So...whats for dinner?

SpecialK

luv - I am doing OK, and yes, this is a bit of a setback.  I had exchange and fat-grafting some time ago.  Things were fine but then the allograft started to fail. I had completely healed prior to exchange from the skin issues that had plagued me early in the process after BMX/TE surgery.  My skin on the problem (non-cancer) left side is like tissue paper, so right now it is a bit shredded and we are hoping it hangs in.  That is why I have to be so quiet!

minus - I am being good!  My DH is watching me like a hawk, and when he isn't because he is at work, the dog is.

Moonflwr912

Hi Fiaranch1! That recipe sounds like fun. 

Deb, dark chocolate is actually good for your DH. Gotta be at leat 60% though. Or you can eat 5 Hershey kisses for 1 carb serving. If you suck on them they last a nice long time! LOL and that way the craving can be nipped in the bud. 

Much love to all. 

carolehalston

The lentil sausage soup is quite good.  Very hearty.  You could use a smoked sausage rather than Italian sausage and that would be good, too.

Fresh Market has cod on sale on Fridays so I plan to buy some for dinner tomorrow night.  I think I will also roast some brussel sprouts, not dh's favorite veg but I like it.

Healing thoughts going out to those family members with health issues.

Lacey12

Carole, your dinner plan for tomorrow night sounds delish to me....and a happy one for scale check in on Saturday!

Tomorrow a friend is coming here for early lunch....after her morning mammogram and before my afternoon oncology appt. I did make the Irish soda bread with cardamom instead of caraway (I obviously threw my old caraway seeds out...searched a long time), and it tastes very nice. So we will have that with the baby kale, feta, walnuts,  pomegranate arils, and wild rice salad. I ended up making the shallot/honey/orange dressing that  the recipe called for but I think the next time I'd make my own concoction.

Luv, I always used to make meatballs when the boys were young. To add to your collection of meatball recipes...... My Italian mother's recipe called for:

1lb ground beef ; 1slightly beaten egg ; 1/2 cup bread crmbs ; 1/4 cup grated cheese (parm) ; 1medium onion ; 1 minced clove  garlic ; 1tablespoon chopped parsley (fresh or dry) ; salt to taste....these days a half teaspoon; half teaspoon black pepper. 

 Place breadcrumbs in bowl you plan to mix meat in. Add chopped parsley, salt, pepper and grated cheese. Put 1/4 cup water in a blender and puree onion ad garlic. Pour this over bread crumb mixture and let sit a few minutes. add slightly beaten egg and meat. mix thoroughly and form into large or small meatballs...your choice! My mother made big ones. I used to make kid sized ones and freeze them in sandwich bags, ready to be added to spaghetti sauce. My mother, back in the day fried them in oil, then added to sauce, for at least two hours. I never did that....but either baked them or for a real quick way to cook them used the microwave....they actually browned nicely...and kids and DH never complained....or even cared about my new fangled meatball cooking ways. . My mother would have been horrified. Enjoy your spaghetti and meatballs!

Chabba, hope days feel brighter soon....and that you can once again Taste!!

Debbie, holding you in my thoughts as you wait for DH's diagnostic news. 

Special glad you are being "watched" so you don't overdue with all your wonderful energy!

eric95us

My computer is broken, so I'm posting from my phone.  The disk is OK, so I didn't lose anything but ease of use.  I had planned on getting a new one this weekend so it's no big deal. I'd get one tonight, but I've done enough his tech stuff today that I just don't feel like it. :-)

Healing thoughts to everyone...I've been reading back a few pages.....

Tonight was (fake) crab stir fry and some experimental baked sweet potatoes. It 'has potential'

Eric.. 

chabba

I've been in a funk lately because of my DH's health. For months his health has been deteriorating but I could not get him to a Dr.  Three weeks ago today he got so bad he was sleeping 20 to 22 hes a day and had edema so bad fluid was literally oozing from his pores. Took him to hospital by ambulance.  He was in emergency for 6 hours and ICU for 5 days. He is still not out of the woods but is slowly improving.

By the way, it was 48 years ago today that he proposed to me. We had met 2/22/66. On Mothers birthday 3/11/66 we had gone to Spokane so he could meet my parents.On the 13th  when we got back to my apartment in Olympia he proposed.

carolehalston

Chabba, prayers for your dh. 

