But I digress . . . I need to get caught up on what went on last week food-wise. Monday and Tuesday I have no idea. Oh Tuesday I didn't eat lunch b/c I went to the movies and intended to have popcorn but did not. The line was too long. I was riding solo so couldn't go get a seat and have someone bring me popcorn. Thought I would run out for some during previews but then I like the previews and didn't want to get up. So- never really had anything.
Wednesday took the day off for some pre-festivity cooking prep. Hubs got let go early so I met him at PF Chang for lunch and then a movie. For the most part I don't care for PF Chang's. It has one dish I really like generally (Singapore Street Noodles) and a couple of apps but then that is it. The rest of their food I don't think is great, not real Chinses/Asian with few exceptions and they charge too much for sake. Oh and it takes forEVER to get in and out of there to eat. Hubs really digs it though so to humor him since it was my people coming for the holiday, we went. I had crab wontons and fried shrimp dumplings as my entree.
These 2 apps each get a 4 and a recommended.
Wed. night I decided to make dinner and did coq au vin. Classic French dish of chicken in wine. Dad said it smelled good when I was making it but never followed up with a tastes good too so not sure if he liked it or not. The Rents can be tight lipped about compliments. Anyway, not too hard to make actually. I might not marinade the chicken overnight again but just do it 6 hours ahead or something. Being in the wine overnight and then simmered made the chicken purple. I liked it though. Thought it came out well. Could have used more salt, and I didn't get enough french bread to go with it.
Coq au Vin
Next came Turkey Day. My favorite holiday of the year. I tend to find cooking turkey stressful so I opted for a made by someone else and bought by me dinner. I did make several sides though. I added cranberries in port wine, rutabaga-pear mash, rutabaga with carmalized onions and apples, butternut squash and some non-dairy potatoes. Our purchased food was fantastic. The only thing I had issue with was the stuffing. I had to dump a bunch of chicken stock on it to moisten it up b/c it was quite dry. The stock did the trick though and it turned out really good. Cornbread stuffing of course. The turkey had been brined so it was juicy and tasty. I'd give the meal a 4.5 and will get it again next year.
As far as leftovers go, turkey is gone so working my way through some of the others. Mostly stuffing and cranberry and rutabaga. I loves me some rutabaga. My Granddad used to call it Rudy and we had it at just about every holiday meal I can remember. The rudy-pear mash was good but i think next year I'll go back to the standard rudy only mash with stock and salt and pepper. However, the rudy with onions and apples was pretty darn good if I do say so myself. Will def make that again at some point. The butternut squash was boiled with ginger then mashed with salt pepper garlic brown sugar and onion. Also tasty and I will make again.
And that brings us back to Monday. Went with a three cheese rigatoni Lean Cuisine. Just some pasta with veggies. Nothing major. Veggies tasted fresh. My only complaint was too many red peppers. The minute I took the cellophane off to eat I was hit in the face with red pepper smell. I don't like red bell pepper. And in general you cant go wrong with pasta stuffed with cheese. I'll give it a 4 and a recommended.
Today Twist and I are going to Warren's. Warren's is a total dive bar in downtown Houston that happens to serve some pretty good cheap lunch specials. AND, best of all Warren's can make a real grilled cheese sandwich. Something most of Houston cannot. Woot!
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