Hi everyone
Seems like the east and west coasts have been pummeled by rain… can’t believe I jinxed that perfect fall weather 
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It’s been slow going for me on the cooking front, even though I stocked up on easy things that would appeal. Maybe mojo has been the issue. I also succumbed to a rotisserie chicken at the store because it was on sale haha, so I have slowly been working my way through it.
Actuals and plan for the week:
Sat – Small pre-Diwali gathering with friends to “play cards” – we ate chicken kathi rolls from the usual place when we took a break, and finished with lovely pistachio gelato from Anita. (I didn’t want to play but they bullied me, and then I won… serves them right 
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Sun – Braved the storm to attend my baby cousin’s wedding reception faaaaaaar away. Food was surprisingly disappointing, so I did a freezer dive when I got home and ate a scallion pancake with homemade cured salmon.
Mon – Still stormy. Chicken curry noodle soup using very gelatinous bone broth from some marrow bones last week, and more rotisserie chicken, plus a pile of snow peas and yu choy. Between red curry paste and a new Thai curry powder, this was a flavor bomb!
Tues – If I make it to the grocery store, maybe a fall panzanella or fattoush with roasted squash and arugula. If I don’t, I’ve got dumplings in the freezer and more bone broth for soup. Plus some veg.
Wed – Thinking Shami Kababs to use up the rest of the rotisserie chicken (like this) + crunchy okra / microwave okra fries + dal + chapatis from the freezer
Thurs – Light dinner after a Malaysian lunch out. That panzanella / fattoush if I didn’t get to it yet. Otherwise a pantry meal like sardines on toast. Plus veg.
Fri – Out for dinner and the opera for a friend’s birthday, it’s looking like sushi early and gelato or Italian sit-down dessert during intermission or after.
Sat – Either out for Diwali weekend or I’ve been craving pasta so something in that vein (possibly spicy vodka sauce because I ate a great rendition recently and have it on my mind).
Sun – Also probably out for Diwali weekend (plans are slow in the making this year but, from past experience, they tend to suddenly collect like a 5 car pile up).
Mon – Diwali potluck with friends.
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This week’s planning includes what to make for the annual Diwali gathering with friends on Monday. I have missed it due to travel for the past couple of years, so I’m excited to see this group. My current thought is to make a Rasmalai Tres Leches Cake or Malpua (saffron & cardamom crepes) Cake for dessert, but I’m still thinking about what app or main. Maybe Potato Puff Pastry Spirals I made a while back now that TJs has the pastry in stock again, or a Chaat salad / dip with a side of Tostitos scoops standing in for the traditional puris. Pondering this weighty matter , and will consult with the hosts for the rest of the menu.
I also really need to get my act together for the college care packages that were supposed to go out before Diwali!
Wish you all a good week; I hope it dries up and warms up a bit to take this chill off!
I went to a deli to buy olives a few years ago and the deli I go to has a wide assortment of olives in bulk. So I took a container, filled it up then headed to the cash to pay. I put the olives down on the counter to dig my wallet out of my purse, paid, then left empty handed. Thankfully I realized almost immediately I left the olives behind so I went back for them all to be greeted by a store employee looking at me with a quizzical look on his face 
I am also getting a glut of root veggies in my CSA and they will have to be cooked and frozen. Last week’s stuffed squash experiment was a success. I got a delicata squash in my CSA so I made a ground beef/rice mixture that I usually use to make stuffed peppers. I cooked the squash and put the beef in the centre cavity then topped with a little Rao’s marinara sauce that I heated up separately. I only used half the squash so the other half is in the freezer for future use. Onto my menus for this week:
