So...whats for dinner?

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  • Lacey12
    Lacey12 Member Posts: 2,951
    edited April 2014

    SpecialK....also in your pocket with caring wishes. Best of luck to you. I know you will keep us posted!

    I also marvel at Nance's culinary endeavors? Impressive! :)

    Hope you keep safe, Luv! Our news showed some concerning weather in TX.

    Tonight's dinner was fun, but less impressive in the larger venue....they need to work out some kinks to serve a larger crowd. They had many (not exactly sure how many...maybe 18?) tables for eight (we shared ours with six of our friends) in a lovely large function room with a huge blow up screen to show the movie. Last year people focused more on their food curse than the movie, and tonight the restaurant owners hoped to have people focus more on the movie WELL, whether planned or not, we all did, since the courses were very slowly served. Complaints aside (can you tell I was hungry!), here's what we had:

    - Lots of good red and white wine (never took down the names, but our fellow diners felt they were good quality wines)

    -ricotta solata/olive oil/herb spread to use on Italian bread

    - absolutely the best chicken broth soup I've ever tasted, with pasta tubes and celery leaves

    - red(with shrimp) white (with mussels) green (with pesto) risottos (to die for!)

    - Timpano (to REALLY die for!!) Look it up under Big Night. OMG!!! We all couldn't stop raving about the  deliciousness  of this comfort food! We all promused we will have our own Big Night and make this for the main course.

    - wonderfully roasted chicken with rosemary flavored carrots, quartered potatoes and spinach

    - roasted whitefish with lemon 

    - dessert was a tray of absolutely delightfully light cannoles and some chocolate covered confections and biscotti that our table never received due to staff inattention. We did finally get a solo plate of the cannoles which we tried despite the  fact that we were fully sated! Yum...

    Aside from the service being extremely slow, and the presentation of the timpano, chicken and fish being less exciting than it used to be in the intimacy of the resturant, it was a good night!   Suffice it to say, I am stuffed! And we enjoyed the movie once again....

  • debbie6122
    debbie6122 Member Posts: 5,161
    edited April 2014

    Monica-
    Yes the kale chips will kind of disentergrate in your mouth if you cook
    them too long just take them out when they start to brown around the
    edges. I kind of like them though when they crumble in your mouth.

    Vivian-
    Wow, what a nice dinner menu, you had me drooling. Happy belated
    birthday and happy birthday to both sons. (did that make sense?)

    Congrats on every one getting a refund guess it pay's to read. ha!

    Carole- yay on finishing your painting. That's a chore in it self not to mention cooking.

    Nancy-
    I also am impressed by the home made butter. I thought all you did was
    whip whipping cream until it turns to butter but after reading the link
    you posted it is more involved than I thought

    Bedo- well, that
    just sucks that you lost your ins. I hope you get it straightened out. I
    remember you doing the community garden last year and how much zucchini
    you had. You can put some in my car anytime lol!

    Lacey- What a great idea for dinner and a movie! Love that. OMG your dinner sounded fabulous! Never heard of timpano is it meat? Will have to google it I guess.

    Eric- Had to laugh at your response to DD, Glad it was only a scratch!

    SpecialK- Hope every thing goes well during your surgery! 

    Luvmygoats- Sounds like a lot to report, tornoadoes?? Yikes!! Stay safe!!

  • debbie6122
    debbie6122 Member Posts: 5,161
    edited April 2014

    I was afraid I would lose my post before I finished, so I sent it. but wasn't quite done talking yet! Ha!

