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

[Glynis]

DSis has been absent today(she said she had a two hour meeting...ugh!), but I can answer. The cookbook is by Rick Bayless. "Mexico:One Plate at a Time"

As for us, we fired up the grill for the first time this season. DD wanted chicken wings, so we had those -- mine marinated in a maple/chipotle glaze, the kids pretty plain -- rice, broccoli and eggplant sticks.

You and your sister always talk about those eggplant sticks, and I'm dying to try them! I know you say that the recipe is a hard one to get right, but I may just have to play around with some eggplant. DH and DS are gone on a Father's and son's campout this weekend, so the girls and I may get courageous. Any tips?????

 

[bengalbelle]

DSis has been absent today(she said she had a two hour meeting...ugh!), but I can answer. The cookbook is by Rick Bayless. "Mexico:One Plate at a Time"

As for us, we fired up the grill for the first time this season. DD wanted chicken wings, so we had those -- mine marinated in a maple/chipotle glaze, the kids pretty plain -- rice, broccoli and eggplant sticks.

Thank you! I don't remember seeing you around here for a while. Have you been MIA or have I just missed your posts?

I'd love the recipe for the eggplant sticks too!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Thank you! I don't remember seeing you around here for a while. Have you been MIA or have I just missed your posts?

I'd love the recipe for the eggplant sticks too!

Count me in for the eggplant, too!
I *love* eggplant! Eggplant pizza, eggplant rollatini, eggplant parmesan, Szechuan eggplant, grilled eggplant, eggplant soup, mmmm. (Just realized that I sound like an Italian Bubba Gump! lol)

 

[lucas]

Count me in for the eggplant, too!
I *love* eggplant! Eggplant pizza, eggplant rollatini, eggplant parmesan, Szechuan eggplant, grilled eggplant, eggplant soup, mmmm. (Just realized that I sound like an Italian Bubba Gump! lol)

P.S. I love eggplant, too!

 

[bengalbelle]

Count me in for the eggplant, too!
I *love* eggplant! Eggplant pizza, eggplant rollatini, eggplant parmesan, Szechuan eggplant, grilled eggplant, eggplant soup, mmmm. (Just realized that I sound like an Italian Bubba Gump! lol)

I'm very curious about Szechuan eggplant and eggplant soup!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Well, I usually order Szechuan Eggplant from Chinese take out. It's a sauteed eggplant in a spicy light sauce. I usually eat it with some rice - yum. I did find a recipe online that sounds good. I haven't tried it, but I am filing it for later!

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2005/Jun/29/il/il24a.html

Spicy Szechuan Eggplant

1/4 cup lower-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 red chili peppers, minced or
1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes
2 slices ginger, peeled
3 cloves garlic, minced
Canola oil cooking spray
1 cup boneless, skinless, chicken breasts cut into 1&Mac253;-inch strips
1 1/2 pounds Japanese eggplant peeled and cut into 3-inch strips
1 cup wood-ear fungus (or shiitake, straw, or other mushrooms), soaked in hot water and sliced into 1 1/2-inch strips
Mix all sauce ingredients and set aside.

Place the sliced eggplant into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave 5 minutes.

Spray a wok or large frying pan with cooking spray and saute the chicken until golden brown. Set aside.

Spray wok or frying pan with cooking spray again and saute eggplant over medium heat until golden brown,

or desired tenderness is reached. Add the wood ears and chicken, then pour the sauce over everything.

Cook until just heated through. Serve over brown rice. Makes 4 servings.

• Per serving: 140 calories, 2 g total fat, 0 g saturated fat, 30 mg cholesterol, 780 mg sodium, 16 g carbohydrates, 8 g fiber, 5 g sugar, 14 g protein.

It even seems SBD friendly if you leave out the 1 T honey!

For Eggplant Soup,

I usually slice and salt an eggplant and drain the water out, then saute in olive oil with garlic. I add a can of crushed tomatoes, a splash of wine, a handful of fresh basil leaves and let it simmer for an hour or two. When I serve it, I usually add some parmesan on top. If I have leftover tomato sauce, I will add it during the tomato adding process. I think it's even better that way. It is great served with garlic bread, crusty baguettes OR mozzarella en carozza if you want to be BAD!

