what's for dinner - saturday, jan. 10th

[fizzgig]

i have some produce that needs cleared out of the fridge, so it's likely to be veggie pasta for us tonight.

happy saturday

[bif]

1. Either going to an Italian restaurant or making lobster risotto

[fizzgig]

8. both sound good to me

[bif]

20. A newish restaurant in Detroit. It was excellent.

Restaurants are popping up like crazy in the "D". Time was, you never had to wait for a table. It used to piss me off to wait an hour for a table when we went to other cities. Now it's starting to happen here.

[locks]

2. At a friend's home

soup, salad, bread, cheese and I'm making creme brulee under the broiler. (Haven't quite got the kitchen torch down pat yet, safety-wise)

[Nac Mac Feegle]

3. Torch tips

Flame straight up and down

Do not do it on a plastic cutting board

Keep the flame moving

Just melt the sugar, no more


Made so many of those during my externship at culinary school..

[cbayer]

5. The torch is easy! See advice above and use it.

[fizzgig]

10. hope you have a lovely dinner

it's a good day for such a meal.

[cbayer]

4. Sweet and spicy beef empanadas with guacamole and salsa.

Instead of trying to fight mexican weather, I think I'm going to let it be in charge.

As the absolute hottest time of the day is from 1 PM to 6 PM, cooking has become unbearable. If I do cook, I feel so horrible by the time it is ready, I have no appetite.

So I'm going to start cooking the Mexican way.

This morning first thing, I made a roasted chipotle/tomato/tomatillo sauce and then cooked it into a kind of picadillo. Then I made the pastry dough. Now, if we weren't on the move this afternoon, I would have made and cooked the empanadas by 1:00 and had a late lunch/early supper.

Unfortunately, we are relocating and that is not going to happen, but other than baking them, everything that required heat got done early and it was a pleasure. I will bite the bullet later this evening for the 15 minutes they have to bake.

This is going to involve changing a lifetime of habits, but when in rome……

[fizzgig]

11. mmmmmmm

that sounds awesome.

cooking in the heat is pretty high on my list of not-fun things, good luck with the adjustments

[cbayer]

21. Empanada success!!

After failing repeatedly and being close to giving up, I decided to make them twice as big as the recipe called for. I baked them and served them to friends with guac, chipotle salsa and crema. They were a smashing success and I am so glad.

But the amount of work is stunning. If I do this again, I think I may double or triple the recipe and freeze most of them. Devoting a whole day to them would be worth it.

Yay! Next - tamales.

[Galileo126]

6. Linguini and clams

with diced tomatoes and artichoke hearts.

(I'm surprised - it only took 10 days before I started craving clams again.)

[fizzgig]

12. makes me wish i liked clams

i'm not so excited about bivalves, but that comes from living my whole life 1500 miles away from an ocean and having limited experience with them.

enjoy!

[greatauntoftriplets]

7. Steak, salad and a baked potato.

[fizzgig]

13. classic meal

one of my favorites

[NJCher]

9. Salmon?

A friend mentioned he'd like to come over and make salmon.

But if that doesn't happen, I'll probably have lamb and pasta that the RG made (who, btw, is now at the Fancy Food Show in San Francisco).

I am busy working on my butler's pantry (posted the pic awhile back). I'd just as soon not have to stop to prepare a meal, so either of the above will work out great for me.


Cher

[fizzgig]

14. i haven't had salmon in so long

i'm going to have to splurge on some soon.

hope you're having a lovely day

[noamnety]

15. I have horrible funeral leftovers

from inlaws who embody all the stereotypes about midwestern lutheran food.

I'm adding chopped eggplant, tomato paste and curry to the cafeteria-style chicken & gravy, green beans and potatoes we ended up with. I think I should just crumble the slice of meatloaf into it as well.

[NJCher]

16. calling Garrison Keillor, calling Garrison Keillor

If you need any tips, I'm sure he'll have them!



