Food and Recipes while under Coronavirus quarantine #4

[Puzzles8]

Thank you, @BetteDavisEyes . I've been struggling with my mental health, and this comment was like a big hug.

I will be making the Honey Tea Bread I talked about a little ways back, in the next couple of days. I'm hoping it turns out okay. Whatever the outcome, I'll take a picture.

No big Christmas dinner cook for me and my partner this year - we're going to a friend's place for a couple of days, and our friend has a whole menu planned! Gluten free AND FODMAP friendly! We're going to be very spoilt.

It's just the agoraphobia that's kicking my butt, thinking about leaving the house that's no fun. I always struggled with it, on and off as an adult, but COVID made it so much worse. I've left home maybe half a dozen times in the last six months. So, yeah. I have Valium if I need it, but it's still really hard. And these are my friends, who I can be myself around without fear of censure. I should be excited. I think the fact that the anxiety is more present than excitement is upsetting me more than the anxiety itself, if that makes sense.

Wishing you the merriest of Christmas'!
May it be joyful, happy and seem like a never ending wave of calming hugs!

Take care

 

[155etta]

DH and I went to Sam's Club and Costco today to get the bulk of our holiday food shoppping done. Our two boys and their wives fly in tomorrow (hopefully) one from LA and the other from Seattle. We only see them twice a year so we decided to splurge and bought the big box of crab legs from Costco for one of our meals in the next 5 days. We also bought a nice beef tenderloin for another meal. Christmas Eve is always individual homemade pizzas and beer. Nice and simple. Mimosas, quiche, and a fresh fruit platter on Christmas morning. Looking forward to the kids being here. They like to cook and it's always a good time. Wishing you all a very happy and peaceful holiday.

 

[Puzzles8]

Today my oldest and I made some veggies for dinner. I went to the produce store (Detwilers) and picked up a spaghetti squash, acorn squash and 3 big Idaho potatoes. I could only eat a 1/2 of one and my oldest was so hungry, she ate a whole one before I could snap a photo. I used the rutabaga I got from the produce pickup to make rutabaga fries. Everything turned out really tasty.

My oldest put olive oil, thyme, salt, pepper, onion and garlic powders on the acorn squash. On the spaghetti squash she put olive oil, salt pepper, onion and garlic powders.

The rutabaga fries were a new recipe for us. I'm the only one who has ever liked rutabagas. But I also boiled them and even with seasonings, the girls never cared for them. So tonight I cut them into strips, put olive oil, paprika, kosher salt, onion & garlic powders, black pepper. I overdid the black pepper so they have a little kick to them. Not bad tho. My oldest thought they were good. The youngest hasn't tried them yet.

Plenty of leftovers for tomorrow too!

I remember so vividly from my childhood, Rutabagas, Parsnips, Brussel Sprouts, Okra, Beets and Beet Greens. They were always made with a 'Boiled Dinner' with a large piece of meat. Cooked for hours.

My original roots are from Southern Wisconsin Farms (and adding a long 1960's stint in Houston). I have to admit, they were never my favorite meal...

Interestingly enough, Brussel Sprouts have been bred over the years to be less bitter. I love them now.

I still don't think I love Rutabagas, Parsnips, Okra or Beets. Have they changed or is there a better recipe for them now?

JMO

 

[Puzzles8]

We have blizzard conditions forecast for Thursday thru Saturday, wind gusts up to 55 mph, snow, and below zero temperatures.

I went to Costco today and it was busier than I have ever seen it. Holiday shopping, pre-winter storm shopping, and a long, long, line at the pharmacy.

We do too (Northern Illinois). They have backed off from the forecast yesterday of 16-18 inches of snow. Now they are saying 6-7 inches of snow. But wind gusts are still projected as 50-60 mph. I am thankful they are at least accurate with the wind/blizzard hazard and the warning to stay off the roads.
In this day and age I'm so sad that kids will never again know the absolute joy of a snow day being declared!!

JMO

 

[iamshadow21]

I remember so vividly from my childhood, Rutabagas, Parsnips, Brussel Sprouts, Okra, Beets and Beet Greens. They were always made with a 'Boiled Dinner' with a large piece of meat. Cooked for hours.

My original roots are from Southern Wisconsin Farms (and adding a long 1960's stint in Houston). I have to admit, they were never my favorite meal...

Interestingly enough, Brussel Sprouts have been bred over the years to be less bitter. I love them now.

I still don't think I love Rutabagas, Parsnips, Okra or Beets. Have they changed or is there a better recipe for them now?

