I know all the local pizza shops besides the fast food ones in the area. I have tried their slices, but just haven't found anything that is like Steve's mainly because they do two things I like. First, their sauce is sweet made from fresh tomatoes and seasonings, not from a can like most other places. Second they use 100% real mozzarella, not a combo mixed with imitation. It makes for a little more greasy pizza, but that's how I like it.

When I was a young lad just out of high school, I started working for a mom and pop place as a delivery driver. I learned how to make a pizza during down time, as well as how to prep all the pasta dishes, and other things. They actually grinded their own cheeses using a 75/25 ratio on real to imitation mozzarella. I was allowed to make pizzas to take home, paying 50% as was my employee discount. After about 10 pies, they then let me make a few slice pies. Finally, I got to the point that they allowed me to make pies for customers. My first pies were like footballs, as they were more oval in shape than round, but I learned. After working there for about a year, they had enough trust in me, that I filled in when the pizza guy needed time off and the owner, who would normally fill in on is day off, was not available. Also, when we got busy, they had me help out being a second pizza guy so we can get them in on a timely basis.

Finally,

I apologize to whoever I made a personal comment to that it had to be removed. I don't remember what I posted and wish that cbslaid would PM me so I don't do it again. I made a mistake and as always, like to learn from it.

Eaten as a salad or a lettuce wrap??? Either way, bacon & blue cheese is still one of the best combos in the world.

Last night, a tuna sandwich. No name dropping. No extravagant extras. Just tuna . I loved it.

more like a baby wrap held with a long appetizer toothpick; the lettuce piece is SEPARATE from that bacon-wrapped date, and at bottom of the toothpick. Picture a date that’s wrapped with a flexible piece of bacon... stick in that appetizer toothpick. While the toothpick holds the date, drizzle the balsamic or other dressing.

we actually have both dates and Turkey bacon. And lettuce and some creamy cheeses; I should try making them. Use the toothpick to both maintain the wrap shape PLUS for easy consumption. Very clever.

Last night's dinner was a baked potato with pulled pork from a local bbq place.

Last night we ordered from Bruno's, an Italian restaurant that has been in Portland forever. It's the kind of American Italian place you can find in a lot of places: big portions of food that might be descended from things Italians eat but that Italians wouldn't recognize so much. Mr. Gfunk got the chicken Francese, which is what he always gets, and I got the spaghetti gamboretta, which was spinach spaghetti with shrimp and scallops in a garlic butter. Mine was kind of bland and disappointing. Chicken Francese is always delicious. I might just start getting that every time too.

But it's ok because I had 2/3 of a bottle of white Burgundy with it. :)

ooh I want to make a shrimp pasta using my Costco frozen wild shrimp.
what would have improved the pasta, separate from the white wine? :-)

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Very true. The PT Reyes was made into dressing but still worked perfectly with the salty, porky, crispy bacon. And sweet dates. I think it would be good to make with goat cheese too.

Sounds like the pasta could have used some red chili flakes or lemon juice.

I added red pepper flakes!

Post-baseball practice “quick” supper
bean & tillamook medium cheese burrito
Leftover fish burrito
leftover fish & bean tacos
Sliced avocado
Nopalito tortilla chips
spicy salsa

Mr. CE had plans tonight, and I was going to order in, but realized we had some TJ's frozen bulgogi with rice that I wanted to try, so ate that instead. Pretty tasty for a frozen dish, though you might want to throw in some broccoli or another veggie to bulk it up a bit.

Mama Mancini's meatballs in marinara with some parm and TJ's grilled artichokes and mixed olives alongside. A few glasses of a decent Silician red.

Went and got Steve's pizza tonight at the bequest of my wife. A medium (16") one topping pie is now $17.90 and a side of Spaghetti w/ Meat Sauce is now $5.95, the total with tax was close to $25.00. I can't believe the major price increase. I ate 3 slices, my wife ate 1 and about a 1/4 of the side of spaghetti. This was half of the pizza and most likely will have 2 more slices in the morning. I will now only go and get slices at $3.50/per when she wants it as I don't find the value very good anymore.

Grilled ribeye steaks (Costco)
sautéed onions in red wine (surely vinegared!)
sautéed mushrooms with parsley
Baked potatoes
oven-baked steak fries
steamed organic fresh broccoli
boiled organic frozen peas

super delicious. I’m sort of craving a fruit ice cream for dessert.

Tortilla soup made by a friend and eaten at their place. Really enjoying the gradual return of dinner parties!

In general, it's hard to believe how much the prize of takeout or delivery pizza has gone up in the last 10 years. We last ordered one about a month ago. Thin crust with a side salad, and our bill was over $30. IIRC, that same order used to be about $20 within the last 10 years. Remember the not so long ago days when everyone would chip in less than $7-$8 and you'd have leftovers?

Last night - leftover chicken tikka masala with naan
Tonight, beef rouladen, if both the beef and the Nueske's bacon thaw in time.
Tomorrow, hoping there's enough bacon left over to put on top of grilled chicken thigh sandwiches. 70s here this weekend, so we plan to be and cook outside.

Caprese salad, roasted chicken, and a few glasses of Willamette Pinot Noir.

Post-practice carryout supper from United Dumplings, sf

Vegetarian spring rolls
vegetarian pot stickers
beef (Mandu style) pot stickers
Big shrimp & ground Turkey dumplings
singapore curry chicken fried rice
Braised beef “stew” (more brisket) noodle soup (noodles served separate from the soup / beef)

I need to figure out how to make shrimp dumplings!

