So...whats for dinner?

Lacey12

"Frog stranglers" begone....along with all those poisonous snakes!

Tonight after stretching class (boy did we need it after a three week break while instructor travelled around Europe!) we picked up some chicken breasts to grill. For marinade, I doctored up a Ken's teriyaki marinade with raspberry  vinegar and extra garlic, and they were quite tasty! Must do that again. I made a spinach and arugula salad with mushrooms, shallots and pear, with a dijon vinaigrette and steamed some cauliflower for a veggie.

Will enjoy chicken leftovers tomorrow on my own since DH will be out to dinner with his business school group at Legal Seafood. He asked me to come along, but I have several meals out this week and next which can be really hard on my diet efforts. 

Hope everyone remains snake free!  Do you suppose we could pour cement under our slabless shed and encase the woodchuck? Tho he seems to have moved on having digested every last one of hundreds of my poppy buds. So sad to look at that colorless bed now. This is thecweek during which I would be taking a zillion photos of those brilliant orange flowers.....so photo worthy!  Happy I have the old pix......

SpecialK

I have not had snake - don't really want to.  DD helped kill the pictured snake - she also killed a smaller one with her truck about a year later just across the street from our house.  I killed a canebrake rattler with my Volvo in our neighborhood in Virginia when the kids were little.

I have eaten venison - my FIL was the warden in SC where they lived and charged with deer population control, so they always had venison.  I don't like it all that much - my MIL would sneak it into meatballs - I referred to it as spaghetti and Bambi.  I did have hog when we were stationed in Guam, it was pretty delicious.  They roasted it on a spit driven by a little motor.  I also had jellyfish in Hong Kong - not a fan.

eric95us

Snakes. Meals without wheels. :-)

That was a huge snake.  Around here, 2-1/2 feet long is the norm for the snakes I've seen.

Moonflwr912

That is a huge snake. 

We learned it Red ON yellow kills a fellow, red ON black venom lack.  Because both snakes are black, red and yellow. And the thing is Wisconsin is not know for coral snakes. LOL Although we do have a few rattlers around. On the other hand Brown recluse spiders are nasty. 

Never ate snake. Never want too. LOL.  Venison on the other hand all the time. Family of hunters. Dad, aunts uncles brothers Husband , daughter, son in law. Every couple of years they fill up the tags and we don't buy beef for almost a year. They share all. So the younger tenders guys go for steaks, chops, & roasts,  the big ones get ground for sausage and ground meat. It works for us. LOL since they also fish, bass, sunfish, catfish and salmon grace our plates too. However the past two or three years my DH hast had the time to spend out on the lake he used to. He's been taking care of me and then his folks. Now that they are gone, and I am better maybe he'll get back to it. 

Much love

bedo

Bears

Black: Attack (They are sissies)

Brown Go to ground  (play dead)

carolehalston

I've eaten venison, frog legs, raccoon (tastes like chicken!), bear, and alligator.  All are tasty.  The bear story is the best.  Neighbor in VT killed a young bear during the winter and hung it high in a tree.  The whole outdoors was a freezer.  When he got it down and butchered it, he gave us steaks.  We were happy to have them.  Too poor to buy beef steaks.

My brother and his hunting buddy shot and cleaned a raccoon and my mother cooked it like fried chicken.  The meat was very white.  It tasted fine but we were bothered by the awareness that we were eating raccoon.  Silly, but true.  Back in those days we thought coons were clean animals.  Didn't know they rinsed their food in water because of lack of saliva. 

Weird conversation!  A little segment on snakes on the local morning news this morning.

Pizza last night was delicious.  The yellow cherry tomato sauce was outstanding.

Tazzy's fish tacos sound very good.  I really like fish tacos but never make them.

Eric, I seem to remember that you told us how to cook your chicken and rice dish, but I don't remember the recipe!  Could you repeat?

Dinner tonight undecided.

Lacey12

Such interesting "meat" experimenters! I can't say I've ever been so adventurous in my culinary choices. I have eaten ostrich (maybe not so unique?) a few times which was very much like sliced london broil.

auntienance

I've led a sheltered life. The must exotic meat I've eaten is alligator.  I've had lots of game meats though.  Missouri now has a problematic feral hog population so maybe I'll get to try that one .

Lacey12

So are feral hogs like the scary hog beasts that were on the series "Lost"?

auntienance

Don't know Lacey. Didn't watch Lost. 