SpecialK

chabba - sending healing energy to you both!  That was a quick romance - must have been love at first sight!  So sweet!

aunt_paula

Wishing your DH healing and comfort--and you too!

I have no idea about dinner tonight. Last night I cooked breakfast pork chops, baked potatoes, and something else I can't remember, and we had strawberries. I think we may have poppyseed chicken from the freezer (yay for people bringing food after surgery!) tonight, but no idea what else. I am uninspired.

auntienance

Chabba, so glad you got your DH to get treatment. Hoping he continues to improve.  Sending lots of healing thoughts your way.

We had a whirlwind romance too, started dating in August, he proposed in November and married in March. We are 34 years and counting!

auntienance

So far the stomach is behaving today, so maybe I can actually think about cooking. I had oatmeal and a few crackers and cheese for dinner last night while dh had a takeout pizza.  However, I too, am uninspired so I have no idea what that might be. I picked up a couple of eye of round roasts at Costco so that's a possibility but I also have half of the rotisserie chicken.  It's going to be in the sixties today so I may just heat the chicken on the grill with some kind of sauce.

Lacey12

Oh Chabba, now we all understand the cause of your funk. Thank you for sharing....am also sending healing thoughts your way. How very painful for a long time partner to be in such worrisome health. Please know you both are held in my caring thoughts.

Today, after her mammogram (which was over way too early...I was yet to shower!) my lunch friend enjoyed the pomegranate, kale etc. salad and soda bread, as did DH, who joined us.

After, I took off to my MO appt. She agreed for me to take a break from Tamoxifen for a few weeks....and she also convinced me to then try an AI which she insists has been gentler on some of her patients who found Tamox gave them a lot of SEs (like me). So we will see. I worry about AIs and weight gain after my rigorous year of reduction, but she insisted (nicely....since she is absolutely lovely) that Tamox causes more weight gain than the AIs. We'll see. My other concern is  possible exacerbation of my chronic joint pain, but as she said,  I can stop it and return to Tamox if any of those SEs present as a problem. 

So tonight I rediscovered some things in the fridge that I had forgotten since we were away......like a container of arugula. Made a wonderful easy arugula pesto with it while DH was having dinner with the search committee. This would be so good on baked chicken or fish! My dinner ended up being some light brie slices and arugula pesto on some french bread.

This afternoon, I saw the son of a neighbor who said that his grandfather just died and his mom (my neighbor) would be moving his grandmother from NH to MA. Now I have the perfect menu idea to help her out...it will include arugula pesto and chicken. I recall with such fondness the wonderful meals she brought to us when I was working full time and undergoing surgeries and radiation. People are so kind......

Nance, so glad that your stomach is calming down....

Isn't it amazing how some relationships just are meant to be?! DH and I were together from August thru the following August when we planned our Nov counter culture wedding (we did not even know that it was a weird month in which to marry by common standards!). As I mentioned last fall, we have been together for forty years.

chabba

Lacey, August 6 will be our 48th anniversary.  Ours was a small, and except for the two preachers, pretty traadiyional cerimony. 

carolehalston

Lacey, were you serious about "light" brie?  I didn't know there was such a cheese.  Your meal sounds delicious.  Good luck with finding a better alternative to tamoxifen. 

My baked cod and brussel sprouts dinner last night wasn't an A plus.  More like a C.  The brussel sprouts were too raw even though I halved them.  I should have blanched them prior to roasting.  Maybe the problem was not tossing them liberally with olive oil.  Instead I spritzed them.  They were somewhat brown when I took them out, at which point I sprinkled grated romano cheese.

I made a butter lemon garlic sauce for the cod and spread it on the raw fish in addition to s & p.  Covered with foil and cooked in 350 oven for 20 min.  Served with the remainder of the sauce.  It was good but not wonderful.    There was a lot of liquid in the baking dish that seeped out of the cooking fish.  Cod is very white.  Any suggestions or comments welcome.  If I buy it again next Fri. I'll try a different cooking method, pan searing.  DH didn't complain and he ate a 2nd serving of the cod.

