Menu Plan -- March 8-14, 2017

Wednesday:
Spaghetti-Corn Relish Salad, Parmesan Pita Chips

Thursday:
Spicy Chicken-Fried Rice

Friday:
Egg Salad Sandwiches, Carrot Sticks & Ranch Dip, Grapefruit & Campari Sorbet

Saturday:
Pork Chops with Apple Compote, Spinach Balls, Grapefruit & Campari Sorbet

Sunday:
dinner with in-laws

Monday: (Labour Day Holiday)
dearest cooks (back-up plan:  Scrambled Eggs, Biscuits & Gravy)

Tuesday:
do-it-yourself dinner

I Have Stupid on Me

Actual question from cruise message board:

If there is no app, does the cruise line have another way of getting in touch with other [passenger]s while onboard?

I'm honestly not sure if this is stupid or simply laziness, but either way someone needs to think just a little bit more.

Pro Bono Publico

Menu Plan -- March 1-7, 2017

Wednesday:
Saucepan Macaroni & Cheese

Thursday:
Orzo Caprese Salad, Parmesan Pita Chips

Friday:
Spaghetti Jaffles, Jell-O with Fruit

Saturday:
Butter-Baked Chicken, Yellow Rice, Broccoli

Sunday:
dinner with in-laws

Monday:
Baked Potatoes with Chili & Cheese

Tuesday:
do-it-yourself dinner

Menu Plan -- February 22-28, 2017

Wednesday:
Egg Drop Soup, Spring Rolls

Thursday:
do-it-yourself dinner

Friday:
Cheesy Sausage Strata, Broccoli

Saturday:
Chicken & Sweet Potato Stew, Cheese Straws

Sunday:
Bulgur & Black Bean Tacos, Chips & Salsa

Monday:
Leftover Chicken & Sweet Potato Stew, King Cake

Tuesday:
Take-Away Chicken & Fries, King Cake

Menu Plan -- February 15-21, 2017

Wednesday:
Chickpea Florentine with Roasted Peppers over Polenta, Bailey's Irish Cream Brownies

Thursday:
SkilletBurger Supper, Corn on the Cob

Friday:
Turkey-Pita Rounds, Deviled Eggs

Saturday:
Satay Noodles, Spring Rolls

Sunday:
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, Tomato Soup, Ice Cream Sundaes

Monday:
Beef & Pasta Bake, Peas, Cheese Straws

Tuesday:
do-it-yourself dinner

Another Week, Another 3 Recipes

This week's new recipes were:

• Spinach and Ricotta Pasta
• Vegetarian Toad in a Hole
• Devilled Chicken

I planned a new Chinese-inspired dish, Chicken Almond, but did not make it as the Spinach and Ricotta Pasta made enough for two meals.

Overall the recipes were a success.  I picked the Spinach and Ricotta Pasta because I had half a container of ricotta that needed to be used and some frozen spinach from a recipe that was planned a few weeks ago that was not made.  It was pretty good, but not necessarily anything I need to try again.  I don't really care for ricotta, but in this recipe it got overwhelmed by the spinach and pasta, so I really couldn't taste it, which was good for me.  But other than disguising the ricotta well, I found the recipe a bit bland.  Not bad, just not a recipe to mark as the "definitive" version of this dish.  I would have liked it just as much if I made the pasta without the spinach and served the spinach on its own.  But then I like spinach on its own more than I like spinach mixed with other things; I'm weird like that.

I had never had Toad in a Hole, the dish of sausages cooked in Yorkshire Pudding batter, not eggs fried in toast, so I wasn't exactly sure what to expect.  This was quite good!  I really enjoyed it, though I think it would better with something with a gravy.  I would definitely make it again, but I would add a vegetarian gravy to go with it.  Without the added sausages, the batter would make a perfect base for Creamed Chicken or Sausage Gravy, even tuna in mushroom sauce would be good over what would then be Yorkshire Pudding.  Ohh, leftover chili reheated would be excellent over the Yorkshire Pudding base!  Yes, this could be a good thing and a versatile basic recipe to have in the repertoire.

