December dinners

How did you do that?

out to dinner tonight.

Crossing cultures...we just landed with Marianne's family outside Dusseldorf.

Tonight brought Dampfnudeln und Erbsensuppe, mit Wurstl. Hit just the spot on a wet cold Rhine River valley evening after a long flight.

Going to an IEEE dinner tonight, at a nice place, so should be good even though I have to spend the evening with engineers.

In Deutchland again, vv?!! Very jealous. Enjoy. Please post some pics. Bring back economic pointers for this country!

Engineers can be fun, Deb! (Though I must agree - in general they are not.)

Youngest niece is getting married this weekend, so we'll be here through the end of the month.

Don't know that there is a whole lot to learn from the EU experience. A little German tradition of industriousness is always a worthwhile example to emulate.

As far as engineers go - look for ones who appreciate plants. They are the ones that can see past the end of their slide rules...

What's a slide rule?!

Pfftt!!! I know one engineer who is a LOT of fun!!! However, he doesn't garden. He still has his slide rule, too. He even brought home flowers for me tonight.

Enjoy the wedding, VV.

I did marry an engineer so there are 2 out there that are fun! Dinner was awesome, I had salmon and DH had filet mignon, both excellent.

Hey wait - what about me?!! Make that at least three!

That went without being said, Victor. We know you are fun and a lover of plants. But, you are right I should have acknowledged you, but you did it so well. Glad you got your bulbs in. Sorry, that's on another thread, I think. I took two pills, so I think I'm ready for nighty-night. Hope I can sleep okay.

Victor, you were part of my 2, I forgot about my niece!

never heard of that before RD.. hope you feel better

I come by the engineering ribbing honestly - my first time through college was in metallurgical engineering & materials science.

Electrical engineering courses were my nemesis, though - I hated Circuits. Give me extractive metallurgy or casting/welding any time - even thermodynamics.

Bachelor party scheduled for this evening. I'll try to relate what happens, victor - if I remember anything or have any images in focus.

Meanwhile, here's what gardeners do well here: conifers.

Have fun, vv. haven't been to a bachelor party in a very long time. I'm due!

Nice tree.

I can only imagine you at a bachelor party Victor


Swiss steak currently in the crock pot I 'm going out tonight to German restaurant with one of my friends

I receive recipe emails every week...

Doesn't this sound REALLY good?

Chef Meg's Mini Stuffed Potatoes with Charred Corn and Red Pepper Hummus

INGREDIENTS
12 small redskin potatoes
2 ears corn, shucked
1/4 cup red pepper hummus
3 green onions, finely chopped



DIRECTIONS
Fill a medium saucepan with water, bring to a boil, and add the potatoes. Simmer until tender, about 16-18 minutes. Remove from heat and place under cold running water to stop the cooking process.

Meanwhile, preheat a grill to moderate-high heat. Lightly spray the corn with non-stick cooking spray. Grill the corn for 20 minutes, turning halfway through. Remove from heat and allow to cool, then cut the corn from the cob.

Sliced cooled potatoes in half, and use a small spoon or melon baller to scoop out the center. Leave enough potato around the sides to support the filling. Set aside the potato "innards."

Place the hummus in a piping or plastic bag. Pipe 1/2 teaspoon of hummus into each potato. Top with the corn and onion.

Makes 24 halves; 2 pieces per serving.


Number of Servings: 12

That does sound good.

Yum....stuffed potatoes ... hope you are enjoying Germany, VV....I love German food....meeting some childhood friends for lunch today....

When we were in Germany - the server brought pretzels. I told my husband no way would I eat those and 'waste' the calories on a pretzel. Well....... the food was taking forever to come and we (me) were starving and so I pulled off a piece of the pretzel........m a g i c !!!

I figured I knew pretzels.... had lots growing up in NY. No way. These were absolutely wonderful. So glad the kitchen was slow. (I came to realize that the kitchen wasn't slow -- it was just the way it 'was.' We just needed to slow down and enjoy the dinner hour the way it was meant to be enjoyed.

Yum - another reason to go to Germany. Love pretzels - especially with beer!

And the bakeries! You can order a slice of anything (with whipped cream) and a beverage, sit & enjoy.....My lunch was super, I ordered chicken Francaise....

the thing that most impressed (an scared me for an instant) when I flushed ---all of a sudden the seat of the bowl started spinning round and this steamer sort of gripper got activated and the seat spun 'round and it that wee little gripper arm sanitized the seat and dried it all at once.

Now in italy........ in the ladies toilet...... this was this little italian guy --- it was on an island known for making lace .... barrano ..or similiar...anyway..... he was IN the bathroom... he would push open the stall for you...hand you toilet paper as you went in and expected money. Was he legit or just had a good gig and we tourists didn't know better? No way could I use that bath area and it was the only one for tourists that I could find.

You guys would starve @ my house lately, been sick and no appetite. Brian has done a lot of cooking as of late...have I mentioned what a good man he is? ^_^

He is the best!!!!!

he sounds like a keeper!

Hosted a group of friends....made pork roast with sauerkraut....one guest brought cupcakes from the new bakery in town...looked good, but didn't taste homemade! Pixie, Brian is a doll!

If Brian is also a good cook, I will be there sooner than I thought!

I'll join you!

Found some nice collards in the store today & made a beef barley soup with the collard greens......

nice.. thawed some chicken soup

Ham n bean soup

Spanish rice with Vienna sausage and white beans.

Made chicken parm. And a salad

Soup, Wolfgang Puck's chicken and wild rice

Coconut shrimp with dipping sauce, rice pilaf, brussel sprouts and salad. We had dinner guests.

Looks like a lot of folks are into soup....not sure what to make tonight, have my art class, so most definitely leftovers....

Teri, I need to be your dinner guest, LOL

You know I'd love to have you, Jen. So nice to have a "live wire" around.

Jen, I'll drive if you navigate.

Pulled pork tonight