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

[Aimeedyan]

Tonight we're having spinach and smoked gouda stuffed chicken with onion roasted potatos.

 

[TigerKat]

I doubt the owner will evict them either, as long as she gets her rent she doesn't care about the neighborhood..

Don't know what's for dinner, I'm just so weirded out by all of this!

That infuriates me! All it takes is one sorry homeowner to cause something like this. I guess what I said on the NOLA thread about her owing the neighbors an explanation as to exactly what happened isn't gonna happen.

Tonight we're having spinach and smoked gouda stuffed chicken with onion roasted potatos.

Recipe, please????

 

[OKWMom]

Crazy Scary!! I doubt the owner will evict them either, as long as she gets her rent she doesn't care about the neighborhood..

Don't know what's for dinner, I'm just so weirded out by all of this!

Sheryl, how horrible. I would have been terrified. I'm so glad you are ok.

 

[Glynis]

Hey y'all,

Feeling really out of sorts today. We had a very disturbing incident yesterday. We had police surrounding the house across the street from me starting around 4 yesterday. Apparently the guy who lives there was holding his girlfriend or wife & another woman with 3 kids. They are renters & I don't know them at all. The police came to my back door & asked me for info on them. I was able to give them the owners name & phone #. Then the police told us to stay in the back of my house! I peeked outside & there were about 20 officers, 10 cars & canines outside. The officers were crouched behind the cars with guns drawn!!! When they wouldn't allow DH to come home & I asked if we could leave. Just as we started to drive out of the neighborhood we could see something happening. So we waited a block away with the rest of the neighborhood. They had the guy on the ground with guns pointed at him!! After we returned home, the officer came by to thank me for the info, but couldn't tell us much more. Just that it was a domestic issue, he would be arrested & further charges would come from "things" found in the house. He couldn't tell us if the guy had a gun or not. I hope they found something that keeps him in jail, but my guess is he'll be back there in a couple of days. I still just can't believe this happened right across the street from me. I don't know how long he was holding them, if he had a gun, etc. etc. Crazy Scary!! I doubt the owner will evict them either, as long as she gets her rent she doesn't care about the neighborhood..

Don't know what's for dinner, I'm just so weirded out by all of this!

!

How very scary! I'd say that dinner out is in order for your family!

 

[MinnieM21]

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I'm feeling better but emotionally, not so much. I've just been feeling kind of down lately.

I have no idea what's for dinner, not really hungry.

Here's some more requested recipes:

Orzo with Roasted Vegetables ( I make this without the feta because I don't like it)

1 small eggplant, peeled and 3/4 inch diced
1 red bell pepper, 1 inch diced
1 yellow bell pepper, 1 inch diced
1 red onion, 1 inch diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup good extra virgin olive oil (I use Olio Santo)
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 pound orzo

For the Dressing:
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
1/3 cup good extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

To Assemble:
4 scallions, minced (white and green parts)
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
3/4 pound good feta, 1/2 inch diced (not crumbled)
15 fresh basil leaves, cut into chiffonade

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss the eggplant, red pepper, yellow pepper, red onion, garlic with the olive oil, salt and pepper on a large baking sheet. Roast for 40 minutes, until browned, turning once with a spatula.

Cook the orzo in boiling salted water for 7-9 minutes, until tender. Drain and transfer to a large serving bowl.

Add the roasted vegetables to the pata, scraping all the liquid and seasonings from the roasting pan into the pasta bowl.

For the dressing, combine the lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper and pour on the pasta and vegetables. Let cool to room temperature. Add the scallions, toasted pine nuts, feta, and basil.


California BLTs

12 thick cut slices smoked bacon
8 slices white bread, cut 1/2 inch thick
1/2 cup mayonnaise
4-8 green lettuce leaves
2 avocados
juice of 1 lemon
2 large ripe tomatoes, thickly sliced
kosher salt and black pepper

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place on a baking rack on a sheet pan and arrange the bacon on a rack in a single layer. Bake for 15-25 minutes. Drain on paper towels and set aside.

Place the 8 slices of bread on a sheet pan and toast for 5 minutes. Turn the slices and toast for 1 more minute. Place 4 slices on a cutting board. Spread each slice with 1 tablespoon of mayo. Cover the slices with a layer of lettuce. Place 3 slices of bacon on each sandwich. Peel the avocados and slice them 1/2 inch thick. Toss the avocado slices with lemon juice and arrange on top of the bacon. Add a layer of tomato slices and sprinkle liberally with salt and pepper.

