So...whats for dinner?

luvmygoats

Oh sorry Susan NH=Nursing Home. Funny corner to choose but then maybe not. NH behind it, Assisted Living catty corner. May get lots of spontaneous "I need dinner" traffic. I think they kinda knew the new acreage nearby was opening for residential development. They are perfectly positioned to take advantage of it and prob. will be the closest grocery. A bit further each way to a TomThumb which in Texas is a little higher end regular grocery. The new Whole Foods will also be in the neighborhood though much closer to older established homes but tons of car traffic.

carolehalston

I, too, was bewildered by NH!  DH has a 1-ton truck (doolie, which means double tires on each side of the back).  It takes a lot of room for parking and maneuvering.  I was trying to imagine what an NH on the rear of a truck was! 

Our Fresh Market happens to be situated in a shopping center that isn't terribly busy.  It has ample parking.  It's a small store but does a lot of business. 

Aw, Nancy!  Now I'm TJ deprived AGAIN!!! 

The fresh beets and cucumber salad last night was delish.  No dressing other than a sprinkling of white balsamic.  Green beans and new potatoes just as good.  Also enjoyed the Canadian walleye lightly dusted with flour and cooked in butter.  But will go back to my oldtime method of panfrying fish next time.  No flour and a mixture of a little EVOO and butter. 

Instead of the brats for dinner tonight, will have barbecued chicken thighs.  I'll pre-cook them until almost done (either microwave or stovetop) and then have dh finish them on the grill with barbecue sauce.  Found chicken without the antibiotics yesterday.  Usually buy those at Fresh Mkt. at home but the regular supermarkets are selling them now.

Gloomy day today.  Plan to load up the laundry and go to the Laundromat in town. 

Lacey12

Rainy day here, too....so no more excuses (like the beach!) to avoid the thorough cleaning this house needs. Too bad (for DH) I still have the head virus. He has started the floor washing, which I much appreciate given my throbbing head.

I had some of that great wheat sprout raisin bread with almond butter and cherry preserve for breakfast, and I think I'll make a veggie/fruit smoothie for lunch to counteract some of the "off the wagon" eating I've done this weekend.

Carole, I love the sound of that beet cuke salad. Were they raw beets, or cooked and chilled?

Moonflwr912

beet and cucumber?  Sounds great. I happen to have both in the fridge.... thanks Carole! 

I notice that our only TJ is about a half hour away and has a very small parking lot. And even with a handicap permit those spaces are always filled up. So i rarely go alone. Only if I can be dropped off. Whole foods is 45 min away. But there is a Sendiks just a couple minutes away. I go there. Kinda a smaller high end grocer. Hormone Free, organic. House made soups. Great veggies. Expensive but since I buy for myself not too bad. When my DH is home we usually go out to eat at least one night and one breakfast so don't cook much. LOL.  This weekend was our block party. I took Rice Crispie squares and chips and salsa. There's always enough food and it's bring your own meat. So bunch of different salads and many desserts. The lemon cake with lemon filling with whipped cream was my favorite.  The Rice Crispie squares were almost gone, eaten by the kids before we had even put on the hamburgers. LOL.  Absolutely no redeeming value but addictive so I only make them if I can take them out of the house. The healthy version is out of multi grain cereal, nuts, sunflower seeds, and choc chips and uses only 4 tbls butter for the 9 X 12 in pan. . But those are even worse. You can't stop eating them. LOL. Today it rained in the early am. Then sun. Then thunderstorm. Now sun again. LOL.  Fun. 

Much love to all. 

carolehalston

Lacey, the beets are cooked.  They were small and pulled yesterday morning.  I have enough for another salad tonight.  I'll also sauté the beet greens with some spinach that needs to be cooked and some mushrooms

Moon, dh loves rice crispie squares.  His mother made them when he was a kid.  We had a neighbor when we lived in our last house who would bring over a plateful of the squares for him.  She happened to learn that he liked them.  I don't know if I have ever made them.  She also made delicious fruit cake cookies at Christmas.  I always looked forward to them. 

Before I left home I bought a lovely cookbook called Cooking With Quinoa by Rena Patten, who, I think, is Australian.  I got it out this afternoon to finish reading through it. 

auntienance

Because I have an abundance of tomatoes and peppers, tonight is stuffed peppers.  Stuffing is made up of summer vegetables, Brown rice and cheese. Side will be sauteed squash, zukes, peppers onions, garlic topped with fresh basil and a sprinkling of parm.

deborye

I don't cook much anymore, usually it is just chicken or burger on the grill and veggies from my garden.

Swiss Chard, Zuccini, and summer squash.  a few tomatoes but my peppers are not doing well at all.

Lots and lots of herbs.

