I'm sitting here pondering the vast potential of ginger chive butter. Man, that just sounds good!

Lou, I'm a thin crust pizza person, but I swear I think that pizza could convert me. Wow. It's torture, though. No good pizza around here and I'm too lazy to make one just for myself. Yes, we need that food teleporter fixed!
And 84 boxes? That's wonderful.

Rotties -- I like the orange one. He's a cutie. Sparkly eyes, too.

Dinner. Um...yeah. Right. I feast on your photos.
Which is fine since I don't have much of an appetite the last two days. I made a simple chicken vegetable soup and toast; it was all I wanted.

But I did get good news today. DH will be coming home for a week at the end of the month. I hope I recognize him!

Kathleen..beautiful holiday table setting and presentations.

Nancy I would love some of that crab quiche....thanks for the recipe and your lovely pictures.

Lou it's good to see you in such a good mood....and baking up a storm. I'm also a thin crusted pizza person but I would certainly enjoy some of yours. And I still have some of that Old Bay....so I'll pour on the flattery when I begin to run out of it, thanks... LOL!

Beautiful pups Michelle. Your tarts and dinners look wonderful! Glad you like that lemon graham slice. It's an old recipe from a Canadian cookbook but it's always a hit for a special occasion.

Maggie I hope you are all feeling better!

This past week we've been eating:
Saturday...out to the Austrian Restaurant as we often do. I had a tuna salad with vinaigrette followed by grilled chicken breast and Wolf had battered hake with German potato salad.

Sunday I tried out some frozen turkey drumsticks I bought recently, along with mixed vegetables. Turkey not bad but not great either so I think I would use them next time just for making a broth or soup. We have an awesome frozen food store ten minutes away by car and it has such an array of every kind of meat, fish, vegetables and fruit that it's tempting to try things even though I'm not in the habit of buying frozen foods. I'm going to clear out my deep freezer this week and hope to make space for and try out a few new items. Especially as we're having a house guest for a month arriving next week. I want to be really well organized ahead of time.

Monday we were out again and Tuesday I made baked salmon (in Marilyn's gourmet sauce) with a steamed mixture of broccoli, cauliflower, yam, potato and carrots. It just hit the spot as we haven't had salmon for a while and really do love it.
Desserts of sliced mixed fruits taken later in the evening in front of the TV. Today I'm doing some of the frozen spareribs I bought at the frozen food shop, but I know the brand is good as I've had them before.

We're again having days of sunshine mixed with some clouds but I can still hang the washing outdoors to dry. After the sun goes down we have to turn on some heat though. My favourite garden corner is blooming as much as ever. And as my Ducky who sits in the garden bird bath was looking forlorn and lonely, (pic 1) I brought him a girlfriend from Canada this summer. It looks like they are getting along well....I found them like this yesterday morning....(pic 2).
The blackbirds come every morning to bathe in this little bowl and they often flip Ducky out of the bowl onto the lawn lol.

Hi Cookingrvc - great to see you around! I've been making "Mr. C's Chicken" since 02 when I first joined the forum! Its a great recipe but somehow I never had his last name, just Mr C.

Kathleen, I'm smiling at your plate of ribs and potatoes which looks fabulous but its the teeny tiny serving of broccoli that's making me smile :) I wish that one of those two little casseroles with mac and cheese had my name on it. I know you'll have a wonderful day visiting with Declan!

Nancy, your Asiago bread is calling my name - yummmmmmm.

I always enjoy your pictures, Sharon, even without Blackie :)

Lou, I think you're a real special guy.

Last night's dinner was Rachael Ray's meatloaf muffins - tasty little guys they were!

cookingrvc - is that Dominick? Because I have the recipe in my saved files since 2003 also and have made it several times - Mine doesn't say Mr C - it says Dominick...:-). We must be on a first name basis...add me to the list of people who are enjoying his recipe.

Let's see, I have to backtrack a bit.

Nancy: No recipe for the wings. Just "wing it" - ar ar ar...the ingredients I listed, you can just add to taste. I ran into the creator of the recipe a couple of weeks ago and pried it out of him. I had enjoyed it many years ago and didn't know what was in it. And please share that asiago bread - yum!

Lou, I will be copying your pizza recipe - I could earn some real points with Scott by making a great sicilian pizza. Yours looks great. Must have been really hard to deliver your boxes without your beloved wife at your side.

Oh and we did fine camping. It was very very hot that week...funny, as I look out at a couple feet of snow...:-)

Kathleen, I never never never would have been able to do all of that cooking in one day. Never. It all looks wonderful and they will love it!

Tammy, Good Burger is pretty funny - just not by the 15th time...:-)

Michelle, I think you need to take them all.

Diane, I hope you're better, and Maggie - how's the little guy?

Yesterday was a snow day, so I made broccoli cheese soup. It was great! Just that and bread.

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No cooking for me this week - I'm a slacker, what can I say? Nah, not really, just busy, busy, busy! Thanks to my 85-year-old Mom for keeping me fed!

Stacy - I'll have a big bowl of that soup, please.

Lou - sorry it's taken me so long to get back here. I'm in the middle of exams and finals are next week! No, sweetie isn't in the Army - he's a contractor - an electrical foreman. Making the big bucks.

As far as sending care packages, check the website here:

So many delicious looking meals.....steak, caramel chicken, apple pie, orange glazed scallops, lemon chicken, shrimp and fried rice, pizzelles, salmon, pizza,chicken stuffed with ricotta, crab quiche, fresh baked bread, lamb chops, couscous, roast beef, lovely mini-tarts, shrimp francaise, beef stroganoff, mac and cheese, beautiful salads and broccoli cheese soup and.....those are adorable little rotties!

Last night we had cannellini bean soup with Spanish chorizo and freshly baked biscuits.

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Well,AM, every time I open this thread I want ham loaf...lol. I know your pic is not ham loaf, but my brain cannot distinguish. So we are having ham loaf. My Great Aunt Mae made a mean ham loaf and I've never attempted it - but will try. I have gotten a couple recipes from here in the past and will try.

Probably baked potato and some corn.

*****OH - ANNIE!!!!! Are you back yet? I've been wondering about your trip - please let us know where you ended up - how fun!

marigene your soup looks wonderful and fresh.mmmm. And the biscuits I don't even have to comment. I could eat man of those at one sitting I'm afraid.

Pat, how ironic, that you're so busy attending culinary school that you don't have time to cook?!?!?!?!
Stacy

Pat t: Thanks for the web site. My niece was in Bagdad( Green Zone )
for about 1 1/2 years, Teaching woman how to get contracts in Water Sector.
She was always guarded by the Marines.
So I sent some packages then. I still kid her about her Guards.
It was getting a little scary when she left.

Stacy : You never left the Yougun here, when you went camping.
You were probably afraid , he would have a better time.
THE PIZZA:
If you really want to make some points, when you stretch
the dough out, go over the edge of the pan about 3 inches,
load it all around with your favorites,Sausage ,Pepperoni,
Provolone,Parmesan Cheese, Etc.,lay a few spoons of Sauce
all around on this, then fold the 3 inches of dough over
and into the pan. You can dampen the edge, to stick it together.
Then put the sauce on the Dough like normal.
This makes a large Crust filled with goodies.

Marigene: That's almost like Pasta Fasulli, Without the Pasta.

Woodie : Thank You. Aye ! an would ye be sending me a muffin ?

Beanthere: The pizza was thick. so we only had one big
piece each, The rest went in the freezer, for snacks later.
That's what you should do.
Talk to you all Later.
LOU

The discussion on the Chanukah (sp?) thread got me craving latkes, so that is what I made today :) Now if I can just save some for later.

Boy you guys have a good eye for Rottweilers. Mr. Green is Pick of the Litter. It is doubtful I will get him, although I have second pick but there is a County Sheriff ahead of me that paid $$$$$$ for first pick! I'll wait my turn.

Lou, so sorry you had to deliver your packages alone this year. But I am glad that you kept to your family traditions.

Terri, Where's the pictures of the newly painted bedrooms? Your turkey cutlet dinner would please Joe very much!!

Nancy, thanks for the quiche recipe, copied and pasted! Where did you get morels this time of year? The Beef Stroganoff looks fantastic as does the Asiago!!

Sue, Woodie, Stacy...I've had the Lemon Chicken recipe FOREVER and never made it. But the recipe credit round-a-bout is too funny!! Actually I had 2 identical copies of the Lemon Chicken Recipe, 1 with Mr. C. and 1 with Mr. Casella. When I was checking I found that both recipes were identical so deleted Mr. C.'s. Now Dominic appears...who is next...LOLLLOOLOL!

Kathleen, My lord you've been cooking up a storm! Oh my...the Apple Crumb Pie..YUM!

Sharon, the ducks are precious! Such a beautiful garden, just paradise!

Stacy, your broccoli cheese soup looks wonderful!

Marigene, Although I am not a chorizo lover, my market had it on special today and it sounded so good to me I almost bought some. I wish I had seen your soup before I left...darn!

Linda, the latkes are perfection!!! Tomorrow is Lou's Pizza but sometime this week we are having Latkes for sure!!

