at home, before my play date:
grilled cheese and grated tillamook medium cheddar (Costco)
I cooked for my family and nibbled:
costco wild shrimp (thawed in water with 2 tsp salt and then boiled with salt & lemon juice; then peeled) - omg this was great!! I also dipped some in Gardel’s traditional chimichurri sauce which was good but is it worth $11.99?? Either way, today 4/15/21 is my first time cooking frozen shrimp and I’m SO HAPPY!!!! Big yay. So delicious. I can now make soup with shrimp or just do a shrimp omelette. Gaobest is SO HAPPY. AND BUZZED.
costco choice rib eye steak ($13.99/lb), grilled - super good. Better than the Safeway choice steak ($6.99/lb). Nice medium rare. I’m a Costco rib eye steak convert. I guess zero more Safeway steak.
omg I can have steak and eggs for my Friday bruncheon. Perfect brunch after a night of drinks. I had like 3 or 4 scotches. So fun. So happy. I need to get wasted more often.

My true dinner at the play date (with 3 people of India origin):
indian!!
Chicken biriyani
chana masala
naan
samosa
Tandoori chicken (?)
japanese and highland park whiskey
strawberry it’s it Ice cream (my first it’s it in many months!)
some canned sparkling water

the host got catered Indian food from a Berkeley restaurant cook. All was super good. Nice heat.


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The smaller Costco label with the price tag says “Previously Frozen” which is SUPER CONFUSING
this wild shrimp costs $12/lb
the Argentinean red shrimp costs more, like $15-25 a pound. I forgot the actual price but it’s a lot more than $12/lb.

So gorgeous

Am moving right right next to you, and when I smell the food I will come to your door with my plate, just like Oliver Twist. Will leave you alone when there is pizza, can't eat it.

I suspect Mr. CE may now have a similar position to me. There's a time and a place for non-traditional pizzas. I enjoy all kinds, but if I really crave a pizza, it better have at least red sauce and mozzarella on it, and probably some type of pork product. One exception...there's never a time and a place for pineapple on a pizza. It's one of my favorite fruits, but just doesn't belong.

Seeing this brings a tear to my eye. Excellent job Corky! Note for everyone...this is how fish is prepared. Simple, without a ton of goopy sauce dumped on top. Cooked...but not overcooked and dry.

I don't think it is a lot more than $12 but it is more.. Regardless, it is peeled and deveined which I very much prefer to having to do it myself.
Unless I am grilling or using in a recipe I always roast my shrimp using Ina Garten's method. IMO boiling any protein (including chicken and shrimp) tends to toughen the meat...even a low simmer is better or poaching. The roasting method is no mess, less shrinkage & curling and is always foolproof.
Didn't you used to make chimichurri at home? I love it on flank steak .
BTW, shrimp is pretty high in sodium already. As I recall, you are watching your sodium so maybe you could skip it in the thawing or cooking process if that is a concern.

Well I must admit that there is a good amount of brown butter/lemon on top. I don't mind sauces on top of fish and almost always need lemon. And a good dill sauce is perfect too.

I really cooked supper for my family last night before going out for my play date. I ate one shrimp and two bites of steak, more for QC. I have zero problems removing shrimp shells.
mega tip - when I used to get prawns in Chinese restaurants, I just ate the whole thing - prawn, shell, tail. Crunch crunch. In 1998 I had live drunken shrimp in Shanghai so if I was eating those poor guys while alive, then eating the shell is zero concern.
So for my family, I just remove the shells and tails.
I still have some Argentinian shrimp but those have to be properly thawed. I’m actually super satisfied with this Costco frozen wild shrimp. I’m such a convert!!!

So I wasn't imagining that you said Argentinian shrimp previously? I can't imagine why anyone would eat the shells....plus the vein.
Your play date? Wasn't that for your kid? What is an adult play date other than Ian or HT style playing?

I figured it was his poker night or similar?

Used leftover chili and refried beans to make nachos. Very good!

Thanks to this and all the other beef posts, I am now the proud owner of a trip tip roast. I don't know if I will get a chance to grill it soon or if it will end up in the freezer.
Beef---it's what's for dinner.

mixed green salad
leftover slice of pizza - artichoke heart & spinach

Girl Scout cookies
blood oranges

have you had the shells? Crunch crunch.
ive had these prawns at Chinese restaurants where the full shrimp including shell has some sauce, so even the shells have taste.
My play date. Children don’t get an evening play date. the anticipation makes it feel like a booty call.

This - poker at someone’s house. All vax. My favorite thing in the world when away from my family. Cheap date for me.

Bon app! Would you grill it and freeze the leftovers?
I’ve yet to buy a big hunk of meat that I imagine roasting for hours. Just steak and that one corned beef. There’s zero requests for making prime rib or roast beef which might be why I’ve not bought such a piece of meat.

Curry udon and beef teriyaki udon with various tempura and matcha and yuzu soft serve. Sunset photo added because we forgot to take a picture of the dessert.

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So gorgeous.
I love Japanese curry. I bought the roux and then got freaked out with the sodium level and stopped trying to cook it :-)
but boy do I love it. I suppose I can buy it again and just eat it with very limited frequency.
ive been just using dried chili peppers to make things spicy as opposed to making curry.

We went to our favorite butcher today to stock up... And bought a flank steak!

A Japanese restaurant that I loved (and sadly closed) made fried river shrimp (basically the tiny shrimp you sometimes see in fried rice) and they were cooked shell and all, and you were just pop them in your mouth like a French fry. They were delicious.

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Marinating baby lamb chops in lemon, garlic, rosemary, oil, balsamic...going to go on the grill. :D
also green salad with avocado dressing. The avocado takes the place of any oil and it is really good--I had my doubts
roasted potatoes
peas with scallions and mint