Another week has flown by. This week’s menus include some of my favorites.
Monday, Cream of Potato Cheese Soup, always perfect on a chilly fall day.
Potato Soup Photo by JeffreyW
Wednesday features Pan-Fried Catfish and Buttered Potatoes. You can find all the menus here: October Menus 2
Thursday is a German Pocket Burgers and Apple Strudel. And Friday will have the kids licking their fingers with Buffalo Chicken Legs, a healthy alternative to deep fried buffalo chicken.
Complete shopping lists are here: October Weekly Shopping List 2 A reminder that the menus and shopping lists are color coordinated. You can easily disregard any item you won’t need.
Tonight’s bonus recipe is Garlic Biscuits, below.
That’s if for this week. What’s cookin’ for you this weekend?
Tonight’s bonus recipe:
Garlic Biscuits
- 2 cups flour
- 4 tbsp buttermilk powder*
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1/3 cup butter or shortening
- 3 tsp crushed garlic
- 1 cup milk*
bowl and baking sheet or cast iron skillet, greased
I prefer using butter over shortening because it gives the biscuits a buttery, garlic flavor that is irresistible.
Sift together dry ingredients. Cut in butter, stir in garlic, add milk. Stir quickly with a fork until completely moistened, don’t over mix. Knead gently on floured surface for 10-12 strokes. Roll out to ½ inch thick, cut into biscuits. Place on baking sheet or cast iron skillet, and bake at 450° for 10-12 minutes, until golden brown.
*or substitute 1 cup buttermilk, then omitting buttermilk powder and milk.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
oh man, what a post when I’m trying to settle for leftovers….
Eric S.
Tomorrow, a buddy and I are going to the Chopping Block for a 2 hour class to make Autumn Soups. Hoping for some new ideas.
Jeffro
Nothing too crazy planned for the week ahead: turkey burger sliders, an ‘easy beef burrito skillet dinner’, and some sort of chicken & rice dish. I have this spicy sweet potato & lentil soup I want to make, but no rush there – no one else here will even try it. =(
BUT
Fro Jr. and I had some fun tonight prepping a few dishes for tomorrow’s (early) Dia De Los Muertos-themed meal: pan de muertos, grilled Mexican street corn, and slow-cooker chicken mole’. Should be fun and glad to see he’s interested in learning how to cook.
efgoldman
@Eric S.:
I got plenty extra leaves to thicken up the broth
Jeffro
Btw that potato soup looks amazing JeffreyW…that’ll be on next week’s menu here
Aleta
Crushed garlic in the biscuits, what a great idea. I like potato soup with roasted and sauteed and some crushed garlic–all three–and simmered for a good while.
jeffreyw
I puree the potatoes and onions with a stick blender and go from there. The last batch’s leftovers were too skimpy for a full meal for two so I cubed some fresh potatoes and browned them well in duck fat and stirred them in. The leftovers were pretty good already, the browned addition made them memorable.
raven
@jeffreyw: I don’t see no recipes for the bird.
NotMax
Soup variation: Add a goodly dose of white pepper, cut back a little on the milk* and incorporate a quarter cup of dry sherry.
*Oh, and use whole milk. Or 2% if you must.
Miss Bianca
OK, I didn’t cook, but…had the most AMAZING meal at our new “farm to table” restaurant in town and had a couple glasses of great Cabernet to go with it. And a chat with the head cook/manager who gave me the money quote for my review – “this restaurant is my last, desperate attempt at getting the local food movement to work here.” More later when I’ve had a chance to digest (literally!).
ETA: Oh, and visited Colon Orchards in Canon City to get fresh apple juice to brew a cyser with. Just another day in Colorado…
efgoldman
Sorry to go WAY off topic, and be a downer at the same time. But I have had a week from beyond hell.
First of all, I have large lesions on my legs related to diabetes and kidney disease. They are fixable, and I’m getting treatment, but it’s a long, slow process. Meanwhile, even though they’re covered and protected, they are open wounds, with exposed nerve endings, and they hurt like hell, stinging and burning. And just when they settle down a bit, the dressings have to be changed. For the first time in my life, I’m taking a narcotic (Percocet), so I can sleep. and I hate it.