    My Rant:  On facebook the other day I went to my aunt Marge's time line to see if she posted anything and see how she was, I was upset to see some post on there that said RIP etc..My aunt (my dads sister) passed away she was the last of my dads siblings, I talked to her right around christmas time, she wasn't feeling that well, but we had some laughs and cried on the phone, I didn't stay in contact with to many people from my dads side of the family since all his siblings passed away. So I asked on there did my aunt Marge pass away? Her grand-daughter, (second cousin?) whom I really don't know said yes, sorry I had to hear it this way and that she passed in January. Since then I found out that my Dad's wife (Roberta) whom most of you know that the family does not talk to her, she got a call when my aunt marge passed and did not bother to tell the family about it. Most people on my dads side had no Idea that we were not in touch with Roberta we didn't really want people to know how we felt it was not something we wanted to advertise about. But I am so fit to be tied that she didn't tell us about it. I can not believe some one can be so mean!! As much as I dislike her, I have never treated her bad or said amean word to her face because we didn't want my dad to know and be unhappy and this is how she repays us!! Just so wrong!! Ok done ranting thanks for letting me vent!!

    Laurie- How are you doing being home alone with the boys and how is your MIL?

  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited April 2014

    Thanks everyone!  I am leaving for the hospital in a bit, but can't sleep (or eat!) so I came here!  The good news is that even though DH is out of town I have leftover dinner from the last two nights, so I have plenty to snack on after I get home.  Dinner last night was an apple!  I will be lean and mean in the OR!

    Mods - thank you for the encouragement and support - so sweet!

    luvmygoats - yes, I have girlfriends helping me out - one taking me there, another picking me up, another taking the dog out!  I am a fortunate girl!

    lacey - wow on the menu for the movie night - I enjoyed that film!

    debbie - sorry about the family drama - why do people do things like that?  I have a bit of that with my SIL - she stayed in touch after my brother passed away, but I have not heard from her in a long time.  She dropped off the radar about the time she started dating someone new and she got engaged within the last year, announced it on Facebook - which I am not on, but heard about it from my daughter - but never called me to tell me personally.  That is minor compared to your situation, but I don't know why people can't act right!

  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 4,216
    edited April 2014

    Good luck Special, hope all turns out well.

    Debbie, that is so wrong. My DH's cousin died last year. The family had a rather acrimonious relationship with his wife (2nd one), however his mother tried to make peace and maintain the relationship. No such luck. When he died, the wife informed no one in the family, not even his mother or his children, nor were they mentioned in the obit (although her children were). They found out months later because a friend mailed his mother a clipping of the obituary. DH's aunt was deeply hurt and saddened and she is a complete sweetheart to everyone. She deserved so much better.

    Lacey, the food sounds fantastic even if the delivery left something to be desired. Please tell us about timpano.

    Luv, hope you are all safe! We had nearly 4 inches of rain but missed the damaging stuff.


  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited April 2014

    Home and resting comfortably. Implant removed, repair done, culture then IV abx, new and smaller implant to not stretch the skin so much. Wearing a patch behind my ear to ease nausea - had some chicken soup - that hit the spot! Glad to be done!

  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited April 2014

    special - so glad you came through & are home.  Sounds like the surgery achieved the goal.  Now just some more days of lying around - but you can do it!!

  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited April 2014

    New Mexico Green Chili (flat) enchiladas w/chicken for lunch.  My nephew & wife from Hawaii are in town and they miss the Native American based NewMexican food - as opposed to Tex-Mex.  Luckily we have one restaurant in all of Houston that prepares & serves it.  Lots of chips and two (yes 2) margaritas.  (seems almost like before BC)  They also now makes guacamole table-side.  Diners watch a huge bowl of avocados get smashed and choose which & how much they want of 10 different condiments.  Nice touch.  No dinner for me!!

  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited April 2014

    Minus - this time I am really laying around doing nothing - taking no chances because this is it!

  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 4,216
    edited April 2014

    Special, glad things went well and you are taking it easy.

    Went to the city today to pick up our bikes. Also wound up getting a new laptop. WIth Windows xp support ending soon, our computers are too old to be updated so it was time to replace. I had decided to go with a laptop instead of desktop (dh is a desktop man though) but really wasn't looking to buy quite yet, however,  best buy had an open box model that suits my needs at an awesome price, so I did it. Now I have to learn Windows 8.1. Ugh, I really really liked xp. I hate setting up new computers more than a new phone even.

