So...whats for dinner?

Tonight was a modified old favorite. Original title was beef tomato shortcake. Modified by using ground turkey instead of beef, added extra onion for flavor, and made the biscuit topping with gluten free flour. Still tasted good!

Taco salads tonight. Tomorrow our vaccinated “pod” friends are coming for our annual corned beef and cabbage dinner. I’ll also have shepherd’s pie for dh since he won’t touch corned beef or cabbage. Dessert will be a key lime cheesecake, actually made with Persian limes since that’s what I had. I’ll also make a rye soda bread. This is the only time I eat corned beef and cabbage (unless I find myself in an Irish pub which hasn’t happened lately.). I’m looking forward to it.

I looked at the corned beef briskets but refrained from buying. Tonight's dinner will be a whole chicken, butterflied and roasted. I'll use the leftovers to make chicken enchiladas on Friday night. Tomorrow night we are eating at our club making use of my free birthday entree.

Corned Beef and cabbage here too

We don't do the corned beef and cabbage tradition (gastroenterologist 's advice to avoid red meat) so tonight was leftovers. Dessert was baby cupcake with green frosting so we at least had a St. Pat's Day touch.

Yet another covid loss has been our neighborhood St. Patrick's Day get together for which I traditionally made at least two different kinds of Irish bread. Since we are all getting older don't know if it will be revived or simply kept as a good memory.

Well, Chicago did decide, unannounced, to dye the river green--and though the Riverwalk was closed all day, the water taxis were operating.

I just saw something I can never unsee. Ch. 9's morning news did a feature on "the most disgusting dishes ever photographed." #3 was a homemade "Peep" made out of toasted-coconut-covered marshmallows for the body with a "feather crest" made of slivers of what appeared to be graham crackers. (The theme from "Psycho" played in the background). #2 (and I use the term advisedly) was a loaf of sardines in aspic topped with chicken liver mousse garnished with sliced stuffed olives. But the winner? Frito Prune Whip (no less gross by being photographed in a cut crystal bowl).

Yet to eat breakfast? Bon appetit!

Stuffed cabbage rolls

As mentioned in a previous post, we had dinner at the club last night in Morgan's, the less family friendly of the two dining rooms. I had the fish special which was flounder topped with shrimp and crabmeat in a butter sauce. It was good. The chef's vegetable was brussel sprouts that were blackened and raw. I didn't eat them. I started my meal with the turtle soup and dh had a salad. His entree was a seafood pasta which he said was good.

The company of the two other couples joining us was enjoyable. The service was very slow. I think staffing is a problem in these Covid challenged times.

Tonight I'll use the leftover roasted chicken in enchiladas.

It's cooler but very dreary this morning.

chisandy - yay for neg tests, but sorry about the queasy stomach! I am another allergic to penicillin and its derivatives person. I had a lot of it growing up as I was a frequent tonsillitis flyer until they were removed, but seem to have developed a number of antibiotic allergies as an adult. I was in my mid 30's when I had the amoxycillin reaction - head to toe hives. DD has the same reaction. Having so many antibiotics that cause issues has made breast cancer surgery and reconstruction challenging in terms of finding something effective to take pre/post surgery.

carole - I am not much of a fish eater - though I do like shellfish. Your b-day entree sounds yum though! Butter makes everything better...

lacey - so glad your pain seems to be abated by the cold laser therapy - chronic pain is so debilitating. And yay for the shopping! I am looking forward to getting my nails done two weeks after my second Pfizer on 4/1 - will make an appointment for 4/15, lol! A year of doing my own nails will come to an end - very excited. Funny you should mention the kitchen reno happening on this thread - my new wall oven and micro went in about an hour ago! Still need the custom stainless panel for the bottom, but they needed to install the oven first to see the exact measurements they would need - should be about two weeks for that. Still waiting on the fridge, the cooktop went in a couple of weeks ago. will post this and edit to add the pic showing both with my phone - it is easier.

Very nice Special, I’m envious of your big kitchen and island.

Oh Lacey, I’m so glad you’re getting some relief from your therapy. Hope it gets better and better.

Second Pfizer shot tomorrow. Praying for no side effects. I will be happy to have them completed.

I think it’s leftover shepherds pie and corned beef tonight. Carole’s birthda dinner sounds better

Tonight is pan fried pork chops, Brussels sprouts, spinach and my favorite rice blend.

Mae - The meal looks delicious. Do you concoct your own rice blend? I've been using one from Costco that is brown rice, quinoa, amaranth & I forget what else. (garlic?) Special - what a neat kitchen. Lacey - I'm soooo glad to hear you have some relief for you back. Great that you can stand to cook again. Or maybe not if you DH decides to back off entirely? Nance - good luck with your second shot. My only side effect was an obnoxious cold sore on my lip. And who knows - maybe it wasn't even related but I've never been one to have cold sores.

For the last two weeks I've been working to get my will & POAs & etc. re-done. The last iteration was 2006 and still lists my BFF who died shortly thereafter as an alternate executor. The hardest part is choosing alternates if my son & I should die simultaneously. There's not that much to leave, but I'll be damned if the State of Texas will scoop it up. The worksheets have gone to the attorney and we'll have a zoom prep conference in a couple of weeks. I did get the paperwork completed to donate my body to the medical school so that's a relief. Maybe someone can learn something from what's left.

I spent the last two days picking up paint chips at Sherwin Williams. The total re-pipe of my house (attic) with PEX will start 3/29. I'm so fortunate that the old galvanized pipes didn't break open during the freeze!!! There will be a number of holes cut in the sheet rock for the vertical drops, so when they're done - the contractor who did my outside painting last year will take over. He will repair those sheet rock holes as well fixing my kitchen ceiling from prior leaks and remove a 45 year old "popcorn" ceiling from my son's bedroom (now the guest room). Then he will tape & float as needed & paint everything. Last done in 1986 - 20 years before I quit smoking. My kitchen floor is totally worn through so he will replace that. I love my light oak kitchen cabinets so they will stay. I've decided at my age I really don't have to have new quartz countertops, so I will spend that money on replacing tiles around the tubs/showers in the two bathrooms. They were original in 1968 and I really believe water has leaked around & under in the intervening years. And finally, carpet in all the rooms except kitchen & baths. It was last replaced 35 years ago. My feet are ALWAYS cold and the neuropathy (thank you chemo) makes it hard to walk on floors w/o good padding & carpet.

Normally I've been averaging two concerts a week - virtual of course. Tonight was award winning jazz pianist Sullivan Fortner taped at the NYC Steinway hall. Sunday is the Bach Society. And a local theater has been doing "Studio Sessions" - varied & interesting performances for one, two or three actors.

I'm still walking - just not every day. So much "excitement" it's hard to find time to eat, let alone cook. Yesterday was sourdough French Toast w/ a scrambled egg. Today was a large salad w/lots of broccoli. Tomorrow will be stir fried rice w/chicken, asparagus, celery, water chestnuts, leftover broccoli & who knows what else.

Sorry for the long post. I know I've been ignoring the threads but I have been following all your exploits.

Wow Minus, you’re pretty busy! You’re going to have a new house

Sandy, is the classic reaction hives? Because that’s what I had. Everywhere from head to toe. I haven’t been tested for sensitivity for a while but I don’t remember a reaction from the test. I’ve never had a cold sore in my whole life. If I were to get one I would definitely suspect a side effect.

Minus, No, it’s not my own blend. I found it at Kroger years ago and loved it but they stopped selling it in favor of a new blend that I didn’t like as much. I ended buying a case of this on Amazon, so I’d never run out, lol. When I love something, I stock up.

Thanks for the rice link Illimae,.