So...whats for dinner?

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  • Lacey12
    Lacey12 Member Posts: 2,951
    edited April 2016

    Susan, glad your cycle is coming to a close for this time. Remember when "cycles" were accompanied purely by annoying cramps!!

    DH has a great doc, who he would not even consider leaving....so fortunately his concierge practice is not at all retirement account depleting like some are. Actually, after DH awakened him directly with his phone call in the middle of the night, he spent a long time going over things on the phone, (I kept thinking WTH....get on with it!), and once they decided he'd go for the EKG, doc called the receiving doc with his history and the possible concerns. It shortcut a lot on that end...which was an especially big help given the computer changeover status. I have never spent "just" two hours in an ER before. While we were there, DH's doc was communicating with the ER guy, so we felt he was well taken care of ...and was able to avoid that cardiac enzyme overnite "incarceration" which usually happens when such cardiac concerns are presented to the ER staff. Whew! First thing this AM (when we were zonked out), his doc contacted him to check in and to set up a Monday appt for follow up if he was feeling fine. He was. In my case, I would deal with whomever was on call, be sent to ER without detailed history, and care would basically be transferred to there....I would need to call my doc on Monday to tell the tale to her nurse and hope to get a quick follow up appt.......definitely less personalized and efficient despite the fact that I really like my doc.

    We did have chicken marsala tonight with baked potato for DH, other sides of asparagus and a nice big salad.....and some amputated chocolate bunny ears for dessert.

    Carole, I agree that it is annoying to waste calories on less than delicious food! But starving isn't too appealing either. Good company certainly counts for a lot in the circumstance of less than tasty food. :

  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited April 2016

    Lacey.... point well made! So glad he is back to normal and doing well. *susan*

  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 6,887
    edited April 2016

    I'm glad your dh is ok and that you both survived the night safely, Lacey. It sounds like you may need to subscribe to an ambulance service that will take you to the preferred hospital. My mother has been paying for an alarm service for years. The night she had her stroke, my sister pressed the alarm button and there was no response. So much for the safety factor.

    The chicken was delicious. I used the recipe Susan once recommended for braised chicken with preserved lemon and olives. The side was whole wheat orzo with artichoke hearts and pecorino romano. I dumped a can of quartered artichoke hearts into the pot of cooking orzo during the last minute. Added a splash of olive oil and grated cheese to the drained orzo and artichoke. Served the chicken and spoonfuls of the sauce over the orzo. Yum. Anyone who doesn't like olives could substitute capers.

    Today I will thaw lima beans and brown rice for dinner tonight. No use freezing food if you don't eat it!

  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited April 2016

    carole - my mom had a life alert pendant when she lived alone after my father passed away. She had a fall and pressed the button, and got no response. She laid on the floor with a fractured ankle for 11 hours. I was 3,000 miles away and mighty pissed!

    Last night was a beef stew, and a big romaine salad. Have not yet thought about what to have tonight, but I am thinking spaghetti Bolognese. I should probably make a grocery store run, but I don't wanna....

    joyce - Florida is becoming a state with two seasons. Season number one is "aren't we glad we live in Florida" and season two is "why do we live in Florida?" with no in between formerly known as spring and fall. It seems directly to go from being pretty nice to very hot - overnight. Not liking it either.

    lacey - glad you and DH are doing OK!

    bedo - how is the leg/knee?

  • hsant
    hsant Member Posts: 790
    edited April 2016

    Special K, The stew sounds delicious. I found a beef stew recipe in the NYT which includes cognac that I've been wanting to try.

    Lacey, thank God your DH is fine. How wonderful that he can contact his dr. at home. You just don't see that anymore. Only old school physicians have that kind of patient relationship.

    Moon, I put the majority of the roast in the freezer. I probably have a good 2 lbs out of a 3 1/2 pound roast left over.

