The Official What's For Dinner thread:Thursday 1-24-08? Recipe finder in OP. Enjoy! Part 3

[zipuzee]

Happy Birthday Nancy!!

I ended up driving through Chick Fil A - it was delicious as always!

Actually, this is my dinner plan tonight

Tonight's dinner ended up being different than I planned. In between totally blowing the diet & being a good girl! We had the lamb chops, I marinated in Sherry, garlic, rosemary & a bit of steak seasoning. ( which I finally remembered to pick up to fix Lindsay's Boo burgers!) I fixed whipped sweet potatoes with a bit of cajun seasonings & a romaine/cabbage salad with tomatoes, calamata olives & basil. ( Sorry I forgot to take pics.)

Yum that sounds good!

Morning Y'all,
I won't be cooking tonight, eating leftovers. Gotta get the fridge cleaned out, for our mini vacation this weekend. Astros in a suite, my kind of baseball! So I'll be doing laundry & errand running today!
Have a good day, everyone!

Ya'll have a great weekend!

Dinner tonight is comfort food - cheese tortellini with a bacon and cream sauce with some buttery garlic bread for DH and the kiddos.

Thanks to everyone for their kind words and well wishes. We did tell the children last night and they handled it about how we expected. I think they were ok heading off to school this morning, but I have notified each of their teachers of the situation so they would know what was going on. Now Kenny and I are trying to decide if the youngest is mature enough to attend the funeral. It looks like we may have a couple of weeks to decide, but we are hashing it out now and are watching to see how she handles everything prior to. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I agree with Lauren - see how the kids handle things in the next few days. Each child is different; I don't know the ages of your kids, but both of mine experienced funerals early on and did well with them. A lot will depend on how much the relationship has developed in the short time they've spent together.

Happy Birthday Nancy!

So, I made my first dinner using New Orleans ingredients last night. In the package there was a bottle of injectable creole butter seasoning, and some creole dry spice mix. I took a three pound chicken, injected it with 3 ounces of the butter mix (injecting about half of it onto me by mistake, LOL), then liberally coated the bird with the creole seasoning, and roasted for one hour at 400 degrees. It was really awesome. The bird was so moist and tender...DH had thirds. Here is a picture of the chicken resting before carving:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1363/1446862121_b5bb217d3d.jpg

Side dishes were mashed potato cakes and creamed corn, but I don't have pictures of those.

Sounds good - looks great! Experiment number one a success!!

 

[THE HAT]

Morning all---I Missed all of yesterday as I went to get my hair done, then went to visit my mil (ugh), I stayed quite a bit as I did not have to be home as Ross is gone until 6pm tonight.

Kris changed his plans to put a door in and came home from the office around 6:30, and we took off to this favorite BBQ joint about 30 min away. Ross doesn't care for it so we don't get there much. It was a nice date night in the middle of the week!!
I slept in until 10am this morning which was refreshing, lol! I am still in pj's and I will shower then head out to do some shopping as I don't have to rush this afternoon either.
I do have to work tomorrow, and Ross will be back and we have football....but I will be glad to have him home......I am sure they had a blast, it did rain this morning, but it is warm, they were doing the activities rain or shine, and he is a boy so he could care less if he is soaked, lol.

Dinner tonight will be who knows...Ross will not have eaten, so he will be starved, and I really don't want to have to cook supper as I will need to take care of all of his STUFF, he took with him. (they all had to take so much as it was on an Island off the Maine coast, and you could have any type of weather out there different then what we have on the mainland. There was 24 kids with sleeping bags, pillows, and lifejackets that were put into garbage bags each, plus they all had a huge duffle bag with clothes, then their backpacks were stuffed and a lunch box. Then you have 8 adults with the same...this was just for 1 night, lol.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ok on to the more important Stuff.....ALL OF YOU!!


Happy BirthdayNancy

How is your knee doing?

