So...whats for dinner?

carberry

Lovingmymom   Thank you so much for updating us on your mom.  We think of her everyday, and miss her posts here. I feel as if I have known her all my life, yet never met her in person.  She has supported us here through the good and the bad and always inspired us with her never ending energy and fun spirit. Please hug her for us and let her know that our lives are so much richer having her a part of it.

susan_02143

LovingMyMom,

Taken me some time to respond, and I still don't know what to say. But, I do thank you for coming here and posting. That could not have been easy for you. Sending your Mom all of my good thoughts.... this is a very hard time for her. As Lacey said, if there is anything specific that we can actually do, please just throw out a generic "help" message, and those of us who are local will negotiate how we can make it happen amongst us.

For example, I know I am headed to Nashua next week. Can I pick up some dry cleaning? Go to the grocery store? Run down a turkey sandwich?

*susan*

Tazzy

lovinmymom:  Cannot add more than the other ladies.   So sorry to hear of this news.

Lacey12

Joyce, thank you for checking in with us. I knew that this news had to be so difficult for you. You and Michelle are such close friends, and I am glad for you both that you are nearby...for Rick too. My heart breaks for him. I hope they can find some peace and enjoyment in this trip. I'm sure Michelle will get to that beautiful beach despite her ambulatory limitations.

As Susan said, if you know how we can provide some support to Michelle and her family, please put the call out. Also, Joyce, if you would like to talk during this painful time, please PM me. Am thinking of you and sending you strength too. (((((((Joyce))))))

ginadmc

lovingmymom (Christine),

I was so sorry to read your post and I would like to add myself to the growing list of friends that are sending strength and prayers to your mom and your family during this difficult time. I always enjoyed reading your mom's posts; her spirit and love of family always came through.

Take care, Gina

susan_02143

Tonight's dinner was a crap shoot. Could have gone either way. I was seduced by some bright red cubanelle peppers at the local farm. I hate bell peppers, but these looked both interesting, and beautiful. I made a sofrito of sorts and then whizzed some linguica sausage in the food processor. Chiriozo would have been better but didn't have that. I then mixed together the sofrito, and sazon seasoning mix that I made in the spice grinder, and a bit of whizzed tomato. The rest of the tomato went onto the bottom of the baking pan, and I stuffed the four peppers with the sausage mixture. Baked for an hour. Oh and topped with a bit of cheese half way through. Then made Daisy's Puerto Rican rice.

This was actually pretty good! If there is a next time, I think I would make my own meat mixture for stuffing so it could be a bit more interesting. Linguica starts to seem a bit one note while eating a whole pepper. Two peppers remain and will get eaten tomorrow, no doubt.

*susan*

Laurie08

we spent way too much time playing tonight.  Kids are having chicken nuggets and DH and I are going to have sauteed veggie  wraps- zucchini, yellow squash, peppers, oinions, mushrooms, eggplant and cheese.  Dh is a wiz at making them we will eat once we get the boys to sleep in a few.

Michelle has been on my mind all day.  I hope you have a wonderful trip Michelle.

Lacey12

Susan, sounds like a good dish, and as usual I am impressed with your use of homemade ingredients!



I think the cool air got me into true "fall" mode today....and I decided to use some of my newly purchased kale (red Russian variety that was beautiful), and local tomatoes to make a kale, roasted tomato, and onion pizza with feta. Also made a mushroom onion pizza...always our favorite.....but not tonight since the roasted tomato/kale one was so rich with flavor.



Watching the Red Sox tonight reminds me that the nite we went to the game, yes, DH had one of those "death in a bun" sausages with onions and peppers, which he savored.....and I actually even had a "monstah hot dog"....I guess that could count as "ICU in a bun". Rarely do I ever eat hot dogs.....but boy was that tasty with the deli mustard and relish. Yum.......

Lacey12

Laurie, when I returned from the hour walk l took this afternoon which included a trip to the grocery store to get some ingredients for the pizzas, I was wiped. I would have killed to have a DH that could cook and help out with dinner. You are a lucky girl! Anyway, he totally enjoys my creations and is great at cleanup, which is happening as I type!

auntienance

A number of rapidly ripening tomatoes and a wealth of giant marconi peppers convinced me to make cacciatore tonight. I also made a very nice focaccia with some rosemary from my herb garden and garlic confit that I made several days ago. It was then baked in a cast iron skillet. With a small amount of angel hair pasta, it was a pretty hearty meal. Lunch tomorrow will probably be paninis with the remaining focaccia

Laurie08

Lacey- Nice!  Your dinner sounds wonderful!  I just got the boys to sleep and DH decided our veggies needed chicken so he is head out to the grill with some garlic chicken.  He does not cook often anymore- but he is a great cook.  We were at the neighbors and I said around 6 we need to head home.  He wanted to stay- I told him if we stay I feed the kids and you feed me so that is where we are at

Lacey12

Perfect, Laurie!



