What Are You Eating Today?

[southernhybrid]

I had a Cuban Reuben for lunch at a local cafe. It's basically, grilled chicken with Swiss cheese and coleslaw on toasted rye bread. It's very tasty but way too much food for me, so I took half of it home, cleaned up the chicken to give my dogs a treat. it also came with a side of fries, but I only ate a few. One of my dogs loves fries, so I gave her two. The rest of the fries and the bread will be thrown out for my wild life visitors. They eat everything I throw out for them. That way I never feel guilty about wasting food.

Most of our leftovers go into the compost - in other words, everything but meat. Depending on how it’s prepared, meat does get tossed. If it’s plain, not slimy or smelly or rancid, then yes, all furbabies get some.

We also compost vegetable fruit scraps etc. but if it's edible, the dogs or the wild life get it. I threw out a bag of baby carrots for the deer because they weren't sweet enough for my taste. I will never buy Kroger brand baby carrots again. Oddly enough, the best ones I've ever tasted come from Walmart. It's just too bad that every fucking thing is wrapped in plastic.

 

[ZiprHead]

I had a Cuban Reuben for lunch at a local cafe. It's basically, grilled chicken with Swiss cheese and coleslaw on toasted rye bread. It's very tasty but way too much food for me, so I took half of it home, cleaned up the chicken to give my dogs a treat. it also came with a side of fries, but I only ate a few. One of my dogs loves fries, so I gave her two. The rest of the fries and the bread will be thrown out for my wild life visitors. They eat everything I throw out for them. That way I never feel guilty about wasting food.

I've never heard of a Cuban anything that didn't have pork in it.

 

[southernhybrid]

I had a Cuban Reuben for lunch at a local cafe. It's basically, grilled chicken with Swiss cheese and coleslaw on toasted rye bread. It's very tasty but way too much food for me, so I took half of it home, cleaned up the chicken to give my dogs a treat. it also came with a side of fries, but I only ate a few. One of my dogs loves fries, so I gave her two. The rest of the fries and the bread will be thrown out for my wild life visitors. They eat everything I throw out for them. That way I never feel guilty about wasting food.

I've never heard of a Cuban anything that didn't have pork in it.

There are a few Cuban restaurants not too far from me and they all have lots of chicken dishes on the menu. The guy who owns this local cafe is Hispanic, but I think he's originally from Mexico. His menu includes many kinds of ethnic and American food. I've never been to a Cuban restaurant that didn't have chicken dishes on the menu, so maybe you've just not been to enough Cuban restaurants.

 

[ZiprHead]

I had a Cuban Reuben for lunch at a local cafe. It's basically, grilled chicken with Swiss cheese and coleslaw on toasted rye bread. It's very tasty but way too much food for me, so I took half of it home, cleaned up the chicken to give my dogs a treat. it also came with a side of fries, but I only ate a few. One of my dogs loves fries, so I gave her two. The rest of the fries and the bread will be thrown out for my wild life visitors. They eat everything I throw out for them. That way I never feel guilty about wasting food.

I've never heard of a Cuban anything that didn't have pork in it.

There are a few Cuban restaurants not too far from me and they all have lots of chicken dishes on the menu. The guy who owns this local cafe is Hispanic, but I think he's originally from Mexico. His menu includes many kinds of ethnic and American food. I've never been to a Cuban restaurant that didn't have chicken dishes on the menu, so maybe you've just not been to enough Cuban restaurants.

I've never been to a Cuban restaurant. None around here but I look up recipes on the internet quite often.

Per Gemini:

Typical Cuban cuisine is a vibrant, comforting fusion of Spanish, African, and Caribbean flavors. It relies heavily on slow-cooked meats, aromatic sofrito (garlic, onion, and peppers), and citrus marinades rather than spicy heat. Meals are almost always served with rice, beans, and plantains. [1, 2, 3]

Essential Cuban Dishes

• • Ropa Vieja: The national dish of Cuba. It consists of flank or skirt steak slowly braised in a rich, tomato-based sauce with bell peppers and onions until it falls apart into tender shreds, usually served with white rice. [1, 2]
  • Lechón Asado: A celebratory slow-roasted pork shoulder marinated in mojo sauce—a tangy, zesty mixture of sour orange juice, garlic, oregano, and cumin. [1, 2]
  • Congrí (Moros y Cristianos): The cornerstone of Cuban meals. Congrí is white rice and black beans cooked together with bacon and spices, while Moros y Cristianos refers to them cooked separately. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  • Picadillo: A savory ground beef hash simmered with tomatoes, onions, garlic, olives, and capers, often served over white rice and topped with fried eggs. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
  • Yuca con Mojo: A traditional side dish made from boiled cassava (yuca) root, generously smothered in warm garlic and citrus mojo sauce. [1, 2]
  • Cuban Sandwich (Cubano): The famous pressed sandwich layered with roast pork, glazed ham, Swiss cheese, yellow mustard, and pickles on crispy Cuban bread. [1]

Not a chicken in the bunch. I suspect they use chicken to cater to U.S. tastes.

