The Official What's For Dinner thread:Thursday 1-24-08? Recipe finder in OP. Enjoy! Part 2

[LuluLovesDisney]

and if you want to make that Easter ham later on, this is a *great* dish to do along with it.

It sounds completely bizarre, but just close your eyes and eat it with the ham and you will love it!!!

Paula Deen's Pineapple Casserole

1 cup sugar (I use 3/4 cup)
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups grated sharp cheddar
2 (20-ounce) cans pineapple chunks, drained, and 6 tablespoons pineapple juice reserved
1 cup cracker crumbs (recommended: Ritz) (It comes out to about 1 "sleeve", possibly slightly more, depending on how fine your crumbs are)
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, melted, plus extra for greasing pan

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Grease a medium-size casserole dish with butter.

In a large bowl, stir together the sugar and flour. Gradually stir in the cheese. Add the drained pineapple chunks, and stir until ingredients are well combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish.

In another medium bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, melted butter, and reserved pineapple juice, stirring with a rubber spatula until evenly blended. Spread crumb mixture on top of pineapple mixture. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Zandy-

Julie- You know I'm praying. Keep us posted, please, because I love happy endings!

Ladies, you all are using recipes and I need a support group because I have not met a recipe that I can manage not to tinker with . I just tossed out the almost apple pie because I did something wrong. It was almost edible .
Buddy thought he saw it there yesterday, and "poof" it was gone today.

I am a "tinkerer", too!!!

I have managed to limit myself to one so-called "improvement" per recipe.

 

[THE HAT]

Hello ladies!! I have not been around for almost 2 weeks now, so I am sure I have missed a bunch of stuff going on, and tons of yummy recipes. I will start looking over it all in a day or so. I have been sick with bacterial pneumonia, so needless to say there has been little to NO cooking going on in our house. This is the first day since I got sick that I have even sat down at the computer, and I spent quite a bit of time checking my emails.
I hope all of you have been well, and had a nice Easter.
I hope to be cooking again in the next day or so, my poor dh and ds have been such troopers, but I think if I don't cook soon they will never want to eat out again.
I feel much better, just get tired easy, but I can breath again so that is good, lol.
Looking forward to catching up with you all!!!

 

[Glynis]

Hello ladies!! I have not been around for almost 2 weeks now, so I am sure I have missed a bunch of stuff going on, and tons of yummy recipes. I will start looking over it all in a day or so. I have been sick with bacterial pneumonia, so needless to say there has been little to NO cooking going on in our house. This is the first day since I got sick that I have even sat down at the computer, and I spent quite a bit of time checking my emails.
I hope all of you have been well, and had a nice Easter.
I hope to be cooking again in the next day or so, my poor dh and ds have been such troopers, but I think if I don't cook soon they will never want to eat out again.
I feel much better, just get tired easy, but I can breath again so that is good, lol.
Looking forward to catching up with you all!!!

I'm so sorry that you haven't been well! That really stinks!!! Take care and don't do too much too soon! You don't want a relapse!

 

[OKWMom]

Sandy, so sorry about your MIL. How snotty of her! Don't have any ham to send you, but I will send . Best I can do.

Julie, Nancy, Lauren and Kathy - you can add me to the club roster. I was married briefly to a man with an alcohol problem (functional alcoholic), but when I became pregnant with my daughter, I realized that was not the kind of life I wanted her to live. I left him when she was an infant. Fast forward a year and a half, she is diagnosed with autism. Long story short, he decided he didn't want to help pay for her therapy so he relinquished his parental rights. I was glad to see him go, he only came around sporadically, and he would upset her so much when he did, it would derail her therapy for two or three days.

Fast forward again and I am dating my now DH. He asked me to marry him three times before I said yes. On the third time, I told him he didn't really know what he was getting himself into. He had (and still has) custody of his two children, so I pointed out to him they would be graduating from school and eventually moving on with lives of their own. I asked him where he thought my daughter would be in 20 years. He said "wherever we are". He said he had never considered my daughter to be a liability, and the sacrifices I made to give her what she needed told him everything he needed to know about the person I am. He told me he loved us both and wanted us to all be together. How could I say no?

So now, it is DH, myself, and OUR three children. We don't specify his or mine anymore because they all feel like ours. I am fortunate to have a wonderful family and a husband who I love and who loves me in return.