We went out with two other couples last night -- two couples fully vaccinated, one couple had just gotten their second shots (but both had previously had covid). Shared a bunch of appetizers:
Kale salad
Roast cauliflower
Meatballs
Mussels

I had a great roast salmon with farro, peas, snap peas, pea shoots and feta.

Your freezer will never get empty like this!

Tonight I am cooking butterfly chicken with a pizza topping.

lol I did have some ice cream last night :-)

Chicken salad, cole slaw and potato salad. A sliced pear for dessert. I resisted adding curry powder to the chicken salad - first time I’ve made it without in years. This has grapes apples and toasted almonds in it.

Add some good crusty bread and that pretty much my ideal dinner.

Tonight I’m making a pot of chili with a kale and Brussels sprout salad and baguette. And rioja.

Trader Joe’s chicken enchiladas
leftover baked potato with Toppings
nachos
nopalito tortilla chips
fresh housemade guacamole
sliced avocados
raw organic carrots & celery
raw organic tofu

jarritos pineapple
Jarritos fruit punch

This just reminds me of those Uber Eats commercials. We need Captain Picard or Simone Biles to reply.

Original Joe’s supper as an early Mother’s Day supper

spinach & artichoke dip with crostini
Dinner salad
wedge salad

hamburger steak with swiss
Cheddar cheeseburger on soft sourdough roll With fries
eggplant parmigiana (mine)
filet of sole (lightly breaded) with side of beef ravioli

italian doughnuts - bombolini - with chocolate & raspberry sauces
chocolate ice cream
Dense cheesecake with berries & red sauce


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We got our Sitka Salmon Shares shipment last week, and despite the name, it's not all salmon (though you can do a salmon only subscription). Ours included two tropes of crab and Pacific cod (used for fish tacos last week). Tonight was snow crab store fried with with ginger-scallion butter, plus a side salad. Delicious!

If anyone is interested in learning more about a seafood "CSA" (not technically a CSA, which stands for community supported agriculture) where you can buy your seafood direct from a small collective of Alaskan fisherman, give me a shout. We subscribed about a year ago and have been absolutely thrilled with the quality of fish and quantity of fish we received each month.

Which Sitka Seafood Share do you subscribe to?
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/03...g?v=1602794867

The smallest size of the premium share.

Pork tenderloin seasoned with mesquite, mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. Jumbo shrimp and cocktail sauce to start. I’m making gin and tonics with a bottle of Roku.

I've been considering it since you first mentioned. Today I finally remembered to show my wife. We're thinking about the Sitka Seafood share (middle one). It made sense today when I realized the tuna steak we're having tonight cost $20+ at Boston Fish Market. Seems like the overall cost would be similar -- BFM is expensive but good quality too.

Tonight - Sesame ginger marinated tuna steak. Spaghetti squash noodles - sorry Corky - with sliced peppers and onions in homemade peanut sauce. Hopefully I made enough of the sauce. I'm considering an early cocktail to kick things off. Such an (professionally) unproductive day. But I did manage to get a hair cut, make 3 mason jars of giardiniera, and the peanut sauce...so I got that going for me, which is nice. :)

I’ve checked it out, and the prices are not too bad. Certainly better than Goldbelly. The other day, I saw them offer Black Sea bass from Fulton fish market, att $78!!! For 2lbs.
Hint to those in the NJ area. Sea bass season opens on May 15th. With fluke opening on May 22nd. Usually, the mates on party boats will sell you fresh caught fish. It takes a little negotiation, but 2 lbs filleted will be around 20 bucks.
The same holds true for shellfish. Know when the clammers, oystermen, scallop and lobster boats are coming in.
Your tuna tonight sounds delicious. What type of tuna? Bluefin? Yellowfin? Big eye? I just finished my yellowfin caught last summer. Can’t wait to catch some more!

I have a $25 off coupon -- PM me if you decide to subscribe.

Post-baseball practice/scrimmage (home around 6:45p)

grilled cheeses
sliced avocado
raw organic vegetables
Cold tofu

organic raspberries & blueberries
leftover cheesecake (from Sunday night)

It was! I don't know what type as my wife bought it and prepared it. I was in charge of the spaghetti squash "noodle" dish, which was also a hit. Next time I'd probably do that tuna on the grill I think, but it was cold and cloudy last night so didn't even consider it.

I'd say the Sitka cost is a little high when compared to our Fresh Farms, which has a nice selection. But it's not significantly higher and I expect it's very high quality. I'm not concerned with a few extra dollars for quality when it's still far less than we'd pay in a restaurant.

Thanks, I will! Just need to get her to focus on it some time this week hopefully.

What should I make tonight?
 

I’ve got some asparagus, avocado, and cherry tomatoes I need to use. I was thinking maybe something involving roasting the asparagus and tomatoes, maybe with some lemon juice, adding avocado. Then I am out of ideas. Anyone got some suggestions?

grilled or raw avocado slices
pasta with garlic, asparagus, and tomato

if pasta-free, then I would roast the 2 vegetables with chicken.

I still prefer the fruit to be grilled or raw.

final idea: avocado / tomato salad with lemon. Got that idea at Rose Kitchen, 9th Arron.

You can make a Greek-style Grilled Asparagus Salad with Tomatoes and Feta and add avocado or use avocado instead of the feta cheese.

These. Definitely roast the asparagus, add the tomatoes (halved) and avocado raw, and use a vinaigrette. Feta would be good. And add something crunchy...preferably bacon :). But something to combat the soft texture of everything else, even croutons.