Jenny--I am so sorry that Ed and all of you are having to go through more of this again. I will keep all of you in my thoughts...please let us know how it all goes. Tell Ed he is in our hearts!!

Gretchen--I am so sorry....this is such a tough thing to go through. I think you are doing the right thing with dd, see how she handles it and take it from there with her lead. You are a wonderful mother and will do what is right.
I will give you my experience and Ross'.
I was 7 when my grandfather on my mothers side died....My mother took me to one visiting hour, and let me say my goodbyes that way, and then I went to a friends house for the funeral...Just because it was a very Catholic funeral and she knew that it would be to long for me. I remember seeing him and seeing how sad everyone was, but I didn't quite grasp it all. To this day though I am glad I got to go and say goodbye, I was not that close to him.
When my other grandfather died Ross was 3, and he went to the memorial service (we didn't have a viewing) and he held onto a favorite stuffed animal, and sat there with tears on his face (he was soooo close to my grandfather I can't even explain it)....he then fell asleep halfway through and my fil took him in his lap. I did not take him to the cemetary though, he went with my inlaws............but even today he loves to go to the cemetary to "visit".
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

Glynis---My Jelly Queen!!............The wasp story scared the heck out of me!!! I am glad that things turned out ok and no one is allergic...heck of a way to find out though!! Kris had the same thing happen to him when he was about 10, and my mil still hates the story as she says she can see it all clear as day him running through the field screaming and her stripping him down. He also lucked out and was not allergic.
How are the boys doing today?

Becky--that was one yummmmmy looking bird!!!

Sheyl--have a blast this weekend!! That sounds like a ton of fun!! We go to one Bruins game a year and stay in a suite...one of Kris' vendors pays for us, and it is the only way to watch the Bruins as they just plain stink..sigh..

Janice--how many more days to go until you are "Home"


I better go get dressed as it is almost noontime, lol. Hope you all are having a great day!!

 

[TheBeadPirate]

Well, I had my multi-quote with answers all ready to go the other night and the DIS decided to log me out and lose my post! But- I am back home with high speed so now I can get caught up!

Jenny- hug Ed from all of us. Then have him hug you back...also from all of us. The strength you both have is amazing.

Gretchen- Sorry you and Kenny are having to deal with all of this, especially with the kids. I agree though about the funeral. Wait and see how it goes.

Lindsay- Have you tried maybe a weak coffee to ween you off of it? Like brewed coffee 1:1 with hot water... you may find that the tea tastes better! And can I ask a favor if it isn't too much trouble? Can you add the post # when you put up the page number? I have everything backwards from the rest of you guys I guess. And always have to subtract page numbers from current pages(that's advanced math sometimes!) to find the recipes.

My family is liking the eat from the stove thing...I cook they all clean up and do the dishes, so they get off real easy this way. I am not sure what to make tonight, I want to bake though, DH was looking for pastry yesterday and all I had was Oreos.

We always ate from the stove too- and dreaded Sundays when it was family style- bet you can guess who was stuck with the dishes. Tell Buddy to eat his derned Oreos and be happy about it! It could be worse...he may come home one day to find no sweets...just rabbit food.

NANCY!!!! I hope you get a day off to keep reading! (We really do have another HP convert I think)

Tonight will be, sadly, something fast food. All the recipes I picked out for this week are more labor intensive then I want to do after I work 12 hours and come in at 830 from work. Wednesdays are ALWAYS like that - why do I continue to not plan 1 easy meal each week?

Have you thought about making double of something one night and freezing it? That way you can take it out to thaw the night before your busy day and pop it in the oven to reheat while you're winding down. Just a thought. And if you freeze it in single or two person portions it'll thaw faster, cook faster, and in a pinch you or your DH has a go to meal if the other one isn't around.

Kathy - just to clarify - the Tony's gravy mix is a powder, not a liquid. the container is yellow and designed like the seasonings. I'm not sure that what I told you last night was clear?!?