I have fallen three times in the last week. I tripped once, and slipped two other times. No damage, but had to call 911 to get me upright – mrs efg can’t do it. I had been using a cane, but it’s obviously not safe. So I have given in, and started using a walker. It feels like surrendering. I’m not old enough for this shit.
Am I?
Meanwhile, mrs efg is trying to take care of me as best she can (I don’t need nursing care, or cleaning up, etc), But her 87-year old mother is fading, still lives alone, and lives one hour+ from here. She’s been in and out of the hospital a whole bunch of times, with no firm diagnosis; she’s unable to transport herself, but naturally won’t hear of a nursing home
Most of you know that I’ve been on (home, peritoneal) dialysis since July. That, at least, is reasonably successful. When I came out of the hospital, I literally couldn’t walk. So I’ve been going to a local PT place for several weeks. Made lots of progress – eventually started driving again, shopping, dumped the cane….
Then they started treating the lesions, and any any all progress I made for the previous six weeks went to hell. If anything, I’m worse – weaker, uncoordinated, in a lot of pain.
OK, whiny rant over. Now back to your regularly scheduled grand child bragging.
Omnes Omnibus
@efgoldman: Whiner.
Seriously, I wish all the best for you. If I can offer any help, I will. Miles away, but please feel free to share your info, if you think i can help. Odds are that I can’t.
Laura
(((((efgoldman))))))!
I wish there was a “milk of human kindness” salve that you could apply liberally.
Another Scott
@efgoldman: So sorry, EF. That’s rough. :-(
Is there a “Council on Aging” or something similar in your area? There are people who can help, or can help you find help. You’ve paid taxes for decades – don’t be afraid to take advantage of what you’ve paid for (directly and indirectly). My older brother has Autism. He lives in his own apartment and has a job, but also has volunteers that help him go to appointments, take shopping trips, etc. There is help out there. Everyone benefits when people are able to live on their own with some help as opposed to in a “home” (no matter how good it is).
Be careful with the Percocet. I’m sure you know the risks. :-( :-( :-(
Hang in there, and keep us updated.
Best wishes,
Scott.
Mary G
@efgoldman: Lesions are hell. I am so sorry you’re dealing with them and having to go to the walker. It’s not surrendering, it’s avoiding falls. I have no good advice except to keep fighting.
efgoldman
@Omnes Omnibus:
Thanks; my Rx is legal, so i don’t need a connesction
Alain the site fixer
@Miss Bianca: so jealous! Colon has some great fall produce!
chopper
had people over tonight, including a surprise second family. made a top loin roast, roasted potatoes and broccoli, and a rad almond cake with lemon curd for dessert.
efgoldman
@Another Scott:
Yeah, I take one at bedtime only. If there’s a drowsiness warning on a label, I fall asleep from reading it.
chopper
@efgoldman:
Jesus h fucking Christ, that isn’t whining. that’s well-earned mild complaining as far as I’m concerned. goddamn.
Alain the site fixer
@efgoldman: I’m so glad to hear from you, was a bit worried but I’ve not been attentive. I’m horrified at your week of hell, but please know you’re always in mind for many of us.
Lyrebird
@efgoldman: Huge good wishes coming from this corner… Sorry I’m hours away! I hope the med balance and the literal balance get better soon soon soon! (Took Perc. once ever, was nearly seasick in bed, thought I was going to upchuck after walking three steps, luckily was able to switch over to handfuls of Advl.)
Omnes Omnibus
@efgoldman: I meant that I am available as a friend. If you need one. It’s not something I do often. I can avoid it with you in the future if I have overstepped.
chopper
@Lyrebird:
yeah, opiates make me sick as hell too. thank fucking god for that, given what they do to people.
Lyrebird
@efgoldman: PS am hoping you got one o’ them new-fangled walkers with hand brakes and colorful bits, bc the grandchild will love climbing on and/or comandeering it as much as she can get away with…
Lyrebird
Thanks!
@chopper:
I hear you on that!
Another Scott
@Lyrebird: :-) I got my mom one of those – they’re pretty neat. They fold up easily, have a fold-down seat too, and are pretty cheap (at least if you buy them yourself and not through some “hospital supply” outfit). A search for “rollator” brings up lots of options.
Cheers,
Scott.
efgoldman
@Omnes Omnibus:
You and i have been doing things in this space for what, 10-12 years. I’m very seldom serious when snark or smart assness will do the same job. No, I don’t need a connection in Madison (but I’ll bet there are plenty) And I know that all of you jackals mean it when you offer help. The essence of jackalhood.
