Monday/28-Sep-20: Dinner was Pasta with Arugula Pesto (VegPlanet, p85). Served half of this tonight over whole wheat spaghetti. Froze the rest for another night (to be finished with Parmesan, salt and a pinch of cayenne). Then a sliced tomato each, with mozzarella and basil. Then some tapioca pudding.
Tuesday/29-Sep-20: Dinner was Vegetarian Korma (pdf). It's adapted from a recipe here, using coconut milk instead of cream and a whole red bell pepper instead of halves of green and red. I used ground almonds, easily available, instead of ground cashews. Not bad stuff. Finished the tapioca pudding for after.
Wednesday/30-Sep-20: Really didn't feel like cooking what was on the plan. Instead I made Linguine with Shrimp and Zucchini (30MinPasta, p108. This isn't a favorite from this book, but suited the time and ingredients at hand. Then a little salad of sucrines and avocado. Some chocolate-covered madeleines for after.
Yogurt on overnight.
Thursday/1-Oct-20: Dinner was the chicken version of Tandoori Chicken (or Salmon) (web), a Mark Bittmann recipe. Quite good. I didn't wipe off enough of the marinade, so that was a bit burnt, but the chicken was yummy. Served with Carrots with Cilantro (MJ@Home, p149) and Tomato Pullao (MJ@Home, p211). I didn't do that last one pilaf-style, but used the blended tomatoes as the liquid to cook like regular rice on the stovetop. Pretty good.
Friday/2-Oct-20: The wok burner, which was leaking gas, got fixed this a.m.
Picked up an order from Intermarché Drive.
Cleaned a shelf of food literature today and put a bunch of books in the recycle box. Hard to let some of them go, but I won't read them again, so no point in keeping them. Put several that had lots of stickies back on shelf. Need to go through those and save any recipes that need saving.
Dinner was One-Pan Fabulous Fish (web), with cod. Fabulous, maybe not. Easy and fast and a one-pot meal, yes. A pair of chocolate-covered madeleines each for after.
Saturday/3-Oct-20: After getting a bowl and platter down for serving dinner, I tripped over a stepstool and fell, breaking both dishes. Ed said Uh-oh and continued doing what he was doing, without asking or looking how I was. I know how I rate now.
Dinner was Sheet Pan Sausage and Potatoes (web). The string beans (haricots verts) I ordered for Friday didn't show up, so I used broccoli instead. Toulouse sausages instead of Italian links. This is easy to put together and pretty good stuff. Any kind of sausage would work; the Toulouse sausages, bought recently on sale, were quite tasty. We couldn't eat it all, so will have leftovers next week. A pair of chocolate-covered madeleines each for after.
Sunday/4-Oct-20: Meant to make some semolina gnocchi today, but didn't have the oomph. Instead, having goat cheese to use up, I made Goat Cheese, Chive, and Chili Pepper Sauce for Pasta (MarCuc, p167). This is an old favorite, tasty and easy to assemble. Before dinner, I put a Far aux Pruneaux (web) in the oven.
Yogurt on overnight.
Progress on goals
This week: #1 VEG/FISH: 5; #2 BACKLOG: yes
This month: #3 GUESTS: n/a
This year: #4 SHORT: no; #5 LONG: no
On-going: #6 READ; #7 RECYCLE; #8 NEW
Showing posts with label ~VegPlanet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ~VegPlanet. Show all posts
Monday, September 28, 2020
Monday, August 10, 2020
This week in the kitchen
Monday/10-Aug-20: I picked up an order from Leclerc today after my French lesson.
The sweltering heat continues. We had a big thunderstorm this morning, and may have more in the next days. Thursday it should start cooling off.
Dinner was a half dose of Basil, Shrimp & Zucchini Pasta (web). Pretty good stuff, made with surprisingly little tomato sauce. (I buzzed the proper amount of canned tomato pulp to make the sauce, and froze the rest.) Peaches&cream ice cream for after.
Tuesday/11-Aug-20: Made another loaf of English Muffin Bread (BMB, p17), this time using less water. This is a delicious bread and smells wonderful while it's baking. Although most breads smell wonderful.
Dinner was a halfish dose of Tomatoes and Eggplant over Couscous with Caper Sauce (VegPlanet, p257). I used a preserved lemon for the lemon juice and peel. Feta on top at serving. Quite good, but not quite well-seasoned enough. Finished the peaches and cream ice cream for after. Yogurt on overnight.
Wednesday/12-Aug-20: No phone and internet briefly in the morning. Dinner was Roasted Masala Lamb Chops with Pistachio & Pomegranate (Jamie). This was good. Didn't serve on flatbread (bone-in lamb chops on flatbread?), but served with Moroccan couscous (from the organic shop) and Crushed Spiced Carrot Salad (Morocco, p78), a tasty favorite. Some chocolate-covered madeleines for after. (Leclerc Drive has finally started carrying these!)
Thursday/13-Aug-20: Neglected to defrost something for dinner and my mind was a blank, even though there's lots of veg in the fridge. Pizza it was, with the rest of the package of chocolate-covered madeleines for after.
Started some Overnight Bread.
Friday/14-Aug-20: Baked up the Overnight Bread in the morning.
Dinner was Spicy Turkey Salad (PatSalads, p102). (Wish I'd remembered this book when it was seriously hot.) I had about 300g of turkey scallops (two of them) and minced those rather than grinding. Interesting that the meat is cooked in a mixture of lime juice, lemongrass, and garlic, with no oil involved. It was a bit short on meat, but otherwise I did a whole recipe. A very light meal for two, not four. We started a new packet of chocolate-covered madeleines for after.
Yogurt on overnight.
Saturday/15-Aug-20: Picked up an order from Intermarché Drive today. Lots of fruit; not much veg, which we're over-endowed with right now.
Dinner was Sweet-and-Sour Salmon in Almond Prune Sauce (Essential, p431). This sounded a bit odd (sauce of prunes, honey, dijon, etc.), but turned out delicious. I'm not sure, but I think everything with pomegranate molasses might be delicious. Served with trio rice and some steamed haricots verts. Store-bought crème caramels for after.
Sunday/16-M Aug on-20: Used more of our plums to make Plum Amaretto Jam (SmallBatch, p50). About a pound of plums (maybe a teeny bit more) make two AH jars. Tastes good. Into the freezer with them.
Dinner was Corn with Cauliflower (WorldVeg, p173), which sounded a bit odd, but worked quite well. Served over short-grained brown rice. The rest of the store-bought crème caramels for after.
Progress on goals
This week: #1 VEG/FISH: 4; #2 BACKLOG: no
This month: #3 GUESTS: n/a
This year: #4 SHORT: no; #5 LONG: no
On-going: #6 READ; #7 RECYCLE; #8 NEW
The sweltering heat continues. We had a big thunderstorm this morning, and may have more in the next days. Thursday it should start cooling off.
Dinner was a half dose of Basil, Shrimp & Zucchini Pasta (web). Pretty good stuff, made with surprisingly little tomato sauce. (I buzzed the proper amount of canned tomato pulp to make the sauce, and froze the rest.) Peaches&cream ice cream for after.
Tuesday/11-Aug-20: Made another loaf of English Muffin Bread (BMB, p17), this time using less water. This is a delicious bread and smells wonderful while it's baking. Although most breads smell wonderful.
