So...whats for dinner?

MinusTwo

It's 80 degrees here again today, so dinner was cold boiled shrimp. OK, I cheated - they came from my Costco trip today. But they were wonderful.

ChiSandy

That Cavalli Silver balsamico was wonderful! Tasted it side by side (two demitasse spoons) with the SanGiacomo Essenza. The Essenza was rich, thick and mostly sweeter than tart. Had a long finish. But the Cavalli was thicker (took longer to pour two drops) and had a nice balance of sweet and tart, with a longer finish that morphed into different flavors (including cherry) as it faded. Both were insanely wonderful with each of two perfect strawberries dipped into them. (Whole Foods actually had some greenhouse-grown Michigan strawberries this week. They cost as much apiece as chocolates. You better believe that I won't let any of those get overripe or moldy)!

Tonight I am going to do that NY strip steak (gorgeously marbled despite being grass-fed) in my good cast iron skillet (gotta wait on seasoning the cheaper one until it's warmer and the gas grill is fixed), per ATK's recipe (heat the pan screaming hot in the oven, then cook on medium on the stovetop, searing on both sides and flipping every minute till the temp hits 120). Will also saute some broccolini in olive oil, lemon, garlic & red pepper flakes; and those butternut squash spirals in olive oil, finished with a few drops of truffle oil and sea salt. Again, I think that making an herb butter is overkill, and I'm short on fresh herbs anyway.

eric95us

I got Sharon's cold. It's managed to turn into one of those 'man cold' things. I'm coughing hard enough that my sides are sore. As the Youtube video says, "You poor, poor bunny". :-)

She's back at work and I figured I wouldn't get much done at work except to pass it around, so I'm at home--just moving between the bed, couch and easy chair.

Sharon's still not at full speed either, so I'm glad we cook stuff on the weekends. The prior week she cooked (marinated chicken and a pasta-chicken dish, both wonderful), and this week I stepped up and did a huge batch of potato soup and a pork roast. There are also still a few of the little pot pies that I made. So, at least we'll be good for food.

Valstim52

Sorry about your cold eric. Coughing is the worse. I made a big batch of '15 bean soup" and fried chicken wings. I add hot smoked sausage to the soup. It's a meal in itself. DH is from Louisiana, so rice is always with the meal. The chicken wings are for dd3's hubby who drops by on his way home from work, to say hi and 'graze'.

Val

M0mmyof3

Probably going to have the eggplant parm that a co-worker sent home with hubby today

eric95us

15 bean soup??????

Lacey12

Tonight I find myself eating honey roasted peanuts when I should be cooking an omelet or something! DH is eating at a gathering of his colleagues who volunteer in Boston. I opted out so I can pack. Spent the day doing errands, getting a strange sound diagnosed at the car dealer, and shopping for some new slacks and sweaters at my fave store, Frugal Fannies. My newfound weight has not been coming off quickly (read peanuts instead of eggs!) enough to feel comfy in my smaller slacks, so I did get some basic ones to wear during our trip.

Our event at the Statehouse last night was fun. I'm not a pomp and circumstance type person and there was a lot of that. But the nice thing is that there was a high spirit, and his address spoke to the importance of how he and the legislature worked to meet the needs of our state's citizens by respectfully compromising. It was a breathe of fresh air! Before the address we met in the gov's office with him and his family and had cheese, crackers, and fruit. After the address there was a huge gathering at a hotel across the street, where we arrived late enough to miss the good passed apps, and passed on the hot buffet food which was various pastas. So last night, once home, we ended up scarfing down some hummus with pita, then DH nukeda piece of chicken bathed in pesto. Tonight I should really be eating something a bit more healthful!

Tomorrow nite we will be staying with my stepmother in CT and she has a plan for us to go to an Italian restaurant to which she was recently introduced.

Then on to the vegan house for the rest of the weekend......Oy! I just packed up some Kind bars in case there is a lack of edible food for me.....the issue being my allergies to much of what they eat (cashews mainly) . I am guessing that we will be eating lentil based foods a lot, but who knows? Other than this food thing, (I used to love to cook for them during visits) we are really looking forward to seeing the kids and grands!

Eric, I hope you feel better soon. It's awful how those colds are so much more brutal to men!! 😉

SpecialK

Tonight is late-breaking pulled pork sandwiches with mac n' cheese, we had to return to the car dealership to sign papers, gain, as they put a decimal in the wrong place on the previous ones. This makes a total of 5 signings - they also counted the mature lease as a trade-in on a previous set, among other errors. Needless to say, we will use another dealership next time! Then DH decided to go to the gym, so it will be a continental dining hour before he gets back!

lacey - when is the wedding of DS2?

Valstim52

Eric, it's a package of beans put out by Hambeans, in the bean section. Has 15 variety of beans and a seasoning packet. You can choose ham flavor or cajun. I'm in NC, but have lived quite a few places and Kroger, Albertson's, Publix, Meijers all carry it with their bean section. Trader Joe's carries a variety of it, so does WF.

