So...whats for dinner?

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  • gardengumby
    gardengumby Member Posts: 4,860

    that really sucks.  The whole idea of going to Hawaii is for warmth (for me at least).  70 degrees doesn't qualify (well, to be honest, this time of year it's a whole lot better than Seattle, but I prefer 78-85.)

    Kauai is a gorgeous island, though I haven't been there for a long time.  Generally we go to either Oahu (see family) or Hawaii (see family) - I think our next trip will take in an island my hubby hasn't seen yet, though (and NO family!!! - well, maybe a little side trip to Oahu to visit the grandkids. )

    I hope it warms up for you.  In the meantime - since this is a food thread - have a lot of fun island cuisine (not to mention fresh ripe papaya!!)

  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 2,394

    My schedule has changed dramatically, so I am back on dinner-duty. Have a pizza dough that has been aging in the fridge for three days and I will make one pizza [sausage with carmelized onions] and a flatbread with my tomato jam.

    70 degrees is NOT worthy of a 13 hour flight. I thought Hawaii was ALWAYS around 80 degrees. That was the point of this trip wasn't it? [Argh!]

    *susan*

  • SeasideMemories
    SeasideMemories Member Posts: 2,462

    Chabba,



    Thank you for the update on Debbie! I hope that she does give you a call. Sometimes just knowing you're not alone and being able talk to someone who has lost a sibling and truly understands can really help. Please tell her that we miss her....



    Michelle,



    I hope that you are having a great time despite the unusually cold temps... As I always say when the weather isn't cooperative when we're at the beach.... 'The worst day at the beach is better than your best day at home/work'....lol! Hope it warms up for you!

  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 8,196

    Dinner tonight will be a stir-fry dish with shrimp, brown rice, diced fennel, fresh ginger and ???  I bought some Asian products like fish sauce and hoisin but haven't used them yet because I'm a complete novice in cooking Asian.  DH likes soy sauce so I may use some of that in the dish or let him sprinkle it on his serving.  I'll check out some recipes online and may come up with some ideas.

    Any suggestions?

    DH cooked a huge pot of lentil soup today.  We may have a little bowl of it, too.  This time of year we like having soup in the refrigerator.

  • deborye
    deborye Member Posts: 2,441

    Praying to the sun gods that you get better weather Michelle.

    I'm going to attempt to make Veal Parmesan.  Never cooked Veal before hope it comes out alright.

    (((HUGS))) everyone

  • LeeA
    LeeA Member Posts: 1,092

    Michelle, when I saw your post earlier today I immediately opened up a tab for Poipu weather, thinking the weather might be warmer there for your last day or so.  I've read that the south shore is typically warmer/calmer/sunnier in the winter months but it looks like Poipu is getting the same weather you're getting where you're staying.  Enjoy your last day!  I'm hoping you get a wonderfully warm day and have another chance to soak up that healing vitamin D!

    deborye - I hope your veal turned out as you planned.  I haven't made veal (or chicken) parmesan in ages.  I need to get an energy burst to make my mother-in-law's eggplant parmesan (which is really eggplant romano).  It's the old family recipe (Italian family).   

    --

    In my steroid rush tonight I boiled some penne pasta (smaller tubes from Trader Joe's) and in a separate pan prepared/sauteed cubes (the frozen ones) of basil, garlic - added onion, Himalayan salt, ground pepper and a bay leaf along with a can of Contadina diced tomatoes (with olive oil and burgundy - I had never tried that before).  I added a can of Trader Joe's tomato sauce (had never tried their tomato sauce - usually stick with Hunts, SW or Cento).  When the penne was at al dente I added it to the sauce and let it cook in the sauce for 20 minutes or so.  It turned out okay.  My husband came home from a lenten mass and had a few small bowls despite fasting (he said it had turned into "how fast can I eat this!"). 

    I don't know why it is but I seem to crave pasta during the first part of the chemo cycle.  I guess it's a carb thing - I don't know.  I go ahead and honor it and try to add protein in along the way with Greek yogurt (I mix it with a bit of Trader Joe's freshly squeezed orange juice).  

