Lunch Out ~ Holiday Countdown ~ Mushroom & Marsala Fettuccini

Good 42º morning. Up too early. Couldn't sleep after Maggie had to go out to pee. Groan................ Partial cloudiness for the next few days and pollen count is 2.70 out of 12.

Yesterday I took my ride into Roe Motors again so they could install the door locking mechanism that was broken. (under warranty) Then I met Jeannie and Donna at Blondie's Bistro for lunch. I had the crab cakes (like Linda had when she was here) "Crab Cakes with Louisiana remoulade, lemon dill & sweet chili dipping sauces"

Sooooooo good! Jeannie and Donna split a turkey sandwich with sweet potato fries. "Tuscan Turkey with sundried tomatoes, black olives, basil mayo & carmelized onions on Ciabatta." They gave us some of their homemade chocolate chip cookies for dessert. Yummmmmm...

 

Then I went to see Turk and pick up Patty's computer case, since she's at the coast and won't be home for a couple of weeks. Then to the Elk's to meet up with the girls ... Had wine and chatted some more. Nice afternoon. Came home and too stuffed to cook.

 

This is scary:

Click here: Christmas Countdown 2011 - Find out how many days until Christmas 2011

 

Historically this date...

1941 – World War II: Thousands of civilians in Kragujevac in German-occupied Serbia are killed in the Kragujevac massacre.

1944 – General Douglas MacArthur fulfills his promise to return to the Philippines when he commands an Allied assault on the islands, reclaiming them from the Japanese during the Second World War.

1968 – Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy marries Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis.

1977 – A plane carrying Lynyrd Skynyrd crashes in Mississippi, killing lead singer Ronnie Van Zant and guitarist Steve Gaines along with backup singer Cassie Gaines, the road manager, pilot, and co-pilot.

1991 – The Oakland Hills firestorm kills 25 and destroys 3,469 homes and apartments, causing more than $2 billion in damage.

 

And births this date include...

1882 – Bela Lugosi, Hungarian-born American actor (d. 1956)

 

1931 – Mickey Mantle, American baseball player (d. 1995)

.... His life was sad. Heavy drinking, married without love, and Hodgkin's Disease.

 

1942 – Earl Hindman, American actor (d. 2003)

 

1958 – Viggo Mortensen, American actor

Since I didn't cook, here's a Rachael Ray 30 Minute Meal recipe that sounds heavenly......

Double Mushroom & Marsala Cream Fettuccini

3 cups chicken stock 

1 ounce dried porcini mushrooms (a generous handful) 

Salt and pepper 

1 pound fettuccine pasta 

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 

1 pound cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced 

2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh sage or 2 teaspoons dried sage 

1/2 cup marsala wine 

1/2 cup heavy cream (eyeball it) 

1 cup grated pecorino-romano cheese, plus more to pass around the table

 

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the chicken stock and porcinis and let steep over low heat.
   
2. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it, add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain.
   
3. While the pasta is working, in a large skillet, heat the EVOO, 4 turns of the pan, over medium-high heat. Add the creminis and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 8 minutes; season with salt, pepper and the sage. Stir in the marsala and cook for 1 minute.
   
4. Using a slotted spoon, remove the porcinis. Strain the chicken stock and reserve 2 cups. Finely chop the porcinis and add to the cremini mixture; stir in the reserved chicken stock. Stir in the cream and cook until thickened, about 10 minutes. Add the pasta and cheese and toss.

 

All I know. Nuff said. Happy Thursday. Ciao.

xo Sue-Mom-Bobo

October 20th

National Brandied Fruit Day

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/brandied-fruit-compote-10000000521039/