JMO

Just about anything my mother and grandmothers boiled, I roast in a pan in the oven. Especially, if I'm doing a piece of meat, I'll add the veg to the pan partway through the cooking, and it comes out amazing, cooked in the meat juices. I've never cooked okra, and beet greens roasting probably isn't the way to go, but try it with rutabaga, parsnip and beetroot. You might still not like them, but there's a chance they surprise you and you find you do like them, after all. It's a great way to cook brussels sprouts, too. You don't have to drown things in oil, just a little drizzle if the pan is dry so things don't stick. Salt and pepper if you want to go basic, but most things in your herb and spice cupboard or herb garden can go in with roasted veg. Rosemary, sage and thyme I use a lot, smoked paprika, ground coriander, powdered chicken stock, sumac, cumin, chili flakes, curry powder ... I've used all of these and more at different times. Combine a few and see what you like. Finding the right seasoning for a food can also be the key to adding it to your diet. But if none of these make you like those veg, there's nothing wrong with that, either. You're allowed to not like things.

 

[RusselSprout]

Quite a few mention of brussel sprouts....I read an article this week and it said we've all been calling them by the wrong name, it's actually Brussels sprout!!!!!

 

[HongKongPhooey]

Quite a few mention of brussel sprouts....I read an article this week and it said we've all been calling them by the wrong name, it's actually Brussels sprout!!!!!

Don’t be changing your name now!

A Brussel/Russel by any other name is just as sweet

 

[IceIce9]

I remember so vividly from my childhood, Rutabagas, Parsnips, Brussel Sprouts, Okra, Beets and Beet Greens. They were always made with a 'Boiled Dinner' with a large piece of meat. Cooked for hours.

My original roots are from Southern Wisconsin Farms (and adding a long 1960's stint in Houston). I have to admit, they were never my favorite meal...

Interestingly enough, Brussel Sprouts have been bred over the years to be less bitter. I love them now.

I still don't think I love Rutabagas, Parsnips, Okra or Beets. Have they changed or is there a better recipe for them now?

JMO

I think there are better ways of cooking them that are popular now. When I was growing up I remember nearly all vegetables being boiled.

After I started cooking I quickly realized the method my grandma used for vegetables wasn’t the best. Fill a pot with water, add fresh or frozen vegetables, and boil long enough to ensure all nutritional value was lost

My grandma was an excellent cook except for vegetables, but I know that was just how they were often cooked back then.

 

[iamshadow21]

Fill a pot with water, add fresh or frozen vegetables, and boil long enough to ensure all nutritional value was lost

RSBM

Don't forget waiting until they all turn a fairly uniform shade of greenish grey! Also, they should either crumble at the touch of a fork, or be unrelentingly gluey, or, mysteriously, both at the same time.

 

[IceIce9]

RSBM

Don't forget waiting until they all turn a fairly uniform shade of greenish grey! Also, they should either crumble at the touch of a fork, or be unrelentingly gluey, or, mysteriously, both at the same time.

My grandma never met a vegetable she couldn’t boil to death

I remember when I found fresh snow peas at one of our grocery stores, and they were so good that I took some to her. She had never had them before, and I provided her with instructions on how to lightly sauté them.

When I stopped back at lunch time she told me, “Honey, I don’t really like them, they taste too strong” and I looked on the stove to find a pot full of water with some sad, grayish pea pods floating in the water.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Weather forecast keeps changing for our area but, as of this morning, we are currently under a Winter Storm Watch. Very cold temps, high winds, rain, rain/snow mix, significant snowfall possible through Saturday. We had planned to go to Nino's on Friday but don't want to wait until then, especially if the roads are bad. I have PT at 11:00 tomorrow morning, so we'll stop at Nino's on the way home and make sure we get everything on my list so we don't have to leave the house Friday during the height of the storm. If it's nasty on Saturday, we'll cancel our dinner reservations and stay at home.

Ghirardelli baking chips are featured at Nino's this week, so I will be making the drop cookies mentioned earlier. I recently bought a 4# box of Traverse City dried cherries and will use those instead of dried cranberries. Salted pecans on my list.

If you or your family members are traveling over the next few days, please be safe. Lots of flight cancellations expected with treacherous travel conditions on roads.

 

[anneg]

We have blizzard conditions forecast for Thursday thru Saturday, wind gusts up to 55 mph, snow, and below zero temperatures.

I went to Costco today and it was busier than I have ever seen it. Holiday shopping, pre-winter storm shopping, and a long, long, line at the pharmacy.

Sounds awful! I hope you will stay warm and safe.

 

[IceIce9]

Sounds awful! I hope you will stay warm and safe.

Thanks, I’m working from home this week so I really don’t need to go out.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Thanks, I’m working from home this week so I really don’t need to go out.

DH is going out shortly to get oil for the snowblower. He filled the gas can a couple of weeks ago but didn't realize that he also needed oil. Rain and wintry mix is predicted to start late tomorrow night and continue into late Friday. Sounds like a good day to stay home and be safe.

 

[anneg]

Weather forecast keeps changing for our area but, as of this morning, we are currently under a Winter Storm Watch. Very cold temps, high winds, rain, rain/snow mix, significant snowfall possible through Saturday. We had planned to go to Nino's on Friday but don't want to wait until then, especially if the roads are bad. I have PT at 11:00 tomorrow morning, so we'll stop at Nino's on the way home and make sure we get everything on my list so we don't have to leave the house Friday during the height of the storm. If it's nasty on Saturday, we'll cancel our dinner reservations and stay at home.

