So...whats for dinner?

auntienance

Cold snowy day here. Baking some gingerbread just because it smells good.

susan_02143

I just ran across this idea. No sunshine this time of year, but I am thinking I could do the drying in a low-temp oven.

http://www.indiankhana.net/2012/12/homemade-ginger-powder-recipe.html

*susan*

auntienance

Sounds wonderful and pretty easy. I'd be interested in the garlic too but can't get the links to work on my phone.

auntienance

Ah, got it! Unfortunately the lowest my oven goes is 175. Garlic recipe calls for 150. Maybe same for the ginger?

carolehalston

Bedo, your location sounds really beautiful. DH and I travelled the inside passage on the ferries in 2011 and visited some of the same islands the cruise ships visit. I really loved Alaska but it was endless daylight when I was there. I worried ahead of time about whether I would be able to sleep. DH said, "Close your eyes and it's dark." We had blackout shades in our little truck camper.

We ate pasties in the UP at a couple of different places. They're very popular. DH found them too dry and relied upon ketchup to make them palatable. I liked them ok. They're definitely bland. I would add some pep with cumin or cayenne. And is there any way to make the filling more moist. Those miners up in the UP were probably hungry and enjoyed every cold morsel! I guess it would be WAY against the rules to add some grated cheese? The Welsh miners' wives probably would have if they'd had some cheese to grate. Assuming that they didn't.

Eric, sorry that Sharon ran into the weight loss wall after starting arimidex. I also developed problems with bp and cholesterol. Something to watch out for.

Saw The Butler last night. It's a good movie and made me ashamed to be a southerner.

auntienance

Our Christmas eve dinner this year is going to be beef Wellington, so I got to wondering if a duxelles might help with the pasties. The mushrooms might bump up the flavor and help with the moisture too. They'd be so finely minced, no-one would ever know ;-)

chabba

That does sound good Nancy.

luvmygoats

I've got to get back to Ft. Worth. Looked up how to make chai hot chocolate and it sounds wonderful. Love chai tea though sometimes it does bother my GERD. No star anise here that I can afford but will have at Pendery's (much like Penzey's) when I go to MO and ortho week after next.

Had Wick Fowler's False Alarm chili. I'm a wimp about hot things. Very good. Enough for tomorrow with cornbread or biscuits. Thawed a little today but I have nowhere to be tomorrow. DH unsure about his work. DD has 5/8 trucks stuck in OK. Evidently all 18 wheeler traffic is being stopped at the Red River. Still treacherous north & west. Seems most all schools closed again tomorrow though a few have a late opening.

So Bedo, Spring will be more interesting. If you don't take their extension when will you leave?

Moonflwr912

All sounds great. I just had the last of the chili tonight. I gave some to my husband to take back with him. It was good. But I'm glad it's done. LOL everyone stay warm. We only got 3 inches here but still supposed to get more. The bad part is it didn't warm up at all. It's 8 degrees.

chabba

Brrrrrrrr! Stay warm.

auntienance

Monica, it's only 12 here but at least the sun is shining today. We only got a dusting of snow but it was so cold it stuck around. Oh to be in Florida!

naiviv

Sending some sunshine and warmth your way...we have 82 degrees in Miami and it is hot. I wouldn't mind a bit cooler. I miss the snow and cold, but not sure I could manage it anymore.

Vivian

Laurie08

Yucky weather day here as well- it was slushing out- snow/rain/sleet. I am trying to play catch up from the trip while at the same time DS2's birthday was Saturday and getting ready for Christmas. We got our tree yesterday and got home just in time to have family over for cake. I am gotten about 70% of the decorating done. Today we made ornaments, laundry and made 2 dozed cup cakes for DS2 to bring to school tomorrow.

Dinner last night was steak and gravy with mashed potatoes, night before was chicken parm. Tonight I am making mac and cheese and a ham. The kids will hate it (how bizarre?) but DH and I will be happy!!

Next on my list to get done is Christmas cards!!!

carolehalston

No Christmas cards this year.

