So...whats for dinner?

I am 20+ pages behind again and I really don't know why. I just have trouble keeping up here. Pouring rain this morning. Woke up with a nightmare of being carjacked so go up to listen to it rain. Will read back from where I think I left off around Memorial Day and will attempt to stay caught up. I can say there are less than memorable meals around here. Last night was some super salty meatloaf and oven fries. Remains of fries went in trash. Guess I'll make some plain rice to go with the meatloaf and see if there are any frozen vegies worth making. Bummer found out that my favorite canteloupes around here were drowned out by the floods in May. My grocer sometimes makes a good local buy of them. Roadside stand is just a bit out of the way and not the direction I travel. Posting this, making some more hot tea and reading onward.

Justcaught up reading but hate forcing my miserable fingers to type on iphone. Am "out here"...and our unit has insufficient something..."band width"? So I will need to post from IPad when visitingthe building away from the water later. Sorry for going AWOL! Some nice meals so far here in P- town

Rain rain and more rain here today. June was officially the wettest on record. We had over 14 inches in June and so far this month, 6 or better. Mowing has been a challenge for everyone because the grass (and the weeds!) of course, keeps on growing in spite of marshy conditions. I have been caught on the wrong side of flooding rivers twice in one week, once requiring a detour of 150 miles because of all the road closures. Our yard is sporting inches of standing water that never dries out. On the rare day that we don't get rain, the humidity is far worse than usual for this time of year. It's a lot like south Louisiana Carole. Actually, more like the bayou country. The ducks across the street are happy.

The garden is kind of a mess. Even though the raised beds drain well, the tomato plants are suffering from too much damp and not enough hot sun. I imagine tomatoes will be at a premium around here this year. Farmers have not even been able to get half their corn crop in so local corn may be scarce too. Despite that, the garden is yielding haricots verts, yellow squash and rainbow chard. The peppers, while dropping a lot of blossoms, are producing some fruits. I have a lot of tiny cucumbers that seem to be doing ok so I'm hopeful I won't have to buy any more for a while. One tiny zucchini is stunted on the plant. Those plants are suffering from lack of pollination.

I have been cooking. Some of the better things we ate were jambalaya, lamb koftas made with onion, garlic, lots of spices and pine nuts (you would like these Lacey), barbecued ribs, fresh pappardelle with fresh tomatoes and garlic, pork tacos and of course, the grouper. Monday I went to the international market (and got drenched) and picked up some gyro slices, fresh pita and lebna, that I used to make a riff on tzatziki, which will be tonight's dinner with a Greek salad. I also got lingonberries, a bottle of dark soy sauce (to replace the one dropped on the tile floor), American lamb shanks and our favorite Shark brand siracha.

I recently read a very disturbing article on how much expensive fresh fish sold as one thing (grouper was mentioned) was actually something else. And it also talked about how my favorite golden tile has one of the highest mercury levels of all fish in the sea! Yike! Good thing I rarely find it. Perhaps that's why. The grouper I got had the skin still on it. It looked and tasted like grouper but what do I know? I need to go back to the Asian supermarket and pick the thing still swimming in the tank I guess. That's the only time I ever see it whole.

In the wildlife report, all the saturated ground and water have caused snakes to be more prevalent than usual. We've had two copperheads by the house (one in my flower bed off the porch!), 4 garter snakes of various sizes and a black snake in the garage. These are just the ones we've had by the house. I know they're just trying to get along, but they need to get along somewhere else. You remember the picture of the bunny eating DH's shoes? Well he's still eating and has been joined by another so this is what the shoes look like now:

I can't wait to see them when just the soles are left lol!

Carole, I know you're enjoying Minnesota. I feel like we've barely been out of the house. I would love to ride our bikes but not through standing water. I hope you find a boat that suits you. I've spent many hours in a boat on Minnesota lakes. We even rented a houseboat once. That was fun.

Luv - good to hear from you. Hoping you made it through all of the Texas storms ok.

Susan - I'm sorry I didn't comment earlier, but I hate that you're having to make such difficult decisions on top of treatment issues. I hope you'll continue to be comfortable sharing with us. We care so much about you and we're always willing to offer (unwanted) advice lol! I envy your French relative. You will be the "hostess with the mostess" I'm quite sure.

Red, absolutely love fish tacos. I never thought it would be something I would like either but I was wrong. Except one time I had salmon tacos. Didn't care for them. Red, they're not like meat tacos with cheese and taco sauce and such. They usually have some kind of fresh slaw on them as a condiment. Try one some time. You'll be surprised.