Dinner was a halfish dose of Tomatoes and Eggplant over Couscous with Caper Sauce (VegPlanet, p257). I used a preserved lemon for the lemon juice and peel. Feta on top at serving. Quite good, but not quite well-seasoned enough. Finished the peaches and cream ice cream for after. Yogurt on overnight.
Wednesday/12-Aug-20: No phone and internet briefly in the morning. Dinner was Roasted Masala Lamb Chops with Pistachio & Pomegranate (Jamie). This was good. Didn't serve on flatbread (bone-in lamb chops on flatbread?), but served with Moroccan couscous (from the organic shop) and Crushed Spiced Carrot Salad (Morocco, p78), a tasty favorite. Some chocolate-covered madeleines for after. (Leclerc Drive has finally started carrying these!)
Thursday/13-Aug-20: Neglected to defrost something for dinner and my mind was a blank, even though there's lots of veg in the fridge. Pizza it was, with the rest of the package of chocolate-covered madeleines for after.
Started some Overnight Bread.
Friday/14-Aug-20: Baked up the Overnight Bread in the morning.
Dinner was Spicy Turkey Salad (PatSalads, p102). (Wish I'd remembered this book when it was seriously hot.) I had about 300g of turkey scallops (two of them) and minced those rather than grinding. Interesting that the meat is cooked in a mixture of lime juice, lemongrass, and garlic, with no oil involved. It was a bit short on meat, but otherwise I did a whole recipe. A very light meal for two, not four. We started a new packet of chocolate-covered madeleines for after.
Yogurt on overnight.
Saturday/15-Aug-20: Picked up an order from Intermarché Drive today. Lots of fruit; not much veg, which we're over-endowed with right now.
Dinner was Sweet-and-Sour Salmon in Almond Prune Sauce (Essential, p431). This sounded a bit odd (sauce of prunes, honey, dijon, etc.), but turned out delicious. I'm not sure, but I think everything with pomegranate molasses might be delicious. Served with trio rice and some steamed haricots verts. Store-bought crème caramels for after.
Sunday/16-M Aug on-20: Used more of our plums to make Plum Amaretto Jam (SmallBatch, p50). About a pound of plums (maybe a teeny bit more) make two AH jars. Tastes good. Into the freezer with them.
Dinner was Corn with Cauliflower (WorldVeg, p173), which sounded a bit odd, but worked quite well. Served over short-grained brown rice. The rest of the store-bought crème caramels for after.
Progress on goals
This week: #1 VEG/FISH: 4; #2 BACKLOG: no
This month: #3 GUESTS: n/a
This year: #4 SHORT: no; #5 LONG: no
On-going: #6 READ; #7 RECYCLE; #8 NEW
Monday, December 2, 2019
This week in the kitchen
Monday/2-Dec-19: Hard-boiled (steamed) some eggs today.
Dinner was Curried Cauliflower Bisque (VegPlanet, p110). Made a whole recipe so we have lots in the freezer for another time. Served with tuna salad sandwiches. A square of chocolate for dessert.
Tuesday/3-Dec-19: Yogurt on overday.
For dinner we had some of the tiny Drôme raviolis (from the freezer) with pesto, along with the salad we didn't eat a couple of nights ago, topped with cooked chicken breasts.
Wednesday/4-Dec-19: Using-up-veggies fried rice tonight, very loosely based on Fried Rice (MW@Home, p230). Used cooked brown rice from the freezer. This worked fine, but would have been easier if I'd given it a chance to defrost. For half the rice, made up all the tofu marinating sauce with lots of garlic-chili sauce. Made a flat omelet of one egg. Then a red bell pepper and some snijbonen. Then some oesterzwammen and the end of a zucchini. Pretty good it was.
Thursday/5-Dec-19: Shopping today.
Dinner was a half dose of Garlic Butter Salmon in Foil (web). This was yummy, but took about 30min to cook, maybe because I put the packets in a casserole dish rather than on a baking sheet. Served with trio rice and steamed broccoli, all topped with the delicious herby garlic butter. Vanilla ice cream and (defrosted) blueberries for dessert. But later we had some chocolate-covered madeleines.
Yogurt on overnight.
Friday/6-Dec-19: Diner was a half recipe of Boudin Noir aux Pommes (web), which was good, if cholesterol-enhancing. Then mashed potatoes, with cream since that was out for the boudin. And some peas and shallots. For after we had some P'tit Basque cheese. Whew.
Saturday/7-Dec-19: Choucroute dinner at a local restaurant. Nothing happened in the kitchen.
Sunday/8-Dec-19: Really didn't have the oompth to make what was on the plan for today, so I made tomorrow's meal, "Barbecued" pork sandwiches, cooked pork from the freezer with Vinegary Barbecue Sauce (Everlasting, p193), topped with some of Mama's Garlic Coleslaw (MC, Handybook). Some mini ice cream cups for dessert — very nice for our tingly tongues.
Progress on goals
This week: #1 BACKLOG: no; #2 VEG/FISH: 4 #3 COOKBOOK: n/a
Cookbooks of the month: none
This month: #4 PASTA: no; #5 BREAD: no; #6 GUESTS: no
This year: #7 PROJECT: no
Dinner was Curried Cauliflower Bisque (VegPlanet, p110). Made a whole recipe so we have lots in the freezer for another time. Served with tuna salad sandwiches. A square of chocolate for dessert.
Tuesday/3-Dec-19: Yogurt on overday.
For dinner we had some of the tiny Drôme raviolis (from the freezer) with pesto, along with the salad we didn't eat a couple of nights ago, topped with cooked chicken breasts.
Wednesday/4-Dec-19: Using-up-veggies fried rice tonight, very loosely based on Fried Rice (MW@Home, p230). Used cooked brown rice from the freezer. This worked fine, but would have been easier if I'd given it a chance to defrost. For half the rice, made up all the tofu marinating sauce with lots of garlic-chili sauce. Made a flat omelet of one egg. Then a red bell pepper and some snijbonen. Then some oesterzwammen and the end of a zucchini. Pretty good it was.
Thursday/5-Dec-19: Shopping today.
Dinner was a half dose of Garlic Butter Salmon in Foil (web). This was yummy, but took about 30min to cook, maybe because I put the packets in a casserole dish rather than on a baking sheet. Served with trio rice and steamed broccoli, all topped with the delicious herby garlic butter. Vanilla ice cream and (defrosted) blueberries for dessert. But later we had some chocolate-covered madeleines.
Yogurt on overnight.
Friday/6-Dec-19: Diner was a half recipe of Boudin Noir aux Pommes (web), which was good, if cholesterol-enhancing. Then mashed potatoes, with cream since that was out for the boudin. And some peas and shallots. For after we had some P'tit Basque cheese. Whew.
Saturday/7-Dec-19: Choucroute dinner at a local restaurant. Nothing happened in the kitchen.
Sunday/8-Dec-19: Really didn't have the oompth to make what was on the plan for today, so I made tomorrow's meal, "Barbecued" pork sandwiches, cooked pork from the freezer with Vinegary Barbecue Sauce (Everlasting, p193), topped with some of Mama's Garlic Coleslaw (MC, Handybook). Some mini ice cream cups for dessert — very nice for our tingly tongues.
