The All-New What's For Dinner Thread!!(recipe index in OP)

[Nancyg56]

Can I get another opinion from you professionals?
I'm feeding 12 adults. Do you think I will have enough food for everyone if I do a 6 lb beef tri tip or sirloin roast and a 8 - 10 lb chicken?
I'm not used to feeding this many people.

I've ordered my cake from publix - take a look:

http://www.publix.com/food/catalog/ProductDetail.do?id=10057


I didn't cook last night - I threw together a chicken and veggie soup for me from the frozen vegetables I had.
Probably won't cook tonight either - just have a lean cuizine pizza or a lean pocket.

I'm sorry, I'm another one of those who cannot judge. I am always afraid that I will not have enough and then we eat it all week.

Your cake looks terrific, though! I am dying for a slice of chocolate cake so I could have just gone through my screen .

IMO, you cooked last night. Here, if I take it out of the fridge, put it all together to make something, it is cooking. Some days I don't even require it to be hot, it just has to be in a bowl or something

Thanks, Nancy! Kady doesn't eat bread? When Greg was home, he was convinced that bread makes up 80 percent of the kids' diets!

That is for the last two weeks. She will go through spurts when she just eats slices of Wonder and calls it dinner. I can always tell when she is going to stop, her Mother tells her that she won't buy it to throw away, Kady tells her she bread and will eat it all, and then

My DD would love it if she emulated your two and skipped Micky D's

(She is her Mother's DD)

Tonight is something out - not sure what. My evening is odd; it's church night and I need to be there but one of my kid's has a dance recital and he really wants me to come, and his mom said I'm the only one he invited. SO. I lined up people to cover church and am going to that instead so I don't know when I'll be done. I'm planning on slipping out after he performs and heading back to church if there is time... who knows.

Aimee- you are making a big impact on your kids. Go and enjoy the recital and let the others work at Church tonight.

 

[TigerKat]

Just wanted to thank you all for the well wishes and ask for good thoughts tomorrow evening at 7PM.

Lauren - I'll check back in if I get any updated broadcast info.

I'll be back when I can...........

 

[HERSEY]

Kathy Sorry I didn't get on sooner, I wish Kyle much luck

Piglet I went back and looked again at your menu. The size roast and chicken sounds like you will have enough. What kinds of sides are you having? Is there more men than ladies, big eaters. I still think the main items are sufficent.

 

[liamandcaili]

Is it the recipe I have for her called "Simple Grilled Shrimp" - the one with breadcrumbs? It looked really good in her pics - and seems easy. This will definately be one of my shrimp recipes!

Can I get another opinion from you professionals?
I'm feeding 12 adults. Do you think I will have enough food for everyone if I do a 6 lb beef tri tip or sirloin roast and a 8 - 10 lb chicken?
I'm not used to feeding this many people.

Yes, that is the shrimp recipe I was thinking of.

That sounds like more than enough meat to me...probably too much considering everything else you are serving. According to my meat cookbook, a four pound roast feeds six people, with leftovers, so six pounds would feed nine. When Becky and I make roast chickens, we make two four pound roasts to feed seven adults, and we always have leftovers. That is something you might consider...it is easier to cook two four pound chickens than it is to cook one eight pound chicken. Those big birds can get dried out. Plus, then you'll have more legs and thighs for people who prefer dark meat.

The cake looks delicious!

WOW, You are really GOOD!! They don't like McDonald's?!!!! Laura, Reach around & pat yourself on your back!!!! You are really doing a great job!

This really made me laugh. Thanks, Sheryl. I'm not sure if this is my influence or if they are just weird kids. They also don't like watching TV (especially Caili), their favorite waffles are flaxseed, and given the entire bread aisle to choose from, they pick whole grain breads. The first time Becky took me and the kids to Disney, Liam wouldn't eat anything, which makes him unbearable. Becky told him that she would buy him any food he wanted, take him to whatever restaurant he wanted, if he would only tell her what he wanted to eat. He sobbed, "I just want food like Mom makes at home!!" We've been staying in villas with kitchens ever since.

I wouldn't dub me the Grillmaster quite yet. I do a good job with fish, but I always screw up hamburgers.

Kathy, I hope you have a great trip. I will be thinking of you and Kyle. Liam pitched an inning tonight, and I don't know how you do it!