I had the best time grocery shopping today as the market was not busy at all which is unusual as it generally resembles rock'em, bop'em bumper cars!! I actually had 2 people at the deli cutting my selections!! So I took my time, consequently spending twice what I usually do. But they had some things that I've not seen before like Cranberry Beans that Kathleen mentioned last summer. They are so gorgeous and I could not resist and will "cook them like lima beans" as Nancy suggested. They also had Savoy Cabbage!!!!!! Just small head but I don't care, I love it and it was $.69 a head too! I should have bought 2 but we have no room in the frig for 1 let alone 2.

I went shopping yesterday for some Christmas Placemats and found some beauties at Homegoods for $2.99 each.

Tonight we had Sharon/Chase's Cauliflower Soup and it was fantastic. I added a wide assortment of cheese as Sharon suggested, Brie, Havarti, White cheddar with Chipotle, Mozzerella, a little freshly grated parmesan, Mild Yellow Cheddar and Blue Cheese. I think there was 1 more cheese but I can't remember what else I added. I made a huge batch of soup and we ate all of it.

We had a little snow last night...in fact almost 7.5". It was gorgeous this morning and the pup was breathless and full of energy when she came in...so funny!!

I know some are asking when our home will be done. So I thought I would give you a peak at some of our unfinished custom woodwork which should explain why this house is taking so long.

Michelle

Great looking soups here lately....must be the cold weather: Stacy's broccoli cheese...yum, Marigene's bean soup & biscuits, another yum and Michelle's cauliflower cheese soup yum yum yum!

Ohiomom I must make those latkes one day as well. We see them very often being made on the German cooking shows. Believe it or not, my DH, who doesn't know how to boil an egg, watches the German cooking contests nearly every night! I keep asking him when he's learned enough to start in our kitchen LOL.

Yesterday I made spare ribs, this time rubbed with spices, wrapped tightly in foil and done in my little countertop oven. They came out super tender but as I normally boil ribs a bit first, I found these were a little fattier than we're accustomed to. Served with five vegetables: spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots and potatoes, all from the steamer. Tonight I'm going out to an annual ladies' Christmas dinner get together with four girlfriends. We do this every year and enjoy a good meal and lots of chatter. Will be picking up Anne in a taxi so we can have more than one glass of wine!

The strelitzia in our garden are blooming beautifully at the moment.
And did I ever mention that there are too many cars on this island ????.....here are a couple of shots taken near the Botanical Garden. Still at least we don't have to park in snow LOL. Blackie loves to sit on the patio table in the morning sun. The air is balmy today.

Everyone's photography is beautiful - my 84yr old Dad is a retired professional photographer -his entire life - food is one of the most difficult subjects. Your pics are just so awesome!
Marigene - I would love the recipe for your Cannellini Bean Soup w/ chorizo. It looks delicious.
Also, would someone please post the recipe for this famous MR C's lemon chicken.
Thanks!

The Lemon Chicken is outstanding and I can't wait to make it again and it is so easy too.

Lemon Chicken (Mr. Casella's)

2 lbs. chicken breasts -- skinless, boneless
3/4 cup Flour
4 T. Butter
1/4 cup Canola oil
1 C. Dry white wine
Juice of ½ lemon
1 C. Chicken broth (canned or home made)
8 lemon slices
Fresh parsley for garnish

Pound chicken cutlets to ¼ or 1/3 inch thick.
Cut into 2x2" pieces. Lightly coat with flour.

Heat butter in large skillet. When bubbly, add oil.

When oil is hot, add chicken pieces in batches so only one layer of chicken is in pan at a time - brown lightly on both sides.

Remove chicken and reserve in a baking dish.

When all pieces are browned and removed from pan, add wine and lemon juice to pan.

Scrape up bits on bottom of pan (deglaze).

Bring to a boil, and reduce liquid over high heat, for 3 minutes.

Add chicken broth and reduce for another 3 minutes.
Return chicken to pan.
Top with lemon slices.
Simmer for 5 - 6 minutes.

Garnish with fresh parsley and additional lemon slices.

NOTES : If making ahead, store in a baking dish and reheat
covered, in oven for 30 minutes at 300° or in a chafing dish.

Michelle's Notes: I used 2 whole chicken breats breaded and sauteed in butter and EVOO. And then followed the recipe.

Michelle, beautiful pics, and great placemats! The woodwork is gorgeous!
Sharon, those ribs look excellent.
Woodie, I don't eat cooked green veggies (or fish!), borrowed a sprig off dh's plate for color. I like salad though! LOL
Stacy, your soup looks delicious, and I used to be able to cook from morning till night. Now my back starts to ache. Tough to get old!
Ohiomom, Carol's latkes had me wanting them too. I am going to make them with brisket. We can all celebrate each others holidays!

