As I say to myself every morning - Looks aren’t everything! I bet it tasted wonderfully.
Better than it looks!
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Last night’s meal.
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Thank you so very, very much for both versions. Do you put just a dash of freshly grated nutmeg or more. To be quite honest, I have never added nutmeg to a spinach dish. I certainly have heard of it but just never did it. Your recipe and instructions might just give the oomph to do so.
You are welcome! Nutmeg has the potential to be overpowering. I would suggest starting with just a grate or two, to see how you like it. You can always add (but not take away).
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Again, thank you so very much. After all of the holiday visitors, and holiday haulabaloo is over, and recovery from my surgery, I plan to make this. I love, love nutmeg, have just never had in a vegetable dish. Therefore, will start with a small grate.
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It’s great in mashed potatoes, too. But as @MunchkinRedux said, you want to use it really sparingly.
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I learned to season fresh, French cut, green beans with butter, white pepper and grated fresh nutmeg when we lived in the Netherlands. They were commonly available pre-cut in bags at Albert Heijn grocery stores - I used to steam them. The recipe was on the back of the bag. They are quite tasty. My experience is the Dutch are a bit heavy-handed with nutmeg and there were some things I did not care for, but the green beans seasoned this way were quite good (I had control over how much seasoning to add).
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Bone in chicken thighs in the cast iron pan, skin side down till crispy, finished in the oven.
Baked potatoes with butter and sour cream. Sliced cucumbers and red peppers on the table.
A little red wine, all in all, a pretty good dinner.
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Also, no need for voting on Cuisine of the Quarter - MEXICAN was our only nominee, so the thread is now live. Christmas tamales, anyone? MEXICAN - Winter 2024 (Jan-Mar) Cuisine of the Quarter
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Pizza night. Stonefire thin crust, garlic alfredo sauce, mozz, caramelized onion & fennel, Italian sausage, wilted radicchio, fennel fronds. Parm on the side. Mixed greens salad, green onion, radish, yellow baby bell, oo&v dressing. Yes there was acqua. Pizza was great, will definitely make again.
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We did simple - still cleaning out the refrigerator & freezer drawer. Sloppy Joes (had hamburger and bulky rolls frozen). A jar of Stonewall Kitchen’s Sloppy Joe Sauce. A bag of Cole slaw mix and 1/2 jar of Marie’s Cole slaw dressing leftover. Enough again for tomorrow night.
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Last night I made a take off on Chicken Yassa from Cook’s Illustrated January/February 2024, page 4. A 14 day loan from my Montana Library to Go.
It turned out wonderfully my way this time, and I will definitely make it again when I can tolerate the richness of this dish. I used skin on chicken thighs, about 2/3 of the caramelized onions, added in 1/2 each yellow and red bell peppers, chopped and subbed out the habenero for a jalapeno. I served it on a mound of basmati in a shallow soup/salad bowl. I had very little since I didn’t get finished making it until way after my 4pm meal cut off time. The roomate said it was very tasty and to me, this recipe would be the perfect for base for some refer vegetable purging. I could smell the wonderful mustardy/lemony gravy but sadly, my taste hasn’t returned yet. Sorry no pics, maybe next time.
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My taste isn’t back yet, either. I tested positive on 9/16. I can taste mustardy/lemony and raw onion. I know I’m missing a lot - discourages me from putting much effort into cooking anything time-consuming/complex. What’s the point?
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It sux! I tried a piece of See’s chocolate today. No flavor! I’m going to see if part of an ‘everything’ bagel triggers something tomorrow. I’d really like to be able to taste all the appies we’re having for our Christmas Eve gathering!
Damn. We have a 2 lb. box of See’s Nuts and Chews waiting to open on Christmas Eve. That is really going to hurt…
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Here’s the backstory behind tonight’s meal.
Christmas shopping has been difficult this year. I only have two people to shop for and both are in the “You don’t have to get me anything” blah blah blah camp. I’m like, you know that’s not happening so just tell me what I can get you! I got a couple little things for mom but she refused to tell me anything specific. She’s just happy we’re both going to be home this year.
So tonight, BF started night classes for a new endeavor and on a whim I asked mom if she wanted to just go out as one of her “gifts” since she wouldn’t tell me what to get. She was thrilled.
The usual Portuguese/Spanish spot it was. Both my grilled shrimp and her broiled snapper were delectable. I had two forkfulls of hers and it was actually like butter (I love shellfish but not a big fish guy). Fried calamari was perfect. Endless bread. I had a Bombay Sapphire martini, she went with a Rob Roy.
We shared a slice of Tiramisu cake for dessert and had coffee. I ordered us each (despite her protests-- but I reminded her she’s off tomorrow) Portuguese almond liqueur Algarvinha, and the waiter (our usual guy we have known for years was off tonight) brought it and said it was on the house and that “If you want more, I’ll bring you some!” So we finished, he came around and asked if he could get us anything else. We said no but he looked at my empty glass. “How about another?” I had started to say no but then relented. “Just a half”. He took the glass and returned with it almost filled. “Sorry, I over-poured”, he said. 
He then reassured me, “It’s too light. Its not cognac or whiskey. You need two!” I needed two indeed!
Overall a fun night made better by the always wonderful service. I’ll speak for myself that this may have been better than a physical gift.
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