Food and Recipes while under Coronavirus quarantine #5

[IceIce9]

How did the Titanic dinner party go? I love Ratatouille. It's always been my favorite veggie dish.

The Titanic dinner party isn’t until next month. I was just practicing making my recipe to make sure I had it down before the party.

I did just receive my character assignment though, They assigned me to be the Unsinkable Molly Brown.

 

[Inthedetails]

The Titanic dinner party isn’t until next month. I was just practicing making my recipe to make sure I had it down before the party.

I did just receive my character assignment though, They assigned me to be the Unsinkable Molly Brown.

Excellent! What a fun character!

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

The Titanic dinner party isn’t until next month. I was just practicing making my recipe to make sure I had it down before the party.

I did just receive my character assignment though, They assigned me to be the Unsinkable Molly Brown.

Molly Brown - Titanic, Facts & Life

Philanthropist and activist Molly Brown was best known for her social welfare work on behalf of women, children and workers. She was also a survivor of the sinking of the 'Titanic.'

www.biography.com

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

We had a lovely dinner at Picano's on Thursday when most bottles of wine are half off or 25% off premium wines. We enjoyed a bottle of one of our favorites, Santa Margherita Chianti. It was cold and rainy, so we both ordered soup instead of salad with our entrees. DH had Minestrone which is always good, and I had Pasta Fagioli which I didn't recall having previously. Waitress told us that "Dom" (Mr. Picano, who is in his 80s) makes Pasta Fagioli every Thursday morning. It was a very simple, peasanty soup with Italian sausage, cannellini beans, and tiny tube pasta in a rich and flavorful tomato broth. I don't recall having ever made Pasta Fagioli but read several recipes to give me an idea of the process. This delicious and satisfying soup will be on our menu sometime soon. Pasta e Fagioli | Italian Food Forever

Having recently made Bolognese, I ordered a pasta dish to compare sauces - Pasta Guiseppe. Among the "specialties of the house", Pasta Guiseppe is your choice of pasta (I had fettucine) with house-made Bolognese, one meatball, and one Italian sausage. All of Picano's pasta entrees are huge portions, so I ate the meatball and less than half of the pasta. I had more for lunch yesterday with the sausage and will finish it today. My Bolognese was much thicker with more texture than the Picano's version which also had a little too much red pepper flake for my taste. DH ordered Veal Morel from the nightly specials' menu. This is one of my favorite dishes at Picano's but was the first time that DH had it. He really enjoyed it and now knows why it's one of my favorites. I always get a cannoli to go and ate it last night while we watched Skate America.

 

[Yesiamapirate]

We had a lovely dinner at Picano's on Thursday when most bottles of wine are half off or 25% off premium wines. We enjoyed a bottle of one of our favorites, Santa Margherita Chianti. It was cold and rainy, so we both ordered soup instead of salad with our entrees. DH had Minestrone which is always good, and I had Pasta Fagioli which I didn't recall having previously. Waitress told us that "Dom" (Mr. Picano, who is in his 80s) makes Pasta Fagioli every Thursday morning. It was a very simple, peasanty soup with Italian sausage, cannellini beans, and tiny tube pasta in a rich and flavorful tomato broth. I don't recall having ever made Pasta Fagioli but read several recipes to give me an idea of the process. This delicious and satisfying soup will be on our menu sometime soon. Pasta e Fagioli | Italian Food Forever

Having recently made Bolognese, I ordered a pasta dish to compare sauces - Pasta Guiseppe. Among the "specialties of the house", Pasta Guiseppe is your choice of pasta (I had fettucine) with house-made Bolognese, one meatball, and one Italian sausage. All of Picano's pasta entrees are huge portions, so I ate the meatball and less than half of the pasta. I had more for lunch yesterday with the sausage and will finish it today. My Bolognese was much thicker with more texture than the Picano's version which also had a little too much red pepper flake for my taste. DH ordered Veal Morel from the nightly specials' menu. This is one of my favorite dishes at Picano's but was the first time that DH had it. He really enjoyed it and now knows why it's one of my favorites. I always get a cannoli to go and ate it last night while we watched Skate America.

Thanks for this lovely write up! I feel I was there. We don’t live too far from Picano’s and will visit one day soon.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Last night we had one of Nino's sage and onion stuffed pork loin roasts. We like these little pork roasts (under 2#) that make two meals for us. The roasts are a little bland, so I make a sauce with fresh sliced mushrooms. We also had roasted acorn squash that is so good this time of year. We will have the leftovers tomorrow because we haven't had take-out for a few weeks and will get Jet's pizza tonight.

