Mmmm. I've caught up on the thread, and now have a craving for roast beef, clams and mussels, carnitas tacos, au gratin anything. Sadly, I'm back in diet mode so the only one of those I am likely to indulge soon is the shellfish. Tonight, dinner was - Cauliflower, salted and oiled, roasted, tossed in melted butter, then tossed in grated cheese (which sticks thanks to the butter), then briefly broiled on "low" to melt the cheese. Then topped with crumbled bacon. - Baby bok choy, tossed with hoisin sauce, sesame oil, chili sauce, lots of pepper, stir fry-steamed (first stir fry in a very hot pan with not too much oil, then add a small amount of stock and cover with a mesh splatter guard, the food steams while the stock, hoisin, oil, etc thicken into a usefully tasty coating), topped with thin strips of ham. - Part of a chicken breast. From a supermarket rotisserie chicken. I'm sorry to admit it, I was lazy. It sounds not very dietetic, but most of the bulk is vegetables. My whole dinner was under 500 calories. Lunch was a tin of sardines. Breakfast a bowl of soup. Yes, really living it up here.

Glenda, sure looks like a good lunch. I've made that strawberry salad but without the pretzel crust--if we're talking about the same salad. Schoolhouse, those pies look delicious! Sorry you aren't happy with them because they're beautiful! Phyllis, at least you aren't wasting a lot of food. I do much better now that I can see what I have in the refrigerator! Gazania, a whole chicken takes a long time to thaw, as you well know. It must be a pretty big chicken. You shells sound like a good substitute, though. Chi83, I predict your dip is going to be the hit of the board meeting. Yum! LuAnn, I've never had Cuban pork chops--?? Your whole dinner sounds great! I'm hungry for potatoes. Pam, such a deal! That's a really good meal for $5. I am seriously getting worried about my brain. I had even looked to make sure it was Tuesday before I typed Wednesday. I swear I'm losin' it. Marilyn, was your "icky" feeling just a passing thing, or did the chicken soup cure you? Tami, we had meatloaf the other night and it was so good. Wish we'd had scalloped potatoes with it. Oooh, Linda! I think we'd all stand in line of dinner at your house tonight. Sounds delish! Raven, enjoy those burgers--nothing like a burger on the grill. I'd rather have that than steak!

Oh Nancy your banana cake roll looks just wonderful. I love banana cake. My aunt used to make a really good one with a caramel icing. Hi Diane (Craftyn)....nice to see you here again. And you sure have been busy in the kitchen. I'd also love some of that chicken pot pie! David....the lady in my photo is a former tennis champ from Barcelona and is now one of our Pilates trainers. Yes she is petite with a cute hairstyle like our Renee (Bubbe). She's also very vivacious and clever. Ann your pink, brown and olive green make a lovely warm colour combo for a dining room. I would also take Caesar salad two days in a row. Yesterday was busy so I opened a package of frozen white fish in Italian sauce...35 minutes in the toaster oven and it was ready. On the second shelf of the oven I did roasted potatoes and yellow yams. Steamed carrots and spinach finished the meal. We're sitting inside in the dining room at the moment as it's still a little chilly outdoors here. Sharon (Chase) I have put the recipe for the Chicken Supreme over on the Recipe Forum. (You're right....it is so baaaaaad!) SharonCb

Here is the recipe for Tiramisu, from Bice Ristorante in Chicago; courtesy of the Infant Welfare Society cookbook. 4 cups strong coffee or espresso, cooled (I find I have extra of this mixture so you can probably cut it down) 1/2 C rum 1/2 C Kahlua 3 C sugar, divided 3 packages (24 each) lady fingers (the hard Italian style) 4 C whipping cream 2 lbs mascarpone cheese Strega liqueur, to taste (I skip this) 1 t vanilla 7 eggs, well beaten Cocoa powder Powdered sugar Chocolate shavings Line bottom and long sides of a 15x10" jelly roll pan with parchment paper or flour and butter bottom and sides of pan. (I just use a regular glass baking dish 9 x 13 or largest I have, and use a couple as needed; I skip the parchment and the flour/butter.) Combine coffee, rum, Kahlua and 2 C sugar in bowl. Dip lady fingers in coffee mixture. Cover bottom of the pan with lady fingers. (Note, if you have the soft lady fingers and they fall apart, just line the bottom of the pan with lady fingers and sprinkle the espresso mixture over until they are fairly moist.) Cheese layer: Whip cream with mascarpone cheese, 1 C sugar, liqueur and vanilla. Add eggs and mix well. Spread half of the cheese mixture over the lady fingers. Dip the remaining lady fingers into the coffee mixture and layer over the cheese mixture. The fourth layer is the remaining cheese mixture spread over the lady fingers. Chill. To serve: sift powdered cocoa over the top, then sift powdered sugar on top. Top with chocolate shavings and serve. Note: Here's how I make chocolate shavings; either from Martha Stewart or New Basics. Melt good quality dark chocolate and paint it in a thin layer onto the bottom of a smooth bottom pan. Cool in refrigerator for just a few minutes (until no shiny melty spots show.) Run a small metal spatula along the bottom of the pan in thin strips to form curls. If the chocolate shatters and crumbles into little bits it's too cold; let sit at room temp for a minute. If it smears, it's too warm and needs to be chilled a bit more. HTH!