Lauren, I am happy you are like the rest of us in the club and have found someone who will love you and your child and who will make you happy for a very long time.

Sorry for the rambling.

 

[TigerKat]

Gretchen - you have me in tears. I saw Oprah's show on autism last week and have been thinking about it since. I can't begin to imagine what you have been through and I can't possibly express how "awesome" I think you and your DH are. Your selflessness is beyond comprehension. He is truly a very special man as you are a very special woman. I admire you both and your family as well.

LuLu - that pineapple casserole sounds amazing. I'd never tried a pineapple side dish of any kind until this Easter - pineapple stuffing, which was very good. But I've printed out this one for next time!!

THE HAT - Welcome back!! Please ease back into things, don't rush into it.

 

[FormrCastMbr]

Gretchen, what a wonderful family you have. Thank you for sharing your story. Your husband is truly special and I admire your strength. I will keep your daughter in my prayers.

All of this talk reminds me of my Dad...he and my Mom both lost their spouses (Dad had 1 son, Mom had 5). They started dating, a few months later engaged...everyone told my Dad he was nuts to take on 5 children. Now its your mine and ours...I'm the ours!!! My sister (from Mom) eulogized him at his funeral and told everyone what a wonderful father he was. It was the nicest speech I have heard anyone say. It was nice to hear how much the kids appreciated him...

Sandy, I am sorry that you didn't have any leftovers...I would have eaten DH's or dropped it on MILs floor... Some people are just clueless...

Glynis and Kathy...I think DF said I was the best cook since my sis cooks so bland and even forgot to put s&p in the gravy yesterday!!!

Wendie, I am glad you are feeling better...hope you are up to cooking soon!

 

[FormrCastMbr]

Zandy-

Ladies, you all are using recipes and I need a support group because I have not met a recipe that I can manage not to tinker with . I just tossed out the almost apple pie because I did something wrong. It was almost edible .
Buddy thought he saw it there yesterday, and "poof" it was gone today.

If it's baking, I can't do it either!!!

 

[shovan]

Menu change! I am really tired (stayed up for the Sopranos last night and then had bad dreams all night afterwards!). I don't feel like putting together all the components for the tacos, so instead I am making a mushroom pizza with basil and fresh mozzarella.

Thanks for all the nice comments on my photos. I am trying. I don't know how well my photos will come out during the week--we eat late and it is dark, not good for photo taking.

I have a short day at work tomorrow. Leaving at noon, because DH and I have tickets for opening day! And they are awesome seats too--DH is in the fan club (Red Sox Nation), and won a ticket purchase opportunity in the members pre-sale ticket lottery. He scored seats two rows back from the visitor dugout! Whoo-hoo! GO RED SOX!!

That is just toooo cool! Be happy you live in a city that has Major League Baseball, that is fabulous! Your pics ar great too!

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Tonight is my husband's monthly Geek Meeting, so I am on my own for dinner tonight. When I leave work I am planning on either getting some takeout from Applebee's or going to Chick-fil-A. Don't know which yet.

WFD at your house?

 

[Nancyg56]

Julie, Nancy, Lauren and Kathy - you can add me to the club roster. I was married briefly to a man with an alcohol problem (functional alcoholic), but when I became pregnant with my daughter, I realized that was not the kind of life I wanted her to live. I left him when she was an infant. Fast forward a year and a half, she is diagnosed with autism. Long story short, he decided he didn't want to help pay for her therapy so he relinquished his parental rights. I was glad to see him go, he only came around sporadically, and he would upset her so much when he did, it would derail her therapy for two or three days.

Fast forward again and I am dating my now DH. He asked me to marry him three times before I said yes. On the third time, I told him he didn't really know what he was getting himself into. He had (and still has) custody of his two children, so I pointed out to him they would be graduating from school and eventually moving on with lives of their own. I asked him where he thought my daughter would be in 20 years. He said "wherever we are". He said he had never considered my daughter to be a liability, and the sacrifices I made to give her what she needed told him everything he needed to know about the person I am. He told me he loved us both and wanted us to all be together. How could I say no?

So now, it is DH, myself, and OUR three children. We don't specify his or mine anymore because they all feel like ours. I am fortunate to have a wonderful family and a husband who I love and who loves me in return.