Oh Eric, I do love Maryland crabs. Eat lots!

I think for those of us in warmer summer climates a toaster oven is essential. Especially for just one or two people. I have a fairly large one that I use often in the summer.

SK - I hope you get your a/c fixed ASAP! We have the ac on here today even though it's 60 degrees out just because the humidity is 300%. Can't imagine the south without it! You are to be commended for continuing to cook. It would be an excellent excuse to eat out IMHO.

Lacey - where are you?

SpecialK, I know you have written many posts about food.....dirty dozen, clean 15, etc. I have a question for you. I just read on this thread that you grilled steaks for dinner. Do you buy free range, non antibiotic, etc. meats, chicken and eggs? I have been reading a lot about this and am afraid to buy anything. There is so much written about what is in meats, chickens and eggs that are being sold in regular grocery stores. This may not be the right thread to ask these questions, so please redirect me, if needed.

I would like to hear from all of you about meats, chickens and eggs, along with buying organic fruits and vegetables. It is scary what is in our foods. And, what about lettuce and spinach? I have read not to eat it at all. In fact, I think I read that you don't eat lettuce, Special K. I am so confused.

Just about to finish chemo and want to make sure I do all I can to eat safe and healthy.

Thank you, all.

I got lucky recently -- found 2 sources here for home grown eggs, one supplier even has Araucana eggs. Woohoo! Love the deep orange yolks.

Oh such beautiful pictures, Nance and Lacey! Have you considered being photographers?

Susan Take her clubbing. Kidding Maybe ferry to Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard if you're up to it? I always liked the aquarium and Faneuil Hall. Everything will be new to her so anything would be good. Put her to work! Kids like their independence, if she's old enough send her out shopping or doing chores. I know, I'm practical, but she will like to feel useful

Goats! So happy to see you! How do goats cope with the heat? Do they sweat? Pant? Drink water? Or just love it

For dinner it's hot. Cold buttermilk cucumber soup, and cottage cheese with fresh pineapple

bedo- your dinner sounds yum! DH doesn't like cucumbers or raw tomatoes so I never make cucumber soup or gazpacho, but I love them. I need to come eat with you

I caught up to page 775 yesterday but I read several pages I had already read. May not catch up completely until Sunday or Monday. MO appt tomorrow and shopping.

DD is coming Saturday - I think. You never know. It is her 28th birthday. We are not big at celebrating anything and she rarely makes it out here anyway. I have a 1# bag of Tony Chachere's frozen shrimp. No recipes on the bag and I think it has drifted down a bit in freezer. (Note to self - don't buy another chest freezer, even a small one like I have) I don't think they are cooked and I would be hesitant to use them straight out of the bag even if cooked. Any quick and easy suggestions esp. for stovetop? Last time I wanted to make chicken and she chose stir fry and took all the leftovers home. We have been eating the leftovers and not freezing anything mostly because the freezer is stuffed. She cleverly brought her frozen blue ice and cooler and I had nothing for her to take home. But then again she says she really hasn't eaten much of what I've sent. She did take up cooking herself. Have rec'd a couple of pics of pork roast then oven fried catfish.

Carole - never heard of mustard for leg cramps. Wonder what the secret ingredient is? I'm sure the answer is in the pages I have yet to read but is this place in MN the same place you have been going? And I did read you're leaving the 5th wheel, right - which makes sense since you say DH is building a deck today. My gosh 60 degrees. It was nice yesterday after the pourdown but think today will be much closer to normal TX weather. Expecting our 1st 100 later this week. I saw your note about chicken and potato prices. Sounds good. We just barely manage to eat up 5# of potatoes b4 they go bad. The last bag I had did much better. I guess I should make a note of the packer and try to buy same again.

Special - we have been the worst at keeping up when something was done to the house like what year. Just had a discussion of when the roof was replaced, no clue of the year. Maybe get your DH to climb up ladder (or ask repairman) to read you those #'s and file away. I'm getting better the last year or 2 with keeping up with those things.

Bedo - Special and I will be arriving for dinner. DH eats cucumbers but not his favorite and he will not eat raw tomatoes. The cold buttermilk soup sounds good. Goats tolerate the heat so long as they have plenty of water. There are lots of herds in Arizona. These are African origin rather than Swiss so they are a bit better at it. The breeze has been exceptional during the afternoons. Mostly they try to find a shady spot or go in the barn and nap.

Nancy and Red - sounds like the rain has shifted up y'alls way though it did pour further out west/NW yesterday with more flood warnings. A cold front weather guy said. I think rain turns off and then we get hot. But long range forecast for August is very atypical upper 80's. I'll believe it when I feel it.