Hands down Deviled Chicken was the winner of the week.  It's a recipe for breaded and pan-fried chicken tenders, but the technique is different than I have used before, and the result was fantastic.  I think the secret comes not only from the seasoning mix in the breadcrumbs (a whopping 1 whole tablespoon of dry mustard and half a tablespoon of a Cajun seasoning blend), but also in the process of dipping the boneless, skinless chicken breast tenders in butter before coating them with the breadcrumbs.  Most of the breaded chicken recipes I have used have called for the chicken to be dipped in buttermilk, yogurt, or beaten eggs/egg whites before breading.  The butter definitely made the difference.  I had planned them as sandwiches, but they are far too good to be hidden in a sandwich, they definitely deserve to be the main feature of the plate.  I had enough left for a second meal for the two of us and I served them as chicken tenders with a side of steamed broccoli & cauliflower.  It was a far better way to highlight the deliciousness of the chicken than tucked away in a sandwich.

Overall the new recipes were hits, and I even found a recipe that was good enough to be starred as a "definitive" recipe.  It was a good week in my kitchen.

Menu Plan -- February 8-14, 2017

Wednesday:
Chicken Almond, Rice, Green Beans

Thursday:
Marinated White Beans with Cucumbers and Basil, Cheese Straws

Friday:
Egg-Fried Rice, Dove Bar Ice Cream Bars

Saturday:
BBQ at a friend's house

Sunday:
Beef & Pasta Skillet, Carrots, Chocolate Mocha Freeze

Monday:
Chickpea Florentine with Roasted Peppers over Polenta

Tuesday:
out for Valentine's Day

Menu Plan -- February 1-7, 2017

Wednesday:
out with in-laws

Thursday:
Spinach and Ricotta Pasta, Garlic Bread

Friday:
Vegetarian Toad in a Hole, Jell-O with Fruit

Saturday:
Chicken Almond, Rice, Green Beans, Refrigerator Cookies

Sunday:
Sweetcorn Soup, Cheese Quesadillas, Refrigerator Cookies

Monday:
Deviled Chicken Sandwiches, Tater Tots

Tuesday:
do-it-yourself dinner

Menu Plan -- January 25-31, 2017

Wednesday:
out

Thursday:
Three-Cheese Vegetable Lasagne, Onion Supper Muffins

Friday:
Chicken in Spicy Peanut Sauce, Couscous, Green Beans

Saturday:
Rice 'n' Bean Tacos, Chips & Salsa, Fudgesicles

Sunday:
Leftover Lasagne, Garlic Bread, Fudgesicles

Monday:
Rice 'n' Bean Burritos, Fudgesicles

Tuesday:
do-it-yourself dinner

6 from 4,000

This year, my overall project is to try more new recipes from my cookbooks, rather than always relying just on ones I know work well and we like.  I am not the kind of cook who will ever be happy with 14 or 28 recipes on rotation.  I want to have more variety than that.  And while most of the recipes I test or continue to make use the simple, basic ingredients, the combinations and techniques are different, and so produce different results and a varied menu appears on my table.

I honestly think dearest might be happier with more repeats and fewer new recipes, but I'm working on that as well.

I took the first two weeks of the year and went through my cookbooks, ticking off nearly 4,000 recipes that sounded interesting.  Some of those I have actually already made, and some of those I think of as the definitive version of whatever it is.  Other recipes are duplicates or similar enough to be considered duplicates.  I have three separate editions of the Better Homes & Gardens New Cook Book (the classic Red Plaid cookbook everyone's mother and/or grandmother had), and though there are differences between them, the recipes for things like biscuits or basic muffins did not change from one edition to the next, so if I made the recipe from the 1953 edition, I ticked it off as tried in the 1965 and 2007 editions.  Also, a number of my cookbooks are Better Homes & Gardens, so recipes repeat across different books -- lasagne appears not only in the New Cook Book, but also in my copies of the:  Casserole Cookbook, Meals with a Foreign Flair, and Cooking with Cheese.  I ticked it as tested in each book, though I've only ever used the version in the Casserole Cookbook.

Not counting the duplicates and the recipes I've already tried, I still have over 10 years of a new recipe every day!  That may be a bit much even for a lover of variety like me.  Note, it's not 10 years of a new meals everyday, just over 3,600 individual recipes -- so I could tick off as many as 4 recipes in a single meal if I were to use one for the main dish, one for the starch, one for the vegetable, and one for dessert or salad.

This was the first week I have made a conscious effort to schedule new recipes when I was planning menus.  Even then I didn't plan a new recipe for each meal, so that 10 year estimate may actually take me a lifetime!  After all, favorite dishes are favorites for a reason.

