Food and Recipes while under Coronavirus quarantine #3

[BetteDavisEyes]

I just finished prepping the spinach and ricotta filling for stuffed shells with marinara tonight. DH said that he will cook the shells and do the labor-intense job of filling them. He was late leaving for his swim because we had carpets and furniture cleaned earlier.

We usually have some carpet cleaning done each year but have put it off due to Covid. Today we had master bedroom, hallway, and den carpet cleaned along with loveseat, chair, ottoman, toss pillows, and arm covers (den). Upholstery should be dry in an hour or two; carpet generally takes several hours to dry completely. Great room, dining room, and guest bedroom get very little traffic and don't require frequent cleaning. The rest of the house is hardwood, tile in bathrooms and laundry room.

We have not encountered food shortages yet but will plan meals carefully based on what's available. We always take advantage of Nino's weekly specials/rewards and build menus around featured foods.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Ok my steaks are falling apart when I use 2 forks and the meat thermometer says it’s done. Now to let it cool. It smells so good! I have most of the vegs ready to go to make the soup in the morning. I’ll simmer it on the stove in a big pot.

My house will smell wonderful while I’m sewing tomorrow. Have to adjust the side borders on my tea quilt. I cut them too long. Got it ripped out today and will get it sewn back together tomorrow.

 

[anneg]

I just finished prepping the spinach and ricotta filling for stuffed shells with marinara tonight. DH said that he will cook the shells and do the labor-intense job of filling them. He was late leaving for his swim because we had carpets and furniture cleaned earlier.

We usually have some carpet cleaning done each year but have put it off due to Covid. Today we had master bedroom, hallway, and den carpet cleaned along with loveseat, chair, ottoman, toss pillows, and arm covers (den). Upholstery should be dry in an hour or two; carpet generally takes several hours to dry completely. Great room, dining room, and guest bedroom get very little traffic and don't require frequent cleaning. The rest of the house is hardwood, tile in bathrooms and laundry room.

We have not encountered food shortages yet but will plan meals carefully based on what's available. We always take advantage of Nino's weekly specials/rewards and build menus around featured foods.

The stuffed shells sound delicious. I used to make them but haven't for a long time...as you said, they are labor intensive, and I'm labor averse . Sometimes I cook penne and layer them with pasta sauce, spinach, ricotta, and Italian cheese mixture, sort of lasagna style. I have everything except the ricotta (putting on shopping list).

 

[kalvis]

I use a combination of sweet, spicy, and smoked paprika in my paprikash. The Szeged brand is the best.

Would you (or anyone) please share your Paprikash recipe. I looked at some online but I am unsure which one to use. I have never had this dish before and I am not sure what to expect.
My hubby has Covid and we are quarantined. So, I thought this would be a good time to try something different.
Thank you!

 

[mickey2942]

@kalvis I hope your husband will be okay! You too!

I am thinking about making a Dutch apple pie and ice cream for dinner. Now that we don't have kids at home, who cares about making "normal" dinners?!

 

[kalvis]

@kalvis I hope your husband will be okay! You too!

I am thinking about making a Dutch apple pie and ice cream for dinner. Now that we don't have kids at home, who cares about making "normal" dinners?!

Thank you Mickey,
Hubby is doing much better he had a fever for 2 1/2 days. He lost his sense of smell yesterday but can still taste. He doesn’t seem to have any other complications besides becoming restless from being quarantined. I am fine. (We are both fully vaccinated)
Hubby would love some Dutch apple pie and ice cream but unfortunately it is not diabetic friendly! I would gladly take a piece of pie and ice cream!

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

The stuffed shells sound delicious. I used to make them but haven't for a long time...as you said, they are labor intensive, and I'm labor averse . Sometimes I cook penne and layer them with pasta sauce, spinach, ricotta, and Italian cheese mixture, sort of lasagna style. I have everything except the ricotta (putting on shopping list).

I've done something similar with a large tubular pasta (tortiglioni). I combine the spinach mixture with the pasta and layer it with the marinara. Tastes just as good as the labor-intensive individual jumbo shells.

