So...whats for dinner?

Moon - great picture. Gorgeous baby!!!

Moon Lovely pic!

Special, I hope your friend is OK, glad that she has you for support

Lacey, glad you've rejoined planet Earth!

Susan, I could eat olives all day long. I love them in cream cheese, puttanesca sauce, and Hate martinis but would pluck one out of someone else's. Served them for the wedding planning lunch

Eric, those olives sound like the boiled peanuts they sell on the roadside in the South in the Blue Ridge Mtns

Went to Drag Bingo last night hosted by Miss Kitty Litter. What a bunch of nuts. Didn't win anything though....with about 400 people too much competition.

Made black bean soup in the crockpot but got a little carried away putting things in it-celery, carrots, onions, garlic, roasted red peppers, green pepper, cumin, oregano, vegetarian broth chili powder. Maybe some sour cream will calm it down. Hope everyone has a good day and sorry to those I missed. Mind like a rusty trap..just woke up!

Never could locate the turkey meatball recipe.  Decided it would be easier to make an Epicurious turkey meatloaf with one substitution, actually two:  green onions instead of white onions and common button mushrooms instead of cremini.  Have made this meatloaf before and like it a lot.  A side will be cauliflower mash, which I've cooked before and like as well.  It has potato in it .  Gives a little "heft" to the texture.  And a salad with spinach and arugula, cherry tomatoes, cucumber and avocado and feta. 

Nancy, it sounds like you're doing very well with your healing and recovery. 

I'm having problems with inflammation in my left foot.  Two new pairs of expensive shoes which I alternate wearing as instructed, a new insert, topical anti-inflammatory cream and regular doses of ibuprofen don't seem to be bringing any improvement.  Limping is becoming my new gait.  Rosanna Rosanna Dana was right when she said, It's always SOMETHING.

Tonight was a total short cut meal. Italian sausage from the market, ricotta and aged mozzarella from the Italian grocer, jarred pasta sauce and some penne rigate all tossed and baked. Total Italian-American comfort food. It was delicious, if a bit boring. There is enough left for about 6 servings. I will pack it up into two serving containers, reheat one this weekend and the other two dishes will go into the freezer. No way could we eat this four days in a row. My Italian grocer guy, Al Capone, makes his ricotta fresh every morning. It is incredibly delicious. I think he must add cream to the drained cheese for richness.

We are headed into the negative degree category tonight. Had already dropped dramatically when I headed to a client office at 4:30pm.

*susan*

Ouch Carole, what would be causing that? That's a pricey treatment, hope it works for you. Those foot problems can sure wreak havoc with your back.

carole - I broke my ankle badly in 2005, fractured the talus in two places, had soft tissue and nerve damage, and had to be in a non-weight bearing cast for 12 weeks.  Brooks are pretty much the only athletic shoes that I can wear that give enough support and don't cause discomfort - FWIW - I love them.  Hopefully they will work for you.

Carole, I also only wear Brooks sneakers for any walking or exercise. They were recommended by my podiatrist who followed me through six months of wearing a high foot brace to correct a collapsed arch (I'll spare you the history of how that happened after an accident and bone removal surgery). Anyway, once I was back in regular sneakers, he only recommended Brooks Ariel (along with a custom orthotic he made) for the level of support I need. So I've been in Brooks Ariels for five years, very happily, with no foot problems. However, recently, Brooks changed the Ariel design to a much narrower toe, much to my chagrin, and I've needed to change to (I think) the "addiction" design. Seems to be working well. Podiatrists seem to recommend Brooks a lot for the support they provide. My podiatrist gives a coupon so the price is reduced, which is a help. But there is no coupon for his custom $450 orthotics! Ha!

Tonight I made a red lentil soup which included lemon juice, baby spinach and cilantro at the end of cooking. It was really tasty. It had cumin, chili pepper, carrots, onion, etc., etc., in it and the recipe was from the gal who is running an "eat green" ( or some such name) course that I signed up for at Whole Foods. I missed it this week due to my hibernation, but will go next Tuesday. They are posting some nice recipes between classes.....thus that soup tonight.

I also made a sauté of kale, portobello mushrooms, garlic and roasted red peppers with mozzarella cheese on top. Served it with crusty bread and the soup. Lots of varied flavors!

I had to call my PC today since they need to change my PE appt. While on the phone, I left a message that I was not feeling much better from this blockheaded congestion and chesty cough....and a bit of a headache. The upshot is that I am now on an antibiotic, which should at least ward off any bacterial thing I am developing....that's often my virus trajectory.....from cold to sinus infection and/or bronchitis at this time of year. So hope this is the end.....especially since I am providing a meal for several 70 something's next week and would be loath to pass this germ on to them. I feel relieved about that.

Interestingly, my browser change to chromehas done little to help this IPad cooperate with typing on this site. Oh well....please understand any crazy words you see. Returning to correct is near impossible

One pair of Brooks is the Ariel.  I don't know what caused the inflammation.  Maybe pounding the pavement all these years with fast walking, my favorite aerobic exercise.  Also played tennis on "hard" courts for 35 years before switching to golf.  Guess these long skinny feet got a lot of use.  I think my problem probably comes under the heading Old Age.    At least I'm still limping and some people can't do that.  This morning I'm off to the gym.  The elliptical doesn't seem to bother my feet.  The treadmill does.  I was never a gym person but have become one out of necessity. 

