Tonight was "Edna's Scalloped Potato Soup", from Guideposts Magazine. It was pretty good - potatoes, carrots, celery, ham, onions, garlic, evaporated milk, etc. I love a good soup when the weather turns cool! We also had some "Steakhouse Brown Bread" - off the store shelf, but very similar to what they serve at Outback or Longhorn. We were prepared to add grilled cheese sandwiches if anyone didn't like it or was still hungry, but didn't have to resort to that.

This week, I rejoined "The Good Cook" book club and got 5 new cookbooks! Oh, joy! I've already skimmed through them looking for new ideas. (I can't wait to try something from the "Booze Cakes" one.)

One of my son's friends mentioned the other day that he had never had Lasagna. Hard to imagine! Much like Garfield, I've never met a Lasagna I didn't like. So, next week we'll be having "Cowboy Lasagna" from "Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood". This is her second cookbook - I have both and don't there's a single recipe in either one I wouldn't like. I wish I could say the same for my family. Oh, well - that's why we're having Tuesday Night Supper.

Happy cooking (and eating)!

L

Yum! The Slow Cooker Texas Chili was amazing! A little on the spicy side, but still good. Fortunately, John was off school today and able to get it all started. Bite size chuck roast, green chilies, chili powder, a little brown sugar, onion, garlic, hot sauce, tomatoes (with green chilies - do you sense a theme here?), topped with sour cream, scallions and cheese. The corn bread was amazing, too - with cream corn, sour cream, baking powder, corn meal and a little vegetable oil - so moist you almost needed a spoon. Dishes are done, too - thanks to Ginger and Jeff!

This week, I rejoined The Good Cook book club - five new cookbooks to look through for future ideas arrived today. I know what I'll be doing this weekend! Just for fun, I got the "Booze Cakes" cookbook, too. I can't wait to get into that one! I feel a cake baking coming on this weekend. :-)

Next week: Scalloped Potato and Ham Soup with crusty Italian bread. Happy cooking!

L


PS - yesterday I also found a way to be more giving, non-financially, as I posted a few weeks ago. I was honored to finish a project someone else started and was unable to complete. I have no idea why I was asked - the lady who contacted me didn't know me all that well, but she called me anyway. I have to believe there was some divine intervention there.

Grace and Peace,

L

I need to either figure out what week we've on or give up trying!

Last night was Chicken Korma, from the Food Network Cookbook (Thanks, again, Pam!!). It was acutally turkey, since I couldn't find ground chicken (although, admittedly, I didn't look very hard!). It started out with sauteed purple onion, to which was added a spice paste of pureed chopped red onion, minced onion, thin-sliced fresh ginger, cumin, coriander and water. That was reduced until dry, then the chicken (turkey) was added and cooked until opaque. Green peas and chopped cilantro were added until heated through, then plain yogurt. This was served on toasted pita rounds and garnished with fresh cilantro, plain yogurt and cashews. With all the spices involved, I was expecting an amazing, super flavorful dish here! It was just okay - very edible, good even, but just okay. Tasty, but a little bland. It was really quick to throw together, though.

Next week: Texas Chili and cornbread! Yum!

Til next time!

L

I was on vacation last week LOL. John grilled steaks and we had wild rice and salad - so nice to sit back and do nothing! I could get used to that! :-)

Tonight (I've lost track of my weeks), we had Pizza Stuffed Chicken Breasts (with pepperoni, provolone and basil), cauliflower with cheese sauce, leftover Onion Macaroni Bake (as a filler, in case we didn't have enough) and Mexican corn. Once again, everything was the same color! We're doing good with tasting different foods and cooking new and different things, but we always seem to end up beige. I guess it could be worse. We'll just have to be more creative on making colorful plates. This was a Paula Deen recipe and while it was good, it was just 'okay'. I think my breasts were too big (pun intended) and therefore, not enough of the pizza flavor came through. We may have to try this one again some day, but I'm not ready for repeats yet.

