So...whats for dinner?

Minus, I’ve been very good, I haven’t even snuck a skittle or any of my go to candy. DH is struggling with the smaller portions, me, not so much after so long eating next to nothing last year. Results are great so far though. We’re cutting the week a day short since DH is heading to the cabin for a few days.

Results from the diet tomorrow.

2 day diabetic diet results (6 days). Well, I was right, DH can have carbs and fruit, in small portions.

His pre 2DDD morning glucose was 166, which had dropped to 135 after the 1st day and remained in the 124-141 range while eating breads, grains, pasta and fruit. He also lost 6 lbs.

I lost 10 lbs.

We will start week 2 when DH gets back from a short trip. After that is free range/self planning, which I plan to continue, with some modifications.

Tonight's "dinner" was a piece of the homemade pumpkin pie. I'll make up for it with a 6-7 mile run tonight (when it gets below 95F degrees).

I must be one of the odd ones as I prefer brown rice.

Wow, Illimae. Great results from the eating plan. Congratulations to your dh for acting to lower those sugar numbers.

Dinner last night was supposed to be a ribeye. But when I inspected the thawed packet, it was loin lamb chops. When dh inspected the gas tank for the grill, it was empty. So I cooked the chops on the stove top in a hot cast iron skillet and finished in oven. Sides were steamed asparagus and tossed salad. Condiment was mint jelly.

I am making this tonight because stews taste better the next day. At one time October 31st was the Celtic New Year and the Pagan holiday of Samhain. In honour of my Celtic ancestry I am making a pork shoulder in the Instant Pot with lots of onions, garlic, red wine, herbs from my herb patch. It will sit over night and I can scrape the fat that has risen and solidified before I reheat. Tomorrow I will be serving it with colannon, balsamic roasted pearl onions and carrots. Not sure if I'll roast them as well. I like them better than boiled or steamed.

A Goddess frequently referred to at this time of the year was Cerridwen One of her totem animals was a pig. EEK - should I be eating a Goddess' animal?
In Welsh legend, Cerridwen represents the crone, which is the darker aspect of the goddess. She has powers of prophecy, and is the keeper of the cauldron of knowledge and inspiration in the Underworld. It was said she stirred the souls of the Dead into her cauldron and gave them rebirth. I reckon that is one of reasons why the witch and the cauldron are associated with each other.

If it looks as good as I know it will taste I will post a picture.

Had to look up socca. I love learning new things!!!

Elderberry - I'm going to celebrate Samhain too.

Edited to add - yes my defrosted meat was two delicious New York steaks. Served with steamed spinach and (hear, hear) brown rice. Actually I cheated. It was a "Seeds of Change" package of quinoa & brown rice - nuke for 90 seconds.

Illimae, I used to *heart* Shakey's!!!!!

Can you share the recipes for the 'tators and chicken?

So happy to hear your DH's labs are improving. I swear, the longer I was a practicing dietitian, the more confounded the human body was to me!

Thank you! Such fond memories of my WI days!

My BFF brought me a bowl of great northern beans with ham & bacon & carrots when she visited last week. Perfect meal for Halloween night.

Tonight is roasted cauliflower soup. A steady favorite in our house, now made very low sodium. Those mojo potatoes - oh my! I remember those from years ago. I may have to make myself some when hubby is out - potatoes are a huge no no for him.

Leftover steak cut in small slices and enjoyed cold as an appetizer, Then an entire package of frozen English green peas. Ending up with a mousse with graham crackerr crumbs & caramel on the bottom, mousse, & a solid chocolate layer on top. Accompanied by (two) gin & tonics and (two) glasses of red wine. Hope I will sleep tonight.

Catching up:

Friday night I cast-iron-seared a grass-fed boneless ribeye, accompanied by broccolini, tossed salad, mushrooms sauteed with shallots, parsley, butter & madeira (and the steak juices), and corn on the cob. (I cut off & ate 2" of the tip).

Saturday night we went to a little French place down near UIC we'd always wanted to try--Chez Joel. It was hopping, but the tables were still distanced and we masked between courses. We shared a salad of endive/green apple/fennel & chevre; and a duo of pork & chicken liver mousses with (for Bob) brioche toasts. My entree was "duck two ways:" seared sliced breast and a confit of leg & thigh, accompanied with sweet potato puree and red cabbage; Bob had filet mignon with pommes puree (very smooth whipped spuds) and haricots verts. For dessert we shared a cheese plate: Emmental, Gouda, Brie, chevre and Roquefort. Brought home the toasts & grapes, along with half the cheeses. Valet parking was only $7 (less than half that of other restaurants in the city). And it was less expensive than even the dear-departed hole-in-the-wall Chez Simo (which never did reopen after its 2-week vacation).

Yesterday, Bob gave blood (they now take 2 units, spin off the packed red cells, and reinfuse the plasma) and was absolutely ravenous for brunch. We went to our favorite " Low Country" southern restaurant, Big Jones. (I usually can't eat there for lunch or dinner, but brunch had great options for me). I had the "Omelet Bayou Teche:" 3 eggs, crawfish tails, andouille chunks, cream cheese, topped with Bearnaise sauce. As a side, I had locally-hydroponically-grown butter lettuce with champagne vinaigrette. Bob had gumbo ya-ya and biscuits & gravy--the latter with greens and 2 poached eggs.

After we saw Dune (a last-minute decision--I am not big on fantasy special-effects films but Bob wanted to see it) we had dinner at a restaurant across the street from the theater called Gather. We sat at the counter watching the kitchen (which is probably my favorite seating at restaurants with open kitchens). We shared tuna tartare (Bob had brioche and I had crudites), asparagus salad with quinoa (easy for me to eat my way around) and "watermelon" radishes, and a humongous portion of slow-braised pork shoulder (melt-in-the-mouth) with saffron jasmine rice on Bob's side of the plate and yogurt-creamed spinach on mine. Portions were huge, cooking innovative, and prices exceedingly reasonable.

Today for brunch I had yesterday's brunch leftovers; tonight I had the leftover duck & red cabbage from Sat. and last night's asparagus salad.

Tonight I made broccoli quiche. It will be several meals and having the oven on was comforting because it is raining again

Palak "paneer" (i oven fried tofu and seasoned with hot curry powder). Leftovers tomorrow.

Tonight will be my first experiment with butternut squash mac n cheese, plan to pan sear some thin strip steaks as well and make a romaine salad with avocado and balsamic vinaigrette. I grocery shopped on Mon and was disappointed that there was no green cabbage! I love the copycat version of Whole Foods Cabbage Crunch recipe - will go out today in search of cabbage!

Edited to add - planning to resume outdoor exercise this week - my usual 5-6 mile walk. While in NC we hiked/walked a min of 5 miles a day and it was great to be out. I can now continue since it is no longer 1,000 degrees here in FL.