Liam actually had a really good game. He got his first hit of the season...a shot into right field with the bases loaded that scored two runs...he got his first strikeout while pitching, and he made some nice plays in the field. It was a marathon game...nearly three hours...but his team managed to hold on to their sizeable lead and won 16-11. It was 16-5 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, but the closing pitcher had more trouble than Liam did locating the plate. Liam walked the bases loaded, but he didn't walk anyone home.

Okay, I am rambling...goodnight everyone!

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I am having the best time with my Pooh this week. Yesterday we went out and ran a few errands. But the best part? We ordered a new matress! I'm so excited!! (pathetic, isn't it?) It's a Vera Wang Sealy.

Tonight I am making chicken tacos for dinner.

 

[LaurieG]

Good Morning,
Last night's dinner was leftovers and tonight we are going to my DD's national honor society ceremony, so by the time we get home will probably end up being grilled cheese or some other gourmet meal that can be made in 60 seconds or less.
WFD at your house tonight?
Have a great day

 

[FormrCastMbr]

Good Morning!

Kat, Have a great trip! More best wishes to Kyle!!!

I heard from Glynis. She is fine, just rather busy with the kids.

We are having Kat's Saucy Beef, noodles and broccoli.

have a great day!

 

[THE HAT]

quick morning check in friends....I missed a day or two...things are busy with school as I am trying to get things taken care of so I can be done for the most part when my dad comes. I hope to have all but emergency meetings done with, and I let them know that I will only sub in the elementary behavior classroom as a last resort, they are totally understanding......but they will still call I am sure,

Meals this week have been mostly grab and go as I have been busy coordinating foods for the 300 people expected at Becky's celebration of life service on Saturday. I have lined up 20 people to bring different types of salads, 20 for breads and 20 for cookies/bars.....all who are helping were giving 60 phone numbers each, and certain foods to line up. So try to reach 60 people...it is a really really large game of tag!

The good thing is this is keeping me very busy this week, which is (sort of) helping me keep my mind off the fact that this is my 1st mothers day without my mother..I miss her so much it takes my breath away......I think of Becky's children and realize that I am lucky, I got so many more with mine then they did with theirs, it does makes me appreciate what I did have a lot more!!
The other thing that is helping me with it is....................Sunday is Ross' 11th b-day!!! Ross was born on mothers day, and this is another year it falls on it, so we are just making it his day on Sunday! He is missing my mom as she always sent the best cards to him, she was famous for her cards, I had so many sympathy cards sent to me saying how her cards would be missed.

This will be a rough weekend, between Becky's service and mothers day...Monday can't get here soon enough.

I missed a ton of things going on, sorry!!

I did "chat" with Kathy, so she knows I am rooting on our nephew over the weekend...but in case she can check in...................GOOD LUCK KYLE!!!

Lindsay--glad you are having a nice week with Scott.

Lauren--post some pics of the remodel when you can....if the freezer is full you can put Tom's head mounted over the mantle!!

Laura--Happy to hear that Liam had a great game!

I am still behind on catching up, but am part way there,lol..........I have to run now though or I will have a classroom full of kids alone....not a good idea on a rainy day with no morning outside recess!

Have a great day!!

 

[Rogue26]

Boy, kids are weird with eating (and husbands, mines worse than my daughter) my daughter loves calamari- but won't go near squid! Most of her food issues are more about texture than taste. I think also if she brings something different for lunch, the kids at school tease her a bit.
We don't have a McDonald's by us, just Wendy's, and it's worse than most so we have our daughter convinced they are all like that.
She also HATES soda, but maybe that's because she tried the Beverly one at Epcot for her first soda experience.
Anyway, last night we had Creamy Ranch Chicken, nothing special but easy and I almost always have the ingredients. Heated up some green beans and was done.

Creamy Ranch Chicken
6 slices bacon-I use more, it's bacon
3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut bite size
2 Tbsp. flour
2 Tbsp. ranch dry salad dressing mix
1 1/4 cups milk
4 cups dried egg noodles

Cut bacon into strips, cook and remove from pan. Leave a little fat in pan and cook chicken. Sprinkle with flour and ranch dressing mix, mix well. Stir in milk. Cook until thickened. Stir in bacon.
Meanwhile cook noodles, then add to chicken mixture. Top with some parm cheese and your done
Simple and no complaints.