    At dh's request, it was taco night. Sides of Spanish rice and guacamole. As usual, I'm craving ice cream after spicy food.



  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 4,216
    edited April 2014

    Minus, I LOVE New Mexico food the best too.



  • Lacey12
    Lacey12 Member Posts: 2,951
    edited April 2014

    Special, glad all went well for you today!

    Nance, here's a link to the authentic "Big Night" timpano recipe. Now I can easily see you making this. My next door neighbor is busy trying to collude with me to make it. We will have to host a crowd!

    http://www.nytimes.com/recipes/12799/drum-of-ziti-...

    I believe this recipe comes from Stanley Tucci's mother's cookbook, Cucina e Famiglia (if I recall correctly). 

    I have to admit, I am rather ignorant as to the difference between Tex Mex and New Mexican food.

    Oh Eric, loved your handling of DD's incident. And glad it was just a scrape.

    If I may indulge in a bit of health related venting/stressing....skip over if you like.....

    I have been off Tamox for three weeks tomorrow, and am soon supposed to email my MO about how things have gone, and she wants to prescribe the AI for me. Well, for the past week plus, I have felt great! While the allergies are not gone, (tho today they were good since I now am trying high dose of Vitamin C to manage them)my sleep is so much better, and most importantly, my energy is back along with my brain functioning! I can initiate and complete tasks, think clearly and remember things...even names. I am "present" for the first time in almost a year.  Bottom line....I DO NOT WANT TO TAKE ANYMORE HORMONAL THERAPY!!! I hate presenting myself as an irresponsible resistant patient to my MO, but it seems the longer I take hormonal manipulating meds, the worse my quality of life gets.  I feel so stuck between a rock and a hard place.......it's really depressing. :(  I keep thinking that because my oncotype score was the lowest my surgeon had ever seen, (4) I just might be able to get away with no more meds.....but I'm sure MO will not feel that way. I could use any advice any of you ladies who take AIs have for me. Guess I worry that when I start an AI I will get awful hand pain (I already have plenty of that, but am, as yet, not hand crippled),  and the muscle and bone pain my neighbor has had, which totally disrupts her from work outs. I have spent a full year chasing fat cells successfully with careful diet and regular rigorous exercise. If I become unable to work out like I do, for sure the weight will return, and horrors to think about my mood change along with it! Oy! Any advice? Appreciate it! :/

  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 6,887
    edited April 2014

    Lacey, you don't have any dx info on a signature line.  Were you Stage 1 IDC?  That's what my dx was.  My oncotype was 9, which was terrific.  I had BMX to get rid of all breast tissue if possible.  Because of the oncotype score I did not have chemo and no rads since the breast tissue was removed.  Still my BC dr. (also my surgeon) prescribed arimidex.  By taking it, I was (supposedly) reducing my risk by 4 1/2 percent, half the oncotype no.  So you are reducing your risk by 2 percent.  Yours is the lowest score I've ever seen.

    In your place I probably would not take a hormonal therapy if it messes with your life quality that much.  I have tolerated arimidex better than a lot of women.  But when I discontinued it on my own in late Dec. through Jan. for the duration of our trip to AUS, I did enjoy not having the body temperature changes, warm flushes, and I think I kept the weight gain down to a more reasonable number than I would have otherwise.  The worse thing you can do on an AI is quit exercising.  The more activity the better most women tolerate the drug. 

    Maybe you should give an AI a try just to see for yourself how it affects you.  And then make your own decision.  Life quality is important and it sounds as though you're sacrificing quite a bit of life quality in reducing risk that may not be great anyway.  Remember that health professionals believe in what they do.  Surgeons perform surgery, etc. 

    The only reason for the 5 yrs period is that the studies were done for that length of time.  I'm considering going off my arimidex a few months early.  My 5 yrs are up in Sept. 