SpecialK

Hello all - back from the east coast of FL, definitely "styled" in the caddy - very comfy, but lots of bells and whistles that were hard to figure out while trying to drive!  I have very simple needs when it comes to vehicles - weirdly, seat heaters and some good AC - which I use together to help my poor degenerated disks and hot flashes simultaneously.  This car had both, so yay!  The drive of folks from Boynton to Miami was event free and DH (in a Buick Enclave with his older passengers) drove like a sane man for once so I could follow him and all arrive en masse.  The services went well and everyone seemed happy with the reception.  The reception was catered, supplied by the private school where our friend worked for more than 40 years, but I was unimpressed.  The older folks were very excited that there was food left they could take home!  I had issues with the flowers I ordered, so the florist and FTD, will be getting a phone call tomorrow.  Funny part - there was an arrangement on a tripod stand that was supposed to go to the chapel - was delivered to the cemetery instead (part of my pone call tomorrow - also had the wrong flowers) and the workers put it on the stand upside down, but we didn't really notice - too many others things to worry about at that moment.  We brought it to the chapel with us and my DD and BIL and I were looking at it just prior to the service and we realized it didn't look right - DD went up and took it off the tripod, turned it around and put it back on correctly!  We did some work this morning in the condo in prep to get it cleaned out, and we are finally home.  Will be sleeping well tonight - poor DH is exhausted and kind of dreading what awaits at work tomorrow after being gone for so long.  Thank you all for your positive thoughts and support - it means a lot.

eric95us

Special, I guess I missed your recent posts.  My condolences to you and DH.  I've never been good at knowing what to say for times like this.  I'm the "leave me to myself" type when it comes to grief.  

.

Eric

SpecialK

eric - thanks for the condolences, expressing that is just perfect, no worries.

susan_02143

My body is tired. Way too much standing, chopping and cooking for the past two days. I am so over this cooking thing for at least 24 hours! Today I made the Merguez sausage and it is tucked into the freezer. For lunch, my husband has rather gotten so he expects French toast. I don't really care for French toast, so I manage to cook some eggs to time out properly. Dinner was lamb kabobs with grilled tomatoes and onions, grilled eggplant planks, and spanikopita. I actually made some dessert tonight, a rarity. With some of the phyllo dough I had opened for the spinach pies, I made baklava! It was really good. Not sweet and sticky like the ones we find in the local shops.

*susan*

Moonflwr912

Special they delivered it to the cemetery because it got to the service to late and by taking it to the cemetery they can now say delivered on time. Glad it went well though. And when I worked 40 minutes away from home I used the seat heater for my back with the air on too. As long as it works for you! 

Eric, I think everyone wonders what to say. I know when my folks died I was just glad people acknowledged it someway. 

Deb My tomatoes are putting out a couple of cherry tomatoes every day. Just a few. But at least there are some. The parsley sage and basil are going great. However both lemon thyme and German thyme died. That's the extent of my herb garden LOL.  Just one big pot. 

Nance, I love stuffed pepper soup. Not just stuffed pepper though. Maybe too much rice. LOL

Much love to all.

auntienance

Geez Susan,  no wonder you're tired, that's a full day (or two)!

Moonflwr912

Hi susan. I didn't see your post before I hit enter. I'm glad you made dessert. That's always fun. 

Much love to all

SpecialK

susan - now I want spanikopita and baklava!!!

moon - they not only screwed up the delivery location (we did the graveside before the chapel) they left out the red roses and both arrangements were all white when they were supposed to be a mix, this gentleman's school colors.  I was mighty pissed and they will hear from me tomorrow - I am wondering what they will offer to placate me.  By leaving out the red roses I was actually shorted by half the amount of roses in the standard arrangement - so incorrect and overcharged - not good, and they only had one chance to get it right.  The good news is that very few others knew what the flowers were supposed to look like.

Lacey12

Deb, your grandbaby is adorable!

Susan.....yikes, loved your meal description but got exhausted for you, too. Rest!!

Special, I'm glad the service went well, and yes that florist needs to hear from you. Good luck!

Had leftover pizza tonight with cuke salad, and a kale sauté with mushrooms, onions, walnuts and a splash of balsamic. 

Heading home in AM....hope to make it to stretching class, then laundries and pack up again for the next bit of travel. Not to sound ungrateful, but I would prefer a quieter summer. After the Vineyard, next weekend we come back here, then head to NJ for DGD's birthday the following weekend, then to CT to visit my stepmother on way home. 

I feel like we've been "enroute" for most of the summer, when I am actually a happy homebody, or lake homebody. If DS2 lands in Chicago, we'll be fated for more family travel. Guess my lowered stamina  leads to my too much travel whining. Apologies... At least my head virus seems to be resolving, and I was able to get most of the house cleaned...and DH did a great job on the floors....no more chocolate almond milk residue from the kiddies. Yay!

Supposedly the stormy weather you guys in midwest had today will visit us tomorrow. Hope everyone stayed safe!

auntienance

Lacey, I think all that travelingI  tests anyone's stamina. I love traveling but I'm always glad to get home. Of course it doesn't take long until I'm ready to go again lol!

Sk, I'd be damned mad  too about the flowers. Keep us posted.

SpecialK

Just got off the phone, full refunds on all three floral arrangements (we ordered one to be at the chapel for a friend who could not attend) so I have to say they were respectful and acknowledged the multiple errors with all three arrangements.  While I am disappointed in the florist/florist service, I am satisfied that they are taking responsibility appropriately.  I was a combo of polite and assertive - seems to have worked!

susan_02143

You go girl! The new thinner Special is not to be trifled with. After all, she has access to a caddie and a posse of breast challenged friends!

