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@dobiemom @Quartzsite Cruiser I watch the Food Network when I’m in the kitchen. The Pioneer Woman is not one of my favorites but was on when my DH came into the room. He saw her making BLT Pasta salad and ask me to make it. He loved it. BLT Pasta Salad

Baked ziti is so much easier to make than lasagna and if your family is like my DH and requires meat with every meal, serve some Italian sausage on the side. This is also a great way to use the over abundance of zucchini that appears in our gardens this time of year. Vegetarian Baked Ziti with Vegetables I like that this recipe uses zucchini to reduce that amount of pasta. Remember you can use whole wheat or another whole grain pasta. Baked ziti with Roasted vegetables. This recipe roast cauliflower, peppers and onions before placing them in the casserole. It also uses cottage cheese instead of ricotta, something I often do. 5 Ingredient Baked Ziti what could be easier: ziti, jarred marinara, ricotta, eggs and mozzarella. Plus it’s Grandma’s recipe! Sending you peace, healing and all good wishes. May your life be good.

Good Morning Jacqui- Small correction to our August 17-31, 2024 Rotterdam cruise. This is what we booked: It is actually two 7 day cruises. (Not sure if that makes it a B2B or something else) Sorry for the confusion and thanks for all you do. Tina

Lemon Chicken is one of my DH’s favorites. I make a marinade in a Ziploc by zesting a lemon, squeezing the juice, a bit of olive oil, a dab of something sweet like honey and a fresh herb, then put chicken thighs in the bag overnight. Bake at 350 for an hour. I’ve never used a recipe so I had fun exploring all the variations. This recipe for Easy Healthy Baked Lemon Chicken starts by browning the chicken in butter. (Is that healthy?) Then you make a sauce which includes chicken broth and lemon to pour over the chicken breasts and bake. This Grilled Lemon Chicken uses boneless thighs and is cooked on a grill. You can use a grill pan if you prefer to cook indoors. The addition of onion pieces sounds flavorful; I’m going to add them next time I make it. The Stove top Lemon Chicken uses cutlets that are dredged in flour and sauteed. The broth and lemon juice are then added to the pan. I think the sauce would be nice served over pasta or rice. If you’ve never made lemon chicken, I highly recommend you try one of these recipes tonight!

Happy Tofu Day! A reminder that you can always substitute tofu for beef in a recipe. I think the marinade for bulgogi sauce for today’s meal Korean tacos would be excellent on tofu. In order to make a true Korean Beef Steak taco, one must first make bulgogi. Literally speaking, bulgogi (불고기) means “fire meat”. It is one of the most well-known Korean traditional foods and it has been around for thousands of years. It is essential to slice the meat thinly across the grain,ideal thickness 1/8 inch. Next, the meat is ready to be marinated with bulgogi sauce, a blend of soy sauce, brown sugar, asian pear (or red apple), garlic, ginger, ground black pepper and sesame oil. This gives a slightly salty, mildly sweet and nutty savory flavor. Our first recipe for Korean Beef Steak Tacos includes kimchi and caramelized pineapple. Bulgogi Taco is an simple recipe using ingredients that are easy to find. I think the crunch of the red cabbage would be nice and the sauce which includes sour cream, mayo, Sriracha and lime juice sounds delicious. I love this idea Bulgogi Taco Bar. It includes genuine Korean lettuce and sesame leaves, spicy cucumber salad and pickled radish. You could make your own taco bar using the ingredients your family and friends love. Sending you peace, healing and all good wishes. May your life be good.

In 1897, an English journalist from the New York Journal contacted Twain to inquire whether the rumors that he was gravely ill or already dead were indeed true. Twain wrote a response that ran in the Journal on June 2, 1897: I can understand perfectly how the report of my illness got about, I have even heard on good authority that I was dead. James Ross Clemens, a cousin of mine, was seriously ill two or three weeks ago in London, but is well now. The report of my illness grew out of his illness. The report of my death was an exaggeration.