Mozzarella En Carozza

Buy a really thick loaf of Italian bread (little thin baguettes don't work well). Slice it (medium thickness) into about 12-16 slices. Slice a large ball of fresh mozzarella into slices as well - you'll need one slice for every two slices bread. Since everyone in my family picks on the cheese and bread, measurements are futile!
Make them into mozzarella sandwiches. Whisk together 4 eggs and 1/2 cup half and half or whole milk (low fat doesn't taste the same here). Dip sandwiches into mixture to coat like French toast and let dry for a minute on a rack while you heat 2 T (or so) of oil in a deep skillet. When the oil is hot, add the sandwiches and fry on each side, flipping once, until golden brown and crispy. Let dry on brown paper before salting and peppering to taste. You can serve with salad, with marinara for dipping OR with that lovely Eggplant Soup for a great meal. You can also add some roasted red pepper strips or basil leaves in the middle of the sandwiches. Some people even add proscuitto, but these additions are all unorthodox. I still think the plain tastes best.

 

[Nancyg56]

Hiya All! Packing here and cleaning out the fridge for dinner tonight- heading to meet DH in Disney tomorrow!

I hope you get this before you leave. Have a safe and wonderful trip. Oh, who am I kidding.....between the Magic Shell, the wine and the baskets .

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Tonight we are going to my grandmother's house for dinner. We are having my most favorite thing in the whole world- her beef stew

WFD at your house?

ETA: Thanks SO much for all the muffin recipes! I will let you know what I end up doing

 

[Nancyg56]

I forgot about dinner! Last night my dinner was canceled. I worked in the cellar most of the day with my DS and then went out in the yard to move move mulch. DH came home and offered to help (after he pointed out that I did it backwards) and then I help him to move a dumptruck full of compost .
No dinner after that! Tonight I will cook the chicken after i get home.


Now I have a complaint for all of the Muffin Maniacs! There are so many good recipes posted that I made a new folder in my "cookbook" and feel that I need to try them all! DD was drooling over them instead of working and has several requests, and just wait until DDIL sees them. I will be up to my elbows in flour .

 

[FormrCastMbr]

Eggplant pizza, eggplant rollatini, eggplant parmesan, Szechuan eggplant, grilled eggplant, eggplant soup, mmmm. (Just realized that I sound like an Italian Bubba Gump! lol)

I was thinking Bubba Gump too! Thanks for all of the recipes...I LOVE Mozz en Carrozza!!!

Nancy, don't drowned in flour...we would miss you!!!

I am not sure what I am making...it has to be something easy since DS had practice tonight. Maybe some kind of pork chops...Gotta go look at the list on page 1!

Tom's in the air now...yeah! He'll probably kiss the ground when he lands!!!

Have a great day all!

 

[THE HAT]

Well we all know where Nancy will be this weekend.....BAKING

Lauren- I think you may be right, Tom will probably kiss the ground, and then Yell I Love America and it's Non FOO FOO FOODS!!! I still chuckle at the thought of his day yesterday.....poor guy!

Ds is home today as his class is gone on their field trip and he can't do it with his foot. The class is at a state park, hiking then beachcombing. There are to many stairs to do to get to the beach, to many slippery rocks etc. He is ok with it as he is hurting and he hopes to be able to compete at a karate tournament in 2 weeks. (finger crossed for that one)

Anywho---- supper tonight is going to be Haddock Au Gratin, mmmmmm so yummy and super super easy!! I will serve it with glazed carrots, and cous cous.

here is the haddock recipe:

Haddock Au Gratin

* 1 1/2 to 2 pound haddock fillets
* 1 can cream of mushroom soup or cream of celery soup (I use the mushroom)
* 1/4 cup milk
* 1/2 cup shredded mild Cheddar cheese
* 1 1/2 cups soft bread crumbs tossed with 3 tablespoons melted butter


Arrange haddock in a shallow buttered baking dish. Combine soup, with milk in a saucpen over medium low heat; heat through. Pour soup mixture over the fish. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and buttered bread crumbs. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until it is flaking and cooked through.

 

[KadysMom]

Now I have a complaint for all of the Muffin Maniacs! There are so many good recipes posted that I made a new folder in my "cookbook" and feel that I need to try them all! DD was drooling over them instead of working and has several requests, and just wait until DDIL sees them. I will be up to my elbows in flour .

Hi Mom!

Can you start with the Blue Blueberry ones!! YUMMY!!

