Green Onions, Grape Tomatoes, Parmesan Crusted AF Baked Potato, AF Broccolini with Toasted Sesame Oil, and AF Spam. Have tried the toasted sesame oil in several different ways and have decided I just don't care for the taste of it - it is almost as if the toasting resulted in more slightly burned taste, so that is one bottle of oil that will be tossed. I love sesame oil, though. And yes, I do like Spam occasionally; don't have it very often.

Once I discovered my easy-peasy herbed potato salad I've never thought of looking for other versions.

Dinner tonite was potatoes, carrots and onions in the air-fyer, and chicken breast, peppers and onions and cheese in the Cuisinart countertop oven.

My reading material.....Alice Cooper's autobiography. I was infatuated with him when I was a teen. Fantastic read, and an amazing golfer.

Another simple dinner last night. Wish I had put more cheese in the mac & cheese, but will do so when I warm up the half that is leftover. Had celery, green beans cooked in the Instant Pot (IP), air fryer ground beef patty, and IP mac & cheese.

It’s been great seeing everyone’s cooking. The first proper cook I have done after 7 weeks, although I have done bits and pieces to help get dinner plus my toast and tea for breakfast and something easy for lunch.

Beef and rice stuffed peppers with a ratatouille surrounding sauce.

We don’t eat a lot of cakes and sweets but occasionally a slice of homemade cake with a cup of tea is just what is needed. I made microwave blood orange and almond cake based on Nigella Lawson’s Clementine cake.

We have a little blood orange tree growing so these are our own oranges.

A plate of healthy and not-so-healthy.

I was really looking forward to making tabouleh with quinoa and some veggies out of my box. The vegetables grew, the quinoa not so much, but it's there. As is the feta.

I received another veggie and fruit mix box on Saturday. I messed up my order frequency, that's 2 weeks in a row. I received another cabbage and 2 more cucumbers. But I also got 5 avocados in this one, which I'm pleased with. Another bag of grapes and another pineapple.

I made egg roll in a bowl which is ground pork (I use ground beef) with a bag of coleslaw mix. Obviously I shredded the cabbage, carrots and onions myself. This helped use a bit of cabbage.

I also had a BLT with homemade french fries done in the air-fryer

Could find this thread when I wanted to post my dinner from the night before. Now the thread is here, so I will post what I had again.

Had a plain slice of white bread with butter, air fryer (AF) fried potatoes, AF 6-oz salmon fillet, and AF broccolini. It was very good. Had about 1/2 the salmon left so think I will make a small salmon salad from the remainder. And as usual, I ate only half of the potato or less, and half the broccolini. I am trying really hard to eat more, but I just get stuffed and cannot force myself to eat anymore. Am concerned that I am not eating enough to keep my strength up.

Ohh that's not good re: your eating enough, WalnutCreek.

I on the other hand don't know enough to eat a smaller portion on what I give myself, and my weight is showing it.

I need to spend the summer Annie's mending fences, gardening etc, to get some weight off. Annie, I hope you're receiving more rain than we are......we're in a drought and the corn is short, only waist-high with the leaves curling inwards, aka 'pineappling' to conserve water.

That's what I think, so have been trying to force myself to eat more.

And no rain here, we desperately need it. Have new shrubbery planted in April that I am afraid is beginning to suffer. Sadly, the yard is just to uneven for me to even try to walk on it. One of my granddaughters plans to come over tomorrow to water them for me.

Plus our heat is intense. Just looked on my computer at the current temperature and it is 103.

Still have 1/4 of a pizza that needs to be cooked so am doing that tonight and making a salad with Napa cabbage, cherry tomatoes, Iceberg & Romaine lettuces with a doctored up, bottled Italian dressing to have with it. Am rather looking forward to it.

Hope y'all get some rain, as well as us.

Still managing to stick to my meal plan for this week. Beyond simple last night. Air fried bacon and pancakes from a Kruestez mix. Just the right taste for the night. Even got my fancy china out.

WC, I love breakfast for dinner, and yours is perfect.

@Jasdip, thank you. Some type of breakfast for dinner is on my menu plan for every Wednesday night. Sometimes have to switch days, but always once a week.

