So...whats for dinner?

susan_02143

Thinking of Moon. I know it will be awhile before she can post, but that doesn't stop me from looking regularly.

*susan*

Laurie08

I too have been thinking of Moon. My exchange was pretty easy on me physically- but I know she has had a lot of issues. Fingers crossed for her and I hope she is felling ok.

Tonight DS1 has soccer again. I am getting sick of this weekday soccer thing right at dinner time. I am going to make a lasagna to put in the oven and bake while we are gone. I went grocery shopping this morning at 8am after I dropped kids at school. The only people in the store were other tired moms with non school age kids like me! I had to laugh!!! I got stuff to make pea soup this weekend and a chicken to roast on Sunday since it is supposed to snow. Also hoping to make a quiche. We have DH's work Christmas party tomorrow night which is always a blast.

carolehalston

Hope Moon had a successful surgery and is recovering without pain.

Easy dinner tonight. Leftover gumbo and tossed salad or slaw.

Lacey12

Also thinking about Moon, wishing her well with a speedy and uncomplicated recovery.

Baked up the salmon I never had last night, along with baked winter squash....mushy food anyone?

Spent today baking some not so easy cookies (very crumbly yet had to be "formed"), but worth the effort in that they worked out.

Laurie, DH drove up to the lake briefly today and went through some big squalls near you...was it like that all day?

auntienance

Grilled bratwurst, mustardy fried potatoes and citrus spiced red cabbage for dinner. 

Huge snowflakes jeopardizing our ability to travel to the family party tomorrow. What am I going to do with 5 dozen pasties?!! Not to mention 15 gift bags of homemade fettuccini in assorted flavors (spinach, toasted garlic, tomato basil, lemon pepper and gluten free.) Hope the forecast is wrong!

susan_02143

Nancy,

Oh you have to get to the party!!!! But if not, you can send the fettuccini East. I will share with Lacey and Laurie. They would find good homes.

*susan*

auntienance

I would happily send pasta your way if I had any hope it would arrive intact and not in crumbles lol!

The pasties actually turned out pretty good. The meat is nicely spiced and somewhat peppery. I minced mushrooms to help with the moisture and also made a gravy with beef stock and some of the marinade to moisten the mixture. Dh and I had "test" pies for lunch before I settled on the filling. They were reasonably moist and well seasoned. The onion and leek flavors came through. Now if only the potato doesn't soak up all the juices overnight.

susan_02143

I bet they are fantastic! Are you warming them at the party? If so, the potatoes will give back some of the moisture. If not, they will be delicious anyhow.

I need to get serious about creating my Christmas menus. Just can't get focused right now, for some reason.

*susan*

auntienance

I'll bake them here then warm them at the party.

Sunday is my day to plan Christmas food. I especially need a spectacular dessert.

SeasideMemories

Susan,

Hope your treatment was, and continues to be, kind! Hope that DH's MRI is not due to anything serious. No fun no matter what the circumstance!

Moon,

Thinking of you and hoping that your exchange was flawless and that you are recovering well!

Moonflwr912

Just a quick update. I'm home ok so far. No drains. Much love everything sounds like yummies. I'm high goodnite.

auntienance

Sleep well Monica. Glad things went well.

bedo

Moon I'm glad it went well! I hope for fast healing

Lacey, your director sounds psycho

Minus, I'm glad your chemo went well and that you kept busy. I hope you feel well the rest of the week

The next Halibut run will be right after New Years and I'm going out with some people I met who caught and 80 pounder last year.

I was invited to hike tomorrow by the clinic doc as he is getting people together, but I think it's going to rain.

Going to a knitting/crotching , I know I know, but I can't find spell check with my landlord on Sunday

And was told I should go to a church on Sunday that is kind of cool, there is live music, but I'm going to the knitting group

There are also people who go kayaking, which you can do in the winter here.

Time is flying and there is so much more independence here than back east

I am loving it here.

I'm trying to figure out what to make with Great Northern Beans, Kale, Canned tomatoes, onions, and potatoes which I have on hand.

Am babysitting a cute little dog tonight for snuggles.

I love it here, but will go home in June,

I think of those who I missed. I truly work most all day m-f but the weekends are great and they gave me a free apt and car

carberry

Moon Glad everything went well, rest, rest and more rest.

Bedo  I am so glad you are loving it there....good times for the soul.

We are getting blasted with snow!  Did my grocery shopping yesterday and some last minute shopping, but got discouraged by the snow and slow driving so headed home without finishing. We have a Christmas party tonight that we will attend cause its right around the corner, but may not make it to my mom's tomorrow.