MinusTwo

Sorry - I didn't watch Lost either. Ugly for sure.  Big & dangerous too.

luvmygoats

They are for sure a menace around here. Owner across the creek has son's hog dogs penned there. Bark relentlessly. Takes them out on weekends. The hogs are tearing up anything including expensive lawns. We haven't had any here (knock on wood) but know they are out there. We have meat processor in town and know they do them. And yes Minus is right - no season, no tags, no nuttin', just go get 'um. I encountered a conversation in the groc. out more rural from us meat dept a couple years back about the taste, when I 1st realized people ate them. Minus - what's the one county without a hog problem? I thought maybe one of the arid desert ones, like the one next to El Paso? I sure wouldn't want to corner one but I've never seen one.

FIL and BIL used to hunt/fry/eat squirrel. Fortunately I came on the scene just about the time this ended. Can't remember what DH said about this. MIL from backwoods KY, I'm sure any meat was eaten though as a child her father moved family to Hawaii.

Tazzy

I did try snake in Hong Kong - in a soup.  Tasted greasy to me and have no desire to taste again.   Tried shark in South Africa - like a fish version of chicken - was delicious.   Do not like venison, but tried Elk kabobs once and enjoyed that.

 

auntienance

Does a bison burger count?  Tasted like a burger.

carolehalston

Oh, forgot to add squirrel and rabbit to the list.  Have eaten in western restaurants where elk was on the menu but didn't have it.  Lots of people in south LA eat wild duck, but my parents didn't like it so we never had it when I was growing up. 

Chose not to eat kangaroo or emu in Australia.  Ate LOTS of lamb in NZ!

MinusTwo

Luv - I do believe it's El Paso that has no invasion of feral hogs.  I'll have to ask my niece.  They live out in the country SW of San Antonio & her husband built her a special "hog rifle" for Christmas last year.

Redheaded1

Ladies, I was scrolling thru reading all your dnner ideas, and somebody made Mexican chicken-- all I remember is that the oven was at 350, it was chicken breasts, a jar of salsa, a can of black beans and I think you put cheese on it the last 10 minutes.  Is that all there is to it?  Tell me quick, cuz I just shoved it in the oven. LOL

 

lovewins

Sorry Redheaded I don't remember seeing the recipe. 

I just wanted to chime in and share I made pot stickers and they turned out pretty good for my first try.  It was on my bucket list believe it or not!  Next time I will add more veggies and spices.  The dipping sauce was just ok....off balance.

I love reading all your posts....although not the snake eating mouse!

Anyone watching Master Chef?

 

 

carolehalston

Redheaded, that recipe was Laurie's Salsa Chicken and it's good.  She served brown rice with it.  Hope you enjoy!

We're having pork picata tonight, the ww recipe I've made a number of times and really like.  Also steamed asparagus.  A 2 lb. bag of asparagus was hiding in the refrigerator. 

DH requested meatballs and pasta for his birthday dinner at my mother's house on Sunday.  I made the meatballs today and will freeze them.  The recipe is from our neighbor who is Italian.  The meatballs are oversized and really delicious.  I'll make the sauce on Sat. 

Tazzy

well driving home from my follow up with the surgeon - black clouds loomed and thunder and lightening and lots of rain so I thought "hmmmm. spag bol".... got home, then the clouds lifted, blue sky above with the sun shining - not spag bol weather.   Decided on Salad and bbq'd pork ribs.   Hmm.. wrong choice, black clouds are now overhead with lots of thunder and rain.    Ribs are on the bbq so too late to do anything further.

The Mexican chicken sounds quite yummy!

Lovewins: Yes, I watch Master Chef when I remember its on and what channel - still blaming chemo brain for that !?

Lacey12

Carole, you reminded me of my mother's Italian meatballs (she is Italian and her family always made "big ones"!). I never make them anymore, but always had them in the freezer while the boys were growing up....and when they were little, I made small ones for them, and froze them, so there was always some meat to have on hand to go with pasta and sauce.

Strangest dinner tonight......I had a spaghetti squash that needed to be cooked, so I microwaved it, and scraped out all the strings to eat. Typically, I would have it with parm cheese, but needed to find some alternative toppings....found a jar of marinated button mushrooms with cilantro and a spicy kick to them. Poured the whole small jar over the squash, added grape tomatoes,  and black olives, and scarfed it down. That was to make up for the huge (and wonderful!) piece of carrot cake I had Sunday night. The "squash  bowl" was weird but pretty good.

