So...whats for dinner?

Yes, a big LOL Eric!

So happy you enjoy the goodness factor too Veruka! I do have to admit that like your DH I have no desire to eat kale chips in any form. No Thank you! I also do not "get" why anyone would see any goodness in the bagged versions of them. Ick! I think your cheese, pepper and spiceblend with a lamb burger would be heaven!

Yum, Red!

As for pizzelle recipe, I use various ones from my mother and my aunts. Is your iron a single one for the stove top or an electric two cookie one. I always used my grandmother's plain iron one on the stove until my hands rebelled from all the turning for each cookie. So now I use the electric version I ordered from a store in Philly. It does a nice job, but the cookies are a bit thicker than I was used to. No complaints from any takers, however, and I am used to them now. the advantage is that they are easier to bring places and mail w/o breaking.

If you'd like I will share my relatives recipe, which is easy enough that it makes lots of dough and I refrigerate until I feel like having a two cookie at a time baking session

Veruka, those turkey burgers sound delicious.  I first tried ground turkey with some doubts that it could possibly taste good so I was surprised when I discovered that it works as a ground beef substitute in meatballs and meatloaf with lots of flavor enhancements, green onions being one.  Our golf club's casual restaurant serves a turkey burger that is quite good with blue cheese on top.  It helps that the bun is good. 

As for whether ground turkey is any "healthier" than ground beef, I guess it depends on the animal source and what goes into the grinder. 

The checkout lady at Rouses Supermarket commented that kale is very popular with customers.

Nance, the ATK cookbook on Vegetables recommends blanching bitter greens like kale and collards in salted water, then draining them for sautéing them with whatever flavorings you choose like garlic and pepper flakes.  I think the greens sold in those large bags in the supermarket are mature greens and thus more bitter than young greens picked out of the garden.  The mustard greens my father grew weren't bitter but they did have that distinctive mustard green flavor.  .

Time to go to the gym!    

The bialys look yummy, Nance, but I would have to scrape off those onions!  DH would love them with the onions.

Yesterday he said he was in the mood for split pea soup.  Asked if we had split peas on hand.  This morning I got a bag out of the pantry, got a package of smoked ham out of the freezer and left them both out for him.  When I arrived home about 4 pm this afternoon the kitchen smelled good with the aroma of pea soup.  So soup is what's for dinner along with a salad.  Maybe corn bread.

Lacey---I have the electric Pizzelle iron that does 2 at a time.

Bedo--You can find the Land of Lakes Cocoa in individual packets at some stores, and I've seen it in small canisters (Like Nestle's) at of all places--Farm & Fleet...where the baking aisle is.  You may not have that type of store near you either...

If I left stuff out on the counter and came home and it was cooked, it would mean I had a prowler..who got hungry......HA.

Spent the whole morning (8"30 appoint) at the nuerologist.  Then went to the mall to pick up something I found yesterday (3 sweaters) so I could use a discount coupon that was effective today...... Then crossed the street to get a copy of the medical report of the on call nuerologist and test results for my personal records.

Took my Dad to get his INR, then we went to renew his SAMS CLUB membership--well guess what, he is 87 and must look like a criminal.  He's belonged to them ever since they opened their doors 12 years ago and because the Doctor took away his drivers license, he didn't have a photo ID and they wouldn't take his check...... And they don't take VISA, which is the only credit card he has, so I used my Master card and am trying to cool off----wouldn't accept his military ID, which has a picture and his physical description and his SS #, but they said no----and I wish to hell I could have whipped out his FOID card.....where that is is a whole 'nother question.  That would have gotton them really excited since they were treating his so shitty, don't you think. Maybe I should have written a check and flashed them mine....

So Tomorrow, he and I will go to the DMV to get him a photo ID and I pray we don't get arrested because he will EXPLODE to anyone who listens about losing his license.....

