So...whats for dinner?

We are in Carthage, MO. We are slowing down a bit due to road construction, taking the more interesting back roads, and dog stops. We most likely won't get to Traverse City until mid-day Sunday. Road trips are the dogs' favorite, but, unfortunately, this will almost certainly be Gypsy's last road trip. :-(

Dinner tonight was the pork BBQ and corn on the cob. Sort of a schizophrenic vegan meal. :-)

Tomorrow we'll be somewhere south of Chicago. Yesterday, Frankie (other dog) bumped me as I was going down the camper steps and I got my leg trapped between the steps as I fell. I didn't break anything, but I managed to smash my watch (no longer works) and scare me. Had I not managed to grab something in time, it would have been quite the disaster.

We stooped along the way and visited DD's Godmother. We're near Springfield, IL.

We went through St Louis at 4pm.....It reminded me of Phoenix traffic. :-)

Dinner was "camper made" vege burgers and baked potatoes.

Linner or dunch was fish n chips with fried Wisconsin cheese curds and a Harp ale from a local Irish pub (Mo’s) and thanks for the tip on this one minus. The Atlantic cod was flaky and delicious. Lunch was late, so I’ll finish the meal in a couple of hours.

Made chicken and the side dish wasmac ‘n cheese with broccoli from scratch

Dinners this week have been planned overs with the exception of Mexican takeout last evening -- which became tonight's planned overs. Looking like I'll need to start fresh tomorrow! Hmmm, saw an I treating recipe for grilled turkey tenderloins. Have a dental appointment on Tuesday morning, the tenderloins might be for Tuesday dinner since I can stop at the grocery on the way home.

I bought 4 ears of corn at Walmart's some days ago. I cut the corn off two of the ears and microwaved with butter for one side during the week. Last night I did the same with the remaining two ears. The corn is so sweet it tastes like someone added sugar. Our meat last night was two chicken thighs, bone in skin on, seasoned and cooked in the outdoor grill used as oven. I had half a can of cream of chicken soup in the refrigerator, and being here in the upper midwest where cream soup is a staple, I spooned it over the thighs. I'm always happy with chicken and dh seldom complains about food.

A vodka martini on ice with a medley of olives and squeeze of lemon always tastes good at 5 pm, but, boy, does it taste good when the temperature is in the mid 90's. We persist in sitting out on the deck for our cocktail time. I took a fan out on the deck yesterday afternoon to provide some relief.

Yes, Minus, I am aware of nature's irony. It's cooler in Louisiana with all the rain that is sorely needed here. The grass is dying in areas not reached by the watering system. Mowing around the campers is a dirty process with the dust billowing up.

Tonight is pan seared pork chops in a garlic, onion, mushroom cream sauce with creamy kale and a broccoli/squash blend.

Back to MN eating. Cheddar brats, store made, cooked on the grill. Bush baked beans and coleslaw.

The a/c units got a rest last night. The temperature dropped to mid fifties and we slept with fans and open window in the bedroom.

Something quick, too hot to really cook a big meal

Tonight was grilled steak, a loaded baked potato, roasted cauliflower and carrots and leftover corn.

Urgh. I just lost a longer post. I got Ina Garten's latest cookbook for my birthday so I made her garlicky baked cod along with corn on the cob and caprese salad, basil and parsley from the deck pots. Fun!

Thanks for so much inspiration dinner thread friends.

Oh, wow, illimae, those pics! The only time I've ever seen crawfish like that was when I visited my brother in TN and we happened to hit the neighborhood during their annual crawfish festival. I've never seen anything like it before or since! And I tend to avoid meat, but I felt like it would be really dumb of me to be there during that and not try it, so I did. Can't say it was for me, but the festival was fun and there sure were a lot of happy people there! It made a good impression on my kid, too, who was probably 7 at the time and had never been to a block party/street festival/food festival or significantly-different-from-his-own cultural festival.

carolehalston, I bet that bowl is awesome! I used to have a friend whose husband specialized in burl bowls and they were somethin' to behold.

Here's what's for dinner tonight: a turkey sandwich from the grocery sandwich counter.

I just put in the grocery order, and I also bought items specifically for a caprese salad, which I'll make in a batch and have for a few days, and for a caponata, which I'll make in a batch and have in the fridge for the week. If I get my act together enough, I'll make a veggie quiche to have on hand as well, and another batch of smoothies, since my kid is gonna drink the last one in the fridge when he gets up this morning.

I have definitely hit that point in the year when the temps are high enough that after 11am, the absolute last thing I want to do is heat up the house or myself any further and cook stuff. I'm definitely trying to maximize our "grab and go", and mix-and-match options with salads, sandwiches, smoothies, and entrees that can be cooked ahead and self-served as desired.