Lauren, I am happy you are like the rest of us in the club and have found someone who will love you and your child and who will make you happy for a very long time.

Sorry for the rambling.

Gretchen . What a wonderful family your and your DH have created.

Wendie- I hope that you continue to feel better, I'm sorry that you were sick. I also agree that you need to go slowly. Your troopers will not want you to relapse.

I think that we are having a Shepard's pie tonight. My DS is flying back to FL this morning , so I think that his DW will be joining us. She is going to be lonely until he returns so I think she will be here for dinner a lot .

 

[THE HAT]

Morning all! Thank you all for the get well wishes! I am taking it very slow, as I tend to get tired very quick still.
To all of you who have been in an abusive relationship, how wonderful that you found the happiness that you so deserve!! You are all strong women!!

I had dh put a turkey in the oven last night and he picked it over when it came out, so that we can have hot turkey sandwiches with gravy tonight. We will have it with cranberry sauce, and some peas.
Not a bit fancy, but ds and dh are just happy to have something that isn't out of a box or a drive thru.
Please note: dh can't cook to save his life. Honest he follows directions on the mac and cheese box, and it still comes out as soup, lol. He can make a mean bowl of cereal though!

 

[TigerKat]

Good morning everyone!

Wendie - your DH is not alone, mine can only do hot dogs.

Nancy - I know you're going to miss DS, so glad you and his DW will still be getting together.

Tonight I'm making a chicken dish with mushrooms, garlic & artichoke hearts. Sides will be a pasta and a yet to be decided on veggie!

Have a great day everyone!!

 

[OKWMom]

Thank you to everyone for the kind replies. I truly do have a wonderful DH. And I try to remind myself of that when he does something really dumb.

Lauren, what a sweet story about your Dad. Thank you for sharing that, it brought a smile to my morning.

liamsaunt, what amazing news! I'm sure you are thrilled.

Wendie, glad to have you back, but I agree with everyone else, you need to take it slow so you don't find yourself flat on your back again.

Tonight's dinner is the pork chop recipe Kathy posted with the half and half and carrots, sorry, can't remember the name. I'm making some broccoli and some wild rice to go with it. I've been dying to try it.

Hope everyone has a great day.

Gretchen

 

[JennyMominRI]

I'm going to watch the home opener at Fenway Park and then have a pretty easy dinner of Cheesy Brocolli and Chicken Casserole.
We have the physical therapist coming out here today to work with Ed for the first time...I'm hoping that goes well.

 

[FormrCastMbr]

Hi All!

Lindsay, enjoy your quiet evening!

Nancy, I am sorry your son is leaving...mine will be home tomorrow...yeah! It's great that you have your DIL there though.

Wendie, Add my DF to the list...he can't cook at all! He did however make coffee this morning. For some reason I can't make coffee lately.

Gretchen, I will share stories of my Dad anytime. He was a great man. I, too, have to remind myself once in a while about DF...I can't understand how men can be so clueless sometimes...

Jenny, I hope all goes well with therapy.

I am going to try to butterfly and stuff a pork roast today. I will have steamed artichokes on the side...I will also make a salad for DF.

Have a great day everyone!

 

[lillygator]

well we're stuck with the Outlawz tonight....so we're going to Outback.

Have a great Tuesday all!

 

[lucas]

Tonight I'm trying a couple of super easy new recipes from Dave Lieberman:

Buttery Baby Pea Soup with Pan Grilled Bread
and
Puff Pastry Apple and Raisin Strudel

 

[Glynis]

Tonight will be Quick Tomato Soup. Usually I open a can of campbell's, but tonight I'm actually going to make it from scratch. We're also going to have grilled cheese/tomato sandwiches, or grilled tuna sandwiches. Yummy comfort food! I know my kids will ieat it without putting up a fight! And it will really complement our weather which turned back into winter this morning! Grrr!

 

[TheBeadPirate]

Welcome Piffle!!!! Look forward to sharing recipes with you.

Zilla - Thanks for posting the yummy recipes!

Lori - That exceptional wine gift you mentioned earlier - I have a birthday in July!

If you come down here and visit me I'll get you a bottle of said exceptional gift--only if you promise to share!