 I think I am just going to roast some veggies tonight and have that with some Italian bread.... (fennel, onion, celery,carrots, potatoes, garlic)

Wow, most places happily take military ID.

In the early 1980's, I took my grandfather to a college bar. The bouncer would not accept his expired driving license as proof of age. They did accept his WW 1 draft card.....sigh....

Susan, you get a cookbook every month?  You must have a large bookcase for cookbooks.  I read the cookbooks I buy.  Right now I'm enjoying Healthy Comfort.  The chef author was up to 350 lbs when he was dx'ed with diabetes 2 and decided to lose weight.  He lost 120 lbs.  Of course, he could afford to hire a trainer who moved into his house!  His recipes take common foods and make them a little more interesting while cutting down on excessive fat and calories. 

DH's split pea soup was very good.  He made it the way I would have, with onion, garlic, carrot and celery in addition to the smoked ham diced up.  The cornbread cooked in the cast iron pan was in the shape of little half ears of corn.  We both commented afterwards that we had overeaten.  I seldom am guilty of that any more. 

All this bread making has me in the mood for baking bread. 

I can ditto Nancy's comment about her DH wondering about what the ingredients on the counter were going to be used for. I am so impressed with your DHs cooking ability, Carole.

Nancy, the bialys must be so wonderful! They look great even w/o the indent. My DH LOVES them, too. He's originally a New Yorker, so all that Jewish deli stuff makes him soooo happy.

Red, I am horrified that Sam's Club was so disrespectful to your dad. I hope that works out for him with no more frustration.

Last evening, I attended a retirement party for the nurse at one of my former schools. It was a large and festive event, and I so enjoyed seeing my old co-workers. The food was unremarkable....lots of Italian casseroles.....stuffed shells, chicken Parmesan, sausages and peppers, and baked cod (yes!), and a very boring Caesar salad. It was a wonderful night because of the people, so I am really happy that I went.

The woman to whom I delivered the soup dinner emailed me today to say that it was terrific, so I was happy about that. I had forgotten to count the parm rinds and bay leaves in the soup, so had gone on a frantic hunt through the entire pot searching them out before delivering it. I will definitely count next time!

Am thinking I might make some 00 pizza dough today......big messy snow day forecasted for tomorrow.

I LOVE that you guys are posting food pix!!

Susan, you always amaze me.....replenishing your ground spices on a moment's notice....and "aromafying" your home! Love the pix! Do you use Pensey's

yum Susan, those noodles look delish! Hakka food is very tasty I think!

Carole- i hear you on the turkey. Dh has cut way down on the red meat because of cholesterol, but we still have it maybe twice a month, but only the grass fed stuff from the fancy whole animal butcher round the corner. I guess theoretically the turkey is supposed to be healthier because of low fat, but I wonder, do they even sell pastured free range turkeys?

Nancy those bialys look crusty and all kinds of tasty!

Dinner tonight was a greek salad, sauteed brussel sprouts and dover sole with garlic butter and lemon caper sauce.

Dover Sole.... oh my. Such a lovely fish, but generally outside my price point. And yes, there is such a thing as pastured free range turkeys. Hard to find year round of course. Turkeys don't fatten when cold, unlike humans!

Red, what a Dad story. Thank goodness for Friday fish fry. Placates even the most irritated people. And yes, Reuben's are amazing. Haven't had one since the last time I smoked a pastrami. Wonder if I can get Mr. 02143 to do this in the middle of the winter.

The tandoori chicken was delicious. Served with my "everyday garlic dal", some basmati rice and a bit of naan bread. There is enough for at least one more meal. They say we will be getting snow tomorrow. I have moved my car to the "correct" side of the road just in case they call a snow emergency.

*susan*

Not really sure what we've been eating. Did finally make the stir fry with the small bits of leftover smoked sausage. Thought I had plenty of basmati rice left from Christmas cooking but no (use it up mantra). Then I looked in the pantry and I had brown jasmine. Didn't we just have this discussion. I know it had to have come from WalMart and not that long ago, maybe summer. I have been cleaning out pantry.