Signed,

Child of Midwestern Lutherans,


Cher

on edit: the salmon is happening!

[noamnety]

19. lol

"Child of Midwestern Lutherans" - my condolences.

Lucky you with the salmon, I hope it's great.

[pinto]

17. Not a clue. Just got back from a syringe exchange team meeting. My head is swarming in numbers.

We have 2 grants due on 1/30, another on 2/4. The budgets are my department...

Might do take out something-or-other.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

18. Fridge cleanings

Although a lot of things in the fridge now are things we're trying to get the dog to eat with. I've had the most success with boiled ground pork or chicken, sometimes with other things mixed in, like boiled carrots or egg whites. No real success yet on moving him back to eating 'dog food' type stuff that would be more balanced, so he's still getting a lot more protein than I'd like, even if we are keeping the fat low by boiling everything and pouring off the fat-laden water. So we haven't triggered another pancreatic attack, but we're giving his kidneys a workout they really don't need. And he's still not really eating enough. The vet gave him an anti-depressant to take that has a side effect of upping appetite, but he needs to eat more, and more of the things I offer him that aren't just some form of meat.

But we hit the pet store today and bought an assortment of low fat canned foods to try out on him, as well as a couple of packets of 'doggie gravy', so maybe more luck soon.

[cbayer]

22. That boy dog is lucky to have someone who loves him as much as you do.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

23. I don't think he's coming out of this one.

He's still turning his nose up at food, and ever more at things he was willing to try even a day or two ago. The housemate has us booked for a pet photographer within a week or so, but to be honest, I don't know if he'll even make it that long at this rate. He hasn't moved from his blanket 'nest' in the last 16 hours or so, and not been interested in any of the food I offered today.

[cbayer]

24. I am so sorry. It's got to be really hard.

I hope that he is comfortable and I am sure he knows that he is loved.

My heartfelt thoughts go out to you and your housemate.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

25. Thanks.

He's like my kid, and he's always been closer to me than anyone else. I knew this time would come, but I always hoped I'd see maybe another 5 years or so out of him, and it's just been so damn sudden, to see him change so drastically in the span of two weeks has been brutally shocking.

[cbayer]

26. Such a horribly sad time for you.

I think it is much like losing a child and always happens too soon with dogs and cats. It is a curse that we outlive them, but then again, what would he do without you.

I hope you are taking care of yourself and that you have a shoulder or two to cry on.

[grasswire]

27. do you know about that high calorie paste in a tube?

For pets who are not eating well? I can't remember the name of the stuff, but used it on cat in renal failure when all else failed.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

28. No, but I'll go look for it now.

Thanks for letting me know such a thing exists.

[grasswire]

29. Nutrical

That's the name of it, and it should be widely available at pet supply stores.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

30. No longer needed.

We took him in this morning, they ran bloodwork, and he had already gone into complete kidney failure and his liver was close behind.

The vet who took care of him his whole life eased him out just under an hour ago, in his favourite blanket, with one of his favourite toys at his side, and his companion beagle licking him while my housemate and I held him.

[grasswire]

31. oh so sorry..

He was loved, and he knew it. Bless you for your tender care.

[japple]

32. Bless you for sending into the light in such a loving manner with

all of his family and creature comforts nearby. I am sure he knows how much you loved him and is grateful for the release from his sick body.

[fizzgig]

33. i am so sorry

it is never easy to say goodbye to them.

[locks]

34. It is so hard when they leave us

but animals, domestic and wild, make this world a better place for all of us. I had the privilege to visit the Sheldrick Wildlife Refuge in Nairobi where the baby elephants are rescued after their mothers have been cruelly poached and given 24 hour care until they grow strong and old enough to go into the forest with the wild elephants who welcome and care for them. My dear granddaughter who lived in Kenya has gifted me with a new adopted baby every year; Sheldrick sends a long update and pictures every month. Not the same as being with them but so good to know that in this sad world there are many good people who care so much about their animals, as you do.