Tortiglioni | Barilla

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Would you (or anyone) please share your Paprikash recipe. I looked at some online but I am unsure which one to use. I have never had this dish before and I am not sure what to expect.
My hubby has Covid and we are quarantined. So, I thought this would be a good time to try something different.
Thank you!

Here's a recipe that is close to mine: Hungarian Chicken Paprikash (Csirkepaprikás) – Unsophisticook

I also add a chopped red bell pepper and sliced mushrooms. Serve with egg noodles.

 

[EGirl]

I just finished prepping the spinach and ricotta filling for stuffed shells with marinara tonight. (SBM).

I absolutely love spinach/ricotta stuffed shells. I sometimes toast pine nuts and sprinkle on the top after I've baked them.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I absolutely love spinach/ricotta stuffed shells. I sometimes toast pine nuts and sprinkle on the top after I've baked them.

When I make a topping for the spinach/ricotta shells, it's usually Parm and panko.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I'm making lentil soup today. Haven't cooked lentils in a while and thought the soup would be good on such a cold day.

 

[EGirl]

It is finally enchilada day! I’m making cheese enchiladas with Texas red chili ‘gravy’. We’ll have refrained beans and guacamole/shredded lettuce salad with them.

Everyone stay warm out there.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

Beef and ale stew in the slow cooker here. Sunny day but chilly (7° C).

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Too bad we can't meet somewhere to share all this delicious food

Just finished prepping for my lentil soup. Carrots, celery, onion, kale, smoked turkey sausage. I have fresh thyme and will figure out some spices to enhance the flavor. DH got a crusty Italian boule for accompaniment. Too cold to venture out anywhere, but we've been spared any measurable snowfall.

 

[mickey2942]

Finally got around to making ice cream, last night. I am getting back into my weekly habit of food prep for the week. Makes everything go so much easier.

Albertson's has a new app for the phone, I love shopping for everything online, and driving up and having them pop it in the car.

 

[Yesiamapirate]

Too bad we can't meet somewhere to share all this delicious food

Just finished prepping for my lentil soup. Carrots, celery, onion, kale, smoked turkey sausage. I have fresh thyme and will figure out some spices to enhance the flavor. DH got a crusty Italian boule for accompaniment. Too cold to venture out anywhere, but we've been spared any measurable snowfall.

Can you even imagine the wonderful pot luck dinner we could have??

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Can you even imagine the wonderful pot luck dinner we could have??

I've imagined it many times during the pandemic Everyone's dishes/recipes always sound amazing, and I'm sure we'd have a grand time together while sampling each other's food.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

I would love to have a real life get together one day once this is behind us.

 

[PayrollNerd]

My oldest & I assembled 6 pans of lasagna. 3 had veggies, spinach, yellow squash and zucchini. 3 had meat sauce. We baked off 1 pan and it was delicious!! You’d never know it was gluten free. Now she knows how to make it!

We used the disposable foil pans. They were a little wider than a loaf pan and came with cardboard lids. Maybe 5” x 9”?? Then we wrapped them in heavy duty foil twice. It will make it easy for the girls to bake off, peel 1 layer of foil to cover the cookie sheet, leave the other layer on. Bake for an hour at 350 if thawed. If baking frozen, add 20-30 min.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

The lentil soup was very good, but we didn't care for the Butterball smoked turkey sausage. It's way too salty and has a funny aftertaste. Even though the product is fully cooked, it might have been better if I had browned it before adding it to the soup. We usually use andouille sausage or kielbasa in lentil dishes. Cajun seasoning gave the soup a little kick. We have plenty of leftovers, so no cooking tonight.

Our favorite local restaurant, Picano's in Troy, will celebrate their 37th anniversary this Friday. The fabulous Italian restaurant opened on January 21, 1985. We went for my 35th birthday on the 27th and have been to Picano's dozens of times over the past 37 years. We are happy to see this local gem thriving in the midst of the pandemic. We look forward to a wonderful dinner this Friday.