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

[LindsayDunn228]

I leave for WDW TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!

My grandmother is making us dinner tonight so I don't have to cook. She is cooking her homemade stew. It's is by far my favorite meal. She take stew meat and cook it with some water in a pressure cooker until it's tender. Then she add chopped carrots and potatoes. Her seasonings are garlic salt, pepper, and a blend of ketchup and BBQ sauce. Sounds odd, doesn't it? But my mouth is already watering in anticipation!!!!!!

WFD at your house?

ETA: I hope someone will bump this thread up while I am gone. I will have internet access one or two days on my trip, but I may not get to the DIS.

 

[Nancyg56]

HAve a wonderful trip, Lindsay!


I don't know what we are having for dinner tonight. DH is working, and Saturday is always devoted to my Mom and my Aunt. I do their hair, organize their medications, shop and run any errands they have, I don't generally get home until late afternoon.

I wanted to go out, but we have been gallivanting a lot lately, and I just let DH know what our expenses are for the next few weeks. He is in shock (doesn't take much), so there goes dinner .

I'll find something in the freezer, but have no idea what.

 

[TigerKat]

I leave for WDW TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!!



ETA: I hope someone will bump this thread up while I am gone. I will have internet access one or two days on my trip, but I may not get to the DIS.

We'll keep it up for you - have a magical time!!

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Hi, guys!

Lindsay - have a great time!!! I leave Tues. Maybe I'll see you there!

Here's my dinner-

Cheesy Peasy Rice

I make it quite often because there are a million variations. Today I heated up a box of Shrimp Scampi from the freezer and mixed it in after it was cooked.

Here's the basics, though:

Start with a box of Yellow Rice (I use Goya brand) and follow recipe on box (2 cups water on stovetop, or 2 1/2 if following microwave directions) except add 2 T sherry and 1 T olive oil or butter.

When rice is almost done - (about 5 minutes before end cooking time) add 1 box frozen peas (or peas and carrots or peas and pearl onions) 1 cup cheese (Sharp Cheddar or Pepper Jack are my favorites for shredded, but I also love Velveeta - it makes a really creamy sauce- sometimes I do half and half) and 2 T ketchup. Return to microwave for 5 minutes and heat through. You can serve this as a side dish or add cooked shrimp, turkey or chicken for a main dish. I've even made it with grilled fish.

 

[Glynis]

Sorry I haven't posted this recipe yet. Things got quite hectic at my house the day after book club. All 4 of my children came down with the croup. I've been dealing with that all weekend. Yuck.

Anyway, here is the recipe for the Apricot-Filled Pumpkin Cake with Browned Butter Frosting. It was a hit! Definitely a keeper for the Fall!

Filling:
1/2 C. packed brown sugar
2 Tbs. all purpose flour
3 Tbs. firm butter or margarine
1/2 C. finely chopped dried apricots (about 14)

Cake:
3 C. all purpose flour
3 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. salt
1 C. butter or margarine, softened
2 C. granulated sugar
5 eggs
1 C. canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

Browned Butter Frosting:
1/3 C. butter (do not use margarine)
2 C. powdered sugar
3 to 4 Tbs. milk
1/4 C. chopped dried apricots (about 7)

Heat oven to 325 degrees. Grease 12-cup fluted tube cake pan with shortening or cooking spray; lightly flour. (Do not use dark or nonstick pan.) In small bowl, mix all filling ingredients except apricots with a fork until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in 1/2 cup chopped apricots; set aside. In medium bow., mix flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger and salt; set aside. In large bowl, beat 1 cup butter and granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally, until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in pumpkin. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until blended. Spread 3 cups of batter in pan. With back of spoon, make 1/2 inch deep tunnel in middle of batter. Spoon filling into tunnel, making sure filling does not touch side of pan. Top with remaining batter, making sure batter layer touches side of pan. Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in cake comes out clean and top is golden brown. Cool 15 minutes. Remove cake from pan to cooling rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour. In 2 quart saucepan, heat 1/3 cup butter over medium heat, stirring constantly, until light golden brown; cool slightly. Stir in powdered sugar. Stir in 3 tablespoons of the milk until smooth. Add additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until desired consistency. Spoon frosting ovr cake, letting some run down sides of cake. Garnish with 1/4 cup chopped apricots.