    --

    On another note, I love this thread (steroids make me love it even more! Laughing)

    I don't comment all that often but I have this thread in my favorites and really enjoy reading your recipes, dinner plans, thoughts and comments - as well as seeing all the camaraderie!

    --

    Debbie, you are in my thoughts as well.  

    --

    Happy Valentine's Day to everyone in two minutes time (11:58 here).  

  • ginadmc
    ginadmc Member Posts: 183

    I'm on vacation in MT (skiing, eating & reading) and I had to laugh at all the chicken enchiladas a few days ago! At the same time, I had made chicken tacos with corn tortillas. Now we're trying to eat everything before we leave so I made Migas for breakfast yesterday. They were a nice change from oatmeal and used up several leftovers.



    I've tried to make both corn and flour tortillas but have been unsuccessful. I discovered tortillas at Costco. They are raw flour tortillas so you just cook them as needed and they taste very close to homemade. At the grocery store here, I found that they also have corn tortillas, and they sell the flour tortillas in a smaller package than Costco's industrial size.



    I am a tortilla snob & every so often I go on a mission to work on my tortillas but I get frustrated and give up. You would think that with a mother from Central America, I would have some aptitude for making tortillas! Gina

  • Lacey12
    Lacey12 Member Posts: 2,895

    Happy Love Day everyone (or should I say Hallmark day?)!



    I just noticed that my Groupon for a restaurant in Cambridge is expiring while we are away visiting the grandkids. So DH is now calling to see what chances might exist for us to squeeze in there tonight. I'd better stop ordering such things that require remembering while I'm on that darn Tamoxifen!! Not at all a total loss if we can't get in, but I'd better get more organized! Now I have to write everything down!!



    Am about to roll out the cookies (I never do rolled cookies!) to bring to NJ to decorate with DGS.....just have to stop watching Michael Symon make this unbelievably delicious looking salmon dish. Must look it up today. That could be good for my Faux Downton (heretofore to be referred to as FD) entree in September....hmmmmmmm!

    My compatriot wants to go with coq au vin or beef bourgignon, but this seems healthier.

    Fortunately we have a lot of time to decide. :) Sorry to always obsess about this.



    Off to get those cookies rolled.....



    Especially thinking of you today, Debbie.

  • LuvRVing
    LuvRVing Member Posts: 2,409

    LeeA - thanks for checking the weather...we drove to the west yesterday and found sun.  But the beach had no real bathrooms and the porta-potti was a hard walk back towards the road.  We ended up at Salt Pond Beach for a while, but the clouds had taken over the sky.

    We still have a few days - not leaving until Monday night so lots of opportunity to bask in sunshine.  I have a nice Hawaii sun-glow so it's all good!  Last night we went to one of the hotel oceanside bars for live entertainment, these two guys were fantastic.  Rick is about to play golf and I'll be settling in at the pool and beach for a few hours.  I think it's finally going to hit the upper 70s so that will be a big improvement. 

  • luvmygoats
    luvmygoats Member Posts: 2,484

    Michelle - Love that you've got a good glow about you.  Enjoy the sunshine, the pool, the books, the beach, the entertainment, the umbrella drinks.  Just enjoy.

  • carberry
    carberry Member Posts: 997

    Deb  i bought veal cutlets for my DH for valentines day dinner, but am chickening out and going with steaks and potatoes. the veal would be his favorite meal, but I have a hard time getting it nice and crispy the way he likes it, and I am a little gun shy about ruining the expensive veal.

    Any ideas on how to make and keep the veal crispy?  I got some panko bread crumbs.

    So because I am skimping on his favorite meal...I made his favorite desert...cheesecake!

    LeeA  cracking up at your husbands comment about fasting.  I am with him.  and yes those steroids can make you eat everything in sight. Good thing we dont stay on them forever.