Thank you Michele - Mr C's Lemon chicken recipe - looks sooooo simple! I will definitely be making it.
Looks similar to the way I make Chicken Picatta - adding artichoke hearts & capers.

I made Chicken Marsala sans mushrooms. DH has asparagus with his, I had salad..

Lovely table setting and meal Kathleen!
Stacy, that soup looks so comforting!

Michelle, I just took some pictures tonight..It's not finished..but it shows the painting part.
I still have to finish a bit of touch up, the closet, the window sill, get a few pieces of pine to paint for trophy shelves, and one or two pieces to put on the wall flat with hooks for back packs, jackets and baseball gear bags and get some more 2 1/2" floor trim to stain to put in the room. (I never did it the first time I repainted. 6 years ago! and 2 years ago we put all new trim in the main part of the house!) LOL
Oh and hubby needs to build a corner tv unit..something simple. Since he's never done it. LOL Oh and new curtains to sew.
The goal was to get it painted..so that I could let them put their tree up. That happened this afternoon.
Kamren decorated it all by himself . :O) I'll post the pictures tomorrow..

Back on task....

Dinner was a slab of spare ribs, baked chicken,BBQ sauce, broccoli with Penzey's Brady Street Cheese Seasoning and Mozz and hashbrowned potatoes.

It was flavorful and tasty. Hubby was happy for a change..dinners have not been up to his "snuff".

Sorry to have had to skim down thru this one but I spent most of my computer time uploading...

Dinner last night was at Julia's Kitchen in Napa, and my camera battery conked out mid meal. It came back for one brief flicker...and got Dick's dessert.

The persimmon 'sauce' with the backlava was something that started with a 'g'. Our server said it is sugar caramelized and at the last minute, the persimmon juice is added which stops the caramelization and makes a delightful syrup. (I bet it also makes a lot of steam.)

There are pics of the CA crowd over in Conversations. It's hard to eat less when it is soooo good round here (and on this thread.) Back to you all later...Maureen

Thanks for the quiche recipe, Nancy.....I love quiche (and yours looks delicious!) - can't wait to try it. It was a cold day around here, so I decided on making beef stew for dinner tonight...really hit the spot. Baked 2 loafs of bread as well..... potato bread and a cheddar/jalapeno bread, which both turned out pretty good. With all this cold weather, chicken noodle soup is on the menu for this weekend.
Barb

Michelle, Pictures are in conversations.
Maureen, that dessert looks DEVINE!

Dinner tonight will be breakfast.
waffles, eggs..roasted potatoes...sausage and bacon...

Peppi, I emailed you, let me know if you get it.
We were outside decorating most of the day. I keep saying I am not going to do it, but then give in. I did cut back some...so far ie!
Tonight we had salad with feta, bacon and red onions, and linguine and meatballs that dh made.
I made a little centerpiece with greens and baby's breath and put it in a drum basket from Michaels. The napkin rings are from the late 70's, my ceramic days!

can you imagine the feast that could be made, just from this current WFD thread? ribs and quiche and pizza and soup and brisket and latkes and lamb and salads and a few dozen other things as well. just incredible! and the table settings too--kathleen, i especially love the things you put together! really beautiful!

beyond a plain roast chicken seasoned with lots of herbes de provence one night that became a pot of chicken soup a night or two later, i'm not sure WHAT we've eaten recently! hmm. friday night ted grilled sirloin beef tips marinated in some oil and balsamic and oregano while i cooked a bunch of peas...seems to be about all i was capable of. and you guys bake bread and cookies too? not sure how you do it all. we did have something new last night. the local grocery started carrying some fresh pasta and sauces to accompany it, from the "monterey pasta co". so last night we tried out their spinach and ricotta ravioli (VERY good) and some basil cream sauce with artichokes. i was a little disappointed with the sauce--it was pretty sweet and had a stronger undertone of garlic than i would have liked which pretty well masked the basil. on the other hand, for a hit and run dinner i don't have any complaints!

San, I haven't been worrying about dinners too much this past week, I've been making Christmas cookies instead. One night we ordered pizza, another we POOFED turkey dinners and last night we had French toast and sausage. Kim thinks we should go to the grocery store today.....I think she wants real food. I'm counting down, two more weeks of this craziness and then I'm on vacation for a few months...yippeee!

Nancy

Thank you, San. This is a fun time of year to use all the stuff one accumulates over time.
Nancy, I haven't started the baking yet....still decorating, LOL

Kathleen, your table is GORGEOUS!!! I just love the way you make just everything so special! And to share it with us is so sweet! Hope your feeling better soon.

