So...whats for dinner?

eric95us:

I agree.

The engineer on the saucepan team should have taken notes from the engineer on the skillet team.

Making a recipe for red beans and rice tonight, using canned kidney beans. While driving by NOLA my DH and I had a conversation about red beans and rice. I looked up several recipes from my passenger seat and thought I would try this one and then try one with dried beans and check out the differences.

We are doing well on our restricted eating plan - DH has lost 3 lbs, I have lost 2lbs. He wants to lose a total of 10-12, I need to lose 15. We are on the right path - he feels more energetic and has less low back pain. I’m thinking it is the gluten for him. I need to get out and walk - but it is so hot here still.

Roasted sockeye (done medium rare), corn and broccoli as a side.

minus and carole - I am also guessing the dried beans will be better, although DH was pretty enthusiastic about this canned bean version. That may be because he was not having chicken again for dinner, lol! I did not taste last night's iteration yet because - and I am trying to listen to my appetite so I don't eat when I am really not hungry. I will report in when I try the next recipe.

carole - I use small flour tortillas for enchiladas because I don't like to dip the corn ones to soften them. I have used gluten free and/or low carb versions of flour and they all work pretty well. I usually nuke them gently in the microwave to soften for ease of rolling up the filling but you don't need to put them in the sauce, once rolled and in the pan I just pour the sauce over. I have found that a small package of flour tortillas (6, I think?) and a can of sauce makes a square glass pan of enchiladas.

minus - I am not a fan of pumpkin stuff unless it is a baked good. I have a really, really good recipe for pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting from Sally's Baking Addiction (Sally knows what's up...) that is awesome, but I have zero interest in anything pumpkin that is not dessert. I have never had a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks, and I never will - even though they are insanely popular - just can't do it.

Special & Carole: I too only use flour tortillas anymore. Easier to handle & easier to chew.

wallycat - I just looked that recipe up - it does look interesting! I'm thinking the spicy aspect might cancel out enough of the pumpkin-y that I would like it - I did make a pumpkin soup once - like 25 years ago, lol! It was also spicy, and it wasn't too bad.

Speaking of soup - has anyone made a carrot soup? I had some at a wedding in Austria and I know it had ginger, and was delicious. Recipes?

carole - would you consider whole wheat tortillas? My stores also have an artisan style corn and wheat combo that is more pliable than corn on its own. They are at Publix and the brand is LaTortilla.

Not sure what is for dinner tonight, but maybe turkey chili and a green salad. DH is over at DD's house - she is due home from camping tonight - checking on the A/C that was repaired yesterday to make sure it is cooling down the house. His beloved 1996 BMW Z3 (usually a paperweight in the garage) just had to get a new battery so he is doing double duty - running the car and checking on the A/C repair.

Where is chisandy?

Thanksgiving is my DH's favorite holiday too -- so much so that we have to have another turkey dinner at our house after spending the holiday most years at his sister's home. Of course, last year we did not gather at his sister's and had one small dinner here with the kids. This year all of the siblings and their kids are vaccinated (many of us triple vaccinated) so it looks like it's on. If I can find a small enough turkey, I'll fix that on Sunday along with a couple of sides. I do like the thanksgiving leftovers.

Special - it's funny you should mention those wheat/corn tortillas. Just yesterday I bought some at Fresh Thyme to fix enchiladas last night. Trader Joe's has a version of them that I like awfully well and I usually like La Tortilla's products. Although they were very easy to work with, I found them to be more on the doughy side than TJ's and somewhat disappointing. I'll probably stick with the corn for enchiladas. I don't usually dip mine but heat them briefly in the microwave or a cast iron skillet to make them more flexible.

This week I went to a neighborhood lady lunch gathering.. This group meets once a month at a different restaurant. Although I've been invited every month since they started up again this summer, something has always come up on that particular day. It was quite a pleasant outing and nice to meet some neighbors. We ate at a Walnut Grill which they describe as a "restaurant group" and not a chain as they are a small group located mostly here and Pittsburgh. I didn't feel too nervous about it since we had a room to ourselves and most of us are the same age (or older) and all vaccinated. I had a rather large crab cake that was heavy on the crab and light on the filler. It was delicious although it was within a hair of being overly salty.

For the first time since forever I'm baking bread today. I chose an oat/whole wheat loaf that will go well with the fire roasted vegetable soup I'm fixing for dinner. It was cold enough this morning to turn on the heat and the next several nights are to be the same. We spent yesterday bringing in the plants. The orchids are happy - the herbs not so much. At least it's sunny today after many days of rain and gloom.

Carole - I've stuck with the natural look for now. Mostly I like being free of the obligation of coloring it. It's not as white as I anticipated and is more ashy than I like but most people don't even notice it. Go figure.