  • Laurie08
    Laurie08 Member Posts: 2,047

    Michelle- I hope the weather improves for you.  It sounds like you are enjoying yourself despite the lack of sun and high temps. 

    Lacey- good luck with getting in for dinner!  Hope your cookies turn out well!

    Chabba- Thanks for the update on Debbie.

    Debbie- We miss you and are thinking of you. Hugs.

    So I made the pretzels for DS class party yesterday.  They turned out great but was a huge pain in the ass.  It took me almost two hours and my 3 year old did it with me the whole time.  The 5 year old lost interest after about 15 minutes.  Last night at dinner we were trying to come up with a dinner idea that everyone will like.  My boys like the opposite of everything, someone is almost always miserable at the dinner table while the other rejoices.  DS1 suggested spaghetti and meatballs, DH thought it was a great idea.  My youngest just stared at the table looking defeated.  He hates red sauce.  So I had an idea and asked him if he would want spaghetti with a white sauce (which he loves and I never make it because I do not.)  he got so excited so that is the plan.  Michelle's sauce with meatballs for us and Alfredo for him.

    Hope everyone has a great Valentines Day!

    Here is a pic of the pretzels.

  • SeasideMemories
    SeasideMemories Member Posts: 2,462

    Gina,



    Had never heard of Migas before... had to look it up but it really sounds good! I think DH would love it so will be trying soon! As for homemade corn tortillas... I was going to try it. Even bought my bag of Maseca mesa which sits in my pantry unopened... I chickened out.... Going to have to give it a try.... What's the worst that could happen, right? ....lol



    Lacey,



    Hope you got to use your Groupon coupon.... And I hear you on the Tamoxifen memory issues... I can't tell you how many times my kids have said 'but I told you about that, Mom' and I really don't remember.. I've learned to write everything down...



    I look forward to hearing more about your FD dinner... I think it is such a cool idea and can't wait to hear what you and your 'partner in crime' come up with!! I'm sure it will be spectacular!



    Laurie,



    The pretzels came out really lovely! Good compromise with the boys.. My two weren't into any kind of tomato based sauce when they were little but after DD went away to college my spaghetti with meatballs (with red sauce) was her most often requested 'welcome home' meal..... go figure! lol



    DH and I decided to defer our Valentine's dinner to Saturday when we have some time to cook.... He's making a mussels dish that we both love and I'm doing a simple antipasto platter and taking a stab at a chocolate souffle for dessert... Should be interesting!



    Tonight was Laurie's salsa chicken over rice....

  • deborye
    deborye Member Posts: 2,441

    Veal Parmesan turned out really good, DH loved it, so we finished it off for suppa tonight.

    Laurie, I don't like pretzels but those look good.

  • deborye
    deborye Member Posts: 2,441

  • InspiredbyDolce
    InspiredbyDolce Member Posts: 987

    We modified this recipe and made it last night.  I didn't know what some items were, so we used regular eggplant, we added yellow squash, and used green onions instead of red.  We left the olives out, and used only EVOO.  We never added balsamic and it tasted awesome.  We did use red pepper flakes.  For the noodles, we used Trader Joe's Organic Whole Wheat Penne - but it looked green, so maybe it was spinach penne.  It was yummy!

    http://www.sprouts.com/recipes/pasta-with-roasted-vegetables-and-olives

  • Lacey12
    Lacey12 Member Posts: 2,895

    Seaside, your deferred V-day dinner sounds delightful!



    So we got a 5:30 reservation at the hoped for restaurant...felt elated.....then getting there was a nightmare, took forever ( at one very congested point the guy behind us was slightly rear ended on the Harvard Bridge....and I kept feeling selfishly thankful that it was not the guy in front of me as he started to get his ins. papers out, stopped all the traffic to deal....we were already 15 minutes late for reservation). I was sure that this restaurant had valet parking, as we had been there before, and it is in a busy part of Cambridge, just north of the square, where most of the street parking is permit only. Well, not so fast....the hostess told DH who ran in to check it out, find a place on the main street! Oy! But a Valentine miracle happened and we did find a spot on the main street after making an illegal u-turn. So, all turned out fine....we were probably the oldest people in the restaurant, (clearly a neighborhood place...my old neighborhood from forty years ago!) but it was sweet seeing all the young 'ens enjoying Valentine's Dinner.