Terri, love the decorating of your son's room...so perfect for their ages.

WOW, Nancy, you are way ahead of me. I've barely scratched the surface of my holiday baking. I just realized we're picking up my new pups this coming weekend. YIKES, I am going to be baking my butt off and minding 2 new puppies at the same time. Good thing they will play for 1/2 hour and sleep for 3!!

Speaking of my puppies, I made my choices:

Mr. Light Blue who is actually pick of the litter which I did not know at the time and Miss Red. The breeder has 2 litters, Mr. Blue is 2 wks older then Miss Red that is why we have to wait until next week to pick them up in Kentucky. I hope the weather is okay we could be in trouble if there are storms, sleet or any kind of ice.

Not too much cooking here the last several days. Just my Chocolate Covered Marshmallows which I posted in a separate thread.

Michelle

WOW!!! They look beautiful, the marshmallows, ie.
2 puppies, you will be as busy with someone with twins. And I hope you are not driving to KY by yourself...winter, icy roads, you know Wonder Woman???

Michelle, the puppies are adorable, They will certainly keep you busy for awhile. I remember when Roxie was a tiny pup, I think I slept in my clothes for weeks, just to make sure I got her outside to potty quick. The rest was easy, once we had that down.

We hit the grocery store today and Kim wanted a pork roast, no argument from me as this is one of our favorite meals. Last week I had reduced a gal. of cider down to about 2 cups, nice intense flavor, so while the roast was cooking I played with it and made a maple/cider glaze to drizzle over the meat. We loved it. I still had to open a jar of applesauce as it's something we always have with pork but I really didn't need it, the glaze had plenty of flavor. Kim was also in the kitchen and she made a new broccoli mushroom casserole. It is mushrooms, broccoli, and a cheese sauce using cream cheese and cheddar with Italian seasonings. Breadcrumbs on top.

So, here ya go....

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The kitchens all cleaned up and now it's time to relax.

Nancy

That cider glaze sounds wonderful. I have to have something appley with my pork, I would love that!
Well, I dove in finally and tried the caged pears Monique showed us. I had trouble, next time I will be braver, but they are time consuming. We also had, grilled steak, yes, I know, I like mine well done and it is a sin, etc...twice baked potatoes and baked cauliflower casserole. And a little black and red table decor..

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Your pups are adorable, Michelle! Sweet faces!

Such great dinners around here, hard to catch up, my days have been busy lately!

Kathleen, I love your table settings, always so nice!

Nothing much to speak of for dinner here. Brother and SIL came over to celebrate my mom's birthday and Hanukkah. We were going to go out but instead we brought in pastrami sandwiches, cole slaw, and I made a batch of latkes!

oh michelle--those darling fuzz butts will warm the cockles of your heart, for sure!

hey carol--i'd happily share a latke or two with you! absolutely!

we had what would be a very unusual dinner for us and enjoyed every bite of it :) we wanted to see the pats game and i defrosted a batch of shrimp to be served with a lemon wasabi sauce--that was wonderful! then i made a rustic spinach/feta/pine nut pie (using a refrigerated pie crust!) and made a batch of buffalo chicken strips using a recipe from cindy (ny). i toned the sauce down with extra butter because both of us are such heat wimps but it worked out great for us! just a nice change of pace and we really enjoyed it!

Kathleen..you always set such a lovely table! Your food looks amazing too!

Michelle..the babies...I'm in love! Do you have names picked out yet? Do they both have the same point colors? It's so hard to tell in photos. But I love that they have so much lightness on their little faces. We looked at a litter once that had to many dark faces..I want another Mahogany. Then we looked at one, that was "marked" down because she had a white spot on her chest..which didn't bother us..but she had an awful case of round worms, that was being treated...we passed on her too..we felt that if they had a whole litter of pups..they weren't a very good breeder...

And now we have Jilly the Speckled Beast..LOL such a far difference eh?!

Nancy, you're meal looks AMAZING!

Yesterday we had a mish match..I had italian chicken sausage, brown rice elbows and Hunts Zesty Spaghetti sauce. The men had...jumbo deli hotdogs and fries.

Tonight was good..
Mini meatloaves (I had my first red meat in 2 months!) Cheesy potato gratin, roasted Delicate Squash, sauted spinach for the Daddy, and broccoli for the boys.

Yummy...

Terri, did you have any reactionss from the red meat??? 2 months is a long time. I could go maybe 2 weeks....maybe!

Tonight we had oven baked pork chops, applesauce, pierrogi and onions, and asparagus
Dessert was fresh blueberry crumb tarts. I had a little puff pastry left for the caged pears, so I used indiv. tart pans to make them.