    Hope I haven't muddied the waters!


  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 6,887
    edited April 2014

    Dinner last night was meat sauce (red) out of the freezer and whole wheat linguine.  I'm enjoying the wheat pasta.  WW doesn't give me any break on the points but I think it's better for me as a pre-diabetic to eat the wheat if it's slower digesting  Any thoughts on that, Nance?  What makes the pasta and sauce good is a generous amt. of fresh-grated romano cheese.  I'm a cheese-oholic and wish I could eat as much as I would enjoy eating.

    We also had a good veggie salad with pear-infused white balsamic and lemon flavored EVOO.  I like the taste of white balsamic and I don't like the brown balsamic on my pretty salad even though we have an aged variety that is really tasty.  DH sprinkles extra brown balsamic on his salad because he really likes it.  We order it from the Vinegar Museum in Roselyn (sp?) SD!  No, it's not antique vinegar!  The Vinegar Museum has an interesting back story.  If you have time to waste, google it.  They have a website. 

    I've never heard of timpani either. 

  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 4,216
    edited April 2014

    Carole, if you like the wheat pastas I would say eat them by all means. Whole grain choices will always be a better choice for diabetics. For me,  pasta fanatic that I am, the only wheat pasta I can stand is trader Joe's. As far as glucose levels, I don't notice a significant difference in mine between them. I don't even have good luck with  Dreamfields, although I often use it. I just have to limit my portion size and adjust my insulin accordingly.I wish I liked them better, and I do like tj's, it's just not a good substitute for me in my favorite recipes.


  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 4,216
    edited April 2014

    Lacey, I'm with Carole, consider trying another AI before you decide. Tamoxifen is very different from the other AI's. I have lots of aches and pains, some from letrozole, some from being 66 years old, but exercise helps tremendously and Venlafaxene controls the hot flashes. I have arthritic hands, which I'm sure is aggravated by the drug, but I don't find it incapacitating. No brain fog that is not age related lol!  All in all,  it's all tolerable. That said, I too am looking forward to being done with it.

  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 4,216
    edited April 2014

    Carole, those vinegars sound fantastic. Pear infused? Wow!


  • naiviv
    naiviv Member Posts: 535
    edited April 2014

    Good morning all, I hope this post finds you all well.

    I am beyond stuffed from the past 4 days of eating and eating...lefttovers all gone. I have gained...I am sure. Today will be lots of liquid and salads, to make more room. Yup, one more BD this week. Tomorrow kids are suprising me, but am not sure where, was just told I have to be ready by 5... I will be good all day until breakfast.

    Starting Monday ...salads will be my middle name.

    V

  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited April 2014

    lacey - have you checked any of the threads devoted to natural estrogen suppression on BCO. I think there are at least a couple. Since your risk/reward is so low maybe a natural supplement will satisfy the need and be a compromise with your MO.

    On the pasta comments, I love pasta and didn't want to give it up but my diet only allows brown rice pasta. I have tried several brands and I really don't mind eating it.

    There is an oil and vinegar store here in Tampa, I will link below. I sent a oil/vinegar set to my MIL for Christmas. They have all kinds of flavors and this is a family business locally so I like supporting it. They definitely ship and the product is great.

    www.joeandsonsoliveoils.com

  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 6,887
    edited April 2014

    Wow, Nance, you're a "real" diabetic taking insulin.  I take one metformin a day.  Diabetes is such a scary disease.  So far I am the only female among my siblings who has the adult onset diabetes.  Two brothers also have it.  Two sisters and the youngest brother so far have normal sugar levels.  My father passed this on.

    The pear-infused white balsamic is the Alessi brand and I bought it at Walmart.  I was looking for the white balsamic by the same brand and bought what was available.  But I like the taste.  Vinaigrette is a favorite salad dressing but I also like Caesar a lot.  

