Panko chicken was a definite keeper - will probably marinate in Italian dressing next time just because I’m lazy and we’re not huge honey mustard fans. But I loved how easy it was!
The sesame beef noodles were weird… the meat basically just steamed in the veggies and the sauce wasn’t sesame-y enough. The guys politely asked me not to make this again.
COTM / Cookbook of the Month / Quarter nominations are underway for the last quarter of the year.
Join us!
Hello friends I am now in the home stretch of a one week staycation. Last Sunday I went on a one hour walking tour of my neighbourhood then off to an art gallery on Monday. I spent the last two days shopping, Tuesday was at a mall I hadn’t been to in 30 years and it’s huge! There are some lovely ladies clothing stores there so now I know where to go to get clothing 
We have a mall downtown but it was refurbished about 10 or 15 years ago complete with new high end stores. So if I am ever looking for diamond jewellery or designer handbags I know where to go but not very practical for everyday use Onto my menus for this week:
Today: I am off to a doctors appointment this afternoon then I pick up my CSA. My first screening with a local film society is at 6:30 but I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it there in time. If I do, I will pick up take-out after the movie then eat in the comfort of my living room. If not, then I will forage for dinner. I’m sure I will be able to think of something to make with a fridge full of vegetables.
Friday: Off to the west end to go big box store shopping (Marshalls, Winners, etc.) ending at Costco. I will probably stop at a deli for lunch so I will have a salad for dinner. I’ve been to that deli before and I love love love their sandwiches so they will more than make up for the bad lunch I had on Tuesday.
Saturday: There is a new plaza downtown that has djs in the evening which seems to be very popular with the young people. But this afternoon they are having a coffee event - it sounds like a coffee tasting so I thought I’d show up and take in the activities. I have one bagel left in the freezer so I will have it for dinner. I haven’t decided on the filling yet.
Sunday: Last day off. There is a lecture at the library I might go to or I might even stay at home and do laundry and meal prep. I will have a basa fillet en papillotte for dinner.
Monday: Back at work 
I will be meeting up with a new-to-me book club at a pub. They have a nice selection of non-alcoholic beers on tap and a couple of interesting looking mussel dishes on the menu. And we will be discussing a book too!
Tuesday: Pork and green bean stir fry.
Wednesday: Stirfried chicken and rice.
Thursday: Off to another film society screening (I go twice a month). I should be able to make it there for the movie this time I will have dinner on the way to the movie theatre.
Have a nice week everyone.
I’m adding this to my list! Will try with loin or tenderloin.
It’s Friday already? My, how time flies when…….. so much is going on 
Still cooking for two w̶i̶l̶d̶ ̶&̶ ̶c̶r̶a̶z̶y̶ mildly interesting middle-aged folks in HV.
We went out last night to the gay bar, as I didn’t feel like cooking by the time I got home from work & running errands.
TONIGHT: pork souvlakia & xoriatiki, possibly pimped out with gigantes & dolma. If I’m feeling it, mayhaps some tzatziki as well.
For TOMORROW we invited a couple of friends over for grilled fish — probz a side of Arctic Char & swordfish from our fab fishmonger & grilled veg followed by a fire on the patio. During the day is the annual Latin festival in town, where I signed up to ‘observe’ any ‘non-celebratory’ activities & help out if necessary for an hour (we take turns).
SPICY SUNDAY it’ll probably be a hot Thai shrimp curry to use up some of the fresh Thai basil and lemongrass a friend gifted me. I should check in with another friend who grows makrut limes whether she can part with a few leaves again, as she shared an abundance last year & I am running low.
MONDAY BLTs, maybe.
TUESDAY or WEDNESDAY might be another ladies night
THURSDAY something light in view of my birthday celebration dinner on
FRIDAY.
Happy eatings, hang onto your friends, stay safe & sane.
Early Happy Birthday wishes for you!
Thank you! Another year older YAY 
Hi, all! Cooking for 2-4 in warm and sunny Chattanooga, where I’m cooking like we’re having fall weather.
Breakfast: Almond bostock (French toast with frangipane)
Saturday, September 27: Lasagne; something green on the side TBD
Sunday: Chicken noodle soup, biscuits, turtle brownies
Monday: Squash and spinach pasta bake. I seem to recall this getting some negative comments (i.e., that it was bland) when it originally appeared, so I might add back some of the original Ottolenghi touches.
Tuesday: Scrounge
Wednesday: My sister and BIL arrive; eggplant parm from Family
Thursday: out for dinner at a local restaurant that got love from the NYT recently
Friday: Snacks at a campfire concert at a local arboretum
Hope everyone has a good week. Happy cooking!