PontiacPeggy

MinusTwo, HEY! I'm from Washington (now)! Just moved here from Michigan in June. I don't do a lot of scratch cooking anymore but I did make a honey garlic slow cooker chicken Sunday that turned out quite good and was easy. Gave some of it to my son who is bach'ing it this week and he pronounced it good, too.

Sandy, I hope your bug goes away soon. You've got too much going on to be sick

HUGS!

ChiSandy

Wine dinner tonight (walking in the brisk air helped my lungs a bit) at Cellars. There was a small family-owned vineyard & winery from Udine (NE Italy bet. Alto Adige and Istria) called Bisci. Aperitif was prosecco with wild strawberry liqueur (which had tiny strawberries floating in it—gotta find out where to buy those fraises des bois). First course was spiralized zucchini & carrot salad with a grilled prawn and red & yellow grape tomatoes; second course was tuna carpaccio with frisee and baby escarole; pasta course was a rotolo filled with seasoned ricotta & sausage, resting on a fresh marinara sauce; main was a porcini risotto with a pheasant breast; dessert was an orange spice cake with ricotta-mascarpone frosting.

Freya244117

Australia day today, so we had seafood. Prawns, salt and pepper calamari and oysters with a mango and avocado salad. Hot once again, so a refreshing light meal was just right.

Sandy, I could just sit back and listen to you talk about food all day.

carolehalston

Sandy, that sounds like a meal I could enjoy. But was it too much food?

Freya, your meal sounds very appetizing, too. Do you have easy access to fresh seafood?

I cooked chicken and sausage gumbo today. We'll have gumbo over brown rice and a salad. I also bought a baguette of bread.

auntienance

DH and I are both sick AGAIN so it's potato leek soup and a small baguette. Carb heavy I know, but I'm wallowing. What the %(@*&# has happened to our immune systems?

M0mmyof3

Pork chops, rice and a veggie

ChiSandy

The portions were neither too big nor too small, but by the time we got to the pheasant breast & risotto, I got only 1/3 of the way through before I realized I was getting full. So I had it packed to go. (I did have the dessert, though).

Dunno what I’ll do tonight—going to temple for the rabbi’s 50th birthday/son’s Bar Mitzvah celebration. There will probably be a bigger Oneg (dessert reception) than usual. Might not want dinner after all those sweets. Slept in today, had egg-in-the-hole (low-carb bread) and a “sausage biscuit” (turkey sausage patty between the two rounds I cut out of the slice of bread). Then Bob, who decided to take a long walk, came back from an Indian lunch with a huge samosa, so that was my late-afternoon lunch. Might have last night’s leftover sauteed kale and a bowl of miso soup for a light dinner before heading to temple (to which I’ll have to walk because I’m sure the lot will be full).

Freya244117

Carol, I picked up some seafood the day before when I drove to town for an Oncology appointment. It was the MO's first day back from holiday and I finally got to see her at 8.30pm. Left her office at 10.30 and finally home at 1am. Are you still watching the tennis? I watched the Nadal and Dimitrov game, it was so intense. Serena and Venus playing each other in the womens final tonight.

Nance, hope you feel better soon. When you don't feel well, comfort food is the best.

It is going to be a scorcher of a week, averaging about 110f, so we will be living on salads.

SpecialK

Had some small sirloins, steamed broccoli, and fettuccine alfredo with some smoky bacon adde. DH had a couple of scoops of Apple Pie Ice Cream, a specialty ice cream his folk's next door neighbor "forced" him to buy, lol! I tasted it and it is too sweet for me. Good thing, since I don't need to be eating any!

Freya244117

SpecialK, my husband is an ice cream fiend. I don't have much of a sweet tooth, salty and savoury is my downfall.

eric95us

Freya. 110F. Does it cool off at night? What is it like in the winter?

Valstim52

Oh my Freya 110F, is that the peak or will it get hotter?

dinner tonight will be beef tacos, refried beans and spanish rice.

MinusTwo

Went last night to hear a brass quintet play music from "across the pond" - mostly British with one French offering. The encore was from the Cole Porter song book. Lovely experience in a small venue. Since the show was at 6:30pm, I met my SIL for an early meal. Dinner was wonderful, but I ate enough home-made bread to gain 2 lbs - both rosemary with garlic & 9 grain - and the waiter sent home a go-box of bread for later. Sigh. My main course was 3 seared scallops on French green lentils with a side of "exotic" carrots and asparagus - accompanied by a glass of Hahn Meritage. My SIL had the same meal but she requested her scallops as quoted, placed on quinoa vegetables.

So for tonight I had 3 things in mind to cook, but the 2 lbs gained was a literal reading from my scale this morning and I'm still really full. I can't imagine eating again.

Eric - everyone forgets that AZ cools down at night while Houston remains a stream bath. I'll be interested in Freya's answer too.

Oh Nance, how could this happen? You aren't around any little kids are you? Maybe from the nursing home? I'm so sorry you have another round.

