The Official What's For Dinner thread:Thursday 1-24-08? Recipe finder in OP. Enjoy!

[Aimeedyan]

Thanks to everyone for their prayers and support. We're all doing somewhat better today and hopefully tomorrow will be even better. I guess it will just take time. My sister and her husband have separated and after she has gotten past the hurt, she has a big decision to make. My family is very close and she knows (and we told her) we will all support her no matter what decision she makes, but this feels like a death. I know that sounds strange, but that is the closest parallel I can draw. Anyway, once again, thank you to all of you for your thoughts and prayers.

Divorce is a death (of a relationship) and can sometimes be even harder if there are children involved because the closure doesn't come as easily.

I will be thinking of her - it's so wonderful she has a great support system.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Tonight's dinner is the maple balsamic pork that Aimee posted yesterday. We'll have mixed veggies and french bread as sides.

I hope you like it! I got it from the Dec Cooking Light magazine.

Tonight we had Italian Chicken in the crockpot - didn't somewhere here post that? Cream soup, cream cheese, italian dressing mix, white wine? I served it over angel hair pasta with garlic bread. Tasty!

Thanks for all the words of agreement I am feeling a wee bit less guilty today and he hasn't mentioned it. Perhaps it'll be a lesson =)

 

[liamandcaili]

Aimee -- I think you did the right thing. DH and I have had a lot of financial issues over the years, and I have finally gotten us to the point where we are almost credit card debt-free (within the year). I would be so upset if he made any purchases to put us back in the hole!

Stephanie -- Have a great trip and a great run!

Gretchen -- I think you described the feeling precisely. I wish your sister the best in making the right decision for her and her children.

Lindsay -- Congratulations to Robin and Kevin! DH and I were married one year to the day of our first date.

Today was another day at the skating rink for us. Remember how I said I knew Caili's team would place first because they weren't competing against anyone? Well, when there isn't any competition, the team competes against the book...no idea what that means or entails...let's just say, the book won. The team placed second. It was their first competition this season though, and since I thought they were a complete mess a couple weeks ago, they looked pretty good today.

Becky was nice enough to provide me with a hearty cheesy pasta meal, bread and salad after the competition. I was starving, so it was just what I needed.

 

[Nancyg56]

Aimee- Don't feel too badly. In our family my DH is the money manager. I have never been very practical financially, so he keeps us on track. There were a few times when I was irritated with him but honestly I am very grateful that he is more disciplined than I. Your DH had good intentions and that is nice but I would bet you a buck that he is secretly grateful that you are as focused as you are.


Kathy- Thanks for letting us know how Lori is.

Laura- How on Earth do kids compete against a book?????? And then how does the book win???????? I protest!

In our family my DH got us on track. We don't have too much CC debt left and we are going to try to get rid of the rest of it so I know that I may be grumbling a bit this summer, but it is going to be worth it.

Becky- Chickroast You kill me lady!

Lindsay- A wedding! You know that WFD crowd loves weddings!

Well today was a long day. My sister made waffles in this incredible contraption that she got from William Sonoma when her DD was working for Pottery Barn. Oh my goodness it was like magic. Then she cooked her bacon on a panini maker on steroids! t was a gadget lovers paradise in her kitchen this morning! We had a late lunch of warmed over pizza. I got home and DD and DGD made pizza for dinner. Thank goodness I love it!

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Tonight we had Italian Chicken in the crockpot - didn't somewhere here post that? Cream soup, cream cheese, italian dressing mix, white wine? I served it over angel hair pasta with garlic bread. Tasty!

I did!! This is one of my faves!

 

[Aimeedyan]

Thanks Lindsay for the recipe! Oh - and congrats to the lovely couple. I want details on this proposal! My own proposal STUNK so I have to live vicariously through others.

 

[zipuzee]

I hope you like it! I got it from the Dec Cooking Light magazine.

Aimee - It was fabulous!! My DH & DD both loved it; it's definitely a keeper!

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Today my grandmother is coming over help me clean. I am making Glynis roast, carrots, and smashed potatoes. I can't wait for her to try it!

WFD at your house?

And now for an update on:

The Romance of the Smitten Kittens

Ever known a secret so huge that it actually hurts?? That's what lunch with my ILs and Kevin felt like yesterday. But I patiently waited, and waited, and waited. Robin told me he was going to tell just us yesterday, not his parents (I think they are going to get a ring first). Kevin told me he went to her house Saturday, watched some movies, talked awhile (and I know what about, was my thought. Seriously, I was hurting!!), and fell asleep watching something else and he didn't get home until 2 a.m. Which means Robin texted me the second he left, lol!