Progress on goals
This week: #1 BACKLOG: no; #2 VEG/FISH: 4 #3 COOKBOOK: n/a
Cookbooks of the month: none
This month: #4 PASTA: no; #5 BREAD: no; #6 GUESTS: no
This year: #7 PROJECT: no
Monday, July 1, 2019
This week in the kitchen
Monday/1-Jul-19: The hot has gone away, but it's still humid.
Dinner was Lamb or Pork Vindaloo (Q&E, p33) made with pork. Served with rice, using up the coconut milk as part of the liquid. And Gujerati Carrot Salad (MJ1, p170). For dessert we had some ice cream with a splash of crème de cacao.
Tuesday/2-Jul-19: Dinner was a curried chicken salad, very loosely based on (Rosie, p34). Added asparagus, kiwi for the fruit, chineeskool for a lettuce-y bit. Pretty good. Chocolate-covered madeleines for after.
Wednesday/3-Jul-19: Dinner was a half dose of Vietnamese Rice-Noodle Salad (VegPlanet, p275). Pretty good this was. I did manage to grate another knuckle, just after the last one healed up. I had a mini ice cream bar for dessert.
Thursday/4-Jul-19: Shopping today.
Dinner was broiled lieu noir with Lemon, Chive, and Dill Sauce, a recipe I collected in 1999 from EAT-L. Served with a side of pasta, to soak up the extra sauce. For a veg there was Zucchini Carpaccio with Avocado, Lemon Thyme, and Pistachio Oil (VegHarv, p214; cookbooker). For dessert there were some little yogurt-custard things with salted caramel sauce from La Fermière that were in the anit-gaspi cooler for 30% off. We ate well.
Friday/5-Jul-19: Another hot day. Ed cleaned and waxed the kitchen floor. Hard work, and it looks gorgeous.
Dinner was Barbeque [sic] Shrimp a [sic] la Marguerite (web). Used the white wine Worcestershire sauce, whatever it's called these day. Served over grits. Then a big salad. For afters, I had a mini Häagen-Dasz cup and Ed had a mini Magnum.
Saturday/6-Jul-19: Dinner was Pea and Mint Risotto (VegHarv, p140), with fresh peas. Good stuff. Followed by a salad. Then some strawberries and cream. We're full.
Sunday/7-Jul-19: Pizza tonight after Ed's concert. Nothing further happened in the kitchen.
Progress on goals
This week: #1 BACKLOG: no; #2 VEG/FISH: 4; #3 COOKBOOK: yes
Cookbooks of the month: Vegetable Harvest
This month: #4 PASTA: no; #5 BREAD: no; #6 GUESTS: no
This year: #7 PROJECT: no
Dinner was Lamb or Pork Vindaloo (Q&E, p33) made with pork. Served with rice, using up the coconut milk as part of the liquid. And Gujerati Carrot Salad (MJ1, p170). For dessert we had some ice cream with a splash of crème de cacao.
Tuesday/2-Jul-19: Dinner was a curried chicken salad, very loosely based on (Rosie, p34). Added asparagus, kiwi for the fruit, chineeskool for a lettuce-y bit. Pretty good. Chocolate-covered madeleines for after.
Wednesday/3-Jul-19: Dinner was a half dose of Vietnamese Rice-Noodle Salad (VegPlanet, p275). Pretty good this was. I did manage to grate another knuckle, just after the last one healed up. I had a mini ice cream bar for dessert.
Thursday/4-Jul-19: Shopping today.
Dinner was broiled lieu noir with Lemon, Chive, and Dill Sauce, a recipe I collected in 1999 from EAT-L. Served with a side of pasta, to soak up the extra sauce. For a veg there was Zucchini Carpaccio with Avocado, Lemon Thyme, and Pistachio Oil (VegHarv, p214; cookbooker). For dessert there were some little yogurt-custard things with salted caramel sauce from La Fermière that were in the anit-gaspi cooler for 30% off. We ate well.
Friday/5-Jul-19: Another hot day. Ed cleaned and waxed the kitchen floor. Hard work, and it looks gorgeous.
Dinner was Barbeque [sic] Shrimp a [sic] la Marguerite (web). Used the white wine Worcestershire sauce, whatever it's called these day. Served over grits. Then a big salad. For afters, I had a mini Häagen-Dasz cup and Ed had a mini Magnum.
Saturday/6-Jul-19: Dinner was Pea and Mint Risotto (VegHarv, p140), with fresh peas. Good stuff. Followed by a salad. Then some strawberries and cream. We're full.
Sunday/7-Jul-19: Pizza tonight after Ed's concert. Nothing further happened in the kitchen.
Progress on goals
This week: #1 BACKLOG: no; #2 VEG/FISH: 4; #3 COOKBOOK: yes
Cookbooks of the month: Vegetable Harvest
This month: #4 PASTA: no; #5 BREAD: no; #6 GUESTS: no
This year: #7 PROJECT: no
Monday, April 1, 2019
This week in the kitchen
Monday/1-Apr-19: A very old favorite tonight, Spring Day Skillet Supper, from my old GreenBooks. Yellow split peas, green peas, noodles, hard-boiled eggs, avocado, what could be better. And a salad. Then a pair of chocolate-covered madeleines. I'm stuffed.
Tuesday/2-Apr-19: Using up freezer stuff tonight. I stuffed globe zucchinis with chopped cooked beef, duxelles, brown rice, pizza sauce, onions, garlic, and whatever else I thought of. Baked all in the oven till it was more or less done. And some spinach gnocchi that were on sale. Finished off with a pair of chocolate-covered madeleines each.
Wednesday/3-Apr-19: Dinner was Hoisin Chicken Breasts with Grilled Peppers and Onions (License, p199). This was pretty good, if a bit burnt when Ed got distracted from the bbq to set the table. Served with trio rice and a big salad. Some mini ice cream bars from dessert.
Yogurt on overnight.
Thursday/4-Apr-19: Shopping today. Whew, it was a big one. Have to get back on a cheap track next week.
Heard my first cuckoo for this year in the afternoon.
Dinner was Grilled or Bhuna Fish Steaks (Foolproof, p44) using tuna. Cooked under the grill, but it would have been better to do on a grill pan where you can watch the doneness. Served with Indian Mashed Potatoes (Q&E, p90) and steamed haricots verts tossed with some lemon juice and garam masala. Fished with store-bought riz au lait.
Friday/5-Apr-19: Made up a half dose of Banana-Ginger Chutney (VegPlanet, p44) to go with the foie gras we'll have as a starter on Sunday.
It was supposed to be this week's Dreaded day today, but after a day of house-cleaning (company comes tomorrow), I just didn't feel like it. I'll try to double up in the next couple of weeks. Ed went for pizza instead.
Yogurt on overnight.
Saturday/6-Apr-19: We picked up Hitomi and Rebecca from the train today. Came home via the crafts show in La Rochefoucauld. For dinner there was Spinach Salad with Pears, Pecans and Feta (MDSalad, p28), an old travelers' favorite. Then some cheese. Then some cornuelles, first of the year.
Sunday/7-Apr-19: Started yogurt this morning, but didn't manage to do it early, so it will be after 23.00 when I can put it up.