High altitude directions: Heat oven to 350 degrees. Decrease baking powder to 2 1/2 teaspoons. Spoon all cake batter in pan, then make 1/2 inch deep tunnel in middle of batter. Spoon filling into tunnel, making sure filling does not touch side of pan. Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes.


This sounds complicated, but it's really not! The most important thing, though, is to watch your butter carefully. It will turn golden brown and then burn instantly if you're not watching it! I did mine on med-low heat, stirring almost constantly. Once it starts to turn golden brown (about the color of almonds), take it off the heat.

This cake was so yummy! All my ladies wanted to take some home for their hubbies! What a compliment!

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I leave for WDW today! Woo hoo!!! Go me!!!

Tonight I am having dinner at Beaches and Cream. We are also going to do some resort creeping while at the Beach Club.

WFD at your house?

To all my fellow WFD friends who are going to be in WDW this week, please be on the lookout. I have dark brown hair with reddish highlights and will most likely have a lime green DIS bracelet on my left wrist. My wheelchair is a dark hunter green. Please say hi!!!

 

[Mermaid02]

Have a great time Lindsay! Will you be able to do this thread from the World?

I have to go look in my freezer for dinner. I think it will be a mid afternoon Sunday dinner kind of thing though!

 

[nucpharm29]

Lindsay--Have a wonderful trip! We'll miss you!

Well, last nights party was a big hit. I ended up making 2 kinds of chili, a sweeter version with meat and beans, and then a spicy no bean kind. Both were really yummy. We also had spinach artichoke dip (really yummy) and cheese dip and chips. Served the dip and chili with a loaf of crusty bread. Then finished out the evening with bday cake. I'll try to post the recipe for the spinach dip and one of the chili recipes later today!

Tonight we are meeting with our church group and it's a potluck. I'm responsible for dessert, so I'll be making a Pumpkin Pie cake (no rest for the weary around here). What's for dinner is anyone's guess!

glynis--thanks for the recipe--gonna try that one out! Sorry your kids have been sick, hope everyone is better!

 

[Nancyg56]

Sorry I haven't posted this recipe yet. Things got quite hectic at my house the day after book club. All 4 of my children came down with the croup. I've been dealing with that all weekend. Yuck.

Anyway, here is the recipe for the Apricot-Filled Pumpkin Cake with Browned Butter Frosting. It was a hit! Definitely a keeper for the Fall!

This cake was so yummy! All my ladies wanted to take some home for their hubbies! What a compliment!

Glynis, I am so sorry that your kids are sick. My youngest son got the croup when he was 3 or 4, and it was scary. I had never seen anything like it, it was nighttime. A call to the Dr who heard him, called 911 on her advice, and off to the ER. He stopped coughing right after I took him outside. Live and learn, but I remember the entire episode like it was yesterday, but it was 25 years ago. I hope they are feeling better and that you have been able to get some rest.

Your cake sounds so good. I want to try it on my family.

 

[TigerKat]

Still lurking, since I'm "banned" from the kitchen.

 

[Glynis]

Glynis, I am so sorry that your kids are sick. My youngest son got the croup when he was 3 or 4, and it was scary. I had never seen anything like it, it was nighttime. A call to the Dr who heard him, called 911 on her advice, and off to the ER. He stopped coughing right after I took him outside. Live and learn, but I remember the entire episode like it was yesterday, but it was 25 years ago. I hope they are feeling better and that you have been able to get some rest.

Your cake sounds so good. I want to try it on my family.

Thanks, Nancy. Croup is really scary! The kids start to panic, and that closes down the airway even further. Thank heaven it's really cold here during the night. I just sit outside with them for about 10 minutes and they start to breathe easier. It is a nasty thing, though. I know they are getting better, though, since they are arguing with each other over who gets to pick the next movie. Ugh! I'll be glad when I can get my life back to "normal" (whatever that is!) around here!

