Small Talk: Chili's

[sacrebleu]

*sigh*

I am totally jealous of your two ovens.

I'm getting ready for my annual Christmas Eve family gathering, so I've been making a few (small) improvements. 

I got a new TV stand and some new shelves. We uncovered some amazing old photos in a dresser drawer of my dad's after he passed-- pictures of him as a kid, pictures of he and my mom when they were dating-- all squirreled away-- so I've gotten a bunch of new frames to show them off.

I'm curious to see how my dog reacts to a christmas tree in the condo. I plan to put it up and maybe put lights on it-- but wait to see his reaction before putting anything breakable on it.  

Edited December 7, 2016 by sacrebleu

[Glory]

Oh! Anyone here have any advice for the vegetarian who wants to cook a prime rib on Christmas Eve and not poison her guests? I've never cooked one before. 

Any fool proof recipes for me? Otherwise, I will be off to get a honey baked ham. 

[frenchtoast]

We do prime rib every Christmas, @Glory. (Hubby is Jewish and he looks forward to Christmas just for that. Well, that and the trains. And putting as many lights as he can on the house)

We mostly follow Alton Brown's direction and do dry age in the fridge. We do not use the terra cotta thingie--a regular roast pan works fine. Low (250--I know, he drops it to 200, but it takes soooo long depending on the size of the roast that we just keep it at 250) and slow (several hours) until it reaches a temp (118). Take it out, cover and it should come up to 125 or so? Heat your oven to 500 or as close as you can get and brown that sucker until 130. We can't get the oven to 500 so we let it go a bit longer. Let it rest again.  You can really let it sit out for a while if you have other things to cook.

[Glory]

Ha! I just watched Alton's episodes yesterday so it's fresh in my head.

My question is timing. I have never cooked one and I have a brand new oven. I do have a meat thermometer though. So if I bought a 7 rib roast, and I want it ready for 7:30pm, what time should I start it?  

EDITED to add my menu. What do you guys think of this. I have 14 people a baby coming. Two of them are vegetarians. 

 

Apps
Shrimp Cocktail -
Italian bread hollowed out and baked with artichoke dip
Chips & Salsa

 

Dinner
Green Salad
Rolls
Brown Butter Carrots (slow cooker)
Rosemary Potatoes (oven)
Fresh green beans (or asparagus??) w/ garlic and lemon (range)
Stuffed Shells (oven)
Shrimp Dijon 
Prime Rib

 

Dessert

Éclair cake 
Rum cake
Fruit salad

Edited December 7, 2016 by Glory

[King of Birds]

9 minutes ago, Glory said:

 I have 14 people a baby coming. Two of them are vegetarians. 

Italian bread hollowed out and baked with artichoke dip

14 ppl & baby? Yikes.  You have a second table  & enough chairs?

The italian bread- okay, I'm drooling.

If I wasn't gonna be in NY I'd crash your place  ;-)

[frenchtoast]

@Glory, mock me if you must, but I write down a "summary" of what went right and what could have been handled better for the past few Christmases. I see that it took 4 1/2 hours to cook a 5 bone (15 lb untrimmed) at 350, down to 300. So...early, like 8 AM early. It can always just sit there if it's done early. It will stay warm no problem. I also cooked a turkey and potatoes, too, and had to time that. When I took out the beast to bring up to temp is when I cooked the turkey and potatoes; I think but I didn't write that down, so I'm not sure. But yeah, it's the way I juggle ONLY HAVING ONE OVEN. Dang I'm jealous. 

What are you going to do with the left over prime rib? Instead of having Christmas dinner the next day, we just nosh on leftovers. (And I make some brunch stuff to supplement) Because there are loads of leftovers.

[possibilities]

I have serious stove/oven envy.

I have 4 burners and I'm constantly running out of space and having to juggle what's cooking and what's waiting to cook. 6 burners would be a game changer. I considered getting a supplementary hot plate, but I also lack counterspace.

I once lived in a place with a double oven and it was amazeballs.