    I cooked a big pot of chicken and sausage gumbo today for tomorrow's noon dinner at my mother's house.  I had thawed out two chickens.  I cut the legs off and will cook them tonight following a recipe for Creamy Baked Chicken with Artichokes and Mushrooms in Diabetic Cooking, a little publication with recipes.  I don't have any mushrooms but I do have canned artichoke hearts and fresh asparagus.  Fortunately, it turned a little cooler so I can use my oven without competing with the a/c.  

    Nance, I thought about you today when Martha Stewart was making individual chicken pot pies on her cooking show on PBS.  They sure looked yummy when she took them out of the oven.  I wonder if she still cooks and bakes.  I find her an excellent teacher and she seems to enjoy both cooking and baking. 

    Does anyone have a good recipe for wheat pancakes?  I've just about used up a box of Hungry Jack mix.  I was thinking that I could make my own mix of dry ingredients.  I would probably have to keep the container in the freezer. 

  • Momine
    Momine Member Posts: 7,859
    edited April 2014

    1.25 cups whole wheat flour (or buckwheat, which is better glycemically speaking), 0.25 cup rolled oats, 3 teaspoons baking powder, cinnamon to taste, pinch salt, mix well. Separately beat together 1.5 cups milk or buttermilk or kefir with 3 eggs. Stir into dry ingredients.

    You can also add chopped nuts to this and/or berries etc.

  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 4,216
    edited April 2014

    Carole, I got mine from my dad and his side of the family too. DH's dad was as are two of his sisters. 


  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited April 2014

    Another crazy dinner for one.  Raw broccoli, mushrooms, carrots & leftover roasted, sliced chicken breast - served cold to dip in Ranch dressing.  Oh and a large glass of Malbec from Australia.  Dessert will be fresh strawberries dipped in sour cream and then brown sugar after I log off. 

  • Moonflwr912
    Moonflwr912 Member Posts: 6,856
    edited April 2014

    Nance and Carole I got it from my Dad too. But out of 7 of my siblings I'm the only one. Of Course I'm also the only one to get bc. Lucky me .... LOL 

    Minus sounds like a good meal not too strange!

    Momine that sounds great. 

    Dinner was at My daughters bachelor party. After a crafting session decorating silk scarves we went to a restaurant I had a chicken.cranberry arugula and blue cheese wrap. Yum. Could only eat half cause of the snacks at the art studio.  Then they went off to the bar to watch the Badger's play in the final four. But his Mom and I ducked out to come home. 

    Much love. 

  • bedo
    bedo Member Posts: 1,866
    edited April 2014

    Nance,

    Made the batter tonight

    It is rising

    I chose the rosemary, and cheese recipe and will share it with my neighbor.

    Thank you so much!

    We'll see how it turns out

    I'm sure it will be yummy

  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 4,216
    edited April 2014

    Bedo, it will be wonderful. It's pretty foolproof.

  • Lacey12
    Lacey12 Member Posts: 2,951
    edited April 2014

    Oooooooh, that bread sounds so yummy, Bedo.....especially since I am holding the visuals in my head from the link you sent, Nance. I'm so torn about wanting to make that bread, and yet not wanting to have it  around tempting me to seriously blow my diet.....let us know how it worked for you, Bedo. 

    Carole and Nance, thanks for your thoughtful responses to my meds dilemma/vent. Not sure how I had my dx and rx data disappear. Dx in late August, 2011.  Right side IDC; 2.2cm tumor (combined with satellite micro cells?); stage 2 ; grade 2. Had lumpectomy with sentinel node dissection, and then a second margin clearing surgery. There were micro mets in one lymph node, but the surgeon explained that they do not count in statistics for my dx and rx. Never understood that....maybe because the radiation boosts zap them? Who knows? As I mentioned, oncotype was a 4, so no chemo.....just rads and rads boost, then started tamoxifen a month after rads in Jan, 2012.