I got this stuff last Christmas in a gift box. It's fabulous! I like it because you can make 1 portion (those darned fried chicken nights) or a whole bunch. And it's got a interesting little kick- more so than the bland bottled or powdered McCormic mixes.

The men in the neighborhood are planning on taking care of the wasps this weekend. That ought to be amusing to watch!

Glad the boys are ok. Can you shoot digital video of this? I think this will be worth it's weight in gold to watch!

And for all of the Artist Point fans (like myself) I have the recipe for the soup. We went for Rick's 50th and chatted with the manager for awhile. She was great! She brought us cedar planks and the recipe for the best darned soup in the world. Well, I had to share that when we stay at the DVC there we visit the bar (imagine that) every evening and I get them to sneak in and get me a bowl of the soup-even though they're not supposed to. We know most all of them cause they've been there about as long as we've owned there. Well, after chatting up the manager then, the last time we were there she was the one who brought me soup at the bar every night! I think I've got the Lodge staff trained how I want them.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Dinner tonight is comfort food - cheese tortellini with a bacon and cream sauce with some buttery garlic bread for DH and the kiddos.

Gretchen

Mind sharing the recipe for the bacon and cream sauce? Sounds delicious!

 

[Aimeedyan]

Happy Birthday, Nancy!

 

[Glynis]

I ended up driving through Chick Fil A - it was delicious as always!

I love Chick Fil A! Their wraps are my favorite!!!!

 

[Glynis]

For dinner tonight we had roasted chicken and pasta with a chipotle cream sauce.

Hi, Lady! Welcome to the thread!!!

Would you mind posting the recipe for your chipotle cream sauce? It sounds heavenly!!!

 

[Glynis]

Tonight it's leftover double chicken and dumplings stoup. It was sooooooooooooooo good!! I changed a few things, but it was still delicious.

WFD at your house?

Double Chicken and Dumplings Stoup

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), 2 turns of the pan
• 4 ribs celery from the heart, chopped
• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups store-bought shredded carrots, (3 generous handfuls)
• 1 fresh bay leaf
• Salt and pepper
• 6 cups chicken stock
• 1 pound ground chicken *I used ground turkey- I like it better*
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• A little freshly grated nutmeg
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs (a couple of handfuls)
• 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (a couple of handfuls)
• 1 package gnocchi, available in market refrigerated aisle with fresh pastas *Turns out my gnocchi had expired, so I used chicken and proscuitto tortellini instead*
• 1 cup frozen peas
• A handful of flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
• Crusty bread for mopping

Heat a soup pot over medium to medium-high heat with EVOO. Add celery, onions, carrots and bay leaf, season with salt and pepper, and cook 5 minutes. Add stock to the pot, cover and bring to a boil.

Place chicken in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. Add garlic, nutmeg, egg, bread crumbs and cheese.

Combine the chicken mixture with your hands then roll into walnut-sized meat balls and add to the soup. Wash up, then add the gnocchi to the pot and cook for 5 minutes.

Add peas and parsley, and cook 2 minutes more. Turn heat off under the stoup and allow it to cool for 5 minutes on the stovetop before serving with crusty bread.

***This stoup is going to rock when it get really cold outside!!!!!***

This sounds so good!!! Definitely going to give this one a try! We have a storm coming this weekend, so maybe I'll make it for Sunday afternoon.

 

[Glynis]

NANCY - HAVE A GREAT DAY MY FRIEND !!!!

I'm scraplifting this! Happy birthday Nancy! I hope you have a great one!

 

[Glynis]

Gretchen, Again, I am so sorry that you are going through this. I think you are handling everything the best that you can. IMO, I also think watching to see how your daughter handles all of this, should be your deciding factor if she should attend the funeral.

Every situation is different. When my Dad and his sister were sick, I brought Andrew to the nursing home with me and explained everything to him. I keep telling him that Grandpa and Aunt Ann were very sick and that they will be with God soon. When they did pass, Andrew was upset but handled himself at the funeral better than I expected (I only took him to the evening wake and funeral...not the entire schedule).