Carole - happy B-day to your DH. Hope your dinner "out" is fun.

Special - thinking of you. I believe your surgery was yesterday? Hope to hear soon that everything went well.

Nothing screams Chili like weather in the low 90’s but DH volunteered to cook, so I’m not complaining. Just a small bowl though because my appetite is low today.

Wow...just finished this novel of dinners, road trips (one to launch offspring), artisanal woodwork sales, lucky less eventful RV falls, pending surgery, sore knees and doc rx resistance by doc, visits with relatives for pleasant reconnections, and another for necessary support at a time of loss, interminable renovation, and many wonderful inspiring food pix! Am sure I’m missing some themes, but tried to get through the many pages quickly since I am supposed to be off screens for a while.
First of all, I hope your surgery went well, Special!

I think I last posted just before DS2 and crew stayed with us while their house floors were being done and kitchen was finally being completed. They were here for a week, and it was busy (even tho for two days the toddler went to her daycare). Meals were probably the biggest difference we felt...since every daytime hour, DS2 and DDIL2 were here, sequestered in separate rooms working away on their Zoom links. I was amused to briefly catch sight of them at the desks at which my two boys spent many hours working during their school years. And it all worked out. Dinners were a bit of a challenge, but DDIL2 really tried to expand her palate enough that distinctly separate meals didn’t need to be prepared. One night they bought a delicious take out seafood dinner from Captain Marden’s, which was much appreciated. Even their hamburger (!) for DDIL2 was reported as great. Before they moved back home, I realized what a gift it was to have them here to live for a week...may never happen again. We are back to our little “retirement village” now.

Since they returned home to a house one could now live in (YAY!), we have still had grand toddlerette here for a few visits since she really loved having four set of caretakers in her home environment, and missed us. Her being here gave them some hours to finally get their home organized...before her parents came to see it and stay for a visit. Minus, I kept thinking of you whenever we were at their torn apart, workmen filled home, ...and am hoping that soon you will also be enjoying your new normal cleared out (of stuff and workers!) home. I am in awe of your major clear out!

So, this past weekend DDIL2’s parents were in town for a long awaited visit and the family held her second year (first NON-ZOOM!) birthday party, which was really fun. We got to see DS2s friends/families who we enjoy, and also met lots of their new neighbors. The event included a bouncy house, a huge hit with the kids, and even a few (faux) adults!

Over MemDay weekend it was cold and rainy here (I pay attention to our midwestern thread members weather, knowing that we will see it here in a day or two). DH went to NH for our assoc meeting and I stayed home knowing it would be pretty miserable weather there, and my back was acting up again. I was thrilled to have my own concoctions for dinner, with minimal prep involved. It worked well the first night...my favorite, oatmeal with walnuts and raspberries and cream and a bit of maple syrup.

Unfortunately, Sat nite resulted in an unexpected event right after I had another unconventional dinner...yogurt, walnuts, and whole wheat matza with peanut butter and strawberry jam. After that sumptuous meal, I started to feel lightheaded and sweaty, and thought I might pass out. Not sure why I knew that since I have never fainted before, but in fact as I was seriously planning to lay on the kitchen floor, I awoke there recalling how terribly painful it felt. It seems I did faint and landed hard, with my head sustaining a huge egg, a sore neck and a bruised scapula. DH was calling me, and after a while I was able to reach my phone, and let him know I was lying on the kitchen floor. :{ I didn’t want to call 911 since here the ambulance delivers you to the hospital down the street which is fine but not the system we are a part of. Clinical record transfers are difficult. So he called DS2 who drove here and took me to our system’s ER. Luckily, the ER was unusually empty and I had a zillion tests (which were mostly unremarkable), pretty efficiently. DH made it back from NH and met me there, and we were home by 1AM. My doc contacted me the next day to set up a follow up for Tuesday. At that appt, she confirmed that I had a concussion, set up an appt with cardiology for a two week heart monitor patch, and told me I couldn’t drive for six months. (!!!) That did not sit well, but I think that may change once we get the fainting sorted out. Am being really careful to stay more hydrated. The concussion symptoms are a subtle pain...and it really is true that screens are irritating when one’s brain is healing. So that is one of my reasons for being such a negligent poster! I have posted now long enough to get the headache activated.

The left side of my face is a mozaic of colors ....all frighteningly, bloody dark! And for grandtoddler’s birthday party I loaded it up with pancake makeup so as not to scare any children....or adults! Weird since I never wear make up anymore. But it worked...

Am back to some cooking... Grilled pork loin, salad and an orzo veggie toss.

And the scootering toddler...on her actual birthday. Love her agency!