Tomorrow, it sounds like I am going to Fenway Park with DH for dinner with his business school program group. The Red Sox are out of town, but I guess groups use the park dining facilities for such things. I hope I can find a low calorie option on the menu  since I have a volunteer luncheon the next day, then a retirement dinner for a friend that next evening....then get weighed in at the MO office on Friday. Bad timing....it  always feels a bit like the WW weigh-in, and so far I have been able to keep the numbers in the downward direction, but have been plateaued for this past month. Oh well....I should be more worried about my MO's reaction to my plan to refuse to take any more meds.

Redheaded1

Chicken was yummy, although somebody in this house of one must have ate the black beans and not replaced them---I substituted pinto beans, and it was still really good.

I think this might become my favorite topic, these recipes rock!

MinusTwo

Here's Laurie's original post for the Salsa Chicken

2-4 chicken breasts- put them in a Pyrex dish and dump a jar of your
favorite salsa over it. Open a can of black beans and drain- dump that
over it too. Cover and bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours. (it works like a
fast slow cooker and makes a sauce out of the black beans and salsa, the
chicken just shreds apart.)

Make some brown rice and 2 minutes before you are ready to eat uncover
the chicken and top with cheddar cheese, or mexican blend, what ever is
handy, We eat it using the salsa mixture on the rice as a type of sauce
and a spoonful of sour cream on the chicken.

While I was looking I found Michelle's sauce.  Still miss her.

Lacey12

Minus, I too think of Michelle often....just mentioned her to DH tonight. He just got word that a woman he works closely with on the hospital board in Western MA got bad news about her markers today. It brought me back to Michelle's valiant fight, as well as her wonderful effort to live as fully as she possibly could before leaving. . I know this woman will do the same. 

I hope everyone is staying safe given the storms that are trekking across the land....who needs rattlesnakes to be in harm's way, given these awful weather patterns!

SpecialK

joycek - yay to see you!  I have been thinking about you and worried about how things were going - so glad that your mom is doing ok and your parents are able to be with you.  My MIL has had a number of falls, including a stair fall onto a tile floor - it is so scary.  You were wise to build the addition to your home, and also wise to think about weeding things out.  I was fortunate that with so many military moves I was forced to do that.  Often!  Enjoy your grilled dinner - not sure what I will be eating tonight - I will be at the Rays/Marlins game with DH.

SpecialK

You are welcome - you have been missed!  I am looking forward to the game - we always go a few times each season - this will be the first one!

Lacey12

Joyce, my heart smiled when I saw your post.....and WOW have you been one exceptionally busy gal! I got a wave of exhaustion reading about your last five months. Your parents are so lucky to have you and DH as such devoted caretakers.

I am so glad to hear that your DH and Rick are golfing regularly....what a comfort to him to have you two! Please extend our best wishes to him. 

I spent the morning having more  allergy testing, and a treatment, then went to the gym. My trainer is taking a nutrition course and we spent some time talking about ways to help me get off my current weight plateau. Now I am wiped (more from the testing since my body must be fighting with all the allergens that were injected).

I think I'll try to nap a bit (practically a first for me) so I can be awake for our Fenway dinner. 

MinusTwo

Joyce:  I'll add my welcome back note.  SO glad to see you.  What a year you have had.  Sorry about your Mom's fall and your aunt's death.  Hope things will settle down now.  Yes, please give our best to Rick.

auntienance

Joyce, nice to hear from you! I hope the stress of al you've been dealing with becomes much more manageable after the move.

Spent the day shopping -- mostly groceries but also  a few other places -- exhausting!  I'm really too tired to bother but since I thawed it, I'll fix it anyway -- souvlaki, tzatziki, pilaf and Greek salad with feta.  Pita breads for the souvlaki,

carolehalston

Joyce, we've missed you!  Glad to hear that you and your dh have an ongoing relationship with Rick.  Your mother's accident sounds horrible.  You're a good daughter and your dh is a good SIL to welcome your parents into your home. 

I went to Sam's Club this afternoon (after shopping at Walmart earlier) and bought 12 vacuum-packed bags of Community dark roast coffee, probably more than enough to get us through the summer.  Also bought some other items, enough to run the bill up to $200.  That was after $100 at Walmart.  I'm always shocked when I hear the amt of the bill.  I can't imagine how families with kids can make it on a moderate income.

One of my purchases was a rotisserie chicken, which will be part of dinner tonight.  I also bought some yellow squash and will probably steam it and make a salad.  

We had a whole day today without rain.  Yay!  But temps in the 90's are in our forecast.