Like I said above, every situation is different and time will tell you what to do. I pray for all of you to get through this as easy as possible.

Good advice! I totally agree with everything you said here!

 

[TigerKat]

Becky - That was one yummy looking chicken, can't wait to see what you do next!!



Where is our birthday girl??????????? Hopefully resting....

 

[Glynis]

It's a gorgeous day here today! High's will be in the 70's, just the way I like it!

Dinner tonight will FINALLY be the shepherd's pie! My mouth is set for it, and nothing is getting in the way of dinner tonight!!!

Jacob and Connor are doing just fine, now! In fact, they were trying to work up the courage to go back to the woods to get their bikes. I finally talked them into waiting and letting the dad's get the bikes. I would love to video the wasp removal, but as I'm terribly allergic, I will be staying in the house with all doors and windows tightly shut!

 

[Nancyg56]

Luckily my Mother is doing really well..She said the other day that she now feels better than she has in a year..She still has the second cancerous kidney to be dealt with.

I am glad to hear she is feeling well. Please keep us posted about Ed.

I haven't recovered from this morning when Caili had a friend over for a Baking Project playdate. I arranged the playdate last week when it felt like fall and baking cookies sounded like a good idea. We made chocolate chip/walnut/coconut/butterscotch cookies. The girls had a lot of fun, but my kitchen was so hot by the time the last cookie sheet came out of it. The ice rink is going to feel great this afternoon.

You sure picked a hot day for a baking project! I bet the cookies were good though

Nancy - I just realized I'm older than you my dear! Remember to respect your elders!!!

I alway respect the old gals ! I have to tell you that I feel older then dirt today, every ache and pain seems to be speaking up

Morning Y'all,

I won't be cooking tonight, eating leftovers. Gotta get the fridge cleaned out, for our mini vacation this weekend. Astros in a suite, my kind of baseball! So I'll be doing laundry & errand running today!

Laundry and errands are okay when you are looking forward to a little get-a-way

We always ate from the stove too- and dreaded Sundays when it was family style- bet you can guess who was stuck with the dishes. Tell Buddy to eat his derned Oreos and be happy about it! It could be worse...he may come home one day to find no sweets...just rabbit food.

NANCY!!!! I hope you get a day off to keep reading! (We really do have another HP convert I think)

My Mom set the table for Sundays as well, and I remember hating the dishes too!

Buddy loves Oreos, I just felt bad because I usually have cake or dessert for him and I haven't for about a week. I made him a banana chocolate chip sour cream cake yesterday (it was good) and he kept telling me he would have eaten cookies.

I am converted

Becky - That was one yummy looking chicken, can't wait to see what you do next!!



Where is our birthday girl??????????? Hopefully resting....

Here I am! I had to go to the Dr this morning, and being the chicken I am dragged my DH cousin with me. I have a torn PTL (sp) a torn meniscus and some arthritis. The Dr gave me some anti inflammatory pills though so that is going to help along with some PT.

I love all the birthday wishes! There is not much better than to come home to my friends here! Thank you so much. Now how do you working girls keep up????????I am gone a few hours and am 4 or 5 pages behind, totally lost and drooling over Becky's chicken and wanting some of Lindsay's soup.

 

[MA pigletfan]

hey everyone

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANCY!

WFD tonight...this has been a lame week in terms of cooking, greg and i have had opposite schedules and tonight is no different. He is working at the station and i am home. Tommorow is my weekly date with the scale, so i will probably opt for something light..boy do i wish my fish market was still up and running!!!

have a great day everyone..i hope to have yummy dishes to share next week!

 

[TigerKat]

Jacob and Connor are doing just fine, now! In fact, they were trying to work up the courage to go back to the woods to get their bikes. I finally talked them into waiting and letting the dad's get the bikes. I would love to video the wasp removal, but as I'm terribly allergic, I will be staying in the house with all doors and windows tightly shut!

