So...whats for dinner?

This is about my favorite cheesy potato recipe ever! It is simple to make, tastes delicious, and satisfies the craving for cheesy. And, it is fabulous with ham. This year I am actually serving a smoked ham, but am substituting mac and cheese at the request of the "kids." Leftover will get this recipe however. I often divide in half since it makes a huge amount. I admit, I am very careful about laying out the potatoes, but most aren't.

My only notes are, add the herbs and garlic to the cream before warming. Then you can strain as you pour over each layer. It really improves the dish. [Scroll down for the recipe, after ogling the pictures.:]

http://www.theurbanbaker.com/french-fridays-with-d...

Enjoy!

The potato recipe looks like a good one. Fairly simple, too.

Good things happening in your kitchen, Nance. You are a pastry chef at heart.

I ventured out on this cloudy, gloomy morning to get my shopping done before the forecast 100 per cent rain begins this afternoon. At a neighborhood supermarket in nearby Covington I happened upon beef bones in the meat dept. There are actual butchers at this store. I bought a couple of packs of the bones to make beef stock after Christmas. There was also a large pkg. of chicken backs for less than $3. I bought those, too.

This afternoon I'm making stuffed peppers with ground pork, ground beef, cooked faro and other ingredients. I should also cook two eggplants that have resided in the refrigerator longer than I intended when I bought them. If they look ok when I slice into them, I'll make eggplant parmesan for the freezer. The bell peppers are freebies from BIL's Christmas veggie box. I may freeze the peppers and have something else for dinner. Maybe beef fajitas with home-made tortillas. I will need to dust off the tortilla press.

Susan - there are so many hard choices. I'm sorry your friend's responses were not optimal. I know most of my friends wouldn't agree with my choices - and it's a time for support and not disappointment or arguing. I hope the appt with Dr. Christina and the subsequent treatment not only helps physically, but gives you some peace of mind. Sounds like a full time job with the new house. Hope you're not still trying to code also. We WILL be here for you and are honored that you are sharing your journey.

Susan, what Minus said.

Praying for you, Susan.

Oh Susan, just checking our "table" before nodding off and so sorry to see you in this inevitable pain. I'm hoping/expecting that Dr. C's meeting will be more comforting than scary. She is there to "hold" (and help guide...not in a controlling way) you as you navigate the new scary waters. And you can bet that DF will be ready for your wonderful humor! Maybe give 'em a bit of a heads up then let it flow....this is your journey, and they are there for you...just as we are, here. And once I get this virus under control, and you have a free space, we will meet up for coffee or Turkish lunch. I hope you are sleeping tonight......


I finally called the PCP today and am seeing her tomorrow to see what is still rumbling in my lungs. Also seeing allergist (previously scheduled) later in day, so I hope to get this worked out so I feel comfortable being around folks for holiday dinners w/o infecting anyone!

Made chicken soup with kale and spinach tonight and decided to add black rice as an experiment.....only do that if you like black chicken soup!! It was delicious, but a bit off putting, especially the died pieces of chicken. Reminded me of clumps of poorly died black hair. DH wisely did not complain...first dinner I prepared in a few days. Will use farro in the next batch......
Off to sleep, way too late.

I have been away visiting my in-laws in S. Carolina, but am now back.  Appliance repairman says the garage fridge is not repairable for less than a new one costs - so Santa is bringing a new fridge.  Florida is unseasonably warm, it was nice to be in SC and be cool and have a fire in the fireplace - in-laws are hanging in and it was a good visit.  Mr. Kitten is at the vet being neutered and getting some shots and kitten stuff.  He is a wild one, but so far has not climbed any of the Christmas trees.  Yes, I am one of those crazy multiple tree people.  Have not been cooking, but our son comes home tomorrow morning so the party will start then!  DD has to work today, Christmas Eve, and the 26th - so we will have to schedule some fun around her obligations. DH is off after today.  Don't know if the kids can figure out a time to fish together on her boat.  I need to grocery shop but have to decide if a new fridge will come by tomorrow or not.  The good news is that all of the other shopping is done.  Saw the surgeon yesterday and had the final drain removed, so I am looking forward to a hot shower long enough to use all of the available hot water!  My most unusual ornament is made of the glass bells that decorated our wedding cake.  I usually decorate the tree after my husband puts it up and gets the lights on - that is always the first ornament he looks for.  One of the many reasons he is a keeper. 

lacey - hope you feel better soon!  Sorry you had to miss your little ones.