Minus, nothing better than a good hamburger and fries.  Our favorite little lunch restaurant in Park Rapids, MN, serves battered fries that are probably the best fries I've ever eaten.  Lacey, I saved the recipe for red lentil soup that Susan recommended and read through it yesterday.  I want to make it soon.  Sounds similar to yours.

Tonight's dinner will be a re-make with leftovers.  One possibility is the chicken thighs incorporated into a quinoa dish with veggies.  Or the meatloaf in a tomato sauce with some of the home-made pasta.  Or with spaghetti squash.  I have a spagh. squash and a butternut squash on hand. 

Another beautiful sunny day, promised to be a bit warmer than yesterday.  Happy Saturday to all.

Minus, the Whataburger reference brought back some memories.

When Mickey and I would make something in the kitchen there were three categories for the results

• This is good as-is.
• Next time, let's try (and then what to try)
• When we have company over, let's not serve this.

That latter was reserved for the spectacular flops that had no chance of ever being good. The expression on her face and the tone of her voice....I can't exactly remember them now...but I remember it making me/us laugh.

Anyway, after consigning the evidence to the trash can, we'd head to Whataburger.

With Sharon and DD, failed experiments result in the dogs getting a chance at the meal (and often refusing). Instead of Whataburger, we head to Chipoltes or get a Barro's pizza delivered.

I'm laughing so hard right now that DD and Sharon are looking at me like I've gone crazy.

Hmmmm, Brooks Ghost is a new one to me. Not sure our Marathon Sports carries that one. But it is smart to buy two of one that you love, since it is so disappointing to go back two years later only to find that the exact model that works well for your foot no longer exists.

It is really cold here today, but the sun is shining so brightly that DH and I will soon head out for a walk. It will be interesting to see how I do on the hills given all this congestion. But I need to get back to exercising. I have been a slug for two weeks, and I feel it and see it on the scale.

By the way, Nancy and ?Carole, have either of you tried the " drunken raisins" folk remedy to help with inflammation? I started it a few months ago and think it may be worthwhile. It involves soaking white or yellow raisins in gin for two weeks, then storing them in the refrigerator in a closed container and taking nine per day. No alcohol effect as far as I can tell. Google it and see what's you think...might be worth a try for some of the arthritic symptoms. At this point, my only really sore point is the carpal/metacarpal problem in my right hand

Lacey - I got so far as to buy the golden raisins. I plan to start soaking them in the gin soon.

I don't pay attention to most shoe discussions since I have a hard time finding shoes, but since Carole said "long, skinny feet" - that rang my bell. I'll have to look up the Brooks.

Nancy - Moon's thoughts about soaking in salt reminded me, my Dad soaked his feet in Epsom Salts. In fact he soaked his hands sometimes to draw out a sliver. It was the top thing on his grocery lists.

Special & Lacey - about buying double - it has been a mixed blessing for me. If I find something I like I always buy two, because sure enough it's soon discontinued. I can't tell you the number of new bras I gave away after the mastectomy. And the number of 'shells' in many colors I have in the closet, some with tags, since I'm always too cold to wear those anymore. Not to mention several boxes of new shoes duplicating some that I loved which now no longer work with my neuropathy.

Unfortunately I do the same with food. I seem to be incapable of buying one can of tomato paste or broth or package of rice. My Mother cooked for a hoard since people always appeared who had nowhere else to go. I've learned to cook for one, but I haven't learned to buy for one. Cleaning out the cupboard after two years of treatments when I didn't cook or eat was really depressing. Our homeless shelters & food pantries won't take food past the ridiculous "best used by" date. When I was a kid, "best use by" was determined by whether the can had a dent or rust or the seal was still in place on the bottles.

Red lentils and French Green Lentils are really two different beasts. Red lentils [and brown ones] disintegrate when cooked for any amount of time. French lentils, which are far more expensive, keep their shape and texture even after longer periods of cooking. The flavor is also deeper and earthier. French lentils are great for salads, or as a side for salmon. Here is a great lentil dish that I make regularly. You have to embrace the mustard and vinegar. I generally do not bother with the bacon. Seems like overkill. I eat this warm, I eat it cold. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/anne-burrell/st...

Red lentils are best used in soups, braises. You find them called for in cuisines around what we used to call minor Asia and the Middle East. I think the flavor is "brighter" than the traditional [in the USA] brown lentils.

All lentils are good when you choose the right one for the right dish.

*susan*

Red - sure hope you're right and it's "just" a migraine.

Susan - thanks for the lentil info. I've copied the recipe & I may skip the bacon too. The only place I've had French Green Lentils is one of my favorite meals at a treasured restaurant:

RAINBOW TROUT – Grilled with a honey-Dijon glaze. Served over French green lentils with bacon
and warm spinach salad with spiced pecans.

Glad for the lentil discussion - I have a bag of red ones but have not yet used them - I am not well versed, so good to know what to use them in.

red - yikes - your episode sounds scary!  I hope you get some answers soon and have no repeats!

I used to work at a restaurant and when I was first hired we had to taste everything on the menu and be able to say (without checking) what was in each dish.  I have never been so full in my life, even though I just had a bite of each thing.  It is a big menu and we tasted all the appetizers, salads, entrees, sides and desserts.  They had a pecan crusted trout with a citrus chardonnay sauce - I had dreams about it!  It was so good!

I had a bolognese sauce simmering on the stove all day.  Simmer the beef in butter, olive oil, vegetable stock and red wine for a few hours, with some onion and garlic and herbs.  Add a can of tomato paste at the last.  Serve over pasta.  I also baked some rosemary focaccia, a recipe I haven't made for a long time.  It was really, really good.