    OK the serious stuff....We both had an arugula salad with beets, walnuts and gorgonzola, then I had a most delicious lobster (two pieces, shelled!) in a puff pastry with an accompanying braised cod with puree of winter squash. It was all cooked perfectly, and oh so good. DH had the cassaulet with lamb ad sausage (sp?) which was very filling but so many beans and a very small lamb shank (lilliputian lambs?) along with pieces of sausage. I have to say that because the restaurant up the street from us does the best lamb shank in the world with polenta and vegetables, and it is three times the size of the one tonight.....we are clearly spoiled! My fish entree however, I would go back for.



    So now I am sitting in front of way too many chocolate cookies some of which I will bring to NJ to decorate with DGS (Laurie, you can laugh at that given his two year old status!) and the rest that will be stored until I return to decide who I might decorate them for....belated valentine's gifts!



    Michelle, glad that you are anticipating a bit warmer temp tomorrow...and a Hawaiian glow is nothing to sneeze at!



    Laurie, you are reminding me of DS2's total aversion to tomato sauce on anything until he went for a sleepover to a friend's at age 8, and asked me to make this thing called lasagna, which the boy's mother fed them. I kept my mouth shut and happily re-introduced one of the rejected items up to that point. I just think with some kids, their little taste buds can't tolerate the strong sensory sensation of the acidic tomatoes.



    Off to pack up cookies....and boy, rolled cookies do take a lot more time than I'm used to, but it brings me back to my pottery making days....



  • LuvRVing
    LuvRVing Member Posts: 2,409

    Laurie - my grandkids are really fussy about pasta and sauce.  They all like pasta, no one will eat "meat sauce", the oldest will eat plain marinara, and the two younger ones like olive oil and parmesan on their pastas.  Some times I wonder how my DD keeps it all straight!

    Today was a beautiful pool and beach day, after a slight rain shower around 9:30.  And they fixed the heater on the pool after being broken all week.  So it was a great day.  Food is still meh - fruit was today's "tastes good" plus coffee ice cream.  And oh, a beautiful half an avocado that I had for breakfast. 

  • InspiredbyDolce
    InspiredbyDolce Member Posts: 987

    Laura, your pretzels looks awesome.  Rachel Ray makes everything look so easy in 30 minutes, but in the real world this stuff takes much longer.  LOL 2 hours, oh my goodness! 

    LuvRving, I love hearing all that you do.  I'm so glad you are basking in the sunshine, you must be related to my kitty cats.  I also love the sunshine - and I need to get more of it. 

    I'm just now learning of the news of Debbie's sister.  Sending her and her family lots of prayers. We hope to see you back on here soon Debbie.

    Eric, how is Sharon doing?  I don't know if it's your turn to update me, or my turn to update you.  

    I just got done completing insurance enrollment - I feel like that was a workout in and of itself.  So complicated, fine print, lots of pdfs, etc.  

    But now back to more desk work and then to exercise.

    - recipes, cooking

  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 3,904

    Lacey (and any Downton Abbey foodies), thought you might find this interesting:



    http://mobile.seriouseats.com/2013/02/british-bites-a-downton-abbey-supper.html

  • susan_02143
    susan_02143 Member Posts: 2,394

    Funny... that serious eats article was written by someone who lives right near me. Last night was veal parmesian. Found some of last year's veal in the freezer and had the other stuff as well. This farmer lets his baby cows walk around the meadow so the meat is a little more tough than one of the commercially raised animals. I don't aim for a crunchy and crispy exterior. Only way to get that is to deep fry and then throw it under a salamander. Not for me... I gently sautée and let it rest in the oven with sauce and cheese. Tonight we are grilling some burgers. Maybe I will make a bit of creamy cole slaw since I made some fresh mayo this week.