Thursday night when the advertised snow storm did not arrive I baked one of those long slow cooking Stouffers chicken lasagna's I bought on sale. We will have that to finish tonight. Tomorrow I plan to go the grocery after church - always dangerous and crowded but needs to be done. Have prescriptions to pick up that will be out. But Tuesday I think I'm going into Ft. Worth. I have not been shopping there since mid December. WooHoo. DH is off so I can leave early, stay late. He will be happy to have the house to himself. Weather will be great too. Eye doc appt. is midday on a Monday. Probably not the best time to go but I had no choice really. I know of at least one store, the spice store, where I can waste a bunch of time if he is late. Prob. 5 min. from his office. Lots of new restaurants/lunch places nearby also the Mexican grocery but not so close as the spice store.

Carole, I'm hearing rumors of a big storm next weekend, maybe early the week after around Feb. 2. Your pork medallions reminds me I have some coconut curry seasoning in the cabinet. I might try that on some of the pork loin frozen.

I about to make this cake. I have the fruits soaking in refrig. I think the description of "Bundt cake pan" is overblown. I think it should fit in 9 x 5 loaf pan. I have a new Bundt pan but I think it would just be overkill and barely fill the bottom.

http://relish.com/recipes/holiday-fruitcake/

Nancy the bialys look wonderful. Don't think I've ever had any. There was an article in yesterday's weekend section about the new kolache bakeries around. Might have to time a stop there either Tuesday or the following Monday when I go back to eye doc. I think Tuesday might be too warm to stash kolaches in the car for long. (Can you imagine kolache is not in dictionary here? lol) Now down in central TX is no problem to find them. My GM used to drive to West, TX (yes the same with the fertilizer plant explosion) to the turkey shop and the kolache bakery. She lived S of Ft Worth so would go with a friend.

Susan - how much snow have you had?

 Delicious and easy dinner tonight.  Shrimp scampi and home-made pasta from my recent pasta making marathon.  And Caesar salad.  I was delighted that my pasta is very good.  I ate a second portion that I really shouldn't have eaten. 

Carole, yum....that dinner sounds great....definitely second portion worthy! And I am definitely impressed with the inclusion of your home made pasta! I am almost tempted to start the search for the pasta maker my sister gave me years ago

Fresh Market----we have one and it is the most amazing food. The seafood and meat counter is like non other  and they have wonderful coffee too.  The bakery---omg.  They have tiramisu, need I say more.......

We have a trip! Plane and train tickets have been purchased. Some of this is still loose, but at least I know which country we will be in, when. My mother and I start in Paris, visiting the cousins, and fulfilling her dream of seeing Paris "one more time." After ten days, I put her on a train to London and head to the airport to fly to Malaga Spain. My husband should arrive in Malaga the next day and we start our 4- week stay in Spain. This part still needs to be flushed out. I know that we want to spend time in the south and then start heading north to Murcia and Valencia before arriving in Barcelona. We will stay in the Barcelona area for a week and then head to Istanbul for another week. Phew! I will be gone for 6-weeks; husband for almost 5.

Now I will start the process of arranging apartments. Can't be in these wonderful places and not be able to shop at the market to prepare a few of our own meals, after all.

I get my scan results on April 9th and we leave on April 10th. My mother is acting like a 6-year old school girl. Positively giddy. I still have too much reading, learning, and arranging to do to allow giddiness to overtake me just yet. I speak some French, but not a word of Spanish or Turkish. Gonna have to start learning just enough of both to be polite.

Dinner last night was exactly the same as the night before. Tonight I have some boneless chicken thighs in the fridge and plan to make some type of Chinese meal. Hope to use up the rest of the mustard greens, snow peas, and the lovely oyster mushrooms I bought on a whim.

*susan*