Nancy - same with us and fish. Local grocer has a small fish counter. Not inticing. DH tolerates fish OK but certainly not his first choice. And then when I do find good fish it is so exorbitant in price for something he could take or leave. Just as soon buy chicken.

OK wordy enough for now. Must get up and cleaning. Can't even get in doorway of DD's room lol.

Oh but wanted to say Lacey where ever those vacay pictures are looks lovely.

luv - I have shrimp in the freezer all the time -usually cooked and tail off for speedy dinners. I never know when DH will arrive home, so something fast is good. I do sweet and sour shrimp stir fry with whatever vegetables are in the fridge - I usually have peppers, onion, carrot and celery on hand. You can add water chestnuts too. I quick thaw the shrimp in water while cooking the veggies. I combine the juice from a container of fresh pineapple with some chili sauce, a bit of ketchup, brown sugar, Worchestershire, a couple T. Of cornstarch, same of vinegar. Whisk and thin with water and add to the veggies with the shrimp, some of the pineapple, and boil briefly to activate the corn starch and thicken the sauce. I serve this over brown rice but it is forgiving- you can use ramen, quinoa, and sub almost any cooked protein.

Lol! I was on the ladder and the phone with DH relaying the silly tiny numbers to the AC repair guy while he was at the parts place. I have begun to take pics of those types of numbers with my cell phone because I can enlarge the screen after and make the numbers bigger. Also good for awkward spots like my router on the floor under the desk

SpecialK, I shall copy your quick meal sauce and save it. Do you carry that recipe in your head or have it written down?

Nance, as always your dinner sounds highly appetizing.

Luv, I have some frozen shrimp in the freezer, too, peeled, deveined and quick frozen individually. I bought them from a seafood place in LA. I used some of them recently in jambalaya. I made a poaching liquid with s & p, red pepper, granulated onion and garlic. At home I would probably have used the real veggies, onion, garlic and maybe some celery. You bring the poaching liquid to a boil, dump in the shrimp, bring back to a boil and then leave the shrimp in the pot for a few minutes so that they absorb the seasoning but don't overcook. Then you can use them in stir fry or a rice dish and they have flavor rather than being bland.

Since your daughter likes stir fry, SpecialK's shrimp stir fry might be perfect.

We played golf this afternoon and finished about 7 pm. Dinner was a hamburger at the Royal Bar in Park Rapids. The Royal is known for its burgers with 1/3 lb patties. Beverage was an ice-cold draught beer. Mine was Coors light and it tasted so good. DH always orders dark beer. I know I've been eating a lot of burgers lately but a good hamburger is one of my favorite foods.

auntie - love green beans roasted with old school French dressing and bacon pieces.

carole - I used to have to read the recipe card but now I have made it so many times I just have it in my head. It is a good recipe for using stuff up in the fridge.

susan - no need to explain - you have a lot going on

We're off to Detroit Lakes later this morning to meet Puffin from Fargo for lunch at Shorty's. Puffin is a bc.org friend from the Oldies discussion forum. She suggested we meet at DL, kind of a midway point.

Susan, the plans for your young relative sound like a lot of fun. On the real estate subject, I hope you and dd and dh find the perfect property you're looking for. Most of all, I hope that new med is doing its job.

Just came across this yummy sounding recipe for shrimp:

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/peel-and-eat-grilled-shrimp-with-harissa

DH won't eat a bi-valve, mollusk or crustacean so I may make this for my birthday dinner later this month. He can have a steak. I used to be able to get live lobsters at a supermarket in St. Louis to cook at home for my birthday dinner, but that, sadly, is no longer the case.

Susan, I so agree with what Lacey so eloquently said. I'm happy with whatever tidbits you can manage to share. And like Carole, I hope lbrance is doing it's job.

Carole, how much mustard does one eat for muscle cramps?

I think it is the potassium and salt in vinegar (in a teaspoon of mustard) that helps with cramping. Some people also use pickle juice. It is a home remedy because most people have pickles or mustard, or even vinegar, in their house - but probably not potassium supplements.

Potatoes contain a ton of potassium - more than other fruits and veggies, so a good reason to eat them too! Even medium rare -

Now that I take magnesium supplements, I get far fewer, but when I do get them, they are severe. I can actually see the offending muscle contorting in my leg. Heat helps but I'm always looking for anything that works.

Today I'm making ricotta and marinara for stuffed shells for dinner. Some grilled garlic bread and somebody else's tomatoes (mine are still green) sliced and drizzled with olive oil and fresh basil will complete the meal.