Spread each of the remaining 4 pieces of toasted bread with 1 tablespoon of may and place mayo side down on the sandwiches

 

[MinnieM21]

Couscous with pine nuts

4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick)
3/4 cup chopped shallots (3-4 shallots)
3 cups chicken stock
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 cups couscous
1/2 cup toasted pine nuts
1/4 cup dried currants
2 tablesppons chopped flat leaf parsley

Melt the butter in a large saucepan. Add the shallots and cook them over medium low heat for 3 minutes, until translucent. add the chicken stock, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat. Stir in the couscous, cover the pan and set aside for 10 minutes. Add the pine nuts, currants and parsley and fluff with a fork.

 

[HERSEY]

Hey y'all, I doubt the owner will evict them either, as long as she gets her rent she doesn't care about the neighborhood..

Don't know what's for dinner, I'm just so weirded out by all of this!

WOW! I hope for you they do evict that family. Around here if they found drugs the house would possibly get seized. Most likely that guy would not be allowed to return for a period of time.

even though I live in a nice area we have 2 rental properties that were raided by the police not at the same time but still very disturbing none the less.

 

[HERSEY]

We are having cheese tortellini with a lowish fat version of alfredo sauce with brocolli.

 

[Nancyg56]

Sheryl- Crazy scary does not even come close I think! No wonder you can't think about dinner, I don't think I could think straight at all. Thank God no one was hurt.

Kathy- Homeowners like that are so irresponsible! They don't have ties to the neighborhood and don't care what happens beyond how they are affected.

Minnie- No one can say the words that will make you feel better. Just remember that we are here if you need us, and that you don't have to be perky. Take care.

 

[Nancyg56]

I think dinner was good today. We had roast pork with a Nantucket rub. I added salt pepper and garlic to it. Farfalle with a pork gravy, steamed broccoli and garlic bread. We have a lot of broccoli becasue Kady loves it and I tend to cook veggies she likes.

Kady made some Rollie Pollie Peanut Butter balls with her playmate today. They were so cute rolling those things and putting them in candy cups.

Laura- I want to make her some oatmeal cookies and read that I could substitute silken tofu for the egg. Would you do that or would you use a banana? Or would you add a little extra shortening? My recipe calls for Crisco so I am not sure if it would be too much and I am afraid to use her Earth Balance for the butter.

 

[FormrCastMbr]

Sheryl, I hope you are feeling better. That is a very strange thing to witness...I've been through crazy things with ex...FBI camped outside my house...it is very unsettling...It is more uncomfortable not knowing the real outcome. The slumlord (speaking of the person, not the housing) rots!

MinnieM... I really can't say much but from my experiences, time heals and talking to friends. Feel free to come her to vent.

I had a sliver so thin you could almost see through it on Sunday. As my late grandfather would have said, I cut the flavor right out of it.

It really is a relief. Kenny and I feel like the happier the girls are the better. And when you add into the mix DD can't talk, it is very comforting to know they really love her and do feel like a part of the family. The three of them are all planning on going with us to Disney in November and they are now negotiating amongst themselves who gets to go to which restaurant. Not that I blame them, the food is a large part of my enjoyment too.

Gretchen, I love what your grandfather said!!!

You are really blessed to find such loving, caring girls.

I sat here at work for the longest time trying to figure out who JeffM was just barging in and making himself comfortable with us. Then I saw that He posted about his DH and I really started to worry. You got me Nancy!!

Kathy, I didn't even realize the DH part that "Jeff" wrote...very observant! Leave it to our friend Nancy!!!

I kept telling her that she needed to take some time out of the water; to spend some time in the shade, but she just wanted to keep going. I figure, at 10 years old, she needs to learn to police herself with this. I sympathize, and spread aloe, and try not to say, "I told you so."

The other kids burned, too, but not nearly as bad as Katie.

All I can say is Hawaiian Tropic Lime Coolada...love the stuff!!! Hope she feels better...

 

[Aimeedyan]

Recipe, please????

Sure!

Spinach and Smoked Gouda Stuffed Chicken

1/2 can chopped spinach, well drained
3-4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 small package cream cheese, softened some
nutmeg, to taste
shredded smoked gouda

Preheat to 350. Spray 9x13 pan with Pam. In a bowl, cream together the cream cheese, spinach, and shredded gouda. I usually buy a block of the smoked gouda and grate it over the bowl until it looks good. Maybe 1/3 a block? Throw in a pinch of nutmeg. Slice the chicken breasts length wise to make a big pocket and stuff each full of the mixture. Place breast in pan, dallop some butter on top and salt and pepper (though i've left out this step before and it was still great). Bake until juices run clear (cooks fairly fast since the chicken is split).

It's really easy and I usually have the ingredients on hand. I actually make this for guests a lot because it's "pretty."

For the potatos, I just toss diced potatos, EVOO, and half a packet of onion soup mix into a 9x13 and bake at 350 alongside the chicken.

 

[shovan]

Thanks y'all for all the hugs!!

