Really cold weather again here in nyc after a little warm respite (67 high one day, 22 low the next), but rain in the 40s is a-coming, so now I am just bracing for everyone around to get sick again from the crazy swings
It’s been a bit intense on a few fronts, so I’m trying to simplify food.
Thinking about what to make for a friend and her family – I offered to take over dinner one day this week. Maybe Thai Curry with Chicken – one of them is allergic to peanuts and another to shrimp, so they never eat Thai food outside (also I get to use a new-to-me curry paste I finally found – Aroy-D). Will ask them what the kids would prefer.
I succumbed to corned beef at Trader Joe’s in a moment of seasonal weakness, so I cooked it sous vide (and it should be enough to satisfy any corned beef cravings for the year, if not two ). In retrospect, not a bad purchase for the same price for 3lbs as for a single corned beef sandwich in my neighborhood .
Ideas for the week:
– Pongal / Rice & Lentils – I had a taste of the delicious offering at the temple last week, and now it is a full-blown craving. With TBD vegetable + papad + yogurt
– Butter-Roasted Salmon or Salmon Burgers + Spinach Rice
– Kheema Macaroni in Pastitsio form – leftover, but I have to make more bechamel.
– Mom’s pan roasted chicken + salad + potatoes
– Scallion & Ginger Steamed Salmon + green veg+ rice
– Curry Chicken Noodle Soup yet again with green veg, potatoes, and fat noodles.
– Corned Beef — maybe as a sandwich, otherwise with toast + assorted veg (not boiled) or a salad.
Also need to prep some lentils and soup to supplement the week.
And I have a lot of bone broth to use up.
And it’s been a year since I made these delicious Polenta Stuffed Peppers - Note the correct proportion of polenta/water is 1:2 so either use 1.5 C polenta with 3 C water or 1/2 C polenta with 1 C water. It would be good to make them again soon.
Hello to everyone from the drizzly Twin Cities of MN where the weather people are saying we are looking at several inches of concrete snow (my phrase) and big winds overnight. The school district just sent out an email that they are not planning on canceling school tomorrow but will let us know by 530 AM. And of course trash and recycling pick up is tomorrow morning and both bins are Full. Fridge is fully stocked so we should be good. Actuals and plans for 2 adults and 2 growing girls. . .
Sat 1: Big kiddo had 2 theater performances so a quick sub sandwich for her between performances and then cast party till 1030. Mr Autumm at his parents for his dad’s birthday thing (italian beef sandwiches but with chicken instead) and little one and I had a ladies night out a local place.
Sun 2: 2 year anniversary of completing the reno (painting fairy still has some work to do) so seared scallops, lemon orzo, caesar salad, pea pods
Mon 3: Leftover Monday. Big kiddo skated x2 (practice plus skate show rehearsal), plus she got her braces adjusted (and now needs rubber bands), little one had her rescheduled orchestra concert. Tacos, soup, clear out the containers. I really like Leftover Monday
Tues 4: Tonight! Turkey meatballs in the ginger/lime/coconut broth over brown rice before skate show rehearsal for both girls. Planning on sticking a pork shoulder in the oven while I"m gone for Mr Autumm to supervise for later in the week
Weds 5: Both kiddos skate and then teacher conferences for little one. Pulled pork sandwiches if the meat is done
Thurs 6: Big kiddo’s IEP meeting. Probably leftovers vs pizza so we have pizza for easy lunches
Fri 7: First day of spring break. Comcast is going to be doing “Scheduled maintenance” and we might not have internet. Cuban style pot roast with black beans, rice
Take care all and stay weather safe and Warm! May your snow blowers be strong to all that need them
One week closer to spring. Our crocuses have popped, and daffodils will follow shortly. This week we oiled the fruit trees, and I planted carrots in the ground. Also added tomatoes, cabbages, and tender herbs to the accumulating seedlings in the greenhouse. Next job will be cleaning up the perennial herb garden, as their starting to show some green.
Cooking for two adults in the PNW.
FRI: Deconstructed Zuni Café chicken dinner. I’ll pan-roast some chicken thighs, and at the end toss in some bread cubes which will turn into golden, schmaltz-laden croutons. A sweet and spicy vinaigrette (with currants) for the salad greens.
Whoa, that gateau de crepes sounds incredible. Have you made it before? I wish there was a photo with the link. The recipe for the crepes isn’t included, I noticed. So you make them first and they happily sit? I’ve never made crepes before so I don’t know how they react to just sitting, i guess fine? I would love to eat this!
I have made the gateau before - several times. Here’s some photos of a previous iteration, and here is a link to the crepe recipe I use. A single batch will make a modest cake, but I like to double it for larger crepes, more of them, and thus a great big gateau.
It’s super easy to make and everything can be made in advance. I usually mix the crepe batter the night before (using a blender and then chill overnight), making the crepes the next morning. They can sit all day (covered, once cooled). The bechamel also can be made in advance, so at dinner time, it’s just assemble and bake. Holds up well - we love the leftovers reheated.
Yesterday, for Ash Wed, which is a day many Catholics and many Protestants traditionally eat fish, I made Delia’s shallow fried fish with pickerel and Lake Erie yellow perch, and scalloped potatoes. I don’t do a strict Lent these days. I like making some Lenten dishes each week.
Tonight, Thu, I have lamb marinating in red wine with rosemary and thyme. Greek fakkes (lentils). Some sort of baked beans, might take on a French direction.
OMG, those pictures!! Thanks very much for the info - it looks and sounds spectacular. Might need to make that for some special occasion, maybe our anniversary??
I’m so glad it’s not just me!! A few summers ago, DS did a 3-week program near my office, so I was in the office every work day. Packing lunches and wearing real clothes (and shoes) was rough!
The last time this happened was a 30 second down time fixed by rebooting the cable modem. I doubt it will go that smoothly this time
Mr Autumm is prepared to go into the office. The girls will be home for spring break and are worried that the movie they have been holding off watching on Disney+ won’t be available.
Lessons in ancient technology aka broadcast TV vs DVD player are anticipated
Thankfully we live 5 minutes from skating and 10 or so from schools so that helps. We are in skate show rehearsal season so that just adds extra to the calendar. But it’s so rewarding to watch them learn the choreography and go from a disaster to performance ready. And they got their costumes which aren’t hideously unfortunate this year.
Because no battle plan survives first contact with the enemy. . . and the pork shoulder did not get itself out of its wrapping, trimmed, and salted and into the oven on its own
Weds 5: Snow day! 8 inches of wet, heavy concrete from the sky. Girls efforts on building the igloo for daddy to sleep in were shortened by needing to leave for skating. Eggs benny with hollandaise sauce, bagged caesar salads.
Thurs 6: Take out pizza but I did escort the meat into the oven for later meals. And spilled some of the apple juice its cooking in so that nice burned smell is working here
Fri 7: Cuban pot roast, black beans, rice. Green beans? or too much bean
Sat 8: Grown up date night! girls get takeout of their choice
Sun 9: Pulled pork sandwiches
MOn 10: Leftover monday (big kiddo skates x2)
Let’s see how this plan goes! Thank you to all for your kind words:)
). In retrospect, not a bad purchase for the same price for 3lbs as for a single corned beef sandwich in my neighborhood 
.
with green veg, potatoes, and fat noodles.