Getting the extra foods for the parties and holiday cooking is costing me a fortune...groceries are outta sight! My Dad has requested a cookie that has like a mincemeat filling and of course some cutouts.  I will be baking today to get these done for him.  He is not doing well on his new cancer meds (lung cancer) hope the cookies will put some weight on him.

auntienance

Same here with snow. No family party today for us, roads are snow packed and treacherous. We won't even be able to get out our road unless somebody plows.

So, a found day for me. Think I'll finish decorating and wrapping. I need to make cinnamon bread for gifts, so perhaps I'll do that too.

Carrie, I'm sorry your dad's struggling with his chemo. Hope those cookies do their job!

naiviv

Moon,

So glad to hear you are home. Please rest, rest, rest....I agree with Carberry's RX. YEA!!! to no drains.

Ladies with snow...stay safe.

I am going to be making gingerbread cookies with kids today and bought enough ingredients and tons of candy to attempt my first gingerbread house.

Take care,

Vivian

susan_02143

Moon, Ah yes, you have that after-surgery, high-as-a-kite glow! Hoping that you are still doing well when all those drugs wear off.

Nancy, so sorry that your party has been postponed. Will they try to reschedule or just let it go?

Bedo, glad you are finding your place in Alaska. Kind of like running away from home! With a car and apartment.

I have never made a gingerbread house. Just not that crafty, and they don't taste very good since you have to overcook the gingerbread to make it do things gingerbread was not designed to do! And I am such a practical Yankee, wasting food as a goal gives me the shivers. But mostly, I am not crafty.

Today is a day of work for me, I hope. Falling behind here, as I always do on a hospital day week. Really hoping that the kids do that tree soon before all the nice ones are gone.

*susan*

auntienance

Sadly, the party will go on without us. Without half the partiers however, since 12 or more of us have to travel.

naiviv

Nancy, so sorry about the party, you worked so hard on the pies and pasta !!! Any chance of the snow letting up ?

Susan, I have 3 kids, 2 sons 20 and 12 and a daughter 10. The boys don't let food go to waste....the girl is pickier but she has a sweet tooth.( the candy we purchased is not the traditional decorations for GBH, it's M&M, Hershey bars, Kit Kats, Kisses, peppermint patties...) When I have done a bit too much cooking and have a few days of left overs or I want to clear out freezer/fridge of foods....Just have the kids,cousins and/or a few friends over and serve it all buffet style. They even make a game of it... draw numbers for whose in line first and they can only get 1 portion at a time...they barter, promise 2 for 1 trades, offer to do dishes/pick up. They also perform for their favorites. I'll say "lasagna up", 4 full servings, one will say I'll sing /dance/make joke etc for 1 full serving, then kids will say yes or only 1/2 serving. All this is served with fresh salad , veggies some times side dishes and usually a cake or two, brownies,cookies and 2 gals of milk.

It's a great family/friends evening, that ends with a movie and kids sprawled all over the place and sometimes breakfast next morning.

I promised them we would do this during Christmas break. But I'll be cooking it all fresh....not many leftovers these days, not cooking as much.

Stay warm

V

Lacey12

Oh Nance, so sorry for you that mother nature is cheating all your relatives of enjoying the fruits of your labor, and good company! If they can't be frozen for a later date, can you have a snow shoveling block party featuring your wonderful food?!

We are expecting that snow tonight....DH has the snowblower positioned at the ready.....and we will be heading to a holiday party about a mile from here. I always bring a tray of pizzelles for the dessert table(made them earlier this week). We have braved the snow for this party before...and will again this evening, since we can walk home if necessary. It is a house party that has been a not-to-be-missed tradition for all the attendees for over twenty years...always fun to see everyone whose kids grew up with ours, and catch up on everyone's life turns.

Getting nervous about DS1 and crew arriving here on Friday....not feeling too well prepared since I had spent way too much time and energy prepping for that volunteer workshop. Now that that is behind me, I need to figure out easy meals....and some food to have for a little gathering we plan to have for DS1, celebrating his board certification in his speciality. While DH is getting the decorations out, we are rolling our eyes at how un-toddler proofed this house is. That and the fact that our DGK's are forces to be reckoned with......Yikes! Am thinking that I better get some big bins and clear off all the breakables, and find a spot in the basement for them....which is in itself a challenge.

Okay, better get to doing some of this .....

auntienance

Vivian, that sounds like such a fun time!

Moonflwr912

Hello to all.