Nance, your culinary creations sound yummy!

On my walk today, I passed a nearby garden that was sporting just so many bright red ripe tomatoes....all I could think of was how many people help themselves to one on the way by.....the unfenced garden is right near the sidewalk. Anyway, I quelled any antisocial urges, but am very tempted to ask our woodchuck why he prefers our pathetic yard with chewed over kale to this neighbor's bounty!

Hauntie

Christine - Thank you for keeping us updated about your mom. I can't imagine how difficult it was for you to write that post. I'm so sorry for the physical and emotional pain this horrible disease is causing your mom, Rick, you and the rest of your family. My thoughts and prayers are with you all. She's such an incredible lady. I feel so fortunate to have actually spent time with her.



Lynda

Kay_G

I haven't been on in quite a while. Christine, I am so very sorry to hear the news of Michelle. My thoughts and prayers go out to Michelle, Rick and your whole family. You too Joyce. I met Michelle and Rick and they are a special couple. I am praying Michelle will shock the doctors at the next scan with remission. (((((Hugs))))) to everyone on the thread. I know we're all hurting.

Hauntie

Thanks, Joyce, for keeping us up to date. This has to be so difficult for you. My heart goes out to you.



Lynda

Laurie08

Thanks so much Joyce. 

Lacey12

I appreciate your sharing that Joyce. Thinking of you too during this time....((((hugs)))).

I know you will be eager for Michelle's return.



What beautiful weather we are having today. But since we are staying put this weekend, instead of enjoying the sunshine, I found myself needing to do some organizing around the house...not much mind you, but clearing our some kitchen cabinet spaces so I could get cabinet items off the counters. Even that little bit felt good. It is easy to ignore so much of that stuff when we leave for long weekends all summer....I just get involved in food and clothes management for those two months and it seems that so much else gets ignored. So my house work is cut out for me this fall.



Clearly we will be having leftovers tonight since the fridge is loaded with them, and I have no urge to be creative.....

Laurie08

DS1 had soccer this am and the grandparents took the boys for the day after the game.  I did about the same as you Lacey.  I put away laundry, vacuumed, cleaned off the desk and organized some things then I just enjoyed a good book.

Dh has been working all day at an event and won't be home till late.  Having tortallini's with tomoato sauce for dinner with the boys.  Early to bed for them tonight!

Tomorrow morning we are moving my grandparents dining set to my dad's house and taking his and moving it here.  I need to get motivated to start repainting rooms around here.

Lacey12

Laurie, I am chuckling at you having yet another task on your plate.....I avoid painting whenever possible b/c of all the clearing out that it requires! Good luck!

Laurie08

Lacey- I avoid painting because I suck at it

Hauntie

I actually "cooked" dinner for myself tonight. Stop & Shop has fantastic fresh chicken Italian sausage. I sautéed one with some of the best jarred sauce I've ever had. I found it at Ocean State Job Lots, of all places. It's a brand I've never heard of - Paisano's. It's "soak up the extra with your bread" good. Of course, they'll probably never have it again. I cut up some tomatoes, from my landlord's garden, and made a fresh tomato salad.

The real cooking was done making homemade vanilla pudding for my 94-year-old dad. He's in rehab recovering from his latest bout with pneumonia. I'll add bananas and put it in individual containers to bring to him tomorrow. I'm sure I'll sneak a little bit for myself. It's a very simple recipe, made with half-and-half. He can afford the calories, unfortunately, I can't.

carberry

Lol  on the painting   I looove to paint and always tell my friends that and they will frequently ask me to help.  People think I am nuts, but I love to see new color and a clean room..it is always such a shame to put the furniture back.

My DH fell really badly flat on his back this morning at work and is down and out.  He will not let me take him to the ER, so here we sit on a Sat night nursing him.  He cant even walk. I pray nothing is broken as he fell aprox 8 feet straight down! So I have been cooking all day to keep busy.  Blueberry buckle for Sun morning breakfast. beef barley soup to use up leftovers. and linquini in vodka sauce, using up some garden tomatos.

I picture Michelle sitting in a comfy lounge chair on the beach soaking up the sun tha she loves so much.

auntienance

Oh Carrie, I hope your dh is ok. Please convince him to go if he's not significantly better tomorrow.



Lol on the painting. I suck at it too and thats how I get dh to paint. I threaten to do it myself lol!



Tonight's dinner was French dip with Ruhlman's baked local corn (Thank you Susan) and roasted Parmesan red, yellow and orange peppers from the garden. Wow, tasty! Also some applesauce from the 5 gallons I made today from the apple harvest.