    I am encouraged by both of your responses to your AI treatment. Guess I mostly worry about the cognitive impact (I don't want to give up my alertness and productivity again!) and the inevitable hand pain increase for me. I already have plenty. Ugh! Sadly, I seem very reactive to "hormonal manipulation".  I am currently avoiding dealing with this by not getting back to my MO yet........

    So in the spirit of avoidance, let's cook!    Yesterday I came across xanthan gum and bought it solely because I remember Carole using it......unchartered territory for me! ;) Also bought some oat flour which I may incorporate in banana bread. Other ideas welcome!

    Last night we had lamejun I picked up from a Middle Eastern store (love how all the men there do the cooking!), brussells sprouts, and cuke salad with feta.

    Tonight we'll have a turkey breast,  asparagus, and salad. Boy wouldn't a slice of Bedo's loaf go great to round out the meal.......;)

  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 4,216
    edited April 2014

    Lacey, don't forget the homemade butter lol!

    I have xanthan gum too and don't know how much to use for anything. The one time I tried it, the sauce got real thick real fast! Carole, give us pointers!

    Meatloaf tonight simply because a) I have six pounds of ground beef that hasn't made it to the freezer yet, and 2) I have been wasting the day setting up the new computer and don't have time to be creative. DH of course is thrilled.

    I'm baking bread too. A different no knead recipe that you make up in a large batch and bake as you need it. It works very well for us because I can make small loaves.


  • Lacey12
    Lacey12 Member Posts: 2,951
    edited April 2014

    Hahahaha Nance! ;) 

    I am about to google how I can use the "gum" in place of the corn starch called for in an asparagus soup I am making for tomorrow. As a spice girl, I'm a bit horrified that the only spice used in this recipe is bay leaf....may have to look at some other recipes while this one is in process. ;/ 

    So in my avoidant mode, I have made and applied a spice rub for the turkey breast, let it refrigerate for a few hours (should have done it last night!), just now browned it and placed it in the oven. DH needs to give a report at a search committee meeting at 7 PM. No way will we be finished dinner by then, so a very late dinner it will be.

    Meanwhile, I roasted a halved butternut squash and removed the pulp, and marinated some asparagus spears which will join the turkey breast in the oven closer to finish time. Garden salad seems like it will be good for this combo.

    And the black bananas are staring at me, so I need to get a fast recipe for banana bread to make for my neighbor who is busy dealing with parental loss and arranging her surviving parent assisted living placement. Always so hard.

    It is beautiful here today, and I went out and cleared the "debris" from my chives who are peeking out of the  herb planter. It felt great until I started to feel horribly itchy, so had to hole myself back up in the house again. Unable to take any allergy meds until I undergo allergy tests on Tuesday, so I guess I'll be indoors until then, complaining about my bad joints since for some reason they don't even allow celebrex (or practically anything else!)for 48 hours prior to testing. Today is day one w/o it. :/    At least it is pretty to look outside. :) 

  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 6,887
    edited April 2014

    It takes only a small amt of the zanthum gum to thicken a sauce.  I just sprinkle a bit onto the sauce and stir.  It works very well.  Has no taste much like corn starch.  To be honest I had forgotten about it. 

    I would like to make my own hot chocolate dry mix.  The idea occurred tonight when I was using a bought mix, Swiss Miss, and got out my cocoa powder to make my drink more "chocolatey."  I would guess that cocoa, dry milk powder and a sweetener would do the trick.  Maybe a nondairy creamer powder, too.  I'm looking for taste and low calories.  Does anyone have a recipe? 

    The chicken and sausage gumbo came out really good.  We also had jambalaya dinners that the church was serving (and selling for take home)  as part of a fund-raiser for covering the expense of children's camp this summer.  The jambalaya was tasty and also a little helping of navy beans and another little helping of coleslaw.  AND a brownie.  Temptation from the church! 

    No actual dinner for me tonight.  I had some delicious cantaloupe this afternoon and later some popcorn and a couple of cups of hot chocolate. 

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