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Many meals have been easy repeats as it has either been nice enough to get in my pool or cold and rainy.  

The other day I wanted an easy pasta sauce.  I read through many recipes on line and then requested to go to the store with Jim.  He goes about every day.

First thing he did, I was in my travel chair, was run me into a Smart Ass as the Smart Ass suddenly backed up.  Jim travels through a grocery store like it is a race track.  So the guy made a scene. 

I found Bertolli Garlic Alfredo.  I mixed it with half a can of tomato sauce and added cut up turkey Italian sausage.  In the sauce I also added a container of fresh baby spinach.  

Of course, the pasta had to be cooked in a separate pot, but this is as close to a one dish meal as I can come.  

I recently made this recipe again.  I had a large bag of kale.  I fully cooked the kale in boiling water.  After draining it, I chopped it fine.  To this pasta dish I added canned chicken.  

We have had quiche and stuffed peppers from Costco.  Lobster ravioli and Lobster Bisque from Trader Joe’s.  

I actually have been out to dinner 3 times.  One out of 3 was a good experience.  First we went to 360 Bistro.  It used to be my favorite.  It was the worst meal I have ever been served in a restaurant.  They obviously have a new cook and I am not going back.  Next we ate at a local restaurant in Lebanon called Sammy B's.  They have a new cook and it was great.  

Then I was talked into going to a Tapas at a restaurant called Lola.  I should have guessed this was a mistake when the chef said he was from Texas.  

Finally I find that in Nashville people are completely rude about handicap facilities.  3 regular stalls empty and there is a totally capable person in the handicapped stall.  At Lola’s a guy parked in the stripped spot next to the handicapped spot for accessibility.  I had trouble getting in and out of the car.  The police can’t monitor this behavior as they are too busy trying to keep us from being shot.  

There have been good things and bad things about moving to Nashville.  At this point I told Jim to bury my ashes by the swimming pool so I finally get value out of the price to build it.  

Instapot sold at Williams Sonoma easy meals.  They are gone, but we’ve had 2 of the Tortilla soups.  They are so easy and now they are gone.  

Here is another example of an easy meal.  I used 

Ingredients:

1/2 of a 16oz. box of corkscrew pasta 

15 precooked meatballs

4 Campori tomatoes, quartered

3 T unsalted butter

EVOO

Parmesan cheese if desired

Directions:

1. Cook the pasta, I use 13 minutes no matter what the package says.
2. Microwave the meatballs.
3. Quarter the tomatoes and cut the butter in smaller pieces.
4. Drain the pasta and immediately add the butter.  When the butter is fully melted, top with meatballs and tomatoes.
5. I topped it with sprinkles of EVOO and after serving you can sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  

I forgot to take a photo, but this soup which I found on line from Food Network was very good and really easy if you have a an Instant Pot.  We had a snow prediction and if you live in TN you panic if they say the word snow.  Jim was out so I asked him to stock up on dinners he could make.  The only thing he brought home was the peanut butter dog biscuits Lucy likes.  I had problems with the soup.  We were going to have it tonight but not after today.  If you have trouble with frequent loose bowel movements, this is not the soup for you.  

INGREDIENTS:

2 T vegetable oil

1 medium white onion, chopped

5 cloves garlic, thinly chopped

4 t chili powder

1 1/2 t ground cumin

1 1/2 t dried origano

2 1/2 C dry black beans, picked over and non-beans removed

2 bay leaves

Kosher salt and freshly grated black pepper

Sliced avocado, cilantro leaves, chopped scallions, lime wedges and sour cream for serving suggested.  

DIRECTIONS:

1. Set the Instant Pot to normal sauté.  Add the oil and once shimmering, but not smoking, add the onion and cook, stirring, until translucent and soft, about 5 minutes.
2. Add the garlic, chili powder, cumin and oregano and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.  Add the beans, bay leaves and 7 cups water.  Follow the manufacturer’s guide for locking the lid and preparing to cook.  Set to pressure cook on high for 1 hour.
3. After the pressure cook cycle is complete, follow the manufacturer’s guide for quick release and wait ant the quick release cycle is complete.  Careful of any remaining steam, unlock and remove the lid and remove the bay leaves.  
4. Then remove 1 C of the beans with a slotted spoon and set aside.  
5. Use and immersion blender to blend the black beans with 1 T !!!! salt (no) and pepper.
6. Serve with the suggestions for serving.  I did avocado and creme fraiche.  

A trick for quick release is to take the handle of a rubber spatula and stick it through the handle of the Instant Pot, the end lifting the steam release valve.  You can’t get burned unless you place your head over the valve.  When the red button goes down, you can open the lid.  

We kept Valentine’s day simple.  Jim wouldn’t even let me use the china.  We both had a baked sweet potato and broccoli not  

from a frozen microwave in bag.  I had some Campori tomatoes that I cut in fancy shapes with a devise I’ve had forever and rarely used.  I had scallops and the second photo is Jim’s steak.  He bought them both at Sperry’s Mercantile.  

You should have heard Jim complain about my scallops.  My 6 scallops cost more than his steak.  They were not the frozen in a bag from Costco.  I told him to buy 4 next time.