Anyway, back to lunch. Kevin has to catch a plane to Corpus Christi today so he said he had to get packed and everything yesterday afternoon. As we were leaving, Scott dropped a casual invitation to our house if he got bored. He thanked us, but turned us down because he was going to church with one of his friends that evening.

WHAT THE CRAP?!?!?!?!?!?

Knowing Robin is dying to know how it went, I sent her a text. She was as mystified as I was why he didn't tell us, or come to our house later to tell us. She didn't seem worried, so I just told her we'd talk later. No kidding, I pouted alllllllll afternoon. ARGH! I know this huge secret and he doesn't even know I know!!!

I never heard from Robin last night but I'm supposed to call her today to get our plans made for tomorrow. Hopefully I will find out what happened yesterday. I am thinking that he didn't tell us because he wanted her to be there with him when we "find out." That would make sense, wouldn't it?

I will let you know as soon as I know something. In the meantime, this secret is going to give me an ulcer!!

And there is your update on The Romance of the Smitten Kittens.
​

 

[nucpharm29]

Morning all---sorry a little MIA here, but with working all weekend and trying to get ready to leave on Thursday, leaves little room for much else. So, suffice it to say, not much cooking gonna happen between now and Thursday morning. I did make the Jambasta on Saturday, yummo! I'm headed out to work in a few minutes and I have no idea what we'll eat when I get home

Gretchen--I'm sending lots of hugs and prayers your way. We're dealing with the same situation here. A couple weeks before Christmas my dsis left her husband. It has been extremely hard on everyone. It seems that there were a TON of issues going on in their home that no one knew about. She was ashamed to tell anyone and just lived with it. He never physically abused her, but he was mentally crushing her. The hardest part is that they have a 2 year old daughter. So I know what you're going through.

Okay, gotta get kids outta bed!

 

[Nancyg56]

Gretchen--I'm sending lots of hugs and prayers your way. We're dealing with the same situation here. A couple weeks before Christmas my dsis left her husband. It has been extremely hard on everyone. It seems that there were a TON of issues going on in their home that no one knew about. She was ashamed to tell anyone and just lived with it. He never physically abused her, but he was mentally crushing her. The hardest part is that they have a 2 year old daughter. So I know what you're going through.

Okay, gotta get kids outta bed!

I am so sorry. You just never know what is going on in someone else's home, do you? My heart breaks when families go through this.

 

[FormrCastMbr]

Gretchen, my prayers are with everyone. Separation and divorce are such a hard thing. It is really hard starting over. I know how your sister felt about not telling anyone. I was ashamed of my ex alot of the time too.

Stephanie, have a great trip.

I am going to see my Mom today (never got there Friday). She is no longer driving so I will take her around. She still goes to visit the people in the nursing home where my Dad was so we will go there and then to see my Uncle who had a triple bipass before Xmas and is now back in the hospital with an infection...please say a prayer if you could.

We are having the sauce with whatever that we did not have yesterday...

Have a great day all!

 

[liamandcaili]

Nancy -- I don't understand how the whole competing against the book thing works either. All I know is that this is a group of 14 six year-olds...how do you explain that they lost to nobody? I don't think most of the girls really knew they weren't competing against any other teams, but Caili did, and she was definitely disappointed when she saw the red ribbon instead of blue.

Becky gave me some leftover pizza, so I think that is what is for dinner tonight. My clothes dryer died yesterday...it was leaking gas ...so I have to get a new one this afternoon and then Caili has skating.

 

[TigerKat]

Hi guys, got a PM from Wendie and she asked me to pass this on:


I have not forgotten about anyone, miss you all and think of you all daily......Vacation was long but wonderful, not even unpacked from that yet and then Kris and I went to Boston for our anniversary this past weekend......at midnight last night, my phone rang...it was my dad calling to tell me that my mother is in ICU in critical condition on a breathing tube. She was brought in by ambulance at 5pm......we do not know anything at this point.....I didn't sleep all night as I kept waiting for the phone to ring...Thank god it didn't! There is a red flag on her tox screens to the point that the dr asked if she had been drinking anitfreeze..wth? After talking with the Dr, It looks like it is from tylenol, as she takes it lately like a tic tac, and to much causes liver and renal failure etc etc....with her weak state and low weight to much is a critical issue.

I am hoping and praying she can once again fight this and win, but also am being selfish in praying that if she does not live though this, to please make it past the 8th as that is my wedding anniversary and I just don't know how I could handle having her die on that day......It kills me to know I even think that.....

Please any spare prayers or good thoughts you could send her way could be used....thank you all so much........