I'm glad you talked them into letting the Dad's go! I'm allergic too, so I know how you feel - stay safe!!!!

I had to go to the Dr this morning, and being the chicken I am dragged my DH cousin with me. I have a torn PTL (sp) a torn meniscus and some arthritis. The Dr gave me some anti inflammatory pills though so that is going to help along with some PT.

I love all the birthday wishes! There is not much better than to come home to my friends here! Thank you so much. Now how do you working girls keep up????????I am gone a few hours and am 4 or 5 pages behind, totally lost and drooling over Becky's chicken and wanting some of Lindsay's soup.

The anti-inflammatory pills always work for me, hopefully you'll feel the difference in a day or two.

Any special plans today? Don't forget to check out the Birthday board!!!!!

 

[Nancyg56]

Gretchen- I think you are doing everything right so far. Your kids will handle what you can handle, and they will be able to cope becasue you are showing them how.

I don't know how old your DD is, but I would play it by ear. I know that when my Mom passed on, Kady was not upset. She was very close to her becasue she cam e with me when I was there, and Marisa brought her when she was there so I was very worried about telling her. She knew that Memere was sick, but at only 5 Marisa did not talk to her about death. The VNA had given us all kinds of material about coping and children. Risa tossed it all away and explained that Memere had gone to Heaven. Kady told her not to be sad, Memere was with the Angels and that is a good thing. Then she showed her the little Cherub on the ceiling fan chain and told Marisa that that Angel was her Memere.

Kids are very practical and very literal. They will accept what adults refuse to and will simplify things so that they make sense. As parents we sometimes forget that our children have a lot of Faith.

 

[Nancyg56]

I'm glad you talked them into letting the Dad's go! I'm allergic too, so I know how you feel - stay safe!!!!



The anti-inflammatory pills always work for me, hopefully you'll feel the difference in a day or two.

Any special plans today? Don't forget to check out the Birthday board!!!!!

I hope that they work quickly!

I did not make plans, but I am going to sit for the afternoon and let the pills work. I will ask Marisa to pick up grinders or something.

Buddy and I are going to join my neighbors across the street Saturday night for dinner. She and I were born on the same day so we are going to celebrate together. Kathy, she is a good neighbor and a good friend, but she drives Marisa nuts. She is a "hugger", You know the kind...they hug you, look at you...hug you again...and then cry. Then it starts all over again I love her to pieces but I know that Marisa is gagging in the window when I head over to her driveway

 

[TigerKat]

I hope that they work quickly!

I did not make plans, but I am going to sit for the afternoon and let the pills work. I will ask Marisa to pick up grinders or something.

Buddy and I are going to join my neighbors across the street Saturday night for dinner. She and I were born on the same day so we are going to celebrate together. Kathy, she is a good neighbor and a good friend, but she drives Marisa nuts. She is a "hugger", You know the kind...they hug you, look at you...hug you again...and then cry. Then it starts all over again I love her to pieces but I know that Marisa is gagging in the window when I head over to her driveway

I know the kind, she sounds so sweet but if you're not into "huggers" I can see how it could drive you batty. People tell us NOLA gals all the time that we're huggers. When we see someone at the grocery store or mall we normally hug then say "How's ya momma".

 

[liamandcaili]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANCY!

Well, I finally got Liam's lab results back from the allergist (I think they had the wrong phone number) and they weren't what I was hoping for. Not only is he still highly allergic to eggs, he is also highly allergic to dust mites (both kinds), household dust, three kinds of mold, oak, maple, birch, elm, ragweed, and cats. He is moderately allergic to grass and dogs. He also still needs to avoid shellfish, but that was expected.

I don't know all the changes we are going to need to make, but Liam is going to be sad with at least one of them: he can't sleep over his friend's house as planned Saturday night because they have two cats.

I figure with all this, the least I can do is make Liam his favorite meal, so we're having cheeseburgers tonight.

 

[Zandy595]

Nancy

I hope you're feeling better very soon.