    I'm going to broil salmon for dinner. I'll make a simple orange ginger glaze that I'll put on the fish for the last 3 minutes of cooking.The glaze consists of no sugar added orange marmalade (I use St. Dalfour, because there are pieces of orange peel in it), Dijon mustard and ground ginger. The usual mashed potatoes will be my dad's side. He's really partial to mashed potatoes and rarely wants any other kind of starch

  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited April 2016

    hsant - I need to make more fish for dinner! DH loves it but I am lukewarm on it, but should eat more because it is good for us, right? DD has some fish (hogfish) in the freezer that she wants to have as fish tacos, with the fish un-battered but seasoned and seared - with a spicy crema, avocado, and a cabbage slaw. Your sauce sounds like a winner - I have one for pork tenderloin that sounds similar and has bourbon, Dijon, Apricot preserves, a bit of stock, and crushed red pepper - you cook it down to a glaze-like consistency. I served it when I catered a friend's holiday party and sliced the tenderloin and placed on top of crostini, topped with the sauce with extra sauce on the side. It has that spicy, sweet, tangy thing going on.

  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited April 2016

    Today was rough. I won't outline the GI issues, but I spent most of the day sleeping. My internet was down for most of the day, so I couldn't even amuse myself by reading the NYTimes. Since I felt so crappy, I made a turkey-noodle soup for lunch with some magic freezer turkey stock and the rest of the turkey breast. Oh. It was perfect! Dinner was some leftover brisket from the party, a large green salad, and more of the leftover potato salad and mushrooms. The rest of the day was spent dealing with finding a new Master Insurance policy for the condo association and dealing with my Endocrinologist's RX errors. Fun fun day!

    I am finding these stories of Lifeline-type buttons getting no response horrifying. Is this a common issue? Isn't there a fee for this service?

    Just had a lovely phone call with a friend who has turned into a MA-Fl snowbird. Now that they are not camping during their FL time, they plan to stay down there until May. I had really planned to make a trip to FL to visit them this winter, but the house renovations and my drug changes derailed that plan. Will have to wait until they are home to get together.

    Last of the cabinets should arrive tomorrow AM. The truck couldn't make it through the snow this morning, so the delivery was delayed.

    *susan*

  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 4,216
    edited April 2016

    Susan, I'm so sorry about your g.i. issues. Really no fun. Hope tomorrow is a better day for you.

    My dad has had a lifeline for several years. It has worked every time he needed it except one time, when he passed out before he could push the button. He tests it every month by pushing the button. When the company calls, he tells them it's a test. If he doesn't test it every month, the company calls him and asks him to. I'm horrified too that some don't get a response!

    Tonight was a grilled cornish hen, jasmine brown rice and sauteed squash and zucchini. Pretty tasty.

  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited April 2016

    I just received this photo via text!

    image

    She is nesting now....

    *susan*

  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 4,216
    edited April 2016
  • Lacey12
    Lacey12 Member Posts: 2,951
    edited April 2016

    So sweet.....:) Nice way to finish up today

  • quinnofmn
    quinnofmn Member Posts: 64
    edited April 2016

    Lacey scary with your DH and a snowstorm drive, so glad he is ok. Susan looks like waiting for the little one.

    I want to make the orange, dijon and ginger glaze. Used my old cuisinart to chop veggies as my arm still hurts. It was bouncing all over the counter, had to hold it down. I think it is from years of kneading pizza dough in it.

  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 6,887
    edited April 2016

    Tuesday diner special is meatloaf and green beans with potatoes! Highly imaginative. LOL.

  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 4,216
    edited April 2016

    It's the blue plate special Carole, lol!

    We had a grilled pork steak with Carolina (vinegary) bbq sauce and some very early (and expensive) corn on the cob that wasn't half bad. It was a very long day with dad taking him to the doctor, and I didn't have much energy left for food. Of course DH's solution is always pizza but I resisted.

  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 6,887
    edited April 2016

    Well, the Blue Plate special wasn't worth $5.99. The meatloaf was ok but the green beans (frozen) were overcooked. Leftover meatloaf is good for sandwiches. That's a plus.

  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 4,216
    edited April 2016

    Don't feel bad, I way oversalted the pork and charred one side of it. Wasn't my best effort.

  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 6,887
    edited April 2016

    Pork carnitas on the menu for tonight. I cut up a pork roast (The Pig) into largish chunks and put them into a slow cooker with the other ingredients called for in the recipe: cumin, oregano, lime juice, orange juice and rinds, bay leaves, s & p, halved onion. The recipe calls for spreading the cooked pork on a baking sheet and browning it under the broiler. I didn't do that the previous time I used this recipe. Not sure whether I will this time. But it would probably be good that way.