 

[Piglet843]

IMO, you cooked last night. Here, if I take it out of the fridge, put it all together to make something, it is cooking. Some days I don't even require it to be hot, it just has to be in a bowl or something

This is good information to know for a young 'en like me.
So by this rule - I did cook again last night. I roasted some vegetables. I'm practicing for this weekend. They turned out really good - made with fresh thyme, rosemary, and balsamic vinegar. Dh picked up some taco bell on the way home for him. Men - they don't have to try near as hard as we do to lose weight.

Just wanted to thank you all for the well wishes and ask for good thoughts tomorrow evening at 7PM.

here's you some pixie dust - we'll be thinkin about you!

Piglet I went back and looked again at your menu. The size roast and chicken sounds like you will have enough. What kinds of sides are you having? Is there more men than ladies, big eaters. I still think the main items are sufficent.

Thanks for looking. I have 5 men - and 7 women and of course my cute little baby nephew but I can't count him.
None of the men are real big eaters. I'm also making a huge pan of roast vegetables, a large bowl of salad and fixings, 12 servings (4 boxes) of Cous Cous, large pan of potatoes au gratin, and a bunch of yeast rolls. My shrimp and spinach dip are gonna be appetizers.
So thanks to everyone who's offered advice - I'm feeling like I'll have enough - as long as I don't screw anything up

Yes, that is the shrimp recipe I was thinking of.

That sounds like more than enough meat to me...probably too much considering everything else you are serving. According to my meat cookbook, a four pound roast feeds six people, with leftovers, so six pounds would feed nine. When Becky and I make roast chickens, we make two four pound roasts to feed seven adults, and we always have leftovers. That is something you might consider...it is easier to cook two four pound chickens than it is to cook one eight pound chicken. Those big birds can get dried out. Plus, then you'll have more legs and thighs for people who prefer dark meat.

I was wondering if I should consider making two smaller ones verses one large one. But something I read online said that a big roasting chicken was better for roasting than smaller chickens were. That they stayed juicier and browned and cooked more evenly. But at the same time its hard to find chickens that big around here - but I know I can get two smaller ones. I'm gonna trust you and just do that!
That will cut my cooking time down. I'll cook them at 425 until they reach 170 degrees - I think it will take a little over an hour?

This will be a rough weekend, between Becky's service and mothers day...Monday can't get here soon enough.

Tonight will be a cheating night on the ol' healthy eating diet. We are going to a Wine Tasting that is a fund raising event for the MS society. They will have lots of wine and hors de'ourves. Then we'll probably pick up some more food while we are out. But it will be fun!
Hope everyone has a great day!
Toodles

 

[zipuzee]

Wendie - to you to get you thru this weekend.

 

[Nancyg56]

Just wanted to thank you all for the well wishes and ask for good thoughts tomorrow evening at 7PM.

I'll be thinking of you all today and at 7 lots of going his way! Please keep us posted.

The first time Becky took me and the kids to Disney, Liam wouldn't eat anything, which makes him unbearable. Becky told him that she would buy him any food he wanted, take him to whatever restaurant he wanted, if he would only tell her what he wanted to eat. He sobbed, "I just want food like Mom makes at home!!" We've been staying in villas with kitchens ever since.

Liam actually had a really good game.

WOW! I think you're kids are awesome, but now Liam has me in stitches . When my oldest was his age I used to bake a lot and his complaint was that he never got any good stuff....you know the cookies in boxes??????

Please tell Liam "Good Game!"

This will be a rough weekend, between Becky's service and mothers day...Monday can't get here soon enough.

This is good information to know for a young 'en like me.

Then this old gal has done my job.

I would go with the two chickens as well. Those big birds are pretty but they can be tricky. By the time the dark meat is cooked the white may be overdone. I don't think they are reliable for company.

Your menu looks wonderful, have fun!

Boy, kids are weird with eating (and husbands, mines worse than my daughter) my daughter loves calamari- but won't go near squid!

I don;t know what I am going to have for dinner. Kady has Sylvan and then her book fair and art show. I don't see how we can have anything organized we are so not going to be.

 

[liamandcaili]

I have to run now though or I will have a classroom full of kids alone....not a good idea on a rainy day with no morning outside recess!

Please wish Ross a happy birthday for me. It sounds like you have a very emotional weekend coming.