For a starter tonight, we split a small jar of foie gras that Cath brought us, with some toasts, a toefje of salad, and Banana-Ginger Chutney. Then. Rôti de Porc au Jambron Cru (VPG, recipe), with French Scalloped Potatoes—Pommes de Terre Dauphinoise (BEFCC, p51) and steamed broccoli (with lemon juice and a Penzey salad sprinkle). Then more cheese. Then some store-bought chocolate mousse.
Progress on goals
This week: #1 BACKLOG: no; #2 VEG/FISH: 3; #3 COOKBOOK: no
Cookbooks of the month: The Dreaded Broccoli Cookbook
This month: #4 PASTA: no; #5 BREAD: no; #6 GUESTS: yes
This year: #7 PROJECT: no
Tuesday/2-Apr-19: Using up freezer stuff tonight. I stuffed globe zucchinis with chopped cooked beef, duxelles, brown rice, pizza sauce, onions, garlic, and whatever else I thought of. Baked all in the oven till it was more or less done. And some spinach gnocchi that were on sale. Finished off with a pair of chocolate-covered madeleines each.
Wednesday/3-Apr-19: Dinner was Hoisin Chicken Breasts with Grilled Peppers and Onions (License, p199). This was pretty good, if a bit burnt when Ed got distracted from the bbq to set the table. Served with trio rice and a big salad. Some mini ice cream bars from dessert.
Yogurt on overnight.
Thursday/4-Apr-19: Shopping today. Whew, it was a big one. Have to get back on a cheap track next week.
Heard my first cuckoo for this year in the afternoon.
Dinner was Grilled or Bhuna Fish Steaks (Foolproof, p44) using tuna. Cooked under the grill, but it would have been better to do on a grill pan where you can watch the doneness. Served with Indian Mashed Potatoes (Q&E, p90) and steamed haricots verts tossed with some lemon juice and garam masala. Fished with store-bought riz au lait.
Friday/5-Apr-19: Made up a half dose of Banana-Ginger Chutney (VegPlanet, p44) to go with the foie gras we'll have as a starter on Sunday.
It was supposed to be this week's Dreaded day today, but after a day of house-cleaning (company comes tomorrow), I just didn't feel like it. I'll try to double up in the next couple of weeks. Ed went for pizza instead.
Yogurt on overnight.
Saturday/6-Apr-19: We picked up Hitomi and Rebecca from the train today. Came home via the crafts show in La Rochefoucauld. For dinner there was Spinach Salad with Pears, Pecans and Feta (MDSalad, p28), an old travelers' favorite. Then some cheese. Then some cornuelles, first of the year.
Sunday/7-Apr-19: Started yogurt this morning, but didn't manage to do it early, so it will be after 23.00 when I can put it up.
For a starter tonight, we split a small jar of foie gras that Cath brought us, with some toasts, a toefje of salad, and Banana-Ginger Chutney. Then. Rôti de Porc au Jambron Cru (VPG, recipe), with French Scalloped Potatoes—Pommes de Terre Dauphinoise (BEFCC, p51) and steamed broccoli (with lemon juice and a Penzey salad sprinkle). Then more cheese. Then some store-bought chocolate mousse.
Progress on goals
This week: #1 BACKLOG: no; #2 VEG/FISH: 3; #3 COOKBOOK: no
Cookbooks of the month: The Dreaded Broccoli Cookbook
This month: #4 PASTA: no; #5 BREAD: no; #6 GUESTS: yes
This year: #7 PROJECT: no
Monday, December 24, 2018
This week in the kithen
Monday/24-Dec-18: Made Pannacotta au Lait d'Amande Vanillé et Sauce Chocolat au Lait (VPG, web; download). The web version is slightly different, but it's the same recipe. I will serve on dark chocolate, not milk chocolate. My almond milk is sweetened, so I added only half the sugar asked. We'll see how this is.
Also made a Terrine Choco-Châtaigne Façon Bûche (VPG; download). Simple to put together, although it's much smaller than the bûche mold that I bought. I lined the mold with saran wrap and discovered that an AH fond jar filled the remaining space perfectly!
N.B.: I've started scanning some recipes, particularly those without a web link.
For dinner, I made a 2/3-ish version of Corn and Sweet-Potato Chowder (VegPlanet, p163). This amount should have served 3 I think, and maybe that's right. I froze up a good serving, or two small ones. Then some chocolate-covered madeleines.
Tuesday/25-Dec-18: Our xmas meal has its own post here.
Wednesday/26-Dec-18: Our tweede kerstdag meal has its own post here.
Thursday/27-Dec-18: For our meal I used the leftover bits from yesterday's starter to make up Salade de Crevettes au Pamplemousse and served that over rucola. Good, it was. Then we had the rest of the almond milk pannacottas from Tuesday. They were better without the dark chocolate, which rather overwhelmed the delicate taste of the pannacotta. Little piggies that we are, we also had slices of the chocolate-chestnut bûche, which was surprisingly good. Without the chestnut decoration.
Friday/28-Dec-18: A very busy day today meant we had lunch out.
Saturday/29-Dec-18: Trapped a mouse last night, the first one in quite a while. Strangely, it died before we could take it away. Ed promises that he'll work on filling the holes in the fireplace flooring soon.
Dinner was Tilapia with Cashew Crust (MC), with lieu noir as the fish. Served with Spaetzle (MW@Home, p203; Handybook) and steamed broccoli. (Putting away groceries yesterday, I discovered an extra stem of broccoli, so we'll be eating lots of it in the next days.) Then a salad. Then some some of the chocolate-chestnut bûche, which is really yummy, nice taste and texture.
Sunday/30-Dec-18: Leftover night. We had lamb and lots of potatoes and roasted brussels sprouts. We were quite full. I steamed some broccoli too, but it wasn't needed.
Progress on goals
This week: #1 BACKLOG: no; #2 VEG/FISH: 3 #3 COOKBOOK: yes
Cookbooks of the month: Vegetarian Planet
This month: #4 PASTA: no; #5 BREAD: no; #6 GUESTS: yes
Also made a Terrine Choco-Châtaigne Façon Bûche (VPG; download). Simple to put together, although it's much smaller than the bûche mold that I bought. I lined the mold with saran wrap and discovered that an AH fond jar filled the remaining space perfectly!
N.B.: I've started scanning some recipes, particularly those without a web link.
For dinner, I made a 2/3-ish version of Corn and Sweet-Potato Chowder (VegPlanet, p163). This amount should have served 3 I think, and maybe that's right. I froze up a good serving, or two small ones. Then some chocolate-covered madeleines.
Tuesday/25-Dec-18: Our xmas meal has its own post here.
Wednesday/26-Dec-18: Our tweede kerstdag meal has its own post here.
Thursday/27-Dec-18: For our meal I used the leftover bits from yesterday's starter to make up Salade de Crevettes au Pamplemousse and served that over rucola. Good, it was. Then we had the rest of the almond milk pannacottas from Tuesday. They were better without the dark chocolate, which rather overwhelmed the delicate taste of the pannacotta. Little piggies that we are, we also had slices of the chocolate-chestnut bûche, which was surprisingly good. Without the chestnut decoration.
