What's For Dinner?-December 2012

[HeatherFeather]

Ugh - glad i don't have tons of snow and really super cold temps to deal with. It feels very chilly around here today - the temp keeps going up high then falling, so it feels crazy cold one minute, then we are sweating the next. I am not turning the heat on yet, since the second I tough that thing, the temp goes up again. It is pouring outside right now.

Most likely we will have more leftover Chicken & Dumplings, since I made so much from the one chicken. Might bake something as well to use the oven and hopefully get the chill off inside. Perhaps some bread.

Walmart had baking supplies on clearance today - I got several bottles of Watkins extracts for so cheap, plus Ghirardelli baking chips, Crisco sticks, etc - everything 50% off or more. Great bargains on things I actually do use. I probably should have grabbed more real vanilla at something like $1.28 a bottle - that was amazing.

[Kchurchill5]

HF, I got some great deals at Walmart too. Not those, but other items. Some chicken and a few beef products, pasta, some canned goods. Also some crackers and stuff that were holiday items.

Raining here too, but not too much. But, more on the way which is good. It was a nice 1 hr steady rain, we need it. Looks like more rain tomorrow, so work may get cancelled and I will get some soup and bread made. That sounds good for a cold days dinner to me. I have my salmon spread for lunch as well.

Chicken and Dumplings are always good, sound yummy.

Ended up with scalloped potatoes and ham. It was getting cool, so I decided comfort food. I will either add the peas at the end; or keep them separate - I do it both ways. Maybe a few tomatoes from my garden on the side for some color and sweetness.

My stuffed poblanos will be Sunday with shrimp and rice.

[Felix4067]

It's 4am, but since I'm not sleeping and I have a plan...

End result of Snowpocalypse 2? I now have just about enough snow in my yard that in most places I cannot see the tops of the grass. It's cold, though...into the teens at night and no higher than freezing during the day.

I have a plan for dinner tonight, and I really couldn't be more excited about it. Since I am now officially on crutches rather than the scooter, I can get places I couldn't before. I have to work a hockey game. Which means I'm getting pizza from the fabulous by-the-slice place around the corner. I am giddy like a little girl.

[Kchurchill5]

Morning All!

I was up too Felix. Couldn't Sleep. Congrats on crutches, makes getting around much easier. But be careful, water, snow, ice is hazardous. It was rainy season when I was on mine, and I took a few falls on my but.

HF, get the heat ready. Only 62 tomorrow and high 30's for a low. Or ... just plan to bake all day. I have wood ready for the fireplace.

Nin, get the shovel out. More snow today and tomorrow.

Cooking today ...
Nothing too much; not even going to the market. I have enough on hand.

Tonight, another pot of my sausage, potato, and kale soup. I have so much kale in the garden, I don't want it to go to waste. I think I might make kale chips as well. Right now I have a loaf of bread in the ABM. I'm also going to make a loaf of beer bread with a winter ale which should be good. It will go nice with the soup for dinner.

[Felix4067]

Church, other than getting to go to the pizza place (which is grandfathered into a VERY old building downtown and doesn't have a handicapped entrance), crutches suck a LOT more than the scooter did! I used to have a basket to carry stuff and somewhere to rest, and now I'm on my own. Stores look at you a little funny if you put stuff in a backpack as you shop (I usually get my own trail-along escort to the register). Luckily (?) I've done winter on crutches more than once already, so I'm pretty good at it. The only time I ever fell on them had nothing to do with ice and everything to do with the fact that it was my birthday and I was, shall we say, less than sober.

[Kchurchill5]

I agree felix, I did the back back thing too and a bag around my neck; I got lots of strange looks

[Dissie]

I made vegetable beef stew yesterday, made a ton, so that is what we will eat again today. I used up my leftovers from the crudite plate of veggies and added plenty more. Still using up those frozen garden tomatoes. Didn't have stew meat, so cut up a round steak into cubes and used that.

Have to work today....and they are saying another late night. Which means 1 or 2 a.m. until we get out. Have Sun, Mon and Tues off, but didn't want to work late tonight. Thing is, it will be a 11 or 12 hour day, but we don't get paid overtime. Since Tuesday was a paid holiday and we had it off, today doesn't count as overtime, as we didnt technically work the "40" hour work week! Sux for us!

Anyone having New Years parties? Or attending any? I am thinking of having a few folks over, as I don't drink and drive and my friends are the same way. The attendees will be my neighbors and coworkers who live within a few blocks of me. (walking distance). But this also means I will have to make some food.....Nothing elaborate....Thinking some chili.....

[Kchurchill5]

I was invited for NYE, but hate going out. 4 of the poker guys suggesting getting together, well, 2 of them and their SO's. So, I think we will grill. Just all pitch in (cost wise and work) and grill together.
Steak/mushrooms, lobster, potatoes, romaine, corn on the cob; maybe a dip to start. But nothing on the stove except the spiced brandy for after with a few games of poker.

NYD, heading to a friends farm; they have a big mid day BBQ. Whole roasted pig, fried fresh caught grouper, chicken, corn, potatoes, salads, potluck type of food. Good ol' country boys - NO champagne, probably shots of Jack. Champagne and pig just don't go together, lol. It will be ATV's fishing in the pond, music from one of the guys who is in a band; and we all cook. So, definitely casual; I will be home and enjoying the evening by myself and my kitties.

[Felix4067]

I'm working a hockey game NYE, then going to a friend's party. He used to be the Sunday night bartender at my former hangout before it closed, so it's always a good time. Pretty much everyone is going to spend the night since it's impossible to get a taxi (even I have a hard time, and I have four personal drivers). He's making his famous Chex Mix (honestly, I have no idea what he does differently, but I think it has crack in it), and everyone is supposed to bring something. Mostly it's about hanging out and drinking.

[Dissie]

Sounds like you guys are going to be having a good New Years. I just put my beans on to soak overnight. (For the chili)

A friend of mine from work, she lives across the alley, brought over a 10 pound bag of tatertots while I was at work today. Her hubby works at a diff factory than we do...potatoes, like us but they do frozen things....So now I am in need of tater tot recipes! She told my son that she will have a 10 lb bag of hashbrowns next week for us! OMG and I still have like 12 pounds of fresh taters to try to use up!

I took all that licorice to the local foodbank. ( job gave me so much....too much to eat and too much for my family to eat...)