Michelle, have you named your babies,yet? They are so cute!
Nice plate of decorated marshmallows.

Oh, yum Kathleen. Love your tablesettings, too.

Nancy, your roast pork looks to die for! That is my all time favorite meal.

Tonight we had chicken stuffed with lemon, orange and garlic done at 500°, so juicy. I also added fresh squeezed orange and lemon juice on the sliced Brussels sprouts.

This morning I dipped peppermint patties; messy job as they kept melting. Not sure they will make it onto the cookie platters. I also have a batch of chocolate-walnut biscotti to dip and a large batch of cut-out cookies to decorate.

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Oh Michelle, I'm in love with your furbabies - they are so sweet and darling. It's a good thing your marshmallows and Kathleen's treats are on the screen instead of in front of me. I could also reach into the monitor and grab a piece of Lou's wonderful cheesy pizza.

It was a little warmer here today, low thirties and sunny, but not really warm enough to melt much of the 8 inches of snow we got yesterday and another storm is moving into our area with light snow NOW!

Yesterday I made a really good bean soup (you can see details in my post linked below. I used the PC and starting with dry unsoaked beans and a completely frozen ham bone, the soup was done in about an hour. It was good yesterday and even better tonight. This weather demands comfort food.

Lee

OMG, that looks wonderful, from beginning to end...where do you get the time??? Do you make butter spritz cookies? I can't find my recipe!!!

Coming back because I forgot to mention that your dinner and your treats have me craving everything you made Marigene.

L

Kathleen....you're killing me! Such gorgeous tables! The CHINA, the NAPKINS, the NAPKIN RINGS, the CENTERPIECE, the CHARGERS, the GOLD RIMMED GOBLETS and I just adore the little fat red/green candle!! And you meals are just fabulous!!! Oh MY!!!!

The Caged Pears are beautiful! I will make them someday...I will...I will!

Terri, after being without meat for 2 months, how was it? And Meatloaf sounds so good...maybe tomorrow. I remember when I quit eating meat and I remember exactly when I started eating it again and it tasted so good! When you're ready for another Rottweiler pup let me know. I know several breeders that are excellent breeders, and I guarantee you a good pup from them. Miss Red had a bit of white on her chest but this is pretty common with newborns and it will disappear when she looses her puppy fur. But a big white spot is a serious fault although it was allowed up until, I think, about 1950, also allowed some gray coloring as well, but only blk/tan or mahogany now and you hardly ever see tan any longer.

Nancy, the pork and cider glaze sounds wonderful!! And you have your holiday baking done too!! WOW, I feel so inadequate! LOL!!! I best get busy!

Marigene....fabulous and I just love the gold-edged plate with the peppermint patties, so delicate and pretty!! And who doesn't love roast chicken dinners! And the biscotti and peppermints look so good! I am craving chocolate BIG TIME!!

No names yet for the pups and Joe is very fussy about the names. Geesh, poor Layla went for over a month with just being called puppy. I have to run about 200 names by Joe before he agrees on one.

San, fuzz butts...LOL! Yep, if your a Rottweiler owner you gotta love big butts, that's for sure!!

We had Mr. C's Lemon Chicken again tonight. I know I should have waited and we just had chicken stir fry last night, but I couldn't wait!

Well the Ice/sleet/snow storm, as predicted, arrived last night and it is supposed to continue through midnight tonight. I'm just staying home and baking all day long. My cupboards are packed and I need nothing so it's full steam ahead.

Yesterday I gave my carpenter a little Christmas present. I found the cutest red foil box at the Dollar Store which just fit 4 of my Chocolate covered Marshmallows. So I packaged them up with some red glittered tissue included 2 tickets to the Chicago/New Orleans Football game and a bottle of Champagne. He was sort of embarrassed but he's done so much gorgeous work on our home, I had to get him something. He's only been married for 3 years and I thought the chocolates and champagne would be a nice, romantic treat for them.

Just a peek at the mantle and fireplace surround that Steve is building for us.

Yesterday I was returning some Christmas Presents, yes I do buy and return until I find the perfect gift! I had looked in on the Holiday Forum and saw Jims fabulous Christmas Decorations and decided that I should keep an eye out of a tabletop chandelier for our Christmas Dinners. Well I found 4 at very reasonable prices, but Im not sure I will keep all of them yet so the price tags are still attachedLOL!! I thought this is the time of year I will find the best selection so might as well get them now. All found at TJMaxx/Homegoods.

Michelle

Aw, those are the cutest puppy faces. My SIL had a rottweiler some years ago, and it was the gentlest dog she had ever had.