    Later I'll make some corn tortillas. I'm hoping one of the avocados in the bowl is ripe.

    Gorgeous day here. I played golf this morning and had lunch afterwards. A bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado sandwich on multi-grain bread and sweet potato fries. Brought half of both home because it was too much food. Not the best kind of leftovers for being eaten at a later time.

    Susan, I hope you're doing well today. I think about you and admire your spirit.

    Minus, I hope you're healing and can see a return to normal movement ahead.

  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited April 2016

    The life of a renovation project manager doesn't ever seem to end. Today was the TV cabinet and cubby installation, and it didn't go easily. The floors are so out of plumb that we had to make some major modifications. They damaged the cabinet in the process and were mortified! All in all, it is a good start, but the "parts" that the cabinet company make no sense, so it is all rather unfinished. I arrived at the condo at 8am and got home around 8:30pm. Tomorrow will be the same since the painters will return to paint the new crown moulding and touch up all the walls that were damaged today. That hardest part was NO NAP!!!!

    Lunch was some really unpleasant frozen commercial meatballs I found in the kids' fridge with angel hair pasta. I warmed three of the meatballs but could only eat 1 and a half. For whatever reason, I wasn't hungry later so I have just munched on some natural peanut butter with a few mini pretzels.

    My hands are in revolt. I made a mistake today. I broke down all the bathroom hardware boxes to prepare them for the recycling pile, and now, my finger tips are flaking off. I have bandaids on several fingers. This being "sick" really SUCKS!!!!! I really hope that I can sleep tonight which always helps healing. Last night I woke at 5:30. Maybe I will get a bit more tomorrow.

    Sorry that I can't offer more to the great collective food wisdom tonight, but Teddie's Peanut Butter is pretty darn good.

    *susan*

  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited April 2016

    Love reading of your days. Sorry not to be contributing more but you all keep me grounded in this time of waiting. Can't remember if I updated that ortho wants me in the sling until the end of April. It severely curtails movement - not to mention no driving. The pain is usually manageable except when I do the required exercises so I'm afraid I've not been very compliant.

    A friend took me to the grocery store yesterday for my first grocery purchases except milk & gingerale & chicken soup that neighbors picked up for me. Monday I made deviled eggs. Today I cooked Laurie's salsa chicken. Delicious except I had a hard time getting the pan out of the oven. Tomorrow i will try to cut a cantaloupe. It's challenging to work w/only one arm. My son suggested i pretend I'm out to sea on a sailboat and one hand has to constantly hold on as the wind shifts & waves roll. That would definitely be more fun.

  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited April 2016

    Minus,

    Does the doctor think you might be able to heal and recover fully without surgery? I can not imagine one-armed cooking. Seems just about impossible. Even worse? Cooking with one hand on a boat that is shifting, rolling, and being carried by the waves of an ocean. :-)

    But now you do have me craving a deviled egg. Been years since I have made those. I even have a platter designed just for these little lovelies. I believe my mother bought it in the early 60's, and then passed it on to me.

    *susan*

  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited April 2016

    Susan - yes, the current hope is that I won't need surgery - if I'm compliant with the exercises. Oops. I'll have to do three today since I only did one yesterday. Hope your HFS is some better.

    I love the baby's room. Please remind us, I can't remember the due date.

    Bedo - how is your recovery coming?

    Nance & Hsant & Carole - how are your parents? My Dad had a "life alert" neckchain. It worked, but this was 2000. The technology was for them to call him on a land line phone, which became a speaker phone. If he wasn't by that phone, he couldn't hear or answer. Special - the ankle story sounds similar. Before the LifeAlert, Dad decided to move a old, heavy 36" TV down two flights of curving stairs with a rope. Rope broke, Dad fell & broke collar bone. He lay there for 12 hours since all the phones were up too high to reach. He was in CA and I was in TX.

