So...whats for dinner?

Laurie08

Thanks everyone! DS2 will be going with me and it popcorn chicken for lunch. The mac n cheese turned out awesome. You buy shredded sharp white cheddar cheese and alternate the cheese and cooked macaroni in layers with pats of butter and salt and pepper in each layer. Fill the pyrex dish 1/2 full of milk at the end and bake. It is not healthy but it was oh so good and super easy! Way better than my usual way with a double boiler.

MinusTwo

Laurie: Sounds like something easy I need to copy. I assume you're talking about a 9x13 dish? And how long did you bake? Yes - I can cook but only by following directions. I'm not creative like so many of you but I could imagine adding cooked ham to this.

Kaara

Seaside: That shot of Michelle and her DH is just how I want to remember her...laughing and clowning around...making the best of her circumstances, and enjoying every minute she had left on this earth. I know she is in a better place, but I will miss her terribly! Thanks for sharing those memories!

I'm at my new beach house and the decorating is all but complete...just one accent wall left to paint and the guy is coming to do that on Saturday. I should have taken before and after photos because it is quite a transformation. I enjoy doing this sort of thing..it's like therapy for me. The transition from the mountains to the beach was made easier because I'm so looking forward to the new adventure.

Haven't done much cooking, but I am making my Cajun dish for BF's son and his wife tonight...it has shrimp and sausage and is served over yellow rice....quite spicy....so not everyone likes it.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Laurie08

Minus- I actually used an 8x12 last night. I used 4 cups shredded cheddar cheese and about 1/2 a stick of butter. I put cheese covering the bottom a few pats of butter covered with a layer of cooked macaroni, salt and peppered the macaroni then covered with cheese- a few pats of butter and another layer of pasta then covered that with cheese. Poured milk in until pyrex was 1/2 full. Bake at 350 till it starts to brown on top, about an hour. This was super easy and the best mac n cheese I have ever made. Hope that helps? I am not a measurer!!

Kaara- So glad you are settling in to your new home!

SeasideMemories

Laurie,

That sounds good and way easier than making a cheese sauce! Any idea how much cooked macaroni you used?

Laurie08

Seaside- I used a little more than half a box. It is so much easier and came out better. I literally threw it together in a bout 2 minutes once the macaroni was cooked.

Laurie08

I have no idea what to make for dinner....skipped the grocery store today. Time to get creative I suppose.

SeasideMemories

Thanks Laurie!

Going to give that one a try! My DD started her very first job after graduating with her Master's. She moved a couple hours away into her very first apartment.

She doesn't have much in the way of cooking experience so I'm trying to teach her easier dishes that she can make herself to boost her confidence that she can do it! Wish I had started long ago but better late than never! She loves to bake but, one cannot live on cookies alone!

I've started making an online collection of my (and my family's) favorite recipes so that she and my son will have them in some organised fashion and not just my usual list of ingredients that only I know what to do with...lol. My crockpot version of your salsa chicken recipe is included!

How was lunch with your son?

Kaara,

Glad to hear your house is coming together!! I soooooooo wish I lived on the beach! someday....

LovinMyMom

For you ladies...

My sister and mother

My sister, me, Rick, mom, and my brother Ron. It was his 40th birthday party.

SeasideMemories

Christine,

Thanks so much for the post and pics. Funny, I reposted one of your Mom's pics from that same party on the previous page (although I had who's birthday it was wrong. I will go back to correct that) It looked like you all were having a blast!

Would have loved to party with your Mom!!!

Moonflwr912

lovinmymom, thank you for the wonderful pictures that captured her spirit. The one thing on all pictures of her that stands out is her SMILE! EVERY SINGLE ONE. That's what I will remember when I think of her. Thank you for thinking of us as well. Much love to you and your family.

auntienance

Thank you Christine, wonderful pictures! That smile really came through on much of what she wrote and shared with us.

Seaside, bummer that we can't live on cookies alone :-(

In a fall mode today -- cider braised pork chops, a potato roesti and scalloped cabbage.

SeasideMemories

Lol Nancy!

I agree on the cookies but, shhhhhhhh, don't tell her!

Tazzy

Christine: Thanks for posting that of your Mum and yes thinking of us at this time. I have to agree with moonflower - that smile of hers shines through on every picture. I know you would rather have your Mum at your side, but what wonderful memories you have and what a wonderful legacy of laughter and living life to the full she left. Thank you.

MinusTwo

Oh Christine. Thanks for sharing those pictures. You're as pretty as your mama.