Of course, I also lived for more than a decade with a hot plate and a toaster oven and no stove OR oven, so the current situation is relatively luxurious. But I seriously drooled when I read of Glory's new appliances and her holiday menu!

Congrats on the loveliness!!

[Glory]

3 hours ago, frenchtoast said:

@Glory, mock me if you must, but I write down a "summary" of what went right and what could have been handled better for the past few Christmases. I see that it took 4 1/2 hours to cook a 5 bone (15 lb untrimmed) at 350, down to 300. So...early, like 8 AM early. It can always just sit there if it's done early. It will stay warm no problem. I also cooked a turkey and potatoes, too, and had to time that. When I took out the beast to bring up to temp is when I cooked the turkey and potatoes; I think but I didn't write that down, so I'm not sure. But yeah, it's the way I juggle ONLY HAVING ONE OVEN. Dang I'm jealous. 

What are you going to do with the left over prime rib? Instead of having Christmas dinner the next day, we just nosh on leftovers. (And I make some brunch stuff to supplement) Because there are loads of leftovers.

I won't mock! That's what I was thinking. That it would take all day.

Ok. I can probably do this. *deep breaths* 

@King of Birds N.Y.? Visiting family?

[sacrebleu]

Quote

@KING OF BIRDS N.Y.? Visiting family?

Say hello to upstate NY for me (IIRC, I think that's where you hail from). 

[King of Birds]

Well, like a shark, I must keep moving. But yes, that general area of NY will have the presence of my greatness about.

Glory should share the twist to her Italian bread w/ artichoke etc recipe. Baked? I have my own spinach artichoke recipe I learned from a slow cooker recipe book I got years ago.

[Glory]

It's not much of a twist... I buy the spinach artichoke dip from Costco (it's the best!) and then stuff it inside a baguette. Bake for 15-20 minutes until toasty. 

I've made my own before with mayo, sour cream, spinach, artichokes and garlic and it's not much more work. But I like the Costco one. It has nice big chunks for the bread. 

My dogs are falling apart. Eye infection in one, ear infection in the other, lump to be biopsied. Cry for my wallet, please. 

Oh yeah - we adopted a new dog. Did I mention that? I can't remember. I think I did, but here's a picture!

Meet Rigby! A one year old Frenchie who has survived heart surgery! 

 

[King of Birds]

The best artichoke dip is ... Costco?  LOL  "Ancient Chinese Secret, huh?"

BTW I haven't mentioned it but the KoB attempt at "no hands pants" went woefully terrible. I'm nothing if not honest.

[Glory]

Trust me on this. I am a connoisseur of artichoke dips. Costco is the best. If you're feeling feisty, get the jalapeno one!

[sacrebleu]

Yah @Glory for doggo #3!

[Kalliste]

Rigby is so cute!

[Pixel]

That's dog is adorable. Have you seen the viral video of the frenchie scaring the crap out of a couple of bears? 

Between Brexit, the US election, and Aleppo I feel like the world has gone mad. 

[Glory]

Yup! @Pixel I've seen it!

I'm right there with you. I was reading the new NYT article about the Russian hackers and I just felt like crying. I'm trying to enjoy the holiday season, but I've been a ball of anxiety since the election.

It doesn't help that I work for a DOE lab...

[sacrebleu]

sorry to hear about the passing of Alan Thicke, and in light of our TV Theme Show contest earlier this year, I was stunned to find out he wrote the themes for both Diff'rent Strokes and Facts of Life.

On a similar front-- Extra Hot Great totally swiped the Theme Show idea! not nearly as extensive...

Edited December 14, 2016 by sacrebleu

[King of Birds]

Ha! Lookit the avatar that PTV picked for sacrebleu!

I suggest this, below. (I can email to you if you wish)

 

eta: how dare you!

Edited December 16, 2016 by King of Birds
I am outraged! no reply?

[Glory]

Another reason to be upset at the new administration. No more Jetpacks.

[King of Birds]

Whaaaaa?  No more jetpacks? 

