So...whats for dinner?

I go to the gym a lot, but it doesn't seem to do much good..

Happy anniversary Susan.

Sharon and I cleaned the refrigerator this morning.

Haha, Eric! Thanks for the chuckle and maybe it will help motivate me to get to the harder tasks that still await me today. Dealing just fine with minutiae!

I have kept the house doors closed to keep the heat out and it seems to be working well. Had hoped to do my walk outdoors today, but I got involved in clothes mgmt (again!) and now it is pretty brutal out...the cool basement on the treadmill later will have to do....after some work at the sewing machine.

At least I started with some healthy food today....my veggie/fruit smoothie and a peach.

Nance, I always think of you now when I eat a good, juicy peach...and if I could tolerate the sensory part of the juice dripping down my arm, I would let it happen! I will probably pick up more peaches tomorrow at the farmer's market, and could use an EASY/FAST recipe for doing something with them that could freeze so I can take it to NH on Wed. A compote or something?

Suffering here with no a/c today. Of course it's in the 90s and sunny. A/c guy is here. Why does this crap always happen on a weekend?

Oh Nancy. Hope AC is fixed soonest. It actually does not feel like a blowtorch outside here today but know you prob. have more humidity.

Minus - I've not gotten into the Hatch craze. This time of year I only go to Ft Worth if necessary which will have to be next Friday for eye doctor appt. But yes the Ft Worth store is sure into it. I googled trying to find CM's recipe without success. They do have a hatch biscuit recipe on their site, might be close. But there are for sure lots of other Hatch Cheddar scone recipes out there. Hmm - might be something to make and freeze for October lake trip. It would have to be already done chilies, no way except the seldom used BBQ to char them.

Speaking of BBQ did get the tri tip out but probably not in time to make today. Will have to continue thawing in fridge. Thinking pizza - sadly premade store bought crust - which will only keep oven on for short while.

Will have to cook this week. Signed up for church family meal again - meatloaf (not my best dish but I keep trying), glazed carrots, jello salad and some kind of dessert prob. knowing me will be brownies. Checked my bookmarks and I must have 30+ meatloaf recipes. Must, must choose one so I can shop for anything needed tomorrow after church.

Nance, I also hope your "air" is back in shape very soon! I just made the mistake of going in the backyard to hang some scarves I washed, and ended up weeding and pruning for three hours, despite the heat (the scarves were bone dry by then, so that worked well!) Ya know how that goes...you go outside and everything screams "I need attention" including the birdbaths needing a good scrubbing. So now I am a sweaty mess and still need to get to the sewing machine....it will happen.

Luv, I cannot imagine making or eating meatloaf in this weather. I'd be going for grilled chicken salad, corn on cob, maybe still jello and carrots. Do you get to choose or is your menu assigned? Probably been years since I made a meatloaf. I always remember making my first one as an older teenager, when my brother (year older) and I were manning the fort since my parents were at a convention. I was so happy to make a meal....since my mother was the kitchen frau...but unfortunately the little paperback cookbook I used for the meatloaf recipe had less than ideal print spacing, and the 1/4 tsp pepper ran into the binding, and it looked like 1tsp. My brother enjoyed gagging at our "pepper loaf" and never let me forget what a terrible cook I was. He was always nice that way! ;/

When I did make meatloaf, I prepared it my mother's way with a slice of bacon on top and a can of tomato sauce poured over....Italian style.

The meatloaf won't be so bad. I'll make it for their dinner and ours as well. It's an older couple, DH has Alzheimers. So trying to appeal more to him than wife or in home daughter. It really is much nicer out today only 94. DH is going for more tooth work on Tuesday so I couldn't ask him to grill. Our instructions say they eat anything and use disposable. I've done pot roast, potato sausage casserole, chicken/Italian rice cass - since March. I'm hoping with school starting back more people will sign up. Our church is full of school personnel so it clears out greatly during the summer. Meals only Tues/Thurs. Think church provides meal from Wed. night dinner but it hasn't restarted yet.

I found more chicken breasts in freezer so may sign up again in a week or 2 for white chicken chile. I really need to get out the crockpot cookbooks. But really we have cut down eating a bunch in this heat.

The a/c is fixed, at least for the moment. It needs a part which we'll have installed next week. The house got so hot it's taking a while to cool down again but at least it's cooling.

I had intended to make pickles today but of course it was too hot for that and now it will be Tuesday before I have a chance. We had grilled burgers, a tomato salad and corn on the cob -- none of which involved the stove.

Tomorrow will be a family affair at DH's sisters house. They are preparing to move to north Carolina and we're all going to help clean out the house to get it ready for sale. It will be a hot, dirty day and I don't see myself feeling like fixing a dinner. It will probably be a group dinner out.

My Italian friend Maria decided we needed to make a road trip to the HILL today as her hubby was in Colorado visiting their daughter. OMG was it warm today in St. Louis. We hit Volpe's first for sausages---I had called ahead to have them save us some sweet fennel ones, and then I bought some breakfast type and also some sopressa and a pack of artichoke salad. and two Prosciutto ham bones to use for beans or split pea soup. That went into the cooler, along with what Maria bought. Then we went to Digregorio's. I bought some tortellini stuffed with carmelized onion and garlic and cheese, and an APRON that says Eat and shut up in Italian, along with some smoked gouda cheese and flaxseed oil. Back to the car and the cooler again. Then we trekked to Viviano's. This was worst. I bought two jars of pasta sauce (A triple olive with chianti and a Garlic lovers) A jar of lemon pesto, a package of Arborio rice, the tiniest penne pasta I've ever seen, and something called Fregola (Italian toasted pasta the size of peas). I also bought a jar of Siciilan lemon marmalade and Muffaletto salad , three bottles of wine and a bottle of ORANGECELLO. And heaven only knows what all Maria had in the cart----besides Escarole Soup and Jersey Gravy, etc. I sat on a bench outside with the loot and she brought the car around. We drove back to our original parking spot and walked to Amagetti's for lunch. Then we went around the corner to the bakery and I bought 7 cannoli's.... Then we came home. We were trying to weight down the lid on the cooler at this point with the heavy stuff, and when we unlopaded, one of my hambones stayed in her car , so tomorrow I will pick it up.