And Moon is right - always such a bright smile. Wish I lived back east so I could join you all, but those of us further away will be holding you in our thoughts.

carolehalston

Christine, thank you so much for posting the family pictures. Like others, I will always remember Michelle's smile. She always looked happy.

Laurie, I have that same mac and cheese recipe. Or at least the same method. A writer friend years ago would bring her mac and cheese to potluck meals and she wrote out the recipe for us. I have it in her handwriting and made it once. It turned out good but mac and cheese is not a dish, unfortunately, that I make on an everyday basis. Too high in fat and calories and carbs. BOO HOO.

Yesterday I had lunch at a Head Start school with my little great-niece Olivia. I was pinchhitting for my younger sister, who had to go to PT. It was fun and all the little kids were cute. Olivia's mother checked herself into a substance abuse hospital a few days ago and will be there for 28 days. She has been in and out of mental hospitals since she was twelve. It's all a very sad story and I do what I can to help out my sister when responsibility for 3 young children gets dumped on her.

I don't want to start any political discussions or debate on the ACA but medical care for mental illness is an enormous need in this country. If you take a close look at horrendous stories in the news, you'll often find mental illness.

Dinner last night was lamb patties, oven-roasted turnip slices, and warmed-up mashed potatoes. Lunch at Head Start was jambalaya, broccoli and cauliflower in a cheese sauce, mandarin orange slices, a small piece of French bread and carton of 1 percent milk. Without a straw! Kids got a straw. The food was delicious. I was amazed to see some children eating the broccoli and cauliflower but not little Olivia, my great-niece. She and her two siblings have not had the advantage of a mom like Laurie and have very limited diets. She did eat all her orange slices and mine, too, plus my little slice of bread.

Tonight's dinner will probably be home-made ravioli out of the freezer.

carberry

Christine Thank You for that awesome photo. Nothing made your mom happier than her beautiful family!

Out for dinner last week and we had a pumpkin mac n cheese that was served in a smoking cast iron skillet. I think they heated it up in the pizza oven....smokey flavor with just a hint of pumpkin...sooooo good! Out for dinner last night too and I never...ever....order a burger, but for some reason felt the urge to have one. It had avocado, carmelized onions and roasted red peppers with a "boom-boom" sauce....man am I getting spoiled! Have not cooked anything exciting in awhile.

Lacey12

Echoing more thanks, Christine for those lovely photos of your mom and family. I look forward to meeting you to celebrate her way too short life on Saturday.

Carole, I always admire your devotion to your sister's grandchildren. They are fortunate to have caring extended family to help with their needs. The Head Start lunch was impressively nutritious. Good to see that. Maybe little Olivia will expand her palate in time. I sadly agree with you about the sorry state of mental health services in this country...seems that the economics of treating mental illness just has never fit into our national business plan.

I always felt good about at least being able to do preventative mental health work in my school job....but was ultimately replaced this year by a young school psychologist person whose experience is in testing, reading assessment, etc. I ran into her recently and was horrified to learn that some of my most seriously "at risk" students were no longer being serviced at all. I actually got mad at cancer again since I'd probably still be there if I had more energy and cognitive acuity than I do on Tamoxifen. I have to let it go.......:(. This year I am volunteering in my town with the CAP (Child Assault Prevention) program, so will help school kids that way, but it isn't early the same.

Last night I made an interesting chicken sausage sauce with onions, red peppers and mushrooms, white wine, tomato paste and spices. Had it over brown rice pasta. I thought it would be like any other sausage spaghetti sauce, but was pleased that it tasted special. Had it with a spinach salad with mushroom, red onion, pecans, and apple with a balsamic dressing. Not the kind of salad that I think typically goes with a pasta dish, but I'm into fruits and nuts and greens lately....so satisfied that. Going to our church auction this evening which includes dinner....so we'll see.

I hope everyone enjoys their Saturday!

Lacey12

Carrie, will the pumpkin infusion ever end?! So what did you detect as pumpkin in the mac and cheese....the spice? That hamburger description has me craving it ...and I also NEVER order burgers, except for lamb burgers very occasionally. You need to keep on this great restaurant jag!

Speaking of pumpkins, does anyone know if I can cook up my smaller pumpkins that have been outside for a few weeks? They look fine....but I always get nervous. Almost bought another (pure:) one at Traders yesterday, but ultimately figured it might have just as many miles on it. Please weigh in with your thoughts. Thanks!

Moonflwr912

If it is not cracked open anywhere, feel free! As long as skin is unbroken it's pretty well sealed. That harder skin is on there for a reason.

My heart is with those celebrating Michelle's life today. Much love to all.

susan_02143

Isn't Michelle's Service/Celebration on the 17th? Oh dear... can't believe I have the date wrong. :-(

SeasideMemories

Susan,

No, you are not wrong on the 'official' date but today could be something for family only. I'm not on facebook so not sure.

