what's for dinner - saturday, feb 15
no idea here yet. there is some leftover chicken tortilla soup and the rest of the pork tenderloin, but i'm still in coffee mode and nothing sounds good.
happy saturday! 
= new reply since forum marked as read
I get to NOT cook for a change (going out to eat). He saved up for a month to surprise me with this; we're always too broke to buy out. So I'm very, very pleased! 
http://www.chenahotsprings.com/
i hope you have a wonderful time 
i love being in a hot tub when it's cold outside. well, at least until it comes time to get out 
the husband and i don't have much money, so i know how special those outings are. my weekend will be wonderful just for the fact i'm finally getting a new heater fan in my car. it's been a cold couple months without it.
we are going out.
Dinner at a place known for it's chile rellenos, then going to catch some music around town.
This is a wonderful little fishing village that I think I could stay in forever.
How was your tortilla soup? I love that.
The produce is outstanding and the variety really impressive.
Although the meat is good and the fish even better, you could eat like royalty and never go near any of it.
What they can do with simple rice and beans is amazing.
They can calm even a really hot soup.
Your idea to make a rice casserole makes a lot of sense. Hope it comes out wonderfully!
i wanted avocado, but they were all over ripe. it's hard to get good avocados here, but i don't expect to in colorado. i thought about just frying up some tortilla strips, but forgot to pick up the tortillas 
I have the lamb marinating in olive oil, garlic lemon juice, oregano and mint. Just few minutes under the broiler, and yummy time. All the usual stuff with it: pita bread, lettuce, tomato, fresh onions and... tzatziki sauce. Sure, it's Trader Joe's sauce, but it sure saves time, and it's about 98% of how I would make it.
That looks like a very romantic place to go! I'll bet you have a wonderful time. The spring sounds not only restful but something dramatically different to break up the routine.
Now you've got me thinking how I can find something like that.
I cooked up assorted things today, so we'll probably just graze for the rest of the day.
Giant lima beans in spicy red sauce.
Slow-roasted asparagus in sesame oil and topped with toasted sesame seed.
Cole slaw with toasted almonds, grilled pineapple, red grapes, and topped with chopped crystallized ginger.
White chocolate.
Red wine.
Snowy day. Very cozy here. Kitties curled up in little fur balls. Fireplace blazing. Cardinals flying in to the bird feeder.
Cher
It's been years since I had a knock on the door from someone offering tamales for sale. When I lived south of the city it was a standard Saturday thing. Here never. Yet today, when I was wondering what to throw together for dinner there it was. "Hi, would you like some fresh tamales?"
I went for 3 pork, with a green sauce. $5. The masa was really good, not too wet or dry. Shredded pork was tender, well seasoned. And the corn husks - my first take on a tamale - were fresh and moist. Green chili sauce was mild and hit the right spot.
Now I wish I had added a few sweet tamales for the AM.
It was incredible. The chef at Chena Hot Springs is a wonder, taking the local flavors (caribou/reindeer, duck, wild lowbush cranberries, nagoonberries, etc.) and creating some really great dishes.
I had the duck with a nagoonberry reduction sauce, garlic mashed potatoes, and the trimmings........followed by a crème brulee that was melt-in-your-mouth fabulous. Nagoonberries are similar to raspberries:
And the Aurora was out! Nice 35th anniversary from one incredible spouse.
Here's the bar in the ice hotel (which, by the way, is open year round)!
We then hit the outdoor grotto-style hot springs, and the northern lights were out. Faint, but out. It was an extremely wonderful evening. We've got literally NO money, so I don't know how he did it - I do know he gave up his occasional drive-through mocha, and takes a lunch every day.
Yes, the food was just indescribably delicious. I've eaten there several times, but not since this chef has taken over. The food's always been good to great but not to this level! The restaurant is typically "Alaskan" in style (very log-cabin chic):
Thanks for the good wishes!