Dinner was three cannoli's and a few slices of sopressa and a tomato---consumed in that order...

I am not going to have to b uy groceries for a LONG TIME>.....

Red - that sounds like a wonderful grocery haul. What is Jersey Gravy? I know that red sauce is called gravy. Is it that?

DH made the pizza. My Mr. Hormel not so healthy turkey pepperoni had developed green blisters so pizza ended up vegie pizza. Red peppers, green onions, some soaked sun dried tomatoes, ripe olives. Probably more healthy for us. Tomorrow the tri tip.

Nancy - glad that for the moment you have AC.

The kids had a great European adventure. Centered around her good friend Izla's wedding in Stockholm, they went to Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Reykjavik. Their trip was 2 weeks and a day and they had a great time. Rained for most of the Iceland portion of the trip, and they had to buy some gear in order to be outside. The wedding was spectacular, a full Assyrian wedding with dancing and chanting and blessings with lots of people and food. In each city, they ate one meal at a top end restaurant that specialized in that country's cuisine. By choosing the tasting menu, they were able to try a ton of different foods and enjoyed almost every bite.

Last night we had what I called "Dry Lightning" as a child. Lots of lightning, some thunder, but absolutely no rain. We could see the rain over Boston, and obviously, 10 miles away at Lacey's house there was rain, but, we remained dry. I will have to water the garden tonight.

*susan*

Susan, I'm not sure I knew where the kids went either. Sounds like a great trip for them.

Lacey, this is the sister with the recent heart issues. She is just this side of being a certified Hoarder. It will not be a fun day and I'm sure I will have tales to tell.

I feel the need for a trip to the Hill now. Red, did you have any trouble getting there due to the road construction on Kingshighway?

red - lol! An Italian haul for sure! I need one of those aprons.

auntie - I feel ya on the AC issues - once ours was finally fixed after being out for a week, all has been well. And, yes, it is always a weekend in the middle of summer for the AC, and whatever other inappropriate time for water heaters, garage door openers, heat (not so much an issue in FL) or what have you! Makes you crazy!

luv - the naughty meatloaf I make sounds like lacey's - I put bacon on the top and after 45 minutes I put on a mixture of chili sauce or ketchup, brown sugar and dry mustard for the last 20 minutes of so, depending on the size of the meatloaf. I make it on a foil-covered sheet pan, shaped kind of like a football so I can get the bacon and sauce all over it. It is a very moist recipe - has eggs/milk/Italian bread crumbs/parsley/spices/green onions/garlic.

Lunch yesterday with the BCO ladies was great - relaxed and casual! You know you're with friends when they do the dishes, lol!

lacey - I made two lasagnas (traditional and Mexican) but also made a vegan lasagna for the lunch yesterday with roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, almond milk mozzarella, béchamel made from Earth Balance, gluten free flour and almond milk with some dried pepper flakes for a bit of heat, and used grilled zucchini for the "noodles" and it was pretty good. Maybe your doc vegans would like it.

Red awesome haul

Susan yay for the kids.

Goats that pizza sounds good. I went to a country fair yesterday and saw 4H goats, chickens, sheep, don't get me started on the goats, I have to live vicariously through you. Those pupils.. the tail wag.. their gummy upper palate. I sound like I'm in love lol

Nance, that must be so difficult.

I bought bonito fish at the farmer's market, but will have squid tonight. My Ruby cat cries for it when I start sautéing it. It is the stuff of nightmares to see her fangs and the tentacles hanging out of her mouth.

I have to go back to work. I like my job, but there is so much else to do.

Completely off topic for you Southern Girls

I'm trying to fix up my rental house in Atlanta to sell next year. The shrubs/bushes in the front are really scraggly. A long time ago someone suggested "Laura Madison" bushes???? I know that's wrong but when I google it all I come up with is Laura Bush. They are fairly short bushes maybe 4 feet tall at most when not trimmed with dark almost purple black leaves and no prominent flower. I think that they would look good against the white house. Any idea what they are?

PS I had crab cakes and Pepsi at the fair.

Oh and McDonalds has a Lobster roll for sale here for 7.99 with a whole claw and big chunks. The one reason I would go to McDonalds.

Hello everyone I missed! I know you don't want to hear me babble.

Bedo - I had no luck with "Laura Madison" bush, hedge, shrub, gardening - except some lady branding herself as Laura Madison. I too have never heard of it. Here are nandina bushes and crepe myrtles. I bet Atlanta is pretty close to DFW as far as planting zones. We have ugly crepe myrtles and another evergreen, tiny leaves hedge, name escapes me. Google some Atlanta gardening sites esp if it's a message board kinda thing. Gosh a lobster roll at Mickey D's.

The tri tip turned out great. Much better than the 1st one. These were a Christmas present from my DB. We over charred the 1st one. This one was pinkish in spots which I ate and trimmed the well cooked ends for DH. Still finishing those green beans - I need to find my receipt to see how much I bought.

Susan - sounds like DD and her DH had a marvelous trip.

Special - read the comments on Tampa get togethers. You are a magical hostess.

Dinner tonight was DD's favorite--the Jasmine rice and chicken dish.

Off to bed while I'm still tired....If I keep going, I'll wake back up and be awake until midnight and that's a bit late for getting up at 5:30am. :-)