So...whats for dinner?

Fun or work, Susan? Either way, have a safe and enjoyable trip! And yes, it is good to see the sun here...will save some up for your return.

Susan - have a good trip.  We'll look forward to hearing about the meals.

I bought a DVD at Target a month and it came with a free pizza.  It may be total crap but pulled it out of the freezer & the oven is heating for pepperoni.  Maybe I'll decorate with some mushrooms.  I'll add a salad & make do w/salad alone if the pizza is cardboard.

carole - hope DH's biopsy is inconsequential.  My DH just had his physical at the military facility on base and must have both a shoulder x-ray for continued pain, and a CT of the abdomen due to some previous discomfort that he had for a while, but has now resolved.  The doc wants a look, but it is nerve wracking.  We just lost a friend suddenly at the end of last week, so we are both on edge - she didn't feel good for a couple of days prior, but not bad enough to go to the ER, then she collapsed and died on the bathroom floor.  She was in her mid-50's - don't know exactly what happened yet.  DH's physical was the next day, so he consented to the abdominal imaging, needless to say.  When I cook for a crowd or a party I lose interest in the food for myself - don't know why.  I almost never eat at my own parties other than tasting while I cook.

So! The Tuscan Kitchen was really good. They pride themselves on everything being made from scratch. It is rather classic Italian in decor, and large, but the way the tables are arranged (and they have a lot of  nicely designed booths to allow for conversation amid the din), it is pretty comfortable.                 There is a neat market with all sorts of homemade Italian baking products, and pastas, ravs, meats, cookies, gelato, etc. I scored some 00 flour which made me very happy. After dinner we picked up some Italian macaroons in case our Saturday evening dessert guests tonight didn't like the tiramisu. 

Dinner was great....the fried calamari, most tender I have ever tasted, came with crispy cherry peppers and a wonderful lemon basil sauce. DH thought he was ordering a gnocci appetizer, but it was not gnocci at all, but a tray of fried dough (our interpretation) with the best prosciutto and fig jam. For entrees, DS2 had the lobster ravioli which was chuck full of lobster pieces, DH had cod steak with saffron risotto, and I had flank steak with a saffron rice cake. All of the dinners were so tasty, if a bit heavy on the salt. I must remember to ask waitstaff to request no extra salt for me!

Once home, I finished making the tiramisu for tonight so it could sit overnight.  It was not really hard at all, just more assembling than anything else. I like that I now know how to make sabayon (sp?).So the   tiramisu turned out well, our friends liked it a lot, and went home with an extra container of it. Need to give away more to neighbors. Way too easy to eat!

We walked up to Sweet Basil tonight for dinner....more calamari (pretty standard), a delicious maple laced gnocci appetizer, which was great, and then their typical huge entrees:   Lamb shank with veggies and polenta, creamy rosemary chicken over ziti, and a tomato sauced veal dish with farfalle. We all took a lot home. We had a travelogue of Italy along with our tiramisu. Fun evening. These friends were supposed to be in Hawaii now but postponed their trip due to the hurricane, and are especially happy they are not there given the volcano eruptions!

Edited later for spelling errors and such!

lacey - thanks, it was such a shock and she was what I consider still young. She had stayed home from work for a day, felt better the next day and went shopping with a friend, next morning not so good, so her DH said lets go to the ER. She was getting ready and collapsed, he did CPR, but whatever happened it was catastrophic and she couldn't be revived. I'm worried for her DH (he used to work for my DH), he was treated for blood clots in his lungs a couple of years ago. They have no children so now he will be on his own, and they were very close. It is just so sad.

Carole, it becomes more clear why you are the chief entree provider for the Sunday gatherings at your moms. And you may already know that farro was the grain eaten by the ancient Romans. I really like it.....but then I like kale, too!  There is some farro that takes less long to cook....I have both to use when I have more or less prep time. Do let us know what you think of your ancient grain.

Carole, we have a family member like your brother, except it's because she is a terrible cook. She usually is assigned an appetizer or drinks lol!

I spent a huge chunk of money on a 5lb USDA *prime* beef roast and a chicken. I had wanted to surprise folks and didn't call until today.

Chicken, the roast, asparagus wrapped in bacon, sourdough rolls and twice baked potatoes have all been spiced and made ready for their time in the oven.

None of the grandmothers are feeling well enough to come over, DD has a church commitment I didn't know about and Sharon's allergies are making her feel "not so great". 

Special, that's kind of scarey.  When I hear that happening to someone I know, it always makes me wonder what happened and also wonder if I'm "in the same boat".

As for the extreme shock and no time to grieve ahead of time versus being able to grieve ahead of time as one watches  events inexorably move on.  For me, the latter was worse.

steak, roasted potatoes and a veg

Duck fat will keep for months in the fridge if you strain it.

Tonight we had spaghetti with chicken thigh ragu and salad.

Mo

Special, maybe describing it a "salvage" store is a bit extreme, but there is a real variety of "stuff" there...many home things, garden things (yes, chicken wire!),  recreation items, stationery, tools, random clothes, etc., etc,., and food items! I think they bill themselves as a discount store that specializes in overruns and overstock, but there are clearly some rescued items sporting a whiff of smoke, so who knows where all the stuff comes from. But they do have so many undamaged shelf stable food items.....inexpensive coffee, teas, nuts, crackers, and a ton of interesting canned goods, pastas, etc. I was happy to get my ladyfingers there at a much less expensive price than I might have at an Italian specialty shop. But....my cart was pretty full of other stuff by the time I found them.

Some of the food carts were actually open today! Had a spring roll with peanut sauce that was excellent and well priced. Dinner was at an expensive restaurant. A lovely salad with walnuts and blue cheese. Then trout with haricot vert and roasted potatoes. Excellent! Rain, mist and sun today. Did a lot of walking plus work. Dinner with old friends. Determined to stay on EST... not here long enough to switch over.

*susan*

Lacey - kinda sounds like Tuesday Morning. I find lots of food stuffs there. And Marshalls/TJ Maxx though I always check the expiration date. Seems like would be a fun store to go through. Sometimes I find interesting things at Cost Plus World Market.

Nancy - a ladyfinger baking pan? Wow.

Tonight is chicken alfredo alas with a jarred sauce. You know - use it up. Deli had some uber expensive squashy vegie medley that they also had pre-cut in produce dept. I bought some zucchini, yellow squash, a very small acorn squash (the medley had butternut which they had but they were huge). Think I will try it. Have onion, red peppers and garlic always. Also a jar or 2 of roasted red peppers and prob. some sun dried tomatoes. DH will not know what hit him - haha. The cooked deli one was $6.99/lb. I don't think I'm anywhere near that cost and I'm sure mine won't be floating in as much greasy looking liquid.

OK I'm collecting bits/pieces for the black eyed pea stew. Found the andouille at Albertsons. Do I expect it to be hot or only mildly so? I think I will make it and freeze portions for us and DD for New Years.

Special - so sorry about your friend. Hoping her DH has plenty of other support around him.

made hamburgers, fries and baked beans