So...whats for dinner?

Lacey,

You are so right

Lacey, that was dh's salad with the onions!  This morning I'm within 1/2 lb of "free" WW status.  If I can just hang in there through the weekend. 

Doorbell pealed at 6:30!  DH and I both sound asleep.  The solar panel installers are now on the roof making lots of noise.  Hope the rain showers hold off until they're finished. 

This morning I plan to make eggplant parmesan, using two beautiful purple eggplants.  Should make enough for 2 or 3 meals. 

Sula, there is no rhyme or reason to the mystery of who gets bc.  The current issue of Nutrition Action health newsletter (publication of CSPI) announces that walking can lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, breast and colorectal cancer.  Who wore out her feet walking 3 miles a days and countless other miles?  Me.  Who has pre-diabetes and is a bc survivor?  Me.  I qualify for two of the risk factors:  no children and regular alcohol consumption. 

Love the bunny picts.

Carole - I too was a walker before BC, putting in 5 miles 5-6 days a week. In addition I did a 45 minute weight work out 4 days a week. I was in the best shape of my entire life, but it didn't do anything to prevent BC. I can't seem to get back to moving again, although I did start water aerobics last week. We meet at the subdivision pool 3 times a week. It must be doing some good since I'm sore.

Some friends invited me to a suburban theater play last night. They wanted to eat at Logan's. I don't think I've been in that restaurant more than once since it opened 10 years ago. I ordered a 'steakhouse' salad w/some grilled sirloin slices. The 3 avocados pieces were smaller than pencil erasers & it had less then a table spoon of tiny chopped up tomatoes. It met my low expectations. The one downfall for me was large, hot yeast rolls. I managed to eat four (yup 4). Confession is good me right?

Onions...  If I were younger, I would try to condition myself to tolerate onions because they are EVERYWHERE in almost EVERY dish these days, especially red onions.  My dh, the onion-a-holic doesn't like red onions.  He says they are strong.  Fortunately people put them in salads in big pieces that can be removed.

The solar panels are on the roof.  The crew is gone.  The eggplant slices are cooked.  A big pot of tomato sauce is simmering on the stove.  I decided to make a lot and freeze some meal portions for the summer. Dh went to play golf.  The house is quiet and I'm enjoying a cup of coffee.  All that's left to do is grate cheese and assemble the eggplant dish.  I also have a pineapple to peel and cut into chunks and a seedless watermelon to cut into small chunks.  So many healthy, delicious snack foods this time of year. 

Nance, I love the pictures of the rabbits.  I didn't know they ate leather.

Happy Birthday, Lacey! 

Happy Birthday Lacey.

DD is driving on the NY Thruway...rough road and hard to type.

Eric

Ah ha.....is it the woman from Seattle who we have not heard from in a long time who is the "third twin"?

I will pass along your wishes to Debbie!

we're going out to dinner with out of town guests tonight, but dessert's back at our house, I'm serving this: Vanilla ice cream with Cherries and Valrhona chocolate pearls

Lunch was some Pho stock with all the add-ins made this spring. Tonight's dinner will be dan dan noodles with lots of mustard greens and more of the water spinach. A little carb heavy, but I know from experience that my stomach fights nausea better with some carb loading. Not sure how I feel, but it is different. Almost like my femara side effects are now on steroids, which makes sense if you read the science behind these targeted therapies.

I refuse to eat any fake sweeteners. I am not a sweets person, but yea, I probably eat about 3 tbl a day between iced tea and my coffee. All food turns into sugar in the body, so the fascination with sugar amongst cancer patients just makes no sense to me. Overall, it is best to eat foods that are not processed, which clearly sugar is, but I just have to go with the whole eat all the colors of the rainbow, all in moderation, with a lot of stuff that grows from the ground.

*susan*

I just went back to page 450 (spring 2013) and skimmed forward to find out about the Gemini triplets - Lacey, Seaside Memories and Debbie6122. So happy b-day to you three. Laurie's B-day was 5/27.

But oh my, I found so many people I remember fondly who don't post anymore. Some are still active on other threads and some have moved on to other interests and some - like our dear Michelle - have passed on. In addition to those above & no particular order, here are some of those who used to share dinner menus on a more regular basis:

Garden Gumby, Kaara, Carbury, LuvMyGoats, Moonflower, Chabba, bobogirl, deborye, Dolce, 2nd_time_around, Joyce K, jenjen, science gal, KayG,

If you're still out there - give us a shout!!