DH went to Nino's yesterday after his swim and got all the ingredients for a big pot of Pasta Fagioli. I will probably make the soup tomorrow so we have it for a few days after we get our Covid shots on Thursday. I haven't had side effects with my injections, but DH usually runs a low-grade fever with chills and fatigue. He'll sleep a lot and probably won't have much of an appetite, but I think the soup will be good when he feels like eating.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Thanks for this lovely write up! I feel I was there. We don’t live too far from Picano’s and will visit one day soon.

I would be honored to have you visit Picano's on my recommendation

 

[PayrollNerd]

Strawberry & banana pancakes this week! I made the entire bag of mix. I used whole milk instead of water like it said. It was very thick so I did thin it with 1/4 cup water.

The mornings have cooled off to 65-70 degrees. I’ve been in the yard each day at sunrise. The garden is mostly in.

I still need to set up the strawberry bed. I have 10 plants in trays. I saw more strawberries at the garden center. None of the 24 pockets of seeds germinated.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

When the site was down yesterday, I got started on a pot of pasta fagioli in the morning. It was ready by 2:00PM, but I let it cool and put the delicious soup in a large container to refrigerate overnight. We're getting our Covid shots later this morning and will enjoy the soup for the next few days. I haven't had a reaction to Covid shots in the past, but DH usually starts feeling icky three or four hours after the injection. He develops a low-grade fever with chills and fatigue and sleeps a lot for a day or two. Along with a crusty loaf of Italian bread, the soup will be just what the doctor ordered.

 

[Inthedetails]

When the site was down yesterday, I got started on a pot of pasta fagioli in the morning. It was ready by 2:00PM, but I let it cool and put the delicious soup in a large container to refrigerate overnight. We're getting our Covid shots later this morning and will enjoy the soup for the next few days. I haven't had a reaction to Covid shots in the past, but DH usually starts feeling icky three or four hours after the injection. He develops a low-grade fever with chills and fatigue and sleeps a lot for a day or two. Along with a crusty loaf of Italian bread, the soup will be just what the doctor ordered.

I made vegetarian split pea soup yesterday (that I meant to make awhile ago!). I used the crockpot. It's ready for Thursday pea soup day.

I don't use a recipe for most soups and wing it as I go, but for split pea, there are some "musts." I like it to be mushy and have the taste of black pepper and bay leaves. Achieved!

Of course, today we're having warm weather when I want it to be chilly for soup weather. Not complaining, though.

 

[PayrollNerd]

The produce pick up yesterday had the biggest spaghetti squash we’d ever seen. It was the size of a small watermelon.

We had to microwave it 2 minutes to soften the skin. Then we used a big knife and a hammer to cut it open. Neither of us had the strength to slice it in half. Then kiddo added olive oil and baked it.

We also made honeyed roasted carrots, zucchini, and lentils. The night before, kiddo roasted a 5lb bag of red potatoes.

We have 6 ears of corn to shuck & cook and a 10 lb bag of white potatoes. They also gave us a 3lb bag of onions, 2 prepped salads, a big plastic carton of mixed lettuces, mushrooms, apples and what we think are small red grapefruit.

My friend KB took the extra 10 lb bag of white potatoes and the extra bag of onions. We definitely didn’t need 20 lbs of potatoes or 6 lbs of onions! She took the mushrooms and grapefruit too.

She just retired in April and money is tight. Plus, her husband probably has 6 months left to live. Big life changes for her and I could tell receiving food was a relief.

This morning I baked 3 big chicken breasts. Sometimes I wonder how I’m going to not waste a big pack of meat they give me. But I’ve been in the mood for chicken dipped in tzatziki sauce. I can use the chicken on salads too.

So regular food prep is done. Tonight we’ll decide on dessert. Maybe a cheesecake with strawberry pieces on top. We finished last weeks brownies.

 

[Puzzles8]

I made vegetarian split pea soup yesterday (that I meant to make awhile ago!). I used the crockpot. It's ready for Thucronsrsday pea soup day.

I don't use a recipe for most soups and wing it as I go, but for split pea, there are some "musts." I like it to be mushy and have the taste of black pepper and bay leaves. Achieved!

Of course, today we're having warm weather when I want it to be chilly for soup weather. Not complaining, though.

Do you a particular type of peppercorns for your black pepper?

 

[Inthedetails]

Do you a particular type of peppercorns for your black pepper?

No, just "regular" black peppercorns for this soup. But different varieties would work.

jmo

 

[Inthedetails]

I made these pumpkin cookies today - 'tis the autumn season!

