So...whats for dinner?

Aussie - Yes, I'd like to see the "interesting" donation items too. Good for you for volunteering. I'd planned to volunteer with Friends of the Library sorting donated books for use in the library system or for sale, but everything changed with Covid. Maybe next year.

Nance - thanks for the Orzo & Asparagus recipe. I also like the Costco dark chocolate sea salt caramels. And you're right - one is enough (usually).

Devine - I never used to eat dark chocolate at all. It meant my Mother had half the See's chocolate box all to herself. But as I've gotten older, I like it better. Mind, I don't care for the really bitter stuff.

Mae - sorry meat's not appealing. Hope you're not dealing with any more serious side effects? Are you back at the cabin?

Carole - saw on another thread that you had to turn your heat pump on last night. That does make turkey sound reasonable. We had a relatively cool day yesterday too...down to 101.

Reader - nice to see you. The tomato pie does sound good.

I ordered Godiva milk chocolate pudding mix from Amazon since I couldn't find it in the stores. The dark chocolate variety was $7.99 each - for one box of instant pudding!!! - so I passed on that. Anyway I made a batch yesterday substituting some of the cold milk with 3 Tbls heavy cream and one jigger of Tia Maria. Delicious. Dinner was salad again, dressed up with leftover asparagus & the last of the salmon. I'm in love with HEB's ranch dressing.

Carole, your meals sound wonderful. DH does not like eggplant, but I adore it. It is nearly $3.00/head here so I don't buy it frequently. When it goes for a reasonable price (I'm spoiled from having lived in the midwest for 30+ years), I grill and freeze a lot of it.

We had leftover tofu stuff. Tonight, rockfish on a bed of diced zucchini, corn (sadly, canned) and black beans. I may toss some salsa onto that, put the fish on top and stove top steam it all.
It hit 82-83 here yesterday and another few hot days. So few people have a/c out here. I'm grateful for our heatpump, even if I can only let the house hit 71. Sure wish I could be a bear and hibernate from June to October, when I emerge, refreshed and avoiding all this HOT. I realize there are folks with worse temps and i feel for you.

We're not sure what to cook tonight.

Yesterday and today we did another "bring stuff " trip.

Bought a small eggplant--might make a parmigiana tomorrow (mine will be coated in only grated parm or asiago; Bob's will be those cheeses mixed with Progresso bread crumbs). We'll use Rao's marinara and Galbani whole milk mozz.

As for salted caramels, Whole Foods' dark version (as well as its mini-grahams) are like crack for me. I don't let them into the house (last time I did was 2 yrs. ago, when Gordy sent them over to me in a "CARE package" when I was recovering from plaque brachytherapy for my ocular melanoma).

Last night's dinner was another good one, thank to dh. It was his idea to grill eggplant and zuccini slices as the side to the ribeye. He is a good "griller." We both enjoyed the meal, which was enough with no leftovers.

We learned the technique of cleaning and oiling the grill from either ATK or Cook's Country, probably both. Heat the grill, remove the crud with a steel brush and then swipe with a folded paper towel saturated with cooking oil.

I also got the idea of slicing the steak into strips from a cooking show. Before that, we cut the steak in half. We like thick steaks that weigh at least a pound so one steak is enough for both of us. Ok, too much but we eat it anyway! WW says 3 or 4 oz is enough.

Corn cut off the cob will be on the menu tonight.

Drove an hour North yesterday to have lunch with my BFF. Food was forgetable - cheese burger was WAY too well done and rock hard. Mind you, I love steak rare, and don't want my hamburger's bloody, but this was beyond ridiculous. Oh well - it was great to see my friend. I helped her figure out how to ste up file folders & transfer photos from old camera SIM cards to her computer.

Ran errands today so I treated myself to a lemon Nothing Bundt Cake - since I had a coupon to buy one, get one free. That was my appetizer tonight (twice the size of two standard cupcakes with cream cheese icing). Delicious. The "free" one is waiting for tomorrow - 'white chocolate raspberry'. I stopped at Chicken Salad Chick to get some of their wonderful broccoli salad. I had no intention of getting chicken salad too, but the salad of the month was dill & cucumber so I couldn't resist. Dinner was two Hawaiian rolls with this Dilly Delicious chicken salad. A friend came over before I ate with a lovely bottle of Malbec and we each had two glasses. Kind of heavy for 102 degrees, but very good.