    *susan*

  • luvmygoats
    luvmygoats Member Posts: 2,484

    Oh heavens to Betsy Nancy. There's Lacey's menu.  All sounds delightful except kidney souffle.  UMMM - English milk punch with rum.

    I finally made the potato leek soup from Carole's recipe.  Finishing the last of it today for lunch.  I like it much better as it aged in the refrigerator.  The leeks cooking nearly got to me; I don't know why because I love onions and always add extra and added one to this.  I did slice leeks in 1/2 rounds and put in bowl of water to wash sand away.  Had some bits in the wash but not much and none in the soup. Used the pancetta as I found it last week.  DH liked it very much.  Next time I get to Trader Joe's hopefully can buy the frozen leeks if I can get home right away.  Oh - Carole - I did add the buttermilk and it was very good.  I had only a dab of heavy cream left so put in good cup of buttermilk.  I would recommend it but I do know it is high in salt.

    I have to make treats for ladies' Bible study on Tuesday so I think I'm going to make Nancy's crescent roll Danish.  Also found a ginger ale blondies recipe and have all the things to make Chai Snickerdoodles from the Ft Worth paper Christmas cookie contest this year.  And low fat/low sugar banana bread.  That should do it I think for about 20 ladies.  Going to be a busy Sunday afternoon.  Bet DH gets a few leftovers b4 they even get out the door.

  • Laurie08
    Laurie08 Member Posts: 2,047

    Just got home from getting a hair cut.  For the first time in my life I had my hair professionally colored.  I haven't even done a box dye in at least ten years.  But the greys were coming fast and furious.  My good friend is my stylist and she had a cancellation so she gave me a cut and color for 50 bucks!  She did foil things as she didn't want to "scare" me with a permanent all over dye.  It looks very natural...minus the greys.  She has promised to call me again in 6 weeks when she gets another cancellation.  She rocks!

    So today was a busy day in general.  Thankfully I put a corned beef dinner in the crock pot for tonight.  It smells so good in here!  The boys will hate it and be miserable but DH and I will be in heaven.  I only do it a couple of times a year and it is so easy to do it in the crock.

    I really need to make potato leek soup before winter winds down. 

  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 3,904

    Laurie, haven't tried corned beef in the slow cooker. Have to give that a try.



    Kidney souffle? I'd try it. I really wish DA would focus a little more on the food.



    We leave tomorrow for the gulf coast, by way of San Antonio. Looking forward to some Tex Mex in my future, but for tonight, it's carryout pizza (no dishes).

  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 3,904

    Laurie, haven't tried corned beef in the slow cooker. Have to give that a try.



    Kidney souffle? I'd try it. I really wish DA would focus a little more on the food.



    We leave tomorrow for the gulf coast, by way of San Antonio. Looking forward to some Tex Mex in my future, but for tonight, it's carryout pizza (no dishes).

  • carolehalston
    carolehalston Member Posts: 8,196

    Nancy, enjoy that Tex Mex!  If I could eat whatever I wanted with no regard to fat, sodium, health, weight gain, etc., I would eat Tex Mex often. 

    I, too, wish that Downton Abbey would give us more insight into what they eat.

    Susan, how what is the refrigerator shelf life of your home-made mayo?

    Luvmygoats, I'm glad you liked the leek potato soup.  All your party sweets sound good.

    Dinner tonight is dh's valentine's day dinner a day late.  He loves pasta so we're having linguine with spaghetti sauce and Italian sausage.  And a salad.

    Tomorrow night we're going out for another Valentine's dinner with friends.  We have a reservation at La Provence, a French restaurant out in the country.  It is owned by John Besh, a New Orleans chef who owns 7 other restaurants and has a PBS show.  I haven't been to La Provence in years.  I know the meal will cost a lot.  There is no menu on the web site.  I think the food offerings are what the chef is cooking that night.