Tonight is the first Abita Opry performance of the spring season.  Dinner will be a chili dog and maybe a brownie.  I've already figured out the WW points! 

Today I'm making a huge batch of red meat sauce, some of which will be for tomorrow's noon meal at my mother's house.  Spaghetti with meat sauce is the main dish.  I'll freeze the surplus sauce.  Originally my sister and I had decided to have bought pizzas.  But then I figured out the WW points for a slice of meat lovers' pizza and nixed that menu.  Pizza is a rare treat for me and I would have eaten two slices.  Not worth it to sabotage my week.

Happy Saturday!

aunt_paula

Last night the grownups had baked potatoes with good (but not very healthy) toppings, and the six-year-old had bacon, a biscuit, and fruit. I have no idea what we're having tonight. I am in such a rut. I got a new wok for Christmas and still haven't used it. Maybe I'll try stir-fry, or cashew chicken. 

Carolehalston, roasted brussels sprouts are my single favorite vegetable (and maybe food) of all. They are so good!

Moonflwr912

Carole when I make cod, sometimes I use a salsa as a sauce. But i like the fruity ones like a peach salsa. Serve it with rice and it's delicious.  It goes well with a lime margarita type sauce too like you'd put on shrimp. 

Lacey12

Yes, Carole...Trader's sells "light brie" under their name. I'm sure other stores must carry similar products. It is 70 calories per ounce...40 fat calories.....a bit better than regular full fat.

I'm sorry the fish didn't cut it! I usually do not cover my pan while baking, since I am not fond of wet, mushy fish. So my baked fish usually has a bit of a crusty/drier surface especially if I put parm or a few breadcrumbs on the top. I also like the salsa idea, Monica. In that case, I would bake it first for a bit, then add some salsa over it...and maybe top with some low fat cheese and pop it under the broiler.

I had some chicken breasts in the fridge, so put them in the slow cooker before bedtime last night with a couple of jars of salsa and a sliced jalopeno pepper. Let it cook all night and added beans this AM. We have some nice pulled salsa chicken! Thanks for the idea, ladies! I think we'll eat it over shredded lettuce tomorrow night to keep things in the low cal format. 

I actually had some mushroom/onion pizza last Sat at DS1's home and threw caution to the wind re: calories. Interestingly, my stomach was not pleased with such a high fat content meal....so maybe it isn't too bad that you will forego pizza tomorrow, Carole! 

Chabba, you just brought me down memory lane.......we did our wedding 40 and a half years ago...all by ourselves with less than forty people....immediate family and friends. Lovely ecumenical service at Harvard's Appleton Chapel to respect the different faiths in our families. The man who officiated, and my best childhood friend, both flying in, almost didn't make it as there was a cargo plane crash at Logan that morning. I hardly had a voice to say "I do" after a serious strep throat and laryngitis. I had to hike over piles of construction dirt in Harvard yard in my (fortunately) simple gown to get to the chapel.....and in the end it all worked out....for a long time! I think we spent less than three hundred dollars on the whole thing!

debbie6122

Chabba- So sorry about your DH, I hope he continues to improve. Wow, you have been together for 48 years! That's amazing! Sending you lots of hugs!

Eric- Hope you get your computer back soon. Did you like your fake crab after cooking it? I find that it is better cold, usually make a crab salad with cooked but cold broccoli, cold pasta and some mayo.

Monica- That is exactly what we eat is the 60% chocolate, I buy Ghirardelli And  love it. At night we have one square. I'm finding counting carbs can be quite tedious looking at all the packages all the time. Today we had a turkey wrap on low carb ww wrap, it was pretty good. Is there a cheese that is lower than the rest as far as carbs go? I put half a slice of provolone on it for him and for me I had jack.

Carole- I love cod and cook it quite often that and salmon. I always saute mine in a pan it never gets mushy. I either put a blackened seasoning on it and sear it with a little evoo or I put a lemon pepper seasoning on it (lots) in a little evoo when it is almost done I put in a little butter, capers and lemon juice. 

Specialk- Oh that sounds like it is painful? Seems like you have been dealing with this for quite a while. Hope it heals soon for you. 

