| Mrs. Murfreesboro: ‘What’s for dinner’ appears a dilemma for most of us |
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By: By JEANNE BRAGG, Mrs. Murfreesboro - April 6, 2008
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Random thoughts:
To my surprise, I didn’t get many suggestions in response to “What’s for Dinner?”
A couple of friends I ran into told said they identified with the dilemma, but few shared recipes via e-mail or otherwise. Reinforces the theory that no one has answers, huh?
Kim Council, sales and operations director of the Post and an avid cook, suggested that the Post start a recipe blog. Since several people have asked me to share some recipes, I think this is a great idea. Kim is working on the blog as I write and hopes to have it up and running within days. Look for this under www.murfreesboropost.com, scroll down the far left-hand column and click on blogs. I’ll share the recipes I received there.
My friend Joan Christian recommended “Chicken Primavera,” chicken with vegetables served over pasta with Parmesan from the Publix circular. I tried it and it was a real hit.
The only other one I’ve tried is from my dear friend Lee Kennedy, a fabulous cook. She sent a recipe out of Southern Living magazine for Tex-Mex Ravioli Casserole. A real “fusion” dish, Tommy raved about it. I particularly like it because it is meatless.
The next one I’m trying is from reader Karen Etheridge for Sea Scallops in Cream Sauce. Since I’ve been reading recipes (and cooking!) so long, I can usually judge when a recipe is going to be good, and I can tell this one will be four-stars. I’ll share the recipe with you after I try it. Karen’s recipe reminds me of the mussels served at Carrabba’s that are among the best I have ever tasted. Carrabba’s steams the Prince Edward Island mussels in white wine and adds pernod and basil. A veritable delight.
Marimae White also took the time to hand-write two recipes (both with shrimp) and mail them to me. Yum. Thoughtful Marimae also sent my sister Randy in Knoxville a copy of the column I wrote about Easter at Randy’s house (only 55 showed up instead of the 70-some she expected). Very thoughtful, Marimae.
I went to lunch this week with my good friend former New Yorker Gail Lane and a visiting former neighbor of hers, Barbara (AKA, “Boo”). Boo volunteers once a week at the membership desk of the Metropolitan Museum, and when she announced to her co-worker she was going to Nashville, the lady said, “That’s my favorite place in all the world.” Boo said this woman has traveled the world so she was shocked. When she asked why she loved Nashville so much her co-worker replied: “My daughter lives there. When she first moved there from New York City 20 years ago she called me up and said, ‘Mother – I HATE this place. The people are so FAKE.’ She called back three months later and said: ʻMother – I LOVE this place. I take it all back. There’s nothing fake about them. They’re SINCERELY nice. I just can’t believe how genuine everyone is.ʼ”
Guess that, along with the relatively reasonable taxes, show us why some are complaining about growth.
I had a very enlightening call about my colonoscopy article. This friend mentioned to me that she could only get a morning appointment for her test, and all her unpleasant preparations were finished before midnight. Thus, she got a good night’s sleep and the test over with early in the day. But the greatest tip she shared was that she got an oversized straw (the kind that comes with smoothies or other thick drinks) and drank the yucky citrus solution through the straw, avoiding much of the “taste” and making it so much easier to swallow. Great idea! Thanks.
On one final note, I was disappointed when the good antique dealers moved out of Marketplace on Main. The Marketplace still has some novel clothing and jewelry and a few antiques and is really fun to visit, but I also happily report that Rebecca Gunter and Wanda Parker have reopened a darling antique store on the corner of Walnut and Vine (former home of Burton Dye Studios) aptly named “Walnut and Vine Antiques.” The building is freshly painted, artfully decorated and full of good antiques! Go pay them a visit (but save the good stuff for me)!
We writers love feedback (both negative and positive) so keep it coming.
And as the Pastor of Brentwood United Methodist Church says on the radio regularly, “Go make it a good day.”
ʻTil next week. |
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