What's cooking - Monday July 30th

[Tasty]

Good morning friends🙂

Where is summer going?  Here we are at the end of July  - waaay too soon.

It is a nice cool low 60s morning that will rise to high 70s but the humidity is good still which makes life outdoors way more pleasant.  We're both golfing this morning altho not together - hubby has a match to play and that will be way more serious than my game.

We seem to have accumulated lots of bits and pieces in the fridge again so tonight would be a good night to get them used up.  Will see what I can come up with tonight.  Could just be a salad or maybe I'll incorporate all the bits in a stir fry🙂

Wishing you all a marvelous Monday 😎

[redsoxmom]

Good morning. 

Tasty, the summer is flying by for sure.  

Lori, I have the same issue at our Sprouts.  I rarely go in as the employees are so rude.  In the last month I went in on a Saturday with the girls and the employees were so nice.  My daughters asked my I won't shop there as they love the store. I told them the employees are usually rude. I give my money to Trader's and never have that problem.

I have a feeling DS and DDIL will come over for dinner so I need to think of something to make.  I need to go to Petco and TJ today.  My daughter gets out of school early on Mondays. Hope I don't forget. LOL.  Her sister drove so for the last 2 years I didn't have to remember Mondays=early day. :)

Have a great day. 

Betsy

[nancycooksnj]

Good morning y'all. We just got back from South Carolina late Saturday night. We split the week up between Myrtle Beach first and then Charleston. Below is a brief summary of our trip. You don't have to read it but then you can stop by for the slide show lol, lol.

When we were in Myrtle Beach, our hotel was right on the ocean. Every morning I opened the curtains and looked out at the beautiful sight. We met two separate families there that had a game called Corn Hole so it was the first time that our family ever played. It was a lot of fun.

One of my favorite dinners in Myrtle was at the Sea Captains house. Youngest DD and I had filet mignon with lobster tail.

There were so many breakfast places in Myrtle. I had my first taste of a biscuits and gravy at a breakfast buffet called Mammy's. I thought it was good but not something I would get all the time. And I had my first taste of grits at a place called Carolina Pancake house. Thought they were good but you do need to season them up.

We played miniature golf and I won :) . I have to say that because DH always wins.

In Charleston we ate at The Tattooed Moose which was featured on Diners, Drive ins and Dives. Well the place is a dive but it was the best place we had eaten. We tried Mike's famous duck club and it was out of this world delicious! Here is the description:

Triple decker filled with duck confit, applewood smoked bacon, and hickory smoked cheddar, topped with garlic aioli, lettuce, tomato, and red onion on sweet Hawaiin bread. They also give you some pickled green tomatoes in the basket that had a kick to them.

We went back to the moose again and for an appetizer we had Piggy Nachos:

Crispy pork rinds served with nacho cheese chili dip, topped with sour cream and apickled jalapeños.

Then I tried the Thanksgiving Sammy which was good but not as good as the duck club:

Crispy pork rinds served with nacho cheese chili dip, topped with sour cream and pickled jalapeños. We had a side of duck fat fries that were delicious.

You can write on the walls at the tattooed moose and on the blinds as well so we have our names in certain spots lol.

We visited The Middleton Plantation for a tour and the Nathaniel-Russell house for a tour as well.  Took a Harbor Tour on the Carolina Belle too. Each tour was informative and I enjoyed listening about the past. The Middleton Plantation had a store and I bought a jar of pickled green tomatoes with a kick to them. Can't wait to open that jar.

Another tour was on the USS Yorktown Aircraft Carrier.

I wanted some good fried chicken and someone recommended a place called Nigel's Soul Food. It was in a strip mall but I ate the chicken down to the bone! Even youngest DD did as well. So crispy on the outside and moist on the in.

The trip back home took a long time, DH was cranky from all that driving and then a pebble or something hit the window on our rental car and now there's a crack in the windshield.  Oh and then our t.v. went kaput so DH went out and bought a new one yesterday.

Returning the car rental today to find out the damage.

Elza, I was thinking of you as I saw a billboard for Logan's. Didn't get a chance to eat there or another highly recommended place called Magnolia's.

Tasty, Don't you sometimes visit there for golf?

Ann, How is your DH feeling?

Betsy, When is your DDIL due date again?

Helen, I remember going through my mothers clothes. Not easy but I remember doing it quickly because it was a difficult thing to do.

Need to read back from the past week.

We didn't have Italian food while we were in S.C. so we are having chicken parm and spaghetti tonight.

Enjoy your day.