 

[nucpharm29]

Morning all. Dinner tonight will be in the Atlanta Airport. Have a great weekend all--will be thinking of you all when I'm sampling the food and drink at World Showcase! "See" you on Tuesday!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Good morning, all! Tonight will be pizza since my nephew is coming over - also some leftover steak and chicken from the grill on a nice big salad (so I can get my protein, and so I don't eat three slices of pizza, cause just one slice is not dinner to me! )

 

[TigerKat]

Good morning everyone!

Nancy - if we don't hear from you this weekend we know where you'll be, but come up for air every now and then, OK?

Wendie - I'll keep my fingers crossed for your DS, that he is able to compete in two weeks!!

Lauren - I'm sure Tom is very excited about coming home to your great non-foo foo meals!

I'm waiting on a call from DS - his HS baseball team is in the semi-final round of the state tournament today. They're supposed to be leaving shortly for Monroe, but we had a lot of severe weather yesterday and the field may be too wet. If they win this game they will be playing in the state championship finals next Thursday & Friday in Monroe and hoefully DH & I will get to make a mini-vacation out of it!!

Dinner tonight will be my favorite fried green tomatoes with shrimp remoulade!!

 

[Zandy595]

I'm making something new tonight, Mandarin Turkey Stir-Fry. They were giving out samples when DS and I were at Publix the other day and we both liked it.

When DS gets home from school we're going to make Mickey shaped Rice Krispies treats. If I can find some chocolate chips in the pantry we'll coat the ears in melted chocolate.


Kathy ~ How did your DS do in his tournament?

Wendie ~ I hope your DS is well enough to compete in his karate tournament. Keep him off his foot so it can heal.

 

[TigerKat]

Kathy ~ How did your DS do in his tournament?

The game was cancelled today due to some very bad weather , they're going to play tomorrow.

 

[liamandcaili]

You and your sister always talk about those eggplant sticks, and I'm dying to try them! I know you say that the recipe is a hard one to get right, but I may just have to play around with some eggplant. DH and DS are gone on a Father's and son's campout this weekend, so the girls and I may get courageous. Any tips?????

Well, I think I have finally figured the eggplant sticks out. One key is to make sure you use plenty of water with the egg...two cups or so...and another is to not salt the sticks until after they are finished baking. Also, you want to get a long, thin eggplant, not the big, fat ones. Apparently, the long ones are male eggplants and the rounder ones are female. The male ones make better sticks. I know there's a joke in there somewhere, but I am going to leave well enough alone.

Thank you! I don't remember seeing you around here for a while. Have you been MIA or have I just missed your posts?

I'd love the recipe for the eggplant sticks too!

I admit, I haven't been posting very often lately. I got out of the habit because we moved, then DH was home from Iraq, then I was painting the house...lots going on. Anyway, I've been lurking for a while, so I'll try to be better about posting.

Tonight, I am probably not cooking. DD has her annual ice skating show tomorrow, and tonight is dress rehearsal. It is conveniently scheduled during dinner time.

Here's the recipe:

Mom's Famous Eggplant Sticks

One long eggplant, peeled and cut into sticks about 1/2 inch thick, 3-4 inches long.
1 egg
2 cups water
flour, about two cups
breadcrumbs, about two cups (Mom uses Progresso Italian flavored)
Vegetable oil, for baking sheet

Preheat oven to 400.

Lightly oil a baking sheet, set aside.

Whisk the egg together with the water in a medium bowl. Put flour in a bowl or large plastic bag. Put the breadcrumbs in a separate bowl or plastic bag.

Dip the eggplant first in the egg mix, then in flour (shake any excess off), then back in egg, then in crumbs. Put on baking sheet. Do this in small batches until all the eggplant is crumbed. Add additional flour and breadcrumbs to your bowl as needed.

Put baking sheet in on the lower oven rack (put the rack in the lowest position) and bake 45 minutes. Turn once about halfway through. Salt when the sticks are done.

Mom also tries to make sure she doesn't have anything else in the oven when making these. She says they come out better.

Enjoy!

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Hey WFD crew, I need your help again. I would like to try making BBQ in the crockpot. I already have a sirloin tip roast. Any recipes?

 

[TigerKat]

Hey guys, we need some prayers down here. It's been raining since very early this morning, the canals are full and we are anticipating another batch of storms moving this way. Ever since Katrina I tend to panic but this is the first time my street has flooded.