Here’s this week’s plan for 2 adults in the Boston area, whole their cat gets canned rabbit because he is a good, spoiled boy:
Hi everyone! It seems like maybe I have a very diminished cooking mojo right now. LLD seems slightly baffled but ok with it. Two dinners out and one carry out night (not counting tonight!) this week. We’re having our first real couple vacation in 20 years, leaving tomorrow for Spain. Both excited about it. Obviously not much to report on cooking, but here goes:
Mon: he invited me out to dinner, and I happily accepted.
Tues: fish tacos
Wed: kung pao sloppy Joe’s, which I originally got from one of these threads, possibly from Marie Tin? Whoever it was, thank you so much. We love them.
Thurs: carryout
Fri: sushi out
Sat: oh dear, more carry out.
Sun: eating on the plane
I hope you all have a good couple weeks!
When you are leaving on vacation, carryout and eating out are definitely called for in my experience, so as not to return to a refrigerator full of rotting food! And same for the first meal home!
Sending safe travels and wonderful vacation wishes, and looking forward to reports!
Have a wonderful trip!
Curious minds want to know what you carry out when you carry out 
There is a top notch pizza place nearby, plus a more mainstream pizza and subs place. There is Indian. Peruvian chicken. Szechuan. A place we love for burritos and quesadillas (there are others for the same that we don’t love). Those are probably our favorite carry out choices, but once in a while we try something different.
Thank you - this makes so much sense. I will be using it to excuse my recent laziness!
Looking forward to your trip report from Spain!
Greetings, People.
Vacation here, also. I missed posting the last two weeks as we’ve been away on a bucket-list trip: Jasper and Banff National Parks in Alberta via Canadian railway. The journey, which began on the Amtrak out of Seattle to Vancouver BC, took 14 days (including stop-overs), five of which were spent aboard the unique Rocky Mountaineer rail line. We stopped in Quesnel, Whistler, Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff, and Kamloops before returning to Vancouver - a fantastic journey.
The scenery was unmatchable. Everyone we met was friendly and helpful. The food was excellent in many places, and plentiful everywhere. In an attempt to pace myself, I don’t think I’ve ever passed on so many tempting dishes, pastries, and treats (albeit our adventure started with a visit to Granville Market in Vancouver – my happy place – where I ate not one, but two Montreal bagels for breakfast). The food on the train riveled any good restaurant. The most memorable off-train meals included an afternoon high tea at Lake Louise, and a bison dinner in Banff. I tried Nanaimo bars for the first time (and while I didn’t love them, I’m open to trying other versions). I also discovered a delicious blend of herbal tea with “notes of sweet watermelon and … accents of cucumber and gazpacho”.
We returned home today to an empty fridge, so this week’s partial WMP will be based on a quick run to the grocery for dairy and leafy greens, as well as current pantry/freezer supplies and the generous amount of garden produce which awaited us on return. I’ll be processing tomatoes and peppers this week, and have several fruit and/or berry-based baking projects in mind. Breakfasts will hopefully include a pear Dutch Baby or two.
SAT (tonight): frozen chili with black beans from the freezer. The usual toppings of cheese, sour cream, and green onion.
SUN: Pasta with tomatoes, peppers, onions, and Italian sausage. Bean salad.
MON: BLTs (our first of the year!).
TUE: Salmon Caesar.
WED: More BLTs.
THUR: Steak with a sauce I hope to re-craft from something we had at the bison restaurant, made with jus, tomato, chili peppers, and parsley.
The first photo is of Lake Louise at dawn, and the second an update on our Free Little Vegetable project, which opened for “business” today.
You have been missed! What an absolutely fabulous-sounding trip!!! I hope you post more about it when you get around to it.
My family took a similar trip by train right across Canada, Montreal to Vancouver with a few days’ stop at Banff, when I was a little girl, and I’ve always wanted to do it again.
Oh, thank you! I missed the community and posting also, as well as cooking and gardening. OTOH, it was so nice to get a change of scenery and routine (why we have vacations, I suppose).
Coast-to-coast Canada is a dream trip of ours. We talk about it (and talked about it a lot on this trip), but I don’t know if it will ever materialize. ATM we are exhausted (in a happy way) and glad to be home.
I know of Quesnel because my mother’s cousin Betty lived there, and my mother and her late husband visited her there at least once. Betty and her husband lived on a farm and apparently lacked indoor plumbing through the 1950s. BC is obviously not the Prairies or eastern Canada in the winter, but I’m sure the outhouse was not fun.
My family did it in the opposite direction, Vancouver to Montreal, when I was a kid (though without the Banff stop, unfortunately). The most memorable thing in the dining car, many decades hence, was the complementary maple syrup-filled chocolates at dinner.
I love so much about this post. I would so love to do that ride on the Rocky Mountaineer. And like you, I just can’t love a nanaimo bar. LLD is Canadian, and was so excited to find a local place that makes them. He loves them. I am happy he has a source, but they don’t do much for me. And finally I love the free fruit/veg library. Welcome back!