The cake is FANTASTIC!!! Definitely try it! I'm going to make it for Thanksgiving to go along with my sister's killer pies. That's her specialty, and I don't want to even try to compete with her strength! Mine is cakes, so I'll make this! Should be a good companion to her pies!

 

[Glynis]

Tonight we're having Crock pot pork roast (from this thread). The crock pot is working away, and it already smells yummy! The apple cider smell is amazing!!!

We'll have green beans on the side, and for dessert a creamy peach pudding. That should slide down the raw throats of my coughing children! I'm also making it sugar free for me! Yay! A dessert I can eat without guilt! It's a new recipe, so if it tastes good, I'll pass the recipe along!

 

[TigerKat]

Thanks, Nancy. Croup is really scary! The kids start to panic, and that closes down the airway even further. Thank heaven it's really cold here during the night. I just sit outside with them for about 10 minutes and they start to breathe easier. It is a nasty thing, though. I know they are getting better, though, since they are arguing with each other over who gets to pick the next movie. Ugh! I'll be glad when I can get my life back to "normal" (whatever that is!) around here!

The cake is FANTASTIC!!! Definitely try it! I'm going to make it for Thanksgiving to go along with my sister's killer pies. That's her specialty, and I don't want to even try to compete with her strength! Mine is cakes, so I'll make this! Should be a good companion to her pies!

Oh Glynis, I feel so sorry for you, that's got to be very scary. I'll say some prayers for you and your babies!!

 

[TigerKat]

Tonight we're having Crock pot pork roast (from this thread). The crock pot is working away, and it already smells yummy! The apple cider smell is amazing!!!

I've seen this recipe, but I don't think we have apple cider spice mix here. Where would I find it in the grocery store?

 

[Glynis]

Oh Glynis, I feel so sorry for you, that's got to be very scary. I'll say some prayers for you and your babies!!

Thanks. We can use all the prayers we can get! On a good note: all 4 kids woke up without fevers. The cough is still here, but no high fever. That's a relief!

 

[Glynis]

I've seen this recipe, but I don't think we have apple cider spice mix here. Where would I find it in the grocery store?

I found mine in the same aisle that the cocoa mixes are in.

 

[YachtClubWoman]

I am trying a chilli recipe in the crockpot. I am not so sure - it looks very tomatoey (if that is a word) and my husband is not big on hot tomatoes. I hope it tastes okay

We shall see

Lindsay - hope you have a great trip.

Glynis - hope your kids are better - I cannot imagine 4 sick at once.

 

[TigerKat]

my husband is not big on hot tomatoes.

I thought my husband was the only one!!

 

[nucpharm29]

I'll bump us up since Lindsay is on vacation--hope she's having a magical trip!

We are having breakfast for dinner tonight! Eggs, bacon and biscuits!

Here is the spinach artichoke dip:

1 (10ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed
1 (14 ounce) can quartered artichoke hearts, drained
1 (5.5ounce) container garlic and herb soft spreadable cheese
1 cup parmesan cheese
1 (8 ounces) container sour cream
1/2 cup mayo
1 (2 ounce) jar chopped pimiento, drained
6 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled

Drain the spinach well, pressing between layers of paper towels

Stir together spinach and next 6 ingredients. Spoon into a lightly greased 11 X 7 baking dish

Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle with bacon. Serve with crackers or chips.

 

[nucpharm29]

Here's another one

Barbeque Chicken (or turkey) Chili

1 lb Ground chicken or turkey
1 lg. onion, chopped
1 Green Bell Pepper, seeded and chopped
3 garlic cloves, chopped
2 cans red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can pinto beans, rinsed and drained
1 can diced tomatoes
1 bottle chili sauce
1 can chopped green chilies
1/4 cup chili powder
2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp molasses
1 tbsp packed brown sugar
1 tbsp ground cumin

Place the meat, onion, bell pepper, and garlic ina slow cooker; stir with a fork to blend. Add the rest of the ingredients; mix well. Cover and cook until the flavors are blended and the chili thickens slightly; 4-5 hours on high, 8-10 hours on low.