Seriously, I know that you are disappointed that the careful plans that you had made were not fulfilled, and that you cared deeply that the service and all the arrangements were done to your level. It is good, however, that the real stuff, like being together during this time of both mourning and a celebration of life was accomplished with grace.

*susan*

auntienance

Good job SK. Well said Susan.

carolehalston

Nance, your stuffed peppers sound really good.

Deb, such a cute baby! 

Susan, I'm sure all that good food was worth the standing and chopping.  Now let's see if you can stand by that "no cooking for 24 hrs!"

Sorry for the disappointment In the flowers, SK, but it sounds like the service was a comfort to those who cared about your elderly friend. 

Lacey, take a deep breath and enjoy all that family time.  When is the Italy trip?

Eric, I never know what to say to console people, either.  Words just don't seem adequate.

Brats tonight for dinner.  Will steam them in a skillet with beer.  Then dh will brown them on a hot grill.  More fresh green beans and new potatoes for a side.  Wish we had some of Nance's fresh tomatoes for a salad.  Sigh.....

auntienance

Carole, I wish I could give you some  lol! I picked another bucketful today.

SpecialK

susan - you are absolutely correct - the flowers are not what all will remember about the day, it will be that we came together and supported each other and honored our friend in word and deed. And yes, I'm a skinnier badass with some awesome ladies who prop me up in good times and not so good ones! I'm very lucky.

Thanks all for the votes of confidence in my flower snafu fixing! 

Deb - I have to agree - the baby is so adorable, I'm so happy for you.

susan_02143

I warmed up leftovers for lunch. My first cousin once removed is in Boston for a few days. She comes over from her home in London once a year. She is over 80, and hasn't lost a step, if you ask me. My other cousin by marriage is about the same age, and time hasn't been as kind to her. Anyhow, we all went out to dinner tonight and had a lovely time.

So, if you don't count warming up some leftovers, and I don't, I have not cooked for 24 hours!

Lacey, you are a traveling fool. Hope you have a wonderful time on the Islands. Only been to the Vineyard once and remember it with great fondness.

*susan*

carolehalston

Tonight we're going to Foxy's Bar & Grill for the first time.  It's actually close enough that we could walk there.  It's on my regular walking route.  Or we could take the pontoon boat there and tie up at the dock.  I think Tues. night is Taco night, and I'm not expecting anything really good.  Just hoping for something not bad! 

I'm tired enough to like the idea of not cooking.  DH and I played golf this morning at a par 64 (short) course, which is hilly.  We walked with our push carts so got some exercise.  Then this afternoon I did a little kayaking up and down the creek that leads to the lake.  I exited from the kayak in thrashing fashion by toppling into the creek!  The cool water felt good. 

MinusTwo

Moon - haven't heard about your TNR recovery in awhile on any of the threads.  How are you coming along?

Miss hearing about Laurie & her kids but know she must be busy.

Two blueberry cake doughnuts for lunch.

auntienance

Lol Carole, I like the idea of kayaking but envision myself in a perpetual dunked state. I'm unsteady enough in a canoe!

Today instead canning tomatoes, I ended up visiting a friend who  just went to raised bed gardening. I'm seriously leaning toward moving and redoing ours with brand new top soil so I was interested in seeing how she did hers.  Her DH and mine are both amateur woodworkers, so when they get together it's hours in the workshop. I intended to just stay a short time, sigh!  Therefore, tomorrow I have my work cut out for me. Oh well, time spent with friends is never wasted, right? It's been in the 70's here, just perfectly beautiful weather!

Tonight is sort of a multinational night. We're having Spicy Thai grilled (flank) steak, a Lebanese green bean dish braised with fresh tomatoes and garlic and Greek lemon roasted new potatoes. All of the vegies are from either my or my friend's garden. She sent me home with several cloves of garlic and about 6 pounds of onions the size of softballs!

MinusTwo

Bedo - hope you're doing OK.  When is the DD's wedding?  Hopefully before you go to Guatemala if you're still studying Spanish.

susan_02143

Tonight's dinner was sparse. The kid had raided the leftover kebobs, leaving four tiny pieces of lamb for her parents. So, I reheated those with the spinach pies. Husband got a farm tomato with garlic, basil oil, and I had some gazpacho made with commercial tomatoes. Would have been better with those lovely, expensive farm tomatoes. Soon enough, I sigh. Our plants will be producing tons of fruit.

*susan*

Moonflwr912

Minus, I'm doing well. My PT lets me use my cane only around the house. I need my walker outside. I've been off pain pills for a week. Also my gut issues seem much better as of a week ago. Connection? Out people have the Constipation from pain pills. Ha! LOL

Supper today was a small crock pot stew I made. Carrots celery onion and some beef. Turned out ok. But my small crock pot turned itself off about halfway through..i had precooked the veg in the microwave first so when I got it our it was edible. Unless the small crock pot has a set timer I might have to get a new one. 

Susan isn't always that way? People eat the leftovers you plan on for another dinner. But if you have no plan for the leftovers somehow they get left till they are green. LOL

Much love.