What's on your (PHOTO) Friday Menu?

My humble opinion is that just about any European breakfast option is better than the manufactured cereals we peddle here. And that's with some European brekkie being coffee and a croissant. Ha. Your childhood foods sound comforting. And pierogies are better than theg have any right to be with their double starch and all.

Good luck with the keto switch. Carb detox is hard, even when carbs hurt.

Also, it's interesting seeing the comparison of what we experienced versus what our parents endured. You didn't have to have the milk drinks because your mom used to have to. I wasn't forced to eat dinner if it was gross to me because my mom was forced to sit at the table until she finished her liver.

Mornin' All!

I'm meeting a friend for coffee later on this morning, then one of my film discussion groups meets over lunch. I need to get some exercise today, but it's going to be too humid to bike (got in 18 miles yesterday, though). I'll see what's on tap at the gym. If no interesting classes, at least I can hop on one of the stationary bikes or the seated elliptical thingie - and do some reading while pedaling away. Weekend should be low key. Tomorrow we're hosting our city's pop-up bicycle tune-up (and minor repair) guy in our garage/driveway (we always get a free tune-up out of it!), so we're kind of stuck in the house - or at least one of us will be, so I'll probably make bread and finish the readings for my classes (I've already finished all the lectures). No plans yet for Sunday.

my upper arms have been achy since I got back from Sweden. Not sure if it was from lugging my backpack around (my laptop was occasionally in there - but there were always collapsible walking poles and a spare pair of walking shoes in there - although those aren't too heavy...) - or it could be from using the walking poles (?) - and I'm still using them when I'm taking a long walk. I discovered yesterday that a heating pad is super helpful. I think I need to start using my resistance bands again when this passes - I suspect my arm muscles are just weak because I haven't done any weights or resistance exercises in a long time (I'm great at doing cardio, but not strength-training). I know that's always important, but now that I'm getting older, doubly so.

QOTD: my mother hated cooking (still does), and it shows. I remember eating cream of wheat, oatmeal, or cinnamon toast for breakfast - or sometimes cold cereal. I used to come home for lunch at two of three elementary schools I attended (we moved a lot). That was always either a tuna sandwich or what she called "toasted cheese" - which wasn't grilled cheese - it was an open-faced thing topped with mayo and cheddar or colby cheese, broiled in the oven (I loved those) - and sometimes a bowl of Lipton chicken noodle soup to go with it. Dinners - meatloaf (which I won't touch to this day), spaghetti (loved it), or chicken breasts baked in cream of mushroom soup (loved that, too) - and either salad with blue cheese dressing or frozen vegetables - always either peas with carrots cut in little cubes, or corn with lima beans. I don't remember having dessert very often - but then, my mother was a chronic dieter (she was never overweight, although she dieted all the time)

B: Danish bread with butter and jam, either skyr with fruit or Ratio yogurt. Coffee with half & half

L: we'll be at the Italian restaurant we've been meeting at all summer (i.e., the film group). Probably my usual half sandwich (grilled chicken with tomato and pesto sauce) and a cup of soup (or a salad or side if the soup du jour doesn't sound appealing)

AS: Ratio yogurt

D: I have no idea. A salad or vegetables for sure. Maybe half a fake chicken burger or Impossible Burger?

have a great day and weekend, everyone!

I hope the stretching helps the achiness, that seems like quite awhile to to be in pain.

yes - I thought so as well - that's why I'm wondering if it might be the walking sticks, because I'm trying to use them every couple of days throughout the refund/return period (because one of them broke while I was in Sweden). I have a doctor's appt on Monday for this stupid plantars wart (again). I'll ask her about it while I'm there.

Glad you're getting checked out.

My mother was not a great cook. We had plenty of food, but mostly bland things. Most days was a hamburger cooked to the point of being a hard rock with mashed potatoes and a canned vegetable like carrots or green beans. She was very worried about meat not being cooked enough. When we had a roast on Sunday she kept taking it out of the oven and checking for the least amount of pink. If she found any it went back in for another 15 minutes.

I was in New York with my aunt once and had a hamburger that was pretty rare and could not believe how good it was. I know better than to eat rare hamburger now, but do like medium rare steak. I had a friend who was Italian and her mother made delicious spaghetti and lasagna. I told my mother about it and she did try but hers was pretty bland. My mother did not discover seasonings until I was grown and out of the house.

My father was from Ireland and sometimes made ham and cabbage. I thought it smelled terrible but did eat it. My mother did like to bake and made delicious pies, cakes, and cookies. For years she baked her own bread every day. We had a freezer in the basement that was full of frozen breads, ice creams, and whatever was on special in the grocery ads. We peeled at least 50 pounds of potatoes a week and back then potatoes were a penny a pound. Breakfast was usually a big pot of oatmeal and a big container of hot cocoa. Sometimes pancakes, but hers were flat and tasteless.

I never gained excess weight until I was grown up and mostly ate in restaurants. My mother learned to cook in her 40's and my younger brothers and sisters did have weigh issues. She went from bland foods to adding lots of spices, butter, and cream. Her food was tasty but very fattening.

Ah, the difference spices and herbs can make! I feel bad for the people who don't like or enjoy cooking who are responsible for it, anyway. Especially in pre-internet days when everything was based on what you learned from the people in your life or how imaginative you could be.

Good morning ~ Maine lobsters are gorgeous! Here you get just the tail and it's not the same. Your weekend sounds lovely - enjoy! Another survival type busy day yesterday with no exercise. I have a short day today and plan to use it to get some actual work done. I feel like I have been pulled down one rabbit hole after another this week. I need to set better boundaries. I thought I had, but apparently I am a pushover. Meeting kiddo for lunch then grocery shopping. This weekend I want to get in a real hike, maybe golf and the kiddo is coming over Sunday and school starts Monday. Anyway - it's the friggin' weekend, cheers!

QOTD - meat and potatoes w/veggies, spaghetti, beef stew and always a salad, every night. I remember the La Choy meal kits too with chow mein and egg foo young. Nothing fancy or laborious for our family of 8. I don't think my mom ever made mashed potatoes other than Thanksgiving and Easter - it was always a baked potato or those little canned potatoes - easy peasy.

B- coffee, l&f yogurt

l - cheeseburger salad

d - grilled chicken and veggies

s - tomatoes

I could not find the picture of Blue I was looking for, boo. Rob has rearranged the garage and i can't get to it. My sister is coming to get her big furniture out of there next week so I should be able to find it after that.

In the meantime, I leave you with this...

Have a wonderful weekend!

People talk about this setting boundaries thing but I have not been successful at that at all. I hope you are able to enjoy your lunch and weekend.

You and me both. I think I do, but no.... I need to assert myself more. I'm trying.!! Lunch was great, i hope you have a great weekend too!!