Mike in NC
@efgoldman: Good luck.
efgoldman
@Lyrebird:
My mom had one like that. The brakes fail after a while.
Nope, I got a plain old aluminum one.
CaseyL
@efgoldman: Oh, EFG. I hurt for you.
Not sure if this helps, but: My aunt, the most obsessively active person I have ever met (she’s still teaching water aerobics in her 70s!) had to use a walker after a bicycle accident broke her hip and necessitated a replacement. SFAIK, she didn’t think of it as “surrender,” she thought of it as a way to make sure she didn’t fall and suffer another serious injury and lose even more mobility.
I remember when walkers were basically square white metal frameworks and that was it, like a step ladder minus the steps. Now you can get a downright sporty model, in bright colors with baskets, wheels and handbrakes and heaven knows what else.
Another suggestion: My aunt also sometimes uses a pair of trekking poles I got for her, instead of a cane or walking stick: they’re adjustable, have foam handles, and you can change out the button end for a spike when it’s snowy/icy. They also make you look like you’re practicing cross country skiing, rather than tottering along the sidewalk :)
Best of luck.
Lyrebird
@efgoldman: So long as it suits you!
Elizabelle
@efgoldman: Dang, sorry to hear that, efg.
Do they think the lesions will eventually go away? I hope so.
Keep safe with that walker. Falls are overrated. Besides, you have work here, and a granddaughter to delight.
Elizabelle
@efgoldman: Well then it needs a Tunch sticker, or Fuck Trump, or something to jazz it up.
Ohio Mom
@efgoldman: sigh…If it’s not one thing, it’s another. Sorry to hear you are keeping your doctors busy but glad to hear that it is all treatable.
Duane
@efgoldman: Sorry you’re having troubles. Get better soon.
chopper
@efgoldman:
we’re the good kind of jackals. we’ll still chew on yer bones after you’re gone tho.
efgoldman
@Elizabelle:
I will not sully anything I own with reference to Hair Furor.
Do Tunch stickers exist?
efgoldman
@chopper:
Waste not want not
Jim, Foolish Literalist
from Cole’s twitter feed, all five living ex-presidents. And Lady Gaga.
amygdala
@efgoldman: I am so sorry about all of this.
Please forgive me for intruding, but has PT come to the house for so-called a safety evaluation? They can sometimes be incredibly helpful with relatively simple things like how the furniture and rugs and such are arranged, to decrease the risk of falls. Or making recs for rails or any other equipment that might be helpful. And when you’re ready again for PT, it might be worth looking into seeing if home PT can be arranged, especially given the bigger picture.
Fingers tightly crossed for rapidly healing lesions, a lot less pain, and things settling down generally for you and yours.
PS: It’s definitely discouraging when those hard-won gains of a course of PT slide back in the face of something like those lesions, but that is a known phenomenon, and doesn’t mean it’s time to toss in the towel. You know where to hang out if you need encouragement, snark, or both.
eclare
@efgoldman: So sorry to hear! My mom, 80, has fallen several times in the past couple of months, and yet refuses to consider a walker. So far she has been lucky and hasn’t broken anything that would REQUIRE nursing home care, but it is a matter of time. So I think it’s great that you are using one, it is not necessarily permanent, but in the meantime, it keeps you from bigger injuries. Hoping you get your strength back soon.
SectionH
@Miss Bianca: Awww, that’s a cri de coeur. The lies about actual local sourced food here (San DIego) aren’t blowing up enough in restaurant people’s faces.
eclare
@Lyrebird: They make me sick too…once busted a blood vessel in my eye from throwing up after taking a few after a root canal. I guess people get used to them?
ruemara
@efgoldman: I’m sorry. I wish I were closer and could help. Or at least amuse you a bit. Sending all the healthy vibes.
