DH went to the grocery store while I was walking Georgy and was kind enough to call to see if I needed anything. Wasn't even sure about what I was going to make tonight so I asked him what he would like. Taco salad. I gave him a list of ingredients to buy and that's what we're having. It's a good thing because I'm trying to tweak it a little bit to make it even more yummy for company. We'll see how that goes.

I love taco salad. I was just looking at some molds to make the shells in and pondering if I'd use them enough. Probably not, but the price was sure right. I guess you could put any kind of salad in them, so I may take a second look.

Let us know how your tweaks worked out!

Left-over chicken and dumplings.....mmmmmmmm!

8 of us met at Joe's Italian, today.

Someone ordered appetizers of stuffed mushrooms, for us to munch on before meals arrived.

I had a small salad with two meatballs in marinara with freshly grated parmesan.

Kicker, I ordered their zebra cake to share with everyone.
It is 1/4 of a cake in 3 layers and HUGE!

Joe, the gentlemen, took home a good share for his 93 year old father.

check out their lunch menu if you desire

Here is a link that might be useful: Joe's Italian

I made a pan of stuffed meatballs in gravy, served with mashed potatoes, green beans and cranberry sauce.

Didn't eat any dinner as I had a nice lunch today at Ruby Tuesdays which was very filling. It was Spaghetti Squash with Tomato Marinara Sauce and Zucchini. Delicious - and what a large serving for the lunch "Petit Plate". I'm going to try making some at home.

I didn't take anything out of the freezer for Mike is taking me out for dinner.

Nita, you're such a good cook it's a wonder he ever takes you out! Enjoy!!

Glenda, the desserts on the menu all look so good. I'm a sucker for cannoli and treat us every once in a while. Publix has good chocolate-covered ones. I bet that was a lot of fun.

I like spaghetti squash and we ate it often when Harry was doing Atkins. He's not crazy about it, but your lunch sounds yummy!

If I had one shred of room left, I'd love to go to Phyllis' house for chicken and dumplings. Or Dotmom's for stuffed meatballs (even though I have to admit I don't know what they are stuffed with). I'm glad to see someone else who eats cranberry sauce all year round. It goes so well with almost any meal!

Patti, the tweaks were really good. My original Taco Salad that I have been making for about 30 years, calls for 1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained, 1 can chili beans and a tsp. of chili powder for the meat mixture. Instead, I browned the meat, sprinkled it with about 2 T. flour and cooked it a little bit than I added a homemade taco seasoning mixture and about 2/3 C. water. Cooking until mixture thickened and water reduced to nothing. I set up a salad bar with shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, chopped red onion, sliced olives, diced avocado and shredded cheese. I had made refried beans (they're delicious even DH who doesn't like them loved them) an Catalina dressing. My original recipe called for Italian dressing but almost all taco salad recipes call for Catalina dressing. I don't like the bottled stuff so I made my own this afternoon. Frankly I don't care to use any dressing. I layered the lettuce and veggies, than added the hot meat, topped with hot refried beans and than the shredded cheese. I made DH fix his own so I could see how it would work. I serve it with crushed taco chips on top. For tonight, I did not make the shells but will when my Wine and Dine Group comes. I host the group next month. Generally we go to the hostess house for appetizers and cocktails and then to a local restaurant. Occasionally we stay home, hostess supplies the cocktail hour and everyone shares in the cost of the meal. We haven't stayed in since January and I thought we were due. You get to visit more at home. So I'm all set. Have figured out the appetizers and dessert and now have the main course. A simple meal but fun.

Homemade pizza- but don't anyone buy that horrible Fleishmann's Pizza Crust yeast. I usually buy their regular yeast packets, but I tried thier new pizza yeast that doesn't require it to rise. I followed their directions, but my dough was like a cracker! :(

Blessings,
Haley

Well we went out to a new restaurant for dinner. I had chicken fried steak that was very good, the vegetable was cauliflower, green beans and mixed bell peppers with a little onion also. I thought the veggies were tasty. The baked potato looked good on the outside but the inside could have cooked a little longer. All in all it was pretty good. Mike had beef with gravy over Texas toast, the rest of his meal was the same as mine minus the chicken fried steak. We also had iced tea, which I thought was a little too strong and she refilled it without any extra ice and it was luke warm.

I asked him how he liked it and he shrugged and said it was okay. When we got into the car I patted him on his leg and told him that every once in a while I had to take him out so that he would appreciate the good food he gets at home. We both laughed and he said I was right. LOL I don't think we will be going back there again since they really didn't have much of a dinner menu.

I think I am going to dig out my old recipe book that I loved for many years and start using it again. I have gotten into a rut and am not happy about it. just maybe I will start enjoying cooking again.

I too think the hardest part is deciding what to fix. Also making a menu might help also so that I will have things on hand to do the dishes I want to make.

Sushi and frozen yogurt. My Wednesday fave!

Thanks for the tip on the pizza yeast, Hale Bopp. I haven't seen it but if I did I'd probably try it if I didn't know better.

Michelle Phxaz, I like both those things but never think of stopping at the great little sushi bar just down the road. What's your favorite sushi? Mine's either yellow fin tuna or California roll.

I knew that would happen, Nita. We don't care to eat out often either unless we know the food will be good. Our little restaurant here in the community has wonderful food and reasonable prices. It's just such a PITA to get ready to go. :-)

Georgysmom, I like the layering idea. I usually just toss it all in a bowl and put it on the table with grated cheese, sour cream and salsa. I use Catalina too, but I don't make my own (yet). I bet everyone will have a wonderful time. What's appetizers and dessert? Yes, I'm terribly nosy ;-)

Appetizers are:

Party pinwheels.....flour tortillas spread with a mixture of cream cheese, ranch dressing, red pepper, celery and jalapeno stuffed green olives. Roll them up and slice, served with our without salsa. Chili cheese cubes (hot) and cherry tomatoes stuffed with a corn salsa. Appetizers were a little tricky because I was trying to stay away from anything that had ground beef, refried beans or avocado since that will be in the salad. I thought about Quesadillas, but they have to be made at the last minute and I might be too frazzled after playing golf all day. Margaritas, of course. Dessert is a new recipe I'm trying from All recipes. It got 5 stars and everyone raved about it. I forget what it's called but I'll let you know how it turns out in two weeks. I'm playing golf that day so I'll have to be pretty organized. I'm canceling golf the day before to do most of the preparations and will set the table the weekend before. That Wednesday we're playing at a different club and I hate to miss it. Sure hope I won't be sorry. But if I have everything done ahead of time, the only thing I will have to do is make the tortilla cups. I might even do that Tuesday night, too. I think I might make one this Tuesday night and see how it is the next day.

Yum, Georgysmom. It all sounds good.