Sorry to say, but this site has been so depressing for a few days. I thought I'd ask an average, everyday question....to make us all feel a little more normal today.
I made Eggplant Lasagna, and my BIL and SIL are coming for dinner. They leave for Cali tomorrow to see their beautiful grand daughter.
Sorry, sometimes we just need some REGULAR conversation.......or at least THIS caregiver does.
I used to make a big pot of chili one night, then serve the leftovers as sloppy Joes the next night and if anything was left over from that I added more tomato and served spaghetti the following night. No one ever complained.
Today we had left over turkey and gravy (frozen). I am not a fan of left over frozen turkey so I made the rest into turkey veg tomato soup. It was much better.
When the numbers of people in the house declined I used to get the butcher to saw a 12 lb turkey in half lengthwise and only roast 1/2 at a time and keep the other half in the freezer. It worked much better, Must do that again.
We are feeling well-fed.
The small amount of leftover was just enough when adding some pinto beans and frozen spinach. More of a stew today.
You are right about the Pasta-balance the amount with the beans or you will have more of a pasta dish (still very good!) than a Minestrone.
I prefer a stew or casserole to a soup usually, but this Minestrone effort was so good! Yum!
The beans count as fiber.
With what was left over, we cooked some pasta and fried up some hot sausages and added them along with tomato juice, red pepper flakes and cayenne. More of a pasta dish than minestrone.
Online I read that if boiling with baking soda doesn't work, throw them out. They are too old.
Oh - another tip - cook them with the lid on the pot. Without the lid they stay harder.
Wishing I had known that beans soaking overnight could be softened by boiling in baking soda if they never softened.
I had given up cooking beans after that happened!
A minestrone sounds good right now, but will need to use canned beans.
Glad you mentioned the beans.
Psue - I think cooking gets hard wired by a certain age. It will come back. You won't have to relearn, I am sure of that. Popcorn and salad are great for many reasons. Pizza too!
13 bean soup and was it good!!! I baked R some Pillsbury Croissants to go with it.
I soaked the beans overnight and they didn't soften, so I added some baking soda and boiled them and that did the trick.
Today I will ramp it up by adding some pasta and more tomatoes to make a type of Minestrone which will give him several meals to take to the farm. Good cold weather food. The basement there flooded so he has his challenges even to figure out where the water is coming from.
(Mmmm, spaghetti bolognaise - I remember spaghetti bolognaise!)
Next day always tastes so much better than the first day as the flavours sink in.
I added some red wine as well. (such a waste huh!!) :-)
Eggplant Lasagna - my sister would love that - I'll pass that on. How unique is that receipe and healthy. Nice one. Maybe as you care in any spare time write a cookbook. You could call it - erm... The Carers Cookbook :-) tee hee
😋😋😋🌸🌸🌸
and in fact, i really do have a fireplace.
🍫🍩🍪🫖
it’s like a winter wonderland outside. BEAUTIFUL white snow.
⭐️🌸⭐️🌸⭐️
and for dessert, some candy.
Fasdog - good for you! Your mom did well. I am sure your visitors enjoyed the meal and your wife enjoyed their company. Sounds like you take good care of her.
Nacy - too bad about hub's cooking.
Pork tenderloin roast, gravy, apple sauce, boiled potatoes, carrots, broccoli in cheese sauce, green salad. No dessert today.
Hubby is a teetotaler but not I. The alcoholism gene, if there is one, does not seem to exist in my family but I have seen entire families fall down that rabbit hole. Don’t know if it’s genes or environment or a combination that ruins people, but you’re sweet to help your friend socialize without a drink in her hand; some people have forgotten how.
I am concerned for you. Popcorn and G &T are not adequate support for you and, something that many people don't seem to realize, alcohol is a carcinogen and no level of consumption is safe.
https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/04-01-2023-no-level-of-alcohol-consumption-is-safe-for-our-health#:~:text=Alcohol%20is%20a%20toxic%2C%20psychoactive,the%20European%20Union%20(EU).
"The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen, the highest risk group. This group also includes asbestos, radiation, and tobacco."
Praying for you to place your dh soon. I know it is a very hard step to take, but there is a time when there is no other sensible, safe option.
nacy - there is a Norwegian waffle-cookie which is similar, made with a special decorative waffle iron. It is curled into a cone when still warm and sometimes filled with flavoured whipped cream. Awesome. It is called Krumkaker. I prefer almond or vanilla also. You look after you too. All the basics - relaxation. sleep, proper food, etc.
D gets grilled cheese (pepper jack on dark rye), homemade split pea soup, carrots and celery with peanut butter and butter pecan ice cream. He’s happy - I’m tired.
psue - I know it makes the coffee more alkaline which is easier on the stomach though I am OK with coffee anyway. I would do it again for the taste. Like I said -smoother/more mellow.
Nacy, I think it’s ok to make cookies for gifts but you can check the CDC website I suppose. Might be better if you gift them to people who don’t know there’s been Covid in the house, if only for psychological reasons - - remember how we used to wash our groceries? Hah!
One day I will try Swedish Egg Coffee where you combine the grounds with a whole egg including the shell if you wish. At camp coffee was always made in the campfire manner on a wood stove. Enamel coffee pot, water, grounds dumped in and the whole thing left to simmer till the grounds dropped to the bottom. That's when you knew it was ready. The smell of it was wonderful in fresh morning air.
Ham, cauliflower mac cheese, and cabbage fritters for supper.