Had to deviate from menu plan last night and will deviate again tonight, but will not do so Saturday. Last night air fryed a smoked sausage, as well as a very small cabbage “steak” and a smallish one. Seasoned the cabbage on both sides with a bit of salt, pesto vinaigrette, and parmesan cheese. The cabbage was not as done as I like it, so don’t know if I will use this method again for it. But, the crispy brown parts were yummy. I am a bread person and had to have a slice of buttered bread, too.

We had a long time friend over for dinner tonight. She and her husband were our first landlords when SWMBO, DD, and I moved to Berkeley in 1999. They eventually moved to Australia, where he’s from, to take care of his parents. After his parents passed away, they decided to return to the US, but that was delayed two years due to Covid. They finally moved back to Berkeley from Melbourne. He isn’t feeling well so in an abundance of caution she came over alone and that means I cooked too much food!

I decided to repeat a baked black cod dish from two weeks ago, but improve it with basil and cherries. This would have been successful except I forgot to adequately salt the fish. Still, it was pretty and the cherries went well with the basil, mushroom, beet greens, and cod.

I also made scallops, also trying the cherries and mushrooms. This was more successful.

Between courses we had carrots, steamed and lightly vinegared, as a palate cleanser.

We also had two salads. This beet-argula and a caesar (not pictured).

I sent a bunch of food home to him and we made plans to see each other again when we’re back in California next month.

Great meal John Liu. I'm sure you had a great time with your long time friend.

I roasted vegetables and had them with orzo. Basil and feta are on top. Air-fried chicken with it.

Cherries and mushrooms—- I would not thought of going there— how interesting. The cod plate is lovely. It is heartening to me that you inspiring cooks maked the sort of errors that make me feel dumb.

Am working on NYT caramellized zucchini. to serve over soba because it is available in the cupboard. No food at this time, but the afternoon monsoon to share,

lissam, errors go with cooking unless you’re a pro! And I guess sometimes even then.

I fired up the crockpot and cooked a pork roast. My favourite recipe is cooking it in some water, soy sauce, molasses and cider vinegar, garlic powder and dash if cayenne. The following meal I loe simmering shredded leftover pork in liquid with bbq sauce for pulled pork on a bun and coleslaw.

Oh that's not turnip, it's mashed white and sweet potatoes.

Sugar snap peas in the Instant Pot, Baked Potato in Instant Pot, then to air fryer with sour cream, a frozen chicken Kiev cooked in the air fryer, and biscuits baked in the toaster oven. Sugar snaps were delicious!

I got another vegetable box yesterday. Cantaloupe, oranges, grapes, amall potatoes, cherry tomatoes, cauliflower and much more.

I made chicken parm ,(the cheese went from not melted to too melted before I caught it) with steamed cauliflower and smashed baby potatoes. I'm eating cantaloupe and ice cream now. 😛

We got the back yard cleaned up and lured some friends over for dinner by promising cocktails and misters. It was 100F during the day and we werewe’re trying to keep the house cool, so I did all the cooking outside, at the grill and side burner. Had pressure cooked short ribs (not shown) and grilled chicken. My method for the chicken was to spatchcock, season, grill over low heat on a bed of rosemary branches (since I’d just cut back the rosemary bush) that burned and provided the char. Then I skimmed the fat from the short ribs into a pan, got it hot, and deep fried the chicken, using long tongs to hold each part of the bird in the fat. My main goal was pretty, but to my surprise it wasn’t actually over cooked.

Wow John, that chicken looks amazing! It looks like it's grilled, not deep-fried.

BTW, Congratulations on having your name back!

Thanks! It is basically grilled, but the grille was on the lowest heat. The deep frying was in about an inch of fat, holding the chicken in different positions to get all of the surface brown.

I don't know why sometimes I'm me and other times I'm HU-XXXXXXXX. I have become sort of attached to my alter ego, my H[u]yde if you will. "Hu" is my mother's maiden name so it sort of works.

I really had the urge for an omelette. That, and a slice of one of the tomatoes I was given from the landlord's garden. Sure hit the spot

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Had a lovely dinner last night. Air fryer slow roasted cod loin, air fryer slow roasted asparagus, and Instant Pot sweet potato. So good.

One of my favourite meals at a local German restaurant is their Gypsy schnitzel. Schnitzel is a breaded pork or chicken cutlet either left plain or served with toppings.