  • SeasideMemories
    SeasideMemories Member Posts: 2,462

    Nancy,



    Safe travels.... How long will you be away? (I seem to think I saw 3 weeks but my memory is so wonky lately that I could be wrong...lol).



    After San Antonio where are you heading? I agree with your comment about wishing they would talk a little bit about the food on Downton Abbey. We see them serving meals/tea but very little talk of 'what' is being served...



    Laurie,



    I need to call and make an appt for a cut and am seriously debating on what would be my first color as well! I am blessed with my Dad's 'resilient to graying' hair but it's starting to creep in here and there... Coloring just seems like such a commitment.... So I just don't know!



    Luvmygoats,



    I have a real sweet tooth so your post really grabbed my attention..lol!!! Would you mind sharing the Chai Snickerdoodle recipe when you get a chance? Those sound really good!



    Carole,



    Enjoy that meal!!! Can't wait to hear what you had and how it was! Sounds like a very special evening!





  • auntienance
    auntienance Member Posts: 3,904

    Seaside, after San Antonio, we'll head to Galveston. My niece has a summer home there where we stay. We'll then go to Biloxi for a few days before we come home. Looking forward to warmer weather and lots of fresh fish! We should be back in three weeks or so.



  • luvmygoats
    luvmygoats Member Posts: 2,484

    Seaside - I have not made these but do know they won the Christmas Cookie Contest.  But the other thing is they use an instant chai tea mix that was marketed here by Central Market.  By accident I bought one at Trader Joe's with my pea brain thinking it was the right brand.  And I don't really like drinking it (though I love chai tea) so I thought what the heck will give it a try.

    Chai snickerdoodles

    2 sticks unsalted butter, softened (or 1/2 cup butter and 1/2 cup Crisco shortening)

    3/4 cup light brown sugar

    3/4 cup granulated sugar

    2 eggs

    2 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

    2 teaspoons cream of tartar

    1 teaspoon baking soda

    1/2 teaspoon salt

    1 cup Hershey's cinnamon chips (see note)

    4 tablespoons Oregon Chai Tea Latte Mix

    1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix butter and sugars until creamy; mix in eggs.

    2. Combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt, and stir into cream mixture. Stir in cinnamon chips. Mix well.

    3. Scoop into 1-inch balls and roll in chai mix to coat. Place on cookie sheets (or a baking stone) about two inches apart.

    4. Bake 7 to 9 minutes; cool slightly on pan until firm. Cool completely on cooling rack.

    Note: If you can't find cinnamon chips, butterscotch chips may be substituted and will yield a sweeter cookie.

    Nutritional information per cookie, based on 4 dozen: 101 calories, 4 grams fat, 15 grams carbohydrates, 1 gram protein, 20 milligrams cholesterol, 55 milligrams sodium, trace dietary fiber, 37 percent of calories from fat.

    BUT then again I just googled Chai Snickerdoodles and there are recipes that do NOT use the tea mix.  I'm trying to use up stuff around the house.

    Then again I also googled almond windmill cookies.  I have to!! learn to make these.  Can't afford to keep buying TJs and maybe (HA) make them lower fat.  I'm sure that's what I love about them.  Sorry about the recipe length.  It would not edit to make it single spaced.

  • luvmygoats
    luvmygoats Member Posts: 2,484

    Nancy - Enjoy your trip.  It was 52 here today and surprised it even made it that high.  'Course SA will be warmer.

    Carole - OHH, special dinner. I might just get to go out next weekend for Mexican Food.  Having catfish tonight.  Don't know it I will attempt to fry it or just microwave it with lemon juice like I usually do.  DH doesn't get home until about 9:45 so probably will take the easy way out.  He will eat it as long as it has plenty of tartar sauce, but I also brought brussel sprouts for him which he loves.  My grocery has a fish counter but not a great one.  These actually say "never frozen".

    I would love to find the Downton Abbey books but too cheap to pay retail.  You won't believe this.  There IS a Downton Abbey cookbook "unofficial".  I found it on Amazon when looking for the book titles.  Another reason to haunt my Half Price Books.