-----

Truthfully I can't be that upset about 'no jetpacks' as The Idiot's election will bring about much more heinous circumstances beyond 'not supporting new technology.'

[Pixel]

I hope the new administration doesn't stop the wheels of technological progress. New tech is one of my favorite things about being alive today. I love new gadgets and things that improve our lives!

Also, I'm watching Batman vs Superman. Man, it's boring. 

[Pixel]

Geez, where is everyone?  Out doing last minute Christmas shopping?

[sacrebleu]

It's been a busy weekend. Some last minute gift shopping. I host my family on Christmas Eve, so there was cleaning, buying and putting up the tree.

I get a real tree every year, and this is the first year in my memory that there were slim pickings at the tree lots. I guess more and more people start decorating right after Thanksgiving--  I went three places before finding a good tree. It was a pretty sorry selection. 

My sister in law's birthday is December 15th- and its their tradition that my brother's family buy their tree on her birthday. The lot they go to was nearly empty. By Sunday they shut down-- crazy! Is there no love for procrastinators? For Scrooges with last minute conversions to Christmas spirit? 

Edited December 19, 2016 by sacrebleu
because Scrooges should be plural not possessive

[Glory]

We had a holiday party this past weekend. It was fun! We invited all our friends and I went through so. much. booze. I think everyone is drinking just to get through the rest of 2016. 

Two and a half days of work left until I'm holiday break. My work closes from Christmas to New Years, so I don't go back until January 3rd. 

[King of Birds]

1 hour ago, sacrebleu said:

Is there no love for procrastinators? For Scrooge's with last minute conversions to Christmas spirit? 

Everything is overkill. It's odd because I remember some houses growing up, "Santa" brought the tree too.  Those types of people are SOL nowadays I guess.

Hey so I know it got mega-cold, the "polar vortex" and all. Is it ending during the week so when I'm east I don't have to wear thermal underwear?

[smrou]

I've been so on top of things with gifts this year, which is pretty unprecedented to me. We draw names and only give gifts to one person in my immediate family, and I was lucky enough to draw my sister's name because I already had a gift idea for her. So I got that out of the way quickly, and just had to get a couple of things for my girlfriend. Yesterday I did some stocking stuffer shopping, but that's easy and fun (exciting things like candy and chapstick and socks). 

Saturday was apparently the day that eveyrone I knew had to throw a party, so I was declining invitations left and right because I'd already committed to going to a coworker's annual party, which is always lots of fun. 

And then yesterday I went over to my parents' house and was surprised when my sister and niece showed up. She just turned 8 months and I don't get to see her nearly often enough. Over the summer I was babysitting her once or twice a week, but since school has started I can go weeks without seeing her. Last time I saw her (at Thanksgiving) she was crawling and pulling herself up on things. Now she walks around (holding onto things) and crawls up stairs. There's just something new every time and it's so exciting and fun to watch. 

[Pixel]

6 hours ago, King of Birds said:

Everything is overkill. It's odd because I remember some houses growing up, "Santa" brought the tree too.  Those types of people are SOL nowadays I guess.

Hey so I know it got mega-cold, the "polar vortex" and all. Is it ending during the week so when I'm east I don't have to wear thermal underwear?

It's already starting to warm back up here in Chicago, if you call above 25 degrees warming up. And today I do!  

I've never understood the "Santa brings the tree" tradition. First off, how hard is it to hide a tree? Who's got time to get one on Christmas Eve? And that really cuts short your tree quality time too, if you take the tree down on New Year's day like I do. 

Edited December 20, 2016 by Pixel

[possibilities]

Pack the thermal undies, KoB. It's not getting warm again out here til March at the earliest.

I've been dealing with kitty dental problems, obsessing about politics, and trying to motivate myself to put plastic on the crappy windows for extra insulation. I did finally see Ghostbusters (via Netflix). My favorite part is when Kate MacKinnon licks the gun.