I was wondering if I should consider making two smaller ones verses one large one. But something I read online said that a big roasting chicken was better for roasting than smaller chickens were. That they stayed juicier and browned and cooked more evenly. But at the same time its hard to find chickens that big around here - but I know I can get two smaller ones. I'm gonna trust you and just do that!
That will cut my cooking time down. I'll cook them at 425 until they reach 170 degrees - I think it will take a little over an hour?

Hmm...that advice is exactly the opposite of my experience! I roast my chickens at 400 for 20 minutes per pound. I put butter and herbs under the skin, loosely stuff the cavity with lemon, herbs and garlic, and sprinkle the chicken with salt, pepper, granulated garlic and thyme. I also add about 1/4 cup of white wine to the roasting pan. That makes the kitchen smell great. I let the chickens rest under loose foil for 15-20 minutes before carving.

Good luck!

Rogue26 -- I am impressed that your daughter will even eat calamari! Normally, my two are all up for anything fried, but fried calamari and fried clams are not even on the "willing to try" list.

Nancy -- Too funny about the cookies! If it's any consolation, before we knew about Liam's egg allergy, he never liked my cookies either. He said they made his tongue tickle. That was probably because of the eggs!

Now I'm thinking about roast chicken. It is a rainy and dreary day here, so that sounds perfect for dinner tonight.

ETA: Lindsay, congratulations on the new mattress. We got a new bed and mattress last year, and it has made such a huge difference in sleep comfort. Now I know why my neck used to bother me all the time!

 

[shovan]

Morning Y'all,

Wendie, A big ole group hug for you, my friend! It's going to be a rough weekend for you & Ross. Glad that you are so busy with Becky's celebration of life service. She really must have been a special lady! 300 people! I'll be praying & thinking of you, this weekend!

and tell Ross his Aunties send out a big ole "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ROSS"!!

Nancy, Sure sounds like a busy Nana day for you! Nancy, One of the other school Mom's stopped me when I was bringing her to class this morning. To ask me if Alexis was going to attend the school's summercamp. I told her "No, She's going to Camp WakaNANA!"

Kathy, Hoping for a great game for Kyle & the Eagles!!!

I have an appt with the rheum.dr. today. I'll have to tell him I'm sleeping better but other than that, not really feeling any better.

I thinking some kind of fish & roasted veggies for dinner. We have really
been blowing it with fattening foods around here lately. Both DH & I are feeling it in the waistline. I really need to get back on my WW with the rest of y'all! So I guess I'm going to be in the " I'm sick of chicken!" group soon!

I'm going to try & mix it up, with fish, lean beef (like Lauren's vietnamese marinated london broil so yummy) And with spring here, lots of fresh veggies.

 

[Hedy]

Tonight's dinner is barbeque tofu strips, rice and roasted cauliflower. I'm doctoring an allrecipies recipie for the tofu strips, and will report back-and using orangette's cauliflower recipie. http://orangette.blogspot.com/2004/09/tremendous-things-what-im-eating-and.html

 

[shovan]

This really made me laugh. Thanks, Sheryl. I'm not sure if this is my influence or if they are just weird kids. They also don't like watching TV (especially Caili), their favorite waffles are flaxseed, and given the entire bread aisle to choose from, they pick whole grain breads. The first time Becky took me and the kids to Disney, Liam wouldn't eat anything, which makes him unbearable. Becky told him that she would buy him any food he wanted, take him to whatever restaurant he wanted, if he would only tell her what he wanted to eat. He sobbed, "I just want food like Mom makes at home!!" We've been staying in villas with kitchens ever since.

I wouldn't dub me the Grillmaster quite yet. I do a good job with fish, but I always screw up hamburgers.

Kathy, I hope you have a great trip. I will be thinking of you and Kyle. Liam pitched an inning tonight, and I don't know how you do it!

Liam actually had a really good game. He got his first hit of the season...a shot into right field with the bases loaded that scored two runs...he got his first strikeout while pitching, and he made some nice plays in the field. It was a marathon game...nearly three hours...but his team managed to hold on to their sizeable lead and won 16-11. It was 16-5 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, but the closing pitcher had more trouble than Liam did locating the plate. Liam walked the bases loaded, but he didn't walk anyone home.

Okay, I am rambling...goodnight everyone!

Laura, I can grill a burger or a steak, but fish kicks my butt everytime!