Here is a basic article about this topic: Not a Visa—But U.S. Citizens Will Need to Register and Pay a Fee to Travel to Europe in 2024

Happy Culinarians Day! A day to cook up some fantastic dishes in your kitchen. Challenge yourself and make something that you’ve never made before. If you don’t cook, go out to a restaurant to eat. Don’t forget to compliment the chef. Or you could always have a chili dog. I make stir fry at least once a week. I use whatever I have in the refrigerator. I stir fry the vegetables, take out a portion for me. Add the meat to my DH’s portion. We are both happy. If you don’t like shrimp, it would be easy to substitute chicken, pork or beef. I often use the leftover meat I have in the refrigerator. This first Garlic Shrimp Stirfry. has a delicious looking sauce. So much better than the bottled stir fry sauces you get in the grocery store. It uses red bell pepper, asparagus and snow peas but you can use any vegetables. It is served over rice: I usually make brown rice but you could use cauliflower rice if you are watching your carbs. One of the best parts is you can have this meal on the table in 30 minutes. This Honey Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry contains a third cup of honey making for a sweet and sticky sauce. I love pasta so Asian Garlic Noodles with Shrimp is right up my alley. This recipe uses spaghetti but I always keep soba noodles on hand. They are made with buckwheat and a bit healthier than regular pasta. Sending you peace, healing and all good wishes. May your life be good.

@Fouremco I think your pictures of the pools are an excellent resource. I knew from your post they were from the Nieuw Statendam (NS). I didn’t realize that the original poster (OP) was asking questions specific to the NS. My dear husband (DH) and I are looking forward to a 14 day Taste of Norway cruise on the Rotterdam in 2024. I apologize for the lack of clarity by using unfamiliar abbreviations.

@Fouremco The ship was not identified in the @Beach Nut post so I did not realize they were on the NS. I do think it is important for cruisers new to HAL to understand the different classes of ships. With regards to #4 dining question, my DH and I enjoy fixed dining because we like having the same waiter every night who quickly learns are likes and dislikes( no bread, extra vegetables, tea after dinner…) Also, the Nieuw Statendam (& other Pinnacle ships) have several additional restaurants: Rudis Sel de Mar, Tamarind, Grand Dutch Cafe, NY Pizza & Deli.

Thank you for including the link to your blog. I’m glad your grandson is ok. I look forward to your photos.

These pools are on the Pinnacle class ships(Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam, Rotterdam) The other ships don’t have the second level seating area.

Continuing with our vegetarian theme, we have Creamy Avocado Basil Pesto Spaghetti. Pesto is a basil-based sauce, traditionally made with basil leaves, garlic, pine nuts, olive oil, salt, and Parmesan. The first recipe Vegan Avocado Basil Pesto Spaghetti uses avocado to replace the Parmesean and walnuts instead of pine nuts. It is easy to whip up in your food processor. NY TIMES Avocado Pesto inclusions the Parmesan and adds pepitas (pumpkin seeds) instead of pine nuts. Lighten up Pesto replace the olive oil with avocado in the pesto. This spread can be used on sandwiches or as a dressing for pasta salad too. I currently have a ridiculous amount of basil in my garden. Time to try adding avocado to my pesto! Sending you peace, healing and all good wishes. May your life be good.

Tempeh buffalo wings, another vegan recipe? Tempeh is a plant-based protein source made from fermented soybeans that have been formed into a block. It's known for its high protein content, it offers a host of different health benefits, it’s loaded with vitamins and minerals like calcium, manganese, phosphorus, and iron. Tempeh is a plant based protein source that is made from fermented soybeans. On its own and uncooked, tempeh has a very mild taste and is almost flavorless. However, it does a great job soaking up marinades and flavors so a buffalo preparation is perfect. These Buffalo Tempeh Wings are coated with panko and fried. These Buffalo Tempeh Wings use bread crumbs and are baked. Sending you peace, healing and all good wishes. May your life be good.

