Ramblings

 Drew and I usually go out Saturday night.  Sometimes we go to local places, sometimes to chain restaurants. We didn’t go out last night, though, because Jen came over Saturday afternoon.  After she left, Drew and I ordered Chinese take-out.

Too many restaurants have closed lately.  A lot of chains seem to be having issues — Boston Market, Red Lobster, Wendy’s  and most recently TGI Friday’s.  But what makes me sad is the loss of a very good local place, Taco King.  I actually blogged about this place in 2013 and 2015.  The food was always fresh and delicious.  We were craving Mexican last week and drove over there, only to find the place permanently closed.  Sigh.  We wound up getting pastrami at the deli. 

We know several good Mexican places around here.  They’re all sit-down restaurants, but they all have take-out menus.  So we aren’t totally bereft.  But I will miss Taco King.

Looking forward to hosting our annual Thanksgiving— we host on Saturday.

Drew is making the classic green bean casserole.  He hasn’t made it in years, but this time around he wants to have it.  Fortunately I have gluten free versions of cream of mushroom soup, soy sauce and crispy fried onions.  

Last year I made stuffed mushrooms.  Very simple, just button mushrooms and Boursin cheese. Everyone loved them, so I might make them again.  Or maybe a different stuffed mushroom recipe.

Last year I made scalloped corn.  I’m wondering if I should make that again.

Local supermarket runs a promotion this time of year; if you spend $400 during the designated period, you’re entitled to a free item — a turkey, a ham, frozen lasagna, macaroni and cheese …  One of our friends who comes to our Thanksgiving always gets a free turkey, and since she doesn’t need it, she brings it here for us to prepare.  But I’m just $139 from getting a free item, too.  We don’t need two turkeys, so I’m trying to decide which other item we should get.

But I am determined to get a free item.  Last year I didn’t meet the spending requirement.  The year before that …on the last day if the designated period I placed an order with Instacart.  My shopper used his own rewards card instead of mine!  So no free turkey,  I was so angry, but nothing could be done.  I no longer use Instacart. I’ve stopped being lazy …

At least there won’t be a crazy trip to Roosevelt Field this year, now that I’ve found a great gluten-free bakery nearby. I still like the cupcakes from. Baked By Melissa, but Bare Naked Bakery has more options and I much less of a hassle.   I’ll get a few desserts, and I’ll ask them about stuffing/dressing.  The stuffing I bought last year was horrible.  I miss the real deal, but maybe they’ll have a  better version.

Or I could try the recipe that called for frozen hash brown potatoes instead of bread. 

In any event, there will be lots of food on our table and love in our house.  Something we really need right now.