I like the cheesy potato recipe!  I usually do a béchamel with some onion and Dijon mustard added, with a generous amount of black pepper, and layer potatoes, sauce and cheese, and finish with cheese and panko breadcrumbs, but I will try the posted one!  Seems like an elegant classic dish and who doesn't like gruyere?

susan - not long after I finished chemo I participated in a writing workshop with some other cancer folks and we gave presentations to an audience at the Hope Lodge at Moffitt.  My piece was about being an independent person with cancer and coming to realize all of the people who were standing with me as I dealt with diagnosis and treatment.  I hope you know that I am standing with you, and am confident all of us are, as you move forward with your decisions about treatment.  No judgements, nothing but support and love.

Yay on no drains! I remember that freedom six years after the surgery. SpecialK, I know you'll enjoy having both your kids at home and you will feed them delicious food. I remember your multiple Christmas trees. Shame on me for no Christmas tree.

We've been out at night a few times this Christmas season and I have really enjoyed all the outdoor lights. We admired one home that has programmed LED lights with moving decorations and a small sign telling you a radio station to tune in for music. We know the parents of the man who lives in the house. His Halloween decorations were remarkable, too.

Minus, I hope you have a good travel day for Christmas. The visibility was good this morning as we drove to the gym. The schools are out this week so the morning traffic isn't as bad as normal weekday mornings..

I spent quite few hours in the kitchen today working on a poor imitation of Susan's magic freezer. I used the left over meat stuffing made for yesterday's bell peppers to make two meals of stuffed cabbage leaves. The red sauce was Rao's Marinara. I also made one meal of eggplant parmesan, also with the Rao's. Only one of the two eggplants was good.

This afternoon I made tortillas for tonight's meal of beef fajitas. The beef will be sliced rib eye. I'll sauté some onions for dh, heat up some black beans, mix up a guacamole. I have no colored bell peppers and I won't miss them. I'll probably also make a cabbage slaw as a side. The tortillas are already cooked but I'll reheat them on the iron griddle. My cast iron press worked really well.

What a yucky day. Warm and moist. Christmas may be a temperature record breaker, 80 degrees or higher.

I'm waiting anxiously for a post from Susan, hoping she has the energy to check in. I've been thinking about you off and on all day, Susan.

I have so many people to update that I wrote something up.... but it is really just a first draft. It isn't a story just yet. It was a full morning. I spent four hours at Dana Farber. And then I came home and headed right out to buy food items for Christmas and stocking stuffers.

Today was the BIG day at Dana Farber. Well, it was a big day for me. A friend said something the other day which stayed with me. She indicated that my odd and perverse sense of humor would find a home at the Dana. And I went with it. Today I decided that I would not let the Dana Farber happen to me, but instead would simply be me at the Dana Farber. What a difference that made!

Once again, I headed to the ninth floor and waited in line to be checked in. This time I said "Hi. I can't see your name tag. Ah! Jack, hi Jack." and I got a smile and even a bit of conversation.

I chatted with Heidi who took my vitals. Back to the waiting room, and since I was interested, I reinvestigated the "cafe." The three icons are actually a knife/fork, recycling, and trash. The coffee machine dispenses decaf and caffeinated coffee, and there is a third button for hot water. Today there were several types of tea bags and hot chocolate to choose from. The bowl still only held saltine-type crackers but there were too many to count easily. No knives or forks. Casual patients do not get snacks.

I was called back to see Dr. Christine on time today and she was ready. In preparation for our appointment she had results from the research group and had presented my "case" to her colleagues at their weekly round table discussion.

Two trials bubbled up, both investigating targeted therapies using different pathways. The first one requires a recent biopsy, so it is off the table. Bone mets are really hard to biopsy, are extremely painful, and have a huge failure rate. The other trial is investigating a pathway that has not generated a huge amount of buzz. But, Genetech has figured out WHO responds well. This requires a "stored" tumor onco test to test for this specific pathway. The end result is, I will do a study that used stored tumor sample to run a full onco-panel. This will allow us to know, in the future, which trials make sense. Since this panel will take about three month, I need to move forward. This trial will either be available or not when I need it.

So, I will start Xeloda. I will take it until it fails me. And then we will look at trials, knowing what pathways and mutations I actually have.

They sent me to the second floor where you have your blood drawn, and where you can talk with the pharmacy. First I chatted with the lab person, teasing her that she didn't want to talk with me, but instead just wanted to scan my bracelet. Once we broke the ice, we discussed our Christmast dinners. She is also making a ham, but with collard greens, a recipe that her grandmother taught her. For whatever reason, my insurance agreed to pay the Dana Farber for my RX. The young woman at the window and I chatted about my insurance company and why they approve or don't. As I headed home, I have at least 100 pages of papers outlining both the trial and study, a bag of drugs, and a parking receipt.