  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited April 2016

    susan - I am making some deviled eggs for a b-day party at my house tomorrow night - my good friend/neighbor is turning 50. DH and DD are at an out of town wedding (DD is the invitee and took her dad as her date, father of the bride is an old boss of his and DD is friends with the bride), I am looking forward to the pictures of them together as this is a Kentucky Derby themed wedding and DD is wearing a very floral dress with a huge hat and pearls, DH will have a matching tie and pocket square to her dress. I thought it would be more relaxed to have a get together at my house - then the attendees can have a glass of wine and not have to drive - yay! The eggs I am making are a riff on twice baked potatoes - I am mashing the yolks and mixing with mayo and sour cream, adding some bacon, and topping with chives. I have three of those plates with the little hollows for eggs - one for a dozen, one for 18, and one for 18 that has a little bunny shaped salt and pepper shaker set that I use at Easter. Who has three egg plates? Have I mentioned I have a problem with excess?

    minus - yes! That was the same issue for my mom - she tripped on her oxygen tubing and the phones were too high. She could scoot herself around though - I ended up getting a cordless phone set that had the main phone and those satellite phones you can just plug into any outlet and I placed several around the house. If she was on the floor she could pull on the cord and knock the phone off the holder onto the floor. This was before cells phones were as commonly used, particularly by 80-somethings. This incident happened when she had help during the day M-F, and was alone in the evening and weekends, and she started carrying one of the cordless phones in her pocket after that. Within a year or so we had 24 hour care as she was no longer ambulatory.

  • luvmygoats
    luvmygoats Member Posts: 2,942
    edited April 2016

    Oh my what a couple of weeks we've had. Not bad but just roaring busy. Last week DH was off so we cleaned and shoveled out for DD's Boston boyfriend to visit out here this past Monday. Cannot report any progress on the relationship other than they do refer to each other as boyfriend/girlfriend. Sounds like it worked out to be a good week for him not to be in Boston. Last weekend we went up to Oklahoma on our 2x/year friends camping trip. That entails shopping/meal planning/packing way too many clothes. Reason why BF was in town on that particular weekend was so they could participate too. Tuesday I crashed after going to Bible study and then picking up dog. We managed to blow a tire on the pickup just a few miles outside the resort area so dog stayed an extra night allowing DH to get new tire. Bless the state trooper who came by and gave DH a hand changing it. Which reminds me I need to write a letter to his superior. "Just my job ma'm" to which I replied yes but your boss is getting a nice letter on your behalf anyway. Only think I could find to write his name on was a box of taco shells for fear I would forget it.

    Last week I barely remember. I think I made a huge potato salad we ate on for a few days. Monday night we had BBQ flatbreads from WalMart's deli. Last night I found some kale/bean/ham soup in freezer, 2 perfect servings. Tonight I almost finished off the potatoes in a ham/potato/broccoli scallop dish. I am still in love with Mountain King potatoes from Aldi.

    Bedo - so glad your recovery is going swimmingly. Loved the dismissal of the friendly helper. Can't wait for stories of your camp job. Praying that the college job comes thru for you.

    Oh my Special. We too are part of the Verizon switch to Frontier. We came home to no internet Sunday pm after camping. Phone worked and we had a voicemail and I had checked vm a couple of times. Internet finally kicked in late Sunday night. I guess it was off all weekend though it was working Friday until we left about noonish. We don't have FIOS out here but some people must have something diff. because ladies at Bible study said they had no TV. We only have phone/internet. Lots of unhappy people on Frontier's facebook page.

    Susan - sounds like the house party was a smashing success. Hope your feet have gotten some rest. Send that HFS packing. Love your extra fridge. I have too many sauces, relishes and stuff. Just bought a sun dried tomato ketchup. I loved the balsamic vinegar ketchup Heinz had (can't find in store now, Amazon has only on "'prime pantry") and the molasses bourbon one at Target which is alas no longer being made. This is Traina brand. See the new pic of the nursery. I assume it's the lighting on the off white color but it appears pinikish (??).

    What a weekend Lacey. Glad your DH is OK and you both survived the trip in the snowstorm. DD's doc converted to a concierge practice but she was not interested in the price of it.

    Beautiful GC Moon.

    Hugs Minus. I too cannot imagine one handed cooking. On the salsa chicken use disposable pans and make them small size. Heck on price at this point. I guess at one point I did because in early marriage I had hand surgery but memory cannot dredge up much of that time.

    Tonight will be more of the broccoli/ham/potato casserole. I have enough frozen cheese to probably make this 4-5 more times - if I wanted to. I had some white garlic cheese. I can say for sure that frozen cheese does not grate but it surely crumbles well for making cheese sauce.