Paula- Some times we have baked potatoes for dinner for our only meal- If I have left overs of a meal I will put that in there like chili, strogganoff, broccoli etc.. 

Nancy, since I have missed so many posts I don't know if you found the root of your stomach problems I remember that you were having a hard time with it. Have you been checked for any thing like gluten or dairy? Wish I could help. Hope you feel better soon.

Lacey- Your so sweet to think of your neighbors that are going through a tough time.I have never made an arugula pesto sounds really good though. And OMG on your wedding LOL! If I didn't know better I would of said to you back then is this a sign? But 40 years later here you are!! 

I met my DH in Hawaii I just had gone through a divorce and went to live with my sister, she worked at the Sheraton Waikiki hotel so I would go visit her every day and lay out in the sun, then I would mosey on up to the outside bar and have a coctail or two. I would see Chuck sitting across from the bar from me every day and thought he was so cute, another guy walked up to me and started talking to me and I pulled out a cigarette, ( when I used to smoke) and the guy was getting ready to light my cigarette when Chuck steps in and lights it first. The guy said "What an ass hole" and walked away, Chuck had told me he had his eyes on me as well and the rest is history. Been together 24 years and married 20. 

Sending love prayers and hugs to all that are going through tough times.

auntienance

Debbie, I've had stomach issues all of my adult life. I've been better in recent years with proton pump inhibitors but taxotere really did a number on me. I now have periodic episodes that pass fairly quickly. Thank you for your concern!

SpecialK

debbie - yes, I have been doing this for a while - too long! But this is the last time I can handle a revision of this magnitude. My skin just can't take it. It appears to be resolving so I'm still keeping my fingers crossed! I'm not in that much discomfort - the one time the numbness comes in handy! I have some muscle pain from the pocket work but its not bad - I'm off all pain meds.

chabba

Our wedding was also small and inexpensive thanks to the talents and generosity of friends and family.  A friend of Mom's made my dress, Best Man's Father printed invitations, his Mother did flowers and cake  and his wife did the reception.  Oh and husband's Uncle was organist.  

auntienance

Boy, has it been quiet here. Hope you all are out having fun and/or eating delicious food. 

Tonight is eye of round roast with roasted potatoes and tomatoes and maybe some snap peas for contrast.

eric95us

Sharon and I went kayaking today for about 3 hours.

aunt_paula

We  had (fried) chicken with roasted veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, and butternut squash). I remember why I never fry things (aside from it not being healthy)--my whole house smells like chicken. There are worse things, right? LOL

SpecialK

Tonight was chili and cornbread.

carolehalston

All your dinners sound good.

I had a noon dinner today, wheat rotini with meat sauce, overcooked brussel sprouts (yuk) the way my mother likes them.  The other family members had white spaghetti with their meat sauce and garlic Texas toast, the frozen bread that you heat in the oven.  One BIL always says that bread is one of the major food groups! 

My food tonight was popcorn with butter-flavored spray and Swiss Miss hot chocolate.  I'm still amazed that popping popcorn is so easy in the microwave, no oil.  Just kernals in a glass bowl--mine is pyrex--covered by a plate.  The bowl doesn't even get soiled!  All those years buying the bags of Smart Pop by Redenbacher.  I did buy a container of his kernel popcorn. 

auntienance

Carole, I keep forgetting to try that popcorn method. Thanks for the reminder!

Lacey12

Ditto on appreciating the microwave popcorn tip, Carole! I must try it since I hate the junk that is in the bags, and that is what we buy. Do you just push the "popcorn" pad and the dry kernels magically pop up as though you had oil or butter in it? Very cool! It is probably worth it to get the good kernels like you do. Silly question....how many kernels in what size pyrex dish?  Thanks!

naiviv

Good morning all,

I did not know popcorn could be popped that way.  CaroleH can you please tell me amount of popcorn to time and size of bowl.

Thanks,

Vivian

auntienance

Happy St. Patrick's day all! Today is the traditional corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, Irish soda bread with some homemade butter (a new adventure), and Bailey's Irish cream cheesecake for dessert. And since dh absolutely hates this boiled dinner, he will have shepherd's pie. Friends are coming to help eat this annual fare and I very wisely made two mini cheesecakes and froze one.