Outside the dugout: What's cooking?

Speaking of lasagna that is what we are having.

 

Thinking about Thanksgiving and not doing a turkey. Maybe a slow cooked leg of lamb. Maybe grouper with a macadamia nut topping. Maybe smoked ducks. Lots of time to think about it.

 

Simple tacos tonight. We drove out to Cedar Key today to get some clams and help support that industry that got SLAMMED with the hurricane.

Driving out and back we were listening to a Graham Nash (Hollies, CSN and then CSNY) memoir and she wanted me to play some Hollies. I thought I had a Greatest Hits CD somewhere but couldn't find it. Then she asked for The Byrds and I blew her mind by playing a Byrds album she had never heard before: The Ballad of Easy Rider.

 

Now playing Ray Charles Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music. His version of "You Don't Know Me" is incredible.

I think that I have said this several times but I stood right behind Ray Charles to get a rental car in San Jose. I think the guy with him was actually going to be the driver. LOL.

 

Leftover lasagna for dinner.

I have an old Ducane propane grill that I haven't used for years. Moving it today sheared off a caster. Every burner tube is cracked. None of the ignitors work. But I ordered a new set of burner tubes, cut a block of PT 2x4 to hold up the corner that used to have a caster and I can always use a BIC "firestick" to light it. Probably only use this for roasting peppers.

 

I was thinking about maybe using it for searing. Hard to quickly change a kamado style grill temperature.

 

Tonight I am making the Red Hen Mezzi Rigatoni with Fennel Sausage Ragu that I found on the Washington Post site. Apparently it is so good that when Jill and Joe Biden go to that place they both get the same dish.

I had to go to Fresh Market to get mezzi rigatoni. There is a reason for all of the different pastas. It isn't just noodles and they are all the same. Penne would not have the same mouth feel. Close, but not quite right. And I had to order the fennel pollen online. Shockingly my Publix had passata di pomodoro as that is another ingredient. Think of that as really good San Marzano tomatoes pushed through a very fine sieve.

 

Last night was El Indio take-out before going to the FAMU basketball game.

Tonight I am making sauteed rapini with Italian sausage and penne. I have installed the new burner tubes on my old Ducane gas grill and originally planned to use it to grill the sausages but it has been raining all afternoon and I haven't gotten my take refilled with propane.

 

Thursday was chicken marsala with fettuccini. Last night was El Indio take-out after watching the UF basketball team put a hurt on the Noles at the O'Dome.

Tonight we are going to a friend's house for home made pizza but I am making bolognese sauce to take to a different set of friends house tomorrow evening.

 

Leftover pasta bolognese tonight.

 

Made Carolina style vinegar slaw to go with chicken thighs grilled on the KJ.