Friday/28-Dec-18: A very busy day today meant we had lunch out.
Saturday/29-Dec-18: Trapped a mouse last night, the first one in quite a while. Strangely, it died before we could take it away. Ed promises that he'll work on filling the holes in the fireplace flooring soon.
Dinner was Tilapia with Cashew Crust (MC), with lieu noir as the fish. Served with Spaetzle (MW@Home, p203; Handybook) and steamed broccoli. (Putting away groceries yesterday, I discovered an extra stem of broccoli, so we'll be eating lots of it in the next days.) Then a salad. Then some some of the chocolate-chestnut bûche, which is really yummy, nice taste and texture.
Sunday/30-Dec-18: Leftover night. We had lamb and lots of potatoes and roasted brussels sprouts. We were quite full. I steamed some broccoli too, but it wasn't needed.
Progress on goals
This week: #1 BACKLOG: no; #2 VEG/FISH: 3 #3 COOKBOOK: yes
Cookbooks of the month: Vegetarian Planet
This month: #4 PASTA: no; #5 BREAD: no; #6 GUESTS: yes
Monday, December 17, 2018
This week in the kitchen
Monday/17-Dec-18: Leftovers tonight. First guacamole and chips, then enchiladas and rice. Forgot to buzz up the instant refried beans for another side. Chocolate roses for dessert.
Chickpeas to soak overnight.
Tuesday/18-Dec-18: Cooked up the chickpeas. Froze three 2-cup ziplocs, and had one cup for tomorrow's meal.
Dinner was a halfish recipe of Stir-Fried Zucchini Noodles with Chicken and Peppers (Spiral, p125). Pretty good stuff—noodles without noodles. But so much wastage. I didn't spiralize the bell peppers, but cut them by hand. Chocolate roses for dessert.
Yogurt on overnight.
Wednesday/19-Dec-18: Got our two xmas meals planned and a gi-normous shopping list done today.
Our dinner was a halfish version of Couscous with Red Pepper, Chickpea, and Almond Sauce (VegPlanet, p254; cookbooker). Pretty good this was, if needing a goodly dose of tabasco. Finished the chocolate roses for dessert.
Made up the spice mix and the sauce for the pork that will go in the crockpot tomorrow morning.
Thursday/20-Dec-18: Oscar has his teeth cleaned today, and lost a good chunk of his remaining ear to be sent off for a biopsy. He looks a mess—he's been shaved all around his ear and painted with silver stuff. Not sure what the purpose of that is. He's a conehead, of course. Antibiotic and pain pills for the next week.
Started the crockpot before I went off the the vet this morning, with Carolina Pork Barbecue from the Crockpot (MC). Pretty good stuff. Made Mama's Garlic Coleslaw (MC, Handybook) as a go-with. Mini ice cream bars for after. Noticed tonight that the mini Magnum Classics have shrunk again. They're now the same size as the mini Häagen-Dasz bars.
Friday/21-Dec-18: Shopping today, and with luck we've gotten everything we need for the two holiday meals.
Dinner was Fish on a Bed of Potatoes, Onions and Tomatoes (MJFlavs, p111; cookbooker), a last-minute change when I discovered they had swordfish again. Made this with fewer potatoes that asked and served over too much rice. The sauce was nice, so somthing for soppy was needed; maybe store-bought naan would be ok. Also used up some snijbonen that had been hanging around in the fridge to make Tangy Green Beans with Ajwain and Ginger (SpiceKitch, p38), which made a nice accompaniament. For dessert, some Turkish Delight that Bill left us and then amaro with cantuccini things.
Yogurt on overnight.
Saturday/22-Dec-18: Made some Pickled Green Beans (MC).
Guess we're not going to get fresh pasta till the mouse problem is resolves, since the counter is full of stuff from the cabinets. Sigh.
Dinner was a half dose of Trenette with Pesto and Vegetables (PastaBible, p126). Remarkably good for something with such simple ingredients. Then a salad. Then some chocolate-covered madeleines, only 1-1/2 each since it seems Bill had one while we weren't looking.
Sunday/23-Dec-18: Useless day today.
Dinner was leftover non-barbecued pork. With polenta instead of bread. Added a bit to the coleslaw so there would be enough. Chocolate-covered madeleines for dessert.
Progress on goals
This week: #1 BACKLOG: no; #2 VEG/FISH: 4; #3 COOKBOOK: yes
Cookbooks of the month: Vegetarian Planet
This month: #4 PASTA: no; #5 BREAD: no; #6 GUESTS: no
Chickpeas to soak overnight.
Tuesday/18-Dec-18: Cooked up the chickpeas. Froze three 2-cup ziplocs, and had one cup for tomorrow's meal.
Dinner was a halfish recipe of Stir-Fried Zucchini Noodles with Chicken and Peppers (Spiral, p125). Pretty good stuff—noodles without noodles. But so much wastage. I didn't spiralize the bell peppers, but cut them by hand. Chocolate roses for dessert.
Yogurt on overnight.
Wednesday/19-Dec-18: Got our two xmas meals planned and a gi-normous shopping list done today.
Our dinner was a halfish version of Couscous with Red Pepper, Chickpea, and Almond Sauce (VegPlanet, p254; cookbooker). Pretty good this was, if needing a goodly dose of tabasco. Finished the chocolate roses for dessert.
Made up the spice mix and the sauce for the pork that will go in the crockpot tomorrow morning.
Thursday/20-Dec-18: Oscar has his teeth cleaned today, and lost a good chunk of his remaining ear to be sent off for a biopsy. He looks a mess—he's been shaved all around his ear and painted with silver stuff. Not sure what the purpose of that is. He's a conehead, of course. Antibiotic and pain pills for the next week.
Started the crockpot before I went off the the vet this morning, with Carolina Pork Barbecue from the Crockpot (MC). Pretty good stuff. Made Mama's Garlic Coleslaw (MC, Handybook) as a go-with. Mini ice cream bars for after. Noticed tonight that the mini Magnum Classics have shrunk again. They're now the same size as the mini Häagen-Dasz bars.
Friday/21-Dec-18: Shopping today, and with luck we've gotten everything we need for the two holiday meals.
Dinner was Fish on a Bed of Potatoes, Onions and Tomatoes (MJFlavs, p111; cookbooker), a last-minute change when I discovered they had swordfish again. Made this with fewer potatoes that asked and served over too much rice. The sauce was nice, so somthing for soppy was needed; maybe store-bought naan would be ok. Also used up some snijbonen that had been hanging around in the fridge to make Tangy Green Beans with Ajwain and Ginger (SpiceKitch, p38), which made a nice accompaniament. For dessert, some Turkish Delight that Bill left us and then amaro with cantuccini things.
Yogurt on overnight.
Saturday/22-Dec-18: Made some Pickled Green Beans (MC).
Guess we're not going to get fresh pasta till the mouse problem is resolves, since the counter is full of stuff from the cabinets. Sigh.
Dinner was a half dose of Trenette with Pesto and Vegetables (PastaBible, p126). Remarkably good for something with such simple ingredients. Then a salad. Then some chocolate-covered madeleines, only 1-1/2 each since it seems Bill had one while we weren't looking.
Sunday/23-Dec-18: Useless day today.