The plan this week was:

• Tuesday: Skillet Lasagne, Garlic Bread
• Wednesday: Spicy Meatball Soup, Garlic Bread
• Thursday: Greek Garbanzo Salad over Orzo
• Friday: Crunchy French Toast, Fruit Salad
• Saturday: Country Fried Steak with Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Peas, Candy Bar Brownies
• Sunday: Easy Vegetable Bulgur Salad, Golden Sesame Loaves, Candy Bar Brownies
• Monday: Egg Drop Soup, Spring Rolls, Candy Bar Brownies
• Tuesday: leftovers/fend-for-yourself night

New recipes were planned on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  As it turned out, the Spicy Meatball Soup and Greek Garbanzo Salad over Orzo made enough for two meals each (with a serving left for lunch!), so I didn't need to make the Crunchy French Toast or Easy Bulgur Salad on Sunday.  I shall keep those in reserve and plan them for another time.

Of the new recipes, I can say the Spicy Meatball Soup will go into the rotation as something I can make again.  The Country Fried Steak with Gravy is a definitive version of the dish so it will definitely be a keeper.  And the Candy Bar Brownies are well worth remembering for when I need a dessert.  The Golden Sesame Loaves were very good, and I could do them again, but I don't know that they are a definitive recipe.

Overall, the first week of the experiment was worthwhile.  I will definitely try to continue it, if only because I have to make a dent in the nearly 4,000 recipes I ticked off.

I Have Stupid on Me

I know many people are upset with the political situation in the US, but the truth of the matter is there is no possible way to "parachute" Clinton or Sanders into the Presidency.  Even if both Trump and Pence are removed from office, the next in line are there Speaker of the House (currently Paul Ryan), followed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate (Orrin Hatch) and then the Cabinet Secretaries (whether confirmed or acting).

Menu Plan -- January 17-24, 2017

Tuesday:
Skillet Lasagne, Garlic Bread

Wednesday:
Spicy Meatball Soup, Garlic Bread

Thursday:
Greek Garbanzo Salad over Orzo

Friday:
Crunchy French Toast, Fruit Salad

Saturday:
Country Fried Steak with Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Peas, Candy Bar Brownies

Sunday:
Easy Vegetable Bulgur Salad, Golden Sesame Loaves, Candy Bar Brownies

Monday:
Egg Drop Soup, Spring Rolls, Candy Bar Brownies

Tuesday:
do-it-yourself dinner

Menu Plan -- January 10-16, 2017

Tuesday:
out to dinner

Wednesday:
Chicken Noodle Soup

Thursday:
Vegetarian Fajita Pizza

Friday:
Turkey Burgers, Corn on the Cob, Fruit Salad

Saturday:
Skillet Lasagna, Garlic Bread

Sunday:
Patty Melts, Roasted Vegetables

Monday:
out to dinner (for Anniversary)

Menu Plan -- January 3 - 9, 2017

Tuesday:
Barbadian Chicken Finger Sandwiches, Roast Potatoes & Carrots, Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

Wednesday:
Spaghetti and Meatballs, Garlic Bread

Thursday:
Vegetarian Schnitzel, Rice-a-Roni, Fruit Salad

Friday:
Goldenrod Eggs over Biscuits, Fruit Salad

Saturday:
Fish & Chip Night

Sunday:
Southwest Ranch Cornbread Salad, Chocolate Pudding

Monday:
Turkey Burgers, Corn on the Cob, Chocolate Pudding

2017 Monopoly Reading Challenge

After the 2015 PopSugar Ultimate Reading Challenge, I decided that I was not going to participate in any more reading challenges, but then I found this one for 2017.  It was too interesting to pass up, so I am going to try it out this year.

The challenge was originally intended only for historical mysteries, but because this is a personal challenge, and I don't always want to read a mystery, I am allowing books to be from any genre, though to be truthful, many will end up being mysteries and a few may be historical mysteries.  Also, I'm altering the rules just a bit to allow for a re-roll if I land on a square I already "own."

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2017 Monopoly Reading Challenge

Rules:
1. Roll one die and move around the board according to the number rolled.
3. Follow the instructions for each property as outlined below.
4. You must finish your chosen book before rolling again; no rolling ahead.
5. Re-rolls are allowed if you land on a square you already own.
6. The goal is the move around the board and collect ALL of the properties.