Next week: Chicken Korma! We'll have to come up with something green or red to go with it. Or both - you never know!

Until then, Happy Dining!

Week 13 (??): the Spinach and Feta stuffed Chicken breasts with Herbed Mayonnaise sauce were fantastic! I think they made the top three so far, closely behind the Mediterranean Pitas (still #1) and the Spinach and Feta stuffed Salmon. As sides, we had steamed cauliflower with cheese sauce, corn (canned, but hey, almost everything else was scratch :-)), Garlic Texas Toast and yeast rolls. We have one who has decided to be vegetarian, but I had a frozen Steamer with mac & cheese w/broccoli, so it was all good.

The boys are going to pick the menu next week, so I guess it will be a surprise. We told them they could cook, too, so we'll see how it goes. I enjoy cooking, but I'd enjoy a night off and being served too - being a gracious receiver is sometimes hard, but it's important. As someone special once reminded me, if you refuse to let others give to you, you are depriving them of the joy of giving.

I'm trying to find ways to be more giving in non-monetary ways. It's so easy to give money (even when I can't afford much), but much harder to give of self - especially in meaningful ways. So here's to prayers for guidance and discernment to find opportunities for servanthood.

Happy Tuesday!

I've lost track of the weeks, but I think we're in the teens now. Regardless of the number, we've had some good food, good wine and good fellowship! Tonight was a cooking challenge - scallops, which I have not only never cooked before, but had never eaten. The guy at the store told me be sure not to overcook them. Trouble was, they were still partially frozen - it's hard to 'sear' something that is partially frozen and had ice crystals melt into the pan. They were more 'poached' than 'seared'. Okay, a little on the rubbery side (especially the smaller ones), but still okay. I will NOT, however, attempt them again. (Red Lobster, here I come!)

I really want to try more things with quinoa. It's got the most interesting texture - like a cross between caviar and tapioca. (I'm imagining here - it's been so long since I tried caviar, I don't even remember the occasion.) I keep hearing how healthy it is for you, but it may just be the newest cult grain, if you know what I mean.

Moscata is definitely one of my favorite wines! It may be THE favorite white. I'm still partial to Weathervane Winery's Rooster Red, though. I could drink it like Kool-aid.

Next week, spinach and goat cheese stuffed chicken breasts. I'm looking forward to some good soups and stews in cooler weather, too.

We skipped last week - John was getting a tattoo and we wanted to watch! I need to figure out how to attach a picture here. :-)

Tonight, we kinda fell apart again - one left for work early, one's going to Zumba (that's where I ought to be!), another just needed to chill at home. However, since I bought everything LAST week, I figured I'd go ahead and cook, then have leftovers for lunch all week. On the menu for tonight: Chesapeake Chicken (Paula Deen's recipe - chicken and crabmeat with a mushroom/wine/cream cheese sauce) over rice. I thought about some fried okra, but it's too labor intense for just me. I bought a can (I know, goes against my Puritan ideals for Tuesday evenings, but, hey) of Triple Succotash - lima beans, corn, okra and stewed tomatoes. Sounds good to me!

I've been watching "Hell's Kitchen", and they always seem to have Scallops. I've never eaten Scallops, much less cooked them, so that's what's on the menu for next week. "Scallops with Citrus and Quinoa" from "Great Easy Meals". It's published by the Food Network Magazine -awesome recipes! Thanks to Pam at work for hooking me up with this cookbook. I'm not sure what to have with it, though? Suggestions are always welcome!

I find that I am really enjoying these evenings - even though it's a little hectic coming in the door from work and getting started. I enjoy the fellowship, especially - I am not a social being and have to force myself sometimes. The only downside I'm finding is that I end up doing the dishes after two or three days of promises. If I do the planning, cooking and buying, someone ELSE needs to do the dishes immediately after we're done. I don't think that's too much to ask. (Admittedly, my sister-in-law was doing them until her knee starting acting up and she ended up with surgery - she's been excused for several weeks now).

Till next week (or I think of something else I just HAVE to share,

Lisa