 

[Elixir]

Cake. Hopefully I’m eating cake.
Mrs E has regained enough strength that she got out of bed and made a Betty Crocker box chocolate cake, destroying the kitchen in the process. Now she asks me to ice it. Which I will, then attempt to resurrect the kitchen … what a life.

 

[southernhybrid]

@ZiprHead
Not a chicken in the bunch. I suspect they use chicken to cater to U.S. tastes.

That is strange because every Cuban restaurant I've ever been to has both chicken and pork entrees. I usually get a chicken sandwich or wrap. Now if they didn't have maduros, plantains, and black beans, it wouldn't be Cuban food.

 

[southernhybrid]

Cake. Hopefully I’m eating cake.
Mrs E has regained enough strength that she got out of bed and made a Betty Crocker box chocolate cake, destroying the kitchen in the process. Now she asks me to ice it. Which I will, then attempt to resurrect the kitchen … what a life.

Well, at least Mrs. E was able to get up and do something constructive. My mother actually started doing puzzles when she had dementia, but only the ones that had 100 pieces. I must have bought her about 15 or more and she loved them. Sadly, after several years, she could no longer do them.

Hope the cake turned out ok.

 

[southernhybrid]

https://www.havana1957.com/blog/what-to-order-at-a-cuban-restaurant/

Back to discussing Cuban food. Now I really want to visit the closest Cuban restaurant but it is about a 20 minute drive from me. Maybe next week, I can talk Mr. Sohy into going for lunch.

• Arroz con Pollo: Arroz con pollo, or Cuban-style chicken and rice, is a one-pot dish bursting with spices, saffron and vegetables. It’s a comforting and hearty meal that showcases the essence of Cuban home cooking.

The above is from the link that lists traditional Cuban food. I've had arroz con pollo. it's yummy.

 

[ZiprHead]

https://www.havana1957.com/blog/what-to-order-at-a-cuban-restaurant/

Back to discussing Cuban food. Now I really want to visit the closest Cuban restaurant but it is about a 20 minute drive from me. Maybe next week, I can talk Mr. Sohy into going for lunch.

• Arroz con Pollo: Arroz con pollo, or Cuban-style chicken and rice, is a one-pot dish bursting with spices, saffron and vegetables. It’s a comforting and hearty meal that showcases the essence of Cuban home cooking.

The above is from the link that lists traditional Cuban food. I've had arroz con pollo. it's yummy.

I agree. Sounds really good.

 

[gmbteach]

Cake. Hopefully I’m eating cake.
Mrs E has regained enough strength that she got out of bed and made a Betty Crocker box chocolate cake, destroying the kitchen in the process. Now she asks me to ice it. Which I will, then attempt to resurrect the kitchen … what a life.

I’m glad she is up and about.

 

[Elixir]

I’m glad she is up and about.

Just enough to be literally dangerous.

 

[Elixir]

Turns out cake is not sufficient unto itself.
I was ordered to the specialty/butcher shop for xpensive steak, baking potatoes and fresh asparagus. I hope the grill gas holds out.

 

[Elixir]

The dinner was great. The cake … not so much. I think (I’m sure) Mrs E left something out.

 

[southernhybrid]

The dinner was great. The cake … not so much. I think (I’m sure) Mrs E left something out.

Sorry about the cake but it is important to allow people with dementia to get involved in activities, even creative ones. It's good that you let her try to make the cake, even if it couldn't be eaten. You sound like a very caring husband. Your wife is lucky to have you trying to do your best to care for her. I worry about having to care for Mr. Sohy, should he end up with dementia. He's much larger than I am, has a snappy temper at times and he seems a lot more forgetful lately. I've met so many people who are caring for their spouses with dementia and I visited so many when I worked as a home health nurse. It's a hard job for sure.

Now, back to eating. We just had subs from Firehouse Subs for lunch yesterday and Amy's vegan frozen entrees for dinner. I love Amy's Pad Thai, but I always add cooked baby carrots and broccoli, cut it up and mix it in with the Pad Thai. Then I save a tiny bit for my dog Sugapea. as she loves Pad Thai as well. The dogs had left over chicken from the Cuban sandwich, with rice and carrots and broccoli for dessert, along with a Nudge treat and a stick with kabobs. Sunny hates broccoli, but she will eat cooked baby carrots. Since we consider our dogs to be family, I thought I'd add what they ate for dessert yesterday.

Would you believe I bought the fussy little bitches some new treats that were bacon and peanut butter, but they both refused to eat them! Maybe the dog who lives next to me will like them. If not, they will be fed to the wildlife.