I like those biscuits. I’m going back on my extreme diet to get down to a good on-camera weight. That always makes me desire as much carbs as I can stuff in my face and biscuits are one of those key carbs. I was holding back on eating because I was hoping for a birthday dinner and maybe cake but I spent today doing laundry and chores. And, of course, being a human sofa. Maybe tomorrow I’ll bake a bit. Can you make those biscuits without buttermilk? I can appropriate milk from the roommie.
eclare
@ruemara: Is your kitteh wearing clothes?
ruemara
@eclare: Yes! A friend gave me a big bag of her cat’s old gear. We are testing it out to see if he’s cool with it. He’s nonchalant about the whole thing. Which means roommie wants a little Raiders jersey for football game watching.
eclare
@ruemara: He is adorable! And by starting him young, he’ll think it’s normal as he gets older. Do you have a Halloween outfit?
efgoldman
@amygdala:
Intrude all you want. If I didn’t want to share my whine, I wouldn’t have posted.
Medicare, as generally wonderful as it is, has rules that drive a human wacko bonkers
I was referred to off-site PT by one of my MDs. I paid a copay, medicare/blue cross paid the rest,
However, I need a visiting nurse to come change my dressings.
So by rule, I have to get PT at home, from the same contractor that employs the visiting nurses, I am, by Medicare’s definition, “home bound.” So not only do I have to have this ditz at the house twice a week, they won’t pay for PT at the facility. Technically no driving either,
Steeplejack (phone)
@ruemara:
Make substitute buttermilk with regular milk and lemon juice or vinegar.
efgoldman
And the perfect ending to a perfect day…
My last dialysis fluid bag of the day won’t empty. Plugged somewhere, Whoop de fuckin’ do.
eclare
@Steeplejack (phone): I use that trick with vinegar when I make cornbread.
Mnemosyne
@efgoldman:
And here I thought falling on the stairs and spraining my knee was as bad as this week got! I’m sorry you’re having to deal with a setback. But I agree with CaseyL — it’s better to use the walker until you’re stronger than to let your pride overcome your common sense and risk injuring yourself even worse than you are now.
It may be worth it to see if your daughter or another relative can come stay with you for a week or two to help Mrs. EF out. She’s burning the candle at both ends and you don’t need her to get sick, too.
amygdala
@efgoldman: Argh. The rules around PT in particular are a pain and seem to change all the time. Makes it hard to figure out how to get the system to work well for people. If they grumble about why you’re needing PT again, it’ll likely be up to the doc, and maybe the therapist, to explain that to Medicare. There’s a certain perverse amusement, trapping them into an ever-smaller rhetorical-logical box so that they have to authorize it.
I’m gonna go visualize the dialysis tubing clearing itself so that you can finish that up and get some rest.
ruemara
@eclare: My usual mental costume. Sane person. I wish his sister was less person shy. And I wish I had pancakes.
efgoldman
@amygdala:
They authorized the additional PT, no problem. I’m just pissed because I had to give up the guy at the gym next to the wonderful Italian bakery in favor of the contractor’s PT that comes to the house.
Beautifulplummage
@efgoldman: so sorry that you’ve had these difficulties. I agree with other jackals sending support and suggestions.
My own added suggestion, in regards to your recent balance issues is to consider the effects of dialysis on your mineral levels, and the Ca/Mg/etc balance which affects muscle control. I probably missed in some past thread that you already have a nutrition expert on your medical team, so apologies if redundant.
SWMBO
@efgoldman: I have problems with Vicodan, Percocet, or any other pain meds like that. The oral surgeon told me to find something that I could eat when I take it. The best thing was either chicken noodle soup or peanut butter on soft bread. Take the med while eating.
Yep. You’re old enough for whatever shit you want.
@efgoldman: I didn’t see any Tunch stickers in the store.
As always, we love to hear from you. And just in case you think we’re all a bunch of slackers,
Fuck ’em.
NotMax
@efgoldman
Oh my.
However, feisty is good – you’ll come through this the better for it.
Silent no more
@efgoldman: I am usually just a lurker here, so you don’t know me, but I grew up in your town, live about an hour away, and would be happy to help.
Ohio Mom
@Silent no more: Please be silent more more here, in these threads — give up your lurker ways, and keep commenting!
Miss Bianca
@efgoldman: very late back to the thread, efg – i basically went into a Meat Coma last night after dinner – but so very sorry to hear about your health issues. Hoping for the best for you, please keep us posted! : (
No One You Know
@efgoldman: It’s not whining, it’s sharing: misery shared is reduced, and love shared is doubled. Share what you have, and it’s up to us to transform it with whatever we have.
No One You Know
I’m not trying to sound Pollyannish. I have no wisdom to give, but that.