This sounds like it would be a winning dish on one of those Top Chef challenges where you have to elevate old recipes 
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Continuing with the freezer clean-out, tonight we had over-stuffed quesadillas with chicken breasts marinated in leftover vinaigrette, and frozen sauteed peppers and onions. Other additions were grated cheddar, salsa and canned refried beans. Guacamole, sour cream and Frontera Chipotle salsa rounded out the meal and added a bit of heat and some creaminess. For those in the Boston area, the crispy Maria and Ricardo’s tortillas added a nice textural component to the quesadillas.
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I need to pull that cookbook off the shelf and revisit it. The recipes I’ve made from it have become keepers! This chicken recipe is appealing - most of the ingredients are in my fridge or pantry.
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Continuing with “Passover is over - now I can eat anything” theme:
Caught a closeout price on corned beef at Costco. I had missed cooking one for St. Patricks Day since I was in Florida and my Dad nixed the idea.
The corned beef was braised for 2 hours on the stove with a porter for the liquid. Transferred it to a roasting pan, thickly coated the fat cap with Lusty Monk mustard and brown sugar. Continuing to cook low and slow for 2 or more hours.
Sides tonight will be steamed carrots and baby potatoes and skinny slivers of cabbage cooked in bacon grease.
LOTS of Ruebens will be showing up in the week ahead: marbled rye, kraut, swiss and 1000 Island! PLus a carrot stick or two so I can pretend it’s a healthy, balanced meal!
The beer/drippings liquid will become some sort of bean soup, probably lentil or split pea.
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Mmm sounds amazing!
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Since it is still the weekend we dined out at Sayola in Montclair, NJ. Below is a link to the details and pictures.
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Where’s the salivating emoji…
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Late lunch / early dinner was a friend’s family’s Greek Easter celebration which was a FEAST.
Spit-roasted lamb (perfectly tender and delicious), cheese pie, spinach pie (made with homemade phyllo), a big salad, roasted baby potatoes, stuffed pasta, pita, tzatziki, and some more things I’m forgetting because my plate was already piled precariously high.
When we were too stuffed to eat any more, we lingered at the table and chatted while the food settled so dessert could be done justice. (Half the family apparently took a nap while “watching tv” during this phase 
).
The nappers stumbled back in looking for a caffeine fix, so coffee was made, and then dessert put out - this was a WHOLE second meal. Ekmek (kataifi topped with custard and cream), chocolate mousse cheesecake, profiteroles, fresh fruit, koulourakia cookies, and some more things I’m forgetting because… yup, plate was too full.
We rolled back home with leftovers (there were special containers for this purpose) because of course we’d be hungry later, right?
I love moms, and family holiday celebrations 
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Awesome. Just awesome!
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After canned meat sandwiches for the past couple of “dinners” we splurged:
The Russets were a pound a piece and dressed with a PSTOB!
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Always a pleasure Linda. I’m sure it was fabulous. Hope there was wine . Happy Monday.
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I’m sure we ate that very same dish weekly in the late 60’s. Classic!
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You are beyond brave. Last year we did tacos (catered) and this year ribs (definitely catered!)
It still makes me grin realizing that I bought these cards over time (probably 6-8 months, I waited every 3 weeks to get the new pack of cards?) when I was only 14-15 years old. IIRC, I made this dish once when Mom wasn’t going to be home in time to get dinner ready (after she approved me making it) and she deemed it “not bad!”
I’ve got several of the cards taped inside a 3-ring binder cookbook I made for myself of my favorite recipes (or ones I thought interesting from newspapers and magazines, of which I probably only make 5 of them on any regular basis) and every single General Mills card has handwritten notes next to them with my changes. I recipe-tinkered even way back then. 
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Thanks for the blackberry recipe, Linda. Deffo one to try.
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Last year I did a Hawaiian luau and it was way too much work and too many leftovers. This year we are doing hot dogs and grilled kielbasa. Weiner dog theme.
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Ha, a true HO even then! I’m so impressed that you still have them. I also had those cards and loved them.
I spent a month at my aunt’s house the summer I was 13. She had gone to culinary school (which, I now realize, was pretty cool for a woman at the time) and encouraged me to experiment. I distinctly remember that my family did not appreciate that when I came home. I can only imagine the concoctions I came up with. 
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Pizza delivery or pick up works and is low stress
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And they’re still out there, @bear. Selling on eBay right now, including the same neon green box that I received. You can get categories like “Come For Coffee”, “Entertaining on a Shoestring” “Dessert Spectaculars” and “Men’s Favorites.” LOL
https://www.ebay.com/i/301774331560?chn=ps
I love that your aunt went to culinary school and encouraged you to play in the kitchen.
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I recently found what looks to be a complete set. The owner had neatly cut blank cards to the same size and made her notes in very prcise cursive. She noted recipe changes, menus and which family member favored which dish. I think there is one card with a faint stain . Looking through the box and reading her notes it’s apparent that she put much care and thought into her family meal planning. It saddens me that no one in her family wanted the recipe box.
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