 

[Elixir]

Thanks SoHy.

Warning - the hard part isn’t looking out for your loved one, it’s missing them.
It’s easy to go above and beyond for a person you love. It’s easy, but it gets really difficult when it’s just a shadow of that person. All the “caring” in the world is unhelpful when the object of that care is only a shell.

I live in anticipation of a fleeting moment of lucidity, and am rarely rewarded. The impulse to hold on to such moments seems to effect their dissolution.
I wonder if I would be aware of my own descent into cluelessness, or even whether it’s already happening. Certainly there is plenty of cause for self examination - and knowing that is my best reassurance.
I don’t remember names, but I have never remembered names. I lose stuff, but I have always lost stuff - I’m fucking absent minded, but this is the first time that bring absent minded has caused me so much angst.
If your husband should ever suffer from dementia, SoHy, I’m pretty sure you’ll be much better equipped to deal with it than I am. What if it’s YOU, though?

I love Amy's Pad Thai,

That’s good, but lately my fav from Amy is Mataar Paneer. If you haven’t tried it, try it!

 

[ZiprHead]

Amy's? Never heard of them.

 

[spikepipsqueak]

The dinner was great. The cake … not so much. I think (I’m sure) Mrs E left something out.

I bet it was the eggs.

If it's not already gone, a slice in a bowl with milk and some golden syrup or jam it makes an Ok dessert. (Been there, done that)

 

[southernhybrid]

Thanks SoHy.

Warning - the hard part isn’t looking out for your loved one, it’s missing them.
It’s easy to go above and beyond for a person you love. It’s easy, but it gets really difficult when it’s just a shadow of that person. All the “caring” in the world is unhelpful when the object of that care is only a shell.

I live in anticipation of a fleeting moment of lucidity, and am rarely rewarded. The impulse to hold on to such moments seems to effect their dissolution.
I wonder if I would be aware of my own descent into cluelessness, or even whether it’s already happening. Certainly there is plenty of cause for self examination - and knowing that is my best reassurance.
I don’t remember names, but I have never remembered names. I lose stuff, but I have always lost stuff - I’m fucking absent minded, but this is the first time that bring absent minded has caused me so much angst.
If your husband should ever suffer from dementia, SoHy, I’m pretty sure you’ll be much better equipped to deal with it than I am. What if it’s YOU, though?

I love Amy's Pad Thai,

That’s good, but lately my fav from Amy is Mataar Paneer. If you haven’t tried it, try it!

I think I've tried that one, and I do like it, but not as much as the Pad Thai.

I agree that the saddest part of losing a spouse to dementia is when they rarely if ever recognize you or remember things that you did together. One of my former patients moved into the ALF where I worked prior to retirement with his wife, who had dementia. I loved chatting with Raymond, as he was a liberal when it came to politics and he was from Alabama. We had so many interesting conversations, while his wife played with my long hair. Then, after I retired, Raymond was gone. They told me that his wife no longer knew who he was and it broke his heart so he moved out. I recall another man who was nearly in tears when his wife didn't know who he was. He held her hand and said, "Baby, don't you know who I am"? She just stared and I felt teary eyed. Dementia is a disease that is much harder on family and caretakers than it is on the victim of the disease.

I have a casual friend who has been taking care of her husband for years. He suffers from dementia, but she told me that he's very mellow and still knows who she is. Dementia of all types varies so much. The symptoms can go from a person sleeping all day to one who is erratic or wanders most of the time. I do feel for you and anyone who has this difficult job. I was the only one who my mother still recognized prior to her death, and we only visited on FaceTime.

Back on topic.....Mr. Sohy is going to make my favorite stir fry this evening. It's chicken with broccoli and grated carrots in an orange sauce. My neighbor, who most of you know as Miss Lonely Hearts loves it, so if we have enough, I always bring her some.

 

[Toni]

Thanks SoHy.

Warning - the hard part isn’t looking out for your loved one, it’s missing them.
It’s easy to go above and beyond for a person you love. It’s easy, but it gets really difficult when it’s just a shadow of that person. All the “caring” in the world is unhelpful when the object of that care is only a shell.

^^this^^

Big hugs.

 

[ZiprHead]

https://www.havana1957.com/blog/what-to-order-at-a-cuban-restaurant/

Back to discussing Cuban food. Now I really want to visit the closest Cuban restaurant but it is about a 20 minute drive from me. Maybe next week, I can talk Mr. Sohy into going for lunch.

• Arroz con Pollo: Arroz con pollo, or Cuban-style chicken and rice, is a one-pot dish bursting with spices, saffron and vegetables. It’s a comforting and hearty meal that showcases the essence of Cuban home cooking.

The above is from the link that lists traditional Cuban food. I've had arroz con pollo. it's yummy.

Yup. A lot of those dishes sound really good.