So...whats for dinner?

Lovely ideas on the pans, but we are flying so I do have to remain reasonable. This woman cooked dinner every single night of her life practically. We just ate differently. Did you know that pork chops should be baked between 7 and 8 hours? I will find someway to cook. I have rented houses all over Europe that had very poorly equipped kitchens, so I can't imagine what she has is worse. If I am really lucky, I might find old cast iron out in the toolshed. I am hopeful.

We are driving back, so if I find black gold, I can bring those back. Will also bring some of the regional pickles and Lily's flour.

*susan*

Snacks - I won't give up chocolate either.  But I do like radishes & English cukes, black olives, cheese.  Popcorn is always good & I cook it in a plain paper lunch bag in the micro w/no fat.  Then it HAS to have melted butter. Agree that pretzels are good.  Found some small crackers I like at Trader Joe's - Roasted Gorgonzola Flavored Oven Crisp Crackers.  And oh dear - I still like Ruffles w/ridges - and I know this is the wrong thread - but once I start on Cheetos I can eat the whole bag  So much for healthy.  Guess I got carried away.

Oddly enough, I can buy Lily White flour here.

Deb.  I'm glad you checked in.  Again, I'm thinking of you.  And, if you're thinking what I think you might be thinking......the lake sounds nice.

Tonight was a "go out" to eat night.  It was around 110F/40C today and I spent 5 hours on the roof at my mom's house. She noticed the air conditioner wasn't working right, but didn't want to bother me.  I wish she had called because the problem went from an easy 45 minute fix to one of those "nightmares on the roof" that I hate.

I used to do this for college money and I hated those all day rooftop jobs..both because of the uninterrupted heat and because I didn't like delivering "the money news".

At least the inside of mom's house is no longer in the 90F range.

Jenjenl - I am not much of a snacker except for my daily dose of ice cream. I would eat whole grain crackers with cheese or sliced apples with peanut butter if I could handle it.  Just can't take the dryness of crackers right now.Those little individual pudding cups are pretty good, especially if you need a chocolate fix.  And Greek yogurt work for me.

I have had to back off berries as they seem to trigger a nausea attack.  I think there is a little too much acid.  Watermelon and bananas are ok.

I can't eat salty snacks - chips, nuts, popcorn - all my favorites. 

Jen, no small kids--or kids of any age!--in this house.  We eat dinner late, about 7 pm, after having a cocktail or glass of wine.  So no snacking after dinner.  If I were to snack, I would have fruit or melon.  Right now, I have apples, bananas, purple seedless grapes, cherries, and melon on hand. 

My snacks are during the day and are fruit.  Or Laughing Cow spreadable cheese on a Wasa cracker or Triscuit or celery.  There's a yummy new flavor of Laughing Cow--white cheddar.  I buy it at Sam's in 3 packs.  Your kids might like opening the little triangle packs.  You could make your own crispy tortilla chips out by cutting up tortillas and crisping them in the oven.  Home-made salsa is good.  You could make it mild for the kids. 

Popcorn is one of my favorite snacks.  The Orville Redenbacker butter flavored.  I pop it and spray it with some butter spray.  You can also sprinkle with celery salt or onion salt.  I skip the salt.  DH uses the celery salt.

Crudites are delicious with home-made dips.  You can use Greek yogurt and sour cream and other additions.  Maybe a way to get kids to eat raw veggies.  I go through stages when I keep cut up carrots and celery in the refrigerator for snacking with hummus.  Hummus!  Another great home-made snack.

I guess I know more about snacks than I realized!

Dinner last night was warmed-up brown rice and broccoli casserole (I love that dish!) and crispy catfish.  I had one large filet, no more than about 4 oz for each of us.  I cut it into strips and seasoned with my own cajun mixture, then lightly sprinkled it with cornmeal.  Panfried it crispy in a little grapeseed oil and a pat of butter.  Mixed up a quick tartar sauce of mayo, horseradish, and dill relish.  Da-dah!  Dinner.

Tonight I must make a carrot pineapple salad for dh.  He happened to see Ina making this salad and announced that he liked carrot salad.  I asked whether he wanted canned or fresh pineapple and he replied, "Ina says she always uses fresh."  So fresh it will be!

Today starts a series of dr. apptments before we depart on June 18th for vagabond summer.  I have an ultrasound of ovaries and an exam. by the  gyn NP.  Yippee.  Tomorrow stitches removed from incision on face at PS's office  and ultra sound of armpits and chest at my BC dr.'s office.  No mammograms any more, thank goodness, since we got rid of the breast tissue.    

I am not a snacker either.  My friend found some packaged pretzel shells that were really good, had the salt, but no insides...very low in calories, can make a dip using yogurt.  i also munch on the veges when making a salad.

Everyone talking about the naan breads...they are great for making pizza and go great on the grill

I grilled asparagas and onion rings last night.  Just sprayed my grilling pizza pan and put the stuff on that. Just used the store bought onion rings and they came out nice and crispy. used lemon pepper and olive oil on the aspar...sooo good along with strip steaks.  Had strawberry shortcake for desert.

Deb - my thoughts are with you and your family.

I've canned dill relish for years.  Hubby hates sweet relish, and I'm not fond of the purchased dill relish - it doesn't taste like dill to me, just tastes sour.  So I can my own . 

To make tartar sauce I use Best Foods mayo, homemade dill relish, a little horseradish (creamy) and a squirt of lime or lemon juice (I prefer lemon).

Susan, please post it, I have been looking for a good tartar sauce. I rarely eat it, since I prefer lemon on fish, but DH loves it and occasionally I want it too. Blechhhh on the jar stuff. Btw, DH will eat homemade thousand island dressing (mayonnaise based) with a spoon if I don't keep an eye on him.



Luv, I bought another package of those horrible windmill cookies at trader Joe's. I put them in the freezer but I can hear them talking to me through the door. A word of advice, don't let them anywhere near the nutella jar.

Susan... Me too on the tartar sauce when you get a chance!



Minus... Interesting idea with the microwave popcorn in brown lunch bag. Do you have to fasten the top closed somehow? And it requires no oil? If it works, I could get rid of my hot air popper that I hang on to because I use it when I make carmel corn once every blue moon! Soooo not healthy but, soooooo good! PS... I can find those windmill cookies at Wegman's here but I think it is grocery chain confined to the NE. If you can find them they are really good!



Laurie... Heat, pool time and margaritas! Sounds like a good time! I planted my flowers this weekend (well 90% of them) but it was slow going! Just too hot! Planted most of my veggies and will get to the rest of the flowers/veggies tomorrow with temps in the 70's rather than almost 90! So NOT complaining though! Beats the heck out of snow!

Seaside - I have tried several different kinds. Little Dutch Maid is one of them, not fond of them but I do like Archway which my local grocer stopped carrying. If you get to TJs and like almond windmills try a box. They will call to you like they call to Nancy and to me. I stop up my ears.

TJ's windmill cookie + 1 Tbs nutella = dessert