A. took the boys to Tucson on Tuesday, which is quite obvious in my cooking. In that I kind of . . . stopped. But don't worry! We still ate.
Friday
Short version: Cube steak tacos, Mexican slaw, pinto beans
Long version: I found one more package of cube steaks in the freezer, which I marinated with olive oil, vinegar, chile powder, and cumin, then seared and cut thin for tacos.
They were a little bland, unfortunately, but nothing a little salsa couldn't fix.
Saturday
Short version: Miss Amelia's chicken soup, bread and butter, leftover tacos
Long version: I hadn't taken any meat out to thaw and was vaguely planning on making tuna patties when Miss Amelia's daughter showed up with a large jar of soup her mother had made for us. It was a chicken soup with celery, potatoes, carrots, and I think barley. Or maybe brown rice. Something kind of chewy, at any rate.
In any case, it was good. That's what most of us had. A. and Charlie, who is not a soup fan, had the rest of the cube steak plus three leftover kibbeh heated up with salsa and put in tortillas with cheese.
Sunday
Short version: Beef ribs, accidental tongue, roasted potatoes, green salad
Long version: Yeah, about that tongue . . . I did not want the tongue from the cow we bought last year. But somehow I ended up with a package clearly labeled "tongue."
Not clearly enough, apparently, as I grabbed it thinking it was another package of beef ribs and didn't realize until after everything had braised for several hours that there was one thing in there that looked nothing like ribs. Because it was a tongue.
A tongue is very, very identifiable, FYI. I mean, it looks just like what it is. And cows have very large tongues.
I've never cooked a tongue before--and wouldn't have this time had I known what it was--but I think they're supposed to be peeled first. You know, to get rid of the tough covering that has the tastebuds on it. (GROSS.)
I was kind of slicing it open and examining the edible part inside when Cubby wandered into the kitchen and asked what was for dinner.
Could I resist? No. I stuck the very-recognizable large tongue right in his face and cheerily said, "Cow tongue!"
His response? "NO WAY! Hey Charlie, we're having cow tongue for dinner!"
So then we had to have cow tongue for dinner.
It tasted fine, although the texture was a little soft for me. The kids liked it. Nevertheless, I couldn't face more dissection of the tongue, and cut up what was left for the dogs. They liked it, too.
Monday
Short version: Meat+rice+cheese, Mexican-style
Long version: This was the remainder of the meat from the beef ribs (NOT THE TONGUE) that I put in the skillet with some green chiles and salsa before adding the cooked rice and shredded cheese.
Tuesday
Short version: Vegetable and bean soup, bread and butter, cheese
Long version: A. left early this morning with the boys to go to Tucson to see family, leaving just Poppy and me at home. It was horribly windy and I was freezing all day. So I made soup, because vegetable soup and cheese is my idea of a perfect meal. And there were no militant carnivores around.
Wednesday
Short version: Second verse, same as the first
Long version: More soup. More cheese. More bread. Why cook again if I don't have to? WHEEEE!
Sampling the chocolate chip cookies we made this day. Also whee.
Thursday
Short version: Fried rice, chocolate chip cookies
Long version: In honor of the holiday, I decided we should have something other than leftovers. Although, since I used leftover rice and leftover roasted bell pepper and onion in the fried rice, I'm not sure it counts.
Please admire my fancy Thanksgiving tablescape:
Paper-plate-and-Dixie-cup turkey courtesy of Jack's preschool Thanksgiving craft project.
Okay, your turn! What'd you eat this week?