Here's the link to Michelle's obituary http://www.anctil-rochette.com/obits/obituary.php?id=387550

Kaara

Christine: Thank you for those wonderful smiling photos of Michelle. When I first met her on this site she was wearing that wig in a photo and I thought it was her real hair...she looked much younger than her real age! We will all miss her so much on this site and thread. My prayers to you and your family...may you find comfort in the wonderful memories you have.

Lacey12

Susan, you are right about her memorial date. Please let me know if you would like a ride...and you too, Lynda!

When DH and I returned from our auction event tonight we found our mail(which annoyingly now arrives around 6PM each day) and in the pile was a holiday card from Michelle. We both teared up...that lady certainly knew how to take care of earthy business before moving on. She featured many wonderful photos of herself and family enjoying their adventures together. So much pain I feel for them....

Our auction dinner was delightful, lots of passed appetizers, e.g., spanikopita, mini quiches, etc., and cheese/fruit trays. Dinner was roasted veggies, caesar salad, basmati rice, baked salmon and a chicken/pasta dish. Lots of good company, wine, laughs and high bids (we were happy that our P-town April week was again purchased by the outdoorsy family who enjoyed it last year) made it a successful event.

MinusTwo

Seaside: Thanks for posting Michelle's obituary.

LeeA

I've been absent from BCO for a couple of weeks because of an issue with my mom back in Indiana.



That said, I am just now reading about Michelle's passing and my heart is so heavy.

Even though I didn't know Michelle (other than from this thread) I have a Michelle story to tell.

Michelle's "get out there and just do it" attitude was part of the inspiration for a trip we took to Kauai in May - just after I finished chemo. I will always associate that somewhat unplanned trip with Michelle and it was the prospect of that trip that really helped me get through chemo. I kept thinking "if Michelle can get there during chemo I can surely make it, too!"

Strange how things turn out because we had to cancel our planned-in-advance trip to Kauai in September due to unforeseen circumstances but at least we made it in May and I have Michelle to thank for that.



I'm so sorry for her family and friends. Her light was strong and it will never diminish.

Hauntie

I also received Michelle's Christmas card today. Brought tears to my eyes, too. Pat, I'll probably take my car to the memorial service. I'm scheduled to spend the night at my Dad's, that Saturday, and have to wait for my relief to arrive before I can leave.

For all you bakers who have a Kitchen Aid mixer: I recently bought a used one at a second hand store. I've always wanted one and I'm loving it. It's going to make my Christmas cookie baking so much easier. If you don't have a flex blade beater attachment, I highly recommend it. It eliminates the need to stop and scrap the bowl while mixing. I mixed a batch and a 1/2 of Italian cookie dough today and only scrapped the bowl after I finished mixing. Also, if you don't have a splatter shield, just take a piece of waxed paper, big enough to cover the top of the bowl, and push it onto the beater attachment post before you put the beater on. It doesn't interfere at all with the turning of the beater and eliminates the need to stop the mixer to add ingredients. Also saves you the $20+ a splatter shield costs.

I made the cookies for my cousin's surprise 60th birthday party tomorrow. They're the frosted kind with sprinkles. I had to frost them all pink, because that's her favorite "flavor." She swears they taste better than the other colors. My friend's son informed me, when he was a little boy, that he only ate the blue ones because "everyone knows the blue ones taste best." He's in his twenties and still only eats the blue ones ;0)

Lacey12

Lynda, I love, and love to make, those cookies. But I always leave the icing white with the sprinkles. I chuckled at those favorite "flavor" comments! Do you make them anise or lemon flavor? Or almond? I must check out the flex blade beater and try your wax paper idea (mine has a spatter shield but I find it cumbersome enough that I never use it). Enjoy the party and surprising your cousin!

In my typical tamoxifen cognitive fog, I forgot to mention why I even made that sausage/pasta dish Friday night. I was at Trader's that day and decided to buy their burrata. A friend of mine raves about it. So I served the burrata over the sausage/pasta medley and it was one of the distinguishing ingredients of that dish.

auntienance

Lynda, I agree with you about the beater blade. I love mine. I've given several as gifts to my cooking friends and family and am giving another  this Christmas.

Dh has requested cinnamon bread, so I will be making a loaf of that today. Dinner will be Chicken with 40 Cloves of Garlic, roasted asparagus and yellow rice I think.

auntienance

Lacey, I will have to try the buratta my next trip. I seem to have overlooked it at TJ's (how is that possible lol?)