Well Laura, I sure wish we could figure out if that's a learned behaviour or an inherited one! Flaxseed waffles! I bought them once for Alexis, she tasted it & wouldn't take another bite. And let's not get started on tv! Yesterday I had to con her, with picking mint to brew tea, baking cookies & having a tea party to pull that child away from the tv!

With my DD, I was a super-watchdog! Everything that child ate until she started school was whole grain, low sugar, no food coloring, etc. Tv time was very limited & only educational. Well she would go to the grandparent's house & watch whatever she wanted on tv. Then come back either sick ( cause Granny would let her have ice-cream even though she lactose intolerant! ) or so wired she end up with a sugar crash meltdown.

When she started school & saw the foods the other kids had packed for lunch, I became the worst Mom in the world! Anytime she was away from home, she'd pig out on the worst foods she could find. At least as an adult she has gone back to healthy eating. In fact I think her diet is better than mine!

 

[Aimeedyan]

I am having the best time with my Pooh this week. Yesterday we went out and ran a few errands. But the best part? We ordered a new matress! I'm so excited!! (pathetic, isn't it?) It's a Vera Wang Sealy.

Not pathetic at all - I love anything new for the house.

The good thing is this is keeping me very busy this week, which is (sort of) helping me keep my mind off the fact that this is my 1st mothers day without my mother..I miss her so much it takes my breath away......I think of Becky's children and realize that I am lucky, I got so many more with mine then they did with theirs, it does makes me appreciate what I did have a lot more!!

Again, I have no idea what's for dinner. DH plays basketball tonight and it's good TV night.

I'm bucking my Special K diet to have lunch with my intern for the summer at Chili's. I'm going to be good and get one of their low cal meals they have but I feel like I should eat cereal for dinner since I'm eating a real lunch.

 

[liamandcaili]

One of the other school Mom's stopped me when I was bringing her to class this morning. To ask me if Alexis was going to attend the school's summercamp. I told her "No, She's going to Camp WakaNANA!"

Laura, I can grill a burger or a steak, but fish kicks my butt everytime!

I'll tell you what, I'll cook all the fish and you cook all the beef, and between the two of us we can earn the title Grillmaster.

I don't really have any suggestions about the TV. I used to let them watch it, but then Liam got bored with the kiddie programs that were appropriate for Caili, and Caili decided she didn't like Sesame Street anymore because she was terrified of Oscar and Cookie Monster. Then I started letting them watch a movie on Friday nights, but that rapidly deteriorated into a giant fight over what to watch, so now, the TV just stays off. To be honest, at this point, they are so busy, there isn't time for TV. The free time they have, they want to spend in other ways. Liam hasn't even played his Wii all that much. Maybe you could get Alexis into figure skating??

I changed my mind on the roast chicken (now that I went out and bought one ). It has stopped raining and it is humid, so I don't want the oven on for that long. I think I will grill it instead.

 

[bigmerle1966]

Just wanted to thank you all for the well wishes and ask for good thoughts tomorrow evening at 7PM.

Lauren - I'll check back in if I get any updated broadcast info.

I'll be back when I can...........

Good luck.

I am having the best time with my Pooh this week. Yesterday we went out and ran a few errands. But the best part? We ordered a new matress! I'm so excited!! (pathetic, isn't it?) It's a Vera Wang Sealy.

Tonight I am making chicken tacos for dinner.

Vera Wang? I swear designers these days seem to have their name on everything.

Dinner tonight will be Mahi Mahi that I might grill, depends on whether it will still be raining. Have that with some sort of veggies and some cous cous.

I am thinking about making an onion, mushroom soup. I got some mushrooms at the market this past weekend and my mother bought some Vadalia onions. I'll saute them down in a little olive oil, then add some beef broth and seasonings.

 

[Disney Ron]

Hi everyone,

Sorry I have not been around and have not caught up on this whole thread.

Well, I woke up this morning with aches and pain I never had before...I guess it was psychological as i became another year older.
My DM made me a really nice dinner last night because Ron was working unfortunately. We had salad, chicken parm, angel hair, and yellow cake with lemon icing.

I had been running errands all day. Luke and I had a fun day at the mall. We hit stride rite, gymboree, and the avenue. I got some great deals.
and had lunch.

WFD- We are having a salad, Mrs. Budd's Pot pie with extra peas.
Hopefully, a glass of wine for me and some beer for DH.

Hugs and well wishes to everyone!
hopefully I can catch up later.
Ann