Ghirardelli baking chips are featured at Nino's this week, so I will be making the drop cookies mentioned earlier. I recently bought a 4# box of Traverse City dried cherries and will use those instead of dried cranberries. Salted pecans on my list.

If you or your family members are traveling over the next few days, please be safe. Lots of flight cancellations expected with treacherous travel conditions on roads.

I hope you and everyone else in the path of this storm and extreme cold wave will be all right. So many people will be affected by this severe weather. Our son, DIL, and one of our grandsons will be driving down here (NC) from Vermont tomorrow. Here it will be a mild rainy day, and the frigid weather arrives Friday night. Oh, they are also bringing a dog, ensuring that our cat, Felicity, will be hiding in our bedroom while they are here (almost a week). Poor kitty. Maybe she will come out when they go somewhere with the dog (dog park maybe).

I must confess that I don't have amazing food planned for Christmas like some of you do. I'm going to make beef stew with red wine and beef broth, with onions, bay leaf, garlic, potatoes, carrots, and green beans for Christmas Eve. We have a reservation to go out to dinner Sunday night, to an excellent Turkish restaurant in a nearby town. So we will have a big breakfast and then nibble as desired in the afternoon. I'm sure they will be bring various food items with them. My DIL is an amazing cook, unlike me.

 

[IceIce9]

Weather forecasters are saying this has the potential to be “once in a generation storm.”

It is possible that it won’t be as serious as they think but we all need to prepare.

 

[HongKongPhooey]

I hope you and everyone else in the path of this storm and extreme cold wave will be all right. So many people will be affected by this severe weather. Our son, DIL, and one of our grandsons will be driving down here (NC) from Vermont tomorrow. Here it will be a mild rainy day, and the frigid weather arrives Friday night. Oh, they are also bringing a dog, ensuring that our cat, Felicity, will be hiding in our bedroom while they are here (almost a week). Poor kitty. Maybe she will come out when they go somewhere with the dog (dog park maybe).

I must confess that I don't have amazing food planned for Christmas like some of you do. I'm going to make beef stew with red wine and beef broth, with onions, bay leaf, garlic, potatoes, carrots, and green beans for Christmas Eve. We have a reservation to go out to dinner Sunday night, to an excellent Turkish restaurant in a nearby town. So we will have a big breakfast and then nibble as desired in the afternoon. I'm sure they will be bring various food items with them. My DIL is an amazing cook, unlike me.

I love a good beef stew and dinner out sounds like an excellent plan.

Safe journey to your family from Vermont. Random fact, I still always buy Ben and Jerrys ice cream as a nod to our visit to their factory there! Baked Alaska flavour ordered with this week’s groceries

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I hope you and everyone else in the path of this storm and extreme cold wave will be all right. So many people will be affected by this severe weather. Our son, DIL, and one of our grandsons will be driving down here (NC) from Vermont tomorrow. Here it will be a mild rainy day, and the frigid weather arrives Friday night. Oh, they are also bringing a dog, ensuring that our cat, Felicity, will be hiding in our bedroom while they are here (almost a week). Poor kitty. Maybe she will come out when they go somewhere with the dog (dog park maybe).

I must confess that I don't have amazing food planned for Christmas like some of you do. I'm going to make beef stew with red wine and beef broth, with onions, bay leaf, garlic, potatoes, carrots, and green beans for Christmas Eve. We have a reservation to go out to dinner Sunday night, to an excellent Turkish restaurant in a nearby town. So we will have a big breakfast and then nibble as desired in the afternoon. I'm sure they will be bring various food items with them. My DIL is an amazing cook, unlike me.

Your beef stew sounds like Beef Bourguignon - an elegant French version of beef stew. Christmas dinner at a Turkish restaurant sounds lovely. I hope your family members have a safe trip and that you enjoy each other's company during the holidays.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Weather forecasters are saying this has the potential to be “once in a generation storm.”

It is possible that it won’t be as serious as they think but we all need to prepare.

We now have a Winter Storm Warning starting tomorrow night. DH stopped a Nino's for a few items when he went out to get oil for the snowblower. The store was packed, with long lines at meat and deli counters as well as checkout. He only got a few items and got into an express lane to check out quickly. We will have to pack our patience for a bigger trip tomorrow as it will probably be even busier than today. If the storm is as bad as predicted, it will be very difficult for people to get anywhere on Friday which is usually Ninos' busiest day of the year. They are open from 7:00AM to 6:00PM on Christmas Eve, so if folks can't get there on Friday, they can still get their holiday groceries on Saturday.

 

[anneg]

I love a good beef stew and dinner out sounds like an excellent plan.

Safe journey to your family from Vermont. Random fact, I still always buy Ben and Jerrys ice cream as a nod to our visit to their factory there! Baked Alaska flavour ordered with this week’s groceries

Thanks! ... I didn't know you could buy their ice cream in the UK. Enjoy!