I took a pork chop out of the freezer, pounded it thin, breaded and fried it and topped it with sauteed peppers, onions and cherry tomatoes. Mushrooms are served as part of the topping but I didn't have any.

Sauteed Swiss chard out of the LL's garden and a baked potato. It was perfect.

Yes, there is a pork cutlet under there.

We have been busy with work, garden, fun with family and friends.

The star of the the garden this year has been squash flowers. Started seeds early and gave the plants lots of real estate. Started more plants every two weeks in succession. Years past it was a once/twice event. This year once/twice a week for the past two months.

With salmon cakes and a fritatta

And on pizza...

I made some fresh green beans ... blanched for 3 minutes and cooled quick, then mixed with a bit of olive oil, sesame oil and crnchy bacon, along with some carmelized onions and baked in the oven.

Then I made tortillas with a mix of Italian sausage, black beans and brown rice mixed with some chili sauce and baked in the oven with shredded cheese to melt at the end. A tiny bit of sour cream and more salsa ... was extremely satisfying ... no pix; scarfed it: taco Tuesday.

Palouse is having their 'stock up for Fall' sale, free shipping...Palouse beans

Perfect timing. I'm out of lentils and red winter wheat. Always need garbanzos.

Wheat berries can be ground into flour, sprouted 24hours and into grain breads, or sprouted for wheatgrass. Or just cooked like regular rice/grain.

It has been a summer of salads in rotation. Fruits, potato, slaws, caprese, fresh corn, grains and beans...

Annie, if you see this, you might like these lids. I've had these for a couple months. Heavy duty Ball jar lids. Thick silicone. Pack of 8. They fit both wide mouth and small mouth via a flip of the lid. Great design. I have so many lids and reach in my lid crate but should be 50/50 chance to grab the correct size....never happens. Those stupid silicone rings inserts always fall out of the plastic lids so i have to search.

These i can grab without looking and get a tight seal in seconds. I keep three quart ball jars in my fridge. One cold filtered water, a fresh fruit/ginger/lemon spa water, and my strong iced tea made every morning to pour over ice during the day. These lids are priceless. They fit tight but easy off and on with a burp and easy to replenish the filtered water quart.

DH often makes me an iced tea if i'm gardening or busy. He is smitten with these lids.

*i've had the silicone polka dot sleves for years. Love them. My home water/tea glasses. Set of two. Silences the glass-to-surface clunk sound. Especially on hard surfaces like my marble breakfast table.

Sleeve, you always perform miracles with your veggies!

My landlady was picking goodies out of her garden when I was heading out for a walk. She waylaid me and gave me grocery bag with these pole beans (I love them, they're so sweet!), cherry and regular tomatoes, swiss chard, kale.

So I sauteed a fish filet with steamed veggies. So good, not a carb in sight :-(

Last night I had a ground beef patty, broccolini with parmesan, mini cucumber, cherry tomatoes, and garlic brioche bread. It was so good.

Gifted vegetables always a treat. Just picked up some gorgeous brocolini. So good. Enough for a few meals. I roasted but tonight i'm making potato salad, so i'll blanch in the hot water before i cook the potatoes. We have a drought water warning so being careful. I might make a small pasta salad for the weekend and use the potato water for the pasta.

Noodle/grain/bean veg bowls in rotation this summer. Easy to put together with what variety veg is in the garden or crisper. Lots of master stock pints in the freezer and always have miso. Stocked up on freezer dumplings from FlyByJing.

Some others recently....

Was too tired to cook last night so just air fried some French fries and a Nathan's jumbo hot dog, toasted a croissant spread mayo and mustard on it, added pepper jack cheese and the hot dog. Was surprised at how it hit the spot.

I was given ashopping bag of cucumbers yesterfay from a neighbour and my immediate rhought was 2MD's cold cucumber soup. It's started. Most of the cukes had a curved goose neck so rather awkward to peel, but boy, the smell and flavour of a garden cuke vs the English ones can't be beat.

Agree about the cucumbers, @Jasdip.

Last night another simple dinner. My feet were terribly swollen, so put some pinto beans in the Instant Pot to cook, so much easier than stove-top cooking. Had some leftover salad, white corn tortillas, cherry tomatoes, and green onions.

I made 2 of Lidia Bastianich's dishes this weekend. Yesterday was chicken topped with zucchini and basil leaves and tomato sauce.