And thank you to all you fine ladies and gentleman for making my life a richer place every single day!!

So, the birthday has passed and the memories are sweet! Here's the dinner review:

First of all, we learned yesterday that the owners of La Morra were opening their new very special restaurant/inn last evening, so we were a bit worried that service and food might be grossly affected in this smaller restaurant. It turned out fine...

While DH went to park the car, I let the hostess know we were there, and she replied, "Oh, yes your table for six". I had to correct her since we were really only a party of four...and she kept saying six...finally saying, "...well why don't you get seated and either way is fine." I walked upstairs to our table, and to my surprise, our good friends from the lake (and another suburb of Boston) were sitting at our table. That was my surprise!! It was especially meaningful since they had dinner with us on my 50th and also on my 60th. So a nice treat for me. Then DH came in with DS2 and DGF. We had a great time. I was a bit nervous about so many unfamiliar Italian speciality foods being served but it worked out well.

We decided to share tastes of appetizers of: meatballs with porcini and prosciutto; fried risotto (aroncini) stuffed with braised beef and smoked mozzarella; then a red lettuce salad with cherries and I forget which cheese; after which we passed around a dish of homemade tagliatelle with the best bolognese sauce I have ever tasted (no ground meat...wonderful tender chunks...oh my! And I always thought I disliked bolognese). So those were our small plates. Oh we also were brought an amuse bouche...something fried and tasty, but I have no idea what it was and the wait staff last night was green, so neither did they.

Amazingly enough, after all those "small plates", we all ordered entrees. DGF probably wonders who these voracious people to whom she finds herself connected are! I had hake (white fish like cod) with some root vegetables and herbs, DGF had the grilled cornish hen which she ate almost all of...but who was watching?! Our friends both had a lovely looking veal item, DH and Ds2 enjoyed the scallop special with polenta and arugula. I was glad my fish was light....so much so that I could not resist ordering the rose water panna cotta for dessert.....mainly for research about how I can use my new rosewater, of course! It was delightful....as was the entire evening. Many thanks to DH for arranging a fun birthday to help me enter the new decade!

Here are the visuals minus the food (apologies):

Oh, and I realized why the owners moved the Big Night venue to a function hall. This restaurant really is quite small. Now they will have Big Night on their own new property in Sherborn, which might be back up to or close to par since they will at least "know" their kitchen, which has not been true the last two years at the rented venue. I am eager to try out their new restaurant and am awed at their renovation and multi dining room and speciality shop undertaking! Check out the Heritage Inn and Restaurant at Sherborn...hope I got that name right. I'm old afterall...;)

So Sula, I was not aware of the chocolate pearls that you use. Googled 'em! Very cool!

Thanks again for the birthday wishes!

DONE!

Lacey, That looks like such a fun evening!!! Did the girl-one find food to eat? And how were the arancini? I love a good arancini and most of them are really mediocre.

Nance, I would say that Mr. Hedgehog thought that YOU were the intruder and felt the need to defend his spot. After all, there is food at stake and he is very hungry. But, shouldn't he be scared of humans? Any chance there is rabies in your area?

Dinner last night was really good. Dan dan noodles is a favorite and I found some fresh noodles at the Chinese market. Had more of this for lunch today after walking to and from the farmer's market. Then off for a bone density test. Tonight we are taking the kids to the Legal on the Mystic to celebrate the boy-child's promotion! This is a big deal, and we are so proud of him. Historically, his family has not ever celebrated his accomplishments, and I think all major accomplishments should be celebrated with gusto! He is old enough to feel good about himself and his place in the world. After all, he was smart enough to marry my daughter!!

*susan*

Susan, the rabies thought crossed my mind. Had he still been there when we returned I would have had to call someone about it. LOVE LOVE LOVE dan dan noodles. Bet yours were spectacular. I make the dish sometimes but not often enough. Congrats to the boy and kudos to you for celebrating him.

Rain everywhere around me.  Drove 2 counties over this a.m. and darned if on the only "clear day" predicted it didn't darken over and storm.  Drove home in the rain, grass needs mowing, but no way.....

Dinner was grilled salmon (in doors in the broiler) baked potatoe and asparagus.