So...whats for dinner?

Grocery shopping got in the way of previous dinner plans. That ham steak will keep. They were roasting hatch chilies at my grocery and they smelled so good. I may be sorry I only bought a few. Then I found 3 packages of chicken fajitas in the clearance (2 already put away in the freezer) so I thought why not make chicken enchiladas with the fajita meat and some of the chiles.

Queenie - your fall dish sounds no more silly than my enchiladas. It's 103 on the patio but it is popping some little showers around. Got DH up off the sofa and we have skinned and seeded the chiles. Then I read not to rinse them because it dilutes the flavors. Oh well. Might need to make another trip to grocers tomorrow.

Red - I agree with the rotisserie chicken and the roasted vegies. Bread, fruit and you've got a meal.

OK - DH has just about talked me into a Costco membership. I've still got to get those new glasses and I've read about their optical shop. And yup you do have to be a member, I called. Someone please sell me on the goodness of a membership. It is still 40-45 minutes away, one far north side of town, one mid south. Neither convenient. I guess I will go see what they can do for me. I have a friend who has one with now only herself and DH. I can see what other friends use it for, they own their own small business storefront. TP/paper towels/coffee alone would prob. pay for itself.

I probably should PM you, Special, but if you don't mind, I will ask this question here. What about soy? I read a lot of different reports about eating anything with say? Also, I think you said you do not eat dairy. Why? And, you do not eat peanuts. Why? I need to gain some weight or at least stop loosing. I am trying to eat healthy......no white sugar. I cannot get enough calories in the day. I hear, exercise, exercise, exercise, so I try and do that too, but that uses up calories. Exercise helps the joint pain from Arinidex. You can PM if you want. Thank you!

Luv - I go to Costco maybe once a month but since I live alone, it doesn't make sense for me to buy the large quantities of TP or paper towels, or even canned foods or beans & rice. I buy my vitamins there and I like quite a few of their wines (often good house brand is $6-7). Their bakery is good & I like the shrimp salad. Again, I have to find a neighbor to share whatever I buy if it can't be frozen. I agree w/Nance, the meat is good. Dying to try the artichoke/jalapeno 'dip', but it says use in 5 days after opening so I'll need to have a party. To be honest, I took out the membership years ago when I was smoking because their cigarettes were cheaper. I quit in 2007. Probably haven't gotten my money's worth since then.

I've had several friends who've recently gotten new glasses at Wal-Mart. Yeah, yeah, I know - but all three have been really pleased w/the service & the quality & the price. I think it's a matter of picking which Wal-Mart you go to. The one closest to me is nasty & scary, so if I go, I drive some distance to one that is cleaner & brighter where customers don't run into you or push you aside and employees are actually helpful. Anyway, you might check that out since there's no membership fee.

Met my SIL & BIL for brunch at Baba Yaga's. Sunday buffet is every breakfast thing you could think of in addition to a full buffet - chicken, salmon, beef, veggies, salads, fruits, breads, desserts. I had an omelet w/mushrooms & spinach, two small waffle pieces, mini- blintzes w/strawberries on top, triple helping of lox & cream cheese (only white bagels - but hey, this is hard to find in Texas), watermelon and Tres Leches cake. I'm so full I can hardly move 8 hours later, but I didn't begin to taste everything. Wonder what the scales will say tomorrow.

Thanks for the great suggestions ladies---how could I forget about rotisserie chicken---I eat it like twice a month for a few days at a time...... And the sandwich type salads and roasted veggies----YOU All are life-savers...... just proves you need to have someone else that's a step away from your problem help you solve it!!!!!!!

A roasted chicken is one my "standards" for when I'm cooking to have leftovers so Sharon doesn't have to cook much when (and it usually happens) she gets home before I do.

For what it's worth, a couple of weeks ago, I noticed the foodsafety.gov web site has changed their chicken "fully cooked internal temperature" to 165F degrees. I tried the new recommendation and I don't have to brine the meat to have it moist.

The chicken and pork comes from a mom and pop meat shop that gets their meat from "wild raised" animals. The chickens are about 3 pounds with little white meat and the pork is very, very lean....it is definitely a different product than the normal fare from the stores. They also sell a great smoked salt that works very well as a rub.