I did end up cooking tonight. The whole chopping thing is sort of therapy I guess! We had a Spanish/Mediterreanean Chicken, chicken in tomato sauce with onions, red bell peppers, green pimento stuffed olives, capers & artichokes. I served it with saffron rice & a honduran style pickled cabbage slaw. Oh we also had very large glasses of Sangria, help for the nerves!!

What really does tick me off about all of this is the last tenants were paying $1800 bucks a month for that house! This is a good neigborhood! One neighbor said he thought these people were paying about $1500! So as long as the owner gets the rent they are happy! Things like this just don't happen in our neighborhood, ever! It's really disturbing & sad.

 

[Glynis]

All I can say is Hawaiian Tropic Lime Coolada...love the stuff!!! Hope she feels better...

I saw that in the store, but didn't know if it would work. I'm glad to know that it does.

 

[HERSEY]

Minnie I've been there too. We are here if you want to talk or scream. Many It really does get better.

 

[liamsaunt]

Gina, welcome to the thread. I have to tell you, Great Hill Blue is one of my favorite blue cheeses! Yeah, I buy lots of different kinds, but to be honest, I am a bit of a wimp when it comes to blue and my standby is always Great Hill. The only one I've found that I like a little more is Humboldt Fog. I love Great Hill in salads, or stuffed under the skin of a chicken breast, etc. Yummy! Tell your BF's folks I love their cheese!

Shovan, that's too bad about your neighbors.

Also, sorry, I forgot to post the souffle recipe...here it is!

Butter, plus fresh grated parmesean for the dish
2 1/2 tbsp. butter
3 tbsp. flour
1 cup mlik, warmed
3 egg yolks
3/4 cup grated sharp cheddar
salt to taste
1/2 tsp. paprika

5 egg whites

preheat oven to 400.

butter a dish that will hold 6 cups. Dust with parmesean. The size or shape does not matter--you can even use a square pyrex dish! Traditonally, you'd use a round dish, but it really does not matter.

Melt the butter over med-low heat, then whisk in flour, and cook over low heat for several minutes, until the flour is cooked (not browned). Whisk in milk, bring to a simmer, then lower the heat and cook, stirring, for one minute or so. The mixture should be slightly thickened. Remove from the heat and beat in the yolks, one at a time. Stir in the cheese and paprika, and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Beat whites with a pinch of salt until they hold peaks.

(VERY IMPORTANT! If you use the same beaters to beat the whites as the yolks, make sure you wash them very well in between--fat from the yolks will keep the whites from beating up stiff. I just stir in the yolks with a flexible spatula, and then use the electric beaters on the whites. It has worked every time! Also, cream of tartar helps egg whotes form peaks.)

Fold 1/3 of the whites into the yolk mixture to lighten, then gently combine the remaining whites.

Pour into prepared dish and place into center of oven. Lower heat to 375 degrees, and bake until souffle has risen and is golden brown all over the top. After 30 minutes, check to see if it is done. If it is risen, shake the dish gently to check for wobbling--it might take as much as 10 minutes longer, depending on your oven, how done you like your eggs, and the size of the souffle.

Here is tongiht's dinner, the first pasta fresca of the year! Mine, vegetarian:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1219/842374830_0745022d25.jpg

DH's, with roasted garlic chicken sausage:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1032/842374444_822431aec8.jpg

I am up WAY too late (DH is ensconced in the bed trying to finish re-reading the Half-Blood Prince before Saturday). Good night!

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Tonight we are having tacos. Ole!!

WFD at your house?

 

[Nancyg56]

Good Morning ladies!

Sheryl- I got this visual of you chopping and if it was therapy......I know who you were chopping up . The landlady better stay away if you are armed with your chef's knife and chopping block.

We had an issue, although nothing like the one that took place near you, in our neighborhood. We have a quiet neighborhood and the homes are close together because they are lake houses. A home was rented a few doors down and I have never seen two years two. The Mom was a drunk, the kids not attended to and the baby was watched by the teenager. The son had some type of special need, yet was left alone and he often just rode his bike to get away from that zoo. The police were there a lot and the neighbors were always looking to make sure that when the arguments started the kids were okay. They were evicted last week.

While we are all glad to see them go you can't get the image of those poor kids out of your mind. They did not make friends in the two years they were here, barely said hello, and the dog was the only company the son seemed to have. If their next place does not take animals he will be alone and I think the daughter is going to have a lot of challenges in front of her, and when that happens, how sad for the baby.

 

[Nancyg56]

I talked too much and forgot to post dinner. We are going to have comfort food today, it is going to be rainy and humid and yucky all day. Breakfast sausage in gravy over mashed potatoes, applesauce, a veggie, and some sort of salad. I am planning to make a Mountain Dew cake as well if I finish my washing and ironing in time.

 

[nucpharm29]

Tonight is going to be the Queen's Easy Royal Chicken. The roast chicken last night was yummy--so good infact that my lovely poochie ate half of it when I turned my back. So much for leftover!