Today was her sliced potatoes, onions and tomatoes and olive oil. Drumsticks with hoisin, honey and soy sauce glaze.

thanks for the tip on the lids, sleevendog, those look perfect for several of my purposes...

I tried to post some pictures, but I see Houzz has not improved in my absence, and so I give up, I'm too tired to do them all over again.

I'm off to look for those lids.

Annie

Annie, what a bummer with your photos!!! I've missed you on this thread.

My birthday was last week, but both my step-father and I had appt's so we were unable to get together. We have lunch on our birthdays.

Yesterday we had lunch at an Italian restaurant. My meal was Rustica, with pasta, chicken, mushrooms, peppers and cherry tomatoes. Very rich and filling.

We had a glass of wine, they were out of their house wine, a Valopocelli and the server recommended another which is similar. We both loved it, I don't know if it's available at the liquor store......restaurants get wine not offered to the public, but I'm going to look.

Because it was my birthday meal, I also received a complimentary sundae. I asked for 2 spoons, no way could I eat a whole one.

Happy birthday!. Mine was the 15th. I'm sure we had a nice meal but i've forgotten. Most likely seafood.

Pasta looks great.

Hick-ups in loading on here. My issue is having to log in every time.

You will like the silicone lids Annie. Super for little hands if a snack is prepped ahead or for opened salsa in the fridge. I use reverse osmosis water filters and keep jars in the fridge so not much ice is needed. I could use a few more 4 oz and six ounce jars. Making some fruit salads with yogurt and layered chia pudding. Blueberries are good this year. Just put in three more plants. Mine are 15+years old.

I made my version of Greek lemon Chicken. Head start quartered steak potatoes. Lots of lemon with 6 small boneless skinless chicken thighs. After 1/2 hour i piled on olives, cherry tomatoes, baby artichoke hearts, tucked in big cubes of fetta and back in the oven for 20 to roast. Usually a Fall/Winter dish so seemed a bit heavy. Made chicken salad lunches but so much left-over we had it again but with thin sliced massaged greens and some pasta. So much better with lots of veg.

Great to see your tasty meals again Sleevendog and of course yours as always Jasdip. Yours too Walnut Creek.

I’ve been taking a break from doing a lot of cooking. very simple meals are the go at the moment. still love looking at the WFD thread.

Sleeve, I forgot! Yes yours is the 15th, mine the 16th!

Your Greek chicken dish looks great!

I'm browsing ideas what to do with fresh tomatoes. I've got about 15 tomatoes, and a carton of cherry tomatoes from the landlords. Tomato soup, pasta with fresh tomatoes, bruschetta, looking for ideas.

Tonite was a cheater pizza night. Used a naan bread or Lebanese pita bread (no pocket, like regular pitas)

Looks good, Jasdip! We are enjoying BLT's, Caprese salad and just sliced tomatoes right now. You can also put in freezer whole and use later in cooking. Nice problem to have.

Well, happy birthday to both of you! Maci's birthday was the 13th, and we did make a "Bday" cake:

Vanilla, of course, but yellow and green so it would be "like flowers for the bees". Green buttercream filling and yellow frosting, it was very......flowerlike, LOL. It did have a topper that said "Happy Bee Day", and an edible glitter "cannon" but somehow I missed that in the picture.

So, have a piece of virtual B-Day cake. (grin)

Annie

Quick simple, very satisfying meal last night. One-quarter of a frozen pizza cooked in the air fryer, a salad of romaine, celery, and cucumber with Parmesan and Italian Dressing, and a glass of wine.

Thank you for the slice of birthday cake Annie! 🥰

Tried a new recipe; chicken breasts, baby spinach (I used swiss chard), cherry tomatoes onions and marinated artichokes. Topped with shredded cheese. I ate it over couscous but orzo also works well.

It was supposed to make a lot of sauce, enough to put over your starch but I didn't find that.

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It looks good, @Jasdip. Was it?

It definitely was WalnutCreek. In my keeper binder.

From what I understand, when I posted it in my other group, is that if I had baked it in a casserole dish as per the recipe, the juices wouldn't have evaporated as much. Regardless, the flavour is very good. I must have used too much couscous with the water ration, it came out clumpy, much like white porridge does (which I love) but not with the couscous. :-)