I will start Xeloda on Saturday. I have the gloves/socks, bag balm and immodium just in case.

*susan*

p.s. The friend is clearly Lacey. Thanks for the adjustment suggestion!

Susan - Sorry the trials aren't immediately available, but it sounds like Dr. C's plan for a full 'onco-panel' makes sense. And drugs are paid for!! And you don't start Xeloda until after Christmas. The best part is you went in being Susan and sounds like you got good reactions from all. Thanks for posting so soon. With your grocery shopping & cooking, you have a full day tomorrow. I continue to be amazed by your energy. I couldn't possibly do everything you are doing.

Dinner was another night of Crazy Cuisine "Mandarin Orange Chicken" from Coscto. I took it for appetizers to a friends Saturday. Really excellent but it was way too much food since everybody else brought nibbles too. I had it the 2nd night with rice. Tonight was with green beans & broccoli. I'll definitely buy it again but not cook a full bag next time. A neighbor who is 87 brought me 1/2 of a pumpkin pie she'd baked. Luckily I had whipped cream.

Susan, I'm glad the staff perked up for you. ;-) I've often (but not always) found that i get reflections of my attitude.

Having spent quite a bit of time with my mom at Mayo Clinic here in Phoenix....one has a great eating place....the other..I pack my lunch.

Another long lost post....and too tired to try again

That's a good idea, Minus...thanks! I might also use a copy/paste method, so at least I have the post somewhere besides in cyberspace limbo after it disappears. I should probably not do my late nite posts, and I will have more energy to be creative to save my "stuff".

On a ZPAC to rid my body of whatever ails it...but the good news is that it's not the dreaded pneumonia!! Clear xray.

Nance, I so hope you can dodge those germy cough bullets!! I hope that after this treatment I stop sounding like I belong in the TB ward. Also saw my new allergy doc yesterday. I sooo like her! So I am hopefully finished with med appts for another week....then the eye doc. And I did make an appt with the ortho to have my screaming shoulder evaluated in early Jan.

Glad your appts went well, Moon. I agree with Minus....eat and enjoy the fam!

Made anise pizzelles last night....I think they are a tad hard/dense. Will put more baking powder in the meyer lemon ones....which I'd better get back to now.

DH and I just did a freezer purge before he headed for the dump (er, "recycling center")today. Nice feeling....now if we could be that decisive about clearing out house stuff! Maybe if old treasures grew mold on them, we'd more easily toss them!

Glad Sharon is doing better, Eric.

Special, happy drainless holiday!

Carole, vicariously enjoying your meals.

Last night we had store bought veggie flatbread with a huge garden salad I made.

Tonight more chicken soup, I think, since I'm focusing on making cookies.

Thinking of how tired Susan might be today after working up to and going through yesterday's visit. Hope you can enjoy your meds free days until you start on Saturday.

Okay....better get back to zesting those Meyer babies!

Tried the preview method....let's see whatvhappens!

Susan that sounds like a plan. I always tell myself that whatever the outcome is, I am making the best decision with the information that i have right now. If I don't like the plan in the future, that does 'nt mean I made a bad choice, I made a good choice with what I knew at the time. If that makes sense. I sense that your MO is very up to date and will help you make good decisions. You are good at this and if things change she will help you change your plans

I usually get lectures on how "i'm only trying to help" when I refuse to repeat my name and sigh and hand them my license to read.

I will definitely try your way next time.

I stayed overnight with a friend who got out of the hospital yesterday. Had to keep reminding her that she was goofy and NO you should not take an ambien with the percocet and the anesthesia wearing off!

Finally left this after noon and she texted me to tell me that I left my T-shirt. It's HER T-shirt that I borrowed to sleep in She is way bigger and taller than I . I reminded her not to move until my replacement comes a t 3:30. I would have stayed but have an eye doc appt.

For dinner, IDK.

Oh my goodness- susan--I love reading all you r posts---I learn so much no matter whether it is about food, travel, or survivorship or attitude/demeanor . You go girl. I guess I am dumb but what do you need gloves and socks for when you start Xeloda??

my dad got his new denture today......so hopefully he will be able to eat his food better now. I am cooking Hungarian sausages for Christmas since it is just the two of us. I gave him two dessert choices and he wanted the one lowest in "fat" but I think he really meant sugar, since he is diabetic. I am doing a Orange fluff dessert--you all probably know the one. and today, our newspaper had a rec ipe for a nutmeg cake that I am going to try tonight, if I get the rest of the mess in the kitchen cleaned up an still have energy.

Ladies and Eric---if I don't post again before Christmas, I hope yours is bright with joy and warm with love!