Dinner was leftover non-barbecued pork. With polenta instead of bread. Added a bit to the coleslaw so there would be enough. Chocolate-covered madeleines for dessert.
Progress on goals
This week: #1 BACKLOG: no; #2 VEG/FISH: 4; #3 COOKBOOK: yes
Cookbooks of the month: Vegetarian Planet
This month: #4 PASTA: no; #5 BREAD: no; #6 GUESTS: no
Monday, December 10, 2018
This week in the kitchen
Monday/10-Dec-18: Made two loaves of Pumpkin Cranberry Bread (MC), one to take to BookChatters tomorrow, another for us. Needed four eggs; had only three. Looks ok, though, and smelt good.
Dinner was Peas and Potatoes in a Pocket (BoldVeg, p98). I made all the filling for the two of us. We had one (oval) pita each and ate the rest on our plate. Good idea, but the potato-pea mixture was way under-seasoned. Then we had some bread pudding.
Tuesday/11-Dec-18: Cheese enchiladas (made with Hollandse geitenkaas), made as a layered casserole in a square pan, plus Mama's Spanish rice, plus guacamole, plus (a first) some Instant Refried Beans, which weren't very successful. I ran across an old printout of this recipe recently and thought I'd give it a try. My blender didn't manage to grind the beans to flour. I've found the recipe online (that link is cached, since Genius Kitchen doesn't share with Europe) and it suggested using a coffee grinder. I'll regrind my extra bit for the leftovers and see how it goes. Then we finished the bread pudding. We're stuffed.
Yogurt on overnight.
Wednesday/12-Dec-18: Lunch out today. Then Ed sang carols in Guéret, far, far away, with a group from Cantique. Nothing happened in the kitchen.
Thursday/13-Dec-18: For dinner there were Tuscan-Style Beans from the freezer, followed by a big salad. Then a big salad. Then some mini ice creams from the freezer.
Friday/14-Dec-18: Shopping today, a bit later than normal. Then coping with Mac update that didn't work.
Dinner was a half recipe of Lemony Roasted Salmon with White Wine Couscous (CL/may16; web). This was good stuff, although I think they asked for the salmon to be cooked a bit too long. I shortened by a minute in the oven. Then a mâche salad with croutons. Then some store-bought chocolate custards with vanilla cream. Yum.
Yogurt on overnight.
Saturday/15-Dec-18: Dinner was pizza out after a nice concert in a very cold church.
Sunday/16-Dec-18: Worked, rather unsuccessfully, on our xmas menus today. Dinner was a half dose of Pasta with Baby Red Lentils and Ginger (VegPlanet, p289; cookbooker). Pretty good stuff. Then a mâche salad. Then some of the mountain cheeses we shared with Bill. Then some chocolate roses. We're full.
Progress on goals
This week: #1 BACKLOG: no; #2 VEG/FISH: 5; #3 COOKBOOK: yes
Cookbooks of the month: Vegetarian Planet
This month: #4 PASTA: no; #5 BREAD: no; #6 GUESTS: no
Dinner was Peas and Potatoes in a Pocket (BoldVeg, p98). I made all the filling for the two of us. We had one (oval) pita each and ate the rest on our plate. Good idea, but the potato-pea mixture was way under-seasoned. Then we had some bread pudding.
Tuesday/11-Dec-18: Cheese enchiladas (made with Hollandse geitenkaas), made as a layered casserole in a square pan, plus Mama's Spanish rice, plus guacamole, plus (a first) some Instant Refried Beans, which weren't very successful. I ran across an old printout of this recipe recently and thought I'd give it a try. My blender didn't manage to grind the beans to flour. I've found the recipe online (that link is cached, since Genius Kitchen doesn't share with Europe) and it suggested using a coffee grinder. I'll regrind my extra bit for the leftovers and see how it goes. Then we finished the bread pudding. We're stuffed.
Yogurt on overnight.
Wednesday/12-Dec-18: Lunch out today. Then Ed sang carols in Guéret, far, far away, with a group from Cantique. Nothing happened in the kitchen.
Thursday/13-Dec-18: For dinner there were Tuscan-Style Beans from the freezer, followed by a big salad. Then a big salad. Then some mini ice creams from the freezer.
Friday/14-Dec-18: Shopping today, a bit later than normal. Then coping with Mac update that didn't work.
Dinner was a half recipe of Lemony Roasted Salmon with White Wine Couscous (CL/may16; web). This was good stuff, although I think they asked for the salmon to be cooked a bit too long. I shortened by a minute in the oven. Then a mâche salad with croutons. Then some store-bought chocolate custards with vanilla cream. Yum.
Yogurt on overnight.
Saturday/15-Dec-18: Dinner was pizza out after a nice concert in a very cold church.
Sunday/16-Dec-18: Worked, rather unsuccessfully, on our xmas menus today. Dinner was a half dose of Pasta with Baby Red Lentils and Ginger (VegPlanet, p289; cookbooker). Pretty good stuff. Then a mâche salad. Then some of the mountain cheeses we shared with Bill. Then some chocolate roses. We're full.
Progress on goals
This week: #1 BACKLOG: no; #2 VEG/FISH: 5; #3 COOKBOOK: yes
Cookbooks of the month: Vegetarian Planet
This month: #4 PASTA: no; #5 BREAD: no; #6 GUESTS: no
Monday, December 3, 2018
This week in the kitchen
Monday/3-Dec-18: I recently made something from Didi Emmon's Vegetarian Planet that we liked a lot, and I just noticed I've put several dishes from that book on the meal plan, so I think that will be my cookbook for December.
Early dinner today so we could go see the Nutcracker from The Royal Opera House. For a starter, there was Smoked Salmon Salad with Dill (BEFCC, p35), a favorite. For the main, we had Rôti de Porc au Jambon Cru, which I made on vacation, but haven't been able to find on-line. Good stuff, though. Strange problem that the meat wasn't done after the appropriate amount of time in the oven. We roasted it a bit more, but still there was a large chunk undone. Along with French Scalloped Potatoes—Pommes de Terre Dauphinoise (BEFCC, p51). Ice cream for dessert, mini cups for me and Bill, and a mini bar for Ed.
Tuesday/4-Dec-18: Ate out for lunch. Tonight we taste-tested cheese: Abondance, Beaufort, 9-month-old Comté, Emmenthal, Gruyère. Emmenthal lost.
Wednesday/5-Dec-18: Lunch out at a new restaurant today. Then shopping.
For munching later, we worked on our five cheeses along with a terrine and some sweet-spicy cornichons that Bill liked and we didn't. And a brownie after, as if we needed that.
Yogurt on overnight.
Thursday/6-Dec-18: Another lunch out. Oscar to the vet in the afternoon. Cheese and cold pork for our evening munchies. Back to regular eating tomorrow.
Friday/7-Dec-18: Bill went home today. Back to normal food programming.
Dinner was Orzo with Olives, Broccoli, and Basil (VegPlanet, p294; cookbooker). Delicious.
Saturday/8-Dec-18: I went off for a candle-making afternoon today and got home quite late. We had an easy meal, the rest of the roast pork, some trio rice, and some steamed broccoli. Two bites of the Auvergne cheese platter to be finished, and two of the chocolates that Pascal delivered this morning, from the old folks dinner that we missed in October.