[Kalliste]

I've been spending my time being Grinchy :P

I've mostly avoided Christmas celebrations which works for me. At this point I'll be having brunch on christmas day with my Mum and that's about it. Score for me!

But first need to struggle through the rest of the work week with very little work and days dragging out. And remembering I'm there for a long time to come

And that my yearly commute adds up to about 19 days (24hrs). So I'm in a really jolly mood right now :P

[sacrebleu]

Quote

Who's got time to get one on Christmas Eve? 

I think part of the reason I do it so late is that growing up, we didn't decorate the tree until Christmas Eve, and we'd leave the tree up until the Epiphany (the 12 days of Christmas). 

It was a big party-- we'd have tons of food, and friends and neighbors would stop by. That's one of my fondest memories of Christmas.  It still feels wrong to put up a tree early.

[smrou]

Hey so I know it got mega-cold, the "polar vortex" and all. Is it ending during the week so when I'm east I don't have to wear thermal underwear?

At least where I am, it's pretty cold today but supposed to warm up significantly over the course of the week.

I've never understood the "Santa brings the tree" tradition. First off, how hard is it to hide a tree? Who's got time to get one on Christmas Eve? And that really cuts short your tree quality time too, if you take the tree down on New Year's day like I do.

I've never heard of this tradition, but it does seem like it would make for an awfully hectic Christmas Eve. However, I don't take the tree down on New Year's Day. I keep it up for at least a week into January. 

[Pixel]

23 hours ago, sacrebleu said:

I think part of the reason I do it so late is that growing up, we didn't decorate the tree until Christmas Eve, and we'd leave the tree up until the Epiphany (the 12 days of Christmas). 

It was a big party-- we'd have tons of food, and friends and neighbors would stop by. That's one of my fondest memories of Christmas.  It still feels wrong to put up a tree early.

It's interesting the different traditions people have. In my family, we have always put the tree up the day after Thanksgiving.  In retrospect, it was probably because everyone generally had that day off of work or school.  Although my mom is Protestant and my dad was a recovering Catholic (as he liked to say), we never seemed to adhere to any particular religious ideas about it.  I had completely forgotten about the Epiphany until you just mentioned it.

I got a pre-lit tree last year (or maybe the year before, I don't even remember).  For the longest time I was like, pfft, who needs a pre-lit tree? It's not that big of a deal to put the lights on.  I said this, even though my tree at the time was 11 ft tall and one of those that had individual branches you had to put together like a puzzle.  Well, now my tree is 9ft and comes in 3 pre-lit sections and putting the tree up takes literally about 10 minutes and I can't believe I didn't do it sooner. I'm a convert!  Plus, it has a base that you can make the tree turn slowly and has settings for all white or color, or alternating. I feel like a Macy's parade is happening in my living room. 

[frenchtoast]

I love, love, love my pre-lit tree. I've had it for quite a few years now--I want to say 10 years--and even though it doesn't have the quick connect, it's still great. This year a section of lights were out and we discovered that there are special fuse bulbs that allow the whole one light is out the rest stay lit. Except if the fuse bulb goes out and then all the lights of that section are out. Rather than spend a chunk of change on a new tree (also, those LED trees are so bright and harsh and made the tree look weirdly black) I put on a old strand of incandescent. And then hubby somehow fixed the fuse bulb, so the section works now. But dang, putting those lights on was so annoying. Also annoying is that we tossed the spare bulbs that came with the tree. 

The only downside is it takes me so long to shape the tree. This year we only used the top two sections so we didn't have to move the dog's futon. It was also a lot quicker to shape, too. And I have tree topper this year. Our ceiling is 7 1/2 ft so the top of the tree always brushed against the ceiling, so no tree topper. 

I should actually be wrapping presents and cleaning. It's A-girl's 11th birthday today and she's having two friends over after school and we're taking them to hibachi. She is so excited. But here I am, procrastinating.