I don't get the pumpkin spice thing either. Is it the spice that's so appealing? Last year at Trader Joe's I watched a guy take every can of pumpkin spice coffee off the shelf and put them in his cart. That's hard core.

The only pumpkin drink I like is beer. Did not think I would like it; and I'm just *meh* on beer, but pumpkin beer....I can't keep it in the house.

Yesterday we had the sockeye leftovers.

Tonight I made a dry lamb curry Kerala style. Served with sweet potatoes and green beans (DH's choices and not Indian in any sense).

I've let myself go gray. If I didn't have sensitive skin and have to worry about an allergic reaction, I'd color in a heart beat but not worth the hassle in my case. My onco is a few years older than me and still has black hair (natural), just like her mom had. I got crappy genes all the way around, LOL. (sorry if I've posted that before; it's a pet peeve).

My brother, who's made pumpkin pie since there were pumpkins, announced this year that he's decided Costco's pumpkin pies are better than home made. Well but they are HUGE. He says his wife has a small slice and he eats the rest in a couple of days.

Dinner was nibbles. Guacamole with wheat crackers, then leftover tuna with mayo from the bowl with a fork. This followed my afternoon nosh of cottage cheese with tomatoes. I bought a container of mini chocolate chip cookies at Costco yesterday so 6 of those provided dessert. I'm trying to finish up the leftovers so I can have a grilled cheese sandwich with Gouda cheese while the sourdough bread is still fresh enough. Any body ever try making fried with with Uncle Ben's Long Grain & Wild rice? I'll let you know.

Dinner tonight was stir fry veggies with the addition of 1/2 chicken breast, shredded; about 1/2 cup leftover rice blend; and a couple of eggs, scrambled. Didn't quite clear out the fridge but it helped. Served with a choice of stir fry sauces.

The "run a while stop running" shenanigans of our refrigerator are driving us crazy. Today I'll move all the spoilables to the outdoor refrigerator in an outbuilding not too far from our carport. We'll get our exercise during the week (fingers crossed) before the new refrigerator arrives.

Count me among those who aren't tempted by pumpkin soup and coffee, etc. I like sweet potato pie better than pumpkin pie. I have no idea what pumpkin tastes like because the spices overwhelm any natural flavor.

I have used the whole wheat tortillas. Wheat/corn combo sounds interesting.

We're having a few days of delightful cool low humidity weather. I plan to make navy bean soup today, seasoned with slices of ham hock.

I always enjoy my appointments with my hair stylist here in Louisiana. She has her shop in her house in a somewhat rural setting in the same neighborhood where I grew up. She is from a blue collar background and enjoys her work. In the past she has tried to take at least one course a year but with Covid, she is able to take seminars online. The salon where I go in MN is a complete contrast. More upscale and pricier and impersonal. But I enjoy the communication with MN women.

I'm happy with the color transformation.

Food food food! I'm at the very beginning of an elimination diet for fructose malabsorption (aka intolerance). I'm trying to figure out what I can and can't eat for the next few weeks. We usually think of a fruit and veg heavy diet as being healthy, but now I'm told to limit myself to 3 or fewer small servings per day. Also wheat products are out because wheat apparently breaks down to fructose. Onions and garlic are out, and chocolate needs to be limited and only dark. Okay, dark is the only kind I eat, so that will be okay.

Right now I'm making a pot of quinoa and will season it will olive oil, lemon juice, salt/pepper, basil, and some feta. So that will feel like a bit of heft in a meal.

Oatmeal, Cheerios, or eggs for breakfasts. A lot of meat and cheese through the rest of the day.

It's confusing. I think I'll figure it out. In the meantime, I'm thinking about food MORE THAN EVER!

To All: and Potheads out there? By that, I don't mean weed. If you are one of those -- Hi. Peace. What I mean is, do any of you love love love having an Instant Pot? Best chili ever! Great pot roasts. The lamb shanks are divine. All of it done in half or less the time than normal slow cooking etc.

I love pumpkin. Sweet. Savoury. Doesn't matter. I have a recipe for pumpkin brule and pumpkin ice cream but I also have a recipe for a pasta sauce made with coconut cream and pumpkin puree. Our local Japanese restaurant makes pumpkin cakes - basically a flattened out fritter. I love them!

McDonald's fish burgers. I used to sort of like them way back but the last one I tried after not having had one for decades tasted like a fish flavoured soggy paper towel.

Instant Pot fan here! Can't say I'm a fan of all things pumpkin (partly because I have not tried all of them) but love pumpkin date bread and our Thanksgiving favorite, pumpkin walnut pie.

So far I have resisted both the Instant Pot and air fryer - but don’t have a very good reason. Or really any reason. I have also resisted seeing the movie Titanic and using cruise control in the car. No reason other than I am occasionally obstinate, and decided to dig in my heels on those two items, lol

Dinner tonight was chili, accompanied by broccoli salad for DH.