Lacey12

OK, Nance, I'm also signing up to watch your "farm to table" cooking show!

eric95us

Hugs to Christine and Joyce.  I never know what to say at times like this...so I tend to be quiet.... I am keeping both of you, Rick and Michelle in my thoughts.

Carrie, I agree with Nancy.  An 8 foot fall is enough to break things.  Even if nothing is broken, the doctors can do something about the pain...tell him getting checked out will make you feel better....

Tonight's dinner is a slow roasted pork shoulder with a "red pepper, black pepper, garlic powder, brown sugar, olive oil, brown sugar, red wine vinegar, salt, ginger"  rub...not quite a tablespoon of red pepper, about a couple tablespoons of brown sugar, olive oil, wine vinegar and about a teaspoon of everything else.  I didn't bother using measuring spoons...  The house is kind of smoky right now as the roast is in the oven at 500F for about 15-20 minutes and then I set the oven temperature control to 250F degrees and wait until the thermometer says "done"...145F degrees.

Rouding out the meal is corn on the cob and a fruit salad to go with it, and for desert, the no bake cream cheese "pie" that everyone here likes.

I've also got the sourdough going again.  If I had thought about it, I'd have started the sourdough earlier and made some dinner rolls...but I didn't....... :-)

I got a whole chicken and I'm thinking that tomorrow I'll use the grill and rotisserie to cook it.  I'm hoping there will be enough left overs so that Sharon doesn't have to cook until at least Thursday.  I'd cook during the week, but I don't get home until 7:30pm or so....

Tomorrow I'm also going to be putting together a small trailer....must remember to save the receipts for everything so I can get it titled, registered and licensed by the state.  Sharon has a couple of kayaks, but she isn't tall enough to get them up onto the Jeep's roof rack...so tomorrow it's trailer building time.  The weather here is finally getting to the point where one won't boil in the water and she's anxious to (again) get them out onto the water.

Moonflwr912

Sounds so yummy. Dinner was italian sausages from the freezer my DH grilled last time we had brats. Sauteed red and green peppers and onions. Over whole wheat pasta and just some Prego sauce. Not bad, but not my best either.

auntienance

Susan, what is Daisey's Puerto Rican rice?

bedo

Michelle and Rick and family,

I am so glad that you are enjoying yourself on the island.  You are on my mind.

We are having a beautiful late summer's day here in New England.

I'm finally making Southwestern Corn Chowder. 

And I still can't post my dang cats' picture. 

Anyone able to help if I email it to you? Can be a 'fake' address, I just think it's hysterical.  They're watching me clean.

OK, A tip from a pro.  You can mix pancake mix and put it in an old ketchup bottle and save it to make pancakes, then make your loved one his or her own "branded" pancake by first squeezing out his inital or name, give it a few minutes to get darker, then cover the whole thing with batter and cook as usual.

Can't cook, eh?  Uh huh, Uh huh.

I you are good this weekend, I might remind you how to make "impossible tuna pie" with bisquick

Found a sitter for my place and kitties while I'm gone.  He's a grad student of my friend's and super nice.

Laurie08

Bedo- Glad you found a pet sitter!  No idea on the pancakes, they have shake and pour from Bisquick that I buy for when we are camping, it lasts 3 days after you mix it.  And YUM on the corn chowder, I need to make some.

I got so much done today.  My father had DH and my bro move my grandmothers antique dinette set into his home and I took his set which is GORGEOUS!  His new fiancee wanted a change and I got the loot   So We re did our eating area, re arranged and cleaned, cleaned, cleaned!  It looks amazing and I now have more storage.  I am a happy girl.  It will motivate me to keep going through out the house.  It is amazing what you can get done when you stay home?!

Dinner tonight is a roast chicken, gravy, mashed poataoes and green beans.  It is a lovely fall day here.  Although I am sad to see summer go.  The temps are supposed to warm up mid week.

Lacey12

So Carole, if you are still in the northern midwest, I suspect you are getting that blast of heat there.

Our day was beautiful.....warm in the sun, and cool in the shade. A perfect day for walking, so we walked up to the farmer's market after the Patriots and Red Sox finished their games. Bought some basic stuff... tomatoes, lettuce, cukes, corn, and some sea scallops from the fish monger, which we marinated in a fajita sauce and grilled along with some veggies. Also made guacamole over lettuce, and had corn on the cob.



Carrie, I hope your husband is feeling better and/or got some medical attention in case he broke or badly sprained anything. Sounded like a nasty fall.



Sunday nite = Breaking Bad. Does anyone else watch this insanely evil series? For a person that enjoys happy endings, I am amazed that I am totally hooked on the characters in this show, knowing full well that there can be no way it ends well for most anyone!!