[King of Birds]

On 12/20/2016 at 2:49 AM, Kalliste said:

And that my yearly commute adds up to about 19 days (24hrs). So I'm in a really jolly mood right now :P

I live in LA. It used to take me an hour to get to work, the same to get home. Sure there might be days when school was out, or a Jewish holiday ... when the freeways were moving and not 15mph parking lots. But then, those handful of days with RAIN?  I figured out once it was 20-24 days a year in commute.

 

1 hour ago, Pixel said:

I feel like a Macy's parade is happening in my living room. 

LOL. It's a festivus for the rest of us! BTW Festivus is this Friday!

[Pixel]

26 minutes ago, King of Birds said:

I live in LA. It used to take me an hour to get to work, the same to get home. Sure there might be days when school was out, or a Jewish holiday ... when the freeways were moving and not 15mph parking lots. But then, those handful of days with RAIN?  I figured out once it was 20-24 days a year in commute.

 

 

LOL. It's a festivus for the rest of us! BTW Festivus is this Friday!

Oh, believe me, the airing of grievances has already gotten underway.

[Kalliste]

17 hours ago, King of Birds said:

I live in LA. It used to take me an hour to get to work, the same to get home. Sure there might be days when school was out, or a Jewish holiday ... when the freeways were moving and not 15mph parking lots. But then, those handful of days with RAIN?  I figured out once it was 20-24 days a year in commute.

 

Mine is based on a 2hr commute a day too :P What's worse is I live in a city of 400000 and it's only about 15km each way. So I don't have shitty traffic to blame, I have shitty public transport where the 'direct' bus takes at best 30mins to get about 12 of those kilometres.

[Pixel]

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, and happy whatever it is you celebrate this season!

[MichelleAK]

Happy holidays everyone!  I just got back from my sister's house, where we had a nice Christmas Eve. Tomorrow will just be relaxing at home and watching sports and the Alister Sim version of A Christmas Carol. 

[sacrebleu]

Happy Holidays everyone!

[Kalliste]

I'm really glad there is now a 'sick' emoji ? it reminds me of Rollercoaster Tycoon . I just played a video game that seemed quite fun and suddenly realised I'd started sweating even though I'm sitting under air conditioning and then realised I was getting a bit nauseous.. anyone else get motion sickness from games?

[possibilities]

I get motion sickness from anything that requires me to move my eyes or my head quickly from side to side-- I think video games might kill me!

[Kalliste]

You'd probably be ok with most games @possibilities it's usually only first person style games that cause motion sickness.. so I found out yesterday after looking into it :D

I ended up playing The Sims instead and was fine :)

[Glory]

No motion sickness here. Says the woman played 6 straight hours of PC games today

[Kalliste]

19 hours ago, Glory said:

No motion sickness here. Says the woman played 6 straight hours of PC games today

Lucky :D I also spent nearly the entire time playing The Sims though... I haven't played it since Sims can age and I feel like it's happened too fast. My Sim is going to be an old cat lady :P especially as she realised her boyfriend had a wife and her girlfriend died while she was 'woo-hooing' her boyfriend... 

[Pixel]

Sometimes I get headaches playing video games, but I don't let that stop me!

[sacrebleu]

Saw Rogue One yesterday, and saw the news about Carrie Fisher on the way to the movie. So sad.  Not a fan of the movie. I just thought it was weird that they felt the need for a whole movie to explain why

Spoiler

the Death Star had such a huge design flaw.

spoiling Just in Case...

[King of Birds]

Thanks for the spoilers, as I've yet to see that movie yet! I hope to sneak out this afternoon. I'm back in sunny LA! Woo.

I haven't played a video game since 2004? Just no appeal. I was decent at Atari and the Star Wars arcade game version that looked like this.

[Kalliste]

You need to get yourself playing Stardew Valley @King of Birds :D I also have a game called Viridi where the entire game is planting succulents and watering them occasionally. 

Maybe you just don't know if they appeal to you anymore :)

[King of Birds]

As @Glory says, you start playing and time slips away. I also spent lots of time playing Zelda back in the late 80s and that got to be too much - trying to draw maps, etc. Games are too time consuming.