I made the following adjustments:

* Instead of 1 cup of butter, I used 1/2 cup butter and about 1/4 cup Greek yogurt (whole milk).

* I doubled the spice amount, using my own combo of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, allspice, cloves.

* I did not frost the cookies.

Assessment: Tasty cookies - we definitely like them and I would make again. They are not as pumpkin-y as I wanted. I think they would be good with add-ins like chips, raisins, walnuts, etc. Blotting the pumpkin puree is very useful - I liked that technique.

Overall - good! But I'd like a stronger pumpkin taste.

Pumpkin Cookies

The BEST recipe for pumpkin cookies! Perfectly chewy (and not cakey thanks to my tips!), full of Fall flavor, and drizzled with vanilla glaze.

sugarspunrun.com

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I made these pumpkin cookies today - 'tis the autumn season!

I made the following adjustments:

* Instead of 1 cup of butter, I used 1/2 cup butter and about 1/4 cup Greek yogurt (whole milk).

* I doubled the spice amount, using my own combo of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, allspice, cloves.

* I did not frost the cookies.

Assessment: Tasty cookies - we definitely like them and I would make again. They are not as pumpkin-y as I wanted. I think they would be good with add-ins like chips, raisins, walnuts, etc. Blotting the pumpkin puree is very useful - I liked that technique.

Overall - good! But I'd like a stronger pumpkin taste.

Pumpkin Cookies

The BEST recipe for pumpkin cookies! Perfectly chewy (and not cakey thanks to my tips!), full of Fall flavor, and drizzled with vanilla glaze.

sugarspunrun.com

Do you live near a Kroger? These are amazing: https://www.kroger.com/p/bakery-fresh-goodness-pumpkin-chocolate-chip-cookies/0001111007248 The pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are soft and chewy with rich pumpkin flavor.

 

[Inthedetails]

Do you live near a Kroger? These are amazing: https://www.kroger.com/p/bakery-fresh-goodness-pumpkin-chocolate-chip-cookies/0001111007248 The pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are soft and chewy with rich pumpkin flavor.

We don't have Krogers here. I do like the idea of adding chocolate chips.

jmo

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

We don't have Krogers here. I do like the idea of adding chocolate chips.

jmo

Kroger Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Kroger Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies are very popular. Here's a recipe that is supposed to be similar. You'll have to decide!

www.cookiemadness.net

 

[acutename]

The produce pick up yesterday had the biggest spaghetti squash we’d ever seen. It was the size of a small watermelon.

We had to microwave it 2 minutes to soften the skin. Then we used a big knife and a hammer to cut it open. Neither of us had the strength to slice it in half. Then kiddo added olive oil and baked it.

We also made honeyed roasted carrots, zucchini, and lentils. The night before, kiddo roasted a 5lb bag of red potatoes.

We have 6 ears of corn to shuck & cook and a 10 lb bag of white potatoes. They also gave us a 3lb bag of onions, 2 prepped salads, a big plastic carton of mixed lettuces, mushrooms, apples and what we think are small red grapefruit.

My friend KB took the extra 10 lb bag of white potatoes and the extra bag of onions. We definitely didn’t need 20 lbs of potatoes or 6 lbs of onions! She took the mushrooms and grapefruit too.

She just retired in April and money is tight. Plus, her husband probably has 6 months left to live. Big life changes for her and I could tell receiving food was a relief.

This morning I baked 3 big chicken breasts. Sometimes I wonder how I’m going to not waste a big pack of meat they give me. But I’ve been in the mood for chicken dipped in tzatziki sauce. I can use the chicken on salads too.

So regular food prep is done. Tonight we’ll decide on dessert. Maybe a cheesecake with strawberry pieces on top. We finished last weeks brownies.

I get tired reading about your food prep.... why people do not eat more vegetables: labor intensive!

 

[PayrollNerd]

I get tired reading about your food prep.... why people do not eat more vegetables: labor intensive!

That’s true it is a lot of work. But we are forced to cook & prep. Stupid food allergies control us.

ETA: If we ever hit the lottery, we are hiring a full time chef!!

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I get tired reading about your food prep.... why people do not eat more vegetables: labor intensive!

In recent months, I have been using my mini food chopper more frequently. My vision is poor, and even with new bright light fixtures in the kitchen prep area, I still don't feel comfortable handling a knife. Prepping veggies for soups, pasta sauces, chili, etc. is definitely labor intensive, and I didn't mind it for many years. Now, I have to be cautious in the kitchen, so the mini chopper and/or food processor have become necessities rather than conveniences.