Happy Saturday! I hope everyone can spend a summer day of leisure in a hammock without any spoonerisms. Today's meal is Persian Saffron Chicken Kebabs, the key ingredient is saffron. It is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, a purple flower. The spice we think of when we hear “saffron” is actually only a small part of the plant itself. What we use for that distinctive yellow color, sweet-herb smell is actually the stigma, the pollen-germinating part, at the end of the red pistil, the female sex organ of the plant. There are only three stigmata in each saffron flower. Once the stigmata (and their red pistils) have been separated from the plant, they are dried to preserve their color and flavor. Since such a small part of the flower is used, it takes 75,000 saffron flowers to make one pound of saffron spice. The small amount of saffron spice per plant, along with the fact that harvesting must be done manually, leads to saffron being majorly expensive. A pound of saffron can cost as much as $5000. Joojeh Kabob is a traditional chicken kabob from Iran, flavored with saffron and usually grilled on a charcoal grill. Joojeh kabab comes in two forms: bone-in and boneless. The bone-in jujeh kabob is usually made with wings and drumettes whereas boneless chicken kebab is made with chicken breast or boneless chicken thighs. This chicken kebab marinade would work perfectly for both forms. Chicken pieces are marinated in a saffron and yogurt based mixture overnight. The chicken absorbs the flavors of saffron and lemon perfectly and becomes extra juicy and flavorful. Grilled Saffron Chicken is a very similar recipe from the Persian Mamas website. Who can go wrong with Mama’s recipes?

Yes, you can request air dry.

I received a private sale offer in March for a SA & Antartica cruise in January 2024. I booked a verandah and added HIA. I have been checking prices weekly and recently had my PCC check to see if it would be worth it to rebook because currently crew appreciation is included. My booking is $1500 less than the current price.

I agree but I'm not sure what we should call them; veganballs really doesn't work. I feel the same way about oat milk, the only similarity it was to milk is that it is a liquid. I think it should be called oat drink. I'm encouraged by all of you who have said you are willing to give today's recipe a try. The first one is really good!

Hi Jacqui We will be on the Rotterdam from August 17-31, 2024 for the Taste of Norway cruise. Thanks for adding us. Tina

Good Morning! I will be filling in while Debbie @dfish is enjoying a month on the beautiful Zaandam celebrating a retirement and a birthday. Today we have vegan meatballs. Although I am not a vegan (I enjoy yogurt and cheese) and not even a vegetarian (I eat seafood), I frequently make meatless meals. I don’t enjoy the pre-prepared meatless products; they are overly processed and frequently include ingredients that I can’t even pronounce. I am going to start with a recipe that was a hit with my carnivore DH. Best Vegan Meatballs These meatballs are made with black beans and quinoa. They are quick to assemble using a food processor. This recipe adds marinara sauce to amp up the flavor. Delicious served over pasta. Honestly, DH didn’t know they were meatless until I told him. These 5 ingredient vegan meatballs are made with beans and oats. I like this recipe because it suggests alternatives to Italian flavorings: teriyaki, sweet & sour, Swedish. This Vegan Meatballs recipe contains mushrooms and walnuts. They would be delicious on a sub. I noticed many passed on the meal before recipes were even posted. Good for you @Denise T for saying you would give them a try. I encourage everyone to try a meatless meal once a week. It is better for your health and for the planet.

We love Old Bay in Baltimore but I did not taste anything in the crabcakes on HAL. I mean anything, they were flavorless.

Does it have cheese? Vegans do not eat cheese. This is a delicious pizza without meat or cheese.

@BetsyS.Hogates was in DC and it is closed. If you are ever in the area, I’d be happy to recommend a place for a delicious MD style crabcake🦀🦀🦀

Hi @DaveOKC I always enjoy your input but I am from MD and if you’ve ever had a crab cake made with MD blue crab, the cakes on HAL are a disappointment. I was talking to the Pinnacle chef on the Oosterdam last Fall, asking him what to order since I don’t eat red meat. He said, “the crabcakes”. I said, “I’m from MD”. He said, “Don’t order the crabcakes”. He said they were out of large scallops so I should order the halibut. I told him I found most fish on the ship to be over cooked. He said, “Order the it but rare, I’ll know it’s for you”. It was delicious. I enjoyed the the large sea scallop on the Rotterdam in February. I am also a fan of the escargot.