I surveyed the contents of the freezer yesterday and made a list. Not a single piece of chicken. I'll check the cabinets and write up another list. Surplus food in the cabinets can travel home with us at the end of this month but the frozen food must be eaten, given away or thrown away.

What's for dinner? No clue.

I'll have to check the carton of the plain Greek yogurt in the refrigerator. I don't taste any sugar.

The sugar is part of the milk in a plain yogurt. Even homemade yogurt will have lactose.

*susan*

LovinMyMom,

Congratulations to your sister. I can only imagine how hard it is for these benchmarks of family life to pass without Michelle at the other end of a phone. This group thinks of Michelle often.... never far from our minds. Thank you for sharing this happy news.

*susan*

Christine, so nice to hear from you and what a happy occasion! We think of your mom often. I can imagine how much you miss her. Her spirit is very much with us here. (((Hugs to you and your family)))

Iit was supposed to rain today. Right now it's 85 and sunny. Lively day. We have a light breeze so it's comfortable sitting here on my porch.

Susan, I am so happy for you. Praying for an easy and safe pregnancy for her. Hugs to all!

Costco membership is usually worth it. I also share with my daughter. She was living with me at the time we got our memberships. We just keep renewing them. We go for the more expensive membership for one reason, with the two of us, we spend enough to get back our membership fee. You get a small % back on He executive card. And if it's not enough for the lower membership, they give out the difference so it pays off. Even if we don't spend enough to get the lower one, we chip in on it and the cost is still just half for both of us. You can upgrade any time too, so if you get a big item pay for the upgrade. I don't use it enough just for me Though. If I don't get one with her next year, i might just get one with my neighbor.

Supper is rootbeer marinated pork kabobs straight from the butchers.

Much love

Christine - just last week I was looking thru "my favorites" that I've saved to see what is no longer relevant and could be removed. I was so glad to come across the thread that Susan started - Michelle Hall - and to know that it will still stay in my favorites as your Mother will stay in our memories. She was a lovely and amazing lady. I know that everything will go well at your sister's wedding and you know you Mom will be there in spirit.

I love Costco. I have storage, and we have four people, so we buy all the "paper goods" which include paper towels, TP, ziplock bags, and the occasional napkins [we mostly use cloth.] I buy red meat to grind into our own burger meat. I have been known to buy one of the beautiful rack of lambs to celebrate life. We buy parmesan, romano, buffalo mozzarella, Dufour feta, and cabot aged cheddar cheeses. I like their haricot verts, pineapple, avocados, tomatoes [during winter], lemons, limes, and sometimes, I buy a flat of fruit. Smoked salmon. Did I mention the smoked salmon? Or the flats of Seltzer water that I drink when I am too laxly to make my own with the sodaSTREAM. I buy English muffins, crackers, and pita bread. We enjoy the frozen raviolis, and five cheese tortellini for salads. They carry an organic oj that Mr. 02143 must have in the fridge. Sometimes, I will pick up some salamis. Down the dry goods aisles, we like the Kirkland organic PB [though not often], oatmeal, organic honey, ground cinnamon, and I am sure more stuff. We have bought window blinds. I buy all my RX's there. Not only are they the cheapest, but I speak with the same pharmacist each and every time. We have the executive membership [though I have my AMEX through a different program.] We always get a check back that is far greater than our yearly membership.

I love Costco. I use it as a supermarket since it is so very close to my house.

I have had some high fevers over the past two days, so didn't have the energy to make a fresh dinner. I pulled out some Dal Makhani from the freezer and Mr. 02143 made some basmati. And that was dinner. It was so very good.

I do miss Michelle, She was the most happy and bright woman I have known. Remember that wonderful picture of her with the pink rabbit outfit? Who else could have pulled that off?

*susan*

I actually think that was the first picture of Michelle I saw. I think it was a reposted pic. LOL. Made me smile and figured this group wasn't all stuck up and food nazis! LOL

lovinmymom - congrats to your sister, and I am so sorry her happy announcement has triggered missing your mom even more than usual. It is such a feeling of unfairness, and so hard for you as you celebrate life moments without her. Your mom was one of a kind, and we love her and miss her a lot, it was a privilege to have met her in person here in Florida. I just went back and watched the slideshow again to see her beautiful smile.