So...whats for dinner?

Well, it may not appear that way this week, but I also rarely entertain anymore...just family holiday dinners mostly, and when the doc vegans come to visit, I even try to find a vegan friendly restaurant we can go to. I agree with you Carole, that enjoying a nice meal out with friends is more preferable than the anxiety of putting on a dinner. Since I do rarely entertain, I’m thus out of practice, making it much more of an effort because I have to reinvent the process of planning, finding serving dishes to use, etc. I sort of envy people who entertain often and easily...but that will not be me in this life!

This paella dinner has me worked up since it was DH’s great idea, (since he fancies himself a great paella maker....oh, and I will be sure to check his soccarat.....while he makes no other dinners) but he has planned very little and I have been running around like crazy buying items after researching recipes for making the apps and desserts, in an effort to keep the Spanish theme. So....if we really wanted to, we could offer this for next year’s auction again since we will be all set,with everything we need to have on hand, even have little Spanish flags and some pretty fans for decor. But I doubt I will feel like doing this again, especially given DH’s more relaxed approach to it. He will throw himself into a mini frenzy on Saturday to get his paella masterpiece done. By then I will be totally exhausted....especially since I am doing all of this with post cataract surgery cockeyed vision, so it feels more laborious. Grrr! But I’m sure it will all make for lovely pix. :}

Meanwhile we are in the midst of a very heavy snowfall (hoping we keep power!), and our housecleaner, who now just comes when we call her, will not be able to get here tomorrow....so as I’ve been arranging flowers, I’ve also been dusting, and will recruit relaxed DH to help with cleaning tomorrow once he is finished snowblowing. I’m supposed to teach the social skills curriculum to 4th graders tomorrow, but I can’t imagine they will have school given that this storm is not suppised to let up until mid morning.

Cherry, it does sound like you had a productive meeting with your MO. Her nutrition advice sounds the same as what I have been told by mine...and interestingly, that means that the research has not shifted much over the past five years since I was having these same conversations. Again, it sounds like you are in good hands, and I always think that the emotional support of that impacts curative factors.

You and Sandy have me wishing that DH and I didn’t forego our idea to visit Barcelona this year. Just as we were going to plan the trip, we got cold feet due to the political upheaval. Obviously we are not very intrepid travelers.

More food porn...I hope these stay reduced like I always try to make them omly to see them as giant on the thread.

Chicken in a mushroom, pepper and onion wine sauce over mini farfelle

Arugula salad with mushroom, and apple with a balsamic dressing.

And a cute pic of my grands at breakfasttaken by DDIL today on her snowy birthday when both of her kiddos had school canceled....so they all enjoyed a day hunkered down at home....a rare day for all of them! Fortunately it was the day she does not go into the office or hospital!

i also hope you are enjoying YOUR DAY, Carole!

Nance, it sounds like you might be “cutting down”, rather than “cutting out” entertaining for dinner! But I’m thinking that you are one of the people I admire who do it often enough it’s sort of on autopilot. But I agree that it does feel exhausting....and my back even screams enough from my standing to make dinner almost nightly.

For the past two years, I have only had yearly MO appts. Plus, my MO transferred to Dana Farber....a much bigger production to get to....so I was initially in a bit of an anxious state about the “removed” factor, but in fact, I’ve found that it hasn’t been a bad thing to move on with just a yearly check in. Maybe not having meds related symptoms anymore leaves me more prone to denial? But another schedule shift has been that I have my mammo at the half year point from the MO appt. so I’m never too far from the “net”. Good luck making that decision.

We received a foot of the white stuff, but at least today it is warm enough (40 degreesF) that wherever plowed, the pavement shows, so tomorrow all will be back to winter normal. I am busy getting cleaning done, and figuring out dinner which will need to be creative since I bought nothing in the protein group for tonight’s dinner while out shopping yesterday. Maybe something involving eggs!

Nance - my MO told me in December that I have one more 6 mo appointment in June and then will go to once a year. I agree - nice to have fewer doc appointments but I expect I'll be anxious. I'm going to try to schedule a yearly physical with my PDP on the off "6". I'll still have to have blood work done every six months so I can get the Prolia shot.

Minus, that's kind of what happened today. I have a mamm and bone density scan in August, an appointment with her, then we will go to yearly. I think I'm ok with that.

Lacey, my dinner party problem is that I don't know how to do stuff simply. It always has to be a production. I am most certainly my own worst enemy (and critic.)

I bought organic sauerkraut and some grass fed beef sausages at Costco today which we had for dinner. Loved the sauerkraut, the sausages were good but taste wise not sure they were worth the $9 a pound price tag.

Timely discussion about the onc visits - I had my last 6 month one today, moving to once a year. We attempted that last year but I had some complications and he moved me back to every six months - until today. I remain on Femara but got my last Prolia injection this afternoon - he wants to see what happens by my next DEXA in Jan of 2019. I feel a little guinea piggish, but I can always go back on.

magari - welcome! I will be in your neck of the woods next week! Yay for the upcoming last chemo - it sure is a milestone! Will you continue adjuvant Perjeta, or just Herceptin? Your apple/celery salad is making me hungry!

Tonight was a chicken and mushroom alfredo over egg noodles and a salad. I have cooked and frozen a bunch of stuff for DH, so he is all set. I even made extra popsicles (made out of canned dog food and water - yum!) for the dog! I am going to S. California to meet up with a friend from here who is there for a conference for the weekend, then flying up to N. California to see my BFF who retired last week - we are going to celebrate. DD just flew to Cali, Columbia this evening to be a bridesmaid this weekend for a middle school pal - can't believe they have known each other since they were 12!