Took my mother Christmas shopping and out to lunch. Had broiled speckled trout filet, green beans and salad. Dinner tonight for me is the half I brought home. For DH pot roast and gravy from the freezer with potatoes and carrots.

Started out gray today but warmed up to 60 degrees and the sun peeped out.

The gas logs in the fireplace are lit and are creating a cheery blaze.

auntienance

Gumbo for Dinner tonight. Thinking of you Carole!

susan_02143

A bad hand day here, so dinner was roasted green beans with shallots and ginger, a Costco roasted chicken, and rice. Simple meal, but we invited the kids and they were very happy. My kid is in finals right now and still recovering from her infections. I will continue to provide meals until her semester is done. One of the many advantages to living with your parents.

Lunch will be chicken sandwiches on the loaf of rye that I froze last week.

*susan*

Lacey12

We probably would not be sending any Christmas cards either, if DH was not so loyal to the process. He writes a few lines about each family member, (I edit brutally...since he is a numbers guy and I am the word lady) and then he adds some pix to give it a bit of interest. He basically sends them out, after I check over the address list. There is no way we could send personalized messages in regular cards, and we, as yet, refuse to send a card with just our signature, since when we receive them, it purely signifies to us that the person has not yet expired. Though, I guess that is also news. ;/

Tonight we had another form of baked (soft) white fish (cod) over a mixture of spinach that I doctored up to be Greek-like. I am loving the soft food menu DH has to adhere to since I love eating fish over spiced up spinach....twice this week! DH is not as thrilled...but the poor guy is having a rough time with his gum healing process.

Tomorrow evening I am going to a holiday dinner/party with my former school staff, so I bet I will be facing lots of carbs. Hmmmm this will be a good test of my commitment to continuing to lose weight...so far it has been going very well. But it is so much easier when I control what is prepared in the kitchen. DH has also started to drop lbs....since he is a victim of what I cook. LOL

Off to watch Treme. Carole, have you ever watched it? One of our favorite shows...which has just returned for a new season.

Weather here is frightful....freezing and icy after some snowfall, then lots of sleet. I hope you are all warm and toasty despite the lousy weather patterns so many are having.

Lacey12

I'm happy your DD is enjoying those nurturing benefits, Susan.

Hope the hand calms down soon.....

eric95us

I just ran 6 miles in 45 minutes.  I do that 3-4 times per week and I move weights around the other days.  I'm very careful about what I eat....and the weight loss is still almost nil....

I have a commercial driver physical coming up and I'm sure the doctor will growl at me yet again because I'm at 200 pounds instead of the hoped for 170 pounds.  I also wouldn't be surprised if I end up on BP meds as my blood pressure is right on the pill/no pill line.

Tonight DD is cooking a chicken, brown rice and black bean dish.

Eric

Moonflwr912

Well Eric I hope you don't have to go on pills but if you do you do. Just one of those things. I hope your physical goes well.

Lacey, it sounds like your taking good care of your DH. Whether he likes it or not! LOL

Susan that sounded like a lovely meal. Costco chicken is good! And not expwnsive. It sure makes for a very fast meal. Unless if course you get stuck in line at Costco or worse yet, end up buying way to much other stuff! LOL

AuntieN, I guess gumbo is ok. Or it would be but I am a heretic and hate okra....

Carol. No fair. Our High today was 7 degrees. It's now 3. Yep 3! That's Cold. Even for WI! My neighbors cleared my sidewalk and driveway for me yesterday, so I did not have to go out at all today. But tomorrow I have my preop physical so have to go out.

Laurie, my kids would eat the mac and cheese but didn't like the ham. That all sounds good to me.

Viv, I would like some of that warm weather. Who knows my DH may have to follow his job down there next year. He would almost rather do that than be one of the few engineers left to pick up all the slack that the transfers will make. Lots more work for half the amount of people. Yuck.

Supper for me today was pasta with the half sausage and pepper and onion I had left with the marinara sauce I opened up when I thought I had the ricotta to make lasagna! So i didn't have to throw anything away.