Nancy

[redsoxmom]

Nancy, your vacation sounded fun.  I like hearing about all the meals.  Hope the rental car isn't too much of a hassle or cost.  DDIL is 37 weeks now.  She is due 8/22.  We are having a family shower here this weekend.  So, I will be busy all week cooking. :)  

[cooktocook]

Good afternoon friends.  Today is National Cheesecake Day.  I haven't made one in a long time and recently DH mentioned that I had not.  Think that was a hint that he'd like one for his birthday next month.

Nancy, I loved reading about your vacation--sounds like it was a fabulous time for all with lots of good sights to see and lots of yummy food to eat.  Sorry about the cracked windshield on the rental--hope they don't penalize you.  Enjoy the new tv.

Tasty, thanks for starting us off today.  Enjoy your golfing today.  Yes, seems this summer has flown by.  Two weeks from today school starts up.

Betsy, sounds like the Sprouts issue is wide spread and not just here.  There's no reason for employees to act rude like that.  I love TJ's too, but I don't get there too often, probably because of where it is located on a super busy street.  For some reason DH doesn't like TJ's and refuses to go there, but he likes shopping at Lucky's and is always willing to go there.  Has your DM checked out Earth Fare in Lakewood Ranch?  I have a friend of mine said it's like Lucky's and TJ's, but she felt like their prices were abit higher then the other two. However, I haven't driven up there to see it myself so I really don't know.  Bet you and your girls are looking forward to DDIL's baby shower that you'll soon be hosting--hope the kids get lots of nice items they need/want.  What are you planning to make food wise?

Decisions, decisions... I am cooking some chicken breasts today in the slow cooker to make a chicken stew.  Although I was planning to have that for dinner this evening, I might put that aside and roast some veggies to serve over pasta.  I have lots of grape tomatoes, some zucchini, peppers, green beans, and onions that need to be used up, so we'll see later this afternoon what I make.

The morning sun has taken cover under the gray clouds that have rolled in and thunder is now the background music playing.  Currently 84* we are looking for a high only of 88* later today.

Not much happening here so I think I'll set up the ironing board and tackle that for awhile now that I have all the washing done.

Waving to all.

Lori

[marjo]

Sounds like everyone is busy today. I made Tammy's skillet meal and put cheese on the top. Also made a Vegetable dish and just came out of oven. Has zucchini, summer squash, carrots, onion, water chestnuts, cream of chicken soup, and little mayo and seasonings, cracker crumbs on the bottom. Also cheese on top. Now have Rhubarb and Red Raspberries to make a jam out of. So dishes are done until the jam is done.

Nancy sounds like you had a great vacation. All the good food sounded wonderful!! Lobster I just need to go and get that one of these days. Sounds so good!! Hope returning car was a good experience and not bad.

Lori sounds like you are busy in the kitchen and now ironing. I am sure your DH will like his soup you will be making too.

 

Betsy sounds like you will be busy making things for the shower. Hope they get a lot of nice things. It is nice they live close to you and can come often.

Just heard on the news that Nebraska's new coach had his house burglarized. He was having work done on the house so they were not living there. Took 12 rings he had earned, gaming console and couple other things. Why why???

Tasty I am sure you will make something good out of the leftovers in fridge. I had things in mine I needed to make things also. So just finished cooking what was in there.

Have a great day time to go get the mail.

Marlene

[annrms]

Afternoon, friends! The muggies have exited out over the Atlantic, but will be back for the rest of the week.
Went to the farm stand this morning; I was disappointed in the offerings. I got very little...beets and greens, Kirby cucumbers, Italian flat beans, zucchini, and baby eggplant. I cooked the beets and will figure out what to do with them later. I also cooked the beet greens. I read that they make a good layer in lasagna which I happen to be making tonight...smoked mozzarella ravioli lasagna.... We're having it with Aldi's turkey meatballs and cauliflower salad.
Nancy - I loved reading about your vacation especially about the food!!! So glad you had a good time! I would think that the windshield damage would not be considered your fault...I hope anyway. My DH won't know the results of the tests for a while. Fingers are crossed and prayers are being said for good results. Thanks for asking.
Tasty - Bits and pieces sometimes make the best dishes!!!
Lori - I watched Pioneer Woman last Saturday and saw her make "Miracle Mango Salsa Chicken" using boneless/skinless chix thighs. I'm going to adapt it to use brown rice, nectarines and regular salsa. I just found out that Trader Joes is going to open in Salem, NH in the next year. So excited about that!!!
Betsy - What kind of goodies are you going to make for the shower?
Marlene - The vegetable dish you made sounds delicious. I'm going to grill some zucchini and eggplant for a side dish. TOH has a good recipe for "Lime and Sesame Grilled Eggplant". When I made it, I also grilled some zucchini. I love sesame oil and the vegetables were so delicious.
Hope everyone has a great evening! Waving!