Sunday/9-Dec-18: Busy morning in the kitchen using up leftover bread. Made some Double-Boiler Bread Pudding (MC, Handybook) and Croutons (Art, p173).
Dinner was a halfish recipe of Shrimp with Zucchini Noodles and Lemon-Garlic Butter (web), which wasn't bad. Followed by a big salad. Then some bread pudding. We're stuffed.
Progress on goals
This week: #1 BACKLOG: yes; #2 VEG/FISH: 2; #3 COOKBOOK: yes
Cookbooks of the month: Vegetarian Planet
This month: #4 PASTA: no; #5 BREAD: no; #6 GUESTS: yes
Early dinner today so we could go see the Nutcracker from The Royal Opera House. For a starter, there was Smoked Salmon Salad with Dill (BEFCC, p35), a favorite. For the main, we had Rôti de Porc au Jambon Cru, which I made on vacation, but haven't been able to find on-line. Good stuff, though. Strange problem that the meat wasn't done after the appropriate amount of time in the oven. We roasted it a bit more, but still there was a large chunk undone. Along with French Scalloped Potatoes—Pommes de Terre Dauphinoise (BEFCC, p51). Ice cream for dessert, mini cups for me and Bill, and a mini bar for Ed.
Tuesday/4-Dec-18: Ate out for lunch. Tonight we taste-tested cheese: Abondance, Beaufort, 9-month-old Comté, Emmenthal, Gruyère. Emmenthal lost.
Wednesday/5-Dec-18: Lunch out at a new restaurant today. Then shopping.
For munching later, we worked on our five cheeses along with a terrine and some sweet-spicy cornichons that Bill liked and we didn't. And a brownie after, as if we needed that.
Yogurt on overnight.
Thursday/6-Dec-18: Another lunch out. Oscar to the vet in the afternoon. Cheese and cold pork for our evening munchies. Back to regular eating tomorrow.
Friday/7-Dec-18: Bill went home today. Back to normal food programming.
Dinner was Orzo with Olives, Broccoli, and Basil (VegPlanet, p294; cookbooker). Delicious.
Saturday/8-Dec-18: I went off for a candle-making afternoon today and got home quite late. We had an easy meal, the rest of the roast pork, some trio rice, and some steamed broccoli. Two bites of the Auvergne cheese platter to be finished, and two of the chocolates that Pascal delivered this morning, from the old folks dinner that we missed in October.
Sunday/9-Dec-18: Busy morning in the kitchen using up leftover bread. Made some Double-Boiler Bread Pudding (MC, Handybook) and Croutons (Art, p173).
Dinner was a halfish recipe of Shrimp with Zucchini Noodles and Lemon-Garlic Butter (web), which wasn't bad. Followed by a big salad. Then some bread pudding. We're stuffed.
Progress on goals
This week: #1 BACKLOG: yes; #2 VEG/FISH: 2; #3 COOKBOOK: yes
Cookbooks of the month: Vegetarian Planet
This month: #4 PASTA: no; #5 BREAD: no; #6 GUESTS: yes
Monday, October 29, 2018
This week in the kitchen
Monday/29-Oct-18: Caught a kitchen mouse last night. Let her out into a field on the way to pick up the cats.
Suppose I should cook from Floyd in the next days, but I can't face him again. That's a book that's going to get recycled. For November, I've chosen Nothing Fancy, by Diana Kennedy. This was a really good read and there are lots of tagged pages, but I've not used it much. That took a bit of rearrangement of the meal plan, but it's done.
Dinner was Broccoli Cornmeal Cakes from the freezer, warmed not quite enough in the toaster oven, topped with pyramid goat cheese and lardons. Then a big salad.
Put pork on to marinate for tomorrow.
Tuesday/30-Oct-18: This morning there was a second and third mouse in traps. Ed let them go out the high road.
Ed's cold hit me today. Yuck.
Dinner was Ancho- and Chipotle-Rubbed Pork Loin (MC). I forgot that it was done in the Romertopf and took over an hour to cook, so dinner was quite late. Served with polenta and steamed broccoli. Mini ice cream bars for dessert.
Wednesday/31-Oct-18: Shopping today. Exhausting.
Yummy dinner. We had Tamarind Fish (MJFlavs, p154; cookbooker) with salmon, which was really delicious. Served with Whole Potatoes with Tomatoes (MJFlavs, p162; cookbooker), first time I've made this. Quite good they were, and not too hard. The other side was Gujerati-Style Green Beans (MJ1, p102), made with snijbonen, aka haricots coco plat, whatever those may be in English. That's an old favorite.
Thursday/1-Nov-18: Trapped two more mice today, and found another one dead, half-eaten, under the ironing board. That's six live and one dead.
We had an anniversary meal at the new Cambodian take-away restaurant in La Rochefoucauld. Very good.
Cooked some long-grain brown rice for coming meals.
Friday/2-Nov-18: Yet another mouse today. That's seven. They seem to be getting smaller. If mom's still around, she's really wily.
Dinner was a half recipe of Spicy Jerk Pork with Pepper Fried Rice (web). Used leftover varkenshaas from Tuesday's meal. Think I've made this before with shrimpers. Pretty good tonight. Some ice cream for dessert.
Saturday/3-Nov-18: We didn't catch a mouse last night, but I did see one peeping around as I was sitting at the kitchen table.
Had the idea to make Kennedy's whole wheat pasta today for my cookbook project, but 1) the counter is full of stuff that should be in the mouse-eaten shelves and 2) I really didn't feel like it. Instead I made a have dish of Tonnarelli ai Gameri e Funghi (ClassPasta, p104), served over mushroom pasta, kind of a fusilli shape. Not the right one, but tasty. Then a big salad. Then some chocolate-covered corn flakes.
Sunday/4-Nov-18: Again no mouse caught.
Busy day in the kitchen. I made my Apple-Plum Butter (MC; HandyBook), actually using plums this time. And a half-dose of Banana-Ginger Chutney (VegPlanet, p44), a recommended go-with for the patties. Half, but still a huge amount. And Sourdough Starter (Fancy, p129; cookbooker). Will be a week before I can make use of it.
Dinner was Jamaican Burgers (VegPlanet, p372). I've made these before and they're still good. Serve with Banana-Ginger Chutney, which was very good. And leftover hominy heated with the leftover sauce from Monday's pork. All were good.
Discovered this evening that the guy who still hosts, but no longer maintains, Cookbooker wants to give it up. :-( Don't know what's going to happen there. There is an alternative, but it's paying now, and was never as nice as Cookbooker was.
Progress on goals
This week: #1 BACKLOG: no; #2 VEG/FISH: 4 #3 COOKBOOK: no for October, yes for November
Cookbooks of the month: Floyd's India for October, Nothing Fancy for November
This month: #4 PASTA: no for October, no for November; #5 BREAD: no for October, no for November; #6 GUESTS: no for October, no for November
Suppose I should cook from Floyd in the next days, but I can't face him again. That's a book that's going to get recycled. For November, I've chosen Nothing Fancy, by Diana Kennedy. This was a really good read and there are lots of tagged pages, but I've not used it much. That took a bit of rearrangement of the meal plan, but it's done.
