I've got the meatballs simmering in the sauce right now! Someone mentioned spaghetti last night and I knew that I had to fix that for tonight.

Mixed greens salad on the side with a simple red wine vinaigrette.

Hi Shirley,
I believe our first day of winter is tomorrow, the 21st. Weird, huh?

We got to 1 degree above freezing today. Freezing rain was called for, but it didn't happen. Snow has melted here as well, the sidewalks are bare which is nice.

I took a container of Texas chili out of the freezer for me, and some cabbage soup for hubby. He makes Texas chili for me, as I don't care for regular chili, with kidney beans.
This one is hot, hot, lots of hamburger, no kidney beans, but he put some black beans in this batch.

The only way I can eat it is over rice, and a dollop of sour cream on top to temper the eat, but I love it.

He raved about my cabbage soup. I think we'll have some ice cream later.

cup of chicken and sausage gumbo, fried oysters, cole slaw!

We are both fighting this horrible sinusitis and bronchitis so I have not been cooking much nothing sounds good. We leave this weekend for Louisiana and I sure was hoping it would be over with by then. Every one I talk to around here has it, must be a potent one. Of course when you take so many immune suppressing meds that doesn't help.

But tonight I have a couple of nice thick bone in pork chops I need to cook so I think I will pan fry/blacken those and have a rice and beans side dish.
My friend that is staying at my house has plenty of food since we didn't eat what I bought for the week.

Rhizo: Isn't it funny how we can be influenced so much by what others post on the dinner threads? Spaghetti and salad sounds very good to me right now.

Jasdip: I'll take a small bowl of each of your suppers. Do you have a recipe for the cabbage soup?

Glenda: I've never tried gumbo but yours sounds good. I'd definitely have the fried oysters and slaw.

Ravencajun: I'm sorry to hear you both are sick. I'd gladly take your supper off your hands tonight. I hope you improve a lot on your trip and have a great time.

Shirley

Raven, the same ailment has been moving through here, too.....Robert has been suffering from it for several days. I'm just waiting for it to hit me. :-( He's greatly improved today. I hope that you feel better soon!

Gadgets, I am very influenced by this thread! It's so easy to get into a rut, isn't it? This thread never fails to give me ideas.

A weird array, but tasty.
Smoked turkey, hummus, goat cheese, romaine lettuce, green onions, ciabatta and roasted tomato and red pepper soup.
Sort of a deconstructed sandwich with a cup of soup!

Hi Shirley

Hearty Cabbage Soup

In a large dutch oven saute 1 lb ground beef, 1 medium onion, chopped, 1/2 cup diced celery, 1/2 green pepper, chopped.
Cook until redness is gone.

Add:
salt and pepper
2 tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp paprika
basil, red pepper flakes, hot pepper sauce; anything else you feel like.
l large can tomatoes
1 can tomato paste
4 cups hot water
2 cups beef broth
3 tbsp parsley flakes
2 cups diced potatoes
1 cup diced carrots

Combine thoroughly, simmer 1 hour uncovered.

Add 6-7 cups chopped cabbage (1 small head). Combine and simmer 1 hour longer, covered. May need to add 1-2 cups more hot water.

I fixed a rather large lunch today and Amber, Alyssa, and Cheryl joined me. Terri had planned on it but Fed X did not arrive in time with the delivery she was waiting on. The girls helped me in the living room and after all left I started wrapping my gifts. I have 3 more to go and I think I am finished. So I am too tired to eat this eveing and will head to bed very shortly.

Sue

Busy afternoon/evening for us. DH's company Christmas party started around 4pm. They do an oyster roast and also have fish & shrimp with several sides. We ate lightly there, because then it was on to a local restaurant where our Rotary (we're both members) was having our Christmas party. We had a bit of pizza & bruschetta there & then went Christmas caroling to a nearby wine shop owned by a Rotarian friend who couldn't make it to the party. We finished the evening by taking part in our usual Friday night tasting at the wine shop. It was quite a whirlwind trying to fit all that into a limited amount of time!

Hounds: I like weird arrays. And yours sounds very appetizing. I really could go for your soup.

Jasdip: I've copied/pasted your recipe....thanks.

Sue: Busy, busy bee. You seem to be "wrapping up" getting ready for Christmas. Glad you had company at lunchtime.

Kittiemom: Boy, did you have a busy evening. I'd like to have been following right behind you with my take-home containers for each of the parties.

Shirley

Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas with rice and beans.

Wendy's...I had the Fish Sandwich, 2 had the Spicy chicken, and the other 2 had double burgers...value fry each...dinner at 5 for 5...

I think I will put spaghetti and meatballs on the menu too.