    Thinking of all those with parent issues. Just wish I still had my mom to look after.

    Beautiful day in North Texas. New development across the street is trucking monstrous loads of gravel for road. Thank goodness wind today is blowing dirt the other direction. May have to invest in some Flonase type stuff. Claritin is not touching much of my allergy stuff.

    I will attempt next time to not write a novel and keep up better

  • carberry
    carberry Member Posts: 1,153
    edited April 2016

    Bedo and Minus hope for quick healing and getting back to normal. Minus I think you just need to wave the white flag and call in some troops to help with the cooking...cant imagine trying to cook one handed. I cant even manage the can opener with two hands, esp the tuna cans!

    Not very ambitious with the cooking around here. After vacation, getting up at 5 for work again is kicking my butt....by dinnertime I could care less, just wanna go to bed! Tonight will be a quick cheeseburger and roasted potato wedges.

    My daughter went to a garden show a month back and bought me some flower bulbs, left them in her desk at work, and just found them to send to me. When they got here fedex, they were sprouted...not that I can plant them anyways with the snow on the ground. She has no clue what they are and they didn't come with a label or planting instructions...Surprise!!

  • hsant
    hsant Member Posts: 790
    edited April 2016

    Good evening!

    Special K, my father likes to have salmon 2-3 times a week. If it were up to me, it would be pork, lamb, shell fish, beef on any given day. But it's my dad's world, and I'm just living in it.

    I have a bottle of Jim Beam for the sole purpose of cooking, and a jar of apricot preserves for the same reason. I have never thought to combine the two. That is such a perfect marriage of flavors! Have you ever tried maple syrup, bourbon and a little Dijon? So lovely on pork.

    Your deviled eggs sound divine!

    My dad has a life alert bracelet...me! He just yells out my name, and I come a runnin'. For a man who has respiratory issues and takes oxygen at night, his pipes are pretty darn good:)

    Dinner was left over chicken meat balls and marinara., with fresh pasta (Ohio City).

    I make my balls with Italian seasoned panko, tomato paste, egg, parm reggiano, dried oregano, dried shallots, dried minced garlic, crushed fennel seed, salt and pepper. Typically, I like to use all fresh ingredients in whatever I'm preparing, but sometimes I just don't feel like chopping.

  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 7,209
    edited April 2016

    I spent the entire at the condo while the painter did all the new trim, and touched up all the first floor walls. He worked diligently all day. He speaks almost NO english at all. He carries in a small cooker, and plugs it in wherever he can find an outlet about 30 minutes before he wants to eat his lunch. After he finishes his lunch, he just sits waiting for his 30 minute break to finish. During that time I brought him two cupcakes leftover from the party. He indicated that he didn't need a cupcake, but they were on a plate so I left them with him. Yes. He ate both of them in short order! He was finally done at 6pm. I didn't get home until 7 and Mr. 02143 hadn't even considered planning dinner. So, I made an omelette, with just a bit of gruyere cheese. There was only one English muffin which I gave to Mr. 02143 and I had a slice of my rye bread, toasted. Tomorrow is a long hospital day. Then I am having lunch with a friend from these boards. She works in a building right next to the hospital, so pretty convenient. We will either go to the Lebanese place or Pret a Manger which has recently descended into the Boston area.

    Hsant, when do you get to back to your own life where pork, beef, seafood are allowed?

    New marker numbers tomorrow.... I am taking all of you with me in my pocket.

    *susan*

  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited April 2016

    hsant - glad your dad has such a dedicated daughter - and good cook! I love mustard on both pork and fish, but since chemo I have trouble with it on sandwiches - makes me cough.

    susan - in your pocket for sure. Cute about the cupcakes and the painter. Is all the painting done now? What is the p'nut due date

  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 4,216
    edited April 2016

    Definitely in your pocket Susan.

  • luvmygoats
    luvmygoats Member Posts: 2,942
    edited April 2016

    Add me in too for pocket time. Throw us some crumbs from the coffee place. Sounds yummy. Wish they were here.

  • eric95us
    eric95us Member Posts: 2,845
    edited April 2016

    In your pocket too, Susan.


    Eric

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