Nance I hope your stuff freezes well! I like a block party idea too. Viv,I LOVE the leftover party! What fun! Lacey, My house would be the same way. Unfortunately I don't have grand kids yet. Bedo, It sounds like you have a lot to keep you busy.

We got just a bit of snow here the storm went south to IL. Still cold nit not as cold.

As you can tell I'm not quite as high on drugs today! LOL Much love.

luvmygoats

I'm making black beans/rice with chicken added for Mexican Food White Christmas party tonight. It is Seaside's recipe but I more or less throw everything in together. Makes it easier to transport an hour away. Cheat and use froz. Pepperidge Farm stir fry peppers. But I DID make the beans from scratch. Baked boneless chicken breasts in lemon juice last night to add. I will add some of the reserved lemon/chicken juice in place of the balsamic vinegar.

Also made a totally trashy appy - Cheetos in brittle called "Cheetos Dessert". Tastes good but I hope the Cheetos regain a little crunch after they cool off from the oven. Always in the mood to try something offbeat.

Nancy - sorry to hear about the snowstorm cancelling family party plans.

Vivian - the kids and their "games" sound great. What memories they will have. Sounds like you have a very creative family lol "singing for your supper".

Monica - you sound like a trooper. Hope you don't require more "highness" or at best a minimum.

Bedo - Sounds like you have made a great time of your time away. June isn't far. Is doctor single???

Well, by the time I let dog in/out and stirred beans again Cheetos beginning to crunch. Now we'll see how they stand up to damp weather tonight.

carolehalston

Moon, glad you seem to be doing well. I like your new picture.

Vivien, that leftovers party sounds really fun! And unique. I've never heard of anyone serving up the leftovers in that fashion.

Nancy, what a shame you can't get to the party after all the thought and work you put into your food offerings. The pasties sound yummy. I always think of bourbon street when I see that word, pasties!!!

Bedo, the job and situation sound perfect for you. What a great getaway. Your ingredients sound like they would make a good soup.

I think the gingerbread houses look cute but I've never made one. And don't intend to. I don't especially like the taste of gingerbread.

We do not have a single Christmas decoration in sight! I did buy a cute little miniature cypress tree yesterday. I plan to plant it in a patio pot. I figure if I wait long enough, Christmas will be over and no decorations to take down or put away! I am not big into holidays. I am more into every day.

Dinner tonight will be a ribeye steak and some cauliflower, maybe with cheese sauce. Maybe a salad, too. Depends on whether I cook a LOT of cauliflower. I probably will since I have two heads of it in the refrigerator. Winn-Dixie had beautiful big cauliflowers the other day and I couldn't resist buying another one at $1.99.

carolehalston

Lacey, I meant to respond to your post and say I empathize with your not having a kid friendly house. I would definitely put away any possessions that you care about and that aren't easily replaceable. My house is full of our "treasures" that we acquired through the years. All have some sentimental value and some have monetary value.

auntienance

LOL Carole, too funny! Ah well, the stuff freezes and the pasta is dried so it will keep. At least I won't have to make pasta for a while unless I just want some fresh. I know what you mean about the decorations. We have a nine foot artificial tree and last year we were so lazy, DH just put up the top half of it. We set it on a low table and it worked out great. Much easier to put up and take down. This year, he put up the whole thing, but half the lights are out for some reason, so we may be looking for a new and much smaller tree. It gets harder and harder to get motivated to decorate for any holiday.

With my found day, I managed to get all of the presents wrapped and under the tree, baked some sourdough bread and made vegetable beef soup. For the first time, I made the beef stock in the pressure cooker. I read on Serious Eats that many Brazilian cooks use pressure cookers. Actually, the article said "most". Could that be true? I'm going to do some more research on that. Anyway, it was done it no time and tastes pretty good! Tomorrow, I'm going to the local meat locker to pick up some oxtails and some of their fresh sausage.

Speaking of oxtails, last week I was in Columbia, MO, (home of the Mizzou Tigers, for you football fanatics ;-) I took advantage of the availability of numerous ethnic food outlets and went to one of my favorite Asian markets, as I had depleted some staples making the pho last week. One of the employees, a young Vietnamese guy was so very helpful. He explained to me the differences betweeen different soy sauces (light, dark, medium), fish sauces (Vietnamese vs. Thai) and rice noodles. He was very excited that I had made pho and started questioning me on what kind of beef bones I used, what kind of noodles, etc. He introduced me to fresh rice noodles, which were way better than the dried, but also the best dried ones to use. I picked up some more Thai basil and sprouts for the leftovers and they also had big bundles of soup bones and oxtails. I thought the oxtails were pricey (4.99 a pound) so I didn't get and I knew I could get them locally. But the next time I make pho, it may be worth the 90 minute drive to pick up the fresh ingredients.