Excitement of the day, we got three MINUTES of rain. Lest there be any confusion - yup - 3 minutes. I dumped the rain gauge. Not quite one tablespoon.

Dinner tonight was reheated leftover steak, plus tomato-basil salad (homegrown tomato & basil over arugula--the burrata had spoiled and had to be discarded, so not a real Caprese) and a smashed baby Persian cuke dressed with sesame oil & sriracha. For dessert, the last five sour cherries plus some blackberries & raspberries and a small segment of an Endangered Species 72% Chocolate & Espresso beans bar. We're going to Chez Joel tomorrow night.

I am a milk chocolate girl, and I actually dislike dark chocolate - if that is all there is I will take a pass. I just tried the Lindt oat milk chocolate, and it is surprisingly good. Non-dairy, but alas, not non-sugar...

minus - your two bundlet choices are my two personal faves. I have a $5 off $10 coupon that I have been resisting - I just got my hair colored yesterday and the building is right next to the NBC store, and I stayed strong, lol!

divine - I had to look up haluski - I had not heard of it before and my married last name ends in ski! My MIL was not Polish, but did cook some of the things my FIL grew up eating - Polish sausage and lentils, cabbage rolls, and some traditional baked goods. Haluski sounds delish - right up my alley, and I would also like your pasta with roasted veggies. You could make either an all-inclusive main with some sliced kielbasa, or leftover chicken or steak.

Dinner last night was that salad you've probably all had at a potluck - napa cabbage, julienned carrot, scallion, julienned red pepper, topped with sliced chicken breast and toasted sesame seeds and the toasted noodles from a package of ramen, with sweet and sour dressing. DH and DD were together yesterday at the dentist getting their Invisalign started. Both have adult orthodontic benefit from their respective insurance, but we split the patient portion with DD as her birthday and Christmas gift for this year. She has worked very hard doing keto and has lost 45 lbs so far, so she will be svelte with straight teeth for 2023!

Dinner tonight is the naughty meatloaf I have posted about previously. I have modified the usual recipe to include gluten free panko breadcrumbs, and Swerve brown sugar in the glaze, but the overall recipe is still pretty naughty with trio of ground meats (beef, pork & veal) and the bacon and the chili sauce/mustard/brown sugar glaze. I am using eggs from DD's backyard chickens, and oat milk to make it dairy-free. DH is still a few pounds too light from his bout with Covid in May so he will be excited to see the meatloaf, but I will try to eat less of the meatloaf and more of the veggies. I typically make mashed red-skinned potatoes and either roasted broccoli or carrots as the sides. Motivation comes in the form of having to be weighed tomorrow at my PS appt - it has been a year since my implant replacement surgery so I have a check up in the morning.

This is why it is naughty…

divine - I use dairy free coffee creamer but recently tried oat milk, and found it to be a heavier consistency so felt more indulgent. I like it better than almond milk and if you have one of those inexpensive handheld frother things it really thickens like a latte. My issue with many of the non-dairy milks is that they are so thin. I would like haluski regardless of if it had noodles or potatoes - I swear potatoes got me through chemo and I have no aversion to them afterward. If anything, I love them more because they sustained me! I need to do some haluski research and make it. Yes, the meatloaf is pretty serious - it is one of DH's fave meals. When he was promoted the last time while still active duty we had it for a meal for the extended fam who came for his pin-on at the Pentagon. I made three of those - you can't tell from the photo, but that is three pounds of ground meats per meatloaf and a whole lotta bacon, lol! It makes the best meatloaf sandwiches as leftovers. DD is definitely to be congratulated for her dedication - she saw some photos of herself and made a decision that she couldn't be that heavy, particularly at her age and living in FL where it is shorts weather almost year round. She has a large social media presence due to her fishing activities - she has been on TV, magazines, etc. and is a IGFA world record holder, and she just didn't feel good about herself - not to mention the health aspect. She is doing great and we are very proud of her effort to be the best version of herself.