Properties:
Go:  Start, read any book of your choice. Superfluous Women -- Dunn, Carola (1/5/17)

Mediterranean Avenue: Read a book set in a Mediterranean country or a book with a brown cover. The Janissary Tree — Goodwin, Jason (2/28/17)

Community Chest #1: Read a book from any series begun before 1950.

Baltic Avenue: Read a book set in a Baltic country or a book in which a crime occurs at some point during the book.

Income Tax: Read the book on your to-be-read shelf with the lowest Goodreads rating. Pretty Lady -- Babson, Marian (1/10/17)

Reading Railroad: Read a book set in the 19th century (1800-1899).

Oriental Avenue: Read a book set in the Orient or a book with a blue cover.

Chance #1: Read a book recommended by a friend. The Alienist — Carr, Caleb (3/12/17)

Vermont Avenue: Read a book set in a New England State or a cozy mystery. Clammed Up -- Ross, Barbara (1/14/17)

Connecticut: Read a book with a bridge on the cover or set in a a city with a famous prison.

Just Visiting: Roll the die again, move forward and complete the task for that property. (St. Charles Place) Tall Tail — Brown, Rita Mae & Sneaky Pie Brown (3/12/17)

St. Charles Place: Read a book that contains paranormal elements or whose title has a word with double letters. The Bee’s Kiss — Cleverly, Barbara (3/24/17)

Electric Company: Read a book set in 17th century (1600-1699).

States Avenue: Read a book that is set during or in the immediate aftermath of a war in which either the United States or United Kingdom participated.

Virginia Avenue: Read a book set during the Elizabethan period or the Roman Empire.

Pennsylvania Railroad: Read a book set in a place you’d like to visit. Fer-de-Lance -- Stout, Rex (1/20/17)

St. James Place: Read a book with a character who is a member of a royal family from any country or a private investigator.

Community Chest #2: Read a book from any Fiction series.

Tennessee Avenue: Read a book set in the Southern Hemisphere or with a white cover.

New York Avenue: Read a book set in a large city or with a protagonist who is a police detective. A Mystery at Carlton House — Gardner, Ashley (3/26/17)

Free Parking: Read any book of your choice.

Kentucky Avenue: Read a book set in the Victorian era or a book with a red cover. Murder at the Breakers -- Maxwell, Alyssa (1/25/17)

Chance #2: Read a book by a new-to-you author.

Indiana Avenue: Read a book set in a rural area or in which the protagonist or narrator is a member of the clergy, a writer or a journalist. Sidney Chambers and the Forgiveness of Sins — Runcie, James (4/13/17)

Illinois Avenue: Read a book set in the Northern Hemisphere or with a statue, monument or building on the cover.

B&O Railroad: Read a book where the protagonist sets out on a journey at some point during the book. The Silver Locomotive Mystery -- Marston, Edward (2/4/17)

Atlantic Avenue: Read a book set in a country on the Atlantic Ocean or with a yellow cover.

Ventnor Avenue: Read a book set in Medieval times or a book that contains at least one real historical figure as a character.

Water Works: Read a book with a body of water on the cover. A Gilded Grave — Freydont, Shelley (4/16/17)

Marvin Gardens: Read a book featuring a woman as the main character or with a flower, tree or garden on the cover. The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra — Rappaport, Helen (4/24/17)

Go to Jail: Roll the die again, move backward and complete the task for that property.

Pacific Avenue: Read a book set in a country on the Pacific Ocean or set during the Regency period.

North Carolina Avenue: Read a book set at a university or any place of higher learning or a book with a green cover.

Community Chest #3: Read a book from any Historical Mystery series. The Poyson Garden -- Harper, Karen (2/13/17)

Pennsylvania Avenue: Read a thriller/suspense book or a book with a purple cover. Thunder on the Right -- Stewart, Mary (2/19/17)

Short Line Railroad: Read a book of 150 to 250 pages in length.

Chance #3: Read a book from any Bestseller List.

Park Place: Read a book in which the protagonist is very wealthy and/or titled or set in a city with a famous park.

Luxury Tax: Read the book on your to-be-read shelf with the highest Goodreads rating.

Boardwalk: Read a book set in a seaside town or a world capital city.