Lacey, please send the pizzelles my way!

debbie6122

Hello everyone! Hope you are all safe and warm.

Carrie- Sorry about your dad not doing well. (((hugs)))

Monica- Sounds like you are at least staying confortable with the pain meds ha! Hope everything heals good.

Carole-No cards for me this year either ;-((

Nancy- I wonder why Jesus wasn't born in the summer sure would of made the holidays so much easier for travel! Sucks you made all that food and can't have your party, hopefully you can find a way to freeze it all and have one later.

Minus- Hope you are feeling better!

Bedo- You always make me laugh! Here's my thought.... Since you will be crotching on Sunday then on to Church all should be forgiven ha ha! Glad you are having a nice time, what an experience for you, wish I had the courage to up and do things like that!! Stay safe!

My lungs are just not cooperating with me, feel like I can't do anything any more, my oxygen levels at rest are 89 with oxygen on but as soon as I walk even a few feet they dip to 69 and I feel like I am going to pass out and get dizzy, it is quite scarey. I don't know why all of a sudden they got so bad, I was breathing OK even though I had asthma I could walk short winded but walked, When my DS passed away I knew I had to still be there for DH and my dad so I stayed active trying to be there for everyone, then DH got a little better after finishing his surgery and gamma knife and my dad passing I just kind of curled up in a ball and stayed in bed, I am trying to get on the treadmill every day to do a little excersise but it is scarey when the stats drop so low. Monday I go for consoltation to see a lung rehab specialist and in Janurary will see a pulminary specialist. They say it is end stage emphysema but still hoping I can get my lungs to at least a little better than they are now. As you know I don't like talking to much about ME it is usually about family members but wanted you all to know how serious this is just in case.... But still keeping my fingers crossed I can make them better! I couldn't even make another funeral today for my sweet cousin who was 31 she was on dialysis for her liver and started bleeding in her chest, she had to have emergency surgery but couldn't revive her for 40 minutes she has been on life support for a couple of weeks but disconnected her last week. Even after this negative post I told myself I have to start healing and staying more positive which is what I am going to "Try" to do! Sorry about all the downer stuff!

Hope all of you dealing with the bad weather will be safe and can still enjoy your dinners and parties and have happy holidays! Love to you all!

debbie6122

Here is an excellent salad I made the other day. It is very lemony so anyone who is not a fan of too lemony taste (Laurie Ha!) Just put half of the lemon called for, in fact I will probably use half that amount next time too. Make sure you toast the pine nuts it really makes a difference plus I added more than a half of cup. the food processor makes it go really fast.

3 cups Brussels sprouts

1 large bunch Tuscan kale, center stems discarded

1 small clove garlic

1 small shallot

1 cup finely grated pecorino ( I used about 2 cups)

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 cup toasted pine nuts

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

3 lemons, zested and juiced

Salt and freshly ground black pepper



Directions



In a food processor fitted with a slicing blade, shred the Brussels sprouts. Next, shred the kale. Add the garlic and shallot and shred. (Alternatively, shred and mince the vegetables with a knife.) Set aside.



In a large bowl, whisk together the pecorino, olive oil, pine nuts, mustard, lemon zest and juice and salt and pepper to taste. Add in the shredded vegetables and toss well to combine. Let the salad sit for 10 minutes before serving to allow the dressing to permeate the greens.

susan_02143

Feeling a bit punky today [not unusual post-treatment] so I cooked up some bagels that I haven't aged "overnight" and served with some smoked salmon, cream cheese, capers, red onion, and a soft boiled egg. The onion tasted awful, but the egg was perfect. Mr. 02143 was thrilled to have a smaller supper so it all worked out.

Moon, sorry that those drugs have to wear off, but you sound like you are doing well. I will remain optimistic!

*susan*

bedo

Susan I hope you feel better tomorrow Yes, it is like running away! I had to get out of that cabin after spending way too much time there these last few years.

Debbie I hope that on Monday your rehab person will contact the pulmonary doc ASAP and move up your appointment. There are so many medications that can help! There are excellent protocols, like the Gold guidelines and groups that can help so much. You are such a sweet person and deserve to be happy.

I bought some crotching materials today. I want to give them out as Christmas presents. I hope God forgives me.