So...whats for dinner?

LovingMyMom,

Taken me some time to respond, and I still don't know what to say. But, I do thank you for coming here and posting. That could not have been easy for you. Sending your Mom all of my good thoughts.... this is a very hard time for her. As Lacey said, if there is anything specific that we can actually do, please just throw out a generic "help" message, and those of us who are local will negotiate how we can make it happen amongst us.

For example, I know I am headed to Nashua next week. Can I pick up some dry cleaning? Go to the grocery store? Run down a turkey sandwich?

*susan*

Joyce, thank you for checking in with us. I knew that this news had to be so difficult for you. You and Michelle are such close friends, and I am glad for you both that you are nearby...for Rick too. My heart breaks for him. I hope they can find some peace and enjoyment in this trip. I'm sure Michelle will get to that beautiful beach despite her ambulatory limitations.

As Susan said, if you know how we can provide some support to Michelle and her family, please put the call out. Also, Joyce, if you would like to talk during this painful time, please PM me. Am thinking of you and sending you strength too. (((((((Joyce))))))

Tonight's dinner was a crap shoot. Could have gone either way. I was seduced by some bright red cubanelle peppers at the local farm. I hate bell peppers, but these looked both interesting, and beautiful. I made a sofrito of sorts and then whizzed some linguica sausage in the food processor. Chiriozo would have been better but didn't have that. I then mixed together the sofrito, and sazon seasoning mix that I made in the spice grinder, and a bit of whizzed tomato. The rest of the tomato went onto the bottom of the baking pan, and I stuffed the four peppers with the sausage mixture. Baked for an hour. Oh and topped with a bit of cheese half way through. Then made Daisy's Puerto Rican rice.

This was actually pretty good! If there is a next time, I think I would make my own meat mixture for stuffing so it could be a bit more interesting. Linguica starts to seem a bit one note while eating a whole pepper. Two peppers remain and will get eaten tomorrow, no doubt.

*susan*

Susan, sounds like a good dish, and as usual I am impressed with your use of homemade ingredients!



I think the cool air got me into true "fall" mode today....and I decided to use some of my newly purchased kale (red Russian variety that was beautiful), and local tomatoes to make a kale, roasted tomato, and onion pizza with feta. Also made a mushroom onion pizza...always our favorite.....but not tonight since the roasted tomato/kale one was so rich with flavor.



Watching the Red Sox tonight reminds me that the nite we went to the game, yes, DH had one of those "death in a bun" sausages with onions and peppers, which he savored.....and I actually even had a "monstah hot dog"....I guess that could count as "ICU in a bun". Rarely do I ever eat hot dogs.....but boy was that tasty with the deli mustard and relish. Yum.......

A number of rapidly ripening tomatoes and a wealth of giant marconi peppers convinced me to make cacciatore tonight. I also made a very nice focaccia with some rosemary from my herb garden and garlic confit that I made several days ago. It was then baked in a cast iron skillet. With a small amount of angel hair pasta, it was a pretty hearty meal. Lunch tomorrow will probably be paninis with the remaining focaccia

Perfect, Laurie!



Nance, your culinary creations sound yummy!

On my walk today, I passed a nearby garden that was sporting just so many bright red ripe tomatoes....all I could think of was how many people help themselves to one on the way by.....the unfenced garden is right near the sidewalk. Anyway, I quelled any antisocial urges, but am very tempted to ask our woodchuck why he prefers our pathetic yard with chewed over kale to this neighbor's bounty!

I haven't been on in quite a while. Christine, I am so very sorry to hear the news of Michelle. My thoughts and prayers go out to Michelle, Rick and your whole family. You too Joyce. I met Michelle and Rick and they are a special couple. I am praying Michelle will shock the doctors at the next scan with remission. (((((Hugs))))) to everyone on the thread. I know we're all hurting.

Lol  on the painting   I looove to paint and always tell my friends that and they will frequently ask me to help.  People think I am nuts, but I love to see new color and a clean room..it is always such a shame to put the furniture back.

My DH fell really badly flat on his back this morning at work and is down and out.  He will not let me take him to the ER, so here we sit on a Sat night nursing him.  He cant even walk. I pray nothing is broken as he fell aprox 8 feet straight down! So I have been cooking all day to keep busy.  Blueberry buckle for Sun morning breakfast. beef barley soup to use up leftovers. and linquini in vodka sauce, using up some garden tomatos.

I picture Michelle sitting in a comfy lounge chair on the beach soaking up the sun tha she loves so much.

OK, Nance, I'm also signing up to watch your "farm to table" cooking show!

Sounds so yummy. Dinner was italian sausages from the freezer my DH grilled last time we had brats. Sauteed red and green peppers and onions. Over whole wheat pasta and just some Prego sauce. Not bad, but not my best either.

Michelle and Rick and family,

I am so glad that you are enjoying yourself on the island.  You are on my mind.

We are having a beautiful late summer's day here in New England.

I'm finally making Southwestern Corn Chowder. 

And I still can't post my dang cats' picture. 

Anyone able to help if I email it to you? Can be a 'fake' address, I just think it's hysterical.  They're watching me clean.

OK, A tip from a pro.  You can mix pancake mix and put it in an old ketchup bottle and save it to make pancakes, then make your loved one his or her own "branded" pancake by first squeezing out his inital or name, give it a few minutes to get darker, then cover the whole thing with batter and cook as usual.

Can't cook, eh?  Uh huh, Uh huh.

I you are good this weekend, I might remind you how to make "impossible tuna pie" with bisquick

Found a sitter for my place and kitties while I'm gone.  He's a grad student of my friend's and super nice.

So Carole, if you are still in the northern midwest, I suspect you are getting that blast of heat there.

Our day was beautiful.....warm in the sun, and cool in the shade. A perfect day for walking, so we walked up to the farmer's market after the Patriots and Red Sox finished their games. Bought some basic stuff... tomatoes, lettuce, cukes, corn, and some sea scallops from the fish monger, which we marinated in a fajita sauce and grilled along with some veggies. Also made guacamole over lettuce, and had corn on the cob.



Carrie, I hope your husband is feeling better and/or got some medical attention in case he broke or badly sprained anything. Sounded like a nasty fall.



Sunday nite = Breaking Bad. Does anyone else watch this insanely evil series? For a person that enjoys happy endings, I am amazed that I am totally hooked on the characters in this show, knowing full well that there can be no way it ends well for most anyone!!