Lacey - I don't think I ever said Hooray that the lung issue isn't cancer. Whew.

auntienance

I don't think I gave Lacey my hooray either - so hooray!

Minus - I got it from DH who got it from who knows where. He hasn't been anywhere to speak of. Dad's in supportive living, so while there are lots of people in his building, he's in his own apartment so not around lots of people constantly. I'm always amazed, and not a little annoyed, when every little school aged kid I see, coughs or sneezes into his or her elbow, but I encounter few adults in public who even bother to cover their mouths with anything! C'mon people -- learn from your kids!

I made a cool rise pizza dough early this morning, so that will be dinner. I had leftover toppings of pepperoni, Canadian bacon and hot Italian sausage that I froze from the last pizza fest so I'll probably just cut up some peppers and mushrooms and take some frozen roasted tomatoes from the freezer. While I was floury, I decided to make some sour cherry hand pies. Feeding the cold you know :-)

I've discovered I'm out of chicken stock (horrors!) so tomorrow is stock day. That's an exaggeration -- it takes 2 hours in the IP pressure cooker. It'll be done before lunch. I'll throw in some extra chicken parts and make pot pies to use up the extra pie crust.

ChiSandy

Carbed out last night—the Oneg Shabbat after last night's service was a joint celebration of the rabbi's 50th birthday and his son's Bar Mitzvah. The whole family (both sides) came in from all over the country. Normally, the Oneg is a cake or two, cookies, brownies, fruit & coffee. Last night it was like the dessert table at a wedding: different kinds of cakes, cupcakes, brownies, lemon bars, mini-danish, rugelach, chocolates, linzertorte, fruit and even a make-your-own sundae bar. Obviously catered, because the usual temple coffee (always decaf) was unusually strong & tasty. Had a lot of catching up to do with friends I hadn't seen in a while. Spent a long time there, stayed up late (caught up on TV shows I'd recorded). And was able to sing a little bit—our new rabbi is a singer-guitarist; between him, the cantor and the kids' music director the Shabbat services are like Jewish campfire singarounds. Ironic that for the first one I've attended other than High Holy Days or funerals I'd have laryngitis. This a.m. I have the bottom 2/3 of my my range back, to about the D “inside the staff,” but last night the entire middle was missing. The cantor says to gargle with salt water and drink as much water as I can stand.

PontiacPeggy

Sandy, sounds like you had a great time last night. What a feast of goodies!! Glad you are starting to improve. Take care of yourself!!

Nancy, I thought I was the only one who made coolrise pizza. Haven't made it in ages. So much better than anything I buy. With just me, it's far too much. Maybe I'll make it for the kids sometime. Geez it sounds good!

HUGS!

Freya244117

It usually does cool down overnight, but once it starts being hot for a week or two the warm air just sits there and becomes stifling. This heat is an aberration for us, but it has happened for the last couple of years now, so perhaps our new normal. As for our winters, we have our combustion heater going for 7 months straight, and often get snowed in.

Lacey, hooray from me too, what a relief.

Nance, I am often shocked at the poor hygiene of adults. There is no excuse.

Pizza and sour cherry pie, oh yum. I am making a big batch of swedish meatballs, we will have a some for dinner with salad and the rest will be frozen.

Minus, what a nice night. Living remotely, live shows are one thing I miss a lot.

HappyHammer

Great news, Lacey!!!

So I made a "stir fry" with 2 chicken breasts and all of the veggies in the fridge that jumped in...had it over rice...meal in a bowl.  Easy and good!

MinusTwo

Hammer - I LOVE stir fry. i LOVE 'bowls'. Maybe this is my new destiny. Maybe I should get a rice cooker.

ChiSandy

Went to the movies tonight, and saw La La Land. Afterward, we went into the attached restaurant (Carbon Arc) and shared salad, gouda mac & cheese, and fried chicken with biscuits & gravy. Still managed to have leftovers. Tomorrow we’re going back to see Hidden Figures and Manchester By the Sea, with dinner in between. (The theater lets you take a tray from the restaurant to your seat). Thursday night Bob doesn’t have office hours, so we’ll stay down in Oak Lawn and see Moonlight.

The reason we’re seeing so many movies in such a short time is that Cellars hosts an annual Oscar Night party, and the winner who guesses the most awards correctly gets a bottle of wine, a poster with caricatures of the nominees drawn by the chef-owner’s brother, and their autograph on the “Oscar Wiener” (a large inflatable Oscar Meyer Wiener that sits above the bar). I missed most of the parties because I was always out of town at Folk Alliance International in various cities over the years, but this is the second year I opted not to attend—it’s getting more & more like the Folk Music Hunger Games. One year Bob won. Last year we pooled our entries, and ended up in a tie with one other patron—but lost the tiebreaker (whoever most closely guesses the time the end credits begin to roll).

Freya244117

Nance, I meant to ask, how do you keep your chicken stock? I used to freeze mine, then a few years ago bought a Presto pressure canner. It took hubby a while to trust that I wasn't going to poison him.