Sue, I'm so gosh-darn happy to see you back.
I still make the Pecan Crusted Salmon you posted, over ten years ago.
To this day, it remains one of our favorite ways to prepare salmon. I certainly hope you'll stick around.

Outstanding pictures Stacy.

Maureen, your husband's dessert is nothing short of divine.
Baklava is something I make every Christmas for all the good boys and girls on my list ... and my mom, too. She's mostly naughty, like me. But, some of us have to help shorten Santa's Wish List.

Luigi, glad to see you're still cooking as furiously as ever. I like the way your pizza looks. I made pizza a few weeks ago, and now have a craving again.

Kathleen, that pear is a knockout. And your table escapes are perfectly beautiful and festive.

November was absolutely chaotic for us, to say the least. And December ain't looking very promising. If this keeps up, I may just have to give in to beer pressure.

However, today, I'm going to sit back and relax a bit. And do some baking (therapeutic to me).
With all that's going on, dinners have been fast and easy.
Pork Tenderloin in Mustard and Chive Sauce with Poached Lady Apples and Malanga Purée. Honey Rolls, Cream Puffs filled with Pumpkin Cream (the cream puffs I made for TG, but managed to freeze about half).

So let's see, I'm in the middle of Christmas baking - I'm redecorating Sam's room - tending to house and shop - decorating Christmas trees - Christmas shopping - smiling big because the bottom-feeder who was found stealing from our shop has finally been caught, and a partridge in a pear treeeeeeee!

Sol

Wow, I'm so impressed with all the wonderful meals. Kathleen, I'd be happy with anything you make. Lovely table setting too. And Nancy, your roast pork dinner looks delicious. Is there anything better than roast pork gravy with mashed potatoes?

Stacy, your wings look soooo good. Haven't had wings in a few weeks and now I'm craving them.

Michelle, your new babies are adorable. You shop so different from me. I hate returning things.

Sharon, beautiful slab of ribs.

Sol, you sure know how to juggle so many things at once. Your dinners as usual are mouth watering delicious. And your photos are amazing. Love the apple in the measuring spoons.

We are still trying to get organized from the move. To further slow things up, I'm sick. Felt a cold coming on last Thursday and have just got worse. Thinking I had bronchitis I finally went to the doctor this morning and he confirmed my diagnosis. Needless to say I feel like crap. So meals around here haven't been too exciting. All simple.

Pot Roast

and pasta a couple of times, including a bastardized version of Fettucine Alfredo with bacon and green onions,

breaded chicken breasts with buttered rice

and take out a few times.

I put a big pot of chili on to simmer this morning and we had that for dinner. Unfortunately, I have no idea what it tasted like as I have now lost my sense of taste. I do know that it was on the spicy side. Heat I could feel.

One thing that we did get done this week was to buy 5 large book shelves. I put them together over a couple of nights and Moe unpacked all my cookbooks and cooking magazines. They aren't organized on the shelves but I'll eventually get around do doing that.

Ann, do you seriously expect me to believe that all of those delicious looking dinners were made by you while sprawled out on the couch battling bronchitis?

Ok. I'm good with that.

Take good care of yourself my friend.

Sol

Lovely meals, ladies.

Dinner last night was pasta with clams, porcini mushrooms, a little spinach, and lots of garlic preceded, by a tossed salad. Gotta have that seafood at least once a week!

Michelle, I could eat chicken several times a week, too. Your fireplace is absolutely stunning.

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Tree behind the garage
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Hi Everybody: Haven't been in here much. Guess mainly because
I haven't been cooking too much.

Kathleen : Do you eat like that every night ???

Sol: I haven't talked to you much , lately, sorry!!!
I'll get around to it soon.

Tonight, I made something simple.
Chicken cooked on top of the range, in a Skillet w Lid.

Here it is all ready to go, with Carrots, Onions and Potatoes.
And of course with all the good Spices.

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Here it is ready for the table !!!

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And I'm ready for the table too!!!!!

Later, LOU

I think I'll have to go back and copy this thread as I always seem to have to do when we've been away ...and a whole thread gets nearly done!

I send all of you some deep breaths (and health for those not feeling so well) and time to appreciate all the blessings of this season. Since we just put up the tree, I think I may just leave it at that this Christmas. And since we ate so well in CA, the baking will be seriously limited.

Tonight I was grateful to poof a container of Marilyn's Lasagna soup for dinner. A grey, damp evening ...and that soup hits the spot. I'd also frozen a bit of the pasta leftover when I made it and adding it at the bottom of the soup, with the mozzerella on top of the pasta, allowed less of it to stick to the soup bowl. Yummmy.

Tomorrow, salmon and some roasted veggies. Maaaybe a baked item to surprise Dick. Shhhhhh. Maureen

Lou your chicken dinner looks wonderful both before and after it was cooked. What were the GOOD spices and did you add any liquid?

