Today

Today I met Denise for lunch at Dee's. She had the turkey burger and I had the spanakopita appetizer with a mini Greek salad. I saw Jesse's English teacher, who was there with her family celebrating her Master's Degree. All very nice.

Denise and I walked to Dee's and then home. Good exercise. Warm weather always makes me want to get out and walk. Cold weather...stay in bed under the covers.

Tonight I am making spicy chicken sausage and chorizo jambalaya.

We will be eating out on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday for the Memorial Day weekend.

Yippee!

SORRY

I apologize for my tardiness in writing. Reticence abounds.

I am not cooking as much these days. Not sure why, but I should...less expensive than going out or ordering in.

Of course, we can't order from Tower Diner (because it's closed since the fire on the same block). Instead we had Tex-Mex last night, but I was at a meeting until 7:15 pm so we can excuse that one.

I did make turkey breast on Monday. I used the "convection roast" setting on my oven and it turned out very well. Crust from spices on the outside and moist on the inside.

Last week I made lasagna (all from scratch, dough/pasta included).

We've been down to the beach two times since May 1. First to open the cabana and then to bring supplies. Hopefully Memorial Day Weekend weather will be cooperative and we can spend Saturday and Monday there. Sunday we have Sarah's dance recital and then dinner with Glenn and Eileen :)

Tonight is steak, sauteed mushrooms, Greek salad and biscuits.

Tomorrow I am having lunch with Denise :)

Still waiting for results from school secretary test...

Looking forward to Jesse's graduation and CONGRATULATIONS to Chrysalis on her Master's Degree from Tufts!!!!!

Up For Grabs

Friday night Michael and I tried a place we've never been, La Bella Cucina on Juniper Valley South. We sat outside. We had a stuffed artichoke, fried calamari, brick oven pizza with cherry peppers and garlic, fresh fruit and espresso. Everything was averagely good. The sky turned a beautiful blue and some stars came out. That was the best part (aside from being with Michael).

Saturday, after we looked at wood flooring samples (entire apt. flooded in April), I went into the city, wandered around a bit, had a pretzel, looked in all the store windows (Prada, LV, etc), walked through Central Park, came home. For dinner, Michael and I went to Dani's. Had our favorite soup-stracciatella-and eggplant parm, chicken with peppers and onions and spinach on the side. Terrific!

Sunday we went to our friend Leslie's house. It was her daughter's birthday. They have a really nice house with a beautiful, park-like yard. Always good food, good wine and good friends :)

Tonight was boring. I made chicken cutlets with string beans and garlic on the side. I ate salad, then a handful of Milk Duds. Diet of champions...

Tomorrow night, I am meeting my brother for dinner along with our most longtime family friend, Sue. We are going to Circa Enoteca in Mineola.

The rest of the week is up for grabs.

Yesterday

Last night one of my most favorite family members appeared on our doorstep :) Our niece Chrysalis came for a visit!

Before she came, however, I made dinner. I had planned on my mother-in-law joining us, but she wasn't feeling well, so we went on without her.

I made French onion soup. The crouton/bread was very good. Baguette sliced thickly, spread with boiled garlic (always keep some in the fridge) a bit of olive oil and toasted in the oven 'til crispy brown.

Greek salad and turkey burgers with more garlic, Tillamook cheddar, horseradish sauce (mayo, horseradish, lemon juice and pepper) on brioche rolls (only Jesse eats the bread) and crispy shoestring onions that I fried in canola oil 'til golden brown, then spread on paper towel. The natural sugar in the onions caramelizes as they cool and the onions become super crunchy and sweet. Sorry no photos.

Tonight may be pasta with spinach, maybe white beans and tomatoes too. Just what Chrysalis and I like.

Have a sunny day! Warm days may be coming soon...

Busy Week

Yesterday afternoon, while I was home waiting for the handymen to change our a/c filters, I decided to try my hand at foccacia. Didn't work out so well for me. I made one batch of dough, tried changing the second one (since the first portion was a failure) but that didn't work either. So they both went in the garbage. I will try again in the future. I am trying to make a lighter, more airy crust for Grandma pizza. The experiment will continue.

For dinner I made mushroom and truffle ravioli (purchased at Fairway) with mushrooms and onions in cream sauce and escarole on the side. No photos :(

Tonight I have two meetings back to back, so no cooking for me.

Wednesday my mom-in-law may come for dinner and I was planning French onion soup, salad and burgers with crispy onions and horseradish sauce. We'll see what happens.

Thursday is up in the air, but I have string beans I must use or they will die.

Friday is a no cooking day, as you know.

Saturday I should be in the city at the Gallery Walk (Madison Avenue from 57th to 86th) and Sunday we will be at Leslie's for Isabelle's 13th birthday party. Always good food, good friends and good wine there!!!

Spring, Please!

WHERE is the warm weather? This is black turtleneck weather and it's freakin' May! I'm a little tired of it.

On other topics...yesterday was Mother's Day. Can't say it's the best day of the year for me. Expectations on all sides, doesn't really work for anyone. However, we spent the early evening with our very good friends Joe and Denise and their friends Chuck and Dominick. Michael and Joe ordered from Barosa, then went to pick it up: Calamari Barosa, chopped salad, pizza and foccacia sticks. All very yummy along with good red wine and conversation and friends.

Saturday night, Michael picked up from Fontana Gyros: Greek salad with chicken souvlaki and gyro and avgolemeno soup. Always good.

Friday night Jill and I went to Sato and drank tons of sake :) and ate yummy sushi!!!

Thursday night, Jesse and I were in Ithaca and we had Thai food with our family. They are very accommodating and generous whenever we appear on their doorstep and we love them for it and for myriad other reasons as well!!!

Felice Cinco de Mayo

Yesterday I bought Corona beer and ordered in Tex-Mex. I was feeling the Mexican Independence Day thing. Fun to celebrate anything!

No cooking for a few days. Ithaca tonight, home on Friday (an official no-cooking-day anyway), no plans for Saturday (another of those official days) and certainly no cooking on Sunday for Mother's Day when we will spend late afternoon and early evening with Joe, Denise, their boys, us and Chris (my mom-in-law) for take-out (I guess it's a no-cooking-for-anyone-day).

Have a nice weekend!