the food into it.

One thing my grandmother taught me was to NOT wash the skillet; just wipe it out with a towel.  And, if that didn't work, to boil some water in the skillet and then wipe it out.  She also suggested that after the "water treatment", putting a tiny amount of oil in the pan and rubbing it as oil free as possible with another towel, was a good idea.

SeasideMemories

Thanks for the info, Eric!



Two more real newbie questions.... Is it ok to wash the pans when we take them out of the box before seasoning them? And when you say to let them dry in a warm oven before doing the shortening, at what temp and for how long? Oooooppps better make that 3 questions.... lol... Do you put the shortening on the outside of the pan, too or just on the inside?



Chabba,



I second what Lacey said! Some of the most caring women I have met are moms and grandmas by 'choice' if not by blood! In my eyes, that makes them pretty darn special!!

eric95us

Happy Mother's Day.

The waffles I made turned out.  I liked what I did this time much better than the last one.  Last time I used the baking soda to get the waffles to rise.  This time I used yeast.

The new Lodge pan I just rinsed it out to get rid of the dust and started cooking with it.

I've never needed soap.  I ust wipe it out, or for something really stuck on, I boil a little bit of water in the pan and then wipe it out.  That's been it. 

If I start from scratch, and it's just one piece, I spray the old style oven cleaner on the piece, put it in a bag and tie the bag up so the oven cleaner doesn't dry out.  After 3 or 4 days, the crud can be washed out.  Then I use soap and water and then rinse it 10-15 minutes to get rid of the soap.

The drying is basically 15-20 minutes at whatever the lowest temperature the oven will maintain.  The old oven here gets to 140F degrees, so that's what I use.  And I smear the shortening *EVERYWHERE* (on the pan) , even in the hanging hole in the handle.

The oven cleaner won't hurt the cast iron.  Oven cleaner actually protects the cast iron.  A seasoning mistake is easy to fix..clean it and start over. 

About the only way you can hurt cast iron is to drop it, use it in place of a hammer, get it red hot (warps it) or dump cold water in it after leaving it on the stove (at high heat) for a long time.

The only cast iron piece I was very careful with when cleaning and seasoning it was the dutch oven that's my avatar picture.  It was a gift from Mickey and not something that can be replaced.

SpecialK

On the Mother's Day for those who do not have biological children of their own - most of my long-time good friends never had children, but have always been aunt/friend/support/etc. for my kids.  I am so fortunate and glad that my children have had the opportunity to see that nurturing comes in many forms, from many people besides their biological parents.  My parents were both naturalized citizens and we had no blood relatives in the United States - just my mom and dad, brother and me.  My parents also cultivated many lifelong friends who functioned as family for me too - my parents have both passed on but I am still close to those folks and count them as family.

jenjenl

So...what's for dinner?  That's a good question.  Thinking....for the kids spaghetti, pink sauce and bread.  For me baked chicken, quinoa (it has cucumbers, onions, tomatoes with a champagne vinaigrette -it's cold) and bread.  I haven't had a sprite in about 2 weeks and thinking I might have that treat tonight.

This morning my hubby made me eggs, bacon and grits with corn, onions, tomatoes and bacon in it....it was AWESOME!