OMG Special - all that bacon!!!!

My dinner was sauteed onions & mushrooms & garlic with rice added and a bit of soy. The best part was adding all the leftover 2" asparagus pieces. Of course I should have been eating the broccoli salad that I bought at Chicken Salad Chick yesterday, but the asparagus was calling.

Wally - I love creamy orzo with mushrooms and added shrimp. But I also love fried rice with shrimp. And shrimp Lo Mein. Oh, shrimp is good with everything.

We bought a couple of MegaMillions tickets too. I'll see your meatloaf and raise you steak & lobster!

I like oat and almond milk lattes but am not allowed to drink them: I've found any non-dairy milks worth drinking are loaded with sugar. In fact, even some unsweetened oat milks have more sugar than dairy milk. I am allowed unsweetened vanilla almond milk (Blue Diamond is the only one that froths in an espresso machine's steam wand or makes acceptable cold foam in an Aeroccino, but won't froth hot using the latter's "latte" or "cappuccino" button. And I have to add a little heavy cream when frothing it with the steam wand so it won't go flat too quickly). Plain unsweetened almond milk tastes thin and bitter to me. At least I'm allowed a little FairLife or CarbMaster whole milk a day; I can also dilute heavy cream.

Had an early dinner at Chez Joel tonight--all of Bob's afternoon Union Health patients cancelled on him due to Lollapalooza. Either they didn't want to face the traffic & detours on Lake Shore Drive, or are cops on traffic or security duty for the fest. So we ate at 5pm. We shared a house salad and Manila clams steamed in lemon-butter broth. Bob had coq au vin with frites (more like matchstick fries), and I had pan-seared walleye with broccoli & cabbage in a citrus beurre blanc. Dessert, at home, was mixed berries.

Our tomato plants are starting to fruit but ripening very slowly due to moderate temps. Next week will be hot & humid, so they'll likely ripen all at once, at least enough of them for me to make a Caprese for the block party brunch.

A group of us in Pine Hollow Resort are buying tickets together.

Dinner last night was pasta and salad. The sauce was Rao's and ground chuck. The pasta was fettucini since there was no linguine on the shelf. The salad was wonderful with fresh spring greens and a perfect avocado, also cucumber from the farmers market.

I'm not a good lottery advertisement...."You can't lose if you don't play". :-)

Dinner last night was a repeat of the earlier brined chicken experiment. This time the chicken was only brined for about 2 hours instead of 6. It was much better...very juicy but not salty. Also included were baked turnips.

Tonight will be leftovers.

eric - that is usually me! I buy a lottery ticket probably once every five years, and this was a whim - I was in the grocery store and there was no line at the register for lottery tickets, lol!

wally - funny story about salmon fishing. DH and his older bro - who is a doctor - went salmon fishing in upstate NY not far from where we were stationed. These were big fish and there was a narrow time window to catch them. Lots of people fishing. DH was hit in the eyebrow by some guy’s line weights when he brought the pole back to cast. Lacerated his eyebrow and caused a swollen and badly bruised eye. My BIL did a quick exam and some eye tests on the riverbank, determined no eye orbit bones seemed to be broken, actual eye was unaffected - so the best decision was to continue fishing, lol!

carole - when I was in the store getting lottery tickets, Rao’s was on sale for $5.99! Very exciting! I got multiple jars and had to restrain myself - only so much pantry soace

divine - I fished as a little girl, camping and fishing were our family vacations. My kids mostly fished at the home of my in-laws, they lived in coastal SC, moved there when my kids were babies. DH grew up fishing with his dad and sibs in Miami. DD started fishing seriously here in Tampa right after high school, a good friend of hers got her into skiff fishing and then she just took off from there. I don’t fish anymore, double whammy of too much skin cancer which limits any time in the sun and lymphedema in my casting arm - repetitive motion triggers problems for me

chisandy - I looked at my Planet Oat unsweetened vanilla and it has zero sugar, and same for the Trader Joe’s macadamia, almond and cashew milk. I usually use the unsweetened vanilla for protein shakes and coffee related things and the Trader Joe’s milk for cooking. I usually also have some single serving shelf stable almond milk cartons on hand, particularly during hurricane season.