Dinner was Broccoli Cornmeal Cakes from the freezer, warmed not quite enough in the toaster oven, topped with pyramid goat cheese and lardons. Then a big salad.
Put pork on to marinate for tomorrow.
Tuesday/30-Oct-18: This morning there was a second and third mouse in traps. Ed let them go out the high road.
Ed's cold hit me today. Yuck.
Dinner was Ancho- and Chipotle-Rubbed Pork Loin (MC). I forgot that it was done in the Romertopf and took over an hour to cook, so dinner was quite late. Served with polenta and steamed broccoli. Mini ice cream bars for dessert.
Wednesday/31-Oct-18: Shopping today. Exhausting.
Yummy dinner. We had Tamarind Fish (MJFlavs, p154; cookbooker) with salmon, which was really delicious. Served with Whole Potatoes with Tomatoes (MJFlavs, p162; cookbooker), first time I've made this. Quite good they were, and not too hard. The other side was Gujerati-Style Green Beans (MJ1, p102), made with snijbonen, aka haricots coco plat, whatever those may be in English. That's an old favorite.
Thursday/1-Nov-18: Trapped two more mice today, and found another one dead, half-eaten, under the ironing board. That's six live and one dead.
We had an anniversary meal at the new Cambodian take-away restaurant in La Rochefoucauld. Very good.
Cooked some long-grain brown rice for coming meals.
Friday/2-Nov-18: Yet another mouse today. That's seven. They seem to be getting smaller. If mom's still around, she's really wily.
Dinner was a half recipe of Spicy Jerk Pork with Pepper Fried Rice (web). Used leftover varkenshaas from Tuesday's meal. Think I've made this before with shrimpers. Pretty good tonight. Some ice cream for dessert.
Saturday/3-Nov-18: We didn't catch a mouse last night, but I did see one peeping around as I was sitting at the kitchen table.
Had the idea to make Kennedy's whole wheat pasta today for my cookbook project, but 1) the counter is full of stuff that should be in the mouse-eaten shelves and 2) I really didn't feel like it. Instead I made a have dish of Tonnarelli ai Gameri e Funghi (ClassPasta, p104), served over mushroom pasta, kind of a fusilli shape. Not the right one, but tasty. Then a big salad. Then some chocolate-covered corn flakes.
Sunday/4-Nov-18: Again no mouse caught.
Busy day in the kitchen. I made my Apple-Plum Butter (MC; HandyBook), actually using plums this time. And a half-dose of Banana-Ginger Chutney (VegPlanet, p44), a recommended go-with for the patties. Half, but still a huge amount. And Sourdough Starter (Fancy, p129; cookbooker). Will be a week before I can make use of it.
Dinner was Jamaican Burgers (VegPlanet, p372). I've made these before and they're still good. Serve with Banana-Ginger Chutney, which was very good. And leftover hominy heated with the leftover sauce from Monday's pork. All were good.
Discovered this evening that the guy who still hosts, but no longer maintains, Cookbooker wants to give it up. :-( Don't know what's going to happen there. There is an alternative, but it's paying now, and was never as nice as Cookbooker was.
Progress on goals
This week: #1 BACKLOG: no; #2 VEG/FISH: 4 #3 COOKBOOK: no for October, yes for November
Cookbooks of the month: Floyd's India for October, Nothing Fancy for November
This month: #4 PASTA: no for October, no for November; #5 BREAD: no for October, no for November; #6 GUESTS: no for October, no for November
Monday, January 25, 2010
This week in the kitchen
Monday/25-Jan-10: No one wanted to go to the boulanger yesterday, and last night I forgot to make bread yesterday, so we were breadless today. Opened a new package of oatmeal this morning for breakfast, and it turned out to be the "real" kind that needs to cook for 30 minutes!
For lunch, I made a ... stew? ... with the bit of leftover lardon from the fridge, 3 turkey sausages, the last (hooray!) of the spinach gnocchi, and a cup of frozen evaporated milk. Wasn't half bad.
For dinner there were turkeys scallops with a pan sauce of chicken broth and balsamic vinegar. And smashed sweet potatoes mad from the last ones we had. And a big salad. Cleaning out the fridge for shopping tomorrow.
Tuesday/26-Jan-10: Shopping today, at Leclerc for a change. Noticed Vie Pratique Gourmand on sale there; so much for my theory that this is a store-related magazine. Bought two filets of sabre (scabbardfish), long skinny things, and made Fish Curry with Broccoli and Carrots (MC). Easy and fast.
Wednesday/27-Jan-10: The fridge temp got turned up accidentally. Our morning yogurt was almost icy. And the lettuce and cucumber in the crisper were frozen.
Put chicken on to marinate for Yassa au Poulet (MC) in the morning. This is a recipe I've made before, adapted from at least two versions; supposedly the national dish of Senegal. Good stuff. Served with rice and Carrot and Onion Salad(MJ1, p171), which is an old favorite.
Put the beans for tomorrow's pasta dish on to soak.
Thursday/28-Jan-10: Cold, sleet, and slippery roads this morning, so I didn't make it to the market. For lunch we had the second round of the Melissa-inspired shrimp pizza. To use the oven even more (this gas tank has got to be empty soon!) and heat up the kitchen, I made Beaujolais Buttermilk Coffee Cake (soon to be MC) recently discussed in the Cooking Italy group. It was good.
Cooking Italy tonight, Embogoné, a tasty and hearty bean sauce with pasta. Cooked all of Jody's beans, so we'll have a second dinner of the sauce plus I've got a good 2 cups in the freezer now.
As we were upstairs shutting down for the night, we heard a crash, the sound of glass breaking, downstairs. In the kitchen we found an innocent-faced Sophie with the coffee cake, upside down on the floor, relatively intact because of waxed paper below (now above) and plastic wrap above (now below). But the glass casserole in which it baked was shattered. Shattered, not just broken. And we'd eaten only two pieces out of the cake. :-( Ed says I have to make it again.
Friday/29-Jan-10: This evening we took ourselves to La Bellone for dinner.
Saturday/30-Jan-10: Snow this morning. In the afternoon, I made Cranberry-Apple Bread (MC), using cranberries and keeping the kitchen warm. Then some shopping.
For dinner there was a half recipe of Penne with Red Pepper Sauce and Broccoli (MC, VegPlanet, p290), well, it was cavatappi, not penne. And a salad of mâche. And some cheese Pisé du Lot, which was new for us and we didn't especially like. And the Cranberry-Apple Bread finally.
For dinner there was a half recipe of Penne with Red Pepper Sauce and Broccoli (MC, VegPlanet, p290), well, it was cavatappi, not penne. And a salad of mâche. And some cheese Pisé du Lot, which was new for us and we didn't especially like. And the Cranberry-Apple Bread finally.
Sunday/31-Jan-10: Leftover Yassa au Poulet for dinner with polenta. Had a round zuccchini to be used. For the stuffing I sautéed half a red onion, then added garlic, the chopped innards of the squash, some chopped mushroom, and some pine nuts. Filled the squash halves and put them on to steam while the polenta and chicken got done; topped them with a bit of feta as they were served. Ed said the squash was a keeper recipe. What recipe? For afters, we finished off the Pisé du Lot and had more Cranberry-Apple bread.
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