Carole - Happy Birthday and belated Happy Anniv to eric!

chisandy - love your new pic!

Wow Eric! That must have been difficult to hear about but a relief that it turned out ok.

Tonight was a beef stir fry over cauliflower “rice” and a couple squares of dark chocolate

SpecialK - I'll be receiving adjuvant Perjeta and Herceptin on the usual every 3 week schedule following my last chemo. My MO's office (where I receive my infusions) is over an hour from my house and about 40 minutes from my office, on a good day. I am therefore considering using part-time disability to take the infusion days off from work.

My fish came out nicely last night, but I wasn't thrilled with the soba noodle part of the recipe - seemed like it was missing something. I will hunt around for a different one to use next time.

Oh Eric, what a terrible message to receive! Such a worry, but clearly your “mighty girl” has been raised to be able to take care of herself. But getting “mugged” in another country is beyond most of our experience! There have been news reports that the State Dept. Is suggesting prople avoid parts of Mexico given an increase in such incidents. I imagine that college kuds have been prime targets. I know you will be so relieved to see DD ASAP.

I am in the final prep mode for tonight’s dinner, and just quickly wanted to check in to see what was going on here. Last night I marinated a pork loin ( a rare mammal treat) with balsamic and rosemary, and made a side of sautéed asparagus/mushrooms/onions over orzo, and a cuke salad.

Better get back to finishing up making apps and lettuce washing for tonight. I will be relieved tomorrow.

Welcome, Mogari! Looking forward to your posts

Eric - thinking of you while you're waiting. Special - thinking of your girl in far off places too.

Lacey - I know the dinner will be perfect. Nance - if I had a ripe pineapple, I would eat some spears as my appetizer. Then the upside down cake would be my dinner - start to finish.

I need some crock pot guidance. I pulled my old 3 qt Rival down from the top shelf - mainly because I need the room. It has a heavy removal crock. The only control is off/low/high. I started a batch of Laurie's Mexican Chicken at 11:30am yesterday. Since the chicken was one leftover rotisserie breast & one can of beans, I mainly wanted it all to stay warm while I did other things & stirred it occasionally. Oh boy - the warm was definitely NOT LOW. Everything was cooking to the side of the pot after 4 hours.

I guess I can see the point of having such an appliance, but since I haven't used or missed it in 20 years, it's going to the Salvation Army. Because I already bought the pork shops & the peach preserves, I guess I'll try that recipe first. Laurie's Chicken recipe provides at least 3 meals for me and only took up 1/3 of the pot. Does anyone have a smaller unit to recommend with better heat control?

(((Eric)))-- (((Special))) too--anything that interferes with our kids' safety, especially when they grow up, is one of a parent's worst nightmares. Especially the first time you haven't heard from them in days.

I have an All-Clad slow-cooker, the less pricey one with the crockery insert. Wish I'd sprung for the one with the stovetop-capable metal insert, but it's been years since I've even used my slow-cooker. Was thinking of an Instant Pot till I read about a safety recall (and a NYT review that found competing models to be better). Haven't even used my pressure cooker except to more quickly boil pasta water, and a $15 "Fasta Pasta" microwave pasta cooker has knocked it to the sidelines. I have no problem with making rice on the stovetop, I don't make yogurt, and I braise in the oven or on the stovetop.

I hear everyone about throwing dinner parties. When friends host them in their homes, it's potluck and buffet, which definitely lessens the hassle. But for years now, when not invited out, we host our holiday gatherings at restaurants. This year, it's 16 people for Easter brunch. I can't even seat that many people, much less feed them; and it's worth it to let the restaurant do the cooking & cleanup.

I dunno Lacey - I can't make mine not giants anymore either.

Hamster sized flakes falling today even though it's 35 degrees outside. I think potato leek soup is in order.

The cake was delish though the cake was rather more dense than I anticipated. New recipe from KAF that I hadn't used before.

Yum, love pineapple upside down cake. Yours looks delicious, Nance.

Magari, great review on the Instant Pot. You almost have me ordering one! The recalled one was from Walmart, I believe.

I'm so impressionable when it comes to cooking gadgets. My two sisters were discussing their use of their air fryers during my birthday "hen" party with the two of them, my mother and a niece. Now I'm thinking of buying one. Again. I returned the other one because it was such a big hulking thing taking up a lot of counter space.

Maybe I'll buy an instant pot, too. I could use some cooking motivation. Hey, they both could be birthday presents!

DH is gone all day today in a wood turning class. He doesn't know yet that I won't be cooking tonight. I've decided it's a pizza night. We'll order and pick up.

Eric, scary story about DD. So glad she's ok.

Lacey, can't wait to hear about the paella dinner. I would love to be a guest.

The recalled instant pot product was not the pressure cooker, it was their slow cooker (which I've never even seen.) Carole, you know I'm all about the pressure cooker lol! When I got mine, the Instant Pot was one of a very few that had a stainless steel liner. I see Fagor has now got one but is much more expensive than the IP. I wouldn't get anything other than the stainless liner, no scratching and cleanup is a breeze. Its worth having just for making beans and chicken stock if nothing else. Oh, and tiny little 7" cheesecakes, perfect for two people.

DD is home. I can breathe a bit now. Special, I hoping it's soon that your DD gets home, so you too can breath easier again.

Grr....the old Volvo...the check engine light came on driving home from Tucson (about 150 miles). One cylinder is dead and it will take a complete overhaul/rebuild to fix it. I know what I'm going to be doing for awhile. I guess I can't complain too much.