Tuesday night we had DMIL over for dinner to celebrate her birthday, and Max's birthday (they are one day apart). We had a roast pork loin that I stuffed with rosemary and chopped apples and cranberries; sides were a wild rice pilaf and green beans. We had little purchased apple tarts, which are a favorite of hers for dessert. On Monday we took her to Cirque du Soleil. It's been a nice week.

Tonight Max and I went to separate parties, so no cooking here. Too bad they were on the same night because I would have liked to have been able to go to both.

I'll be back in the morning for inspiration for tomorrows dinner.

Lee

Always a pleasure to visit!

Great looking meals..Inspirational~

Me too, Lee - I want to know how Lou made that - it looks soooo good.

Sol, that is the cutest little apple! Or is it a big measuring spoon? Great photo.

Michelle, I may do some baking today, as it looks like the snow is comoing down hard. Oh darn, I'll have to stay in and pass on the Christmas shopping. :-)

Your woodwork is gorgeous - what a nice gift you gave him!

marigene, your chicken dinner has me going back for extra looks as well. I guess I better make chicken soon.

wow, kathleen, you're still cooking up a storm!

I haven't made much more than chicken broth with noodles lately. My stomach has been giving me some major troubles since Sunday night. :-(

Thank goodness Scott is gone and Will likes blue box.

Stacy

Boy this thread is closing fast!

Sharon, gorgeous ribs!!! I wish I would eat them but the sauce has not agreed with me since FOREVER!

Sol, the lady apples are so cute and I love the photo with the T. spoon! Cream Puffs with Pumpkin Creme....YUM!!!

Ann, so sorry to hear you're not feeling good! It takes at least a year to finally get everything organized after a major move or so is my experience. The books always seem to be the biggest problem for me and I put it off till last which makes it worse! Your chili sounds so good, it is freezing here.

Lou, your chicken looks delish! You just put the veggies and chicken in a pan and stovetop braise? Is there a sauce? Joe would love it!

Marigene, your tree photo looks just like our tree near our barns!! It was so gorgeous out with the sun shining through all the iced tree branches....like a million diamonds!

We had meatloaf, butter roasted potatoes and broccoli with raspberry beans. It was a good, tummy warming meal, although it does not photograph very well...LOL!

Michelle

I forgot, Ann, I'm sorry you're not well. That is a nasty bug this year, I'm afraid...

haha - the big difference here? When I don't feel well, we have boxed mac and cheese and when you don't feel well - well, need I say more? lol.

Take care.
Stacy

Fettucine Alfredo with bacon and green onions

Ann, I forgot to ask about the Alfredo with Bacon. I've never has it before. Do you just add the bacon or it is a different recipe?

I'll close this thread so that Lou can offer his expert advice on his chicken in a new WFD!

Michelle

Michelle, what a beautiful winter scene.

I'm experienced at moving. Have moved cross Canada/US a few times and I'm usually organized within a couple of weeks. Between things not getting done on time and then getting sick, it has set me back a few weeks. This move might actually take a year by the time we get the bathrooms and the kitchen done.

Stacy, I'm sorry you aren't feeling well. Hope you feel better soon.

I still feel like hell, but hopefully the antibiotics will kick in soon. It is the cough that is most annoying. I've taken two days off work, but am thinking of going in today. I can always come home early if I want too.

Dinner last night was take out. Moe drove over to our favourite fish and chip restaurant and picked up halibut and chips. Unfortunately I still can't taste anything, so I had to use my imagination. This is the same restaurant that we use to drive to when we lived in Nanaimo but it took almost an hour to get there. Now we are only 5 minutes away.

Michelle, this is the recipe that I use as a guideline for Fettuccine Alfredo. For something different, I cooked up some bacon , cut it up and added it to the pasta along with some chopped green onion.

Home Cookin Chapter: Recipes From Thibeault's Table

Fettuccine All'Alfredo
======================
Source: Giuliano Hazan.

3 Tablespoons Butter
1 Cup Heavy Cream
pinch of fresh ground nutmeg
salt and fresh ground pepper
1/2 or more fresh grated Parmigiano-reggiano cheese

Option:

I add a little fresh minced garlic to the cream sauce.
. While pasta is cooking:

Put the butter and cream in a skillet over medium high heat and boil,
stirring often until the cream as reduced by about half. Add the fresh
grated nutmeg, salt and pepper. Set aside.

Drain pasta and add to the sauce in the skillet. Add the fresh grated
parmesan cheese and toss the pasta until well coated. Serve with more
cheese.

I am very generous with the black pepper in this dish.