Friday, 12/30/16

Spent the night at the Marriott down the road as a little post-Christmas treat for Carter (unfortunately he had a cold and wasn't feeling his best). We hit the hot tub, got a pizza from Athena's and watched Clerks II.

Marriott: not as fun or nice as the Porches, but cheaper and so much closer.

The pool was only slightly bigger than the hot tub

Thursday, 12/29/16

Didn't really have anything planned for dinner so I used up a lot of various things and mixed them with orzo. Poached chicken, cherry tomatoes, spinach, broccoli....finished with the reduced poaching liquid, a little butter and some parmesan. Tasted good and saved a few things from lingering in the crisper.

Wednesday, 12/28/16

Ground pork (from Cravings, only she used ground chicken and we didn't bother with lettuce cups), green beans and rice. Very flavorful; if I don't remember to copy the recipe I think the main things to remember are lots of ginger and garlic, and the addition of hoisin sauce. I can probably wing it next time. Last time I made green beans they were so tasty but somehow I didn't take note of what exactly I did to them so I just tried to remember. They weren't as good and I want to kick myself.

Tuesday, 12/27/16

We tried to duplicate some favorites from our weekend travels: roasted sweet potatoes (not as good as Jeff's: maybe his enormous CSA specimens were the reason?), potato pancakes (also not as good, probably because I carelessly pulverized some of the potatoes in the food processor. Next time I stick to the box grater), and chicken baked with a maple-mustard sauce (from Jennie and David's: mine was almost as good, but not quite. Who knows why?).
So a good, if not great meal.

ps Also some broccoli, inspired by no one, but my boy deserves the occasional green vegetable.

Monday, 12/26/16

A lot of challah in the freezer? French toast, of course! It was well-liked. I also served bacon and a zucchini gratin (repeated the Ina Garten recipe).  That was my favorite part and I think it would also be good with broccoli or cauliflower. I realized that just because I was serving breakfast dishes for dinner I didn't have to come up with some kind of "breakfast" vegetable and could make whatever I wanted. Also, those zucchini were starting to look at me reproachfully every time I opened the crisper.

Sunday, 12/25/16

Merry Christmas! Lunch at my parents. Turns out not that many people like sushi. My dad and I had to eat the bulk of it. So sad! My mom also made meatballs, little hot dogs, homemade bacon-horseradish dip, brie and raspberry jam and more. So delicious and fun. I brought two desserts but we never even ate them. It may have been just as well since I think subbing in buckwheat flour for almond flour in my brown sugar cake was a mistake. And my chocolate cream pie is only so-so. Even as I was making the filling it struck me as too much cornstarch....I am losing all my baking confidence.

Saturday, 12/24/16

Dinner with Jennie and David; since it was Christmas Eve we all sat at the table and had dinner together---it was really nice! David made some chicken with mustard and maple that Carter loved, we brought another challah (slightly stale, dammit!) and more hamantaschen (again, unloved. I knew it) and some crunchy chocolate nuts (from SK). I think the champagne was our most popular contribution.