I have not had a moment until now to get on here...I hope everyone is doing ok....I will send an update when I hear something, and hope to try to catch somewhat up in a day or two......

 

[Nancyg56]

Thank you Kathy for passing Wendie's message on.

Wendie- don;t worry about us just do what you need to do for your family. Your Mom is in my prayers

 

[Glynis]

Thanks for the review! Maybe we'll catch it before it leaves the theater.

You should. I'd love to hear what you think of it!

 

[OKWMom]

Kathy, thanks for the link to the recipe. I've bookmarked it to go through the site later. Also, thanks for passing on Wendie's message. Please let her know I will be thinking of her and praying for her.


Laura - I was trying to find a nice way to say this, but what kind of person tells a group of six year olds that they lost against a book?!? I think that is just mean. They're children for heaven's sake. I hope Caili is over it.


Nancy - the waffles and the bacon cooked on the panini maker sound fun. Not that I would try it. I don't get along with most fancy kitchen appliances. I have an unsteady truce with my electric mixer and that's about as far as it gets. The George Foreman grill and I definitely don't get along and don't even get me started on the food processor.


Stephanie - I'll be praying for your family as well. I hope your sister is doing well and finds the peace she needs to recover fully.

Lauren - prayers said for your uncle. And BTW, I think it is so very kind of your mother to visit people in the nursing home even though your Dad isn't there. And it is sweet of you to go with her.

Also, thank you again to everyone else for their kind words and prayers.

I think tonight's dinner will be baked ham and colcannon. That is the plan, but today is our kids' first day back at school and that tends to make things a little crazy.

Have a great day everyone!

 

[TigerKat]

Steph - My heart just aches for the kids when a couple separates. I'll keep your family in my prayers.

She still goes to visit the people in the nursing home where my Dad was so we will go there and then to see my Uncle who had a triple bipass before Xmas and is now back in the hospital with an infection...please say a prayer if you could.

Prayers for your uncle. I think your Mom is so sweet to go and visit the folks in the nursing home. Johnny has worked at a nursing home for about three years now and has developed relationships with many of the residents. Some of them are so lonely it breaks my heart. Whenever I make a big pot of gumbo or soup I package up a bunch of containers to take to them and they just love seeing me walk through the door. I think I enjoy it as much as they do.

Nancy -- I don't understand how the whole competing against the book thing works either. All I know is that this is a group of 14 six year-olds...how do you explain that they lost to nobody? I don't think most of the girls really knew they weren't competing against any other teams, but Caili did, and she was definitely disappointed when she saw the red ribbon instead of blue.

I agree with Nancy! I protest - losing to a book??? Hope Caili is OK today.

I don't get along with most fancy kitchen appliances. I have an unsteady truce with my electric mixer and that's about as far as it gets. The George Foreman grill and I definitely don't get along and don't even get me started on the food processor.

Now how can you not get along with your food processor?

TONIGHT IS THE BIG GAME!!!!!! GO TIGERS!!!!

You'd think football munchies would be in order but my guys requested red beans & rice, we haven't had them in a while.

 

[OKWMom]

I think your taking gumbo to the nursing home is just about the nicest thing I've heard in a long time. I'm sure they do love to see you coming.

As for the mutual dislike between me and my food processor, I have two words - Homemade Pesto. Trust me when I say it wasn't pretty. I don't think it or I have fully recovered.

 

[Nancyg56]

Lauren- of course your uncle in in my prayers.

Ladies, I am an infomercials best customer. I should have meetings for support to stay away from In the Kitchen with Bob on QVC. I have not met a kitchen appliance that I don't want and that I then plunk on the shelf to gather dust. My sister is the opposite. He DH is worse than me but she is not a fan of gadgets so I was floored when she had her treasures out and was using them. The bacon was so good and looked like bacon you see in a magazine and I have never seen a waffle maker that makes them on two sides at the same time, but then I am too cheap to step foot into those fancy stores

I understand the food processor thing, I can count on one hand how many times I have used mine. I love it when I need it but I don't drag that thing out often!

 

[TigerKat]

I think your taking gumbo to the nursing home is just about the nicest thing I've heard in a long time. I'm sure they do love to see you coming.

As for the mutual dislike between me and my food processor, I have two words - Homemade Pesto. Trust me when I say it wasn't pretty. I don't think it or I have fully recovered.

Gretchen, they are so funny too. Johnny tells them when he gets to work what I cooked and that I'm coming. They get so excited they hunt him down all day and ask "Is she on her way yet?".

I now have a mental picture of you and the homemade pesto, enough said.