[tamaralynn]

Hi !

Not only is the summer zooming by but today is too. I have some fruit kolaches baking now. I have been wanting to try them for the coffee shop for awhile now. They are basically fruit Danish rolls, but everyone here calls them kolaches. I had a can of blackberry pie filling to use up, so that is the filling.

I got up fairly early (for me!) and made it to Walmart before it got too hot. I came home and DH came home for lunch. He wanted chili dogs. Supper is going to be chicken and dumplings.

I gathered up some kitty cat supplies that I had and took them over to Helen's but she was gone. I may go over this evening.

Betsy, I will be interested in what you will make for the shower.

Lori, did you enjoy having company? Glad FIL got to go back home.

Nancy, so glad you enjoyed the vacation. I remember Charleston well, and I enjoyed our time there. It was summer, so very hot the day we were there. We walked around some then headed to the visitor center and stayed there quite awhile just to cool down. If you have to pay for the windshield, you might try your own car insurance-they might cover it.

While shopping today I got a piece of sirloin steak that was marked down, now have to decided what to do with it - whatever it turns out to be,it will be supper tomorrow.

Some people from the Care center are going out Thursday night, to a local restaurant so I think we will plan on going with them.

I am going to make some frog eye salad for church on Sunday. It is sort of an ambrosia type salad. You use acini de pepe pasta, very tiny pieces, so when cooked they look like frog eyes. I will make a dessert also but have not decided which one yet. Lots of yummy ideas going through my head.

Have a nice evening. Waving to all!

[nancycooksnj]

Betsy, Lots of good food and fun times I'm sure for the baby shower.

Ann, I will say a prayer for your DH.

Lori, Funny you should mention cheesecake. Oldest DD recently mentioned that I haven't made mine since Christmas.

Marlene, Looks like you've been busy cooking.

I called around to Windshield replacement places to get estimates. The average price was $300.00 to replace a windshield on the car we rented. The rental place is charging us $140.00 so I was happy about that.

Some of you have mentioned sprouts. I looked it up as we don't have one by us. Reminds me of a Trader Joes.

[emr]

Nancy, I loved reading about your time in South Carolina! That made me so happy that you were down here eating biscuits & gravy and grits, and playing cornhole! I know you ate well in Charleston -- it is quite a foodie town now. Glad you found some good "soul food" fried chicken too! It all sounds delicious.
I don't know if you noticed the chapel on the USS Yorktown but it is named after Harold Syfrett. He was a sailor who served on the Yorktown, and later became a Baptist minister. His daughter was my college roommate.

Lori and Betsy, sounds like Sprouts has some issues in their employee training, doesn't it? I have never been there, although there is one in Greenville, and I've heard that their prices are very good. When we lived in Louisville, there was an Earth Fare in the shopping center where I worked. They were pretty pricey but had a fantastic salad bar and hot bar. I used to go there for lunch.

Tasty, I've been working through our "bits and pieces" for lunch over the past few days.

Marlene, I saw the story about the rings being stolen from the Nebraska coach's home. That is just meanness.

Tammy, I saw your kolaches on FB and they looked so good! I have a recipe for those that I made years ago but yours look more like a yeast dough. The one I had was a cream-cheese pastry and was more like a cookie, but had the jam filling and then a dusting of powdered sugar.

Ann, your vegetables sound so good. I love grilled zucchini.

Well, off to check on laundry and get things ready for tomorrow. DH made bacon & eggs and toast for us. I always get spoiled during the summer with him doing the laundry and cooking dinner!

[tamaralynn]

The kolaches turned out good. I will be anxious to see if they sell well.

Nancy, while we were in Virginia, in 2016, volunteering at the youth retreat center, DH made 2 corn hole boards and I made 16 of the bean bags.

I am not a fan of grits, even with butter and sugar, but I adore biscuits and gravy. I am not a big fan of sausage, so when I make it at home I use bacon grease to make the cream gravy.

We saw a beautiful sight last night. Over in the eastern sky we could see thunderheads, and they had a pinkish tint, with lightening flashing behind the clouds. Gorgeous. We have a 50%-60% chance of rain tomorrow, so here's hoping.

My dumplings are cooking now, and my mouth is watering!

[pippin3]

Tamara, I am a Yankee married to a Texan so had to acquire a taste for grits...for breakfast I will eat them with butter and brown sugar and for dinner we like cheese grits...my friend from NM gave me her recipe and I make them often in place of rice, potatoes, etc.