2016 -- Annual Reads

1. Death in the Truffle Wood -- Magnan, Pierre
2. Cat's Claw -- Albert, Susan Wittig
3. The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey -- Stewart, Trenton Lee
4. The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma -- Stewart, Trenton Lee
5. Widow's Tears -- Albert, Susan Wittig
6. Some Buried Caesar -- Stout, Rex*
7. Murder on the Lusitania -- Allen, Conrad
8. Murder on the Mauritania -- Allen, Conrad
9. Bitter End -- Stout, Rex*
10. Murder on the Minnesota -- Allen, Conrad
11. Murder on the Caronia -- Allen, Conrad
12. Murder on the Mamora -- Allen, Conrad
13. Murder on the Salsette -- Allen, Conrad
14. Murder on the Oceanic -- Allen, Conrad
15. Murder on the Celtic -- Allen, Conrad
16. Tempest in a Teapot -- Cooper, Amanda
17. Murder on Amsterdam Avenue -- Thompson, Victoria
18. Foreign Éclairs -- Hyzy, Julie
19. The Alexandria Affair -- Gardner, Ashley*
20. Winter at Death's Hotel -- Cameron, Kenneth
21. Beatrice Goes to Brighton -- Beaton, M.C.*
22. A Sprig of Blossomed Thorn -- Greenwood, Patrice*
23. The Alpine Scandal -- Daheim, Mary
24. Anne of Green Gables -- Montgomery, L.M.
25. Anne of Avonlea -- Montgomery, L.M.
26. Anne of the Island -- Montgomery, L.M.
27. The Alpine Traitor -- Daheim, Mary
28. The Alpine Uproar -- Daheim, Mary
29. A Sheetcake Named Desire -- Brady, Jacklyn*
30. Murder at Hatfield House -- Carmack, Amanda*
31. The Alpine Vengeance -- Daheim, Mary
32. The Alpine Winter -- Daheim, Mary
33. The Alpine Xanadu -- Daheim, Mary
34. The Alpine Yeoman -- Daheim, Mary
35. The Alpine Zen -- Daheim, Mary*
36. Princess Elizabeth's Spy -- MacNeal, Susan Elia
37. Ho-Ho-Homicide -- Dunnett, Kaitlyn
38. Bittersweet -- Albert, Susan Wittig
39. Death Come Quickly -- Albert, Susan Wittig
40. Heirs and Graces -- Bowen, Rhys
41. Queen of Hearts -- Bowen, Rhys
42. Signing Their Lives Away -- Kieran, Denise & Joseph D’Angese*
43. Key Lime Die -- Prescott, Summer*
44. Black Bottom Murder -- Durand, Carol & Summer Prescott*
45. Buttercream Murder -- Durand, Carol & Summer Prescott*
46. Rum Cake Murder -- Durand, Carol & Summer Prescott*
47. Pink Velvet Murder -- Durand, Carol & Summer Prescott*
48. Kidnap in the Caribbean -- St. John, Lauren
49. Devil's Food Murder -- Durand, Carol & Summer Prescott*
50. Murder by Lime -- Prescott, Summer*
51. Murder and Cake by Royal Appointment -- Snow, Luna*
52. Strawberry Cream Murder -- Gillard, Susan*
53. Sidney Chambers and the Perils of the Night -- Runcie, James
54. Maple Frosted Murder -- Gillard, Susan*
55. Cadbury Creme Murder -- Gillard, Susan*
56. Tricky Blueberry Murder -- Gillard, Susan*
57. Chocolate Frosted Murder -- Gillard, Susan*
58. Rhubarb Frosted Murder -- Gillard, Susan*
59. Sidney Chambers and the Problem of Evil -- Runcie, James
60. Chocolate Revolution Murder -- Gillard, Susan*
61. The Amber Shadows -- Ribchester, Lucy
62. Candied Maple Bacon Murder -- Gillard, Susan*
63. Murder Most Unladylike -- Stevens, Robin
64. Cinnamon Nut Crunch Murder -- Gillard, Susan*
65. Assault and Pepper -- Budewitz, Leslie*
66. Destiny of the Republic -- Millard, Candice
67. Guilty as Cinnamon -- Budewitz, Leslie
68. Death by Lime -- Prescott, Summer*
69. A Deadly Slice of Lime -- Prescott, Summer*
70. Killing Thyme -- Budewitz, Leslie*
71. Chocolate Crunch Murder -- Gillard, Susan*
72. The Hound of the Baskervilles -- Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan†
73. Monsieur Pamplemousse on Probation -- Bond, Michael
74. The Cat Who Ate Danish Modern -- Braun, Lilian Jackson
75. M&M Surprise Murder -- Gillard, Susan*