Much love to all. Stay warm! ( she says sitting with a sweatshirt, hat, footies, two blankets and 2 cats on her lap!) LOL

Lacey12

So Eric, the other day on T V ( the font of relevant info:), I learned about muscle confusion....really mixing things up so your exercise efforts are not wasted. Are you confusing your muscles sufficiently? LOL DH is doing that by attending our trainer's boot-camp like aerobics classes twice a week, during which she really mixes things up in addition to his daily weight and treadmill regimen. Actually you sound like you are wonderfully active.....more than my DH. You might just be on a wide plateau....and then drop some lbs. suddenly. I hovered around the same number close to. two months, then suddenly lost a lb each day forcseveral days. Weird. Good luck with the dreaded physical!

Headeast

I was reading this thread and liked the menu you al, had! My DH grilled squash, zucchini, white onions and green peppers, along with chicken. We made wraps with gluten free wraps we found at Publix (Florida supermarket). He had some vino and I had water. I am still on my last chemo and am not drinking coffee nor wine.

Love the chicken at Costco, but no Costco around where I live!

Lacey12

Headeast, welcome.........I love your schnauzer pic! My screen name is actually that of our little schnauzer who died last year. She looked exactly like your pic, but no cropped ears....so she was quite an earful! Glad you are finished your chemo.

Headeast

Thank you, Lacey! Bella has the best disposition and she is always a very good girl, except when she finds my DH socks. I don't mind. She is teaching him to be more organized and leave his socks where they should be, lol!

I just bought a low carb magazine. I will let you know what I find. Need to lose my chemo pounds, all 30 of them!

carolehalston

Welcome, Headeast. I'm trying to eat low carb in the effort to lose some weight. I reviewed my Dr Atkins' Diet Revolution and South Beach Diet.

The Atkins diet gets a bad rap because it does not recommend unlimited fatty red meat. If you look a the menus and recipes, it's a fairly reasonable eating plan. South Beach is more low fat proteins.

Today I was out and about all day so went for an easy dinner. We had grilled lamb loin chops, baked acorn squash and a tossed salad.

Nancy, I thawed out a chicken today and plan to make chicken sausage gumbo tomorrow.

Susan, hope your hand gets better.

Lacey, I haven't heard of the tv program you mentioned.

All you folks in frigid winter weather, stay warm.

auntienance

Fish tacos, chipotle slaw and black beans tonight.

So I am marinating a chuck roast in a mixture of tomato juice, soy sauce, cider vinegar, paprika, black pepper (lots of it),  cardamom and garlic. This particular recipe has been floating around our family for years. I don't even know the origin. Normally, I marinate a whole brisket in this for several days, then braise the meat in the liquid. It makes for a quite spicy and flavorful piece of meat. I plan to use this chuck roast for the pasties. I'll add onions and potatoes to the meat in the pastry crust.  It should be anything but bland. I'll let you know how it turns out!

lovewins

great idea!

susan_02143

Boring old Indian night here again. I had planned to make a new-to-me Ginger-Green Bean recipe from Jaffrey's book, but lost my energy first. Totally forgot that I was out of tamarind-date chutney, so had to head over to the Indian store to get some dates. And then the two hours to make the chutney. Then the samosa meat, lentils, and rice. It really is delicious. Husband then went to the hospital for his first MRI. Home now, he didn't think this defined a good time at all!

*susan*

lovewins

I am making corn dogs in my crockpot!  first time trying...I bought those new hot dogs from Oscar Mayer that do not have the artificial ingredients and uncured.  We have been snowed in a few days so we'll see how they turn out.  Just corn muffin mix, hot dogs and shredded cheese.

eric95us

Hi Naiviv and Headeast....

My employer catered in a Christmas lunch today and included were three hams.  Someone pulled most of the meat from the bones and the bones are sitting in an aluminum "pan".  If 5 o'clock rolls around and someone hasn't claimed them.....the bones and some beans will have a chance to mingle.  :-)

Eric